headwinds

The economy is facing a lot of headwinds.  I like that buzz word! Boy, there sure are a lot of headwinds.  But listen folks, I don’t get paid for my opinions like an attorney does.  My opinions and thoughts are just what most folks don’t pay any attention tooooo.  BUT I was in the top 5 in my class at Roseland elementary, of course there were only 5 in my class. Make sure you take that into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.”

There was a gal selling her parents' stuff on a tag sale at their house.  I went to see her stuff and actually bought a couple of things.  She said she had a lot of success selling some stuff on Market Place. The buzz word to sell to the young gals is “mid century modern.”  I never heard of it before.  A friend says the stuff in my house is “mid 70s old.”  Soooooo I think what my friend means is that my stuff is mostly going into the big dumpster someday.  It’s sorta kinda like when I asked the pro what my old golf driver was worth; he said—erv, if you leave it on the driving range, someone might pick it up!

I learned what “bulldozer parents” are on my trip (i.e. a colorful new buzz word). I never heard of that before. Have you?  One of my sub-guides on my trip always said to me—erv, just google it.  Now that was passing the buck. He is soooo smart but wouldn’t always share his knowledge.  I had to pry it out of him (i.e. one tough cookie to get the good information from for sure). My sub-guides said—“Bulldozer parents” are parents who don’t just watch over the child, but he/she/they attempt to remove all obstacles and challenges for the kid even when the kid becomes an adult.  I think these sub-guides wrote google! Soooooo are you a “bulldozer parent” now or were you at one time? SusieQ, who is always a dark horse, says—There is a time when you have to cut the apron strings and let them sink or swim (i.e. let them face the headwinds on their own).  Or maybe not. What do you think?  That is what I thought. I knew a guy who tried to manage his children even from the grave by how he wrote his will.  I don't know how that worked out. 

We make a wish and blow out the candles on the birthday cake. We make a wish and throw a coin in a pool of water.  What do folks mostly wish for do you think?  I would guess money would be high on the list, my opinion.  Pretty shallow wish maybe.  I don’t know.  If gas prices keep going higher, maybe that is a good wish especially if you own one of those big pickups that get 4 miles to a gallon and 2 miles per gallon pulling a big camper that is owned by the bank!  JoeBlow says—That means I will just have to get another credit card to cover my lifestyle.  LuckieEddie asks—Do Americans think the government will just give them more money AGAIN?  ANYWAY, if you could have one wish, what would it be?  The politically correct answer in the Miss America contest is always world peace. GeorgeTheCrook says--Well that ain’t goinga happen.  I say a prayer every morning when I get up during my exercise routine, have done it for years.  I call it my Jericho Prayer as I do it every day as I march around the wall.  haha  What do you think my wish/pray is? Hint, there is a lot of headwinds opposing my wish/prayer.  Saturday question—Is a prayer different than a wish? Some of you have little faith or none (i.e. you may be "showmefolks"). And some of you have a lot of faith like the guy who fall off the roof of a ten-story building and still had a smile on his face when he passed the fifth floor on the way down.  When someone yelled out the window, How are you? he answered, "Okay sooooo far!"

I had my Medicare well care physical this last week.  My doctor told me that little old ladies live the longest and big men live the shortest but there are exceptions.  This is not his philosophy but his experience.  Also, he said—erv, 80 is sorta kinda the magic number when most folks’ health starts to fall apart but there are exceptions.  At 80 there seems to be a lot of headwinds. CadillacJack says—The jury says that there are always exceptions, but the general rule usually holds true to most everything. Again, that is CadillacJack’s opinion or philosophy. DoctorDan said, if I understood him correctly, that it’s really really hard to change mythology to theology.  Saturday question—Where does most of our myths come from anyway? Of course, my neighbor down the street, MissPerfect, who might be seen carrying a microphone around telling folks how great she is, doesn’t think she has any myths, ya right! Just ask her!

AmazingRita says--When we are happy the headwinds never seem as strong.  I have a friend whose motto is “Be Happy.” I have never seen her not happy.  Ok, once maybe when she was unhappy at the plumber, poor guy! RickyRick says—"If you truly want to be happy in life, you’ve got to care about the needs of those around you—and move the focus away from yourself. That’s the starting point for all happiness. Paul looks to Timothy as an example of someone who genuinely cares about others. Philippians 2:20-21 says, ‘There is no one like Timothy for having a real interest in you; everyone else seems to be worrying about his own plans and not those of Jesus Christ’ (TLB). Most people don’t get up in the morning and give their first thought to how someone else is doing. They’re often only concerned about their own problems. And that’s why so many people are unhappy with their lives! Thinking only about yourself eventually leads to misery. If you want to be one of those rare, unselfish, happy people, you need to change your focus.” Aren’t we really something else, at least I am.  I am selfish and self-centered a lot.  Why is that anyway.  Some of you folks are a Top Gun: Maverick. I applaud you.  As TopGunDan said—There will be some surprises when we die and enter eternity as maybe who the Top Guns are.  I went to the movie, Top Gun: Maverick at a neighboring town for a dollar for seniors (i.e. my kind of place).  Hey, a guy has to watch his spending, times are getting tough! I enjoyed the movie.

When Doctor Dan did his talks, he talked about how Paul had many headwinds in many towns when preaching about Jesus, the real God.  Some towns ran him out of town and even threatened to kill him.  But he found encouragement from folks in the next town.  How important is a little encouragement do you think? Some folks in our group were talking about discouragement and encouragement.  They suggested that when we are discouraged with a situation, people, or something, maybe it’s time to pack our bags and move on.  I will put some thought into that.  Yabut, that is what Paul did. He didn't keep kicking a dead horse!

I had the opportunity to be around a Top Gun: Maverick.  I picked his mind.  On Mondays he goes for a ride in his sports convertible and picks up a cup of coffee at a place that coffee is half price on Mondays plus gets his 50% senior discount (i.e. they almost pay him to drink their coffee).  He goes to where the condiments are and puts a hand full of free Stok packets in his pocket (i.e. caffeine enriching shots).  It’s in the same pocket that he keeps his packets of free catchup.  That Stok keeps him on the top of his game a.k.a. razor sharp always.  Now I have an idea why he is soooo darn smart and rich.  Maybe that is why the Turkish folks are sharp as they really like their little cups of expresso Turkish coffee plus 60% of them smoke.  Now that will get them going!

