of course

Some of you might think that "It's Saturday" is just coffee talk, bar talk, cowboy talk, or bunch of baloney talk.  And you might be right.  I'm not telling you what it is.  You will have to decide.  And everyone might think it's different.  I always don't always mean what you always think I mean, and sometimes I don't always even know I didn't say what I meant.  Anyway, ItchieBitchie, you're not good at listening sooooo you probably won't hear a word I say anyway.  Of course, your wife, GoofyHilda knows that tooooo.  She says you have your head up your butt!  And of course folks, some of what I'm saying is like whiskey.  Whiskey is whiskey no matter how you pour it!  Sooooo work your way through all of this talk folks!

Folks, sit down and hold unto your chair.  My days are all lazy.  Some days just lazier than others of course.  I have the life of Riley!  What more can I say.  There are a lot of folks who are lazy so that really doesn't make me different or special.  But that is what retirement can offer a guy--options.  I like options.  Many folks don't have options.  Of course you get a lot more done if you are not lazy.  But maybe I don't want to get a lot done!  Maybe I just want to read my book for an hour or soooooo!   I have options!  Should I go and play golf today or not?  A lot of options folks. I must admit that at times I don't think I'm productive enough with my life.  Of course I get over it but sometimes it seems I should be doing more.  I'm retired I guess!  I sure do like the flexible schedule of course.  Yes I do.

Of course I can make my life go faster. I just shift to a higher gear. My bike has 3 sprockets in the front and 8 sprockets on the back. Sooooo I have 24 different gears to adjust my speed. That seems like a lot of opportunities to make life easy for me or faster for me. It sure helps let me let me tell ya. Of course the big wheel to the little wheel is the hardest and makes the bike go the fastest. TheKingOfTheHill many times is the big wheel spinning the little wheels of the world. Personally I like folks who are big wheels but you can't tell them from the little wheels (i.e. they are that nice and don't desire to be the big wheels). Of course, you know what dogs do to big wheels? Of course you do! Jesus didn't seem to have much time for folks who thought they were big wheels. The folks He thinks are the big wheels are maybe not the same big wheels that that the world thinks are the big wheels. GeorgeTheCrook says--Some folks just think they are important (i.e. big wheels)! Ouchy ouchy!

Of course we had a good time at the ol' ball park watching the I-Cubs.  The crack of the bat, the night air, and the atmosphere of the ball game.  The boys each got a baseball.  Of course it was fun even though it was 101 degrees at game time.  These guys are my golf buddies Luke and Cade.  Luke says a lot when playing  --"My Luck"!  He says that after hitting a poor shot, having some bad luck or missing a putt.  He says--Of Course! I just have bad luck.  My Luck!  I try to tell him that all of us have bad shots and have bad luck and miss putts and we have different ability levels.  It's a standard in life.  It's the rub of the green in golf terms.  Most great folks (i.e. and golfers) seeeem to have a flat line demeanor a.k.a. class.  Not an attitude.  Sooooo now it's getting to be sorta kinda a joke when we say to each other--My luck.  On the 9th green the other day, Luke missed a putt and said--my luck.  I said--you can't make them all Luke.  He said--have you ever had bad things happen to you erv?  Da!  Of course Luke, I have bad things happen to me.  Let me putt and I will tell you more erv.  He made a nice 4 footer and then said--erv, have you ever beeen hit by a car?  No, I haven't.  I have.  The car swerved to miss Cade and hit me.  Soooo how bad did you get hurt?  Nothing real serious but I got hurt quite bad.  erv, have you ever bruised your pancreas and been in Iowa City Hospital for two weeks with tubes stuck in you all over.  No, I haven't.  I have.  Sooooo you look alright now.  I am.  Sooooo LukieLuckie, maybe without modern medicine you wouldn't be here playing golf with us today.  Your Luck, LuckieLukie!  My luck!  Of course!  Among the lucky, Luckie Lukie, you are a lucky one.

