on second thought

Disclaimer--Don't take anything I say tooooo serious. If I offend you, I don't mean tooo (i.e the truth of the matter is that everything is a matter of perception; your outlook determines how you interpret this and your perception mainly comes from how you have been programed!). Sooo think about how you are looking at something folks before reacting (i.e. maybe you are a little touchy on some things--touchy touchy!).   ItchieBitchie asks--Does anyone really take time to think?  LuckieEddie says--I just do what they tell me on TV!  I just follow the crowd.  It seems to work!  I'm broke and unhappy but it seems to work!  It's American isn't it?

Some of you folks are rare horses, a real grulla (i.e. a horse of a different color--not maybe physically but mentally)!  Make no mistake, you are even if you don't think you are. A grulla is a fairly rare color of a horse and often is the result of mating a black stallion with a red or dun mare (i.e. soooo it's your parents fault that your are a grulla or it might be your environment or a combination of both). My mentor would say--erv, we are all programmed by our genetics and our past experiences.  On second thought, I guess you could make an argument if you are a gurlla or not but then you folks can make an argument for just about anything.  Hey folks, grullas are very pretty horses (i.e. my opinion).  Such is life.

What a hoot I had!  I had the opportunity (i.e. it just fell in my lap) recently to meet with two very smart folks over breakfast (i.e. they are "loco".  Loco comes from the Mexican vaqueros. It means "crazy" in Spanish..  They are true gurlias!  Not normal. No question.  In fact one calls himself a "crazy guy" and I called the other "weird".  Why they are crazy and weird is that they are individualists (i.e. very smart, rare birds).  They are exceptional folks (i.e. not crowd followers--they think for themselves).  Albert Einstein said--The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd.  The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has every been.  My Mom, Anna, would say to me--erv, remember if everyone else jumps off the cliff, you don't have toooooooo and shouldn't! Think for yourself son!

Steve Jobs said--Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.  Don't be trapped by dogma--which is living with the results of other people's thinking.  Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
   
I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Repentance speaks of changing our loyalty and completely reorienting the way we think about life.  It means to stop going, thinking and living one way, and start going, thinking and living the opposite way...it's not just about charting a new course on the same old map; it is about throwing out the old map altogether (i.e. a new life). Joesixpack says--On second thought that repentance might be a good idea!

On second thought, I will answer the question the way the professor wants me tooooo 'cause...! A student is a person who sits at a desk and writes down what the teacher puts up on his or her PowerPoint presentation so that they can spit it back out on a test (i.e. to get a good grade is to tell the the professor what they want to hear even it it isn't right but just his idiotic personal philosophy).  Students compile information but disciples pursue transformation.  Huh, interesting.

I finally got all the boxes of old pics and went through them.  Organized them.  I wanted to do this for many years.  Finally did it.  How come today?  I felt like it I guess!  To many other days I thought about it but said, "on second thought" I'll do it some other day.  A guy just has to feel right to do a certain thing. HoochieCoochie says--Sometimes I just don't feel like doing it and sometimes I do.  That's just the way it is.  And when you are retired a guy can pretty much do whatcha want. I was at a retired guy's house the other day.  It looked to me that he never feels like doing anything (i.e. he has no schedule and no time demands; there is always another day).  FlipThePancake--I have a friend who washes all of the windows in their house and washes both cars every Saturday morning.  I bet they are clean as this guy is particular.  And he has it done by 8 a.m.  Such is life.

I wonder what will happen to those pics when the kids clean our house out some day.  I wonder!  They have their own pictures.  A friend said that on their recent afternoon of boating, their daughter took 1,000 pics.  Another friend said that their friends celebrated their anniversary and put a 1,000 pics on facebook.  What will happen to all those pics.  Those are just one day's worth.  Joesixpack asks--Who really wants to look at 1,000 pics of some one's anniversary anyway!  Come on folks, that's a little over the top, ain't it?!  I think you would have to have a pretty big ego to do that.  What do you think?

Different folks seem to react differently to different stuff in their different heads I guess (i.e. have different  motivating snakes).  Some folks can't sleep unless they get their projects done and others never get them done (i.e. just sleep).  Why is that?  We all seem to have different kinds of motors which produce different desires and different interests I guess.  We all do different stuff and act a different way 'cause of different reasons and different whys I guess. It's crazy how CrazyHerman acts (i.e. he's different).  Such is life.

Inner Peace--If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and forcing people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without alcohol, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, you're Mabel, the family dog!

LuckieEddie asks--What is the value of life?  On second thought, some things never change!  "How little you know about the age you live in if you think honey is sweeter than cash in hand"  ~Ovid (43 B.C. - A.D. 17?), Roman poet~  ~  ~  There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself. ~Henry David Thoreau~ ~ ~ Sooooo folks, a friend says--Decisions have consequences!  Guess who gets to make the decisions!  It appears a lot of folks blame the government or Obama!  Congress is suing Obama it said in the paper.  Now that is interesting.  Such is life.

On second thought!  I got a response by email from a friend.  Very interesting to me.  He said--I have thought over the years that a lot of people did very silly things to prolong a low quality of life for older people. But when it comes time to make the decision, it is really hard. Mom is on board and that is the best part. So ready to go.

I was sitting on the bench next to a friend (i.e. maybe 45) at the pickle ball court the other night.  I made the comment--When you look down the street, it appears that everyone has money.  He said--erv, I think there are a lot of folks who are really struggling.  On second thought, he might be right.  But soooo many times it doesn't appear that way.  He said--Looks can be deceiving; we assume stuff sometimes.  A smart guy he is.  He is a good person with a good heart. My kind of person.  Mike (i.e. anybody can be a Mike) says--Living the American dream can lead to financial and emotional bankruptcy.  That is what he says folks. A friend told me this week that he's living "his dream".  Soooo I asked him--what's your dream?  He said--My dream could be a nightmare!  Ouchy ouchy! Such is life.

I read it on the internet soooo it must be right!  That about 33% of folks are in a collection agency.  That seems like a lot to me.  My Daddy, Chester, taught me to not to borrow money on anything that depreciates (i.e. only on stuff that appreciates--If you don't have cash, don't buy it).  My Uncle George told me many times--It isn't what you make but what you save.  Is that old fashion?  It seems to be.  What do you think?

