jump all over it

Before you jump all over me, you have to decide if I’m telling the truth or just yuckin’ it up.  Maybe you will not be able to decide (i.e. I am hard to understand for some of you—my circumstances are different than yours and your circumstances are different than mine soooo I can’t understand you completely nor you can't fully understand me).  If you can’t understand me, well, then no jumping all over me.  But I really don’t care if you want to jump all over me.  I’m use to it.  Very few folks if any agree with another person totally.  Such is life.

If you think I’m bias and very one sided, you are reading tooooo much into this “It’s Saturday.”  Yes, you are (i.e. I try to be neutral but probably am not).  Have you and I been programed by our environment and genetics?  I think sooo.  Sooooo maybe I am bias even though I don’t think I am (i.e. Chester and Anna did that—it’s their fault ha ha).  Now that could be folks. Folks, propaganda is powerful. Don’t kid yourself.  We are all brainwashed to some degree.  The ones who don’t think sooo are probably the ones that are brainwashed the worse.  Don’t kid yourself. Brainwashing has been used since the beginning of time (i.e. then add the power of money with it, well, it’s very powerful).  It ain’t nuttin new sucker.

Play ball!  The “Green Monster" can brainwash a guy a little.  Oh ya!  I spent a few days with Chet and James in Boston.  We did the Freedom Trail.  Our guide asked us what we think when I say Samuel Adams—the response of the group was beer!  According to our guide, Samuel was a very poor business man, a prankster but was a champion for freedom.  He was a “behind the scene instigator”; he was the first person to use mass propaganda.  He printed pamphlets and disturbed them to influence folks and get them excited.  It worked.  He would even give money to kids to bother the Red Coats (i.e. he got great enjoyment in watching it).  Saturday question—On the label of a Samuel Adams, who is the guy holding the mug.  If you said Paul Revere, you are right. Aren’t I Boston Wicket Smart now!!!! Our guide said that Paul Revere did not say the British are coming but said the regulars are coming and he didn’t shout it (i.e. he would have been killed; it was sorta kinda said underground).  And our guide said, there were many folks who spread the word but the reason we know about Paul is because his name was poetic for Longfellow’s poem.  Interesting.  Seeee we are brainwashed. 

Advertising surely is a form of brainwashing.  It reminds me of the story told me by a friend about his father and uncle.  It was during the WW II era.  Clarence and Bob were heading from IA to go up to MN to go fishing (i.e. both were avid outdoorsmen).  They were going through Minneapolis and saw a sign on an outboard motor that read—Last one!  Motors were hard to get during this time.  Soooo they stopped and bought it.  They went fishing and on their way back home, they saw the same sign on another motor at the same place.  Bingo!

Politically, individuals and parties shout as loud as they can and as often as they can to brainwash us folks about whatever they want us to think (i.e. it works suckers)! History seems to prove if you tell them enough times, suckers will almost believe anything (i.e. it works suckers)! It’s called Availability heuristic.  Another strategy is called “echo chamber.”  That is if us suckers are told it often and by many sources, we believe it (i.e. it works suckers)!

                                                                   

Soooo who is normal?  Are you normal? Am I normal?  I would guess we first have to determine the bench mark (i.e. what the normal person thinks normal is) to compare ourselves toooo.  Now that will be difficult. No question.  We might agree with some parameters as toooo what normal is but not exactly.  Now that is for sure; normally folks don’t agree on much of anything.  Soooo in reality, we don’t know what normal is.  Soooo if we don’t know what normal is, how can we tell if we are normal?  I have no idea.  Advertising tells us we are not normal if we don’t have a certain product.  It works sucker!

Have you ever beat yourself up?  I have many times.  I expect myself to be great all the time.  It just doesn’t’ happen! Da.  Really! It is hard to understand and accept the times when I’m not as good as I think I should be.  I jump all over myself but in reality: it’s my life.  Maybe my expectations are higher than what my ability is.  When I have a good run on life, I expect it to always to be that way; it’s not. My partner at pickleball the other day called herself, “one big dummy’ and also, “you stupid person.” I told her that is not good to say that about yourself; you need to say something positive about yourself.  She said—I know. But then she hit a bad shot and said—you big dummy!  A friend said he played poor golf this spring. He said he would tell his wife that after playing another hole bad, he would return to the golf cart and say—you dumb ass.  BUT he played better eventually and this success a.k.a. encouragement made him feel oh soooo much better.  When we say good stuff to ourselves, we trick our mind (i.e. out fox our mind a.k.a. brainwash it).  It really works.  Yes, it does.  ItchieBitchie says—erv, your mind is easy toooooo out fox soooo it doesn’t take much.  Always good to hear from you ItchieBitchie.  As a friend says--It is what it is!