Of course it was mentally confusing folks.  I rode my bike around Clear Lake recently.  I saw a car wash in Clear Lake that had a big sign on it--Dog Wash!  I was curious sooooo I pulled in there.  I had never seen that before.  I walked up there and Leapen'Leana (i.e. that is what she had on the back of her tee shirt) was ahead of me said to the guy--The sign says Dog Wash.  Does that mean for canine dogs or for husband dogs?

I was in MN last weekend playing in our friends' Jan and Geno's member guest.  It was our 30th year of doing this. Now that is a fun friendship.  Oh ya!  Good folks with good hearts.  On hole #5 I asked Jr if we can hit our second shots over the trees at the corner of the dog leg.  He said I can.  Of course that was when we were playing this hole 30 years ago when the trees were 6 feet tall and not 20 to 35 feet tall now!  I had the opportunity to play with some real classy guys let me tell ya.  Classy!

I sorta kinda have a hobby of going into churches and sitting and praying for about 10 minutes.  I particularly like the old churches.  Of course, most of the churches are now locked if there is no one there.  Soooo I was traveling to Westbrook, MN and came through Heron Lake about 7:30 p.m. and saw this old church across the city park.  Sooooo I stopped and walked across the park to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  It was a beautiful structure and to my surprise it was open.  It was as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside.  I spent 10 minutes of quit time.  Of course it was a great time.  I confessed to a Catholic golf opponent Sunday that I went into the confession booth.  I have never been in one and wanted to see what it looked like. I didn't know if was a sin or not.  He said I was okay!  MyGolfPartner told me on the 8th tee box at Old Goats Monday morning that he hasn't gone to church much this summer--how come--I don't like the priest very well.  Oh! 

I have heard folks say "of course" when something seemingly bad happens to them.  I take that saying meaning that they expect bad things to happen to them.  Listen folks--God giveth and God taketh away it says somewhere.  Maybe some folks think that they are the only folks that face tough things.  Maybe some folks think they are special and deserve only good things to happen to them.  Some folks might say--I did all the religious stuff and still God treats me like this.  What kind of  God is He anyway.  The Book says that God loves us (i.e. unconditionally) all the same.  I realize that that is hard to understand with our human minds.  Ya, it appears that some folks seem to have it easier than others.  Of course, some have it more difficult that others tooooo it seems!  But you don't know my situation and I don't know yours soooooo...!

Of course results may vary!  I heard a guy say that his wife is getting cortisone shots in her back.  The doctor told here that it might help and it might not.  It might help right away or take a while.  It might help for a short time or for a long time.  Of course results may vary!  Results may vary!!!!  LuckieEddie says--There seems to be a lot of folks who just sit on the couch and eat chips and expect everything good to happen to them.  Of course, they are disappointed.  Ya can't wish it or buy it, ya gotta do it!  Yabut, the government tries as hard as they can to help everyone but there are limits.  Or are there?  Of course there are!  Okay, maybe not!  I'm working on finding a grant for new golf clubs.  There has to be a grant out there somewhere for me!  I'll look in the farm bill.  Maybe it's attached to it!

If you want a thing done well, do it yourself. ~  Napoleon~  Many times it seems that way doesn't it.  Not everyone does things the same of course.  Sometimes it's hard to accept the fact that folks do things differently.  Especially when we think we are always right.  Of course some folks do things better than others.  Of course they do.  WildWillie says--If I have no interest in the outcome, I don't care how they do it but if I have a vested interest in the the outcome, then I care.  To be average doesn't take much effort of course.  In high school, you just basically show up and you get a C (i.e. that's average).  I saw on a billboard recently (i.e. sooo it must be right) that 28% of students drop out of high school.  Wow!  To be above average it takes a little more effort and to be excellent, it takes some real effort.  Average isn't much in our society today (i.e. my opinion).  Soooo surround yourself with excellent folks and your life will be much better.