Wacky, but effective!  Everyone is nice to ya if they want your money (i..e. short lived and manipulative generally).  In golf league this week my partner gave putts up to maybe 5 feet (i.e. and I really like this guy--you can tell he has a giving heart).  He even gave my opponent pretty long putts (i.e. I think he got nervous that I didn't give 'em).  Did you know that pro golfers make only 50% of 6 footers.  I didn't care (i.e. I'm not a bit competitive in league but am competitive with myself about how I play).  ANYWAY my partner said to me--I want to be liked sooooo I give them all those putts.  He wants to be liked folks!  If you give folks what they want, they do seem to like you, at least for a short time (i.e. like a kid who begs and gets candy an the check out).  Bingo, they like you.    

Recently I talked to 3 teenagers of the same family walking past our house.  They were done for the day of detasseling.  They make $10 to $11 a hour depending on past years of work.  They usually work about 100 hours a season which equates to about $1,000.  Wow!  The gal said--That's nutten to sneeze at!  Yabut some kids would rather complain and sit on the couch and eat chips (i.e. expect someone else to pay their way--entitlements).  ItchieBitchie says--A good work ethic is very important.  

I can count my lucky stars or something like that. Maybe it's like Yogi said--It's like deja vu all over again.  ANYWAY one night recently I was rather discouraged (i.e. usually not that way).  I think I thought I was in charge of the world and found out I wasn't (i.e. I just got a good reminder-- humbling).  On second thought, it was a great lesson a.k.a. opportunity to get my head screwed on right again--a true blessing.  Happenstance, na, I don't think soooooo folks!  A good night's sleep plus an analyses of my situation seemed to put things in proper perspective again.  It appears that every once in a while I think I'm more important than I really am.  Do you every get that way?  My mind needs a correction just like the stock market does at times.  

Don't think it will always be the same!  Data shows that a person will change their careers 5 to 7 times in their life.  What!  Holy Molly!  GeorgeTheCrook says--Yabut I'm in such a rut that I can't seem to ever get out of it (i.e. a rut is a grave with both ends kicked out).  GeorgeTheCrook, usually it has to get real bad before we even think about changing (i.e. bingo, the light comes on).  I mean real bad.  Most folks don't like change and would rather just "keep hitting their heads against the wall".  It hurts but they know the feeling and are comfortable with it.  It sounds crazy, GeorgeTheCrook, but that is how the mind seems to work (i.e. we want to change but on second thought, I will stay the same).  Such is life.  Thomas Edison aptly stated, "Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress."

Roof knocking!  Israel says they tell the Palestine folks where they are going to send the missiles and send the shells.  It's called roof knocking.  I wish I would know when and where I'm going to have  missiles directed at me so I could dodge those suckers (i.e. turn my fortunes around).  On second thought, maybe I don't want to know the future. Joe Blow says--Yikes, knowing the future could  not be pleasant. What do you think? If someone would do some roof knocking on us, it might make us "owly lookin'"!  Ouchy ouchy!

On second thought, I'm soooooo happy! I'm happy 'cause I changed my trail I was on and went with you on your trail (i..e. maybe she got roof knocked!!!  A friend told me that when they got married they had conflict.  His wife came from a family who spent all their money (i.e. lived from check to check).  He was a saver and investor. She always wanted to buy stuff and he wanted to invest.  It was a battle, he said, for about 10 years.  Then she got on his band wagon and as they say, "the rest is history".  They are now retired and living the good life (i.e. have a pot of gold).  She says now--I'm sooooo glad I saw the light.  Bingo!  

On second thought, I was really influenced by these two grullas last Saturday morning.  We bought them breakfast at the Drake Dinner.  Of course they had to have their picture taken on top of the Drake Bulldog!  They sorta kinda can warm grandpa and grandmas' hearts pretty fast.  Such is life.  MableTheDog seems to even give me advice (i.e. it's free, the kind I like).  I think sometimes, Mabel is really smart (i.e. one smart dog).  I listen to her advice!  Mabel has qualities I really like--She is always the same and is always happy to see me.  I do think that MabelTheDog thinks I'm a little 'loco" at times but she loves me anyway, especially when I scratch her (i.e. give her what she wants)!  

Saturday suggestion--Always ask folks (i.e. no matter who they are) -- What do you think?  And then listen.  It's amazing how much a guy can learn.  Another great question is--What can I do for you?

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Some people pursue happiness, others create it. 

onsecondthought gaahaa says:

Rainbows are a sight to behold.
They're God's creation we're told.
The colors you see
Amaze even me.
Have you seen the Pot-of-Gold?

competitive+

Our pastor is getting married today, yes he is.  Jane (i.e. anybody can be a Jane) says:  
Our preacher gets marriage quite soon.
His bride's state bird is a loon.
Their contract will say
WHO does WHAT each day.
Let's ALL go on THEIR honeymoon.

Don't get your butt out of joint, I'm not talking about any of you guys here! ItchieBitchie says--Some folks are just "white noise" and others are the real noise (i.e. main event).  And some folks are just "social media megaphones".  Uh, huh, yep, right, gottcha!

JoeBow asks--Have you ever thought you were going at a pretty good pace when all of a sudden someone comes from behind and just plain runs ya over?  Smack! CadillacJack says--Now that is a horse of a different color!  That can be hard on a guy's ego.  Especially if you are in competition and think you are pretty good!  How can that guy go that fast anyway.  And I thought I was going fast.  How did he get that fast anyway?  My opponent in golf league last week was an acquaintance that I haven't seen since last summer.  He really looked like he was physically fit.  How much weight have you lost I asked.  30 #s.  Wow!  How did you do that?  I did a 10 week 5 days a week intense kick boxing program.  That is how he did it folks!

A friend has been the #1 sales person in his company for 5 years in a row!  Wow!  I bet he doesn't just sit on the couch all day and eat chips!  What do you think?  He has to have some competitiveness in his wheel house to accomplish that.  I know his wife (i.e. she is a sweet lady) sooooo I don't think she is a whip cracker (i.e. and maybe I just don't see her at home or in the office).  My, Daddy, Chester would say to me--erv, you can make more money with you brain than your hands.

