Today is December 31, 2012 - New Year's Eve. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 55 minutes of walking =3.0 miles for a December total of 62 miles. My weight was 163.0 pounds.
QUOTE from Seneca (an Indian tribe in New York in the 1700s): "Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life."
My THOUGHTS TODAY: It has been 366 days since the last New Year's Eve. It is time to grade myself on the 366 days of 2012.
1. A+ = For maintaining my routine of doing yoga deep breathing for 8 minutes before I get out of bed in the morning.
2. A = For walking at least 60 miles a month. I averaged just a tad over 60 miles a month- I averaged 60.1 miles a month.
3. A = For walking at least 700 miles for the year-I walked 721 miles. The most I've walked is 838 in 2008. Since 2003 I've walked 7,105 miles.
4. A = For keeping my weight under 165 pounds. I was at 163 pounds today.
5. A- = For being consistent in my routine of lifting weights and using the exercise ball.
6. A- = For being consistent in writing in my BLOG.
7. A+ = For reading magazines and books everyday to learn new stuff.
8. A = For not smoking my pipe more than six times a day.
9. A- = For campaigning at least 40 hours for Barack Obama. I didn't quite make 40 hours - it was more like 35.
I'm HAPPY - I like all those A's plus I made the Honor Roll.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,340. Happy Days in Denmark
Today is Sunday, December 30, 2012. My stats today: 38 minute of walking = 2.0 miles for a December total of 57.2 miles. My weight was 163.0 pounds.
My THOUGHTS today: After viewing some Facebook photos from Denmark I see there are some happy campers over there right now. Granddaughter Alexandra lives there and Todd Nielson (son of Bill and Anne Nielson, our pastor and his wife) is studying in Copenhagen this year. Four of Alex and Todd's Anamosa High School friends arrived in Copenhagen on December 27 for a week long visit. The 4 are Jackie Engelbart, Bryce Engelbart, Kaleb Kilburg and a Schwaegler kid that I don't know. I've viewed 5 photos of the six of them and they all have big smiles on their faces. It looks like they are enjoying each other's company and also the city of Copenhagen. Keep smiling you folks - I want to see more photos. I know Todd and Alex will be wonderful hosts and tour guides.
My THOUGHTS today: After viewing some Facebook photos from Denmark I see there are some happy campers over there right now. Granddaughter Alexandra lives there and Todd Nielson (son of Bill and Anne Nielson, our pastor and his wife) is studying in Copenhagen this year. Four of Alex and Todd's Anamosa High School friends arrived in Copenhagen on December 27 for a week long visit. The 4 are Jackie Engelbart, Bryce Engelbart, Kaleb Kilburg and a Schwaegler kid that I don't know. I've viewed 5 photos of the six of them and they all have big smiles on their faces. It looks like they are enjoying each other's company and also the city of Copenhagen. Keep smiling you folks - I want to see more photos. I know Todd and Alex will be wonderful hosts and tour guides.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,339. New Year's Resolutions
Today is Saturday, December 29, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 55.2 miles. My weight was 164.2 pounds.
QUOTE is an Irish proverb: "May your troubles be less, your blessings more and may nothing but happiness come through your door."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with New Year's Resolutions: The New Year of 2013 begins Tuesday. I'm not a big one for New Year's Resolutions but I do have a couple of things in mind every new year. The first one is to maintain my weight between 160 and 165 pounds. If I find myself slipping over 165 I have a way of solving the problem. Instead of judging myself, I examine the setback by asking myself, ":What specifically tripped me up?" So I track back to the moments when my goal got derailed. Then I change my eating plan for the next several days. I weigh first thing every morning and can see if I'm getting back on track. If not, I will eat less that day and skip any sweets. It has worked since I lost over 30 pounds in 2003 - at that time I went from 195 to 159. That was too much as my face was caving in so I put on a couple of pounds and decided I looked pretty good in the low 160s. I'm still there.
The other "resolution" I make every year is to keep writing in my BLOG. I know I don't have a big readership but it is so cathartic for me because it makes me think. I feel good having to think of something to write about every day.
Recording my "stats" every day keeps me "on the ball" to not get lazy.
And including a QUOTE inspires me - I think about my QUOTES a lot. I have two QUOTE books and they are really inspiring - some are from Guideposts.
Plus, I enjoy going back and reading my "posts" from the last couple of years.
The HUMOR section is good for my psyche.
HUMOR for today: The Japanese eat little fat and the Mexicans eat a lot of fat but they both have fewer heart attacks than Americans. The Chinese drink little red wine and the Italians drink a lot of red wine and both have fewer heart attacks than Americans. The Germans drink a lot of beer and lots of suasages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. So eat and drink what you like. Speaking english is appaarently what kills you.
