In a Nutshell

I’m stumped. As I stare at the monitor … writing today’s TGIF edition, I’m stumped. Writer’s block happens a lot when I decide to write this intro at the end of a long day when my mind is already fried.

So (just now) I shared this predicament with an old friend (Edwin) who happened to be in a texting mood and he suggested I make this short: “Share the events of the day without editorializing.” That sounds good enough for me. So here goes:

I woke up just as the sun was about to shine. I put on my jeans and T-shirt. Drove to one of the properties I manage and stuck a jar full of water under a wasp nest. Nya ha ha! Killed those little varmints before they could start their day. When I got back home, I hopped on my computer to start the day on a big web project where I needed to focus … focus … focus … failed! I had one conversation after another and my thoughts flew in many directions. It was like the scene in the movie “As Good As It Gets” where Jack Nicholson, the famous author, is seated in front of his computer. Deep in thought, the music crescendos as he gets more and more into the creative zone and then — a knock on the door — then he crashes back to the real, boring, world. Life was like that for me today. Through phone calls, emails, texts and Zoom, people were bouncing ideas about business, about Biblical lessons, about finances, about land matters, about relationships, about politics, about personal tragedies, about technology, about music, about desperate situations, etc. As the sun set, I met a very interesting entrepreneur (through Zoom) who fabricates machinery. He goes in my file of important people whose talent I might need.

It’s the end of the day. So now I’m wondering, how I get into these different conversations. The answer is simple. Sometimes it’s part of my job but mostly it’s because I enjoy it. I admit it. I love sharing life with others. I love listening to their stories. Don’t you?

I’ve got the ears to listen, the shoulders to cry on, the arms to lift people up, and the mouth to pretend I know what I’m talking about.

End of the story. Thanks for the suggestion, Edwin!

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines for this joke.

Video of the Week

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines.

The many reasons why you should live life now!

Parting Shots

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

I found these.

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Blessings

I got a grateful phone call the other day. Rodger said he worked on a referral I had given him and was so excited and happy to be able to pay some of his bills. He was unusually upbeat and I shared his joy. And then he said something that I didn’t expect. He said “I’m giving you 20% commission for any referral you send my way.” To which I said, “No, this is God blessing you. Accept it all.”  He paused for a moment and continued to thank me.

If you know Rodger, he’s been having it rough for some time. He’s an honest, decent man but somehow people and circumstances have taken advantage of him. Few have treated him fairly. Most have said he did not meet their expectations. Compliments were few and far between. I’m guessing this is why he felt he needed to pay me, a good friend, for a kind deed. Dear God, take care of this beautiful man.

Did you grow up having to earn for every single reward? Sounds like many of us, huh? Many of us see strings attached to gifts. The give and take mentality has permeated society that when kindness is bestowed, we can’t even recognize it anymore. May I challenge you? Look around with a different lens. We are surrounded by so many blessings. I grew up with a weekly allowance worth 5 candies … that was enough then. What did you grow up with?

After counting all my blessings, for me, the most important blessing is the gift of salvation. You can’t buy it. You can’t earn it. It’s free. If you know what I’m talking about, you know you are blessed. If you don’t, I guess there’s a blessing waiting for you.

But this is just me.

TGIF people!

“Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give.”
— Anonymous 

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. for sending this joke.

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA who sent this newspaper clipping

Videos of the Week

Alexa for Seniors
Sent by Bruce of Kanub, Utah and Jeff of Pasadena, CA

Hey, I want one of these. I hope that I will still have a sense of humor when I reach that age.

WATCH VIDEO

Flying in Dubai
Sent by Tom of Pasadena, CA

A thrilling and dangerous exercise. One mistake and you’re done. High quality video.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Garie of Makati, Philippines who shared this

Celebrating the Year of the pig:

The post Cooter Gets a Ticket appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Some people are good at following directions. I’m not. Are you? Really? You are?

Honestly, when you’re driving, and your favorite backseat driver tells you to turn LEFT, even if you know that person is correct, do you turn RIGHT out of spite? Aw c’mon, you do that, don’t you? I confess I’m so stubborn, I even go against my GPS just to hear her “recalculate” repeatedly. Hearing her suffer makes my day. (Nya! Ha! Ha!)

When the GPS system was relatively new, I had (what I thought was) a brilliant invention — a True-To-Life insulting GPS:

“In 1000 yards turn Right …. I said, turn Right!! … no, the Other Right! … Ok you blew it! … You need to go back now. Make a legal U turn … Ok, wait for it… wait for it … Now!!! Turn! Turn!  Tu … what are you — deaf?!?! … No! Not there! Didn’t I just say — a LEGAL U turn?!?! …. Okay, you mindless *@$@!!  …. that was real smart! Proud of yourself?  … Hear that siren? Congratulations! Here come the cops!! Thank you for using your True-To-Life insulting GPS. You have reached your destination. Good ‘bye.”

But this is just me.

“Rejection is God’s way of saying —
Wrong direction!‘“
— Anonymous

TGIF people!

Driving

Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Two elderly women were out driving in a large car — both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along, they came to major crossroad. The stop light was red, but they just went on through.

The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself, “I must be losing it. I could have sworn we just went through a red light.“

After a few more minutes, they came to another major junction and the light was red again. Again, they went right through.

The woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous.

At the next junction, sure enough, the light was red and they went on through. So, she turned to the other woman and said, “Mildred, did you know that we just ran through three red lights in a row? You could have killed us both!”

Mildred turned to her and said, “Oh! Am I driving?”

Alexa Silver Edition
Sent by Mike of New York

Pretty soon we all will be needing this device.

Watch Video

Alexa for Your Car
Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. and Tom of Pasadena, CA

Alexa for your car? Hmmm …. maybe not.

Watch Video

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this photo

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