a real space cadet

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire.

Meanwhile back at the ranch.  One political party suggests anything (i.e. no matter what) and the other thinks just the opposite (i.e. they always have a wrinkle).  How can that always be? All those folks’ ideas can’t be all that bad, can they? I think that is sooooo funny.  Even Crazy! You don’t have to agree with anything I write in this “It’s Saturday.”  In fact, you may disagree with everything (i.e. even think the opposite) and that is fine with me. I have no problem with that. I’m letting you off the hook from the git go.  I say a lot, but no one agrees the same about anything anyway.  As the virus thing continues, we start to see more and more folks doing their own thing and thinking for themselves (i.e. make up their own rules).  Seeee!  We are all space cadets! MyNeighborDownTheStreet says—I don’t think any of my neighbors are very smart anymore! And my mother-in-law, who I always wondered about, I know she’s from Mars, a real space cadet!

Soooo I bought some new golf sandals at Golf Headquarters the other day.  I saw this shirt.  I LOL!  It is sooooo true.  We think our scores about soooo many things in life are soooo important but reality is, no 1 cares!  It’s just not important to them (i.e. they got their own situations).  But my scores seem to be important to me.  Golf is a very humbling game.  This spring I started playing quite well (i.e. my scores were good for an ol’ guy).  Then I went into a funk—I have no idea why.  But it was very humbling. Golf is really soooo unimportant in my life, but I still like to score well (i.e. stinking pride).  I really think it has been a good lesson for me being humbled, AGAIN!  But I still enjoy wearing my new golf sandals (i.e. or as Jr. calls them, Jesus’s shoes)! Today, if it weren’t for the new sandals, I might quite!!!!

A friend from MN told me recently that he pretty much can shoot his age on their par 72 course (i.e. that is pretty good).  He’s a straight lace guy soooo he probably follows the rules of his local course.  Some folks’ scores don’t mean much if they make up their own rules (i.e. soooo no 1 cares what their score is).  ANYWAY, JoeEgo use to ask me what I shot. His only reason was he wanted me to ask him what he shot (i.e. he only did that when he shot a good score based on his scoring rules).  I caught on pretty fast and I didn’t oblige him in asking him what he shot and he quite asking me what I shot—he really didn’t care what I shot!

I thought I would be different and use these new type of tomatoes in my shepard’s pie.  Wow!  Did that put some kick in my gizzard!  TommyGotIt says—Many folks think they know a lot of stuff and talk pretty big but until they get it in their gizzard, they have no idea what it means (i.e. have to actually feel the kick). I wonder if it’s good for us once in a while to put some “kick in our gizzards” to change the rut we are in (e.g. change our attitude, especially if we are complaining all the time).  I don’t remember me or my two sisters complaining or begging growing up.  Maybe Chester and Anna taught us that by example.  Either that or we were real space cadets! SuperMargret says—erv, you were space cadets as complaining and begging really works in our culture.  The better you are at it and the more you do, the more you get!  SuperMargret, I missed the boat again! I didn’t learn that or wasn’t listening when they were teaching me that in Roseland Elementary (i.e. and I was in the top 5 in my class; of course, there were only 5 in my class!

I did read in the paper sooooo it must  be right that the TV networks are adjusting to Brady’s move.  They want to televise as many high-profile dates as possible of Tom Brady with Tama Bay. Why? Da! It’s all about the money folks.  Money will tip everything up-side down real quick. Somethings even the virus doesn’t change. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.  Get real space cadets!

Here is an example of real life as how it works you space cadets.  A friend who is an insurance agent told me that the companies are obligated by law to not cancel policies because of the disaster.  Sounds like a great opportunity for many folks.  Many folks don’t pay until they are threatened by cancelation.  Soooo now three months have gone by (i.e. if they have a $100 a monthly payment and they are in debt for $300). Now the insurance company sends them a bill for $400.  They couldn’t pay the $100 soooo how are they going to pay the $400.  This will be for utility bills, internet services, cell phone etc (i.e. now we are talking about a pretty good size chunk of change).  A buddy (i.e. known as one smart person from Grundy County) at a board-game night recently told me that many folks have spent their stimulus money on a down payment on a new $75,000 pu soooo they won’t have money to pay for their monthly bills.  They thought those bills were just forgiven.  Now, at some point, those companies will cancel services.  Such is life in the real world. GeorgeTheCrook says—Nuttin ain’t really free!  AverageJoe says—You don’t know who is swimming naked until the tide rolls out. 

In the book I thought I learned several overriding principles.  Here is one:  When Germany bombed London continually day and night, the Londoners got hammered and lost lives, had much body injury and there was much devastation.  Yet, many continued to live their lives in a way, as much as possible, like an ordinary life (i.e. they continued to live).  They would go for walks, go to the park, have picnics, go to work, go shopping, even go for their nightly walks during the bombing and, of course, had their tea each day.  They realized that they might die at any time, but they went on living.  They decided not to live in the basement. I just found that very interesting.  Some of you might think they were space cadets. Hey, I read this in the paper soooo it must be right--The headline read, “Florida deems WWE pro-wrestling ‘essential business’ amid coronavirus pandemic.” Nothing like a good ol’ essential body slam!

It’s more than just hearing. We all have heard someone without really listening (i.e. you're not "really listening"). It’s possible that as you’re reading this “It’s Saturday”, you’re reading the words but have not a clue what you read; while your eyes are reading, your mind may be a million miles away (i.e. you are a regular space cadet). JoeSmiley says—Good things happen to those who wait.  We probably all have heard that proverb many times.  I guess that is true to some degree but maybe while we wait, we need to go after things that can make us happy and successful.  If we just sit on the couch and eat chips and wait for something good to happen to us, I question if many good things will happen to us.  JoeCheetos (i.e. who has a lot of inward flatters) says—Is that really true or did I hear that wrong?

