change of plans

I asked a friend what her plans are for the rest of her life.  I thought she said—to live my life the best I can. BUT after some time of thinking about that, I asked her exactly what she said.  She said—"Really don’t remember exactly what I said — at least live it responsibly and as we said as good stewards of what we’ve been given in all aspects.” Now that is the kind of folks I enjoy being around; that’s pretty powerful, isn’t it?  Dynamite! My opinion!

Sooooo I cleaned my coffee makers this week.  They probably needed a good cleaning.  I used vinegar and water; that is what goggle said I should use and I believe everything goggle tells me! haha But, I think the coffee tastes better or is it just my imagination!  I can't really tell for sure but I think sooooo.  But it is a change in my life for sure (i.e. makes my life better--refreshing).  Sooooo does it really make any difference if  the coffee really taste better or not just as long as I  think the coffee tastes better; isn't that all that counts.? Such is life.

Pic shows a brawl in Scottsdale Bath and Body Works.  Gals go in to buy some soap for a bubbly bath and they end up in a brawl.  Life can change pretty fast; now that is a change of plans, for sure.  Holy mackerel!  I read that it was about budding in line wearing a mask or not wearing a mask.  These women take their beauty serious, or they really like to smell good! What crazy! Moral of the story—Don’t mess with a babe with soap products in her hand. Yikes, you could be taken down!

An expert in reading was telling me that I might have a problem in reading as I might be able to pronounce the words (i.e. and sometimes not) but can’t comprehend what I just read.  Ouchy ouchy!  I might have a double whammy!  Ouchy ouchy ouchy ouchy!  Recently I asked a person about why something didn’t work out in her life.  She told me but it took me a long time to understand what she really said.  She told me very directly and clearly, but I didn’t understand (i.e. didn’t comprehend).  Why didn’t I understand?  Well, I think, it was because I didn’t listen carefully enough and also because I just couldn’t understand because of my lack of experience in her experience (e.g. if a person has never been on food stamps, how do we know what it is like).  I will try to change my plans; big on the try!

JoeBlow says—Some folks seem to go against the flow! Soooo why are some folks more rebellious that others?  Is it because of their mothers? Their fathers? Their experiences? Their education? Their environment? It seems like some little kids are rebellious and some old folks are rebellious.  I think I need to ask some teachers about this or some parents who have rebellious kids.  I did tease some friends whose children are very independent (i.e. sorta kinda rebellious) if they are chips of the old blocks! Saturday question—Are you rebellious?  If soooo why? I would really like to know or at least get an idea.  Is being rebellious good or bad? I asked a friend if she was rebellious as a child; she said she never was and neither was her brother. I have a friend who told me that their son (i.e. probably about 22) was a very conservative person but changed his views and supported Bernie.  Soooo she did toooo (i.e. she’s about 65; I asked her why).  She explained it to me, but I really didn’t understand (i.e. couldn’t comprehend it I guess)!  I thought it was really funny! We both laughed! I wonder if she is a rebellious person!  What a hoot!

You might want to change your plans if you are a public figure or even if you are not.  ‘cause of hot mics and cell phones are all over the place.  Folks listen to what you say.  1/2MZ is everywhere even here in Butler County.  What you say, someone knows what you say if they are within the ½ mile zone. BigMouthFlow will spread it like hot fire on a hot Butler Co August day when the winds are 50mph.  She has a police scanner of the Butler Co sheriff’s office and is on every prayer chain in South Butler.  BUT once you are out of the 1/2MZ, no one really cares!!!!! Now that is small town living. Actually, that has changed, my opinion, folks really don’t care as much what is going on in or outside that 1/2MZ anymore.  They don’t know each other near as much, don’t go to church as much (i.e. and even if they do, they don’t care as much about others it seems), aren’t related as much and in general just don’t really care as much about others.  It appears to me that folks care more about me, myself and I much more (e.g. it used to be that everyone in town would know all the players on the high school basketball teams).  Plans are changing folks, oh ya! Such is life.

Soooo last week when I was with our grandkids in Waukee, I did another experiment. What fun!  I told Charlie, our 11-year-old granddaughter that I needed her help as I couldn’t figure something out (i.e. that always makes everyone feel good when you ask them for their help—except your adult kids if you ask for help about your computer haha). Soooo Charlie, get the owner’s manual out of my car—look how to change the clock on my dash—she did and did it for me—now I want to learn how to activate my information center using the audio—she figured in all out and showed me.  When she got done, she said—Grandpa, I know more about your vehicle than you do!  But Grandpa, I live in the now world and you live in the ol’ time world! Who what me!

Life has a lot of changes now doesn’t it! I have experienced many changes in my lifetime and probably will experience more changes today and tomorrow.  Soooo I’m not surprised when they happen; it isn’t if but when, for sure.  Tony Dunge said—"We’ve all been in the eye of a storm, and I know many of you are there now. But conditions deteriorate, and then we’re blindsided. One moment our dad is eating lunch before boarding a plane to come home, the next minute he suffers a massive heart attack. One moment you’ve received a great review, the next moment you get a dismissal notice. Another moment the phone rings and you hear the words, ‘There’s been an accident.’ Someone you can’t live without isn’t going to make it. One moment all is calm and under control, and in a matter of minutes everything breaks loose…God is always there, calm and in control, when we’re not and can’t be. And in the big picture of eternity, conditions are fine. Actually, conditions are glorious and heavenly.” You believe that? Plans change for sure folks!

