March 10, 2018

odds are...

I realize that not all of you have been given full security clearance for highly classified information but I’m going to take a change with you guys in letting you read this “It’s Saturday.”  There is only one of you that I’m a bit concerned about!

ItchieBitchie says--Odds are if you think your friends, business associates, church folks, fellow employees, and folks you associate with are jerks, you are probably a jerk toooooo.  SusieQ says--ItchieBitchie, don’t make me think about such things; I don’t like to self-evaluate myself.  Flip the pancake, if you think your friends, business associates, church folks, fellow employees, and folks you associate with are great folks (i.e. high moral character, giving, honest, caring, loving and kind), you are probably the same.   GeorgeTheCrook says—Birds of a feather tend to flock together (i.e. what you think is what you’ll be).  Such is life.

I read this about a past client in his obituary—He served in the U.S. Army during WW II in the second wave of the invasion of Normandy and all throughout Europe, where he received many honors.  I didn’t know this about him and according to his obituary, his children didn’t either.  Odds are these experiences impacted his life.  Odds are that he was lucky to be alive (i.e. probably had been shot at many times).  Why do you think he didn’t want to share his experiences and thoughts?  What do you think?  That is what I thought. 

I’m starting to think that some of U.S. citizens are getting a little tired of poor use of their tax dollars.  It appears that they are wondering and voicing their opinions about use of tax dollars that is not producing (i.e. not getting any or a small amount of bang for their buck).  AverageJoe says—I have been saying this for years, but no one pays any attention to me.  Well, when there is plenty of money to go around, folks really don’t care (i.e. especially in a government situation—not my personal money).  Odds are there will be some changes as the national debt continues to increase; but when?  MissPerfect says—It sure seems like we waste a huge massive amount of money for bad ideas or for poor products and poor services—poor accountability it seems—tooooo many folks taking advantage of the system!  Will it change?  I have no idea (i.e. history doesn’t show it will—it appears the government gets bigger).  What do you think?  It probably depends where you are in the food-chain system maybe; who likes to see their “cash cow” die! When you wean the calf from their mommy’s easy milk, they baler a lot! 


A synonym for “bang for your buck” is “value for your dollar.”  Kohl's had a huge massive bedding sale (i.e. plus an additional 30% discount which made it like they almost would give them to us).  ANYWAY, we needed new sheets soooo I was standing in front of all the sheets knowing nutten about sheets other than there are a lot of colors!  There was a lady there soooo I asked her if she knew anything about sheets.  She said—a little; she told me about thread count and softness.  About this time her husband came around the corner.  I know this guy from previous business dealings (i.e. he is a real guy with a good heart; my kind of person).  He introduced his wife to me and said—you’re getting good advice as she is a world class shopper.  Soooo I asked her which ones I should buy.  She suggested these in the picture as they are the “best value for the dollar.”  Sooooo I bought them.  Her husband is a nice guy but I think she is even nicer.  What a hoot! 

This opinion comes from a person who is an authority of being average a.k.a. just a common person, a real AverageJoe.  I know this person very well. His name is ervie!  Folks, I have never been a star, always average so I think I know what I’m talking about, but you might not agree with what I am saying (i.e. just remember, it comes from just an average person). Odds are not good that an average basketball player (i.e. or anyone else for that matter who is average) is not going to be a star. Average basketball players just don’t have the potential if they aren’t quick, have the appropriate physical shape, have the proper attitude, and the ability. It doesn’t matter what you say about them or what is written about them in the paper.  It’s reality folks (i.e. average players seem to end up playing in the church league).  If you can’t make rain, you can’t be a star.  The great ones can; if you can’t, you are just average (i.e. a dime a dozen); and it must be done against other good players and not poorer players (i.e. anybody can do that).  That is just the way it is.  I can’t make Arlene well; it’s not possible (i.e. the odds are not good like 0% for folks with Alzheimer’s to get better).  As soon as I realized that and act accordingly, it is a lot better for Arlene and me.  That is the way it is even though it’s not the way I would like it (i.e. the odds are just what they are folks).  But folks, I have read that Billy Graham started out very average and even struggled; the odds didn’t look good for him (i.e. of course that was a God thing).  Such is life. 

It's boys’ state basketball week here in IA.  I just can’t believe how fast life moves along.  Many years ago, when Arlene and I just got married and came to Aplington, I taught and coached basketball for a few years.  I remember several games more than others (i.e. both games we won and lost--a fun time for us).  One of the games I remember was when we lost in 5 overtimes to the Dike Bobcats.  There was this skinny sophomore kid who just killed us (i.e. we couldn’t stop him).  BUT that skinny sophomore kid became my friend years later and has been a friend ever since.  It would have been better if that skinny sophomore kid would have been sick that night!  It would have been a W instead of a L!  Or maybe better coaching might have won it toooooo! But I still think it was that skinny sophomore kid that won the game!  A very good, fun memory. By the way, that skinny sophomore kid isn’t skinny anymore; he’s a real man! Folks, it was some 45+ years ago; odds are skinny sophomore kids grow up!