Maybe you think I’m a real space cadet about this thinking or I’m not accepting reality, either one, you decide. I have had several of you who knew Arlene for a good part of her life tell me how her appearance changed as the Alzheimer’s affected her physically and mentally.  She got to a point that she really didn’t care about her appearance or her dress anymore (i.e. a normal occurrence of someone who has the disease).  Even soooo she was still beautiful inside even with a very limited mind.  The help at the memory unit would tell me that that she would smile and point her finger at them in a kidding way to show her love to them.  She never really ever lost that quality completely.  MissPerfect says—Despite the commercials and boutique counters in department stores and the advances of Botox and collagen, aging happens to everyone.  In reflecting on Arlene’s life after her death, brings me to the stark reality that outside beauty fades and only a shadow of the former glory exists. If you don’t realize that, I think you are a real space cadet.

OneSmartPersonFromSouthButlerCounty says--Some folks react to different kinds of folks differently; yes they do. I heard a person say recently—“I don’t know about you, but I find I am drawn to leaders who are not afraid to admit weakness or share about struggles they have faced. Appropriate transparency makes someone in authority more believable, more human; and it makes me more compassionate towards them.” I have heard many folks complain, complain and complain and I get real sick of it.  There seems to be a fine line what is toooo much and what is effective.  SusieQ says—Some folks are much more acceptable to listening to other folks’ whines than others; some folks will listen to all kinds of folks’ issues and other don’t.  Why is that?  Is that being compassionate or a sucker? Some folks just love to hear all the bad stuff of the news; can’t get enough of it (i.e. like 24/7—the worser and more of it the better)! LuckieEddie says—Maybe we are all space cadets!

I had a very enlightening conversation with a very important person in my life recently.  We discussed our personalities in that I’m more extroverted and he is more introverted.  No surprise but what is interesting is that we acknowledged that which, in my opinion, will strengthen our relationship going forward (i.e. think through that folks). And some of you think we are regular space cadets even talking about such things.  Such is life.

The famous Hollywood Walk of Fame has more than 2,500 large stars are embedded in the sidewalks containing the names of “stars” in the entertainment industry. They will be remembered but not forever.  In fact, most people who are considered stars in their day are forgotten as time marches on. I wonder if this COVID-19 might affect some folks’ thinking.  I don’t know but, my opinion, it might.  Maybe being the star isn’t all that important.  Maybe!  How about you? Do you find yourself happy and content with where we are and what we have? Or are we always striving for the next thing, determined to gratify whatever objective occupies our mind at the moment? There is an alternative, you know. We do have an option – a personal choice. Instead of seeking to find instant gratification for our desires, whether they are personal or professional, we can invest our time, talent, and treasure in achieving things that really matter for the long-run.  ItchieBitchie says—erv, you are really a space cadet.  I like my stuff and don’t try to get in my head.  In my life, it’s all about the money and I love it! Your idea is for the folks who can’t make it in the real world and can’t afford a lot of stuff like me.  Could be ItchieBitchie, but maybe someday you will understand that suggestion different (i.e. like when you are on a ventilator and fighting for your earthly life). Mel Brooks said--If Einstein couldn’t beat death, what change have I got? Practically none!

A friend told me that maybe this quarantine/isolation is really good for me.  What?  It might be a perfect transition for you, erv, in making an adjustment in your life. How? Maybe give you a slow and peaceful time to reflect and think and move forward.  Fascinating idea she has.  And she might be right.  Soooo I have been trying to be fascinated instead of frustrated (i.e. look at this time of quarantine/isolation to be an opportunity).  Huh, interesting.  Sooooo a friend (i.e. who has a lot of traction) also likes to petal a bike, told me recently that it frustrates him to always look at the speedometer to keep his speed up.  I’m the say way.  Soooo why do we do that?  We aren’t going anywhere in any certain time.  Maybe we should relax and enjoy the ride more.  We both said, we should take our speedometers off.  We won’t!  Why do you think we won’t?  Crazy we are for sure (i.e. he more than me I think—haha). We both could be space cadets!

MissPerfect (i.e. who lives like the Queen of Sheba) says--In order to get a good friend be a good friend. SlimySlick (i.e. who usually interprets things weird compared to others according to his wife) says—I have family members who aren’t on the same page as me, not even in the same chapter, and not even in the same book, but they are still my family members.  SlimySlick goes on to say—I have folks I know who aren’t on the same page as me, not even in the same chapter and not even in the same book as me.  BUT they are not my friends.  SlimySlick, they might be strange birds using your measuring stick.  It seems that strange birds seem to flock together.  Those folks who we think are strange birds might think we are a strange bird. Could be.  BUT SlimySlick, they might become your good friends someday.  Yes they might.  You might change or they might change.  Could be.  It happens.  If we understand this, life might be easier for us! 

I stopped and saw some friends the other day.  They were going through their garage.  They told me they found stuff up in their garage that was brand new that they didn’t even know they had.  They were just like a couple of kids at Christmas.  And they have four garages!  Now that is a lot of stuff to go through.  I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—Carson Wentz was taking some heat about his $108 million guaranteed contract to which he said—“It can be easy to get consumed with your worldly, fleshy train of thought or desires or whatever but when you look at everything from an internal perspective, from a Biblical perspective, and just know that this is so much bigger than just me and my life or where I’m at in my career, football, it’s so much bigger…my faith is the #1 reason I want to give back!..I believe that’s what God put me on this Earth for.” Some of you agree with that statement for your life and others of you think that thinking is from a space cadet!  Saturday question--Which one are you?  A niece sent me this--Saw this meme today and thought of you:  Make sure you test positive for Faith. Keep distance from doubt and isolate from Fear. Trust God through it all. VacuousWastoid from eastern MI says—What the hell is that all about anyway!