True story?  Of course it is! It's about a friend of mine who I call Coach (i.e. age 75).  Well... Dad fell from a tree. Must have been high up. Lost consciousness, but came to fairly quickly. He is in Des Moines at Methodist to repair a broken right arm and elbow. He has a collapsed lung presumably due to 4 broken ribs and has a breathing tube for now. He is in quite a bit of pain, but Mom indicated that the care received is fantastic. She is going to call after he comes from surgery for the arm. Marlene is with her. Jim saw the accident as did Mom and stopped to help. Jim convinced Mom (and Dad) that they should go to the ER. When Mom asked Dad if they should call an ambulance, he said, "No." Of course. I'm glad Jim and Mom ignored him.

My kid sister says this--there are 3 types of people:  -The "haves" -The "have nots" -The "haven't finished paying for what for what they have".  DandyDan says--Of course, we live in America!  Doesn't everyone spend more than they make?  It's the new generation.  We are just like our government.  I tell you what DandyDan, my Daddy, Chester, would not buy anything on credit if it depreciated.  But would use credit to buy stuff that would appreciate.  I sorta kinda followed my Daddy's example.  DandyDan says--That's old fashion erv, get with it.  You must be some old fart or something! 

Of course life is a lot better if you can "read the writing on the wall"!  I read while eating my oatmeal with MI blueberries on it that King Belshazzar couldn't do it soo he got Daniel who could.  Soooo why didn't King Belshazzar like Daniel's interpretation of the "writing on the wall"?  Do you remember?  Maybe we might not like some of the  "writing on the wall" if we knew what it said.  Why don't we understand some of the "writing on the wall"?  Why wouldn't we like some of the "writing on the wall" do you think?  Who can interpret our "writing on the wall" do you think?  Of course we can turn our heads and pretend that we don't see the "writing on the wall" and then blame someone else.  Of course we can! 

Of course these guys were fakers and phonies.  They remind me of DuaneTheWorm.  Joesixpack says--Of course it's about the money and power and fame!  I read in the paper (i.e. soooo it must be right) that Paterno and other officials hushed up allegations against Sandusky for fear of bad publicity and, by implication, all that bad publicity could bring  -- a loss of power, presage, fame and money (i.e. $$$$).  They made an egregious decision to err on the side of the $50 million rather than on the side of the rights of children.  Ouchy ouchy!  Wasendof, at his botched suicide attempt, left a suicide note about the $200 million fraud he did--I guess my ego was too big to admit failure!  Ouchy ouchy!  MissPerfect says--I hope this is not an expected procedure and widely practiced!  Me toooo MissPerfect.  Soooo think about that in your business dealings, Beautiful!  Wasendof was kingofthehill one day and tried to kill himself the next.  Paterno was kingofthehill on day and they took down his statue the next. Huh, interesting. 

ItchieBitchie said to the doc doing his colonospy--Will you write a note to my wife and tell her my head is not up there!  She's just full of hot air most of the time.  This will prove it again.  But what can I do?  Doc said to him--A happy wife is a happy life.  And don't your forget that buddy.  So there you go!

Of course it wasn't what he meant but...! A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, 'If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' With even greater emphasis he said, 'And if I had All the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he Said, 'And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' Sermon complete, he sat down... The song leader stood very cautiously and announced With a smile, nearly laughing, 'For our closing song, Let us sing Hymn #365, 'Shall We Gather at the River.'  Such is life.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans.  (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Wise men are not always silent, but know when to be.

a view point

Don't know for sure if I will have Internet service in the morning where I will be sooooo I'm sending "It's Saturday" a little early. 

I talk a lot about real folks telllin' it like it is.  I emailed some friends who I haven't heard from for a while.  I asked them -- what's going on?  They responded and here is one paragraph of what they said.  All of our correspondence is re-printed with their permission.  Trust me--there are no subliminal gremlins in this "It's Saturday" that I am aware of but their could be without me knowing it.  Soooo be careful! 

Moving out here, Erv, has been the toughest thing we've ever done in our married lives (that's 43 years next month). Harder than the transplants. Harder than the failed transplants. Maybe Parkinson's has been harder. It's been so good to be by our kids and grandkids. (The latter we would not know nearly as well had we remained in Iowa.) But out here no one knows you. No one knows your history. What you stand for. What you've been through. You're like a grain of sand on a dune by the seaside. It's been a real test of ego. Mine is apparently bigger than I thought!

