symmetry

Our daughter asked me what I was going to do this weekend.  I told her some things and mentioned I was going to do a talk.  She said—I thought you said you weren’t going to do anymore talks.  Ya, I said that but I lied!!!!  Sooooo folks what I say in this “It’s Saturday” might be a lie tooooo!  And it could be.  You be the judge.  Ya got to remember that I’m a septuagenarian!  And make no mistake about it folks, septuagenarians do crazy things!  And just remember folks, you are not riding in first class! My Little Peanut went on to say—Well Dad, you either can’t say no or you are a sucker or you really enjoy it!  Such is life.

A lot of kicking and screaming! When folks’ free-bees a.k.a. subsidies are taken away or the threat of them being taken away, there seems to be a symmetry of how recipients act.  Iowa is rural and there are a lot of farmers.  I read in the paper that the government is thinking of reducing or taking away the subsidy on the multiperil crop insurance (i.e. currently the government pays 62% of the premium). They are talking about reducing it by $2.9 billion.  Of course, the splash back of that amongst the farmers and the IA Farm Bureau is a lot of whaling.  But Grassley (i.e. who lives maybe 14 miles from us) said in the paper—Don’t worry folks, it will never happen; they have been talking about that for years.  GeorgeTheCrook says—But to be on the safe side farmers, you need to complain, protest, decry and really make it sound bad (i.e. but make sure you drive your old pickup and not the new one while doing it).  hahaha

The farmers I know won’t destroy property or go and kill folks if they don’t get their way.  Sooooo it appears that we can pretty much figure out who the folks are going to be dangerous and what part of society that they come from.  I’m just a little old farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN and I think I can figure it out.  AverageJoe says—That is not the problem; the problem is what are we going to do with them.  It’s America and not North Korea (i.e. no symmetry).

It appears that this year could be a financial difficult year for some IA grain farmers. The corn price is low and there is a lot of corn left in the bins from last year.  Every farmer’s situation appears to be different.  Some have saved money when corn prices were really good, some have large debt, some own their ground, some rent from the mother-in-law, some manage their money differently, some have different life styles etc.  The only person who really knows is their banker!!!! LuckyEddie says—The average person on the street has no idea!  Such is life.

JoeBlow asks—Does complaining and protesting really work?  ItchieBitchie says—You got to complain and protest to get your fair share of all the goodies! I read in the paper sooooo it must be right that bureaucracies do not produce anything but bureaucracies are just “cash cows” for the bureaucrats (i.e. they create a lot of bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo).  IickieVickie says—And the beat goes on!  Bureaucracy frustrates a lot of folks unless you are involved in the bureaucracy; then you love it.  It’s a gravy train; a money tree for life (i.e. much like subsidies and entitlements).  I’m starting to think that bureaucracy is getting into business (e.g. medical field).  It’s an easy way to make big bucks (i.e. milk the system). They know that the government (i.e. Medicare and Medicaid) and/or private insurance will pay for it (i.e. free money).  Soooo they create stuff to make more money and no one really cares.  I wonder if we had a $100 co-pay on every office visit and $500 co-pay on every test if folks would be more concerned.  I just wonder.  What do you think?

I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it—John (i.e. anybody can be a John) said--“You are known by the company you keep.” I discovered that it comes from a moral in one of Aesop’s Fables called “The Donkey and His Purchaser.” It tells about a man who wished to purchase a donkey but decided to give the animal a test before purchasing it. So he took the donkey home and put him in the field with his other donkeys. The new donkey strayed from the others to join the one that was the laziest and biggest eater of them all. Seeing this, the man led him back to his owner. When the owner asked how he could have tested the donkey in such a short time, the man answered, “I didn’t even have to see how he worked. I knew he would be just like the one he chose to be his friend.” Proverbs 13:20 concurs: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.” Is this symmetry folks?

We had a little symmetry; maybe not a lot but a little.  I stopped in a little town as I heard they had off-road trails.  There was an ATV sitting in front of the local bar where three folks were sitting on the patio having a cold one.  I approached them and told them I just bought this Yamaha XT 250 and was wondering about the trials I heard about (i.e. they sorta kinda laughed at me).  They told me about their bikes and their stories.  We laughed and had a hoot.  They said—sit down and have a beer; can’t Arlene is in the car. All three of these folks were heavily tattooed. The pretty, petite gal had her whole body covered with all kinds of tattoos of all different colors.  They asked me how old I was; they sorta kinda laughed some more. ANYWAY I accepted them and they accepted me.  They didn’t know anything about the trails but said I should go and see the guy out in the country; he has a personal motor cross track and he lets folks use it (i.e. I think they thought this crazy old coot just might try it).  He is a pretty laid back, a neat guy. We had such a good time.

Soooo another night Arlene and I stopped by this guy’s place.  Yes, it was like those folks said—everything (i.e. $10 to ride any time).  This guy was probably about 40 and has had this mc track for 17 years; a few years he closed it down.  I asked why—folks didn’t appreciate it; it’s not a money maker by any means; on Sundays, 25 to 50 folks, along with friends and family, will come and race and just have a good time (i.e. bikers ages range from 5 to 72). Soooo why do you do this?  I do it because I had a bike since I was 5 years old and this is a very good, safe place for young people to come and not get into trouble; that is why I do it.  You must have a good heart.  I try to—I have had my demons in the past and have overcome them.  This is one interesting guy and he’s very intriguing to me. We had just a great time talking.

