shifting sand

Note: There is a link to my podcast at the bottom of this “It’s Saturday.”  It is with Jeremy Jungling a.k.a. The Five Year Man as it has been 5 years since he was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 38.  Jeremy and I discuss how that diagnosis changed his life and that of his family, how it inspired him to start chasing his dreams today instead of waiting for tomorrow and what lessons others can learn from his experience.

I saw this sign in a feed store in the Sand Hills of Nebraska.  You folks will have to decide if this “It’s Saturday” is quality oats or not!

Have you ever been on the sand dunes along the ocean, major lake or in a desert?  If you have, you were probably amazed with the sand dunes and also how they can change from year to year or storm to storm.  The sand dunes are ever changing (i.e. pretty much like our lives, at least mine—your life maybe is more like The Rock of Gibraltar).  The sand dune I remember the most is The Big Bear Sand Dune in western MI along Lake Michigan.  My extended family camped near there and we climbed it years ago. I know some of you have done the same.  It really impressed me.

When coming back from CO, I traveled through the Sand Hills of  NE.  This is huge massive cattle country.  I stopped in Arthur (i.e. population 56) at the Bunk House and had lunch with the locals.  A real old-time rancher, Brad, talked to me.  He looked the part and talked the part and dressed the part.  He was 88 years old; he and his wife Doris still ranch.  We talked ranching.  I asked him what kind of wood is those fence posts—hedge, hard as a rock; can’t get a staple in them; don’t rot—how deep do they put them in—deep enough sooo the top is up to a rancher’s sternum—soooo a tall rancher’s posts aren’t as deep; you got it young feller.  I stopped at Crusty's Feed Store and asked how much they cost—regular posts $4.50 and corner posts 6 to 8 dollars.  Where do they come from—KS. How was ranching this year—pretty good; cattle prices are good and had some rain.

Do you know what xenophobia means?  I didn’t but now I do.  It was Dictionary.com. website’s 2016 Word of the Year. There seems to be a lot of it going around; it’s pretty popular it seems.  But there is no vaccination for it.  We need to deal with it.  I have found out talking to many folks in the Sand Hills that we are all pretty much the same.  We all have souls, love our families, watch ESPN, believe in the same God, try to make a living, concerned about the world situation etc.  Ya, we do things differently and live a little different but we are basically the same. 

I was introduced to a lady the other morning.The person who introduced us told me later that she and her husband own a rather major local company; are good people; her husband is crazy smart (i.e. over the moon smart). Are you crazy smart? Do you know folks who are crazy smart?  Well, I’m not one of them; my IQ score and my ACT score will attest to that.  I would guess there are crazy smart folks up ‘er in ‘em sand hills doing what they enjoy doing.  CowgirlRita told me that her granddad was crazy smart; bought a lot of sand hills when no one wanted them (i.e. or was he just lucky). But not all crazy smart folks are CEOs or have some prestige jobs (i.e. they don’t want to be).  Maybe they don’t want to sit in traffic a couple hours each day; would rather drive their pu or ride their horse in the sand hills. Such is life.

Fall harvest is starting in IA.  I text a crazy smart friend who is a grain/farmer asking him if I can ride with him in the combine (i.e. I try to do it every fall)--I’m flexible, especially for you. Good cheap information is hard to come by these days! His response--One of the secret to life, there is a difference between cheap and low-cost. I told you he is crazy smart!

AverageJoe says--The NFL is one big cash cow and don’t you forget it.  They have had their image tarnished with the head injury issue and now they have to deal with this protest thing.  Sooooo probably most of the companies you folks work for would not think toooo highly of employees protesting like this (i.e. unless protected by a union contract); probably some employees would find themselves working in the mail room or driving truck down I-80.  If all the female employees of the convenient stores (i.e. making $15 an hour) would protest about “female abuse”, how much attention would they get? That is what I thought!  I’m just trying to put this in a perspective to look at both sides here (i.e. be open minded); when millions and billions of dollars are involved, the situation changes; don’t kid yourself folks.  The NFL and the owners have a problem and they don’t know how to handle it (i.e. hoping maybe it will just blow over--and it might).  I read in the paper, soooo it must be right—The way Hawkeye football players look at the hot button issue that is the national anthem:  Once you step into the Iowa’s Football Performance Center, political views are checked at the door.  And now we have a scandal in college basketball!  Guess what it is about—of course, money! OneCrazySmartPerson said to me—It’s called “situational ethics.” "It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are." - Roy Disney ~  I tell you what folks, this is going to be interesting to follow. There might be major ramifications and maybe not. My opinion is that there is a pretty clear “right side” on this issue,. BUT I’m just a little old farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN soooo your opinion might be different. BUT isn’t it great to live in America?  I bet "The Little Rocket Man” would handle it way different. BUT TheAverageJoeAmerican can voice their opinion by where they spend their money; that is where this might be settled and not by talk. Money talks!  Such is life

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--In Making Sense of God, pastor Tim Keller writes, "All judgments that something or someone is good or bad are based on an awareness of purpose.... How then can we tell if a human being is good or bad? Only if we know our purpose, what human life is for." For the secular person living without a belief God or a higher purpose, human life is not for anything. It is ultimately meaningless - we are here only by chance due to random physical forces. For the follower of Jesus Christ, however, we are here for a reason. Pastor Rick Warren begins his popular book, The Purpose Driven Life, this way:  "It's not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose." Saturday question—Sooooo who is really a crazy smart person?

