tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85588457422381968652024-03-13T08:36:55.818-07:00Hating GodTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-60927000663306143642021-01-14T17:47:00.006-08:002021-01-14T17:53:41.011-08:00Saved by Morton Carpenter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JFlPsz-IrU/YADz8ZBaNVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/6Qzsw_lYxSwbKWV3R5Ov_ifrVcFcKVP1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s516/MortonCarpenter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JFlPsz-IrU/YADz8ZBaNVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/6Qzsw_lYxSwbKWV3R5Ov_ifrVcFcKVP1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MortonCarpenter.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal">Why do bad things happen to good people?<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal">This is one of the oldest questions in humankind. The oldest
book of the bible, Job, was all about this. Haven’t most people pondered this
question from time to time?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I certainly don’t know the reason God lets this happen, but
I can guess. Maybe it has to do with allowing everyone to have free choice;
even bad people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus said, "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." I personally think that it is very hard for an arrogant
man to submit to Jesus.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I, like so many of my generation had slowly drifted away
from God. I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church in a parish where the
pastor was a crook and a pedophile. I barely escaped his clutches, but some of
my friends were not so lucky.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I became a scientist and all the so-called scientific
arguments against God seemed right. I was also pretty full of myself which of
course drew me farther away from God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was married to a wonderful woman who also had drifted away
from God. Both of us still had that empty hole in our chests where God should
reside, but we didn’t know how to get it back. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I made some poor business decisions and lost almost
everything we owned. I got a job right away flying for Pan American World
Airways, but they went out of business after two years just after we had
started paying this month’s bills this month; my wife’s father invited us to
move in with him in the town my wife had grown up in.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We both started feeling more of a draw towards God and my
wife started going to church. I went with her reluctantly. I still had a lot of
questions about organized religion and a lot of questions about God.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One day I was up in the attack looking for something when a book
fell off a tall stack and almost hit me on the head. I picked it up and looked
at the book that had the audacity to hit me; it was Josh McDowell’s “More Than
a Carpenter”. I sat down on a step and started to reading it right through.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every time someone had ever tried to get me to believe in
God it always boiled down to a set of feelings, “Oh, you will know it is right
when you feel God in your soul,” or “you
should believe in God because of the existence of intelligence, love, altruism,
and art.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These emotional arguments never seemed to hit home with me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Josh McDowell’s tome on the other hand was a logical set of
reasons of why I should believe in God. I guess Josh was an atheist and he sat
down to read the bible one day to strengthen his arguments against God; by the
time he had reached the end he was a convert. This was the first time anyone
had ever tried to use logical arguments to win me over.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t over yet because I still had a lot of scientific
questions not answered like “how do dinosaurs fit with the bible,” or “how
uranium dating fit with the bible’s timeline?” Amazingly enough, somehow a book
or a resource was always shown to me to answer all my questions. I was later
baptized and have been a practicing Christian for many years now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Years later in another church I was telling this story to a
small group at coffee hour when the pastor’s wife heard some of what I was
saying. Later she asked me who this Morton guy was that helped save me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">*****<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></blockquote><p><br /> </p>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-91758267128584540392020-08-30T16:08:00.005-07:002020-08-30T16:15:28.199-07:00My dad would have loved Emmett Love<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-53QNZfNqLYI/X0wy2Lf7GOI/AAAAAAAAANE/vr1DUstibAMjPFOp9wCEnhHLMHyV5euCACLcBGAsYHQ/s456/crew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-53QNZfNqLYI/X0wy2Lf7GOI/AAAAAAAAANE/vr1DUstibAMjPFOp9wCEnhHLMHyV5euCACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/crew.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">(My dad is in the top row 4th from the left)</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /> My Dad passed away 29 years ago this past summer and my
memories of him are starting to get frayed around the edges. I do remember that he was a very heroic guy
who loved other heroes!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like many from his generation he went to sign up for WW
II. When rejected by the Army for flat
feet he was devastated. I never realized how much this devastated him until I
saw the movie Hacksaw Ridge where Desmond T. Doss testified that several people
in his home town committed suicide when they were found to be 4F, unqualified
for service. My Dad went to the Army Air Corp recruiter the next day and the
first question he was asked was whether or not he had been rejected by any
other service. My Dad hung his head and
admitted that the Army had rejected him for flat feet. The Army Air Corp recruiter smiled and said, “Come
on in boy, we don’t do any marching in the Air Corp!” My Dad then enlisted in
the Army Air Corps and ended up as a waist gunner in a photographic B-29
Superfortress in the South Pacific.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the morning of August 6th, 1945 he and his crew took off
from the island of Guam to make a photographic damage assessment over
Japan. The crew picked this mission to
bring along a real-to-real recorder in order to record their in-plane
conversations to send home to the folks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Little did they know that on this same morning the Enola Gay
took off from the same island for their rendezvous with the city of
Hiroshima. In a typical military SNAFU,
my Dad's airplane was never meant to take off that eventful day. Once they found out, the decision was made to
let them go; they couldn't very well get on the radios and recall them telling
them they were dropping the big one today!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> My Dad's crew members
were speaking very professional knowing that they were being recorded; they had brought a real to real onboard to tape their mission to send home to the folks.
"Pilot to Bombardier. Roger Pilot,
this is the Bombardier." Then the
bomb "Little Boy" reached its target and it looked like a star had
exploded. "Roger Bombardier, this
is the pilot. How far ... What the fudge
is that?" Only they didn't use the
word fudge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The crew members of the Enola gay commanded by Paul Tibbets were
dressed in radiation suits with leaded goggles to protect them from the
blast. My Dad's crew members were
wearing their usual T-shirts and sun glasses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After they returned to base they were severely debriefed and
their real-to-real recording was confiscated.