Since Adam and Eve ate off the wrong tree, things have been competitive folks.  That is why we have wars and wars and wars.  HoochieCoochie  says--In the natural, the way it works is it's nature's wonderful struggle for balance between them that eats and them that gets eaten.  Yabut CadillacJack, we aren't in the natural world.  We should be more human and help folks. Right?  Everyone is entitled to a smart phone and huge massive flat screen TV with cable. Aren't they? It's America!

Are you an ego-centric individual (i.e. win at any cost)?  It would be a person who takes recreational competition way too seriously (i.e. would even cheat to win). It says in the paper, soooo it must be right, that ego-centric folks derive their self-worth on winning and outperfoming others, proving one's ability, being better than others, and they don't care if they act in over-or hyper-competitive ways (e.g. manipulating handicaps soooo they can always win).  Most folks but not all, usually  move to a "mastery orientation" with age.  Mastery orientation is where success is based on trying your best and self-improvement. So there's a potential conflict between people who just want to "play" and people who want to play.  My opinion--sometimes I think we can play to win and sometimes we can play to be social.  What do you think?  LuckieEddie says--Everyone likes to win! Don't they?  MissPerfect says--Winning isn't everything but the will to win is!  Saturday question--How important is winning?  Hey MissPerfect, don't throw darts at me now  'cause I just bought a new pickle ball paddle!  If I didn't care how I play, I wouldn't need a new paddle.  Ouchy ouchy!  I want an advantage!!!  My opinion--The most fun competition is to compete against someone of your own ability (i.e. or a little better) and you don't care who wins (i.e. you play as hard as you can but when done, you just congratulate each other and enjoy each others company and their ability and then forget about it).  MojoPete says--Ya can say what you want erv, but it's a lot more fun to win than to loose!  Not for everyone MojoPete and not in certain situations.  The Wild World of Sports had this saying--The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!

Some folks will do almost anything to win.  Saturday question--How important is winning to you?  OneSmartGuy says--The highest virtue here may be the least in another world.

RuthieThetoothpick says--Who cares who is #2; we only care about who is #1! Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, said--Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.  And it appears in the NFL that is probably true.  It's all about the $$$ and power and fame.  Such is life.

Joesixpack says--Some folks can get pretty competitive (i.e. excited) when it comes to religion, politics or money.  Oh ya!  I got an eamil from a pickleball buddy (i.e. she and I compete with all our might against each other--about the same ability--she seems to be of good character).  In her email, she quoted Ned (i.e. anybody can be a Ned).  Ned said--Go win the day for God!!

Cheater cheater pumpkin eater!  I told a golf buddy/friend that I was going to write about competitive+ (e.g. some folks will actually cheat to win).  He told me this story about himself.  When he first started playing golf about 25 years ago, he was playing with a league teammate.  His ball was by a tree and said there is no way he could hit it and he would just take a penalty stroke.  His seasoned teammate said--You can hit.  Sooo he tried but missed the ball.  When his teammate put the score down, he didn't count the whiff.  Their opponents question him about it.  His teammate said--It was a practice swing.  My buddy/friend said--I knew it wasn't a practice swing, my teammate knew it wasn't a practice swing, and our opponents knew it wasn't a practice swing.  They all thought I was a cheater.  It has bothered me for 25 years (i.e. he thought he was branded a cheater forever).  Huh, interesting.

Is cheating good business or an Amageddon scenario?  I read in the paper soooo it must be right--At the Big 12 media days Monday, Bob Bowlsby, the conference commissioner, said "cheating pays" and that anyone who conspired to bend the rules could do so successfully and probably not get caught in most occasions.  Hey folks, there is an awful lot of pressure to win (i.e. winning is $$$$$ for universities).  Soooo is the risk worth the reward???  Saturday question--What is character?  The AZgecko says--Usually cheaters become over confident and self destruct at some point.

I think she is very confident but she doesn't seem to have an ego!  I must admit that my sisters and myself are survivors (i.e. maybe a little ego-centric).  We were not born with silver spoons in our mouths.  We had to fight for everything.  Soooo that made us rather competitive by nature.  I hope we aren't obnoxious but have a "underwatercurrent" that doesn't show.  When your parents die when you are young, you have to take the bull by the horns or just get trampled.  My kid sister had no parents when she was teenager.  That isn't easy folks.  She is a fighter and got her masters degree and has done very well in all aspects of life it appears (i.e. appears well grounded).  She is a real person with a good heart (i.e. my kind of person). I'm very proud of her.  She is a hybrid of our parents.  Chester and Anna would be real proud of her.  Real proud!

Folks can act different when they play cards! I have heard of super seniors who play cards like winning is life or death.  They get angry and pissy at each other over some recreational card game.  I think that is funny.  WildWillie says--Cut 'em old folks some slack erv, we all know some of those old farts rant and rave a lot but you have no idea what is going on in their heads (i.e. there might be demons there).  WildWillie, you are probably right and I really maybe don't want to know why they act that way.  I bet real money that something has made them that competitive.  There is a good chance envy and jealous has something to do with it..  What do you think?

Last winter I had a pickle ball buddy tell me -- erv, don't play off now and be sociable, you play hard.  You and my wife need to kick this guy and his partners' butts.  I don't like them as they are cocky.  You know some folks are way more fun to beat than others.  Some folks I don't mind letting them win or playing hard and loosing to them.  And some, well I would rather beat them.  Huh, interesting.


There are a lot of ways to let folks win!  Oh ya!  You can play off, make mistakes on purpose, let them get the bid, act dumb, work on a part of your game that you want to improve, miss putts on purpose, keep your mouth shut, don't be aggressive, make them look good, let them get the attention, step in the background, etc.  Sometimes a guy has to get beat up pretty bad before he learns to let his woman win.  But it helps if a guy can learn soooooner before later.  Remember guys, a happy wife is a happy life.