SillyBilly says—"We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star.  But we can understand the universe.  That makes us something very special.”  Talk about being very special.  AnswerManHowie trimmed the bush in front of their kitchen window.  Then his wife says—You going to wash the window now?  AnswerManHowie says—You expect me to do two things in one day?

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

erv

FreindJean says—The happiest are less for getting and more forgiving.

me power

SPECIAL ALERT!  Don’t take anything in this “It’s Saturday” tooooo serious.  It is all really suspect!  BUT it’s predictable for sure.  I don’t know if this “It’s Saturday” will make you feel better or worse.  Nevertheless, this “It’s Saturday” is not to be taken lightly!  haha  BUT as a friend said to me recently—erv, I’m not really sure what you are trying to say! Soooooo see if you can figure out what I’m saying.

CoachB says--If you are discouraged where you are today, remember this is not your end.  It is only where you are today.  Be patient.  I heard a friend who used this line in his talk recently--We will all have problems; sometimes they might last long but not for ever.  That statement basically comes from the Bible—I Corinthians 2:11 says—For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  Now that stuff is deep!  Here is something else to contemplate--OneSmartPerson once said—It’s hard to go back to normal when normal disappears.  Saturday question—Is that discouraging or exciting to you? 

LuckieEddie says—Happily ever after starts right now!  Deep thought if you want it to be!  I like that statement.  That is about “me power” (i.e. my opinion). It’s from this point forward—it’s something we make up in our mind about—it’s usually a decision. CaseyTheValedictorian says—Decisions have consequences!  And guess who makes the decisions!  Yikes!

My kid sister sent me this.  We have been taught that stuff is just stuff and it will not make us happy (i.e. ok, for 15 seconds of utopia and then it’s over—is that all what’s to it).  We have learned it from our parents, churches, the Bible, school and wise folks but I don’t think we believe it.  One TV ad and it seems folks want more stuff and they get it!  It seems we are wasting our time in teaching that.  It’s high school graduation time.  It is estimated that a high school graduate will have spent more than 30,000 hours in front of a screen (including video games, tablets, laptops, and TVs). I hear folks say all the time—there is nuttin on TV but they still watch it all the time.  A friend told me that he and his wife every night watch TV from 6:30 until they go to bed.  I have no idea how many hours they watch TV!  What would be your guess?  And these are really good folks who seem normal!!!!! My research showed that all humans are naturally good.  You believe that?  That is what I thought.

You, yes, each of you including me, have “me power” to control what we think and what we think is what we will be.  I believe that but you might not.  And, maybe, we both might believe that, but we don’t always do it.  There lies the problem.  Friends tell me that I’m too sensitive.  I might be.  I think about other folks’ feelings toooo much. Maybe I do.  I let others influence me toooo much because of that.  Maybe. I don’t know.   I have a friend who I really enjoy being around (i.e. I have many friends like this—you guys) whose wife tells him that he thinks tooooo much.  She tells him that he and I think toooo much; think and talk about stuff that she doesn’t understand or wants to think or talk about.  I think that is sooooo funny; not her, oh no, this thinkin’ stuff is what is funny!  Saturday question--Do you have a lot of “me power?”

Saturday question—Do we think we are all entitled (i.e. have our heads in the clouds)? I have a lot of feeling for a lot of folks who I have talked to this last week and before.  There seems to be a lot of anxiety.  It seems more than before but how do I know.  All families and each person have different reasons for anxiety.  Maybe there has always been anxiety through history.  I think soooo.  But, maybe not.  Surely the uncertain future causes anxiety but that uncertain future has always been there; that ain’t nuttin new!  Health issues, sure, but they have always been there.  Death, that tooooo has always been there.  Financial problems and money management has always been there.  There has been wars, plagues, disasters, depressions, and recessions before.  As an American society, we probably have never lived soooo good (i.e. we have more stuff than ever before, that is for sure—look in your barns).  Sooooo maybe there isn’t more anxiety than before, but we are reacting differently to it.  Do we think we sorta kinda think we are uniquely special do we think? What do you think?  That is what I thought. ItchieBitchie says--Not toooo long ago, folks didn’t even have credit cards and internet and smart phones!!!! They didn’t even know what was going on!!!!  SusieQ says—How could they live that way?  And no smart TVs and Netflix? 

I am going to test your rural farm knowledge.  Do you know what these statements mean?  If it ain’t red, leave it in the shed!  If it ain’t green, it ain’t a machine! Aren’t those fun opinions?  They make me smile.  I get bored easily, I have told you that before.  Maybe you don’t.  Some of you like the same old same old all the time (i.e. like the same as you did it in 1956). A friend told me that they were listening to their pastor on the internet recently.  He was boring sooooo they listened to a different pastor (i.e. the ol’ cow was dry but he kept pulling her teats).  Some of you think that is terrible to do that (i.e. that is to not to listen to your pastor; not keep pulling teats when the cow is dry).  My mentor told me once—erv, you can’t get a pastor bad enough for me not to go to our church.  Our culture might to be changing.  BUT I don’t care to listen to folks who are soooooo radically opinionated and vocal about politics, religion and money.  That gets rather old/boring to me.  But that is my opinion and taste.  Actually, I’m tired of listening to this pandemic stuff.  I realize that many of you like to regurgitate it and chew it over and over and over.  Each their own! Pastors, don’t get discouraged about not everyone thinking you are not interesting all the time.  Maybe you will affect different folks at different times and for different reasons for sure.  It is challenging to meet everyone’s thinking all the time. Some folks are just throwing you under the bus just for a day or two!  haha  That’s my opinion. Sunday, I have had two friends suggest to me that I listen to certain pastors as they really seem to like them.  I follow their advice (i.e. these are not national known pastors).  I enjoy listening to different pastors.  BUT every person seems to have something different that they like that applies to their life differently.  Such is life.

