pleasing folks

Rhett Butler said--Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!

What does that mean anyway? Joesixpack says--It means when stupid folks are trying to prove they’re smarter than you, but have no idea how to spell the word Genius. Do folks ever frustrate you by thinking they know everything and try to impress you?  WorldClassLarry says--After a short time, many folks have a tendency to just habituate them!  Yes, they do; I agree.

Saturday question—Why do you do things?  Really, why do you do things?  Is it because you have tooo?  Or to impress someone?  Or ‘cause you want to please folks?  Or is it because of your ego? Ok, there are a lot of reasons why we do things.  Just think about it when you make your next decision? So why am I doing this anyway.  Think about this:  The World Health Organization says that, in 2012, an estimated 56 million people died around the world from all causes. Doing the math that means approximately 153,425 died every day, or 106 people every minute. That’s more than one person per second dying. If you are wearing a watch, or can look at a clock that counts off the seconds, spend a few moments watching the seconds tick away and considering the reality of what all human beings face. Really, are there many folks who really care that you are trying to impress them?  And the end result is…!  Bingo. Sooo why are you doing things anyway?  Really!

LuckieEddie says--My wife is a pleasing woman, folks (i.e. pleases everyone except me).  JealousHarry says—My wife, LoveYaAlot  is a people pleaser a.k.a. a real yes person and sometimes it gets her in trouble. I think it gives her a voracious rush. That could be JealousHarry but LoveYaAlot does have a good heart and that ain’t bad.  Maybe it bothers you more than your wife.  Could be. NiftyNil a.k.a. an AZ fence lizard says—YesWomanEunice might be a petite Chihuahua but a giant in popularity! She might be rather squishy and squashy and can’t say no to anyone but everyone loves her.  She will have a lot of flowers and folks at her funeral! Such is life.

Joesixpack says--In a day of social media when everyone is revealing everything to everyone. I suggest, be discreet (i.e. sooooo what do you know Joesixpack, folks seem to love social media). Heralding was a common practice years ago (e.g. if a baby was born and if the folks could afford heralders, they would hire them to go out and tell about the baby’s birth).  Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King.  Maybe social media is a lot of heralding.  You think sooooo?  Why do folks like social media soooo well do you think.  Maybe for lot of reasons. 

A friend has said to me several times--erv, maybe they act that way 'cause they are not very confident. ItchieBitchie says--Having an inferiority complex (i.e. feeling not good enough) is a terrible feeling (i.e. can cause a maelstrom in a person's life).  Ya, comparing yourself to others doesn’t usually make a person feel soooo good.  It lets others affect how we act and think. And most folks want to be included and accepted.  I-WantToLookLikeBetty says--That is why ladys' fashions are such an easy sell. FollowTheLeaderBeth says--If RingLeaderJosie wears it, I have to have it.  Such is life.

Whumpf! LuckieEddie says--He seemed to have a lot of juice but was he just pretending? GeorgeTheCrook says—Don’t kid yourself, we care what others think of us.  We fret about stuff. After my Prostate Exam, the Doctor left the exam room. Then the nurse came in. As she shut the door, she whispered the three words that no man wants to hear:  "Who Was That?"

Peter (i.e. anybody can be a Peter) says--We all want to be seen – especially in those moments when we are climbing a tree. This is so simple and yet it has huge implications for how we lead and how we live. We are social animals who thrive in connection. We all want the people around us to be proud. “If you think what I’m doing is good,” we can say, “please tell me.” Do you tell them that you are proud? If that feels patronizing to you, be specific. “I just saw you do X,” you can tell them, “and I was really impressed. It makes me proud to work with you.” It’s a remarkably valuable, massive impact and takes virtually no time. That’s an enviable price/earnings ratio. There is no better use of our time – especially from the perspective of driving high performance – than to “see” the people around us and celebrate their successes and hard work.  SusieQ says—It is my opinion that it is of much more importance to recognize someone else than to recognize yourself! DuaneTheWorm probably will never understand that.  He's the champion of self-glorification! He can really "artificially please" (i.e. he's all foam and no beer).  DuaneTheWorm is as shifty and fakie as Christian McCaffrey was to the Iowa defense in the Rose Bowl!  Ouchy ouchy!

Confession from erv--It is important to keep a proper perspective on life (i.e. that's no hokum folks). I admit that I suffer from an “accomplishment-complex” sometimes. I think I need to jettison that thinking. I ask myself, “Does what I do matter?” In the big-picture view of thousands of years of human existence, billions of lives lived, and in an amazingly huge God working out his eternal plan, does what I do matter? Sometimes my feelings and my mind don’t always match when I answer this. Ouchy ouchy!  That is when I need to check under the hood!  Self praise is like the lights on a dashboard. They tell us something is going on under the hood. We must find out the source of the problem. Whenever we have a big ego and those expectations do not materialize, our tendency is to get angry. The source of the anger is often the fear that the unmet expectation will negatively impact us. We want to be important and impressive and have folks like us.  Some folks more than others.  Such is life.

I went for a run up in ‘em ‘er mountains on New Years day. A blue bird day in the Valley of the Sun (i.e. gorgeous).  There were many folks on the trail as it was a holiday.  I met a group of folks that looked like a family, and the dad of about 50 says to me as I was running up the trail—quit impressing me!  I don’t impress anyone at the speed I run (i.e. not even close to Secretariat's speed).  I run next to zero mph and zero is next to nutten! Besides, I don’t run to impress anyone.  My running makes me feel oh soooo good both physically and mentally.  I have been blessed to be able to do this (i.e. I humbly understand this).  ANYWAY  I run 1.5 miles up and 1.5 miles down.  Perfect amount of time and distance as it allows me to be gone about 1.5 hours—perfect.  Soooo I met this couple—he was an older guy and the gal with him was maybe about 65 (i.e. I thought she was his daughter)—Happy New Year—same to you—he then says to me—Don’t break a leg sonny!  He made me smile.  Sooooo on the way down I meet them again and stopped and talked with them.  He was 87 and he introduced me to his girl friend Meg!!!  It appears that there were some folks hiking maybe as a New Year’s resolution of getting in shape and losing 20-50-75 pounds (i.e. I don't want to BreakTheirWorld but it will take more than a hour hike).  I was maybe a fourth of a mile from the trail head when I met this couple who were maybe 50 and were just starting their hike.  I said Happy New Year and they said—We didn’t realize how out of shape we are!!!  Such is life.

