UP n atom

Many Thanks to Ruthless for sending this to me...or was that at me?

 You think English is easy???   Read on

 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 

 2) The farm was used to  produce produce . 
 
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
 
4 ) We must polish the Polish Furniture. 
    

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
 
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
 

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was        time to present the present . 
 
8) A bass was painted on the head of  the bass drum...
 

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
 
10) I did not object to the object. 
 
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 
 
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row 
 
13) They were too close to the Door to close it.

 
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
 
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
 
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong  to wind the sail. 
 
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
 
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 
 

20) How can I  intimate this to my most intimate friend? 
  Let's face it - English is a crazy language.. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. 
  

We take English for  granted. But if  we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.  And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?  One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? 
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If avegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
 

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what 
language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? 
 
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on. 

English was invented by people, Not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. 
 
PS. - 
 Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ?
 

You lovers of the nglish Language might enjoy this. 

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.' 
 
It's easy to understand  UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a. topic comeUP ? Why
 do we speak UP and why are the  Officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary  to write UP a report? 
 
We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP aroom, polish UP the silver; we warm UP theleftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lockUP the house and some guys 
fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UPtrouble, line UP for tickets, 
work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special... 
 
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP 
because it is stopped UP.  We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. 
 
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be  knowledgeable about the proper uses of  UP, look the word 
UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP 
almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP toabout thirty definitions.  If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will It will take UP a lot
of your time, but if you don't give UP, you maywind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.  When the sun comes  out we say it is clearing UP..  When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things
dry UP.
 
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP,
for now my time isUP, so........it is time to shut UP! 
 
Oh
 one more thing: What is the first thing  you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night?
 
U-P  

Later y'all

God Bless

Salvation part deux

So how ya' doing this fine morning?  That's ok, me neither.   

Oh, and why aren't you in church?   Me, I'm waiting for my ride.

Wrote about Salvation yesterday and want to touch on that again.  The why on that is because it makes all the difference in my life and I want to share the joy with everyone.

So there.

I have a mental box that I have labeled "DNAARN"  translated in to human it reads, Don't Need An Answer Right Now....The thinking/reasoning/questioning part of my mind is always asking things that quite frankly can't be answered in this life.   So when something comes up that perplexes me, I set it in that box and know that the answer will be given when I'm ready and able to understand it.

So many things about Heaven are (probably) myth conjured up out of thin air,  you know floatting around on clouds with harps and such.....the book of Revelation tells what Heaven will be like, and it t'ain't nuttin like that for sure.  I (being an inquireing mind) want to know what it will be like....or so I thought, I'm at place with myself now that allows me to set that line of questioning aside.  

You see, when you have been Saved or as the Bible calls it "Sanctified" you are really "Born Again" .  When I accepted Jesus fully into my life about 6 years ago, I was very litteraly an infant in my understanding of living as a child of God.   Now at a born again age of 6 I'm still just a toddler, but when you compare a toddler or a 1st grader with a new born, you see vast differences.   When I was born again, I walked around with a big silly grin (ok, I've always done that), and people in the church said that I was in the honeymoon period of salvation.....still am and that is great.  When God sanctified me, I thought ...ok that's it....  but being a willing student (for a change) and also an eager one, I kept trying to catch up on what a life-time of sin had deprived me of.   The more willing I became to learn and grow, the more that God showed me.  This is a never ending cycle that just gets more and more awsome.  As my Pastor said, "There are verses in the Bible he's read 100's of times, and each time he reads one, God reveals more of its meaning to him."   This is so true on many levels, the more I try to please God and to live in a manner that will show my Christianity to the world, the happier I become and the happiness is a God given gift that builds from deep within your soul.

There are so many out there that try to find their happiness and feel good moments through the pleasure of this world.   Thourgh the flesh, drugs, alcohol, intellectual pursuits, power, money, fame....have you noticed how quickly in those areas that too much becomes not enough?   You are in a never ending downward spiral  of trying to get just a little bit more than the last time!   Because the the last time, was good but not perfect.....or maybe the last time just didn't satisfy you, or left you empty.

Try my drug.......Salvation....... every day brings a greater and more fulfilling joy than the day before.  The neat part about it is the fact that it's FREE....it's there for the asking!  Something that is so valuable that all the money on earth can't buy it.  So joyfull that all the stimulants on earth can't begin to touch the high.   It's yours for the  asking.   Just ask, sit back in your chair, close your eyes and think of the wasteland that your life as become.   Even a wasteland with all the trappings of a mansion,  fancy cars and clothes, and vacations around the world....hey, it's still a wasteland.  Why, because you arn't happy, there is something missing.   If you haven't been born again of the Spirit, then I will guarantee that if you admit it or not, there is a hole in your life....

Friends, Step right up,......you, yes you......come on over, step inside step inside for the show that never ends....See the mysteries of the ages, right here before your very eyes... 

You've seen it on tv, you've heard about from your friends... yes, the answer to lifes problems folks...right here, right now.... 

This is your chance, you can have it all.....

For you, yes you, just you....why you?  Because you're you and we love you.....that's why......COST? What's it cost?  you ask....well let me tell you....I could charge you anything I want and it would still be cheap.  My competion down the street will scoff at this offer and even give you incentives to buy their plan....but let me tell you right now folks  READ THE FINE PRINT on his offer, cause there is always a catch!  So, we're back to the cost are we......well since ...ok, let me put it this way.....I'll give you the eternal happiness, and a new body that doesn't hurt or age.....hey, since you're obviously a person of fine breeding and distinction I'll even throw in a manion on a street paved with gold.  And as a special incentive, for the rest of your life on earth, a deep seated happiness coupled with the fellowship of  good decent people that like to be around you and share with you.....and the best part is......

Now.....get out your check book...get out your wallet... got your credit cards handy.....ok, now tear them up...yep...don't want anything for this special offer!  That's right all free.... oh there are couple of caviats....we would like it if you give up the drugs and swearing and carnal pleasures....but you wanna know something?   Once you've signed up... that's it, you're in.....all you have to do is believe.... no signature on the dotted line.....no pact in blood.....no arm twisting.  The rest, the commandments......(I love this part)  you won't want to do those things anymore!!   Sure it's a process getting to that stage, but it's not as bad as you'd think....

The evil one still will assult you......but that's ok, you've got pretty good back up now.

Sheesh......I'm going to be honest now....I don't know if any of this made sense at all....just going to hit the button and send it on the way......let me know and I talk atcha later

God Bless

On Salvation

Random thoughts upon what should be the focus of every single person's life.

Random thoughts that are being typed by a totally imperfect Christian that  is not in any way a theologian.

One of the things about salvation that astounds me the most is the sheer awsome simplicity of it all.   As Paul states in I Chronicles (I am not going to quote, I am paraphrasing and putting what I believe out there for you all); God does not want us to "think" our way to him.  He wants us to discover and find true belief by faith.   Salvation is not something of the mind.  

The whole thing is so simple that it will elude you if you try to "reason" it out.   How simple you ask, well it's like this I answer... Step 1 - Admit that Jesus the Christ suffered and died for your sins.   Step  2 - Ask God to also forgive you for your sins.  Step 3 - Hmmm well actually at this point.. there is no step three because you are saved.

If you've been really sincere, and only you and God will know that for a fact, and if you truely believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and his suffering and death were to purify you so that you will have everlasting liife.  If you can admit to yourself that you are a mere human being that is steeped in sin and wickedness, then you should know also that when Jesus was up on that cross, HE was paying the price for your sins.  Not you, no me, not your uncle  Fudd....HE paid the price.  HE paid that price willingly so that if you choose, you can spend eternity with God and Jesus and all the others that have come to accept Jesus as their savior.   

We are all alike in many more ways than we want to admit.   Meet Duane (me), Sinner 1st class with clusters, name a sin, I've been there and done that.  I know for a fact that while probably the most despicable person that ever lived, I'm really close.....but you know what?   God loves me anyway!   I don't pretend to understand why or how.   I can't begin to really understand, but I don't worry about it.

I do what little I can to live as Christlike as possible.  Knowing full well  that I am constantly doing, saying, thinking  the wrong thing that will offend God.   And because  I ask, and ask sincerly....often.... HE forgives me for being imperfect.