If you are a believer, then this is pretty important (i.e. my opinion—I get tired of folks talking all the time but don’t do anything). Hey, if you aren’t a believer, still try to do this; it’s just the right thing to do folks.)   RickyRick says—"Look for how Jesus may be in your life disguised as a hurting person. He may be at the water cooler on Monday morning. He may be at the soccer game. He may be the person behind you in the Bath and Beyond store line. He may be the most unlovable person you know who is carrying a deep hurt. If you want to serve Jesus, then start by showing up for the hurting people around you.” Life is meant to help others and not just think about ourselves all the time or about enjoying rules and regulations (i.e. my opinion; your opinion might be different).  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—The trouble with the younger generation is that most of us aren’t in it.

Now the long-winded version a.k.a. will-it-ever-end version a.k.a. Sisyphean version a.k.a. TL;DR version.

Is you the same old you, or is you a different new you today; a change of plans? Please may I introduce you to Dayjah Voo?  Maybe you think you have met him before.  But are you sure! Change is hard for many folks; most folks just like to stay the same.  When at the zoo last week, the grandkids got a gift at the gift shop when leaving (i.e. they love those gifts).  I thought they selected pretty good gifts.  Charlie wrote about her experience on the back of her gift for posterity (i.e. neat idea). ANYWAY, the eagle was called Griffin; Rookie, why did you call him Griffin?  It’s a character from Harry Potter who is half lion and have eagle.  Maybe that is what we are, half something and half something else (e.g. like half nice person and half jerk—who what me?).  My half nice guy was taking the grandkids to the drive-thru at Dunkin Donuts Saturday morning and let them pick what they wanted (i.e. they might think this was the best part of my visit—it’s hard to beat sugar).

I had an amazing ride the other day.  I stopped at the local grocery store to get a certain snack that I have been craving (i.e. I normally would never buy it as it is too expensive but I figure at my age, why not).  I met a friend and her little girl there who I haven’t seen for some time.  We talked and laughed and we just enjoyed each other (i.e. she is one nice gal with a good heart; my kind of person).  When I went to check out, she was also going to check out.  She paid for my treat. I said she didn’t have to do that—oh, I want to erv, I just want to.  I just wanted to hug her but didn’t know if I should in front of the folks soooo I gave her a half hug and she reciprocated (i.e. I told her that she was a sweetheart which she is). The whole experience was very emotional to me.  Ok folks, that is like paying forward.  Do you every do that to anyone?  If not, why not?  Are you tooooo self-centered? How do you live your life? If you are, maybe you are missing something, maybe it’s time to have a change of plans and really enjoy life!  Just a thought!

A friend game me a macramé car freshener made with a cinnamon stick in it.  She also gave me a little bottle of cinnamon extract soooo I could put a little on it to renew the smell.  I put a drop on and then thought, if one drop is good two is better (i.e. it’s an ol’ MN farmer trick)!  Man, it smelled!  That stuff was potent let me tell you. My point, a little dab of good stuff can really make a difference in your life which can really make a big difference in someone else’s life.  Just a little dab; a little dab will do ya!

I did another experiment that I enjoyed.  I asked two long time friends who have lived in Aplington all their life who is/was the growlest, grumpiest person they remember in Aplington.  They both mentioned a certain person who has been dead for over 30 years (i.e. now he must have been quite a person alright).  I wonder how you and I will be remembered or if anyone will even remember us.  If we are growly and grumpy they might remember us (i.e. some of you might have a chance to be remembered—especially one of you—you know who you are)!  haha Oh, by the way, part of the comment one of my friends made about this person who was the growlest and grumpiest person they know or knew of in Aplington—"And every day he walked by our business and dad and I would always ask him how he was doing And he always frowned And said terrible Every time So he was always grumpy Never seen him smile ever.” As the other friend said—This guy wasn’t a bad guy, actually maybe a good, guy but just was growly and grumpy! Soooo a friend who is a member of The Loving Church of The Valley told me that there is a ol' guy who is the grumpiest, growlest, most obnoxious person of all time that attends their church. They all call him Uncle Grump Bailey.  Folks avoid him like they will all get COVID-19 if they get close to him but they are polite and wave and say hi.  The reason is that the ol' fart writes the biggest checks to the church of anyone!  Aunt Phyliss, who might be the nicest person in the church, says--He is our cash cow and we just try to take care of him (i.e. we kiss up to the ol' fat cat)!  We are not being hypocrites; it's just good business. Everyone knows that in our church.  Soooo there you go!

LuckieEddie, you can put a rainbow in someone's cloud, says--We are ridiculously funny folks. Yes we are.  Here we go again! If we aren’t treated exactly the same or if someone doesn’t agree with us exactly like we think, they are bad folks.  They aren’t bad folks necessarily; they just don’t agree with us.  We don’t need to hate them (i.e. as the news media makes it out to be and seems like they want us to act). That is ridiculously funny to me. We don’t agree totally with anyone.  I bought some padded biking underwear.  Not everyone will want padded underwear, but I don’t think that makes me a bad person.  Maybe I need more padding on my butt than you as you have a lot more natural padding!  haha  The amount of natural padding doesn’t really make us good or bad folks, does it? I don’t think soooo! You ever ask folks questions why they think like they do instead of getting mad at them and think they are a terribly bad person?  Soooo last week going down the road Rookie says to me what makes the car go faster? I said I press on the foot feet. He says no what makes the car go faster. I say I give it more gas. He said no, what makes the car go faster? I said well it has a combustible engine which has gas and air and spark which creates an explosion that causes the pistons to go up and down and that force creates power which creates pressure to the gear assembly which has a gear ratio that can make it go faster. He said--oh, now I understand, thanks Grandpa.