I read in the paper soooo it must be right—A picture is worth a thousand words.  I have a friend who is a photographer.  He says he can make anyone look good!  Soooo Christmas time is a time for a lot of family pictures (i.e. I sorta kinda enjoy them).  Everyone looks oh soooo good and happy and everything is hunkie dorrie (i.e. probably not in all cases).  ItchieBitchie says—Everyone wants to put their best picture forward (i.e. want to impress folks).  You don’t want to show a picture where your family is arguing or disagreeing or unhappy, of course not.  A friend told me that one of their children is jealous as they think they show more attention to one kid than another (i.e. perceived but not real).  Maybe their family picture won’t show that. Soooo maybe pictures aren’t always accurate!  You think sooooo.

A story of a story teller I heard at the AZ Storytelling Project keeps coming back to me.  He told how he was raised in the Judaism religion.  He really liked Hanukkah; the lighting of the candles, eating all the good food, and hearing about all of the Lord’s miracles.  Then he went to college and had a good friend get involved in a car accident and was permanently, severely affected.  Where was the Lord’s miracles?  It really bothered him and he sorta kinda gave up on his faith in the Lord.  He studied world religions to discredit Judaism.  He then was a personal trainer in New York City.  He heard soooo many stories of folks who have had such terrible events.  Where are all the miracles of the Lord?  After that he went to seminary and now is a 40 some year-old Rabi.  He concluded his story by saying that he still doesn’t understand the Lord and still wonders where all the Lord’s miracles are but he realizes that he probably will never understand this and it will be an ongoing process the rest of his life. He surely seemed serious folks.

Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious...and don't call me Shirley.

New life; second life. Had lunch this week with some college friends from good old Northwestern College.  Two gals a.k.a. MiracleBabes had miracles pertaining to being alive.  If the circumstances would have been just a little different, they would not of been having lunch with us at Fat Willies. Sooooo, there are a couple of God's miracles. Wow! SusieQ asks--erv, are you serious? I surely am. His understanding I cannot fathom; God is God and that's just the way it is. God impresses me even though I don't totally understand Him! Oh ya! Holy smokin pigs!

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

erv

MyFreindJean says--There is nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate,

P.S. Under social pressure, AlwaysWantingToBePopularJanice folds like a taco.  She's definitely a people pleaser.

2016

Relief is just a few hundred miles away!

Tweak your life!

Thanksamillion for the opportunity for me to be with you today.  It’s 2016 and it begins a new year of yapin’ by this snowbird in AZ.  I realize that some of my writing might sound like Yiddish to ya. I’m not trivializing the beauty of the snow and wind and ice of the Midwest, but The Valley Of The Sun fits us just fine. Thank you!

ItchieBitchie and his wife WonderfulMarvelousBetty went to a New Years party. WonderfulMarvelousBetty had a couple glasses of wine. On the way home, ItchieBitchie said--She acted like she was the boss over my life and the whole world! Ouchy ouuchy!

I talked to MN-Zinker at our 55+ Community here in AZ.  He said--I am a Seenager. (Senior teenager). I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I can go to bed when I want and get up when I want. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I have a driver’s license and my own car. I have ID that gets me into bars and the whisky store. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant. And I don’t have acne. Life is great. SeniorBetty says--Ya, things change with age alright; we ain't dead and done!

SeenagerDuke says--Us snowbirds can act like affuenza teens alright! PickleballGerty says—We hear sooo much about “radicalizating” on the news recently.  Well, snowbirds are radicalized maybe--real radicals.  They sure buy into this life style and seem to love it.  They become very radical as to what they do and seem to enjoy it. TommyTheLout says--Us snowbirds are just wrapped in bubble wrap!  Such is life.

Saturday question--Why do folks become soooo radical (e.g. like crazy, radical Democrats or crazy, radical Republicans)? I read in the paper that the Democratic party is the preferred party of teachers and the Republican party is the preferred party of doctors).  Why is that do you think? Ummmm! Does it have anything to do with money do you think?  How about who raised us?  Or maybe our education?  Or maybe something that is in our past experiences.  Most radical folks are almost impossible to change; even almost impossible to even have a discussion with.  We all have acquaintance, friends, associates and church friends who are radical.  It doesn't take long to see it or hear it.  Social media is full of radicals.  I question if its a good thing to be a radical; unless you are a snowbird that is!  But I don't know much, I'm just a little old farm boy from a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN.  

We recognize the fact that we are fortunate to have the option and opportunity to winter in AZ.  I guess growing up I would have never thought this would be a possibility—it would have been more than a dream. It wasn't even a thought. America is a land of opportunities, no question.  I think some things sorta kinda just fell in our lap—very fortunate.  I do think that being around good folk and mimicking those good folks (i.e. you guys) really helps.  As the old saying of writer Alex Halley goes—When you see a turtle on a fence post you know it didn’t get there by itself. 

It's all relevant.  I thought I had it made as a kid on the farm a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.  I didn’t know any different and was very happy and was not one bit envious of anyone (i.e. I didn't know better).  I was very satisfied.  Some years ago, during the depression, a government agent traveled through the Tennessee Mountains making small allotments to impoverished farmers for seed, stock or needed improvements.  He found one woman who lived alone, scratching out a bare living on two acres of barren ground. “If the government should allot you $200, what would you do with it?” he asked her. The woman thought a moment. Her cabin had no floor, its windows were covered with tar paper, light came through the broken walls. Finally, she looked up and said, “Reckon I’d give it to the poor.” It’s all a matter of our mind maybe.  What do you think.