 Are we winning or loosing folks? While eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it, I read this by Dr. David Jeremiah--Since its founding in the 1770s, America was known as a Christian nation. Many pilgrims were Christians seeking religious freedom, many founding fathers were Christian, and many foundational documents expressed biblical principles. But beginning in the mid-twentieth century, America began to be known as a post-Christian nation as God was moved further toward the edge of public influence. Why do you think this is happening?  Are we winning or loosing? Is that good or bad or just indifferent?

It appears that the new buzz is to blame that rascal Obama!  AverageJoe says--Ya gotta blame someone!  Abraham Lincoln said--"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."  My opinion, I think most folks are easily fooled.  Money is the biggest tool to fool folks.  It seems to always work. Ya just promise them the world and they will believe it.  Folks seem to have a hard time to catch on to that (i.e. suckers).  MagicalHerman says--All ya have to do to fool 'em is pretend to be Santa Claus.  Do you think we are delusional?  Joesixpack says--The bottom line is...always it seems!

They say ya gotta have confidence if you want to be competitive! Played golf with a long time friend and golf buddy this week.  He and I really had some fun battles during our hay days.  The group he plays with usually plays best shot each afternoon. On this afternoon, he and I were partners and we did pretty good.  He told me that he can't hit the ball anymore; just can't.  Age can do that to a guy alright.  He said he has no confidence; like not even 1%; more like 0%!  Ouchy ouchy!  AverageJoe says--Confidence is a huge massive issue if you want to be competitive!  Saturday question--Are you a confident person? I read what Michael Greller, caddy for Jordon Spieth, said in the Northwestern Classic--The #1 thing at this level is self-belief!  Well, I think self-belief a.k.a. as confidence is good in any body's life. What do you think?

Do you think these guys are "rain makers"? I went to the Waterloo Open for a while last weekend.  Sat behind #18 and watched and talked.  A WWII vet (i.e. 94 years old) talked to me a long time.  A bomber pilot.  Says he is darn lucky to be alive.  They knocked them out of the sky like flies. He said--I hope God forgives me for some things I did and some things that I didn't do! Played basketball for Wm Penn in 1938.  Talked basketball with me like it was yesterday. Played forward. He said he really likes golf but had to quite for a while; had prostrate cancer; healing up.  He says he's beating the odds.  Then a young man sat next to me.  He plays football at Grandview.  Soooo are you on scholarship--oh ya--how much--about a quarter and I get another quarter academically--soooo how much does it cost at Grandview--$32,000--soooo you get half paid for then--ya, I can make that work.  How much do you weigh--317--what position do you play--guard--you guys any good--national champs last year.  My friend, Geno, called and said he shot 71 at Rolling Hills Country Club (i.e. par 72) in a tournament over the weekend.  Shot his age.  Wow!  What a stud!

Another one of Jane's:
I know a young fellow named Erv
Who's always most willing to serve.
He'll try everything.
Have you heard him sing??
That character has now lost his nerve!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--The only ideas that will work for you are the ones you put to work.

Joan (i.e. anybody can be a Joan) says: 
I once knew a lady from Quirk
Whose husband was quite a jerk.
When he'd get out of line,
 She'd whack his behind,
 And say, "You drive me berserk!"

out on a limb

I'm going out on a limb here; I don't think GoffyHerman will understand the content of this "It's Saturday".  GoffyHerman calls the computer store and asks a sales clerk if they carried Linux for Dummies. "No," the clerk replied, "but we do sell The Complete Idiot's Guide to Linux." GoffyHerman groaned and said--The Complete Idiot's Guide to Linux is way over my head!

Talk about a complete idiot, a golf buddy (i.e. he manages The Mill truck stop here in Grundy Co, IA) was telling my last Saturday on the 3rd tee that a guy asked him for help--how do I get to Chattanooga, TN (i.e. didn't have a clue).  He map quested a route for him (i.e. about 800 miles)..  Soooo where did you start this morning--Branson, MO (i.e. 480 miles out of the way)!  Really!  You went the wrong direction.  I must have taken a left when I was suppose to take a right somewhere!  It's Obama's fault!

A policeman was rushed to the hospital with an inflamed appendix. The doctors operated and advised him that all was well, however, the patrolman kept feeling something pulling at the hairs in his crotch. Worried that it might be a second surgery and the doctors hadn't told him about it, he finally got enough energy to pull his hospital gown up enough so he could look at what was making him so uncomfortable (i.e. went out on a limb). Taped firmly across his pubic hair and private parts were three wide strips of adhesive tape, the kind that doesn't come off easily --- if at all. Written on the tape in large black letters was the sentence, "Get well soon, from the nurse in the Ford Explorer you pulled over last week." 

My Daddy, Chester would say to me--erv, don't let your emotions get into your business decisions.  I had breakfast with a couple of farmer friends before playing 27 holes of Ridder Cup last Saturday.  We talked about the price of corn (i.e. locally currently $3.58).  They both told me that they had corn from last year yet.  Could have sold it for $6.98.  How come you didn't sell it?  One said--I fell in love with it!  It's Obama's fault! I think they made sooooo much money last year that they didn't want to pay the taxes.  My advice to them--Buy a monkey and listen to his advice!  You can write the cost of the monkey off as a farm expense.  Sooooo the more you pay for the monkey, the more you will save on your taxes!  Farmers get all the breaks!  Such is life.

More free advice! Robert Jamasy says--When you are wrestling with a dilemma or problem, how willing are you to seek advice? And if you do look for advice, who are the people with whom you choose to consult? Seth Godin, a noted author, entrepreneur, marketer and public speaker, recently offered observations about good advice. He called it "priceless. Not what you want to hear, but what you need to hear.... Not designed to make you feel better, (but) designed to make you better. Seek it out and embrace the true friends that care enough to risk sharing it." Godin says good advice is "priceless" because it is not what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. Too often we seek advice from people we feel confident will tell us what we desire to hear - to reinforce our conclusions or affirm decisions we have already made. But true friends and trusted advisors are not those that "tickle our ears," but those willing to risk - to tell us difficult truths if necessary. ItchieBitchie says--I wish I would have got good advice a lot sooner! Why did I wait soooo long? I have regrets.  Probably ItchieBitchie, 'cause you didn't want advice, that is why!  Ouchy ouchy!

