Raoul’s 2 Cents. August 21, 2026

Hollywood Blues

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.

My take: The Good the Bad and the downright Ugly

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.

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 “real life.” 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?

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.

I recently watched the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi, Total Recall and boy, did I have a total recoil at the terrible acting and laughable special effects — “Git aut! Git aut of hear!” 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.

The reasons for the fall

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’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.

Good or bad, ABC/Disney tried to sell the WOKE mentality to us. It didn’t work. They lost millions. The president was replaced. They now know we are not a captive audience. They are not as powerful as they thought.

Today’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.

“You mean we actors, don’t need to ‘kiss up’ to the movie moguls anymore?”

“Nope!”

“Doesn’t the union protect us?”

“Who needs the Union? They don’t have the monopoly anymore.”

“But I’m unique! My voice, my looks, my …”

“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.”

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’t need the big studios anymore because, with a little training, now you can create your own movies!

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

— Henry Ford (allegedly)

Time to let the horse go

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 ’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.

Hollywood served its purpose but it’s time to grow up. Let the creativity begin!

Of course, this is just me.

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“We need Storytelling. Otherwise, life just goes on and on like the number Pi.”
— Ang Lee

“Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.”
— Jean-Luc Godard (French film director)

“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder”
— Alfred Hitchcock

“We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.”
— Walt Disney

“LA, the city where everyone’s constantly waiting for their phone to ring, and I’m part of it.”
— Daniel Ruczko

“A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end… but not necessarily in that order.”
— Jean-Luc Godard (French film director)

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
— Proverbs 22:9

“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.”
— Collosians 3:23-24

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & 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..

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Interview Test appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Poetry Night

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.

The emcee was a tall 300 pounder who announced it was his birthday to the cheers of the crowd: “Since it’s my birthday, I can do anything I want.” 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 — their works are poetry. The disciplined 17-syllabled Japanese Haiku is poetry. Even song lyrics can be poetry — 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.

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 “closet writers” never even made eye contact with the audience. You could tell they pushed themselves to go up on stage. I do applaud their determination.

It wasn’t a total loss. There were some good presenters.

• 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.
• 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 article I wrote a few weeks ago — he even had the same title).
• 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.
• 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.
• One young lady said she attends a Protestant church. In her next breath she said she had a live-in partner. Another hmmm.
• “And now a word from our sponsor!” — An elderly muralist went onstage. But instead of reciting a poem, he bragged about landing a mural job. Hmmmm.

Note to self: 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.

Then it dawned on me that I was an outsider in a private party. Everyone was familiar with everyone else. I was a gate-crashing snob! 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 Pocohontas song played in my head.

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.

Three men went up on stage dragging their instruments – a huge stand up bass guitar, a regular guitar, and a washboard percussion thingamajig. The lead singer introduced the band in his deep guttural voice. Then they sang some old obscure country song which reminded me of Johnny Cash. 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?!?! No way, Jose! That’s when I darted out the exit. There’s only so much diversity lessons a stranger can take in one day. Hasta la vista, baby!

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“Más vale llegar tarde que feo.”
Translation: Better to arrive late than ugly.
— Anonymous

“Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same. “
— Angelina Jolie

“When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.”
— Ava DuVernay

“They laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at them because they’re all the same.”
— Kurt Cobain

“Some people are wise. Some people are … otherwise.”
— Anonymous

“So many people these days are too judgmental. I can tell just by looking at them.”
— Anonymous

“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.”
— Isaiah 49:3

“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”
— Lamentations 3:32

Video of the Week : James Bond 0070

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family.
This week, we thank Art of Sierra Madre, CA, Norm of Encino CA, Barbara of Colorado, Kevin of Tennessee and Donna of NYC.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE to the TGIF Weekly email blast. Be the first to receive the Jokes of the week.

The post Guacamole Sauce appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Do You Hear the People Sing?

Raoul’s 2 Cents. August 7, 2026

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.

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.

Unless you have been living in a cave, I’m sure you’ve heard of the invasion 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.

It’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.

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’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.

What set off my alarm were several people who voiced their concern and an article posted on Facebook which prompted a lot of questions. CLICK HERE for a copy of that article.

May I share my own guideposts?