I said--Maybe you want to say more soooo it fits the readers of "It's Saturday" better.  Maybe you want to add some more.  Here is your opportunity to tell it like it is my friend.  And maybe you don't want me to use it.  That is fine toooooo!  They replied with this: 

Hi Erv, I don't know what else I'd add, Erv. Just musing out loud here, what precipitated our move was my health and Janeo not wanting to tackle this alone anymore without family to support us (particularly with a Parkinson's diagnosis). That being said, we were well supported in the OC community, in a myriad of generous and loving ways. But you know the old saying, "Blood is thicker than water".

I guess I'd encourage retirees who are considering such a radical move as ours, try to project what starting over relationally will mean to you at this season of life. A friend of mine said, "You can make new friends easy enough; it's just tough to make old friends." That takes years. Years of working together. Laughing together. Crying together. Grieving together. And when you're retired and move, you don't have a work context to begin meeting people. Nor a church, at least not right away. What will a move like that mean to you financially? We weren't planning on having a mortgage in retirement. We do now. The cost of living is higher out here, much higher. The culture is different. Not bad, but different. Takes time to acclimate to this new setting, and you're not as flexible in these retirement years as you might think! And lastly, don't move thinking you're kids are going to supply all your relational needs. That doesn't work for you or them. We all need our space.

And we all need a sense of community. That's what we miss. Someone who knows you well enough to tease you, give you grief. To support you in a variety of ways. Now all that being said, we do have that kind of relationship with some friends. That relationship has been a God-send!

(Janeo here, speaking as carepartner--Bear's wife):  A move midwest to midwest is FAR less stressful than midwest to NW, so I think that in itself would make things way easier.  Had we stayed in OC, we would have had to move out of our house because there were too many levels.  I think it is important to be proactive in considering those kinds of issues as we age (medical needs/care, pharmacy, hospital, mobility in the home and outside the home, library, doctoring).

I think it is important to  consider what kind of resources you may need to access down the road.  Perhaps those would  be more broad and available in a larger city.  How accessible are those from your current home?  In terms of relationships, what relationships do you have in Aplington that would allow you to stay there and get the kind of support you may need down the line?  Here's where Bear and I are different:  as I age, I need a smaller circle of relationships with deep roots. How important are each person's social needs and how are those met?  I need to be closer than a plane ride away to face the PD, which we know is progressive and degenerative.  I asked Bear before we moved, Who would you let me call on a Sunday morning at 7 AM if the sewer blew up in our basement?  I know how he thinks, and he wouldn't call anyone on Sunday morning.  I'm calling our kids, and it doesn't matter what time or day it is =)!

Knowing our grandchildren and being an active part of their everyday lives is very important to me.  That is going to look very different when we visit infrequently (and air travel was becoming much more of a hassle for us in the end) and visit "by immersion".  I like this, having the grands over for lunch, picking them up from school, seeing them in various programs, helping out when we can.  I believe that we have something to share in our lives with them, and that they learn from just being around us.

We know that at some point driving will be an issue for us.  What is available to us when that happens? As we age, and as we age dealing with PD, that we deal with more and more losses.  Having a counselor in place has been necessary and very effective for us as we face these challenges(we see him "as needed", or what I call, getting tweaked).

Way more than perhaps you were expecting, Erv, but those are some late night, random thoughts of mine!

Bless you friend!  Bear 

Bear and Janeo are real folks with great big hearts.  They are survivors and are as tough as $2 steaks.  My kind of folks. 

Bear and Janeo, I think you should move to AZ.  Yes I do.  For health reasons, Joesixpack's doctor urged him to move to Arizona. After settling in, he met a neighbor who was a fit older man. "Say, is this really a healthy place?" Joesixpack asked. "It sure is," the man replied. "When I first arrived here I couldn't say one word. I had hardly any hair on my head. I didn't have the strength to walk across a room and I had to be lifted out of bed." "That's quite an improvement!" said Joesixpack. "How long have you been here?" "I was born here."

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Do you act or react?

Quite a bit but not a lot!