The mind is sooooo interesting to me! I just read Stephen King's new book Mr. Mercedes (i.e. all 436 pages).  I have never read any of his books before 'cause I think they are a little goofy (i.e. my opinion) and they are sooooo long.  ANYWAY I read the review in the paper and was interested in this one.  It is a detective mystery novel which sorta kinda explains why folks' minds are as they are (i.e. why we do the things we do 'cause of our environment and our genetics).  Some times we are goofy and sometimes we are brilliant!  It all depends on goofy stuff in our lives and our genes!  This might sound goofy to ya!  And it might be folks!  It's Obama's fault! Such is life.

Do you think through all the possibilities?  Or do ya jump to a conclusion 'cause it has always been that way (e.g. like, when you hear hoof beats, you don't think zebras)! I'm going out on a limb here folks, I think most of us think horses!  Detective Hodges did in this book. When you try to understand goofy folks, ya got to think goofy!  Saturday question--Who is goofy?  And remember folks, we all have issues.  Everyone of us.  SusieQ says--Yabut if you are very self-centered, you don't think you have any; just others do; you're pretty much perfect! It's Obama's fault!  Huh, interesting.

Does your life have incremental repetition?  I'm going out on a limb and in saying--I bet real money that it does!  Maybe, just maybe, it time to crank it up a notch.  Do some forward thinkin'.  What do you think?

I had one interesting day Monday.  Oh ya!  I had breakfast/inspiring conversation with a friend, went and volunteered at Wheaten Franciscan Health Care, changed into my bikin' cloths (i.e. wore a pickle ball tee shirt that says--Kiss me, I might be Irish!), and stopped at McDonald's for a burger while reading the Des Moines paper.  While doing sudoku this super senior babe came to my table and laid a huge massive smacker on me--then said--there you go!  What a hoot!  Went on a 15 mile bike ride and on that ride I met a gal and three children.  Two little girls, maybe 8, yelled at me as I approached--Ya ever kiss a red head?  No, I don't think sooooooo!  Crazy!  On my bike ride I went and looked up (i.e. literally as they are on top of a building) the 4 goddesses over looking the Cedar River on a bike trial that I like to ride in Waterloo.  I especially wanted the goddess of knowledge to "look down on me" to be a harbinger of more knowledge.  I can't tell the difference but maybe it hasn't kicked in yet (i.e. maybe I have to activate it with a password).  Could be.  They were made in 1907 as goddesses of science, agriculture, justice and knowledge.  Maybe they are just arty farty!

I don't think I'm gong out on a limb here folks in saying, I don't think we have a clue!  ItchieBitchie says--The earth really doesn't travel that fast.  Only does one spin every 24 hours.  I can't even feel it.  Are you sure it spins on it's axis every day?  Yes it does ItchieBitchie and it goes around the sun once a year.  Pretty slow, right? Ya, uh-huh, right!  Really folks, and really it wasn't that many years ago when the folks thought the earth was flat!  Now we can look in space and think there might be endless galaxies!  We just don't know.  And we think we are soooooo smart.  Huh, interesting. His understanding I cannot fathom!

JoeBlow sorta kinda looks like a robot with dead batteries.  It's Obama's fault! I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--Most people don't get enough exercise; most people who join gyms don't visit them; most home exercise equipment sits unused. There is a difference between purchasing a home treadmill and using it to increase your health. There is a difference between making a commitment and following through on that commitment. Just like there is a difference between believing in God and actually doing something with your belief.  Huh, interesting. The same day I read this--A Purdue University study found that executives who work out regularly are better decision makers. The study tested the decision-making capabilities of 80 people over a nine-month period. Results showed that the exercisers' ability to make complex decisions had increased 70% over the non-exercisers. Have been beating yourself over the head because you've made a few bad decisions lately? The Purdue study shows that bad decisions are actually related to being out of shape. If your body is not in shape, then your mind MAY be out of shape too. So take the bait of the Purdue researchers and go out on a limb by try to workout and feel better and THINK better. Joesixpack asks--Are you the fisherman or the fish?

LuckieEddie says--Let me refresh your memory (i.e. as the lawyers say). My dogs are Dumb and Dumber. Aside from Dumber being insane – really – and Dumb being dumb, they are good old dogs. We understand each other! LuckieEddie is like the cherry on top of the sundae.  

You're not putting yourself toooo much out on the limb when you talk about stuff that has no answers (e.g. how many angels can dance on a point of pin?).  CrazyMarvin says--That is pretty much just "simply a debating exercise"!  Ya just are exercising your jaw; that is about all that gets accomplished.  To me it's a waste of time. Holy smokes! I had breakfast with a friend this week.  He said that his church says often that 1 out of 5 folks have a broken heart!  1 out of 5 folks.  MY OPINION--I think churches should talk more about healing broken hearts than arguing about how many angels can fit on a point of a pin (i.e. be positive encouragers).  And you know what folks, I will go out on a limb and bet real money that many folks who have broken hearts don't come to church (i.e. they hurt tooooo bad).  MissPerfect says--If you have never had a broken heart, you don't have a clue!  What do you think? I stopped after having breakfast with my friend and saw another friend.  She told me that an old health problem poked it's ugly head up again.  She thinks it returned 'cause (i.e. in her opinion) of the tremendous stress she has had recently in her life (i.e. broken heart).  I will go out on a limb and agree that stress can do that folks.  What do you think?

Have you ever laid an egg!  I like Zack Johnson's quote that was in the paper (i.e. sooooo it must be right) before he teed it up at the John Deere Classic--Obviously I've got some confidence here and that sort of thing.  But heck, that's happened many times, and I've come out and laid an egg.  Well, he didn't come out and laid an egg.  He shot 8 under and was a co-leader after the first round.  Ended up ended in second place and a cool half a mill!

