pride and ride

Blondie says--When we were on our way home from Holland, Mich. we passed a bus that said - Erv's Bus Service." I yelled at Buggsy to look. Their motto on the bottom of the bus was "We take pride in your ride.". I said that you could use that as one of your themes!!!!!!  I just thought that it was great, and they spelled your name right. Pride and ride could be fun words for you to work with. Anyway, I thought of you. I'm one of the people that do read your weekly missile.

I played with MyFriendGeno in his member guest golf tournament last weekend at Rolling Hills Golf Club just west of Westbrook, MN. It has been 33 years ago when we started this fun activity (i.e. I missed one year in 33 years--Jackie Lindaman's wedding).  A lot of fun (i.e. much pride in our ride).  The picture is with MyFriendGeno and Jr and Curt and their buddy Ahhshit!  Us four had many many good times through the years.  We were rolling dice for breakfast.  I said--I don't throw dice for breakfast on a Sunday morning with a couple of Baptist very often.  I asked Curt if he was still a Baptist--no, I went from Baptist to heathen!  After we played Saturday, Jr had to go home to get in the hot tub with Joyce and Brandy.  Jr isn't kinky, Joyce is his wife and brandy is just that, brandy!  Ahhshit use to be a tree just west of the 9th green.  One year we were leading the tournament and I hit that tree on the second 9 and went out of bounds--lost the tournament.  We did win the tournament 5 times but this year we were no longer in the championship flight (i.e. I think that means we are getting older). Such is life.

Do you take pride in your ride?  Do you take pride in improving the ride of others?  ItchieBitchie says--I have learned that my ride on this earth is much more fun and rewarding when I help others (i.e. think of others more instead of always thinking of my self).  You don't want to be around DuaneTheWorm toooo much.  CadillacJack just got a huge family inheritance.  He now has no interest in helping others (i.e. he now just thinks of himself).  Huh, interesting.  Why would a person change do you think?  And the universal answer is-------MONEY!  WiseOldJim says--Pride can cause us to lose a lot of things, like perspective and faith and compassion!  Ouchy ouchy!

Measuring up! 
There are times in my ride that I have a lot of pride (i.e. toooo prideful, full of pride--overthetop pride a.k.a. ugly pride). I really get humbled; have many times, many many times. All I can say folks is--God, please be merciful to me. Joesixpack say--One thing the worshiping of God costs us is our self-centeredness! You just can't be a be a phony like DuaneTheWorm and worship God. You just can't.

Judging folks' pride in their ride!  How does SusieQ treat a person she doesn't know? Observe how a person treats someone she barely knows. This is what I call a "taxi driver or server test." Does the person have the openness and yes, kindness, to have a real conversation with a waiter at a restaurant or the driver of a taxi? Does she ignore them or treat them rudely?  My Daddy, Chester, use to tell me--erv, the good folks are kind to less fortunate folks, older folks, and little kids (i.e. folks who can't repay their kindness--do it for just being nice and not for attention or to look important).  I think that is called your character--the pride in your ride! 

I had an interesting experience the other day.  I was visiting with a fellow church person.  She asked me about a certain person.  I told her that it has been very hard for me to get to know him.  She said, the same for me.  Sooooo others must think the same.  We aren't no super humans (i.e. at least I'm not).  Then in the afternoon, I was playing golf with my buddies and said something about another golf buddy that I though he was pretty hard on another golf buddy recently (i.e. gave him a hard time to a point that it wasn't fun for me).  Another golf buddy said about the critical guy--he's sorta kinda that way.  I thought that but he thinks the same.  Sooooo folks, maybe we seeee folks somewhat the same,  Maybe!  Just maybe.  Soooo maybe my Daddy, Chester, was right again when he said--If you are good, you don't need to tell anyone; they all know.  If  you are bad, well, put it this way, maybe everyone knows that toooooo.  You think soooooo?  Pride and the ride!!!

JoeBlow's good advice--Don't get SlipperSlimySlick in your grill.  He's nasty.  And he's hard to get ride of tooooo!  Soooo be careful folks.  SlippperSlimySlick has an awful lot (i.e. toooooo much) pride in his ride. 

Parents have pride in the ride of their children no matter what age their children are.  FriendSeniorJudy said to me--We senior parents think our children are the most important; our children don't thing we are the most important!  They have their own lives and own children!  And folks, that is hard for the children to understand and also hard for the senior adults to understand.  But both can be understood if we think about it a little. "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." ~Mark Twain~  MyFriendBill told us at breakfast recently when asked how many miles did he think he drove to see their grand kids in their activities last year--He said last year they figured they drove 8,000 miles   Wow!  That's a lot of pride in the ride.  Oh ya!

