I received this e-mail last year and it compared life then (2010) with life one hundred years earlier. It has plenty for us to ponder on at the progress made since 1910 and thus I thought it worth some reflection time of our own too! Maybe not to 100 years ago, but perhaps to our own childhoods, and to what has changed in just our own Life time. Anyway here it is for your reflection:
The year is 1910 .One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1910: (By the way, these are American Statistics, in case you wondered.)
************ ********* ************
The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.
Fuel for cars was sold in drug stores only.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year...
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME.
Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
The Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars ....The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school...
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.
Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,
regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health' (Shocking? DUH! )
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help....
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.!
That was then: Now I am now going to forward this to someone else without typing it myself.
From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD - all in a matter of seconds! Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years. IT STAGGERS THE MIND.”
And as I have nothing to add to the above now, I will close here. Bye for now.
Showing posts with label e-mail inspired. Show all posts
Showing posts with label e-mail inspired. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
I Remember ...
A while back I received an email that talked about how different things were when the writer was a Kid. Being someone who was born smack dab in the middle of the last century, many of those things listed in her memory, although now unheard and often forgotten, were common for me and my siblings then too.
Yes although living little more than 25 Miles from Melbourne, the second biggest city in Melbourne we were still largely isolated from it through lack of transport and facilities. I remember when, not only did we not have a TV, but also had no Electricity to run one. Kerosene Lamps and even a Kerosene Fridge was the norm for us then. My, how things have changed since then! Mind, although in many ways they truly were Good Old Days, I have no desire to return to them without my now accustomed modern comforts either. Great to return occasionally in my memory, but not to want to live through them again!
Anyway the above mentioned e-mail that started this reminiscing, ended with a list of things, now mostly forgotten, which I will include here. I will also add to that list my own personal memories of these items, if I knew them then.
“MEMORIES from a friend: How many do you remember?
1. Cho Cho bar: They were just one of many lollies (Sweets) around then but not now. Can’t say they were my favourites though. Much preferred “White Knights”.
2. Drive Ins: Actually don’t think they were even around yet when I was a ‘little un”. Although they certainly were when I got my Licence and I went to a few in my younger days.
3. Candy cigarettes: “Fags” were a favourite of mine because they were nice. Now they are banned because of their negative connection to real cigarettes and the now negative meaning of their name!
4. Soft drink machines that dispensed glass bottles: Were definitely around but we never had much access to them due to our isolation from city life.
5. Coffee shops or milk bars with tableside juke boxes: Again something only experienced late in my teens due to lack of close public transport due to our isolation from the “Big Smoke”, ( even if only a few miles from it.)
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with foil stoppers: Was definitely around but we never got them. We got our milk straight from our own Cow, which I guess now that I think of it, was in fact home delivered, even if only by the cow!
7. Party lines: Never had one, but when we did finally get the phone on, we had to go through the local exchange.
8. Newsreels before the movie: Again due to our isolations, movies and Newsreels were not a part of our early lives, until we got our Licences, and by then Drive Ins were all the rage!
9. Packards: Not too many American cars around here in those days. Mostly English. Our Fist car was a vanguard.
10. Blue flashbulb: I do remember them and how hot they got when they went off! Yes, I had a few burnt fingers before finally getting the message that they were very hot!
11. Telephone numbers with 2 letters and 4 numbers: Ours actually had three: Panton Hill 336
12. Peashooters: Again around but I was more into Spud Guns than Pea shooters.
13. Wash tub wringer: Oh yes had my arm in it up to the elbow more than once.
14. 78 RPM records: Indeed and also the wind up Phonogram to play them on.
15. Metal ice trays with lever: Yes I also remember those Aluminium contraptions.
16. Studebakers: Again not many American cars around our way, but plenty of Austins, Morrises and Humbers.
17. Cracker night: And the Big Bonfire over in the swamp area and going around the next morning picking up all the unexploded ones and having another go.
18. Using hand signals for cars without turn signals: Yes, but by the time I got my Licence indicators had become compulsory.
19. Bread delivered by horse and cart: Horses were out when I was young but we had our bread delivered once a week by Van.
20. Head lights dimmer switches on the floor. Yep. Took a little while not to hit the floor feeling for it, when they changed over to Column shift.
21. Ignition switches on the dashboard: Usually in the middle, as often was the key, although separate then.
22. Heaters mounted on the inside of the wall: Yeah, but they didn’t last long as they were totally inefficient up so high.
23. Real ice boxes; No. never had ice out our way. But we did have a Kerosene Fridge.
24. Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards: Yep, very necessary on bikes then. Otherwise you often came a cropper when the chain chewed up your pants leg. Not to mention that mum would also chew us up about our now modified trouser leg!
25. Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner: Gas burner? Who had gas burners then? We had to use the open fire or wood stove.
26. Clotheslines held up by cloths props: Another necessity otherwise one tended to run the risk of losing your head to a low hanging wire. Thank goodness for the Hills Hoist when it came in!
27. Mum making me dolls out of the big wooden clothes pegs: Not applicable there.
28. Getting into trouble for cutting the crust off the bread, spreading it with butter & whatever and eating it: Not sure about that, but we did get into trouble for breaking the loaf in half and eating the middle out on the way from the Bread box on the road, down to the house.
29. Having a bath in the laundry on washing day using the water from the copper boiler. No soap powder: Actually our bath regime was on Sunday night, before the school week, and in the laundry away from the house in an old sheet galvanised bath with sharp edges. Thus I also remember a few cut fingers too!
30. Mum shaving the sunlight soap for the copper boiler: Yes, and the copper was also in the corner of the laundry and used for heating water for both the washing and our baths. And for cooking the Christmas Puddings! Loved Mum’s Christmas Pudds!!!!!!!!!!
31. Good old Sunlight soap in the little wire cage, shaken up for the washing up: Mum used it for many years in the kitchen sink.
32. Wrapping the ice in newspaper for the Ice chest so it would last longer: Nope! No ice Chest, but we used to save the newspapers for the Butcher to wrap his meat in, before that too became unhygienic.
33. Plugging the iron into the light socket: No. Mum had a flat iron she had to heat on top of the wood stove.
34. The Thunder box at my grandmothers. Never had a grandmother that I can remember, but we had our own thunder box at home. And Mum and Dad had it for many years after I moved out too! (Had one Grandfather who died when I as 6 and a half. The other Grands died before I was born.)
=====================================================
Well that was just a few reminisces from me. How many of the above revived a memory, whether pleasant or unpleasant, to you? Again, not all my memories of the above things were pleasant. Having a bath outside, and the outside toilet, chief among the less enjoyable ones, especially on cold or wet nights! Over to you now for your reminisces.
Yes although living little more than 25 Miles from Melbourne, the second biggest city in Melbourne we were still largely isolated from it through lack of transport and facilities. I remember when, not only did we not have a TV, but also had no Electricity to run one. Kerosene Lamps and even a Kerosene Fridge was the norm for us then. My, how things have changed since then! Mind, although in many ways they truly were Good Old Days, I have no desire to return to them without my now accustomed modern comforts either. Great to return occasionally in my memory, but not to want to live through them again!