No one knows to this day where that recording is; probably in some
warehouse in Washington next to the Arc of the Covenant!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What a hero, but if you could ask him today, he would say he
was born 60 years too late; he really wanted to be a cowboy. He would have been a regular at the Lucky
Spur in Dodge City, he would have fallen in love with Gentry and he would have
backed Emmett Love up whenever he needed it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How do I know this, well as a child I watched every John
Wayne western ever made with my Dad, not to mention every episode of Bonanza
and Gun Smoke at least 2-3 times. My Dad
loved the allure of the Wild West and I know he would have loved to have been a
bronco-buster back then. I can picture
my Dad escorting a wagon train or going into a saloon for a drink, a game of
stud poker or some other pleasures.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If my Dad was still alive he would have devoured every word
of "Follow the Stone" and "Don't Poke the Bear" and then
would have moved on to all the Donavan Creed novels. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How do I know he would have loved Donovan Creed? Well, there was that time he decided to live
in the attic for 6 months!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can't write intriguing stories like John Locke can. But, I am a Christian and I like to share my
faith.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">*****<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p><br /></p>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-42776515558459225742020-08-14T09:50:00.003-07:002020-08-24T09:35:47.157-07:00The Americans with Disabilities Act <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnCfNwrbaVw/Xza_eJF5-SI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/EvoAa_6K9CMOgkEudBmZS2ehytsMYncbACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/wheelchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnCfNwrbaVw/Xza_eJF5-SI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/EvoAa_6K9CMOgkEudBmZS2ehytsMYncbACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/wheelchair.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">My Libertarian leanings have always made me lean towards
having less Federal government. I never agreed with The Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) that required handicap bathrooms, handicap access and
handicap parking spaces for private businesses (public buildings are a
different matter). I always felt that a private business shouldn’t be forced to
make these accommodations; that they should be willing to make them on their
own out of altruistic feelings or to attract more business. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I started writing my Hating God Trilogy, I chose Carl
Spenser as one of my main characters who had lost both of his feet in Afghanistan
serving in the Army. In “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-17&qid=1399720924" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, the first book of the trilogy he spent
the entire book using a wheel chair. In “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, the second book of the
trilogy he visits Next Step Bionics & Prosthetics, Inc. in Manchester, New
Hampshire to get fitted for a snazzy set of prosthetic feet and lower legs
featuring the stars and stripes. He acclimates to these prosthetics fast and
actually skis on them in “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>”, the final book of the trilogy. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had to do a lot of research about people in wheel chairs
to write that first book. I had to think about how a person saddled with a
wheel chair handled many things that we walkers take for granted. What type of
bathroom set-up is conducive to a wheelchair bound person and how does the
procedure even work? How hard is it to maneuver a wheel chair in inclement
weather; forget about wheeling on ice or snow? How does a wheelchair bound
person use a handicap bathroom stall? What kind of Olympic Gymnastic move is
required to use a bathroom stall that is not handicap accessible? How hard is
it to cook your own food? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The more I researched how wheelchair bound people
accomplished even the simplest actions, the more I empathized with them. I
actually went through a major back surgery during this period and the thought
of having to use a wheel chair for the rest of my life became more than just a
thought exercise, but a distinct possibility. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Political philosophies many times don’t stand up when they
collide with the harsh realities of life. I must say that I am leaning more
towards the ADA giving more benefit to mankind than it takes away. I must say
that my dander still pops up when I drive by a strip mall and all four of the
handicap parking spaces are always empty outside the martial arts studio. </p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">*****<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating
God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”,
“<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.<o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-74246966676698481442020-07-25T07:49:00.000-07:002020-07-25T07:49:08.899-07:00Hating God Trilogy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-echOk5meBBI/XxxEwXjfxHI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TTUkvv4dJk4WZvR8OyoceCqm_24ZsmlqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/HatingGodTrilogy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="828" height="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-echOk5meBBI/XxxEwXjfxHI/AAAAAAAAAL0/TTUkvv4dJk4WZvR8OyoceCqm_24ZsmlqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/HatingGodTrilogy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“Why do bad things happen to good people?” is probably the
most asked question in human history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first book of the controversial Hating God Trilogy,
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=hating+god+trilogy&qid=1595688390&sr=8-39e668-b469-4e4c-89a0-1ae248e21994" target="_blank">Hating God</a>, introduces readers to an intriguing character they won’t soon
forget – Susan Lynn Buckley.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Devastated by the loss of her parents to a drunk driver at
age twelve, Susan has hated God for many years. Surrounded by the doctrine of a
liberal Woman’s Studies Department, Susan doesn’t seem to believe in God
anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who is this strong, godly man, Carl Spenser, who Susan is
attracted to like a flower to the sun? And why is she so jealous of Maria
Alvarez, who seems so close to him? Carl gave his feet to his country in Afghanistan,
and Susan can’t understand why he doesn’t hate God; perhaps she believes in God
a little bit more than she thinks?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second book of the Trilogy, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1595688445&sr=8-4" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>, focuses on
sexual assault and all the hurt it causes, not only to the victim, but also to
the victim’s family and friends. Susan and Carl can’t understand why Maria
won’t positively identify her attacker, so they team up to try and find him. A
big problem is what will Carl do to the attacker if he finds him and what
condition will he be in when he is turned over to the police?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book introduces Carl’s support dog, Sgt. Timms, a huge
German shepherd and an Iraqi war veteran who still suffers from PTSD. Carl
Spenser, an Afghanistan war veteran double amputee still has his problems. They
are a match made in heaven and are best friends; who takes care of whom is the
big question. The only thing Sgt. Timms can’t understand is why Carl and Susan
Buckley aren’t together; their bond continues to smolder throughout this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final book of the Trilogy, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating+god+trilogy&qid=1595688493&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>, is a whirlwind of
drama and struggle. Vexed by Carl’s rejection, Susan lashes out at him by
joining with a married Professor, finding her desires lead to undesired returns.