Some of you will think I’m an idot and others of you will think I’m brave and others will just shake your head. I understand all your emotions even if some folks think you are crazy! haha I have a friend who struggles with his faith in Jesus as do many of folks, maybe all of us.  He struggles to a point of accepting Jesus as his Savior.  Soooo he texted me asking if I had my second shot.  I texted him back and said yes and then texted him back again saying this--I believe that this vaccination is going to make me 96% certain that I’m not going to get the virus. OK my friend! I’m 96% certain that whoever believes that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior will be saved! It isn’t about believing every little thing, every little tradition, every little ritual, what others think or believe, but just one thing – – whoever believes that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior will be saved. Keep it simple stupid!  I hope he makes a change of plans! He’s a tough cookie but a good friend with a good heart. There is no medicine like hope; no incentive soooo great; no tonic soooo powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow! Bingo! Saturday question—Who is the redneck, he, or I? Who is right, he, or I? Who is the judge? ItchieBitchie says--erv, you got me!

it is or it isn't

David Letterman quipped, “Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.” You folks are very smart folks; knowledge and wisdom just drips off of you.  Soooooo this “It’s Saturday” maybe produces very minimal rough guidelines for you and its probably just entertainment.  BUT that is ok, knowledge, wisdom and entertainment is a good mix for sure.  JoeSmart says—erv erv, your thinking at times is neanderthal and other times it’s civilized.  Ya, I agree JoeSmart, it all depends how it affects each person if they agree with it or not. Da! CadillacJack says—Soooo much of life is full of contradictions! Mostly erosion more than mudslides!

The old saying seems to be true—It’s my story, your story and the true story!  Sooooo I guess we all have to decide what the true story is which might not be the true story at all.  But how do we do that?  Good question! We are very opinionated folks for sure, we are educated differently, we all have different past and current environments, we all have different emotions, we all have different experiences etc.  Soooo the answer is—maybe we will never believe in the same story which is the right story!  Unless, we have no choice! Like we are not allowed to think for ourselves but told what the true story is and forced to believe it. I wouldn’t like that! Would you? I wouldn’t like to lose my freedom to decide. 

I stayed with the grandkids in Waukee for a couple of days this week as it was spring break for them.  They wanted to go to the park, have a shake and then go to Barnes and Noble soooo of course we did.  They found me and each had a book.  Rookie, age 8, says--Grandpa, will you buy these books for us?  How much?  Mine is $17 and Charlette's is $12.  I don't think sooooo!  He pouted and then finally said--Grandpa, is the reason you won't buy the books for us is because you don't have a credit card?

Soooo the next day we were going down the road and Rookie was riding shotgun.  We stopped again for a shade at McDonald's drive through.  I gave him the container with the shakes in and asked him if he would distribute them--Grandpa, I can't do that, I'm just a little guy--if you are big enough to ride shotgun then you have responsibilities--what does riding shot gun mean?--sooooo I had the opportunity to explain it which was a lot of fun for me--soooo we go down the road and he asks me what time is it--the clock is right there, look--I can't read a clock that doesn't have numbers on it--you are smart, you just need to put numbers on the marks, you can do it; he gave me the time.  Soooo we go down the road and I said, neither one of you said thank you for the shakes; they said thanks Grandpa--In fact neither one of you said thanks for me taking you to Blank Park Zoo; they said thank you--I told them it's very important to learn to say thing you--Rookie says--Grandpa, you need to know that some kids learn slower than others!

A corporate executive tells me that in the corporate world teams of executives talk and talk and say the same stuff and do it again next week but not much always gets done.  It can be boring (i.e. management protecting their back side mostly).  JoeBlow says--As long as we get our big check, we’re good! A friend told me that the most normal place for he and his wife is at the gym. Folks don’t get all bent out of shape (i.e. or do they) but just enjoy each other and work out.  He says—Then we go home and watch cooking shows and home improvement shows where there is no stress or anxiety.  And another friend says he and his wife watch a ton of Netflix.  They really like them. Oh, the new world that folks live in!

Hey folks, don’t be disappointed with your disappointments!  LuckieEddie says—erv, don’t be such a preacher!  Did you know that a good discussion leader speaks about 30% of the time, maximum; if the leader speaks more than that amount then they are preaching (i.e. it’s a lecture—pretty much about themselves). Ok, back to my statement.  We are all going to have disappointments soooo don’t be surprised; that is just the way it is (i.e. it is not if but when).  CoachB says—Most folks have to go through a whole lot of stuff to get where they want to go and sometimes folks don’t even get where they want to go.  Soooo don’t get disappointed.  I talked tooooo two business friends recently and we all agreed that the chase is much more fun than the kill (i.e. it’s fun to be in the hunt).  BUT we always don’t win, that happens a lot.  Sooooo don’t get disappointed when you don’t seem to win and then just don’t sit on the couch and eat chips; we all know what happens when you do that!  Ouchy ouchy! Disappointments are just disappointments which we all will have a lot of.  Suck it up cupcake and let’s get going!

Soooo the other night I dreamt that I was bear hunting with my neighbor; we were hunting bear as he didn't have any money to buy food.  I said to him--Jon, if we shoot a bear we'll have to clean it and then eat it; I don't think I would enjoy either; wouldn't it be a lot easier if I just gave you some money for groceries?  He said--I agree; that's a good idea.

