I'm talking about the baseball Giants winning the world series. I think the football Giants beat the Cowboys but I understand that was a sloppy game of mistakes. The final game of the world series went into extra innings and was a thriller.
I love baseball. Some claim the pace is too slow but football only has 11 1/2 minutes of actual play to the average game. Baseball has intensity from the first pitch until the last one. Unlike other sports there is not a certain score or certain time limit. One plays until the game is finished. Basketball is about tempo and shot selection and being tall or quick. Football is about being fast or strong. There comes a time in football and basketball when the losing team has no chance to win. Not always but often enough. In baseball a team is always in the game until it is over.
A team can be down 9-0 and it could be the bottom of the ninth with two out and an 0-2 count on the batter and that team can still win. A game can change quickly with a swing of the bat or the wrong pitch selection.
The Giants were only behind once the entire series which they won by winning the first four games of the best 4 out of 7. Their fielding was superb , their pitching almost flawless, and their offense was potent.
I've been a Giants fan since I was 11 and Willie Mays played center field and the team was still in New York. I haven't enjoyed watching a particular player play since Willie as I have watching Buster Posey. Like one of my all-time favorite players and definetly favorite baseball character, Yogi Berra, Buster is a catcher. Still only twenty-five, he is one of the big reasons the Giants are winners and if he stays healthy I believe he will go down in baseball history as one of the all time great catchers, along with the likes of Roy Campenela, Yogi Berra, and Carlton Fisk, to name of few of the great.
What makes him so great? He is a good hitter, has a good arm, and catches balls most cathers can't.
Not only that but he knows how to call a game. Even most baseball fans believe that the pitcher controls the game but that isn't so. It is important for the pitcher to know the opposing batters and to know what they can hit and what they have trouble with but it is also equally important that the catcher knows such things too. The catcher calls the pitch selection, the speed, and the location. The catcher also controls the pitchers tempo . Buster is really good at what catchers are supposed to do.
Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants for their victory, their second World Series championship in three years.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
No, I really didn't say that.
According to all the political ads I've seen or heard from the Presidential campaign, the only choice we have this election is this: Do we want to be screwed by the white guy or screwed by the black guy?
No matter who we vote for, we are promised that we will be screwed.
No matter who we vote for, we are promised that we will be screwed.
Church service interrupted by the police
I was in the midst of teaching Sunday School when the church doors opened and a man appeared. He was dressed all in blue and had a gun strapped to his side. Even though he had a badge, it is still a little disconcerting to be facing down a policeman in church. Horror of all horrors he was there to see me.
With apologies to my class had had to leave and head home. It seems my dear wife had an episode while talking with her mother. Without warning she started laughing hysterically and then just as suddenly became unresponsive.
It is frightening to arrived home and find a rescue squad at your house, the street full of gawking neighbors, and a front porch full of concerned folks and no idea what is going on.
On Oct 17th, in celebration of my wife's birthday we had taken a trip to "Mayberry" and were having a good time when my wife suddenly fell forward, doing a beautiful face plant. Oh course she cried a few tears and when I was able to help her up there was an obvious swelling of her right cheek. Other than that she seemed fine but a few minutes later she didn't know where we were so I took her to the hospital. A CT scan revealed hemorrhaging on the brain so she was airlifted to Baptist. After three days there she was realeased. She has regained some of her memory but has not been anywhere near her old self.
It is going to take a while for her to get better. This morning she seemed to be doing better than she had been in awhile, actually sitting at the table and having a little breakfast. She was more alert than usual so I had high hopes she was finally showing some progress. It seems I had no such luck.
The church is praying for her. If it wasn't for prayer I may not even have her around any more. God is good.
With apologies to my class had had to leave and head home. It seems my dear wife had an episode while talking with her mother. Without warning she started laughing hysterically and then just as suddenly became unresponsive.
It is frightening to arrived home and find a rescue squad at your house, the street full of gawking neighbors, and a front porch full of concerned folks and no idea what is going on.
On Oct 17th, in celebration of my wife's birthday we had taken a trip to "Mayberry" and were having a good time when my wife suddenly fell forward, doing a beautiful face plant. Oh course she cried a few tears and when I was able to help her up there was an obvious swelling of her right cheek. Other than that she seemed fine but a few minutes later she didn't know where we were so I took her to the hospital. A CT scan revealed hemorrhaging on the brain so she was airlifted to Baptist. After three days there she was realeased. She has regained some of her memory but has not been anywhere near her old self.
It is going to take a while for her to get better. This morning she seemed to be doing better than she had been in awhile, actually sitting at the table and having a little breakfast. She was more alert than usual so I had high hopes she was finally showing some progress. It seems I had no such luck.
The church is praying for her. If it wasn't for prayer I may not even have her around any more. God is good.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Poll: Disappointing trend in racial views
I do believe when America voted for Obama 4 years ago there were two primary reasons; one being a vote for Obama was a vote against Bush, and the other reason is that many people voted for Oabma because of his skin color. Now I know most blacks are Democratic but I do believe a higher percentage of blacks voted in the last election than would have normally voted.
That is only normal and natural that blacks voted for Obama because of his skin color. After all we dislike people because of their skin color or like them based on their looks. It is highly likely the person we dislike because of their skin color may be the nicest person and the beauty may be a total ass. Actually, I find that to be the case more often than not.
Now the slip in racial attitudes hasn't been a big one, just two or three percentage points, but it is disappointing, has the headline states. (You may view the article on Yahoo under the same title).
What the Yahoo article doesn't discuss is the reason for the slippage in attitude.