QUOTE is an Irish proverb: "May your troubles be less, your blessings more and may nothing but happiness come through your door."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with New Year's Resolutions: The New Year of 2013 begins Tuesday. I'm not a big one for New Year's Resolutions but I do have a couple of things in mind every new year. The first one is to maintain my weight between 160 and 165 pounds. If I find myself slipping over 165 I have a way of solving the problem. Instead of judging myself, I examine the setback by asking myself, ":What specifically tripped me up?" So I track back to the moments when my goal got derailed. Then I change my eating plan for the next several days. I weigh first thing every morning and can see if I'm getting back on track. If not, I will eat less that day and skip any sweets. It has worked since I lost over 30 pounds in 2003 - at that time I went from 195 to 159. That was too much as my face was caving in so I put on a couple of pounds and decided I looked pretty good in the low 160s. I'm still there.
The other "resolution" I make every year is to keep writing in my BLOG. I know I don't have a big readership but it is so cathartic for me because it makes me think. I feel good having to think of something to write about every day.
Recording my "stats" every day keeps me "on the ball" to not get lazy.
And including a QUOTE inspires me - I think about my QUOTES a lot. I have two QUOTE books and they are really inspiring - some are from Guideposts.
Plus, I enjoy going back and reading my "posts" from the last couple of years.
The HUMOR section is good for my psyche.
HUMOR for today: The Japanese eat little fat and the Mexicans eat a lot of fat but they both have fewer heart attacks than Americans. The Chinese drink little red wine and the Italians drink a lot of red wine and both have fewer heart attacks than Americans. The Germans drink a lot of beer and lots of suasages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. So eat and drink what you like. Speaking english is appaarently what kills you.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,338. Thank God I'm retired from teaching.
Today is Friday, December 28, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 49 minutes of walking = 2.7 miles for a December total of 52.7 miles My weight was 164.4 pounds.
QUOTE from H. Jackson Brown Jr., author of the best seller Life's Little Instruction Book: "Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures,"
My THOUGHTS today have to do with no longer being a teacher. This morning's paper had an article entitled Group offers gun training for teachers. Gun-rights advocates in Utah were offering six hours of training Thursday in handling concealed weapons for 200 Utah teachers in the latest effort to arm teachers to control school assailants. Thank God I'm no longer teaching. I agree with Carol Lear, the chief lawyer for the Utah Office of Education who said: "It's a terrible idea. It's a horrible, terrible, no-good, rotten idea."
I went to high school in Chatfield, Minnesota. What's running through my mind right now is imagining 65 year-old Mrs. Pieper (our English teacher) packing a six-shooter in her bra holster. It would have to be a bra holster because women can't really carry a gun on their hip. This is funny but it is also rediculous.
One other thought about teachers with guns is this. In my 36 years of teaching I was threatened with being killed one time. In 1997 we had a 12-year-old boy from Oregon move to Anamosa to be with his Dad. His Mom could no longer handle him. With his long straggly hair and dirty clothes you could tell he was not a happy kid and had had a tough time in life. The second day I gave him a worksheet to do and he takes it and crumples it up in front of me and throws it in the waste basket. I also was supervisor at hot lunch and by the end of the first week I gave him a permanent seat because of his behavior. He was not happy about that.The second week the counsellor told me that when talking with him he made the comment that he wanted to kill Mr. Bungum and the Principal. My thought is that if that kid knew the teachers had guns at school I firmly believe he would've tried to steal one and would've used it on me or the Principal or both of us. If I had been packing a six-gun my guess is he would've ambushed me before I could retaliate. And where would I have kept it - in a holster on my hip or in my desk???? It is a rediculous thought and I'm grateful I didn't have to be make a decision on whether to carry a gun as a seventh grade teacher. Thank God there were no guns in our school. By the way, I didn't sleep much after that - it was only when he went back (after a month) to Oregon that I felt safe again.
My other thought is that in other countries the death rate from guns is unbelievably low compared to the U.S. They all have gun control laws that are much stricter than ours. This country is so gun crazy that it is scary. In my opinion the NRA should be banned - there is no reason people in the U.S. have to have assault weapons used by the military. There is only one reason assault weapons are made and that is to kill people - not pheasants or deer, etc. Guns for hunting and sport shooting are fine - let's leave it at that.
