Instead of fueling the fear for what tomorrow may bring, I will first read this book.
Instead of the incessant spread of political hate, lies, half-truths, and sarcasms, I will first read this book.
Instead of stirring the never-ending sports smack pot between differing fans of favorite universities and pro teams, I will first read this book.
Instead of losing my health over national healthcare, I will first read this book.
At first I tried to record this MILEstone while rolling down the highway this evening…then I thought better of that little trick (I couldn’t get a good focus on the dash, but rest assured I am better at picture taking while driveing than texting – juuuuuust kidding). Continue reading “MILEstoned”
Guys, this is the kind of stuff where you either re-introduce yourself to all the single malts in the house, or you go to church.
If you recall, a couple weeks ago I did a quick post on Erma Bombeck. It was about how, after watching a PBS program of her life, it spoke in such a way as for me to better understand the attraction my mom had for the lady. So here I sit again tonight, moved to sniffles and teared eyes (damn you PBS) watching yet another favorite of mom’s, Chet Atkins, and coming to very similar conclusions with this man as I did with Erma.
Something is going on here gang and I’m not sure how to go about wrapping my arms around it. I could use some help, but if I’m drowning here, don’t be tossing me rocks….
The title is a quote I’ve long since forgotten its origin, but for any of us needing some tranquility in our lives, perhaps a few repeat chants of the quote and witness to a spectacular sunrise might make for a better start to your day. Stop and smell the roses; Stop and take in a sunrise, or a sunset; Stop and hug a tree (and a loved one) sometime soon. Continue reading “Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn”
Email Humor Received from my equally aged-challenged good friend Jayne:
This is a story by David McClure from the Dallas News Community Opinion page..
$5.37. That’s what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bueno said to me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some more change when the kid with the Emo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me.
He said, “It’s OK. I’ll just give you the senior citizen discount.” Continue reading “EHR: Can You Relate?”
Tis the season of Christmas…it has always stirred emotions in me. Not just for the religious joy it brings, but also for family traditions, memories, anticipations, sadness, and pride; they all swell from my withins and give a unique reflection on Christmas each year. It was some 12 years ago – December 14, 1997 – when this family lost a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and friend – Mom was all one in the same person, our life-long Santa Claus that brought joy to us all. Christmas will forever be her time in my heart.
Without permission, I boldly speak for my family in saying we have learned to cope, heal, and continue our lives over those 12 years. Our loss was made even more difficult in knowing Christmas time was an incredibly special time with our family. We’ve had our share of sadness as we have also reaped blessings of joy since her death. Many times we don’t realize either of those emotions until they confront us, with all the bluntness and suddenness a life changing event can muster. When that happens, we have learned to celebrate a life shared, a life lived, a life blessed, a life remembered. Continue reading “A Christmas Made More Difficult, but We Celebrate”
It has been a while since I posted about Raving Fan service. Maybe too long. Today was good in that it provided me reason to shake my head. Shaking in disbelief? Yes. Shaking in “tell me I didn’t just hear that”. Yes. Shaking in “I got something in my ear”? Yes.
Here’s my shaking story: I’ve been home-medicating a sinus cough all week. After a couple idle threats and a plea or two (all from Deb and FD), I called my 25-year+ doctor to schedule an appointment – it was 12:45 p.m. I got the ever-pleasant phone recorder saying “our office hours are…we take lunch from 12:00-1:00”. I hung up thinking I really needed to run a business like that – don’t take phone calls over lunch. I called back after 1pm and a young lady answered. I asked to see “Jack” for a coughing aliment (I really don’t like to see anyone else but Jack). Continue reading “I shake my head and drop trough”
There have been only a few television shows that strike at my core. As my family will attest, one of them (actually multiple series) has been annoying to the entire family – Star Trek (Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer) – but then they only needed to get beyond the amateurness of acting and become one with the story line to truly appreciate the brilliance of the series.
Another favorite of mine is All in the Family. I love Archie. He reminds me of today’s right-wing Republicans that can never say a good or positive thing about…well, anything unless it deals with the increasing size of their wallet. One can only laugh in agreement or at the absurdity of the claims – there’s no middle ground with Archie.
But perhaps my all time favorite is The Andy Griffith Show. Even though I much-prefer the black & white, Don Knotts shows, never was an episode (black & white or color) aired that didn’t tell a life story or give a life lesson. And when Andy was doing the talking, it was golden…espicially if a very young Opie was at the receiving end of his lessons. Andy, the pillar of the community, the rock of reason, the class of the class, the good ‘ol boy that can relate to the bubba, is always bringing common-sense justice to the lives and purpose to the day’s events of Mayberry citizens .
See if you agree. Andy makes quick explanation and sense of a convoluted play, and re-tells a story of human nature and suggests a reasonable alternative to the problem. (probably not exactly what the playwright had in mind) Continue reading “Life Lesson No. ???”
My personal favorite month is just about over. It has found me taking 856 photos so far this month (as of this day and time of morning).