The other day on a bitterly cold winter's day, a North Dakota State Trooper on patrol came upon a motorcyclist near Fargo who was stalled by the roadside. The biker was swathed in heavy protective clothing and wearing a full-face helmet to protect the face from the cold weather. “What’s the matter? asked the Trooper. "Carburetor's frozen," was the terse reply. "Pee on it. That'll thaw it out." "I can't," said the biker. "OK, watch me closely and I'll show you." The Trooper unzipped and promptly warmed the carburetor as promised. Moments later the bike started and the rider drove off, waving.
A few days later, the local State Troopers’ office received a note of thanks from the father of the motorcyclist. It began: "I would like to thank you on behalf of my daughter Jill.."

MyNeighborNeal told me—I am 95 and have just realized (i.e. finally) that I’m never going to be really good at anything like golf sooooo I just try to enjoy the day here in The Valley Of The Sun. Soooo NeighborNeal, what is the secret to living soooo long?  Don't die! I was running in our 55+ community this week and saw this.  I asked them if I could take their picture--sure, I bet you never saw someone towing a person in a wheel chair before--no I haven't.  Crazy.  God only knows what's in the 5-gallon pail.  I was scared to ask.  Senors are innovative and creative alright (i.e. always have something up their sleeve!  Such is life.

Before we left for AZ, one of my buddies told me that when he walks he feels soooo much better.  Soooo I asked him—Then how come don’t you walk every day—Cause it’s cold and windy and cloudy and I’m lazy! I can understand that, can you (i.e. winter can put a kibosh on our attitudes)?  Then I was getting tires on our car and an old client of mine was telling me about all his physical problems.  He said—I feel soooo much better when I walk every day.  Sooooo how come don’t you walk then?  It’s cold outside and windy and snowy and dark and dreary (i.e. IA winter can make a person's life grow stale).  Can you understand his thinking?  That is why warm weather, sun, and no wind makes a person want to get out and exercise.  Besides there are a lot of other folks doing it which helps (i.e. it might be contagious).  Does that make any sense to you folks? Charlie Brown says—Good grief!

TheOtherWarrenFromOmaha says--I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one now. That my friends is called an araprosdokian. If I agreed with you, WarrenFromOhaha, we'd both be wrong! 

CanadianPicklleballSlammer told me recently—We have rented a park model for 4 months.  I don’t complain about the cost. A!   If I do, I shouldn’t be here!  Besides, it’s all about our health.  It is sooooo good for a person’s health to winter down here.  Doing all the activities, being around happy folks and having warm, sunny weather.  That is CanadianPickleballSlammer's opinion.  LuckieEddie says--For all folks regardless of their power, money, and prestige, there's an expiration date (i.e. brief shelf life compared to eternity)!  Such is life.

I asked another pickleball buddy how he was doing as last year he was doing treatments for cancer.  He is doing fine he says but it took several months for me to get the hormone stuff out of his system.  He said—I would be with my lady friend and tell her I am having a hot flash.  She would say, I'm having one tooooo!  We just have them together. Crazy!

SenorChuckieBoo says--Ya when we get older we might have different limitations which provides us with different opportunities.  Church friends back home asked me--how is my faith is being affected with Arlene having Alziemer’s? My response was—My faith in the Lord might be stronger but I’m not as religious. I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton wrote a book with an interesting title: More Jesus, Less Religion. Their point: “It was Karl Marx who said, ‘Religion…is the opiate of the people.’ Religion, with all its rituals and trappings, can indeed be hypnotic. When all you do is jump through hoops to try to get to God, it is easy to either give up or to get weird trying to earn God’s favor. Christianity is not a religion; it’s a life-transforming relationship with Christ. Joesixpack says--Things will never be like they used to be, and that could be reason enough to be sad, especially for the elderly who remember how things use to be. Or are folks just dealing with the symptoms?  Now that could be.  Sooooo maybe attitude has something to do with folks' feelings.  What do you think?

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Fresh clean sheets are one of life's small joys.

P.S. It's time for me to throw those chips away and get my butt off the couch and play some pickleball! Such is life.

a cat chasing it's tail

What is going on in your head anyway!

Disclaimer--This might be hard to understand!  It ain't Star Wars folks! A "It's Saturday" reader gave me some stuff for this writing but asked not to be identified (i.e. I usually don't do it anyway unless with permission).  I think he didn't want his name associated with "It's Saturday!" ha ha Hey folks, I really don't have very much muscle to affect anything, soooo I don't know why that reader is soooo worried. I heard during a NFL game that one player has biceps that measures 37 inches.  I measured mine--12 inches.  Soooo I measured my thighs--18 inches.  His arms are more than twice the size of my thighs.  I'm a wimp!

Joesixpack says--Have you ever tried to introduce your old girl friend to your new girlfriend?  Howard Monkey introduced his new girl friend Nancy Fart to his old girl friend Karen Nice. It didn't work very well. What was Howard Monkey thinking anyway! Crazy! Have you ever done something stupid that isn't good for anyone?  If soooo, why did you do it?  Crazy! It does no good (i.e. like a cat chasing it's tail).

This is not a cat chasing it's tail.  Encouragement comes in many different ways and yet soooo very important.  Here is my favorite Christmas encouragement story. Heather, James and their kiddos went to The Rock's Christmas program in Littleton.  The Rock does this every year with skits and music (i.e. very very good).  6 programs in one weekend.  ANYWAY at the end they have a candle lighting where folks pass on the light.  There was a senior lady behind them who appeared to have a physical problem as she had a hard time standing and shuck a lot. She insisted that our little Erin light her candle; no one else but Erin.  It made Erin feel special.  This gal had to have a good heart and was an encouragement.  Here I am talking about it.  She will never know now will she.  A friend sent me an encouragement and ended it with this... As an old Marine I salute you with a great big Semper Fi. I asked our son-in-law, who was also a Marine, what that meant.  He said--It is an abbreviation of semper fidelis, which is Latin for always faithful. Also known as the Marine Corps motto.  I learn soooo much; it's incredible.  

