ta-da

You might hear what is said in this "It's Saturday" differently like Yanny and Laurel.  How can that be? Who are you going to believe?

Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman, was once asked, “Have you ever gotten lost in the wilderness?” He said, “No, I’ve never been lost. I’ve been bewildered for weeks at a time, but I’ve never been lost.” Saturday question—Have you ever been lost? Have you ever been bewildered? That is what I thought.  SusieQ says—erv, you look lost; you look like you don’t have clue what’s going on! SusieQ, I will never tell!

Ta-da! I had breakfasts with a friend this week.  He told me that he is involved in an ugly business situation because of a person who is a crook.  He said—erv, a crook is a crook is a crook!  In layman’s terms—If is looks like a duck and quack like a duck, smells like a duck, it’s a duck!  He told me that if you are suspicious of a person (i.e. like a building contractor with flip flops on at the job site), stay away from that person: don’t kid yourself, something isn’t right.  And erv, don’t believe everything others say; they don’t always tell the truth.  They are after your money!  They could care nutten about you! 

A friend told me that she did something when she was “young and dumb.”  CadillacJack says—Some things I have changed when I got older, some things I have not changed and some things I just don’t know about what I think.  A high school class mate called me the other day.  We talked for maybe half an hour. This guy was maybe the only town kid that I invited to come to our home a mile and a quarter south of Roseland, MN (i.e. it was in jr high).  I always felt that our house wasn’t as nice as the town kids.  I must of liked him back then and I like him now.  We had a great conversation.  He told me that he grew up in a conservative Republican household.  Their kids are mostly liberal except his son who is involved in business.  He said he started as a teacher and then worked for the U.S. Postal Service and become more liberal.  He told me that like I should know why.  I don’t.  Ta-da!

FriendRuth passed. She was 97.  Her and her husband Ben were great folks (i.e. very successful—lived the American dream—rags to riches story—had 7 children—the salt of the earth).  The family described Ruth this way in the bulletin—Her strong faith, fortitude, strength, and a little bit of feistiness were traits we all loved.  I ran into Judy and she told me that she went to the little Kesley Presbyterian Church with them.  She said the kids towed the line; no messing around.  I mentioned it to some of the kids at the visitation.  They said that their Mom was not a disciplinarian but would say—wait until your Dad gets home. Soooo I asked her if Ben was the enforcer—he sure was.  I see some of the qualities of both Ben and Run in their kids (i.e. chips off the old block).  Ben and Ruth and family are/were great friends.  I will always remember them (i.e. such good memories in soooo many ways).

Doing business in our world today can be frustrating for many (i.e. especially the elderly and folks who don’t have any know how and/or business savvy).  It appears that some businesses make it really hard to figure things out and get any help.  I think they sometimes do it on purpose. Example—I have been dealing with payments for home care for Arlene with our long-term health carrier.  I spend a lot of time working on it and I have some knowledge about this stuff.  I have no idea how others do it.  I wonder if they just don’t throw up their hands and just quit.  A person has to persistent as they really don’t care about you (i.e. many seem to just do the job and could care less—unless there is a direct link to money in their pocket, then it changes). Then there is the digital world that many are not equipped to deal with.  I think this whole area is a continuing drama with all ages and abilities but more for the elderly and the less knowledgeable as to how to work the system. Then there are the things like bad hearing and bad memories that complicates the situation.  I think it’s really a struggle for many! Ta-da!

Ta-da, we have arrived.  Recently I had the opportunity to re-connect with some old friends.  For the most part I enjoyed their company.  BUT most of the conversation was about how great they are, how great their kids are and how great their grand kids are.  Ouchy ouchy!  Another friend was standing by me and said—Next time they come down the street, I’m heading across the street.  Soooo folks, if we both have that feeling others do toooo.  BUT obviously they don’t!  A business person told me recently that they were at a company’s conference where all the folks didn’t know each other.  Within a matter of a short time, this person had pretty much sized up the others.  It really doesn’t take long now does it.  Yes, we are wrong sometimes but not usually.  LuckieEddie says—If it stinks a little bit on the top, it will really stink when you get to the bottom of it.  Yabut LuckieEddie, if they show a little bit of greatness, when you get to the bottom of it, they are probably really great!  Bingo! My Daddy, Chester, would say—erv, if folks are great, they don’t have to tell folks. 

