Last Weekend of May

It’s been a very busy day. I’m worn out. I wish I had a spark of creativity left to send with this email but alas, this is all I have left.

I think I’ve communicated with more people on a deeper level this week than many past months. I feel like I wear a different hat for different occasions/situations and this week has left me with so many hats on the floor. No wonder I’m tired. I’m definitely looking forward to the weekend.

Keep safe and hold on to your faith. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena for sharing this joke.

Video: Honesty at the Golf Course

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA.

Video: Irish Wedding Photographer

Thanks to John of Connecticut for this video. I might have posted it already but it’s still funny.

Video: Office Musical Chairs

Thanks to Mario of Manila who shared this video. Funny but not that funny — because it may actually happen.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns. This may take a while to sink in.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA. Drinking is on the rise. Be sure to heed this warning.

Finally, here’s one from Naomi of N Hollywood, CA. If only….

The post Bad Memory appeared first on Traveling Archive.

A Boring Life

Lee said “I live a boring life.”

Lee is a student at a Christian college. He has a PHD, has a masters degree and is a few months shy of his second PHD. He was a dean of a college in Taiwan before moving here to California 2 years ago. His Taiwanese friends thought he was foolish to leave his lofty position just to continue his studies but he felt that God was calling him here. His wife also has a PHD and is going for another Masters degree. In Taiwan the two held several chairmanships. They have one teenage daughter who is very involved in church. Sometimes she is the only one her age in an event but that doesn’t faze her. She’s very well rounded. In fact, academically, she is 3rd in a student population of 400.

My wife and I were one of the first to befriend them the Sunday they stepped in our church. We’ve been friends ever since but it was only this week when I learned about his secret: Lee prays, prays, prays.

He gets up around 5:00 in the morning, half an hour after his wife who is already praying. He joins his wife and they pray. Then his daughter gets up and they all pray. They pray and read several chapters of the Bible every single day. This habit may last 3 hours or more. Then Lee buries his head in his studies. Taking a break only to cook for the family. When night falls, guess what? He prays again! He is a modern-day Daniel of the Bible.

Last year he had a toothache and he didn’t have insurance. So they prayed. A few days later, he was fine. His wife got very sick from (I believe a viral infection). They prayed and a few days later she was fine. Just before Christmas, he asked me if I knew where he could buy a $2,500 car for his daughter who was learning to drive. I thought it was even silly to ask but I did try to find him a car within his budget. All I got from my inquiries was laughter because $2.5K alone was the cost of a car repair. Any car that cheap would be junk. By January he said he found the car — a 20 year old sedan that only had 4,500 miles to it because it belonged to his neighbor, a senior citizen, who only drove it to and from the grocery store.

How would you like to be so close to God that your life is one miracle after the other? I can learn a lot from him. And I beg to disagree. His life is NOT boring. His life is blessed and joyfully unpredictable.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” — 1 John 5:14

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA  for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

FUNNY VIDEO: Mr. Know-It-All

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, BC for sharing this quick video

Assuring Video: God Will Take Care of You

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre for sharing this video. He recently had surgery and said this was the video that helped him through his ordeal.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena who sent this joke.

The post Marriage in Heaven appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Wedding Day

Someone’s getting married this weekend. You can bet preparations were made months in advance: reservations, RSVPs, plane fares, hotel reservations, food, etc. — all of these are culminating tomorrow.

I didn’t want to buy a suit but my wife said it was important. I didn’t want to buy new shoes but she said I needed to have a new shoes to go along with the new suit. Then she said I needed a new tie …

Oh, the things you need to wear when you go to a wedding. The practical man in me questions why a ton of time and money go to that one day event instead of saving for the future of the marriage. Women say they want a simple wedding. Guys, if your fiancee says she’s going for “simple” you ought to start saving like crazy because then you know she’s really going for the jugular! She’ll say she’s doing it for her Mom but you know that’s what Moms are for — they’re the designated scapegoat.

And what about the Dad? He’s the one you should really fear. He’s the designated Hit Man who makes sure there’s no room for the  groomto change his mind. Notice that Dads always sit between the groom and the exit door? You gotta study the logistics, man. No wonder grooms always get nervous — they see their lives (and their life savings) flash before them.

I’ve been practicing a song to sing for the reception for several months now and I still haven’t perfected the chords and the words. I’m gonna mess up for sure. See? Even I am getting nervous.