I was/am a drunk, a drug addict, a fornicator, an adulterer, I would get paid for hurting people,  I lied, cheated, stole, I honestly don't know how many times I've been in jail, I was/am a lousy father, a worse husband, pretty much the dregs of humanity......God spent a lot of time trying to get my attention, finally it sank in.....and since accepting salvation and deciding to live like a Christian should live....I am blessed with an inner glow and peace of mind that is so wonderful that it threatens to make me burst with joy and true gratitude.   Until you've taken that step, you can't know the real wonder of Gods love.

One step, the smallest-largest-longest step you will ever take....and if you are sincere, and you can admit to yourself that you need to take this step, well..... all I can say....take that step and (as the song says) I'll meet you at the Eastern Gate (of Heaven).

Since I could go on talking for hours about the joys and rewards of salvation, I'm not going to -grin- I'm going to let you think of what you need to think about.

God Bless

Impromptu Hymn

Are you ready for the trumpets call?

For that glorius day is  comming soon, 

when this world will fade away, upon that clarion call.

The time is short my friend,

and judgement is near.

When it comes to the end,

will your soul be in the clear?

On that glorious morn,

when Gabriel blows the horn,

will you rise to meet your God,

or wish that you'd never been born?

To rise with the Saints, will be such a joy.

It's all quite simple, let me put it like this.

Tell Jesus you believe,

and Gods bliss you'll receive.

His requirement are few, but they are absolute.

Admit that you are a sinner, and lost in the worlds strife

Ask him to enter your heart and your life.

His love will enfold you and make you secure,

in a world where all else is impure.

So  the trumpet will sound with a note so devine,

When that happens, just put your hand in mine.

We will rise together, our Savior to greet

and lay our souls down at God's hallowed feet.

So this question I ask because I don't want you to fall,

Have you given Christ your all?

And Now...More PUNishment

  1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
 
  2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
 
  3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
 
  4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.
 
  5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
 
  6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
 
  7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
 
  8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
 
  9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
 
  10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
 
  11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
 
  12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
 
  13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'
 
  14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
 
  15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
 
  16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said 'No change yet.'
 
  17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
 
  18. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
 
  19 . The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
 
  20 . A backward poet writes inverse.
 
  21 . In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
 
  22 . When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
 
  23 . Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!

A Short Walk

Hello again, this is a short thing I wrote a few years ago.... lemme know what you think....ohkay?

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A Short Walk

 The first thing that you have to understand is that I absolutely hate walking point. What's more, I should be the last chosen to walk point. At six-foot three and 225 pounds of muscle without any co-ordination, I am not ideal for this position. Add in the fact that I am as near-sighted as a brick-wall, and you should get the idea. Besides, I'm a short-timer, 43 days and a wake-up then this child is Arizona bound.  

 That's the trouble with brand new officers. Gotta show their authority. Sheeit.  

 So I find myself taking another step. Right foot up, left foot planted. Oh-oh a rock. Step on it? No! Charley would think that's the place for the mine. OK, think, right of the rock, or left of the rock? Maybe, maybe over the rock. Think dumb-ass, think. Where would the sumbitch put the mine? OK, lets go for right. No, no, left!  

 A bug with wings decides that my neck is it's lunch. Right foot in the air, and poised. Hope the sweat running down my neck drowns the little sumbitch. Ok, it bit me on the right, soooo....step....left side of the rock. Lower the foot, ever so gently upon the leaves to the left. Giving thanks for the sign that made this decision easier.

 I'm still alive! Oh shit, gotta move the left foot!

 A thousand shades of green and brown surround me. The colors are alternately brilliant and subdued as the sunlight filters thru the trees overhead. Insects buzz, a bird call's in the distance. My eyes move in all directions. trying to see thru the sweat that covers my glasses.

 Somehow, with the paranoid part of my brain making the decision, my left foot finds a safe landing place. The 'very' paranoid part of my brain has charge of the eyes today.

 My breathing is so loud that I figure every VC within two klicks knows that I am here.  

 A loud "psstt" I pause gratefully, and listen to the muffled footsteps coming up behind me.

 Cedric grins at me. His teeth are a brilliant white in the gloom of the Ho Bo woods. His black skin is covered with the sweat and dirt of a three day patrol. His eyes that sparkle with the humor of one who knows what is really going on look back at me.

 "Candy-assed LT. says we need a rest." I sink to a crouch and grin back at him. "Sheeit, we only been out 'bout an hour." We carefully sink to the ground for a moment and each of us instantly lights up. Ok, sure, it's stupid, but what the hell.  

 Like I said, I'm a big guy. Cedric is a freakin mountain, standing two inches taller and carrying 50 more pounds. We've been close since we got here. I keep telling him I'm an old pro compared to him. After all, I got to Cu Chi three days before him. We've shared a lot in the last ten and a half months. He carried me back to 'Doc' when I got the shrapnel in my leg the time we were ambushed just out of Trang Bang. I returned the favor when an AK47 round went thru his upper arm two months later. Standing side by side we had been thru 15 fire-fights and a lot of shit. I'm a damn cowboy redneck from the mountains of Arizona, he's a 'croppers son from outside of Dothan, Alabama. We are always on each others ass for the stupid way's we had been brought up. He calls me a damned ignorant cracker bigot. I tell him that that's ok, least I'm not some dumb negro cotton picker. We love each other like brothers. We are not white or black, we are Wolfhounds! Yeah sure, we may be with Bravo company 2nd btn, 27th Infantry. The Wolfhounds. Actually we are a couple of scared kids, that just wanna go home and cruise the main drag, listen to rock n roll, and find some sweet young thing to make out with.

 A movement to our rear. Chickowski is motioning us to move out.

 A groan from each of us as we stand and begin again. I take the right, Cedric the left and we begin our dance of death with the floor of the jungle.

 It must be about 4 in the afternoon. We should have stopped an hour ago, to start setting up our nights hardpoint. Mind is numb from the constant struggle to figure out where to walk. Body is exhausted. The trail has widened out and Chicowski relay's that we are to stop here. Finally.

 Cedric and I pick a spot behind a termite mound on the right of the trail and listen to the rest moving up.

 Most of the platoon is in the wide spot and milling around and beginning to set up the position. One of the FNG's, (what the hell is his name?) is walking towards our mound when he kind of stops in mid-stride and looks at the hole that is spurting blood in great gouts from his right arm.

 All hell breaks loose. AK's, rpg's, and machine-gun fire rip around us. Cedric and I had been half dozing with fatigue, he swings around and starts spraying to the left of us with his 16. I'm doing the same to the right.

 Screaming and shouting and pops and roars fill the air. The zip-zip of near misses, sing an evil song as they go by.  

 Crenshaw is down, about twenty feet to my right. "Medic" Was that me that shouted that? "Medic" It was that time.

 A sudden deafness. A roiling of dirt and debris. 

 I.....I...How come I'm on my face? 

 I look up, Cedric is staring into my face with eyes that will never see this world again.

 So odd, I can't seem......my arms....they are so heavy.

 Forever, that's how long it takes me to lift my hand. Forever, that's the time needed to reach that hand to Cedrics.

 Forever, that is what we have now.

Morning Musing

G'day y'all....been awhile but am (of course) thinking about you always....or maybe not.  Who knows.

Beauty full day here in the aridzone.  Finally getting out of the upper 90s and are supposed to be around 90 for a high each day this week.   Good news for old fahts like me.

Just got off the fone with a nice lady from United Animal Friends.  I foster orphan kitties for them and am doing the voiceovers for them on a local television special they are doing.  So a nice talk about it.

Sorry bout that....a brief pause while I talked with Ruthless on the phone.

Watched the Mad Max trilogy this week....had seen parts of the 1st and 2nd before and now have watched the entire thing.  The first is ok and it's a hoot watching Mel Gibson cause he looks like he is only about 16 years old..... The second edition Road Warrior is very good and probably the best overall of the series.   Beyond Thunderdome is the 3rd and final, it's very good in places and enjoyable but, for some reason that I can't explain just not quite as good as Road Warrior.

The Cards look pretty good against Jacksonville on Sunday, but up next are the Colts.  This will be a real test to see just how good a team we are.

ASU Sun Devils have been quite impressive against lesser caliber opponents and now face their big challenge, the Georgia Bulldogs in Georgia!   Should be a heck of a game, and then on to Pac 10 play.

Well, Mr mind is starting to drift away for a little while and I must needs get some things done before it's time for a nap..... So A River Dechie Mon A Moor also A Low Hah.

God Bless

Just a quick note because I care....see...look into my eyes (all four of them), now honestly, have you ever seen such sincerity before?