Flip the pancake!  I have the opportunity to be around soooo many great folks (i.e. many of them are you guys).  Our conversations and relationships are just plain great.  We share and laugh and encourage each other and hopefully lift each other up.  Thanksamillion.  You are really good folks (i.e. real folks) with good hearts; my kind of folks)! Don't ever quite being great. You are great. My hat goes off to you. 

I said goodbye to a gal who we have developed a business relationship over the years.  She (i.e. about middle 20s) and her husband are moving across America for opportunities.  She has some greatness in her (i.e. my opinion). She was homeless as a kid and had family issues.  She changed on her own and changed her circumstances.  She has a great attitude and fortitude (e.g. got a college education).  If I was in a position, I would hire her.  She has great potential and with some coaching, she could be dynamite (i.e. my opinion).  I will probably never see her again.  Such is life.

I stopped and talked to another gal the same day. She is a business owner. She has had some difficult times recently.   I was wondering how she was doing—much better every day; with help of my counselor, I have made some great leaps; (i.e. ta-da!)—good for you—I also have an exciting situation happening in my business—good for you; an opportunity that gives you hope—yes, it does; hope is soooo important.  WorldClassLarry says—There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great and no tonic so powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow!   The pic is the shirt she had on.  I wonder where her major source of hope is?  What do you think? I really wish her the best. I will pray for her. Yes I will.

ItchieBitchie says—Sometimes a very small thing can really make a big change in us.  Sometimes it doesn’t take much.  I find that when I accomplish something, it can really change my attitude. It doesn’t have to be anything big (e.g. polish my shoes, wash the windows, clean the garage, clean my email account, make a phone call, wash the dishes, clean my desk off etc.).  SusieQ says—I prefer to just sit on the couch and eat chips; of course, I have a lousy attitude; maybe I should try to accomplish something; na, I don’t think soooo!  Such is life.

I stopped and saw some friends out on their farm the other day.  She was working with her flowers and he was planting soybeans.  I was curious about her ice cream bucket with two phones in it.  Oh, my husband calls me and he uses both phones soooo I keep them with me; I want to know where they are all the time soooo I put them in the ice cream bucket.  Ta-da!  I wonder why he calls her all the time—maybe because he really misses her, wondering what is for dinner, checking if she is working, tell her how much he loves her.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.

Did you guys follow the Meghan and Harry wedding.  I didn’t; I really had no interest.  Soooo was it real or fake?  Many weddings and funerals can be fake and many can be real.  If you know the folks personally, you know if it’s the real thing or a show, yes you know.  But if you don’t know the folks personally, you can be fooled quite easily.  The folks can look good and the pictures can look good and the words can sound good but it ain’t how it looks sometimes!  Oh no, some of those can be pretty flaky and phony!  You can’t make an orange an apple no matter how you try! Ta-da!

We are who we are!  We can say we are not a certain way but if we are a certain way, that is how folks know who we are; we can’t fool them.  DuaneTheWorm (i.e. who is an artificial, rubber worm) is who he is no matter what he thinks he is; he can’t fool folks no matter what he tells them.  I was reminded of this truth several times recently by several folks who were evaluating others.  And it doesn’t take long for folks to figure you and I out.  Don’t kid yourself.  LuckieEddie says—We are who we are; it’s just the way it is.  The real you and I have arrived! Ta-da!  AverageJoe says—You can tout yourself as much as you want but you are who others know who you are. Ta-da! Abraham Lincoln said--"You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrows troubles, it takes away today's peace.

it all depends

Disclaimer—Don’t take yourself soooo serious and don’t take me soooo serious. Take my jocular remarks just as that (i.e. don’t get all bent out of shape). Let us just have some fun.  I’m not important and maybe you aren’t as important as you think you are. Just maybe.  But maybe you are. JoeBlow said--I had a lesson recently about this, but I don’t know if I learned anything! I’m still thinking through it!  I’m a slow learner!  AverageJoe says— erv, what you say is just a bunch of hogwash;  go and jump in the lake! 