I think there are several reasons. When I went to work 5 days a week, I noticed that blacks hung out together and seldom acknowledged whites outside of what was necessary. Even when blacks and whites were friends, the greetings were different and the conversations were different.
I do believe when people feel left out they tend to feel not so good towards the people who ignore them or treat them different. And another reason is that I do think many blacks thought their lot in life would be better under Obama and said so. I think some people feared that Obama would favor legislation that gave blacks more advantages.
I also think another reason is that true racists are more vocal, especially on the Internet. Some people might be persuaded by their attitudes.
As far as Mexicans are concerned, so many of them came here as undocumented aliens, or illegal immigrants if you prefer and seem to be pushing their culture unto us rather than trying to blend in.
I may be correct, somewhat correct, or totally wrong.
I do know that dislikeing people different from us comes natural. We have to learn not to distrust or discriminate.
I was watching a re-run of the Cosby show in which Cliff filled in as moderator of a ceremony in which the old President of Hillman stepped down and the new one took over. A charge was made to the graduates that in life when they encounter a struggling, new, Hillman graduate that they should support them because they graduated from Hillman.
That is just as wrong as giving someone a job just because they went to the same college or belonged to the same fraternity or are the same skin color as the person doing the hiring.
There are so many reasons people hate. Boston hates Yankee fans, LA sucks if you are a Celtic fan, Muslims hate us because we aren't Muslim, and die hard Demorcrats hate Republicans.
Will we ever stop hating others that are different? Not likely. Will things ever get better? Maybe by 2 or 3 percentage points.
That is only normal and natural that blacks voted for Obama because of his skin color. After all we dislike people because of their skin color or like them based on their looks. It is highly likely the person we dislike because of their skin color may be the nicest person and the beauty may be a total ass. Actually, I find that to be the case more often than not.
Now the slip in racial attitudes hasn't been a big one, just two or three percentage points, but it is disappointing, has the headline states. (You may view the article on Yahoo under the same title).
What the Yahoo article doesn't discuss is the reason for the slippage in attitude.
I think there are several reasons. When I went to work 5 days a week, I noticed that blacks hung out together and seldom acknowledged whites outside of what was necessary. Even when blacks and whites were friends, the greetings were different and the conversations were different.
I do believe when people feel left out they tend to feel not so good towards the people who ignore them or treat them different. And another reason is that I do think many blacks thought their lot in life would be better under Obama and said so. I think some people feared that Obama would favor legislation that gave blacks more advantages.
I also think another reason is that true racists are more vocal, especially on the Internet. Some people might be persuaded by their attitudes.
As far as Mexicans are concerned, so many of them came here as undocumented aliens, or illegal immigrants if you prefer and seem to be pushing their culture unto us rather than trying to blend in.
I may be correct, somewhat correct, or totally wrong.
I do know that dislikeing people different from us comes natural. We have to learn not to distrust or discriminate.
I was watching a re-run of the Cosby show in which Cliff filled in as moderator of a ceremony in which the old President of Hillman stepped down and the new one took over. A charge was made to the graduates that in life when they encounter a struggling, new, Hillman graduate that they should support them because they graduated from Hillman.
That is just as wrong as giving someone a job just because they went to the same college or belonged to the same fraternity or are the same skin color as the person doing the hiring.
There are so many reasons people hate. Boston hates Yankee fans, LA sucks if you are a Celtic fan, Muslims hate us because we aren't Muslim, and die hard Demorcrats hate Republicans.
Will we ever stop hating others that are different? Not likely. Will things ever get better? Maybe by 2 or 3 percentage points.
What a suprise
The big surprise for me was Ruddick corporation listed as Ruddick, owner of Harris-Teeter prides itself on customer service and its standards are high for store employees to respond to customers. What is the biggest surprise is not only are they bad but they were dead last.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Enjoying Ones Job is Simply
When I worked for a non-defunct major food retailer, the company was plagued by a high turnover rate among employees so a consulting firm was hired to determine what needed to be done to turn things around. The results of their investigation showed that 80% of the comments from management to employees were negative and 19% were neutral. Give positive feedback and employees would be happier was the conclusion.
The company didn't listen. I'm not going to touch the subject of why they went out of business but I can say with certainty that the company's refusal to change was the reason employee turnover remained high.
For your boss to give you a hardy "Well done" everyday would soon lose its impact but when an employee steps up in a tough situation a hardy thanks goes a long way. Managers are quick to point out mistakes, to ask us to work a little harder, or to work over time, or correct us in mid job either because they think they know a better way of doing the job or just don't understand out thought process. But just let us step up when a co-worker is out or we just received a rush order, or you discovered a more efficient way to do a task, and getting a well done from the boss is almost as hard as finding a magic lamp at the flea market.
But feeling appreciated is more than the boss giving us a compliment now and then. Employees like to feel they are important to the company so keeping them in the loop is important too. I know companies are going to institute new policies without consulting employees and often that is the best way to handle change. But rather than just change things and expecting the employees to be happy about that change, what if the managers ask the employees how best to implement those changes. Knowing that your opinion counts makes one feel better about themselves.
I had planned to retire in November of 2011 but actually retired in June of last year. The day I decided to retire I was scheduled off at 4 pm. Chris left at two as always and I was the wrapper that day. I ran out of labels at almost the exact moment I was handed a list of items that needed to be cut. Rather than make things hard on whomever was to take my place on the wrapper, I went to achieve a fresh roll of labels before I started on my cutting list.
The market manager, mistakenly thinking I had locked my knives away, made the following statement to me: "This is my bar and I will make the decision on last call, not you."
I have always set the bar high for myself and after working with this man for eight years, if he thought so little of me as to cause him to say such a stupid thing, then he is welcomed to own the bar but I certainly did not have tto patronize his place.