Quickly moving on;  just want to share something with you it's a link to Ann Coulter's web site.  I know, I know.... if you are a liberal or anything of that  particular ilk....Ann Coulter is a four letter word.  However trust me, for the last month she has been running a weekly column on the Health Care Reform Bill. 

Wether or not you agree with her (personally I don't see how you can not agree with her).  It is very informative.

So here is the link   AnnColter.com and there is an archive so you can start at the begining  of the series

And Now, the rest of the story

Ahhh, things look much better on Saturday morning...somewhat later (about 11 hours) after my last note.  A good nights sleep, waking up to a kitten sitting on the pillow next to my head, thunder all around the area and a cool breeze......da good life.....course the thunder don't mean it's raining.   All around Cordes , but none here on my plot.

Did a little surfing around the web before signing on to write this, and not much happening in the world.   Ok, lots happening in the world, but nothing that jumped out at me.  Which is a good thing......something jumping out at me, causes what I call my Bill Cosby reaction.  "first you say it, then you do it."   College football, PAC-10 style starts tonight, with ASU facing Idaho State.   Not really a must see game, but at least it's college football.

Looking forward to Sunday, for those liberals in the crowd..that's tomorrow.   Church and the first Sunday of the month pot luck......free food, see there is a GOD and he is generous, even to Southern Baptists.

On a political note, what little reading of the pundits and headlines that I do anymore, I've noticed a few little things.  The beltway bandits (known as congress)(and I refuse to capitalize their job positions) are in denial and shock about the fact that us commoners are so rude and disgusting  in the town hall meetings about health care!   The left has started a full fledged assult on Sarah Palin, which shows me that  they are terrified of her actually running for President!  Typical on their part.  I have never seen so many people talking bad about and resenting the government before....and, if I remember correctly, I lived through the 60's.  It's just about reached the scary stage.  Everywhere you go people are saying rude things and I won't say advocating violence, but I will say expecting it.   Sad really, but expected when you thing of how arrogant the idiots like Obama, Biden,  Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Franken, Daschell, Rangel, Sharpton and their ilk are.  I guess you know it's bad when they can almost make one nostalgic for the Clinton years!

But enough about the End Of Times.  Speaking of that, have many friends who believe we are in them now......I'm on the fence about how close the Trumpet is, but am sure ready to hear it.

Will recommend the Max Lucado book "A Cast Of Characters" to all (and sundry).   Was the subject of a just ended Bible study.   I had never read one of his many books before and was just blown away by his style and God given gift of explaining the Gospel.   Change start of this paragraph to HIGHLY recommend.

Anyhow, is almost noonish here and as the bard once said  "I have a rumbly in my tumbly."   So you are on your own until I get bored again.

God Bless

Humbugs

Hello, and good evening...it's not quite morning here so will save the good mornings for another time.

Feeling down and blue....or maybe just depressed, repressed, unpressed and dispossed......simply put....yucky.  Think I'll talk about it cause doubt that anyone except my sister and Ruth ever read this (thanks guys-you two can ignore my late night whines).

Just getting lonely....go through these bouts every so often, and will snap out of it in a few years...er, a day or so.  I hope.  Am homebound and with MS in an Arizona summer...that means I don't leave my yard more than 5 or 6 times a month....sometimes will spend 4 to 6 days not going any further than my carport.  Gets to you after awhile.  Don't get me wrong, I've got tons of people calling on the phone to check up on me (I think they just want to make sure I'm home and not on the way to visit them!).   Willie and Elaine are always willing to take me to Church or the store, but you know how it is to constantly ask for rides somewhere, even when the ride is given without any problem you just feel like you're intruding on someone.  Especially now that I havn't driven for 3  (!) years. 

My neighbor friends Marti and Robert are moving across town and they are about the last people left on this end of the block.  I have a vacant lot then an empty rental to my west  on this side of the street, two vacant lots then an empty home on the east side of mine.  A burned out trailer behind me, next to a vacant lot.  Marti & Robert lived katty corner to my north.  A vacant lot directly across the street and next to that is a trailer that is the "getaway" home of some people from Washington State and they haven't been there in almost a year.   Sigh.

Getting right down to it, is the fact that I'm just going through one of those times in a single persons life when they miss having someone to be with.   Not that I want to share my life actually, but it does get lonely.   Just realized that I have gone to bed alone every night since 1995!  Sigh, sniffle.  Miss having someone to cuddle with.   The really funny thing about that is the fact that I've NEVER had someone to cuddle with!   My ex spent 25 years telling me no to cuddlin, then Sam (a female Sam in case you are interested) would cuddle only very occaisionaly maybe 1  time in 5.  And we were only together for a short while anyhow.   Got any tears yet....?

I think all of that explains why my cats are so important to me.   Espescially the foster kittens that NEED their cuddles and love.   Also explains why it  hurts so much to give them up for adoption.

My sister and I talked a little bit about relationships this evening, and I think we have (shock) slightly different attitudes at the present time.  The thought of dateing is abhorant to her....she said she out much rather go straight to marriage rather than go through the whole "ritual" of dateing again.   Me, I can't date, for a couple of obvious reasons;  no money, no car, no single females, oh...and no front toofuss' either.....add to that the fact that when I'm talking to females I will (and this is a given fact) always do the worst thing at the most in-oportune time....hey, it's a knack, what can I say.

Isi (the sister)(long story) does have the luxury of having her son and grandkids close to hand.  She's got her grand daughters with her this weekend.

Havn't heard from my girls in forever, and can understand that......never was much of a father and they sure have busy lives anyhow.   As an aside to that, I am so very proud of both of them....Claire manages a warehouse/distribution center and Jenny manages a huge produce department for aa major grocery outlet.  They have both come so far, from the horrible childhoods they had.

Still got the sniffles?   That's ok, me also, actually by just typing all of this out am feeling a little better.

Probably didn't help that  I watched "The Sixth Sense" tonight, good flick and Bruce Willis is good actor.   Also just adore Toni Collette, so that didn't hurt. However it is a tear jerker and that didn't help my mood I suppose.   Should have watched something uplifting slapstick.....maybe, oh Titanic, or Old Yeller.....just kidding.

Anyhow, I've got the whining out of my system to a certain extent and like I said, I feel confident that nobody but Kris and maybe Ruth will read this.....

So don't bug me about K & R.... And if anyone including either of you do actually read this piece of drivel... by all means, leave a comment so I'll know that somebody pays attention and won't bother with this self pity writing anymore..... insert grin here.

God Bless

Goals not Gaols

Good Morrow fine people or persons or whatevers.

You know when you get older you start thinking more often about those things that you wish you had done or places you wanted to go and just never made it. 

I definately fall into the getting older sections so been thinking of things that if given the chance to do I would leap at...and won't even mention Sophia Loren from here on out.

First would be go to sea....been wanting to do that since I read my first Hornblower book in the late 1950s.   Don't know if I would spend the time throwing up or fall overboard or what....but oh my wouldn' t that be something to see the ocean in all of its moods and watch the sun rise/set.   I'm not talking about a humungous cruis ship but  a sailing ship or a freighter.   Wouldn't have to be large or comfortable, just be going somewhere....oh and comming back would be a nice option also.

The next few things are also in the realm of conquering fears, since I am afraid of heights!

Parachute, skydive whatever..... it's the one that would scare me the most but it has a definate appeal.

Go in a small, single engine airplane to sightsee over Arizona.  The thought of airliners terrifies me, but would love to see the sights from about 2 to 5 thousand feet and at a slow speed.

Go backseat in a jet fighter!   Yes, I know that the pilots would do things that would cause me to lose lunches I havn't even eaten yet, but to feel the performance and thrills that an aircraft of that kind would provide....wow.

Would love to spend a week with the Arizona Cardinals during the regular season, just to see what they go through and to be able to walk on the sidelines during a game.   Funny, I've been a  Cards fan since we were both in St Louis in 1977 and 78, but never been able to go to a game of theirs.  Growing up in the Bay Area went to quite a few 49er games "back in the day".   Have been to a few training camps of the Cards and that is always eye opening to say the least.

Drive a stock car....but maybe not that fast!   Have driven cars at over 150 mph and cycles (motor not bi))  over 100 but to sit in a NASCAR type car and take a few laps would be incredible.

Visit Scotland.   Only a quarter of my heritage is Scots, but I think it's the Alpha quarter!   To show you how serious a pull this is...I don't drink anymore and would still put going to Scotland as one of my priorites.