Sooooo I go down the road to Mullen (i.e. population 563).  I went into the courthouse (i.e. an old building of the 50s—the inside was the same as then).  I asked the assessor if he had a minute—a minute lasted about an hour.  There are less than a thousand folks in Hooker County.  Use to be more but a rancher use to hire 8-10 cowboys but now the ranches are 10x as big and a rancher and his wife run them.  It has the largest school district taking in parts of 3 counties.  Depending on the part of the county (i.e. rain fall is different) it takes about 17 acres to support a cow/calf.  The sand hills cost about $700 an acre currently. There are some huge massive ranches.

The reason I stopped at the courthouse is I wanted some information about The Sand Hills Golf Club that is maybe about 16 miles south of Mullen in the middle of nowhere (i.e. in the sand hills).  Some rate it the #11 best in the world.  I drove out there and they treated me very nice; shared a ton of information.  Most of you will not be interested in if you are not a golfer.  It amazes me that they have a private club which is very low key in the sand hills of NE.  In 8 years, they were out of debt.  These tidbits might interest you--they hire all local people, one green keeper and 18 hs and college age kids; 10 caddies which are all local hs kids. Very interesting to me.  I have made a copy of the brochure if you want to enlarge it for more info. 

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." - Henry David Thoreau 

Soooo I go down the road and have breakfast at Burwell (i.e. population 1,210 and the county seat).  Burwell claims to be in the middle of the sand hills, They have a huge massive rodeo facility at the edge of town; Big Rodel.  Soooo I ask a local where I should eat breakfast—Verdas across from the post office.  There are three retired guys sitting at a long table; I sit by the table next to them. I had my IA Hawkeye cap on and one says—you from IA—ya, I was wondering if that sign that says Big Redo really mean big rodeo or just for show—this is big rodeo country and we have the biggest rodeo in Nebraska; guys wear their spurs to church here—are you guys rodeo/cowboys; one guys was—Did I see that the Huskers are 0-3 (i.e. did that get them excited)—how are the Hawks going to be—we are average but we are 3-0!  A couple of ranchers came in and sat with the other 3.  They talked about the price of cattle, hay baling, dry land corn yields, good cattle horses etc.  I really enjoyed listening to them. I paid and when leaving I said—I will leave you Huskers soooo you can cry in your beer some more.  They laughed and cried and complained! They love their Huskers!

LuckieEddie says—You can’t make a person someone who they don’t want to become. Have you ever tried to make someone into someone they don’t want to become?  How did that go?  That is what I thought. CadillacJack says—It’s really hard to change someone who has been programed by their genes and also many years of their environment; many folks are just who they are.  I know some of you think I’m just crazy (i.e. not crazy smart); I do know that I bumped my head the other day sooooo...!!! I would guess many of the ranchers up ‘er in ‘em sand hills were raised there and really it is just their life.  They love it!

That’s my jam for the week!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Language, like linen, looks best when it is clean.

I like that

GeorgeTheCrook says--I would like to think some folks’ thinking is screwed up.  That could be right GeorgeTheCrook but those other folks probably think that your thinking is screwed up compared to theirs.  Soooo how will we ever know who is screwed up? Folks, think about that when reading this “It’s Saturday.” Think about who is screwed up!  If we like it or not, we are all screwed up to some degree.  Who is normal.  Soooo who is screwed up?  Who is the judge? Your mother-in-law?

Today, it’s ‘them’ vs. ‘us’!  There seems to be a “great divide” in our country now.  It’s probably nutten new; we have had great divides before.  Folks on both sides of the “great divide” all think they are right (i.e. again, that’s nutten new). The new term that is used now is, “they are on the wrong side of history.” There appears to be a lot of ignorance and self-serving egotism (i.e. again, that’s nutten new). Folks on both sides think they are the enlightened ones who know what is the right direction a.k.a. the right side of history (i.e. again, that’s really nutten new). ItchieBitchie says—When you get to the root of the problem, it’s all about the money; don’t kid yourself.  I would like to think that something is right. It could even be something in the middle.  CrazyMarvin says—NO WAY!

OneSmartGuy told me this after our discussion about the “great divide”-- It is true there has always been a divide politically and in other areas. But there has also proven to be a right answer with hindsight. Most of the time the objectively right answer isn’t known until after the fact. The Confederacy thought they were right to own slaves and they had Biblical text on their side. They were certainly on the wrong side of history. So when you see things like Nazi and white supremacist marches happening today, it’s pretty easy to see who is right and who is wrong and who will end up on the wrong side of history. If it is hard for someone to see that…well, I don’t want such a person in my life.