Soooo what is “me power” do you think? Well, to me, “me power” is having the power to decided what I’m going to let influence my life which affects my thinking.  That could be other people, propaganda from all over the place, money, power, what I read about and listen to about my faith, education from many sources, peer group pressure, and God only know what else.  I read this humorous saying recently--Reality continues to ruin my life. Funny put quite philosophical, I think. Think through that and come up with your own application to your life. WorldClassLarry says—No one has the kind of power to mess up my life!  I think he’s talking about “me power.”  What do you think?  That is what I thought. Then he says—We all have the power to control how we react to all stimuli; how we react changes our world! Saturday question—Who gets to pick the stimuli you let your mind listens toooooo?

Solidarity.  What is that to you?  It’s not all about “me power” unless it is a communist form of power.  It appears to have solidarity; folks have to stick together and give in some for a common cause even though minor differences are irritating.  I read somewhere that a house split cannot stand.  It would appear that there must be something very important to us to find common ground.  It appears that a dictator forces solidarity by force.  It appears that we don’t have a solid solidarity in our country right now.  It appears there is a big split.  BUT we have had many such spits in our country in its short history.  We have many splits in our churches also. It appears there are now many divides (i.e. and history shows us that there has been in the past as well).  Someone said to me recently that maybe God has a different plan than ours as to how things are to be.  Could be. I don’t know. Maybe me and you aren’t in control.  Could be.  Maybe some better things are going to happen that we have no idea about.  Maybe this virus issue will force our hand to change.  Could be. I don’t know. Usually we don’t like to change and sometimes we are forced and then we do (i.e. seniors had to accept direct deposit of their social security money--folks complained but they all have seemed to have adjusted just fine--of course that is about money—you take the money that way or you don’t get it). 

They call her “strong willed Hazel” and she sure seems to be!  You might not see it but she is very strong willed.  Very stubborn and really can not be very nice at times.  She might be different at home than in the public (i.e. the public would never know it).  When strong willed folks get offended or someone disagrees with them or when they think they are getting the short end of the stick, their strong willed kid shows up (i.e. Katie bar the door).  A grand mom told me that their grand daughter is a lot like her mother—strong willed—her parents are going to have their hands full with her when she gets to be a teenager; she is strong willed already at a young age. I knew her great great grand mother (i.e. now that is a long time ago) and she was strong willed tooooo.  Is that genetic? Or why are some folks soooo much more strong willed than others?

My me power is really limited as I am not well known by a huge massive number of folks, am not powerful, and am not an actor or a sport figure (i.e. why does the public think actors and sport figures know soooo much). Sooo what my opinion is has little exposure or importance.  And I have discovered that when people get older, less and less folks pay as much attention to them (i.e. I’m out of the loop and more irrelevant—I’m considered in the basement by many).  Of course, there are exceptions like if you can make some folks some money they will listen to you or give them power, or built their ego.  haha  Sooooo I wonder if I should give folks my opinion or not.  I think it would help them maybe but more than likely they don’t want my opinion (i.e. I really understand that).  JoeBlow (i.e. who isn’t as smart as he looks) says—erv, younger folks don’t pay much attention to what older folks say sooooo…! SusieQ (i.e. who is a real public relations person) says—That is why younger folks need to take leadership and the older folks need to sit in the back (i.e. that is if there are any young folks around who will take the responsibility).  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. GeorgeTheCrook says--BUT some older folks have big, huge, massive egos you know! An insurance adjuster said to me many years ago—When you are young and not liberal you have no heart and when you get older and not conservative you have no brain!

It appears that almost every person and every company and every organization is going to have to make some changes during the post-virus event.  One sharp business person told me that it might be that they will not be able to open the doors again.  It just might be a possibility—if businesses can’t make any money it just ain’t going to be in the cards. Some might need to lower their expenses to offset the smaller income.  If they can’t, it’s death. Ouchy ouchy!  For sure, many leaders who were stuck in old methodology will have to get unstuck or it will be death.  There will be no choice (i.e. money will dictate it).  AverageJoe (i.e. a dangerous little goblin) says—Isn’t that the way capitalism works, the stronger will continue and weaker get thinned out! It’s been that way for ever (i.e. unless the government subsidizes everyone forever).  Not everyone wins in a free enterprise system (i.e. not everyone gets a trophy). But BigEgoBill (i.e. who is full of me power) says—We have always done it that way and by golly, we are going to continue to do this way—we aren’t going to change unless it’s over my dead body!  My opinion is if you and I are stuck we need to get around others who are not stuck.  JoeDifferent says—There is a huge massive difference between an entrepreneur’s mind and an engineer’s mind and an educator’s mind and a business person’s mind. Sorry to say but there will be folks and companies who thought they had it made that will not have it made in the future (i.e. one day on top of the world and the next day it’s  not going sooooo good). It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. This is my opinion folks. BUT time will tell for sure! It always does.  Such is life.

I called a guy who has been my friend for years.  We don’t see much of each other and really don’t talk much either (i.e. just aren’t in the same circle any more as when we played a lot of golf together in years past.  I called him about asparagus that he gave our family many many years ago.  We had a good laugh and talked about good memories.   He told me that we have it soooooo good compared to soooooo many folks.  He said--I have it way better than I deserve, way better.  Then he gave me his personal testimony how Jesus died for him sooooo that he may have eternal life.  I don’t deserve that either.  I never heard him talk like this before but always suspected he believed that.  Sooooo why did he tell me that now?  Cause he wanted tooooo I think.  How powerful was that? He ended our conversation telling me that he will continue to pray for me as I grief Arlene’s death.  He was very sincere.  Sooooo how special is this friend and his conversation?

