Back at the turn of the 19th Century, P. T. Barnum of circus fame was attributed with saying, "There's a sucker born every minute." It cannot be verified that P.T actually said that but it doesn't make it untrue. Looking at the plethora of gambling joints, casinos, lotteries and casting a vote for any politician is proof enough there is indeed 'a sucker born very minute.'
I believe the only birth rate more prolific than that of 'the sucker' is the birth of a mommy hell-bent to make her kids happy. Now, I'm going to illustrate my premise using my older daughter, Dawn as an example in making my point. Warning: If you point a finger at her or laugh at her you are ignoring the 'plank in your own eye.'
Dawn and her husband, Shawn have seven children raging in ages 29-to-7. They are smart kids, good looking kids and respectful kids. My daughter is over-the-top doing for and pleasing the offsprings. My goodness, a combination of those kids have attended Disney World (Orlando, FL) 22 times.
Recently, Dawn and Shawn's oldest daughter, Lindsay gave birth to a son...first grandchild. At about the same time, brother Connor and sister Kaitlyn were leaving for college. Other siblings are busy with their own lives, all of which makes a big house feel exceptionally empty. Needless to point out that a family of that number did a great job placing the baby of the family on a pedalstel therefore it is understandable that little Ashlyn would be 'Blue' not having her accustomed attention. Mother Dawn was quick to cheer up the little princess. Dawn's responsibility is to alleviate Ashlyn's depression. Therefore, Dawn bought her a 'Gizmo pal.' This is a watch. Not any watch but a Pink watch that is programmed as a telephone. Ashlyn's Gizmo phone has the capability of programming five numbers. She could have gotten a Gizmo-phone with a nine number capacity but it WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN PINK. That WOULD be a Deal breaker!
This is the little girl who when placed in 'time out' as a two-year old said to her mommy,
"Can we talk about this?"
Oh, about the five telephone numbers Ashlyn elected to have programmed into her 'Get Smart' Gizmo-pal phone-watch? (1) Lindsay>need to check on new baby, (2) Dawn>must know where mommy is every moment, (3) Kaitlyn>check on college life, (4) Alexa>when are you getting home from cheer practice and (5) Connor>just because. Perhaps, when a Gizmo-pal upgrade is offered with nine numbers-capacity, Dawn can talk Ashlyn into putting her father on the call list...after all I'm sure it's Dad who gets the AT&T invoice.
I can imagine how horrified my daughter Dawn would be walking into the Disney World's Magic Kingdom Castle next spring for breakfast with Snow White, Ariel and Cinderella and little Ashlyn wearing a Pink dress and a GREEN GIZMO WATCH-PHONE!
(Touch)
Daddy's Little Girl
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
A Sweet Flashback
My wife baked four coffee cakes yesterday, which caused me to reminisce about my late mother in-law, Vi Bischof. What's the coffee cake connection to my mother in-law? Simple fact that the recipes were Vi's. Viola Hopfinger was one year old when her hometown, St. Louis, Missouri hosted the 1904 World's Fair. She died 81-years later on October 27, which is this Saturday when grandson, Caleb Howell will marry Morgan Fernandes.
I don't believe I ever met a woman who sacrificed anymore for their family than did Vi. She raised six children and on her husband's modest income as a home-delivery milk truck driver. She took in washing and ironing, never new the luxury of an automobile or family vacation and made personal concessions to send all her children to private Catholic schools.
Vi could be gruff but as they say, her bark was far worse than her bite. I'm sure from day one (and I dated her daughter, Gerry for seven years) she look at me with skepticism, after all I was a foot taller than anybody in her family, I didn't drink beer as did her husband and older sons and perhaps the greatest suspicion came from not playing poker not to mention that I was Methodist.
The woman suffered un-imaginable heartache. Her husband died unexpectedly at age 54. Her second oldest son would died suddenly of a massive heart attack at age 41. Eight months later her oldest son age 42 died of septic shock after routine surgery. Pause for a moment and 'walk in those moccasins.'
After her husband's death, Vi lived for a time with her oldest daughter and son in-law and she also lived alone for a period. In the her later years, Vi began a monthly rotation living arrangement with three of her adult children and their respective spouses. Those were particularly good years for Vi, her adult kids and spouses and most certainly her grandchildren. A special bonding was evident.