• 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.
• Identify the lowly puppets who are just mouthing prepared lines. Be more watchful of the more sinister and dangerous puppet-masters.
• The billions of stolen dollars hurts everyone including the people who support the criminals. It behooves me why people protect the criminals who are stealing from their own people.
• Don’t rely on a single news outlet. Many news networks are filtered by management … some of them have been paid off — 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.
• 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.
• What’s crystal clear to you may not be crystal clear to them. What’s crystal clear to them may not be crystal clear to you. Offer a lot of grace and patience.
• 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.

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 Mark Zuckerberg who built a multi-million dollar shelter 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 — none of that will survive. Guess who wins? Enter the spiritual world. It’s real.

3 Examples of Spiritual Warfare

In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 6, the King of Aram sent out chariots and horses at night to surround a city and capture Elisha the prophet. When Elisha’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.

Pastor T (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.

Mr. Y (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.

Conclusion

The battle is not between political parties. It is the preservation vs. the destruction of civilization. Ultimately, it is a spiritual battle — which means prayer is essential for victory to happen. If we can open our eyes like Elisha’s servant, we will see that we are not alone.

“What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be successful against us?” — Romans 8:31

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“My girlfriend is an angel because angels don’t exist and neither does my girlfriend.” — Anonymous

“I wonder if my guardian angel and my future husband’s guardian angel are in a group chat trying to coordinate.”

— Anonymous

“I firmly believe that at this point my guardian angel is just eating popcorn and watching the drama.” — Anonymous

“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.” — Unknown

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” — Napoleon Bonaparte

“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.” — 2 Kings 6: 16-17

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood… but against spiritual forces of evil.” — Ephesians 6:12

Memes of the Week

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post The Angelic Wife appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Raoul’s 2 Cents. July 31, 2026

What’s in a Name?

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’s “To be or not to be?” retrospective. These questions opened the rabbit hole to the fascinating world of names.

Do you like your name? Don’t be too hard on your parents if you don’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’t care what these parents name their kid. If they had a choice, parents don’t usually want a common name. Hate to break it to you, but if you do have a common name, you’re probably not the first kid. You’re just an “after-thought.” (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 — all of them probably NOT the first born either.

Of course, most kids are named after their parent’s most favorite person in the world. Like Abraham (Lincoln) or (Queen) Elizabeth … good Christian names. But if you’re named after your father or mother, your parents didn’t lack creativity — you were just an “after-thought” as well.

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 — all their names start with “R.” The parents constantly rattle off several names before they remember the right name.

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 — 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 — I wasn’t the first born. I too am an “after thought.”

During the old days, a family’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’s son. But I doubt his last name was Carpenter – Jesus H. Carpenter – nah! That doesn’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’t Willie Wonka and neither was my friend’s name Candy. His name is Shoemaker and he’s a musician. Hard to put his face with his name.

Isn’t it strange that there isn’t a Miss Real Estate? Aren’t you glad there isn’t a Doctor Epidemiologist nor a Professor Microscopist … Oh, but isn’t there a Mister Hannibal the cannibal? And how many McDonalds are out there to remind you of hamburgers?

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’s what I read in the closed captions of their movies) — 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’s your name, you must feel pretty anonymous: “Hey look it’s John Smith!” And everybody would look around and you’re right in the middle and nobody even sees you.

Random Thoughts
Or how about having one of those incomplete names like Lee. When you meet a potential wife named Norma, she’d have to think twice about how her new name would sound if she marries you. Did you know Bruce Lee’s Dad’s name? I don’t know about you but It’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!

I noticed there aren’t any more Hitlers or Judases. Does Santa Claus have a real first name? And I know of only one Engelbert Humperdink — thank god!

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 — full of guttural sounds and clicks. But I bet if you call them “Hey you!” they will still respond to that.

Conclusion
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’s eyes. Names celebrate who we are supposed to be, whose family lineage we come from but it’s up to us to make our names inspire the next generation.

TGIF people!

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry.” — Bill Cosby

“Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names.” — Japanese Proverb

“I don’t remember anybody’s name. How do you think the “dahling” thing got started?” — Zsa Zsa Gabor

“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.” — Jennifer Lopez

“Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.” — Thomas Haliburton

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” — Proverbs 22:1

“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.” — Acts 4:12

“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.” –Genesis 2: 19-20

Memes of the Week

Thanks to Norm, Jennifer, Dan and Art.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post What’s in a Name? appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Raoul’s 2 Cents, July 24, 2026

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.

