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!