I like all of you folks, except maybe one of you; but I haven’t decided for sure on the one! We might have “great divides” and maybe “little divides” but I still like you guys.  The reason is – you are good folks, with good hearts; my kind of folks.  I would like to think that is a good reason. You are my heroes!

  

StuckInTheMudBud says—I would like to think that folks can figure things out. A vendor who represents both Direct TV and Dish told me that we need to change between the two every two years to get the best deal.  There are some customers who could save up to $100 a month.  Many have been with either company and never ask for deals or change when the promotions go off or when the freebies are over.  Soooo why don’t they change?  Many, like what they have; they are comfortable in knowing how to run the equipment and don’t want to learn something new or don’t want to talk on the telephone, or work out the bugs.  They would rather pay the excessive amount (i.e. companies know this, don’t kid yourself).  But the younger generation is really putting pressure on the TV providers.  This guy told me, in 2 to 3 years there will be major changes; some are already here.  Maybe the providers don’t like it (i.e. not as much money in their pockets) but the changing culture is demanding it (i.e. they are being forced to be innovative and creative or someone else will take all their business).  Where is K-Mart? I would like to think we can figure that out in many parts of our lives but it appears we struggle with that. Such is life.

It feels soooo goooood to accomplish  missions (i.e. biking Waterton Canyon and ice cream in Littleton)  Oh ya!  The best quote I heard by our grand kids of CO was by Jimmer (i.e. age five). His Dad disciplined him for something and he came running into the house crying—I asked him what was wrong—My Dad ruined my life!

This might bedevil some of you folks but it is what it is!  TomTerrific says—Try to be relevant to the future.  I know that some of you folks won’t like to hear that (i.e. it’s problematic to some of you). It is a good practice for women to do a self-examination of their breasts for lumps (i.e. a possible early detection of cancer—maybe save their life).  JoeBlow says--An unexamined experience is worthless. There are people who are 50 years old who haven’t lived 50 years. They’ve lived one year 50 times. They’re still making the same mistakes, because they never stop and extract the lessons. They never stop to ask, “What happened in this last year, and what can I do differently so that I am living life better? LuckieEddie says—When I examine myself, “what was and wasn’t” it is revealed to me (i.e. if I am honest to myself).  That self examination can change a person’s mettle.  Yes it can.  I like that. Saturday question—Where do you want your future to take you? MissPerfect, you are fine (i.e. right)?  Booyah!

JoeBlow says—It’s good to “be in the know.” Yabut JoeBlow, some times we just think we are in the know!  I went and watched Jimmer in his jiu jitsu class last Saturday morning. This is the sign that was on the wall.  I thought it was interesting.  Jimmer (i.e. age 5) told me that Russel’s dad is obnoxious—what do you mean by that—he thinks he knows everything and hollers a lot; he’s obnoxious; I don’t like him!!! He always says—There you go, there you go.  He’s obnoxious.  Folks, I wonder if I’m obnoxious to you guys (i.e. I don’t wonder, I know I am).  My opinion is that many folks don’t realize that they are obnoxious at certain times and to certain folks.  Hey, folks, maybe many don’t care.  MissPerfect says--I like to be obnoxious. There you go, there you go!!!! I talked to TrapperJoe at Clear Creek in Golden and he said--A good way not be obnoxious is to “keep your mouth shut as tight as a number 4 beaver trap.”  I like that! This experience reminded my of a road sign I saw going through Omaha.  It was an ad for Mutual of Omaha that read—The first thing we do is listen.  I like that.  Saturday question—Have you ever been around anyone who yaks all the time and you just tune them out?  Com’n now, tell the truth; that is what I thought.

DennisJackrabbit says—I give you the “kiss off” erv, when you write about prayer, attitude or stuff like that.  Yikes, you’re obnoxious DennisJackrabbit!  ANYWAY, a cousin-in-law sent me this writing about attitude.  I like it.  Maybe you will toooo.  ~  "Suffering can be one of the greatest challenges to our faith because we become mired in the depths of our sorrow and can't bring ourselves to see the possibility of a positive side.  Maybe finding meaning in suffering is not about perceiving an event as good or bad but rather about acknowledging that suffering is part of our journey - this thing that makes us hurt has happened and here's how things have changed.  Putting our suffering to good use is about remembering that while we have no idea where we're going, God knows and is always with us.  And for this, we will continue to rejoice."  Then she said--It's all about our attitude, isn't it? I realize that you folks (i.e. except for one of you maybe) are very positive and would charge hell with a bucket of water!!!!

I was having breakfast with Rookie (i.e. our grand boy--age 4) and Charlie (i.e. who is our grand girl--age 7) on the way back from CO.  They were telling me about their Aunt Whitney’s wedding to Joe. Rookie said--Whitney was his girlfriend, then they got engaged and now they got married and now he’s our Uncle Joe like Uncle Jamie.  Rookie asked me—Grandpa, why did they get married?—Probably ‘cause they love each other. I asked Rookie if he has a girlfriend—Penelope—Charlie says—I thought it was Ava—Rookie says—Not anymore; she kisses me at school and I don’t like that—Charlie says—That kissing at school is inappropriate; our teachers tell us we are to save our kisses for our mom and dads at home. What a hoot!

