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	<title>Raoul&#039;s TGIF Archives - Traveling Boy</title>
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	<title>Raoul&#039;s TGIF Archives - Traveling Boy</title>
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	<item>
		<title>Two More Truths</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-more-truths/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-more-truths/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:40:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Artist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disneyland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sam McKim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tomorrowland]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5799</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>This week I worked on an article (you can see it here at TravelingBoy.com) about a famous Imagineering artist named Sam McKim. I never knew the artist’s name but I recognized his style in several books and movies released by Walt Disney. Boy, did this project take me back to my childhood.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-more-truths/">Two More Truths</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1"><br>TGIF Joke of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Jun of New Jersey for sending this joke.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="576" height="1250" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HAPPY2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5821" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HAPPY2.jpg 576w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HAPPY2-138x300.jpg 138w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HAPPY2-472x1024.jpg 472w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /></figure>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents. September 11, 2026<br></h5>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2">Imagineering</h2>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">Please move on to the jokes if you don&#8217;t want to ponder.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This week I worked on an article (you can see it here at <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/category/entertainment/">TravelingBoy.com</a>) about a famous Imagineering artist named Sam McKim. I never knew the artist’s name but I recognized his style in several books and movies released by Walt Disney. Boy, did this project take me back to my childhood.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When I was a scrawny kid in the Philippines, there was a classified ad section in the Manila Times called “American Leaving.” It was code for bargain hunters that an American family was moving away and they were selling their stuff. It’s similar to the Estate Sale signs we see here in America. My family would buy second hand goodies like books, magazines, toys, vacuum cleaners, etc. One particular item that I treasured was a colorful Disneyland pamphlet that announced the upcoming Tomorrowland, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. I was mesmerized by the artwork of Sam McKim. How did this artist create this dreamworld? What medium did he use? Oils? Watercolor? And how did he get the perspectives accurately? Was there a team behind this? How did he decide what colors to use? For a kid who only drew stick figures, Sam was a artist god. At that point, I prayed for an impossible wish to visit Disneyland and see this fantasy land for myself.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="432" height="296" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SamKim-LEAD.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5801" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SamKim-LEAD.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SamKim-LEAD-300x206.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SamKim-LEAD-320x220.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">One of Sam&#8217;s sketches for Sleeping Beauty. </figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I read countless books and watched videos of Walt Disney and his imagineering team. I drew their characters in my sketch books. I sang their songs. I wanted to be an imagineer. I wanted to learn animation. By some miracle, I wound up studying in Washington DC … in the East coast! Nobody taught animation in the East coast of America! So near and yet so far.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But my wish to go to Disneyland would come true when Bernie, one of my best friends, needed to take a road trip from Washington DC to Los Angeles and asked me to come along. No one warned me of the long lines but that was fine. I enjoyed watching all these excited people. So many people from all over the world lining up in the heat. Mickey Mouse and the other mascots brought smiles to everyone they met. It was indeed the happiest place in the world. Decades later, I moved here to California and my Mom and Dad treated my family to another Disneyland trip and I shared the wonder from the eyes of my children.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When I was looking for a job in my early years in CA, I saw a Disney ad in the LA Times beckoning artists who wanted to be imagineers. I applied but I never got a response. My training was in desktop publishing and graphic design (illustration was strictly a hobby) so the &#8220;no response&#8221; was expected. I had seen the videos of Walt Disney brainstorming with his imagineers so I was disappointed that I didn’t get an interview just to see the inner workings of Disneyland.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Around that time, my young son was taking violin lessons. Somehow my wife mentioned to his teacher that I was interested in working for Disney. The teacher happened to be the niece of one of the imagineers and that led to my actually going for an interview in the Disney studio. Such was the power of an imagineer. The interviewer looked at my portfolio and showed me around during the lunch break. There were rows and rows of cubicles. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was just released and I could see color swatches of violets and greens and sketches of the characters. (That was pretty wild!) The interviewer said he was looking for someone who drew the &#8220;Disney-way.&#8221; We both knew that wasn’t me. And that was that. Didn’t get the job but I was more than satisfied.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Later I found out that Disney paid minimum wages. It was the law of supply and demand at work &#8212; Disney knew people were willing to work there for the adventure and not for the money. Sad but true. So I was glad I didn’t get the job after all.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Side comment: I may not have ever worked for Disney but my daughter is living my dream. She specializes in foley &#8212; background sounds for animations. She and her team won an Emmy for the Netflix TV series Arcane last year. You think I’m proud of her? You bet I am!</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="432" height="305" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Map-Disney.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5802" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Map-Disney.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Map-Disney-300x212.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Map-Disney-104x74.jpg 104w" sizes="(max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sam&#8217;s map of Disneyland</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Back to the present. Richard (the author of the TravelingBoy article) told me he lived directly across the street from Sam McKim. He said Sam was a good friend. Often, film crews from all over (including far-off Paris and Japan) would come for an interview. If Sam were still alive, Richard said he would have easily arranged an interview through Sam. (Oh, woudn’t that have been the thrill of a lifetime.)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today is the anniversary of the horrific attack of 9-11. Like you, my heart grieves for all those lives that were rudely interrupted by evil. Yet here we stand in the land of the free (so far). Sure, we have major problems. Sure, we have enemies who have come to destroy our lifestyle. And we can be obsessed with the politics but let’s not lose sight of the blessings and who provides those blessings. We serve a loving God who remembers our childhood prayers long after we have forgotten them. And He has many more gifts for us if we remain faithful. Funny how a piece of artwork (just like old music favorites) rekindles childhood memories and reminds us of blessings we take for granted.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Joshua 29:11</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3">Quotes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Walt Disney</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Walt Disney</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;All the adversity I&#8217;ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me&#8230; You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you..”</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Walt Disney</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;When you&#8217;re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Walt Disney</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate&#8217;s loot on Treasure Island.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Walt Disney</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Proverbs 22:6</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, &#8216;Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Matthew 10: 13-16</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Proverbs 17:6</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4">Memes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Send me your jokes &amp; memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Jason of Eagle Rock, CA, Donovan of Ireland, Debra of La Habra, CA and John of Connecticut.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="421" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AI-CivilWar.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5803" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AI-CivilWar.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AI-CivilWar-300x292.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="355" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Elevator-fart.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5804" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Elevator-fart.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Elevator-fart-300x247.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="600" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-DogFood.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5805" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-DogFood.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-DogFood-216x300.jpg 216w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="184" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/lion-Sweeps-tonight.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5806" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/lion-Sweeps-tonight.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/lion-Sweeps-tonight-300x128.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="482" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-Plain-nuts.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5807" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-Plain-nuts.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-Plain-nuts-269x300.jpg 269w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="564" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-SitBack.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5808" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-SitBack.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-SitBack-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="533" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rock-was-young.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5809" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rock-was-young.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rock-was-young-243x300.jpg 243w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="454" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-StarTrek-CheckBalance.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5810" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-StarTrek-CheckBalance.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-StarTrek-CheckBalance-285x300.jpg 285w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="364" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-StarTrek-Processing.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5811" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-StarTrek-Processing.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-StarTrek-Processing-300x253.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="360" height="529" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TBoy122-367.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5812" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TBoy122-367.jpg 360w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TBoy122-367-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="564" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HardHats-BossLunch.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5813" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HardHats-BossLunch.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HardHats-BossLunch-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://zc.vg/rtQu5">SUBSCRIBE</a></h2>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-more-truths/">Two More Truths</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Two Truths</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-truths/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-truths/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:52:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[9-11]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conspiracy Theory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[salvation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Star Trek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tinker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twin Towers]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5697</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The news media’s credibility has never been so low … and justifiably so. They are guilty of spreading lies they never apologized for and omitting the truth. Are you aware of the billions of dollars allegedly stolen by corrupt politicians this year alone? From Day Care to Medicare, from NGOs to UFOs, from vaccinations to assassinations -- we live in a world of confusion.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-truths/">Two Truths</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5">TGIF Joke of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Jun of New Jersey for sending this joke.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1880" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Two-Truths.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5698" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Two-Truths.jpg 576w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Two-Truths-92x300.jpg 92w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Two-Truths-314x1024.jpg 314w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Two-Truths-471x1536.jpg 471w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /></figure>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents. September 4, 2026<br></h5>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6">Truth</h2>



