My luck!!!!

Disclaimer:  This “It’s Saturday” won’t change you from a gumshoe to guru!  This is not a tutorial in self-help.   If you expect a life changing event, I think you need to lower your expectations. But I will try to demystify your thinking (i.e. sorta kinda disambiguate your thinking)!  I will not sauté around the issues folks. Soooo if your are a bit squeamish, you might want to skip this “It’s Saturday”.  I don’t want any of you to face reality if you don’t want tooooo and I especially don’t want to hurt any of your feelings in any way.  Remember folks, I'm just a little ol' farm boy who grew up a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.

ItchieBitchie says--I’m a little leery of myself.  Realty gives me glimpses of me and who I am which makes me wonder about myself!  It gives me glimpses of my luck and how much of an anomaly it is sometimes.  Ya can’t beat good luck with a stick! Yabut CadillacJack says--Luck is luck and your good luck at some point will run out (i.e. luck evens out).  You can't be lucky for ever.  It doesn't work that way!  Oh shoots!  Sooo don't push your luck 'cause you will run out of luck at some point just at the point when you need it!  Bingo.

The answer is...! Joesixpack says--If you want to be lucky, you’ve got to go out and get lucky.  Ya gotta be a risk taker.  If you try 50 new things and 25 are successful, you have 25 new successful things.  If you only try 3 new things that you are certain that you will succeed at, probably you only have three successful things.  MissPerfect says—Yabut erv, I can’t handle the 25 tries that I fail at.  It hurts me way tooooo much.  But if you are happy, happy you are. I understand MissPerfect, but maybe that is why you will live in your little box!  Suggestion—Increase your odds by testing them on other folks before going full bore with them.  If they say they don’t sound soooo good, maybe you need to think about it more.  But, pick good folks to give you their opinions.  My Mom, Anna, said--erv, surround yourself with good folks (i.e. you guys).

WorldClassLarry says--Mindedness and also mindfulness sure make a person luckier. LuckieEddie says--Those two qualities surely will improve a guy’s mind. Ya put all that stuff together and it helps with a person’s development of clarity and peace.  Sometimes ol’ ervie needs a wake up call to understand this stuff.  How about you? A hard shot to the jaw (i.e. in humility) usually does it. I get humbled a lot.  Now that can change my luck big time.  Such is life.

Huzzah! We were invited to 5 kids’ high school graduation parties.  I had a relationship with each of them but each was a little different.  Two had everything pretty easy for them (i.e. it appears).  They are great kids and will do well.  No question.  The other 3, life wasn’t as easy for them (i.e. for different reasons). But each of them have had some success (i.e. sorta kinda fell in their lap success) which might propel them to a different level.  I am sooooo happy for their successes.  I’m not certain why their success happened to them (i.e. I really think some of it was luck or something—I would like to think I had a teensy weensy something to do with it but I really doubt it but ya never know now do ya).  I wish every kid could have some success.  Soooooo does confidence give you success or does success give you confidence?  I don’t know but I think they sleep together!  It will be very interesting to follow them in their lives.  I hope for all of them that the success they had will be a spring board for a great live.  Time will tell I guess.  Such is life.

I measure folks (i.e. especially athletes) not by their accolades when they were in high school or college but by what they went on to do with their lives.  Now that is success. If a high schooler had the most tackles, played first chair trumpet, had the fasted time running the hurdles, was in the top 10% of class academically, had the nicest clothes, etc is really ok but let’s see what they do with their life.  Every high school has students that have those accolades.  Some folks mature later and some have a strong motor and some just go to sleep and others just live in their past.  MojoPete says—Some folks can hit the “go” button and they just take off.  Others never hit the “go” button and just stay the same talking about how many tackles they made their senior year. 

 Make “my luck”!  A motorist, after being bogged down in a muddy road, paid a passing farmer five dollars to pull him out with his tractor. After he was back on dry ground he said to the farmer, "At those prices, I should think you would be pulling people out of the mud night and day." "Can't do it", replied the farmer. "At night I haul water for the hole."

“Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose." Wilma Rudolph Olympic gold-medalist sprinter  ~  I watch the NBA playoffs.  I heard an announcer say—The winners are usually the ones who can handle frustration the best.  That is what he said.  Yup, handle frustration the best.  Huh, interesting! “If you have a job without aggravations, you don't have a job.” ~Malcolm Forbes~

I lost sooo...!  I ran in Parkersburg's Run of Remembrance last Saturday (i.e. 5k).  I ran in the 60 to death age group.  My friend (i.e. he is easy to like) a.k.a. Secretariat won of course (i.e. you don't get the name Secretariat by not winning).  I got 3rd out of 4 guys (i.e. I beat the 4th by a couple of seconds at the wire).  The fourth guy was Jon Hungry.  I didn't think I was slow but I heard Jon Hungry stopped half way through the run at Todd's Neighborhood Grill and ate breakfast.  ANYWAY I got passed by an old, fat lady.  I think it was the same old, fat lady that passed my on RAGBRAI a few years ago.  But she was real nice about it--As she whizzed by she said--How ya doing honey!  Yabut I was the oldest person running at 69. Crazy! Such is life.