IickieVickie asks—erv, do you think there is symmetry between folks’ intelligence and those that watch reality television shows? I have no idea.  What do you folks think?  I read this in the paper (i.e. sooooo it must be right)—Einstein’s different views made him a scientific innovator (i.e. “new” will always court criticism). The realty is “Genius” may serve as a good reminder we always live in interesting and disruptive social, religious and political times. Einstein is difficult and challenging…The TV series hints Einstein’s true genius may have been his ability to fully be himself.  Saturday question—Are you a genius? AverageJoe asks—What is the definition of a genius? I had a friend who was a genus.  Yes GenusBen was a genus.  No question.

DoubleBarelDallas says--If you start comparing, it’s always going to lead to one of two sins: pride or envy. When you compare yourself to others, you’re either going to think “I’m doing better than them,” and you get full of pride, or “They’re doing better than me,” and you get full of envy. Pride and envy are both sins. CrazyJane says—But erv, I’m better than some and not as good as others; I know that!  Ya right CrazyJane! Figure it out CrazyJane, figure it out!  Bingo!

This is as real as it gets folks.  I was envious this week (i.e. I don’t think I usually am but...).  Actually, I was quite envious (i.e. if I said I wasn’t, I would be lying).  I’m not proud of it.  You might think I acted like a 4-year-old.  I might of but I’m 71; how can that be!  I’m not prideful of my envy; no, I’m not.  Actually, I felt bad; really bad. I got over it in a short time (i.e. about 15 minutes) but it was ugly when I had it. I didn’t like the feeling; no I didn’t.  No way!  Maybe some of you have been envious at some time.  Maybe and maybe not!!  CadillacJack says—If you are very prideful, you probably have never been envious!  SusieQ says—erv, why would some folks ever feel envious; they have everything and everything goes their way (i.e. it appears that way anyway).  I don’t know that answer!  I do know that after I thought about my enviousness, I was happy for the folks who I was envious of.  They are good folks with good hearts.  Once I got my head adjusted, I was really happy for them (i.e. good for them).

MissPerfect says-- Good looks are an asset in a man’s march to success, but not so with a woman. What!  Men suspect they have no brains, and other women are jealous.  There is that envy again.  Personally, I like to be around pretty and smart gals.  Maybe I’m not a typical man.  Crazy.  Maybe some men get intimidated by pretty and smart gals.  Could be.  And it could be it’s more of a woman/woman problem than a man/woman problem.  Do you think women are more envious than guys? 

A friend told me that he is angry.  He said--My soybean stand isn’t as good as I want it.  The seed company said the seed was ok, the chemical company said it was not their fault, the county extension service says I just planted on the wrong day (i.e. bad luck). He said--Everyone passes the buck to me.  It can’t be me or bad luck.  His wife says—It will be ok.  I said—You have a good wife. He said—She is the best thing that ever happened to me.  His anger has some similarity to his father’s anger.  Is that environment, or genic or just bad luck?

Is there a symmetry between being highly strung and heart problems (i.e. I mean folks who are really wound up tight all the time)?  A friend told me about a mutual friend who had some heart issues.  She said to me—I’m surprised he has lived this long as tight as he is always wound and the pace he is going (i.e. a regular Speedy Gonzales).  I had breakfast after doing a very fun bike ride on the Cedar Valley bike trails the other morning.  As I was leaving, a gal was leaving toooo.  She was eating something on the way out (i.e. eating on the run).  I said—You better slow down lady.  She said—It will never happen.   Da!

 I did business with a fairly large company.  I redid our retaining wall (i.e. no whaling at this wall but it could happen); I restacked the limestone slabs that have been there for 40+ years.  They really needed it.  ANYWAY, I called the company were I originally got the slabs from way back when.  I told them I needed about 30 feet of limestone slabs—they would help me—tell us when you want to pick them up and we will have a man at the quarry.  Soooo I called a day in advance and they would arrange it.  They called back soooo a friend and I took his pickup (i.e. that’s why he’s my friend—he has a pickup hahaha).  Jeff at the quarry helped us (i.e. we had a lot of fun).  Got 1,220 pounds (i.e. I guessed 600 pounds and Jim guessed 800 I think). I worked with three company folks and they treated me like I was their best customer; I was really only a very small fish to them.  The limestone slabs that I use are called shot slabs (i.e. when they blast, these are the parts that fly out with the dirt etc.—have no value to them—they are just pushed on a pile).  Soooo I get the bill of $4.27!   What!  I am guessing that there is some symmetry with how great these folks are.  What do you think? Obviously, there was more to this for them than the money.  They could have charged me any amount they wanted (i.e. gouged me but decided not toooooo—probably didn’t even cross their mind I bet).  I think this speaks big of this company and these folks.  That’s my opinion.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Keep your temper, nobody wants it.

P.S. "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein