BaaaZaang

SusieQ looked at me cross-eyed.  It was like saying to me—erv, do you know anything?  BaaaZaang!  Soooo folks, she might be right. 

There is more to life than the score!  I found myself in an interesting situation recently.  BaaaZaang! I sat there a while listening and analyzing the situation.  I decided it was not where I wanted to be in the future.  I will take measures to not be there again (i.e. modify my direction—tweak my direction a little).  It’s not where I wanta be; it’s not me.  Telling you my feeling is like “being a little schoolgirl squealing during recess”.  ItchieBitchie says—C’MON erv, buck up, get over it.  I’m getting over it.  It’s not a problem, really; it’s just my decision in which I will make myself more comfortable.  Soooo I’m going to move a little.  According to the 2011 U.S. Census, a typical American moves his place of residence 11.7 times in his lifetime -- about once every seven years.  BaaaZaang! During the different seasons of our life, I believe, we need to be in different places of our lives.  Maybe, we need to reevaluate our place and move somewhere else.  Those different places can be different work, recreation, relationships, etc.  It can be mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.  Maybe I need to change my place.  I think sooooo folks.  I think from the result of my experience, I just realized that.  Bingo!  Saturday question—Where are you this season of your life (i.e. physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally)?  Are you where you want to be?  Where should you be?  MerlinTheMagician says—The middle of the road is a poor place to walk.  It is a poor place to drive. It is a poor place to live.  Ouchy ouchy!  This is pretty much a World Tour of my mind folks. 

Well BaaaZaang!  I just wrote the previous paragraph and looked at my emails.  Got one from GovtManKen, one smart guy (i.e. he’s very intelligent in an analytical way).  His email basically confirmed my thinking and feeling in a good way. Bingo!  Happenstance, na, I don’t think soooooo.  He reminded me as to what is important and sorta kinda grounded me again a.k.a. refocused me.  Thanks GovtManKen.  It feels sooooo good to be reassured. Some things that are not sooooo important to others, are important to me.  But folks can sometimes draw me into thinking they are.  Does this make sense to you?

The story behind the score.  This is not a toe-to-toe confrontation situation, folks.  Not a verbal slap fight like the political campaigns are and were.  Oh no!  The golden rule is—Treat others as you would want them to treat you.  My mentor said to me—The world’s golden rule is, the one who has the most gold rules!  I can be competitive but can also not be.  In some things and at some times, I don’t want to be competitive. I think it takes the fun out of the game or situation (i.e. my opinion).  Sooooo if some folks are playing very competitively (i.e. the score is the by far the most important part of the event and their life) and I don’t’ want it to be, I will find others to be around. Most of the time, the score is of little importance to me; the other stuff is much more important.  Does that make any sense. 

BucketheadEd says—I seem to have a brain worm that surfs my brain and eats part of my brain and tunnels to other parts and deposits crazy thoughts.  I thought that everyone had brain worms. I asked my doctor and she looked at me rather puzzled.  Soooo I wonder what she was thinking.  Am I normal?  SusieQ says—You might be normal unless you’re nuts!  BaaaZaang!  TheStoreLady says--Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you have to blow you nose.  Such is life.

A cool mil!  Talking about being where folks don’t want to be.  I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—Can you retire on a cool $1 million?  It went on to say—If you read any financial advertising, you know that your savings are inadequate, and you’re likely to freeze to death in the dark a few weeks after retirement.  For this reason, most Americans’ retirement planning involves keeling over at their desks or, failing that, starting a bomb-disposal unit as a retirement business.  The article says you can retire on a cool $1 million if you are careful.  But it said—The largest problem with living off $1 million is, of course, is getting the $1 million. 

MyMindSpillethOver!  I had a dream recently and I said I was going to remember it.  I didn’t.  A couple of days later, Arlene was watching golf and it triggered my mind.  The dream was about my cousin Lowell Slagter.  Lowell, Sandy, Arlene and I got reacquainted maybe 6 years ago at the Fountain of the Sun in Mesa.  We were renting a condo and just down the street they were toooo.  It was maybe 45 years since we were around each other.  We had the best of time together for several years as we wintered down there.  Then Lowell got sick and passed away.  Sooooo, the dream was Lowell, Mike my ex-business partner (i.e. who knows every ones’ golf score when you play with him), and Lowell’s grandson.  We were on the 18^th green.  Lowell just made a 20 foot putt.  Mike said to him—Lowell, you just shot a 78.  Lowell just gave us a Lowell Slagter smile.  End of dream.  I think I smiled in my sleep!  ANYWAY sooooo when I remembered the dream, I called Sandy to tell her about it.  That day it was exactly one year to the day that Lowell died.  BaaaZaang!

Happenstace, na I don’t think sooooo folks!  Our daughter told us this story this week.  She was running her 7 miles Sunday and was listing to contemporary Christian music on Pandora.  A song was played that triggered her past.  It was nine years ago and she was a nurse in the Denver Children Hospital in the child ecology department.  She worked with a little boy and his parents.  During this period of time his parents gave birth to his little brother.  The little boy died of his cancer.  This was the song that they played at his funeral.  Sooooo, Monday morning, she was going over her charts at a Denver Children clinic where she works.  The last name of a little boy she was going to work with was the name of that family.   Yep, it was the family and the little 9 year old boy was him.  She told him that she knew his brother.  She told his parents about the song she heard running and how she thought of him and them.  It was a great opportunity.  A crying opportunity! BaaaZaang

Avoid Complacency Joesixpack (i.e. a wiz noticing the wizardry of life) says--I’m no Einstein BUT it appears to me that folks who are constantly downtrodden miss a big part of life. If you are always worried about what others are thinking of you and what you are always wishing for, you are going to be one tired and unhappy person (i.e. it just whacks the heck out of a guy).  Ya never get the red carpet thrill!  And gadget plays won’t do it folks. That is why a guy has to put himself in the position he wants to be in (i.e. not the position that others want you in).  That is what I think folks. BaaaZaaag!

All right, listen up! IthchieBitchie says—I’m confused as what I want.  One day I want this and another day I want that.  I’m a mess.  Hey Itchie Bitchie, your neighbor is confused. Your uncle is confused. Your dog is confused.  Everyone is confused.  ItchieBitchie, I’m not recommending.  I’m not saying.  I’m only suggesting that you get your head out of your…and start thinking.  And you know what ItchieBitchie, you will still probably be confused.  FashionablyLateBetsy says—There are many extra-ordinary good folks, ya just got to get around them and pick their minds. Tell the extra-ordinary bad folks to take a hike (i.e. mentally).  SusieQ says--You gotta move to what you want and believe is good; don't listen to LessThan AverageJoes who are riddled with problems much like Swiss cheese.  BaaaaZaang!