One of VI's favorite expressions was, "I heyda-say but..." That line was forthcoming when Vi actually couldn't wait to say what was on her mind. I recall shortly after her daughter, Gerry and I married, we took Vi to the movies and Gerry broke the news to her mother that she was soon going to have breast surgery to remove a fibroid cyst. Upon hearing that news, Vi spoke, "Well, I heyda-say but she didn't have no whatchacalitt cyst before she married." I loved the woman's subltleness...and believe me both Vi's coffee cake recipes and her DNA subtleness are alive and well today.
I'll stop now...gunna have some coffee cake, it's great.
I don't believe I ever met a woman who sacrificed anymore for their family than did Vi. She raised six children and on her husband's modest income as a home-delivery milk truck driver. She took in washing and ironing, never new the luxury of an automobile or family vacation and made personal concessions to send all her children to private Catholic schools.
Vi could be gruff but as they say, her bark was far worse than her bite. I'm sure from day one (and I dated her daughter, Gerry for seven years) she look at me with skepticism, after all I was a foot taller than anybody in her family, I didn't drink beer as did her husband and older sons and perhaps the greatest suspicion came from not playing poker not to mention that I was Methodist.
The woman suffered un-imaginable heartache. Her husband died unexpectedly at age 54. Her second oldest son would died suddenly of a massive heart attack at age 41. Eight months later her oldest son age 42 died of septic shock after routine surgery. Pause for a moment and 'walk in those moccasins.'
After her husband's death, Vi lived for a time with her oldest daughter and son in-law and she also lived alone for a period. In the her later years, Vi began a monthly rotation living arrangement with three of her adult children and their respective spouses. Those were particularly good years for Vi, her adult kids and spouses and most certainly her grandchildren. A special bonding was evident.
One of VI's favorite expressions was, "I heyda-say but..." That line was forthcoming when Vi actually couldn't wait to say what was on her mind. I recall shortly after her daughter, Gerry and I married, we took Vi to the movies and Gerry broke the news to her mother that she was soon going to have breast surgery to remove a fibroid cyst. Upon hearing that news, Vi spoke, "Well, I heyda-say but she didn't have no whatchacalitt cyst before she married." I loved the woman's subltleness...and believe me both Vi's coffee cake recipes and her DNA subtleness are alive and well today.
I'll stop now...gunna have some coffee cake, it's great.
Monday, October 22, 2018
United We Flourish
I have been retired from basketball coaching for seventeen years. During those post retirement years, I have kept my hand 'in the game' by coordinating the Annual Decatur Team Soy Capital 8-Team Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament; a tournament that has produced well over 100-Division I players the likes of Shaun Livingston and Andre' Iguodala, both of the Golden State Warriors.
I have approached that tournament director's leadership role as I previously approached the 37-years of head coach leadership. I embrace the concept of 'ownership' and collectiveness . Let me explain. My assistant basketball coaches all held specific responsibilities but they each had welcomed input in all preparations and decision making. If those preparations and decisions worked toward success, those coaches will tell you that I gave credit. If those efforts fell short, I assumed any criticism, after all I was the one who elected to lead the charge. It was never important that I be RIGHT but that WE GET IT RIGHT. Our players understood that we never pointed fingers of blame towards teammates or officials. We embraced a simple motto: 'Respect All; Fear None.' ( I can think of some current leaders who would do well adopting this philosophy).
As I stated, I approach my leadership role with this Decatur Tournament in the same fashion. This past week I held a pre-tourney meeting for the 49th Annual Decatur Tourney. Twenty-one individuals representing various School District Departments were present including our District's Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. This was not a mandatory meeting but those folks showed up because they 'feel' that ownership to our successes.
A wise man once told me, "When you take a leadership role find out what's expected, bring good people alongside who are committed and then deliver MORE. In the arena of education the students are the benefactors." Personally, I never lived on hoorahs except my father's "atta boys" when I was very young...those served as motivators. That said, let me leave you with his one comment from my father that still resonates with me today: "When you think you've accomplished a lot just look around...somebody accomplished more."