Hot tamales! This week I went to the "Arizona Storytellers Project" at the AZ Baltimore (i.e. nice place).  They had a sell out of 630 at $13 a pop.  8 folks told a true story mainly about something of Christmas that was entertaining and illuminating (i.e. using humor, family traditions, joys and sadness).  They were uplifting but also very real. I bought my ticket on line and they sent me a digital ticket.  The day before the event they send me an email telling my about parking etc. They also said that I don't have to show my ticket--we're happy to report that people are honest about these things.  AverageJoe says--This is called the "Pygmalion Effect" (i.e. expecting the best of folks).  It's a great leadership method as a parent, employer, teacher etc.  Try it, you might like it! There is no cost to it.  Bingo!  But I tell you what folks, after a few beers, some of my golf buddies can tell some incredible, colorful stories toooo!!

 MissPerfect says--I sure enjoyed Christmas but I ate way toooo much.  My jeans are way toooo tight but before I went to bed I sat on the couch and ate a pint of rocky road ice cream anyway!  Ouchy ouchy! Yabut it was way soooo good even though it all went to my hips! I will just buy a bigger size of jeans. I buy the cheapest at Wal Mart.  I don't wear them out but out grow them! That will work! Some friends' retirement job was doing bus trips for folks (i.e. mainly white haired folks they said).  They were just amazed how much food these folks could put away; if it was free they could tank another 50%.  Huh, interesting. This week I saw a road runner while running up 'er in 'em mts.  I don't see many.  Saturday question--Why do roadrunners always seem to be in good shape?  Beep beep!

GeorgeTheCrook says—We are all part of a grand data base if we realize it or not.  Every time you go to a web site, you are put in a data base.  Internet marketers want to get their product in front of as many customers as possible.  It’s big business with the Internet marketers.  It’s called data mining. I'm planning to volunteer at a local elementary school.  This school has a high population of Hispanic kids.  I think it might be interesting.  I had to be finger printed, not just my thumb print but every finger. They do it digitally. I don't think I was ever finger printed before.  They will check into my life using the massive huge data base.  Huh, interesting.

You want to make God laugh?  Tell him your plans (i.e. your strategic planning)!  ItchieBtchie says—Many folks think they know a lot (i.e. and maybe they do) but folks know very little, not even close, compared to God and his divine providence.  We have an earthly mind folks, just an earthly mind and we only use 10% of it--that is what it says in the paper (i.e. so it must be right).  WorldClassLarry says--Maybe we need to put up our divine antenna and see what reception we get.  You think soooo.  Of course if you think there is no God and you are going to die like a pig, you probably don’t think you need to.  We all get to make decisions and decisions have consequences.  I hope I have good acumen about this and I hope you do tooooo.  Such is life.

This is not very complicated (i.e. not hard to understand)—it will not make your brain hurt.  I promise! This is simple but I didn’t know it!  When playing tic-tac-toe, why do they call a tie “cat?”  While, maybe tic-tac-toe a.k.a. “the cats game” – is a fairly pointless endeavor which most likely to end in a tie.  In other words, like a cat chasing it’s tail.  Soooo I guess that is why they call a tie in tic-tac-toe “cat!”  Make sense to me.  Soooo do you ever act like a cat chasing it’s tail, a pointless endeavor?  Really!

Here is something else I didn’t know.  I went to a Christmas pageant where they had live camels in the show (i.e. quite impressive).  I told an “onesmartguy” (i.e. a guy with a good heart--a real person) about this and this is what he told me--I would have enjoyed the performance you explained, especially the live camels. Camel dung has ancient medicinal properties, it neutralizes brown spots when rubbed on ones hands, with only minor side effects. I read that camel waste, due to their unique digestive system, is odorless and tasteless and therefore used as a base of many Nomadic menu items. Wow, it might be in my oatmeal and I don’t even know it!  Could be! Talking about real folks, we had Sunday breakfast and our favorite waitress helped us.  Good to see you again she said--you tooo; got some new stylish glasses since last year--ya, someone left them on their table; they are just cheaters!

A magical Christmas it was.  SusieQ says--I really tried to impress my boyfriend, HandsomeBilly, with a little black dress that was just a little too little, and I couldn’t wait to get home and take off the Spanx. I have no idea if I impressed him or not but I think I did! But I tell you what, I'm not going to do that again.  It wasn't worth it! He better like me like I am!  Such is life.

MissPerfect says--Life is full of disappointments. I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--When life doesn't add up, it leaves the heart sick. When we have done all we know to do and the formula has not worked, it leaves us questioning. These are times that try the very souls of men. There is no human sense to be made of it (i.e. like a cat chasing it's tale). We are left with a choice: to cling or not to cling. 

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not obtained by sudden flight;

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

Standing on what too long we bore,

With shoulders bent and downcast eyes,

We may discern-unseen before-

A path to higher destinies!

~Longfellow

I am amazed that the AZ Republic Newspaper has a prayer in it

ever day—Lord, help us to accept with grace the limitations that added years can bring to our lives.  Thank you for offering kindness. Amen. SusieQ says--I think prayer is like a cat chasing it's tail.  Could be SusieQ, could be. JoeTheHike and I were having breakfast and a female realtor (i.e. in her 30s) talked with us.  She didn't remember my name but said--I went through chemotherapy and lost some memory.  Also my hair turned color.  How are you doing--fine--it was a tough time.  I have no idea how folks get through that with out faith in God.  

Friends invited me to go with them to a Christmas concert.  Probably not one kid in Aplington (i.e. the town we life in) can play the strings. We went to a Christmas orchestra performance of Highland High School. 5 orchestras with a total of 300 kids. There might be more to life than football! I was amazed of the talent and also that they played so much religious music.  The Hallelujah chorus was my favorite.  Our friends taught me why we stand up during the chorus.  I thought it was to honor the Lord, which is true but...legend has it that in 1743, the British monarch King George II was so moved by Handel’s Hallelujah chorus that he stood out of respect for the “Lord of Lords,” the only authority above his own. When the king stands, everybody stands. And since then everyone has followed suit. I would guess that maybe 95% of the folks stood.  Maybe not all believed that Jesus was "Lord of Lords." This is a public school and probably folks have different religions or no religion. That could be. The lady ahead of us asked us why is everyone standing up? She didn't have a clue. But she did stand up.  Our friends goggled it and showed her. Huh, interesting.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Take a lesson from the clock; it passes the time by keeping its hands busy.

