Dog Fence

Among my other duties in retirement is taking care of dogs. My ace number one daughter has two dogs and when she is away, I get to be the boss of the dogs - ha ha. And, because daughter has moved to another house that has no fence, the dogs have come to live with me, until such time as I can come up with a way to keep them corralled at the new location.

I have now seen every conceivable option for keeping doggies within boundaries. My first thought was to go over and build a fence. That’s not an option. Then, I came up with setting up a dog exercise pen. Not an option. And, finally there was the option of electronic fences, but which one? Not all of those are effective in keeping rover on the home property.

After hours of research and making trips to pet stores, I decided to go with one that hopefully has all the features I will need to keep the dogs inside the property lines. I found it online at a site where my daughter has an account, and ordered it, charging it to my daughter’s account.

While I was there I also ordered myself a new light for my flag pole. Charged that to her account too.

Don’t mess with the dog keeper.

PMO
©2017

Tennessee: Take That

There are now eight states on California’s travel ban list: Alabama, Kentucky, South Dakota, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kansas, and North Carolina. California meant it when they proclaimed they would not tolerate discrimination against LGBTQ members of their community. My first question: aren’t travel bans illegal?

The eight states have reportedly violated California’s vision of how to treat people in the LGBTQ population. Therefore they have banned travel by any government employee or coaches from University of California schools. The players can go to the games, but the coaches cannot. Economic development teams are likewise forbidden to go to these states, which violates the Constitution’s free trade articles.

A joint resolution from the Tennessee has, so far, the best response to California trying to dictate to other states. The resolution contains: "Whereas, is pleasantly surprised that California will not be sending its economic development teams to Tennessee to recruit our businesses, but we can still send our teams to recruit their businesses."

Maybe that we need to focus on building the wall on the border with California.

PMO
©2017

Family Dinner

Somewhere back in the cave days, a family probably gathered for a meal and grunted a few syllables that meant something. As technology progressed, a family gathered in a hut, teepee or lean-to for a meal and communicated in some way. And, eventually, a family gathered in a nice house, with air conditioning, and enjoyed a meal with some family discussion.

Fast forward to today. If a family sits down together for a meal, everyone is on their smart phone and there is no talking.

If you want someone to pass the taters, you send them a text.

And, remember, these are the good old days for the kids today.

PMO
©2017

More Pay Equals Less

A study conducted by economists at the University of Washington reveals what anyone that has been in business for over 10 seconds already knows. When, you are forced to increase minimum wages, workers lose.

Seattle increased the minimum wage to $13 per hour a couple of years ago. Advocates wanted it to be $15, but that idea is waiting for a national decision. As expected, low-income workers lost hours and money. In fact, low income workers, according to the study, lost an average of $1,500 per year. When you barely get by, that’s a big hit.

Reality is that business must control fixed cost or raise prices. When a price increase is not feasible, cost cannot go up. Low-income jobs always get hit when times get tough or when times are booming. There is always a way to cut labor, either through technology or having full time employees absorb the tasks.

Low-income jobs are rarely meant to pay enough to support a family. They usually are part-time and require minimum skills. This is why they usually are filled with students or old people looking for something to do or supplement their retirement.

Over the years, I had a few minimum wage jobs. Being bright enough to tell I was never going to get rich, I chose to increase my skills and education. Not only did I benefit, but I left a spot for someone else on their way up in the real world to get a little pay, while they learn to do better for themselves.

The bottom line is that increasing minimum wage to unrealistic numbers will never make anyone more money, except the government.

It’s a good thing Seattle didn’t raise the wage to $100 per hour.

Everyone would have lost their jobs.

PMO
©2017

Problem

Have you seen the billboards around the country that advertise casinos? Often they feature some "old" celebrity appearance. And, of course they also try to entice you into their establishment. Then, there’s always the disclaimer, "If you have a gambling problem, call 800, - - -, ----."

Next time you see one of the billboards, write down the number and when you can do so safely, call.
Tell them you have a gambling problem.  Losing.
Wait for the silence and the click.