With so many seeking love and belonging, suffering through the consequences of
their actions, will God's plan for their lives be found, and will it be worth
it?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maria gives birth to two healthy babies and settles into the
hard life of a single mother. Her visit with the babies’ father in jail is
larger-than-life and what happens to him is mind-boggling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If Sgt. Timms gets what he wants then there might even be a
happy ending.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-83675692833122635432016-05-23T16:46:00.002-07:002020-08-14T09:51:40.728-07:00Retirement Sucks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ed5XqbtCyxw/V0OVxseyRpI/AAAAAAAAAFo/GM61czdsYGIaKafz3H6YHj-fYJPQYQMhgCLcB/s1600/retirement.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ed5XqbtCyxw/V0OVxseyRpI/AAAAAAAAAFo/GM61czdsYGIaKafz3H6YHj-fYJPQYQMhgCLcB/s320/retirement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ah, beautiful retirement, when you can go to bed when you
want and get up when you want; no more marching to someone else’s beat!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total freedom; except that after forty years of training, my
eyes pop open at 6 am every morning whether I want them to or not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The worst thing about retirement is that you are old!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I wake up, my back feels like it has slowly twisted into
a pretzel overnight. I stagger to the bathroom to start my day. Thirty minutes of yoga and stretching and I’m
barely feeling human again. After a leisurely
breakfast, I’m ready to face the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Great, but what am I going to do?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second worst thing about retirement is that you have
lost the reason you got up every morning for the last forty plus years!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No more deadlines, no more e-mails, no more text messages,
no more advising, no more personal decisions to make, no more orders to give,
and no more timelines to meet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No nothing! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every fifteen minutes I feel a void when I check my phone
and there is no new e-mails; there is no more life altering advice to give out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No more prepping for class.
No more mapping the future of the department. No more collaborating with colleagues over
the future of our students. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No nothing!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What’s an old professor to do?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the immortal words of Tommy Shaw from the group Styx, “I
got nothing to do and all day to do it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Retirement really sucks!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wake up on my second day of retirement and the world seems
full of possibility. The sun is shining
and I’m ready to take on the world!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of a sudden, I have that energy that I get every time I
start a new job. I’m a little scared,
but really excited.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I attack my morning exercise with a new purpose. I need my body to function at peak
performance (peak performance for an old guy that is) so that I can get the
most out of retirement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All sorts of new possibilities present themselves to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember listening to a tape from Wayne Dwyer where he
talked about a hundred year old man who planted a tree and couldn’t wait to
watch it grow. I remember Wayne saying
he wouldn’t be outdone; he went out and planted a Redwood!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not ready to be so courageous. I’ll start small by rototilling my garden. Even though I don’t have the greatest love of
vegetables, I do love the enjoyment my family and friends get out of the
various types of squash I will grow. I
see many batches of spaghetti sauce in my future!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By mid-afternoon I’m a little weary, but not quite ready to
enter the nap-taking season of my life.
I pull a random book out of my library and enjoy the act of reading for
enjoyment. I don’t have to preview text
books, study or prep courses anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not too long later that I open my eyes and think about
what my wife and I want for dinner.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Life is pretty good!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wonder what the third day of retirement will bring.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I got an e-mail from Tom Topolski, a college roommate, saying, "remember, no matter what your day was like in retirement, tomorrow is Saturday!"</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-83639707181160635682016-03-05T12:07:00.001-08:002020-08-14T09:52:24.683-07:00Am I Saved?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I don’t know about you, but I struggle
with sin every day!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Does this mean that I’m not saved?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m definitely not the only person
who every thought this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was such a
big topic in the early church that the Apostle John wrote his Tests of
Assurance in First John. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the three
tests:</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span>Doctrinal 2:18-27, 4:1-6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must not deny Christ.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span>Moral 2:3-6, 3:4-10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must keep the commandments.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span>Social 2:7-11, 3:11-18, 4:7-21.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must love your brothers.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
To me, “Loving your Brother”, is
probably the hardest of these tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is so hard to love the jerk next door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you
imagine having to love the drunk driver that killed a member of your family?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best I can say is that I am not perfect,
but am on my journey to accomplish this ideal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Keeping the Ten Commandments is not
easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty good at not stealing or
murdering, but I could use some help in not coveting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just have to accept that Jesus was the only
perfect person and that I will always be struggling to emulate Him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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How many times does someone ask you,
right out of the blue, do you believe in God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I must admit that I have been asked this question or one just like it
when I least expected it and sometimes I stumbled to come up with the right
answer.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc3LUJDAMZw/Vts7izVYcqI/AAAAAAAAAFc/vPX9QleVXiE/s1600/Rachel_Joy_Scott.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc3LUJDAMZw/Vts7izVYcqI/AAAAAAAAAFc/vPX9QleVXiE/s400/Rachel_Joy_Scott.jpg" /></a> </div>
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I have often thought that if it is
so hard for me to answer that question in a socially awkward situation, how
hard was it for Rachel Joy Scott to answer that question at Columbine knowing
that she was basically writing her own death sentence by not denying
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was the first person to go
to sleep at that school and I am sure that she woke up in heaven.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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I can only pray that I will have the
courage to answer that same way if every faced with that horrible situation!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
I find comfort that the Apostle John
took the time to address the subject of my salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m definitely not perfect, but I am saved!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
<br />
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-81956748561257971432015-12-21T13:52:00.003-08:002020-08-14T09:52:58.353-07:00Coward - an American Hero<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WpkYFRNwuk/XvDpM_pPx8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/GUu8t3rtcYIyq12n98qfNAhPIxyTKq8YACK4BGAsYHg/s823/DesmondDoss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="671" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WpkYFRNwuk/XvDpM_pPx8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/GUu8t3rtcYIyq12n98qfNAhPIxyTKq8YACK4BGAsYHg/s320/DesmondDoss.jpg" /></a></div><span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span></div><span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><div><span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span></div>Desmond T. Doss, because of his religious
beliefs, refused to carry a weapon when he enlisted into the Army during World
War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In basic training other
enlistees taunted him ruthlessly, threw their boots at him and called him a
coward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The army made him a stretcher
carrier.</span><br />
<div>
<span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"></span>
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 24pt 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial;">MEDAL OF HONOR</span></h2>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Rank and
organization:</span></b><span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry,
77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Urasoe Mura, Okinawa, Ryukyu
Islands, 29 April-21 May 1945. Entered service at: Lynchburg, Va. Birth:
Lynchburg, Va. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November 1945. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Citation:</span></b><span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> He was a company aid
man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high. As our
troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and
machinegun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and
driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the
fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them 1 by 1 to the edge of the
escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of
a cliff to friendly hands. On 2 May, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and
mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200 yards forward of the lines on the
same escarpment; and 2 days later he treated 4 men who had been cut down while
assaulting a strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to
within 8 yards of enemy forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his
comrades' wounds before making 4 separate trips under fire to evacuate them to
safety. On 5 May, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire
to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient to a
spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while artillery and
mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma. Later that day,
when an American was severely wounded by fire from a cave, Pfc. Doss crawled to
him where he had fallen 25 feet from the enemy position, rendered aid, and
carried him 100 yards to safety while continually exposed to enemy fire. On 21
May, in a night attack on high ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed
territory while the rest of his company took cover, fearlessly risking the
chance that he would be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to
the injured until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion
of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own
injuries and waited 5 hours before litter bearers reached him and started
carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and Pfc.
Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the litter; and
directed the bearers to give their first attention to the other man. Awaiting
the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, this time suffering a compound
fracture of 1 arm. With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his
shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300 yards over rough terrain to the
aid station. Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in
the face of desperately dangerous conditions Pfc. Doss saved the lives of many
soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for
outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span face="" style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">When President Harry S Truman
presented The Congressional Medal of Honor to Desmond Doss he said, " I’m
proud of you, you really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than
being president."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: garamond;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: garamond;">The above post came from my book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Conquer-Losing-Attitude-Hunters-Step--ebook/dp/B005NDOX4S/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450734933&sr=8-1&keywords=conquer+the+losing+attitude" target="_blank">Conquer the Losing Attitude of Job Hunters</a>.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: garamond;">*****</span></div>
<span style="font-family: garamond;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Hating God</a><span style="text-align: left;">”, “</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a><span style="text-align: left;">”, and “</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Loving God</a><span style="text-align: left;">” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</span></div>
</div>
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-43602356073227169752015-07-12T17:53:00.003-07:002020-08-14T09:53:45.651-07:00And When I Die<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gEwfiOsUiko/VaMLlmAp3QI/AAAAAAAAAEw/3LvOmZlSZLo/s1600/bst.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gEwfiOsUiko/VaMLlmAp3QI/AAAAAAAAAEw/3LvOmZlSZLo/s320/bst.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Going to a concert when you are Social Security age is way
different than going to a concert before you were of legal age to drink! Way
different!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My wife and I just went to a Blood Sweat and Tears concert
and I must admit that the crowd was a little more subdued than they would have
been forty years ago; a lot more subdued and a lot grayer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t know what to expect? Would the band members come
out on stage with their walkers?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, BS&T has been performing since 1967 and has
been replacing band members all along.
The oldest member of the group we saw had been with the group for thirty
years and didn’t really join the group until their string of hits and Grammies
had ended.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the newest members of the group was Bo Bice; the
runner-up finalist in the 2005 American Idol contest to Carrie Underwood. Bo
brought his special gold album winning talent to the group which made for a
great night. The new drummer was way better than in the original group. It was a great night of blues, jazz and rock
and roll!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was more gray hair in the audience the night I went
then at an ARRP barbeque. Not only were we older, but I think we were wiser
then when we heard BS&T in the sixties.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How one perceives the lyrics to a song certainly varies by
ones age. I can remember hearing BS&T songs in the seventies and thinking
how radical and thought provoking they were; not so much anymore!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The BS&T classic “And When I Die” didn’t seem so
threatening when I was twenty ; a little more now. After the concert in the car on the way home,
my wife and I both commented on how that song had a totally different meaning
for us in the mellow years of our life!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you are young, it might be okay to think about death as
wanting to “go naturally”, but as I am now older, I want more assurances than
just knowing that “there will be one child born, in our world, to carry on.”
Still, I don’t “wanna go by the devil” or “wanna gby demon” or “wanna go by
Satan” just like when I was when I was twenty, but because I lived a full life
I know there is a Hell and I pray that I go to Heaven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also know that the only way to guarantee that you go to
heaven is in giving your life to Jesus Christ!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-1017066102882074482015-06-18T15:54:00.003-07:002020-08-14T09:54:47.721-07:00Please Forgive Me Meryl Streep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEE17YMyvWY/VYNMILLsEgI/AAAAAAAAAEU/mX5HNOLEFMM/s1600/ms.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEE17YMyvWY/VYNMILLsEgI/AAAAAAAAAEU/mX5HNOLEFMM/s1600/ms.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t start out hating Meryl Streep!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know Meryl Streep other than through her movies. I have never met her and probably never will. I’m sure she has never heard of me and could care less how I feel about her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel I owe her an apology.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, Meryl Streep is too damn good an actress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all began in 1979 when I was young, watching her in the movie Kramer vs. Kramer. This was an amazing movie with a great cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jane Alexander, Howard Duff and of course Meryl Streep. Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep won Oscars for their roles and the movie won three others including Best Picture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Herein lies the problem; Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman were just so good at their jobs that I ended up associating their characters in this movie with them. I could never see Hoffman and Streep in another movie for the rest of my life without thinking Kramer and Kramer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a young guy, I totally bonded with Dustin Hoffman’s role in this movie as he struggled to take care of his son after his wife abandoned him. I winced as he lost his job and had to find another lesser job fast as his wife had come back by now and was suing to get custody back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that I am older and hopefully wiser, I realize that forces that work between a man and a woman in marriage are very complex and when you throw a child into the mix it complicates the situation even more. Now, I think I could watch a story like Kramer vs. Kramer and hopefully see both sides of the situation. In fact, I am an author that writes about just these types of complex situations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At twenty six, like many people my age, I saw the world as black and white and I saw red as the court awarded custody to the Meryl Streep mother. I was so righteously enraged that I watched the rest of the movie through a crimson haze.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was so mad at the Meryl Streep character in that movie that for many years I refused to watch any movie with Meryl Streep in it as no matter what part she was playing, it reminded me of her character in Kramer vs. Kramer. My loss, as Meryl Streep is a magnificent actress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward thirty years and I’m discussing that horrible movie with my daughter and she decides she wants to watch it. As a good father, I agree to watch it with her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An amazing thing happens!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watching the movie through older and wiser eyes I’m not so enraged at the court decision in the movie and I actually am able to absorb the final scenes. To my horror, I realize that at the end of the movie, the Meryl Streep character sees how much the Dustin Hoffman character loves the little boy and changes her mind and lets him keep the child.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For all the horrible thoughts I have had towards Meryl Streep over the years I sincerely apologize.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a happy ending though, as I got to catch up on thirty years of great Meryl Streep cinema!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-29669412543729650092015-06-09T15:04:00.001-07:002020-08-14T09:55:17.622-07:00Before Cell Phones<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDqtD-CdhGc/VXspalkkp7I/AAAAAAAAADI/QHPBzHmLHRY/s1600/telephone-booth-9320542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDqtD-CdhGc/VXspalkkp7I/AAAAAAAAADI/QHPBzHmLHRY/s320/telephone-booth-9320542.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you remember what it was like
before cell phones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking about
not being able to post your latest adventures on Instagram, I’m talking about