It is a time of year when nature starts preparing for winter. Animals fatten up (including me), the sugars in leaves make for admirable fall colors, kids seem to get more energetic with cool days and chilly nights. You gotta love it. Continue reading “October is the best”
Email Inspiration Received (EIR) today from my good friend David (Stapp), whom I haven’t spoken face-to-face with in probably 8 years, but have recently been forwarding emails to each other. Here’s how this message goes today:
_____________________________________________
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. Continue reading “EIR: This explains why I forward jokes…”
Email Inspiration Received: Got this email from OFSIL Becky this morning…many of you may have received or read it before this posting, but I certainly hadn’t. It makes starting my day knowing “enough” really is a pretty nice amount. Thanks Bec.
Subject: Wonderful message
Pray You ENOUGH:
Who knew this? Today’s Full Moon (10/4/09) is called a “Hunter’s Moon”. Native Americans of New England and the Great Lakes refer to the full moon at this time of the year because the deer are fat and it’s time to hunt (as well as many other animals). Since all the crops are harvested, it’s now time to gather food by hunting animals…but it’s all kind of contrary to the weekly observance of 10/26: Give Wildlife a Break Week.
October is an incredibly busy (and popular) month for special occasions and observances. I trust y’all will be joining me in the on-going daily, weekly, and monthly holiday and event celebrations in October. Of all the observances going on this month, I would like to point out a few of particular interest to me:
Bebo Norman, a favorite contemporary Christian artist of mine having 30-songs/1.9-hours worth of music on my iPhone.
I find his music to be great in that it will bring you back to where you’re supposed to be (not to mention easy to sing along with – you listen, you watch…you will be singing harmony with him before you know it).
Hope you enjoy the YouTube links to a few of his songs that have 5-star ratings on my playlist…. Continue reading “Bebo”
It was a year ago yesterday, 9/29/2008, that this crazy economic recession hit home with a drop in the Dow Jones, 777 points. This was a stock market crash never before seen in world economics – it out-performed (probably a poor choice of words noting my IRA value right now) The Great Depression and the tough recession in 1987 (the year I started my own business I might add…because of a job loss then). Our recession has thus far survived two presidencies, an impotent Congress, unrelenting political finger pointing, and facts and figures that really give me a headache. But the worst of this economic mess is job losses for the American worker.
Finally, Michael Jackson was buried yesterday evening, 70 days after his death. Perhaps now a troubled soul can finally get some rest from such a troubled, dysfunctional family.
It was reported that the whole funeral was to be staged – Taylor, Bonds to attend Jackson’s funeral – for a farewell documentary concert. The family had nearly twice as many media seats as they did those for mourners. I wondered aloud whether the family members would opt themselves out so as to free up (sell) seats for more media or other celebrities…I really didn’t think so. I struggle with my sympathy for a family that obviously grieves a tremendous loss, along with millions worldwide, but then would never pass on yet another golden opportunity to wear matching sunglasses, mug-it-up for the gossip show cameras, and try to profit once more on a success other than their own. Many in this family will moonwalk across his grave for as long as they can.
But alas and in the end, it sounded like a fitting farewell, except for the cameras, media, and rudely making invited guest wait an excessive amount of time – Family, celebrities say final goodbye to Jackson. I hope the cameras captured Gladys Knight’s rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer”…that, I can only imagine, was incredible.
Let’s put this ridiculousness of Michael’s burial delay in perspective:
From OFNi Dani – I don’t get emails from her often, but she and I, we’re both standing on the same peg on the humor ladder. So when her funny emails do come in, they are usually tear-wipers for me:
I get, on nearly a daily basis, emails proclaiming the sky is falling and life is seemingly not worth living with the current political forces in play. Some exclamations are quite humorous, some are shameful, some will make you sick that civil people would actually forward such nonsense, some are good, some are worthy of my commentary. This one came today:
This is probably the 5 best sentences you’ll ever read. This is one paragraph that should be in every book in every school room in every city in every state in our great Union . Our educators should make a lesson plan on this one statement and beat these words into every head in every class in every state in these United States of America .
Profound short paragraph: “You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005
Continue reading “ERR: “You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.””
…the Eagles have a Vick.
Please excuse my amateur attempt of humor in varying a line from Ghostbusters, but it is the professional National Football League, aka NFL – Nuts, Felones, and Lifers, that gives us the most humorless story of the week.
One of my favorite radio talk shows is a local duo – Ernie and Jay. Friday, they devoted much of their midday talk show to the NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, and Michael Vick. Hey! How did he get out of jail, being a felone and all, long before the Jackson family decides to bury Micheal (and what’s up with that?)?
Today I got my Dapper Dan all worked up by co-worker Joe…and he got me started first thing this morning. We discussed the weekend death of a true American icon, Walter Cronkite, and what little publicity it received compared to the ongoing BS of MJ’s death.
This so-called King of Pop guy died nearly a month ago (have they buried him yet?) and yet we continue to be spoon fed all this self-proclaimed royalty hogwash from the media and “prominent” celebrities about how the world will never be the same without him. Continue reading “And that’s the way it is, MJ”
Who knew? Today, July 7th is Bonza Bottler Day! We have twelve of those a year…apparently it gives good reason to go out and party with your family and friends. It’s when the day of the month is the same as the month number (today is 07-07). And there’s even a website for this day: Bonza Bottler Day Website.
Celebrations should be on-going today, this week, and this month. According to my reliable sources, it is:
Continue reading “Oddities of the Day, Week, Month for July”
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