I have approached that tournament director's leadership role as I previously approached the 37-years of head coach leadership. I embrace the concept of 'ownership' and collectiveness . Let me explain. My assistant basketball coaches all held specific responsibilities but they each had welcomed input in all preparations and decision making. If those preparations and decisions worked toward success, those coaches will tell you that I gave credit. If those efforts fell short, I assumed any criticism, after all I was the one who elected to lead the charge. It was never important that I be RIGHT but that WE GET IT RIGHT. Our players understood that we never pointed fingers of blame towards teammates or officials. We embraced a simple motto: 'Respect All; Fear None.' ( I can think of some current leaders who would do well adopting this philosophy).
As I stated, I approach my leadership role with this Decatur Tournament in the same fashion. This past week I held a pre-tourney meeting for the 49th Annual Decatur Tourney. Twenty-one individuals representing various School District Departments were present including our District's Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. This was not a mandatory meeting but those folks showed up because they 'feel' that ownership to our successes.
A wise man once told me, "When you take a leadership role find out what's expected, bring good people alongside who are committed and then deliver MORE. In the arena of education the students are the benefactors." Personally, I never lived on hoorahs except my father's "atta boys" when I was very young...those served as motivators. That said, let me leave you with his one comment from my father that still resonates with me today: "When you think you've accomplished a lot just look around...somebody accomplished more."
Saturday, October 20, 2018
A Sick Nation Needs Your Vote
President Trump touts the 2018 mid-term elections as being about Kavanaugh, an immigrant caravan, law and order and common sense. I agree with ONE assessment; indeed this election cries out to an electorate for common sense.
Trump's policies gave massive tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, which creating insurmountable national debt for future generations. Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell has an idea how to reduce the debt...cut social security and Medicare benefits. These are not entitlements...social security and Medicare are earned benefits.
We have a President who verbally attacks the allied countries of Germany and Canada while embracing the known evil and inhumane dictators of Russia, North Korea and Saudi Arabia. We have a President who verbally attacks American journalist and desires to do business with a nation that just murdered an American journalist and dismembered his body.
I don't know about others but my common sense tells me there is something sick and wrong about an America that embraces a leader who calls American protesters "son-of-a-bitches" one day and another day he says he "loves" a murdering dictator like Kim Jung Un.
Surprise! Surprise! As the mid-term election approaches, President Trump once again plays the 'immgrant-race card' as he stirs underlying American prejudices pointing to that "caravan of immigrants" approaching the America border seeking asylum. This language is 'red meat' for his bigoted base. Trump is good at it...remember the White Supremacist in Charlottesville? "There were good people on both sides." Remember the Muslim ban and Trump's call for American mosques' surveillance by law enforcement?
Remember Trump degrading Ted Cruz's wife with a ugly inference about her lack of attractiveness? Trump also suggested Cruz's father had something to do with JFK's assassination. Ted Cruz is a wimp for not defending his family. On a Personal Note: I was eight years old when on one occasion a man insulted my grandmother, Mammy Bennett. With one lightning punch, my father dropped that man like a sack of rocks. Therefore, in honor of my father and hope for my country, I will cast a common sense vote this mid-term to punch out our nation's sickness under one sick leader.
Trump's policies gave massive tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, which creating insurmountable national debt for future generations. Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell has an idea how to reduce the debt...cut social security and Medicare benefits. These are not entitlements...social security and Medicare are earned benefits.
We have a President who verbally attacks the allied countries of Germany and Canada while embracing the known evil and inhumane dictators of Russia, North Korea and Saudi Arabia. We have a President who verbally attacks American journalist and desires to do business with a nation that just murdered an American journalist and dismembered his body.
I don't know about others but my common sense tells me there is something sick and wrong about an America that embraces a leader who calls American protesters "son-of-a-bitches" one day and another day he says he "loves" a murdering dictator like Kim Jung Un.
Surprise! Surprise! As the mid-term election approaches, President Trump once again plays the 'immgrant-race card' as he stirs underlying American prejudices pointing to that "caravan of immigrants" approaching the America border seeking asylum. This language is 'red meat' for his bigoted base. Trump is good at it...remember the White Supremacist in Charlottesville? "There were good people on both sides." Remember the Muslim ban and Trump's call for American mosques' surveillance by law enforcement?