Good thoughts. I need to think good thoughts. I need to go to my “happy place.” Then I think of grand kids — those little adorable creatures that think the world of you just because you’re part of the family. And then I think of new relatives and I remember the sweet and caring whole kaboodle. I like them. Life’s gonna be different but “good” different. Everything will be fine. What a blessing.

Marriage was established by God in Genesis 3:23. Of course, there was no expensive fanfare. More like a “come-as-you-are” event. After being alone … busy naming the animals, Adam meets Eve for the first time and he is officially “twitterpated” — Wow! Hubba! hubba!  “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.”  

I don’t know about you but I believe most kids marry fixated that their spouse will be their ticket to a fairy tale life. But that kind of thinking only sets them up with  unrealistic expectations. Study the verse and it actually refers to a perfect partnership for an upcoming task. There is no guarantee that life will be problem-free from that point. Indeed, the opposite is more true. The exchange of vows is a statement that out of all the people in the world, they choose each other to face the challenges leading to a godly goal. You who have been married for a while, did you know about this? Would your marriage have been better if someone explained this to you? You who are in a serious relationship, is the person you’re in love with THE person (out of all the people in the world) who you want to face the battle of life with? Are you willing to serve? Is he/she willing to serve you? … to carry you during the tough times that are sure to come?

Of course, this is just me. TGIF people!

“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.”
— Nicole Krauss

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Ray of Burbank, CA for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

Stand Up Comedy: Silly Arguments
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Jeff Allen shares his early months of being married.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. who shared this.

The post Secret to a Happy Marriage appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Getting Older

Upon an invitation from another couple, my wife and I welcomed 2019 in a night club that played loud 80s music — not my “cup of tea” but I tried to make the most of the situation. Like many other guests, we were dressed for New Year. Mine was an aluminum Terminator-like mask that covered my whole face so I felt practically invisible.

I was an alien observing the crazy earthlings. All around me were intoxicated flashy, sweaty, party animals gyrating to the 80s beat (it’s a great place to get your tinnitus going, I can tell you that). In earlier days, that room would have been filled with second-hand smoke — it was that kind of a place.

I think I’m getting old. These humans looked real stupid. They paid big bucks to be in this overcrowded hall. People bobbed up and down because there was hardly any room to dance. The ladies protected themselves from being touched and the men flailed their arms to reach the “untouchables.” Scotch on the rocks was 90% rock (ice): Ka-ching! for the night club ownersa and Ka-where-did-it-go? for the big spenders. A few fights erupted due to the booze and the claustrophobic atmosphere. A woman dove under a table for safety. One drunk Surfer Dude seemed to have the hots for my wife. I was behind her so I didn’t realize what was happening but my friend did and he told Surfer Dude to back off. I thought the drunk was merely asking her a question — I was oblivious that she needed my protection. I did contemplate using my old judo move I learned from college. Thankfully, the Dude said my mask spooked him out so he moved away. It was a very strange scene: A long time ago I used to be part of this insanity but now I was looking at it with alien eyes wide open. (Hey, I don’t mean to judge you if this is your “thing” — that’s cool. It just isn’t mine.)

On the way home I told my wife that I didn’t want to go back there. I’m glad she was thinking the same thing.

“Getting old.” What does that really mean? Of course, derogatively, it means one is aging: one’s body parts start falling off. But “getting old” also means getting more mature … getting wiser. To have a body that nears its expiration date and a mind that still thinks like a child is a double tragedy. I remember a news clip of a pathetic aging hippie beckoning people to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with him to relive his youthful hormones. This senior never grew up. He probably never will. (BTW, 2019 is the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock buy your tickets now — NOT!).

With every new year, adding a notch to our longevity here on earth is not an option; But adding a dose of wisdom in the mix — that’s an option we should not miss. That’s a good new year resolution.

TGIF and have a great 2019!

“Maturity is being able to apologize and admit when you’re wrong because you know that your mistakes don’t define you” — Anonymous

Joke of the Week

Our Friday joke of the week comes from: Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

WARNING: Might be insensitive to some.

Video of the Week

One Wedding and a Funeral
Sent by Sam of Los Angeles, CA

This is a classic Mr. Bean video. He’s a modern version of Charlie Chaplin. And like Charlie, Mr. Bean uses no words.