QUOTE from H. Jackson Brown Jr., author of the best seller Life's Little Instruction Book: "Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures,"
My THOUGHTS today have to do with no longer being a teacher. This morning's paper had an article entitled Group offers gun training for teachers. Gun-rights advocates in Utah were offering six hours of training Thursday in handling concealed weapons for 200 Utah teachers in the latest effort to arm teachers to control school assailants. Thank God I'm no longer teaching. I agree with Carol Lear, the chief lawyer for the Utah Office of Education who said: "It's a terrible idea. It's a horrible, terrible, no-good, rotten idea."
I went to high school in Chatfield, Minnesota. What's running through my mind right now is imagining 65 year-old Mrs. Pieper (our English teacher) packing a six-shooter in her bra holster. It would have to be a bra holster because women can't really carry a gun on their hip. This is funny but it is also rediculous.
One other thought about teachers with guns is this. In my 36 years of teaching I was threatened with being killed one time. In 1997 we had a 12-year-old boy from Oregon move to Anamosa to be with his Dad. His Mom could no longer handle him. With his long straggly hair and dirty clothes you could tell he was not a happy kid and had had a tough time in life. The second day I gave him a worksheet to do and he takes it and crumples it up in front of me and throws it in the waste basket. I also was supervisor at hot lunch and by the end of the first week I gave him a permanent seat because of his behavior. He was not happy about that.The second week the counsellor told me that when talking with him he made the comment that he wanted to kill Mr. Bungum and the Principal. My thought is that if that kid knew the teachers had guns at school I firmly believe he would've tried to steal one and would've used it on me or the Principal or both of us. If I had been packing a six-gun my guess is he would've ambushed me before I could retaliate. And where would I have kept it - in a holster on my hip or in my desk???? It is a rediculous thought and I'm grateful I didn't have to be make a decision on whether to carry a gun as a seventh grade teacher. Thank God there were no guns in our school. By the way, I didn't sleep much after that - it was only when he went back (after a month) to Oregon that I felt safe again.
My other thought is that in other countries the death rate from guns is unbelievably low compared to the U.S. They all have gun control laws that are much stricter than ours. This country is so gun crazy that it is scary. In my opinion the NRA should be banned - there is no reason people in the U.S. have to have assault weapons used by the military. There is only one reason assault weapons are made and that is to kill people - not pheasants or deer, etc. Guns for hunting and sport shooting are fine - let's leave it at that.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,333-4-5-6-7. Christmas Eve.
Yesterday was Sunday, December 23, 2012. Sunday is my day of rest so no post.
Monday, December 24, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of liftinbg weights and 50 minutes of walking = 2.7 miles for a December total of 47.7 miles. My weight was 163.0 pounds.
QUOTE is an American Proverb: "Christmas comes, but once a year is enough."
My THOUGHTS today: It is Christmas Eve today - it will be the 72nd one for Ruth Ann and me. Tonight we will have Carron and friend Dave, grandson Wesley and wife Celeste, granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate. It is fun to give, especially to the grandchildren - and it is fun to see them enjoy Grandma Ruth Ann's wonderful food. But I do agree with the quote - once a year is enough - it does get a little expensive.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012. No workout today, too cold and Walmart is closed. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with the family. Grandkids Wesley and Ellyn ( her and friend Nate) stayed overnight and both left by 10 AM this morning. Ruth Ann and I went to the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque for some relaxation and a little gambling.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012. We stayed overnight at the Canfield Hotel in Dubuque last night, We got home by 2 PM today. The gambling gods were not very kind but it sure was relaxing to unwind from the holiday hustle and bustle - especially for Ruth Ann. She didn't have to think anymore about preparing 8-10 different dishes for Christmas Eve dinner.
Today is Thursday, December 27, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga and 41 minutes of walking = 2.3 miles for a December total of 50.0 miles. Surprisingly, my weight was 163.0 pounds.
My THOUGHTS today: I haven't worked out since Monday, the 24th. One thing I've learned over the years is how easy it would be to forget about exercising. The last two days I have done nothing. In Dubuque I stayed in bed for 11 hours and last night I stayed in bed for 10 hours. When I got up this morning I told myself that 2 days of being lazy was enough. So I got back at into my routine. I feel better for doing so. I pride myself on being self-disciplined. My mental outlook is improved when I maintain that self-control.
Monday, December 24, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of liftinbg weights and 50 minutes of walking = 2.7 miles for a December total of 47.7 miles. My weight was 163.0 pounds.
QUOTE is an American Proverb: "Christmas comes, but once a year is enough."