Ok, here is an assignment (i.e. I realize that you guys hate assignments and will not do them (i.e. it’s like trying to teach your neighbor’s dog to behave). ANYWAY, write down one positive thing about yourself each day.  After you do it enough you will convince yourself that you are an ok person; not a dummy or dumb ass as you say you are sometimes.  That is what great athletes do; they hire head coaches to teach them this; listen to Tiger or Spieth or Zach Johnson or Ricky, they never say anything negative about themselves; they always spin it to something positive.  Here is the second half of the assignment (i.e. that many of you won’t do—I’m being negative about you ha ha)—Say something to folks, write a note, text or email someone each day for a week and tell them something positive you see in them.  How do you think it will make them feel?  How should it make you feel?  I will give you a hint; it won’t make you feel like a dumb ass. 

SuckerMabelwiththebadhips (i.e. naïve and not very bright) wonders if others are telling her the truth or just spinning the truth to influence her. I asked GeorgeTheCrook—Can you tell me unequivocally that you are telling me the truth? I mean can you tell me 1,000 percent you are telling me the truth?  And you are not spinning the truth.  I mean, are you telling the truth, the whole truth? I mean the truth and not just setting a trap for me? MissPerfect (i.e. a conspiracy wonk) says--One of the first rules of propaganda: Never begin to believe your own spin. JudgeMary says—We use to jump all over folks who didn’t tell the truth but we don’t anymore; one reason is, we don’t know who is telling the truth and who isn’t.  And another reason is, we are immune to folks who are dishonest.  It seems to be soooo common and accepted in our society today (i.e. by many anyway—some even think it’s good business). I still agree and accept what my Mom, Anna, always said to me—erv, always do what is right (i.e. I try but do mess up sometimes—that is telling the truth). 

We had a 4-men best shot tournament at our golf course recently.  It was for the young bucks as it was $100 a player with a maximum of 18 teams.  Old bucks don’t jump all over playing; first of all, old bucks can’t compete, and most old bucks won’t plunk down $100 to play (i.e. they would rather spend that on their grandkids).  Young guys like the competition and the prize money makes it more fun to them instead of playing for a few golf balls.  Sooooo I stopped at the club house after the tournament to see who won and what the score was.  14 under won; not bad.  The young man at the club house told me that it was a great beer selling day; those young guys drank a lot.  Then he said—Many young guys really enjoy playing golf, drinking a 6-pack and getting a buzz on with their buddies.  Have you ever noticed when guys and gals get older they don’t think it’s near as big of a deal to drink a 6-pack?  Why do you think that is?  That is what I thought.

This is powerful advertising or just sucking me in.  Sooooo we bought some new clothes for Arlene at Kohls recently.  They had a sale (i.e. they always have a sale) where stuff was 30% off.  We bought some stuff for her and spend about $120.  The clerk gave me a Kohl’s cash coupon for $20.  I asked him what this was.  You can come in and buy anything and we will apply $20.  Sooooo what’s the catch? No catch, just come in and you have $20 cash.  Sooooo, I need some new footies; are you telling me I can buy $20 worth of them and it will be free to me?  That is right.  I don’t understand! Well, that is how it works. I think he was saying—Sucker, you will spend more when you come in!

I really think I’m a better person when I take a break from life’s grind.  I mean, like get away from being a caregiver for a short time (e.g. going to Boston with Chet and James).  That is why I have a Yamaha XT250 a.k.a. my respite bike; it gives me a short respite.  I have friends who let me ride in their paradises that are close to town.  I can go and ride for half an hour and be home.  It works great. It changes my mind some.  That is why vacations, day outings, etc. are sooo good for folks (i.e. my opinion).  I think Sundays are supposed to serve this purpose. 

Even when you are taking a break from life (i.e. doing a trip to Boston) you need a break.  Chet and James like to read soooo we stopped at a used book store.  I like used book stores tooooo, but I was tired soooo I found an old chair in the back and took a power nap.  I needed to take break.  What a hoot!  

After all is said and done, ItchieBitchie jumped all over me and said--erv, what you wrote, I don’t believe a word of it; you are dumber than a bowl of mice.  ItchieBitchie, you might be right!  It’s always good to hear from you ItchieBitchie.  Always!!

It time for me to sign my Boston John Hancock and close this “It’s Saturday.”

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Along the way we find the unexpected.

P.S. Did you know that 75% of the land Boston sits on is manmade. Yep, it was hauled in using some hills.  Did you know there is no sauerkraut in Fenway Park! I don't understand that. 

This should make it easier to hear the podcast with Claas.