Matching Socks

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“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

“When I was young I found out that the big toe always ends up making a hole in a sock. So I stopped wearing socks.” -Albert Einstein

“Granny always said finding justice was as tough as putting socks on a rooster.” -Jessica Maria Tuccelli, Glow

“I buy all my socks with holes in them. Otherwise, how would I get my feet in them?” -Jarod Kintz

“Women speak because they wish to speak, whereas a man speaks only when driven to speak by something outside himself-like, for instance, he can't find any clean socks.” -Jean Kerr

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We really do like to hear ourselves speak. ツ

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Today marks my 6th Twitterversary. I have to admit, I do not tweet much. I seem to post more here and on Facebook.

Interesting how this cartoon seems applicable to all forms of social media. Guess we all like to hear ourselves speak. ツ

I try not to blog about nothing but I think that I sometimes do.
Perhaps this post is an example of posting about nothing?

Can you relate? Do you write to hear yourself speak? ツ

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Kryptonite

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I saw a New Yorker cartoon today where Superman is talking to a lady in an office. He says: "Will I be penalized for not having health insurance if I'm young and actually invincible?" It brought a smile to my face until I thought about kryptonite. Yeah, even the Man of Steel was really not invincible. Sadly, or maybe not, it takes some of us a long time (and a lot of pain) to grasp the idea that we are not invincible. Often youth can be both a blessing and a curse.

My parents were exceptional encouragers - it was a long time before I understood that there were things in life that I could not accomplish. They deposited in me a strength and belief in my self that motivated me when I was young. Yet sometimes a substance like kryptonite is the vessel that shows us that we are weak and in need of One who is stronger. So often humility is forged by the painful rays of a very deadly substance that shows us that we are not invincible.

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Team or Seminary

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Gotta love Peanuts!

This cartoon strip points to the way that we in the church see ourselves.

Do we see ourselves as a team or just a group of religious debaters?

The answer speaks to how we treat each other.

Sadly I too often fall into the role of debating with my teammates.

I pray that I will take on the role of teammate more than debater.

I want to be one who loves, blesses and encourages my teammates.

How about you? Debater or teammate?

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Technical Difficulties

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I love how this Shoebox Cartoon reminds us that sometimes technology does not deliver on the promised relief that many thought that it would. Sometimes even commenting on blogs is laden with obstacles like captcha and moderation - do folks really get that much spam and nasty comments? Why not require user identification?

It seems that 'bad people' have always made it hard for the rest of us. Because of these nasty folks we are patted down at airports, our phone calls are monitored, people's privacy is invaded and folks identities are stolen. Sad that the evil of the few has affected so many of us. Not that having good passwords are a bad idea! ツ

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Christmas in November?

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This cartoon reminds me of how crazy retailers are about Christmas shopping. Many have gone black-Friday-overboard by actually opening on Thanksgiving Day.

You can ask my wife and she will tell you that I am usually not an advocate of shutting down stores on Sundays and most holidays (like Veterans Day or Labor Day) but really.

Isn't Thanksgiving more about being with Family and remembering our blessings? Shouldn't the day be one where employees have an opportunity to be with Family?

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More United than Divided

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This cartoon strip reminds me of how we can allow small things to divide us over the silliest things.
I suggest that we ponder the following things when we determine to major on the minors:

• Most of us have experienced love and we all have opportunities to show love.
• The sun shines and the rain falls on each and everyone one of us.
• We all value qualities in each other like courage, kindness, honesty and humility.
• Time stops for none of us. We each have 24 hours in a day. We all will one day die.
• Everyone wants to believe that there is more to life than what we experience each day.
• Our bodies are more alike than different - we each have the same life giving organs.
• Humans beings all suffer. We each are in need of encouragement when we are down.

I know there are more! What things would you add to my list of the ways that we are alike?

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Healthcare Mulligan

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Sometimes we just need a do over!

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Tolerable Thursdays

I liked this funny Shoebox cartoon and had to chuckle when I read this quote:

    I wish you a tolerable Thursday. That's all any of us can hope for. -April Winchell

You never do hear anyone thanking God because it is Thursday.

Facebook Contrarianism

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"A contrarian is a person who takes up a contrary position, especially a position that is opposed to that of the majority, regardless of how unpopular it may be."