I like to have a pecan waffle at the Waffle Shop before or after riding bike on the Cedar Valley trials. I usually read the Des Moines paper and do sudoku while eating it. This place just fits me well. There is a waiter/cook/everything guy there who works 2 days a weeks plus his a full time job. His name is Ryan. I have observed him many times as to how he handles people. He does a real nice job. Sooooo I asked him the other day where he got his people skills--Mainly from my parents. They had very good manners. I have very good parents. Sooooo Ryan have you told them that?   Kinda maybe. Ryan, you need to send them a note telling them that. You just need toooo. I wonder if he did.  I saw Ryan and asked him if he contacted his parents--he did--what was their response--like ok, they didn't seem to get toooo excited--they were excited Ryan, they just didn't show it let me tell ya. 

A few moments after the daughter announced her engagement, her Father asked, "Does this fellow have any money?"  The daughter shook her head sadly.  "Oh Daddy! You men are all alike."  Sighing deeply, she replied, "That's exactly what he asked me about you."

I talked to SandTrapSally at the golf tournament (i.e. not her real name put was the name on the beverage cart).  She was a cute blond working the beverage cart (i.e. wanting big tips).  Geno told me that she scored over a 1,000 points in her high school basketball career.  Soooo are you going to play college ball--no, I'm going to concentrate on the academics. 

I was told this story about an Aplington-Parkersburg grad.  He was a football player and wants to play in college.  His father asked him--In the last 10 years how many football players of A-P that went on to play at college level played all four years?  He couldn't think of any (i.e. I'm sure there are some).  Dad was more concerned about his academic side.  One smart dad. 

Curt told me that his son is going to the U of M and to study to be a doctor.  He told me he has done well academically and has a heart for people.  He works in a nursing home with the elderly and really enjoys it.  I think he was very proud of his son.  Folks, there is more to life that athletics.  Much more.   BUT athletics seems to get most of the glory (i.e. a lot of peer group pressure on the kids and on the parents).  Maybe strong on the "seems tooooooo"!  We seem to forget about all the injuries (e.g. bad knees and etc).  Parents have a lot of pride in their ride!

It caused him to studder step!  Pride in his ride! I did a volunteer project with a couple of guys the other morning. I asked SteveWtihTheBrokenFoot (i.e. broke it hoeing the garden) when we got done with our project, what he was going to do the rest of the day? He said--I usually do two projects a day; and one is taking a nap!   Such is life.  MissPerfect says--And that's not hard to believe!  What's that MissPerfect?  That AverageJoe isn't very tough.  You can't get very tough when your main physical activity is sitting on the couch eating chips.  There is an outside chance that he might change (i.e. heavy on the outside chance).  It's getting to the time where the "count is full" and something is going to happen (i.e. either go forward and get on base or strike out--you can't stay the same anymore).  Tick tock tick tock--time is almost up folks. 

A gal at church told me this story:  Her nephew is quite tall.  Many folks say to him--Man, you are tall; how tall are you anyway (i.e. maybe a conversation starter)?  He always wonders why folks ask him that.  They don't say to a person who is quite heavy; Man, you are heavy; how much do you weigh anyway?  Maybe different pride in the ride!  You think soooooo?

"People don't follow your position or your technique. They follow you. If you're not the genuine article, can you really expect others to want to follow?" - Kouzes and Posner in "The Leadership Challenge"  Seeeeee, soooooo be the real deal; don't be a DuaneTheWorm who is a phony.  CrazyMarvin says--Do what all goooooood folks do--make others looooook better than they really are (i.e. now folks, that is not being self-centered).  Such is life.

NerveWrackin'!  Joesixpack says--It can be nervewrackin' to do the right thing instead of doing what is most popular.  It's a lot easier to smile and shake your head vertically (i.e. a lot better for business toooooo or is it in the long run).  I have said many times--Just shake your head upanddown and say, yes sweetheart and life is much better--Remember--A happy wife is a happy life.  ~  One morning on my everyotherday2.5milerun, I met another Aplingtonite walking.  He can't hear very well.  I said something to him which he didn't hear sooooo he just smiled and shock his head vertically.  That's always a safe and effective move   Seeeee!  Pride in your ride.

GeorgeTheCrook says--If we can control our pride, we will have a lot of sunny days here on this earth.  Yabut, dysfunctional and functional is changing constantly GeorgeTheCrook.  What use to be dysfunctional seems to be functional and what use to functual seems to be almost dysfunctional.  Almost!  It's goofy folks.  Goofy! The pride in the ride has and is changing (e.g. use to be a good thing to have no debt--nowadays it doesn't seem that way--I still like no debt--must be from the old school--huh, interesting).  My Daddy, Chester, taught me--Interest is something you receive, not pay out.  He taught me only to borrow money on things that appreciate, never on anything that depreciates(e.g. cars, boats etc).    TypicalAmericanFred says--erv, you are out of it (i.e. wacko); it's American to have a huge massive debt!  Ya gotta have a lot of stuff and if it takes debt to get all that stuff; we will find some credit some where; we gotta have more stuff!  Ya gotta have a lot of stuff; it's American!  DGA said on facebook--We don't need more to be thankful for, we just need to be more thankful.