Quite a bit but not a lot (i.e. it's the same but a little different)!  Sooooo what does that mean anyway?  It's not very exact but maybe very accurate (e.g. how much did you eat--quite a bit but not a lot; how much money do you make--quite a bit but not a lot; how much effort did you put into it--quite a bit but not a lot!  So there you go folks.

I know quite a bit about women but not a lot.  I'm going to learn more as I'm ordering the new book that just came out.  Thought you guys should know about the book too, "Understanding Women" is now out in paperback on Amazon.  The cost of the book is reasonable but the shipping is a killer!

Quite a bit but not a lot doesn't really give me the answer I'm looking for.  I want more quantifiable figures.  I read while eating my oatmeal with MI blueberries on it--That I'm suppose to be sympathetic, love as a brother, be compassionate and humble.  Am I?  MurkeyMarvin says--Yes I am, I'm quite a bit but not a lot!

SusiesQ says--I'm beautiful and I know it.  I fix myself up very nice and have some really fine, expensive clothes, jewelry and other outward adornment.  I'm just a plain beautiful...!  I think (i.e. my opinion) that the most beautiful women I know are not defined by SusieQ's definition of beauty.  I think (i.e. my opinion) inner beauty is unfading.  It's gentle and quiet spirited.  I might think different than the world.  But listen girls, still make yourselves look nice on the outside.  I like that toooooo!  Really the combination of the two with the strong emphases on the inner is best.  I have just described Arlene.

WillmaWonder is one of the "nones".  Oh ya.  She has no common sense (i.e. none) but maybe a little (i.e. exactly the same but a little different).  ItchieBitchie says--You can't teach common sense more that you can teach athletic, musical, or artistic ability.  Ya either got it or you don't.  ItchieBitichie, I think you can enhance common sense.  I really do.  LuckieEddie has common sense or he is just lucky.  One or the other.  Some folks can just understand stuff and others just can't.  Some have quite a bit but not a lot!  AverageJoe says--I don't care if she has common sense or not 'cause she is pretty and she gets me excited!  I like pretty girls!  And besides, I don't have much common sense neither.  Such is life.

MissPerfect says--I give our kids quite a bit but not a lot!  Soooooo what's quite a bit but not a lot anyway MissPerfect?  I think to know how much stuff to give kids or grand kids is hard to decide.  Stuff just doesn't mean much.  Memories mean a lot. I think most stuff is forgotten but memories last forever.  Sooooo I think it's more important to make memories than to give stuff.  GeorgeTheCrook says--Your children need your presence more than your presents.  Our neighbors have built a new house and will be moving soon (i.e. we will miss them).  ANYWAY Sandy said to me that I have 30 years of stuff and Karl has 40 years of stuff.  What are we going to do with all that stuff. 

AverageJoe says--I have a quite a bit of money but not a lot.  I read this in the paper soooo it must be right--You can serve a small group of rich people or a large group of poor people, but not both.  MagicMike says--Never listen to anyone who says "never" when it comes to money.  They can change their mind real fast!  Oh ya!  Never means tomorrow or this morning!  Oh ya!  Then they say--My memory seems a little blurry but I didn't say that!  Then there is a magnanimous silence.  They are much like a puff of wind. JoeBlow says--If they are tooooooo smooth, they are tooooooo smoooooth.  When folks are  young, they say they want to help the poor.  That is until they get in the world and become real capitalists.  Oh how we change.  It's tooooo bad folks but money is a large driving factor of many folks' lives.  Most folks run with the herd but some buck the trend.  Oh ya!  My mentor use to say--The world's measuring stick is how much money you have!  Ouchy ouchy!