Go on a horseback ride from the Mexican border all the way up to Canada and if possible without going on paved roads.  I don't like camping and am a terrible rider, but the idea of seeing the country as our intrepid ancestors did is intriguing.

Kind of on the same idea would be a trip from the start of the Mississippi River to the Gulf on a small boat.  Maybe even a barge tug would be cool....crossed the Mississippi many times and driven beside and sat on the bank a few times and it is so incredibly majestic that it pulls on you, just to see what's around the bend.

Well my desk top has come down with an attack of kitten so in lieu of a longer list I will say

TTFN and May God Bless You.

This, That and the Other

Hello again.  Have no idea what to write about today so here goes nuttin.  

Rogue the dog just got a  bath.....ahh skunks, we just gotta chase them.   Oh well, not as bad as the first two times which were at point blank range.....He's turned into an outside dog and that is great.  Even Rosslyn is going outside more....way too hot for them to sleep with me this time of the year so they spend the nights outside.

Willie is comming over in an hour or so to fix my swamp cooler, as it seems to be fine on the swamp part, but the cooler thing is eluding it.  Don't know what I'd do without Willie and his wife Elain.   Two of the nicest most Christian people in the world.

Saw the article yesterday about the bill in the Senate that would give the president the power to take over the internet at his whim......One of those back door thing that is being written (behind closed doors, which means no expert or public scrutiny) by the aides of senator Rockafeller of West Virginia...need I add that he is of course a demoncrap..er democrat...  Actually that's the second thing this week I've seen on the lefts attemps to silence the majority.   A liberal (!) law professor at the U of Minnesota is warning that whatever you say on the internet in chat rooms or blogs (!) or comments or anything is open to slander law suits so you'd better be good or big brother and his little minded helpers the ACLU and the ABA will come and beat the crap out of you.

Don't you love "hope and change".   Change for sure, lets see, this is sort of still the United States of America and since January the auto industry and the banking industry have been nationalized, we have been officialy informed that we are not a Christian Nation.....and they are trying to shut down the internet, talk radio and nationalize the health care industry.   

You notice that when I don't have anything to say that I sure get worked up about politics.   That's the price you pay I guess.

I've been thinking of what the platform would be if I could organize a workable new political party.  Think I will save that for another blog and try to make happy happy joy joy for now.....grin.

Welp, maybe I'll be back later today or maybe the Rockettes will stop by the house and tap dance on my kitchen counter and heart.......

I know which is more likely, and also which is the one I would rather happen.

Later y'all

God Bless

On the matter of NOISE

In my reading of fiction (and some biography) I've noted that many of the men are described like this... Like many men of a solitary existence he was withdrawn and taciturn, seldom speaking or indeed making any sounds at all. ......

Hmmmm, well ok;  you would have to say that I am a "solitary" individual being that I have lived alone for the last 6 years.  Anyone that would call me taciturn would be hauled away and their medication increased by at least twofold!

I've been in the houses' of people that seem to echo of the silence.   At one friends house I was sitting (quietly) in the living room whilst she was pouring  some coffee in the kitchen, her cat cleared his throat and in the stillness of the house it sounded like a gunshot!   The poor lady almost fainted from the sudden outbreak of volume!

In my house you could fire a full clip from an M16 and the noise wouldn't startle the sleeping cats. 

Three things abhor a vacum; Nature, my floors, and my hearing......I have noise going all the time.  Usually I'm listening to music, have a couple of area fans and the swamp cooler running.  That's just for starters.  Hang around this place for any length of time and you will hear me talking.  Ok my mouth is moving and sounds are comming out, but talking ..... nah, it's just noise.

I talk to the cats.   I talk to the dogs.  I talk to God.  I talk to myself (always a last option).  I talk to the walls, the furniture, the plants, the dishes...you get the picture.

I used to worry that I was crazy...now I don't care!  I've realized that I need some sound around.  I'm always commenting on something, trying out a new line to see if it sounds funny or weird (ok, they all sound weird but you can't blame a guy for hoping).  I will sing (make lound semi-rythmic noises) verses from old tunes and from tunes I've made up.  I will call myself names for doing the stupid things I do.  I will have conversations with "The Voices" (to understand that you have to read some of the older blogs).  I will make gibberish sounds just to see how they sound (like gibberish usually).

The point is ...none really, just wanted to let you guys know that I'm crazy 24/7/365, not just when I'm around you! 

I'm pretty sure that knowledge isn't reassuring.

Oh well.

see you next time and

God Bless

Mr Pratchett

Well since you all know me, you must know that I believe Terry Pratchett to be one of the greatest writers of the last few hundred years.

To those of you who haven't read his works, his most widely read body of works is called the Diskworld Series.  In a fantasy setting he expounds on some fairly deep and complex themes.

Thought I'd share some  of the quotes and one liners of this series.

Tourist, Rincewind decided, means "Idiot."

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks.

"It would seem that you have no useful skill or talent whatsoever," he said. "Have you thought of going into teaching?"

- "Pardon me for living, I'm sure."
- NO-ONE GETS PARDONED FOR LIVING. (the character Death always speaks in capitols).

The only things known to go faster than ordinary light is monarchy, according to the philosopher Ly Tin Weedle. He reasoned like this: you can't have more than one king, and tradition demands that there is no gap between kings, so when a king dies the succession must therefore pass to the heir instantaneously. Presumably, he said, there must be some elementary particles -- kingons, or possibly queons -- that do this job, but of course succession sometimes fails if, in mid-flight, they strike an anti-particle, or republicon. His ambitious plans to use his discovery to send messages, involving the careful torturing of a small king in order to modulate the signal, were never fully expanded because, at that point, the bar closed.

Ankh-Morpork had dallied with many forms of government and had ended up with that form of democracy known as One Man, One Vote. The Patrician was the Man; he had the Vote.

"You like it?" he said to Mort, in pretty much the same tone of voice people used when they said to St George, "You killed a what?"

Of course, Ankh-Morpork's citizens had always claimed that the river water was incredibly pure. Any water that had passed through so many kidneys, they reasoned, had to be very pure indeed.

The vermine is a small black and white relative of the lemming, found in the cold Hublandish regions. Its skin is rare and highly valued, especially by the vermine itself; the selfish little bastard will do anything rather than let go of it.

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?" Death thought about it. "CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

"Actors," said Granny, witheringly. "As if the world weren't full of enough history without inventing more."

The Ephebians made wine out of anything they could put in a bucket, and ate anything that couldn't climb out of one.

- "There's a door"
- "Where does it go?"
- "It stays where it is, I think."

Any wizard bright enough to survive for five minutes was also bright enough to realise that if there was any power in demonology, then it lay with the demons. Using it for your own purposes would be like trying to beat mice to death with a rattlesnake.

"You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage."

"That's right," he said. "We're philosophers. We think, therefore we am."

His philosophy was a mixture of three famous schools -- the Cynics, the Stoics and the Epicureans -- and summed up all three of them in his famous phrase, "You can't trust any bugger further than you can throw him, and there's nothing you can do about it, so let's have a drink."

Words are the litmus paper of the minds. If you find yourself in the power of someone who will use the word "commence" in cold blood, go somewhere else very quickly. But if they say "Enter", don't stop to pack.

"He says gods like to see an atheist around. Gives them something to aim at."

Om began to feel the acute depression that steals over every realist in the presence of an optimist.

YOU HAVE PERHAPS HEARD THE PHRASE THAT HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE? "Yes. Yes, of course." Death nodded. IN TIME, he said, YOU WILL LEARN THAT IT IS WRONG.

"Now we've got a truth to die for!" "No. Men should die for lies. But the truth is too precious to die for."

Ok children, that's it for today's lesson.  Be sure to study and there will be a test on this.

God Bless

A Dinner Pary

Back in the stoned ages (the 1960's) Irving Wallace and his family put out a couple of fun books called the "Book of Lists 1 & 2".   Great reading for trivia buffs or or just to kill a few moments.

I think one of my favorite sections was a quiz that they gave to various celebritys called "Who's Comming to Dinner".  Or something like that anyhow.

Here's the deal;  you are having an eleborate formal dinner that will take an entire evening.  You will be at the head of the table on each side of the table you are going to have 5 guests for a total of 10.

Now, out of every single person in history, living or dead......who would you invite?    I've added a rider onto that......you cannot invite Jesus the Christ!   For me at least, there would be no other reason to invite or listen too or look at anyone else!  (insert grin here).