DuaneTheWorm has a lot of pride in his ride.  WildWillie even questions what goesoninthe weasel's mind.  When we think our thoughts are the truth but don't know that they aren't, well, that could be a problem (i.e. False Evidence Appearing Real).  And you know what, that is hard to change.  They have thought that way for a long time.  Maybe it's impossible to change.  Ok, maybe round the corners a little--big on the word maybe.  Some folks in our neighborhood have this banner by their drive (i.e. must be Harley owners I suspect).  Harley owners have a lot of pride in their ride.  Hi ho Silver!...Away!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Friends are like snow flakes--none of them are the same.
 

least resistance

Violets come into my lawn (i.e. pesty and persistent).  They appear where the lawn is thin (i.e. never where the lawn is thick).  They take the path of least resistance.  Huh, interesting! 

AverageJoe says--Get around good folks and life will be a lot easier.  It keeps the crap from creeping into your life.  Soooo true AverageJoe.  Crap comes in when there is no resistance.  Good folks are the resistance.  What goes in will come out.  Or, what you think is what you'll be.  GeorgeTheCrook says--The way you see your life shapes your life. Such is life.

When our family was home recently, James gave us a hard time that there wasn't as many pictures of Heather and his children as of Chet and Jess' children on the refrigerator.  Well James, it's 'cause they send us prints sooooo alllllll we have to do it put them on the refrigerator (i.e. least resistance).  BUT James, just relax, I have purchased some prints on line from Wal-Mat (i.e. a place of least resistance).  I ordered 5 prints (i.e. 3 of your kids and 2 of Chet and Jess' kids).  Total cost was 48 cents and Wal-Mart sent them to our house free.  How can they do that anyway (i.e. least resistance).  BUT everybody is happy!!!!  Such is life.

I was telling my golf buddies on #5 tee box the other day that I was riding bike the day before when I got a gnat in my ear.  When I went to bed that night, that sucker was still alive in my ear.  It was crawling around soooooo I put that ear on the pillow.  Either it came out or died as I didn't feel it anymore.  NeverMissFrank said--You should of just gone into the other ear got that sucker (i.e. the path of least resistance)!  ~  My golf buddy who I rode that that day told me he had 40 to 50 golf shirts!  What!!! Really!!!  When you get home count them and let me know.  He emailed me--I counted 57 in my closet but probably have some in storage. ~  DaveSays--Hit it to the right, it makes the hole much shorter (i.e. path of least resistance). We heard this on several holes.  Then another golf buddy said--Ya don't want to be right all the time or you will get audited!!!

My Daddy, Chester, use to tell me--Lazy folks are innovative.  They create stuff to make their life easier and faster with less effort.  It's a path of least resistance.  I was watching a robin pull a night crawler out of the ground the other day.  The night crawler was resisting being pulled out.  The bird instinctively knew just how to do it.  It would pull for a time and then wait and then pull again and then wait.  If the bird would have pulled hard the night crawler would have come apart.  Ya gotta apply just the right amount of pressure.  How did that bird learn that anyway?  Or was that bird just a regular Christopher Columbus? 

Justtellin'thetruth!  An elderly man was stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and was asked where he was going at that time of night.  The man replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."  The officer then asked, "Really? Who's giving that lecture at this time of night?"  The man replied, "That would be my wife."

I sometimes take the path of least resistance and it causes me problems.  I enjoy doing sudoku.  I get lazy and don't always double check my enters (i.e. get cocky especially when I have done well for a while).  I get all puffed up (i.e. big head).  And then I have problems (i.e. get humbled).  Either I need to learn to not make mistakes or put the extra work into it.  Saturday question--Do you ever take the path of least resistance and have problems later?

Different ideas as to what it takes to make the cut!  There are atheists and agnostics, and worshipers.  There are folks who believe to have salvation you just need to baptised as a baby, some believe you need to have an intercessor pray for you for forgiveness and then pay a fee, some believe you are saved by your good works, some believe you are saved by following a bunch of rules, some believe you are saved as Jesus Christ being the Saviour and whoever believes in Him will be saved (i.e. free and simple), some believe that everyone is saved, some believe that they are chosen folks and part of some elite holy huddle and everyone else is doomed, some believe in  double predestination (i.e. you are predestined to go to heaven or hell and you have nothing to say about it), etc.  WOW!  There are a lot of choices.  Many just take the path of least resistance (i.e. it's cheaper and less time consuming)!  LuckieEddie says--I really don't care about salvation and religion and that kind of stuff; I don't have a dog in the fight (i.e. I really don't care; I'm lucky and I will just take my changes).  LuckieEddie, are you capable of grading your own paper?  Saturday question--What do you think it takes to be "good to go" a.k.a. "made in the shade"?