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 — they became smarter! I have a theory — 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.

CASE 1:
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.

CASE 2:
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.

CASE 3:
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.

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:

“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!”

“Okay, hold him steady while I get my baseball bat …”

TGIF people!

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“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.”—Yul Brynner

“In grade school, I was smart, but I didn’t have any friends. In high school, I quit being smart and started having friends.” — David Spade

“Never confuse education with intelligence. You can have a bachelor’s degree and still be an idiot!”— Anonymous

“Sometimes you just have to play the role of the fool to fool the fool who thinks they are fooling you.” — Anonymous

“Half of being smart is knowing what you are dumb about.” — Solomon Short

“None of us is as smart as all of us.” —Ken Blachard

“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” — Psalm 9:1

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” — Proverbs 1:7

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” — James 1:5

Thanks to James, Dan, Barbara and Jonathan for these

MEMES of the Week

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

The post Big Bang Theory appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Shaken and Stirred

Grumpy Grampy climbed up—on a chair,
Grumpy Grampy slipped down and fell there.
All the good doctors and chiropractors Said,
“Grampy, remember—you’re not a spring chicken anymore.”

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.

TAKING THINGS FOR GRANTED
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.

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?

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.

I’ve got ice on my back and on my wrist as I type this. Please excuse this brief message.

TGIF people!

(BTW, I’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.)

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

I woke up. I have clothes to wear. I have running water. I have food to eat. Life is good. I am thankful. — Anonymous

If you can’t be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped. — Anonymous

We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. — William Vaughn

The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank. — Dante Gabriel Rossetti

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. — Psalm 9:1

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. — Colossians 2:7

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. — James 1:17

MEMES of the Week

Thanks to Art, Norm, Barbara and Jonathan for these memes.

I found these:

My good friend Terry Cassel and I worked on these cartoons.

The post Smart Move appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of New York

Raoul’s 2 cents. July 10, 2026

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

Old Flames. Strange Encounters

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. Nah! We didn’t kiss or do anything yucky 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?

I don’t think I’ll ever experience that kind of coincidence again — 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’d just stare and wait if anybody remembered anything and then walk away like dogs who bump into each other and smell each other’s butt: “Sniff, sniff! Smells familiar … yup! familiar … smell you later, buddy! Woof!”

PAST LIVES

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 Déjà Vu: “Strange … did I see this movie before? Why is it so familiar?”

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.

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.

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).

Click on the video below to hear the song in YouTube. 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.

REALITY CHECK

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. “Remember me?” 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 “Of course I know you. You used to watch us every time we performed, didn’t you?” 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.

I rarely go to Facebook. I don’t like the way Zuckerberg has access to people’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’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!

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’ve stayed together for four decades.This for me is the most important encounter of all.

TGIF people!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!
You can read my previous emails in

Quotes of the week

“Can we go back to using Facebook for what it was originally for – looking up exes to see how fat they got?” —  Bill Maher

“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.”— Tim Gunn

“If you don’t leave your past in the past, it will destroy your future. 
Live for what today has to offer, not for that yesterday has taken away.” — Anonymous

“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”— Taylor Swift

“Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained.”— Jonathan Harnisch

“If you take the ‘L’ out of LOVER. Its OVER” — Anonymous

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” — Ephesians 5:25

“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’.” —Galatians 5:14

Memes of the Week

Thanks to Bob of Los Angeles

Thanks to Sandy of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Jonathan of New York

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:

I hope I got you to smile.
See you next Friday!

SUBSCRIBE to Raoul’s TGIF Joke

The post First Love Encounter appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Raoul’s 2 cents for July 3, 2026

Challenging the Status Quo

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

I like honest, original, creative films where the director takes the audience to a different world — a matrix world that runs parallel to our reality. Pride and Prejudice is such a movie. To be honest, I never read the book, and I thought it was a chick flick (probably still is). I watched it because it was the movie choice of the women around me. I would have rather watched a blood and guts action movie.