not being able to call someone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a story before cell phones
and before electronic ignition for that matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was 1975 and I was leaving the
northeast in my almost new Opel Manta on my way to Mississippi where I was
going to enter pilot training at Columbus AFB. When you traveled back then, it
was always good to have a lot of cash on hand as finding an ATM was almost
impossible; Of course, fifty bucks was a lot of money back then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could fill the tank of my Manta fifteen
times with fifty bucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was cruising at seventy mph down
the highway somewhere in Appalachia when all of a sudden my engine shut off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem; I depressed the clutch and
coasted a mile to the next exit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
one of those long winding off-ramps, but I was not worried as I still had
enough speed to cruise the final two miles to the end of the off-ramp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I then encountered something I never
imagined in my life that I would ever find at the T-intersection at the bottom
of a major highway off-ramp; a dirt road!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not a dirt road with a gas station, but a dirt road with nothing in
sight in either direction. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my short life up to this point, I
had never exited a highway and not found a city of 100,000 people or more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little stumped, but hey, I was a
brand new college graduate and I should be able to figure something out, so I
pulled my car over to the side of the dirt road and got out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I opened the hood and tried willing
the engine to start to no avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
getting a little anxious as it hadn’t been too many years before that I had
seen the movie Deliverance and the phrase “squeal like a pig” kept running
through my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What was I going to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just about decide to walk the two miles
back up the off-ramp to the highway and hope to thumb to the nearest
civilization when I spotted two young boys, about sixteen years old, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>walking my way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I should say that I saw Tom Sawyer
and Huckleberry Finn walking my way; bib overhauls with no shirts, no shoes,
straw hats and of course, bamboo fishing poles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Was I dreaming?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I saw a problem right away when we
started trying to communicate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
boys had such thick Appalachian mountain accents that I only understood one
word out of three. Eventually, I got my tool kit of my trunk and got a screw
driver out for them relying almost entirely on sign language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Evidently, the points in my
carburetor had closed and with a little fiddling, they were able to get the
engine running again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so happy to
be able to get out of there that I would have promised them my first born
child, but they refused any attempt I made for compensation; they probably got
enough enjoyment over the years telling the story of the Yankee who didn’t know
one end of a screw driver from the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thanked them again, waved goodbye headed
back to the highway where I made my way to Mississippi where I learned many
more life lessons south of the Mason Dixon line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sure would have been nice to have
had a cell phone back then, but then I probably would have been out of service!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-3231870502064605382015-02-02T12:57:00.001-08:002020-08-14T09:55:51.536-07:00Sally the Wonder Dog<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DdJ46EynOA/VM_smssvjXI/AAAAAAAAACU/NoGlg1yjNeE/s1600/sally.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DdJ46EynOA/VM_smssvjXI/AAAAAAAAACU/NoGlg1yjNeE/s1600/sally.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some dog breeds are smarter than others; some dog breeds
just think they are smarter!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dumb dogs are easier to take care of than smart dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you leave a dumb dog home alone, the dog
just lies down and waits for their people to get back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you leave a smart dog home alone, the
dog looks around to see what kind of trouble it can get into like, “Gee, I
wonder what that table would look like with three legs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a friend who has a Newfoundland dog named Martha.
They left her alone this past Christmas and she decided to eat the gingerbread
house that had taken the kids six hours to build. They found gingerbread crumbs
on every bed in the house; Martha had had a great time. After eating the spicy
housing material, Martha was thirsty and cleaned out her water bowl and both
toilets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guess what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Martha decided she needed to relieve herself all over the
house. Knowing that she was already in deep trouble, I think Martha said, “What
the heck?” and went into the diaper pail and deposited a soiled diaper in every
room of the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk about being in the dog house - Martha is in so much
trouble!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Give me a dumb dog every time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had a Cocker Spaniel named Sally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cockers are a notoriously dumb breed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sally lived up to her forefathers quite well
except for several flashes of brilliance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For one thing, she was an infamous escape artist and once
she got out she was really hard to corral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would let her out into the most impenetrable back yards you ever saw
and she would find a way out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once she was out, she was awfully hard to catch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to resort to trickery!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, Sally loved to ride in cars almost
more than anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when she
got out, rather than trying to catch or call her which would do no good, we
simple drove the car around and opened the door and yelled, “Sally, want to go
for a ride?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Worked every time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had just moved into a new neighborhood of duplexes that
was only about five percent full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
our cats hadn’t been home for a couple of days and we were sure that a fisher cat
had got ton her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents were
visiting from Florida and we had just sat down for dinner when Sally scratched
on the front door to be let in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife
volunteered me to go let her in and I gladly opened the front door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead of coming in, Sally started backing up like Lassie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of saying, “What is it girl?” like
Timmy would have said, I said, “Do you want to come in or not?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I closed the door and went back to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Sally scratched at the door again, my wife gave me one
of those looks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, “She doesn’t
want to come in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife got up and
went to let Sally in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next thing I know, my wife is following Sally across an
empty field to an empty duplex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone
had broken the basement window and out cat had decided to jump through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem was that she couldn’t jump back
up the six feet to the broken window; there she was, sitting upstairs in the picture
window wondering why we didn’t unlock the front door and let her out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was wondering the same thing myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eventually, I lowered myself through the broken window down
into the basement and went upstairs to let our lost cat out. But, I wasn’t the
hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sally the Wonder dog had saved the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I remember crying the day she died; I still miss
her so much.</span><div><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">*****</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.