Some of the respondents chose people that had something in common (ie; all evil, all phillosphers, all royals), some chose people that would "rub against" one another for good arguments (ie.; Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill).   Some others were just ecclectic and chose people that fascinated them.  Some chose a mix of famous and family.   So you see that there is quite a lot of variety available....who would you choose?

My list (as of this very moment, and that changes often) is as follows.

1.     Winston Churchill.    A many of such great intellect and such a variety of interests.   A rich and sickly boy, war correspondent, politician, cabinet minister, First Lord of the Admiralty, Prime Minister, author, artist, bon-vivant.   Great conversationalist, and would enliven any discussion.

2.     Robert E. Lee.    The consumate gentleman.  A brilliant military mind and unsurpassed leader.   A man of principle.   Remember up to the Civil war you were identified by your state first and as an American second (and don't get me started on that).  Gave up everything to fight for his state.  Quiet, refined, tough, well educated and I have the feeling that when he speaks....people listen.

3.     Abraham Lincoln.    The most vilified and admired man of his time.   Another man of principle that could and did put his convictions first.   Awkward, rough hewn, a gifted speaker and crafter of words.

4.     Aspasia.     The first woman on the list and quite an intriguing personage.   A Greek from about 400-500BC she was either the wife or mistress of the great Pericles and was a great influence on Athenian politics.  Not much is really know about her except that she was extremly highly educated, supposedly very beautiful and quite controversial.

5.   Theodore Roosevelt.    The 26th President of the United States.   Another man of many interests (notice a pattern here?), politician, naturalist, cowboy, author, soldier..... A man of boundless energy and a bouyant character (I always wanted to say that about somebody).

6.     Ronald Reagan.      Once more an American President and many of many talents.   Staunch conservative, devout Christian.   Won the Cold War, returned pride to the US.   Nuff said.

7.     Sophia Loren.     Most beautiful woman I've ever seen and loves to cook spaghetti.   Enjoys life and loves people.   Classy and a great conversationalist.

8     Frank Spencer.    Yep, my dad....a somewhat shy man that was content to remain in the background.   However when he spoke, everyone paid attention,  because he thought before he spoke and always had an excess of common sense, also a deep respect for everyone.

9     Mark Twain     A "been there, done that" kind of guy.   He knew the America of his age better than anyone.   Hey, any man who can say "I don't give a damn for any man that can only spell a word one way.", that is my kind of guy.

10     Well it's time to cheat a little bit here; I've been thinking about this for several days and just can't come up with one person that stands out above the rest...so take your pick from the following.... Groucho Marx, Queen Hatsetshup of ancient Egypt, Johnny Carson, Clara Bow, Billy Graham, a young Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Simon de Monfort, Leonardo DaVinci, Terry Pratchett, Margaret Thatcher, Marilyn Monroe, Ben Franklin, William Shakespear, Frank Sinatra........

Probably about 50 more could be added to the list.... you get the idea......feel free to suggest anyone that you would add or better yet...make up your own list.

TTFN &

God Bless

Here n' There

The Latest bout with the MS is sure taking its toll.  Had a real bad spell starting just before Church on Sunday and am really still feeling the effects as of now.   Oh well.

Trying to get caught up with some of the cleaning this morning, it is really incredible how much damage 7 kittens can do in a few moment!

Started watching a 1961 movie last night "El Cid" starring Charleton Heston and Sophia Loren.   It's about the Christian Reconquista of Spain and Portugal in the 12th century.  Haven't seen it since is was in theaters!   Man I must be old.   Two things struck me in the 20 or so minutes I watched last night.   The first was a speech by the emir of the Muslims from Northern Africa.   He was exhorting his subordinates from Moorish Iberia to be "real" Muslims and to kill all the infidels!   His speech could have come right off of any news broadcast of today and it was written and performed almost 50 years ago, based on words that were originally said over 1,000 years ago!   Wake up Christianity!

The second (and less threatening) thing was the state of special effects in 1961, as the aforesaid leader is riding on horseback to his meeting he comes out of a castle and gallops down a hill in through what looks like hundreds of men and camels....very impressive until you realized that the gathered throngs are all cardboard cutouts!   Really a hoot.

By the way, El Cid is based on real events, the somewhat fictionalized story of a man that united  the Christians of the peninsuala with the moderate moors and drove out the invaders who were bent on conquering the world and even made it into France.

Keep fighting the urge on Facebook to put in something about either "my wife"  or "my impending move to Scotland",  just to see how long it will take people to notice!    Have behaved so far.

Have a couple of scorchers in the forecast for Cordes today and tomorrow!   Been a strange monsoon so far this year.  hasn't rained much but when it has it's been a good "soaker".

Football season is just about here!  Well the game part of it.   ASU plays their first game in 17 days and the Cards play their 2nd pre-season game on Friday. Sigh, life are good.

Well, aside from an addendum that will go in another post  that's about it for this time.

God Bless

HERE'S YOUR PUN-ISHMENT

A good pun is its own re-word

The Energizer Bunny has been arrested and charged with battery.

A pessimist's blood type is always b-negative.

Practice safe eating - always use condiments.

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.

Shotgun wedding: a case  of wife or death.

I used to work in a blanket factory, but it folded.

Divorce is the mourning after the knot before.

A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.

A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.

When two egotists  meet, it's an I for an I.

What's the definition of a will?   (Come on, it's a dead giveaway.)

A backwards poet writes inverse.

In Democracy your vote counts.  In feudalism, your count votes.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist, do you get repossessed?

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

When a clock is hungry, it goes back 4 seconds.

You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Even a calendar's days are numbered.

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.

When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture is a jab well done.

TTFN and God Bless

uius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.

Just some randomization for today's installment of insanity.

Getting a kick out of the Arizona Repulsive, the major (!) newspaper of the state.   They have a typical liberal hatred of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and especially his round-ups of illegal aliens.   They have been attacking him for years and at times it's almost hit a fever pitch.....we are in one of those times now as they scream about every little thing that he does.  Even letting the illegals know where he's going to be sweeping!    Why I'm laughing  is a story the other day one their internet front page about the fact that they can't really figure out why the crime rate in Maricopa County is down almost 20 percent over the last 2 years.......sigh.

The libs are in a state of denial over the healthcare  issue. Having made up their minds already that the government controlling all health care they are trying to sell it to the people in so called "town hall" events. What is confusing them is the anger and resentment of the average American over this kind of behavior.   America has almost always fought against socialism.  We are a nation founded by GOD fearing individualists.   We fought socialists in Korea and Viet Nam, Germany NAZI =  (National Socialist Party), a cold war against Russia and more......now the libs (who I call the Reds) want to nationalize health care and they feel offended that we don't want it.   They are nationalizing the banking system and the auto industry now the health industry.   Now you average Washington politico doesn't care, he has the best health care in the world for him and his family for life funded by us tax payers at no cost to him, and we can't take it away....why should they care what we think.

That was a little incoherent but oh well!

For the all the Dem's posturing about how they are the party of unity and support, I am shocked at the level of rancour that I hear every day....and not just in this little dust mote in Arizona.   From all the corners of the world when I talk to Americans and other interested parties on the internet, I hear a rising tide of discontent that is troubling and yet gratifying at the same time.   What the reds always forget is that your average Christian conservative (usually a caucasian, but by no means always) is nice quiet polite person who will go out of their way to avoid a conflict.   This person also has a memory and it's a good memory, when the boiling point is reached, well as they used to say "Katie bar the door".   For almost the first time in my 62+ years I think we are really nudging the heat gauge up to that point.

Look at this, a political rant and I just wanted to share some thoughts......see that's what I mean, just don't get  us all started.

Bye for now and may GOD bless                                 

& Now For More

"I was married by a judge, I should have asked for a jury."       Groucho

"After 30, a body has a mind of its own."    Bette Midler

"I just want to thank everyone who made this day necessary."       Yogi Berra

"Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement."        Ronald Reagan

"You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and refuse to tell you where they're going."   P J O'Rourke

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."      P J O'Rourke

"First you forget names, then you forget faces. Next you forget to pull your zipper up and finally, you forget to pull it down. "    George Burns 


"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle."   George Burns

"As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it."     Buddy Hackett

"It's getting harder and harder to differentiate between schizophrenics and people talking on a cell phone. It still brings me up short to walk by somebody who appears to be talking to themselves." 
Bob Newhart

"Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that's bad for you! "      Tommy Smothers

You can quote me on this

Got to thinking on all the great quotes and one liners I've heard over the years..... Hey, it's a hobby!   Thought I might share a few of them, attributed when I can remember who said what firstest.