<p class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph">Please move on to the jokes if you don&#8217;t want to ponder.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We are close to the tragic anniversary of <a href="https://theconversation.com/9-11-conspiracy-theories-debunked-20-years-later-engineering-experts-explain-how-the-twin-towers-collapsed-167353">September 11</a>. There seems to be a growing number of people who believe the<a href="https://www.history.co.uk/shows/road-to-911/5-compelling-9-11-conspiracy-theories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> conspiracy theories</a> that the Twin Towers imploded because of planted explosives. Scientists say that the levels below the crash site were sturdy enough to prevent the continuous downward internal collapse. Some claim there were no traces of the airplane parts. Did you know that there was a third building (<a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a66051920/911-myths-debunked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WTC 7</a>) that also collapsed? Why? No plane hit it. Sure it caught fire but why did it implode just like the twin towers? What other burning building in history behaved that way? And what about American Airlines Flight 77 that hit the Pentagon? How could a plane hit just one side of the building? Why not in the center which was a bigger target? Blurry video footage shows an object moving horizontally like a missle. If it were a plane shouldn’t it have been moving at a downward angle? Again, reporters on the scene said there were no airplane parts. No passenger body parts. Hmmm.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="527" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Towers.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5700" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Towers.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Towers-246x300.jpg 246w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The news media’s credibility has never been so low … and justifiably so. They are guilty of spreading lies they never apologized for and omitting the truth. Are you aware of the billions of dollars allegedly stolen by corrupt politicians this year alone? From Day Care to Medicare, from NGOs to UFOs, from vaccinations to assassinations &#8212; we live in a world of confusion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Looking at the crowd entering his circus tent, P.T. Barnum said “there’s a sucker born every minute.” (What if I told you that Barnum never actually said that?) Still, in today’s Tik Tok world of AI inventions, there really are suckers born every minute … just as there are non-believers dying like flies. (Hey, I’m beginning to sound like a Yin Yang monk who balances every reaction with an opposite reaction.) Who to believe? What to believe?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There used to be a saying that “crime doesn’t pay.” Nobody says that anymore. Why? Because it isn&#8217;t true. Too many criminals have (and still) “get away.” More and more I am seeing the importance (but the disappearance) of truth. Without it, we lose our sense of justice and morality. Without a true scale, anyone can shortchange what we purchase .. what we believe. Society seems to put more weight on feelings than in factual evidence. OJ Simpson’s DNA didn’t prove he was guilty. Bill Clinton didn’t really smoke pot … he didn&#8217;t inhale. The Weapons of Mass Destruction were there … we just couldn’t find it. Did LBJ kill JFK? What’s the relation between Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, King Kong, Burger King and the Lion King? I don&#8217;t know. I’m just messing with you. 😀</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="247" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/JesusMiracle.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5701" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/JesusMiracle.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/JesusMiracle-300x172.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/JesusMiracle-384x220.jpg 384w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Life can be confusing but I find comfort knowing that there are actual truths … undeniable truths such as death and taxes. Then a “train ride” to either heaven or hell. All you need is the right ticket to board it &#8212; Jesus Christ.<em> “No one comes to the Father but through me,”</em> (John 14:6) he said.</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph">“But it’s your truth not mine.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“But truth has no preference. It just is. I don’t have to defend it.”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph">“But I don’t believe it.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“In other words, you choose NOT to believe it. It doesn’t change the truth that it exists.”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph">“Prove it!”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“If I give you a ton of evidence, will you then believe?”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph">“It depends.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“&#8230; on whether you want to accept the evidence, right? So what’s the point in showing any evidence?”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph">“Okay, historically, I admit, Jesus existed. He was a good man. Yeah, even a prophet. Sure, he conjured miracles: turned water into wine, made the blind see, the deaf hear … but I don’t believe he is God.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“But Jesus himself said he was/is the son of God. Either this &#8220;good man&#8221; was a liar, a lunatic, or told the truth ”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-13 wp-block-paragraph">“Well, so am I … so are you! We ALL are God’s children!”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Ah, so now you believe God exists!”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph">“Well, IF there is a God, why is there suffering?”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“<em>I beg your pardon. God never promised you a rose garden!</em> He did promise that, IF we believe in him, he would help us through our suffering.”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-15 wp-block-paragraph">“But if I were God, I’d do things differently.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“So you’re better than God?”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph">“Perhaps. Anyway, I’ve got more important things to do. Thanks for the lecture, professor!”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Don’t worry about it. Even if you have time to really think about this, only the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/learn/topics-themes/character-of-god/trinity-who-is-holy-spirit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Holy Spirit</a> can change a person’s heart. If you were not meant to believe then there’s nothing anyone can do about it. I can give you an apple but I can’t force you to eat it.”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-17 wp-block-paragraph">“But I don’t like apples.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Exactly!”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And that’s when the fist fight started.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The truth no longer spoken accurately gives birth to doubt which leads to conspiracy theories and grey areas. Fifty shades of grey turn into black. But a candle of truth in heavy darkness can light up the way to more candles of truth. But one must choose to light the first candle.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people! The sermon has ended. Go in peace! Run along now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18">Quotes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Just because something is on Facebook doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean it&#8217;s true.”</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; William Shakespeare</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Winston Churchill</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn&#8217;t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Soren Kierkegaard</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; John F. Kennedy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Hell is truth seen too late.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Thomas Hobbes</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; 1 John 3:18</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; 2 Timothy 2:15</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; 1 Corinthians 13:6</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19">Memes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Send me your jokes &amp; memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Art of Sierra Madre, Larry of Buena Park, CA, Donovan of Ireland, Agnes of VA and John of Connecticut.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="661" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HelenKellerCat.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5702" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HelenKellerCat.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HelenKellerCat-196x300.jpg 196w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="496" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-FakeSovk.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5703" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-FakeSovk.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/H-FakeSovk-261x300.jpg 261w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="570" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Abe-quote.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5704" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Abe-quote.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Abe-quote-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="479" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/KFC.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5705" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/KFC.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/KFC-271x300.jpg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="558" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Larry-GodSays.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5706" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Larry-GodSays.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Larry-GodSays-232x300.jpg 232w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="502" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-BeachHouse.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5707" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-BeachHouse.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Norm-BeachHouse-258x300.jpg 258w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="563" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Tinker.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5708" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Tinker.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Tinker-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="518" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/StarTrek-NoStrings.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5709" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/StarTrek-NoStrings.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/StarTrek-NoStrings-250x300.jpg 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="287" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/StarTrek-NewToilet.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5710" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/StarTrek-NewToilet.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/StarTrek-NewToilet-300x199.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TBoy119-449.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5711" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TBoy119-449.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TBoy119-449-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="587" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SewerLine.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5712" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SewerLine.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SewerLine-221x300.png 221w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://zc.vg/rtQu5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUBSCRIBE</a></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/two-truths/">Two Truths</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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		<title>Empty Threat</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/empty-threat/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/empty-threat/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:12:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caricatures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corn Festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drawing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hot august]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hot summer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[La Habra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[portrait]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[procrastination]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5639</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>This has been a super busy, physically-draining week and the heat here in Los Angeles didn't help any. I spend most of my time indoors so last Saturday I got my first taste of the heat. I helped represent the La Habra Art Gallery and rode an SUV "float" at the weekend-long Corn Festival (which was sponsored by the local Lion's Club). </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/empty-threat/">Empty Threat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Jerry of Idaho for sending this joke.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="1001" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Threat.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5641" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Threat.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Threat-129x300.jpg 129w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right"><br>Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents. August 28, 2026</h5>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20">Hot Hot August Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Please move on to the jokes if you&#8217;re not interested in my week.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This has been a super busy, physically-draining week and the heat here in Los Angeles didn&#8217;t help any. I spend most of my time indoors so last Saturday I got my first taste of the heat. I helped represent the <a href="https://www.lahabraartgallery.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Habra Art Gallery</a> and rode an SUV &#8220;float&#8221; at the weekend-long <a href="https://www.lahabralions.org/corn-festival" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corn Festival</a> (which was sponsored by the local Lion&#8217;s Club). There was a good crowd all throughout the mile-long route. I waved like a king at the happy faces although I would have enjoyed watching the parade instead. I wasn&#8217;t able to enjoy the actual parade. All I saw were the backs of the Boy Scouts and the Marching Band in front of us. If you ever rode a horse-driven buggy, you know what I mean.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="360" height="270" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Parade-Car.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5642" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Parade-Car.jpg 360w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Parade-Car-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sunday, I decided to help some friends who were selling barbecue in one of the food booths. The deal was, if you purchased food from them, I would make you a free caricature. Even in the shade it felt like I was baking in a sauna. Due to the heat, even though we were there early, the crowd didn&#8217;t start to come until much later. Still, I was able to do some 35 portraits. I did so many of these sketches that I ran out of ink and had to use pencil at the end of my stint. Got to converse with a lot of nice people. I had fun, they had fun and the sun had fun displaying its energy. Boy was I thirsty! In mid-drawing I needed to take a drink.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="360" height="1200" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sketches.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-5643"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Maybe it was the heat or maybe I&#8217;m just <em>gettin&#8217; </em>old, but my brain got fried and I still have not fully recovered as I write this article. Dead tired when I got home. Flopped into bed. Morning came. Dragged myself out of bed, printed and laminated parking signs for our community because I promised I would. Plastered them around the area and again the heat sucked out energy like a vampire.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I was in the middle of work when I realized it was time to pick up my grandson from school. Didn&#8217;t shut down my computer correctly &#8230; simply pulled the plug. When I got back, the dark screen of death was laughing at me. My backup didn&#8217;t work. Spent the most of two days putting my computer back in shape. Even now, still tweaking the settings to function the way I want. It&#8217;s true: almost every program is designed to track your habits. I guess, in this day and age, Big Brother looking over your shoulder is unavoidable. They also want me to upgrade and spend money &#8230; not if I can help it!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Wife asks me why I&#8217;m so lethargic. Told her I&#8217;ve got the Steam Roller Blues. Now she&#8217;s got me started on some wholeness program to shoot me full of rhythm and blues.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This morning, I took a deep breath. I looked outside of my lazy situation and prayed. A good friend died of cancer, another friend trips and smashes his face during his vacation in London, thousands died in Nepal from a muddy flood, and Dolly Parton passed away. The world moves on. Who am I to complain? Putting things in perspective helps a lot.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-21">Quotes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Iced coffee on a hot day can perform miracles.”</em><br>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Jane Austen</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Thank goodness it’s finally hot enough to justify my laziness.”</em><br>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Dear summer, stop showing off. We get it. You’re hot!&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Steve Wozniac</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”</em><br>&#8212; John 16:33</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Isaiah 4:6</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?&#8217; Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Matthew 8:26</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22">Memes of the Week</h2>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">Send me your jokes &amp; memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Jerry of Idaho, Brian of San Francisco, Natalie of Miami and John of Connecticut.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="479" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rhino-Artist.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5644" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rhino-Artist.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rhino-Artist-271x300.jpg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="444" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WrongPassword.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5645" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WrongPassword.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WrongPassword-292x300.jpg 292w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="255" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-Decisions.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5646" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-Decisions.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-Decisions-300x177.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-Decisions-413x244.jpg 413w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="590" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Irish-Wristwatch.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5647" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Irish-Wristwatch.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Irish-Wristwatch-220x300.jpg 220w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="541" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Hazmat.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5648" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Hazmat.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Hazmat-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="269" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RandomAddition.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5649" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RandomAddition.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RandomAddition-300x187.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="461" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-LargePrint.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5650" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-LargePrint.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-LargePrint-281x300.png 281w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-LargePrint-309x330.png 309w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="360" height="263" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/STartTrek-CheckEngine.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5651" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/STartTrek-CheckEngine.jpg 360w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/STartTrek-CheckEngine-300x219.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="556" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-SlowDown.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5652" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-SlowDown.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-SlowDown-233x300.jpg 233w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-368.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5653" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-368.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-368-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="529" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-ProblemSolved.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5654" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-ProblemSolved.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-ProblemSolved-245x300.png 245w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://zc.vg/rtQu5">SUBSCRIBE</a></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/empty-threat/">Empty Threat</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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		<title>Interview Test</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/interview-test/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/interview-test/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arnold]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ben Affleck]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FIlms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hollywood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robots]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Schwarzeneggar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Total Recall]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5593</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A few months ago, Ben Affleck gave an interview where he said the movie industry was in deep financial trouble. He said (on the average) a good movie costs at least 25 million dollars to produce. They need another $25M for marketing. Then $50 million goes to the outlets like movie houses and streaming platforms (like Amazon Prime, Apple +, Disney +, YouTube, Netflix). That’s 100 million dollars just for a movie to break even. Very few movies make that much. Many Hollywood movies currently operate in the negative.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/interview-test/">Interview Test</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1880" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Quick.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5613" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Quick.jpg 576w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Quick-92x300.jpg 92w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Quick-314x1024.jpg 314w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Quick-471x1536.jpg 471w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /></figure>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents. August 21, 2026</h5>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-23">Hollywood Blues</h2>