A friend, who we both had a common experience in that our spouses battled dementia and then died, told me that some of her friends and husband’s friends where just super friends during his disease and his death and some didn’t show up.  Ouchy ouchy!  I had the same experience.  Soooooo what kind of friend are we? Some of our friends were there when it was really ugly; when it was easier not to be involved, when it wasn’t pretty at all.  They surely showed their colors.  And some friends wore big cowboy hats but owned no cattle! Another friend told me that the professional staff of the church they attend seem to be more concern about having enough money to pay their wages than anything else during the pandemic.  Ouchy ouchy! ItchieBitchie says--Cut those folks some slack; we all talk and do the opposite at times.  But money gets our attention alright; especially when it’s our money!

What do you think the history of this scoop is? It’s an interesting scoop alright.  Do you think it came from their family’s history? Maybe it’s an inheritance. Maybe it was bought on a garage sale or a farm sale of a family. Maybe it has a great history? What was it used for do you think? Why do they have it?  In rural America, some generations gave the farms to the boys (i.e. or favorite boy) and the girls got the dishes—it’s biblical a friend told me—some parents still do).  Maybe that is what happened and that is why this gal has this scoop.  SusieQ says—My parents own 1,000 acres of Butler County ground that is worth about $10,000 an acre; if my brother got it all and I got the dishes and the scoop I would not be happy (i.e. SusieQ, there are a lot of unhappy girls out there sweetheart). Yikes, I can hear some of ‘em gals grumbling right now!  MissPerfect says—It ain’t fair!  MissPerfect, the only thing that’s fair is the Butler County Fair and that’s in June. Yabut PapaJoe says, it biblical! Yabut that was 2,000 years ago when the culture didn’t treat females the same as males!

I heard a friend say—That wasn’t a problem in splitting up my parents’ wealth; I was the only child and I got it all!  I heard another friend say—If there is a dollar left in our checking account when we die, we messed up somewhere. Another friend did everything possible about being fair to his kids upon the death of he and his wife and when they died, the kids still fought about the money and thought it wasn’t fair.  And another friend just told me recently—We have all our wealth split up in our wills as to who gets what; they might not like it but that is the way we want it (i.e. there probably will be unhappiness).

When Chester and Anna died there was very little to nuttin to split up.  Maybe there was hard feelings, but I don’t know about any if there were.  Many times hard feelings always don’t show up on the surface.  ANYWAY, if there isn’t anything to split up, it eliminates hard feelings (i.e. money usually is the problem).  I call my sisters and I survivors.  We inherited nuttin and all seemed to do ok according to our thinking, I think.  Why that is I really don’t know but I have my believes (i.e. I believe we had good parents and we believe in God). Flip the pancake, I know folks who inherited a ton of money and it didn’t seem to work out very well for them (i.e. they are all mad at each other).  I also have my believes why that didn’t work sooooo well.  GeorgeTheCrook says—erv, you can believe what you want but I’ll take my changes with the ton of money! LuckieEddie says—Money gives folks options and I like options!

Recently our son, wife and grandkids came over for a Saturday to talk and eat Casey’s Pizza.  When Chet told Rookie they were going to granpa’s place he said—Dad, do you know grandpa has a died duck in the basement!  That is how I’m remembered—the grandpa with the dead duck in the basement.  I gave the grandkids some gifts.  When they got home, Charlie sent me the pic.  She offered to trade Rookie her chocolate Easter bunny for his string of lights—he said DEAL. I gave Chet an old ink bottle with a silver dollar, a silver half dollar and an old dime in it.  My Daddy, Chester, gave those to me when I was a kid.  They were in his desk for years and then in my desk for years and now Chet said—They will be in my desk for years.  The ink bottle is worth more than the coins I think but what fun (i.e. my opinion). But it’s not the farm and the scoop! 

You believe in God or you don’t; it’s one or the other; it can’t be both.  You believe Jesus is the truth or Jesus isn’t. Soooo if you are a believer, what are your favorite apologetics? Does money save you? How long is eternity compared to this brief time on this earth?  Dr.J says-- One deadly condition we can eliminate today is fear! Fear is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7). Live well, pray well, and be well—one day at a time. Oswald Chambers said--The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. Thepersonnorthoftown, who knows a lot about a lot, says—When our earthly death occurs, money will not make much difference to our soul. YaBut, she can say that as she just inherited $10,000,000 plus the farm and the scoop.  She talks soooo big! But she’s got it all! TheModernDayWorkingLady, who is getting close to the end of the tunnel, says—We no longer live in neanderthal times!  At least most folks don’t! Do you realize that we have a female vice president of our country? WildWilly asks—Is that in a book? GeorgeTheCrook says—Ya, it’s in the book of Clarncemicheal!

MissPerfect, who is a spring upgrade, says—Folks tend to be in one of four categories: those who prefer cats to dogs, those who prefer dogs to cats and those who like or dislike both.  However, few are as funny about it as CrazyMarvin who says—I loathe folks who keep dogs. They are cowards who haven’t got the guts to bite people themselves!

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—With all the things you have to do tomorrow, it’ll be the busiest time of the year.

ya bet'cha

Houston, we have a problem!  Publilius Syrus was a Latin writer who was born in Turkey in 89 B.C. One of his “Senteniae” was:  “Many receive advice; few profit by it.”  JoeTeacher, who is like an exotic eastern bird, says—I wonder how many teachers feel like that.  None would be an ideal number, but that would be far too optimistic.  I heard a pastor say that he had two kinds of seminary professors; some who said I’m right and you got to believe it and others who gave the information and let the students decide.  Holy smokes! BettyLouStudent, who has a quirky personality, says—I have had college professors who were that way (i.e. they were not math professors); in fact, I also have been around some fellow human beings who are that way! JoeSmug says—My neighbortothesouth is that way! What way is she?  That way! Well, roll out the carpet! Ya bet’cha!