Saturday question--Have you ever really flubbed something?  Really screwed it up?  Really made a mess of something?  Like blew it, bumbled it, butchered it, botched it, mucked it up, muffed it, or murdered it? There is nutten like the feeling of getting it back on the track somehow (i.e. getting if off your chest).  It's a wild ride to carry that ugly feeling around all the time.  It's Obama's fault! MissPerfect says--What works best for me is to admit I made a poor judgement and accept it and seek help in getting it going the right direction.  I will go out on a limb and bet real money that the folks who do, will end up happier and do better in life.  What do you think?

I'm going out on a limb here but I bet real money that some of you don't know what a limerick is.  I didn't.  A limerick is a five-line poem in which the first, second and fifth lines rhyme and the third and fourth lines rhyme, like such: AABBA. And it has a certain cadence. Here's an example:There once was a man in Tempe / Whose leg melted off at the knee. / When asked, "Are you hot?" / He said," I am not / For we don't call this hot in Tempe."  Can any of you write one for me.  I would like to see yours!  ByTheWay, it's going to be 108 degrees in Tempe tomorrow!  Ouchy ouchy!  YaBut it's dry heat!!!!!!!

In the paper it says Lance Armstrong might start a new foundation (i.e. soooo it must be right).  He says, "I'm a big believer in the whole (author) Jim Collins theory of 'Who's on the bus? Who wanted to get off the bus? Who wants to get off the bus now?' So we might have to look at who's on the bus." GoffyHerman, you might not understand this.  It might be over your head. Don't worry about it!  It's Obama's fault! Such is life.

I gotta go but maybe not as fast as my friend KenThePung (i.e. who says he's not Santa Claus but I think he's a big Obama fan).  He sent me an email saying--By the way erv, I have a whole banana, all bran and raisin bran for breakfast, how's that for a fast moving start? KenThePungMyFriend, you better stay close to the...as I don't think you are as fast as when you played college football! It's Obama's fault!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--A pint of example is worth a gallon of advice.

where are you

Soooo where are you?  I heard a guy ask that to someone he was talking to over his smart phone. The person must of answered--I don't have a clue as he then asked more questions. Soooo folks where are you (i.e. Car 54 where are  you?--Any of you folks remember that show)?  

Soooo I guess we just don't know where we really are sometimes. The average life expectancy in Iowa is 79.5 years.  That means that some folks have to die before that age and some live longer.  Soooo where are you?  In business we would do an "feasablility study" to try to find out or hire a "strategist" to help us.  I still think death and putting are tooooo final; it should be the best 2 out of three!  Joesixpack says--Our casket could already be in town! Maybe it's time to install the rapid strike approach!  LuckieEddie says--Life doesn't last for ever, like a soccer game!

I'm going to steal some of his thunder!  And you guys think we just rah-rah-rah, blab, blab, blab when we play golf.  A golf buddy and I talk about many good things (i.e. actually golf is just a conduit for our interaction maybe). Could be and maybe not!  He was asked to speak in his church last fall for this summer.  He said he would but had no idea what he was going to talk about.  Then in FL last winter, he was waiting on the first tee and over heard a guy telling his friends about his schedule--pickle ball, softball, botchie ball, golf....  His friend said--No way he could do all that.  Then he said--I have worked hard for 37 years and "now" is my time!  Bingo--there was his topic for his talk (i.e. happenstance, na, I don't think so).  The Bible story he is going to use is Haggai's.  My buddy is going to mention Ravi Zacharias' 3 principles for choosing our pleasures. Principle #1 "Anything that refreshes you without distracting from, diminishing or destroying your ultimate goal is a legitimate pleasure." #2 "Any pleasure that jeopardizes the sacred right of another is an illicit pleasure." #3 "Any pleasure, however good, if not kept in balance will distort reality and destroy appetite making it an illicit pleasure."  "The primary use of our homes and our lives is to reflect and to distribute the love of Christ.”  Not all of you might agree or want to hear my golf buddy's ideas.  We are pretty self-centered at times and can be pretty selfish.  I know I can.  How about you? This struggle will probably continue--'Til who laid the rail!  Where are you on all of this?

Saturday question--Where are you as far as what you think and do?  SusieQ a.k.a. the lady with all the bells and whistles says--One of the greatest presents we can give is time -- to our children, to our spouse, to our church, to friends, and sometimes to strangers on the street or neighbors in need. It's the most hospitable kind of hospitality. AverageJoe says--Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give. A golf buddy told me this week that his sister is on her 4th marriage.  What's the deal I asked him.  It seems she's never happy!  Huh, interesting.

Where have you been? I went for a walk on the other morning. It was a cloudy, cool day with a moderate wind. It reminded me of some days we spend "up north" at friends' cabin on Lake Pokakama. Yes, we had some cool, cloudy days up there at times. They toooo were great in their own way. Then I started thinking about Arlene telling me that she ate a lot of spam as a kid (i.e. why I thought about this, I have no idea). Sooo I went to see if they still sell it. Of course they do! And it's cheap! Spam--glorious spam it says on the can. I fried some up for lunch. She didn't like it as well as she remembered it as a kid back home at Wichert, IL (i.e. 60 miles south of Chicago). I had it occasionally back home as a kid but not like her I don't think. Her Mom, Cora, worked very hard in the gladiola fields every day and didn't have time to make lunch soooo they had pre-cooked spam out of the can. It worked. But, I felt like I was eating the yucky part of some fat sow! We probably have had enough of spam for the rest of our lives. We are not there anymore I guess! I have no idea what place we are at though but not in the spam world I guess! "There is no place like this place any where near....  ...this place, soooo this must be the place for us right now."   Soooo that is where we are right now!  Where are you?  Such is life.