Early last Saturday, when in CO, I went for a 3-mile hike/run on Mt. Falcon.  It was a misty morning (i.e. my kind of morning). I totally enjoyed it.   GeorgeTheCrook says—erv, you have a screw lose (i.e. you are goofy).  LuckyEddie says—Last Saturday morning I got up late and went to Casey’s and got a Bismarck and a glazed donut which I nerfed down (i.e. I totally enjoyed them); then I went back to my recliner and took a nap!  Heather, our daughter, also got up early Saturday morning and ran 10 miles with one of her running friends.  Some of you might think she is even crazier than her dad! 

Soooo what is important to you?  What is funny to you? Can what is important or what is funny to me be different to you?  A friend said to me—erv, what is “nothing” to you is very important to someone else.  Why is that do you think?  Could it be because of confidence, current environment, parents, education, ego, good experiences, bad experiences, etc.? I have no idea but we are all different alright.  Soooo folks it all depends how we relate to a situation I guess.  ItchieBitchie says—It’s my way or the highway; I don’t roll with the punch very well!

CharlieMuck (i.e. whose brain is slower than his tongue) asks--What are you fighting today—It all depends—depends on what—depends what surfaces first that affects my attitude; it’s usually about love or money or the love of money a.k.a. the giant sloth.   It said in the paper, soooo it must be right, that scientists have uncovered fossilized evidence of humans attacking giant sloths 11,700 years ago.  And those folks thought they had problems!  We still have giant sloths (i.e. maybe even bigger and more vicious) to battle but maybe just a little different kind of giant sloth.  

" 'A part of all I earn is mine to keep.' Say it in the morning. Say it at noon. Say it at night. Say it each hour of every day. Say it to yourself until the words stand out like letters of fire across the sky." - The Richest Man in Babylon   WorldClassLarry says—The wise do not learn from their mistakes but from other folks’ mistakes!  Bingo!

How does the following fit you?  It depends. As Seth Godin, an author, entrepreneur and blogger, observed, "The campus you spent four years on 30 years ago makes very little contribution to the job you are going to do. Here is what matters: The way you approach your work. What have you built? What have you led? How do you make decisions?... How do you act when no one is looking? You are not your resume. You are the trail you have left behind, the people you have influenced, the work you have done."  I think he is saying—What is your track record?  Or do we just wear a big cowboy hat but own no cattle? Have you ever bought some piece of clothes a little tight and said—I will lose a little weight and it will be fine.  You never do and then just give it away as it’s uncomfortable.  Quite different when I was a kid.  Most of my clothes came from my cousins when they out grew them.  If Chester and Anna bought me something new, it was two sizes tooooo big soooo I could grow into them.  They all looked that way tooooo!!!!  Most of those clothes I wore out before they fit me. Such is life.

A friend told me the other day that she got a new job. She really wanted a different job but they couldn’t afford her.  The place had a master contract where the pay was based on education and experience.  She had 10 years of experience.  They could only afford a 0 to 2-year experienced person.  It appears that some jobs it really doesn’t make any difference if you have more experience or more education but other jobs it does (e.g. a master electrician or some production line employee).  Sooooo it all depends. 

I am thinking of two particular folks who are both my friends (i.e. it could be some of you toooo but these two came to my mind first).  These folks are very confident and have very good qualities and use their talents. Along with being very talented and they have such good attitudes.  They are basically kind, humble folks.  They have good hearts and are real folks (i.e. my kind of folks).  ANYWAY, are they always this way?  It depends I guess.  I told a friend recently that she is a meek person (i.e. that is a great compliment).  I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—Meekness is the foundation of spirituality.  In the new religions, there is no place for meekness. The very word is a negative. The meek do not inherit the earth.  The world belongs to the strident, the self-righteous and the powerful.  What do you think of that?  That is what I thought.