Yeah, yeah, there was pompous dancing with embroidered hairstyles, upper-class British conversations — boring girly stuff. But then a scene of the heroine walking in the meadows came up. The scene lingered for what seemed like an eternity. Why did Joe Wright, the director, waste so much time on that? I realized the sophistication of this director. My antenna went up. He was a master storyteller who used all the tools of movie-making: cinematography, screenplay, music, acting, pacing — this was a celluloid masterpiece. In that subtle scene, the director told me that most civilizations walked at that time. No horses, no cars … people just walked for miles and miles. Only the rich had the luxury of moving to and fro without straining their muscles and perspiring (especially with all those layered clothing). The director was showing us class distinctions. This was the society Jane Austen (the author of the book the movie was based on) was born to in 1775 — a British society composed of the upper class, the lower class, and the middle class who struggled to climb up the social ladder. That was the status quo. Whether you’re born rich or poor you shut up and accept it.

Meanwhile, an Atlantic ocean away, George Washington and patriotic Americans were struggling for independence from England. The English empire believed they had every right to siphon off the wealth of these low life colonials in order for the British elites to continue to languor in early retirement mode. “How dare these Americans complain? We are the mother land. They serve us. Don’t they realize we have our own class struggles at home? Why break the status quo?”

This is why Jefferson’s inclusion of the phrase “inalienable rights” in the Constitution is so profound: Even if others don’t consider you their equal, their opinion cannot stop your right to live as you wish (just don’t step on the other person’s rights as well). Even if they don’t consider you human, in God’s eyes, you are. Can you read this article? Good! You’re human! Can you give me the square root of 741776 divided by 742026 in 3 seconds? Hello! You’re a robot! And sorry — you don’t have inalienable rights.

Disputes are inevitable in even the best societies. I’m currently dealing with parking issues in my neighborhood. I’m the president of the association. And, if you have neighbors, you know the small-scale Constitutional drama that comes with it. We’ve got the hot heads, the Yes Men and the legal experts. I’ve long wanted to withdraw from the responsibility and live a comfortable life and tend to my sheep and grow tilapia (in my dreams) but they keep on pulling me back in. Looky here! I’m George Washington in Bermuda shorts with British Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh corgis. No wonder I can appreciate what George did for us. I guess conflicts follow you everywhere. What I’ve learned is to determine what’s good for everyone, to be fair and consistent. And if they don’t behave — “Off with their heads!” Not.

This coming Independence Day holds more meaning to me now that I’ve watched many of the historical videos with new interest. I admire our heroes. Wish I could say the same about the British. Sorry Jane Austen, but you guys stepped on our inalienable rights.

Go grill those burgers and give a toast to 250 years of independence. Let’s honor those brave (yet imperfect) men who changed the British status quo and started the most ambitious political experiment the world has ever known. In God we trust.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

Quotes of the week

“British people would die for their right to drink themselves to death.” — John Oliver

“The British are brave people. They can face anything, except lions, their mothers, reality.” — George Mikes

“British people don’t express themselves when they are with someone, at home, in pain. They don’t think it’s elegant.” — Monica Bellucci

“When you’re born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front row seat.” — George Carlin

“Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn’t block traffic.” — Dan Rather

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” — Romans 8:31

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Memes of the Week

Thanks to Bob of Los Angeles

Thanks to Sandy of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Jonathan of New York

Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Doug of Boston, MA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:

I hope I got you to smile.

SUBSCRIBE to Raoul’s TGIF Joke

The post Different Perspectives appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Thanks to Wyne of Mandaluyong, Philippines

Raoul’s 2 cents

George

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

He did it again. Tonka, our Corgi did it again! He swallowed something that upset his system. He started throwing up several times during the day until there was just bile coming out. My wife rushed him to the hospital while I waited at home with Tinker, his sister corgi. My wife had to wait there for hours. And, when it was finally our turn, the veterinarian called with all sorts of questions about where Tonka went and what he ate.

Have you ever talked to a Vet before? Do they all talk like Kindergarten teachers? I felt I was in Sesame Street talking to Big Bird.
VET: “Do you really think it’s a good idea to see Tonka inside the back room? When he sees you and you say in English you’ll be coming back, he won’t understand why Mommy is leaving him again.”
ME: “Don’t worry Doctor Doolittle. It’s already too late. Tonka has been a nervous wreck ever since we snatched him from his real Mommy. He’s already a serial killer!”