<span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></div>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-71754354707221029222014-11-29T10:25:00.005-08:002020-08-14T09:57:42.975-07:00Goodbye Aspartame<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BDtjmInCeg/VXsqM7_sFOI/AAAAAAAAADQ/4ncDE5n84EA/s1600/coca-cola-zero-17814080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BDtjmInCeg/VXsqM7_sFOI/AAAAAAAAADQ/4ncDE5n84EA/s320/coca-cola-zero-17814080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As soon as I opened my eyes, I knew something was wrong; my
bed was moving!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My bed was moving and strange people were there staring down
at me; and I was strapped down!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought my heart might jump right out of my chest as I
tried to figure this out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn’t
look like terrorists, but they had uniforms on and they were questioning me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Do you know what year it is?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I suddenly realized that I was in an ambulance and the
strange men talking to me were EMTs. I was calmed and pleased because I knew
the answer, “2014,” I answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I panicked as a flashback to a hospital room came
crashing down on me as I remembered a scene when the doctor was giving my
mother a dementia test; and she couldn’t come close to the right year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What if it wasn’t 2014?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What if I wasn’t in the right decade?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I calmed down as I could see from the EMT’s eyes that I had
answered correctly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Who is the
President,” he asked?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Do I have to answer that,” I asked?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It ends up that I had experienced a nocturnal seizure; the
first one of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eventually was
released from the hospital and I felt just fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Weeks later, after an MRI, a sleep deprived EEG and a
battery of other tests, my neurologist said that she could find no reason that
caused the seizure. She recommended that other than not driving until the six
month point, I could resume all normal activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever had one of those annoying voices in the back
of your head telling you to do the right thing even though you didn’t want to?
I knew what I had to do, but even then it took me a month to take charge of my
life; I didn’t want to do what I knew I had to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My cousin, the Pharmacist, had been telling me for years that
Aspartame caused seizures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had always
replied that that was BS as I was the poster boy for Aspartame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that I had actually had a seizure, what
could I say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knew what I had to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did my research trying to talk myself out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the websites that linked Aspartame to
seizures also claimed that all vaccinations were bad for you and we probably
didn’t land on the moon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, in the end…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knew what I had to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went from drinking about ten Coke Cherry Zero’s a day to
zero; completely cutting Aspartame out of my diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I didn’t count on was cutting out all
that caffeine out of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are ten caffeine withdrawal symptoms; headaches,
sleepiness, irritability, lethargy, constipation, depression, muscle pain, lack
of concentration, flu-like symptoms and insomnia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got most of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was the worst about five days into the withdrawal and I
stayed home from work and didn’t get out of bed all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The headaches lasted for another week, but I
was completely over the withdrawal in two weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only thing that scared me was that I read on one
caffeine withdrawal blogs that one person said that after giving up caffeine,
he never quite felt as energetic as he did with caffeine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So be it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will survive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m Aspartame free and hopefully seizure free!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">*****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-20241650187640705322014-10-16T09:33:00.005-07:002020-08-14T09:58:32.899-07:00The Wisdom of Simon Birch<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PSO5D9YBbxY/VXsqzQqWP1I/AAAAAAAAADc/7RP13zKUnaY/s1600/simonbirchlrg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PSO5D9YBbxY/VXsqzQqWP1I/AAAAAAAAADc/7RP13zKUnaY/s1600/simonbirchlrg.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Faith is not in a floor plan”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When asked by Reverend Russell what he was doing sitting in
a corner, Simon replied he was thinking about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In a corner,” Reverend Russell was
skeptical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon set him straight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sitting at my dining room table right now looking out my
window at some awesome New Hampshire fall foliage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow, I’m able to see God’s hand on the
universe right now much more than I do sitting in church on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith truly doesn’t have a floor plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sex
makes people crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Simon’s reply to Reverend Russell when asked about why Simon
caused the Christmas Pageant catastrophe was truly honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Adam and Eve to father Abraham to King
David to us, sex has consistently made us crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t believe it, just watch TV for a
night and pay attention to how advertisers try to sell you things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times in each of our lives, as much as we
don’t want to admit it, sex comes before God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“If God's made the church bake sale a priority, we're in a
lot of trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a continual struggle with the relationship of our
current churches and the word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes, I totally believe that it is so important that the believers
meet in one place to publically worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other times I’m just like Simon Birch and the endless announcements and
plans talked about in church that have nothing to do with God drive me
bananas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want a place to come with
fellow Christians and worship God; maybe that can’t happen without church bake
sales, but I hope not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I want to know that there's a reason for things. I used to
be certain, but now I'm not so sure. I want you to tell me that God has a plan
for me, a plan for all of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christ is the only person who has ever lived that didn’t
have any doubt about God’s plan for him; the rest of us can only wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we catch a glimmer of God’s plan
when we find out something we did years ago actually truly affected someone’s
life in their quest for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the
time we throw bread out on the water and never know what happens to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing we can be sure of is that in
the end God wins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*****</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-49717079727877019972014-08-05T09:25:00.001-07:002020-08-14T09:58:59.751-07:00Nature vs Nurture<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7sjMwd72cRs/VXsrR9swblI/AAAAAAAAADk/YGszW_jDCls/s1600/twin-towers280_436781a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7sjMwd72cRs/VXsrR9swblI/AAAAAAAAADk/YGszW_jDCls/s320/twin-towers280_436781a.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How much of what you believe is genetic and how much comes
from your environment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If B.F. Skinner and John Bowlby were alive today, we could
have a lively debate on this topic; but who wants to sit through a lecture from
a couple of egg heads?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about personal experience?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was raised in the bosom of Liberalism in Beverly,
Massachusetts in the 1960’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone I
knew worshipped at the throne of the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family had been voting Democratic since
the beginning of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Nurture is
right, then I should have swayed far to the left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, my brain was built a little different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember when I was sixteen watching a
debate on TV and on every topic, I agreed with Jerry Williams and not his
