PechaKucha

POW! You might think this stuff in this “It’s Saturday” is just weak tea!  If you do, try not to worry about it. I’m just wingsuiting!  Listen folks, I’m not trying to get in your head.  I’m not that smart to do that.  I’m just a little old farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.

A PechaKucha is a speaking format – a Japanese phrase meaning, “sound of conversation.”  It is akin to TED Talks, only in an abbreviated format, utilizing images.  Speakers extemporaneously narriate 20 images, each on screen for just 20seconds.  Each discourse runs 6 minutes and 40 seconds—about a third of a traditional Ted Talk. Sound interesting! ItchieBitchie says--Long, boring talks just don't cut it anymore!  

A pickle buddy who is a widow seems to be an aggressive, capable person (i.e. in charge type of person) who appears to have some bucks.  I said—It’s probably an advantage to be knowledgeable and aggressive now that you have to do everying—in some ways that is true and others it is not; I’m not very attractive to some men as I appear to be too aggressive to 'em and I appear toooo be bossy!  We went to the movie Intern.  Part of the storyline was about this.  We really enjoyed the movie. It's funny!

I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--God sometimes brings each of us to a "Red Sea" (i.e. that's not the Cardinals' Red Sea of fans) in our life. It may be a work problem that can't be solved. It may be a marriage that seems to be failing. It may be a debilitating disease. Whatever your Red Sea, God tells us one thing: "Keep moving." Saturday question--Have you ever had a crucible?

I read in the paper sooo it must be right--Stop watching soooo much "&%^&^" news.  It's a downer.  MissPerfect says--If you're talking back to the TV, it might be tooo late!  You know who you are!  Such is life.

The St. Louis Rams are going to Los Angeles where the glitz and glamor is.  Also big bucks (i.e. it's all about the money folks). Don't kid yourself.

Starting a Live Healthy challenge with my colleagues on Monday...so I brought us all some Dunkin' Donuts munchkins for breakfast today. Strategic.

A guy has to be a real bear to think like this (i.e. a friend wrote this in their Christmas letter--shared with permission)--Waking up every day with the gift of live, and my wife by my side; Learning to be content with less; Simple pleasures are best; Savoring my everyday relationships; A grateful heart!  

I have a lot of time to reflect about my life.  I have had a good life. I have experienced many things, some wonderful and some not sooooo wonderful (i.e. I like experiences and I got 'em). Now I have time of leisure and freedom, freed from factitious urgencies of earlier days, free to explore whatever I wish, and to bind the thoughts and feelings of a lifetime together.  I am very grateful.  Yes I am. I had a friend ask me--erv, would you have made different decisions on your career or family knowing what you know now?  My answer--no, not really.  I'm comfortable.   

I had a client call me years ago and asked if we could carry him as he had no money to pay his insurance premium.  He asked if I had any ideas of how he could make some money.  I suggested (i.e. I thought humorously)--Try the lottery.  He said--I have already tried that but it didn't work!  I did carry him.  I don't know if he really appreciated it but I think he did.  A company that I was affiliated with had the philosophy that if you continue to have a relationship with a debtor, they will try to pay you but if you discontinue the relationship (i.e. disconnect), they probably won't try to pay you.  By the way--this guy did pay us when he got some bucks.  From where he got his money, I have no idea and I didn't ask!!!

A friend from MN says she can tell the difference between peanut butters.  Ya right!  She said that she can be blind folded and and can tell the difference.  Soooo what's the best one?  Jiff brand is the best without a doubt.  Really! 

We all have a personal brand (i.e. like a company has a brand).  I was talking to Cutback about this.  Sometimes our brand that we think we have might be different than the brand that others have branded us (i.e. better or worse).  Maybe our brand goes back to our personal foundation.  Maybe sometimes we have to "cutback" from where the pressure is coming from. What do you think?

Some days it seems you have it and sometimes it seems you don't! Why is that anyway?  It seems soooo easy some days and the next it seems soooo hard.  Crazy huh! Even the top folks in their expertise don't perform at their best everyday.  Ya just can't be 100% all the time.  If we like it or not, it's just the way it is.  Soooo cut everyone some slack when they are not at their best.  Such is life.

There is no incentive so great and no tonic so powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow!



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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Rain is a reminder of how our attitude can affect everything.  Some folks let it destroy their day--others consider it a blessing.

money

My Uncle George always told me as a kid--erv, it isn't what you make but what you save (i.e. money under the mattress). 

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." -- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

SlickWillie asked me--erv, do you really know anything?  You know SlickWillie, I have been asked this quite a bit and the answer is, I don't know, only because I really don't, I really don't!  Payton Manning says he knows for sure (i.e. how do we know if he's telling the truth or not--haven't we learned anything from all of our other heroes who ended up lying to us?).  But folks, I'm really telling you the truth, I really don't know! I know that I don't know what I don't know! KnowItAllSally (i.e. made one mistake in her life and it was a mistake) says--erv, I know that you really don't know if you know anything. Such is life.

It was Black Monday recently in the NFL (i.e. the Monday when they fire the coaches).  If you don't win as a coach, they stick ya with a fork--ypu are done.  It's all about the money.  The NFL is a tough business; they are tough; they have no heart; it's all about the money folks.  It's not like working for the government (i.e. very seldom anyone looses their job).  Or if you have an occupation where you are represented by a huge massive union (i.e. can't hardly ever get fired no matter how bad you are at your job). Free enterprise (e.g. NFL) seems to handle situations differently.  Such is life.

I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--78% of NFL players go bankrupt or face serious financial stress within two years of ending their careers, while 60% of NBA players are broke within five years of retiring. What in the world!