I tell you, if you are contemplating getting a dog — don’t! Sure, they’re cute and adorable and they elevate your self-confidence to narcissistic levels BUT …

• they need to be fed,
• you need to give them a walk in the middle of your busy day so they can poop and pee,
• their fur and dog smell permeate your once beautiful home,
• veterinarians and pet food manufacturers get richer as you grow poorer,
• Annoying as they can be, you still develop strong emotional attachments
• and the worst part is — THEY DIE!
• 15 years max and — THEY DIE!
• All that dog food and dog toys suddenly useless because — THEY DIE!
• Guess who’s going to be the nervous wreck?

Dog-sitting Tinker was going to take hours so I decided to watch Youtube on TV while I prepared dinner. Somehow, a 3.5 hour documentary of The Boring Life of George Washington popped up. I realized that I didn’t really know that much about US history or Washington. I’ve heard bits and pieces about him like his chopping down the cherry tree and his wooden teeth … but I didn’t grow up in an American Grade School; so I let the video play — and boy was I blown away! No joke. I am so so amazed at President Washington.

I DIDN’T KNOW

• I didn’t know of his insecurities because his father favored George’s half-brother whom he groomed to be among the aristocracy in England.
• I didn’t know he was a successful cartographer, turned real estate mogul, turned farmer, turned international trader, turned local magnate, turned disillusioned entrepreneur, turned revolutionist, turned politician.
• I didn’t know Martha was a widow with 2 kids and that she was uber wealthy. (George was a Gold Digger)
• I didn’t know George was a towering six feet 3 inches tall. Hubba hubba! No wonder Martha fell for him.
• He suffered a few war losses which prompted him to read about war strategies.
• The Continental Army was composed of amateur soldiers who were mostly simple farmers. George had a knack for choosing the best officers to accomplish his vision and shape his ragtag army to battle the most powerful armada in the world.
• There were internal political factions because many were still loyal to the English crown. (So many parallels to today’s politics). His quiet, humble demeanor masked his calculating strategy that won the respect of his peers.
• Finally, he was offered the crown but he refused to be king.

The Youtube AI-generated video used annoying repetitious descriptions and strange painterly AI visuals, but I was captivated. One man probably put this together (the writing, the video editing, etc.) so bravo to his efforts. The video has definitely changed my admiration for George Washington. He deserves all those buildings, streets and schools that are named after him. What a perfect way to prepare me for America’s upcoming 250th Anniversary this July 4th.

I also watched short fun historical YouTube clips about the other heroes of that era produced by Prager University. (Full disclosure: The presentation is apolitical but the writers have a right wing viewpoint). America has much to be proud of thanks to the Judeo-Christian values and sacrifices of our forefathers. They gave everything (some lost everything) in the hopes that our generation will preserve this great political experiment. They gave us all the ingredients … we just need to follow the recipe.

AFTER THOUGHT 1
Of course, I’m aware other countries have their own stories of valor and I’m certainly interested to learn about them. What would be truly interesting is to compare perspectives from both the winning and losing sides — “the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” I encourage you to watch these videos. It may inspire you to soar like eagles.

AFTER THOUGHT 2
I was never a fan of history until I started reading the Bible. (True story!) It started me pointing at maps and imagining what it would have been like to live in those arid places, to talk to these spiritual legends and to look under the rug for hidden lessons. It made me appreciate the blessings we have and wonder why God put us where we are today.

AFTER THOUGHT 3
Well, I guess there is one good reason to have a dog after all. Tonka forced me to watch a boring history of the great President George Washington.

TGIF people!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

FYI, I am trying out this new mailing program. I’m still adjusting to the system. Please let me know if you are having any problems receiving this email. If you do not receive my email on Friday, check your SPAM or go to travelingboy.com where I also post this weekly collection. And, if you receive this email by mistake, please accept my apology and please feel free to unsubscribe below. Thank you!

Quotes of the Week

“In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.” — George Carlin

“If we must die, we die defending our rights.” — Chief Sitting Bull

“America is a country of inventors, and the greatest of inventors are the newspaper men.” — Alexander Graham Bell

“America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.” — Oscar Wilde

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” — Abraham Lincoln

“Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.
The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” — Psalm 37:27-29

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” — Romans 12:19

“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” — Zechariah 7:9

Memes of the Week

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Jamie of La Habra, Ca

Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Doug of Boston, MA

Thanks to Carlos of San Diego, CA

Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:
I hope I got you to smile.