<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">A few months ago,<a href="https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/ben-affleck-admission-hollywood-too-expensive-342538-20260430"> Ben Affleck</a> gave an interview where he said the movie industry was in deep financial trouble. He said (on the average) a good movie costs at least 25 million dollars to produce. They need another $25M for marketing. Then $50 million goes to the outlets like movie houses and streaming platforms (like Amazon Prime, Apple +, Disney +, YouTube, Netflix). That’s 100 million dollars just for a movie to break even. Very few movies make that much. Many Hollywood movies currently operate in the negative.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">My take: The Good the Bad and the downright Ugly</h4>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My first inclination was to save the Hollywood industry that we all grew up with: remembering the wonderful fairy tales that inspired our young minds … stories that made us fall off our seats with laughter … stories that made us afraid of the dark … stories that dug up conspiracy theories and made us aware of social injustice. Sadly, this same institution also influenced our taste for violence, illegal drugs, pornography and other addictions. There was good and bad.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hollywood propped up screen idols to be worshiped. Despite their many intellectual and moral deficiencies, just because they identified with our emotions, we thought we knew them. They dictated what was cool and what was beautiful. We valued their opinions about the silliest things. When they said this soda pop was the “real thing” we just had to taste it in &#8220;real life.&#8221; The egos got the better of some of them. When they threaten to leave America if their political candidate loses … shouldn’t we just insist that they do leave us alone?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Remind me again why we need to preserve the movie industry? Is it worth rescuing the royal infrastructure of filmdom? If you find yourself flipping through a gazillion movie choices streaming online, perhaps not. Are you frustrated with the explosion of low creativity and formulaic productions brought to you by a committee of businessmen? How many Star Wars episodes do we really need? Good movies are hidden like needles in a haystack. Even award-winning movies have lost their glitter.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I recently watched the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi, <strong><a href="https://youtu.be/WFMLGEHdIjE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Total Recall</a></strong> and boy, did I have a <em>total recoil</em> at the terrible acting and laughable special effects &#8212; <em>“Git aut! Git aut of hear!”</em> You could tell when the plastic faces replaced human skin. Eyes popping out and stop-motion animated bodies melting into bones were downright amateurish. But thirty six years ago, we believed it and it won Best Visual Effects. We wanted to believe it just as the audience of the 30s wanted to believe in King Kong climbing up the Empire State building. Simple effects for simple times. Film making is constantly changing.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="768" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TotalRecall.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5596" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TotalRecall.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TotalRecall-169x300.jpg 169w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The reasons for the fall</h4>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I already mentioned streaming platforms like Netflix. That’s one big factor. Humongous TV screens with their souped-up audios make eating popcorn and watching at home more comfortable and convenient than going to the movies. Plus, if the movie sucks, you don’t have to agonize until the end. You can simply switch to another movie. Don&#8217;t think Paramount gets paid enough when you rent their movie. Keep in mind they still have to pay a percentage to Netflix to compete with the same movie currently showing at the movie house.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good or bad, ABC/Disney tried to sell the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woke">WOKE</a> mentality to us. It didn&#8217;t work. <a href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/culture/artc-go-woke-go-broke-the-collapse-of-star-wars-and-the-failure-of-hollywood-s-studio-model" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">They lost millions</a>. <a href="https://gfmag.com/capital-raising-corporate-finance/disneys-new-boss-takes-over/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The president was replaced</a>. They now know we are not a captive audience. They are not as powerful as they thought.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today&#8217;s technology has allowed the couch potato (yes, that one!) to create his own movies in the living room. We all know it’s nearly impossible to distinguish AI from actual footage. Sorry celebrities, sorry studio set designers, sorry miniature prop men, sorry stunt men, sorry makeup artists, sorry movie theme musicians, sorry extras … we don’t need your services anymore.</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24 wp-block-paragraph">“You mean we actors, don’t need to ‘kiss up’ to the movie moguls anymore?”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-25 wp-block-paragraph">“Nope!”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-26 wp-block-paragraph">“Doesn’t the union protect us?”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-27 wp-block-paragraph">“Who needs the Union? They don’t have the monopoly anymore.”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-28 wp-block-paragraph">“But I’m unique! My voice, my looks, my …”</p>



<p class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-29 wp-block-paragraph">“Nah! AI can mimic all of that. You can’t copyright your talents. And, even if you can, we’ll just create a BETTER you.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When you see the big stars advertising for small companies, you know they are desperate for a job. When you see the Hollywood reporters hype innocuous scandals, you know the reps are struggling for relevance in order to survive. I have good news and bad news for you Hollywood folk. First the bad news: you will be replaced by AI. The good news: you don&#8217;t need the big studios anymore because, with a little training, now you can create your own movies!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><em>“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”</em> </h3>