Laugh! When you don’t know whether to laugh or cry, laugh. Does your church (i.e. the people) laugh a lot? It appears to me folks like to go to a church that is happy and laughs a lot (i.e. church of least resistance).  SusieQ says--That’s the church where I’m going to go (i.e. where folks laugh a lot)!  JoeBow says--Laughter—maybe not the best medicine, but a good one! Saturday question--Is the church you attend fun to go to? Or is it boring and with no excitement or happiness? I think (i.e. my opinion), church should be an uplifting experience and not a drudgery. If it's a drudgery, folks just won't gooooo. I don't blame them. It's not that complicated folks. Joesixpack says--No Matter Who You Are, No Matter What You Do, You Absolutely, Positively Do Have The Power To Change. SusieQ, I don't know for sure if you are a Bozo or not BUT if your are, here is something to think about-----If your actions do not speak louder than your words, the less you say the better! Ouchy ouchy!

Aren't we something!  We think we are in charge and think we can fix most almost anything.  Then along comes something that we aren't in charge of or we can't fix (i.e. our hands are off the wheel), then we say--God fix it willya!  And RIGHTNOW!  ItchieBitchie says--Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, God "Where have I gone wrong"!  Then a voice says to me--This is going to take more than one night.  We take the path of least resistance.  To God be the glory great things He has done. Give Him the glory, great things He has done. Thanksamillion God. I lift you up and glorify you. I'm sorry when I blow it but you are my Savior. You understand me and love me. As ClassmateLowellOfClassOf63 told me--By His grace things happen. That about says it all.  

I was looking for an item at a speciality store the other day. They didn't have it. I saw a tee shirt (i.e. I like tee shirts) and it had a sale price sticker on it of 97 cents. Sooooo I took it up to the check out and asked the gal if that 97 cents was right--sure is--you can't beat that--she said, you can't beat that with a stick. The path of least resistance is the price. If it was $5, I would not have bought it. But at 97 cents I bought it. Such is life.

Limp along!  Joesixpack said--Ya gotta get a grip on it!  Get a grip on it like a grip you can get with a vise-grip.  I found this sucker on the road while biking (i.e. my normal route to Kesley corner and back 11.2 miles).  I gave it to my churchbuddy as he is very mechanical and probably could use another.  Besides I already have a couple.  But those suckers can really get a grip on things.  Oh ya!  A friend told me that her husband shuffles his feet but doesn't have tooooo but just does.  How come I asked--'Casue I guess he wants tooooo.  Many of our churches do just that--limp along.  How come--'Cause I guess they want to (i.e. least resistance).  Get a grip on it folks!  It's time to move forward. 

He will limp along. He has no choice.  Ouchy ouchy!  I asked an acquittance at breakfast recently if he would like to join us playing pickleball.  He said--I use to play a lot and was quite good at it.  BUT I can't play with you guys--yes you can--no I can't--why not--can't see very well anymore.  I went for several years with my sight getting worse and finally I went in to see what was going on.  I have glaucoma.  And nothing can be done for me.  If I would have gone in earlier, all I would have had to do was put drops in my eyes.  Soooo...the moral of the story is...!

WildWilly says--Some folks just seem to limp through life.  They don't seem to be able to make any worthwhile relationships (i.e. don't seem to connect with others).  They are always trying to impress folks (i.e. DuaneTheWorm).  Seem to always take the path of least resistance.  Does this person feel authentic or obsequious? There is nothing flattering about false praise, or people trying too hard to impress. Really good people don't feel the need to "suck up." Those who can just be themselves are more pleasant to be around (i.e. real folks with good hearts).  CadillacJack says--Life without God is like an non-sharpened pencil. It has no point.

My classmate "The Zenker" sent me this pic at our classof63reunion.  It's CoachBlack (i.e. my high school bb coach, me and a couple of my classmates.  Good memories.
 
Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by.

PS Here is a response I got from last week--erv, at our Mesa condo I have a very similar sign in the kitchen..."Enjoy yourself...it's later than you think"...and at our age erv, I think I'll enjoy myself fast! 

eye witness

Disclaimer--All blog characters are not human.  They are just imaginary folks.  Sooooo don't make any of them you.  Okay?  They are just fun names. 

Joesixpack said to me--erv, I had a good feeling about you but I then realized it was just gas!  Ouchy ouchy!  Joesixpack, you have lot bigger fish to fry than me!  I'm just a little perch in your world.  And that is ok!  Such is life.