Our son, Chet, and our daughter-in-law, Jessica, told me at my stop in Waukee this—Dad, it is sad about Mom’s situation but about 65 years of her 71 years have been very good.  They are soooo right.  We have been married 49 years in which we really had a good time and a good life.  I said—I don’t want to dwell on the negative but the positive but it is not always easy when you are in the middle of the battle. I have emotions; if I didn’t, I wouldn’t care.  Hey folks, it is sorta kinda like what Penn State’s football player, Saquon Barlely, said after beating IA 41-14 last year--“You can see in their demeanor when they don’t want to be on the field no more.”

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

erv

MyFriendJeans says--An argument usually produces plenty of heat but no light.

North Star

For some of you, this “It’s Saturday” is just humbug and to others it is not.  PopUpEddie says—Some folks are very easy to humbug and other are not. I was talking to a couple of gals recently on the veranda.  They asked some questions about “It’s Saturday.” I told them that some readers tell me sometimes they don’t have a clue what I’m talking about (i.e. we are not on the same page I guess). ANYWAY, those two gals said they understand me perfectly.  Now how do they know?  Maybe they just think they know! God only knows folks for sure. And does it really matter?  I don’t think soooo. That is what makes it soooo much fun. It’s like going to an all-you-can-eat buffet; different stuff looks good to different folks but some eat it all!  Such is life.

I have acquaintances who I really don’t understand and they don’t seem to understand me.  It’s really funny as we just don’t see things the same.  Something that I really thing is funny, they don’t and vice versa.  And some folks I think have no humor at all; and some folks think I have no humor at all. Sooo we don’t spend much time together (i.e. I wonder why).  As a friend says—We just aren’t compatible. What’s more, goggle keeps track of how many readers read “It’s Saturday.”  Some of my best blogs (i.e. my opinion) get a smaller number of readers than what I think are my lessor blogs.  Sooooo go figure! I just don’t understand that!  haha

Everyone has tooooooo have their own north star directing them in the direction they are going.  My North Star this week is different.  I am in CO seeing our Heather, James, Erin and Jimmer.  I have taken a week of respite and Arlene is in a 5 star care facility near Chet, Jessica, Charlie and Rookie (i.e. but it's still a care faculty and she is the dementia unit).  Soooo, before I left, I asked Erin and Jimmer what they wanted to do when I’m there—they want to ride bike with me and eat ice cream (i.e. my North Star of course)! Leaving Arlene was tough.  I felt guilty.  Almost didn’t go at the last minute.  Friends and family really encouraged me a.k.a a North Star!

The Israelites had a cloud that was their North Star.  They followed it; they stopped when it stopped (i.e. sometimes for an hour, a week, a month and even a year).  How lucky could they get!  They weren’t happy or did they appreciate it.  The cloud took them all over the place; they had to take a few more laps around in the desert (i.e. like forty years of laps).  I think only 3 folks over the age of 12 when they started their hike to the promised land actually got there.  You remember the reason why? I got to go the Erin and Jimmer's run for money at their school.  It's the school's one and only money maker.  I think money raised (i.e. from parents and grandpas) goes to the teacher of that room to sue as they want.

Where is the Great Roman Empire?  Where is Babylon (i.e. the largest and most cultural city of it’s time)? It appears that some folks like to live in the past (i.e. as it always has been).  Folks, there are endangered buildings, endangered programs, endangered equipment, endangered traditions, endangered life styles that are going to go to the way side real soon.  That is just the way it is. I took in the Archway Monument in Kearney that showed how the area has changed from the wagon trains to the railroad to I-80 ( i.e. I have been by it many times and finally stopped and saw it--I bet many of you have toooo)  Some of you might have a “set to” about the changes but it won’t make much difference. Coach says—You got to move on; your “use to be” is gone; you got to move on; yes, your past was maybe good and fun but it’s gone; you got to move forward. It’s history!!!!

Her North Star is…! My phlebotomist at the Red Cross blood drive was a cute, happy, young gal in her early 20s.  She told me that she recently broke up with her boyfriend.  They have lived together for 5 years and were engaged with wedding plans done.  What happened—I decided not to marry him; he drank way toooo much.  Wow!  He just wouldn’t change and I didn’t want a husband like that; my mom was an alcoholic and I didn’t want to deal with that; it would have ended in a disaster.  It is hard but it is the best.   I told her that I wish good things for her. 

A friend is on a certain diet for his health.  He is a very much of a disciplinarian.  He seems to be doing very well controlling his appetite for certain foods.  Even if he can have something like once a month, he doesn’t do it as he says--It just makes me to want more soooo I don’t have any.  He also told me that after you have been eating food you don’t like, after a while you learn to like it.   What do you think his North Star is?