<p class="has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph">— Henry Ford (allegedly)</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="346" height="246" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ford.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5595" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ford.jpg 346w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ford-300x213.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ford-104x74.jpg 104w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px" /></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Time to let the horse go</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although Ben Affleck and I may paint a dark picture of Hollywood, I believe there is a Yellow Brick Road to the MODE of storytelling. The old factories will soon die but the imagination among millions of new creators will eventually replace and improve exponentially as AI technology matures. That one amazing movie done by a little kid is waiting &#8217;round the corner. Indeed, when you wish to become a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hollywood served its purpose but it’s time to grow up. Let the creativity begin!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Of course, this is just me.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="378" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HorseVSAuto.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5620" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HorseVSAuto.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HorseVSAuto-300x263.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ed. Klein&#8217;s denial that automobiles would replace horses.</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30">Quotes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;We need Storytelling. Otherwise, life just goes on and on like the number Pi.”</em><br>&#8212; Ang Lee</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Jean-Luc Godard (French film director)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder”</em><br>&#8212; Alfred Hitchcock</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Walt Disney</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“LA, the city where everyone&#8217;s constantly waiting for their phone to ring, and I&#8217;m part of it.”</em><br>&#8212; Daniel Ruczko</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end… but not necessarily in that order.”</em><br>&#8212; Jean-Luc Godard (French film director)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”</em><br>&#8212; Proverbs 22:9</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”</em><br> &#8212; Collosians 3:23-24</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-31">Memes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Send me your jokes &amp; memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Barbara of Colorado, Brian of San Francisco, Ben of Georgia and Wally of Colorado..</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="648" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Terminator-Sarah-Conners.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5597" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Terminator-Sarah-Conners.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Terminator-Sarah-Conners-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="457" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RoboCop.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5598" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RoboCop.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RoboCop-284x300.jpg 284w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="282" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Robot-Human.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5599" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Robot-Human.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Robot-Human-300x196.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="515" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NotARobot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5600" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NotARobot.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NotARobot-252x300.jpg 252w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="545" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-TortureRoom.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5601" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-TortureRoom.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-TortureRoom-238x300.jpg 238w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="428" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chuck-SnowRain.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5602" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chuck-SnowRain.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chuck-SnowRain-300x297.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chuck-SnowRain-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="374" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chuck-SunScreen.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5603" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chuck-SunScreen.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Chuck-SunScreen-300x260.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="565" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-ChuCkGMail.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5604" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-ChuCkGMail.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-ChuCkGMail-229x300.jpg 229w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="450" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-SocialMediaReputation.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5605" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-SocialMediaReputation.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-SocialMediaReputation-288x300.jpg 288w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="675" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-Touching.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5607" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-Touching.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-Touching-192x300.jpg 192w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="649" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-StarshipAnts.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5606" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-StarshipAnts.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-StarshipAnts-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="634" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-352.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5608" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-352.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-352-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="529" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-PreferOldLook.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5610" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-PreferOldLook.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-PreferOldLook-245x300.jpg 245w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32"><a href="https://zc.vg/rtQu5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUBSCRIBE</a></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/interview-test/">Interview Test</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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			<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Guacamole Sauce</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/guacamole-sauce/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/guacamole-sauce/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:56:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mexican]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mexico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5525</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>I listened to poetry readings at an art gallery in a predominantly Mexican community. It was curiosity that pushed me to attend because I had never been to a poetry session before. However, I didn’t expect to be immersed in so much Mexican culture. I saw a side of Mexican Americans I had never noticed before. Their pride for their humble roots reminded me of the Filipino culture which (like Mexico) was greatly influenced by cruel Spanish colonialism for 300 years.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/guacamole-sauce/">Guacamole Sauce</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents. August 14, 2026</h5>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="406" height="1024" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Guacamole-406x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5544" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Guacamole-406x1024.jpg 406w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Guacamole-119x300.jpg 119w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Guacamole.jpg 432w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 406px) 100vw, 406px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Original art by Raoul Pascual.</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-33">Poetry Night</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I listened to poetry readings at an art gallery in a predominantly Mexican community. It was curiosity that pushed me to attend because I had never been to a poetry session before. However, I didn’t expect to be immersed in so much Mexican culture. I saw a side of Mexican Americans I had never noticed before. Their pride for their humble roots reminded me of the Filipino culture which (like Mexico) was greatly influenced by cruel Spanish colonialism for 300 years.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The emcee was a tall 300 pounder who announced it was his birthday to the cheers of the crowd: <em>“Since it’s my birthday, I can do anything I want.”</em> He wasn’t kidding. He started the ball rolling with 20 minutes of his own poetry … at least that’s what he called it. In fact, 75% of the evening’s so-called “poets” put words together that didn’t sound like poetry to my critical mind. They were thought patterns in prose disguised as poetry. Maybe I’m old school but poems (in my book) should rhyme or should follow a certain discipline … a pattern or a cadence. Edgar Alan Poe, Robert Frost, Shakespeare &#8212; their works are poetry. The disciplined 17-syllabled Japanese Haiku is poetry. Even song lyrics can be poetry &#8212; just like the works of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Sondheim. Poems should tickle my creativity and make me marvel at the craftsmanship of word combinations. Do you agree? Amateurs should call it “prose” but not “poetry.” No need to elevate their word collection to what it is not.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was mostly amateur night for 3 hours. One reader after the other recited their favorite original poems in their vastly different styles and personalities. Quite a few of these &#8220;closet writers&#8221; never even made eye contact with the audience. You could tell they pushed themselves to go up on stage. I do applaud their determination.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It wasn’t a total loss. There were some good presenters.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>One lady who had lived in Indonesia for 2 years danced Indonesian style as she delivered her piece about losing her favorite sandals. I confess I was mesmerized by her gracefulness.</li>



<li>Another guy, a young father, talked about his name. He got his name from his Dad whom he had never met. He could have changed his insignificant name but he was determined to make something of himself so his name would begin a new meaning for generations to come. (Sounds like an <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/whats-in-a-name/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">article I wrote a few weeks ago</a> &#8212; he even had the same title).</li>



<li>There was an accomplished author who had written a few self-published books. Her poems were in English and in Spanish. It was obvious she had command of the language. Her final piece was political. She hated the establishment and especially how ICE was snatching her people. I may not fully agree with all she said but I can certainly empathize with her frustration.</li>



<li>A bald-headed homosexual shared the prejudices and the difficulty of coming out. He is happy that there is less hostility now. He enjoys celebrating in gay parades but he knows he will never be fully accepted. He believes that full acceptance will only come when he gets to heaven. Hmmm.</li>



<li>One young lady said she attends a Protestant church. In her next breath she said she had a live-in partner. Another hmmm.</li>



<li>&#8220;And now a word from our sponsor!&#8221; &#8212; An elderly muralist went onstage. But instead of reciting a poem, he bragged about landing a mural job. Hmmmm.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Note to self:</strong> Never give the mic to an emcee celebrating his birthday. This guy shared more than I cared to hear. He called his whole family to go up on stage and introduced each one (including his mother). Nice family but … really? Well, at least he was proud of his family.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Then it dawned on me that I was an outsider in a private party. Everyone was familiar with everyone else. I was a <strong>gate-crashing snob</strong>! Who was I to criticize their culture? Who was I to impose my standards on them? These people were sharing their creativity in their own way. They understood each other. I was viewing America from their vantage. Suddenly, the dreary black and white movie switched to an admiration for the marvelous colors of their culture as the <a href="https://youtu.be/nn2LTCs8KII?list=RDnn2LTCs8KII" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pocohontas song</a> played in my head.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As this mini-AGT (America’s Got Talent) was coming to a close, I thought it was time to leave. But the emcee told me that a band was the finale of the evening. Music! Oooh … I stayed for that.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="209" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/band.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5526" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/band.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/band-300x145.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Three men went up on stage dragging their instruments – a huge stand up bass guitar, a regular guitar, and a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHuAjRsy1GW/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">washboard</a> percussion <em>thingamajig</em>. The lead singer introduced the band in his deep guttural voice. Then they sang some old obscure country song which reminded me of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m9UYRiYGFug" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnny Cash</a>. Not really my style but they were good. After their first rendition, they said (since we loved it so much) they would be doing more songs from the 40s and 50s. Excuse me? Country Music Oldies in a Mexican Cowboy style?!?! <em>No way, Jose!</em> That’s when I darted out the exit. There&#8217;s only so much diversity lessons a stranger can take in one day<em>. Hasta la vista, baby!</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-34">Quotes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em><strong>“Más vale llegar tarde que feo.&#8221;</strong><br>Translation: Better to arrive late than ugly.</em><br>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same. &#8220;</em><br>&#8212; Angelina Jolie</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;When we&#8217;re talking about diversity, it&#8217;s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.”</em><br>&#8212; Ava DuVernay</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;They laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at them because they’re all the same.”</em><br>&#8212; Kurt Cobain</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Some people are wise. Some people are … otherwise.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;So many people these days are too judgmental. I can tell just by looking at them.”</em><br>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”</em><br>&#8212; Isaiah 49:3</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.&#8221;</em><br>&#8212; Lamentations 3:32</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-35">Video of the Week : James Bond 0070</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://youtu.be/tdTj59pSEC0" target="_blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="229" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/video-0070.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5528" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/video-0070.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/video-0070-300x159.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></a></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36">Memes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Send me your jokes &amp; memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. <br>This week, we thank Art of Sierra Madre, CA, Norm of Encino CA, Barbara of Colorado, Kevin of Tennessee and Donna of NYC.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="472" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mojito.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5529" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mojito.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mojito-275x300.jpg 275w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="481" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HearingTest.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5530" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HearingTest.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HearingTest-269x300.jpg 269w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="537" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-oughtaBiography.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5531" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-oughtaBiography.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-oughtaBiography-241x300.jpg 241w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="538" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ChiHuaHua.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5532" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ChiHuaHua.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ChiHuaHua-241x300.jpg 241w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="525" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-foamMattress.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5533" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-foamMattress.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-foamMattress-247x300.jpg 247w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="426" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Translender.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5534" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Translender.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Translender-300x296.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="432" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/owl-comfort.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5535" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/owl-comfort.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/owl-comfort-300x300.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/owl-comfort-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="439" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/validation2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5536" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/validation2.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/validation2-295x300.jpg 295w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="646" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Courage.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5537" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Courage.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Courage-201x300.jpg 201w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="518" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-GaveUpReading.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5538" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-GaveUpReading.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-GaveUpReading-250x300.png 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="432" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-Samples.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5539" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-Samples.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-Samples-300x300.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-Samples-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="360" height="529" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Tboy291.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5540" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Tboy291.jpg 360w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Tboy291-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="587" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FeelingPressure.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5541" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FeelingPressure.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FeelingPressure-221x300.png 221w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://zc.vg/rtQu5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUBSCRIBE</a> to the TGIF Weekly email blast. Be the first to receive the Jokes of the week.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/guacamole-sauce/">Guacamole Sauce</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Angelic Wife</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/the-angelic-wife/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/the-angelic-wife/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:03:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corruption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Democrats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[immigrants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[immigration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Republicans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[terrorists]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5503</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>I’m sorry if I will sound like an alarmist today but I need to share something seriously wrong in the world. I think this is necessary for the sake of protecting civilization as we know it. Of course, this is just my humble opinion. I invite criticism. Tell me why you disagree. Enlighten me. I welcome dialogue.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/the-angelic-wife/">The Angelic Wife</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="1578" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AngelicWife.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5522" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AngelicWife.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AngelicWife-82x300.jpg 82w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AngelicWife-280x1024.jpg 280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-37">Do You Hear the People Sing?</h2>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents. August 7, 2026</h5>