TGIF Joke Archives

SUBSCRIBE to Raoul’s TGIF Joke

The post The Truth About Great Men appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Wyne of Mandaluyong, Philippines

Original Artwork by Raoul Pascual

Raoul’s 2 cents

Caricatures of Life

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

It is caricature week for me at my church during our Annual Summer Adventure Week where I am stationed at the Parent’s Lounge.I don’t know why but when I’m drawing people’s faces, I am transformed into their Father Confessor. They open up their lives to me. Couples share how they met and what they do.

I met a librarian who told me they have historical books not open to the public — 1st editions and drafts of famous books. (Remind me to steal those books later.) His wife studied in Washington DC and dreamed of writing national policies but children came, and she decided to be a stay-at-home Mom. There was an electrical engineer from Cuba who pointed upwards and said he designs the lamp posts in the city. His wife who is from the Dominican Republic got so excited when we talked about poverty around the world and said that in Cuba, they are so hard up that mothers wash and reuse disposable diapers. Ken is a classically-trained guitarist who carries a guitar pick wherever he goes in case he has an opportunity to perform. Nehemiah comes from an African village who suffered a whole year waiting to be reunited with family while he finishes his studies at Biola. Eleazer showed me a video of his dangerous work: hauling crude oil from the oil rigs around the city.

Moms and grandmoms posed with their little ones. And for the kids who could converse, I encouraged them with tips about life choices in an AI world. A teenager dreamed of being a professional basketball player but he didn’t grow tall so he shifted to soccer. In case he doesn’t make it professionally he wants to be a pilot. A strict grandma bribed her kids to get good grades and fined them if they didn’t. Today her kids are successful but she thinks she overdid her discipline because when she warned them of the dangers of an early marriage she didn’t expect they’d still be unmarried today. A radiant smile of a lady with two young kids hid her hardships as a single Mom. A Dad had his adopted twin kids jumping all over him yet the joy of having children never left him. Aren’t these diverse stories of so many people amazing? Many have told me that the caricatures I have done for them years ago still hang in their walls reminding them of what they were going through when we talked.

FUTURISTIC ARTWORK
Because of these encounters, I’m imagining I’m Tom Cruise in the movie “Minority Report” where I move colors around in this floating touch screen monitor — each smile, each story is like a splash of paint in this huge canvass of civilization. I’m waiting for the technology to allow me to create this multi-dimensional tapestry where touching each unique pigment tells a story that branches out to the stages of different lives complete with the music, movies and books they grew up with. Looking sideways, my digital sculpture will open up their ancestry. And the really cool thing is discovering how all the different races are connected to the original 8 people who survived the great flood. At the end of the journey, my artwork will narrow it all down to Adam and Eve. At the base of this his ginormous art piece will be the giant hand of God — He’s got the whole world in his hands! — get it?

Indeed, we are all related, each of our lives intentionally and lovingly placed — (with our own unique circumstances) by a Creator. We are free to make our own choices — good and bad. Some of us born rich, some poor, some loved, others maltreated. Some equipped with ten fingers and toes, others blind or handicapped. Have you ever wondered why God created so much beauty, diversity and even suffering? I’ve stopped questioning and suggesting a better approach to any of His decisions. I believe in a God of love, whose ways go beyond my understanding. I also understand there are consequences to our decisions and those who came before us. I’m sorry if you are going through tough times, but won’t you stop comparing and look upwards? (I know it’s more easily said than done). Accept that life wasn’t meant to be fair but to be a challenge leading back to our Creator. Though many try to be independent of Him, that was not part of the plan.

Of course this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the week

“We were married for better or worse. I couldn’t have done better, and she couldn’t have done worse.” — Henry Youngman

“Marry a man your own age; as your beauty fades, so will his eyesight.” — Phyllis Diller

“No, please, don’t eat me. I have a wife and kids. Eat them!” — Homer Simpson

“Nothing better than spending an entire morning staring into my baby daughter’s eyes, whispering, ‘I can’t do this’.” — Ryan Reynolds

“I hate when new parents ask who the baby looks like. It was born 15 minutes ago, it looks like a potato.” — Kevin Hart

“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.” — Samuel 1: 27

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:2

“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” — Luke 18: 15

Memes of the Week

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Brett of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:
I hope I got you to smile.

SUBSCRIBE to Raoul’s TGIF Joke

The post Signs of Maturity appeared first on Traveling Boy.