I think the conclusion of the matter is that live is more than about zeros!  After hiking to the top of a 14ner, sitting by the ocean, looking up in the universe at night, sitting in solute in the quietness of early morning, mediating in a special place doing a respite, etc., it's hard to believe that we live in a material world. But we do folks, just turn on TV or go to social media.  While eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it, I read what Dr. Jeremiah said—"Although society is performance driven and applauds those who are constantly striving for more, God invites us to rest. Our value and worth are established in Him.” GeorgeTheCrook says—And here lies the rub; I want both at the same time.  ConniverSharon says—I try to connive and make both work.  WorldClassLarry says—ConniverSharon, you can only have one North Star.  Such is life.

A buddy and I recently rode some bike together.  He told me that he gets short of breath when going up stairs—what are you doing riding bike—I’m ok—you need to get a stress test ASAP when you get home; when is the best time to do it buddy—I know I know it’s now but I feel ok—get a stress test; they can’t fix you up after you are dead; you have been given the warning soooo head it (i.e. a lucky break); you got to honest with yourself that you might have a problem. He promised me he would do it. I told him I will check tomorrow with him to see if he did it.  Soooo I did. He said--I didn’t have time today as it was my golf day but will do it tomorrow.  Soooo I text him the next day and he did get an appointment for a stress test in a couple of days. What is his North Star?

Ooh la la! I was around Struttin’Emily the other day.  Listen folks, she would make a good hood ornament.  StruttinEmily has the swagger folks to turn heads and she did.  It was fun to watch her and others who she got their attention.  StruttingEmily just plain loved it.  The more attention Struttin’Emily got the more she strutted. It was a hoot! I got a good idea what her North Star is. Recently I saw a 75ish gal trying to be a Sturrin’Emily; it was hilarious; I lol! I would have paid to watch that show; it was that good. Obviously, she had a different image of herself than what I saw. SmartPantsSam says—Usually people believe their motives and emotions are known to themselves alone, yet few things remain concealed from an intelligent observer with time to see, to consider, and to speculate.  Such is life.

Do you show what your North Star is?  Or would you rather be a mug-rumper (i.e. sit on the fence and have your rump on one side of the fence and your head on the other).  You want your pie and eat it toooo.  MyfriendCaleb sorta kinda tells what his North Star is. 

Sometimes I catch myself doing meaningless things (i.e. things of no importance—basically just time fillers).  A sorta kinda “chasing after the wind” type of stuff.  Saturday question—Is that ok to do once in a while (i.e. sorta kinda sitting on my hunches and watching the world go by)?  I went for an early morning bike ride and breakfast Labor Day morning.  There were very few folks around.  I think maybe there were a lot of folks sleeping in.  But I noticed a couple of our neighbors were up early.  I have no idea what they were doing (i.e. places to go or people to see or work to do).  Maybe they forgot it was Labor Day.  Now that could be; I have no idea what their North Star was.

OneSmartGuy (i.e. must be smart as he has a Doctor’s Degree) says—"We think of life as relative calm broken up by occasional periods of trouble. But the opposite may be more true: Life is troublesome relieved by occasional periods of peace. That is not pessimistic; it is realistic. It parallels what Eliphaz said to his troubled friend, Job: “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Perhaps the most personal and private trouble we ever experience is loneliness” Have any of you ever been lonely? Are you lonely right now?  If soooo, that is when a person really needs a tremendous North Star. 

My mentor would say—erv, when it’s good, folks think it will be good forever and when it’s bad, folks think it will be bad forever. Not soooo erv, not soooo.  He also gave me this great piece of advice--erv, this tooo will pass!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Swallowing your pride occasionally will never give you indigestion.

P.S.  "Live the full life of the mind, exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by the romance of the unusual." - Ernest Hemingway.

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
- Mahatma Gandhi

ish

Some of you folks maybe won’t believe all the stuff that is in this “It’s Saturday.” Really folks, we question almost everything we hear or read as we don’t know what is right anymore.  We have lost trust in the experts, administration, media, and even our next-door neighbor (i.e. and KnowItAllSally knows everything).  MissPerfect says—It’s soooo bad that I don’t even believe everything that the card girls say!  But remember this—Even if you think that some of this stuff in this “It’s Saturday” is possibly false-ish, remember folks, there is a little truth in everything! 

MyfriendJoeTheHike says—Live is great if you can get past the bullsh*t-ish stuff!  SusieQ says—Yabut you just gotta go forward (i.e. you can’t just sit on the couch and eat chips). The problem SusieQ is that many folks don’t know what the forward is soooo they stay where they are (i.e. stay in a sedentary mode). MyFriendJean says—Ya gotta keep movin’! I asked DaughterOfBenGenius what forward is and she said—Putting one foot in front of the other and go forward.  I talked to a mother and her maybe 6-year-old daughter the other day.  I asked mom what she is doing (i.e. she explained).  I asked her what her husband is up tooooo—she looked at her daughter and asked her what dad is doing—he works and then lays on the couch!!!  That was funny-ish to me!  Such is life.

Heather, James, Erin and Rookie were on a weekend outing in Frisco (i.e. up ‘er in ‘em mts).  I told them that I can’t keep up with all their activities.  Heather text me back—Hey, we can’t burn daylight sitting on the couch eating chips!  Is that going forward? BigLeagueKevin says—A ship doesn’t sail on yesterday’s wind.