Sometimes I was asked to work over. Never did I receive a thanks for that but I was always reminded of how much overtime I had and that I needed to that that time off.
I do a lot of things I'm not compensated for. I mow the grass at the church, volunteer for any and all work porojects, and take the videos for the shut-ins. Not only that, but I purchased the lawnmower to cut the grass with and I purchased the video camera to make the videos with. The last work project we had, I ran all the errands and furnish half the equipment and tools.
I have been working on clearing some property at the church, planted a pumpkin patch, and shared the harvest from my own garden with everyone who goes to church there. I get paid zilch but I know my efforts are appreciated. Sometimes that is worth a lot more than money.
The company didn't listen. I'm not going to touch the subject of why they went out of business but I can say with certainty that the company's refusal to change was the reason employee turnover remained high.
For your boss to give you a hardy "Well done" everyday would soon lose its impact but when an employee steps up in a tough situation a hardy thanks goes a long way. Managers are quick to point out mistakes, to ask us to work a little harder, or to work over time, or correct us in mid job either because they think they know a better way of doing the job or just don't understand out thought process. But just let us step up when a co-worker is out or we just received a rush order, or you discovered a more efficient way to do a task, and getting a well done from the boss is almost as hard as finding a magic lamp at the flea market.
But feeling appreciated is more than the boss giving us a compliment now and then. Employees like to feel they are important to the company so keeping them in the loop is important too. I know companies are going to institute new policies without consulting employees and often that is the best way to handle change. But rather than just change things and expecting the employees to be happy about that change, what if the managers ask the employees how best to implement those changes. Knowing that your opinion counts makes one feel better about themselves.
I had planned to retire in November of 2011 but actually retired in June of last year. The day I decided to retire I was scheduled off at 4 pm. Chris left at two as always and I was the wrapper that day. I ran out of labels at almost the exact moment I was handed a list of items that needed to be cut. Rather than make things hard on whomever was to take my place on the wrapper, I went to achieve a fresh roll of labels before I started on my cutting list.
The market manager, mistakenly thinking I had locked my knives away, made the following statement to me: "This is my bar and I will make the decision on last call, not you."
I have always set the bar high for myself and after working with this man for eight years, if he thought so little of me as to cause him to say such a stupid thing, then he is welcomed to own the bar but I certainly did not have tto patronize his place.
Sometimes I was asked to work over. Never did I receive a thanks for that but I was always reminded of how much overtime I had and that I needed to that that time off.
I do a lot of things I'm not compensated for. I mow the grass at the church, volunteer for any and all work porojects, and take the videos for the shut-ins. Not only that, but I purchased the lawnmower to cut the grass with and I purchased the video camera to make the videos with. The last work project we had, I ran all the errands and furnish half the equipment and tools.
I have been working on clearing some property at the church, planted a pumpkin patch, and shared the harvest from my own garden with everyone who goes to church there. I get paid zilch but I know my efforts are appreciated. Sometimes that is worth a lot more than money.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Fans got it wrong in Duke/Carolina incident
I'm a Duke fan (I like Carolina too but prefer Duke) so my prejudice in any controversial play would most likely go towards them. The play I make reference too is the play in which a Duke player is injured when a Carolina player is coming onto the field and the two players make contact.
The healines of the incident on MSN suggests that it was a flagrant act that the refs missed. At the time the regs explainned that the Duke player was moving backwards and no foul was called but in watching the video it at first seems that the incident was intentional and the the UNC player hit the Duke player in the back on purpose. It does not appear the Duke player was moving at all. But this is not the case at all.
The reason most people missed the real cause of the incident was that the eyes are naturally drawn up to the upper body area of the players and from that point of view it seems obvious the incident was flagrant and poor sportsmanship on the part of the UNC player.
Slow the video down, even to one frame at a time, and watch the foot action. One can see the Duke player is moving and just as the man from UNC is about to pass behind him, the Duke player takes a steps backwards and trips the UNC player. There is nothing flagrant about the incident. It isn't due to Carolina being behind, or the fact the one player was white and one was black, or that the player from Duke is considered their best player. If one were to access blame for the incident it would have to be placed on Duke and that would not be correct either as it seems obvious the Duke player did not realize anyone was behind him.
The most distrubing thing about the story is the amount of hate spewed by commenters on the story calling the Carolina player racial names, referring to him as a criminal or even as an animal of the primate family. Such talk is inflamatory and totally unnecessary. If the incident had been between two white players I doubt the UNC player would have been called a hood or an ape or even a thug.
This incident reminds me of the number of times we make snap judgements based on our prejudices
or preferences and without looking at the situation from all angles. I just wish people were more level headed and less emotional in their decision making.
The healines of the incident on MSN suggests that it was a flagrant act that the refs missed. At the time the regs explainned that the Duke player was moving backwards and no foul was called but in watching the video it at first seems that the incident was intentional and the the UNC player hit the Duke player in the back on purpose. It does not appear the Duke player was moving at all. But this is not the case at all.
The reason most people missed the real cause of the incident was that the eyes are naturally drawn up to the upper body area of the players and from that point of view it seems obvious the incident was flagrant and poor sportsmanship on the part of the UNC player.
Slow the video down, even to one frame at a time, and watch the foot action. One can see the Duke player is moving and just as the man from UNC is about to pass behind him, the Duke player takes a steps backwards and trips the UNC player. There is nothing flagrant about the incident. It isn't due to Carolina being behind, or the fact the one player was white and one was black, or that the player from Duke is considered their best player. If one were to access blame for the incident it would have to be placed on Duke and that would not be correct either as it seems obvious the Duke player did not realize anyone was behind him.