I’m going to try an experiment (i.e. something different—I get bored easily).  I have no idea how it will turn out.  It all depends.  We went and did a new thing Saturday in CO.  We went to a brewery (i.e. you say what’s new about that).  It was called The New Terrain Brewery on the edge of Golden.  It overlooks the mountains probably where they got their name.  North Table Mountain has a lot of bike and hiking/running trails soooo the brewery caters to all the CO outdoor enthusiasts.  But they don’t serve food (i.e. that is the new thing).  What they do is have food trucks come in and serve the food (i.e. different trucks with different foods different week-ends).  It’s a yuppie thing in CO and the folks really buy into it along with their dogs (i.e. a lot of dogs it seems in CO).  Sooooo would this work in IA?  Ok, here is my experiment—My report is my opinion; I have asked James and Heather (i.e. in their 40s a.k.a. genXers to tell you about the same visit—it’s like listening to the news on FOX and CBS).  It will be interesting how they report about the brewery. 

Heather’s version--There are over 300 breweries in Colorado. Small little breweries are everywhere. They are becoming “the thing to do” and the place to be. It’s about the scene and trying new beer. Sometimes they have some pretty unique tastings- think cilantro lime and coffee chocolate stout. They offer outside patios and attract families and hipsters. Popular spot for day drinking and a meeting place after outside adventurers-biking and running groups. People like the casual atmosphere. They aren’t restaurants so you can bring your own food, order pizza delivery, or visit the rotating food truck on site. The community tables lend to socializing with new people. What is there to not like? 

Talk about the difference in how ages see and do things.  Driving back from CO (i.e. I drove it straight through and got home a 3:30 a.m.—totally enjoyed the drive) I noticed all the cows and new calves in CO and NE (i.e. I enjoy that--uplifting).  I asked my friend, “TheMTcowboy” if the calving is pretty much done—yes, except for some cows that didn’t settle the first time they were in heat soooo they got breed the second go around.  He said it’s now branding time.  The ranchers get together and have a cowboy branding party (i.e. probably tell some stories and drink some beverage I would guess).  ANYWAY. I asked him who decides who does what—it’s just an unspoken rule that the teenagers and guys in their 20s do the wrangling, roping, bull dogging of the calves, the next age bracket do the branding, the next age bracket do the castrating, the next age bracket give the shots and the next age bracket point their fingers and tell others what to do.  ha ha  Soooo to answer the question—it all depends!

I stopped by Kearney, NB on the way home.  I had my Bobby Jones cap on.  The clerk at the register asked me if I was Bobby Jones—no no—Is he a basketball star—no no—who is he—he is a deceased golfer who I respect—that is neat; I have never heard of him.   I could have told her I was Bobby Jones and made up a great story about myself.  MissPerfect (i.e. who is a real buzzard gizzard) says—Soooo it depends if folks are telling you the truth or just making up a story; everything folks tell you isn’t always the truth; a lot of those stories are based on how old the folks are who is telling them (i.e. they just think they are the truth).  ha ha!  When I was around Rookie (i.e. age 5), I asked him if he was telling me the truth or was it a lie.  Rookie said—I’m telling you the truth this time!  What a hoot!

I think a lot of stuff affects me that I don’t really understand how it affects me.  Does that make any sense to you?  Even if I don’t recognize certain things, I think they alter me (e.g. constant stress, seeing Arlene deteriorate, tiredness, comparing, etc.--those negative things are way beyond my understanding--flip the pancake, many of you folks are soooo kind to me in many ways; that is the other side of the equation).  I really think respites help me to be a better caregiver to Arlene.  They might even be good for Arlene.  They might even save my life (i.e. respites are about listening to God). WorldClassLarry says--Change is painful. Few people have the courage to seek out change. Most people won’t change until the pain of where they are exceeds the pain of change. Ouchy ouchy!

My ex-business partner of 34 years passed this week.  We never had words in being business partners for those 34 years (i.e. but I think he did tell me to be quiet a few times when he was hitting his drive and putting  ha ha). Amazing isn’t it.  We talked many times why our partnership worked and others don’t.  We think that the basic reason was that we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savor and tried to pattern our morals and values after His example.  Mike would then always say—We are soooo fortunate to have such good wives.  The outfit Mike is wearing in the pic is his burial outfit. He really enjoyed playing golf.  He played more rounds than anyone I know. 

PastorJohn said at Mike's funeral that we should continue to support Diane and the family weeks after the funeral in many ways.  He said a note is sooooo appreciative.  We got this note Friday from some real good folks with good hearts; my kind of folks.  How do you think it made us feel?  That is what I thought.  