CadillacJack is in his "hemanmentality"!  Like I don't need any directions!  I don't need any help!  I can do anything and everything myself.  I'm the man!  A friend of mine was this way once.  But then his wife died and he told me that he wasn't very tough at all; he changed into a meek guy.  He was always in charge but this really affected him.  He would cry with me.  He said, he never cried.  He was there but now he is here!  Crazy huh!  ItchieBitchie says--Looks can be deceiving.  A person can look pretty glitzy and showy but have a bad heart (e.g. an apple that looks ok on the outside, but when you cut it open it's black and full of worms).  Flipthepancake--A person can look pretty humble and meek and have a great heart.  MissPerfect says--Pictures can really be deceiving; you can dress anyone up to look good and then have a good picture taker touch up the pictures even more soooo the person looks perfect.  It appears you can make folks look anyway you want them to look BUT you can fake a heart!  ItchieBitchie says--Abnormal folks don't like other folks to know they're abnormal! Abnormal folks are easily flammoxed!  Soooo who is normal ItchieBitchie?  What's the bench mark for being normal?  I wonder if we aren't all a little abnormal, but just to different degrees.  What do you think?  CrazyMarvin says--We all have some crawling snakes in the back of our minds!  Yabut CrazyMarvin, when a person understands the snakes, he doesn't take the bait!

AndyTheSmuck says--I'm beyond those folks; I'm much higher on the food chain; much more important; live in a different neighborhood; have a lot more money; have a lake home; don't shop at Dollar General anymore; we have a big boat; I don't even need God anymore; I don't need grocery specials anymore: I have arrived; I'm here! Soooo you think AndyTheSmuck, sooooo you think! Just because you wear expensive underwear and sleep on expensive sheets, it doesn't make you who you are. Sooooo where really are you anyway?  Just maybe, you need to get your head out of your... and rescrew your head back on!  Just maybe!  Just maybe AndyTheSmuck, you just believe tooooo much of that "fantasyland crap"!  Ouchy ouchy!

On TV I hear the advertisement about "your #" meaning how much your net worth is or how much you think you will need for retirement.  I talked to a smart young man the other day and asked him about the age of the folks in his office.  He said--Some retire and some seem to work for ever.  Soooo why would some work for ever?  Well, if you have a certain standard of living they need to work.  Some were/are big spenders, some had a couple of divorces, some like lot of toys etc.  They just can't afford to retire.  They need the income to support their habits. Some aren't very forward thinkers.  Some are obscured by a cloud! Such is life.

Here is a good story of being here and going there as the story goes.  It’s about a true AZ 20th-century range war that took place near Globe. Actually, this doesn't seem to have been a range war as much as a feud between two families, the Armers and the Bacons, both of whom established or bought ranches in the Tonto Basin during the 19th century. In 1920, one of the Bacons bought the Dagger Ranch, which was the only non-Armer-owned property. This annoyed the Armers, who wouldn't let the Bacons drive herds across their land to the Globe road. The cattle had to swim across Roosevelt Lake to get to the train depot. The story involves charges and countercharges of rustling and hired gunmen and so on. The conflict went on for a few years until one day when the senior Armer rode to the senior Bacon's ranch and was invited in for a meal. Supposedly after dining, Armer said, "Damn, this is good beef." To which Bacon replied, "Oughta be. It's yours." They are said to have shaken hands, and the war was over.

I have arrived!  In about 1958 or soooo, my Daddy, Chester, said to me, erv, we have arrived.  We got the farm paid for, just bought a new big tractor, just bought 4-row equipment and I'm going to have a lot more time.  We are going to do a lot of fishing and hunting together.  Then he had a heart attack and struggled for a few years and died in the fall of 63 (i.e. I was 17).  He arrived all right, at his final destination.  Such is life.

Does WonderWoman always have the answers? Soooo WonderWoman, how many times have you thought you have arrived only to find out you need to go around another bend in the river, go up one more hill, go around one more corner, or slow down for one more speed bump in your life (i.e. life is trials and triumphs).  Then when you arrive, it ain't like you thought it was going to be.  That ever happen to you?  GeorgeTheCrook says--Expect the unexpected; then you won't be surprised!  ItchieBitchie says--Get a handle on yourself; Ya gotta have balance in your life.  Ya can't be just one dimensional.  Live life like it's unfinished.  As I'm writing this, I'm sitting in our sun porch seeing  a father and son walking down the street toward the golf course.  The boy is maybe 12 or soooo and he is pulling a golf cart with  his bag on it.  The father has no clubs.  They are walking slowly looking like they are engaged in a conversation. That is heart warming to me. WonderWoman can make a guy smile!  She has her ways!

I was looking through some old pictures etc this week.  It reminded me once again how fortune I have been.  Unbelievable!  And a lot of it "just fell in my lap"! Huh, interesting!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be somewhere else.

Howdotheydothat!

I have not had any experience in such matters nor do I have any knowledge in such matter soooo I really don't know much about such matters. But then, not knowing what I'm talking about has never stopped me before.  Soooooo read with caution.  Just pull your hat down a little lower.  That should work!  

Joesixpack said this, he said,--repeat, he said--The worst-tempered people I've ever met were people who knew they were wrong.  Ya they can be rather obnoxious especially if they have big egos.  I wonder if ego could be one of the biggest motivators in the world.  It might be related to envy and jealousy (i.e. first cousins I think).  There are some folks that under no circumstances will admit they are wrong--NEVER!  SusieQ says--It takes a big man to admit they are wrong (i.e. not physically big, folks but mentally big).  LuckieEddie says--Maybe, just maybe, that is why some guys think that Christianity is for the weak, those who need a crutch, those who cant handle life on their own (i.e. those who have bats in their belfry).  

Little by little! If I was only...!  SusieQ says--Yabut you aren't.  Sooooo be yourself.  Then you don't have to pretend to be someone you are not in the first place.  ItchieBitchie says--Hey listen, little by little, you become you! Ya better pack a lunch as this might take a long time to make you who you are and will become.  As my mentor would tell me--erv, we are programed by our past.  Ya, we are.  And some of our past is yet to come!

How did he loose all that weight?  A friend of mine is going through a tough family situation with one of their children (i.e. it's on going).  He told me that he's not on a diet to loose weight but is on a stress diet.  He has lost weight 'cause of the stress that this situation is causing.  Not good.  Stress can do that to a person folks.

A gal I play pickle ball with told me she was the primary care giver of her husband who eventually died of cancer.  During this time she become concerned about herself as her mind was doing some strange things.  She went to the doctor and the doctor asked her how she sleeps--terrible, I don't sleep much at all.  She got some help with her sleeping and the she was a lot better.  Stress!  It can really affect a person.