My mentor would say—erv, it’s never as good as it looks and it’s never as bad as it looks.  When folks look at what many call entertainment on TV of watching the life styles of the rich and famous, it always looks soooo clamorous and many think if only they had that life style.  I have thought that already.  I don’t even have to watch TV, there are folks I see in my life or especially when I travel that make me think that at times.  BUT, we know that their lives are not always any happier than ours, sometimes much less.  Saturday question—If you had all what they seem to have, how would your life change to be happier? If there was no virus, how would your life be soooo much happier or as a friend suggested I ask that of a friend who is depressed claiming it’s because of the virus?  ItchieBitchie says—There is a thick line between those two, not a thin line but a thick line.  It’s called reality!  MissPerfect says—erv, you’re full of baloney, if I had a huge massive amount of wealth, I would be way happier, I’m sure of that; how could not be any different! Ya bet’cha!

This is what the boys talk about at the shed deep in Butler County when drinking their coffee in the morning—Who are you? Do each of us know who we really are?  The old statement is “If you have never been tested by fire, then you don’t really know who you are.” It also says—"If you don’t know who you are, you can’t be a leader to lead others to who they are.”  You believe that? Soooo do we really know who we are and who we are not?  Are you and I in grips with our inner self?  JoeBlow says—I really don’t want to know who I am; I might be disappointed; I will just stick with who I think I am; I don’t like that fire stuff! Holy macaroni! This life is confusing enough without trying to figure myself out! And you might think I’m confusing, you should meet my sister-in-law!  She’s from Mars for sure!

I have been given a unique opportunity; very unique; sooo unique that I can’t tell you about it!  Now that is unique!  But it’s a great opportunity.  I have told one person about it and that will be the extent of me exposing it.  Crazy huh, ya bet’cha!  ANYWAY, it is exciting for me and it will be a lifelong opportunity.  And what is interesting, no one will ever know what it is or recognize it.  And I’m excited and happy about it.  I’m soooo happy someone exposed it to me, and they didn’t even know they did.  Crazy!  They will never know.  You ever have something that changes the scene of your life?  It’s like you are bored and then an opportunity comes along that really stimulates you?  A change of scenery is good for me; puts some spark in my life.  I like it.  It energizes me.  It could be a person, an event, or an opportunity.  I didn’t even look for this one; it just fell in my lap. Ok, I pray for opportunities, and pray that I can recognize and pray that I have the courage to act on them.  Sooooo now what is ervie going to do?  Talk is cheap but it takes money to buy whiskey!  BillyBoyJoe, who is really smart but doesn’t have a clue what he is doing, says—I have a huge massive praxis. 

Some stuff is just hard to share.  MissPerfect who some call the loud and the proud, says—Now that is true; I know that for sure!  “Grief can’t be shared. Everyone carries it alone, his own burden, and his own way.”—Anne Morrow Lindbergh    WorldClassLarry says—It appears that men and women might think differently at times; at least it appears that way to me (i.e. seem to have different styles maybe).  Christopher Morley who was a journalist novelist, essayist and poet, claimed that something “is a wonderful training for girls, it’s the first way you learn to guess what a man is going to do before he does it.” SusieQ says--What was he talking about? Saturday question—Is it possible for a man to have the motherly instant? Flip the pancake—Is it possible for a woman to have the fatherly instant?

I like to do experiments; do you? Try something and see how it goes; usually some experiments go better than others unless they are proven experiments done before and you know what the results should be but they always don’t go that way; sometimes they blow up in your face (i.e. something went haywire).  Some of you think “It’s Saturday” is toooo long, tooooo long winded (i.e. like many of you have nuttin else to do other than pick your nose).  ha ha     Sooooo I will have a short “It’s Saturday” and then a long-winded version a.k.a. will-it-ever-end version a.k.a. Sisyphean version a.k.a. TL;DR version after I close the short version. What I don’t understand, if it’s toooo long for some of you, why don’t you just stop reading and pick your nose or you can do both at the same time.  This is not mandatory reading.  You will not be tested; you won’t lose any money!  You could have some “brain defect.”  It could be related to your environment, or it could be genetic (i.e. your grandma’s fault).  First question the experts will ask you if you get tested—Do you watch the news?

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—With a good hobby you can find yourself and lose yourself at the same time.

Now the long-winded version a.k.a. will-it-ever-end version a.k.a. Sisyphean version a.k.a. TL;DR version.

Sooooo many events and feelings and experiences, and happenings happen that are inexpressible for me and you.  I just can’t explain them to anyone; none of you can totally comprehend and I can’t totally comprehend yours; it can’t happen.  I really want tooooo express myself to others sometimes, but no one can totally understand them but me.  Crazy!  I can try but “it just ain’t going to happen” (e.g. I received a letter and wanted to share the joy it gave me with someone).  I finally did share it with a friend who I thought would best understand it.  I don’t think they really could totally as they didn’t have the same emotions that I have about what was written—it was personal).  And another thing: I always say that you can share bad news with almost anyone, but you can’t share good news with most folks.  Why you ask. Well, you have tooo have a special friend who is happy for you; truly happy for you.  I wonder if most really are; they think you are bragging or they are jealous or envious or really don’t like to hear your good stuff.  Isn’t that sad.  Sooooo are you happy for others (i.e. big folks are and little folks are not).  My mentor used to say to me about hearing bad news about folks—half the folks don’t care about your bad news and the other half are glad it happened to you! I think he meant that tongue in cheek, maybe! I wonder how many folks really care if good stuff really happens to you and me; are they more concerned about themselves.  I wonder as I wonder through this world.  Soooo that brings it all back to me again and me alone mostly. Boy, we have to be strong. This ain’t easy for any of us, for sure! Folks sure seem to like themselves! You bet’cha!