I swear to tell the truth the whole truth soooo help me God (i.e. he said that with his hand on a Bible).  ItchieBitchie says--I was an eye witness and I saw the whole thing.  Are you sure you saw everything and remember everything ItchieBitchie--Yes I am.  I've heard that before only to find out that the eye witness was wrong!  In some cases, dead wrong!  Experiments have been done where a person will go into a meeting and hand the presenter a message and then leave.  The folks in attendance are given a quiz as to what they saw.  Everyone sees something different (i.e. like some saw a female and others a male).  Some saw a black person and others a while person.  Da!  That is why DNA and surveillance cameras are soooooo much more accurate than a eye witness.  Yes, ItchieBitchie did tell the truth, the whole truth sooooo help me God.  BUT it was the truth as he processed the information in his brain (i.e. and that isn't always the actual truth).  Such is life.

I am an eye witness to this guy and he's not just a "run of the mill" person.  He is a real guy with a good heart (i.e. my kind of person).  He's a friend and a golf buddy.  He sent me this email--

Erv Just read this morning 1Tim 6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. Sometimes I feel the older I get the more frustrated I become, instead of being more contented and thankful. What's up with that?  ~  Relationships are not formed by talking about how much it rained or what the score of the game was or what is the price of corn or gossip.  Oh no!  A relationship is formed by being venerable (i.e. taking a risk in maybe getting hurt by sharing your heart--sometimes it feels like taking a bullet to the heart).  Being authentic.  Being real.  NOT being a DuaneTheWorm and always being phonyandshowyandself-centered (i.e. doing everything for one purpose--glorifying himself).     

Oblivious!  A golf buddy was telling me about his difficult family situation.  I asked him how he deals with that?  He said--I become oblivious to it.  Oblivious!  A couple of golf buddies in AZ told me about their difficult family situations.  I said to them, wow!  How do you  handle them--That's why I'm in AZ!  When I'm around it tooooo much, fur flies!  Out of site out of mind.  They become unconscious to the situations (i.e. temporally anyway).  Such is life.

My friend Bear WasAnEyeWitness--This week, we're up at our daughter's in Seattle. They just had daughter # 4. That's "4 under 4"! It's crazy up there. I wear ear plugs and have to take some "time-outs"! Gee whiz that's a lot of kids in four years.  Gee whiz folks!  That will go into my gee whiz file.  Gee whiz folks I can hardly believe that...!.  CrazyWilma said--I saw it with my own eyes.  Yabut those 12 beers might have affected your sight CrazyWilma.  I don't think there were really 4 elephants on the road which you had to swerve to miss which caused you to hit the tree.  CrazyWilma said--Okay maybe there were only 3!  Or maybe 6, they were rather fuzzy!  I know I missed them and then that tree just jumped into my way!  What could I do.  Gee whiz those suckers were big let me tell ya!

BridgeLadySally (i.e. she's nasty--her hooks have barbs on them) said after telling some juice gossip before playing her card--I saw it with my own eyes soooo I know it's right!  Do we see things like we want to see them sometimes do you think?  Do you think sometimes we see things like the way we have been programed in our past?  Do you think that our eyes sometimes embellish certain things?  Surely not BirdgeLadySally!  She saw it with her own eyes.  MissPerfect says--Most of BirdgeLadySally's chatter is just "white noise" to me!  Ouchy ouchy!

AverageJoe says to GerogeTheCrook--I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you. I have been an eye witness to that statement.  You can't lie to folks and then say -- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it and I won't do it again.  Folks will just blow you off.  The trust has been broken and never will be the same.  Never!  If it happens the second time, it just validates the first message.  Ouchy ouchy!  Folks know who you are, you have shown that; you can't take it back.  You can try to restore the damage but the damage has been done (i.e. not an easy fix).  Aonesmartman sent me this--What Dr. Brown learned about authenticity through her research turned out to surprise even her. "I thought going into it that there were authentic people and inauthentic people. I did not find any evidence of that at all," she tells Oprah in the video. "What I found is authenticity is a practice and you choose it every day -- sometimes every hour of every day."  AverageJoe says--once  you loose your authenticity, it's hard to get it back.  Oh ya!

I was an eye witness.  Our little neighbor friends and their friends came over the other night to sell Arlene and I a little cups of GatorAid to raise money to buy the camper that is for sale outside of town.  They wanted 25 cents a cup.  The camper is a motor home probably worth about $80,000.  The kids said--We are raising the money to buy it and our parents said they would pay for the insurance.  Isn't this fun!  I love kids. 