Don’t be overwhelmed folks!  I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Don’t be overwhelmed about all the evil in the world.  It has been around since the beginning.  Yes it has.  Remember, the times have always been evil. In Noah's day it is reported, "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Moses described his people as, "this evil generation". Isaiah called the people of his day "a brood of evildoers". Jesus referred to His generation as evil. Paul told people in his age to redeem the time "because the days are evil". Perhaps the evil is worse now; we're closer to the end than we've ever been before. But evil has been around since the Garden of Eden and probably will be around tell the end of time.  BaaaZaag!  Yabut, I also read—Fear no evil for I am with you! 

She's not toooo shabby to look at!  Joesixpack says—I want to be important and make a lot of money toooooo!  Well, most often those folks take risk, have a lot of pressure, work hard and perform.  WildWillie says--Another way is to become a trophy wife!  SusieQ says—Don’t kid yourself, I’m a trophy wife but I still have a lot of pressure; I have to perform all the time.  LuckieEddie says I want a job where I make a lot of money, don’t have to work hard and have no pressure.  Da!  If ya can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.  There is heat in the kitchen folks.  You can’t have your cake and eat it tooooo!  Businesses like the NBA are cut throat folks; it’s about winning a.k.a. money.  Spock, an unfeeling robot machine, says--you are not performing (i.e. bottom line) and you’re done.  Ya gotta go! You’re a liability.  He’s cold and calculating and doesn’t have a heart.  It’s performance based.  It’s not Kumbaya time.  It’s about winning, and it is a cold and calculated business.  CrazyMarvin says—I still don’t understand why many of the NFL players need to act sooooo crazy when they think they do something good.  You don’t see tooooo many business folks act that way!  BaaaZaang!

Out of position!  JoeTheDo-Gooder, you are out of position (i.e. behind the 8 ball).  BaaaZaang!  Your chances are about 1 out of 100 to do well soooo don’t be surprised when you don’t succeed.  You need more than luck, you need a miracle; a huge massive miracle.  Ya, luck is good but you can’t expect luck to last for ever.  No way!  BUT if you have ability, a good attitude, a good work ethic and have a good heart, it seems like a lot more good stuff happens to ya (i.e. you become luckier).  Ya gotta put yourself into position to succeed.  You will be much luckier if you do.  BUT it appears that some folks are luckier than others.  What do you think? 

We all have a brand!  LuckieEddie says—The mark you made when the game is over is maybe more important than your score.  Huh, interesting. 

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

erv

MyFreindJean says--Speak well of your enemies--after all, you made them.

 

freebies

Disclaimer—Do  you really want to go down the road in an old jalopy like “It’s Saturday”?  If you do, well, hokey-dokey.  Well, hang on and mind the bumps!  It’s a freebie so that will make it more doable folks!

You are free to believe what you want (i.e. you have that freedom).  I'm not always right as most of you know.  My mentor use to say—erv, when investing, if you are right more than you are wrong, you are doing pretty good.  I think I have the elixir of life.  My friend doesn’t agree with me.  I asked him to go to church with me.  He responded—"I'm not a believer in anything other than what I have seen so I wish all religious folks the best.... but I should have been born in Missouri I guess.. I think that’s the "show me" state  ha ha.  I respect every one's right to believe in whatever... but I think it's a real longshot that what you believe in, erv, is true.  Sorry but I'm just a dumb realist!"  That is an idea my friend.  I hope my idea is right and your idea is wrong!  Maybe when we find out, it will be like getting hit with a 100 mph fastball between our eyes.  Goggle says (i.e. soooo it must be right) that 32% of the world population claim to be Christians.  I’m in the minority.  I guess there are others who don’t agree with my idea.  Huh, interesting. 

When we toured in England, we learned that Henry VIII was very instrumental in forming the Church of England.  I think they told us that at The Tower of London (i.e. an old prison where Anne Boleyn, one of his wives, was beheaded).  Ouchy ouchy.  Henry VIII wanted his marriage to his first wife of 24 years annulled.  The Pope wouldn’t do it sooo he started his own church.  Now that will do it folks!  There are new churches started all the time.  It ain’t something new as you can tell.  If the church doesn’t agree with you, you just start another church.  Henry VIII had six wives—annulled and died while detained, annulled and beheaded, annulled and died in child birth, annulled and beheaded, survived.  Now that is quite a marriage record. I guess we can see why he needed a new church!  

Here we go on a “jet sweep”.  “Jet sweep” is a new term in football.  Lippy is a jet sweep folks.  Oh ya.  Joesixpack asks—Is Lippy always this way?  Yes, he is!  More than you can imagine. He’s a regular motor mouth with an attitude!  But, ya gotta give him credit, he’s consistent.  Well, flip the pancake.  A friend (i.e. she is unassuming) brought us some lasagna for dinner (i.e. free lunch).  I told her she has a good heart.  She said—I try!  Joesixpack asks--Why do some folks have better hearts than others (i.e. and some seem soooo pertinacious)?  Joesixpack, you sure have a lot of questions!  LucyGoosey says—Three things in human life are important:  the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. Such is life.

Talk about free lunch.  I went down to get some bread recently at our variety store.  It was customer appreciation day.  They were serving hot dogs, bars, cider, etc.  Sooo I had a hot dog.  I was talking to LaVern and he said—When folks hear the letters F-R-E-E in Aplington, they seem to show up!  Bingo!  Maybe so and maybe not for everyone.  Some folks like the free stuff better than others.  Some will drive for miles to get a free hot dog.  Oh ya!  CrazyMarvin says—Yabut, it’s free!  You can’t turn down something free.  Soooo there you go.  Free is a great advertising tool.  Folks seem to be suckers for “free”.  I’m not saying our son was a sucker but he married a Free (i.e. that is Jessica’s last name--she's a sweety). 

DuaneTheWorm is always excited to get a free lunch.  But he doesn’t jump into anything tooooo fast.  Oh no, he deliberates first to make sure he is making the best decision to toot his horn the loudest.  DuaneTheWorm’s definition of ddeliberation: The art of examining one's bread to determine which side it is buttered on (i.e. what’s in it for me). DuaneTheWorm is always for the cause.  His cause! Ouchy ouchy!