PMO
©2017

Avoided

In case you haven’t noticed, I have avoided comments about all the trash you see and hear everyday on radio and television about what’s going on with the current administration. Not that you need my comments or even care what I think, I’m going to tell you what’s really happening according to the make-it-up media.

First and foremost, The Donald is the anti-Christ and that’s his best quality. Nancy Pelosi is surely going to be up for sainthood. Democrats are the only hope this nation has and Republicans are evil racist, homophobes, that want old people to starve to death.

And, last but not least, if you don’t convert to the Muslim religion, you are some kind of idiot.

Don’t you just love my sarcasm?

PMO
©2017

The Secret

What’s the secret to staying married for over 50 years? I get asked that question often, as others do that have hit or passed the big 50. Well, I suppose the first thing that each party must do is suppress the urge to strangle the other one.

Every marriage has problems, and there are no instructions on how to handle them all. You just have to "wing it." It takes a lot of "winging it." Certainly love is not enough to keep two people together. There are divorces everyday with two people still loving each other. You have to like the other person, and you can’t make the other person like you. It just has to be there.

Certainly, forgiveness is a big factor. Both asking for forgiveness and giving same. And, there can be some mighty big things to forgive. Then, you have to forget, or at least bury it. That’s where you test your love and like.

It is helpful that you discover those things you have in common and do them. Marriage is strange, because opposites do attract. Hey, fishing is not everybody’s idea of a perfect day. Nor, it spending a day shopping. It is important that you both realize that you need time apart, but work toward being together.

Being helpful because you want to is also important. But, be careful. Be helpful on only those things that you can actually do. Likewise, appreciating help is important.

There are as many different reasons to stay married all your lives as there are marriages.

If asked the question the best answer just may be, "I can’t tell you. It’s a secret."

PMO
©2017

Regrets

As stated before, I don’t watch much television. Television was invented because there as so many people that can’t understand plain English - they have to have a picture. Anyway, recently I saw a commercial that stated that when you get older you will have more regrets about what you didn’t do than what you did do. Is that so?

Everyone has regrets of one kind or another. But, it is those that you did that you will regret the most. Some linger with you all your life, and you won’t believe that you were that stupid at one time. And, usually, the big difference between what you did and did not do is shame. Not too many people are ashamed all their life because they never learned to play the tuba.

Maybe you ought to take toll of all the things you’ve done and haven’t done and see how they measure up on the did and didn’t do scale. Or, maybe not.

I do regret that I never learned to fly an airplane, and never learned to play a guitar.

So I could do both at the same time.

PMO
©2017

Say What

"Cultural appropriation" is a term that is used to vilify those that adopt ideas, styles, dress, expressions, cuisine or social practices from cultures not their own. It is considered as a form of racial oppression, according to one of my trusted news sources. It is such a big issue that delegates from 189 countries are gathering for a specialized international committee meeting in Geneva to declare the practice illegal and work toward creating international laws to prevent it.

Just when you think you’ve heard every ridiculous idea, there’s always some group just waiting in the wings. Basically, the intent of any laws is to prevent nasty things like freedom of speech and expression or allowing cultures to blend to make a country like the United States. Around the world, and here, there are those that seek to control people at all cost - cost to the people that is.

This is a concept that is impossible to understand for those that believe in our Constitution and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Just imagine what this kind of thinking can lead to.

First and foremost, what happens to Mexican food, or Italian food, or just about any kind of food? If you like your fish cooked Cajun style, you will have to have a certified Cajun cook it, and it appears that even then you can’t eat it. Plus, what happens if you say a term like, "how ya’ll are" and you’re not Cajun?

Does this mean that black people must dress like they do in Africa? Will only real cowboys be allowed to wear cowboy hats and boots? The ridiculous list can and will go on and on.

What I want to know is what culture owns barbequed pork ribs.

I want to join up before it’s too late.