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Don't count your years, make your years count.

what a riot

Disclaimer—There is no deception in this” It’s Saturday” (i.e. it is not a charade).  It is just opinions and thoughts.  We all have them.  LuckieEddie says—erv, you got to remember that many readers are eager to embrace whatever they already agree with as their gospel’s own truth even though its their opinion or thought.  ItchieBitchie, I understand that.  Yes I do. 

A friend told me that he was disgusted with his Internet provider.  Listen my friend, your Internet provider services you in the same way that Bonnie and Clyde serviced banks. Such is life.

When someone says—What a riot, it could be one of two things.  Like a riot where folks go crazy and destroy and burn to demonstrate for attention or an expression of “oh what fun.” I personally don’t understand why folks riot when their team wins a championship (i.e. seems childish to me).  It appears that some folks like to destroy because they are not happy with themselves and their mind is goofy (i.e. an excuse to be destructive). Now on the other hand, I enjoy riots that are “oh what fun.” I am in CO with Erin and Jimmer. I will get to see Erin in her Irish dance show.  Will pack a lot of stuff into a couple of days.  They like to eat ice cream that Grandpa buys them the best, it seems.  It is a riot. Such is life.

Sooooo I stayed the night in Waukee with Chet, Jessica, Charlie and Rookie on the way to CO.  The grand kids showed my how they like to climb the rocks and then jump.  I said--I should take you along with me to CO and you can climb a Rocky Mt.  Charlie said--We can't take your car Grandpa because you don't have car seats for us (i.e. they just new car seats the day before).  Rookie said--Maybe we should wait until we are teenagers.  Charlie thought for a little while and responded--I did the math and Grandpa, you might not be alive then!   What a hoot!

Have any of you folks been involved in a destructive riot?  I have not and haven’t even been close to one. Of course, I’m just a little old farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN. It appears to me that to be part of a destructive riot, a 12-pack of Bud-Light seems to help or some drugs might work toooo and if you really what to do it right, both! 

You think there has always been riots in history (i.e. when folks object to something)?  I wonder.  Folks have been always unhappy about something.  In some civilizations, the authorities would not put up with an uprising and just kill the folks.  Some countries are still that way today.  According to the country’s power, they want complete control and get rid of the trouble makers (i.e. put the fear of God into them--what fear of God do you think I'm revering tooooo--the scary fear or the stand in awe fear?).  It works folks!  JoeSixPack (i.e. who is emotionally driven) says—In a democracy, it seems folks have more freedom.

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—David (i.e. anybody can be a David) said--Religion is one thing; most people will allow it to go on undisturbed, as long as it is practiced in private. But when the gospel begins to challenge economic interests, that is another story. Paul first experienced this in Philippi, when he delivered a demon-possessed slave girl and got in trouble for ruining her owner’s fortune-telling business. Demetrius inflamed his fellow idol-makers with two arguments. First, this Christianity was hurting business.  Second, the gospel threatened the prestige of Ephesus, whose magnificent Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. So the citizens poured out into the streets and rushed into the great amphitheater (i.e. protested and rioted). There was a huge hubbub.” When money is involved, folks squawk alright (i.e. nutten has changed).

I’m a riot and would guess you are toooo (i.e. if you want to admit it or not).  I mean I tell  myself that I will never do that again and then do it in 10 minutes (i.e. like get in the car and hit my head—another scar) or I am not ever going to eat chocolate again and do it the next day or I will always put everything away soooo I can find it later and then do just the opposite.  I’m a riot like I said.  I just have to laugh at myself after getting mad at myself first.  I’m really funny, irresponsible, lazy, two faced, talk out of both sides of my mouth, lie, and am just crazy!  What more can I say.  I’m a riot like I said.  Jesus said--“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth”

 One of my golf buddies (i.e. who just got a lesson but learned nutten) said to me—I talk to myself all the time about what I want to do and what I have to do but I don’t listen to myself!  MissPerfect (i.e. who is in with Flynn) says—It is hard for me to accept myself as I am—I think it’s always has been this way and probably always will be!  Ouchy ouchy!  CrazyMarvin (i.e. who lives in a cage) says—Folks seem to be reluctant to stand apart from the crowd, even if they feel it is justified. It seems it’s easier to throw bricks with the others even if they don’t know why they are throwing bricks.  ha ha  

Talk about being lazy!  My Daddy, Chester, would say to me—erv, folks who are lazy are innovative and creative.  Well, I’m lazy.  I don’t have an air compressor and wanted to blow out the air filter in the lawn mower and the car’s in-cabin car air filter soooooo I used the leave blower. Bingo!