The most distrubing thing about the story is the amount of hate spewed by commenters on the story calling the Carolina player racial names, referring to him as a criminal or even as an animal of the primate family. Such talk is inflamatory and totally unnecessary. If the incident had been between two white players I doubt the UNC player would have been called a hood or an ape or even a thug.
This incident reminds me of the number of times we make snap judgements based on our prejudices
or preferences and without looking at the situation from all angles. I just wish people were more level headed and less emotional in their decision making.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The skunk was actually a 9 year- old girl
A 9-year-old Pennsylvania girl was shot in the shoulder with a shotgun at a Halloween party Saturday evening by a relative who mistook her for a skunk, a Beaver County dispatcher confirmed to NBC News.
The shooting, which took place in New Sewickley Township, Pa. came in at 8:02 p.m. on Saturday night. Police told WPXI.com that the girl was wearing a black outfit and a black hat attached to a white tassel.
The girl was transported to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., about 50 minutes away, where she underwent surgery, WPXI.com reported.
Exactly how big do they grow skunks in Beaver county?
The shooting, which took place in New Sewickley Township, Pa. came in at 8:02 p.m. on Saturday night. Police told WPXI.com that the girl was wearing a black outfit and a black hat attached to a white tassel.
The girl was transported to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., about 50 minutes away, where she underwent surgery, WPXI.com reported.
Exactly how big do they grow skunks in Beaver county?
Confidentially to men
Hey Guys. It happens. Sometimes the woman we want doesn't want us or doesn't want us anymore. sometime we screw up a job. Sometimes life just sucks. There are like at least 7 billion people in the world, over 307,000,000 of which live in the USA and there are some that are even citizens. Half, at least of all those people are female. Some are screwed up. Correct that many of them are screwed up. But so are many guys.
So you believe the one you got is screwed up and did you wrong. That only leaves 3,000,000,000 or more women left to try. Lordy, they are being born faster than you can get to know one.
As far as jobs go, if you take care of the one you have, chances are if you lose it so does everyone else who works there. If you just happened to screw it up or acted so weird that peop0le were afraid to have you around, the get help.
As far as life sucking, it does, regularly. But guess what. One day you're are going to die. Just live this life so that the next one is better. Believe it or not there is another one. God said that it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgement.
If a women treats you wrong (or maybe you just didn't treat her right), you got sacked at work, or you find that life just sucks, deal with it. You have no right to hurt anyone else, even the ones that hurt you.
I getting rather tired of reading about men who kill people in high school, college, malls, the work place, or because you don't agree with their place of birth or their religion, or shooting their family and friends/acquaintances just because things didn't go their way. Grow up already.
So you believe the one you got is screwed up and did you wrong. That only leaves 3,000,000,000 or more women left to try. Lordy, they are being born faster than you can get to know one.
As far as jobs go, if you take care of the one you have, chances are if you lose it so does everyone else who works there. If you just happened to screw it up or acted so weird that peop0le were afraid to have you around, the get help.
As far as life sucking, it does, regularly. But guess what. One day you're are going to die. Just live this life so that the next one is better. Believe it or not there is another one. God said that it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgement.
If a women treats you wrong (or maybe you just didn't treat her right), you got sacked at work, or you find that life just sucks, deal with it. You have no right to hurt anyone else, even the ones that hurt you.
I getting rather tired of reading about men who kill people in high school, college, malls, the work place, or because you don't agree with their place of birth or their religion, or shooting their family and friends/acquaintances just because things didn't go their way. Grow up already.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Reason for fall undetermined
After several days the exact cause of my wife's fall has been left undetermined. The doctor's did discover a small problem with her heart that will need future monitering but ruled out that and all other normal medical conditions as leading her to fall,
There was one possibility though and that was her blood pressure medication. Without having taken it and under very stressful situations, her blood preesure at the highest was 120/60 and would range from that to a low of 106/58. Those readings indicated that she did not need to be taking blood pressure medication which could lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure causing her to temporarily blackout and fall.
She was a step behind me when she fell and there was absolutely nothing there for her to have tripped over. Her fall wasn't executed the way one would have normally fell if they had tripped which lead me and the doctor's to believe there was a non normal reason for her to fall.
Hopefully she will be okay in time.
There was one possibility though and that was her blood pressure medication. Without having taken it and under very stressful situations, her blood preesure at the highest was 120/60 and would range from that to a low of 106/58. Those readings indicated that she did not need to be taking blood pressure medication which could lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure causing her to temporarily blackout and fall.
She was a step behind me when she fell and there was absolutely nothing there for her to have tripped over. Her fall wasn't executed the way one would have normally fell if they had tripped which lead me and the doctor's to believe there was a non normal reason for her to fall.
Hopefully she will be okay in time.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Fall in Mt. Airy
This is a beautiful time of year to be in Mt Airy so the wife and I took a day to go visit the little town. We enjoyed some museums and having lunch at Snappy's. The pork chop sandwich was really good. After lunch we decided to walk down to the Smith house, an old main who left her home open to free tours. It was during that walk my wife did a face plant in someones front yard.
If she had not bumped into me on her way down she surely would have hit the sidewalk full force with her head but bumping me changed her trajectory just enough so her face hit the ground. I wish I had seen what caused the fall but the ground looked perfectly fine and I saw nothing that could have caused a trip. Her right hand was folded underneath her and her left hand was about shoulder high but not under her body. It just didn't look like what I would think a person should look like after they fell forward. But then it could just be how she reacted.