<p class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-38 wp-block-paragraph">Please move on to the jokes if you don&#8217;t want to ponder.</p>



<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">I am sorry if I will sound like an alarmist today but I need to share something seriously wrong in the world. I think this is necessary for the sake of protecting civilization as we know it. Of course, this is just my humble opinion. I invite criticism. Tell me why you disagree. Enlighten me. I welcome dialogue.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Unless you have been living in a cave, I’m sure you’ve heard of the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Morocco%E2%80%93Spain_border_incident" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> invasion</a> of 50,000 able-bodied male Sunni Cueta Muslim “migrants” (I think “terrorists” is the more apt word) who crossed from Morocco to a defenseless Spain a few days ago. How about the millions of unwanted immigrants into the rest of Europe these recent years? Notice that these migrants don’t “migrate” to the countries that have already established the failed form of government they are clamoring for. Instead, they want other countries to conform to their radical standard of government. This is a planned attack. And the longer we are indifferent to this uprising, the stronger they become.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It&#8217;s an organized, well-coordinated urban insurrection. Someone or some people are sponsoring this. Don’t be fooled just because they aren’t wearing war uniforms.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The U.S. is not exempt from this 11 million influx of illegal immigration. And politicians protect them. Deep-seated corruption has been exposed and the criminals have lost their funding and are desperate to weave out of prison and reclaim their position of power. They know this upcoming November election is their final bastion. If they lose the election, they are cooked. That&#8217;s why they are propping up ultra radical communists and jihadists. They have and will insert illegal ballots. They have nothing to lose. They are hoping you do nothing.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What set off my alarm were several people who voiced their concern and an article posted on Facebook which prompted a lot of questions. <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/an-upside-down-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>CLICK HERE</strong></a> for a copy of that article.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">May I share my own guideposts?</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Don’t let the political party labels blind you. Corruption is in both sides. Dig deep and common sense will help you identify the better politicians from the scoundrels with selfish interests. Is it beneficial for all or just them? Notice the hypocrisy when they accuse others of their own crimes.</li>



<li>Identify the lowly puppets who are just mouthing prepared lines. Be more watchful of the more sinister and dangerous puppet-masters.</li>



<li>The billions of stolen dollars hurts<strong> everyone</strong> including the people who support the criminals. It behooves me why people protect the criminals who are stealing from their own people.</li>



<li>Don’t rely on a single news outlet. Many news networks are filtered by management … some of them have been paid off &#8212; they suppress and omit the truth to fit their narrative. When cornered without a legitimate defense, they change the subject and think people are too dumb to notice the switch.</li>



<li>Don’t take stories at face value. Some spread the news before confirming. Some spread conscious outright lies. Check the sources. Engage in constructive dialogue. The goal is not to belittle and prove one is right but to understand, clarify and (if possible) discover the truth together to preserve the friendship.</li>



<li>What&#8217;s crystal clear to you may not be crystal clear to them. What&#8217;s crystal clear to them may not be crystal clear to you. Offer a lot of grace and patience.</li>



<li>Lastly, after hearing both sides, vote for the lesser of the two evils. There is no perfect politician. Don’t get bogged down by personalities. He/she may be a narcissist but some narcissists may be the best person for the job. JFK was a womanizer but he was the best man to dismantle Russia during the Cuban crisis.</li>
</ul>



<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">What I really don’t understand is how short-sighted some of these criminals are. They want power, they want money and they think the world will survive the destruction they will cause. They are like billionaire <strong>Mark Zuckerberg</strong> who built a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GqcAx5meuY">multi-million dollar shelter</a> to survive a holocaust. Listen, Zuck, what’s the point in being the lone survivor in a barren world? Looking further, what is the end game? What’s the point in destroying civilization? The puppets, the puppet masters, their money &#8212; none of that will survive. Guess who wins? Enter the spiritual world. It’s real.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-39">3 Examples of Spiritual Warfare</h4>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the book of<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%206&amp;version=NIV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 2 Kings, chapter 6</a>, the King of Aram sent out chariots and horses at night to surround a city and capture Elisha the prophet. When <strong>Elisha</strong>’s servant woke up, he saw the hostile army and was afraid. But Elisha was not daunted. When Elisha prayed for the servant’s eyes to open up the spiritual world, the servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around them. Look it up and revel at the peaceful ending.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Pastor T</strong> (from my first church) shared his story of his angelic encounter while he was visiting Russia back in the 80s. He sensed he was being followed and was about to be captured. Suddenly, a taxi driver pulled up beside him and told him to get in. Pastor T had no time for questions … besides, he had no other alternative. As they sped away, the driver told him he was sent to rescue the pastor. After he dropped him off in a safe place, the car vanished.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Mr. Y</strong> (a close missionary friend of mine) was in China. For about 3 months he was having problems breathing in the middle of the night. He thought it was a health issue. Then one night, he closed his eyes pretending to be asleep on his single bed. At 1 AM he felt someone come up on his back side. That entity started hitting his back. At first it felt like a good massage. Then it started to choke his throat. Immediately, he prayed and cast the demon out in Jesus’ name. The demon stopped and didn’t return. Many years later (2 years ago) Mr. Y was stationed in a new area. Exhausted, he forgot to pray so that first night he was attacked again by a similar choking demon. He prayed and he fasted and the demon has not returned. Mr. Y is encouraged knowing that his mission is important enough for demons to bother him.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-40">Conclusion</h4>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The battle is not between political parties. It is <strong>the preservation</strong> vs.<strong> the destruction</strong> of civilization. Ultimately, it is a spiritual battle &#8212; which means prayer is essential for victory to happen. If we can open our eyes like Elisha&#8217;s servant, we will see that we are not alone.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be successful against us?&#8221;</em> &#8212; Romans 8:31</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-41">Quotes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“My girlfriend is an angel because angels don&#8217;t exist and neither does my girlfriend.”</em> &#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;I wonder if my guardian angel and my future husband&#8217;s guardian angel are in a group chat trying to coordinate.&#8221;</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;I firmly believe that at this point my guardian angel is just eating popcorn and watching the drama.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have now done so much for so long with so little, we are now capable of doing anything with nothing.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Unknown</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Napoleon Bonaparte</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Do not be afraid… those who are with us are more than those who are with them. Then Elisha prayed… ‘Open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and Elisha saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around him.&#8221;</em> &#8212; 2 Kings 6: 16-17</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.</em><strong>”</strong> &#8212; Romans 12:21</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;For our struggle is not against flesh and blood… but against spiritual forces of evil.&#8221; &#8212; Ephesians 6:12</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42">Memes of the Week</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="463" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-reality.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5505" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-reality.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-reality-280x300.jpg 280w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-reality-309x330.jpg 309w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="531" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-rudenesa.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5506" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-rudenesa.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-rudenesa-244x300.jpg 244w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="546" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-WittyBlistering.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5507" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-WittyBlistering.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-WittyBlistering-237x300.jpg 237w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="576" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-VersionWrong.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5508" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-VersionWrong.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Calvin-VersionWrong-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="301" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-FengShui-Blame.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5510" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-FengShui-Blame.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-FengShui-Blame-300x209.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="547" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-Titanic-Perspective.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5509" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-Titanic-Perspective.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-Titanic-Perspective-237x300.jpg 237w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="440" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HauntedRelief.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5511" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HauntedRelief.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HauntedRelief-295x300.jpg 295w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="461" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-PassionateEmojis.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5512" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-PassionateEmojis.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-PassionateEmojis-281x300.png 281w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Norm-PassionateEmojis-309x330.png 309w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="458" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/YouWereRight.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5513" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/YouWereRight.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/YouWereRight-283x300.jpg 283w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="489" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatWrong.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5514" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatWrong.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatWrong-265x300.jpg 265w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="470" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-Mitch.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5515" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-Mitch.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/StarTrek-Mitch-276x300.jpg 276w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="500" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-Hindsight.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5516" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-Hindsight.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/H-StarTrek-Hindsight-259x300.jpg 259w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy-122-343.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5517" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy-122-343.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy-122-343-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="634" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-372.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5518" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-372.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBoy122-372-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="529" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-FOundProblem.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5519" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-FOundProblem.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HardHats-FOundProblem-245x300.png 245w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://zc.vg/rtQu5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUBSCRIBE</a></h2>