I read in the paper soooo it must be right that “Every two years, American competitors look to monetize their Olympic success through appearances, books, television shows and sponsorships. Unlike professional athletics, they have quick fame but in about 4 weeks their fame fades away.”  Soooo they need to get after it to make some bucks!  The paper said--Snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim, 17, might be the Games’ breakout star to capitalize on her fame the article said (i.e. when the grill is hot, that is the time to gill the dogs).  The reasons are her age and her authenticity in her personality.  Authenticity!  That’s being real folks (i.e. like Billy Graham).  Think about that.  While I was reading this, there were a couple in the booth behind me talking about a family member who they think she is really trying to fool everyone, but she isn’t (i.e. happenstance, na, I don’t think soooo). ANYWAY, the lady said to her husband—Everybody sees right through her!  Odds are that this gal is only fooling herself.  The other Olympians who didn’t get success (i.e. didn’t turn out like they would have liked it), well, they go home and practice another 4 years!  Such is life.

Odds are that many of you might not understand how much fun this was.  I had to put up a grab bar for Arlene by our bath tub.  I used a friend’s knowledge to help me find the studs and had to use another friend to use his carbide drill bit to drill through the tile (i.e. both worked just like on TV).  It’s nice to have friends who are talented and have tools (i.e. saves a little of time and money).  I don’t have all the newer style tools sooo I had to screw the 2 1/2” screws in with a screw driver (i.e. even had to put a glove on my soft hand as it hurt).  Seriously, I really enjoyed the whole process (i.e. the best part was the interaction with my friends (i.e. both are real folks with good hearts; my kind of folks).  If I would have asked them to do it for me, they would have. Yes, they would have. Wait until next time!!!!!

Warren Buffet is a unique guy and folks will seem to listen to him.  Why?  Because he is a very rich man and it seems like he has his head screwed on right (i.e. folks seem to listen to those type of folks).  He is certainly unique.  I read in the paper that when Warren Buffet was at U of I talking to business students he said--You gotta love your work; you can’t replace the relationships you build and the way you treat people with business knowledge; the most important job he had in life was raising his children.  Soooo why does he think this way do you think?  That is what I thought.  Odds are that he is unique alright!

A pickleball buddy told me that a group of long-time friends gave her a surprise grandma shower (i.e. she is going to become a grandmother for the first time). She was elated it appeared (i.e. I think it made her feel really special).  Her daughter, who is having the baby, wondered if she will have friends that would do that when she is that age.  My friend told her that she needs to speed time with folks now to make friends that will be long-time friends; it takes time and you must see them in person.  Do you think social-media friends are the same as long-time friends?  I really wonder if we are having a change in our culture.  Odds are we are, maybe.   

I read in the paper soooo it must be right that—We know friends make us feel good, but friendship is truly heart healthy; being connected, joking, talking and laughing all reduce stress; and stress is not good for a person.  Soooo how do we make good long-lasting friends.  Well, it takes effort and time for sure.  I think getting involved in a church is really a good way (i.e. my opinion).  Odds are pretty good in that setting. Where did you make most of your long-lasting friends?  Do you have any?  How many do you have? If you have none, start with your family.  Warren Buffet said this—No matter what you do professionally, you’re really going to be bound with the people you surround yourself with (i.e. family and friends I think he is saying).

If you have a bad attitude now or more often, here is an easy and fun way to change it—Experts say walking outside can be very beneficial.  Even 10 minutes of getting outside and walking around completely changes your attitude (i.e. just think how great you would feel if you exercised outside for an hour).  Sooooo throw those chips away and get your butt off the couch and get outside and get your kids outside tooooo.  Increase your odds.  Do it, just don’t talk about it. 

I just finished reading Living Life Backwards by David Gibson (i.e. I enjoyed the book).  It was recommended to me by my big sister (i.e. big only in years).  It is about Ecclesiastes, probably my favorite book in the Bible.  I read Ecclesiastes often and try to study it.  I don’t always understand it.  I find it very optimistic, but many do not.  I really like the “conclusion of the matter” after all the words of wisdom of the book.  The book just stimulates me.  Here are some words of Gibson’s book that I really like—"When we are not grateful for the little things, it is only a very short step to no longer being grateful for anything.  When we do not enjoy and savor and love and laugh and delight in the little things, then we are heading toward losing our delight in anything.” My opinion is that it is very important in my life to be humbly grateful to God.  When I become cocky and ungrateful, well, I’m not near as happy.  But the world really doesn’t want me to be that way.  Here lies the rub! Crazy!

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

erv

MyFreindJean says--Correction does much, but encouragement does more.

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