PMO
©2017

Beautiful Sound

If you were asked to describe the most beautiful sound, what would it be? Some would say, the sound of silence. Others might say the sound a of new born baby crying, a child’s first word, or perhaps the song of a song bird. Then, there’s the beautiful sound made by a musical instrument in the hands of a master musician. It’s really a tough question and not one that many people would consider very often.

I suggest that the most beautiful sound is laughter. It is in laughter that one forgets the troubles, trials and tribulations of life. Even pain subsides or goes away when you laugh. When people laugh, they laugh as one although they may be mortal enemies. It is the magic that, even for a moment, bonds people and makes the world to be all right. However short the time may be, when you laugh, you are truly happy for that moment.

I have said before and say again to my generation, "You don’t quit laughing because you got old. You got old because you quit laughing."

Even God has a sense of humor.

Just look at the people around you.

PMO
©2017

Brown Cow

How now brown cow? Have you heard that 17 million Americans believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows? At least that’s what they say on NPR and CNN, and you know how reliable they are. But, I can believe that there are at least 17 million adults in this country that believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows. I do not think there are 17 million cows that would believe it.

It is just a little troubling, though not surprising, that we have people, that vote, that honestly believe such foolishness. Let’s just hope they are all part of the people that think that government is the solution and working people are supposed to support them.

It takes all kinds of people to make up the world, but to think that chocolate milk comes from brown cows?

Everybody knows, or should know, that chocolate milk comes from the dairy section in the store.

PMO
©2017

A Dog

My financial controller, aka: wife, wants a dog. She had a Yorkie once and she wants another one. But, I know who ends up taking care of dogs and I am not having another dog. But, she never gives up. Every time she sees a Yorkie, she has to point it out to me or if I’m not there, she comes home and tells me all about it.

When I say she wants a dog, I mean, ‘she wants a dog.’ I told her that when I die, she can get one. So, I can just imagine what’s going to happen when I die. Here’s what I think may happen.

Neighbor: "I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I didn’t know about it until after the funeral."

Wife: "Thank you."

Neighbor: "Where there a lot people at the funeral service?"

Wife: "I don’t know. I wasn’t there. I had to go pick up my new Yorkie."

I told my wife this story and she said that she would not do that.

She’s going to pick up the dog right after the funeral service.

PMO
©2017

Bird Feeder

My in-laws are old - he’s 94 and she’s 89. They live in an assisted living center near us. They usually spend their days taking naps or getting ready to take a nap. Father-in-law likes to watch birds out of the living area window, so I bought him a bird feeder and hung it outside their window.

As birds do, it took only a day for them to find the feeder. Mostly cardinals show up daily to have a few munches. Mother-in-law says the bird feeder is too small. She claims the birds fall off the feeder trying to eat. I’m not exactly sure what she wants, and I haven’t asked her. But, as usual I have some smart aleck answer.

I told her the birds fall off the feeder because I bought some vodka and soaked the seeds before I put them in the feeder.

I pointed out, "Look at how happy they are when they fall off."

PMO
©2017

The nation's first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it was not until 1972 - 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day official–that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States.

From the beginning, many men saw and still see the day as a commercial movement to get people to buy gifts that are often paid for by the father anyway. While it is nice that a day is designated to recognize dear old dad, it will never compare to money making mother’s day. But, we do have a day where people feel obligated to buy presents or at least a card.

It is my experience and opinion that if one wants to give special recognition to dad, one should just spend a little time with him. Think about this. What if a grown daughter just went over to dad, sat down in his lap and leaned against his shoulder and said, "I love you dad." What if a son just took dad out to a ball game, a day of fishing or even just sat on the porch and talked.

Fathers are different than mothers. Their job has always been to protect and provide for their children. They are supposed to be the good guy - bad guy. It’s their job, and if they do it right, the children will know that they love them more than anything in the world.

It is estimated that we spend $1 billion each year on gifts for father’s day. That’s a lot of ties and socks.

Trust me, a genuine hug and kiss or a thankful handshake is worth more than anything you can buy.