P.S. There are truly some really nice folks in this world and we had breakfast with some recently.

Christmas 2015

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The Force has arrived!

A baby changes lives. They are game changers alright!  If you have ever been around a baby you know what I mean.  Merry Christmas from Arlene and I.  The babes in the picture surely are game changers for us.  No question! And besides, they are a HO-lotta fun! Oh ya, that older babe is a game changer tooooo.  My honeybunch!

Jesus is a special baby, particularly to Christians (i.e. baby Jesus
can really ramp up Christmas as they believe that He is their Savior). ItchieBitchie says--He's the #1 All Time Heisman Trophy winner!  If you don’t think that but rather think when you die, you die just like a pig, then Jesus isn’t much of a special baby (i.e. just another baby).  For those who believe Jesus is their Savior, then that little babe is a life changer.  Isn’t baby Jesus why we celebrate Christmas?  Maybe not to all I guess. Such is life.

Some folks aren’t much impressed with Christmas in general and some aren’t much impressed in celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Soooo what are you guys impressed with?  Who impresses you? Some folks are impressed with certain stuff and others are not.  Some folks are impressed with some folks and some aren’t.  Why is that do you think.  Could it be our environment, our genetics, and our past experiences?  Could be.  Different stokes for different folks I guess.

I tell you what folks, that DOG can hunt (i.e. my opinion)!  I’m being vulnerable and exposing here folks.  Some of you aren’t impressed with me that I believe Jesus is my Saviour (i.e. some of you think I’m crazy--hey, some of you guys believe in Superman who flies around in his underwear and a cape). You guys might have toooo much of a persnickety attitude! No muss, no fuss, it's just my belief. But you might be impressed with Hillary or Donald or Obama or Tom Brady or whoever and I might not be.  We surely aren’t impressed with the same folks or the same stuff (e.g. technology impresses me and maybe not you). A big house might impress some and not others, great athletic ability might impress some and not others, having a lot of money might impress some and not others, humility might impress some and not others, great character might impress some and not others, etc. You understand, we are not all the same and don’t think alike.  As our little granddaughter used the expression—In my mind, the real world is my mind! Quoting a famous line from Hamlet: "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." 

Two thousand years ago, Epictetus built a philosophy on recognizing that we can't control every event in our lives.  In his long treatise that became know as the The Discourses, he explained that a key to living right is understanding that we have power only over ourselves and our own reactions. People are disturbed not by events but by the views which they take of them, he said. Yikes!

Egggggh! I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—Diversity is wonderful if people have the same foundational values; it is a recipe for disaster if they don’t….When a clash of values exists, there are only three ways it can be resolved. One side can capitulate, one or both sides can wage war against the other, or one side can try to convert the other. ItichieBitche says—Or we can pretend that there is not a diversity.  MissPerfect says—It appears that some folks are great pretenders at Christmas.  Ouchy ouchy! 

I believe--“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own.” “True love is found in helping a brother in need.” LuckieEddie says--Loving those who betray you is "graduate-level Christianity." It is the most difficult and most gut wrenching of all tests.

WorldClassLarry says--We are what we are. We show who we are by how we treat other folks—how we love the unlovely, care for the needy, encourage the lonely, and interact with the troublesome.  Don’t kid yourself,  folks can detect something of our love for Him.  My Mom, Anna, would say—erv, character is how you act when no one is looking.  I had breakfast with a friend before leaving for AZ.  He mentioned something commentary about someone.  I said that I thought the same about that person as well.  I asked him if we both think that, do you think others do toooo?  If they walk like a duck, quack like a duck, they must be a duck.  We both think sooooo.  Abraham Lincoln once 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.

The globe beneath us is a marvel of God’s creative genius. As scientists learn more about the interior of our planet, they can’t mask their amazement. In recent years, they’ve speculated that temperatures at the core of the earth are hotter than on the surface of the sun. They’ve also found a vast underground reservoir 400 miles beneath the surface, and it contains enough water to fill the earth’s oceans three times over. His understanding I cannot fathom!  He is God and that is just the way it is.  

A true gift has no strings attached (e.g. all one must do is to ask for it--that doesn't sound American).  That is a reason why the gift of Jesus is soooo hard for many to accept (i.e. you don’t have do anything for it other than ask).  In our world, we need to think we need to earn it or buy it (i.e. the more we pay for it the better the quality).  A true gift is hard to accept for many.  Christianity is the only religion, I think, that you don’t have a check list (i.e. like works).  It’s a gift of grace.  That is hard to accept for many.  It’s hard for many to comprehend.  Even some Christians struggle with this thought. Such is life. 

Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Crazy erv believes that! I think Jesus is a nettle mover!  If you are one who thinks you are going to die like a pig, you might want to reconsider.  I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--The first sign that one needs salvation is thinking, “That’s for others, not me.” Maybe, just maybe, believing in Jesus is like reading the word "ambulance" through your rear view mirror (i.e. on the ambulance it says ecnalubma), the Christian life makes more sense when you look at it backwards.  It’s called Lateral Inversion or Refraction of an image.

LuckieEddie says--This Jesus can really put on a show!  Talking about shows; Arlene and I went to the $2 show and saw Woodlawn.  It's a movie based on a true story about football and how Jesus changed a high school and the city Birmingham, AL during the integration height.  Another movie based on a true story that we enjoyed for $2 was My All American.  Goggle them, you might like them.  And maybe not. They are not Star Wars folks.

Chester and Anna did not encourage me to read soooo I did not read a lot as a kid (i.e. I got to blame somebody!). Yes, I did have to read to get my degrees and yes, I did have to read in my business but I was not what folks would call a reader.  Then one day at a continuing education class, a guy next to me asked me if I was a reader—no not really--you should be; you are missing out a lot on life—what book should I read—stop at the library on the way home and check out the classic Pilgrim’s Progress—I did and have been a reader since. John Bunyan’s story is the story of the Gospel. It is the story of Christ taking upon Himself the burden of the Law so we do not have to carry that burden any longer. Religious leaders in Jesus’ day loved to increase the burden of broken laws upon the people without showing them how to be free. But Jesus came and said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Crazy huh! If you have never read Pilgrim’s Progress, give it a read; it's part fact and part fiction with some interesting characters.