ItchieBitchie says--Things have changed quite a bit but not a lot!  Should the Bible be reinterpreted, modified, overturned by current cultural trends in thoughts and believes?  Science makes for poor ethics.  It is tooooo easy to reinterpret scientific findings in such a way as to justify our moral desires.  Saturday question--Has the Christian believe changed quite a it but not a lot?  Hobby Lobby took out full page ads in newspapers across our great America titled In God We Trust on the 4th of July.  Good stuff--my opinion.  Under the sup-title Scripture was these two scriptures:  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD Psalm 33:12a and If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

Mabel smells quite a bit like a dog but not a lot!  MabelTheHound says--I have quite a bit of time but not a lot!  Soooooo  lets get going!  We're burning day light here!  Ya, we had the opportunity to take care of Mabel (i.e. Chet and Jessica's dog) for a few days.  I think Mabel knows how to use her time wisely.  She is always trying to get attention (i.e. manipulates me).  And it works.  Maybe I'm just a softy!  Could be.  She and I both have the Life of Riley! Mabel taught me something.  Oh ya.  She taught me--You can't trust a dog to watch your food. Mabel reminded me of what my Mom, Anna, said to me--erv, great folks give much attention to folks who can't return anything back to them such as power, money, or fame (i.e. they are not political or egoistical).  They are kind just because it's the right thing to do.  If your motive as a giver is to get something in return, you might be missing the boat.  Then it's business and not a gift at all. A gift given begrudgingly is not a gift.  Such is life.

DuaneTheWorm might be intelligent (i.e. I really don't know but many connivers are).  I question his  morals though.  CadillacJack says--Moral qualities live longer than intellectual ones.  Martin Luther said--The prosperity of a country consists in the number of its cultivated citizens, its men of education, enlightenment, and character.  Here are to be found its true interests, its chief strength, its real power. 

Arlene and I had breakfast with a friend recently.  He was in the dumps.  Really in the dumps.  Not quite a bit but a lot.  Sooooo the next morning I called him to see how he was doing.  He was sooooooo happy and said he got a text message and he's now 180 degrees different.  He was on cloud 9!  One text message folks.  Sooooooo do you think a call from you or a text message could change a person's life that much?  If sooooo, that could be quite a gift.  My deceased neighbor, George, use to tell me that the devil's chief ploy is discouragement.  Make someones day.  Lift their spirits.  You might be the part of the equation to make the change.  TomTheShark-ge lifted my spirits the other day.  We did some betting on the golf course.  I lost each time but it was well worth it.  It was sooooo much fun.  The $$ lose was quite a bit but not a lot! 

Sooooo do you love Jesus?  Ya, I do.  I love Jesus quite a bit but not a lot.  Folks, let me tell you something.  Jesus loves you unconditionally and 100%, no quite a bit but not a lot.  Now that is quite an assurance.  Now that's hard to comprehend 100% by my pea sized mind.  He's God and we are humans.  That's a massive huge difference now isn't it!

WildWillie says--At times I maybe think I know quite a bit but not a lot but I do know that when the king says--"If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.  But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.  So tell me the dream and interpret it for me". Now that's a lot of pressure folks!  That could give a guy a panic attack.  Such is life.

Now that's quite a bit but not a lot he said.  On the #7 tee box at golf league the other night, my teammate was putting some cash in his wallet.  I noticed his credit cards.  I asked him how many he had anyway.  Six he said.  Six!  Ya I have one for each of my different entities.  I hang around some important folks let me tell ya (i.e. bigdogs)!  Six!  That's quite a bit but not a lot!  I like to hang around with successful folks a.k.a champs.  He's one.  Here is another--BigPinkPete.  I call him that 'cuase pink is his favorite color and he wears it.  I wrote about him before; he's my pickleball coach and champ.  He just recently won the Canadian doubles championship.  He's one who I play pickleball with in AZ. 

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--A peck of common sense is worth a bushel of learning.

Distractions

I hope this "It's Saturday" doesn't wake up the demons that have been sleeping in your mind.  If you are concerned, you might not want to read this.  Joesixpack says--If you don't get rid of those demons but just put them in the back part of your mind, they surely will come back to haunt ya.  Those demons can really be a distraction in a person's life. 