Some of those folks who always are looking for something free might be out of their gourds.  ItchieBitchie says—Some folks have big gourds folks (e.g. CockyBigGossipHilda is an epic gourd!  Then there is unassumingsweetMary who is just the opposite.  She is really something.  Unbelievably nice (i.e. 10+).  Well GordyGourd!  A gal in our church during “joys and concerns” said—I would like you to pray for my sister who is going to have surgery this week.  I don’t know if she wants folks to know she is having surgery sooooo keep it to yourself!  Don’t tell anyone.  The church just broke up!  WellGordyGord!  A state senator once told me that if he wanted to spread a message to benefit himself, he would tell another senator standing next to him at the urinal and say—don’t tell anyone!  Such is life.

Maybe there are others who think like I do.  I think sooooo folks.  I said in our adult growth group recently—when we get closer to death, things seem to to look differently.  We are a little more receptive to stuff.  ToughManFrank says--On Friday I had a heart attack. The ambulance took me to the hospital where they did a procedure of a cut in the groin to insert a tube with a camera going up to the heart to see where the blockage was. Well, they don't put you to sleep. I could feel, and the feeling was terrible. To occupy my mind, I tapped my left foot, and the surgeon said "Hold your foot still." Then, I tapped my left hand, and again he said "Stop tapping your fingers." Well it looked like I ran out of things to keep me busy, so I started, "Our Father which art in heaven..." I recited the Lord's Prayer three times with a loud voice and very pronounced. By the third time, I heard the surgeon's voice, "Please, breathe through your nose and close your lips." Well, there was no way he could say, "Just shut up and be quiet!" not with the Lords Prayer! The story made the rounds on the cardiac unit and soon a lot of nurses came by just to say hello.

TheStoreLady says--When the blind lead the blind---get out of the way!  You are free to vote for who every you want if you live in America.  Are political ads teaching our kids how to get their way?  Ouchy ouchy!  Just bad mouth the other guy.  MyNeighborBrian said to me—I don’t think it makes much difference who gets elected (i.e. doesn't make diddly squat). They seem to be trying to be buttering us up (i.e. rear end us)  Hah hah! Then comes the verbal fumble after they get elected.  It’s all about the money folks.  Holy Bbacccooon!  They all have a line now don’t they.  CrazyMarvin says--After all the stumping I heard, I am still stumped! We played some golf the other day and one of my golf buddies was telling us that he thinks that folks who support one of the political parties always seem unhappy (i.e. always mad and frowning and look unpleasant).  Do you think that is true.  Are folks of one party happier than the folks who support the other party?  What do you think? Huh, interesting.

Non assuming folks are sorta kinda easy not to notice and we sorta kinda just forget about them (i.e. that is what they want).  It’s easy to forget how special those folks are.  Some folks just give others a lift and some are a drag.  I think, non assuming folks are lifteruppers!  My opinion folks.  They seem to do great things some how some way and many folks don’t even realize it.  I really admire those folks. It has been recorded that OneSmartMan once said--The greatness is determined by the humility of service. 

No smoke and no mirrors folks.  Is there anything that is really free? I mean really free?  Sure there is, many things.  I can’t count them all.  But there are many, many.  I’m reading Louie L'Amour's book Long Ride Home.  He says--"With a woman," the Cactus Kid said, "it ain't the original cost.  It's the upkeep! I guess Cactus Kid is saying, a woman ain't fee!  Joesixpack says--Life on earth is free folks (i.e. a great gift).  Some might not agree that it is a gift.  Then what is it?  MI-MusicManJim says—Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.  Life is too short to be anything…but happy.  And don’t worry about old age.  It doesn’t last long!

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it.  These 10 PRACTICAL decisions will shape your life and future. Adults and youth need to know these 10 most important decisions and the impact they will have on YOUR life (i.e. they are free for the reading folks). 1. Who your friends are. 2. Who you become romantically involved with. 3. How far you take your education. 4. Your career. 5. Where you invest your money. 6. To be healthy. 7. To forgive. 8.  To be happy and thankful. 9.  Your level of spiritual involvement. 10. Your priorities.  MissPerfect says—I have the opportunity to wake up and make a choice every day!  Now that is exciting. And that decision is free!

It's hell folks! SusieQ says—erv, if you have in your head the idea that Jesus Christ died for your sins, rose from the dead and who ever believes in Him will have eternal life a.k.a. heaven (i.e. a free gift by His grace—a freebie), I wonder what other crazy ideas you have in your head!  Ok SusieQ, assume the Christians' idea is right and assume Goggle has their numbers right, there are going to be a lot of folks in hell.  I would assume all those hellions at some point are going to raise some hell about being in hell. Hell yes, that could be one hell of a mess! 

WorldClassLarryWithTheScoop says--We perceive our surroundings through a worldview formed by parental influence, religious upbringing, and life experiences. When we encounter something new, we compare it with what we already know. Pretty deep! 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life.

Tour de "erv"!

Disclaimer—BOO!  SpookySpookTheGhost says—This “It’s Saturday” is haunted.  I love it!  But, it you
are a scaredycat, don’t read on!

CadillacJack says--“But I” do not like to take responsibility of myself.  I really don’t.  I really don’t like making decisions about myself soooo usually I don’t.  CadillacJack, that is your decision, you decide.  But remember, if you make a decision or if you make no decision, that is a decision soooo you are making a decision and decisions make us! 

Sages! I consider SketchyFetchy a wise man BUT he hires sages, just like “the kings of 

old” did, to advise him.  The “kings of old” would  have many sages (i.e. if they didn’t give good advice, the kings would cut their heads off—now that is pressure folks).  ANYWAY SketchyFetchy's sages make him wise.  GeorgeTheCrook says—You can't always buy wisdom, but you can buy advice!  Some of the wisest folks I have been around, always seek wisdom from others (i.e. they don’t think they know everything).  It appears that it pays to be around good, wise folks (i.e. mimic the good ones and get away from the bad ones—get a good mentor).  MissPerfect says—“But I” think I know everything, I don’t need to ask for advice!!!!!

Wisdom! I read while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it—Pray for wisdom and it will be given to you.  Wisdom comes from different folks and in different ways (i.e. my opinion) but, I think, we need to seek it out.  I was visiting with a friend who was her husband’s caregiver for a lot of years until his death.  I asked  her how she did it as it was very difficult.  She said she prayed a lot asking for strength.  She said she barely made it.  OneSmartLady said this--Sometimes when a person is laboring over a problem, it helps to see how somebody else dealt with it. Actually, it helps to know that somebody else had to deal with it. Is that wisdom?  I think that is wisdom in seeking and then listening.  But what do I know!  What do you think?