I went to Trump's political rally this week at the Mesa Getaway Airport (i.e. I like experiences and have never attended such an event).  It was a hoot!  He says what he thinks alright (i.e. no hem-haw).  Sorta kinda what I just did about Jesus.  It's Donald's opinion and erv's opinion I guess. He called the media con artists (i.e. don't tell the truth but spin it the way they want tooooo) but he says he tells the truth.  He said--That is why my lead is sooooo large.  I do think (i.e. my opinion) that more folks might support him with their vote than they publicly say.  Our children asked me if I will vote for him--Don't know! How about you? The conclusion of the matter is--Either Trump and I are both wrong, both are right or one is right and one is wrong.  How are you betting?

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Cheerfulness oils the machinery of life.

P.S. If this Jesus talk bothers you, just delete it or think about it; I will never know.  It's like getting a "junk" gift for Christmas, you can throw it away, sell it on a garage sale or give it to a street person.  The giver will never know.  I hope it didn't scare the bejesus out of you!

Going forward with Christmas

Some of you folks might thing I’m bastardizing the English language in this “It’s Saturday.”  Hey, I’m doing the best I can.  I’m just a little old farm boy from a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN. 

MissPerfect says--If the leaders are good, folks will follow !  With certain quality folks leading a charge (e.g. Santa Claus), other high quality folks will join the block party.  Joesixpack says—Folks are more likely to buy into something when the leader is respected, qualified, and talented.  Soooo how important is it to have a good leader to go forward?  I read in the paper soooo it must be right that when there is not coalescing chemistry, odds are not good to have success.  LuckieEddie says—That makes sense. InChargeNorman says--A good attitude reflects a much different team and mind-set.  OhByTheWay, I heard on ESPN that Santa is a free agent after this season!

TopShopperTodd (i.e. anybody can be a Todd) says--There are different ways to look at things!  Politicians seem to say the politically correct things (e.g. we will prevail, we are great--That's like kissing your sister).  Talk talk talk is very common and no great actions.  It's all about the vote and money. The Washington Redskins finally drops offensive name! Dan Snyder, owner of the NFL Redskins, has announced that the team is dropping "Washington" from the team name, and it will henceforth be simply known as "The Redskins." It was reported that he finds the word 'Washington' imparts a negative image of poor leadership, mismanagement, corruption, cheating, lying, and graft, and is not a fitting role-model for the young fans of football.

In Division I coaching it seems that after 8 to 10 years, coaches change (i.e. go forward).  They become stale or something and the fan base wants new ideas, new blood, new hope (i.e. they become old jalopies).  It is very hard to maintain a successful program for many years (i.e. to win and make money) but some do (i.e. those that do usually adjust and reinvigorate the programs).  I read in the paper soooo it must be right that it goes with the job.  It seems that CEOs are about the same.  How about pastors, college presidents, etc.  It appears they get bored or the folks get bored with them (i.e. lose their effectiveness). 

My Daddy said--erv, ask questions; it's the best and cheapest way to learn.  I always told our kids--Find good folks and mimic them (i.e. I don't know if they listened).  A story is told about F.B. Meyer, the great Bible teacher and pastor who lived a century ago. He was pastoring a church and began to notice that attendance was suffering. This continued until he finally asked some members of his congregation one Sunday morning why they thought attendance was down. A member volunteered, "It is because of this new church down the road. The young preacher has everyone talking and many are going to hear him speak." His name was Charles Spurgeon. Meyer, rather than seeking to discourage this, exhorted the entire congregation to join him and go participate in seeing this "move of God" as he described it to his congregation. "If this be happening, then God must be at work." Meyer, even though he was an accomplished preacher and teacher, recognized where God was at work and joined Him in it. 

ItchieBitchie says—Us folks are fickle alright.  Crazy is a better description.  I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--Each day your actions affirm or convict you of your belief system. It reveals who the central focus of your life really is - you or God. It reveals who you place your ultimate trust in - you or God. It is one of the great paradoxes for believers. One day we can believe Him to move mountains. The next day we can question His very existence. We are fickle, crazy folks sometimes!  MissPerfect says--I think that is much like how we celebrate Christmas. Such is life.

To go forward, there needs to be folks willing to put up venture capital.  Here is an idea if you need money to go forward with a project or anything.  It’s called crowdfunding.  Let’s say you would like a $1,000 for Christmas presents but have no money.  Here is how you do it.  You set up an account with GoFundMe.com.  You tell folks why you want the money and see if any folks will give you money (i.e. beg for alms).  Giving has always been a social act. Now it’s a social media act. Hey, it’s Christmas time and folks usually are generous.  You touch 100 folks for $10 and you have your $1,000.  Bingo.  Of course they take a cut.  Of course.  Everyone wins!  Has crowdfunding replaced the hustle?  Or has it become the new hustle? LuckieEddie says—At Christmas time folks are more vulnerable to these pitches. 

CadillacJack says—Yes, many folks are generous and even become more generous at Christmas.  Soooo how are you going to be generous this Christmas?  It has been said many times many ways—A great gift is a gift of your time (i.e. a grande of an idea). Just see someone and listen to them.  Maybe another great gift is of encouragement a.k.a. affirmation (i.e. make someone feel bigger, better, even braver). Maybe even letting someone know that you are thinking about them.  What do you think? Or you can sit on the couch, eat chips and do nutten.  That will work too but your end products will be a bigger butt and “a feel sorry for me attitude.” Ouchy ouchy! You folks have good motors sooooo I bet you do great things for others all year and not just at Christmas. You guys are the toast of the town!  If there are any of you who aren’t much of a giver, oh well, you don’t know what you don’t know!  Such is life.