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 Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this

The post Wife Sharing appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Just got back from the New York last night. It’s almost midnight. I just have enough time to share my comparison of California vs. New York life.

Walk, walk, walk. Unlike Californians, New Yorkers walk to the subway, walk to their jobs, walk up and down stairs. No wonder they are more trim and healthier.

Cold, cold, cold. It wasn’t freezing like I had expected but it was pleasantly chilly. I kinda liked it. I might even consider living there.

Food, food, food. New York, like Los Angeles, is a melting pot of different cultures and the variety of food can attest to that.

Ethnic, ethnic, ethnic. California has more Mexican Latinos while New York has more Cuban and Puerto Ricans. Ambos hablan Espanol. Both places have lots of Chinese and Filipinos. California has more Koreans.

Gay, gay, gay. New York is as gay as San Francisco.

Strange, strange, strange. Lots of weird people there. They board subways and announce their godforsaken lives and how you need to support their lifestyle. Passengers are immune to their sob stories and usually look away.

Trains, trains, trains. Noisy, old but functional — the subway should be listed as a living historical phenomenon. With all its intricate connections, these babies transport millions every single day. Amazing. I love it!

Ads, ads, ads. The Ad agencies are as clever as ever with strategic campaigns on subway walls, billboards and magazines. But the Grand Daddy location of them all is and always will be Times Square. (BTW, one of your fellow readers is a photographer of one of these humongous ads.)

Trash, trash trash. At the end of the day there are piles of garbage in plastic bags along each corner. By morning they miraculously disappear.

Read, read, read. In Californians are visual. New Yorkers are readers. Lots more books here.

Apartments, apartments, apartments. Most New Yorkers live in old apartments. Californians do too but there are plenty more who live in houses.

Shows, shows, shows. Broadway is king. No other city can compare with the talent in Broadway.

People, people, people. Oh, the lonely people … where do they all belong? Californians sit in the freeway parking lots and share car emissions. New Yorkers sit in their subway spaces and share cough viruses. Surprisingly both people seem very alone.
Do you agree or disagree with my assessment?

TGIF people!

Super Bowl Tickets

Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA

TGIF Video

What Does it Mean to Be a Child?
Sent by Jun of Quezon City, Philippines

More creative than funny. Wouldn’t it be great to be a child again? To be able to leap tall buildings and stop an oncoming locomotive? This kid seems to be doing it all.

WATCH

Parting Shots

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

The post Interested in Super Bowl Tickets? appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I have a load of stuff I still have to do before my trip to Nigeria. I leave Thanksgiving Day. As you enjoy your turkey I will probably be stuck in the airport.

Someone wondered why I was going to unfamiliar Nigeria instead of going back to my homeland. My reply is because the opportunity presented itself.

Why did Mother Theresa minister in India instead of her homeland? Why do missionaries go to far away lands instead of helping their own kind? Were they wrong? I don’t think so.

Sometimes one needs to change to a different location to start afresh — away from the the confines of the box that people put them in. This is very true for late bloomers like me. There is a statistic that says traveling increases not only the physical borders but also the borders of one’s imagination and potential. Even Christ preferred to perform miracles away from his birthplace of Nazareth.

Has life stagnated for you? Perhaps it’s time to travel and expand your mind. Be the better person you really are.

BTW, I am not sure if I will have internet access or time to prepare my TGIF emails for the next 3 weeks. I will miss you for sure. Be good! Happy Thanksgiving!

“Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers — James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.

— Matthew 13:54-58

TGIF people!

Senior Theater Seats

Contributed by Rick of Chino Hills, CA

An old man lay awkwardly sprawled across three entire seats in the movie theater.

When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man, “Sorry sir, but you’re only allowed one seat.”

The old man didn’t budge. The usher became more impatient.

“Sir, if you don’t get up from there I’m going to have to call the manager.”

Once again, the old man just muttered and did nothing.

The usher marched briskly back up the aisle, and in a moment returned with the manager.

Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the old disheveled man, but with no success.

Finally they summoned the police.

The officer surveyed the situation briefly, then asked, “All right, buddy, what’s your name?”

“Fred,” the old man moaned.

“Where you from, Fred?” asked the police officer.

With a terrible strain in his voice, and without moving, Fred replied;
“The balcony.”

TGIF Videos

Parting Shot

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

The post Theater Seats for a Senior appeared first on Traveling Archive.