"People usually amuse me, but seldom amaze me."   Mark Twain

"Common sense is not that common."   Voltaire

"Curiosity killed the cat, but for awhile I was a suspect."  Steven Wright

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside of a dog, it's to dark to read."  Groucho Marx

"If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?"  Steven Wright

"If you shoot a mime, should you use a silencer?"

"Is it weird in here, or is it just me?"   Steven Wright.

"A man is only as old as the woman he feels."  Groucho

"All people are born alike, except Republicans and Democrats."   Groucho

"Have you ever noticed that anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone driving faster is a maniac?"   George Carlin

"The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I accept."   George Carlin

"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."  Bill Cosby

"I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her."  Rodney Dangerfield

"A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar."  Mark Twain

"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."  Mark Twain

"In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this"  Terry Pratchett

"Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."  Terry Pratchett

"A fool and his money are soon elected."   Will Rogers

"God's children and their happiness are my reasons for being."  Red Skelton

"She has more Chins than the San Fransisco Phone Book."  Joan Rivers.

more later

Wunce Up On A Thyme

Once long ago and many fars away there lived a bee uty full Princess who labored under a huge Miss Conception!
This made her subjects very sad and they walked a round in round circles shakeing their heads back and forth causing them massive headaches in their massive heads. So every juan was very miss erable.
The Problem with the bee utey full Princess was that her Miss Conception was that Pee Pull could be knot a good Enuff for other pee pull. Isn't that a silly princess? What she forgotted was that the Lord God made all in his image and that means that all are good enuff for all... Now the Fayree Goodmudder agrees that knot awl pee pulls are come pat able..... So when she see's that she gets the Fayree Goodfodder (his name is Don Corleon) to wave his majik wand (no the other one) at them and they are much chastened and become demokraps or move to the suburbs on Long Island.
The Hand some and quite rotund Prince of Cordes has a Bea up his bonnet about any juan that sez thingies that wood implyers that there is am are could be a dis pare atty betwixt between or ontopof any poo teeples...er, two peoples...
And then they lived hoppylee ebber after except for the third week of June every other year...I don't know the wherefor or the why of that .

Once again I remain
odder than most

When you look out at those around you,

Have you noticed their pain?

When you think of your friends,

do you see the hurt in their eyes?

So many that are suffering 

So many are so blue

with the pressures of life

trying to make dreams come true.

you stand there wondering

just what you can do.

Speak softly and lovingly about the one you adore

tell them with your actions of what it can mean,

when they've accepted Jesus

and their slate is wiped clean

how the blood from  his suffering

will turn strife into peace

banish the sins, and wipe away grief.

Show them by your actions, what Jesus means to you

How worshipping God, is all that you need to do

Walking the Walk of a Believer in Christ

Brings down the Blessings upon your whole life.

Well here we are again after a week of Mr Flu.  Oh well.

When we last heard from our intrepid hero (you ever notice that only one letter seperated hero and zero?), he pontificating on the whyness of when, either that or talkin bout movie rankings.

Once I get past the first few on my list there are a whole bunch that are kind of lumped together, depends on which I've seen recently as to where they rank.

Ghostbusters...the 1st one anyway, love the movie, used to know it almost word for word by heart.   Brilliantly done and the cast was so good together.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit has always been one of my most enjoyable movie watching experiences.   All the fabulous cartoon characters, along with a good cast and for the time brilliant special effects.   I always wished that they had done some sequels to this.   By the way, in the original book that the movie was based on....Roger Rabbit was the Killer!

Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's tour de force....such a brilliant concept and Murray, well I can't think of anyone else that could have pulled this off.  

Blazing Saddles...Mel Brooks best movie...it is so sad that you couldn't make this movie today what with the intolerance that the left has foisted on this great country.

Indiana Jones ...now there are four of these, watched the first one the other night for the first time in a year or two and you know what?   It holds up very well.   My sister would disagree, but it sure is a fun way to sit back and pass a quiet evening while munching popcorn and enjoying Harrison Ford.

I've got a bunch of stuff on my brain cell so am going to sign off on this one and do a little bit more on some other stuff. However am planning on doing some more movie lists and maybe a few reviews in time.

Movie Lists

My sister and I were speaking the other day about movies....and the subject of favorites came up.

Love movies, always have and am amazed when I realize how many of them I've seen.   So picking out the favorites can get to be rather a chore.   Everytime you think you've got the list, you are reminded about half a dozen others!

Another thing about lists, is how your tastes change over the years.   I've seen some movies that I LOVED during the 1960's recently, and man, were they awful.....that's a big Go Figger.

So this list of my favorite movies is going to be constantly changing.

1.  THE MUSIC MAN.....this has been at the top of my list for the last 20 or so years.   Robert Preston and Shirly Jones are superb and the movie (for me at least) never grows old.

2.  THE QUIET MAN.....A superb story with one of the most perfect casts ever assembled.

3.  CASABLANCA.....Just watched this again the other night and am reminded of the depth of the cast.  From top to bottom this film has perfect casting and perfect performances.

4.  THE GODFATHER.....The first of the trilogy was to my mind by far the best.   A compelling story of the Mafia lifestyle and one mans fall into evil.

5.  LORD OF THE RINGS.....I count this trilogy as one movie, because it was one book (I know, I know...so was the Godfather).    Director Peter Jackson did what I thought couldn't be done in bringing the scope and majesty of Tolkien's story to the screen, in a satisfying manner.   If you have the chance, watch the Directors cut of all 3 of them, it's well worth the extra three plus hours (!) it will take.

Well I have about a bazillion things to be done, so will come back to this later.....so behave.

God Bless

The Sacrifice

Your brother is hurting

He's down so very low

No one to turn to, 

nowhere to go

Jesus made an offering

What would you do?

Your  sister is lost

away from the fold

her night is so dark

her world is so cold

Jesus made an offering

Would you be that bold?

Jesus made an offering 

so long ago

up on a cross

to save your very soul

His offering was  real

it last's for all time

it's there to pay for 

your every crime.

When no one is listening

when nobody cares

when you hear the wolf  howl

and the reaper begins to knock

While the evil ones mocks

your soul is so tortured

your mind is confused

your heart is broken

and your body abused

Jesus made an offering 

so long ago

up on the cross

for the sake of your soul

Jesus made an offering 

It's time for you to choose

accept his offer and you can't loose.

OK, I think it's time for the first ever poll on this site...

Should I clean the kitchen floor or not?

Wow, so glad that's over, an overwhelming response tells me that I can have lunch first and play on the computer instead....at least until this evening.

Another hot day and the rain won't be back until probably Sunday.  I'm bored, too darn hot to work in the yard until after dark, and if you've ever tried to keep a house clean with 7 kittens helping....well you just havn't lived.

Slept in the morning with  a tooth ache, seems to be a trifle better now, but please wish me luck on it going away.

Talking to Ruth this morning and told her I'm going to try to get back to the "family" stories this started out as.   As is  very evident, the last week has just been trying to get used to actually typing every day, so now that I'm better at that it's time to create and see what happens.

One cat story tho',  What I live in is basicly a single wide house trailer that has been expaned....so you get the picture.  The main living are is the original trailer; a kitchen/dining area that is divided from the living room by a counter, a short hall get you to the bathroom and the bedroom.   All in all it's about 14 feet wide and 70 feet long.   For useless information the addition is roughly the same size and is two room an Arizona room and my sisters bedroom.

Last night had all the doors in the main part open so the kits discovered they had a 70 foot long drag strip.

One of lifes great joys is watching 7 kittens play tag and run relays in a space that large....I would imagine that if you were able to get all 7 to hold still on a scale they would weigh a total of maybe 5 or 6 pounds.   How they can set off seismic alarms 2 states away, well I have no idea officer.

One of the funniest things was watching the 3 older indoor cats take this all in.   Dolly, DollyMama and Silver Belles just sat there (in very out of the way and hard to get to spots) and watched with indignation and would every so often turn to look at me with a "aren't you going to do something about this" face.  Then they would turn away in disgust at my laughter.

You just can't please all the Katz all of the time.

I think that's in their contract

God Bless

Still hot, after all these years....well the weather is anyway.  Just checked and it's officially 95 degrees in Mayer the closest reporting station, about 8 miles west of here and almost a thousand feet higher in elevation.....my front porch thermometer which has been in the shade for the last 2 hours said 92 or 93......