My THOUGHTS today: It is Christmas Eve today - it will be the 72nd one for Ruth Ann and me. Tonight we will have Carron and friend Dave, grandson Wesley and wife Celeste, granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate. It is fun to give, especially to the grandchildren - and it is fun to see them enjoy Grandma Ruth Ann's wonderful food. But I do agree with the quote - once a year is enough - it does get a little expensive.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012. No workout today, too cold and Walmart is closed. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with the family. Grandkids Wesley and Ellyn ( her and friend Nate) stayed overnight and both left by 10 AM this morning. Ruth Ann and I went to the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque for some relaxation and a little gambling.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012. We stayed overnight at the Canfield Hotel in Dubuque last night, We got home by 2 PM today. The gambling gods were not very kind but it sure was relaxing to unwind from the holiday hustle and bustle - especially for Ruth Ann. She didn't have to think anymore about preparing 8-10 different dishes for Christmas Eve dinner.
Today is Thursday, December 27, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga and 41 minutes of walking = 2.3 miles for a December total of 50.0 miles. Surprisingly, my weight was 163.0 pounds.
My THOUGHTS today: I haven't worked out since Monday, the 24th. One thing I've learned over the years is how easy it would be to forget about exercising. The last two days I have done nothing. In Dubuque I stayed in bed for 11 hours and last night I stayed in bed for 10 hours. When I got up this morning I told myself that 2 days of being lazy was enough. So I got back at into my routine. I feel better for doing so. I pride myself on being self-disciplined. My mental outlook is improved when I maintain that self-control.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,332. I'm going back to work.
Today is Saturday, December 22, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercisr ball and 45 mnutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 45.0 miles. My weight dropped to 161.8 pounds.
QUOTE from Benjamin Franklin: "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."
My THOUGHTS today: After reading Wayne LaPierre's (the head of the NRA) comments about what should be done about gun violence in our schools I about vomited. His answer is to put more guns in our schools by having armed guards in every American school, all 99,000 of them, at a cost of $7.9 billion a year. He did not say one word about restricting military assualt weapons or high-capacity ammunition clips out of the hands of any American, except the mentally reranged. He also is proposing a creation of "school security forces" that will that would be made up of volunteers - such as retired firefighters, police and military personnel. Maybe they would even hire retired tesachers. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful job for a guy like me? I think I'll apply and see what happens. My biggest problem is I'd most likely be working with a bunch of right-wing conservatives nuts. On second thought, I'm going to forget it.
My last thought about Mr., LaPierre: Like Ben Franklin said in his quote a person has to work really hard to remain stupid - LaPierre has done that.
QUOTE from Benjamin Franklin: "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."
My THOUGHTS today: After reading Wayne LaPierre's (the head of the NRA) comments about what should be done about gun violence in our schools I about vomited. His answer is to put more guns in our schools by having armed guards in every American school, all 99,000 of them, at a cost of $7.9 billion a year. He did not say one word about restricting military assualt weapons or high-capacity ammunition clips out of the hands of any American, except the mentally reranged. He also is proposing a creation of "school security forces" that will that would be made up of volunteers - such as retired firefighters, police and military personnel. Maybe they would even hire retired tesachers. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful job for a guy like me? I think I'll apply and see what happens. My biggest problem is I'd most likely be working with a bunch of right-wing conservatives nuts. On second thought, I'm going to forget it.
My last thought about Mr., LaPierre: Like Ben Franklin said in his quote a person has to work really hard to remain stupid - LaPierre has done that.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,331. The world didn't end
Today is Friday, December 21, 2012. We're digging out of the blizzard. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 30 minutes of shoveling snow = 1.5 miles for a December total of 42.5 miles. My weight was 162.2 pounds.
My THOUGHTS today: Well, the world didn't end today, not yet anyway - we still have 13 hours to go until midnight in the Central Time Zone. I did notice that Australia and New Zealand are still around so that is good sign. Where does this stuff come from? According to academic and religious leaders, the whole "end of the world" thing was a bunch of hooey. There are a couple of explanations on how and why this "hooey" got started. First, was that some sort of astronautical object-sometimes called NIBIRU-was destined for an Earthly collision. Another was that the sun is entering a hyperactive stage and could eviscerate our little planet called Earth. Okay, the sun isn't going to blow us up, but what about the Mayas? A U of Iowa professor says that the Maya calendar that supposedly said the world ended today is simply what Mayas called the long count. "It is the Mayan parallel of what we would think of as a millenia. This idea the Mayas supposedly had the world coming to an end in 2012 is NOT RIGHT. It was just the turning of the calendar in the big way."
One religious leader said, "This end of the world talk is a bunch of nonsense. We should be much more worried about the end of the world coming from environmental destruction, or a military or political conflict."