PMO
©2017

Small Town Texas

I have a story to share, but first I must give you a little background on small towns in Texas. If you have not seen "Greater Tuna," the original players, then you need to buy a copy on line. Tuna is a fictional town in Texas, but it’s characters include someone you know or will know in your life. My favorite character in the play is Didi Snavely. Didi owns "Didi’s Used Weapons" where the moto is, "If Didi can’t kill it, it’s immortal."

The play has only two actors that play all the parts. Costume changes are so fast you won’t believe them. I know I was amazed the first time I saw the play. And, the characters have different voices and personalities that are hilarious. The last time I saw it live, we had center front row balcony seats, and I noticed an older lady sitting on the front row, stage right. She laughed so hard that she fell out of her seat and got down on the floor still laughing. I told you, the characters will define people you know or introduce you to the mind set that lives in parts of Texas.

Now, I’ve said all that to tell my story. Back in the day when professional people wore suits and ties, not cargo shorts and flip flops like they do today, one of my co-workers and I had to make a trip to a little town in West Texas. We had an eight o’clock meeting with some community services leaders. Because it was a long drive from Dallas, we had to go the day before and spend the night.

There was only one motel in the town. It had a swimming pool, with about 6 inches of green slime on the bottom - that’s all, no water, just slime. And, I must say that this was my first and last time to check in and the clerk that gave me a fly swatter for the room. Are you getting the picture?

The next morning, my co-worker and I went across the parking lot to the only café for breakfast. When we walked in, a tall skinny white guy in a black suit with tie, and a not as tall, skinny black guy in a black suit with tie, everybody turned to stare at us. And, they kept on staring at us. Heaven only knows what they were thinking or whispering to each other.

The guy at the cash register got on the phone for just a moment or two. Within minutes, two Texas State Troopers came in the door and took a table near us. I am not making this up. They greeted several people and turned to give us a good looking over. About this time, my co-worker and I begin to feel a little out of place - a lot out of place. He could barely eat his breakfast, which wasn’t bad.

We finished our meal as quickly as we could, paid our check and while he waited at the door, I walked over to the two troopers. I told them who we were and what we were doing in town. And, I asked them if they knew some State Trooper friends of mine. They did know one. That seemed to make things better.

We went back to the motel and checked out to get to our meeting. I wanted to take the fly swatter with me, but I left it in the room.

Little towns in Texas are sometimes living in a world of their own. Like where we live in East Texas now.

Maybe you need to watch "Greater Tuna" to get the full effect of what I’m talking about.

PMO
©2017

Counter Protest

Sharia Law has been causing a lot of concern, including recent protest against it by armed citizens. There were also counter protesters - many of whom were women. And, this causes me to wonder why.

Under Sharia women have limited, if any, rights. There are still places where a man can beat his wife and he may have multiple wives. Men "marry" girls as young as 10 or 12 years old.

A man can divorce a wife by just saying so, but a wife cannot. And, the man gets custody of the children. Basically, a woman is subservient to a man. In some cultures a woman is not allowed to even shake hands with a man that is not family.

Yes, Islam is like other beliefs, there are differing interpretations of the laws and rules. But, generally speaking, women are considered property.

A celebrity, whom I will not name, told a story about his visit to a certain country. The custom there was for the woman to walk 10 paces behind the man. However, upon a return trip to that country, he observed women walking well ahead of their husband.

The reason?

Land mines.

PMO
©2017

Another Wally Mart Adventure

As mentioned several times, I do most of the shopping in an effort to help my financial controller. She has plenty to keep her busy. I also do most of the cooking, but that’s another story. On my weekly trip to Wally Mart, I happened to see the store manager and asked her a question about Shredded Wheat.

If you don’t know what shredded wheat, it is a cereal that looks like a bale of hay. I tried it once - notice that I said once. However, my financial controller and my 89 year old mother-in-law (MIL) eats the stuff every day for breakfast and "MIL" eats it more than once per day. It is a staple in their diets, especially MILs. Therefore it is critical that I maintain a supply of this product.