Not much happening these days, looking forward to going to the bright lights  and big city of Prescott Valley on Monday.

Monday is the 3rd of the month and that's the day the gummint pays me to stay home and not bother people that work for a living.   Little do they suspec that I can bother people long distance  from the comfort of my computer.

Today is a Charmin day....Charmin is one of 3 little sister kitties that I'm fostering, she and her sister Amaretto take turns..Charmin gets me today, and tomorrow (like yesterday) Amaretto will sit on my keyboard, talk to me and generaly demand lubbins.

Training camp for the Cards opened yesterday...so the long dark days are over until next off season.  High hopes this year and looks like the players and coaches are really focused.  

Not going to be able to go up to Flagstaff to see them practice this year....have been a few times and it's lovely up there (about an hour to the north of me), they are at a little over 5,500 feet on the side of the San Francisco Peaks and surrounded by pines and a dash of cool breeze.    

Anyway, that's all for the moment....

later that same day, across town.

A friend of mine said I should be able to write more often if I just used "train of thought"......Now that's just disgusting, do you realize some of the places my mind has been?    Ycch....how rude.

So to avoid that I'm just typing random keys and if the letters happen to make a word...that's you problem.

Good prayer meeting tonight....Really enjoy my Church family, a great group of people who seem to care a great deal for their fellow humans.

Little bit cooler today I think our high was "only" 97 with about 70% humidity.   

Allie, a friend of mine, is taking 3 of my little fostering kittens to hopefully be adopted on Sunday.  I say hopefully with some reservations, these are 3 of the sweetest little orphan kitties I had in a long time....in fact Charmin is laying across my left wrist as I type this....and occaisionally bitting my thumb.    

Actually have 7 fosters at the present; Imp, who is almost 6 months old and the last of his litter,  D, Evie and Fabian are about 4 months old and it's very hard to tell them apart..they are all black and the same size so I have to look for little things in them....and then the 3 little girls, Amaretto, Beauty and Charmin...sigh, wish I could keep them but that's just impossible.

Well am now off to do a little surfing and will talk and/or type later, when the mind is actually awake.

God Bless

Morality...for fun and profit

Hello and Howdy, My inter net connection has been either non-existent or very sporadic and slow today, so am going to type fast to (hopefully) get this on site.

Been thinking about my relationship with God and the following phrase came to mind.

"Morality; for fun and profit"

Catchy hunh?

Trying to live what a person knows to be a Christlike and moral life is a goal, however it is not possible.   We are all imperfect and steeped in sin through and through.   

Even after one has been washed in the Blood of the Lamb, it is still impossible.   However it is an imperative to try as best you can to be as moral and righteous as possible.

Being a moral person in all ways is difficult, but one of the hardest for me personally is being moral in my interactions with others, specificaly with the opposite sex.   That would be the females (insert big silly grin here).   You should know that I will attempt to deal with this subject like I deal with all subject......laughter!   I mean no disrespect to anyone (especially God), but it's the way I tend to relate.

So now we come to dealing with the morality of the flesh (lust, adultery, fornication, etc.) for both fun and profit.... Pretty sick, right?   Wrong!   Whatever you are dealing with there is a right way (Gods), a wrong way (the Evil one) and the human way, which is to bounce all over the place making excuses and trying to justify our actions and make them less guilt ridden.  

God's way in this is very very tough.  Abstenance, Chastity, marriage only....... and in today's wicked world those are generally scoffed at by both believer and non-believer.    But, I look at it this way..... like THE Prayer says "THY WILL BE DONE".   God's will isn't the same as your Mom saying "I wish you wouldn't".   The consequences are much more severe for one thing.  Being sent to your room for a few hours isn't that bad compared to an eternity in hell.   So I really try to obey, one of the problems I have in obeying is the sheer number of women in this world that are just so darned pretty, lovely, beautiful, sexy, smart, friendly, and the list goes on.....   So what's a poor old guy to do.   Me (a good example of a poor old guy...or even an old poor guy), celibacy is best....celibacy and making fun of the whole situation.   Laughter cures.   Most of my friends know I'm celibate, and just shake their heads at that crazy Duane....doesn't he know that God will forgive him if he slips, doesn't he know that God is a loving and forgiving God....yep he sure does....he also knows that God doesn't WANT to have to forgive me for my transgressions.   So I have fun with the situation.   I'll make jokes about my age, my physical condition, my appearance, my cats and dogs (what woman in her right mind would want to share my bed with both me and Rosslyn and Rogue along with umpteen cats and kittens)....I can keep that line of joking up for hours.   

Well ok, that's the fun part, but Duane...you distinctly said Profit also.....what about the profit?

Sure did, the finest most wonderful profit ever available to mankind, my profit in staying as morally correct that I can, is an eternity with God and Jesus......just imagine, a new body, no wants, no needs.....and the most perfect beings ever as your Lord and Savior!    Now that is a profit.

A good devout born-again Christian doesn't earn their way into Heaven.....that's not the Christian belief system.   However a good devout born-again Christian does try as hard as is possible to please God, his creator...the One who loves him, no matter what......

So there....

May God Bless You in your life, as much as he has blessed this poor old sinner.

Hotter n'a $2 pistol

Once again we welcome you,

yes you!  

Why you, 

Because you are you and .....

tadaa

We like you.....

Oh, and to the point, who else would read this drivel.

It are hot in the Aridzone today (and this evening), my house was at about 104f today with humidity around 90% so it is officially HOT!

As I look with unabashed pride and ...er make that abashed near-sightedness around the room, it looks like the final resting place of the feline & canine communities.   Everybody is stretched out trying to soak up any cool breezes that might wander through by mistake.

Have been pretty much a hermit for the last few weeks as the heat takes over and the MS decides to bite my rear end....not a pleasant feeling I might add.

Anyway, is too hot to think of things that might amuse, educate or bother anyone so am going to use the period at the end of this line to say goodbye.

Randomized Thoughts

Well, here it is Saturday and I'm pretty sure that it's still April...so here we go again.  

Wonderful day, even though it started a little too early for this old man.   5:30am...ycchhh. Two wonderful (and I mean truely wonderful) ladies are helping, well ok, doing everthing, in getting my house livable....Say hello to Ruth and Veronica......to Saints...of course if they read this, I'll get hit!  

They are putting in curtain rods (with curtains across the front windows of the kitchen right now and I will post post a picture of the finished project.

A complete post on the work and care these wonderful people have done for me out of the goodness of their hearts will follow.

Another thing in my life, is that this is NFL DRAFT DAY..... YAHOO!

Starts at 1pm this year, and can't wait, going to follow it on NFL.com and Footballs Future Forums.......

My Cards are picking 31st, and there is tons of debate as to which direction they are going this year.   1st round could be a running back or linebacker.  To be honest, could be half a dozen different positions....but as we Cardinal fans are learning ...trust in Wiz (Coach Wizenhunt) and I think I just spelled his name wrong.   Ah, and that sure won't be in the spell checker.

Ok, the MS is kicking in a little bit, so will cease this particular entry early and continue maybe tomorrow.... by for now.

Well hello there, my it's been a long long time...what?  You mean that line has been used before!   Summa gun...oh well.

Cold and windy here today, supposed to get rain and/or snow this evening through early Sunday morning.   That's just fine by me.

Got my "outrage" button pushed the other day, havn't done any checking on the facts yet, but since the story came from my sister, I'd better believe it.   She may be short and blond, but she's seldom wrong.

Seems like the Wall-Mart chain has opened two new stores in the Phoenix area.....for Spanish language only!   Think about that for a moment....now, take a deep breath and repeat after me......"remember, this is America!   This is America with freedom of speech!  This is America with freedom for all!   This is America and was founded by and for God fearing people!    This is America a place where we respect the rights of others!"    

As you are repeating this try not to remember that a high percentage of the people that these stores will cater to are here ilegaly!   Try to forget the fact that your ancestors WANTED to learn English!   Try to forget that your ancestors WANTED to assimilate into the American culture!   Try to forget that if you say much of anything in public against this....you are automaticaly a hate-filled racist!

Feel better?   Aren't you glad we had this little chat?    Me neither.....oh well.

Next time I'll be more upbeat or maybe beatup.... it's hard to say for sure....in the meantime...