I went to the movie Everest (i.e. based on a true story).  A bad decision was made by Rob Hall, the leader, (i.e. he knew it was not wise--he let his emotions trump his wisdom) and it cost him his life. My Daddy, Chester, always said to me—erv, keep your emotions out of your business decisions.  That can be hard to do sometimes.  ItchieBitchie says—Sometimes my family thinks I’m cold when I rely on my “psychic numbness” when making money decisions. I’m not always popular with everyone when they want stuff and I think it’s a poor business decision.  It’s especially hard when my wife, BigSpenderJane, is aggressive and wants to spend.  Money management is a lot harder if you are married and partners don’t agree on money management philosophy (e.g. if one is a spender and one is a saver).  Such is life. 

LuckieEddie says--If you can stay away from those money grabbing money suckers, life might be better. Everyone wants your money. Yes, everyone.  I read in the paper sooooo it must be right--Floridans are complaining about a new taxation which they call a death tax (i.e. yep, they get 'em coming and going alright).  2  of 3 Floridans are cremated.  State of Florida puts an "administration fee" on each cremation of about $65 (i.e. much like some cell phone companies who try to tack on a few bucks of administration fees and no one complains).  The $65 isn't much considering the cost of dieing but it adds up to big bucks for the State of Florida.  CadillacJack says--And folks keep on dieing to pay it! Gotcha! 

J.C. Penney is a name synonymous with department store. He first launched his chain of "The Golden Rule" stores in 1907. In 1910 his first wife died. Three years later, he incorporated as the J.C. Penney company. In 1923 his second wife died giving birth to his son. In 1929 the stock market crashed and he lost $40 million. By 1932, he had to sell out to satisfy...creditors. This left [Penney] virtually broke. ...Crushed in spirit from his loss and his health suddenly failing, Penney wound up in a Battle Creek, Michigan sanitarium. One morning he heard the distant singing of employees who gathered to start the day with God: Be not dismayed, whate'er betide, God will take care of you.... Penney followed the music to its source and slipped into a back row. He left a short time later a changed man, his health and spirit renewed, and ready to start the long climb back at age fifty-six. By 1951 there was a J.C. Penney store in every state, and for the first time sales surpassed $1 billion a year. 

I read in the paper sooooo it must be right.  Many European countries have found a gimmick to raise some easy bucks off travelers.  They use traffic cameras and send the traffic tickets (e.g. driving in a restricted area or an area that you need a special permit) to the rental car company.  In the rental car contract, there is a provision that they can do this and the fine will be paid automatically by the car renter's credit card company.  The story said that some folks were charged up to $1,000.  My brother-in-law and sister were traveling in Austria using a rental car.  Folks were waving at them and smiling and saying something.  They smiled back and waved.  They thought these folks of Austria were soooo friendly.  They found out later, they was driving on the sidewalk!  Ouchy ouchy!

Last year, SvenFromFergusFallsMinnesota, replaced several windows in their house. They were the expensive double-pane energy-efficient kind. This week he got a call from the contractor complaining that his work has been completed for a whole year and he had yet to pay for them. Boy, oh boy, did they go 'round. Just because he was getting old didn't mean that he was automatically stupid. So, he proceeded to tell him just what his fast talking sales guy had told him last year... "that in one year the windows would pay for themselves." There was silence on the other end of the line so he just hung up and he hasn't heard back. SvenFromFergusFallsMinnesoat said--I must have won that silly argument!

SusieQ says--A couple of good, easy ways to get rich is to marry it or inherit it!  I was talking to a pickleball buddy the other day.  She is a senior widow.  I asked her--how many years since your husband passed--9 years--would you consider getting married again--maybe but I don't want to be a rich nurse!!

Warren Buffett says--Be Frugal: "If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need." "Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving." TheOtherWarrenFrom Omaha says--You got to drill your well before you are thirsty! ~ Money and possessions are the second most referenced topic in the Bible--money is mentioned more than 800 times--and the message is clear:  Nowwhere in Scripture is debt viewed in a positive way. Love is the most referenced topic. I don't know if that is from Christian left or the Christian right!!!!  Of course if you don't believe in the Bible (i.e. you die like a pig), the Bible doesn't mean much to you).  Then you need to go and see Star Wars again or talk to the bartender!!!! That might work.  Such is life.

Crazy to me!  The average price for a ticket on SubHub for the Championship game the week before the game was $807.  Alabama and Clemson had sold their 20,000 allotted tickets for about $550.  This week the average cost for tickets for the 2016  Super Bowl are averaging $5,500.  50,000 folks from IA went to the Rose Bowl.  GeorgeTheCrook says--It seems that some folks have money.  

Some of you folks will recall a scene from the movie, City Slickers, in which the grizzled old cow hand, Curly (Jack Palance), is giving advice to Mitch (Billy Crystal), the clueless city slicker. “Do you know what the secret of life is?” asks Curly. Holding up his index finger, he says, “This.” “Your finger?” quips smart aleck Mitch. Curly growls, “One thing, just one thing. . . .” “That’s great,” says Mitch, “but what’s the one thing?” “That’s what you’ve got to figure out!”

Here is Peter's (i.e. anybody can be a Peter) opinion about money (i.e. right from the horse's mouth):

If you would like to read the article  http://www.thesimpledollar.com/everything-you-ever-really-needed-to-know-about-personal-finance-on-the-back-of-five-business-cards/

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Nothing can be accomplished until you take the first step.

P.S. The Canadian Snow Birds have to pay more for their whiskey as the conversion rate is about 70% (i.e. A Canadian dollar is worth about 70 cents U.S.).  They say their whiskey is still cheap compared to in Canada.  Soooo they are still drinking their whiskey!  Besides, it's only money!

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.