A friend told me recently that he thinks he made a mistake in advising his son years ago.  He and his wife had a small child and they were not getting along.  His wife was very negative.  ItchieBitchie says—It’s hard to change your spouse! My friend suggested they stay married for their daughter.  Their daughter is going to graduate from high school this year and my friend is sure that they will get a divorce. I should have let them get a divorce years ago I think.  Their lives have been miserable for years. They were never happy and lived a very disfunctional marriage (i.e. what’s disfunctional in this world any more).  What do you think? He said, “But I” think I made a bad decision by encouraging our son not to get a divorce.  Is that hindsight?  They say hindsight is always 20-20!

Flash! Apple has impressed folks through the years all over the world. Their stores and products are very popular. We expect  them to do it.  Apple has an image to uphold. Apple has sold 39.3 million new iPhone6s with a profit of $23.7 billion in the last quarter.  That's getting it done folks!  CrazyMarvin says—“But I” don’t care what they did in the past (i.e. past is meaningless); “but I” what to know what you are going to do for me today. Past lasts for about a day.  Maybe.  Ya can’t sleep on your laurels!  Ya got to do it every day (e.g. in sales, ya gotta to sell every day).  ItchieBitchie says—“But I” like to live on my past!   ItchieBitchie, usually “flash in the pants” don’t seem to last very long.  It seems that the folks who are steady, enduring, steadfast, stick to their values, are consistent and “what you see is what you get” usually do quite well through the long haul.  It seems that way to me.  GerogeTheCrook says--You can’t be a jerk and do one good thing and think everything will be “hunkie doorie”.  We develop a reputation and it sticks with us (i.e. good or bad or in between)—consequences of decisions can stick with us.  Folks know us for who we are over a long period of time.  Yabut I heard in adult growth group, all you have to do is ask for forgiveness and everything will be “hunkie doorie”. Such is life.  Napoleon Bonaparte said--There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.

Calm down my friends, calm down!  I don’t mean to be snarky, SusieQ.  It’s just that I can’t never quite tell about you! Some days you act like you are some supersmartypants a.k.a. a thurder bolt and you know everything like a loosey-goosey and the next day you are a regular gearhead.  SusieQ, can you tell the difference in yourself? It seems that your menu isn’t always the same from day to day.  Maybe you are going through your change of life.  Could be! BuffetManEd says—Some folks think they are such smarty pants that they know everything.  “But I” think not folks!  What do you think? SusieQ says—“But I” like myself this way!

Meyham, just meyham!  We do taste testing when you are young to find out who you want to be.  Not good when you do stupid stuff and have to learn the hard way.  When we are young we have no scar tissue as we do when you get older.  At least we should I think.  We should get smarter from our experiences, shouldn’t we!  We shouldn’t continue to do stupid stuff.  I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—Inflation across the 18 euro countries has has dipped further toward zero.  To fix it, they are coping U.S.—create new money!  That will do it folks, just print more money!  LuckieEddie says—“But I” like money, the more the better.  LuckieEddie, unless you box like me, in which case you've probably already been knocked out, you don’t get it! LuckieEddie, it appears that you are a buffoon as a money manager.  MatureWilbur says—When we are young and not liberal, we have no heart.  When we are older and not conservative, we have no brain!  Ouchy ouchy!

Ooh la la!  This is a dollar and sense man.  CadillacJack says—My brother-in-lawHarry is a fat cat.  He is savvy, shroud, makes good decisions, demands value for his dollar and is generous with his time, talent and money (i.e. has good core values by some folks’ standards).  CadillacJack says—I 1want to be gender sensitive to equality a.k.a. politically correct sooooo I want you to know that my sister-in-lawFefe is a fat cat toooo.  WildBill says—It doesn’t matter how fancy your car is (i.e. fancy or not so fancy) or how big your house is (i.e. big or not soooo big) but it does matter how you affect folks.  Did you know that Albert Einstein is filthy rich and stone dead?  He made about $10 million between October 2012 and October 2013.  That is a good trick considering he has been dead since 1955.  Some folks are regular rain makers!  

Life can be piquant!  I was visiting with my supervisor where I volunteer.  She told me that she some times gets away from her core values and occasionally needs to readjust her path to get back to them (i.e. sorta kinda gets out of whack).  She is much happier and feels much better about herself when she lives using her core values.  Huh, interesting.  WildWillie says—Some folks, overall, (i.e. proven by their past) are not bad folks.  They’re just not acting real good right now (i.e. seem to be temporally messed up maybe)!  Ouchy ouchy!  Joesixpack says—“But I’ have to decide what my core values are first before I can live by them. 

holy crap! “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”  ~  Abraham Lincoln  ~  “But I” voiced my opinion in “adult growth group” in our church recently.  “But I” don’t think I was understood.  That is ok.  ANYWAY I think church should be uplifting and not a drag and surely it shouldn’t give folks a negative feeling.  It should be a time of unclogin’andrechargin'! That is my opinion. It appears that not everyone agrees with me.  I asked—Which churches are growing? Da!  CrazyMarvin says—Maybe erv, just maybe, you’re toooo extreme!  Baley, as our First Lady called Braley, and Ernst, both advertise on their ads for the Senate that the other is tooooo extreme.   How can they both be tooooo extreme for Iowa?  That is funny to me. Must be, maybe, that they think one is toooo conservative and the other toooo liberal.  Must be the answer but I don’t know!  Such is life.

After playing golf last week on a beautiful fall day, we sat around philosophizing while having a beer together.  A golf buddy said he had his first beer on his honeymoon and said to his wife—I don’t see what’s soooo great about beer!  He went on to say that his grandfather was an alcoholic and his brother was one toooo.  He heard tooooo many stories of how his grandfather treated his grandma and children when he was drunk.  He is scardycat of alcohol.  Another buddy said—Hold my beer while I do something stupid.  He said that is a phrase used in the South.  I never heard of it before.  He also said that he thinks he has drank about $100,000 worth of beer soooo far in his life time and hasn’t much to show for it.  I told him—yabut you got to pee a lot!  Such is life.

Arrogance! WorldClassLarry says—“But I’ think a little arrogance goes a long ways folks.  A friend was telling me that they have a husband of a step cousin who no one likes.  Like no one.  How come?  He is very arrogant.  My friend has told me in the past--We aren’t compatible with everyone.  We don’t think alike.  Those folks “just don’t get it” according to our values and thinking.  Who is right doesn’t make any difference; we just aren’t compatible.  We aren’t on the same page; not even in the same book sometimes.  We are maybe kind to each other on the surface but don’t enjoy being around each other for very long.  Joesixpack says—Birds of a feather flock together.  SusieQ says—“But I’ have noticed that when some birds get some money, they seem to change feathers; they think they change from barn sparrows to cardinals?  They don’t think they are compatible with their old birds anymore.  They "layer up" to what they think is the “elite huddle"! BucketHeadRalph says--That's pretty normal.  Money usually does that. Just look around. Huh, interesting.

