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Thank You
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked,
'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?'
The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'
What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have.
Be creative.
Be innovative.
Think differently and positively.
Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness. In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling.
And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!
Just thought i'd share this with you. Hope to bring a smile to your face, like someone did to me.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked,
'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?'
The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'
What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have.
Be creative.
Be innovative.
Think differently and positively.
Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness. In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling.
And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!
Just thought i'd share this with you. Hope to bring a smile to your face, like someone did to me.
Earnhardt Jr. faults NASCAR on Talladega call
NASCAR's most popular driver took series officials to task Friday for disallowing Regan Smith's last-lap pass below the yellow line in an attempt to win last Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega.
Smith ducked below the yellow line to pass leader Tony Stewart and crossed the finish line first. NASCAR officials disallowed the pass, which is generally prohibited unless the driver is forced below the yellow. Officials said they did not believe Smith had been forced below the yellow line.
"I feel like the rule is pretty clear. What is unclear is what being forced below the yellow line is," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "In my opinion, (Smith) was forced below the yellow line.
"The two did make contact. He was on the inside of Tony. In my opinion (Smith) wins the race. I feel like Tony did what he had to do. In the car, everyone would have done what Tony did and everyone would have done what (Smith) did.
"What's curious is, when are you forced? Show me some video of what's forced and what's not.
"He can't sit there and hold his line. He'd just wreck, Tony and probably himself. That's just ridiculous to expect someone to be that bullheaded about a situation like that and put everyone in jeopardy."
Earnhardt Jr. said the incident was similar to a NASCAR call that went his way in a victory at Talladega in 2003 when he appeared to pass then-leader Matt Kenseth below the yellow line.
"It was exactly the same. I was forced below (the yellow line) and that was declared OK," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I know for a fact Regan didn't go down the front straightaway with a plan to pass (Stewart) on the apron. He was under (Stewart) on the race track when Tony came down and he was forced onto the apron.
"I could actually almost live with (Smith) finishing second and Tony declared the winner, but (Smith) was told he was not forced - which was wrong - and then he was sent to 18th place."
Earnhardt Jr. said it is the responsibility of drivers to bring up questions about rules with series officials, whether done in a drivers' meeting or in private. He acknowledged that some drivers might feel intimidated asking questions in front of everyone else.
The driver also said he thought the outcome at Talladgea may well have been different if it hadn't been Smith racing Stewart for the win.
"This is Regan Smith. If it's a guy who's won seven championships, maybe it's a different discussion. This guy ain't got a job next year as far as he knows," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He crossed the finish line thinking he won the race and he ends up finishing 18th.
"You can tell him all day long everyone in the garage knows who won that race and this that and the other to try to make him feel better, but it won't happen. It's tough."
Smith ducked below the yellow line to pass leader Tony Stewart and crossed the finish line first. NASCAR officials disallowed the pass, which is generally prohibited unless the driver is forced below the yellow. Officials said they did not believe Smith had been forced below the yellow line.
"I feel like the rule is pretty clear. What is unclear is what being forced below the yellow line is," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "In my opinion, (Smith) was forced below the yellow line.
"The two did make contact. He was on the inside of Tony. In my opinion (Smith) wins the race. I feel like Tony did what he had to do. In the car, everyone would have done what Tony did and everyone would have done what (Smith) did.
"What's curious is, when are you forced? Show me some video of what's forced and what's not.
"He can't sit there and hold his line. He'd just wreck, Tony and probably himself. That's just ridiculous to expect someone to be that bullheaded about a situation like that and put everyone in jeopardy."
Earnhardt Jr. said the incident was similar to a NASCAR call that went his way in a victory at Talladega in 2003 when he appeared to pass then-leader Matt Kenseth below the yellow line.
"It was exactly the same. I was forced below (the yellow line) and that was declared OK," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I know for a fact Regan didn't go down the front straightaway with a plan to pass (Stewart) on the apron. He was under (Stewart) on the race track when Tony came down and he was forced onto the apron.
"I could actually almost live with (Smith) finishing second and Tony declared the winner, but (Smith) was told he was not forced - which was wrong - and then he was sent to 18th place."
Earnhardt Jr. said it is the responsibility of drivers to bring up questions about rules with series officials, whether done in a drivers' meeting or in private. He acknowledged that some drivers might feel intimidated asking questions in front of everyone else.
The driver also said he thought the outcome at Talladgea may well have been different if it hadn't been Smith racing Stewart for the win.