I played in a pick-up foursome at the golf course recently.  I would consider them all my friends that I made through the years.  One has some health issues and doesn’t know if he will be able to play much this year. One’s wife has some health issues and he has to help her and can’t be gone very long at a time. The other one just lost his wife after 57 years of marriage.  Now that is the aging process.  BUT we had a great time and enjoyed each other very much.  It was a very positive experience. 

This “It’s Saturday” is all fact for sure (i.e. rest assured); I know that for sure as I made it all up as I went! haha When I was having coffee with some guys out in the shed on a friend’s farm deep in Butler County (i.e. soooo deep that the revenuers nor the virus wouldn’t even be able to find us), I heard this famous line said by a guy in remembrance of a long time deceased local farmer who was his friend—Don’t try to act soooo smart, your past proves you aren’t!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.

question questions and more questions

Euclid, a mathematician from 300 bc and the founder of geometry, once said—Without assumptions there is no proof. Therefore, in any argument, examine the assumptions. I am not arguing with you in any way about anything in this “It’s Saturday.”  No way!  And don’t assume anything!!!!  Most of what I talk about has a 50-50 split (i.e. that’s about 50% on both sides I assume) as to what folks think.  Now that isn’t very decisive in deciding any argument. Such is life. Do you remember the name of that theorem?

I really like this statement of John (i.e. anybody can be a John) that I read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it.  John Calvin wrote, “Our faith, unless founded solely on [God’s] promise, must be continually wavering…. Faith ought properly to recline on the truth of God alone.”  Faith is different than fact or the news or what your neighbor says or what a professor says or what a non-believing friend says or rules or laws.  Faith is what you believe (i.e. not knowledge), and no one can argue that with you because it is your faith.  That is what you believe and put your trust in.  I asked the Hospice nurse, the Hospice pastor and also the funeral director when he was picking up Arlene’s body if there is a difference how believers and folks who are not believers handle death.  They all said there usually is a massive huge difference.  I can believe that! That might be confusing to some of you and also challenging to some of you.  As the old saying goes—Which side wins in your heart, mind, and soul—the one you feed the most! 

Geometry is an exact science, I think!  haha  At 16 I never really liked it and didn’t understand how it was going to help me on the farm a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN while I was pitching manure.  I had a pretty small world back then but a very happy world (i.e. I really never thought much about my future). Well, I did use geometry once or twice in my life but to spend a whole year or was it half a year learning it for one or two times! They didn’t know back then that now you can just goggle it. But for a certain type of engineers, geometry probably makes them a ton of money. Sooooo how do we decide what we are going to do with our life?  Good question!  Many supposedly great folks are self-taught with some help of formal education, some have a huge massive amount of formal education, others are completely self taught and some seem to inherit their ability.  Why do some folks seem to have more wisdom than others?  Why do some folks seem like they just don’t get it and others do? Why do some folks do soooo good and all of a sudden like they fall of the table and destroy a seemly good life? Why do some folks coast along and all of a sudden see the light and bingo? Why can some folks grasp concepts and others can’t? AverageJoe says—The mind is just amazing. There are a lot of assumptions here!

I like part of Solomon’s story but not his ending.  Solomon is considered by many as the wisest man who ever lived BUT why did he do such a stupid thing (i.e. change the direction of his life)?  I don’t understand that part of his story.  God said He would give him anything he wanted (i.e. in a dream).  Solomon didn’t ask for what most folks would ask for (i.e. just listen to our prayers—many folks want more material stuff and power and worldly success) but he asked for wisdom.  God gave him wisdom.  Now that is wisdom!  I like that.  BUT the second half of Solomon’s life, he fell off the table and did not use wisdom and was not a good person.  Why was that?  If the wisest person on earth couldn’t keep it together, what kind of chance do “not soooo wise folks” like me have? We are left wondering what his spiritual state was when he died. We just don’t know for certain. Perhaps he did repent. Or perhaps we are supposed to ponder his end and take it as a warning. Good question! 

I am thinking about several issues in my life that are current.  I really don’t know how important they are, but I think about them sooooo they must have some importance to me.  What I’m trying to do is forget about them (i.e. pay no attention to them—distance myself from them).  I think my life would be much better if I would just eliminate them from my thinking.  They just irritate me.  I can’t really fix them; they are beyond my control (i.e. these situations are caused by other folks’ thinking which is different than mine).  I don’t want to spend time continually thinking about those issues.  BUT I find that is harder to do than I thought.  They just keep popping up all the time.  A friend who I made in AZ, told me that one of the reasons he moved to AZ from the Midwest was to get some distance from some of his family.  They just drove him crazy.  He didn’t want to be around them and see and hear them all the time (i.e. get them out of his mind).  Soooo I asked him how it was working—pretty good! I enjoy my life a lot more.

We can talk and talk and talk and talk and talk but at some point, someone calls for a question in a meeting that is part of using parliamentary procedure. That means that they are calling for a vote on the matter to decide the issue and move on—maybe! Majority wins! Many times, the majority doesn’t always win.  The minority seems to have their way sometimes when they have TrickieDickie as their leader to get what they want. It depends what form of government is ruling.  There are different forms of decision making (e.g. a board of directors elected by the stockholders, congregational form where everyone has a vote, or a dictator form where the dictator makes all the decisions).  And then there is money involved!  Money can persuade folks to vote a certain way for sure. It is done all the time.  That is why lobbyist are paid big money if they are good (i.e. great back scratchers—they have their many ways). Some decisions are made under the table and most folks will never know about.  That happens. I’ll scratch your back if you scratch my back.  GeorgeTheCrook (i.e. who is a regular big rouge elephant) says—It feels oh, soooo good!