A friend told me a couple of sayings his father used to say to him.  “Sometimes it’s good to be hard of hearing.” “Sometimes it’s good to be like a duck and let things run off your back.” You think folks talk about you? Do Do folks talk about you?  AverageJoe says—Are you kidding me!  If they talk about me half as much as I talk about them, it’s a lot.  Folks like to talk about other folks.  I heard recently some ladies talking about their church ladies’ mid-week coffee—It’s just a gossip time.  Yikes.  And that is the church ladies.  Sooooo if you are talking about others, they surely are talking about you.  Surely.  Don’t be so naïve.  If you are saying not soooo nice things of others, they are probably saying the same things about you.  Soooooo let’s try to say nice things about folks.  Soooo here is something to think about—Are obnoxious folks with very high opinions of themselves better off than the humble folks?  They could care less what others think of them.  They’re the best and could care less about others.  Their inflated egos make them superb a.k.a. the best. They are not tender or loving or kind. They might not be liked by others, but they really don’t care and really don’t know it.  As I heard a guy say one time—I’ll just stomp on you and buy you out!

I read and have just read another book of Louis L’Mour. I like to read one of his books occasionally.  He has written a lot of them.  I know some of you like to read his books as well. Some of you have read them all.  Wow! That is a lot.  They all are about the same—usually out west when it was being developed, bad guy turns good, saves the oppressed folks, always a pretty girl, wins the girl, gets the ranch and they live happily ever after.  Folks like to hear that.  It’s uplifting. That is why we like to read them I guess.  BUT the fastest gun wins until they aren’t the fastest gun anymore; the fastest gun always dies unless they retire with the babe on the ranch!  Soooo FastestGun, how do you know when it’s time to put away the guns? .45FastGuns always gets in trouble, always.  Look around folks, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

I think I think; therefore, I think I am right.  Now that could be one of my problems, I think. I think I’m pretty cocky now that I figured out something to save myself some time.  Ya bet’cha!  I figure if I only sleep on half the queen size bed, why can’t I just rotate the sheets and not have to wash them as often.  Am I missing something here? BUT some of you were pretty cocky walking on the ice but after you fell you aren’t soooo cocky anymore!  Ouchy ouchy! My Daddy, Chester, would say—erv, a lazy person is very creative! Or even more time saving, maybe I should just sleep on the other side! I could turn my pillow over toooo!

My feelings come and go!  How about yours? Oh those feelings; they are really something else. Some friends are getting or have got their second vaccination and feel they are “good to go.”  Are you good to go?  What is your feeling? It appears that some are going to paranoid the rest of their lives.  And some who got COVID might never be the same again.  And some folks never changed their lifestyles at all and never will.  Aren’t we really something.  Soooo I got my second shot.  How if at all will I change?  I guess time will tell.  I’m uncertain at this point. 

This happened yesterday and is an important lesson for our age group. A friend had his 2nd dose of the vaccine at the vaccination center. Afterwards he began to have blurred vision on the way home. When he got home, he called the vaccination center for advice and to ask if he should go see a doctor or be hospitalized. He was told NOT to go to a doctor or a hospital, but just return to the vaccination center and pick up his glasses.

Friends have had COVID.  Both had a tussle with it.  My buddy hasn’t fully recovered.  He has lost 30 pounds and still has issues.  He was tested from both ends and doctors think it’s stress and anxiety; not COVID related.  Simple fix, just quit be stressful and eliminate anxiety.  This guy isn’t wired that way.  He’s a fixer.  Will he be able to change?  Time will tell.  I told him they will just dope him up; that ought to work! And quit watching the news! And buy a new driver to get an additional 10 yards!

CadillacJack says—If a man is poor, he is stupid: if he is rich, he’s a crook; if he goes to church, he’s a hypocrite; if he stays away, he’s a sinner.  If he’s in politics, he’s a grafter; if he takes no interest in politics, he’s an unworthy citizen; if he dies to young, there was a great future ahead of him; if he lives to a ripe old age, he’s a burden to society.  The only man who is never criticized is he who has never been born. 

Many years ago when I started in the business world, I asked a hand full of business folks who I respected, who I thought were successful, who I thought were leaders if they would come over to my house and discuss with me what they thought success was (i.e. rather unusual some of you might thing).  They all were excited about doing it.  I still have my notes in a file.  And here they are: Money isn’t the real measure of success; Have reasonable goals and accomplish them; Successful if you can sleep peacefully; Must have faith and trust; Must keep going—keep trying; Always, always, be honest—don’t take advantage of people; Be patient—don’t expect things to happen fast; There will be good days, and bad days—look at total picture and not just one situation; Keep working and work hard; Some people have more talent and abilities—don’t expect more than what you are capable. These guy are all dead and have been for some time.  I wonder if their ears are ringing! Do you think an expensive casket and an expensive water proof burial vault would have anything to do with their ears ringing!  I think none of these guys could care less about those two items.  LuckieEddie says—What is important to some isn’t important to others, I guess; each their own! Or as a friend told me this last week—We will be remembered by others by how we made them feel; probably not soooo much as what the minister and others say to make the dead person sound good!  But my mentor use to say—erv, everyone gets better after they die!

awkward

OneSmartPerson said—Half our mistakes in life arise from feeling where we ought to think, and thinking where we ought to feel.