"This is Regan Smith. If it's a guy who's won seven championships, maybe it's a different discussion. This guy ain't got a job next year as far as he knows," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He crossed the finish line thinking he won the race and he ends up finishing 18th.
"You can tell him all day long everyone in the garage knows who won that race and this that and the other to try to make him feel better, but it won't happen. It's tough."
A Trip To San Francisco.......
.....an opportuniy to go to San Francisco came up the other day.
The Reno VAMC dentist told me a few months ago that congress had authorized dental implants for us 100% combat disabled veterans needing just a few missing teeth replaced so as to be able to eat better, and so maintain better health.
I researched the idea and found as implants are very expensive, that maybe I should take advantage of my eligibility for this procedure.
It was not without planning though, as I didn't know if it would take a whole day or more. And I hadn't been to SF for so long, I didn't know how costly the trip would be, or how much it would cost me, if I needed to spend the night at a hotel/motel there or on my return if it was very late, and I were too tired to continue driving safely. Google EarthLink said it was 272 miles from my driveway to the SF Fort Miley VAMC parking lot. I knew my little car gets 300+ miles per tank of gas, so I knew it would take me no more then a full tank going and one refill along the way. At current prices for gas, and any additional costs along the way for eating, and even a hotel for a night; I would need to plan and arrange this dental consultation early in the month. As with most retirees and pensioners, I get paid just once a month and have to make it last. So I planned to make this trip near the first week of the planned month I would go. I originally considered going in August, but unexpected cost that month made me to reschedule,not once but twice, So I finally had everything planned and considered for this October trip before the winter snowfalls over the Sierras and the dangerously slick and icy Donner Summit.
I pulled out of my driveway at 0436 on Wednesday morning the 8th, and headed out in the early morning darkness. I don't really like driving in the dark anymore, as my nightvision is totally gone it seems after the artificial lens was put into my war injured left eye. Anyway I headed out, and it was early enough that there wasn't much traffic clear to the California stateline, after that the traffic got busier, but only the dead skunks on the road made for a stinking trip for a while.
At Vacaville I got off the road to get something to eat at a Mac D's. It was my first experience of going into an american business, and needing to speak spanish as the workers there could not speak any english to me. I thought that was very weird. I has learned to speak spanish so I would be able to travel in spanish speaking countries. I never thought I would have to do that here in the U.S.A. I was soon back on the highway making good time I thought.
At Fairfield traffic began to get real busy as it was about eightish on a regular workday morning. Soon it was very very busy, and the "mad hatter" driver's attitude was clearly controlling most on the road. Soon it was bumper to bumper only, and traffic began slowing. And people began acting more and more like Ass**les. I kept my patience in check, as I had given my self plenty of time in case of the expected unexpectations. And besides, "the early bird is supposed to catch the worm".
It was a good thing, as traffic kept getting tighter and tighter, and slower and slower. Three times before crossing the Bay Bridge, there were additional slow downs and stoppage, for accidents to be cleared away. Gosh, and then there was the toll bridge mess; at that spot there is about twenty lanes already packed with madly moving autos, squeezing down into 12 or 15 and it just doesn't work very well. At that point in the trip, I began seeing my temperature gauge go over to the "RED ZONE". Ding, Ding, Ding ! ! ! My car was beginning to show dysfunction in the last spot in the world that I wanted my car to fail in. So when the car stopped moving I would throw it into neutral to speed up the engine a little for a few moments to make the fans spin faster, and the oil pumps to move the oil faster through the cooler and chill a bit. It only works minimumly, so you should never do it too long. I just tried to keep my composure, and not break to more base actions. Gradually I got through it all. Soon I was in my old "City of Love".
I could see San Francisco was renewed in many ways now, but it was still the same neat city with an array of the old gradually and always changing into the new. I could see when near my old neighborhoods, I still remembered for the most part where I was, and where I needed to go still.
Eventually after a few uncertain turns, and asking a jogger if she knew where the VA hospital was, I made it to the place. I drove around their totally inadequate parking area to park my car for and hour, and then drove down the street to a almost empty parking area at the Seacliffs Park. I parked there, feeling secure that the spot was as safe as anywhere being in the area of regular city police patrols. I don't exactly think in terms of being a young and wild lad that dared anybody to mess with me anymore. I have never lived as much as I do now in looking more normal and common, so as not to attract attention of anykind.
So I parked at the Park, and walked the half mile up hill to the hospital. I think I slowed only a couple of times to catch my breath a little. Even though it hurts my ankle when doing some walking, the nice clean sidewalks of S.F. were easy as ever to walk upon. So I made good time walking, and managed to get to the VA hospital at just after 1100 and was almost two hours early. So I went and got the travel allowance they give us, and went to find the cafeteria for something to eat.