She complained about her vision being blurry and she was concerned the fall damaged her glasses. As we walked on she couldn't remember the name of the museum and i thought it strange as it was a place she had talked about all week. I asked her what day of the week it was and she didn't know. I took her back to the car and when she asked where we were going I told her to the hospital. She asked why and I said it was because she fell. She didn't remember falling.
At CT scan revealed a hemorrhage so she was transported to Baptist in Winston-Salem. There we learned that it wasn't an aneurysm. After her first night there she remembered some of the day before; lunch at Snappy's was the last thing until seeing me at Baptist. The stay at Mt. Airy hospital and the ambulance ride are lost forever to her mind.
She still has blurry vision but she can finally retain information. The staff is running test to determine if it was a medical condition that caused the fall or if she just tripped.
I still like fall in Mt. Airy, just not the kind my wife had.
If she had not bumped into me on her way down she surely would have hit the sidewalk full force with her head but bumping me changed her trajectory just enough so her face hit the ground. I wish I had seen what caused the fall but the ground looked perfectly fine and I saw nothing that could have caused a trip. Her right hand was folded underneath her and her left hand was about shoulder high but not under her body. It just didn't look like what I would think a person should look like after they fell forward. But then it could just be how she reacted.
She complained about her vision being blurry and she was concerned the fall damaged her glasses. As we walked on she couldn't remember the name of the museum and i thought it strange as it was a place she had talked about all week. I asked her what day of the week it was and she didn't know. I took her back to the car and when she asked where we were going I told her to the hospital. She asked why and I said it was because she fell. She didn't remember falling.
At CT scan revealed a hemorrhage so she was transported to Baptist in Winston-Salem. There we learned that it wasn't an aneurysm. After her first night there she remembered some of the day before; lunch at Snappy's was the last thing until seeing me at Baptist. The stay at Mt. Airy hospital and the ambulance ride are lost forever to her mind.
She still has blurry vision but she can finally retain information. The staff is running test to determine if it was a medical condition that caused the fall or if she just tripped.
I still like fall in Mt. Airy, just not the kind my wife had.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Dog loses snout
I have no details on how the dog lost its snout but it occurred when the dog saved the lives of two young girls. The incident occurred in the Philippines.
I was stationed in San Miquel in the Philippines in 1971 where I was one of just a few that was allowed to live off base. I had a dog who I named Isaac Von Braun. I called him Braun and he was an unlucky puppy. It seems he was the target of all the other dogs and I had to watch him closely as other dogs seemed to want to attack him. His only friend was a small kitten.
When I feed Braun he would eat half his food and then go get the kitten and sit and watch over the kitten until the kitten ate the rest of his food. It was the only time he showed bravery as he would protect the little cat.
After I returned to Vietnam for my second tour of duty Braun was injured in an attack by another dog and his new owner was afraid to keep him fearing he had gone mad. I had an opportunity to return to the Philippines one day and it was late when I walked down the street towards my friends house. I suddenly found myself surrounded by a pack of wild dogs and was afraid for my well being. As the dogs were growling and circling me one of the dogs looked familiar. I called out "Braun" and one of the dogs quit growling. I called out his name again and he came up to me. When he recognized me he wagged his tail and let me hug him. Then he turned and ran off with the other dogs running behind him.
Had he not been my friend I certainly would have been seriously injured or killed that night. Dogs are amazing creatures and it breaks my heart when people mistreat them.
I'm glad that this dog will be flown to the US where he will be treated for his illnesses and then have reconstructive surgery to build him a new snout.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Inside One Way Baptist
These are shots of the inside of One Way Baptist Church in Randleman, NC as of 10-14-2012. Yes, it is small, only seating 39 people plus the pastor. With the new chairs, the stain glass window wallpaper, and the fresh paint, the santuary looks brighter and more open. Attendance is starting to grow but more importantly, 12 people have accepted Christ as their savior at One Way Baptist is the last 2 1/2 years
Friday, October 12, 2012
Church Chairs
The chairs for our church arrived yesterday at noon so I went over to accept delivery and yo start setting them up. The preacher, Charles Garrett, joined me around 2 and we worked until 6. I went back over to the church today and locked the chairs together and spaced the rows. With the remodel and the new chairs the church building looks brighter and larger.
We purchased the chairs from a company in Georgia called church chairs for less. We ordered the beige chairs with the 4 1/4 inch cushions with 12 chairs having a book rack. The company charged us extra for the special chairs plus extra for the book racks.
It turned out that the book rack fit either chair and the cushions were only 2 1/2 inches thick. The chairs were yellow.
We decided we could live with the color but the cushion thickness is a problem. Instead of feeling like one is sitting on a marshmallow the sensation is no different than one would get sitting on any padded pew. Another problem is some of the chairs had small picks in them. It is like we were shipped second quality merchandise.
I would not recommend doing business with this company.
On their website they offered a discount for orders over fifty but that discount is not available to churches. They informed us the earliest we could get the chairs was on the fifteenth but they came on the eleventh.
In spite of our disappointment over the chairs, the idea of having them instead of pews remains solid, especialy in such a small church building as ours.
Even though our building is small and our numbers are few, we have a wonderful pastor who is also an excellent preacher. Twelve people have accepted Christ as their savior at our church. If you like good preaching and believe in the old time gospel, then One Way Baptist could be the place for you.
We purchased the chairs from a company in Georgia called church chairs for less. We ordered the beige chairs with the 4 1/4 inch cushions with 12 chairs having a book rack. The company charged us extra for the special chairs plus extra for the book racks.
It turned out that the book rack fit either chair and the cushions were only 2 1/2 inches thick. The chairs were yellow.
We decided we could live with the color but the cushion thickness is a problem. Instead of feeling like one is sitting on a marshmallow the sensation is no different than one would get sitting on any padded pew. Another problem is some of the chairs had small picks in them. It is like we were shipped second quality merchandise.