Maybe it’s more than my luck!  I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--Dr. Jeremiah says--A popular brand of automobile oil filters became famous for its marketing slogan, “You can pay me now or pay me later.” That is, you can pay a small amount now for an oil change or a large amount later to repair or rebuild the engine whose oil was not changed. Either way, you’re going to have to pay to own and operate your car. The Bible takes a similar view on the subject of humility: You can humble yourself now or have God humble you later. Either way, if you want to follow Christ, you will be humble.

I was running the other afternoon in our little town (i.e. I hit the “go’ button but there was no “go”!).  I passed a gal, who I know but not very well.  I have never seen her walking before.  Do you walk every day—I try to after work—good for you; keep it up—thank you erv for the encouragement.  I have no idea what that was all about.  There probably was more to it than I know (i.e. could refer to one of a million things).  Maybe I helped formulate her thinking.  Just maybe.  But I don’t know.  But then, I don’t know a lot.  It’s easier sometimes!!  As Onesmartfriend told me recently at breakfast—The older I get, it seems like the less I know!  Such is life. 

My luck; I don’t think sooooo! OneSmartPerson says--In today's business and professional world, we often hear companies talk about "best practices" that can distinguish them from their competitors. One definition of this term is "a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark...a 'best' practice can evolve to become better as improvements are discovered."  MissPerfect says--Soooo folks, mimic the good stuff that works and the good folks on this earth.  Why not? It would appear that your luck will improve!  I think so.  What do you think?

Change your luck! A friend told me that we sometimes try to make folks do things the way we want them to do it (i.e. the way we always did it and what feels good to us).  We like it and are comfortable with it but maybe others aren’t (e.g. such as the younger generation).  ItchieBitchie says—If folks won’t change, usually it’s the death of the company, school, church, etc.  Do we ever ask the folks what they want and adjust to them?  Business does this some (i.e. it’s all about the money folks).  They want to be in tune to what the customers’ wants.  You can do what you think they want or what you want, but if they don’t want it, it ain’t going to work.  I think there might be some religious traditions of some churches are this way (i.e. not the faith but the religious habits and traditions).  Really folks, are the religious practices all that important? Maybe some might have the idea—we are right and if folks want to come to our church, they have to do it our way; the way we have done for last 80 years (i.e. force it down their throats if they like it or not).  We are right and we know it! I think that is a monolithic attitude. But they might be right, dead right! Folks say--We are open to change. Da! In their dreams. They are maybe on the slow boat to China! But, I can understand older senor's feelings.  Yes I can.  They might feel they are only going to live a few more years and don't want any change.  They like it just as it is!  Bingo.

Memorial Day thought!  A WW II vet said--A lot of those guys didn't come back; I was lucky.  Things can change overnight, so you better enjoy the day.  

 My luck! JakeSmart says--I have really been working out to get in shape.  I work hard every day and night on the hedonic tread mill (i.e. I have done it for a zillion years—I’m good at it and it’s now a habit).  It’s a lot of hard work folks.  LuckieEddie says—The hedonic tread mill work out makes ya what to work out more and more and more; the more you have the more you want.  It’s a killer alright but folks love it!  It becomes an obsession a.k.a. the American way of life.  Mr.BigGuy says--There is no luck using the hedonic tread mill folks. EricTheArcher says--...only smart thing about JakeSmat is his smart mouth! JakeSmart is on the fasttrack to somewhere for sure. This is not dancing around the issue folks.  It probably gives me a smarmy attitude with some of you.  Such is life.

The world’s measuring stick for success is MONEY!  Oh ya!  GeorgeTheCrook says—You can obtain money by hard work, being entrepreneurial, inheriting it, marry it, taking it from someone else or a combination of them!  Bingo!

CrazyMarvin says—I listen to stillness!  MissPerfect says--How can anyone listen to stillness.  You can’t hear stillness, can you?  What is stillness anyway?  Joesixpack (i.e. while running on the hedonic tread mill) says—I have no idea what stillness is.  I never hear it! I think CrazyMarvin is crazy!  Who listens to stillness in the world we live in anyway.  I have toooo many mobile devices to have any stillness if there is such a thing.  Stillness, a crazy thought! I got to go to take another selfiie to make some noise on my social media posts! WorldClassLarry says—Stillness give us wisdom; a great source of peace! 

SusieQ says—Life can throw some sharp sliders at times.  Those suckers are soooo hard to hit.  It appears that some folks are better hitters than others (i.e. get luckier).  I really don’t know why sometimes.  My luck maybe!  Yabut it sure helps when you have Popeye forearms!  It also helps if you keep practicing hitting those sharp sliders.  ThePrizeTurnipHarold says--The more I practice and work at it the better I get.  It seems like I get luckier!  Such is life.

OneSmarGal informed me of a new concept that I never heard of before called “risk tolerance and risk capacity”.  We probably have heard of risk tolerance before (i.e. what your emotions can tolerate in your investments) but I have never heard of risk capacity.  Think about it, some folks have a lot of risk tolerance but do not have a very large risk capacity (i.e. they can’t afford to take those odds because of their situation).  That strategy will take some of the luck out of investing maybe.  The risk just ain’t worth the potential success (i.e. can't afford it).  Maybe we need to think more about what is best for us and our situation.  It surely is different for different folks.  Surely!