I was back at the Dental Surgery Clinic at 1215, and waited to the appointed hour when they called me in. They took xrays of my teeth and jaw, with this real new equiptment, that helped to make it less painless then in the old days, and was ready right now. To cool when high tech is everywhere and working too. So then three or four doctors looked at my jaw and teeth, and talked. And then they did it all over again, and then they told me about the teeth they would be allowed to implant(3), and how the could see they would need to do a bone graft, and how each tooth required six visits and adjustments and the rest of the whole process. And they talked me out of being interested, free and eligibile or not.
Hell, the stress of preparing and going on this trip was enough in itself. But volunteering to go through all this bullpuckey, was rediculous. I'm not going to do it until they can do it at RENO VAMC. It is just to hard nowdays to deal with all that human conditions and madness by repeatedly going to that metropolitan madness.
So I got my car and headed out of the city. It was exactly a reverse of the campaign getting into it, but may have taken half the time, and when leaving I was much more sure of myself in regards to where I was. After all I had leaved here the end of 69', until going to Oregon in late 74'. And an established city like this stays basically the same forever I guess, so things really seemed the same as in my memory which was nice, and made for getting out easier. But the high density of the metro area is wearing on my now older soul, and I was glad to get out.
From downtown SF all the way across the valley to Auburn, it was hellacrazy , as soon as I went through one area of congestion, it would begin all over again. How can so many people be driving to everywhere all at the same time, I guess it just seems that way though. It made me long for those lazy days with my late wife traveling along in our little 20' RV motorhome at fifty miles an hour which seemed very safe most the time, except that day when a high speed driver lost control and crashed into us at 95 miles an hour. But 'se la vie", huh?
Somewhere near Placerville, traffic slowed to a near halt for five or ten minutes, and as I was rolling along, came to a spot where several highway patrol cars there. And a wrecker in the fastlane backing to take on this new SUV that the hood was all rolled up, and the bumper all broken and smashed. And then in front of it laying on it side, a motorcycle, and in front of it and older man with white beard like mine laying all crumpled and bleeding, and several blankets layed upon him and two women trying to comfort him. I could clearly see this mans life was changed for ever if he even lived through it. I started crying terribly, as I could't shake the picture of my wife dying in my arms for minutes afterwards. I finally shook off the painful memories, and continued on homeward. The rest of the trip was just long, and too fast, and relatively uneventful thank goodness.
I was finally home. The trip was nothing like I imagined it should be, but I was back home safe and alive. Even though a little stressed out I might say. I really don't think I want to deal with that many people in one area again. I guess that is what I like about the wide open high desert. It can seem crowded with just a few people sometimes. I think my favorite place to meet people the last few years, is when out exploring backroads america and collecting rocks, and here at EONS. I find it is much easier to deal with just as many people as I can handle at a time, and usually long to talk with you all.
So I will now say, I think we are able to travel way more here, and its way cheaper and easier on my stress level as I have gotten older.
Tell me what you all think about this kind of article for me. Do you find it as interesting as others I have written? Is it to boring or mundane? Well let me know as I value your critique. Happy Trails.....
The Reno VAMC dentist told me a few months ago that congress had authorized dental implants for us 100% combat disabled veterans needing just a few missing teeth replaced so as to be able to eat better, and so maintain better health.
I researched the idea and found as implants are very expensive, that maybe I should take advantage of my eligibility for this procedure.
It was not without planning though, as I didn't know if it would take a whole day or more. And I hadn't been to SF for so long, I didn't know how costly the trip would be, or how much it would cost me, if I needed to spend the night at a hotel/motel there or on my return if it was very late, and I were too tired to continue driving safely. Google EarthLink said it was 272 miles from my driveway to the SF Fort Miley VAMC parking lot. I knew my little car gets 300+ miles per tank of gas, so I knew it would take me no more then a full tank going and one refill along the way. At current prices for gas, and any additional costs along the way for eating, and even a hotel for a night; I would need to plan and arrange this dental consultation early in the month. As with most retirees and pensioners, I get paid just once a month and have to make it last. So I planned to make this trip near the first week of the planned month I would go. I originally considered going in August, but unexpected cost that month made me to reschedule,not once but twice, So I finally had everything planned and considered for this October trip before the winter snowfalls over the Sierras and the dangerously slick and icy Donner Summit.