Remember Trump degrading Ted Cruz's wife with a ugly inference about her lack of attractiveness? Trump also suggested Cruz's father had something to do with JFK's assassination. Ted Cruz is a wimp for not defending his family. On a Personal Note: I was eight years old when on one occasion a man insulted my grandmother, Mammy Bennett. With one lightning punch, my father dropped that man like a sack of rocks. Therefore, in honor of my father and hope for my country, I will cast a common sense vote this mid-term to punch out our nation's sickness under one sick leader.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Us and Them; No More WE
I would quickly acknowledge technology as a critical key in the advancement in medicines, health care and surgical improvements, which subsequently has increased the quality of life and longevity we Americans enjoy. Praise God and hats off to the dedicated researchers and inventors.
That said, I doubt that these technological advancements have done anything to improve the social aspects of our nation. In fact, I believe that much of our technology has created a greater chasm amongst our people. Never in my lifetime have I seen a more profound difference between people's viewpoints, feelings and persuasions. These differences have slowly manifested into mean spirited , ugly discourse and expressed hatreds.
Such dispositions can only develop when a society becomes less engaging on interpersonal communication levels. Our 'phone may be smart' but our insatiable appetite to use them has made us narrow-minded recluses. We don't visit with neighbors or even family as we once did. We watch too much television seeking cable news which re-enforces the very differences and animosities, which we hold against one another. We have become self-absorbed in our own ethnocentric attitudes. Expressions of pleasantries have given way to a propensity for quick and obnoxious anger. Why would not our elected officials dismiss compromise...they are a reflection of their constituents.
Sadly, the only time we Americans have the inclination to come together is under tragic circumstances. We respond in unity when natural disasters strike or terrorists fly airplanes into our buildings.
We all need to watch television re-runs of 'Cheers' and 'Frasier.' At least we might come together
around the water-cooler the next morning after the night before episode and share recall laughter as we did once upon a time.
That said, I doubt that these technological advancements have done anything to improve the social aspects of our nation. In fact, I believe that much of our technology has created a greater chasm amongst our people. Never in my lifetime have I seen a more profound difference between people's viewpoints, feelings and persuasions. These differences have slowly manifested into mean spirited , ugly discourse and expressed hatreds.
Such dispositions can only develop when a society becomes less engaging on interpersonal communication levels. Our 'phone may be smart' but our insatiable appetite to use them has made us narrow-minded recluses. We don't visit with neighbors or even family as we once did. We watch too much television seeking cable news which re-enforces the very differences and animosities, which we hold against one another. We have become self-absorbed in our own ethnocentric attitudes. Expressions of pleasantries have given way to a propensity for quick and obnoxious anger. Why would not our elected officials dismiss compromise...they are a reflection of their constituents.
Sadly, the only time we Americans have the inclination to come together is under tragic circumstances. We respond in unity when natural disasters strike or terrorists fly airplanes into our buildings.
We all need to watch television re-runs of 'Cheers' and 'Frasier.' At least we might come together
around the water-cooler the next morning after the night before episode and share recall laughter as we did once upon a time.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
One Must Be Stupid To Believe This Garbage
Pompeo 'The Puppet Boy' emerged from meetings with the Saudis regarding the Saudi Arabia investigation into the murder of Washington Post reporter, Khashoggi. Don't we all feel good about this development. The Saudis are going to investigate themselves for any potential involvement in murder and the dismemberment of an innocent man.
Sound familiar? This is America's new moral normality. Russia dictator, Vladimir Putin strongly denies American election meddling and Trump tells his followers they should believe Putin.
They support Donald and quickly remind others that it could be worse...Hillary could be President.
North Korean dictator plays Trump for a fool getting a highly publicized summit where this murderer promises denuclearizing. The North Korean killer has not denuclearized and is never going to denuclearize but Trump tells Americans that "I Love Kim Jung Un." To bad Un's brother didn't have Kim's love.