PastorJohn (i.e. anybody can be a John) said Sunday--Yes, some folks don't appreciate our generosity and some folks take advantage of our generosity but they can't take away our joy of giving!  Saturday question--Would you rather receive a gift or give a gift to someone who doesn't get "one" gift or very few gifts? According to Wall-Mart's TV advertisement--80% of children champion the idea of giving the gift rather than receive it.  You believe that? I asked a grand daughter about this--she said--depends what the gift is!

I went to Albertsons to get some seafood salad (i.e. my favorite through the years here in Valley of the Sun).  SuperSeniorBill, the seafood guy says to me—How ya doing—fine, how about you—great, but I lie a lot; you don’t want to talk to someone who complains do ya?—probably not—it doesn’t help anyway sooo I just make the most of it. I told Bill I wanted a pound of it.  It doesn’t look the same as last year Bill.  It’s not the same product.  What’s the deal?  They changed wholesalers and it’s a different product.  Is it as good? No, I don’t think sooo but you might like it better. We all have different tastes soooo you never know.  Maybe it's like giving gifts; you might think a gift is special but to the gift receiver, it's not what they like (i.e. a junk gift).  That is why we give money to our grand kids via their parents.  Our daughter used the money to purchase experiences for their children (e.g. going to Nutcracker). Our daughter-in-law thinks she will use the money for an experience that both their kids can enjoy.  Both kids have birthdays in December and along with Christmas presents, they will get plenty of stuff.  A true gift has no strings!  Such is life.

A friend called me and asked what kind of golf balls should she buy her son-in-law for Christmas.  Is he an avid golfer—yes he is—what kind of golf balls does he play—I have no idea—you might want to ask your daughter to find out; if she doesn’t know, have her ask one of his golf buddies; many serious golfers will only use certain type of ball; if you give them balls they don’t play, they will be nice to your face when they receive them but will give them away, sell them on a garage sale or put them in their shag bag; the balls will just be a junk gift (i.e. you have just wasted your money).  She understood I think.  She did say—I didn’t realize that golf balls were that expensive!  CadillacJack says—Give cash and they can buy exactly what they want (i.e. everybody is happy).  Besides, a true gift has no strings attached.  You are smart folks but you can’t always pick ”just the perfect gift.”  We are fickle and crazy folks!  I read in the paper sooooo it must be right—Teachers say they don’t want homemade stuff, trinkets or other junk gifts but want gift cards!  Huh, interesting.

As the song goes--Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer, you will go down in history! President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 sent his Second Annual Message to Congress, in which he called for the abolition of slavery and said, “We cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves.”  GeorgeTheCrook says—I wonder if over giving gifts (i.e. of the perfect gifts) at Christmas in trying to make sure that we will be remembered as nice folks going down in history.  Could be GeorgeTheCrook, could be.  I have a golf buddy that is very generous with “give me putts.”  He said to me one time—I like to have folks like me soooo I am very generous in giving putts!  Hey, that might work.  Such is life.

I texted our children (i.e. about 40, not 40 kids but their ages are about 40) asking them what the 5 most memorable gifts we gave them through all the years. Here are their responses:  Our daughter--The Luggage (was that really my gift or for you-this may not count), Long leather coat, Cabbage patch doll, Dropping off our secret Santa gifts, Earrings from Tiffany. Our son--Tommy Armours; Nintendo; all the rest tied for 3^rd. I guess some of our gifts weren’t junk gifts after all!  Now we give them cash.  They can buy beer with it or whatever makes them happy.  Even the small amount of cash (i.e. a small amount of cash is a relevant number) is sorta kinda a junk gift as they seem to be doing real well (i.e. but it fits all and liked by all--very useful).  Soooo just maybe a small amount of cash is not very impressive.  What amount do you think it would take to make it impressive if we were to trying to impress them? I texted them back saying I thought going to CA for Christmas one year was fun.  Heather responded--We flew on Christmas Day from Kansas City and the flight attendant had a red bra on under white shirt-why do I remember that. Went to Coronado island that night to see fancy hotel but stayed at motel 6. New year eve we walked across Golden Gate Bridge. GratefulAmos says--I'm soooo glad for experiences I can remember and appreciate!  

Christmas question—What kind of person do you and I want to be? Not just at Christmas but all year or all our life?  I would guess that it's a “live possibility" that we all want to be good folks.  What do you think?  Listen folks, greedy Zaccheaus became generous Zaccheaus sooo we all can change.  It’s possible.  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are.

P.S. And remember, it's only money! MasterCardVickie says--It's Christmas, you need to buy stuff!  

Tis the season folks

AverageJoe says—erv, I think you are just full of crap and I dismiss everything you write in “It’s Saturday.” A blind man can see that.  You have no idea what you are doing. SusieQ says--Attaboy AverageJoe, call it as you see it.  Whatever!  LudkieEddie says--You folks don't have to agree...simply understand the other's perspective. Ok folks, try to have an open mind. Be labile to change or at least look at it!

Folks start your engines.  It’s officially Christmas season. Tis the season to make your wish list!

Since it’s officially Christmas season, we watched The National Lapoon Christmas Vacation movie.  It is my favorite Christmas movie of all time.  It just makes me laugh.  I watch it every year. Maybe ‘cause it sooooo subconsciously true.  There are soooo many lines that are soooo funny to me (e.g. Clark’s mother-in-law, Frances, says to Clark’s cousin Eddie—Ruby Sue’s eyes aren’t crossed any more—Eddie says—I don’t know, she falls in a well and her eyes go cross, she gets kicked by mule and they go back, I don’t know!).

While golfing this summer, a golf buddy, DownTheMiddleRon, was telling us about a book he read.  It was about a football player who had a head injury and became an “acquired savant.”  Also there are “idot savants” who are born with it.  They are now more often called “autistic savants”. An “acquired savant” acquires prodigious capabilities or skills from a head injury or disturbance. They show exceptional skills or brilliance in specific areas such as rapid calculation, art, memory, or musical ability while having a low IQ. This instant recall is usually in art, math or music.  In the movie, Forest Gump was portrayed as an “idot savant.”  He had great mathematical calculation and recall with numbers.  His great line was—I’m not a smart man. 

