Probability Matters

I'm not the sharpest mind in any crowd. I know this because I often find myself wandering around Walmart's parking lot trying to find my car and this exercise comes on the heels of a seven aisle search for Cool Whip. Because of my limited brain power, I use 'probability' factors to negotiate life's maze. Example: I see 15 rather tall and agile teens stepping off a school bus; 2-white kids and 13 black kids, I immediately think>basketball team. I drive through Decatur's 'hood' of an evening and notice black men wearing large brim hats and gaudy gold, I think, 'drug dealers' who are NOT representing Walgreens. Entering a restaurant, I notice six older white gals wearing Red Hats and  cheap costume jewelry; my first thoughts?...They will 'probably' laugh too loudly and leave less than 10% tip for the waitress.


A few years back when our government went goofy with a color-code for terrorists' alert warnings, I recall some people worried about terrorists becoming certified public school bus drivers. Here's my 'probability' conclusion on that issue: Terrorists do their homework. At training sessions they watched videos of American students' behavior on school bus travels after school and on field trips. No terrorist is going to volunteer for THAT GIG!
Yesterday, my wife was downstairs cleaning out the utility room. She yelled up to me, "Do these basketball bounce?" I yelled back, "Hold them above your head and drop them to the floor!" I am wondering if she'll start talking to me today.

What Really Matters?

Bruce Rauner was NOT my choice but he is MY Govenor and I will pray for his leadership to be characterized by wise counsel and insightful decisions. I grow weary of inconsequential nitpicking by both political sides. Example: Some of my Democrat contemporaries attempt to make something of Rauner's post election comment that he telephoned Democratic leaders Madigan and Cullerton to express his desire to 'work together.' It seems Rauner did not actually speak to the gents but left voice messages. Oh, my goodness, 'he did not lie;' my fellow Democrats need to accept an ass-whupping and move along.

I am not hung up on the trival. I am more interested in what voters expressed as desires and how leaders respond. Fifty- one percent of Illinois voters said they wanted Rauner as their Govenor. Sixty-two percent of Illinois voters said they want the minimum wage to increase to $10.00 per hour. The people have spoken and I expect my Govenor-elect to embrace both of the peoples' wishes. Let's watch for that!

Full Circle

Seldom a day passes that our three adult children don't telephone us. They have always held a genuine concern for their folks but it is obvious that mom & dad's advancing years increase the 'check-ins.' My wife and I have never attached strings to our relations with the kids but I suspect their behavior pattern is in place by observing their parents' attentiveness to their grandparents. The 'blueprint,' was very clear and evident. It is the BEST return on any investment my wife and I ever made.

The only downside to these frequent telephone calls is our kids make fun of our television habits and bedtime.

Simply Stated

I never thought his line would be topped...but I believe it happened. Let me explain. Our son and daughter-in law's triplet boys will soon turn sixteen. When they were toddlers they played comments off one another that could be quite amusing. I recall one such moment when they were about three and a half years old. The three were lined up naked in the bathroom for an assembly line bath. Jake was in the tub and his father was soaping a wash cloth when another triplet, Jamie noticed that his brother's penis was erect. Jamie exclaimed pointing at the erection, "Jake, how'd you do that?" Jake in a matter-of-fact tone answered, "I just rubbed it." I truly thought that exchange would remain number one among 15 grandkids. I think a topper arrived this week.

Number fifteen grandchild, Ashlyn delivered a dandy to her mother. Ashlyn was coming off a week long bout with a flu like viral infection and towards the episode's end she experienced diarrhea. After several very loose bowl movements, the 31/2 year old girl said, "Mom, my poop is melting!"

Never Know Who's Watching

My first cousin, Bob telephoned yesterday morning to thank me for a East St. Louis high school baseball cap that I sent him. The current East St. Louis high school athletic director sent me two caps so I forwarded one to Bob.
Bob was a special individual in my youth. Although he was four years my senior, Bob insisted that I play summer sandlot baseball with his friends every day when I was nine years old. That summer of 1948 was a defining moment in my love affair and put me on a journey that would pay for a college education. I am indebted to cousin, Bob. I have not seen Bob for years. I am aware of his physical health problems and current challenges due to periodic updates from his younger sister.


We spoke for a few minutes and did a bit of reminiscing before the telephone conversation concluded. Just before hanging up, Bob once again thanked me for the baseball cap and told me as he has told me several times over the years, "Moe, Bob said, "I will always remember at grandpa E.V's funeral visitation when you and your and your mom approached E V's casket and placed one of your high school baseball medals inside grandpa's coat pocket. I thought to myself back then; this guy at 19 years old is special."


I appreciate Bob's recall and thanked him for his opinion. Truth of the matter, grandpa E V Bennett was blind in one eye and never could watch any of games; too difficult for the half-sighted elderly man to follow the baseball in the bright sunshine. However, grandpa EV always insisted that I stop by his home and give an account after each game...and cousin Bob; we'll, he started the ball rolling...those two were the 'special guys!'

Surely the General Public is NOT That Dumb

In case you forgot it was during the 2012 mid-term elections that the Fox News crew lead by Sean Hannity talked that doom & gloom and economic disaster with $4.00 plus gasoline prices. If we did not understand 'why,' the Fox News boys quickly explained it was  caused by President Obama. We'll I'll be damned if those conservative fellas not only refuse to give the President any kudos for gas prices dropping to around $2.75; those narrow-minded, 'sell-your-soul-for a vote' right wingers now say that the lower gas prices are bad for the economy and you guessed it...it's Obama's fault.
Please support your local educational institution; our only hope is to insure a basic education so a person with fifth grade knowledge can see through this BS propaganda logic.

Halloween Game Plan

Last Friday morning, my wife gave me the annual Halloween instructions. I shall summarize: (1) Open the door and act really surprised, (2) determine immediately if the little treat-seeking-toddlers are children of close friends, neighborhood kids or total strangers. (3) Then I was shown the three different canisters of treats designated for the appropriate recipient. (4) Lastly, she explained that when we go to bed or should we run out of candy; 'turn off the porch light to signal for the Halloween treat-seekers to pass us by.' She then asked, "Do you have any questions?"  I said, "Yes. Is there a porch-light signal for political campaigners and Mormons to pass us by?"