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<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/the-angelic-wife/">The Angelic Wife</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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		<title>What&#8217;s in a Name?</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/whats-in-a-name/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[admin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Meta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[names]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nicknames]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>I had to fill out a waiver form at the Red Cross before I was allowed to donate my blood. There was a question about my gender. Was I male, female or would I rather not say? If I had the option not to say, then why ask it in the first place? When will we get over this silly interpersonal questioning? I was also asked about my choice of preposition. I wonder if this inspired Hamlet's "To be or not to be?" retrospective. These questions opened the rabbit hole to the fascinating world of names.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/whats-in-a-name/">What&#8217;s in a Name?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Jennifer of LA for sending this joke.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="1445" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Meta.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5437" style="width:432px;height:auto" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Meta.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Meta-90x300.jpg 90w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Meta-306x1024.jpg 306w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents. July 31, 2026</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-43">What&#8217;s in a Name?</h1>



<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">I had to fill out a waiver form at the Red Cross before I was allowed to donate my blood. There was a question about my gender. Was I male, female or would I rather not say? If I had the option not to say, then why ask it in the first place? When will we get over this silly interpersonal questioning? I was also asked about my choice of pronouns. I wonder if this inspired Hamlet&#8217;s &#8220;To be or not to be?&#8221; retrospective. These questions opened the rabbit hole to the fascinating world of names.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Do you like your name? Don&#8217;t be too hard on your parents if you don&#8217;t. Naming a person can be very confusing and challenging. I think first time parents over-think naming their child. They buy books about the history of names and consult hundreds of people who really don&#8217;t care what these parents name their kid. If they had a choice, parents don&#8217;t usually want a common name. Hate to break it to you, but if you do have a common name, you&#8217;re probably not the first kid. You&#8217;re just an &#8220;after-thought.&#8221; (Suck it up, butter cup!) Imagine a crowd of people and you shout a common name and half of the people respond to your call &#8212; all of them probably NOT the first born either.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Of course, most kids are named after their parent&#8217;s most favorite person in the world. Like Abraham (Lincoln) or (Queen) Elizabeth … good Christian names. But if you&#8217;re named after your father or mother, your parents didn&#8217;t lack creativity &#8212; you were just an &#8220;after-thought&#8221; as well.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Speaking of creativity, I know of two Chinese parents (last name is Pe) who were a little too creative. They named their son Edgar Allen. Poor kid. In the Philippines, many family members share the same first letters. I know of a family with 10 kids &#8212; all their names start with &#8220;R.&#8221; The parents constantly rattle off several names before they remember the right name.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of my earliest battles for recognition had to do with my baby name. They called me Peewee. Whoever started it should be tarred and feathered! I heard one reason was because I was too darn cute &#8212; tiny eyes, big puffy veined cheeks and a disarming smile. I guess I looked like a pot bellied baby Buddha. But when I grew taller than my parents and they still called me Peewee; well that was pretty humiliating. I remember demanding I be called by my proper name and I refused to be called Junior. Yeah, you guessed it &#8212; I wasn&#8217;t the first born. I too am an &#8220;after thought.&#8221;</p>



<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">During the old days, a family&#8217;s trade was passed on to the children. The local blacksmith was named Mister Blacksmith. The baker was Mister Baker and all of his kids were destined to be bakers. Even Jesus was known as the carpenter&#8217;s son. But I doubt his last name was Carpenter &#8211; Jesus H. Carpenter &#8211; nah! That doesn&#8217;t sound right. And I doubt his brother was named Richard who played the piano and a sister named Karen who sang. In poor countries I think this line of name choice is still being practiced but they may be transitioning due to exogamy (marriages outside the family/lineage). For instance, I have a friend whose father ran a candy factory. No, he wasn&#8217;t Willie Wonka and neither was my friend&#8217;s name Candy. His name is Shoemaker and he&#8217;s a musician. Hard to put his face with his name.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Isn&#8217;t it strange that there isn&#8217;t a Miss Real Estate? Aren&#8217;t you glad there isn&#8217;t a Doctor Epidemiologist nor a Professor Microscopist … Oh, but isn&#8217;t there a Mister Hannibal the cannibal? And how many McDonalds are out there to remind you of hamburgers?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What if we get rid of pronouns altogether and just address people by their full names … would that simplify this branding problem? The South Koreans do it all the time (at least that&#8217;s what I read in the closed captions of their movies) &#8212; they always address each other by their full names. It could be worse. How would you like to be a Smith? … a Mister John Smith? If that&#8217;s your name, you must feel pretty anonymous: &#8220;Hey look it&#8217;s John Smith!&#8221; And everybody would look around and you&#8217;re right in the middle and nobody even sees you.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Random Thoughts<br>Or how about having one of those incomplete names like Lee. When you meet a potential wife named Norma, she&#8217;d have to think twice about how her new name would sound if she marries you. Did you know Bruce Lee&#8217;s Dad&#8217;s name? I don&#8217;t know about you but It&#8217;s always been a Mister Lee to me. Did you know that Stephen King named his son Joe? How many lawyer daughters are named Sue? How about Ben Dover or Constance Noring? My friend Bernie was named after a saint … a dog saint … Saint Bernard!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I noticed there aren&#8217;t any more Hitlers or Judases. Does Santa Claus have a real first name? And I know of only one Engelbert Humperdink &#8212; thank god!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Of course, with the influx of people migrating from different parts of the world, complex names have multiplied tenfold. In Africa there is a tribe that prides itself with the most complex sounding names &#8212; full of guttural sounds and clicks. But I bet if you call them &#8220;Hey you!&#8221; they will still respond to that.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Conclusion<br>Joking aside, we live with identifiers we call names. The minute we are born, our names separate us from the rest of the world. Each name has the potential for greatness. Each of us is special in God&#8217;s eyes. Names celebrate who we are supposed to be, whose family lineage we come from but it&#8217;s up to us to make our names inspire the next generation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44">QUOTES OF THE WEEK</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry.”</em> &#8212; Bill Cosby</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Japanese Proverb</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;I don’t remember anybody’s name. How do you think the “dahling” thing got started?&#8221;</em> &#8212; Zsa Zsa Gabor</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;I’d be stupid not to take into consideration that there are certain things people will not consider me for because my name is Lopez. And I know I can do any kind of role. I don’t want anybody to say, Oh, she can’t pull this off. So those are barriers that you have to overcome.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Jennifer Lopez</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Thomas Haliburton</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Proverbs 22:1</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”</em> &#8212; Acts 4:12</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.&#8221;</em> &#8211;Genesis 2: 19-20</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-45"><br>Memes of the Week</h1>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Norm, Jennifer, Dan and Art.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="540" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-NocholasCage.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5439" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-NocholasCage.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-NocholasCage-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="461" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-AdamEve.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5440" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-AdamEve.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-AdamEve-281x300.png 281w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-AdamEve-309x330.png 309w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="286" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-ChipMonk.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5441" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-ChipMonk.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-ChipMonk-300x199.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="304" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-FinnishLine.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5442" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-FinnishLine.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-FinnishLine-300x211.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-FinnishLine-104x74.jpg 104w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="302" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Himalayan.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5443" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Himalayan.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Himalayan-300x210.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Himalayan-104x74.jpg 104w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="523" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Number2Fly.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5444" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Number2Fly.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Number2Fly-248x300.jpg 248w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="492" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Art-CoverUp.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5445" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Art-CoverUp.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Art-CoverUp-263x300.jpg 263w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="215" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PyschoPaths.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5446" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PyschoPaths.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PyschoPaths-300x149.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="924" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Spam-tracker.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5447" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Spam-tracker.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Spam-tracker-140x300.jpg 140w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="526" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-Drummer.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5448" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-Drummer.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-Drummer-246x300.jpg 246w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="616" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-KnockKnoCjDoc.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5449" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-KnockKnoCjDoc.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-KnockKnoCjDoc-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-366.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5450" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-366.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-366-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-337.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5451" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-337.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-337-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="564" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HardHats-DIspatch.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5452" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HardHats-DIspatch.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HardHats-DIspatch-230x300.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://zc.vg/rtQu5">SUBSCRIBE</a></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/whats-in-a-name/">What&#8217;s in a Name?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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			<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		
		