This is the church that I grew up in

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way a man uses them.

Zango

MissPerfect says—erv, you seem to tell us more than you know! MissPerfect, I know that I don’t know much but I do know that your cable bill is ugly and your data plan bill is ugly but neither are as ugly as your husband, Bill! 

This "It's Saturday" is not heliography sooooo I assume most of you will understand part of it (i.e. there is no guarantee). Heliography is, of course, the ancient method of sending messages by reflecting sunlight off a mirror or some other polished surface. It was perfected in the 1800s when British military engineers figured out how to coordinate the mirrors with surveying equipment to pinpoint locations of senders and receivers. RuthieTheToothpick (i.e. that is what I called our neighbor girl as a kid) says--We always don't communicate very well 'cause we don't always understand stuff the same. Sooooo true RuthieTheToothpick, soooo true. I wonder if Ruthie is still a toothpick? Haven't seen her since I was a kid. I wonder.

I bet you didn’t know that the Earth weighs by some estimates about 13,170,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 pounds (i.e. how they came up with that I don’t have a clue—maybe they made that up after drinking at their favorite watering hole).  ANYWAY those same folks say population growth makes Earth heavier. SusieQ says—No way, No way! Folks are made of stuff that was already here. Dust to dust. What do you think?  It appears that some folks are pretty dusty!

I stopped to pick up my bike at Sheels (i.e. I had checkup done).  I was the first paying customer of the day.  I told the cashier clerk I wanted the Jewish first customer discount. He asked me what was that! When I was a young lad my Mom, Anna, would take me with her to buy produce at a store owned by a Jewish man in Willmar, MN. She said that the first paying customer would get a discount as it was a Jewish custom to treat the first customer very good. It was good luck. I don’t know if that was true but she thought soooooo.  Sooo I emailed a Jewish Christian friend and he said—“I  think it's probably a story about a smart, entrepreneurial businessman, who knows how to be customer-oriented. If it's a Jewish custom, it must have begun after I became a follower of Jesus, 'cause it's not familiar to me! :) Maybe it was a custom among the Jews of that locale.....?”  I wonder if it was maybe just what my Mom, Anna, heard for her Mom, Gertie!  Could be.  I asked my sisters.  My kid sister emailed me--I don't remember the first paying customer discount thing, but I do know that he always gave me a banana.  When I got older I realized he gave me an over ripe one probably that he wouldn't be able to sell anyway, but at the time I sure thought I was special. Zango!

Roasting pan! A gal was making her new husband their first pot roast.  She cut of the ends and put it in the roasting pan.  He asked her how come she did that--‘cause my mom always did it—how come did your mom do that—I don’t know; soo she called her mom—her mom told her she didn’t know but her mom always did it—sooo she called her grandma—grandma said, the pot roast was toooo big for the roasting pan.  Zango!

Here is a zinger for you to think about.  I was telling a friend about times when I don’t feel like running.  My body says it doesn’t want to run.  I have on occasions just turned around and went home.  He is a runner and taught me this zinger—Just walk about 30 feet and let your body reboot (i.e. unplug it and turn it back on).  It works.  It really works.  It seems to me that after about a mile my body adjusts and actually does even better yet after 2 miles.  Does any of you folks experience this?  ItchieBitchie says—I do that all the time with my life—walk 30 feet and let my life reboot!  Joesixpack says—Whether we are athletes or not,

we all dream of extreme success and are all looking to make our future the best it can be, but along the way we will undoubtedly need time to recover and rejuvenate.  SuperRunnerJerBear (i.e. I think it was him or it is something that he would say) says--Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit which fortunately functions independently of logic. Zango! 

Zango!  I was talking to a friend whose grandson plays on an elite AAU basketball team.  One of IA University’s head basketball coach’s son plays on the same team.  A parent of another kid on the team knows this coach quite well and also the coach of another Iowa University said this—This coach, the more you get to know him, the less you like him (i.e. very arrogant).  Then he said—The other coach, the more you get to know him, the more you like him (i.e. very humble).  Huh, interesting.  My impression of watching them on TV give me the same feeling (i.e. and I ain’t that smart folks, I’m just a farm boy from  a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN).  Such is life.

We should see other people

UnFilteredLyle says--Some folks can really be zingers with their zingers.  Some folk’s zingers are more than bush backs but are “down right hurting comments”!  Ouchy ouchy!  I found this golf ball on the course while walking the other night.  I bet that message was a zinger when he read it.  And sometimes we interpret communication differently that what it was meant to mean .  Have your ever done that? 

Generally, the theory of causation seeks to explain the connection between one event (the cause) and another (the effect). There are causes and effects throughout life.  Many causes and effects are hard to explain and it can be hard to put a finger on it but they still formulate our thinking.  GeorgeTheCrook says--One reason why we don’t always understand the cause and effect, is that we lie to ourselves.  We don’t like to face the facts of our lives.  Flipthepancake—Many of the good things that have happened to me (i.e. causes and effects) have just fell in my lap (i.e. they are way beyond me).  SusieQ says—Usually there is a cause and effect to most everything but sometimes we don’t recognize them.  Results generally can be predicated.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.  Sooo folks, think before you do the cause.  Think what effect the cause will produce.  It might be a wise decision to do that.  What do you think?  CasualCal says--It's your life. It's your family. It's your future. But…!