I have an acquittance who could become a friend, who was telling me that she is trying to break the chain of generational dysfunctional behavior of her step-daughter.  She told me it is hard as she doesn’t know what the normal normal is but just what her normal is.  It has been ingrained into her (i.e. the experiences are chiseled in her brain).  Isn’t there a saying that goes something like this—Like father like son or like mother like daughter?  Have you ever noticed that we have different things in our craw, we have memories of stuff in the black part of our brain, and have stuff that bother us that we have never told anyone?  Then someone or something touches that nerve and a person just explodes (i.e. causes a big riot in themselves).  That is why breaking the chain is soooooo hard.  Some of you folks, I know, have overcome some tough stuff.  My hat goes off to you.  You amaze me.  I think you are special folks.  Even if I or others don’t know about it.  It’s a riot when we can overcome such stuff (i.e. you should jump for joy—yahoo)! Oh ya!

Master Gardeners told me I should acclimate my flowers before transplanting them.  They have been pampered all their life and I need to introduce them to the real world slowly.  They say do it gradual.  They still didn’t like it! I guess we all like to be pampered.  Now that is a riot! 

My lap-top computer just quit, went black.  It said, I have enough of you erv!  It went on a riot!  Soooo I take the battery out and waited for a minute and put it back in.  I fooled it once again.  BUT I bet she will figure me out and get me later.  Ya gotta to learn how to trick those suckers!  The critics say--The take on those suckers is that you got to outsmart ‘em! SusieQ says—If you can’t do that, you riot!

The critics also say—Don’t burn bridges.  A couple of friends just got some new, excellent jobs (i.e. at least it looks that way).  One got the opportunity in a parking lot talking to an ex-co-employee.  She (i.e. CEO of the company) also told my friend—Stick with me and I will take you with me; I like you and how you do business.  This gal now took another job with a bigger company and told my friend—I will be in touch.  Another friend got a new job opportunity because of an ex-neighbor.  It seems that this connection along with some other possible connections and her ability and experience got her this new, potentially great job.  LuckieEddie says—Folks remember you who you are soooo don’t make an ass out of yourself (i.e. that is easy to do—anybody can do that—it doesn’t take a rocket scientist).  They remember that.  It’s hard to get that out of a person’s craw!  Ouchy ouchy! Most employers don’t like folks who riot a.k.a. problem makers.  They are looking for problem solvers!

Have you ever watched a sport event that you recorded and know who wins?  It’s way different how we watch the event now isn’t it.  It’s just not the same as not knowing who is going to win.  Especially if you have a real interest in a team (i.e. a team you are a fan of).  Soooo it is with life I think.  WorldClassLarry (i.e. who always has a hot hand) says—If you are a Christian and believe (i.e. don’t all Christians believe?), you know how this game of life is going to end and where you are spending eternity. If sooooo then a Christian should have a different perspective of how they watch and play the game.  There is no surprise!  Life should be a riot!  That is a fun riot!  ha ha

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--What you think is what you will be!

Really! Oh man!

This “It’s Saturday” might seem rather ervish (i.e. like swervin’ervinish)!  Sooooo take that into consideration when reading it; this is not rhetoric; it’s not a judgment call.  Remember, talk is cheap because the supply exceeds the demand! I tell you what folks, I’m going to give you the whole 9 yards of the old-crow medicine if you like it or not! BUT, I’m not trying to change public opinion or your opinion.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to change your opinion?  I don’t think you do! It’s nearly impossible or impossible.

I’m going to try to change something about myself (i.e. figurative and literally).  It will be hard as I maybe have been this way for a long time (i.e. I have been had).  It will be as hard to change as my golf swing!  But I’m going to try. I am going to re-brand as they say in business!  I have been working on it but am really going to put a lot of effort into it.  It will be a challenge.  I wonder if I can do it.  It will be interesting. I already have been humbly presented with an opportunity for me to be tested. Really! Oh man!