Anyway the above mentioned e-mail that started this reminiscing, ended with a list of things, now mostly forgotten, which I will include here. I will also add to that list my own personal memories of these items, if I knew them then.
“MEMORIES from a friend: How many do you remember?
1. Cho Cho bar: They were just one of many lollies (Sweets) around then but not now. Can’t say they were my favourites though. Much preferred “White Knights”.
2. Drive Ins: Actually don’t think they were even around yet when I was a ‘little un”. Although they certainly were when I got my Licence and I went to a few in my younger days.
3. Candy cigarettes: “Fags” were a favourite of mine because they were nice. Now they are banned because of their negative connection to real cigarettes and the now negative meaning of their name!
4. Soft drink machines that dispensed glass bottles: Were definitely around but we never had much access to them due to our isolation from city life.
5. Coffee shops or milk bars with tableside juke boxes: Again something only experienced late in my teens due to lack of close public transport due to our isolation from the “Big Smoke”, ( even if only a few miles from it.)
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with foil stoppers: Was definitely around but we never got them. We got our milk straight from our own Cow, which I guess now that I think of it, was in fact home delivered, even if only by the cow!
7. Party lines: Never had one, but when we did finally get the phone on, we had to go through the local exchange.
8. Newsreels before the movie: Again due to our isolations, movies and Newsreels were not a part of our early lives, until we got our Licences, and by then Drive Ins were all the rage!
9. Packards: Not too many American cars around here in those days. Mostly English. Our Fist car was a vanguard.
10. Blue flashbulb: I do remember them and how hot they got when they went off! Yes, I had a few burnt fingers before finally getting the message that they were very hot!
11. Telephone numbers with 2 letters and 4 numbers: Ours actually had three: Panton Hill 336
12. Peashooters: Again around but I was more into Spud Guns than Pea shooters.
13. Wash tub wringer: Oh yes had my arm in it up to the elbow more than once.
14. 78 RPM records: Indeed and also the wind up Phonogram to play them on.
15. Metal ice trays with lever: Yes I also remember those Aluminium contraptions.
16. Studebakers: Again not many American cars around our way, but plenty of Austins, Morrises and Humbers.
17. Cracker night: And the Big Bonfire over in the swamp area and going around the next morning picking up all the unexploded ones and having another go.
18. Using hand signals for cars without turn signals: Yes, but by the time I got my Licence indicators had become compulsory.
19. Bread delivered by horse and cart: Horses were out when I was young but we had our bread delivered once a week by Van.
20. Head lights dimmer switches on the floor. Yep. Took a little while not to hit the floor feeling for it, when they changed over to Column shift.
21. Ignition switches on the dashboard: Usually in the middle, as often was the key, although separate then.
22. Heaters mounted on the inside of the wall: Yeah, but they didn’t last long as they were totally inefficient up so high.
23. Real ice boxes; No. never had ice out our way. But we did have a Kerosene Fridge.
24. Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards: Yep, very necessary on bikes then. Otherwise you often came a cropper when the chain chewed up your pants leg. Not to mention that mum would also chew us up about our now modified trouser leg!
25. Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner: Gas burner? Who had gas burners then? We had to use the open fire or wood stove.
26. Clotheslines held up by cloths props: Another necessity otherwise one tended to run the risk of losing your head to a low hanging wire. Thank goodness for the Hills Hoist when it came in!
27. Mum making me dolls out of the big wooden clothes pegs: Not applicable there.
28. Getting into trouble for cutting the crust off the bread, spreading it with butter & whatever and eating it: Not sure about that, but we did get into trouble for breaking the loaf in half and eating the middle out on the way from the Bread box on the road, down to the house.
29. Having a bath in the laundry on washing day using the water from the copper boiler. No soap powder: Actually our bath regime was on Sunday night, before the school week, and in the laundry away from the house in an old sheet galvanised bath with sharp edges. Thus I also remember a few cut fingers too!
30. Mum shaving the sunlight soap for the copper boiler: Yes, and the copper was also in the corner of the laundry and used for heating water for both the washing and our baths. And for cooking the Christmas Puddings! Loved Mum’s Christmas Pudds!!!!!!!!!!
31. Good old Sunlight soap in the little wire cage, shaken up for the washing up: Mum used it for many years in the kitchen sink.
32. Wrapping the ice in newspaper for the Ice chest so it would last longer: Nope! No ice Chest, but we used to save the newspapers for the Butcher to wrap his meat in, before that too became unhygienic.
33. Plugging the iron into the light socket: No. Mum had a flat iron she had to heat on top of the wood stove.
34. The Thunder box at my grandmothers. Never had a grandmother that I can remember, but we had our own thunder box at home. And Mum and Dad had it for many years after I moved out too! (Had one Grandfather who died when I as 6 and a half. The other Grands died before I was born.)
=====================================================
Well that was just a few reminisces from me. How many of the above revived a memory, whether pleasant or unpleasant, to you? Again, not all my memories of the above things were pleasant. Having a bath outside, and the outside toilet, chief among the less enjoyable ones, especially on cold or wet nights! Over to you now for your reminisces.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Are you really up for this now?
Now as you may have guessed long before now, I am attracted to unusual words and their usual implications on our lives. So in that vein I am passing on something that is not original to me, but thought taking in its own way nonetheless. However that said, this word is far from an uncommon word, but in fact finds its attraction to me anyway, in the many, many different ways it can be used up. And all that and in a simple two letter word too. So if you are up for it, here it is:
“This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].
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 come UP? 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, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.
At other times this little word has real special meaning... People stir UP trouble,
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. In fact, we seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary... In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind 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 soaks UP the earth. When it does not rain for a while, things dry UP. One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now ..........my time is UP!
Oh....one more thing:
What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U P!
Did that one crack you UP? Now don't screw UP. Send this on to everyone you look UP in your address book. Or not.....it's UP to you. Don't forget when you’re angry at someone it's Up Yours!!!!! Now I'll shut UP.”
Now the above is obviously meant to be a bit of fun, while at the same time making us all aware of the many different ways any single word, even a simple two letter word like up, can be used. So as I close up here, let me ask, how are using up today? Are you using it up to build up people or just to bring them up short and then to beat them up with it? Over to you now if you are up for it, for it is truly up to you know as to what you do.
“This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].
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 come UP? 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, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car.
At other times this little word has real special meaning... People stir UP trouble,
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. In fact, we seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary... In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind 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 soaks UP the earth. When it does not rain for a while, things dry UP. One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now ..........my time is UP!
Oh....one more thing:
What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U P!
Did that one crack you UP? Now don't screw UP. Send this on to everyone you look UP in your address book. Or not.....it's UP to you. Don't forget when you’re angry at someone it's Up Yours!!!!! Now I'll shut UP.”