A guy of our traveling group is in charge of a mission organization in India.  He told us that he has traveled to India 60 times. Now that is a wow!  I have no idea how many hours that is in a plane; it’s more than I could handle for sure.  He has learned a lot about the culture of India for sure.  He told us that when they have a meeting and try to put together a deal or form some movement, the Indians will all shake their heads in agreement soooo we think we are in all agreement.  Not soooo! The next day, they do just the opposite and were not in agreement at all.  How come we asked.  They do not like “face to face disagreement."  Soooo we never know what they think (i.e. big headwind).  Hey, I know a guy who when folks keep going on and on (i.e. never get to the point) who just gets up and leaves.  He’s a lot easier to read. And then there are some folks who just agree soooo they can go home (i.e. they are bored to death over some minor discussion that has no impact or importance—like another Turkish old  stone). 

Soooo I was around my traveling group of 19 for 12 days.  Some folks would maybe define themselves as to who they are by their occupation, past occupation or their accomplishments.  That isn’t really who they are.  I wanted to know who they are.  Who are you really?  After 12 days I guess to some degree we found out who we are just by how we act and think and talk. Maybe. I read in John Grisham's new fiction book Sparing Partners--If you want to get to know someone, travel with them.  Sooooo who are you?  Not what your obituary will say how great you were but who are you really? Like Abraham Lincoln said—You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time but you can’t fool all the people all the time.

MyFriendJean was a long-time friend who is deceased.  I stopped and saw her for years, sometimes a couple times a week and sometimes daily.  We became very good friends.  She shared her life with me. I probably know stuff about her and her life that no one else does. Somethings she told me that she never told anyone before she said (i.e. very personal).  I think I know who MyFriendJean was.  She would read and write down sayings for me to use in my blog.  I have hundreds of them.  Neat for sure.

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.

myth

Disclaimer:  This “It’s Saturday” might be a myth soooooo take that into consideration.  If I were you, I would not believe half of it and the other half probably isn’t true. But it could be right, but it could be wrong. ANYWAY, I had the opportunity to tas-it, c-it and xpernc-it and here’s my opinion which is worth nuttin!

We were waiting for our shuttle to our car at the Detroit Airport and two female flight attendants were tooooo.  They were Afro American females.  I said to them—How’s it going girls.  They jumped all over me—we are not girls no more than you are a boy, we are ladies, and you are a man.  I thought they were going to throw me to the ground and stomp on me.  My brother-in-law was already hiding behind the van as they were bigger than us!  My kid sister told me that maybe that was a racial reaction. erv, you need to be careful as you could get hurt (i.e. she always takes care of me). I think they were taking it as a myth which can cause a lot of confusion, my opinion. I just acted dumb. My buddy told me once—erv, you don’t even have to act dumb. It was a unique learning situation that I don’t get in Butler County, oh no, it was for sure a Detroit experience!

I was with and around some very neat folks on my trip (i.e. outstanding folks with good hearts, my kind of folks).  I learned a ton of stuff. I also learned soooo much from folks I talked to from many different countries.  Unbelievable.  They toooo were neat folks.  They aren’t much different then us as they are people who basically think like us but with maybe different religious and cultural beliefs (i.e. some myths, my opinion).  They were raised that way and don’t know any different, much like the myths of the ancient Greeks (e.g. worshipping of gods and goddesses of stone and wood for years—myths).  Socrates and Paul were killed because they tried to tell the Greek culture that those stones and wooden forms were not real gods but there was only one real God.  And today, none of the stones and wooden figures are worshipped, all gone, gone forever but are still part of the Greek culture and history—huh, interesting.  Saturday question—Do we still worship fake gods? CommonJoe says—I like my boat; she is my god.  But gas prices are soooo high that I don’t like her as much this year.  I might leave her in the shed and worship my other gods this year.  I have many!  SusieQ, who has a Hellenistic attitude much like the old Greek Mythology, asked me—erv, do we have more gods when we are more affluent? 

Our Greece and Turkey guides talked a lot about myths of the ancient history and of religious myths of the past. Some are no longer around but are still part of the history of the cultures.  Greek Mythology is very fascinating to me.  But our guides and our Bible teacher, Doctor Dan, were excellent, especially Doctor Dan. All of them used many words like: it could be, tradition has it, more than likely, history thinks, I don’t know for sure, people think, more than likely, my comments only, legend has it, I don’t know for sure, I like to think, there is some evidence to support this but I don’t know for sure, we didn’t vote on it to make sure it was true….

When you talk about stuff of the 6^th century BC or Paul’s life at the time of Christ, there are questions to the exactness.  Is the Trojan Horse a myth do you think?  The battle at Troy was actual but was the Trojan horse real? Nothing really changes folks.  Alexander The Great wanted power and money.  It’s all about the money for sure.  And that is no myth, my opinion.  It still is the major driving force. We were told that the big money in Greece is made under the table. The common folks from the many different countries that I talked to are all very concerned about the world economy and also war (i.e. again all about power and money).  A 40ish couple from Germany told me three times that we have had such a good life but now our lives will not be soooo good (i.e. their opinion).  Communication I had with these different folks was soooooo interesting to me.  Communication is soooooo fun and important.  Bad communications cause myths and confusion.  Here are some communication tips from MissPerfect, who always has her right blinker on: Let’s ask for clarification: 

• What do you mean exactly?
• Here’s what I understand… is this what you mean? 
• Can you please explain what you mean by that?

Soooo I was being patted down going through the security at the Istanbul Airport I think for the third time.  I thought the Turkey agent with an accent said to me—Give me your money—I said—Give you my money??!!  No no, I said good morning!  We both had a good laugh about that. 

Soooo do you believe everything folks tell you and what you hear on the 5 o’clock news, what your mother-in-law says, what the guy at the coffee shop says, your neighbor or the gals at card club?  Hey, it could be a myth for sure, a scam or snake oil.  Maybe it is true and maybe it isn’t, it could be fake or phony. It could be right and it might not be right. Doctor Dan said—"False words will parish, but the truth will always remain.” JoeTheGreat says--There are folks that think they know everything about everything.  They even can interpret scripture 100% accurately, every verse (i.e. maybe they think they are God themselves).  Maybe those folks are a myth and cause a lot of confusion.  I don’t really believe those folks (i.e. but that is me and you might think differently).  As one of my sub-guides said to many times--Goggle it erv, that is why we have some 2,300+ different Christian denominations.  When folks think they know everything, well, they have a problem, maybe, my opinion, could be. I suggest you do a price check, sucker!  I like the verse—His understanding I cannot fathom (i.e. He is God and we are human—now that is a huge massive difference). I don’t know what everything means, actually I know very little but I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.

Tourism is maybe the leading industry in Greece and Turkey—Greek mythology and the starting of the Christian church by Paul are big tourist attractions.  And there are souvenir shops all over the place.  Soooo I was in a trinket shop looking at the junk and a guy comes up to me and says—Give you a good deal on the “evil eye” (i.e. negotiating is big, usually buy for about 60% of asking price). The evil eye is an old Greek myth that will ward off evil spirits.  I said—I’m a Christian and don’t believe in that myth—I’m a Christian too and don’t believe the myth either but folks buy a lot of them, a guy has to make a living, I sell what the crowd wants.  I said to him—Peace and prosperity to you and your family.  He patted my on my back as I left.

