play on

I’m never probably going to be more than about 80 percent certain that what I write is perfect (i.e. actually far less than 80%--I understand that). Waiting for any greater certainty may cause me to miss an opportunity. I don’t think any amount of information may move me past a particular degree of certainty.  Sooooo I’m going to let her fly.  Here we go; play on.

The old adage—It’s better to create experiences instead of acquiring stuff seems hard for many folks to get (i.e. less than 80% chance haha) as the world seems to measure success by stuff and not by experiences.  Soooo I stayed with the grand kids in Waukee last Friday as the Jessica was on a business trip and the kids had no school and Chet thought maybe that the Live Wires for the grand kids would be canceled because of the snowstorm soooooo I got the opportunity to spend the day with them. Sooooo I said I would take Chet and the grand kids out for dinner Thursday night.  Well, I messed up in thinking we were going to meet at this restaurant, and they thought I was coming to their house and then going to the restaurant (i.e. my bad).  Then the restaurant really messed up our order and it was really a mess.  I told the grand kids to just eat what they serve you—it’s not a big deal, just laugh at it. It was a hoot! They did really well.  BUT here is the deal—It was an experience that they will probably never forget.  Besides, the restaurant gave it to us complimentary.  Play on.

I let the grand kids stay in their pjs all day (i.e. even let them go outside in the snow with their snow clothes over their pjs—why not) and let them get by with more than they normally do probably (i.e. I sorta kinda felt like a substitute teacher on a one-day stay—I think they took advantage of me--and I didn't care).  I guess that is what grandpas do, don’t they?  I found out later that they were not suppose toooo eat food by the computer or watch YouTube videos; they did both; how was I toooo know; the grand kids didn’t tell me! They had a good time alright! 12 year old LuckieCharlie and I were playing a card game she called Trash (i.e. she won all the games of course) and she asked me what my New Year’s resolution was—I said that I didn’t have one—what’s yours—I resolve to be better at using my manners and being more honest and caring to others (i.e. typed by Charlie herself).  Now that resolution is pretty impressive.  I hope she can, and I hope we all can do that.  Play on.

Listen folks, soooo much of this interaction will not make much difference 20 years from now or 100 years from now but some will.  I hope and pray I have the discretion to know what will and what won’t.  They might remember some things I say and do.  It appears we have a tendency to get all excited about some stuff that is not important and not get excited about stuff that is very important.  Why is that anyway?

Here is an idea for you grandparents—Our grand kids really enjoy being on my laptop and iPhone.  This is parent approved besides—let them do typing club; it’s great for them to learn to key board and develop a skill and it’s sorta kinda a game.  I’m amazed how they like it and also how fast they can type—practice practice and practice.  And it is very important in our culture.  BUT I think they would rather watch YouTube videos or play games!  haha

Some of you might think I’m goofy about what I’m going to share with you.  I think something really great is going to happen to me.  I do.  I have no idea what it is. It might not be considered great to you and it might not have a Hollywood finish either.  I even hope I can recognize it.  Some of you are wondering what I have been smoking!  Come on goofy erv, use you left side of your brain (i.e. reality) and not your right side of your brain (i.e. imagination).  Why wouldn’t I expect something great to happen to me? I just wrote this and got a text inviting me for dinner! That might have been it!  haha I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—Raja Chari, a Cedar Falls native, just graduated from NASA astronaut training program making him eligible to an active astronaut.  He and his 10 other astronauts were selected out of a pool of 18,000 applicants.  His remark was—I never thought I would be chosen. Charles de Gaulle said—We may go to the moon, but that’s not very far.  The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us. Play on.

   ItchieBitchie says--It is easy to sit up and take notice: what is difficult is getting up and take action.  Ouchy ouchy! I have said this before—It is soooo easy to be average; it doesn’t take much effort to be average.  But to be above average it takes some effort and to be excellent, it takes a lot of effort.  A medical doctor told me that he sees many patients that are not proactive with their health (i.e. actually that is pretty much average).  They just play on until their playing days are over. Ouchy ouchy! And then there are others who are proactive; have great excitement in their life; are always happy, active and excited.  AverageJoe says—Why are folks sooooo different?

You might not agree with me about this and that is ok.  I understand and won’t be a bit offended.  Actually, I realize that you don’t agree with me about many things I write about. I’m not offended in the least.  We all have our opinions and even think we know what is right even though it might not be.  That’s just the way it is (e.g. how could anyone vote for that person—haha).  ANYWAY, I think a leader of a church is as much a motivator as an expert in the scripture.  Does that sound crazy to you?  That is what I thought.  I really believe that Jesus, when on earth as a person, was a motivator and made folks feel good and gave them Hope.  See, some of you folks think I went off the deep end.  SusieQ says—All those Xs and Os are fine, but I need to be motivated; I need to be set on fire!  I need to get excited to go and kick some butt! Do you think the players on the 49ners and Chief teams were not motivated by their leaders? Da! Play on!