And I say AMEN.
My THOUGHTS today: Well, the world didn't end today, not yet anyway - we still have 13 hours to go until midnight in the Central Time Zone. I did notice that Australia and New Zealand are still around so that is good sign. Where does this stuff come from? According to academic and religious leaders, the whole "end of the world" thing was a bunch of hooey. There are a couple of explanations on how and why this "hooey" got started. First, was that some sort of astronautical object-sometimes called NIBIRU-was destined for an Earthly collision. Another was that the sun is entering a hyperactive stage and could eviscerate our little planet called Earth. Okay, the sun isn't going to blow us up, but what about the Mayas? A U of Iowa professor says that the Maya calendar that supposedly said the world ended today is simply what Mayas called the long count. "It is the Mayan parallel of what we would think of as a millenia. This idea the Mayas supposedly had the world coming to an end in 2012 is NOT RIGHT. It was just the turning of the calendar in the big way."
One religious leader said, "This end of the world talk is a bunch of nonsense. We should be much more worried about the end of the world coming from environmental destruction, or a military or political conflict."
And I say AMEN.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,330. A blizzard today - maybe a record.1.
Today is Thursday, December 20, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 20 minutes of shoveling snow = the equivalent of 1.0 mile of walking for a December total of 41.0 miles. My weight was 162.0 pounds.
QUOTE from Mark Twain: "Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it."
My THOUGHTS today: Today we're having our first measureable snowfall. It is now 11:22 AM and we've had over 6 inches of snow and the winds are blowing from 20 to 45 mph. In other words we're in the middle of a blizzard. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the potential exists for a HIGH STATEWIDE AVERAGE SNOWFALL. Waterloo has already received 10 inches. His records show the following for a statewide average: On March 10-14, 1951 Iowa had 14.3 inches; January 2-4, 1971 we had 10.5 inches; December 7-9, 2009 we had 10.3 inches; March 4-6, 1959 we had 9.5 inches; January 11-13, 1979 we had 8.6 inches; and December 23-27, 2009 we had 8.6 inches. (Record snow for a single storm at one location: 27.2 inches at Iowa City during March, 1951.)
I'm pretty sad because Ruth Ann and I will not be able to make our 4 PM Happy Hour tonight. Like Mark Twain says - we can talk about the weather but we can't do anything about it.
QUOTE from Mark Twain: "Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it."
My THOUGHTS today: Today we're having our first measureable snowfall. It is now 11:22 AM and we've had over 6 inches of snow and the winds are blowing from 20 to 45 mph. In other words we're in the middle of a blizzard. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the potential exists for a HIGH STATEWIDE AVERAGE SNOWFALL. Waterloo has already received 10 inches. His records show the following for a statewide average: On March 10-14, 1951 Iowa had 14.3 inches; January 2-4, 1971 we had 10.5 inches; December 7-9, 2009 we had 10.3 inches; March 4-6, 1959 we had 9.5 inches; January 11-13, 1979 we had 8.6 inches; and December 23-27, 2009 we had 8.6 inches. (Record snow for a single storm at one location: 27.2 inches at Iowa City during March, 1951.)
I'm pretty sad because Ruth Ann and I will not be able to make our 4 PM Happy Hour tonight. Like Mark Twain says - we can talk about the weather but we can't do anything about it.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Pete BLOG-Day 26,329. I brighted a lady's day today
Today is Wednesday, December 19, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 50 minutes of walking = 2.7 miles for a December total of 40.0 miles. My weight was 163.4 pounds.
My inspirational QUOTE from 52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful life by Bob Welch: "Perspective changes our attitude. Changing our attitude breathes HOPE into us. That's the real gift God's messenger 'Clarence the angel' gives to George Bailey in this movie."
My THOUGHTS today: My thoughts today have to do with what I did yesterday. I brightened the day for Patsy, an 80-year-old lady and Delores, an 85-year-old lady.
I'll do Patsy first: I know Patsy from church. After the 8 AM service we have coffee in the basement and I've sat by her several times and gotten to know her. When I talked to the adult Sunday school (in May of 2010) about my "GRATITUDE JOURNAL" Patsy was there, really enjoyed my presentation and bought one of my JOURNALS. She has mentioned to me several times since that she would like to do some writing about her life so her kids and grandkids will have a written copy of her life. Last Sunday at coffee she came and sat by me and said her son had bought her a lined notebook so she could start writing. But she said "I don't know where to start." I told Patsy I had something that would help her get started and I would visit her in the nursing home this week.