A friend at breakfast the other morning told me that she has CS.  I didn’t know what to say soooo I said something like, is it serious?  She said—It can be.  Soooo what is it?  Common sense!  Soooo if you ever get in a jam or think they are crazy, just tell the folks you have CS and they will leave you alone (i.e. they won’t ask you any more questions; they feel awkward).  Now that is wisdom! haha   But ItchieBitche asks--How does a person really know if they actually have CS or not?  Good question ItchieBitche, good question.  I have been with folks who think they are attractive (i.e. can strut their stuff sitting down sooo they must be), folks who think they are very intelligent, folks who think they know everything, folks who think they are humble, folks who think are better than anyone else BUT from my opinion they are not; they just think they are.  Ouchy ouchy!  BUT I do think seriously my friend has CS)! 

You ever notice that most folks when they might feel awkward in a situation that they will avoid the situation the best they can (i.e. why do they have that feeling). Who wants to step into a mess!  It might be a friend who divorced your best friend, a business deal with a friend that went south, a friend who has Alzheimer’s, a person who is a homosexual and you are straight, a person who has extreme political views, an uncomfortable church situation, an uncomfortable family situation, etc. You get the point.  It really doesn’t feel good to be in those awkward situations.  Soooooo we generally avoid them the best we can (i.e. folks exit from the scene).  NervousGrace, who is always good for conversation as long as you talk about her, says--It just works better when I avoid those situations; those situations always make me feel like I have to go to the bathroom. 

I have a friend who is very good at accepting folks for who they are.   It appears he treats folks all the same in all ways (i.e. well that is hard to do because sometimes it just can’t be done maybe).  ANYWAY, what a great ability.  I see soooo often when that is not the case and it causes real problems.  It seems to be soooo much better if we talk to folks the same, especially if they have a problem or are different than we are BUT most folks will shy away from them (i.e. it’s awkward and folks escape—chicken out). Not good! Maybe some churches are a very good examples of this; the holy huddle scares others away and the holy huddle maybe doesn’t care; gives others the feeling that they are better than them and they don’t really want them there anyway (i.e. I guess the test is to look around to see—the proof is in the pudding). SusieQ says—Folks will go where someone cares about them (i.e. sincerely and not fakie). But then again, many folks really don’t care, they are the elite. SuperDogFrank, who some say has missed the boat, says-- This has been going on since Moby Dick was a minnow.

I said in our church men’s group recently—If we are going to talk about anyone, let’s talk about ourselves; folks will understand much better as it is much more real; it’s easy to talk about others and not as easy to talk about our own shortcomings.  GeorgeTheCrook says—We can only be young once, but we can always be immature.  Ouchy ouchy!  Sooooo I was thinking today that I said I was going to get a DVD for a friend while golfing with him this summer and didn’t and more recently I said I would drop off a book for a friend to read my underlining as a preview for him but didn’t do that either.  I don’t care for folks who say they are going to do something and then don’t.  Soooooo I just did both.  I feel much better.

At breakfast with a friend recently, he told me that folks who don’t return his calls, texts, or emails really irate him.  He’s a business executive soooo he can correct those under him (i.e. put his foot down) but not his friends and family.  He thinks those folks are rude and obnoxious.  He told me of several situations.  A couple of them are folks who he does business with (i.e. he needs information and help but they don’t return his messages).  How come you do business with them if they don’t respond?  Why don’t you just quit doing business with them and do business with someone who does? They are my friends! That is why it is hard to do business with friends and family. He said--I just can’t understand why folks don’t respond.  It takes half a minute to send a text.  Flip the pancake, I have many friends, family, acquaintances, business folks who do.  Maybe if you are a non-responder or a responder who does respond two days later, you might consider in changing your habits.  BUT that is your choice, I guess.  My mentor taught me that if you have bad news to tell a business client, do it as fast as you can (i.e. like now) and be kind and honest; the longer you wait, the worse it will get; folks will respect you for it.  It isn’t always easy a.k.a. awkward but it was very good advice.  Here is a suggestion from me (i.e. make sure you take into consideration who this suggestion is from)—Acknowledge correspondence with a simple “thanks” or “got it” or “yep” or an “emoji.”  Folks really appreciate it, my opinion (i.e. takes 10 seconds).

AverageJoe says--Most start up businesses don’t fail because they don’t know how to fix the toilet but because they don’t have business skills with their clients.  They don’t respond, correspond correctly or have people skills (i.e. make a mess in the bathroom; maybe they do that at their house but you can’t do that in someone else’s house).  Think through that folks.  Or they don’t have good simple business skills in billing or collecting or advertising.  Yikes. I have a couple of friends who have a goal to help beginning business folks to be successful.  Great idea.  My hat goes off to them.  They are good folks with good hearts; my kind of folks. 

Are you a connector?  I mean do you connect folks soooo they both can succeed or gain knowledge or just talk about what their passions are.  I never thought of that before until my friend called me that recently.  I connected him with another business person with similar passions. Maybe great things will come out of it and maybe nuttin.  That is ok.  Now that was just a lot of fun a.k.a. opportunity. To some of you that would be awkward and others would just love the opportunity to be the connector or given the opportunity to have a blind conversation with a like-minded person. 

This might feel awkward and look awkward to some of you and some of you it won’t.  Why the difference.  I really don’t know; you tell me.  I have a friend whose motto is “Be Happy.”  And as far as I can tell she is.  That is a great attitude.  I asked her when and how she became this way—I think I have always been that way.  Wow!  CoachB says—Happiness isn’t something that comes from the outside like material stuff but comes from the inside as like who we are and what we think.  The advertising gurus tell us different but the stuff they are pushing is only temporary; very temporary.  We know that.  Com’on folks, get off your imaginary horses.  Soooo if you want to test that theory, go out and spend $500 on stuff and see how long that makes you happy and report back or take CoachB’s advice which is $500 cheaper.  SusieQ, who can act like a ripe pumpkin at times, says—Yabut erv, I just put in on my credit card soooo it really doesn’t cost me anything!