MissPerfect says—“But I’ think it can be real dangerous when we fall in love with our opinions!  It’s much like listening to and believing all the accolades folks say about you (i.e. they aren’t always correct).  Some folks can get a big head—not as good as they think they are.  “But I’ heard a sports announcer say about a player recently—He’s not playing very well; “But I" think he has been reading this press clippings tooooo much!  Ouchy ouchy! Usually when we get a big head, we are about ready to tumble.  “But I” think I read somewhere—Cockiness before the fall or something like that.   Or was that just someone’s opinion! 

Doc says! "But I" read Dr.David’s (i.e. folks listen when you have a Doctor’s degree—don’t they?) advice while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it:  Proverbs 22:24 warns against becoming friends with an angry person. Why? Because "an angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression" (Proverbs 29:22). So the chances of becoming involved in strife and sin are multiplied when we form a friendship with an angry person. On the positive side, Paul writes that we should "associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion" (Romans 12:16). In short, just as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), so people have a telling influence on each other -- for good or for bad! Soooo what do  you think about all that? It's sorta kinda spooky isn't it!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—If you haven’t got time to do a job right when will you have time to do it over.

wow me

Disclaimer:  Some might think this “It’s Saturday” is just a blogpalooza!  And it could be folks sooooo don’t get tooooo hung up on anything that you don’t agree with.  Maybe I’m just fanning the flames!  Could be.  Could be.  Maybe you just think I don’t know what I’m talking about.  And you know what, maybe I don’t! 

The heaven wows me folks!  Just wows me (i.e. a head turner).  When the ancients looked up at the heavens, they didn't know what they were seeing. We may know more about the universe than they did, but we still know relatively little. The observable universe is thought to be 92 billion light-years in diameter -- and one light-year is 6 trillion miles. So do the math: 92 billion times 6 trillion equals . . . well, it equals a long way from one side of the observable universe to the other. And what about the unobservable part? The heavens make me feel soooooo small measured against its immensity.  GeorgeTheCrook says—The vast majority of mankind never gives a thought of gratitude toward God for all His care and blessings.  Huh, interesting.

Our life’s situation can change in a blink of an eye (i.e. both good [get a break] and bad).  Bingo, and it’s different.  LuckieEddie says—I didn’t see it coming; ya never know what is coming down the pike!  Life has a lot of moving parts.  Stuff can happen as fast as a 100 mph fastball! Paul and I were moving Norbert’s recliner from his nursing home room to back home.  He’s going home.  His roommate was Wally, an old friend.  Sooo Wally, what’s up with you here—man, erv, one day was doing soooo well and the next I’m in here. Wow!

Wow wow is not woe woe folks.  There is a difference all right.  Oh ya!  Some folks wow me and some woe me.  Um-uh!  Some folks think smart and some think stupid (i.e. my opinion).  I know both kinds of folks (i.e. based on my measuring stick).  Um-uh, I mean some folks I really pay attention to them when they talk (i.e. very relevant) and others well, um-uh, I turn them off.  They are irrelevant to me.  I guess some folks just think smart and some think stupid.  Some seem to use their noodles more than others. Um-uh, some maybe just drink more coffee than others. Seriously! What do you think? I read this recently—The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness.  Huh, interesting.

Exceptional leaders.  ItchieBitchie says--Exceptional leaders seem to share one particular trait. "Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What is in it for me?” It has been said many times, "you win with people," and an excellent way to do that is by helping others to achieve their own goals and, in the process, enable them to participate in achieving yours. Of course, helping others sounds like a noble aim, but how do you go about doing it? One of the first U.S. presidents, John Quincy Adams, offered this perspective: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."  WorldClassLarry says—It seems that great leaders are humble and give others their due credit.  Will Rogers says—If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.

Is happiness and success related? Those guys might roll over in their graves!  25 years ago I asked 4 guys (i.e. all are now dead) who I thought were successful guys to come to our home and talk to me about what is success.  These were their bullet points:  Money isn’t the real measure of success—Have reasonable goals and accomplish them—success is when you can sleep peacefully—must have faith and trust—must keep going, keep trying—always, always be honest—have patience—look at the big picture—keep working.


Woo hoo!  Our culture is to expect things to be bigger, faster, more exciting, friendlier, with more options, with more features etc.  They got to keep one-upping!  You can’t sell a product if it isn’t.  Apple has a history of wowing folks with their new products.  Folks expect it.  Can they keep it up?  Time will tell folks.  It’s all about the money folks.  Microsoft is coming out with Windows 10 (i.e. skipping 9—Microsoft says it’s moving that fast).  They are trying to wow us.  If a sports team isn’t exciting and entertaining, folks don’t watch and don’t support and eventually don’t attract fans which ends up with less $$$$$s (i.e. folks want to be around winners).  Figure it out folks; it’s not that hard what’s the motor that runs our culture. 


Many folks are like an old Holstein cow.  They go in the same stanchion ever day, eat the same food, get milked twice a day, get bread once a year, and when they get old they are sold for hamburger for fast food.  Boring boring!  I like new and exciting things and experiences and opportunities and stuff (i.e. travel forward).  Many folks don’t (i.e. tooooo bad for them).  I realize that.  Some folks think it’s a “colossal blunder” to change something.  I get bored more easily than some.  I don’t know if that is stupid thinking or smart thinking.  Yabut HBO is now selling their product on the Internet.  Wow, that will change how the cable companies and dish companies merchandise I bet.  I see even the Pope and his buddies are talking about marketing their product differently.  Wow!  Could it be about the money folks?  What do you think? Will Rogers said—An ignorant person is one who doesn’t know what you have just found out.

My high school basketball coach, Coach black (i.e. just turned 80 this week, happy birthday coach), sent me this—Tooooo many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, didn’t know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.  Huh, interesting.