There is no question, we all have an image made by the public.  What do you think your image is?  Really! I really think that our image might be different than what we think others think our image is sometimes.  MissPerfect (i.e. who draws controversy the way steeples draw lighting) says—Don’t say that erv, I was feeling soooo good about myself.  MissPerfect, you took it very negative.  I think sometimes the image by the public might be way better than what folks’ image of themselves is (i.e. particular when folks are great).  And many great folks don’t care what their image of the public is.  They are very content and happy with who they are.  They are not trying to impress others.  MissPerfect, maybe you are too worried about your public image.  Maybe you don’t like how you perceive yourself.  I hope not.  BUT, you maybe should analyze yourself.  Question—Do you like yourself?  Are you a self-glorifying DuaneTheWorm?  A phony, a faker?  I hope not.  I have said this before, BUT a six-year old kid can figure folks out who are fakers.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. You folks (i.e. my opinion) are good, real folks with good hearts, my kind of folks!  All of you except for one of you and you know who you are!   

Sooooo what are high standards?  Really, they have to be different for different folks, don’t they?  Do we even have different high standards different days or when we do different things?  Don’t different churches have different high standards?  Do different businesses and schools, and families have different high standards?  Do politicians in the United States of America have high standards? Does anyone really care about high standards? 

If the odds are in your favor, I guess your chances that you will succeed are much greater.  Would you agree?  I think the probability is much greater than when the odds are not in your favor.  Soooo why do many folks think they can constantly beat the odds; the probability is not in their favor (i.e. they take a shot in the dark, a regular crap shoot).  The majority of the time they are going to lose.  Now that is factual.  BUT it appears that many think they are always going to win and they are not.  Why is that?  I don’t get that.  Explain that to me.  Businesses hire high paying folks to predict the chances of success and they aren’t even always right.  And these are highly trained and educated folks.  BUT the probability of success is much greater with this type of advice.  BUT if someone is selling you something, maybe, they are not very objective ‘cause there is money in it for them to tell you that it will work and they will make a buck!  You think that ever happens? Some call it greed!  Some call it good business!

I had a friend say to me the other day—That person is a fruitcake.  I didn’t say anything, but I agreed.  If I think that and she thought that, probably others think that tooooo. We are probably in the majority, maybe. haha  Soooo I had a business friend tell me about her negative feeling about one of her clients.  I know this client and had the same feeling.  If she and I both have this feeling, I guess others have the same feeling, maybe.  Flip the pancake.  I had a business person/friend call me recently and talked to me very openly and sincerely about Arlene’s death and how I am doing.  He told me that we have been on his prayer list (i.e. he said he’s a list guy) and I still am but now just different. I think he’s a class guy. I told a couple of business men/friends at a deck party that night about this.  They both know him and said—He’s a good guy. Soooo if we think that about him, I guess others do toooo, maybe.  Sooooo here is the conclusion of the matter—If those folks act like a duck, walk like a duck, quack like a duck, they are probably a duck!!!!

I was struggling with figuring out the dynamics of my hot spot on my phone as how it was communicating with the wireless copier.  I got it to work but really didn’t know what I did to make it work.  Then while jogging one morning, I started to think like a tech person, no, more like think like a wireless copier that had to connect to a hot spot (i.e. programmed to think a certain way).  You believe that?  ANYWAY, I figured it out and when I did, it all made simple sense.  It just didn’t work when I was trying to make the wireless copier think like me.  I had to think like the wireless copier.  Sooooo, question, you think it would help if I would try to think like other folks/you guys instead of trying to make you think like me?  Maybe you are just simple sense once I figure you out! haha

I question you and myself!  I recently got a call from a resident assistant from Arlington Place, the place where Arlene spend her last months of her life.  This person was on break and wanted to know how I was doing.  We had a great conversation.  It was such a surprise to me.  I have told you how impressed I was with the staff there.  I thought outstanding.  I told this person that I miss the staff; they were like part of my support group. I told this person that they sure uplifted my day with their call.  Soooo I question you and myself--Can you and I call someone who would be just surprised we cared about them?  I think we can.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.

GeorgeTheCrook asks—Have your ever been or now am a good person?  Have you ever been or now am an idiot?  I was talking to a friend the other day.  He mentioned that a 90+ year-old mutual friend just talked to him.  My friend told me—I remember him as not a very pleasant guy when he was younger but now he is the nicest guy.  I remember him exactly the same.  We both questioned why he changed?  SusieQ says--Sooooo there are folks who are sorta kinda idiots when they are young that aren’t idiots when they get older (i.e. do you accept that theorem).  Soooo do some folks who are really nice when they are young become idiots when then get older?  Sooooo I called our 90+ year-old friend and asked him if he is a nicer guy now than maybe 30 years ago—He said—"No, I don’t think soooo. I think I was always a nice guy.  I think folks stay the same as they were when they were young.”  Soooo there you go! You heard it from the horse’s mouth!