Last year I wrote a 13 page mini-book entitled QUESTIONS GRANDPA and GRANDMA SHOULD ANSWER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. I had read 4-5- books on how to write a life story. I decided they were all too detailed, too long, or too complicated for most elderly people. So I decided to make a short simple one that Senior Citizens could easily use and understand and guide them as they wrote. I took some ideas from these books, added many of my own ideas and made this mini-book. It is divided into 10 chapters and each chapter has from 10 to over 30 questions. Each chapter deals with a different period of their life.
So I took chapter 1 to Patsy yesterday. Chaprer 1 is entitled BIRTH and FAMILY. I went through the 18 questions with her and she enthusiastically started rattling off answers to some of the questions. She promisd me she would get started in her new notebook because Chapter 1 would help her get started and that had been her biggest problem. I gave her my phone number and told her to call me when she is done with Chaptet 1 and I would bring Chaprer 2. My hope is she gets started and continues - she will be so proud if she does.
I'll write on Delores tomorrow.
My inspirational QUOTE from 52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful life by Bob Welch: "Perspective changes our attitude. Changing our attitude breathes HOPE into us. That's the real gift God's messenger 'Clarence the angel' gives to George Bailey in this movie."
My THOUGHTS today: My thoughts today have to do with what I did yesterday. I brightened the day for Patsy, an 80-year-old lady and Delores, an 85-year-old lady.
I'll do Patsy first: I know Patsy from church. After the 8 AM service we have coffee in the basement and I've sat by her several times and gotten to know her. When I talked to the adult Sunday school (in May of 2010) about my "GRATITUDE JOURNAL" Patsy was there, really enjoyed my presentation and bought one of my JOURNALS. She has mentioned to me several times since that she would like to do some writing about her life so her kids and grandkids will have a written copy of her life. Last Sunday at coffee she came and sat by me and said her son had bought her a lined notebook so she could start writing. But she said "I don't know where to start." I told Patsy I had something that would help her get started and I would visit her in the nursing home this week.
Last year I wrote a 13 page mini-book entitled QUESTIONS GRANDPA and GRANDMA SHOULD ANSWER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. I had read 4-5- books on how to write a life story. I decided they were all too detailed, too long, or too complicated for most elderly people. So I decided to make a short simple one that Senior Citizens could easily use and understand and guide them as they wrote. I took some ideas from these books, added many of my own ideas and made this mini-book. It is divided into 10 chapters and each chapter has from 10 to over 30 questions. Each chapter deals with a different period of their life.
So I took chapter 1 to Patsy yesterday. Chaprer 1 is entitled BIRTH and FAMILY. I went through the 18 questions with her and she enthusiastically started rattling off answers to some of the questions. She promisd me she would get started in her new notebook because Chapter 1 would help her get started and that had been her biggest problem. I gave her my phone number and told her to call me when she is done with Chaptet 1 and I would bring Chaprer 2. My hope is she gets started and continues - she will be so proud if she does.
I'll write on Delores tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,328. Electoral College is not neededd
Today is Tuesday, December 18. 2012. It is one day after my brother John's 70th birthday. My stats for today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 37.3 miles, My weight was 163 pounds.
My inspirational QUOTE from Max Lucado's book Max on Life. "Prayer pushes us through life's slumps, propels us over the humps and pulls us out of the dumps. Prayer is the oomph we need to get the answers we seek."
My THOUGHTS today. I chose the above QUOTE because it is so fitting for those grieving in Connecticut. Prayer is about all that can help them at this point.
My other thought today has to do with the Electoral College. The electors cast their votes yesterday for president and vice-president in their respective state capitols. Of course, Obama amd Biden won the vote by a large margin. When you think about it those 535 elctors really elect the president and vice-president thanks to the Founding Fathers who wrote it into the constitution they wrote in 1787. All our vote does is determine if the Republican or Democratic electors will be casting the electoral vote. It depends on whether the Democratic or Republican candidate got the most popular votes in that state. My wish is thast we could do away with the Electoral College. Four times in our history the electors have chosen the candidate with the lesser of the popular vote to be president. The latest was in 2000 when Al Gore got over half a million more votes than George W. Bush. It needs to go in my opinion.
My inspirational QUOTE from Max Lucado's book Max on Life. "Prayer pushes us through life's slumps, propels us over the humps and pulls us out of the dumps. Prayer is the oomph we need to get the answers we seek."
My THOUGHTS today. I chose the above QUOTE because it is so fitting for those grieving in Connecticut. Prayer is about all that can help them at this point.
