The View From My Cave

I feel a little better today. More tests are needed but my doctor thinks I’m gonna survive.

Since my illness, I have been hibernating inside my cave so I feel like Rip Van Winkle waking up to a different world. Seems like I haven’t opened my email for weeks. I glimpse at the headlines and popular videos and here’s a random list of what I observe. See if you agree with me.

Media hasn’t changed. Biased reporting and omission are still the same in both sides of American politics. Now that Trump is no longer around, there’s not a lot of shouting (although I hear a little tweak from his small corner in the world). Late night talk is boring (although they try their best to be sensational). Some dare poke fun at Pres. Biden sleeping and falling down the stairs but I want to know how he is really doing. I heard he’s going to build a trillion dollar government infrastructure. That should be good, right? I wonder why VP Kamala is laughing a lot when she is confronted with some serious questions. Isn’t she supposed to be the border czar? Why do I see droves of illegals crossing the border (thousands everyday I heard) … many children in cages? Are they infected? Are they getting vaccinated before the American citizens? I notice gas price is a dollar more than last year. Weren’t we oil independent? Weren’t we even exporting oil? Is it at the expense of Climate Change? Didn’t everybody (from both sides) hate Governors Cuomo and Newsom? What’s the secret to their staying power?

I heard George Floyd’s killer (I could never remember his name) is declared guilty. Last year it was all about White violence against the Blacks. This year it’s about Asian violence … funny that they’re afraid to mention the race that is doing most of the violence. There’s a sale in Aldi’s — blueberries for 99 cents a pack! There are lots of toilet paper! Whoopie! Our butts are saved! The education system is finally holding in-person classes. My grand kids are happy. The restaurants are finally open. I wish I could say the same for other businesses. Many shops around me are bankrupt. The shopping malls are still empty. Local air travel is available. The stock market is in a roller coaster ride. Investment forecasters are contradicting each other. Where do you invest?

Covid in the US is dwindling down but not in Asia including the Philippines, India, Japan and more. There, life has gone from bad to worse as doctors and nurses are dying. The rest are scrambling for less effective vaccines — and they’re even paying good money for it! “It’s better than nothing,” they say. I’m praying for them. There’s a civil war in Myanmar — what a mess! China is extending its borders in the South China sea and about to swallow Taiwan. American battleships are floating close by. Russia is about to pounce on Ukraine. With no restriction, Iran is getting closer to developing their nuclear weapons. Israel has launched several attacks for their survival. Poor Prince Philip passed away but Queen Liz is still alive and kicking. Meanwhile in Hollywood … nah! … who cares about Hollywood?!

Are my perceptions accurate? Am I missing something? You guys decide if things are good or bad. I’m  crawling back to my cave to sleep. Wake me when the war’s over.

TGIF People!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Rodney was one of my closest friends. He was very creative and he would make up his own jokes. Here is one of his jokes.

Video of the Week

Thanks to Don who shared this sad, sad video

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Mel of Washington D.C.

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

The post 5 Deadly Sins appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Humor in Sickness

This week, it’s been hard to walk. I’m still sick. But I’m getting better. My doctor adjusted my meds, I’m going to a chiropractor tomorrow and on the 23rd I’m meeting with a cardiologist.

Getting up from a horizontal position to a vertical position takes at least a minute. And I take baby steps when I walk because I ache in different places. This can be a miserable existence but thankfully, I can laugh at myself.

You know the caricature of the old man in the Carol Burnett Show who shuffles and moves in slow motion? That’s me!

The pain wakes me up when I sleep. My wife was switching channels one night and I saw the name: John Malkovich. And I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be so silly and such a waste of my time if I made a poem about John Malkovich?

Wouldn’t you know it? The more I didn’t want to, the more I couldn’t help it and I DID conjure a poem in my head about that actor with the weird name. Here it is:

POOR JOHN MALKOVICH
A wicked witch gave John Malkovich a rotten sandwich.
He twitched and he twitched
Then he fell in a ditch.
Poor John Malkovich.

I’ve been feeling better and I think it’s because of your prayers. Many of you have written that you’ve praying. I read all your letters but was too groggy to respond (you know who you are —  thank you!).