I read in the paper soooo it must be right—If you want to get better, improve your game!  I also read this—I don’t wish stardom on anyone. When I hear someone say, “this guy is a star,” I say good luck.  I think he was saying that stardom or thinking you are a star, screws up the person; very few can handle it.  I also read this—Al of these events in my life are part of my story and who I am now.  Ok, I realize that many of you don’t understand any of this stuff (i.e. 50-50 split), many of you will understand part of this stuff (i.e. 50-50 split) and many of you will understand all of this stuff (i.e. 50-50 split).  That is just the way it is.  And most folks don’t even know what they understand! Crazy maybe! Some of you folks are stars in my eyes.  I have told many of you this before.  Why you are stars in my eyes is that you continue to stay humble even though you are stars.  You are special folks.  Most special folks don’t know they are special.  My Daddy, Chester, would say to me—erv, great folks don’t need to tell others they are great, everyone knows it.  If folks have to tell others they are great, they aren’t great!  And that ain’t no geometry theorem!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Either you run the day or the day runs you.

force it

JoeValedictorian (i.e. who thinks different than most folks) says—It requires a very unusual mind to make an analysis of the obvious.  And erv, you have such a mind. I don’t understand what you are saying JoeValedictorian.  Are you saying something good about me or something not soooo good about me.  I really don’t know.  I don’t know how to interpret that.  Are you trying to force something into my mind?  Sooooo take JoeValedictorian’s thinking about me into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.”  I suggest that you don’t let anything written in this “It’s Saturday” influence you in any way.  I would be very careful and suspicious about everything.  Yes, I would.  That is my suggestion. It could even be worse than the news, suckers! I heard a mental health expert say—The worst thing you can do for your mental health is to listen extensively to the news (i.e. maximum should be 30 minutes a day)!  Yikes! Of course, that is their opinion. 

ItchieBitchie (i.e. who is very fringy) says--I’m going to make this work.  I will force it to make it work (i.e. my way or the highway).  If it doesn’t work very well, we’ll force it to make it work.  It’s like forcing a square peg in a round hole. It seems for me that it works better for me to go to a different plan instead of forcing it.  To me that is how I analysis it (i.e. the obvious)!!!

When discussing God’s attributes and character, theologians often use the Latin prefix omni, which means “all” or “every.” With reference to God, they frequently describe God as omnipotent (“all-powerful”), omnipresent (“everywhere present”), and omniscient (“all-knowing”). I like that word, omni, I always have. It seems powerful to me.  It just separates God from humans I think although there are some folks (i.e. you know who they are) that think they are omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.  They are phony (i.e. blowing smoke).  Everyone knows that maybe except those folks that feel that about themselves.  AverageJoe (i.e. who doesn’t live in the basement) says--Not everybody who speaks on the Internet, social media, TV, or radio knows what they're talking about (i.e. even your neighbors or folks at church). Not everybody who's talking is worth listening tooooo. I thing we need to be selective!  You think they are trying to force their believes on me (i.e. like forcing a round peg in a square hole)?  I heard a person say—I read on a web site, a website that I have decided trust worthy,…notice that they said, I have decided is trust worth (i.e. their opinion)!  Huh, interesting. Maybe we all think we have the final authority as toooo what is trust worthy (i.e. we might not all agree with CNN news or Fox news of PPS news). Does it tell a little about you which news you watch? AverageJoe says—Some folks are really vulnerable, almost as vulnerable as 90-year old folks with underlying health issues are to the COVID-19 according to the experts (i.e. their opinion).  SusieQ (i.e. who seems to be soooo out of her league) says—And many folks think they are the expert; some are and some aren’t, maybe! JoeSmuck says—I really have no idea who knows what or anything anymore!

LuckieEddie says—A failure is a person who has blundered, but is not able to cash in on the experience.  I was contemplating a decision and have thought about it for several days (i.e. a decision that didn’t have to be made instantly).  It was a decision that was a rather fun decision to make in many ways a.k.a. unique.  I thought I had my mind made up.  Then the next morning, I thought just the opposite. Crazy.  I think I was trying to force the decision a certain way and was not being open minded enough and also acting toooo fast (i.e. not letting the course of action take place).  If it is toooo be, it is toooo be; it’s one of those type of decisions.  Soooo recently I was visiting with a friend who is on a committee that will make an important decision that will affect me and others.  We had a very good discussion and I agreed with his thinking that all the committee members have to agree, agree overwhelming and with great enthusiasm that this is the right decision or it shouldn’t be done (i.e. can’t force the decision based on the influence of the alpha dog or some other advice or emotion).  Can that be done?  I think soooo and hope sooooo.  Time will tell. The proof will be in the pudding! It appears that they have made a good over-viewing observation that might make the end result good (i.e. sounds like they are on top of it)—YAY YAY! CadillacJack says—Yabut, they might wake up some morning and change their mind! Could happen; it’s happened before! Such is life.

Sooooo I had a small bill with a medical provider.  I called them and asked if I could pay by check per phone.  They told me if I pay the account in full they would give me a 20% discount.  Why I asked.  It’s an incentive for folks to pay their account.  Wow! That is a big discount if I had a big bill.  What are they anticipating in giving that big of a discount I wonder?  There is a reason, don’t kid yourself.  It’s all about the money. Maybe they know that the stimulus money is here.   Or maybe they think 80% is better than nuttin. I think maybe they are trying to force the issue by making it financially attractive.  What do you think? A friend told me that some new car loans are now 84 months.  Why? Da! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

It's all about the money.  Saturday question—Should churches take the government stimulus money or not?  Good question.  Some think that churches should put their trust in God and not take it or not take it maybe for some other reasons.  Others think that God sent the check as a blessing to the churches.  Some think it’s just plain good business to take it (i.e. it’s free hard cash) and others don’t think church should be run like a business.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.  I am not on a decision board the church that I’m a member of soooooo I have no vote or power, but I think I know how I would vote if I was (i.e. big on the think).  TheAnswerMan says—Money talks!  A friend years ago told me that his favorite verse in the Bible was--…money is the answer for everything.  In the footnote for that verse it says—can be read at different levels and then explained it that it can be true and cannot be true.  Soooo there you go! GeorgeTheCrook says—From my experience, money talks, don’t kid yourself. It quite often forces the issue!