Now the above is obviously meant to be a bit of fun, while at the same time making us all aware of the many different ways any single word, even a simple two letter word like up, can be used. So as I close up here, let me ask, how are using up today? Are you using it up to build up people or just to bring them up short and then to beat them up with it? Over to you now if you are up for it, for it is truly up to you know as to what you do.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Learn to write on the appropriate material.
Received this great e-mail a little while back and thought I just have to share it with you too:
“TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE. THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND, ‘TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE “.
THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH. THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM. AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE: 'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'.
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?' THE FRIEND REPLIED 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT'.”
The e-mail then ends with this sage advice which we could all benefit from if we were to put it into practise: “LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE. “
Again great advice that I thought worth trying to implement in my own life and to share with you. What say you?
“TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE. THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND, ‘TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE “.
THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH. THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM. AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE: 'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'.
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?' THE FRIEND REPLIED 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT'.”
The e-mail then ends with this sage advice which we could all benefit from if we were to put it into practise: “LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE. “
Again great advice that I thought worth trying to implement in my own life and to share with you. What say you?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
"How To Stay Young by John Campbell"
The following is not original to me nor can I remember where I got it from a couple of years back, but while some doctors might fault it in places, it makes a lot of sense in others, and is worth not only reading, but also being put into action in our own lives too, where applicable.
“ How To Stay Young by John Campbell
Just remember that getting old is caused by staying alive but being old is caused by giving up on life.
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them. Let others who don't have anything more important to do worry about them but you get on with your life unhindered by irrelevant information. Just think about it this way.
What would you do if you did not know how old you were?
The shape, and state, you are in is far more important that what you weigh.
There is no correlation between your height and your IQ or your personality.
2 Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. Beware of being with, or being an "energy vampire" (someone who brightens up the room by leaving!) Your attitude is affected by the company you keep so develop an attitude that keeps you in the company of exciting enthusiastic people.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. The greatest investment you can make is in yourself and medical science has shown that there is no limit to how much you can learn other than how much you choose to learn.
4. Enjoy the simple things. Either everything is a miracle or nothing is a miracle. The reason that we stop enjoying the simple things is that we take them for granted.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laughing is one of the best exercises that you can get. Just remember, to get the most benefit learn to laugh with others, not at them. If you must laugh at someone learn to laugh at yourself.
6. Tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. Allow yourself to experience your emotions, they are what make you, you. Remember these four words. "This too, will pass"
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. Take the time to take stock of your spiritual wealth. What is it that you have that makes life worth living?
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is not good, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. Take good care of your body. It is your vehicle on this journey called life and it is the way that you get to experience all your physical interaction with others.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, any where but NOT to where the guilt is. When people start offering guilt trips keep your emotional bank account safe, decline the offer. And what ever you do, do not put others on a guilt trip because no matter what you do, you have to go with.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. Treat the living with as much respect as you treat the dead and you will be amazed at the change in your relationships. Don't wait until the "last minute" to mend or maintain relationships, your watch might be slow and you might miss it
No matter what the state of your life right now, just remember this, it sure beats the alternative.
Be Young. Have Fun. Go Live You Life.”
I feel no further comment is needed by me, but if you wish too, please feel free to do so.
“ How To Stay Young by John Campbell
Just remember that getting old is caused by staying alive but being old is caused by giving up on life.
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them. Let others who don't have anything more important to do worry about them but you get on with your life unhindered by irrelevant information. Just think about it this way.
What would you do if you did not know how old you were?
The shape, and state, you are in is far more important that what you weigh.
There is no correlation between your height and your IQ or your personality.
2 Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. Beware of being with, or being an "energy vampire" (someone who brightens up the room by leaving!) Your attitude is affected by the company you keep so develop an attitude that keeps you in the company of exciting enthusiastic people.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. The greatest investment you can make is in yourself and medical science has shown that there is no limit to how much you can learn other than how much you choose to learn.
4. Enjoy the simple things. Either everything is a miracle or nothing is a miracle. The reason that we stop enjoying the simple things is that we take them for granted.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laughing is one of the best exercises that you can get. Just remember, to get the most benefit learn to laugh with others, not at them. If you must laugh at someone learn to laugh at yourself.
6. Tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. Allow yourself to experience your emotions, they are what make you, you. Remember these four words. "This too, will pass"
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. Take the time to take stock of your spiritual wealth. What is it that you have that makes life worth living?
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is not good, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. Take good care of your body. It is your vehicle on this journey called life and it is the way that you get to experience all your physical interaction with others.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, any where but NOT to where the guilt is. When people start offering guilt trips keep your emotional bank account safe, decline the offer. And what ever you do, do not put others on a guilt trip because no matter what you do, you have to go with.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. Treat the living with as much respect as you treat the dead and you will be amazed at the change in your relationships. Don't wait until the "last minute" to mend or maintain relationships, your watch might be slow and you might miss it
No matter what the state of your life right now, just remember this, it sure beats the alternative.
Be Young. Have Fun. Go Live You Life.”
I feel no further comment is needed by me, but if you wish too, please feel free to do so.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
God and Lawn care.
Recently received the following e-mail about God and Lawn care. Have no idea as to its origins, but it is cutting in its observation. Further comment at the bottom.
“GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colours by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colourful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore... St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: ' Dumb and Dumber ', Lord. It's a story about....
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.”
I must confess I hadn't given the dandelion and Milk thistle aspect much thought in the past, but have often wondered long and hard about the wisdom of watering and fertilizing lawns, just to cut them when they do grow; and then complain about having to do it so often!
Don’t get me wrong here. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my garden even more than the average gardener. So I am not condemning outright having a garden of nice plants and a lawn other than dandelions, dock, milk thistle , oxalis and all the other common plants we suburbanites call weeds.
That said however I can’t help but wonder at times of all the cost ,effort and troubles we often go through, whether in the garden or workplace or just our everyday lives, trying to change things that actually work fine already.
Again not saying we shouldn’t improve things when we can and should! Just saying that sometimes, if it is already well functioning and unless we are happy to spend a lot of time and effort changing something that already works well, we should leave it alone. What say you?
“GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colours by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colourful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore... St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: ' Dumb and Dumber ', Lord. It's a story about....
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.”
I must confess I hadn't given the dandelion and Milk thistle aspect much thought in the past, but have often wondered long and hard about the wisdom of watering and fertilizing lawns, just to cut them when they do grow; and then complain about having to do it so often!
Don’t get me wrong here. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my garden even more than the average gardener. So I am not condemning outright having a garden of nice plants and a lawn other than dandelions, dock, milk thistle , oxalis and all the other common plants we suburbanites call weeds.
That said however I can’t help but wonder at times of all the cost ,effort and troubles we often go through, whether in the garden or workplace or just our everyday lives, trying to change things that actually work fine already.