This friend tells the truth, yes he does (i.e. a very good man with a good heart,—my kind of person).  Make no mistake, this is a big one!  No lie! No fish story; the proof is in the picture.  He caught this while fishing with his oldest kid.  I bet that lunker made his reel zing!  I asked him where he caught that monster—he said, in the mouth! Like I said, he never lies! Zango

Me, myself and I all think I’m okay; good to go!  If I think I am who I think I am, then I don’t have to worry about any gap in me, myself and I now do I.  But if me, myself and I have a bad evaluation of me, myself and I from me, myself and I, then I better pay attention to the gap.  How will I ever know?  My family and close friends know I bet (i.e. just maybe) but they many times won’t give me their opinion.  Or they might but I won’t listen to what they are saying.  Could be! Probably they say--Momma Mei what a meatball!

Moving moving raw hide.  Ya remember that song.  This is the truth ‘cause I read it in the paper—Getting your body moving is one of the best cures for depression or anxiety available, and it’s free.  Exercise gets your endorphins circulating through your brain.  Making yourself be more physical will make you feel better about almost everything, and doing it to music will make it that much more enjoyable. My bike made a creaking and cracking noise.  It drove me crazy (i.e. I don’t like rattles and noises).  After a bunch of money (i.e. it’s all about the money folks) the bike shop fixed it (i.e. put a little grease on the right spot).  It would have been a lot cheaper if I would have taken the advice of a friend (i.e. he’s one smart guy folks and is easy to like)—Put your I-pod on and turn up the volume real loud and listen to music; erv, you won’t hear the creaking and cracking!  Zango!

Zango! I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Last year, a Gallup poll found large numbers of Americans in the grip of worry.  Worry can have long-term chronic health consequences, including cardiovascular disease. No surprise there. But how do we reduce worry? The researchers recommended more sleep, periods of deep breathing, walks in the forest, chocolate, and smelling grapefruits. They found that the pleasant-smelling essential oils of grapefruit tended to reduce tension and boost the body’s energy. Those ideas may have merit, but the true answer to anxiety is spiritual. We must learn to meditate on God’s goodness. Ponder His power. Drill into His promises. And then focus our minds on Him. Take some time today to stop and think about God’s many blessings in the midst of stress and pressure. Grapefruits are good; but great promises are better. "Reflect upon your blessings, of which every man has plenty, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." ~Charles Dickens~

Unlikely but you never know!  AverageJoe says--My girlfriend CharmingBetsy, makes me want to be a better person--If she gets that done than I can get a better girlfriend!  Unlikely but you never know!  Zango!

It ain’t nutten new folks. I talked to a lady recently whose mother-in-law just died.  I said to her—she was a nice lady; she always kept your father-in-law in check when he got sooooo excited—ya, now I have that same role with her son (i.e. a chip off the ol' block)!  A friend said to me recently—So and so is aloof just like his dad was.  I think my friend is right; he’s not kiddin’ folks.  I knew his dad as well.  Are you like your mother or your dad (i.e. good stuff and bad stuff).  I read in the paper (i.e. sooo it must be right)—Experts say, children react to what their parents do and say - whether these are good habits parents want to encourage or bad habits they don’t want to instill.  Especially until the age of 8, kids are behavioral sponges programming their internal computers.  Many parents do crazy stuff and act rather crazy.  But most times they can’t even recognize that stuff about themselves.  Self-evaluation is soooo hard to really do objectively. WisecrackElma says—Especially if parents don’t even know right from wrong. Huh, interesting.

AverageJoe says—Most zingers (e.g. true sweeping cultural changes) come from a creative lark and not from committee meetings and focus groups. Boy, I will agree with you AverageJoe. By the time everyone tweaks an idea, waters it down, tables it for long periods of time, and get their egos in it, the creative lurkers would have it up and running and producing results that the committee would never get done.  But folks like committees.  I was taking to a business person (i.e. a friend) the other day.  She has to put on presentations (i.e. make sale presentations) to committees etc.  I told her to find out who the decision maker is and sit across from them (i.e. look them right in the eye).  The others really don’t make much difference.  She told me that she did a presentation to a bank board one time.  A person on the board told her that when Flow is happy, it makes Craig (i.e. her husband who is also the president of the bank) happy. Sooooo sell to Flow and don’t worry about the rest.   Wheeeeee!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—At one time ambition was rewarded, now it is punished with higher taxes.

ya gotta be kiddin'

You can’t imagine how I worry about you nimrods!  Really.  I lose sleep over you! 

#wimp (i.e. hashtag) A buddy is doing an Iron Man Competition today in Houston (i.e. swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles--that is in one day folks).  He was telling me that it’s one third physical, one third mental and one third nutritional. You gotta be kiddin’!  And I slowly run 3 miles and I’m tired. I’m a wimp! He’s not! No question. He lost 42 pounds!  Wow.