For several months now, Wally Mart has been hit and miss on stocking shredded wheat - mostly miss. The local grocery stopped stocking it about a year ago. I’ve even changed Wally Mart stores to find this essential to life cereal. When I asked the store manager about why it was no longer on the shelves, she had no idea of what I was talking about. But, one of her helpers did. After returning to the cereal isle, they scanned a price tag where the elusive bales had been and discovered it is now discontinued. I told her that I would have to bring my financial controller and MIL to the store and they could hash it out. I'm just the errand boy.

After MIL gets through with her, the store manager will likely be eating a lot of fruit loops.

PMO
©2017

Continued

I can’t help myself, I’m still thinking about those brain transplants and especially some of the possible side effects. For example, if you have a geek brain and you get a sports body, which adapts to the other. It may be impossible to find a long distance run with wi-fi.

In reverse, you have a sports brain and you get a geek body. No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to bench press 300 pounds. Trust me, it’s going to be difficult to hang out in the gym after the operation.

And which ever way you go, is your brain going to recognize your face? For the guys, when you shave, aren’t you going to feel a little strange running a razor over a face you never saw? And, ladies, what if you were a redhead and now you have auburn hair? What about family and friends? How will they know you are you, when you are not really you? When you start talking about things you know about them, they are going to be a little uneasy.

The list can go on and on, but I guess the tough one would be if you are a male and your brain goes into a female body. Isn’t this going to be a shock when you see yourself in full length mirror for the first time?

You might say, "I didn’t think I drank that much."

PMO
©2017

Brain Transplant

I had an appointment at the cardiologist and after my 10,000 mile check up, he asked if I had any other problems. I told him that I need a brain transplant, but the problem there is no earthworm is willing to be a donor. He commented that there will be such an attempt this year - to transplant a brain.

From my followup I discovered there is or will be more than one attempt to do such an operation. The earliest will be in December and involve a man whose brain is good, but his body is bad. Therefore, the attempt will be to take his entire head and put it on a body that works. The donor is "brain dead" and cannot be revived.

At this point, are you believing this? It’s true. I know right about now you are thinking about an old Frankenstein movie - if you’ve ever seen one.

In this "head transplant or body transplant," the recipient will be kept in a coma for three to four weeks. And, if you have seen a Frankenstein movie, they will have real implanted electrodes to strengthen new never connections in the spinal cord.

Other doctors are looking into using brains from those people that choose cryonics - the practice or technique of deep-freezing the bodies of people who have just died, in the hope that scientific advances may allow them to be revived in the future. I wonder if this is successful, if the patient wakes up and the first thing he says is, "Turn up the heat."

Just think. Someday you may be able to get a new body and keep on trucking.

But, remember, an old brain is still an old brain.

PMO
©2017

Same Sources

I’ve known Dr. Wild Bill of the "Get Down With Your Bad Self Church of What’s Happening Now," for over 40 years. We exchange some emails and occasionally talk on the phone. We don’t talk often, because he has caller ID and doesn’t answer if I call. One of these days I will have something important to say and he’s going to miss it.

Bill has a blog and I try to read it often. And, I’ve noticed that he and I must have some of the same news sites, because he uses some of the ideas that I use. Of course he puts his own spin on a subject - his spin will make your head spin. But, it is obvious that we share the same views on politics and Baptist church doctrines. The only rub there is that he believes that Baptist should eat only pork ribs, which I like. But, since I’m older, I know that if you want to get a crowd at a Sunday go to meeting, just get a few buckets of fried chicken, which I don’t like.

None the less, it is interesting that our views and interest are so similar since we don’t talk or visit hardly at all. It just may be best that we keep things the way they are. At least we stay friends this way.

I think it must be true.

To be old friends takes a long time.

PMO
©2017

Bumper Stickers

Do you read bumper stickers? Of course you do, unless you are texting while you drive. I must have read a million of them, but here are a few that have entertained me.