I believe this new approach of self-investigation into alleged criminal activities by the accused has great potential. A great reduction in American prison management costs. I'll just bet Charles Mason would have concluded after a self-investigation that he was innocent. And Al Capone, Jeffery Dahmer, Richard Nixon, dada, dada, dada....Let's buy a Fox to guard the Hen House!
Money Money Money!
(Trump's National Anthem)
Touch
t's All About Money
Sound familiar? This is America's new moral normality. Russia dictator, Vladimir Putin strongly denies American election meddling and Trump tells his followers they should believe Putin.
They support Donald and quickly remind others that it could be worse...Hillary could be President.
North Korean dictator plays Trump for a fool getting a highly publicized summit where this murderer promises denuclearizing. The North Korean killer has not denuclearized and is never going to denuclearize but Trump tells Americans that "I Love Kim Jung Un." To bad Un's brother didn't have Kim's love.
I believe this new approach of self-investigation into alleged criminal activities by the accused has great potential. A great reduction in American prison management costs. I'll just bet Charles Mason would have concluded after a self-investigation that he was innocent. And Al Capone, Jeffery Dahmer, Richard Nixon, dada, dada, dada....Let's buy a Fox to guard the Hen House!
Money Money Money!
(Trump's National Anthem)
Touch
t's All About Money
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Dubious Donald
Dadgumit it's become too easy to criticize President Trump on the obvious. I mean even his hardcore base supporters know the man is a habitual liar and they kinda accept it and move on. The world knows that he is a sexual predator because he proclaimed it from his own lips. And goodness it has become obvious that should a brutal dictator the likes of Putin, Kim Jung Un and the Prince fella from Saudi Arabia murder somebody but then cop a Hogan Heroes', Sargeant Schultz's line, "I know Nothing," Trump readily accepts the brutal dictators' denials as gospel while referring to our American media as fake news and also dismissing America's CIA and FBI intelligence. We've grown weary pointing out those weaknesses.
That said, I am truly puzzled trying to figure out this womanizing man's taste in women.
Follow along, please. Remember when candidate Trump was being accused by several woman alleging that Trump had sexual assaulted them? One particular woman, Natasha Stoynoff, a reporter for People's Magazine alleged that Trump "stuck his tongue down my throat." Trump strongly suggested that the woman was too unattractive saying, "Look at her. I don't think so. That would not be my first choice. I don't think so."
Later it was disclosed that Trump paid off porn star Stormy Daniels ($150.000.00) to keep her mouth shut about them having sex. Now, just yesterday, Trump called Stormy "horse face."
I don't know about others but if Trump will fornicate with something that he believes looks like a horse, I think he likely stuck his tongue down that reporter's throat.
One other thing that seems strange for our President to believe. This murdering of that Washington Post reporter by Saudi Arabia supposedly happened accidentally during interrogation. And then somebody accidentally used a bone-saw to cut the reporter's body into pieces.
Don't you just hate it when accidents like those happen?
I wonder if another innocent person will be a sacrificial 'accident' offered as an atonement therefore allowing Saudi Arabia-America business dealings as usual? You know the new American motto: 'Money talks; Morals walk."
That said, I am truly puzzled trying to figure out this womanizing man's taste in women.
Follow along, please. Remember when candidate Trump was being accused by several woman alleging that Trump had sexual assaulted them? One particular woman, Natasha Stoynoff, a reporter for People's Magazine alleged that Trump "stuck his tongue down my throat." Trump strongly suggested that the woman was too unattractive saying, "Look at her. I don't think so. That would not be my first choice. I don't think so."
Later it was disclosed that Trump paid off porn star Stormy Daniels ($150.000.00) to keep her mouth shut about them having sex. Now, just yesterday, Trump called Stormy "horse face."
I don't know about others but if Trump will fornicate with something that he believes looks like a horse, I think he likely stuck his tongue down that reporter's throat.
One other thing that seems strange for our President to believe. This murdering of that Washington Post reporter by Saudi Arabia supposedly happened accidentally during interrogation. And then somebody accidentally used a bone-saw to cut the reporter's body into pieces.
Don't you just hate it when accidents like those happen?
I wonder if another innocent person will be a sacrificial 'accident' offered as an atonement therefore allowing Saudi Arabia-America business dealings as usual? You know the new American motto: 'Money talks; Morals walk."
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