I would not recommend doing business with this company.
On their website they offered a discount for orders over fifty but that discount is not available to churches. They informed us the earliest we could get the chairs was on the fifteenth but they came on the eleventh.
In spite of our disappointment over the chairs, the idea of having them instead of pews remains solid, especialy in such a small church building as ours.
Even though our building is small and our numbers are few, we have a wonderful pastor who is also an excellent preacher. Twelve people have accepted Christ as their savior at our church. If you like good preaching and believe in the old time gospel, then One Way Baptist could be the place for you.
Monday, October 08, 2012
pumpkin pies
I'll be baking pumpkin pies from fresh organic pumpkins for Thanksgiving and Christmas. These will be deep dish, extra thick pumpkin pies with or without whipped cream, whichever you prefer. You can place your order anytime for pick-up whenever you want.
Pies will be available for pick-up at 604 Sunset Av. in Randleman (One Way Baptist Church) up until Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve. There will be enough pumpkin for about 11 or twelve pies and they will be $4.00 each so if you want one get your order in early.
Pies will be available for pick-up at 604 Sunset Av. in Randleman (One Way Baptist Church) up until Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve. There will be enough pumpkin for about 11 or twelve pies and they will be $4.00 each so if you want one get your order in early.
Mila Kunis named Esquire’s sexiest woman alive
I have to admit that I was attracted to Mila Kunis the first time I saw her on "That 70's show". That program isn't the kind of TV I enjoy but I did watch it just because she was on it. I also like Sandra Bullock and the woman that starred in "Silence of the Lamb". My wife will watch anything with Morgan Freeman in it but just because I think someone has a quality that I find attractive, whether it be acting style, character, or beauty doesn't mean they are sexy.
The sexiest thing I've ever seen is Sarah Michele Geller's opening dance on Buffy the Vampire Slayer but it's not like she should win an award for it.
I think one of the reasons why I like Mila on that 70's show so much was that she was so vain and while she was pretty enough to be vain over, she wasn't all that sexy so her vainity was actually funny, which was the whole purpose of her character. Things (and people) can be pretty without being sexy. I'm not saying that she isn't sexy but I saw many women far more sexual attractive than her in Asheboro this week at the Fall Festival.
Now if Esquire wants to select her as the woman who uses sex to promote her career the best in 2012, the maybe she is a winner. Otherwise, no.
The sexiest thing I've ever seen is Sarah Michele Geller's opening dance on Buffy the Vampire Slayer but it's not like she should win an award for it.
I think one of the reasons why I like Mila on that 70's show so much was that she was so vain and while she was pretty enough to be vain over, she wasn't all that sexy so her vainity was actually funny, which was the whole purpose of her character. Things (and people) can be pretty without being sexy. I'm not saying that she isn't sexy but I saw many women far more sexual attractive than her in Asheboro this week at the Fall Festival.
Now if Esquire wants to select her as the woman who uses sex to promote her career the best in 2012, the maybe she is a winner. Otherwise, no.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Cleaning up a credit report
Cleaning up a credit report implies that one can fix bad credit which one can't. What a person can do is try to get erroneous items removed from the report. Mistakes do occur but even if an item is legitmate, one can solve the problem with some tough negotiation.
After my divorce I wanted to purchase a house but I had some items on credit report that prevented
me from doing so. My ex told her creditors, after she filed bankruptcy, that I would be responsible for making the payments on her vehicle. The vehicle was licensed in her name only and the loan was in her name only.
Another item on my report was where I had helped my wife's sister with a line of credit so she could purchased some airline tickets for her kids (another story we will not go into here). She was making scheduled payments until she decided she wanted a car so she borrowed to the max and then couldn't make the payments.
The first order of business was to call the bank and work a deal to pay off my sister-in-laws debt. I agreed to pay so many cents on the dollar that very day if they would have any bad entries removed from my credit report by issuing a statement that the entry was made in error.
After several calls to the bank about my ex's vehicle with a promise to correct the entry but with no action taken by the bank to do so, I finally had to personally visit the bank. I saw the man who was responsible for making the entry and asked him to correct it and he said he would. I sat down in a chair in his office and he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was waiting and he said he would get things done at his convenience. I didn't move. After he urged me to leave I informed him I was going no where until he took care of the matter.
Sure, it made him angry but he finally made the correction that allowed me to purchase my house.
Now, had I made late payments or defaulted on a loan or filed bankruptcy or over extended my credit I would not have been able to correct or fix anything. If there are errors sometimes only you would know and sometimes it requires doing some things strangers aren't going to do for you.
If an entry is wrong fix it. Otherwise learn to do better.
After my divorce I wanted to purchase a house but I had some items on credit report that prevented
me from doing so. My ex told her creditors, after she filed bankruptcy, that I would be responsible for making the payments on her vehicle. The vehicle was licensed in her name only and the loan was in her name only.
Another item on my report was where I had helped my wife's sister with a line of credit so she could purchased some airline tickets for her kids (another story we will not go into here). She was making scheduled payments until she decided she wanted a car so she borrowed to the max and then couldn't make the payments.
The first order of business was to call the bank and work a deal to pay off my sister-in-laws debt. I agreed to pay so many cents on the dollar that very day if they would have any bad entries removed from my credit report by issuing a statement that the entry was made in error.
After several calls to the bank about my ex's vehicle with a promise to correct the entry but with no action taken by the bank to do so, I finally had to personally visit the bank. I saw the man who was responsible for making the entry and asked him to correct it and he said he would. I sat down in a chair in his office and he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was waiting and he said he would get things done at his convenience. I didn't move. After he urged me to leave I informed him I was going no where until he took care of the matter.