Again not saying we shouldn’t improve things when we can and should! Just saying that sometimes, if it is already well functioning and unless we are happy to spend a lot of time and effort changing something that already works well, we should leave it alone. What say you?
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Sand Paper
Received an email recently with a picture of a very tatty piece of Sandpaper. With it came the following message:
“When you have to put up with mean people, think of them as sandpaper. They may scratch you; even rub you the wrong way. But eventually …You end up smooth and polished. And the sandpaper …? It’ll be worn out and ugly!
Makes you think doesn’t it? Never loose sight of who you are, because you are the best thing God ever created? Embrace the gift.”
Not sure one can add too much to that, as it is a very simple yet clear reminder that the things that happen in our lives shape us. Yes they do, so whether you let them shape you for good or bad is up to you.
Remember, a piece of wood rubbed all over, will be smooth all over. But a piece of wood rubbed continually in the one spot, will simply be flat and worn out in that spot, making the whole product useless for its original purpose!
So Keep moving with the sand paper and don’t fight against it, but allow it to smooth you all over. Again, forget the sand paper and leave it to it’s own natural end at its own devices!
What say you?
“When you have to put up with mean people, think of them as sandpaper. They may scratch you; even rub you the wrong way. But eventually …You end up smooth and polished. And the sandpaper …? It’ll be worn out and ugly!
Makes you think doesn’t it? Never loose sight of who you are, because you are the best thing God ever created? Embrace the gift.”
Not sure one can add too much to that, as it is a very simple yet clear reminder that the things that happen in our lives shape us. Yes they do, so whether you let them shape you for good or bad is up to you.
Remember, a piece of wood rubbed all over, will be smooth all over. But a piece of wood rubbed continually in the one spot, will simply be flat and worn out in that spot, making the whole product useless for its original purpose!
So Keep moving with the sand paper and don’t fight against it, but allow it to smooth you all over. Again, forget the sand paper and leave it to it’s own natural end at its own devices!
What say you?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Soup Kitchen Economics?
You may know that recently, Michelle Obama went to serve food to the homeless at a government funded soup kitchen in America. I just received an email with a picture of Michelle serving two young men. One of whom was taking her picture with his mobile phone. Under the picture ran this Caption:
Cost of a bowl of soup at homeless shelter : $0 dollars.
Having Michelle Obama serve you your soup: $0 dollars.
A homeless person receiving government funded meals, taking a picture of the first lady using his $500 Blackberry cell phone ... Priceless.
Now one could perhaps argue that the phone was stolen or some such other excuse. But one still has to wonder if sometimes all of us don’t quite have our priorities right when we will put possessing possessions, (No matter how handy) over our own physical well being and health.
And even if a mobile phone is seen as a necessity, is it really necessary to have a $500 one, when you can get a cheap one for under $50?
What say you about Soup Kitchen economics?
Cost of a bowl of soup at homeless shelter : $0 dollars.
Having Michelle Obama serve you your soup: $0 dollars.
A homeless person receiving government funded meals, taking a picture of the first lady using his $500 Blackberry cell phone ... Priceless.
Now one could perhaps argue that the phone was stolen or some such other excuse. But one still has to wonder if sometimes all of us don’t quite have our priorities right when we will put possessing possessions, (No matter how handy) over our own physical well being and health.
And even if a mobile phone is seen as a necessity, is it really necessary to have a $500 one, when you can get a cheap one for under $50?
What say you about Soup Kitchen economics?
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Fox In the Hounds!
Recently received an e-mail titled “Great advice”. With it, there was a picture of about 20 or so fox hounds in a tightly knit pack, moving forward. And right in the middle, looking forward and moving with them, was a fox! And over the top of the picture ran this caption:
REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE IN DEEP S**T, LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT & SAY NOTHING..
Quite a humorous scene, but the caption really is good advise, and sometimes, even when you are totally surrounded by your enemies, you can both survive and escape, by following the advice of keeping your mouth shut and both looking and moving forward.
Is there some situation like this that you are currently facing today, maybe not as desperate or as dangerous as this, but one where you just need to keep your mouth shut, whilst both looking and moving forward?
If so please consider the above advice, and if appropriate, apply it and move forward. t may not always work, but if you have tried everything else without success, it just may be worth a shot too? What say you?
REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE IN DEEP S**T, LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT & SAY NOTHING..
Quite a humorous scene, but the caption really is good advise, and sometimes, even when you are totally surrounded by your enemies, you can both survive and escape, by following the advice of keeping your mouth shut and both looking and moving forward.
Is there some situation like this that you are currently facing today, maybe not as desperate or as dangerous as this, but one where you just need to keep your mouth shut, whilst both looking and moving forward?
If so please consider the above advice, and if appropriate, apply it and move forward. t may not always work, but if you have tried everything else without success, it just may be worth a shot too? What say you?
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Kangaroos, Emus & the Australian Coat of Arms.
In a recent blog, “A Couple of facts about Kangaroos”, I mentioned the fact that they cannot back up. To which I received this further information about that fact: “Dear Walter: More information for your education. The reason (I believe) a kangaroo and an emu is on the Australian coat of arms is that neither can take a backward step. Cheers: ***
Again I was not are of this trait with emus too, until told. However I can understand why this trait of never backing down, would appeal to the early Australian mindset as a then emerging nation in its own right, and thus a suitable statement for our Coat of Arms.
I also think it admirable too, to be of the mindset of never backing down when you are in the right and everything of value stands or falls on your decision, not to back down. But I think if you carry that mindset into everything you do, whether you are right or wrong, that formerly admirable mindset, can become a mighty liability and mighty fast too.
Yes when you are in the wrong, that inability to back down graciously, can cause as much destruction as a kangaroo in a small caravan as it can’t back out and then becomes frightened and panics, lashing out at anyone and anything within reach. And inside a caravan, that is just about everything isn’t it?
So, is there some area in your life today where you need to both step up and not back down because every thing that is right and good depends on it? Or is there some area in your life where it would be beneficial to all, including yourself, for you to just quietly back down and retreat. Even if to only to come back more prepared next time? What say you now?
Again I was not are of this trait with emus too, until told. However I can understand why this trait of never backing down, would appeal to the early Australian mindset as a then emerging nation in its own right, and thus a suitable statement for our Coat of Arms.
I also think it admirable too, to be of the mindset of never backing down when you are in the right and everything of value stands or falls on your decision, not to back down. But I think if you carry that mindset into everything you do, whether you are right or wrong, that formerly admirable mindset, can become a mighty liability and mighty fast too.
Yes when you are in the wrong, that inability to back down graciously, can cause as much destruction as a kangaroo in a small caravan as it can’t back out and then becomes frightened and panics, lashing out at anyone and anything within reach. And inside a caravan, that is just about everything isn’t it?
So, is there some area in your life today where you need to both step up and not back down because every thing that is right and good depends on it? Or is there some area in your life where it would be beneficial to all, including yourself, for you to just quietly back down and retreat. Even if to only to come back more prepared next time? What say you now?