"Stop repeat offenders. Don't re-elect them!"

"Time is what keeps everything from happening at once."

"Work is for people who don't know how to fish"

"The more people I meet, the more I like my dog."

"Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't."

"Jury: Twelve people who determine which client has the better lawyer."

"If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?"

"Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now."

"Some people are only alive because it is illegal to shoot them."

"I.R.S.: We've got what it takes to take what you've got!"

And last but not least, the one that I can really relate to.

"I started out with nothing & still have most of it left."

PMO
©2017

Practice What You Preach

To all the climate change alarmist, I think more people would believe if you would only demonstrate how to cut down on all the bad stuff that humans do. Quit flying in planes and driving cars. Don’t use air conditioning or heating in your house. A box fan or ceiling fan will be okay. Since any type of heating is sure to give off carbon pollution, I have no idea how you can stay warm, but as smart as you are, surely you can come up with something.

Now, lets get down to basics. Refuse to use things like washers and dryers. They pollute because of the electricity they use, not to mention all the lint that sneaks by the trap into the atmosphere. Wash in the river, but don’t use soap, or get an old black pot and wash in the back yard. If you put water into the pot during sunny days, the water will warm up pretty quickly.

So far as drying clothes, use a solar clothes dryer. They’ve been around for centuries and are super for not polluting anything. All it takes is a couple of post with some small rope stretched between them, and some clothes pins. And, you get that fresh sunny smell.

To reduce pollution, you must lead the way. Be the first on your block to sacrifice using modern conveniences.

And, don’t be offended by people pointing at you and laughing.

What do they know?

PMO
©2017

Dog Days

My ace number one daughter and her hubby have gone on vacation, leaving us to care for two dogs. Let’s be clear, I like dogs, but I don’t want a dog. We usually will have to bring the dogs over for a day or two, but this time we have them for 10 days.

One dog is blind, or almost blind and the other one snores like a high pitched magpie. They usually are not a lot of trouble, just enough to keep me remembering why I don’t want a dog. This time, both dogs have all but quit eating. I thought it might be the dog food we always give them, so I bought some more. I’m thinking they were tired of the same old stuff. Nope.

My financial controller suggested the dogs may just miss their house and family. I told her that we are not taking those dogs to a therapist. However, we may need to take me to one. They don’t want me out of their sight. That is because I give them "treats," aka, table scraps. Since I do most of the cooking, I can’t help but appreciate their taste in good food.

Another possibility as to why they don’t eat is they don’t get to watch "The View" or "Ellen" on TV. When they are home, they watch these shows everyday. Or they listen to music via "Alexa."

Maybe, it’s just because, they ain’t hungry.

PMO
©2017

Live Longer

After listening to the TV hucksters, internet hackers, medical mystics and whomever else, I now know what you should be doing, whether you want to or not.

You should not smoke, drink (even one drink), eat red meat, or any meat for that matter, eat fish (has toxins from all the pollution), or eat anything else that you eat now. You should eat only organic eggplant and cucumbers.

You must stop using air conditioning, refrigerators, clothes washers and dryers, or anything that uses electricity. You are destroying the planet. No cars, planes, trains. You may ride a bicycle if you can make one without using electricity.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that you must stop doing anything that is fun, taste good, or makes you comfortable.

You won’t live longer. In fact you will not live as long.

But it will seem like a long time.  A really, really long time.

PMO
©2017

Other Guys Said It Better

A couple of days or so ago, I spouted off about manners - the lack thereof. Because I like brief and to the point discussion, I discovered someone that said what I tried to say in a lot less words.

"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy." —Samuel Adams (1779)

And, while I’m at it, we might as well cover what it takes to be free. Brief and easy to understand.

"The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog." —Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936)

Once again, a few words can say volumes.

PMO
©2017

It's True

It is true that Trump is trying to destroy America - the America that leftist, progressives, and snowflakes want. Did you see the young woman on TV or Youtube crying and screaming prior to the election, "This is MY America."