I was golfing with Frank recently and he told me that he and his wife fish for Northerns UpNothMN using cane poles.  They troll fast over weed beds using Suicks a.k.a. jerk baits.  That brought up a demon that I have had in my head for years.  Maybe 25 years ago, a friend, made me a couple of Suicks to fish in Canada with.  I said thank you to him but often wondered if he wanted to be paid and I never offered (i.e. I maybe offended him).  Sooooooo this week I saw him, told him about my demon, and offered to pay him for the Suicks.  He didn't even remember making them for me.  Huh, interesting.  He said when I left--Now you can sleep better at night.

MissPerfect, how is your life really going anyway?  Are you happy?  Well, here is some advice for you that might help you with all the distractions that you face each day.  It was written by OldDeadJohn about 85-95 AD--Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Maybe you need some "hybrid thinking".  What do you think MissPerfect? 

Saturday question--Soooooo what's really an irritation in your life (i.e. a major distraction).  What just keeps irritating you?  What just makes your life miserable day after day?  Ya, distractions can cause us to pull us away from what we want to be and what we want to do and where we want to go alright.  Sooooo is it possible to change the irritation in your life?  If not, then one needs to change our attitudes and adjust our lives accordingly.  Now that isn't always easy either is it folks. 

MurkeyMarvin says--I'm trying to make a lot of money.  Money, money, money, ...money!  My family and God seem to get in the way (i.e. distractions).  I just try to forget about them.  It seems to work okay now anyway.  I'm making a lot of money, money, money, ...money!  OldDeadManJohn also is recorded as saying this--Do not love the world (i.e. distraction) or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the will of God lives forever.  MurkeyMarven says--Don't tell me those things.  You are just trying to mess with my mind.  I know what I want and I want money, money, money ...money!  It's all about the money folks!  Such is life.

When I was walking the other day, a Killdear bird gave me the broken wing distraction.  She acted like she had a broken wing and flopped around in front of me.  It's her method of protecting her chicks who were near by.  She would just stay in front of me far enough out of danger but distracting me from her babes.  When we got far enough away, she just flew away.  She was good at it folks.  Very good.

DuaneTheWorm's one hand is doing something while you are watching the other hand.  He deceives ya, fools ya, tricks ya.  Sleight of hand a.k.a. prestidigitation (i.e.quick fingers) or a.k.a.legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a  magician and con artists to manipulate things secretly.  DuaneTheWorm says--Most folks are pretty easy to fool.  Oh ya!  Most are suckers.  I fool them all the time. JoeBlow says--Let me tell you something DuaneTheWorm, not everyone is fooled.  You just think so.  Many see right through you.  Abraham Lincoln once said--You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.  Soooo DuaneTheWrom, you are just fooling yourself most of the time.  Such is life.

Have you ever associated with MagicMike?  He's an interesting guy.  He might be patting you on your back with one hand and taking your wallet with the other.  Or even worse, he might be patting you on the back with one hand and getting to insert a dagger in your back with the other.  JoeBlow says--Be careful of what others say.  Some like MagicMike are manipulators and distractors (i.e. only think about themselves).  Their motives may be different than you think.

Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

There is a gal who I know who has been in a major funk for years.  She is very negative, constantly complaining, and whines and whines and whines.  She is a distraction to herself and others.  And worse of all, she is like a weed--she just keeps coming back!  I don't think she will ever change.  There is very little hope.

ItchieBitchie is in a terrible funk as well!  So how do ya get ItchieBitchie out of his terrible funk?  His funky attitude surely is a massive huge distraction to his life right now.  I wonder if many times we just blow smoke up folks' bloomers when we should be telling them the truth.   Really, if ItchieBitchie doesn't chance, his life will be one disaster after another (i.e. very predictable).  We have seen this type of person time and time again.  LuckieEddie says--You can't continue to live a certain life style and expect things to change.  Ya gotta change your life style and then things in your life will change.  Such is life.

Had the opportunity to golf with some friends the other day.  One friend who I don't get to see enough, lost 40 pounds.  He did it 'cause his friend, a doctor, suggested he do it as his dad and granddad both died at the age of 60 and he's 63.  He used the Medifast Diet.  He lost the 40 pounds in 2.5 months.  He said his only distraction was food!!!  MissPerfect's doctor told her she should give herself a gift for her birthday--the gift should be a membership to Weight Watchers!  Ouchy ouchy!