Sure, it made him angry but he finally made the correction that allowed me to purchase my house.
Now, had I made late payments or defaulted on a loan or filed bankruptcy or over extended my credit I would not have been able to correct or fix anything. If there are errors sometimes only you would know and sometimes it requires doing some things strangers aren't going to do for you.
If an entry is wrong fix it. Otherwise learn to do better.
Friday, October 05, 2012
Church remodel
nmmmmmmmmmm4mee43 (kitty type)
We finished the remodel at the church today. It really looks good.
We finished the remodel at the church today. It really looks good.
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Remodeling
We have been doing a little remodeling at the church this week. We took out the pews, spackled and sanded the walls, primed and painted and tomorrow we are going to clean and cover the windows with window cling. We will order new chairs as soon as we raise the money. Until then, we will sit on folding chairs.
The old building is looking fres and clean now and will really look good plus be functionaly once we get our chairs. We need about $500.00 more. I know that doesn't seem like much but we really only have six members although our attendance is normally around twenty, and money is hard to come by.
We have a really good preacher and he has turned down numerous offers to pastor large churches. I truly believe the church will grow one day once we start getting people to come. Lately it seems we are getting more and more repeat visitors. I sure would like for you to come too.
The old building is looking fres and clean now and will really look good plus be functionaly once we get our chairs. We need about $500.00 more. I know that doesn't seem like much but we really only have six members although our attendance is normally around twenty, and money is hard to come by.
We have a really good preacher and he has turned down numerous offers to pastor large churches. I truly believe the church will grow one day once we start getting people to come. Lately it seems we are getting more and more repeat visitors. I sure would like for you to come too.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Christians aren't special-just forgiven
Well, thanks not exactly true. Christians are special but not everyone that says Father, Father" is my child. I know that's not an exact quote but the ones that know that know what I'm talking about that the ones that don't know haven't a clue.
I do know that what many people think the bible says, it doesn't and what many people believes the bible teaches, it doesn't. I also know that what people hear when they are young is what they believe the bible says and it is almost impossible for them to accept any alternative. Sometimes people try to apply the teaching of the bible to toady's culture when the teachings were clearly based on the culture at the time the scriptures were written.
Some people teach that playing music in church is the unpardonable sin which it isn't and others believe that going to church on Sundays is a trick Satan played on people and if they don't go to church on Saturdays they are condemned to hell and that isn't true either. Some pray to the mother Mary and she can't help you either as she is long dead and we serve are living God.
There are so many errouneous teachings about the bible it is no wonder people get confused. I suggest that people ignore what their church says, ignore what they have learned, and ignore all they have heard and study the bible for themselves. Not just read it but actually study it. There are two important things to keep in mind. First is that the truth is Jesus Christ and we must imterptret the bible from God's point of view.
I'll see you in Church.
I do know that what many people think the bible says, it doesn't and what many people believes the bible teaches, it doesn't. I also know that what people hear when they are young is what they believe the bible says and it is almost impossible for them to accept any alternative. Sometimes people try to apply the teaching of the bible to toady's culture when the teachings were clearly based on the culture at the time the scriptures were written.
Some people teach that playing music in church is the unpardonable sin which it isn't and others believe that going to church on Sundays is a trick Satan played on people and if they don't go to church on Saturdays they are condemned to hell and that isn't true either. Some pray to the mother Mary and she can't help you either as she is long dead and we serve are living God.
There are so many errouneous teachings about the bible it is no wonder people get confused. I suggest that people ignore what their church says, ignore what they have learned, and ignore all they have heard and study the bible for themselves. Not just read it but actually study it. There are two important things to keep in mind. First is that the truth is Jesus Christ and we must imterptret the bible from God's point of view.
I'll see you in Church.
Retired and loving it
If I could figure out how to make money without having to work I'd have the perfect life for me. Truthfully, I don't mind the work part as long as I get to determine what hours and days I work or not work. I had a job like that once at Show Stoppers but they moved their operations to Myrtle Beach. I may try UPS this winter although it is hard and I'm older than when I did that job before.
In 2004 I was homeless, $37,000.00 in debt with monthly bills higher than my income but I paid off all my debts and saved $51,000.00 ($37,000 of that coming since Obama was elected). I have a paid for truck, money in the back, my ssi check, a disability check from my service in Vietnam, and a monthly draw from my retirement. I work in my yard, take care of the church, coach some baseball, spend some time with my mom, and just adopted two kittens. I have five flower gardens, three vegetable gardens, two water ponds, and some land in the mountains, and a wonderful wife.
Finances are tight, I do admit, and I try to spend as little as possible. So far I've had to withdrawn $4000 extra from my retirement account but have made all $4,000 back in interest. I also have ten grand in an account that I can't touch for a while and shared interest in a house (value unknown). In todays economy and by todays standards it isn't much but I have a modest home with easy payments and my car looks brand new and only has 12,000 miles on it and it is four years old. I buy one tank of gas a month for my truck so its not like I have expensive tastes or extravagant needs. I am a simple person with simple needs.
I not only believe in God and Jesus Christ but they are as real to me as I am. I enjoy teaching my Sunday School class, making the video of church services for our shutins and trying to make God's people feel special because they are.
I work as hard or even harder than I did when I had a job but I love every minute of it.
In 2004 I was homeless, $37,000.00 in debt with monthly bills higher than my income but I paid off all my debts and saved $51,000.00 ($37,000 of that coming since Obama was elected). I have a paid for truck, money in the back, my ssi check, a disability check from my service in Vietnam, and a monthly draw from my retirement. I work in my yard, take care of the church, coach some baseball, spend some time with my mom, and just adopted two kittens. I have five flower gardens, three vegetable gardens, two water ponds, and some land in the mountains, and a wonderful wife.