I was an eye witness to this discussion.  After golf the other day, a Catholic converted to Baptist, a Open Bible guy, and a retired Christian Reformed pastor and I were talking about reading the Bible. They tried to tell me that Catholics don't really read the Bible, just the Priests do (i.e. well, years ago it was in Latin--years ago most folks were illiterate--then came education and Luther and Calvin with the reformation and the printing press). I said, I can hardly believe that.  ~  Soooo I emailed my AZ golf buddies who are Catholic.  Here is one of the responses I got--CONFUSED ERV I DON,T READ READ THE BIBLE I JUST BELIEVE AND THAT IS THAT . I JUST GOLF AND HOPE I GET A GOOD SCORE. WITH GODS BLESSINGS . AND NO FOOT WEDGES  ~ 2 other of my golf buddies sent about the same message--Catholics are much like others in other Christian denominations; some read the Bible and some don't; some read it more than others.  Sounds pretty accurate to me (i.e. makes sense to me).  WildWilie says--Yabut fear and guilt are still big motivators in many religions of the world (i.e. raises a lot of money folks).  It's sometimes all about the money! 

It's hard to always evaluate stuff!  Some folks have visionary ability and some don't.  AverageJoe says--You either have it or you don't. Just look around and you can see that in folks (i.e. Vision - The ability to see what others do not see).  Some innate qualities you either have or you don't have (i.e. they can't be learned).  Some folks are creative and innovative and some aren't.  Some folks can connect with others and some can't.  Some can see a good investment and some can't.  Some are funny and some aren't (i.e. even though they think they are). Some can see trouble and some can't.  Some can see the direction that needs to be taken and some can't.  A business woman told me this example--She has two gals who work for here.  One is very good at displaying and the other is not.  She had the one who is good work with the one who isn't.  There was no improvement (i.e. she was still terrible).  Sooooo we need to decide if we have vision or not.  If we don't, we need to hire or get around someone who does have that quality (i.e. my opinion). 

I was an eye witness to what he said and did.  GeorgeTheThudwacker, not GeorgeTheCrook told me that he saw something on a billboard and acted on it.  It ended up being a good deal for his family.  Sooooo, many folks saw the billboard and  only a few acted on the opportunity.  It was a limited opportunity.  Why did some act fast and other didn't react at all?  Probably 'cause some don't take advantage of opportunities (i.e. don't have the vision of such things), some are not in a position to act, some times things just fall in a person's lap, and maybe some are not risk takers.  And there might be other reasons that we have no idea why.  BUT it was a good deal for him and his family.  MissPerfect says--Oh, when to act and when not to act, that is a hard decision sometimes.  Sometimes the window of opportunity is open just for a short period of time, and bingo, it's closed about as fast as it opens (e.g. mortgage interest rates or I should have bought farm ground). 

MissPerfect says--Judging on extrinsic and skill-based factors is a relatively objective and straightforward exercise. Gauging softer traits such as will or attitude is much, much harder, and takes one-on-one contact, attentive listening, and careful observations..You are right BrainSmartMissPerfect (i.e. my opinion).  But some folks have the vision to see that in folks and some don't and sometimes we get fooled.  Yes we do.  Once the honeymoon is over, the real person is revealed.  Such is life.

The constant internal debate!  SusieQ says--I was an eye witness to this--An overweight business associate of mine decided it was time to shed some excess pounds  He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery.  One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffeecake.  We all scolded him but his smile remained cherubic.  "This is a very special coffeecake," he explained.  "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window were a host of goodies.  I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, "Lord if you want me to have one of those delicious coffeecakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery."  "Sure enough," he continued, "the eighth time around the block. there it was!"  LittlePipsqueakKerri asks--What's the difference between "eating like a horse" or pigin' out? 

It's time for me to skedaddle folks.  I golfed with a group of golf buddies last Saturday.  Six of them for 10 years averaged 300  9-hole rounds a year (i.e. living in Iowa folks).  Wow!  ANYWAY Maverick (i.e. one of the golf buddies) calls me Malibu.  He reminded me of Harm at the Kesley grain elevator maybe 35 years ago.  Hank I feed some  hogs together for a couple of years.  Harm couldn't say my name soooo Harm called me Malibu.  Also a oldgolfbuddyJon (i.e. I miss him--he was sooooo fun to be around) of years ago use to call me Malibu tooooo.  Good memories.  Yabut how much golf is enough anyway a.k.a. the constant internal debate!  What is over the top?  What's over the top with anything?  Moderation my friends, moderation!

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

erv a.k.a. Malibu

MyFreindJeans says--Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men.

PS  I got this response from last week's "It's Saturday"--I just read a really good line in the new book by Khaled Hosseini, And the Mountain Echoed: "Time is like charm; you don't have as much as you think you do. " Good and true, huh?

complicatedcomplicatedcomplicated

LuckieEddie says--erv, what you write isn't very complicated (i.e. just hard to understand).  I would hope "It's Saturday" is like "going to a friend's house" (i.e. it feels that good and relaxing)!  Joesixpack says--Yabut, some times I don't hear what you are saying very well erv.  Joesixpack, that is true with all of us.  Here is an idea to improve you hearing.  Joesixpack--You do have a BIG belly but not soooooo big as in the guy in the picture (i.e. or is it a gal in the picture--gals have big bellies toooo you know)! 

ItchieBithie (i.e. life just seeeems to smile @ him) says--The modern relationship status indicator has a new term.  It's complicated.  No longer is it just married or single.  Now it's "in a relationship" or "it's complicated."  Married - it's complicated  Single - it's complicated  Divorced - it's complicated  In a relationship - it's complicated.  Sooooo since when has human relationships not been complicated?

It's not that complicated, really!  Rick Warren says--A pretentious, showy life (i.e. DuaneTheWorm style) is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.  I read in another book--"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others".

Do you think Google has made life easier or more complicated?  How about cell phones?  How about cars?  How about round up?  LuckieEddie says--I don't know if I have more time to sit on the couch and eat chips now or before.  BUT I make sure I take the time to do that; it's one of my most ever favorite things of life!  It's not complicated let me tell ya!  And it gets results! 

MissPerfect says--I like it when the questions are complicated but the answers are simple.  That is a lot better than when the questions are simple and the answers are complicated!  Oh ya!  Sooo is this complicated or not?--One of the greatest things to know, and often the least known knowledge, ...is when you have enough.

Dufus!  Life seems complicated at times.  Oh yes.  Bubba Watson lost the Travelers Golf
Championship and sorta kinda blamed it on his caddy (i.e. you hit the shot bud------Bubba, you exaggerated the situation greatly).  He hit his tee shot in the water on 16.  Watson, meantime, was not asked about the incident during his open media session, but apparently snapped at a PGA Tour Reporter, "Don't try to make me look bad!"  No, he apparently did a fine job of that all by himself.  I tell Chet, it's a lot more fun to win than to lose!  I know a dufus.  I think this person will always be a dufus.  WildWillie says--You can't take the dufus out of a dufus!  I don't think Bubba is a dufus.  I think he was just mad at himself.  The dufus I know is a dufus 'cause he's a dufus.  That's just the way it is.  Saturday question--Do folks learn to be a dufus or is that just instinctive?

 

 

 

Decisions!  Life has an erosion effect on us.  What I mean is--Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?  It was formed by erosion.  I think our lives are a form of erosion.  Events of life just keep grinding away at us making us who we are.  It's like being sand blasted for many years.  It's like getting stuck by a pin every day a.k.a. a constant reminder.  We have many choices in life.  Many.  We get to make many decisions and decisions have consequences folks.  Oh ya!  JoeBow says--While life offers many choices, eternity offers only two:  heaven or hell!  Ouchy ouchy!

DT said--Dad's, don't drop the ball with your daughters....the repercussions will be felt their entire lives.  Now that is a big responsibility guys (i.e. their entire lives).  Soooo you have to make that decision when your daughters are young and when you are young (i.e. not when they are old and you are old).  Sooooo step up to the plat now.  NOW!  Got it?  It's not that complicated guys.  My GolfBuddyFrank said to me--I got a lot smarter now that I'm older, at least on some things!!!!

Programed by our past!  I attended my 50th high school class reunion of good ol' Danube, MN High School.  26 of my 44 classmates attended.  4 are dead and 2 no one knows were they are.  It reminded me of two events of high school that really impacted my life big time.  One was getting the part of Barnabe Tucker in the Match Maker in our senior class play.  I was quite shy and didn't have an abundance of confidence.  It really changed me.  The second was at basketball practice during junior year.  At that practice I got the feeling that I couldn't miss.  Gave me great confidence.  Life changing.  Both of those events just fell into my lap. 

A friend told me about an event in her life at good old Danube High School that also was a life changer for her.  It toooo just fell into her lap sorta kinda by accident.  She wanted to be a cheerleader soooooo bad. There was no girl athletics back in 1963 soooo cheer leading was the thing.  The gals had to try out and then they would select the best 4.  Well the cheer leading sponsor (i.e. maybe a dufus) had a hard time keeping the the Pats straight.  Sooo when she announced the 4 cheerleaders at the student assembly , she got the wrong Pat.  Soooo instead of telling Pat she couldn't be a cheerleader, they had 5 cheerleaders that year (i.e. two Pat cheerleaders).  BUT that experience for the MistakePat was a life changer (i.e. a life changer 'cause of a mistake--opportunity).  Huh, interesting!