I think I am officially old. All the jokes about old people are suddenly very personal (but funny still). But who am I to complain? This is part of life. And maybe this is why God made people grow old: when you get older, your options are fewer… there are fewer mountains to climb. (I guess I have to give up my dream to dunk that basketball). You get to focus on the things that are most important — sharing instead of competing, loving your friends and (especially) family, and preparing to join the grand party in heaven. I’m really looking forward to it.

TGIF people! See you next week and the week after and several more weeks after.

Raoul

“For I am sure of this very thing: that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.“
— Philippians 1:6

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mel of Washington D.C.

Thanks to  Ray of Burbank, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

The post There Was a Man Named Odd appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The Flow is Low

When was the last time you gave blood? This is a question especially to the Universal Blood Donors out there.  There is a blood shortage. I’m serious. In this age of high tech everything, no one had developed artificial blood yet. The Red Cross needs your blood.

Did you know that the greatest source of blood donors is the High School? Unfortunately, ever since the school lock-down, only the “oldies” have been the constant blood donors. In all the years I’ve donated blood, I must have seen less than a handful of teenagers giving blood. Wouldn’t it be so unfair if the blood supply runs out for the people who have given so much of their blood?

I’m donating blood this morning. Will you consider doing the same?

Here is a cool website that explains the different blood types: RED CROSS BLOOD

I’m tired. Wish I could, but today I have no clever ideas to dazzle and stimulate your mind (as if I ever did) except to say that:
a little prick,
a few minutes drip,
will bloody save someone sick.

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA and Don of Kelowna, BC for sharing these puns.

Video: Grown Man’s First Injection

Thanks to Ed of the Philippines

Video: Life Story of Mr. Bean

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Video: Transforming into Mona Lisa

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.
This Chinese lady dabs on makeup to turn into a living masterpiece. She has other videos where she transforms into other famous people.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mel of Washington, D.C.

Thanks to Betty of Australia

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA for the last 3 gags.

The post More Amazing Puns appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Covid Survivor

It was the second sleepless night for my sister. What started as a mild fever had escalated to a classic case of Covid 19. Her doctor was no help. He was textbook-trained but he had no first-hand experience with the disease. Sis couldn’t sleep in a normal postion because of the constriction in her lungs. She was told to lay on her stomach but that didn’t work. Standing up was not a solution either. How can you sleep while standing up? Heading for a third night of difficulty she got a phone call from my daughter (a nurse who works in the red zone). My daughter told her about flowler’s position — sleeping at an angle. (SEE DIAGRAM). That’s what saved the day…. (I mean) the night. Later on, my daughter gave her more tips that led to her full recovery. I’m so glad for my sister’s health and so proud of my daughter. You can read my sister’s full testimony as well as her husband’s at TravelingBoy.com. Pass this on. This may save someone’s life.

I’d like to salute our frontliners in this pandemic. I can only speak about my daughter but I’m sure this is the routine of every frontliner. She’s on her feet all day wearing her full plastic armor of face mask, plastic shield, cap and gloves. She trained herself not to scratch her nose or wipe her eyes. There are 60 doctors and nurses where she works. Despite their precaution, only my daughter and 2 other nurses have not yet had Covid. (I guess masks are good but it is the vaccines that are the game changers). She goes home after a full shift but she does not enter the house yet. She has to change in the garage, wrap her scrubs in a bag, go inside to take a bath. Only then, can she hug her kids and her husband.

You are blessed if you live here in America. The vaccines have reached millions already. Infection rates have dipped. My heart goes out to many more countries that still wait for the vaccines to arrive on their shores. Americans get the dosage free. In other countries people have to purchase it (if they are available at all). At least there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel. Let’s continue to pray for this generation.

TGIF people!

Raoul

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
 his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;
 great is your faithfulness.  — Lamentation 3:22-23

BTW, if you need an oximeter, please let me know. A subscriber of my TGIF emails bought one and was given a spare. He is selling the other one cheap.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA for sharing this pun.

Video: Aging Wife

Thanks to Lee of Alhambra, CA and Craig of Texas

Video: Dolly Parton’s Assault

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Erratum: According to Snopes, last week’s video of a VW Korea Flying car was fake. Sorry about that. Thanks to Rey of Simi Valley, CA for pointing it out to me.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tony of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

The post Amazing Puns appeared first on Traveling Archive.