Liberal opponent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can remember turning
off the TV and thinking, “How could this happen? I think I’m a Conservative!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fast forward a few years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I left my home on July 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, 1971, at the height
of the Viet Nam War, for boot camp at the Air Force Academy;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not necessarily the most popular thing to do
in the Northeast at the time. I was a little nervous leaving my family and
friends to go to Colorado.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luckily, once I started my summer training, I didn’t have to
make too many decisions. Uncle Sam is really good at telling you what to do. It
was in this first year where I transformed from civilian life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christmas was the first time I had any time off and I
traveled home for a much needed brake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rule at the Academy was that all 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> classmen (freshmen)
must travel in uniform. I must have gotten some nasty looks retrieving my
baggage in Boston, but I was so excited to be home that I didn’t notice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wasn’t looking forward to return to Logan airport a few
weeks later!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After checking in at the gate, I was asked to by airport
security, predecessors to the TSA, to accompany them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was led to a back room and strip searched;
all the time being vilified about being in the Military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seem to remember the terms “military
asshole” and “baby killer” being thrown around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sure this was just a couple of security punks showing
off and not the official policy of Logan Airport towards our men in uniform. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I knew then what I know now, I might have lodged
a complaint; but at eighteen years old, I was just happy to get on my plane, on
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I understand the value of frees speech; in fact, many of my
friends have died defending free speech for these so called Viet Nam
protestors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I don’t understand is
why they always choose the American Military person to lodge their protests?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe it was Clausewitz that defined war as just the
final step of diplomacy. Why weren’t these protestors surrounding their Senator’s
and Congressman’s offices?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the
ones who determined who would go to war; not the poor schmuck in uniform!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After that first year, I always tried to travel in civilian
clothes. Of course, it was hard to hide my Military haircut back then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ended up leaving active duty after ten years only to join
the Vermont National Guard after a ten year break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly enough, even in the new millennium,
wearing a uniform in Burlington Vermont was not the most popular thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of the full-time Guard people were briefed to change
before they left work for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
part-timer Green Mountain Boy, my uniform wearing was limited to a couple of
times a month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For my Guard weekend, I would usually drive up to Burlington
on Friday night and stay in a hotel. I remember one specific weekend just after
911.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday morning I dressed in my
BDU’s and went down to the curtesy continental breakfast to get my bagel and
cream cheese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was always a little uncomfortable standing in line, in
uniform, and I must have flinched when the gentleman in back of me in line
tapped me on the shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned
expecting the worse and he shook my hand and thanked me for serving my
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, the entire room
broke into applause and everyone came up to shake my hand and pound me on the
back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was flabbergasted! This was the first time in my entire
career in the Military that anyone had ever thanked me for serving my
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know who those people
are who were in that room that morning, but I would like to thank them from the
bottom of my heart; it meant so much to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does either behavior I encountered, good or bad, come from
Nature or Nurture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know, but I
imagine that the answer is somewhere in the middle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*****</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-29870973465477905862014-07-01T07:03:00.001-07:002020-08-14T09:59:49.997-07:00How Not to Meet Your Wife<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OnkJHyzquaw/VXsuEy6AlyI/AAAAAAAAADw/HuUROJjl3NU/s1600/tm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OnkJHyzquaw/VXsuEy6AlyI/AAAAAAAAADw/HuUROJjl3NU/s320/tm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was young, unmarried and
extremely naïve, I often wondered:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I already know the woman whom I
will marry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will I know when I meet the right
woman?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can a guy even know such things?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It had been a beautiful autumn day
and I was excited as I exited my third story apartment; I was planning on
meeting a couple of high school friends that I hadn’t seen for quite a while.
We had intended to go down to the Old Salt Tavern in Hampton, New Hampshire for
a few drinks and a few stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I reached the second landing, a
woman named Susan was leaving her apartment and we exchanged pleasantries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I heard that she was meeting a
girlfriend for the evening, I suggested that they come down to the Old Salt
Tavern and I would buy them a drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the time, I was a pilot in the
Air Force and Susan was a little more to the left of the political spectrum
than I was, so, meeting me for a drink was the last thing she wanted to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that I was her landlord I’m
sure restrained her tongue and she said she would have to see what Martha
wanted to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Great put-off!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I picked up my second friend,
he said he didn’t want to go all the way down to Hampton as his wife was almost
ready to have their first child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
changed our plans and went to The Rusty Hammer in Portsmouth; a much closer
drive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After we had been there for a while
and had time to sample a fair amount of their on-tap stock, the door opened and
in walked Susan and Martha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Glad you could make it,” I yelled
showing just how many samples I had partaken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I actually went over to their table and introduced myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It didn’t last long even though I
thought Martha was the most beautiful woman I had ever met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the fact I was fueled by a lot of
liquid courage, I was still very shy when it came to women, and I soon rejoined
my high school buddies for the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">About a week later I went down my
apartment stairs again and knocked on Susan’s door to start some small
talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while when it didn’t seem
that I would ever get to the reason I was standing in her doorway, Susan asked,
“Well, do you want her phone number or not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I nodded my head yes and she gave me
Martha’s number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I just had to
trudge back upstairs and see if my fingers would work well enough to dial the
phone and whether I could make my voice even work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I finally got up the courage to call
and after I announced who I was, Martha asked, “I’m about to burn dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you call back in twenty minutes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was the longest twenty minutes of
my life!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I called back, everything went
well until we tried to schedule a date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You see, I was going on Alert down at the air Force base the next day
for seven days and that next weekend my parents were flying up for my cousin’s
wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Martha thought I was strange
asking for a date almost two weeks in advance, she didn’t show it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As bad luck would have it, a big
no-notice inspection hit and my 7-day Alert tour turned into a 9-day Alert tour
and I had to fly on the tenth day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
caused a slight problem in that the only day I would get to see my parents was
on the day of the wedding and they were scheduled to leave two days later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I called Martha up on the phone,