A wow mission project!  There is a couple from our church who do a wow mission project (i.e. they are creative and innovative).  They make soup each week and put it in quart jars and deliver it to folks.  Then the next week they exchange jars.  Now that is quite a mission project.  They are good folks (i.e. have “A” games) with good hearts (i.e. my kind of folks).  Maybe an idea for something you can do.  ItchieBitche says—Most things aren’t new; we just copy them from someone else and sometimes just modify them a little. 

$$$$$$ Is a fortune what everyone wants?  Is it the answer?  Folks, I’m a pretty content person.  I have the Life of Riley! Actually I have nutten on my bucket list.  You might think there must be something wrong with me.  Maybe sooooo!  Ya, there is some things I would change, sure, but I’m pretty content (i.e. not happy when it appears evil is winning).  We’re comfortable. I’m comfortable with myself.  I probably would do things differently under different situations but I’m ok.  When I do my “everyotherday2.5milerun” in our little town, I think of some folks who I know and they seem the same.  Some could afford much nicer houses, more toys, etc but decide they are happy where they are.  They seem content.  Why do some folks seem more content than others do you think?  I receive this little sorta kinda advice each day. Read this short one if you have time. It’s good I think.  http://www.mountainwings.com/past/Saturday.htm

Saturday question—Is being positive genetic, learned from our environment or is it just attitude or does it just happen to some and not to others?  I asked a couple of positive neighbors and WarrenFromOmaha why they are soooo positive.  This is what they said: I do attempt to screen out all the bad things going on around us each and every day, and concentrate on the good things, and thank God for them.  I think most people can trace their general attitude on life to your childhood, and I had a Mother who always encouraged me and supported me, and I never doubted her love for me…--- You can probably can recall the days when autograph books were popular back in the 40's.  I still have mine, put together when in the 4th grade, and I quote  "Dear Warren, keep that big smile.  I really like it.  May all your years in joy be passed, and each prove happier than the last. ".  Your teacher and friend.  Miss Goodell.  (October 18, 1943).   I have never forgotten those words. Warren (not Buffett)   ~   NeighborHank/friend says:  Accept people for who they are. Don’t try to change them, Too often we think everyone should be like us…As Christians we have a responsibility to love everyone, we don’t have to agree with them or like them but we must love them for who they are…Always look ahead, we cannot chance the past so we need to forget it and move forward. And remember to enjoy each day after all each new day is the first day of the rest of your life…We must remember that all problems are opportunities if viewed with a Christ-like attitude…Contentment breeds happiness therefore being content with what God has given us whether a little or a lot is critical…And my favorite quote by Charles Swindoll about attitude which in many ways dictates happiness. “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude. Attitude to me is more than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is, we have a choice every regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it.”  ~  Neighbor/friendLila says: Ed Thomas’ motto of Faith, Family and Friends is mine as well. It is not easy to lose a spouse, but feeling sorry for one self, doesn’t change a thing.  We have to meet each situation head one.  When sadness comes knocking at my door, I never let it stay for long!  That’s when I thank God for all the great times we had in 60 years of marriage.  I’m so grateful for opportunities that come my way.  Most mornings find me at the coffee shop with friends.  Why not, the day may come when I’m not able to enjoy being with friends and family.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Forget mistakes.  Organize victory out of mistakes.

A little of this and a little of that!

Disclaimer:  Most of the stuff in this “It’s Saturday” you’ll probably forget before you get done going to the bathroom soooo don’t get toooo excited about anything that might offend you.  It ain’t worth it folks.  It’s like a news flash about DuaneTheWorm!  There is a good explanation as to why DuaneTheWorm acts as he does but it escapes me at the moment!  DuaneTheWorm has a very bombastic and theoretical style.  Do you know any DuaneTheWorms?

MissPerfect a.k.a. LRP (i.e. limited role player), you haven’t moved since I left the house 5 hours ago wts.  MissPerfect’s reply—Excuse me, where do you think these chips came from! I think wts is called an acronym, isn’t it?  Sorta kinda like ACTS is for how we should pray—Affirmation, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication—in that order.  I would guess most prayers are 80% supplication—give it to me God and NOW!  I use to learn stuff for tests by using mnemonics.  You ever do that.  It worked for me.  I needed all he help I could get folks.  This may or may not work for you but wts it can’t hurt. 

The litmus test!  Good friends are the folk who see you at your worst and still love ya.  I guess bad friends would sorta kinda be the opposite.  That may or may not make any sense to ya.  I wonder if it would depend if you are a good friend or the opposite.  What do you think?  We have some good friends, I mean really good friends (i.e. you guys).  Saturday question—Do you think sometimes the right folks come into your life at just the right time?  Happenstance, na, I don’t think sooooo folks!  This question I read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—Who would be the best person to have come into you life?  They think Jesus! Bingo!  It could be a life changer (i.e. a real play maker they say).

Opportunities!  You have heard me say this many times—I pray for opportunities, I pray that I can recognize them (i.e. soooo they just don’t fly over my head) and I pray for courage to act on them.  Sometimes it takes guts to “get out of the boat” and “walk on water”.  But, I believe that if I don’t act on them, future opportunities will be limited (i.e. reasons are many and varied).  That is my opinion.  It seems that some folks have many more opportunities than others.  Why is that do you think?  ItchieBitchie says—Play makers make plays! LuckieEddie says--I don't need opportunities, I just work on the necessities of life.  Most living creatures, are motivated by three things (i.e. no surprise)--food, sex, and shelter, not always in that order folks!  Such is life.

Makin’plays!  MissPerfect says—Sometimes I make big plays and sometimes I don’t!  My big sister, big in age only (i.e. I want to make that clear) said this to me—A “wrinkle” that I’m sure you will iron out erv.  I’m not a magician big sister.  I can’t pull a rabbit out of the hat and I don’t have magic in the bottle.  I don't have magical staff like Moses! I just do what I can when I can but some things I just can’t do.  By the way, I just took my white shirt to the cleaners at Hy-Vee to get cleaned and ironed!  Don’t wear that sucker very much; only if someone dies and then I always don’t.  Soooo that is less ironing which I’m not very good at and don’t care to do.  Such is life.

There are a lot of different wrinkles in saying that a person died.  Some are a person expired or passed away or kicked the bucket.  Or “bought a pine condo,” “a dirt nap,” “tipped over” or “at room temperature”  Obits use all sort of words and phrases for dying.  LuckieEddie says—I want mine just to say “died.”  And none of this “brave struggle” or “courageous battle” with whatever stuff.  Just put down that I wasn’t very happy about it!

 

Intimidated! WildWillie says that “the rumor trail” says—When you are intimated you can’t perform very well.  A golf buddy said he gets intimated when he plays with real good golfers.  He just can’t perform to his ability.  Soooo I said to him—Do I intimate you?  He said—I said, I get intimidated by really good golfers!  My ex-business partner/friend for 34 year is a pretty good game player in two ways.  He is pretty good under presure and also can be pretty good at being a “game player”.  He is good with his little quips and actions to get into guys’ heads (i.e. he makes me smile).  CadillacJack asks—Is this good or not sooo good?  CadillacJack, I don’t know but it is entertaining to me.  He doesn’t seem to get into my head toooo much that I’m aware of (i.e. I’m pretty dense and if you don’t get it, it doesn’t bother a guy).  A mutual golf buddy said to us —Maybe he got in your head erv all those 34 years you were in business together but you didn’t realize it!  Hee hee!  Could be!  We had a very good 34-year run together.  Such is life.