God Bless

Well, since the election and the subduing of the right..... havn't really wanted to pay attention to the world around us.   Every so often a headline will take me by surprise and I will force myself to check in at the Drudge page.   Not even reading the many right leaning blogs and news sights.   Just can't believe how the conservative movement has squandered its power and position......I don't know if we squandered it as much as we were shoved aside by the Republican powers of the NE Corridor.   

Makes me so angry to think of how little the coasts think of the people that are Americans.   

Now finding the words that will express my rage and frustration is becoming harder and harder.....well, the words are there, but jumbled and/or obscene. 

To watch a country that was made great by a fundamental belief in God and by unbridled capitalism being brought down by the moronic and shortsighted vision of the left is bringing tears to my eyes.

The problem of trying to vent on this is compounded by the fact that one wants to lash out at so many different groups and where or where can one start?     The main stream media that wanted to be relavent in something.... the irresponsible behaviour of the average politician that only cares to get all he/she can while they can and while holding on to power at all costs....... the so-called environmental movement that has shut down so much of the country..... the thieves that looted Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac thereby causing a global financial crisis.... the traitors to America that want us to look the other way while our culture is submerged by illegal Imigration and the raising up of anything that is against the continuation of Anglo-Saxon Northern European mores and values...... the ACLU that will go to any length and support anything at all that is anti-American or anti-White Male...... A communist by the name of Gramsky once said that the way to subvert a country and culture was to undermine and take over the school system, do I have to add anything to that...... if you think I'm wrong, look at the bloated and maggot filled corpse that is the balliwick of the Federal Department of Education...... The demonization of George W Bush.....hey, I'm a conservative....right, and I'm totally against  a heck of a lot of what he did with domestic policy....the No child left behind bill (written by Senator Sotted of Mass), the opening of the borders with Mexico that has allowed millions of people to get in this country and rape our local governments....., but, by GOD, after 911 he sure as hell kept the muslims from attacking our shores again....make no mistake about it, they want (and their bible demands ) that all non-believers of islam be killed...... there are now many thousands of them that are in no condition to attack us at home......The militarys of many nations have joined us in freeing a country in the middle east that was a cesspool and virtual hell on earth......we are in the process of destroying another hotbed of islamic hatred and what did we hear for this.....the left and their media harlots calling GW Bush every name in the book for doing what was right..... How about the left trying to silence all radio opposition to them?  ... how about 9th circus court of appeals.....overturning everything the people vote on, democracy ..... oh yeah..

See what I mean?   So many idiots and so little time.....

Now we top it off with  a gift of an i-pod to the Queen of England.......have I already sighed to much?

I guess you can tell it's been one of those days....grin.... didn't get nearly enough off my chest, and will probably return to these subjects over time. 

Am normaly upbeat and trying to see the best of every situation, however sometimes it becomes just a little too much.

By for now.....

More...or, maybe, less

What's this?   Two days in a row....oh my goodness.

Well, when last we saw our intrepid hero, he was blathering mindlessly regarding .........stuff.   

Isn't it good to know that some things never change.

Since you know Ethyl, I think it's time to meet Igor....ahhh Igor, we all have an Igor inside us.   Mine is very much like the Terry Pratchett version in appearance. A small, hunched over, scurrying little fellow, who speaks in  voice that is something of a cross between Peter Lorre and Marty Feldman.   Your Igor does the same things that mine does..... in a sane (or semi-sane) world, there are things that we as civilized and supposedly intelligent human beings know that you just don't do....... put your finger in the light socket, touch the hot burnter on the stove, push the button that says "Do Not Push",  and date Brittney Spears.

These are things that it's just plane dumb to do, and we just - do - not - do - them, but come on you know you want to push that button......Igor says, sure....go ahead, what's the worst that could happen?   Of course as he's saying that, he's putting on a helmet and crouching behind your mental sofa.....

Igor goes hand in hand with The Professor, but that's a tale for another time children.

So you have a good one and will atcha later.

I Hear Voices

Sometimes madness isn't that howling at the moon thing.   Often it's the quiet voice at the end of a bad day that says "Hey, got room for one more in your head."

Or maybe not.

I used to keep track of the voices....not anymore.   Actually got to thinking about the various facets of a personality and came to this conclusion, well conclusion is probably too strong a word.  

We all have different moods, different modes, different mind-sets for different situations.   I just started naming mine and giving them personalities.

Ok, so....I'm nuts....your point?

I call them "The Committee" and it's their job to run my life.  The pay is lousy, but the hours are horrible so it evens out.

I'm trying to figure out just how to introduce them.  It's not easy you know, some are very shy......

An easy one to explain is that voice that you always hear about 10 minutes after a quick response or witty reparte is called for.   You the one that pipes up "If I had said XXXXX, that would have shown them."   The voice that will make you slap your forehead and say "Darn, I should have told her this."     I gave this voice to Ethyl Hydrochloric, a large woman with a sharp tongue and ready wit, well an almost ready wit.   I picture Ethyl wearing  coveralls (sequined),  5 inch spiked combat boots in a mauve.   Her hair is always slightly mussed up because she's always running late.   Oh, and a voice, sigh a voice like 3 tons of gravel in a 2 ton mixer!   Get the picture?   You do!   Wow, must be time for your meds.

Seeing as how it's almost my bed time and need to walk the dog, will end this now......I think I'll add a voice or two every entry from now on.......you'll get to meet Igor, the Postman, the Professor, the Twins (Brunhilde & Mitsuko), Humbert, and of course The Mime.

Have a great day or night or both

God Bless.

Another Day Is Here

So, how you doing this fine morning?   That's ok, me neither.  Oh well at least we still have each other.

Not much going on here today.  Slept in till 9am, have done some housework and trying to feel energetic enough to get to work on the new fence.

Probably won't do that though.  Health has been failing big time over the last few months.  Both the MS and the Neuropothy have kicked in pretty well.   

You know, it's quite funny...you tell yourself not to complain to anyone so as not to burden them and not to sound like a whinner....then in a conversation ... yep you guessed it, somebody says "How you feeling?"   and you listen to yourself telling all.   Sigh, got to quit doing that.   Maybe will try to only let the non-readers here know what's going on in my body (I should rephrase that).   Anyway, the MS has managed to take about 3/4s of my energy and that is soooo frustrating.  It's also joined the neuropothy in attacking the arms and hands as well as the lower limbs.  Probably why the Cardinals haven't called to try and recruit me.

On another front, lost a shirt-tail cousin a month or so ago.  Virginia O'Bryan..... could be a little crusty and cantankerous at times,  but did have a good heart also.....she was pretty much an agnostic but think she was a little more open towards salvation towards the end.   But then again, aren't we all.

My Mum's brother Raymond Balzer also passed.   Such a shame, now all from that family are gone....one of my screen saver pics is Gram & Grampa with Mum, and her brothers Wink & Ray with their wives Vi and Theresa....... Not sure but believe that Vi might still be alive.   

Ray and Theresa had been divorced for something over 30 years, but she passed the month before he did.   Always loved my Aunt Theresa, for some reason she remains special in my memory.

Think I will dig up some pics of the above mentioned and insert them in an upcomming entry.

Ahh, my music machine is now playing some Ella Fitzgerald (Love for Sale)......she could really sing.   A few moments ago had Lionel Hampton playing My Funny Valentine!   It don't get much better than this.

You take care and will atcha later.....

March 9, 2009

Good morning y'all.....who said I don't have stick to it ness?   By golly it's only been 7 months and here I am still at it!

Oh well sorry bout that.  

Been a long time, and much has happened to me and to the world.  Till I get back in the habit, will just put down random thoughts instead of anything specific.

Welp, it finally happened, got a cell phone (and not the kind that you have to ask the guard to use)!   If you want to talk, just gimme a call and will give you the number!   Good luck.

Nice weather here today, overcast and a light rain all night, not much accumulation but enough that everything smells wonderful.

Stopped reading or watching or listening to the current events news.  Don't know all that's going on, but saw in passing this morning that the Senate is going to approve the bailout bill!   Another step towards communism and we just sit here and take it.  Ah....better save my political ramblings for another day.  I will say tho', if you want to read some good (and very funny) current stuff go to "The Peoples Cube.com".   Written by a Russian ex-patriot and spot on.

My Cardinals made the Super Bowl!  Now it's the off season and we've re-signed Warner, yesterday got a new CB from Pittsburgh.....life are good.

Ooops, the washer just finished it's spin cycle, so it's time to dry some clothes.

Later folks.