Finances are tight, I do admit, and I try to spend as little as possible. So far I've had to withdrawn $4000 extra from my retirement account but have made all $4,000 back in interest. I also have ten grand in an account that I can't touch for a while and shared interest in a house (value unknown). In todays economy and by todays standards it isn't much but I have a modest home with easy payments and my car looks brand new and only has 12,000 miles on it and it is four years old. I buy one tank of gas a month for my truck so its not like I have expensive tastes or extravagant needs. I am a simple person with simple needs.
I not only believe in God and Jesus Christ but they are as real to me as I am. I enjoy teaching my Sunday School class, making the video of church services for our shutins and trying to make God's people feel special because they are.
I work as hard or even harder than I did when I had a job but I love every minute of it.
twelve killed a day
The deal to end one of two long-running insurgencies in the Philippines, which
have killed more than 160,000 people, could be signed as early as this week if
the four-day talks in Malaysia are successful.
The Philippines is a small island country composed of over 7,000 islands. Most of the nation is catholic but part of the southern regions are muslim. During WWII the Americans organized tribes of headhunters to fight against the Japanese. These people have always loved to fight and at the end of the war they continued to fight although they had given up hunting heads. Islam supplied them with weapons and gave them a target. In the sixties and seventies these warriors were losing interest in a seemingly lost cause but some followers of communism saw an opportunity and infiltrated them and gave them a renewed hope in their fighting. In the past forty years over 160,000 people have died because of these communist muslims. That equates to about 4,000 a year or an average of roughly 12 people a day.
The peace treaty is not going to stop the fighting and killing, just reduce the numbers and scope of the fighters.
The Philippines is a small island country composed of over 7,000 islands. Most of the nation is catholic but part of the southern regions are muslim. During WWII the Americans organized tribes of headhunters to fight against the Japanese. These people have always loved to fight and at the end of the war they continued to fight although they had given up hunting heads. Islam supplied them with weapons and gave them a target. In the sixties and seventies these warriors were losing interest in a seemingly lost cause but some followers of communism saw an opportunity and infiltrated them and gave them a renewed hope in their fighting. In the past forty years over 160,000 people have died because of these communist muslims. That equates to about 4,000 a year or an average of roughly 12 people a day.
The peace treaty is not going to stop the fighting and killing, just reduce the numbers and scope of the fighters.
Media errors now and then
More content from NBCNews.com:
The above headlines, in blue and both from MS NBC were both on the same page and reposted by me in the order they occurred.
The first headline states California was the first state to "bay". That may or may not be true but what the headline was supposed to say was "Ban" The first headline draws a picture in my mind of the California governor sitting out on the front lawn of the governors mansion, on a night with a full moon, howling a song about gay cures.
The second headline says that there was a biker shooting at a VFW shooting. Does that really mean that someone was shooting Veterans of our foreign wars and hit bikers instead of or in addition to the former soldiers and sailors, or just shooting at the place the former military members meet but shoot people on motorcycles instead? Did the bikers do the shooting or were they the victims?
I just don't understand why college educated journalists have such a hard time with sentence structure, grammar and spelling.
- California becomes first state in nation to bay 'gay cure' therapy for children
- 2 killed, 1 wounded in biker shooting at VFW lodge shooting
The above headlines, in blue and both from MS NBC were both on the same page and reposted by me in the order they occurred.
The first headline states California was the first state to "bay". That may or may not be true but what the headline was supposed to say was "Ban" The first headline draws a picture in my mind of the California governor sitting out on the front lawn of the governors mansion, on a night with a full moon, howling a song about gay cures.
The second headline says that there was a biker shooting at a VFW shooting. Does that really mean that someone was shooting Veterans of our foreign wars and hit bikers instead of or in addition to the former soldiers and sailors, or just shooting at the place the former military members meet but shoot people on motorcycles instead? Did the bikers do the shooting or were they the victims?
I just don't understand why college educated journalists have such a hard time with sentence structure, grammar and spelling.
Free firewood and pumpkin pies
Last year I cleared some land and planted a pumpkin patch. I sold many of the pumpkins and the rest I'm going to carve out for pies, whiuch I plan on selling for Thanksgiving.
The rest of the land I'm working on this year. Anyone wanting free firewood is welcomed to the fallen trees. Most should be hardwwod trees as I believe the logger wanted all our pines. There are some trees still standing on the property that I need cut so if anyone wants fresh cut wood there are several good trees to choose from.
The property is at 604 Sunset in Randleman. From Asheboro take 220 business into Randleman and turn left onto Sunset from Main street (right across the street from Sir Pizza) or if coming from Asheboro on 220 by-pass/I-73 take the 311 exit, turn right then a quick left onto Stout Street. Sunset is about a mile, give or take, on the right.
The standing trees are available now and the fallen trees should be accessible the first of November.
The rest of the land I'm working on this year. Anyone wanting free firewood is welcomed to the fallen trees. Most should be hardwwod trees as I believe the logger wanted all our pines. There are some trees still standing on the property that I need cut so if anyone wants fresh cut wood there are several good trees to choose from.
The property is at 604 Sunset in Randleman. From Asheboro take 220 business into Randleman and turn left onto Sunset from Main street (right across the street from Sir Pizza) or if coming from Asheboro on 220 by-pass/I-73 take the 311 exit, turn right then a quick left onto Stout Street. Sunset is about a mile, give or take, on the right.
The standing trees are available now and the fallen trees should be accessible the first of November.
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