A wise man from MI once said—Confusion reigned, and all got wet.  His wise son says—A house full of women is a young man’s dream and an old man’s nightmare.  A fellow traveler said—I’m afraid that people are dumb.  Of course, these statements might all be myths! 

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—When the words we speak bring smiles to lips, our words have not been wasted.

turbulence

Now I’m in Turkey or is it I’m a turkey!  I’m just amazed how they could have built these stone buildings during the 6th century BC. A Turkey lady told me that Turkey is as old as you look erv! !  In Turkey they tell it like they see it folks (i.e. it’s an old philosophy haha). Even then folks didn’t agree on much of anything, and we still don’t. Crazy. Yikes! We are trying to follow where Paul walked. I don’t know if I would have done it if I was him.  Pretty tough job: there was turbulence where every he went.  But he seemed to tolerate it and believed what he preached. He was a tough old fart!:

There seems to be a lot of turbulence in the world, maybe! But maybe there has always been a lot of turbulence. Paul said--A time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.  They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation....Work at telling otters the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 1 Timothy 4:2-5

A friend and I were having breakfast and he said something that sorta kinda startled me.  He said something about a mutual acquaintance. He said that it appears that they seem to do much for show and isn’t always real.  Two things that startled me.  One was that my friend normally doesn’t say much negative about others and the other was that I thought the same thing.  I say sometimes of which many of you have heard me say—If you and I think that than others do tooooo; you and I ain’t that smart!  Paul the Apostle before his “road to Damascus event" seemed to do things for show or was way different anyway. Then after his experience, it appeared he was a way different person, no more for show but a humble person. Oh Paul, what got into you? Huh, interesting.

I was talking to a gal in AZ this winter who just seemed to really like her long-time job.  She sure did.  Why I asked her.  Well, it seemed to be meaningful to her (i.e. had purpose), I think. I think she felt empowered, employees like that). It didn’t seem to be a burden to her but an excitement. I think she did her job with gladness and simplicity and class (i.e. she was a flight attendant for SW for 25 years).  JoeTheGreat says--A person who regards everything as a burden cannot be a faithful servant/employee! BUT I read in the paper, soooo it must be right, that on any given day about 80% of all employees are looking for a different job. Yikes.  They must not be happy, I guess they what something better.  Could be! Generally, they want more money maybe! BUT Paul’s motive was not money.  He sure seemed to take his mission serious. Folks threatened his life, but he kept at it soooo it must have been important to him. Such is life.

MissPerfect says--There seems to be always turbulence in our family.  We all don’t agree and then we have kids who marry folks from different backgrounds and sometimes we have divorces and issues with gender and many other issues.  We even have some folks think they should be treated differently because they think they are the prince or princess of the family.  Who are the ones who think they are the prince and princess of your family?  Is it you? Princes and princesses can be hard to deal with because they think they are better than everyone else and expect different treatment. AverageJoe says--Some folks blend into the wallpaper and others sorta kinda stick out like a sore thumb.

I asked this flight attendant of 25 years to write about turbulence.  This is what she wrote:  Turbulence, think of it as potholes in the paved road you drive on, some small, some BIG. Annoying or a little scary! Your crew is trained to keep you safe. Listen to them. When the seatbelt sign is on-remember it’s for a reason. Not just to annoy you. If you’re injured reports have to be made and believe me flight attendants don’t like spending their free time this way (i.e. did you know that flight attendants only get paid when the door closes to the time it opens?)! Help yourself, dare I say as with everything in life, be aware. When flying keep your seatbelt on a little loosely. That way if any turbulence is bad, you head will remain safely below the bins and just your tummy will get a thrill.  This amount of turbulence is rare. If you’re in the aisle and it’s bumpy, lock the toes of your shoe under the luggage bar under the seats. It’ll keep you stable and anchored to the floor. Keep your knees loose like a skier absorbing small bumps. As you walk down aisle keep one hand sliding along bins to feel secure. Best thing, watch your flight crew! If they’re not bothered, be reassured. However, know that they have “air” legs. Similar to sea legs on boats. Please don’t let flying in turbulence make you unduly uncomfortable. The crew working that flight have your back! Remember it’s just a bumpy road sometimes. Watch your crew and relax. 

She said--Airlines like older flight attendants as they can handle situations better than a 20-year-old blond (i.e. she was 67 when she retired).  The older attendants have fewer beers at night and don’t think they are the queens/kings of the airline.  She would say something in a cute, funny way to diffuse tension and conflict like—you want to duke it out big guy, let’s do it.  I have 140 friends on this plane that will support me (i.e. it was diffused and it ended the confrontation and everyone was happy).  Besides older flight attendants aren’t spending their nights trying to get a pilot for a husband and are done having babies. She told me that through all her years there was never a client that caused turbulence that she needed help in solving (i.e. that is impressive).  Muhammad Ali said—It isn’t bragging if you can back it up. This gal is a very nice gal I think and very confident.  She has been divorced for many years and doesn’t probably ever want to ever get married again she says but maybe…. She said she was married once; her husband was toooo young but she wasn’t.

She also said that Southwest Airlines would look for potential employees who had a nice smile, a nice personality, a good work ethic and a good attitude.  They then would teach them the skills (i.e. ya can’t teach the first four but can teach skills). But the larger the company got, the harder it was to select the great potential employees.  You believe this, when she first started there were 30,000 applicants a year or about 3,000 per job opening.

This gal is extremely positive it appears.  She likes life it appears.  Here is a suggestion—Never give up hope.  Now that can be difficult maybe sometimes when life looks pretty tough.  But never give up hope.  There is no medicine like hope no incentive so great and no tonic so powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow.   Paul sure had that hope that he was preaching about in Turkey.  He was relentless.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” RickyRick says—"I believe that with all of my heart and have found it to be true in my life. You’ve got to have passion and enthusiasm, or you’re never going to make it to the finish line.  Most people would consider me an enthusiastic person—and I am. I haven’t been an enthusiastic person for just a week or a month. My enthusiasm has not waned after a year or five years or 10 years. I have been consistently enthusiastic about the goals that I’ve set for more than 30 years. How do you do that? How do you stay enthusiastic day after day in spite of delays, difficulties, dead ends, problems, pressures, and criticisms? How do you stay enthusiastic for more than 30 years? Positive thinking is not enough. Pulling yourself up by your psychological bootstraps is not enough. Talking yourself into optimism is not enough. The way you stay enthusiastic for a lifetime is found in the word “enthusiasm,” which comes from the Greek word en theos. En is the Greek word for “in.” Theos is the Greek word for “God.” So en theos means to be “in God.” Once Saul figured it out and was named Paul, he sure had a lot of enthusiasm.  Wow! RickyRick went on to says, “When you get in God, you will be enthusiastic. It’s the kind of enthusiasm that isn’t affected by the economy or the weather or your circumstances. It’s eternal, because you are tied to the eternal God. You are in Christ.”