It seems that I need to get hit in the head to understand things sometimes.  In fact, sometimes it appears I need to get my clock cleaned in order to figure things out.  I recently might have had that experience again!  I was reflecting on my life and thought about a situation that I didn’t like.  But in reality, it was probably one of the best things that has happen to me in my life (i.e. but at the time I didn’t think sooooo).  It has taken a long time for me to sorta kinda appreciate it.  Crazy huh!  I got hit in the head and got my clock cleaned! I wonder if it wasn’t a God thing.  Yes, I do and sorta kinda think it was.  But I don’t know for sure, I’m just a little old farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.  I’m not a smart man!

If you are a Ron or Mike of the world who detest Christmas, Blondie says--You need to just lump through it.  It’s Christmas folks, wake up!  Some folks have different excitement of Christmas than others.  No question about that.  Some really don’t care much about Christmas (i.e. a pain in the butt) and others are “superlovers” of Christmas.  And many in the middle. A friend reminded me that maybe many folks think I spend an awful lot of time on the golf course (i.e. unproductive and wasteful some would think) and there are those folks who spend a lot of time and money on Christmas that some might think it’s unproductive and wasteful.  Everyone has their enjoyments.  A friend says—You need to accept everyone for who they are.  Such is life.

Analytical metrics are used in the NBA to analyse players.  They give them a +/- rating to how they help the team when on the court.  It is not a perfect analyzing method—probobably not but an indication of how the player helps the team.  Maybe the other cast members might be a factor as to how the player performs plus maybe other intangibles.  It might appear that some folks in real life add a lot of + to everything and maybe other folks add a lot of –s to everything.  It appears that way to me.  What do you think? SquashedToadEdna  says--Ya can’t win with the “–s” but ya sure like the “+s” on your team!  Such is life.

SusieQ is a subspecialist of Christmas (i.e. a specialist of a subspecialty).  MaryChristmas wife of HollyChristmas says—Some folks overkill Christmas, over blow it up, and over fantasize. Rusty says to his dad, Clark,--these are sure a lot of Christmas lights).  Then it becomes fake, phony and artificial.  ItchieBitchie says--Know to quite when you are ahead,  Just stop—don’t overkill, over talk, over give, over party etc. What do you think?

Santa has great job security (i.e. he's a flat out winner).  Did you know that the average career length of a NFL player is 3.3 years.  I think I would rather be a Santa! Yabut every little boy wants to be an NFL player.  Do we have things screwed up a little or what!  What do you think.  ItchieBitchie says—As long as folks are willing and eager to spend big bucks to go the NFL games and watch it on TV, it will be dream of most every little boy.  3.3 years folks! That is what the thrill of glory will do.  And Santa goes on forever without head injuries. Such is life.

I’m not SmutMutting Christmas but there sure seems to be a lot of money wasted at Christmas.  Soooo much junk stuff.  ChristmasHotshotGunslingerWill says—Folks, junk stuff and over abundance of junk stuff does not develop love or respect or glory or power or prestige or happiness.  It might develop a little glitter for about 2 minutes.  GeorgeTheCrook says—It says on TV it does sooooo I do it.  I do it every year.  Besides, love makes a person illogical and Christmas is like a kid in a candy store.  It’s a time you can make her eyes sparkle!  A time you can act like you live on Pluto! Bingo! AverageJoe says—Usuallly junk stuff implodes Christmas.  What do you think? NutCrackerJill says—Oh the litmus test of Christmas. BillTheReindeer was asked what he is going to give his wife TopStarRuth this year--He said I use to give her jewelry but now I'm giving her new carpet.  Such is life.

Christmas is not a good time to have a jealous mistress (e.g. your personal passion such as work or your money) nor is it a good time to have an over bearing wife that really goes overboard on Christmas spending (i.e. crazy).  WorldClassLarry says--It's not a good time to be a cat among the pigeons! You will be called a bahumbug! It is not politically correct sooooo if you feel some animosity toward the commercial Christmas, you need to fake it.  That’s right, fake it.  Suck it up cupcake. Getitoverwith!  CreditDebtEunice says—Those folks who don’t go overboard at Christmas make me sick as a dog!  Such is life.

Tis the season to campaign for the Presidency.  Onesmartguy told me--Trump does not want to be president. It is all about ego and giggles and attention.  Why would he he want to be president.  And if he did, why would he say the things he says.  It's just a game folks.  He is just having a lot of fun and enjoying it immensely (i.e. a jolly of a time).  

Have you been a good little girl or boy during the year, Santa asks.  Kids and us are sometimes in a delusion as to how good we are. Kids like super heroes (i.e. like superman or superwoman or Santa Claus) which in reality are figures of an imagination. I’m floored how all folks like imaginary stuff that is not reality (i.e. yabut it sells stuff).  Folks like to pretend.  JingleBellMaggy says--What is that to you erv? SusieQ says--At Christmas, GeorgeTheCrook is everything I want him to be in my mind and even more, even though he is the biggest jerk during the year.  Ouchy ouchy!  

Clark: Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny … Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.

Cha-ching! Writing checks willy-nilly can give a guy a head ache latter about in January. WonderfulWonderfulWonderousBetty doesn't have a clue.  But if you are married to BonusBabyFred with a huge check book balance, it doesn't matter.  How much to spend at Christmas can be a conundrum for some folks.  TomTerrific (i.e. has a little gunslinger in him) says--The reality is folks, even if you are loaded, does it make good common sense to act foolishly at Christmas.  Quite dancing around the issue and shoot real bullets which makes life much more enjoyable.  ChunkyChuck says--That is some real "Ahhhhhh"!
                

MouthBreatherSam says--Prioritize your life—Where you spend your time, money and energy sorta kinda says who you are (i.e. some folks just win our hearts over now don't they). They are just super great folks.  Ya just got to applaud them. They are just fun to be around (i.e. I'm talking about you folks).

I hope this Christmas brings you more jolly from less jingle. And remember folks, a gift is in the giving and not in the credit. WhoaJack!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--A life without love is like a year without summer.