My other thought today has to do with the Electoral College. The electors cast their votes yesterday for president and vice-president in their respective state capitols. Of course, Obama amd Biden won the vote by a large margin. When you think about it those 535 elctors really elect the president and vice-president thanks to the Founding Fathers who wrote it into the constitution they wrote in 1787. All our vote does is determine if the Republican or Democratic electors will be casting the electoral vote. It depends on whether the Democratic or Republican candidate got the most popular votes in that state. My wish is thast we could do away with the Electoral College. Four times in our history the electors have chosen the candidate with the lesser of the popular vote to be president. The latest was in 2000 when Al Gore got over half a million more votes than George W. Bush. It needs to go in my opinion.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Pete's bLOG-Day 26,327. Maybe something will be done about gun control.
Today is Monday,December 17, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 34.8 miles. My weight was 164.2 pounds.
QUOTE from singer Demi Lovato: "I pray every night before I go to sleep and every morning when I wake up."
My THOUGHTS today are about the inter-faith service of healing in Newtown, Connecticut last night. The service was wonderful in that every faith in Newtown had one of their clergy say words of healing to the grieving families and townspeople in the high school auditorium. And that included Jews, Muslims, Bahai, Catholic, Lutheran, Congregational, Methodist, Pentecos and ..... I watched with tears in my eyes as President Obama read the names of the 26 massacred victims. It had to be so meaningful for the people of Newtown to have the President there. He mentioned that the U.S. can do better in protecting our children and adults from this kind of violence. So maybe, just maybe, we'll see something done about gun control
QUOTE from singer Demi Lovato: "I pray every night before I go to sleep and every morning when I wake up."
My THOUGHTS today are about the inter-faith service of healing in Newtown, Connecticut last night. The service was wonderful in that every faith in Newtown had one of their clergy say words of healing to the grieving families and townspeople in the high school auditorium. And that included Jews, Muslims, Bahai, Catholic, Lutheran, Congregational, Methodist, Pentecos and ..... I watched with tears in my eyes as President Obama read the names of the 26 massacred victims. It had to be so meaningful for the people of Newtown to have the President there. He mentioned that the U.S. can do better in protecting our children and adults from this kind of violence. So maybe, just maybe, we'll see something done about gun control
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,326. It's time for some gun control
Today is Sunday, December 16, 2012. No stats today as Sunday is my day to relax.
QUOTE from Joel Manby, president and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, the largest family-owned theme park corporation in the u.S.: "Spend part of each day actively encouraging the behavior that you want to reinforce. I believe the definition of CEO needs to be expanded to stand for 'chief encouragement officer.' Encouragement and enthusiasm start at the top whether you run the local PTA or a Fortune 500 company."
My THOUGHTS today: After the Connecticut massacre of 26 innocent kids and adults it is time in America that we look seriously at some form od gun control. I'm not talking about hunting weapons but automatic and semi-automatic handguns and rifles. There is no need for these weapons to be available to civilians - these are needed by the military but not by mentally disturbed or even normal people. These weapons are made to kill PEOPLE - and they've been doing a good job of killing innocent people in recent years. Why? Why? Why should anybody be able to buy these people killing guns? It doesn't make sense.
QUOTE from Joel Manby, president and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, the largest family-owned theme park corporation in the u.S.: "Spend part of each day actively encouraging the behavior that you want to reinforce. I believe the definition of CEO needs to be expanded to stand for 'chief encouragement officer.' Encouragement and enthusiasm start at the top whether you run the local PTA or a Fortune 500 company."
My THOUGHTS today: After the Connecticut massacre of 26 innocent kids and adults it is time in America that we look seriously at some form od gun control. I'm not talking about hunting weapons but automatic and semi-automatic handguns and rifles. There is no need for these weapons to be available to civilians - these are needed by the military but not by mentally disturbed or even normal people. These weapons are made to kill PEOPLE - and they've been doing a good job of killing innocent people in recent years. Why? Why? Why should anybody be able to buy these people killing guns? It doesn't make sense.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,325. Be thankful for each day.
Today is Saturday, December 15, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 32.3 miles. My weight was 164.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Wayne W. Dyer, from his book Real Magic: Creating Miracles in Everyday Life: "A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe."
My THOUGHTS today. After the tragedy yesterday in Connecticut my thoughts today are that we all better appreciate each day of life. Yesteray proves that we never know when our days on this earth will end.
One of the reasons I number my days of life (in the above title) is it helps me focus on appreciating each day.