When traveling I always learn that folks live differently and think differently.  They seem toooo anyway.  Again, maybe, that is because of their past history.  And in Turkey their history is pretty old compared to us in the U.S.  It is one of the world’s earliest permanently settled regions. Maybe inhabited since 40,000 years ago with settlements going back to approximately 7,500 B.C.  Most of you probably don’t remember the Trojan War!  haha Troy is the setting for Homer's Iliad in which he recounts the final year of the Trojan War sometime in the 13th century BC. You think they have gone through a lot of changes?  Of course they have.  98% of the current population of Turkey is Muslims (i.e. even all the Muslims to this day probably all don’t all agree as only about 15% are practicing their religion—they call themselves cultural Muslims—Oh, Greece is about 94% Orthodox with only a small percentage practicing their religion—crazy).  Paul didn’t convince all the folks to become Christians on his journeys.  But according to the Acts of Apostle in Antioch, now Antakya, is where followers of Jesus were first called Christians and became very quickly an important center of Christianity.. Paul was all over the place.  But not on a tour where everyone took care of him like they are me. Oh no!

WorldClassLarry says--Live under your limit (i.e. way below your limit of credit). The banker doesn’t want to you do this.  They want you in debt.  They can’t make any money off you if you are out of debt.  Soooo folks, who is in the boat with you?  ItchieBitchie says—If you have tigers, lions, donkeys, and asses in your boat, you have a problem (i.e. you can’t believe everything some folks tell ya).  You got to get rid of the turkeys and get some really good folks in your boat with you.  And who are the good folks?  Ahhhhhh, you get to decide that.  The folks of Turkey and the Middle East and all over the world are still trying to figure that out. They are still fighting about that after all these years. Will they every decide do you think? Such is life.

Paul (i.e. that Paul is everywhere) tells us how to be “in God”—enthusiastic—in Romans 12:11-12: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (NIV). And for God’s sake, don’t be a turkey!

Some of you folks will know my traveling companions who I really enjoy.  They are my kid sister, Doris, and my brother-in-law Larry.  They are not turkeys but very brainiac. They are very much fun to travel with. It was a great opportunity for me.  

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—We are either leaving our mark on the world or the world is leaving its mark on us.

Greece

I’m in Greece of all places. The Greeks were once the dominant Mediterranean power and then the Romans came along and the rest is history. When in Greece one person I think about is Aristotle. 

Greek philosopher Aristotle who thought that the ultimate aim of life was eudaimonia. The GreekWizard says--The Greek word eudaimonia often gets translated as happiness. But that’s an insufficient translation. It means that you are good (eu) with your inner daimon, which could be translated as soul or highest Self. Basically, you are living in harmony with your soul. Your actions here in the physical world become harmonized with your highest Self. You flourish. You are fulfilled. Pretty deep Aristotle, pretty deep!

Here are some thoughts from our 2022 philosophers which I don’t think have any connection to Greece, but they might that I don’t know about.  Regardless of what’s right and wrong – not sure we’ll ever know in some cases – here are some points I want to remind myself of:  Know that you don’t know everything; Remain open to other opinions; Get informed thoroughly if you want to have an opinion; Don’t just think for yourself; Don’t judge too quickly (or at all). You might be the one erring; Take time to reflect upon your actions and non-actions. You might have to grease up your mind to get those thoughts in your mind.  haha

Traveling is a good way to learn about a lot of stuff and it is soooo much fun (i.e. at least I enjoy it). I think it’s good to see things from a different angle and it’s interesting to actually see the stuff and feel it and talk to the locals. Actually this trip is of Paul’s 2^nd and 3^rd missionary journeys in establishing the first Christian churches called The Way. 

Maybe, if we get informed well enough, we get to decide for ourselves what we believe to be right and wrong. And act accordingly. But I don’t know if that is a good idea.  We sure have many different opinions in our good old U.S. and about Christianity. Really not much different from back in the early church. Some Christian denominations tell their members what to believe and don’t encourage the members to read the Bible or study for themselves.  But even with that, they all don’t all agree. Paul sure had his hands full aright.  The Greeks had many opinions and beliefs and gods.

Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are three of the greatest and best Greek philosophers, maybe.  I soooo much wanted to talk to them, but I was told I just missed them by some 2,000+ years.  I’m always a day late and a dollar short. Such is life.

The Greeks and the Jews thought different and interpreted things differently.  I guess that is why pastors have to study Hebrew and Greek.  And then there is our thinking and interpretation that is different also (i.e. 'cause we just know).  Paul on his missionary journey tried to straighten them out but it was a task (i.e. much like trying to straighten out the folks in Butler County). Their past environments and current environments were different.  They just didn’t agree.

I read this while eating my oatmeal with Greek yogurt on it-- In a survey conducted last year by the Pew Research Center, nearly three-fourths of U.S. adults said they believe in heaven, but there was widespread disagreement about how to get there. Among all Americans, nearly 40 percent said heaven will be the home of those who do not even believe in God. Among those calling themselves Christians, 58 percent said there are multiple religions that can lead to heaven. Paul would not have agreed with their thinking probably. 

This winter in AZ I had discussions with acquaintances who don’t believe in Jesus as a Savior but just as a good guy.  Some believe in God and heaven and etc. but not Jesus.  They say they have an Indian belief. I think the Greeks believed differently than the Jews.  At that time, the Jews thought they were the only ones that were the “chosen people.”  Then one day Jesus says the Gentiles can be saved tooooo if they believed in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Now that was a big change.  Wow! The Greeks had their gods but Paul was teaching there was only one God which gave salvation to the Gentiles as well. Big change also. Some believed and some didn’t.  Not much difference than in our culture maybe.

A platonic relationship is one in which people share a close bond but do not have a sexual or romantic relationship. The concept originates in the ideas of the ancient philosopher Plato, from whose name the term is derived. My opinion is that many folks, when they see friends of opposite sex together, they think they have a sexual or romantic relationship.  It ain’t always that way.  They just maybe enjoy each other’s friendship and companionship.  Don’t jump to a rash conclusion you radical folks (i.e. the Greeks are trying to teach me that). Who what me!

Saturday question--When is the right time to do something?  I really don't know the right answer but I say to myself an awful lot--The best time is now. Don't put it off erv. If in doubt, do it and do it now! But I'm not Greek but just a little ol' farm boy from a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN. JoeBlow says--erv, that is maybe the reason I don't get much done as I always say I will do it some day but that day never comes!  Could be JoeBlow, could be.