Soooo the other day I was getting a few groceries at Hy-Vee.  I pulled into my parking spot on the right side of a cart return area.  The SUV ahead of my in the parking slot went through the parking slot and actually was pointing in the wrong direction.  Why, I have no idea.  A babe came and got into the SUV and then was going to take a left turn going against the aisle traffic flow.  She forgot that she was next to this cart return area with the guards for the carts.  She scrapped the side of her SUV.  You might say—how dumb can a person be—com’on folks, we all do stupid things). Soooo I wondered if she told her husband (i.e. if she was married) or just said she didn’t know what happened.  What do you think?  If she had a husband that abuses her, maybe she lied.  I could accept that. It’s an awkward situation.

A friend told me that when she was young the exciting thing was to moon folks.  Did any of you do that?  I didn’t, I was little old for that stuff when it was popular; I doubt if I would have done it anyway, but I don’t know—who knows for sure.  I remember the time when it was popular, probably in the 70s or 80s.  She told me about some experiences about her mooning days.  Pretty funny.  She also told me about a college kid who put a bag over his head and rode his motorcycle through the front door of a bar, through the bar and out the back door bare butt naked.  She said everyone knew who it was.  Did any of you folks do that? It appears that this friend has grown out of this phase of her life as she is now in the retirement age (i.e. but God only knows).  Things change alright. Have you folks outgrown your younger years’ mentality? And now you are critical of your grandkids! Go figure!

A friend gave me this cup as a gift recently. Very nice. She didn’t have tooooo but I very much appreciated it.  Soooo kind and surprising.  A touch of class, I think.  I like memories and like to drink coffee in the morning soooo it’s a great combination for sure.  It made me feel good and I like the cup, I think it’s neat.  Do you every give gifts sorta kinda maybe for no reason but really for a reason; just give them out of the blue?  Or do you only give gifts when you get something back?  MissPerfect, who has a Billy goat brain and a mockingbird mouth, says—I thought that was the only time I was suppose to be kind was when someone gave me a gift! SweetLouse says—erv, giving a gift like your friend did to you might be a very nice opportunity to surprise some person who is suffering with VD, virus depression (i.e. creative and proactive).  Could be!  Self-gloryingWanda says—erv erv, go sell your crazy somewhere else..I’m all stocked up here. WorldClassLarry says--This is why aliens won’t talk to us!

IssuesInPerspecitve with Dr. Jim Eckman says—"January 22 is always a dark day in American history, for in 1973 Roe v. Wade legalized abortion across America. The case denied the rights of the unborn and instead gave women the “right” to decide to end her pregnancy. It established the precedent that a woman’s right to choose is more important than a child’s right to live. It therefore demeaned life in the womb as unworthy in comparison to the mother and it established the false ideology that one human is more important than another.” That is Dr. Eckman’s opinion. MyOpinion--I absolutely cannot comprehend why people can believe in abortion. It is not a democrat or republican issue, it’s a moral issue and a humanity issue. I can’t understand how we can kill a child and it’s good business, but we can kill a dog and probably will go to jail. It just doesn’t make any sense to me at all for the convenience and money of a selfish world. This is my opinion and obviously a minority opinion as it is a law in the United States as abortion is legal. I find that just crazy. I just cannot understand that. And I think an economist in the Twin Cities suggests that we also should euthanize about 20% of all our population as they are a drag and an inconvenience of our society (i.e. that would be good business). But JoeBusinessman says, hey we can’t do that, that would create a lot of loss jobs and it would put a strain on our pharmaceutical companies, our medical field, our care facilities, our insurance companies. We can’t do that!  Abortion is so sad in my mind. For some folks, it has to be a very awkward thought process. ProAbortionJoe says—erv, what planet did you parachute in from?

I have also have a hard time to understand how the earth floats in space. We now have pictures of the earth taken from space that show it floating in the cosmic void. The earth literally hangs on nothing as the Bible teaches us.  That concept when looking at the big picture is amazing to me, just amazing.  One of my favorite verses in the Bible is – His understanding I cannot fathom.  Both the earth floating in space and the verse are humbling to me.

I think I realized that at times I can’t see the forest for the trees!  Yikes.  I plead guilty!  I’m around others that seem they can’t also (i.e. my opinion).  None of you of course, it’s those other folks, you know who they are! haha (e.g. we hear the saying continuously that we need to fix it but nuttin ever gets fixed).  Here is my suggestion to each of us individually—I believe that the sense of accomplishment is powerful and soooo rewarding to each of us.  It doesn’t have to be a major thing or things but little stuff.  Soooo write down something that you want to accomplish today a.k.a a vision board. Be specific. CoachB says—When we actually can see it, when we actually make it specific, it improves the probability to get it done 10-fold.  If it’s not definitive, there is 90% probability it won’t get done.  LazyBob, his smoke indicates smoke and nuttin else, says—I don’t really want to do anything anyway, but I just like to talk about it.  I’d rather sit on the couch and eat chips; I have results to show it!  It’s very definitive!

Got this from myoldercouz--So.....a few weeks back I received a text from a favorite niece, asking me to do a dna test, because hers came saying my family was not completely dutch I responded, I am 79 years old, I have been totally, pure Dutch for 79 years, I do not plan on changing! Her response “ is that a no”? Do something fun today. ️dream of golfing in the sun. FYI myoldercouz is the reigning Queen of Priam, MN. 

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—It’s easier to follow example than advice.