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it: RickyRick said—"For much of Christianity’s history, only priests had Bibles. As a result, they were the only ones to interpret Scripture. Everyone else just had to accept what they said. Then, around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press. For the first time, common people had regular access to Bibles. ‘What the priest is telling me and what I read in the Bible don’t match!’ they said. Getting the Bible into the hands of ordinary people led to a type of revolution—a major church upheaval that we now know as the Protestant Reformation.” It appears that interpretation of the Bible is an ongoing discussion.  Some folks and church leaders have different interpretations than others.  Some Christian denominations have different interpretations than others.  Sooooo I guess it’s who you believe or what you believe. MissPerfect asks—Could it be that in some cases what we believe is forced on us?

A friend told me recently—When someone thinks they know everything, that is when they know nuttin!  I interpret that meaning that “knowalls” have a major problem.  Probably in a rut, maybe.  A friend was telling me that they are not big into politics, but the governor of their state has such a pleasant demeanor that when talking to the public about information, he is easy to listen to.  He doesn’t sound like he thinks he knows it all.  Huh, interesting.

Saturday question—Are you objective in making a decision?  Really?  Maybe we think we are but aren’t really.  Maybe our thinking is skewed by your past environment or our current environment.  My mentor would quote Shakespeare to me.  He is the only person who I ever heard do that.  He would say things like this—Shakespeare, in “Hamlet,” wrote, “He’s loved of the distracted multitude, who like not in their judgement, but their eyes.”

I think, whatever it means or I think it means, that going through Arlene’s Alzheimer’s and her death has modified who I am.  I think sooooo.  And I’m still in the process of figuring that out.  Sometimes, I think, maybe we need to go through tough times and things to learn valuable lessons (i.e. it forces us to think and go forward).  Again, I wonder if this COVID-19 situation (i.e. time to be alone and mediate) has been good for me (i.e. a friend suggested this to me from the get-go). BUT I don’t know for sure but maybe; the mind is hard to measure or understand.  And my mind vacillates.  Events and experiences seem to modify my mind and then there is the age factor.  ClearMindPam says—And then again, folks react to difficult times and things all different now don’t they.  MyBigSister only in age, said that a guy in their small group lost his wife and he seems to have a very positive spin on it to a point that some folks in the group think he is insensitive like he isn’t facing it.   And then the next person is extremely hysterical for years.  Saturday question—Is that a choice or not?

I had coffee with a couple of friends the other morning in one of their sheds out on the farm.  It’s in the middle of a huge massive corn field deep in Butler Co. IA.  My friend said—Usually his wife doesn’t make any treats for his buddies, but he told her I was coming soooo she made scotcheroos!  She is such a nice gal, she is.  ANYWAY, he told us about his friend who is an accountant and was doing the taxes for this guy who didn’t make enough to pay any taxes.  He qualified for Tax Credit where the government pays this type of person money up to a certain amount. The government gave him a payment/refund of several thousands of dollars. A couple of days later he came back and quizzed him about another program that his cousinBob told him about and he should get some more money.  The accountant told him that to qualify for that program, he would have had to pay some taxes.  The guy said—The rich get all the breaks! You know some rich do get stimulus money who still have jobs, and are paid well or might have a huge massive net worth.  Some might think it ain’t fair.  A friend said that all welfare programs sorta kinda operate that way, they ain’t fair. The only thing that is fair is the Butler County Fair and that is in June (i.e. even that might not be fair this year). Such is life.

I’m a registered organ donor designated on my driver’s license.  I called the Butler Co. Public Health and asked if I should take that off at my age.  They suggested I call the IA Donors Association which I did.  They suggest that I leave it on as they might want to use my skin.  Ok!  It is not a cost to my estate in any way.  I can’t believe they would want to use my skin.  I’m a wimp! I don’t have thick skin! I suggest you guys think about being a donor.  Maybe being an organ donor is for you; maybe not (i.e. it won’t hurt as you will be dead). Whatever your decision, you can pray for those today who are waiting for those wondrous words, “We have a donor!” JoeBlow says—No one can force any of us to be a good person! Here is a challenge for me in our current situation—The verse says—Defend the weak…and uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.  I was at the recycling area in our little town and another guy was there.  We talked and introduced ourselves.  He told me that his house is a zoo because of the isolation.  They have 5 children ages 9 and below. How is it going—I feel like a zookeeper some days; but we will make it.  You know folks, the end of our stories has not been written. Who knows, we might end up loving being a zoo keeper!

I’m thinking about painting a wall in our family room or maybe the whole room.  Why?  I don’t know really other than I feel like it.  I’m not a painter, Arlene did it and got good at it.  She was very patient.  I am not. This could be a disaster, even more than the COVID-19! BUT I think it would be a good change for me.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.  You have any suggestions?  I might have to force myself to do this! I have had a lot of you folks say—I will help you in any way; just let me know!!!!! haha

I forced the issue.  Either it was going to be easier to manage or it was going to die!  I have this ornamental tree in front of the house (i.e. it’s been there forever).  I hate to trim it, especially standing on a ladder and trimming the top middle (i.e. dangerous).  Every year I say I’m cutting that sucker down but never do.  I said it again this spring but didn’t once again (i.e. I must like it).  BUT I trimmed her really good this year.  I was taking the trimmings to the town’s burn pile where a friend was also hauling some cuttings.  He told me that you can’t cut them harsh enough to kill them!  It reminded what my deceased neighbor, Karl, said to me once—You need to prune it soooo that you can throw a cat through it without it hitting any branches! My neighbor’s cat must have been able to read my mind as it ran pretty fast when I looked at it! 

JoeConniver says—Remember folks, some things are a hoax a.k.a. snake oil.  Some folks are just trying to manipulate us (i.e. it ain’t nuttin new, it’s been going on for ever).  Many folks are more prone to overreaction and are much more susceptible to tricks than others.  It is very obvious, but many folks can’t analyze the obvious situations very well and figure it out. They need to be explained the obvious.  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Today’s opportunities erase yesterday’s failures.