542 – Keeping Busy

It’s been a busy week since my last post, but I’m still here!

I had Monday off this week, and my daughter and I went out for the day doing various things including taking the Vette out and warming it up, I took her out to lunch, and some other fun things. We always have a great time together (of course, she still IS, Daddy’s Little Girl!").

The weather’s still been outrageously warm here for Winter, although today we had about 2 inches of wet snow that was VERY slippery this morning. It’ll probably be gone by tomorrow afternoon though, as it’s going to warm up again.

Other than that, not too much else new, hope people are still reading this!

On to a good story:

The Farming Brothers

In days gone by, two brothers, Raul and Johan, who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 35 years of farming side by side in central Germany, sharing machinery, and trading labour and goods as needed without a single problem occurring.

However, one autumn, the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence between the two brothers.

One morning there was a knock on Raul's door. He opened it to find a man holding a carpenter's toolbox. 'I'm looking for a few days work,' Angelis said. 'Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?'

'Yes,' answered Raul, extremely pleased to see Angelis the carpenter, 'I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbour, in fact, it's my younger brother, Johan's farm. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence; an 8-foot fence, so I won't need to see Johan's place nor his face anymore.'

Angelis the carpenter said thoughtfully, 'I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you.'

Raul then left for the nearby town, Erfurt, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing, and hammering.

About sunset when Raul returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge: a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other. A fine piece of work handrails and all, and the neighbour, his younger brother Johan, was coming across, his hand outstretched. 'You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done, 'Johan smiled.

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. 'No, wait. Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you,' called Raul.

'I'd love to stay on,' Angelis murmured quietly, 'but, I have many more bridges to build.'

541 – Handles

I’m not sure I posted this before, but it comes from a dear friend, who passed on some years ago. She was a police officer in the Southern MidWest. Her name was Lisanne.

....walking down the pet-food aisle of my local supermarket...stocking up on food for the monsters...and preparing to head to the produce section for some fruit...too hot here (still in the triple-digits) to eat much of anything else...

....wearing a pair of jean-shorts and a white t-shirt with ''POLICE'' in huge blue letters on the back....and a replica of our Department's shield on the front...my hair pulled up in a ponytail, which swings from the opening on the back of my white ball-cap style hat....

....looking back over my shoulder as I feel a tug-tug on the leg of my shorts....and hear a small voice say...

"handles..."

...turning around and smiling at a little imp...all of two years old is my guess...

....crouching down to his eye-level...finding two bright gorgeous blues (rimmed in impossibly-long black lashes) staring wide-eyed back at me....his tousled golden curls shaking slightly as he nods at me and says again...

"handles..." (with the appropriate tug to my shorts once more...)

"Hi sweetie. Where's your Mommy?"

"handles..." (tug-tug)

"Handles?"

"handles!..."

...looking around for his Mother and seeing her walk toward us....only a few steps away....her angel never out of her sight.....the baby's back to her so he doesn't see her...

...giving her a little ''wait a sec'' look and a smile as she stops and smiles....and allows us to continue....

"handles!!!..." (tug-tug...those heartbreakingly beautiful blue eyes beginning to well with tears of frustration...)

"Okay, honey....Uhmmmm...Can you show me what it is you want?" ...reaching my hand out to his and feeling his strong little grip as I stand and let him lead me off....a quick smile back over my shoulder to his Mom - who follows silently behind us...our grocery carts left mid-aisle....

And lead me he did....chubby little legs flying over the tiled floor of the Supermarket....down the pet-food aisle...a sharp turn to the right...past the end-caps promoting the specials of the week...on and on...his head a golden halo of bouncing curls...past the dairy case....another sharp right....to the frozen-food cases....

"handles!!!..." (this time emphasized with squeals of delight as he spots the treasure he seeks...and he points....)"handles!!!..."

...looking up at the frozen-food case and its contents...the glass doors only slightly hazed with frost....then smiling down at this adorable little tyke....as realization takes hold in my mind...

"Ahhhh....*handles!*...."

...opening the door to the food case....reaching in and withdrawing a box of assorted Popsicles....tearing open the top of the box and finding a red one....carefully snapping it into two sections....then removing the outer wrapper and placing the cherished 'handle' in his tiny hand...plump baby fingers curling tightly around the smooth wooden stick....keeping the other half for myself...

...unable to resist tousling those silken curls as his mouth engulfs the tip of the frozen confection....and handing the remainder of the box to his Mother...(who, by this time, is laughing at her precocious and resourceful little son...)

...he turns to the sound of his Mother's laugh....his little cupids-bow of a mouth smiling happily around the Popsicle....not *too* many drips down the front of his pristine white t-shirt...and runs the few steps necessary to reach her...

"mama...handles!!!"

...stepping silently away...munching on my half of the Popsicle....not too many drips down the front of *my* pristine white t-shirt....reaching into the case for a box of 'handles' for myself....and adding them to my cart of dog-food when I reach it....

....paying out at the check-out stand....explaining quickly and asking the cashier to ring the box twice....my treat for the little golden-haired angel who reminded me that sometimes we all need help in obtaining our 'handles', whatever they might be....that often we only have to ask for what we want or need...that wide-eyed trust and innocence are too soon gone in our lives....and that simple pleasures are often the best...

540 – A Break in the Weather

Well, we’ve STILL been having incredibly warm weather now since mid November. Finally, this weekend we’re going to get normal February weather, but JUST for this weekend!

We’re supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow tomorrow, and cold on Sunday, but returning to warmer weather on Monday. Go figure.

Oh, and my wife and I get to puppy-sit again this weekend! WHOO HOO! *LOL*

Wedding plans are moving along for my daughter and her fiancé. July 7th is the big day.
This is the place she’s getting married.

Still so much to do though….

On to something funny:

Philosophy Of Beer

A professor stood before his Philosophy 101 class and some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous - - yes.

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - - your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions - - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - - the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."

"Take care of the golf balls first - - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled.

"I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers!

539 – Wordless Wednesday–Night in Kauai, Hawaii

(Click on picture to ‘embiggen’)

538 – Clarification

Believing everyone on Earth is from the US, I should have put more information about the picture I posted last Thursday.

Merle, in case you didn’t know it, the photo is of the USS Arizona Memorial, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It’s the mighty battleship that was sunk with many men on board during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in July of 1941. The white building is the memorial that sits directly over the ship, which entombs many sailors. It’s a very somber place to remember men and women that gave their lives for our country.

The freakish weather continues here, hitting 57 yesterday, and maybe making 60 here today! People are golfing in January!

Other than that, I’ve been busy with Auto Club business as I’m the Vice President of The Bristol Auto Club now. Lots to do before the Spring car show/cruise night season begins.

And now, for something funny:

The Rich Man

There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.

An angel hears his plea and appears to him.
"Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you."
The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.

The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him.

The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.

Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter.

Seeing the suitcase St. Peter says,
"Hold on, you can't bring that in here!"

But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying,
"You're right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through."

St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims,
"You brought pavement?!!!"

Have a great Hump-Day!