As Lucius Annaeus Seneca (i.e. he was Rome’s leading intellectual figure in the mid-1^st century CE who died 65 AD) put it:  “Let philosophy scrape off your own faults, rather than be a way to rail against the faults of others.” 

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.

undertone

LuckieEddie says--Look before you leap!  Have your parents ever said that to you? Or if everyone else is jumping off the cliff, it doesn’t mean that you have toooooo.  You might want to put some thought into the consequences.  Just maybe.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.

Some men have a hard time trying to figure out how to say, “I love you, maybe.”  One fellow did a poorer job than most when he told his wife, “You’re just like dandruff darling, because I just can’t get you out of my head, however how hard I try!” MyNeighborDownTheStreet says—That sounds good to me.  Okay, okay, maybe just keeping his mouth shut and giving her flowers might have been better.  Just let the undertone say, “I love you.”

I had the opportunity to go to a granddaughter’s chorus program (i.e. she is in 6^th grade).  All of our grandkids seem to like music and seem to have some talent.  I’m happy for that as I believe it’s good to have a balanced life (i.e. their grandmother, Arlene, would be proud of them).  ANYWAY, her grade has about 1,000+ kids in the district in two buildings.  6^th grade chorus is an elective and there was a total of about 180 kids singing in her building and the same in the other building (i.e. seems like a high percentage to me). It sure seemed like these kids had an undertone for an interest and enjoyment for music (i.e. a great positive and exciting undertone).  When we left after the concert, across the street, there were ball diamonds full of young boys and girls playing ball.  It seemed like there was a lot of kids and folks enjoying it as well, maybe.  Even saw a large group of kids practicing lacrosse. Then driving back to their home, I saw several locations where kids were playing soccer.  A lot of stuff going on. But getting back to the 180andsome kids in 6^th grade singing in her chorus.  What a difference in physical development of those kids.  And it also appeared there was a difference in cultural back grounds.  Just amazing.  This is a public metro school which is probably more conducive to this.  I enjoyed it and think it’s good for 6^th graders, maybe. My opinion. Those of you who home school or have your kids in parochial schools might not agree with that. Saturday question—Are some school districts better than others?

This concert gave a feeling that it was genuine, and the kids, faculty, friends, parents and grandparents really felt it was. That was the undertone that I felt.  Another grandparent said the same to me after the concert.  Sooooo if she thought that and I felt that, then it must be right.  We ain’t that smart to think we are the only ones to feel that.  Abraham Lincoln said—You can fool all the people some of the time, some of the folks all the time but you can’t fool all the fools all the time.  Most folks can seem to feel when a program or service is forced a.k.a. manufactured (i.e. a canned presentation).  They just don’t have the same feeling about them.  The undertone just isn’t the same.  CadillacJack says—It doesn’t take long to smell the rot! But if it is the real deal, it doesn’t take long to smell the sweet aroma either (i.e. like the smell of lilacs on a spring day).  Such is life. Saturday question—For those of who go to church, how does your services smell?

JoeAverage says—Undertones seem to be like déjà vu all over again. Oh fudge! I seem to not enjoy an undertone of phoniness (i.e. when folks aren’t telling the truth but just faking it like sweeping the problem under the rug). To me that just never solves the problem as it just keeps festering and keeps showing up.  It generally lasts for a long time it reappears. It appears to me that ya got to get to the root of the problem.  Coverups and pretending just doesn’t seem to cut the mustard.  It doesn’t erase anything, doesn’t rub the problem off. The undertone is always there.  Many times, folks won’t discuss the problem, but it still exists; it is still felt.  It’s to me very negative.  ItchieBitchie says—You can throw a lot of money at it or paint it over, but an ugly undertone just doesn’t go away by doing those things. My opinion. I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it which was said by a long-time international businessperson—"Think of it this way:  In a meeting of your colleagues, who is the person you most want to hear from? Is it the person who likes to speak and often does, but not with candor, honesty, or knowledge? Or is it the person you know you can trust, someone you know will speak the truth in kindness?”

Last winter my bike fell against my leg.  I tore a chunk of skin back soooo I just cleaned it, put the skin back over the wound and put a band aid on it.  It’s what an ol’ farm boy does!  Well, it got infected some but finally healed some.  It got a big bump of about a quarter of an inch high and looked bad.  MyFriendTheNurse finally dug into in trying to drain the puss out but there was no puss but she dug out a terrible looking yellow ball of crap.  It scabbed over again and it took about 5 months but it’s about finally getting back to normal.  Probably if I would have gone to urgent care and used my Medicare, they would have fixed it and it would have been fine in a couple of weeks.  I just saved you folks maybe $2,000.  You are welcome! Chester and Anna would have been proud that I used the old farm method that we learned on the farm a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN. (i.e. put some Watkins salve on it and it will be okay). I have an undertone.

A wise, old person (i.e. if you are old and wise, it could have been you) once said—There are three types of folks.  The first type, after doing a deed of kindness to another, is quick to demand the favor in return. The second type is not so quick to ask for a return of the favor, but privately thinks of the other as their debtor. The third type “does not even know what he they have done.” That is what our undertone is if we like it or not.  Soooo a golf buddy and I were talking on hole 6 about a mutual acquaintance who just died.  He and I made a relationship mainly working on a mission project along with others years ago.  As time went along, he seemed to develop an undertone of being very radical and strange.  We ended our relationship, and he really didn’t care.  He treated me like an old set of worn-out pillars.  Actually, no remorse, feelings, or emotions.  My friend told me that he treated all folks that way.  Life was all about him my golf buddy said (i.e. that was his undertone probably). Sooooo probably not toooo many really cared if he died then I would guess.

Don’t sneak up on me like that! You scare me!  Have you ever been scared by someone or something? Da! I had a person tell me recently that I scared her soooo bad that she almost peed in her pants.  When we were kids, my friend, Jerry, and I along with my kid sister were throwing grasshoppers at cars by our farm on a Sunday afternoon.  One of the cars stopped and a couple of teenage boys starting chasing us across the field.  Of course my kid sister couldn’t keep up soooo they caught us.  They threatened to beat us up and knock the crap out of us.  They finally left after scaring us really bad. My kid sister peed in her pants.  Sooooo do you have a safe haven a.k.a. a fort or safe harbor?  A place you can go and be at peace and feel really safe.  One of my places is my sunporch especially during sunrise or sunset.  It could be your home, a storm shelter in time of bad weather or maybe your place of worship or on the lake or just sitting in your back yard or in your garden or with a friend or with your family.  Many folks have different places that they find their safe haven (i.e. it changes our undertone soooo we don’t have to change our pants).  We all need such a place.  SusieQ, who is just what the doctor ordered, says—I’ll jump on that! I like that!