We took a little day trip to get some flowers from the Mennonites. It was suggested by a pickleball friend,Master Gardener Sara.  We stopped and had lunch at McDonald’s.  We haven’t eaten at the Mc for a long time; it really tasted good (i.e. if a person hasn’t had something for a while, it seems to taste better).  As I was helping Arlene to the door, there were three construction workers also entering at the same time.  I told them to go ahead (i.e. Arlene doesn’t walk very well and is very slow).  They said—no no, you go ahead. One held the outside door, and another held open the inside door.  They were soooo nice to Arlene.  It really touched my heart. There are really nice folks around with good hearts.  There are. Really! Oh man!                                                                                                                                                          

AverageJoe (i.e. who is delightfully blunt and unflinchingly honest) says--Like a stalker creeping in the shadows, watching your every move, LifestyleCreepJoe slowly creeps up on you. As you go about your daily life, you don’t even notice LifestyleCreepJoe lurking in the shadows… Until bam! The creep jumps out from behind the bushes and you suddenly realize that you have been had (i.e. like you make good money but have not a lot to show for it)!

Argentinian, Adolfo Cambiaso, probably the greatest polo player in the world, cloned his favorite polo pony and has 14 ponies just like her (i.e. probably the best polo ponies in the world).  He said all the clones have the same temperament, skills and the great desire to play.  That is really amazing to me.  And you don’t need a male; no breeding.  The article said it could easily be done with humans as well.  That is amazing and scary to me.  Maybe the NFL will look into this.  Each franchise would have a Tom Brady! Saturday question--Do you think the general public would want to clone you or I? Really! Oh man!

I was checking a book out at the library the other day. There was a super senior gal (i.e. super senior in age for sure) also checking out.  She had maybe 3 or 4 books.  I said to her—it looks like you read a lot—yes I do but I also like to watch sports—soooo what sports do you like to watch—basketball and football but I will watch golf and other sports toooo.  Really! Oh man!

I called a friend (i.e. a farmer) and he was at the grain elevator playing pepper.  He had to call me back.  Soooo I asked him if he was playing for money.  He said—No, we don’t do that; when you play for money everything changes.  It’s amazing how money changes things.  GeorgeTheCrook said—Anytime there is pride, money or power involved, folks change. When folks are extremely competitive, (i.e.  change their game plan to win) they become a different animal.  Like my friend says—Everything changes when folks play pickleball very competitively; they hit it to the poorer player and the better player will poach—why, they want to win—it’s no longer social).  SusieQ says—I will do anything to win; I’m very competitive.  Sooooo you are SusieQ, sooooo you are!

I was told by a very smart gal to bet on the horse to win the Kentucky Derby that poops just before the race; has less weight to carry!  I get all the free advice.  Really! Oh man! More free advice!  I was putting my shoes on at pickleball Friday morning and I asked Deb what she is going to do today—going to thin out my Lilly of the Valley—really; why are you going to do that—it makes the flowers larger on the other plants—oh!  Sooooo I went home and did the same.  Such is life.

Really! Oh man! "The affluent tend to answer 'yes' to three questions we include in our surveys: 1. Were your parents very frugal?; 2. Are you frugal?; 3. Is your spouse more frugal than you are?" - The Millionaire Next Door

If you are a millennial, you will laugh!  If you are a old fart, you will laugh.  Sooo I purchased a bag of Scott’s Grub Killer for our lawn at Blain’s.  It was $21.88 with a $5 rebate.  I took it to the check out and the gal said—the bag has a hole in it; you want to get a different one—how about a discount and I’ll just take it.  Sooooo they sold it to me for $12.33.  Soooo I fill out the rebate on line.  I had to have a pic of 5 mb or less.  That meant I had to crop a pic as a normal pic is toooo large.  Bingo, that bag of Grub Killer cost me $7.33 plus 86 cents of tax.  Here is the deal—Most millennials won’t go through all that work for $5 rebate when they are making a zillion dollars and many old farts aren’t going to mess with resizing a pic to make it work for $5.  Sooooo Scott’s knows what they are doing.  We have been had.  They do that for a million folks and they just made $5,000,000 and had free advertising. Realy! Oh man!