I read what RickyRick said while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--The Bible says that God wants you to listen to your heart. He wants you to look at what you’re made to do, and then you’ll know what he wants you to do. But most people these days are moving so fast that they don’t have time to listen to their heart anymore. We’ve got to slow down! We’re all in such a hurry, stressed with too much to do, not realizing until later that we didn’t have to do so much. That describes most people today in America. They’re speeding with no direction. But God wants you to slow down and listen to your heart. Romans 12:3b says, “Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves” (NLT). I suggest you get alone with God and ask these questions: “What do I love to do? What do I dream of doing? What fascinates me? What can I talk about, think about, and study all day and not get bored? Where have I been most effective in my life?”

Citi has a TV ad where they say--Wouldn’t it be nice if all folks would tell the truth. A lady brings a pie over to their new neighbor and says—I’m just here to see if you are weird! The new neighbor says back—Would you like to come in and snoop around?  I think that is funny-ish! 

You might be disadvantaged-ish.  I read in the paper that there is an imbalance of knowledge. Economists call it asymmetric information—when one party in a transaction knows more than the other and can exploit the advantage.  LuckieEddie says—It’s good to be in the know!  OneSmartGuy went to Global Leadership Summit. He said--GLS is lead by Bill Hybels at Willow Creek, in Chicago and they bring in national leadership speakers to speak to the Willow Creek crowd and then telecast it out to 300 different churches in the US and International countries.  I believe that there were about 200,000 people who saw the presentations via telecast. This OneSmartGuy shared his notes.  Here is the last part of his notes.

Hybels challenge:

1. Spend 15 minutes/morning to read and reflect on your life.  Aka ‘Chair time’.  Think about who you are becoming? Read and Pray.
2. Business Owners – make this year a ‘grander vision’.  Support other businesses that help people, not just with giving money, but with action.do something big.
3. Measure the health of your organization’s culture.  It’s only has healthy as the top leaders want it to be.
4. Everyone wins with the leaders get better.  What is your ‘year around’ plan to improve your leadership skills?
5. Are you leading at home as well as you are leading at work? 

Have you ever had a dream and wake up and are soooo glad it’s just a dream?  Have you had something seem like it’s a dream (i.e. it’s soooooo good) but it is not a dream but it is the real thing?  CrazyMarivn says—Some of my dreams are just mirages! CrazyMarvin, I can relate to that.  Last Saturday morning I went for a walk on the golf course and thought about my score the day before.  I think I was just dreaming!  After thinking through my round, I don’t think my score was as good as I thought.  I was just in a dream-ish world.  I can have a lot better score when I forget the bad holes.  Man-o-man. AverrageJoe says--Let’s be honest.  Life would be boring if we all had the same hopes and dreams.  The Dreamers aren’t dreaming soooo good right now; we will see what Congress has to say.

PXG golf company advertise that their clubs are the best.  They say you will be in the fairways more using their clubs and “you meet a better class of people in the fairway.”  That just makes me laugh.  That’s crazy-ish to me! Are folks you like to be around, in the fairway?  Does that mean maybe, just maybe, that those who are in the rough have sorta kinda a bull-ish attitude?  I read this in a novel (i.e. DoubleBarrelDallas says—it’s just fiction)—Sam Tucker was a disciple of the belief that evil always gets what it deserves, and he enjoyed seeing his philosophy borne out.  Particularly in this case.  He had a certain admiration for really hard men who were skilled killers if they walked up to a man’s face and gave him a chance, but not for the gunman who lay in ambush, and who shot in the back. Sooooo any of you folks every shoot someone in the back (i.e. there a lot of ways to shoot a person in the back).  GeorgeTheCrook says—That shooting a person in the back is sorta kinda rather chicken-ish; that is what little people do. 

Soooo what makes a person a big person or a little person (i.e. I’m not talking about your weight folks). More words from the novel—You know Jud, Colleen continued, some big things are done by men who are really very small.  Woooooo! My mentor would say to me—erv, the world’s measuring stick for big folks is how much money they appear to have, how big a house they have, how much power they appear to have; but that is not really what the real measuring stick is.  He was sorta kinda a philosophical—ish kind of guy who lived his life by what he believed.  He lived his life well but he was much more “worldly modest” than what he could have if he wanted tooooo.  And he was happy. 

It was rather tickle-ish to put the details together but I went on a “Sabbath.”  This Sabbath is a day away from my normal life and spending time with myself and my thoughts (i.e. mediation and rest and refreshing).  A time to reflect and think.  Does that make any sense to you?  It is good for me. Friends gave me a most enjoyable and beautiful setting to do this.  For a caregiver, it is really important to do this (i.e. my opinion).  I have taken up some folks’ offers to help me.  I asked several of them to stay with Arlene.  It appears that they were very happy to do this.  Helping is a gift to me and I hope to them.  If not, they won’t do it in the future.  If that is the case, I surely understand.  They gave me suggestions how it would work better the next time I do it (i.e. very good suggestions).  Very help-ish!