Underwear?  When I wrote about what kind of underwear folks might wear a few weeks ago, I got an email from a buddy (i.e. male).  Do you think I wear underwear and if soooo what kind?  I responded—yes athletic.  Recently I was playing golf with him and on the first green, he pulled down his pants and showed us his underwear.  What a hoot!  Some of you say—Ya gotta be kiddin’!  I don’t know if girls would do that, would they? BikiniBarbie says--Give me a six pack of Bud Light and I might! Well my buddy was the Iron Man guy!  A rare guy!  Huzzah! Saturday question--Do any of you go commando?

You got to be kiddin'! Iowa's basketball coach was asking about a young high school player from southern Florida as to why he was not being recruited.  He had super athletic ability and a great body. His high school coach said—Well, he did smoke some marijuana and did

burn some bridges along the way; but you can talk to him if you want.  Soooo the coach talked to the young man and asked him about smoking some marijuana and about burning some bridges.  The kid said—Ya, I admit that I did smoke some marijuana but I didn’t burn any bridges; I'm really not into fire!  And his ACT score was what? I heard he went to to our friends to the north, The University of MN!  ha ha  HerkyTheHawkeye says--Probably that bridge burner will beat us for the next 4 years!  Such is life.

Don't make a spectacle of yourself erv! # wimp EasyJohn says--erv, you need to recompense your thoughts!  Recently, I was disappointed with a couple of folks.  I thought they should have acted differently to me.  I asked a friend what he thought—he said—erv, just forget about it—soooo I asked my golf buddies what they thought—they said—erv, just forget about it.  I guess I heard it—I need to forget about it. RipsterBud says--Don’t over do it erv, you are getting’ a little over the top—settle down—cool your jets--you ain’t God almighty—you’re just a little old farm boy from a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN—sooo suck it up Roseland Rosebud; rub some dirt on it; buck up you wimpy wimp!  ItchieBitchie says—erv, why do you even care how those guys act or think; it’s no skin off your back; you don’t have to associate with them.  Besides, they might be right and you might be wrong.  Could me!   I'll put that experience in my back pocket for future reference. Such is life!

Sooo are you involved in hipsterism?  LudicrousHarry says--Trend setters they are, or at least they think they are.  OldTimeHerman says--The old classic approach is always popular with a certain segment of folks (e.g. like the old classic blue pin strip shirt with the old classic kaka pants).  But the real target of retail is you the hipsters (e.g. the new Apple I-watch type maybe).  I think it’s sooooo interesting that one person (i.e. in the holy elite group of hipsters) can wear something and it’s really neat and another person (i.e. a wannabe hipster) could wear the same stuff and the peer group click will say--Are you kidding me!  I actually like the folks that don’t really care.  They probably have more confidence than the hipsters.  But I don’t know.  Maybe the trendsetters are just trying to intimidate the other folks.  Could be!  But I really don’t know.  But it appears that it’s more expensive to be a hipster.  Could be.  But I don’t know. Years ago I was on a board with a guy who was form New York.  He was worth maybe $50 million.  He would buy his ties on the street for $2 but would pay a huge massive amount of money for a good dinner (i.e. he always looked for value for his $).  Really. I remember him getting off the plane, I think in Salt Lake City, wearing an old pair of blue jeans that had paint on them besides some holes.  The next day he looked like a million dollars.  He was not a hipster!  But maybe in his own way.  But you know what, either way, it appeared he didn’t really care.

Well eat my shoes!  I recently had a friend ask me—erv, why do you keep that of old golf cart (i.e. 1985); why don’t you buy yourself a new one.  A golf buddy won’t ride with me in my cart.  I think he thinks it’s below him (i.e. he really makes me laugh—I think he thinks he’s a hipster). I think he has pejorative thoughts of me. Hey, she (i.e. my golf cart) is sorta kinda a classic (i.e. like a 1932 Ford deuce coupe that the Beach Boys sang about).  Their are soooo many memories connected with that sucker and besides, it just feels good to me. I really don’t need to or care to impress anyone.  It’s just me maybe.  Obviously it’s not for others.  That doesn’t bother me.  Why I’m that way?—Scientists are still looking into that!  And you know what folks—I’m 69 years old and if you guys don’t like my taste of golf carts, I have had plenty of time to learn what to tell ya and also have had plenty of time to learn to tell ya where to go!  Such is life.

Change colors!  An animal that can change color but is the same animal I truly like, appreciate, look up to and respect. (e.g. folks who can be a country hick or just an average Joe one day and a hipster or professional person the next or have the look of a country flower lady one day and a triathlete or doctor the next).  A guy was telling me that he was at The Living History Farm in Des Moines with his family.  His wife came back from the john and said she talked to the nicest guy, down to earth guy (i.e. had the greatest time).  He asked who he was—I don’t know; didn’t ask him; he is standing over there—it was Fred Hoiberg, IA Sate men’s’ basketball coach a.k.a. the Mayor doing a commercial.  I really like that when folks are just real folks (i.e. aren’t all puffed up).  Down to earth.  A friend told me that he was the caddy for a foursome in a fun raiser golf tourney.  Their feature player was Ben Jacobson, UNI’s men’s basketball coach.  He was sooo excited about his new pickup and wanted to show it to them when they got back.  They thought it would be a brand new pickup with all the bells and whistles.  It was just an average, but clean 2005? Ford F150. Great character (i.e. but that is my opinion).