I pulled out of my driveway at 0436 on Wednesday morning the 8th, and headed out in the early morning darkness. I don't really like driving in the dark anymore, as my nightvision is totally gone it seems after the artificial lens was put into my war injured left eye. Anyway I headed out, and it was early enough that there wasn't much traffic clear to the California stateline, after that the traffic got busier, but only the dead skunks on the road made for a stinking trip for a while.
At Vacaville I got off the road to get something to eat at a Mac D's. It was my first experience of going into an american business, and needing to speak spanish as the workers there could not speak any english to me. I thought that was very weird. I has learned to speak spanish so I would be able to travel in spanish speaking countries. I never thought I would have to do that here in the U.S.A. I was soon back on the highway making good time I thought.
At Fairfield traffic began to get real busy as it was about eightish on a regular workday morning. Soon it was very very busy, and the "mad hatter" driver's attitude was clearly controlling most on the road. Soon it was bumper to bumper only, and traffic began slowing. And people began acting more and more like Ass**les. I kept my patience in check, as I had given my self plenty of time in case of the expected unexpectations. And besides, "the early bird is supposed to catch the worm".
It was a good thing, as traffic kept getting tighter and tighter, and slower and slower. Three times before crossing the Bay Bridge, there were additional slow downs and stoppage, for accidents to be cleared away. Gosh, and then there was the toll bridge mess; at that spot there is about twenty lanes already packed with madly moving autos, squeezing down into 12 or 15 and it just doesn't work very well. At that point in the trip, I began seeing my temperature gauge go over to the "RED ZONE". Ding, Ding, Ding ! ! ! My car was beginning to show dysfunction in the last spot in the world that I wanted my car to fail in. So when the car stopped moving I would throw it into neutral to speed up the engine a little for a few moments to make the fans spin faster, and the oil pumps to move the oil faster through the cooler and chill a bit. It only works minimumly, so you should never do it too long. I just tried to keep my composure, and not break to more base actions. Gradually I got through it all. Soon I was in my old "City of Love".
I could see San Francisco was renewed in many ways now, but it was still the same neat city with an array of the old gradually and always changing into the new. I could see when near my old neighborhoods, I still remembered for the most part where I was, and where I needed to go still.
Eventually after a few uncertain turns, and asking a jogger if she knew where the VA hospital was, I made it to the place. I drove around their totally inadequate parking area to park my car for and hour, and then drove down the street to a almost empty parking area at the Seacliffs Park. I parked there, feeling secure that the spot was as safe as anywhere being in the area of regular city police patrols. I don't exactly think in terms of being a young and wild lad that dared anybody to mess with me anymore. I have never lived as much as I do now in looking more normal and common, so as not to attract attention of anykind.
So I parked at the Park, and walked the half mile up hill to the hospital. I think I slowed only a couple of times to catch my breath a little. Even though it hurts my ankle when doing some walking, the nice clean sidewalks of S.F. were easy as ever to walk upon. So I made good time walking, and managed to get to the VA hospital at just after 1100 and was almost two hours early. So I went and got the travel allowance they give us, and went to find the cafeteria for something to eat.
I was back at the Dental Surgery Clinic at 1215, and waited to the appointed hour when they called me in. They took xrays of my teeth and jaw, with this real new equiptment, that helped to make it less painless then in the old days, and was ready right now. To cool when high tech is everywhere and working too. So then three or four doctors looked at my jaw and teeth, and talked. And then they did it all over again, and then they told me about the teeth they would be allowed to implant(3), and how the could see they would need to do a bone graft, and how each tooth required six visits and adjustments and the rest of the whole process. And they talked me out of being interested, free and eligibile or not.
Hell, the stress of preparing and going on this trip was enough in itself. But volunteering to go through all this bullpuckey, was rediculous. I'm not going to do it until they can do it at RENO VAMC. It is just to hard nowdays to deal with all that human conditions and madness by repeatedly going to that metropolitan madness.
So I got my car and headed out of the city. It was exactly a reverse of the campaign getting into it, but may have taken half the time, and when leaving I was much more sure of myself in regards to where I was. After all I had leaved here the end of 69', until going to Oregon in late 74'. And an established city like this stays basically the same forever I guess, so things really seemed the same as in my memory which was nice, and made for getting out easier. But the high density of the metro area is wearing on my now older soul, and I was glad to get out.