Money-ish!  I read in the paper soooo it must be right that if you want to run for Governor, you got to have money or raise money (i.e. a lot of money).  It said that most candidates over estimate how much money they can raise.  They really have to have a passion to do all the effort it takes to raise this money (i.e. kiss a lot of butt and a lot of babies).  And they have to have a good reason why they are running and why folks think they would be a good governor.  It’s like starting a new business.  If you can’t sell many widgets, you won’t stay in business.  And the last thing it said, it takes a lot of money! That money seems to influence folks. LukkieEddie says-- I wonder what it would cost me to hire lobbyists to get what I want?  LuckieEddie, it would really depend a lot as to what you want!!!! 

                                                                                

A guy who I know (i.e. half of what he says isn’t true and the other half I don’t believe) says--Toyota has an asymmetric negotiating position (i.e. they know everything about everything).  They basically put states against states to get the best deal.  They might even know they are not going to a certain state but they use those states as a battering ram. It’s an effective-ish way of doing business (i.e. some call it good business).  It works folks; don’t kid yourself.  Have you ever tried that with your spouse?  Ouchy ouchy! SlimyTerry says—I have and then the divorce attorneys split the assets!

It's all about the Benjamins. And Jacksons. And Lincolns. And Washingtons. Great gobs of goose sh*t! Talk about getting a jump on the competition—Can you believe this?  The Seahawks are using Regenokine on their players.  The treatment removes anti-inflammatory agents from the blood and reinserts them into an injured area to help with pain issues in joints muscles and more.  It’s illegal in the United States but who cares if you can gain an advantage over your competition and make more money.  I could use this procedure on my hamstring.  I wonder where I can go to have this done.  I bet for enough money, I can find a place. It just might enable me to beat someone on the pickleball court!  I need to gain an advantage!  The question is how much money is it worth to me. hahaha

I was at a grocery store and almost ran into a lady and her cart with my cart.  I apologized and said—I don’t know where I’m going—me either; I’m looking for beer for my husband soooo when I have had enough of him and send him out to his shop, he has some beer to drink.  We both laughed.  She wasn’t a bit sheep-ish about telling me this.  What a hoot!

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

erv

MyFriendJeans says—May you never miss a rainbow or a sunset, because you are looking down.

P.S. "When it is obvious that goals can't be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." - Confucius

oya

Warning! I might be talking through my hat in this It’s Saturday.”  Sooooo enter at your own risk.  I was cashing a check at our local bank recently.  As I was leaving, two bank employees said to a young client—Step over her and we can figure you out! I told her she was lucky, they never say that to me. Oya!

AfriendCarol asked me what I think about the new turn-a-bouts in Cedar Falls—I sorta kind like them—me tooo; I look at them as a challenge; oya, I did go around one twice the other day (i.e. we both laughed)—you like them sooo well that you had to take a second look!!!! AfriendCarol just had serious back surgery—Her doctor’s name was Oya!  Oya, that is correct folks, oha. 

DynamiteBev says—Take it from me erv, some folks can sense a situation and other can’t.  What do you mean about that DynamiteBev?  It’s this way; some folks can see what others can’t.  Some folks can just sense a situation (e.g. when something is wrong) and act accordingly (i.e. like saying just the appropriate words or do the perfect act).  And others can’t sense the situation and do say some dumb thing (i.e. boilerplate rhetoric; very robotic) at the most inappropriate time accompanied with actions that are from left field.  CadillacJack says--That “sense of the situation” cannot be taught or learned from a book.  Folks either have it or not.  Some folks just screw up things all the time and they don’t even know it and other can make a situation soooo much better and they don’t even know it.  SusieQ says—It seems like you got it or you don’t. Oya!   "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it in himself." - Galileo

At pickleball recently, there were two new guys playing.  Both were good players but way different.  One seemed very poised, talked softly, very polite, and seemed very humble.  The other, it appeared, seemed to be very brass and arrogant. Soooo if I sensed that, most others maybe did toooo.  Probably neither one realized they gave this impression I would guess.  The one guy I enjoyed being around and the other, well not soooo much (i.e. like not at all). And you know what, I might not ever see either again.  Thanks guys for giving me a real live lesson.  Oha!

I want to make it perfectly clear--Some arrogant folks are very successful in the world (e.g. sports and business) and some humble folks are very successful.  That is not what I'm trying to say.  What I am trying to say is--I enjoy being around the humble folks.  That is all.  Soooo if your are arrogant, you might be successful but I might not enjoy being around you and choose not toooo (i.e. others might). Oya!

BonusBabyFred says--erv, you are over stating the situation just like the government, Verizon, Dish, NBC News and my neighbor; you have just pain overstated it; arrogance is American; it's just the way it is; get in touch you old fart! Could be BonusBabyFred but that's not how Chester and Anna raised me and I think they were right.  Sooo take that!