Zinore

You got to be kiddin'! LuckieEddie says--Has anyone ever asked you to do something that seems totally ridiculous? The very suggestion of their idea may have brought laughter for proposing the idea.  Had breakfast with a friend (i.e. he has a good heart and is a giver) the other morning.  We talked about mission giving.  He wonders how much good our giving does (i.e. how much bang for the buck we are getting—cost effective).  He was wondering if we should maybe pay folks to come to church.  It would help our declining attendance, increase the quality of life for some, and also might enlighten them.  Soooooo how much do you think we would have to pay—some would come for $10 a Sunday and others would maybe want more.  It would be negotiable.  We could have specials like the cable companies do and maybe run weekly adds like HyVee does.  We could also have bundle plans.  GerogeTheCrook says—It just might work; money drives most everything; it’s all about the money.  Now we give money to folks and have no idea if they buy beer with our money or travel the world.  We get scammed it seems sometimes (i.e. my friend thinks he has).  We have no idea what Zinogre does with the money we give him.  Huh, interesting. 

Rare! I gave blood the other day.  As the phlebotomist  pulled the needle out of my arm and was attaching the information to my bag of blood, she said—I have only seen “Rare” on one other bag of blood all the years I have worked here.  Another phlebotomist who has drawn my blood several times said—He’s rare alright!  As my blood was being drawn, there was a lady who was on the bed direct in front of me giving as well.  We were only maybe 15 feet apart and were basically face to face. She was a senior of maybe 68, probably a 7 as far as facial looks, probably a 8.5 as far as body looks (i.e. slim and fit), probably a 9 as far as dress (i.e. tastefully classic but moderate), probably a 10 as far as poised and happy and polite and nice).  Of course this is all my opinion folks and from glancing at her a few times.  Sooo when I am done I go to the canteen and she joins me (i.e. she only drinks water).  She starts small talk about how windy it is and how she doesn’t like to bike when it’s soooo windy.  We talk about biking and I ask her what are two of her favorite bike rides—Southern France in the wine country and the Appian Way.  She was very humble and tasteful about talking about it.  She asks me my favorite rides—trail along Lake Michigan in Chicago and the ride we did in Holland ‘cause it was just soooo much fun as Arlene rode on the back side-saddle (i.e. it was a hoot).  I said to her—You really seem to be a happy person—I try to be.  I think she was a rare person.  Another rare person I met was a 19 year old gal who has already given a gallon of blood.  I applauded her. She ain’t no wimp! #wimp Soooo folks, be rare.  Be happy and give blood.  It’s a great combination! 

On your left!  That is a term used when biking.  When folks pass a slower biker they say that as a warning.  I get passed a lot soooo I’m use that statement (i.e. I’m a #wimp).  SusieQ says—In my life, it seems that folks are also passing me (i.e. on your left).  It seems like they are all better than me (i.e. at least it looks that way on facebook).  They sometimes make me feel inferior.  Heather and James like to bike with their family.  Heather pulls little Jimmer in a cart behind her bike (i.e. quite a load for a little gal—she’s a lot tougher than me).  Erin rides behind James on a buddy bike.  ANYWAY Heather says she hears it a lot—On your left!  Some of you folks are pulling pretty big loads in life.  It’s a tough pull.  Yes, folks are passing you on the left.  I encourage you to keep pulling as hard as you can.  Don’t be intimidated by those who say—On your left.  You know your situation and you know what has to be done.  Just do it.  LuckieEddie says—I think I’m a wimp compared to others. #wimp Such is life.

I volunteered the other day.  When I got done I went to the Waffle Stop for my regular pecan waffle and to read the Des Moines Register.  There were two pastors in the booth next to me.  One said to the other—I have a lady in our congregation that is demon possessed; I really think so!  Saturday question—Are there folks who are demon possessed?  Soooo the Waffle Shop changed the brand of syrup.  I don’t like the new brand.  I told the manager when I was leaving that I didn’t like it. Well, I probably won’t come back if you don’t offer the old brand.  As I left I heard him mumble to an employee something like—I think he’s demon possessed!  You gotta be kiddin’!  Such is life.

Just for me (i.e. maybe)! I read this last Saturday while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--I've learned that often God will send a message, an event or a sign for just one person. It may not make much difference to you but it makes a huge difference if YOU are the one it is for.  Do you believe that. I also got an email from a pickleball buddy that touched me that same morning.  Just receiving it from him did just that.  And he says he doesn't believe in God (i.e. to what degree I don't know--he says that stuff is for the weak; folks who can't handle stuff on their own--#wimps).  He is exactly right--God is for those who can't handle stuff on their own and I'm one of those.  ANYWAY he touched me and that's just the way it is.  His email was special.  He is special. He has a special motor! We have a neat relationship. Such is life.

HowardJordanInfidel says--I'm not a believer; its not for me.  It's your call HowardJordanInfidel.  Manny Pacqiao and Rickie Fowler are believers.  They don't seem to be a wimps but they could be.  I got a request from a guy to be added to my blog email list.  His profile shows that he is a very capable, successful business man.  It also said--I'm a believer.  He surely doesn't seem to be a wimp but could be!  But obviously, those guys think they need God. I asked an AZbuddy about his experience with AA and a Higher Power. This is what he said--erv, I have not had a drink since August 21, 2002................about 12 and a half years ago. One of the key elements of AA is the belief in in higher power, who most of us  (AA members), take to be God. The second of the "12 Steps" states: "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity"..................and the third step goes on: "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him". So the answer to your question is that virtually every successful AA member believes in a higher power, and that his/her higher power is essential to their sobriety. Since some of these folks (a small percentage in my opinion) do not believe in God as a person or being, the definition of a higher power is left as a personal matter. But for even those few............the importance of a Higher Power is of utmost importance, since most of us realize that we were unable to conquer this insidious addiction on our own. AA is, for sure, a spiritual program, but not necessarily a religious one. Personally, I take the AA program as another aspect of my relationship with God,........a very important one.  CrazyMarvin says--Maybe those guys are just wimps #wimps erv.  Could be but I don't think soooo folks. My AZbuddy is one of my heroes. He's special like many of you guys.  

Only one thing matters! MissPerfect (i.e. she’s a regular Hindenburg, full of gas which produces a huge massive explosion) says—At some time the clock will strike midnight nimrods and the dance will be over!  If you are ectotherm, now might be a good time to change. I don’t think I’m kidding folks. Tick tick tick!  As a friend says—When the bonger bongs, there is only One thing that matters!  Our earthly life is all done folks (i.e. ain’t for the wimpy #wimp).  They might throw your earthly dead body in the cooker (i.e. they set the cooker temperature between 1,600 and 1,800 degrees—it burns up even the toughest nimrods).  I really think death is toooo final (i.e. just like a 3 foot putt).  It should be the best 2 out of 3.  LuckieEddie says--That makes perfect sense to me! ChowderHeadPercilla (i.e. who is teetering on tilt) says--Ya gotta be kidding erv!  How would that work anyway? Da!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Keep your fears to yourself , but share your inspirations with others.

Formulating

Disclaimer:  Don’t use any information in this “It’s Saturday” to settle some bar bet or win an argument with the ladies at your bridge table.  I have no idea if any of this stuff is right! 

Saturday question:  How close can you stand to a lightning strike?  MissPerfect says—I don’t know but I would like to have my sister-in-law, KnowItAllBetha, be the guinea pig!  Ouchy ouchy!  I read this in the paper (i.e. soooo it must be right)—About a guy who was taking a whiz against a big old pine tree on the golf course when the tree was struck by lighting.  I guess he got the shock of his life!  Can you imagine the look on his face!

Wake up and smell the coffee erv!  If I am wrong then your are right but if some folks think you are wrong and that I am right then there is the possibility that you might be right or might be wrong—soooo there is no one (i.e. no matter how sure they are that they are --right) who is right or wrong all the time—right? They might just think they are right or wrong.  I think I’m right in my thinking but I might be wrong?

SusieQ asks--Do you ever over complicate formulating your life?  I think I do.  Yes I do.  Here is some advise I got recently that I think will help me to simplify my solutions to my sometimes overly complicated problems.  I’m sorry; I love you; you were right; I’ll just let it go; It’s not really that important; It’s just ego, I’m acting like a baby; let me just calm down; let me look at it from their point of view; don’t worry about stuff that might not even happen; don’t over react.  Now that aught to do it folks.  If I can just remember them when I get bent out of shape.  Such is life.

LuckieEddie says—Let me help you formulate your opinion.  OneSmartGuy shared his knowledge--I have noticed three distinct types of workplace believers throughout my 24 years of walking with Christ. First, many of us come to Christ out of a need for salvation. Our hearts have been touched by His call on our lives. We reason and analyze the claims of Christ and make a decision for Him. It is the convenient time to accept Him in our lives. This first stage is often characterized by a "Bless me, Lord" attitude toward God. It is the first stage that primarily brings salvation into our lives. Some never really go past this first stage.

Sharing!  ItchieBitchie says--Many kids are taught as little kids to share and be kind (i.e. good parents try to formulate this good principle in their kids’ minds).  Maybe that is just mythmaking!. Joesixpack says--We didn’t like to share as little kids and many don’t like to share as adults.  ItchieBitchie says—Some things just don’t change.  In a culture that celebrate those who have the most and make the most as if they are the most, it’s hard to have a mind set of sharing.  AverageJoe says--Sharing and being kind might be a cornucopia of opportunity.  It might change your life.  What do you think?  My experience is that folks that share are great folks (i.e. fun folks to be around).  GeorgeTheCrook says—Givers are always happy folks.  There are really good folks out there--Greatness is by what we give, not by what we receive.  Ya but there are a few DuaneTheWorms who have a lot of window dressing or are well wall-papered, whatever you want to call it.  DuaneTheWorms (i.e. white washed-walls) are prize examples of altruism. There is no question about that.  Such is life.

I met a gal who teaches kindergarten in the hood.  She says--Already at that age many kids are already in my face and are agitators and obnoxious (i.e. have a chip on their shoulder).  Ouchy ouchy!  I read in the paper, soooo it must be right, that a kid’s personality is formed by the age of 5 (i.e. but predicted by age of 3 and full developed by the age of 7) and it’s a good chance that they will remain the same the rest of their life. But life events and other stuff might modify it some though.  Sooooo how in the world can we change a person if their personality is ingrained into them?  Is it possible at all? 