Some say that we are to forgive and forget.  CommonJoe says--I can forgive but never can I forget. It's impossible.  Especially when a group of folks or a person does something to me that is pre-mediated and viscous.  And then when they don't at some point accept responsibility for their wrong doing.  Why do I want to be around them? It's a terrible underdone.  A friend says--"I can forgive but I'll never forget. BUT I get even!" Saturday question--Have you ever been stabbed in the heart? Have you forgotten it? I have had a couple of friends this week tell me how they were stabbed in their heart and it still hurts which has built a bad undertone that others don't know about. They were not happy campers! I told these friends that it was good that they would share their feelings as sharing helps a lot.  My opinion. 

One day a one smart person visited a tiny village. One man was upset with him and furiously shouted at the one smart person, “You have no right teaching others, you are as stupid as everyone else. You are nothing but a fake!” When the rage was over, the one smart person was still sitting there smiling. This made the man even angrier, “Why are you just sitting there smiling? What do you have to say?” Then the one smart person spoke, “Do you ever have guests at your  house?” “Yes.” “Do you serve them foods and delicacies when they arrive?” “Yes, I do.” Then the one smart person continued, “If they don’t accept them, to whom do those foods belong?” “Well, I suppose if they don’t accept them, those foods are all mine.” “Yes,” said the one smart person. “In the same way, I do not accept your anger and your criticism. It is all yours.”

CoarchB says—We look with our eyes but don’t see with them.  He said he was trying to say is we see with our mind and spirit.  Sooooo we think differently even though we look at the same thing (e.g. makes a big difference when we have a dog in the fight). Makes sense to me. Sooo what you have just read in this “It’s Saturday” is understood way different by each of you.  CoachB suggests that we raise our consciousness of what we see but be careful what we look at.  Again, I say—What we see and understand is really based on our genetics, our past environment and our current environment. My opinion. Sooo, rub some dirt on it and let’s get going! Saturday question--Do you think you understood  a teeny weeny bit of what I was trying to say in this "It's Saturday"?

The next two Saturdays there will be a "It's Saturday" BUT I won't be able to send you an email as I won't probably have connection as I will be traveling out of the country.  Peace and prosperity to you and your family.

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—Nothing is a waste that makes a memory.

remain rational

SusieQ said to me—erv, you must have taken great pains; you could not naturally have been soooo very stupid to write the stuff that is in this “It’s Saturday.” I'm just pacing myself folks! haha

OneSmartPerrson once said—Conflict is unavoidable, but combat is a choice. MissPerfect, who folks wonder at times if she has her paints on right, says--When problems surface at work and in social relationships, they can be handled as tasks, or you can remain relational, solving the problem without damaging the relationship (i.e. don’t be soooo dramatic about them and maybe even down play them).  WildWillie says—But I like to get all emotional and make a lot of noise. WorldClassLarry, who has a good heart, says—Listen up folks, as long as you are alive there will be problems in your life soooo don’t be surprised when they happen (i.e. it's not if but when) but if some folks create more problems than the average dog, you might consider lessening the time you are around that dog or get a heavy duty shock collar for that dog. 

Sometimes it’s hard to remain rational when stuff just doesn’t make sense.  I was at the Yamaha dealer getting supplies to change the oil in my Yamaha XT250. They are also a Harley dealer.  When I got done a salesman talked to me.  He told me that they can’t get Harleys and there were very few on the floor.  He told me that the demand is huge massive but no bikes toooo sale.  And I get paid on commission—not good!  That doesn’t sound good for anyone.  He said—The spring is really a good time to sell, especially when folks want them and have the money to buy!  Ouchy ouchy! A banker/friend would say—A Harley loan is one of the best loans to make. That is the last thing they will default on.  If they default on their Harley loan, they are dead broke, or the Russians are coming!

I was at Hy-Vee the other day and had a neat experience.  I saw an online shopper doing her job and she was talking to herself, then laughing at herself and was just happy.  She said to me—I’m fine, really I am.  I have soooo many things going on in my head; it’s just hilarious. She was shopping for 16 different customers all at the same time.  She told me she really enjoyed her job. It’s the folks like you that that make it soooo fun (i.e. I don’t know if I really was that great but if she things soooo, great). She said there are very few folks who are unhappy and the ones that are, there is probably a reason, and I don’t take it personal.   She was a very neat gal, my opinion.  Soooo I went to check out and the checker was not happy.  Maybe he was just demoted in Hi-Vee’s realignment.  Maybe he took it in the shorts.  Just maybe.  I took the online shopper’s advice and cut the guy some slack as he was not a happy checker.  Not a happy smile in every aisle! 

People who manage other folks have a tough job alright.  CommonJoe, who seems can play to the crowd sometimes, says—It’s hard to deal with different personalities and egos.  Especially when it comes to money, many folks’ true colors then show through.  Oh ya!  Some folks have no patience for that a.k.a. kissing everyone’s butt in trying to make everyone happy.   BUT when folks are making money (i.e. are very flush which many are it sure seems) they are way different then when money is tight and they are unhappy.  There is no question about that.  Personally, I can’t understand how this situation we are in a.k.a. dystopia can continue.  BUT, I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile a quarter south of Roseland, MN. I think the world situation is a mess (i.e. my opinion). BUT I have read that it’s been that way many times before (i.e. history shows that some people live and some folks die and there has been wars and rumor of wars forever; it’s been that way forever). It really ain’t nuttin new! ItchieBitchie says—C’mon folks, it’s all driven by money and power. I try to live a simple life but it ain’t easy.  Yikes! Such is life. ParBaby says--I’m going to shut the news off and play golf!!!!!!

I was taking yard sticks and waste etc. to the dump site using my golf cart.  There was a gal crossing 9^th street soooo we stopped and talked. She was a client of mine years ago.  We stopped in the middle of 9^th street of Aplington, IA and talked.  Crazy, right! ANWAY, we haven’t’ talked for maybe 10 years. She burnt a barn down years ago by accident) which we paid for which we had a good laugh about. I asked her if she is still single as she was a divorcee.  She still was.  She is maybe 50ish and a grandmother.  She is very independent and a hard working entrepreneur.  She said she doesn’t have time for the drama of a relationship of a guy and many guys don’t’ care for an aggressive, independent women like her.  She is still a very pretty lady but has gained a few pounds.  We really had a good conversation in the middle of 9^th street in Butler County, IA.  I might not ever talk to here again.  I’m old enough to be here dad. Huh, interesting.  What fun.