Monday, May 18, 2009
Who was the Donkey?
In a previous Blog: (“Who’s the Donkey”), I told the e-mail story of a donkey who fell in a well, and how the owner decided that as it was old anyway, and the well needed filling also, that he would simply bury the donkey there and then, and fill in the well at the same time and thereby solve two problems at once. Now, of course the donkey had other ideas and shook off the dirt as the well was being filled in and kept stepping up, until eventually it was able to walk out to freedom. The moral of the story being that you can either let your problems bury you or else you could use them as stepping stones to success and even life itself.
Today I will pass on the follow up to that little “story.” The story continues: ”The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
*MORAL FROM TODAYS' LESSON: * When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.”
Yes, with every action of ours, there is always the possibility of a counter action and as today’s moral indicates, the more we try to hide a problem, the more it can come back to bite us. So if you are facing any problems today, it is usually wise to face them head on and own up to them; and then address them properly. Not by hiding them, but by correcting them as best you can even if that means getting professional help. Your thoughts please?
Today I will pass on the follow up to that little “story.” The story continues: ”The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
*MORAL FROM TODAYS' LESSON: * When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.”
Yes, with every action of ours, there is always the possibility of a counter action and as today’s moral indicates, the more we try to hide a problem, the more it can come back to bite us. So if you are facing any problems today, it is usually wise to face them head on and own up to them; and then address them properly. Not by hiding them, but by correcting them as best you can even if that means getting professional help. Your thoughts please?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Who’s the Donkey?
Received this delightful little e-mail with its own admirable moral challenge: “One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up... Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. *
* Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.”
I love the above story because it shows quite clearly that often we can choose whether a problem becomes a stepping-stone up to success, or whether we let it, often literally, to bury us.
Yes I agree that sometimes there is little or nothing we can do in some situations: but often there is, and that old saying about every Cloud having a silver lining, often holds true too. So today, are your problems starting to bury you? Or can you use them as a stepping-stone up and out of your own little wells of despair?
There is another not so delightful moral to this story, but you are going to have to wait till the next blog for that. In the meantime, don’t allow yourself to be buried but step up and step out to life!
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up... Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. *
* Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.”
I love the above story because it shows quite clearly that often we can choose whether a problem becomes a stepping-stone up to success, or whether we let it, often literally, to bury us.
Yes I agree that sometimes there is little or nothing we can do in some situations: but often there is, and that old saying about every Cloud having a silver lining, often holds true too. So today, are your problems starting to bury you? Or can you use them as a stepping-stone up and out of your own little wells of despair?
There is another not so delightful moral to this story, but you are going to have to wait till the next blog for that. In the meantime, don’t allow yourself to be buried but step up and step out to life!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
To Blog Or Not to Blog?
Received an email from a friend commenting on the lack of response to her Blog site. To which I wrote the following excerpted comments:
“I know what you mean about Blog site lack of open responses. Apart from you, I rarely get any response from my blogs posted on-line. Of those that do, most of the other responders are usually Spam or self-promotional ones, (although I did get a couple of positive corrections to my Easter Blog). And so sometimes I too feel I am basically writing just for myself. And in fact I had been thinking that this very morning before your e-mail arrived. And my response was, "So What?" After all, I am, in truth, writing only what appeals to me, and hopefully sharing a bit along the way about myself, which may be of interest to my children and grandchildren. (If we ever get any!)
The other thing is, that with a blog site you don't know how many really look at it unless they leave a comment. Up until last week (when I had my son add two new specific blog sites for me), I had a Blog counter on my site (Which he accidentally disconnected and I need to wait until the friend who originally connected it for me visits to do it again.) But that blog counter showed not only how many visited, but what posts and on what day. And so I was averaging 5 or 6 hits nearly everyday, and so even taking you and me off that number I was still getting 3 or 4 hits that I would otherwise never have known about.
Now one could argue that just writing for 3 or 4 people is not worth it, to which I would reply with two responses: One. As already stated above, I am not really writing for other people anyway, but for my family and myself.
Second. Although only 3 or 4 may read it, who knows who else among them, (like you) get something out of it. So, even if only one other person gets something that truly helps them, then I have in reality, achieved even more than I originally set out to do, haven't I? After all, it is much better to help just one person, than slightly amuse 100, isn't it?”
What I wrote above to my friend I believe was appropriate, now what about you? Why do you do what you do? To titillate the many, or to help the few? Again, what say you now?
“I know what you mean about Blog site lack of open responses. Apart from you, I rarely get any response from my blogs posted on-line. Of those that do, most of the other responders are usually Spam or self-promotional ones, (although I did get a couple of positive corrections to my Easter Blog). And so sometimes I too feel I am basically writing just for myself. And in fact I had been thinking that this very morning before your e-mail arrived. And my response was, "So What?" After all, I am, in truth, writing only what appeals to me, and hopefully sharing a bit along the way about myself, which may be of interest to my children and grandchildren. (If we ever get any!)
The other thing is, that with a blog site you don't know how many really look at it unless they leave a comment. Up until last week (when I had my son add two new specific blog sites for me), I had a Blog counter on my site (Which he accidentally disconnected and I need to wait until the friend who originally connected it for me visits to do it again.) But that blog counter showed not only how many visited, but what posts and on what day. And so I was averaging 5 or 6 hits nearly everyday, and so even taking you and me off that number I was still getting 3 or 4 hits that I would otherwise never have known about.
Now one could argue that just writing for 3 or 4 people is not worth it, to which I would reply with two responses: One. As already stated above, I am not really writing for other people anyway, but for my family and myself.
Second. Although only 3 or 4 may read it, who knows who else among them, (like you) get something out of it. So, even if only one other person gets something that truly helps them, then I have in reality, achieved even more than I originally set out to do, haven't I? After all, it is much better to help just one person, than slightly amuse 100, isn't it?”
What I wrote above to my friend I believe was appropriate, now what about you? Why do you do what you do? To titillate the many, or to help the few? Again, what say you now?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Being Cautious Vss Being too Cautious.
Received an email from a friend in which she commented that she was always cautious about risking getting hurt again. What about you? Do you have similar restraints to reaching out to other people and trying new things for the same reasons?
It is good and right to be cautious but there is such a thing as being too cautious, and doing nothing for fear of exposure and hurts. Sometimes we do have to take some risks, but that risk taking does need to be evaluated up front. For instances, the blog I wrote recently “Andre Rieu Visits Eastland Again.” The Shopping centre took a great risk having him come back again after the disruption of his first visit there as an unknown, and I am sure even with the later time spot now, many of the shops in the immediate precinct, suffered loss of business on Saturday, yet an estimated 6,000 people turned up to see him play just two tunes and sign autographs for an hour and a half or so.
This resulted in free mass exposure for the shopping centre in the major Newspapers and even mentioned on the TV news for 3 nights running. Exposure and advertising that they could not afford to buy!