explained the situation to her and asked if she minded if my parents accompanied
us on our first date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she said she
didn’t mind, I knew that this was the woman I had been waiting for my whole
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were married five months later
and are still totally in love after thirty-three years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*****</span></div>If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-21690367661230818572014-06-01T14:08:00.001-07:002020-08-14T10:00:15.321-07:00Goodbye Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTE4VRWxJks/VXsu_XZr22I/AAAAAAAAAD4/MPK6UCHPXzo/s1600/mom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTE4VRWxJks/VXsu_XZr22I/AAAAAAAAAD4/MPK6UCHPXzo/s320/mom.png" width="160" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I never thought that I would be wiping my mom's backside and
changing her diapers just like she did for me when I was a baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, cancer doesn't discriminate and it
doesn't give any mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was privileged
enough to care for her the last few weeks of her life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom grew up during the depression, but I never heard her
complain about her life back then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
remember some stories about her father throwing tomatoes at the engineers of
passing trains and then picking up the coal that they threw back <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at him; but these were humorous stories, not
stories about how bad life was back then.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think my mom's one big regret was that she never went to
college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was so smart that by
starting school at an early age and skipping at least one grade, she finished
twelfth grade at age fifteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law
said she had to stay in school, so she had to go back for a thirteen grade. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was the first person in my family to ever go to college,
so my mom didn't have anyone to council her about her opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At sixteen, she went out and got a job to
help support her family and college was just another dream that went up in
smoke with the start of WWII.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the war she got married, had children, became a stay
at home mom and never worked again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would have to say that by living until she was ninety, she had a pretty good
life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unlike my dad, who died way too early, she did get to see a
Red Sox World Championship in her lifetime!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Check out this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnxmxfhK1Qc&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">video</a> of her 90<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> birthday party
to see how full of life she was – nine months later she was gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Logically, she had a great life and was at peace with the
world and was ready to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, why was my first reaction to question God, "Why do
you have to take her now?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It makes no sense that I was ready to lash out at God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe, the entire puzzle that we call life
seems to sometimes be so overwhelming, that God is the only one we can blame.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*****</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
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Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8558845742238196865.post-59095792736527109902014-05-10T05:24:00.003-07:002020-08-14T10:01:07.970-07:00Have You Never Hated God<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3EfVGuA2nL8/VXswbpJLioI/AAAAAAAAAEE/EuRUaKzMerY/s1600/annie.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3EfVGuA2nL8/VXswbpJLioI/AAAAAAAAAEE/EuRUaKzMerY/s1600/annie.png" /></a></div>
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My daughter is a young woman now, but there still are times when
she needs her mommy and daddy!<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is about one of those times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a kindergarten teacher she is exposed to all sorts of
viruses and bacteria that little kids get and bring into the classroom; sure
enough she developed a severe case of strep throat. She came home for the week to sleep in her
old room and get some of her mom's homemade chicken soup.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I got up Friday morning she was crying; two days of the
antibiotic had done nothing to help and she was worse than the night before. Her mother, who had a full day ahead, didn't
look that much better.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I quickly rearranged my day to spend driving my daughter
around hoping to find a doctor who would agree to see her immediately. At one in the afternoon we were finally able
to track down an ears, nose and throat specialist; I was even allowed to
accompany her into the appointment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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During the examination, the doctor asked my daughter how bad
the pain was on a scale of 1 to 10. She
replied that it had been an eight this morning, but was now a ten.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I almost fell off my chair and my initial thought was that
she was severely exaggerating, but on consideration I realized that in her
short life she probably hadn't experienced that much pain and this sore throat
probably was a ten to her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Everything is so very relative.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wait until she experiences child birth! She will definitely
have a different scale then.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I pondered and realized that, everything being relative, that
it might be hard for me to understand the pain that some parents experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After all …<o:p></o:p></div>
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My kids don't go to Sandy Hook Elementary School.<br />
I didn't go to see The Dark Knight Rises there in Aurora Colorado.<br />
I wasn't near the finish line of the Boston Marathon bombing.<br />
I don't know anyone who worked in the World Trade Center.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What do you say to parents that sent their child off to
school or to the movies never to have them come back? What
do you say to a young mother who cries out to God, "Dear God, why do you
hate me so?"<o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you tell them it was God's will? <o:p></o:p></div>
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You do, only at great peril!<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is better to stay silent!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The loss of a child is so personal and the grief is so
devastating that I can't blame parents for wanting to lash out at God. The idea that their good, loving God let
this terrible loss happen is overwhelming.
How could a benevolent God let this evil event happen? <o:p></o:p></div>
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I've seen people who
don't even believe in God use these times to take His name in vain. Even Thomas Jefferson wasn't spared from
these emotions. When his wife died, he
was so distraught that he questioned his faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The answer of course is that God gave all of us this crazy thing
called free will and, some people are just plain evil; or maybe they are just
evil some of the time. When these people
act on their evil impulses good people may suffer and sometimes die; they are
just in the wrong place at the wrong time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sad thing is that a grieving parent is not ready to deal
with this idea. In fact, they may never
be ready and they may never stop hating God.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">***Blog Update ***</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>My daughter just had her first child and I'm sure her pain scale has now been readjusted!</div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">***** </div></div></blockquote>
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<div class="MsoNormal">If you liked this blog post I know you will love my Hating God Trilogy. Please go to Amazon where you can read for free “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hating-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00K95MKS6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8tag=hatgod-20&sr=1-" target="_blank">Hating God</a>”, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ignoring-God-Campus-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZAD8IA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF88tag=hatgod-20&qid=1433884215&sr=1-1&keywords=ignoring+god&pebp=1433884217787&perid=1RTNEVXAQV8PT7YAANA6" target="_blank">Ignoring God</a>”, and “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loving-God-Hating-Trilogy-Book/dp/0983302545/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hating%20god%20trilogy&qid=1595619158&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Loving God</a>” if you subscribe to Kindleunlimited.</div>
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Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06721554116258281934noreply@blogger.com0