From downtown SF all the way across the valley to Auburn, it was hellacrazy , as soon as I went through one area of congestion, it would begin all over again. How can so many people be driving to everywhere all at the same time, I guess it just seems that way though. It made me long for those lazy days with my late wife traveling along in our little 20' RV motorhome at fifty miles an hour which seemed very safe most the time, except that day when a high speed driver lost control and crashed into us at 95 miles an hour. But 'se la vie", huh?
Somewhere near Placerville, traffic slowed to a near halt for five or ten minutes, and as I was rolling along, came to a spot where several highway patrol cars there. And a wrecker in the fastlane backing to take on this new SUV that the hood was all rolled up, and the bumper all broken and smashed. And then in front of it laying on it side, a motorcycle, and in front of it and older man with white beard like mine laying all crumpled and bleeding, and several blankets layed upon him and two women trying to comfort him. I could clearly see this mans life was changed for ever if he even lived through it. I started crying terribly, as I could't shake the picture of my wife dying in my arms for minutes afterwards. I finally shook off the painful memories, and continued on homeward. The rest of the trip was just long, and too fast, and relatively uneventful thank goodness.
I was finally home. The trip was nothing like I imagined it should be, but I was back home safe and alive. Even though a little stressed out I might say. I really don't think I want to deal with that many people in one area again. I guess that is what I like about the wide open high desert. It can seem crowded with just a few people sometimes. I think my favorite place to meet people the last few years, is when out exploring backroads america and collecting rocks, and here at EONS. I find it is much easier to deal with just as many people as I can handle at a time, and usually long to talk with you all.
So I will now say, I think we are able to travel way more here, and its way cheaper and easier on my stress level as I have gotten older.
Tell me what you all think about this kind of article for me. Do you find it as interesting as others I have written? Is it to boring or mundane? Well let me know as I value your critique. Happy Trails.....
Sensitive Words......
He gave her 12 roses
11 real and 1 fake,
And said, " I'll love you,
'til the last rose dies".
11 real and 1 fake,
And said, " I'll love you,
'til the last rose dies".
President Palin
No thinking American would doubt Senator McCain's place in the pantheon of true American Heroes. He has racked up an enviable record in the senate. He is a brilliant, thinking man who is doubtless qualified to be our president. During the recent town meeting, he seemed drawn, ill at ease, impatient, too. At his age this may be expected, but I fear for his health in an office that has taken its toll on too many good people. G-d willing, Senator McCain will live a long and fruitful life but, should he (G-d forbid) die in office, I shudder at the thought that Mrs. Palin would then become president. Compared to the one I wish he'd chosen as his running mate, Mitt Romney, she pales in comparison. She was loved and respected enough by the peope in Alaska to elect her governor & that's admirable. She comes across as an intelligent, classy person but not with the qualifcations to become Commander in Chief of the greatest country on earth! I fear that Mrs. Palen will cause the downfall of the Republican party in this election mainly because of the fact that the others who ran for the nomination are so much more qualified and she was such a disappointing choice to those who backed those others.
Discontinuing" What For Supper" !!!!
Since there are only 2 or 3 people posting on this subject, i thought it would be best to discontinue posting it . If anyone has any ideas on how to keep this group going, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Marge
Another busy day
Going to the Black Belt Ceremony tonight to watch my friends get promoted. We have two young people going to 3rd degree and two guys getting their master's belts.
Missing something
Am I missing something because I'm a high school drop out?
All I keep reading about from all these learned people with all their degrees is how credit fuels our economy. Without it our economy is doomed to fail and thus destroy our country. When did the shuffling of worthless symbols in a ledger book become the bases for our economy?
I see the value in credit as being the ability of people to pay for that credit because they have a means to pay back what they borrow. Am I missing something?
I was raised that you work to earn a money. You use that money to pay your bills and credit. When did this change?
I see creating jobs in much the same way as they did to end the great depression as a way of getting our economy back on it's feet.
If people don't have an income how are they supposed to pay for their credit. When did it become the American way of life for our government to pick up the tap for this credit?
Anybody help me understand what is going on?
All I keep reading about from all these learned people with all their degrees is how credit fuels our economy. Without it our economy is doomed to fail and thus destroy our country. When did the shuffling of worthless symbols in a ledger book become the bases for our economy?
I see the value in credit as being the ability of people to pay for that credit because they have a means to pay back what they borrow. Am I missing something?
I was raised that you work to earn a money. You use that money to pay your bills and credit. When did this change?
I see creating jobs in much the same way as they did to end the great depression as a way of getting our economy back on it's feet.
If people don't have an income how are they supposed to pay for their credit. When did it become the American way of life for our government to pick up the tap for this credit?
Anybody help me understand what is going on?