Yes, for some shops, there would have been some short-term loss due to the massive crowd blocking their customers gaining access to them, but overall and for the centre, there was massive immediate and long-term free exposure for them.
Like wise for us too at times! Yes, sometimes all of us need to take some calculated risks; otherwise we will never experience many, many truly lovely blessings. Again that doesn't mean becoming a foolish risk-taker all the time, like some. But occasionally, we do have to put ourselves out to get something back.
Well enough preaching for now. Now is the opportunity for your say/reply.
It is good and right to be cautious but there is such a thing as being too cautious, and doing nothing for fear of exposure and hurts. Sometimes we do have to take some risks, but that risk taking does need to be evaluated up front. For instances, the blog I wrote recently “Andre Rieu Visits Eastland Again.” The Shopping centre took a great risk having him come back again after the disruption of his first visit there as an unknown, and I am sure even with the later time spot now, many of the shops in the immediate precinct, suffered loss of business on Saturday, yet an estimated 6,000 people turned up to see him play just two tunes and sign autographs for an hour and a half or so.
This resulted in free mass exposure for the shopping centre in the major Newspapers and even mentioned on the TV news for 3 nights running. Exposure and advertising that they could not afford to buy!
Yes, for some shops, there would have been some short-term loss due to the massive crowd blocking their customers gaining access to them, but overall and for the centre, there was massive immediate and long-term free exposure for them.
Like wise for us too at times! Yes, sometimes all of us need to take some calculated risks; otherwise we will never experience many, many truly lovely blessings. Again that doesn't mean becoming a foolish risk-taker all the time, like some. But occasionally, we do have to put ourselves out to get something back.
Well enough preaching for now. Now is the opportunity for your say/reply.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
A Couple of facts about Kangaroos.
In my “Living With Magpies”, Blog, I concluded with this statement: ” Well! You have heard my memories of Magpies, what are your memories of wild birds or animals that you would like to share?” To which my friend **** replied with this:
“Hi Walter, We had an experience at a caravan park in Queenscliff where we left the door of our caravan open and had Magpies come inside the van looking for a handout. They were not aggressive, but they did leave some calling cards on our carpet. They are very tame down there and will actually come and sit on your knee while you feed them. There is something very rewarding in having a wild creature show enough confidence in you to come as close as that but it can cause problems as you have said. Just last year we were away in the caravan again and we went to a place called Duross in NSW. It is a National Park and there are dozens of Kangaroos there that are also quite tame, although they gave us a couple of warnings about them when we booked in. Don't stand directly in front of them because that is confrontational to them, and don't allow them into your caravan because a Kangaroo finds it almost impossible to back up and they tend to panic and can wreck the interior of your caravan.As I said before, it is nice to be around these creatures but we must treat them as still being wild animals and enjoy them but from a distance.”
Although I grew up not far from, and went to school at a place called Kangaroo Ground, there weren’t many Kangaroos around then as the area was mostly farmland and kangaroos were actively discouraged. However as the land as slowly become Hobby farms, the kangaroos have increased and spread to the point where once there was none even seen on my parents farm in its heyday, there are often many seen there now. And no one really bothers them now. Which is not a bad idea either, for if one does attack you, you will most definitely come off worse for wear and shredded very badly with their Paws/claws.
So my friends advice about not standing in front of them makes a lot of sense, yet it would be the most natural stance for most of us to take against any animal, if you didn’t know better wouldn’t it?
So while I didn’t know it was dangerous to confront a kangaroo front on, I am grateful for that information, and truly believe it might be really handy to know for any possible future confrontations with a kangaroo. (My late mother once came suddenly upon one in her front garden, but fortunately it turned and went away.).
I also did not know that a kangaroo cannot go backwards (although thinking about it later, It does make sense, what with such a big tail to move backwards.) However there is one thing I can tell you with all surety, dumb as I may otherwise be, I would not invite a wild Kangaroo into my house let alone a caravan. (If I owned one that is!). No I know enough about kangaroos and have enough sense to know that if I found one in my house, I would open all the exit points I possibly could safely and then get as far away, and as quick as possible, and wait till it leaves on its own accord. Why? Because I do know that those things are bad news to tangle with. Many a dog has been drowned in water and humans clawed quite badly by these seemingly docile creatures.
What about you? Are there some things, if not animals, that you just might come into contact with that just won’t, or can’t back up? And you just have to treat differently to what you normally would? Or do you still try and apply the one rule fits all solution. Just something to think about before you get all clawed up over something.
“Hi Walter, We had an experience at a caravan park in Queenscliff where we left the door of our caravan open and had Magpies come inside the van looking for a handout. They were not aggressive, but they did leave some calling cards on our carpet. They are very tame down there and will actually come and sit on your knee while you feed them. There is something very rewarding in having a wild creature show enough confidence in you to come as close as that but it can cause problems as you have said. Just last year we were away in the caravan again and we went to a place called Duross in NSW. It is a National Park and there are dozens of Kangaroos there that are also quite tame, although they gave us a couple of warnings about them when we booked in. Don't stand directly in front of them because that is confrontational to them, and don't allow them into your caravan because a Kangaroo finds it almost impossible to back up and they tend to panic and can wreck the interior of your caravan.As I said before, it is nice to be around these creatures but we must treat them as still being wild animals and enjoy them but from a distance.”
Although I grew up not far from, and went to school at a place called Kangaroo Ground, there weren’t many Kangaroos around then as the area was mostly farmland and kangaroos were actively discouraged. However as the land as slowly become Hobby farms, the kangaroos have increased and spread to the point where once there was none even seen on my parents farm in its heyday, there are often many seen there now. And no one really bothers them now. Which is not a bad idea either, for if one does attack you, you will most definitely come off worse for wear and shredded very badly with their Paws/claws.
So my friends advice about not standing in front of them makes a lot of sense, yet it would be the most natural stance for most of us to take against any animal, if you didn’t know better wouldn’t it?
So while I didn’t know it was dangerous to confront a kangaroo front on, I am grateful for that information, and truly believe it might be really handy to know for any possible future confrontations with a kangaroo. (My late mother once came suddenly upon one in her front garden, but fortunately it turned and went away.).
I also did not know that a kangaroo cannot go backwards (although thinking about it later, It does make sense, what with such a big tail to move backwards.) However there is one thing I can tell you with all surety, dumb as I may otherwise be, I would not invite a wild Kangaroo into my house let alone a caravan. (If I owned one that is!). No I know enough about kangaroos and have enough sense to know that if I found one in my house, I would open all the exit points I possibly could safely and then get as far away, and as quick as possible, and wait till it leaves on its own accord. Why? Because I do know that those things are bad news to tangle with. Many a dog has been drowned in water and humans clawed quite badly by these seemingly docile creatures.
What about you? Are there some things, if not animals, that you just might come into contact with that just won’t, or can’t back up? And you just have to treat differently to what you normally would? Or do you still try and apply the one rule fits all solution. Just something to think about before you get all clawed up over something.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Strange Incidents – Accidents 2: With Ladders.