Marie Curie said during a lecture at Vassar College, “(Scientific work) must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become, like radium, a benefit for humanity.” I find that statement sooooo interesting and challenging.  It appears that sooooo much good stuff happens when we are trying to do something (i.e. anything good).  It appears that we have to experiment in trying new stuff, especially good stuff. Or as a coach once said--An ugly win is better than no win! Play on! A friend told me that he is very concerned about the church they attend as they are becoming an internal church (i.e. all about them—self-centered) and not an external church (i.e. about others). Saturday question—Which type of person or church is the most enjoyable to be around. Da!

It has been said many times, many ways that that we have to be tested by fire to find out who we really are.  GeorgeTheCrook says--If we have not been tested by fire, we do not know who we are and if we don’t know who we are we cannot be a leader in leading others in who they are.  You believe that?  That is what I thought.  Have any of you been tested by fire? MissPerfect says—When I have been tested by fire, I just don’t like it much; it hurts; it’s hard for me to understand that I’m learning much.  It seems like I’m just getting my butt burnt! Maybe MissPerfect, maybe you are learning by osmosis through your butt and you don’t even know it.  Play on! Arlene’s winter experiences--She would get our grand daughter, Erin, to stand with her with their backs to the fireplace and say, “we’re burning our buns.”  Now that is an experience that might be remembered.  Another thing she would say this time of year that we remember—Burzzy burzzy! But Erin also remembers us buying her ice cream; she loves ice cream.

SusieQ (i.e. who is a gem) says--It’s all relative, isn’t it? When you’re an active seven-year-old, a year seems like forever. When you’re an active seventy-four-year-old, the years rush past like a bullet train (i.e. can any of you relate tooooo that). A friend and I were talking about slowing the train down.  That is hard to do; that sucker just has a mind of its own.  It’s hard to put the brakes on.  Arlene’s Alzheimer’s has slowed my train down some; I had no choice, but my motor at times still runs pretty hot!  I think I have been wired that way.  Some of you folks are wired hotter than I am (i.e. my opinion).  It seems that I have a lot of friends who are wired pretty hot.  Why is that? I have no idea. Play on!

I read this which was written by JimGotItFinally while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—"Relationships are integral to a meaningful, fulfilling life. As a young boy, my only relationships were with family members; as an only child for 10 years, I never experienced how strong, positive relationships could be formed. The concept of forming lasting relationships came to me later in life, after Jesus Christ came into my life as Savior and Lord. This took place after two divorces and many missed friendship opportunities. When we are self-absorbed, we put ourselves first, at the cost of relationships.” What do you think about that?  That is what I thought. Play on!

RickyRick says—"Today we’re going to look at two more times when you should move fast. First, move fast when you have the opportunity to do good. The Bible says it over and over: When you see a chance to do something good for someone else, do it immediately (i.e. when is the best time to do good NOW!). This year, God will put people in your life with needs. Their needs might be physical. Some could be emotional, like a need for kindness or encouragement. Proverbs 3:27 says, ‘Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them’ (NLT).” JoeSmooth says—Don’t always beat folks up but uplift them; make them smile and enjoy life a little more.  It doesn’t take me long to get away from the DebbieDowners.  And I’m not a Lone Ranger on that; look around folks; a person doesn’t have to be rocket scientist to figure that out. Bingo!

Here is some of my thoughts (i.e. they have no value toooo most folks maybe, but they are what they are—they might be old fashion to some of you).  I was talking to a friend recently who said that it’s soooo difficult to remain close friends with folks of the past.  We just don’t have the time. I think that’s a fare evaluation, even with family.  Folks, toooo some extent, just don’t care as much about others or they elect not to put in the time necessary, maybe (i.e. that’s a guesstiment). SusieQ says—It appears that in an individualistic culture like America, we tend to overlook the power of friendship, friendship with combined humility and dignity. Okay, here is more of the result of my thinking—the new culture doesn’t want to hear about the old values of friendship; they are living in the new culture and don’t want to go back or even think of the old ways.  It appears maybe that many many Facebook friends is what folks are after.  I think I might be getting older and not keeping up with the new culture as I don’t have much interest in that.  JoeBlow says—erv, there is a difference between “have to” or the “want to” category. Play on.

Oh, those experiences!  You probably won’t remember the experience of reading this “It’s Saturday.”  It’s really not that exciting of an experience, I agree, but some of you might.  BUT a sad thing about life is we don’t remember half of it.  We don’t even remember half of half of it. Not even a tiny percentage of it. And we are soooo cavalier about it.  Experiences give us memories which many times let us remember more of our life (i.e. stuff not soooo much—my opinion unless folks are very egotistical).  If we can’t remember much of our life, it’s like it never happened; it’s like we didn’t live the part that we don’t remember.  Sooooo folks, I suggest we make some experiences.  Play on!

I think I'll just put an "Out of Order" sticker on my forehead and call it a day.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Good teachers are able to challenge young minds with out losing their own.