He is trying to destroy the America of fake news, bad science, and dependency upon mommy and/or the government. He is trying to destroy the America of open borders so citizens will be safer than otherwise. He wants an America that makes the world respect us, and if necessary, fear us. He is trying to rebuild an America where Americans are responsible for their actions and take pride in providing for themselves and their families.

Yes, Trump is trying to destroy the America that the previous administration almost had in place to truly destroy in the real sense.

What America is being destroyed? There is a woman who lives with her mother. She went to college and came out qualified to be a veterinarian tech. She believes that she should be earning a minimum of $200,000 per year and work only on days when she wants to. I’m not making this up. This person is real.

The America of make believe must be destroyed.

Or, America will be destroyed in a way you won’t believe.

PMO
©2017

First Question

We all have expectations when we get to heaven. Personally, I don’t think there are pearly gates and streets made of gold. That would not be in line with the teachings of not having a love of money. And, I suppose that each of us will have a million questions to ask.

My first question has to be one that has puzzled men from the beginning. Let me explain with a little story. A man was walking along the sea shore in California when he spotted an old bottle. He retrieved the bottle and could tell it was really old. Since he could not see what was inside, he carefully opened it. To his surprise a genie popped out. The genie explained that a wicked wizard had placed him in the bottle nearly two thousand years ago. As a token of his appreciation for being freed, he told the man that he would grant him one wish. Anything he wanted or wanted to know.

The man answered almost immediately and said, "I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, but have such a fear of flying or being on a boat, that I could never go. So, I want you to build a bridge from California to Hawaii so I can drive there."

The genie explained to the man, "That would be a extraordinary feat, and while I can do that, it would require millions of tons of concrete and steel that could be put to better use. Is there anything else you might request?"

The man answered, "Well, there is one more thing. I would like you to explain to me how a woman thinks."

The genie looked the man straight in the eye and said, "Do you want that bridge to be two lanes or four?"

There will be a long line in heaven waiting for God to answer that question.

PMO
©2017

Manners

Manners are simply one’s behavior toward others - being polite. Manners are less, more and more everyday. We have become a nation with bad manners, although it doesn’t take much to be well behaved, especially in public settings.

Offering your seat to an elderly person, disabled person or a lady on a bus is good manners. How long has it been since you’ve seen that happen. Opening a door for someone, helping them with a package or just politely asking, "Do you need some help," is good manners. Not picking your nose at dinner, especially in a restaurant, is basic to good manners.

I had a man that worked for me for awhile, who stopped to open a door for a woman approaching. She sternly told him, "You don’t have to open the door for me, because I’m a lady." He replied, "I didn’t. I opened the door for you because I am a gentleman."

When good manners are not practiced, they cease to exist.

Like when people talk on a cell phone in a restaurant or elevator.

PMO
©2017

Q & A

Sometimes the best way to get someone to understand what you are trying to communicate is to answer a question is with a question.  Jack Nicholson is credited with making this approach effective.  So, in his style, we are going to answer once and for all the issue of global warming.

Question: Who put the honey in honeybee?
Answer: Mother Nature

Question: Who put the butter in buttercup?
Answer: Mother Nature

Question: Who put the frig in global warming?
Answer: There ain’t no frig in global warming.

That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.

PMO
©2016

The Fix

If you happen to be as tired of all the "stuff" on radio, TV and in newspapers as I am, take 15 minutes and write some letters. It won’t take much time to look up the CEO for major advertisers and your representatives.

The "stuff" I’m talking about is fake news, made up accusations, and special recognition for individuals and /or groups that get attention for ridiculous actions. These would include Christian bashing and law suits, while praising criminal activities.

It doesn’t take a lot of letters to get the attention of a CEO. A simple letter stating that you will never use their product or service again will have an impact. Gather up some friends and family and have them write too.

Writing to representatives is a little different. You must express exactly how you feel and let them know that your friends and family feel the same way. Most representatives have email, but take the time to write a real letter and send it.

This country needs some "fixing."

In some cases, neutering.

PMO
©2017