I went for a bike ride to Kesley Corner and back on a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon  I scared up a pheasant beside the road.  It reminded me of all the pheasants my friend, Blackie (i.e. my dog) and I shot a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN on our family farm.  How about this, my Mom, Anna, cleaned almost all of them for me.  What a Mom!  There were also a lot of huge grasshoppers on the road.  They reminded me of this:  I was maybe 12.  I had a friend, Jerry, over on a beautiful fall Sunday like the day I was riding bike.  He and I and my kid sister who was maybe 8, were on the hard surface road that ran past our farm.  We were catching those giant grasshoppers and throwing them at cars to make them splash on their windshields.  We were having a blast until one car slammed on the brakes and backed up.  We started running across the field (i.e. no fleet can go faster than it’s slowest vessel).  It wasn’t long before they caught us.  One guy said he was going to knock our brains out.  The other one said he was going to knock the living… out of us.  My sister started crying and Jerry said they couldn’t hit him as he had glasses on.  That left me!  They pushed me around some and made more threats.  They finally left.  I still had my brain and my living…!  My kid sister peed in her pants! Such good memories.

I see squirrels acing like squirrels.  They’re scurrying around storing their nuts for the winter I guess.  Does that mean that there is going to be another tough winter in the Midwest or are they just being nutty?  Joesixpack says—Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry will cause snow to gather in a hurry!  I don’t know about that.  Maybe we just try to read tooooo much into the “squirrely” stuff.  What do you think?  I wonder if we just have good years and have bad years.  Unlike the Chicago Cubs who seem to never have a good year.  Wait until next year Cub fans or the next or the next.  Epstein, president of the Cubs, said—Expect young talented team to compete for division next year (i.e. I heard that before; it’s called marketing folks). I hope that good year comes before the end of time.  We will see!  I think the Cubbies need to get on the “fast track” boys and girls. 

Saturday question—Soooo how do you know when the squirrels are normal?  A golf buddy told me--The more weird folks there are (i.e. the weirder the better) makes us look closer to normal!  Soooo there you go cupcake!  And who is normal in this world anymore?  Really!  Are you normal?  Normal compared to who?—Your neighbor, your friends, your parents, your siblings, your class mates, your golf buddies, the bridge girls, the folks at church, the folks at the bar, the folks you work with or who?  Ya got to have a bench mark.  Da!  My mentor use to say—erv, after you get to know someone better, you find out that they all have warts!

A buddy told me recently that he worries way toooo much about stuff that he shouldn’t worry about.  How come you worry soooo much I asked.  He didn’t know.  I had another buddy tell me that he’s not very peaceful.  How came.  He didn’t know.  Huh, interesting.  I was agitated recently (i.e. the flame was fanned).  It was over something that hurt my ego.  I thought I was snubbed (i.e. I think because of my age).  Now they want my time and money, they are friendly to me now.  Da! I thought I would tell them what I  thought!!!!  After some thought, I decided not to tell them what I thought (i.e. ya never win by doing that).  I probably won’t have much to do with them in the future.  I’m not going to worry about it and not going to let it ruin my peace.  That should do it folks!!!  that's my final score--until further review, of course!  So far, I think it's a good call.  What do you think?

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--It costs nothing to say something nice about somebody.

PS KenThePung says--Good old egg coffee. Our church dinners served egg coffee. It would be made in those large coffee pots. Get water boiling hot, then add a mixture of coffee and eggs to the hot water. Turn down heat and stir in mixture, then turn off heat and let brew. After 5 minutes add cold water to settle grounds. Now you have the best tasting coffee bitter free.

1st World problems

This pic was in the paper of guys in Union County IA doing morning coffee talk out side Frank’s Service in Arispe.

ItchieBitchie says—Folks don’t always look like they might think!  Sooooo true ItchieBitchie.  Sooooo true!  Looks can be sooooo deceiving.  Sometimes!  And sometimes not!

Dwight Eishehower said—There are no atheists in foxholes. AverageJoe says--That’s public recognition of what most folks know instinctively.  LuckieEdie says—Evryone knows that!  Well, did you know that women really don’t like shopping but it is just expected of them? Joesixpack says—The more serious the troubles, the more likely we are to call out to God.  We can pretend by closing our eyes to trouble but it just ain’t goin’ away folks.  Soooo we need to deal with it.  Such is life. 

Let's do an experiment.  I like experiments.  At breakfast crush the egg shells and put them in the coffee grounds when making coffee.  Is your coffee smoother and less bitter?  I think the cowboys use to do that!  I'm not a cowboy but...!  Or is the effect just a self-fulfilling prophecy sort of thing.  I don't know--further tests will be required.  Let me know how your experiment turns out.  Did you know the author John Steinbeck put not only crushed egg shells in his coffee but the whites as well? I guess it didn't hurt him any.  Why do crushed eggs shells smooth out your coffee? You might be surprised at the answer. I know I would because I have no idea what it is. Surprise me. I hope to hear from you folks who know the answer or at least think you do! Now this is a 1st world problem folks!!!!

I am happy for him!  I had the opportunity to tour a new farm shop, I mean this is a farm shop folks!  It’s the nicest farm shop I have ever been in.  Insulated, heated and painted floor, bathroom, large office, the works.  I asked him how much it cost—he said a lot but I can write part of it off!  He didn’t tell me how much it cost but I think there might be only a few houses in Aplington, that are worth more.  He said he went a little over budget.  What was your budget?  I didn’t have one!!!!  Now that’s a 1st world problem folks!  What’s a lot anyway?  I just read in the paper (i.e. sooo it must be right) that a 30 second ad for Sunday Night Football costs $637,300. Now this is a lot--I read this in the paper sooooo it must be right—Gates is the richest in U.S. with a net worth of $81 billion up $9 billion from last year (i.e. now that's a lot).  If a person is worth $81 billion, that farm shop is no big deal folks!  Ya got to put things in perspective!  What’s a lot to me isn’t necessarily a lot to you!  Such is life.