DuffnerDuff says--You gotta change!--I like to get involved, but not actively.  I have a young friend who lacks motivation and desire.  According to sources, he needs to get on his horse and get going!  That is not good (i.e. a great distraction).  I told him he had to change.  I told him he had to detasel corn and make some money.  He didn't want tooooo!  I told him--You can't just sit on the couch and expect folks to give stuff all the time.  He didn't like to hear that of course.  If  he doesn't get some fire under him, it's not going to go will with his life.  I talked to a friend who told me that he didn't have much desire or motivation at his age either but he changed 100%.  Soooo there is hope.  Why do some change and others don't?  Is it heredity or environment you think?  Or what is it.  Or is it just luck?  A friend told me the other day that there is less than 1% change (i.e maybe halfa%) of folks changing.  Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. ~ Abraham Lincoln~    CadillacJack says--Quit trying to change things erv, (i.e. keep your nose out others lives).  It will all work out!  If it doesn't work out, we have a massive huge welfare program for those folks. 

It appears that folks who don't have confidence will act different than those who do.  They have to put on an act, prove to folks that they are as good by buying more and bigger stuff, always try to impress others that they are important, etc (i.e. aren't the same outwardly as inwardly).  Their actions are a distraction to themselves.  Maybe that is the case.  Some folks who are not confident just go home and hid.  Some just buy a 12pack.  Go and order a double burger and surper sized fries and a larg soda.  Sooooo how do you get confidence?  How do you pull it off?  Maybe if you look at something long enough you start believing it.  You think soooooo?  I think (i.e. my opinion) if folks tell you good stuff about yourself repeatedly (i.e. true stuff like you have the ability to succeed), confidence can be built.  Then ya get a little success and "bingo", you become confident.  BUT to be too confident can cause a problem too.  I saw a dead vulture next to a road kill raccoon on the Butler County black top road T16 yesterday (i.e. free lunch).  I think he thought his take off was faster than it was!  Over confident--smash dead by Barbie driving her SUV about 85 mph (i.e. we live in an age of speed up--the vulture didn't get the email)!  Ouchy ouchy!

A senior friend told me that her husband when they were young was bossy, demanding and used bad language (i.e. his whole family was that way).  Maybe he didn't know any better as he was raised that way. Later in years, he told his wife that she changed him.  Sooooo change can happen folks.  I guess folks first to need to realize who they are before they want to change and then decide that they want to change (i.e. determine what the distractions are).  What do you think?

A client of years past died recently.  I remember him for what he told me maybe 15 years ago.  I said to him one day--you seem much different than you use to be.  He told me that he  had a heart problem which changed his demeanor completely.  He said he is much nicer person than he use to be.  He made a massive huge change in his life.  Some how he figured something out and made some adjustments. He really seemed to enjoy his life after that heart problem.  Maybe he got rid of many of distractions of life.  Huh, interesting.

LuckieEddie says--I wish I wouldn't have done it.  Saturday question--Is your faith in God a distraction or a chief component of your life or do you waver at times?  Joesixpack says--I take faith seriously when it offers some advantage, but ditch it just as quickly if it seems it may become a burden.  RoseyRose says--"I shouldn't of done it," was the thought that bounced back and forth in my mind. I knew I shouldn't but how many others have known the same thing. Knowing that you shouldn't do something usually doesn't stop you. It takes more than that.  Soooooo RoseyRose, what does it take to not get distracted by those "oh it looks soooooo good" thinks of life?

I read this while eating my breakfast of MI blueberries, half a banana, and strawberries (i.e. my summer breakfast sometimes)--For Satan a.k.a. the great deceiver himself masquerades as the angel of light.  Now that is a major distraction.  Be careful folks.  He's even better than DuaneTheWorm and MagicMike. When I take the strawberries out of the container, the best looking ones are on top!  Huh, interesting.  That's called marketing.  My mentor would say--It's never as good as it looks and never as bad as it looks.  The Devil is a great marketing guy.  Oh ya!  Watch out for his distractions.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans.  (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--A man is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.