It says a lot as to who you are!  OneSmartPerson says—Don’t gossip (i.e. half of gossip isn’t true and the other have I wouldn’t believe) in the workplace.  It will limit your potential to succeed.  It will hurt working relationships.  It will not do you any good in any way or in any form.  Remember, if you gossip about others, you will gossip about the folks you are gossiping with.  They know that soooo they probably aren’t going to tell you toooo much (i.e. I wouldn’t).  You lost their trust.  I think Solomon (i.e. some think the smartest person ever to lived) said once--A gossip betrays a confidence--gossip separates close friends--words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. I would have liked to have taken old Solomon out for breakfast (i.e. my treat of course) and pick his mind.  He seems like an interesting guy.  I wonder what those guys are for breakfast back then.  You think bread and fish and maybe some fruit?  Remember Solomon was a very rich man.  He could eat anything he wanted.  Back then, the rich were fat and the poor were thin.  Now days, it seems like it’s more the opposite.  Huh, interesting.

Big mouth running story!!  I was running my normal route in our little town (i.e. 3 miles) when a senior widow friend and I had a conversation.  I asked her if she was dating—she throw her arms up and got all excited and said, heavens no!; if it happens it happens if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.  She told me she met the boy friend (i.e. he’s about 70 sooo do you still call him a boy friend) of a mutual acquaintance this winter.  She said she wasn’t much impressed with him.  I said with my big mouth—Well, I could never be married to her. Well, this week, I was running again and she was outside.  I stopped and told her I was sorry I said that about her friend.  She said—I don’t try to analyze you erv!  I really don’t know for sure if she met that.  But, reality is, I could not be married to our mutual acquaintance.  We are just aren’t compatible! 

SusieQ says—I get frazzled!  Why SusieQ?  Symptoms of the problem are consistently in front of me and I can’t get away from them.  It’s a constant irritation that just rubs me and frazzles me (i.e. like a dripping faucet).  CrazyMarvin says—SusieQ deals with extremes way different than most.  Maybe it’s cause she has an extreme, prize-winning ass; I have never seen anything that large on such a small person!

A friend and her prize winning “6weekmuffins” (i.e. she’s not the one with the world-class derriere) impress me.  She formulates and stimulates my thinking.  Yes she does.  She is fantabulous! She is a kind person with a good heart—my kind of person). She is way opposite of SleazyRita who has the “skanky, rode hard, put away wet” look! 

3 guys each told me about a family member who seems to struggle somewhat with life (i.e. seem to make life harder than it should be).  One said—Their family member has always added things up like 2+2=5.  Another person said—Their family member seems to always go to the left when told to go to the right.  The third person said—Their family member is always right; always, even when they are wrong and won’t listen to anyone (i.e. always recreating the wheel).  These three folks might be a little belligerent, obnoxious, suborn, disagreeable, or iron-willed.  How did they get that way?  How did you get the way you are?  My mentor would say—erv, we are all programmed (i.e. formulated) by our past--by our genes and our environment.  Such is life.

How and when was the earth formed?  I have no idea but when hiking in CO in the South Valley Park with family, there was a sign that said the rock ridge was formed about 300,000,000 years ago from a volcanic eruption.  I read in the paper, sooo it must be right, that there is enough bubbling in the massive ”supervolcano” under Yellowstone National Park to fill the Grand Canyon more than 11 times.  If that sucker would erupt, now that would formulate things a lot different.  It would be a ‘cataclysmic’.  I guess stuff has happened before sooooo, really folks, why would it be a surprise if it happens again. AverageJoe says—That stuff happened a zillion years ago; that will never happen again!  AverageJoe, talk to the folks in Nepal about that! 

Are you onesmartperson?  A onesmartperson sent me this riddle.  Let’s see how smart you guys are!  Only 5% of Stanford University graduates figured it out he says sooooo…!  Can you answer all the seven of the following questions with the same word?  1. The word has seven letters… 2. Preceded God… 3. Greater than God… 4. More Evil than the devil… 5. All poor people have it… 6. Wealthy people need it… 7. If you eat it, you eventually with die.  Answer below.

Hey you! I went to a friend’s dad’s funeral recently.  The pastor said that we are saved by God’s grace—not by our works, not by our actions, not by how much money we have, not by how important we are but by God’s grace.  Bingo!  Now that is hard to fathom folks especially in a capitalist society.  A free gift of that magnitude is unfathomable to many.  Now believing that can really formulate a guy’s mind and soul if we can get our arms around it.  Oh ya!  ItchieBitchie says—How does that pastor know that is true; maybe it’s just mythology! He said it says it’s in the Bible.  Sooo how do you know if the Bible is right?  Maybe the pastor is just an other-worldly person! Well ItchieBitchie, that is the great mystery of having faith in God. ItchieBtchie, the only source of knowing about that, for me, myself and I, is my personal faith in God and by the way God has affected my life (i.e. now that is hard to argue ItchieBitchie).  Soooo if I’m right, I’m right and if I’m wrong, I’m wrong.  But if you are a betting person, put your money and life on the grace thing (i.e. that is my opinion).

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—"The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age."  Lucille Ball

Answer is Nothing.