In reply to an earlier post: “ Strange incidents – Accidents 1.” I received the following reply from my American blogger friend, Lynx.
It reads: “Here's one for you. It was one of my last few days on the job before I was moving away from home. It had rained the day before, so when I went to change my convenience store's gas sign (we had to manually remove the plastic numbers), the pole's rubber suction cup just wasn't sticking. So I went to get the ladder to climb up and remove the numbers so I could get the new ones up. Well wouldn't you know, the ladder gave from underneath me as I'm switching numbers. Luckily I grabbed onto the skinny@rse rod that we used to hang the pole off of, as we got ready. Luckily a customer saw me and grabbed me so I could let go and not fall to the ground! Now granted, I wasn't that high up, but I was high enough I would've definitely broken bones had I lost my grip! Can you imagine driving 1300 miles all casted up? HAHAHA! Glad I had a customer pumping gas right as it happened!”
Although I have spent most of my secular working life in the Retail industry, I have at various times done a few jobs involving ladders and the outdoors environment. Either painting or general orchard work, and there, either pruning or fruit picking, both of which involves quite a bit of ladder work. Yet, despite much usage of ladders and more than a few spills, I really haven’t had too many thrills or any real damage, apart from the odd bruise here or there.
In fact the most interesting incident with a ladder was when odd Jobbing on an Orchard at Warrandyte shortly before heading of to South Africa in 1990. And like most of m incidents with ladders, it was caused by having the ladder on an un-even surface. I was up about 20 feet on the sloping side of a weatherboard house painting it, when the ladder slowly slipped sideways. Fortunately it, surprisingly, slipped uphill and not downhill! Anyway it slid along the weatherboards and onto the window. Much to my surprise and amazement, the thin glass did not break: then. Eventually the ladder slid right across the glass until it stopped up against the window frame, still without breaking the Glass! However at that point, collecting myself and still hanging onto the tin of paint and the paintbrush, I shifted my weight to climb down the Ladder. That is when the Glass Gave way!
So then I had to stop painting and buy and replace the Glass. Not that I could have done anything about it then, but isn’t it funny how often when we get away with something one wouldn’t normally expect too, that we try and push our Luck just a little further and come unstuck? Perhaps you too are pushing your luck a little too far today? Maybe not with a shaky Ladder or a ladder on uneven ground, but maybe there is something in your life where you just need to step back and not push your luck! Otherwise you just may not be as Lucky as Lynx and I.
What’s you funniest/ worst/ luckiest incident with a ladder or even ladder substitute?
It reads: “Here's one for you. It was one of my last few days on the job before I was moving away from home. It had rained the day before, so when I went to change my convenience store's gas sign (we had to manually remove the plastic numbers), the pole's rubber suction cup just wasn't sticking. So I went to get the ladder to climb up and remove the numbers so I could get the new ones up. Well wouldn't you know, the ladder gave from underneath me as I'm switching numbers. Luckily I grabbed onto the skinny@rse rod that we used to hang the pole off of, as we got ready. Luckily a customer saw me and grabbed me so I could let go and not fall to the ground! Now granted, I wasn't that high up, but I was high enough I would've definitely broken bones had I lost my grip! Can you imagine driving 1300 miles all casted up? HAHAHA! Glad I had a customer pumping gas right as it happened!”
Although I have spent most of my secular working life in the Retail industry, I have at various times done a few jobs involving ladders and the outdoors environment. Either painting or general orchard work, and there, either pruning or fruit picking, both of which involves quite a bit of ladder work. Yet, despite much usage of ladders and more than a few spills, I really haven’t had too many thrills or any real damage, apart from the odd bruise here or there.
In fact the most interesting incident with a ladder was when odd Jobbing on an Orchard at Warrandyte shortly before heading of to South Africa in 1990. And like most of m incidents with ladders, it was caused by having the ladder on an un-even surface. I was up about 20 feet on the sloping side of a weatherboard house painting it, when the ladder slowly slipped sideways. Fortunately it, surprisingly, slipped uphill and not downhill! Anyway it slid along the weatherboards and onto the window. Much to my surprise and amazement, the thin glass did not break: then. Eventually the ladder slid right across the glass until it stopped up against the window frame, still without breaking the Glass! However at that point, collecting myself and still hanging onto the tin of paint and the paintbrush, I shifted my weight to climb down the Ladder. That is when the Glass Gave way!
So then I had to stop painting and buy and replace the Glass. Not that I could have done anything about it then, but isn’t it funny how often when we get away with something one wouldn’t normally expect too, that we try and push our Luck just a little further and come unstuck? Perhaps you too are pushing your luck a little too far today? Maybe not with a shaky Ladder or a ladder on uneven ground, but maybe there is something in your life where you just need to step back and not push your luck! Otherwise you just may not be as Lucky as Lynx and I.
What’s you funniest/ worst/ luckiest incident with a ladder or even ladder substitute?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Strange Incidents – Accidents: 1.
In my recent, “Flying Ducks, Posties And Me! Blog, I asked, “What is the strangest accident or incident that you have experienced?” To which I received the following reply:
“Hi Walter: In 1966 I was working during the summer at Tidal River for the National Park Rangers. One job was picking up and dumping the garbage. Once when coming back from dropping a load I was sitting on the trailer being towed by a tractor when a seagull flew over head, dropped his load which landed splot on the skin on the top of my sternum having missed both my head AND the vee of my shirt !! Clean as a whistle. ***”
Now that reminded me of when I was odd jobbing at an Orchard at Warrandyte just before going overseas in 1990. On this particular occasion I was about to do some painting from a 4-litre paint tin, and before I started, I held it in front of my chest and shook it vigorously, to mix the paint. So vigorously in fact that the Lid came off and paint spurted out. However when I looked, I couldn't see any paint anywhere. Not on the floor, nor on my clothes. Then I felt it!
It too had gone cleanly down my chest inside my clothes without touching them or my face neck. Both I and the person witnessing this, thought it both amazing and hilarious. Fortunately for me, there was a shower there and I had a change of clothes in the car.
Now that you have heard these two stories, what is your most unusual accident or incident?
“Hi Walter: In 1966 I was working during the summer at Tidal River for the National Park Rangers. One job was picking up and dumping the garbage. Once when coming back from dropping a load I was sitting on the trailer being towed by a tractor when a seagull flew over head, dropped his load which landed splot on the skin on the top of my sternum having missed both my head AND the vee of my shirt !! Clean as a whistle. ***”
Now that reminded me of when I was odd jobbing at an Orchard at Warrandyte just before going overseas in 1990. On this particular occasion I was about to do some painting from a 4-litre paint tin, and before I started, I held it in front of my chest and shook it vigorously, to mix the paint. So vigorously in fact that the Lid came off and paint spurted out. However when I looked, I couldn't see any paint anywhere. Not on the floor, nor on my clothes. Then I felt it!