Maybe it might be a good idea to be an advocate for another.  Some folks really need an advocate. I think there are at times when we all need or will need an advocate.  One easy way to be an advocate for others is incensory prayer for others (i.e. my opinion). There appears to me that very few radical changes happen in our lives or others without God.  Just look around folks.  It doesn’t take rocket science to figure that out.  AA says that very few folks can kick the habit without The Higher Power (i.e. that is pretty much proven). To me that is rational.  RickyRick says—"Radical transformation is what God wants for you a.k.a the ultimate makeover. You can turn over a new leaf on your own (e.g. like losing 30 pounds), but only God can give you a new life. He does this by renewing your mind. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, ‘Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires . . . be made new in the attitude of your minds; and . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness’ (NIV). Notice that there’s a putting off and a putting on. The health of your mind really comes down to stopping some stuff you need to stop doing and starting some stuff you need to start doing. Stop putting negative, hurtful things into your mind. Start watching and listening to things that make you more like Christ.”  I believe this (i.e. I have a trillion and 2 reasons to believe).  My suggestion is to be an incensor for others.

I had a learning lesson the other day (i.e. a humbling lesson).  I was in my golf cart and saw a friend in his yard.  We talked.  Part of his family is having great medical problems (i.e. I mean a tough situation). We talked about the typical stuff pertaining to the ugliness of the situation.  Sooooo the next morning I was still thinking about them and went to see him and helped them in a little way that I could (i.e. talk is cheap folks but action is what it’s all about). Besides giving makes everyone feel good; it’s good for the soul).  I had a friend tell me (i.e. she said—I’m not bragging about myself erv. but I offered to help an elderly person who was large and needed help walking). Many folks won’t do that but just talk about it.  She said she was soooo appreciative in me helping her.  My friend is this way, soooo that is no surprise, but I gave her an opportunity, maybe, in that she could tell me about it (i.e. it takes a good friendship to have someone to tell this good stuff toooo; most folks think they are bragging  soooo we won’t share). Sooooo maybe you think I’m bragging about helping my friend’s family in a little way I could.  Could be, that is your choice.  Or maybe I consider you good friends!  Soooooo I suggest you do something good for someone this day (i.e. and email or text me what you did).  Just don’t talk about doing something in church or in your mind or at the card table.  Talk is cheap but it takes money to buy whiskey! Remain rational you irrational person! Suck it up cupcake and let’s get going!   "Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one." Maurus Aurelius who died 180 AD

erv, remain rational for God’s sake! Here is another experience I had which reminded me that we just don’t change very easily.  A friend is a great person but has a quality that they can’t or won’t chance a.k.a. flawed.  This quality seems to be built in them.  Maybe because of past environment or current environment or genetics.  I don’t know (i.e. they might not even know they are flawed).  I think we all have some qualities in us that are tough to get rid of (i.e. maybe even the folks who think they are perfect).  We just can’t or won’t change. Okay, some folks do! But most will go to their grave not changing, my opinion (i.e. maybe they will round the corners a little though).  Sooooo do I just accept this friend this way or try to change them?  Good question.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. EasyGoingBetsy, who has been known to get saucy at times, says—I prefer to talk big and then just kick the same can down the same street! Besides, changing makes me and others nervous (i.e. out of our comfort zone).

I don’t know if I’m rational or not, but I do spring yard work in a crazy order.  I do the work that irritates me the most by me looking at it.  There is a point that I can’t stand it anymore soooo I do it.  I postpone the other stuff until another day.  It seems to work for me.  And some days, I just don’t look at it soooo it doesn’t irate me.  It seems to work. There is always another day I say.  I’m retired and maybe lazy also. Soooo I decided to change over a flower garden to grass to save some work.  I was talking to my family about this, and they suggested I just transplant some ground cover and maybe get some more soooo it’s really not much work.  Great idea I thought.  I was telling a friend about this, and he said that he does that tooooo.  He even just takes his mover and mows around the different ground cover (i.e. great idea).  Seee, he’s lazy toooooo (i.e. not soooo, not this guy, he’s just more efficient).

I actually don’t care much for yard work including mowing lawn.  I have three neighbors that don’t have any bushes or tress.  I understand when you get older and lazier why they do that or like some of you who just move to a condo.  I have it pretty easy in AZ with a small lot and a rock yard.  I have decided to make my life easier by eliminating even more stuff in my IA yard.  I’m even thinking about buying a $10,000 riding lawn mower to mow my little yard (i.e. it takes me 45 minutes with my push mower and to trim but I could cut it down to maybe 10 minutes which would give me time to sit on the couch and eat chips).  Why not, others do that. BUT then again, I’m pretty frugal.  Maybe goats! Years ago, folks in the country didn’t have lawns but just let their livestock run around the house.  But then the neighbors got a lawn mower that put pressure on the rest of the neighborhood.  Oh, that peer pressure.  Now folks spend zillions on their yards. And I’m going the other direction! 

I like spring with all the new growth and freshness.  But I don’t like the spring winds in IA.  I can’t keep my hat on! I was coming back from my walk when some friends were leaning on their rakes in their yard and hollered for me to come over. They are seniors with health problems and were wondering what to do with all the work they were looking at.  And they said--All the stuff in their yard was 30 years old and looks that way (i.e. they sounded discouraged).  I don’t know what they decided.  It reassured my thinking that I would rather sit in my sun porch and read a book.  I’ll go to my sisters’ and friends’ places and just look at their pretty yards and uhhh and ahhh and then go home and sit in the sun porch with a cool drink and take a nap.

CoachB says—"Are you ever in wonderland?  Wonderland is inside of your mind and spirit. It’s when you see everything as a wonder. It’s like we see the miraculous things and just simple things all around us. When we develop this ability, it makes life much more precious.”  My suggestion—Try to appreciate as much as you can.  I think appreciation and gratitude is very important.  It appears to me that folks who do this, seem to enjoy life more. My opinion.

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

I don't get it but yet I do

Bobby Thomson’s famous home run—“the shot heard ‘round the world”—lifted the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951 and has  become one of the most dramatic moments in sports history.  Legend has it that the guy who threw the pitch, Ralph Branca, had just been told by a teammate, “Whatever you do, don’t throw it up and it.” So where did Branca throw it? Up and in. That happens often. Tony Dungy says--Whatever we focus on, whether it’s positive or negative, tends to come true for us. I don’t get it but yet I do.

Sooooo I was coming back from AZ going down I-25 just south of Denver at 75 mph in a middle lane of very busy four lanes when all of a sudden, a white pickup come up from my left and side swipes me.  We pull over and call the CO Highway Patrol.  The officer did his report and asked me what happened, I told him and he said the other person will say it was your fault, it is very typical, the insurance companies tell their insureds not admit fault. That is exactly what happened.  Soooo it looks like we will each pay our damage.  Mine is about $4,000 with a $1,000 deductible.  I told a friend about this, and he said—If I was at fault, I would admit it.  Saturday question—Would you admit fault if you were at fault?  I get it but yet I don’t.  The other person and I both felt that we were very fortunate as it could have been a huge massive accident and we could have been seriously hurt, and hurt others as well.  ANYWAY, I have been told that ATVs, UTVs, and side x sides are really hard to get.  Like maybe a 6 month wait on an order but if you pay $1,000 more you can get them quicker.  It’s only another $1,000.  Folks are willing to pay it I have been told.  Folks want them and want them now.  Sooooo there you go! I don't get it but yet I do!