WorldClassLarry says--You can’t fool folks, they see who you really are! I think you are right WorldClassLarry.  I went for a morning bike ride on the Cedar Valley Trails and stopped at McDonald’s for a egg-sausage biscuit and to read the paper.  I was sitting at this table and I said to an employee who was mopping the floor—I really feel important sitting in this captain’s chair.  He looked at me but didn’t say anything.  Then I said—I’m not really that important.  He said to me—You can still sit there anyway mister! Oya! I had a blast playing golf Friday; just a blast.  I had a slippery 15 foot down hill putt on #7.  I putted it  past  the hole by maybe 5 feet.  I was complaining "how I good do that."  The Big Kahuna says to me--erv, don't be soooo hard on yourself, you aren't that smart!

LuckieEddie says--I'm working as hard as I can to get my life and my cash to run out at the same time (i.e. have just enough bricks to finish the road). If I can just die after lunch Tuesday, everything will be perfect.  Sooooo I stopped at a nursery to purchase some grass seed.  An elderly guy helped me.  You sell grass seed here—only to every other person who asks; you are the lucky one—how lucky can I get—how much; shady or sun; that will be $4.75 and I didn’t weigh my thumb—how will I ever know!  We had such a good time just buying a pound of grass seed.  Oya!

I asked a business owner how they were doing—better now—I was trying to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders (i.e. trying to run the universe).  I told her I try to let God do that and it works a lot better for me.  The business owner did not respond.  After I left I thought of this verse--Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." Job 42:3b Oya!

AverageJoe was at a business seminar where the instructor advised attendees to never say, "I don't know." She said a better response is, "That is a good question," or "Let me find out for you." That sounds reasonable until we realize it denies the obvious - that we really don't know everything, and sometimes it is not possible to find suitable answers to all our questions. JoeReal says it might be better to say—I just don’t know.  Yes siree JoeReal, I say that a lot because it’s the truth, I just don’t know; I’m just a little farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.  JoshuaGenius says—The only thing that I know is that I know nothing! GeorgeTheCrook says--A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. Is that wisdom do you think?

SooooMyFavoriteWaiterEric says—The Mayweather McGregor fight was rigged and just a show a.k.a. gaming the system; it’s all about the money; the boxing association isn’t going to let McGregor win; it would tarnish the boxing image; those two are probably friends; but it makes huge money; for getting knocked on his back, McGregor, I think, he made $100,000,000 and Mayweather $300-$350 million.  I always say folks, it’s all about the money.  Oya! I think I would rather be a Jordon Spieth!

I get humbled a lot, yes I do  A fellow pb player said to me—I get humbled many times a day.  Maybe you guys don’t (i.e. good for you, maybe).  If you don’t well…!  I got a major humbling done on me this last week (i.e. got hit in the nose and it really stung).  It put things in perspective.  Maybe I needed it but I didn’t thing soooo!  ANYWAY I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—People are easier taken advantage of (i.e. scammed) when desperate.  Not the same maybe as getting humbled but being humbled does put me in a different frame of mind. You might remember this story--Bartimaeus had the need to see again. He was a poor blind beggar, who had heard about Jesus and the miracles He had done. The crowds rebuked him for seeking Jesus, yet he continued to cry out. "Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'...Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus" (Mk. 10:48,50). That day, Bartimaeus saw for the first time. But more than that, he saw with spiritual eyes for the first time.  Maybe we all have to be desperate to really shout for mercy!  What do you thing?  That is what I thought. Oya! 

I know some of you use under arm deodorant; yes I do.  I can smell it and some of you don’t: I can smell that tooooo! I can’t use under arm deodorant Degree (i.e. named Adventure) which is made up of Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydex. It makes my arm pits itch for over a week.  No matter what I do, they keep itching.  One smart guy says to me—it’s in your head.  It is not; it’s in my arm pits.  Really folks, this stuff can’t be good for a person.  If it maybe tries up your arm pits but maybe it also dries up your brain toooo!  Could be. Ok, now if I use Old Spice which is Aluminum zirconium trichloroydrex; my arm pits don’t itch.  Maybe I’m just a wimp. Oya! 

I read in the paper soooo it must be right that Old Spice deodorant sales were really slipping.  Sooooo they changed the names of their products to more modern names (i.e. I bought Playmaker) and also changed the color of their containers and sales went way up. Soooooo what does that tell you folks?  IckieVickie says--It might mean different things to different folks (i.e. they might interrupt it differently).  Oya!

ItchieBitchie says--Different things are interrupted differently by different folks all the time. If you remember I got the Beetles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band CD for Father’s Day (i.e. it is, I think, the Beetles most popular album and it’s 50 years old).  I have listen to it several times and also have followed along with the written lyrics.  The words are crazy; I have no idea how they came up some of them: I have no idea what they mean most of the time; I interpret them the way I want to and I bet others interpret them differently.  And the Beetles are from England; maybe they think differently than ervie from the Midwest; I don’t know. I asked a good friend who is a music buff about this and he said--They are artists...and we are not!😏Glad you're enjoying it and wrestling with it. Oya!

Saturday question—Do you think all readers of “It’s Saturday” interpret it the same?  That is what I thought.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Don’t try to do everything—take time to refresh your body and spirit.