Incognito!  I went for a bike ride on a nice fall day after volunteering at Wheaten Franciscan Health Care last week (i.e. I do the orientation for the volunteers).  It made me think of DuaneTheWorm.  DuaneTheWorm will do anything or say anything to gain an advantage in life.  Some folks are incognito sometimes, some all the time and some never?  Some folks have good hearts a.k.a. A1 hearts?  Do some folks act differently when around certain folks (i.e. personality is how you act around folks--character is how you act when no one is looking) or when around no folks?  Are we phony, fakey, two-faced, butt kisser, a doer of the right thing, kind, merciful, gracious, and real?  Who are we?  I wonder if deception is a 1st World problem or is that an all world problem.  What do you think?

Have you ever judged someone by your first impression (i.e. either by their physical appearance or what they said)?  The first impression many times is correct but sometimes not.  But we all have first impressions.  Sometimes those first impressions are the key to the future.  I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Mrs. Job said to Job in her one and only recorded statement--"Curse God and die."   We must remember that she too had shared in the loss of family and possessions. AverageJoe says—Life, at times, can be a white water thrill ride folks! Had she cracked under the strain?  Or did she know that one sure way to strengthen Job's faith and determination was to taunt him about God?  What was her motive.  We will never know.  What is your first impression of Mrs. Job?  MissPerfect says--That is why I need to always look good and have the best of everything; I need to give a good first impression; I need to go shopping!  Is the hobby of shopping a 1st World problem?

I got a new iPhone 5c (i.e. actually not new as the 6 is the new one).  When I was getting it there was a guy in the next station getting a new phone toooo.  I heard him say--I have some money and can get any phone I want but I limit myself.  My kids have no money but don't limit themselves; they buy the newest and the most expensive (i.e. the Big Kalona says 95% of all Americans have cell phones)!  That's just the way it is he said.  Is that a 1st World problem? I read this in the paper sooooo it must be right--Parents taking on more college debt--Experts worry about delayed retirement as tuition cost grow.  Is that a 1st World problem?  I also read on a billboard that 22% of kids don't graduate from high school.  Is that a 1st World problem?

A guy and his sons! I was talking to our neighbor the other day about a guy and his sons.  We both agreed that the guy and his sons seem to know the answers about anything and everything.  Where in the world did those sons get sooooo smart we wondered!!!!  A buddy told me the other day that he doesn't really like being around a certain person--how come--he's rich and treats me like I'm nutten--are you sure or do you just imagine that--he's rich and he acts that way to me no matter what you say erv (i.e. is being rich and acting that way a 1st World problem).  Well buddy, you are a real person with a real heart—He said—erv, I try to be.  Hey listen friend, I know many rich folks who are very humble and don’t act rich.  I really do!  Really.  Could be erv, but RichieBitchie isn’t one of them.  LuckieEddie says—Usually if one person thinks a certain person is a certain way, others do toooooo but not always.  Abraham Lincolon 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.  Such is  life.

Is never having enough a 1^st world problem?  Mikey says—Enough has very little to do with that green stuff that you carry around in your pocket or your purse.  Enough is a place you want to reach, a place you can identify as the place to STOP.  ~  Less stuff equals less clutter, and less baggage that you will have to carry around with you in your life.  Becoming grateful for what you have will set you down the right path as you reach for something much greater than more stuff.  ~  Reducing your wants will increase your level of personal fulfillment and ultimately your level of happiness.  Billy Graham says—If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten almost every other area of his life. I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Whoever loves moeny never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.  This too is meaningless.  Do you believe that?  What do you think?

Golf is a 1st World problem folks! I golfed with a buddy the other day.  He told me that he went ball hunting yesterday and found 9 balls.  Wow!  On the third hole he hit his drive in the crap and we couldn't find it, his 4^thshot we couldn’t find his ball soo he was down to 6.  He hit his maybe 7th or 8th shot over the green and says--I still love this game!  The 4th hole he hits in the water.  Down to 5.  Hole 7 he hits in the trees--can't find.  Down to 4.  I told him he needs to ball hunting again.  He just laughs and says--Some days are better than others!  Such is life.

Football is a 1st World Problem!  Ya hang the carrots of money and fame in front of folks, they will do anything to get it, even lose their minds!  I see there are more lawsuits coming against the NFL about brain injuries.  I assume that might trickle down to college and high school levels.  If soooo,  maybe, the insurance carriers will decide to delete this coverage from their polices.  Bingo, no more high school football maybe.  Our son had a scary neck injury in Jr high football and broke his foot as a freshman.  He decided not to play football and consecrated on other sports.  We were fine with that.  In our school district, football seems to be very important (i.e. but maybe tapering off some).  I enjoy watching football (i.e. stayed up tell 1 a.m. to watch the Oregon/Arizona game Thursday night--great game) but I believe that there is much more to life than football.  That’s my opinion.  Arlene and I went into a local gift shop to buy a 2015 calendar for her wall holder made by a friend years ago (i.e. good memories).  ANYWAY the gal said—not very nice night for the high school football game—we don’t go sooooo it doesn’t much bother us—my husband played a couple of years and has two bad knees to prove it.  Da!  Big Bruiser says—I love to hit those little guys and see them fly.  I try to knock their heads off!  One of our great nephews, Wil (i.e. age 14) decided not to play football.  He said—I want to keep my brain!  Now that makes good sense to me folks.  Such is life.

A lot of beer!  A pickleball buddy told me that he lost 60 pounds.  Soooo I asked, how did you do that—basically quite drinking beer.  Soooo it can be done. Now that is a 1^st World problem folks.  No question.  Soooo I wonder how much beer does a guy have to drink to gain 60 pounds!

Not politically correct but…! I asked his wife if I could ask her a personal question—she said ok—soooo how much weight did you loose—70 pounds.  Wow!  She became a runner with a lot of sparkle! I told them that I was proud of them.  Soooo it can be done folks. Soooo being over weight 60 and 70 pounds is probably foreign to folks in the 3^rd World.  What do you think? 

My little brother in the Little Brother Program about maybe 8 years ago was not a little guy.  He was maybe 5 feet 5 and weighed about 260 pounds.  We spent time together for several years and then it wasn’t cool to hang around old erv anymore.  Some friends suggested I look him up.  I did.  He now weighs about 150 pounds. Soooo how did you do that?  I lost my license sooooo I had to walk every place I wanted to go.  Huh, interesting.  I’m really proud of him.  Soooo it can be done folks.  When is the time to start?  Now!  Flip the switch, flush the past, and start fresh! It’s possible folks.  Stop the streak!  It ain’t what you did in the past, it’s what you do today!  As my friend tells me—Decisions have consequences!  Guess who makes the decisions folks. 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Will power is the ability to eat just one salted peanut!