I wonder if this word, contrarian, somewhat describes the way that many folks interact on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. I can relate to acting that way on occasion - my FB friends probably think it to be too many occasions.

That said, I wonder if you think that a contrarian is a welcome presence in your world or do you run when you see one? Are you the type of person who wants to always hangout with folks that have similar views or are you open to hearing views that are contrary to the ones that you hold? I vote for the latter. ツ

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Don't Trust Wally

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Does it get any better than Dilbert? Sometimes this funny comic strip is filled with life lessons. The obvious lesson here is that we should not be gullible like Asok the intern. Asok knew who Wally was yet he still trusted him to catch him when he fell. Interesting that Asok did not put his coffee mug down first - not sure what the message there is.

In life there are people who we should simply not trust. Don't be an Asok. Don't trust Wally to catch you when you fall! :)

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Dreams of Spring

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This funny Shoebox cartoon reminds me of these seasonal changes ...

    •  Warmer temps in KC. Snowing now but not in a few weeks.
    •  Brown giving way to green in the grass and trees.
    •  Open windows and sitting out on my deck again.
    •  Walking to restaurants in our area and eating on their patios.
    •  Taking short road trips and not worrying about bad weather.
    •  Planting new stuff in our planters and grilling on the deck.
    •  Driving with the windows open before it is A/C time.
    •  Maybe catching a baseball game on a warm (not hot) night?
    •  Watching the sun set over the river from our deck.
    •  Walking to our neighborhood Farmers Market on Saturdays.

What are you looking forward to in the next few months?

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Nothing to Say

Sometimes a cartoon like this one,
from the Shoebox blog,
speaks volumes.

Sometimes the sound of silence
is the best way to communicate
the way that we are feeling.

Sometimes the most friendly thing
that we can do is to simply listen
with an open and understanding heart.

Thankful for all the Free Stuff

This funny image made me smile.

I was annoyed by the new Facebook changes. This image reminds me to be thankful for free software like Chrome, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and the like. Apart from Quicken I really don't pay for software these days.

Glen Campbell's Alzheimer Diagnosis

I was saddened to hear the news that Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. My first memory of Glen and his music was listening to "By the Time I get to Phoenix" on my bunk at the Fort Bliss barracks in El Paso. "The Wichita Lineman" and "Gentle on my Mind" were other favorites from back in those days.

I am hopeful that a cure will eventually be found but until then my heart goes out to people like Glen and their families.

What is your favorite Campbell song?

Some Things are Hard to Say

Thought that a bit of humor from the Shoebox blog might be an appropriate follow-up to yesterday's post.

And it is not hard to say how much I appreciate all the prayers and the support  that you all have shown me this week. Thank you!

Top Three Toons

This cute Shoebox cartoon reminds me of all of the great cartoons I have enjoyed over the years.

Here are my top three:

      1) Dilbert
      2) Peanuts
      3) Farside

What are your top three?

Don't Call Me Four Eyes!

Can you imagine what life would be like if eyeglasses had never been invented? I have worn them for 30 years.. I even wore those huge aviator ones back in the 80s. My outdoor wedding pictures highlight the fact that I once wore photo-gray lenses.

I guess my thinking is don't call me four eyes - call me blessed.
Do you have any stories to share about wearing glasses?

The Illusion of Networks.. Social and Otherwise

This funny Shoebox cartoon reminds me that our online personas do not always mesh with reality. It is good to acknowledge that carefully crafted profiles on blogs and facebook profiles often do not match reality. These online venues can be masks presenting pretty pictures and lofty descriptions of people we do not know.

On the flip-side I doubt that many of us really know the people that we regularly interact with. Who has not been surprised by friends? A few years ago one of my religious friends was caught doing drugs, losing lots of money gambling and running around on his wife.

Maybe there is a bit of illusion in all friend networks?

Bored Collies

Ann and I once had a Border Collie named Toby. I was reminded of him when Ann referred me to a Wall Street Journal post about people who rented sheep to keep their Border Collies from getting bored.
Here is the way it ends:
Border collies appear willing to herd until they drop. In fact, they never appear to grow bored of organizing sheep. If they do, for an extra $5 dogs at Fido's Farm can also herd ducks.