At a dinner party with friends Sunday evening, we talked about Roundup being the "magic bullet" as far as killing weeds.  But my friends a.k.a my expert sources, told me that some weeds have genetic mutated and are now resistant to Roundup.  Those dirty stinking weeds!  Aren't they something else.  Maybe we need to mutate and change.  You think soooo?  I don't need to be very smart when I have expert sources like that.  Besides, I'm lazy; I let them do the work for me!  Such is life.

Everyone has stress but different folks seem to mange it differently!  I thought of this as I was doing my everyotherday2.5mile run.  Some folks use alcohol, sleep, sitonthecoucheatchipsandwatchTV, drugs, food, shopping, turn to God, or read.  I think exercise is really good for stress.  Also, helping others (i.e. get your mind off yourself).  Being active seems to be good toooooo.  CadillacJack says--We all have choices and choices have consequences!  When I got home, I walked past the TV.  I heard one sentence and it was--You need to drink more water and exercise more.  It was some doctor who said that to someone!  Huh, interesting!

GeorgeTheCrook says--I wish I had a magic wan (i.e. abracadabra).  I would really change a thing or two.  If you were God, GeorgeTheCrook, what would you change?  I think you would make a mess out of everything.  You are just a human and have very little wisdom compared to God.  And, I think you would sell out to big money at some point.  You might start out thinking you wouldn't but I know you, you would.  You are all about money, power, and fame (i.e. the world's measuring stick). I see how you operate!  Yes I do.

I like the following that I read in the book, UN lost by Michael Hidalgo.  Our daughter gave me the book for Fathers Day.  She works with the author's wife.  This makes me smile.  Maybe you too.  "Nothing lasts forever.  Most of the time we want to pretend this is not true.  This is why men and women spend billions of dollars every year on cosmetic surgery to make their faces tighter, their figures trimmer, certain things smaller and other things bigger.  Try as they might, they're still just polishing brass on a sinking ship.  Eventually, everything cracks, breaks, gets old, wears out and gets thrown away.  This is even more apparent with the best parts of life.  The better something is, the quicker it seems to end--which is why middle school seems like an eternity and summer always flies by."  I have said maybe a hundred times already--I love summer in Iowa!  Even when it rains toooooo much some times.

Talk about tooooo much rain.  Saturday question--If you live in a flood plain, will you experience flooding?  Of course you will, that is why it's called a flood plain.  It isn't if, it's when.  Sooooo don't be surprised folks if your house is flooded if you live in a food plain.  It might look nice the day you bought it on a nice summer day 10 years about but...you are in a flood plain.  That is pretty much the same with life as well.  If you live you are going to have speed bumps.  It isn't if but it's when.  Such is life.

Howdotheydothat!  JoeBlow says--It seems to just come naturally.  Naturally?  Yes, naturally.  Some folks can do something and they seem to be just natural at it and others, well, they seem to be putting something square in a round hole (i.e. not natural no matter how hard they try).  Some are very mechanical in their approach and some are just as smooth as silk without trying.  Why is that?  Some just slide through something like a greased pig and others grid and screech and it's just awful (i.e. become overbearing in trying--make things worse).  ItchieBitchie says--If you aren't a natural, it's hard to become one; if you aren't convincing, it's hard to confidence someone!  It's hard to inspire someone when the folks doing the  inspiring aren't inspiring! Ouchy ouchy!  

He did it by rationalizing!  LuckieEddie says--Rationalizing is a great way of appeasing a person's mind (e.g. golf and fishing are perfect things to do on Sunday mornings 'cause you spend more time praying than you would at church).  Rationalizing is a perfect way of telling yourself that you need another new purse 'cause "everyone else" has 10 purses.  Besides, it's only money anyway.  Sooo how do you get good at rationalizing anyway?  MissPerfect says--Ya gotta practice; practice makes perfect!  Practice practice practice!  Such is life.

Nonchalant vs chalant!  Saturday question--Do the things you do nonchalant count the same as the things you do chalant?  Really it seems sometimes when a guy does things nonchalantly they work out better than when a guy does things chalant.  Maybe when we try soooooo hard to make something happen, we put tooooo much pressure on ourselves.  I don't know.  What do you think?  Some folks are always excited and nervous and some seem never toooo be.  I ask a super senior at church -- how are you?  I have done this for years.  Her response never wavers--She says nonchantly--What ever! 


How did he do that?  He just went and did it!  Some folks talk a lot but get nutten done. And some folks just do it.  Some folks get more done in a hour than others do in a month. Some folks are sooooo busy doing nutten (i.e. and are really good at it).  It appears that some jobs require folks to look busy as this is the environment of the job or business.  Some folks seem like they are just killing time.  And the next person is in a job where they have to work hard every minute of their day.  Quite a contrast it appears.  Some folks make themselves look really important but really aren't.  They really have to work at that. Some are really good at that and they will tell you how important they are.  They spend more time telling than doing!  Such is life.  My Daddy, Chester, would say to me--The folks who are fun to be around are the important folks who don't know it.  The folks who aren't very much fun to around are the ones who think they are important but really aren't.  

Just put you head down and do it!  I went for a run one morning this week.  It was a lot easier running down hill with the wind than on the way back when I had to run up hill into the wind.  I just had to put my head down (i.e. lessen the resistance and do it).  I stopped to talk to our neighbor (i.e. she is maybe late 20s, married and they have a toddler).  She is a runner toooooo.  I asked her if she misses her mom (i.e. her mom died about 10 years ago).  She said she does all the time.  I told her about the running into the wind this morning.  She said she ran this morning toooo and knew what I was talking about.  We agreed that is what we need to do--put our head down and go forward.  She did say--I believe in Jesus which makes it a lot easier!  Huh, interesting.  

Was golfing with three other seniors this week when this lad comes up to us on the tee.  I asked him if he would like to golf with us--sure would he says--non of us knew him nor did he know us.  Found out he was 14.  After a couple of holes, I noticed he had huge massive feet.  Soooo what size are your shoes anyway I asked--12s.  Then Frank (i.e. anybody can be a Frank) says--He has a "good understanding"!  

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Conscience is the nest in which goodness is hatched.