 RickyRick says—"We’ve all notice that the reception quality on a cell phone varies widely. The same is true with you. You must be positioned correctly to hear God speak (i.e. God’s noise). Sometimes we don’t give God a chance to talk to us. We’ve made up our minds. We want to do what we want to do, not what God wants us to do. Our hearts are hardened, and we’re unwilling to listen. When you have a closed mind, of course he’s not going to talk to you!”  Really! Oh man!  I have this saying on my bathroom mirror about choices.  Does it make any sense to you?  That is what I thought.

Really! Oh man!  A friend (i.e. who seems to have a very realistic opinion of himself and of the world) had carpal tunnel surgery (i.e. the surgery took 9 minutes he said).  I asked him why he had it done.  It was because he couldn’t sleep at night anymore.  We talked that we quite often don’t do something until it becomes an absolute necessity.  Crazy!  I changed the oil and air filter in my golf cart.  I purchased the filter from mechanic Denny.  I asked him how often most folks change the oil in their golf carts—some do it annually, but many don’t do it until their cart won’t run and bring it in for me to fix and say, why don’t you change the oil tooooo; it’s been forever!  Crazy!  I had to change the in-cabin-air filter in our car.  I was going to just blow it out but it had a hole in it and it looked like a mice nest on top.  Chad, my auto parts supplier, said it probably was mice.  He said it happens a lot; sometimes the mice even get in the car through the filter.  Rally! Oh man!

Got this response from a pickleball buddy from WY--Hi Erv. Hope you are doing well. I'm still in AZ going north in another week or two. Winter went fast, had fun here but also ready to go north away from this hot dry air. Read your blog today about the shed hunting. Thought you might be interested to know the Boy Scouts of Jackson Hole, Wyoming sold 9672 pounds of elk sheds in 2017 for 192,759 dollars. It is kind of a big thing out in the West. Lots of people hunt sheds here. Usually sale for 12 to 15 dollars a pound. Hard to believe!

I read in the paper soooo it must be right that 93% of journalists voted the Democrat ticket in the last election.  Sooooo what does that mean?  Surely that wouldn't influence their reporting, would it? It appears to me (i.e. my opinion) that nutten is reported without bias; most all journalism is not telling the facts but persuading the public opinion.  We are being had folks one way or the other!  Now we got women bashing women; now isn't that interesting.  What are the limits?  It appears that nutten is off limits (i.e.like laughing about killing babies).  Dr. J (i.e. who is as American as over weight and high cholesterol) says--"In an age of tolerance and compromise, the idea that there is only one way to do something is roundly rejected. 'One way' is considered narrow-minded, intolerant, inconsiderate, and even disrespectful. So, it’s not surprising that the New Testament’s message of forgiveness through Jesus alone is not received by many." What do you think of that?  That is what I thought!  

My opinion here folks, entirely my opinion but I really think I’m right, at least in my mind!  I have seen some major change in some of you; yes, I have.  I’m sure, in my opinion (i.e. some of you went from great to really great).  Maybe it’s age or circumstances or some of you seeing the light; I don’t know for sure, but I really think I have seen major change in some of you.  Sorry to say, I think some of you haven’t changed a bit (i.e. my opinion) but some of you have really stepped up your game.  Some of you were just average and now are great. Some of you are teetering on being great but haven’t made the decision yet (i.e. greatness awaits you).  Some folks are still proud and cocky (i.e. haven’t changed yet; maybe never will change).  Really! Oh man! BUT that is from my vantage point and is my opinion! Saturday questions—Do you think you have changed? Do you even what to change? Here is a great person’s opinion—“How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity.”

TheOtherWarrenFromOmaha says--During WWII, U.S. Airplanes were armed with belts of bullets which they would shoot during dogfights and on strafing runs.  These belts were folded into the wing compartments that fed their machine guns. These belts measure 27 feet and contained hundreds of rounds of bullets. Often times, the pilots would return from their missions having expended all of their bullets on various targets. They would say, I gave them the whole nine yards, meaning they used up all of their ammunition.  

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—If you are not using your smile, you are like a man with a million dollars in the bank and no check book.

P.S. Inspiration unused is merely entertainment. To get new results, you need to take new actions.