It too had gone cleanly down my chest inside my clothes without touching them or my face neck. Both I and the person witnessing this, thought it both amazing and hilarious. Fortunately for me, there was a shower there and I had a change of clothes in the car.
Now that you have heard these two stories, what is your most unusual accident or incident?
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Susan Boyle’s Got Talent.
Someone sent me a You Tube site about one Susan Boyle who was a contestant on ”Britains Got Talent” Show.
Checking it out, I found that at first glance there was not much appeal about her. She looks a lot older than her 47 years, a little overweight and frumpy, with shocking dress sense and a strongly accented speaking voice.
A first look that did not go over well initially with the Judges or the audience. And in fact as one of the Judges said later, when she said at the beginning she wanted to be like her idol Elaine Page, everyone was laughing at her.
And they were laughing at Her. Laughing right up till she started singing. Then the laughter stopped and pretty soon, long before she finished her song, the laughter became a standing ovation.
Now whilst I do think that there was probably a bit (a lot) more, she could have done in previous personal presentation, ultimately, she let her talent do the talking for her. Rather than be deterred or put off by the ridicule of everyone, she followed her dream and showcased her talents when this opportunity occurred.
What about you today? Do you have a hidden talent that others don’t know about? A talent just waiting to be revealed to an appreciative audience? If so, do take and make the most of whatever opportunities that come your way and present your case, no matter how much laughter or ridicule you have to put up with. A lot of people with minimal talent spend a lot of time on their presentation and do all right out of it. While others, with greater talent do nothing with their talent, and everybody misses out on enjoying it. So what talent do you have today that is hidden away, when it can be revealed and appreciated by others?
Checking it out, I found that at first glance there was not much appeal about her. She looks a lot older than her 47 years, a little overweight and frumpy, with shocking dress sense and a strongly accented speaking voice.
A first look that did not go over well initially with the Judges or the audience. And in fact as one of the Judges said later, when she said at the beginning she wanted to be like her idol Elaine Page, everyone was laughing at her.
And they were laughing at Her. Laughing right up till she started singing. Then the laughter stopped and pretty soon, long before she finished her song, the laughter became a standing ovation.
Now whilst I do think that there was probably a bit (a lot) more, she could have done in previous personal presentation, ultimately, she let her talent do the talking for her. Rather than be deterred or put off by the ridicule of everyone, she followed her dream and showcased her talents when this opportunity occurred.
What about you today? Do you have a hidden talent that others don’t know about? A talent just waiting to be revealed to an appreciative audience? If so, do take and make the most of whatever opportunities that come your way and present your case, no matter how much laughter or ridicule you have to put up with. A lot of people with minimal talent spend a lot of time on their presentation and do all right out of it. While others, with greater talent do nothing with their talent, and everybody misses out on enjoying it. So what talent do you have today that is hidden away, when it can be revealed and appreciated by others?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Further Correction and Fuller Explanation OF Jewish Calendar In Regard to Passover/Easter.
Further Correction and Fuller Explanation OF Jewish Calendar In Regard to Passover/Easter. 13/4/2009
In response to my Blog about “ Easter” I received a response from a fellow Blogger pointing out a mistake in the material I had originally taken from another blogger. So in response to that, I wrote another blog correcting this mistake using his new material. To which I received the following response from the blogger who corrected my Easter Blog.
It reads: “Mockingbird has left a new comment on your post "Correction To Use Of Jewish Calendar In “Easter” B...": I've put up a blog post about this matter over at my blog. My comment on your blog turns out to need some qualifications of its own.”
Now I am not going to paste his blog here. If you wish to check it out for yourself, I will attempt to attach the appropriate Link for you.
It is a good comment. Rather long but very detailed. And that is the problem when it comes to my blogs. They are not meant to be long or detailed, but rather short and interesting little stories, with just enough information to get whatever point I am trying to make across. I feel that if you really want or need more information on any particular subject I blog on, you will go past Bloggers and go to an online Encyclopaedia or Dictionary etc. In other words, if you want thorough information, go to the original or correct sources and not some online blogger like me.
Trust this helps?
In response to my Blog about “ Easter” I received a response from a fellow Blogger pointing out a mistake in the material I had originally taken from another blogger. So in response to that, I wrote another blog correcting this mistake using his new material. To which I received the following response from the blogger who corrected my Easter Blog.
It reads: “Mockingbird has left a new comment on your post "Correction To Use Of Jewish Calendar In “Easter” B...": I've put up a blog post about this matter over at my blog. My comment on your blog turns out to need some qualifications of its own.”
Now I am not going to paste his blog here. If you wish to check it out for yourself, I will attempt to attach the appropriate Link for you.
It is a good comment. Rather long but very detailed. And that is the problem when it comes to my blogs. They are not meant to be long or detailed, but rather short and interesting little stories, with just enough information to get whatever point I am trying to make across. I feel that if you really want or need more information on any particular subject I blog on, you will go past Bloggers and go to an online Encyclopaedia or Dictionary etc. In other words, if you want thorough information, go to the original or correct sources and not some online blogger like me.
Trust this helps?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Cynical?
Received the following reply to my Blog “What’s the Motive?” “Hi Walter: It’s an interesting question isn’t it? I suppose most people would immediately think ‘What has he done wrong?’ This is most likely due to the fact that we become cynical from the workplace. I always remember I was doing a big quote for a Defence Dept. contract and one of the fellows asked me if I would like him to help me by photocopying the various pages and my first thought was, ‘What favour does he want?’
The poor guy in that article you quoted was probably only trying to be helpful but then so often if we do that, we are told that we didn’t do it right,(which is probably right because we don’t think the same way). When that occurs we tend to think, ‘well I’ll leave it for her next time.’ CYNICAL? You bet it is and there lies the problem. That’s my say, ****”
The above reply inspires two different thoughts doesn’t it?
1. Are we in fact too cynical? And, 2. Do we only want free help if they will do it our way and not their own way?
I am not going to comment on either just now, but will leave this with you for a while for your responses. Are you in fact too cynical, or simply cautious after having been burnt before? And, are we right to both reject offered help that doesn’t reach our standards, but still complain that no one will help us, when we rejected their previous offers?
Your thoughts please? Walter
The poor guy in that article you quoted was probably only trying to be helpful but then so often if we do that, we are told that we didn’t do it right,(which is probably right because we don’t think the same way). When that occurs we tend to think, ‘well I’ll leave it for her next time.’ CYNICAL? You bet it is and there lies the problem. That’s my say, ****”
The above reply inspires two different thoughts doesn’t it?
1. Are we in fact too cynical? And, 2. Do we only want free help if they will do it our way and not their own way?
I am not going to comment on either just now, but will leave this with you for a while for your responses. Are you in fact too cynical, or simply cautious after having been burnt before? And, are we right to both reject offered help that doesn’t reach our standards, but still complain that no one will help us, when we rejected their previous offers?
Your thoughts please? Walter
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