The old saying is—The difference between a businessman and a crook is the type of attorney they can afford. LuckieEddie says—Sooooo if that statement is correct, then the difference is then in our heart. I get it but yet I don’t. It seeeems sooooo many times, it’s all about the money.

CoachB says—"Expect good things! What happens when you are minding your own business and bad things happen to you. In life stuff just happens. Life is not about what happens to you but how you react to it. Good things happen to folks who expect good things to happen. Even when they always don’t seem soooo good.  It’s a matter of attitude.” You believe that? I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it.  God chooses things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.  And he chooses folks that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.  Ain’t that something to think about.  I pray more for wisdom as God said he would give me that if I only ask.  The reason why I pray for that is that I’m not smart enough to figure things out.  I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN. I read recently this—When a person makes alliance with the Almighty, giants look like grasshoppers.

I don’t get it but yet I do! This last winter I had a situation that I tried to force something as I thought maybe I wanted it to happen (i.e. I maybe thought it was a good idea).  You ever do that.  I analyzed it many times but the numbers never really added up soooo I sorta kinda knew it was not what should happen.  I wasn’t disappointed as there surely would be another opportunity and maybe even better (i.e. and actually it did happen—it became very clear I think).  I was using my human emotions trying to make it work (i.e. probably trying to force a round peg in a square hole).  You ever do that? Really the result of it not working out wasn’t a surprise. I had thought through it and already made the decision in my mind.  Then an event forced the decision for me.  I believe it was a good deal. I bet most of you think this was a money-making deal, right.  It wasn’t.  Fooled you didn’t I! Now what do you think it was? You can put your own personal experience in it and make it very personal to you. Such is life.

I don’t get it but yet I do!  An acquaintance died and I’m sure the pastor said nice stuff at the funeral.  Why not, probably a big giver to the church.  I have this nasty taste in my mouth of them. They told me years ago that they changed churches to go to this church because they needed to be around high-income folks to make more money.  I’m not making this up, oh no, they told me this direct. Tony Dungy says—“When I was coach of the Indianapolis Colts, we evaluated a lot of draft prospects coming out of college. Sometimes a player would have plenty of experience, talent, and skills and would perfectly fit a need on our team. But in spite of all these qualifications, we still wouldn’t draft him if we had written DNDC next to his name (i.e. Do Not Draft [because of] Character). You will never lose by emphasizing character over results in the long run.” WorldClassLarry, who is more of a chooser than an accuser or an excuser, says—A few bad characters can surely mess up the image of a company or a church or a family; actually, more than the image, the chemistry as well.  It’s all about the money folks. I learned in the sermon last Sunday that they threw Jonah overboard!!!!!

A friend was telling me recently about a job he had some 20+ years ago while in college (i.e. he had a connection).  He worked for a high-end country club.  He would help set up banquets, weddings, meetings etc. They did it all from setting up tables, setting the place setting, folding the napkins and complete arrangement to serving the meal and then taking it all down afterwards (i.e. sometimes doing two in one day).  He would many times work from 6 a.m. to maybe 1 a.m. the next day he said.  It was very hard work, but he made a ton of money.  These workers got a fixed gratuity of 20% of the total cost plus also cash tips from the guests.  Now these were high-end folks and he said that the little old ladies were very generous.  He had to do two things—Work hard and be nice and polite a.k.a. character.  

I get it but I don't!  A friend down the street told me that she tells her adult kids actually what she thinks even if they don’t like it.  “They need to know how I think.  It’s okay.  We get along fine by me doing that even if we don’t agree.  I don’t do this to my friends or my grandkids or my son’s wives, but I do it to my boys. They know exactly how I think and feel.” I have another friend who told me recently that she gets disappointed in that most of their adult children as they don’t seem to care much about them.  They hardly ever ask questions about their lives.  They act like we just aren’t around.  Soooo do you think she should tell her adult kids how she feels? I had a grandmother tell me that some of their adult children and grandchildren don’t seem to be very appreciative at all to a point she wonders if she will give them anymore gifts.  She feels like she has had enough.  Should she tell her family how she feels? Flip the pancake.  I would guess there are children and grandchildren who feel this as well about their parents and grandparents.  There are some of you who solve the problem by just not caring about each other—done! Or some who don’t even know who their parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren are. Or some of you who have experienced death in your families and no longer have them around and wish you did. Also, there are maybe some of you that have almost near perfect relationships.  Sooooo there you go.

How would you describe Billy Graham?  Pretty much all of us have some knowledge of Billy Graham I would guess.  ANYWAY, a friend gave me the book Saturdays with Billy (i.e. thanksamillion again my friend).  Here is one of Billy’s statements—“Yes, it has been a privilege to know some of the great men and women of the latter part of the century…Let me stress again, however, that most of my time was spend with people who will never be in the public eye and yet who are just as important to God (and to us) as a queen or president.” He considered himself just a CommonJoe like JoeThePlumber, just like you and I. I understand that but yet I don’t.  In his statement, he was talking about you guys.  Yes he was.  You are great.  Yes you are.  Never never forget that folks. NEVER! Even though I don’t feel very great at times!  Sometimes I feel like a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN. Most of the time I feel pretty much like one of those ants in the ant hill in my front yard. I’m not saying that in a bad way folks, oh no. And that is okay. I’m good! Very good! I’m very comfortable being vanilla a.k.a. one of the boys.  Very much soooo. We all have our platform. I sure enjoy your friendship. You are great and special to me. Oh ya! CadillacJack says—There might be some folks who think of themselves as better than others and are proud of it. Is that called self-righteous? Whaaat in tarnation . . . ?! JoeFeelSmall, who is related to Rich Strike, says—I sorta kinda fell like Brock Purdy who was the last football player selected in the 2022 draft.  The last person drafted is nicknamed Mr. Irrelevant. Purdy sure wasn't an irrelevant when playing for IA State as he was a record sitting quarterback for the Cyclones,  A great one for sure!

I don't get it but yet I do.  It said in the paper sooooo it must be right.  It's a horse race! How did Rich Strike (i.e. 80 to 1 odds) pass soooo many horses to win the Derby?  Two answers: He ran by some, and some, as they say in racing, stopped running. That sounds sooooo much like life. It's a horse race! Soooo put your blinders on and run your race folks. Don't watch and listen to others who are negative and depressing (i.e. not my kind of folks).

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as you go along.