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		<item>
		<title>Big Bang Theory</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/big-bang-theory/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/big-bang-theory/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Egypt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hard head]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smart]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5399</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Last week I shared how I banged my head when the chair I attempted to step on slipped due to the puddle of water on the floor. People encouraged me to get a head scan to make sure there was no internal bleeding but the pain subsided after a few days and I didn’t think it was necessary. But my aunt reminded me that my great great grandfather fell off his horse and hit his head. He neglected going to the doctor and in a short while he became completely blind. That was the scare I needed so I did go for a checkup. The doctor doesn’t think I need it but I’m scheduled for a CT Head scan (whatever that is) early next month.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/big-bang-theory/">Big Bang Theory</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul&#8217;s 2 Cents, July 24, 2026</h5>



<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">Last week I shared how I banged my head when the chair I attempted to step on slipped due to the puddle of water on the floor. People encouraged me to get a head scan to make sure there was no internal bleeding but the pain subsided after a few days and I didn’t think it was necessary. But my aunt reminded me that my great great grandfather fell off his horse and hit his head. He neglected going to the doctor and in a short while he became completely blind. That was the scare I needed so I did go for a checkup. The doctor doesn’t think I need it but I’m scheduled for a CT Head scan (whatever that is) early next month.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I wondered about people I know who were hit in their heads and I realized that every single one of them had one thing in common &#8212; they became smarter! I have a theory &#8212; a Big Bang Theory … a Big Bang in the HEAD Theory! We are all aware of the untapped mysteries of the brain. We’ve been told that we underutilize the power of the brain. I think if we get hit in just the right spot in the head, we can unleash that power.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">CASE 1:<br>Rodney was one of my best friends in my college years. He was one of the smartest people I know. He wrote poems and plays, composed music with his guitar, indulged in very deep conversations and organized many social activities. He confessed he wasn’t that smart until he was hit by a baseball bat. He said he was a mediocre student watching a game when a batter swung and released his bat which hit him on the head … knocked him out cold. When he woke up, he said that’s when he became smart. I believe he became the valedictorian of his high school. He became a lawyer and defended the poor.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">CASE 2:<br>My brother tried to stand on top of a basketball. (Yup! Not very smart yet.) The ball rolled out underneath him. He cracked his skull. He became very introspective. He began to hang out with the smart kids in class. He too became a lawyer and an environmental scientist for the EPA in Washington, DC.. Before his untimely death, he was building a complex ecosystem in Ecuador, at the edge of the Amazon jungle.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">CASE 3:<br>My sister fell down the stairs, hit her head. Guess what? She became smart. She’s very good in math. She’s the one our family runs to for legal paperwork.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I guess cracking one’s head is like being bitten by a radioactive spider. It jars those dormant brain cells into action. I can imagine the hospital room when I go for my CT Head scan next month. The doctors and scientists will gather around me:</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Poor old man cracked his skull … gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world’s smartest man. Raoul Pascual will be that man! Better than he was before. Better… smarter… intellectually boring … but smarter!”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="324" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sixMillMan.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5401" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sixMillMan.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sixMillMan-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Okay, hold him steady while I get my baseball bat …”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46">QUOTES OF THE WEEK</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Girls have an unfair advantage over men: if they can’t get what they want by being smart, they can get it by being dumb.”</em>&#8212;Yul Brynner</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“In grade school, I was smart, but I didn’t have any friends. In high school, I quit being smart and started having friends.”</em> &#8212; David Spade</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Never confuse education with intelligence. You can have a bachelor&#8217;s degree and still be an idiot!”</em>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Sometimes you just have to play the role of the fool to fool the fool who thinks they are fooling you.”</em> &#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Half of being smart is knowing what you are dumb about.” </em>&#8212; Solomon Short</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“None of us is as smart as all of us.”</em> &#8212;Ken Blachard</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Psalm 9:1</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.&#8221;</em> &#8212; Proverbs 1:7</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.&#8221;</em> &#8212; James 1:5</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to James, Dan, Barbara and Jonathan for these</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-47">MEMES of the Week</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="524" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-Beetgoven-Listen.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5402" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-Beetgoven-Listen.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-Beetgoven-Listen-247x300.jpg 247w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="425" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DoStunts.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5408" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DoStunts.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DoStunts-300x295.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="474" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-AboutToLaugh.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5409" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-AboutToLaugh.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-AboutToLaugh-273x300.jpg 273w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="346" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-AlienCredits.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5410" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-AlienCredits.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-AlienCredits-300x240.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="486" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-CoffinPainter.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5411" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-CoffinPainter.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-CoffinPainter-267x300.jpg 267w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="483" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StonesThrowInjury.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5412" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StonesThrowInjury.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StonesThrowInjury-268x300.jpg 268w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="589" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-Expert.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5413" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-Expert.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-Expert-220x300.jpg 220w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="687" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-FRIDAY.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5403" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-FRIDAY.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-FRIDAY-189x300.jpg 189w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="431" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-MindQuestion.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5404" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-MindQuestion.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-MindQuestion-300x300.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-MindQuestion-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-459.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5405" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-459.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-459-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="634" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-355.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5406" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-355.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-355-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="564" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HardHats-electropcuted.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5407" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HardHats-electropcuted.png 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HardHats-electropcuted-230x300.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/big-bang-theory/">Big Bang Theory</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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			<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Smart Move</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/smart-move/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/smart-move/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[concusion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fell down]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smoke alarm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thanksgiving]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5367</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Early this morning the smoke alarm went off. In my dreamy state I fumbled in the dark and picked up a chair so I could reach the alarm to turn it off. I didn’t know there was a puddle of water on the floor and, halfway up the chair, my weight caused the chair to slip underneath me. I hit my head on the wall and landed on my back and my right wrist. I eventually turned off the alarm but my body was mangled and sore. The last time I felt that kind of concussion was when I was a kid. Going back to sleep was difficult because I had to contort my body every which way to a position that gave the least pain.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/smart-move/">Smart Move</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="1499" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bike.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5379" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bike.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bike-295x1024.jpg 295w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-48">Shaken and Stirred</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Grumpy Grampy climbed up—on a chair,<br>Grumpy Grampy slipped down and fell there.<br>All the good doctors and chiropractors Said,<br>“Grampy, remember—you’re not a spring chicken anymore.”</em></p>



<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">Early this morning the smoke alarm went off. In my dreamy state I fumbled in the dark and picked up a chair so I could reach the alarm to turn it off. I didn’t know there was a puddle of water on the floor and, halfway up the chair, my weight caused the chair to slip underneath me. I hit my head on the wall and landed on my back and my right wrist. I eventually turned off the alarm but my body was mangled and sore. The last time I felt that kind of concussion was when I was a kid. Going back to sleep was difficult because I had to contort my body every which way to a position that gave the least pain.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TAKING THINGS FOR GRANTED<br>As I lay on the bed with the unfamiliar pain, I thought about the draft I wrote earlier for today’s TGIF edition. It was ironic because in my draft I was bragging about my good health. Old as I am, I mentioned that I didn’t have any of the pain that usually comes with people my age. I guess this was God slapping me in the face for my arrogance.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">How many things do we take for granted? The roof over our heads, our cars, our food, our friends, peace and order, etc. How desensitized have we become to recognize our blessings only when they are taken away from us?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I thought about my friends who have recently lost their partners, friends who are dealing with health issues, financial problems … was God also reminding them to be thankful too? This fall made me more compassionate of their plight.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I’ve got ice on my back and on my wrist as I type this. Please excuse this brief message.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph">(BTW, I&#8217;m trying out this new email program. The other one kept putting my emails in the Spam folder. Hopefully, this will solve that problem. Appreciate your patience.)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49">QUOTES OF THE WEEK</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>I woke up. I have clothes to wear. I have running water. I have food to eat. Life is good. I am thankful.</em> &#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>If you can&#8217;t be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.</em> &#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. </em>&#8212; William Vaughn</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank.</em> &#8212; Dante Gabriel Rossetti</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.</em> &#8212; Psalm 9:1</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.</em> &#8212; Colossians 2:7</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. </em>&#8212; James 1:17</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-50">MEMES of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Art, Norm, Barbara and Jonathan for these memes.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="523" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GoalToday.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5369" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GoalToday.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GoalToday-248x300.jpg 248w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="518" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Crushing.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5370" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Crushing.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Crushing-250x300.jpg 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="558" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Agained.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5371" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Agained.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Agained-232x300.jpg 232w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="558" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/whatdoesntKill.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5372" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/whatdoesntKill.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/whatdoesntKill-232x300.jpg 232w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="346" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HandsDown.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5373" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HandsDown.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HandsDown-300x240.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="540" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-exasperatedGPS.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5374" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-exasperatedGPS.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-exasperatedGPS-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="470" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-HandFace.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5375" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-HandFace.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-HandFace-276x300.jpg 276w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="423" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-Old.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5376" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-Old.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-StarTrek-Old-300x294.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My good friend Terry Cassel and I worked on these cartoons.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-450.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5377" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-450.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-450-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-470.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5378" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-470.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-470-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/smart-move/">Smart Move</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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		<title>First Love Encounter</title>
		<link>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/first-love-encounter/</link>
					<comments>https://travelingboy.com/adventure/first-love-encounter/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raoul Pascual]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:42:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Raoul's TGIF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Guitar Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GWU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jokes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luthier]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Past Lives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[suno]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of the Philippines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zuckerberg]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://travelingboy.com/adventure/?p=5295</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Bob was my Math classmate in my freshman year in college in the University of the Philippines. Two years later, I was crossing the street in Washington DC and I see this familiar face headed towards the opposite direction. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/first-love-encounter/">First Love Encounter</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul Pascual, July 10, 2026</h5>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-51">Joke of the Week</h1>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Don of New York</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="1907" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wyne-BeerDrinkSaving.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5296" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wyne-BeerDrinkSaving.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wyne-BeerDrinkSaving-68x300.jpg 68w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wyne-BeerDrinkSaving-232x1024.jpg 232w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wyne-BeerDrinkSaving-348x1536.jpg 348w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-right">Raoul&#8217;s 2 cents. July 10, 2026</h5>