Okay I once again was reminded that I'm not much of an impact on folks (i.e. not near as important as I think I am and not very good with women).  Carol was the first girl I ever kissed.  It was in Roseland Elementary over by the swings.  I asked her about it at the reunion.  She didn't remember it.  ~  I was sooooo nervous but I asked Mary Jane (i.e. a pretty cheerleader) if I could drive her home after the sock hop after a football game.  I was surprised when she said yes.  I talked to her about it toooo at the reunion.  She tooo doesn't remember it!  ~  Shirley and I had birthdays a day apart soooo we were drivers ed partners learning in a Studebaker (i.e. that's right a Studebaker).  We had a good time together, sooooo gooood that we both flunked our drivers test for our license the first time.  I asked her about it at the reunion--She tooooo didn't remember it!  Now that is hard on a guy's confidence and ego let me tell ya!!!!  Such is life.

BUT I did impact classmateBill.  Bill came up to me and showed me his hand.  His hand had a bone that stuck out funny.  He said he got it trying to tackle me in practice one day and broke his hand.  Huh, interesting. 

When Heather and family were  home a few weeks ago for her 20th class reunion, we went to Legends Trail Golf course for breakfast.  There was a table of teachers (i.e. retired and active).  Heather told me a story of one of the retired teachers.  Sooo we went to the table and she told the story.  The retired teacher remembered the story like it was yesterday.  That was probably 23 years ago.  Here is the story: StudentBen was giving StudentJody a hard time constantly.  Mrs. Burman told Jody not to let him bother her as Ben's mother told me that the only way Ben knows how to put on his underwear in the morning was that the brown streak goes in the back and the yellow spot goes in the front.  ~  Mrs. Burman and I taught together 44 years ago (i.e. the few years I taught).  She and I would loosen the fuses in the hall fuse box and make the lights blink in a fellow teacher's classroom.  He would tell us about it time and time again and ask us if we had problems.  We told him he better see the janitor about that.  We did it many times.  What a hoot!

I volunteer at Wheaten Franciscan Health Care by doing the orientation for the volunteers.  Recently I had two going-to-be seniors in high school in the orientation.  Both of these guys had a full beard.  I don't remember any of my classmates having beards back in 1963.  Soooo what's the deal anyway!

ClassmateZenker told me he's a farmer.  He said it has been very good the last 5 years, very good.  SoooooClassmateZenker, do you have self-steer on your equipment (i.e. gps).  Ya I do.  I have 34 foot tillage equipment and set it for 33 and half feet sooooo I overlap 6 inches.  I thought there was something wrong as it seeeeemed sooooo far out there.  I must have been over lapping at least 10% all those years.  But he said, he has a hard time remembering how to run that stuff each spring.  His son says--It's not that complicated (i.e. a piece of cake)!!!

Living in the past!  Saturday morning before I left for my reunion, Arlene and I had breakfast with a young couple who are getting married this summer.  Katie told us that she didn't go back to her 5th year class reunion as many of her classmates still live in their high school past (i.e. very immature).  When you are out of high school 50 years your stardom of high school doesn't have much glory anymore although maybe some still think it does!  MissPerfect says--Just 'cuause you were the star athlete or cheerleader or whatever in high school doesn't make you a successful person.  I talked too probably 10 63classmates who have done very well who were not athletes at all or surely not the stars but who had great success stories.  Many, like me had pretty humble beginnings and surely were not the homecoming kings and queens in high school.  In fact, some of their stories are really something--and they were very humble about their accomplishments (e.g. my neighbor Jerry was raised on a farm across the section--his mother died when he was 13.  There probably wasn't much income in their family.  Jerry never was in athletics that I can remember yet he got his MBA.  He did not live or talk about the past but looked and talked about the future).  Such is life in America, the land of opportunities.

It's not complicated folks.  A couple of the most meaning conversations for me were with a couple of femaleclassmatesofclassof63.  One told me of her husband dieing of cancer and how difficult it was.  We talked about her strong faith in God and how important that was.  The other gal told me of the sudden death of one of their adult sons.  It to was/is soooo hard.  This is soul searching talking folks (i.e. talks with meaning and feeling). 

Something that really amazed me.  I heard no bragging about themselves, spouses, children or grandchildren.  SusieQ says--Maybe none of you had anything to brag about!!!!   Now that could be.  Real life of real folks.  Such is life.

America, oh America!  Our little Erin rode in the Breckenridge 4th of July parade with her Daddy.  She is riding in a Summit County Emergency vehicle.  Heather said she was worried though.  Worried that she wouldn't get any candy by not being on the curb.  Life is complicated for a 6 year old!  Such is life.

America is soooo great!  At times it seems democracy is complicated but America is soooooo great! 

Adeus amigos!  I enjoyed talking with you guys once again.  As Jonathon, a young man from church, said--But, just like peach pie at the church picnic, all great things have to come to an end at some point.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--May you never miss a rainbow because you are looking down.