Whoever said "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" was lying. Words do matter. And they can hurt deep. Often, the bruises last longer than any physical wound.

As you read this, I will probably be in La Jolla, CA beside the beach. No, I won't be soaking in the sun. I will be resting in our hotel room while my wife attends a company retreat. Because of my wife's work activities, I have traveled to several US tourist areas. I guess you can call it a blessing. But I enjoy a nice conversation more than any travel.

t's been a while since I've had so many deep conversations with so many people in disconnected settings. It's the season I guess. Late October seems to do that all the time. Next week promises to be just as busy --- I'm meeting with an old friend from Australia whom I haven't seen in 20 years. I'm meeting with 2 of my neighbors for a small business opportunity. Then I will be starting a Bible study with a group of young men who are in career limbo. At the end of the week I will be practicing with a new set of musicians.

Ding!" My phone said there was a new comment on a video about Tornado Chasers which I posted in YouTube (I linked the video below). I didn't think much of it until I saw who it came from.

Does a bear poop in the woods? You've heard that expression before. You know that's a rhetorical question because even if there are no witnesses, bears do what bears do. It's a truth.

The Facebook scandal made headlines this week. I'm glad I haven't used  Facebook in years. Get out of it --- end that sinister spying empire, and let's not talk about it anymore. Instead, let's talk dirty today. I'm serious. Let's talk about a practical way to remove toilet molds.

I had a very interesting talk with Bob, a classmate back in High School. Remember my friend Teddy who passed away a few months ago from Covid? Bob was part of that Naughty Boys Club. We would hang out in the mall and dare each other to start a conversation with a real live woman. Bob was the first to run away. I was right behind him.

Raoul's 2 Cents: Can anyone tell me what's happening with the banking institution? I've been asking other people if they noticed it too and it seems like they have been getting terrible service as well. Bank of America's security is so tight it takes forever just to prove you are who you say you are. Chase Bank (like BofA) charges you for every transaction --- they charge you for keeping YOUR money in their bank. Banc of California seems to be better and more courteous but the the turn-around of key employees (including 2 branch managers) in just 3 months is very disconcerting. The managers were nice people so I'm guessing the higher-ups were not easy to work with. Funny, each of the managers kept on asking me how much money I was going to be maintaining in their bank --- as if they needed to use my money for something else.

Raoul's 2 Cents: In the heat of an argument I was called names and I was deemed worthless. When insults are hurled at you it can hurt especially when it comes from people whose opinion you respect. I didn't even think of returning the insult because it was clearly uttered in a moment of anger. As I calmed down, I remembered my Mom who had the super human ability to absorb insults and pain in order to preserve a relationship. So instead of being defensive, I used that incident to reflect on the merits of the insult.

Raoul's 2 Cents: Oh, the demands we put on our children. I'm not talking about my family but families in general. We are all guilty of this. (Well, "guilty" may be too strong a word but you know what I mean.) And it's not only normal but it's good that we want the best for our kids. But It's like we get into this self-inflicted competition of the human race that started with the first family.