<p class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-52 wp-block-paragraph">If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53">Old Flames. Strange Encounters</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bob was my Math classmate in my freshman year in college in the University of the Philippines. Two years later, I was crossing the street in Washington DC and I see this familiar face headed towards me. I stared at him. He stared at me. <em>Nah!</em> We didn&#8217;t kiss or do anything <em>yucky</em> like that but we both stopped in the middle of the street and incredulously, it really was Bob! Of all the places in the world, we both wound up in the same crosswalk. Naturally, we rekindled our friendship. We became best friends. He even married my cousin. Pretty wild, huh?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I don’t think I’ll ever experience that kind of coincidence again &#8212; especially now that age has changed people’s faces. Why, I don’t even recognize the face in front of the mirror. Even when old friends send me their photos, most of them are strangers and I can’t even remember where we met. If it ever did happen we&#8217;d just stare and wait if anybody remembered anything and then walk away like dogs who bump into each other and smell each other&#8217;s butt: &#8220;Sniff, sniff! Smells familiar … yup! familiar … smell you later, buddy! Woof!&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">PAST LIVES</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I recently watched the American-Korean movie “Past Lives.” This Oscar-nominated tale starts in Korea with a boy and a girl who are best friends. Sadly. the girl’s family moves to America and that’s how their friendship ends. Years later, they reconnect and this is where the movie gets interesting because as I was watching the movie, I had flashes of <em>Déjà Vu</em>: “Strange … did I see this movie before? Why is it so familiar?”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The next day, I thumbed through my library of music sheets to play on my guitar and came across one sheet that gave me pause. It was a draft of a song I had heard a long long time ago. I was fresh out of college and sitting at my desk in my first official job as an Art Director for a small guitar company in New York City. Michael Dadap, a well-known Filipino guitarist came to test some guitars. As he played some classical pieces, he said he was working on a Tagalog song about two former sweethearts who bump into each other in the middle of the street. Although unfinished, the song and the story played like a movie and lingered in my head for days … for weeks … months. No wonder Past Lives sounded so familiar.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Over the years, I’ve tried to reach Michael to find out if he ever completed the song but he disappeared from the face of the earth. In time, I decided to finish the song with fresh Tagalog and English lyrics and even tried to sing it with some friends. But somehow, I just couldn’t find the right mix of musical talent to produce the arrangement in my head.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As I held my scribbled song sheet I decided I’d use SUNO AI (the most popular music-composing app) to help me create the soundtrack. It wasn’t easy. SUNO couldn’t understand many of my “prompts” (ie. AI commands). It took me eight versions to get close to what I had in mind. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised how good SUNO was (you should try it) … it even sang Tagalog phrases with the proper accent and intonation. (BTW, if you subscribe to SUNO, you now own the rights to your creation).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Click on the video below to hear the song in<a href="https://youtu.be/IxGlnzVLdfM?list=RDIxGlnzVLdfM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> YouTube</a>. Turn on the closed caption option for an English translation. Let me know what you think. Someone said it was sentimental and sweet. If you like it, give me a thumbs up and please share the video. I think many people will relate to this.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxGlnzVLdfM&amp;list=RDIxGlnzVLdfM&amp;start_radio=1" target="_blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="229" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/video-FirstLoveEncounter.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5297" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/video-FirstLoveEncounter.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/video-FirstLoveEncounter-300x159.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">REALITY CHECK</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Romantic as these old encounters may sound, in real life they may result into sticky situations. Back in the days, I was part of a troubadour band and we had some fans. Recently, after singing in front of a crowd, a lady came up to me and she had this big expectant smile. &#8220;Remember me?&#8221; she said. I stared at her and nothing clicked. Then I saw her face begin to wither. I realized she must have been one of my fans. What was I to do? Tell her the truth that she was an insignificant part of my life? I smiled back and said &#8220;Of course I know you. You used to watch us every time we performed, didn&#8217;t you?&#8221; Her smile came back and, whether she believed me or not, she walked away with hearts floating in the air and holding on to her dignity.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I rarely go to Facebook. I don&#8217;t like the way Zuckerberg has access to people&#8217;s lives and how he manipulates the algorithms to our subconscious. Did you know that everything you post in social media (even pictures and videos) belong to these social media companies? It&#8217;s the price you pay for their free service. More than the spying, FB is a tempting playground because I heard it connected many past relationships which sadly resulted in several broken marriages. Stop playing with fire, kiddo!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I do remember meeting and dating the prettiest woman in the world. Once I met her, I never let her go. Hard to believe that, out of all the people in the world, my wife chose me. And, by the grace of God, we&#8217;ve stayed together for four decades.This for me is the most important encounter of all.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TGIF people!</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!<br>You can read my previous emails in</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-54">Quotes of the week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Can we go back to using Facebook for what it was originally for – looking up exes to see how fat they got?”&nbsp;</em>&#8212;&nbsp; Bill Maher</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Just the way it never rains when you have an umbrella, you’ll never run into people if you look fantastic. But go outside in pajamas, and you’ll run into every ex you have.”</em>&#8212; Tim Gunn</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;If you don’t leave your past in the past, it will destroy your future.&nbsp;<br>Live for what today has to offer, not for that yesterday has taken away.&#8221;&nbsp;</em>&#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“I’ve written songs about things like burning my ex-boyfriend’s pictures… I’ve written songs about the times that I’ve been hurt by love. But then one day I woke up and realized that I had hurt somebody… And so, I wrote this song to tell him I’m sorry”</em>&#8212; Taylor Swift</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained.”</em>&#8212; Jonathan Harnisch</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;If you take the &#8216;L&#8217; out of LOVER. Its OVER” &#8212; Anonymous</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”</em> &#8212; Ephesians 5:25</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.”</em> &#8212;Galatians 5:14</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-55">Memes of the Week</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Bob of Los Angeles</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="519" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-JonahWife.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5298" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-JonahWife.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-JonahWife-250x300.jpg 250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="534" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-shortResponse.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5299" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-shortResponse.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/H-shortResponse-243x300.jpg 243w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Sandy of Whittier, CA</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="871" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wife2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5300" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wife2.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wife2-149x300.jpg 149w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="304" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Clothes.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5301" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Clothes.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Clothes-300x211.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Norm-Clothes-104x74.jpg 104w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Jonathan of New York</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="454" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Unicorn-Ark.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5302" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Unicorn-Ark.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Unicorn-Ark-285x300.jpg 285w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="466" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-Ambition.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5303" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-Ambition.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-Ambition-278x300.jpg 278w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="604" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-CeelPhones-closer.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5304" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-CeelPhones-closer.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-CeelPhones-closer-215x300.jpg 215w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="599" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-CorrectFB.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5305" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-CorrectFB.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-CorrectFB-216x300.jpg 216w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="432" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-FB-breakfast.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5306" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-FB-breakfast.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-FB-breakfast-300x300.jpg 300w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-FB-breakfast-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="460" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-Old-LostMind.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5307" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-Old-LostMind.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-Old-LostMind-282x300.jpg 282w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Tom-Old-LostMind-309x330.jpg 309w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I found these</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-452.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5308" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-452.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy119-452-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="635" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-399.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5309" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-399.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TBoy122-399-204x300.jpg 204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="432" height="564" src="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hard-Hats-hieroglyphics.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5310" srcset="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hard-Hats-hieroglyphics.jpg 432w, https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hard-Hats-hieroglyphics-230x300.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><br>I hope I got you to smile.<br>See you next Friday!<br></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><br>SUBSCRIBE to Raoul&#8217;s TGIF Joke</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure/first-love-encounter/">First Love Encounter</a> appeared first on <a href="https://travelingboy.com/adventure">Traveling Boy</a>.</p>
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