Each day I try to focus on the following:
1. Doing something beneficial to my body with my exercise routine.
2. I focus on eating healthy foods.
3. I focus on exercising my brain by writing in my BLOG and learning something new every day.
4. I focus on trying to live by the Golden Rule.
5. I focus on the Bible verse from Philippiians which says, "What you sow is what you reap".
6. I focus on greeting people and giving them a smile.
7. I focus on listening to people and looking them in the eye when talking.
8. And I focus on treating Ruth Ann as the most important thing in my life and also thinking of her as my best friend.
QUOTE from Wayne W. Dyer, from his book Real Magic: Creating Miracles in Everyday Life: "A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe."
My THOUGHTS today. After the tragedy yesterday in Connecticut my thoughts today are that we all better appreciate each day of life. Yesteray proves that we never know when our days on this earth will end.
One of the reasons I number my days of life (in the above title) is it helps me focus on appreciating each day.
Each day I try to focus on the following:
1. Doing something beneficial to my body with my exercise routine.
2. I focus on eating healthy foods.
3. I focus on exercising my brain by writing in my BLOG and learning something new every day.
4. I focus on trying to live by the Golden Rule.
5. I focus on the Bible verse from Philippiians which says, "What you sow is what you reap".
6. I focus on greeting people and giving them a smile.
7. I focus on listening to people and looking them in the eye when talking.
8. And I focus on treating Ruth Ann as the most important thing in my life and also thinking of her as my best friend.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,324. Live longer but more pain and illness
Today is Thursday, December 14, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a Decenber total of 29.8 miles. My weight was 163.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Michael Korda, author of Another Life: A Memoir of Other People: "One way to keep your momentum going is to have constantly greater goals."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with age, health and health care. In this morning's paper there was an article entitled WE LIVE LONGER, WITH MORE PAIN AND ILLNESS. The main points were these: In the last 100 years medical progress has made huge progress by fighting killer infectious diseases and doing unbelievable surgeries. But as a result we now lead longer and sicker lives, with health problems that cause us years of pain, disability and mental stress. And nations face huge financial and social costs from rising numbers of people living with disease and injury.
Malnutrition has dropped but the effects of excessive eating are taking its place. Smoking and drinking have ovetaken hunger to become the second and third leading health risks, with blood pressure just behind. More than 3 million deaths globally were attributable in 2010 to excess body weight, more than 3 times as many as malnutrition. So the major health problems now are diseases and conditions that don't kill, but make us ill. We now live longer with more health problems that cause pain, impair mobility, and prevent us seeing, hearing and thinking clearly.
What should we do? I guess the answer is to eat less, lose weight, stop smoking, drink less beer (Pete says you don't have to stop) and booze, and do some exercise. That would help our Medicare financial situation a great deal. I know one thing for sure: If people lost weight we would have fewer hip and knee surgeries, a lot less high blood pressure problems, a lot less diabetes, fewer heart attacks, fewer strokes, people would sleep better and not snore so much (it would make your spouse happier and we'd have fewer marital problems). And best of all Medicare would be solvent for many more years than presently predicted.
This summer we were in Denmark for our granddaughter's high school graduation. Denmark has universal government run health care. When talking to a 75 year-old lady who needed back surgery she told me that the doctors wouldn't perform surgery until she quit smoking. The doctors said they weren't going to spend the taxpayers money for somebody who is a smoker. I applaud the Danish doctors for their decision. By the way, she quit smoking and had surgery.However, I don't see that happening in the U.S. Our doctors would do the surgery, send the bill to Medicare and get their money.
HUMOR today for Seniors: I wish the buck stopped here, I could sure use a few.
QUOTE from Michael Korda, author of Another Life: A Memoir of Other People: "One way to keep your momentum going is to have constantly greater goals."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with age, health and health care. In this morning's paper there was an article entitled WE LIVE LONGER, WITH MORE PAIN AND ILLNESS. The main points were these: In the last 100 years medical progress has made huge progress by fighting killer infectious diseases and doing unbelievable surgeries. But as a result we now lead longer and sicker lives, with health problems that cause us years of pain, disability and mental stress. And nations face huge financial and social costs from rising numbers of people living with disease and injury.
Malnutrition has dropped but the effects of excessive eating are taking its place. Smoking and drinking have ovetaken hunger to become the second and third leading health risks, with blood pressure just behind. More than 3 million deaths globally were attributable in 2010 to excess body weight, more than 3 times as many as malnutrition. So the major health problems now are diseases and conditions that don't kill, but make us ill. We now live longer with more health problems that cause pain, impair mobility, and prevent us seeing, hearing and thinking clearly.
What should we do? I guess the answer is to eat less, lose weight, stop smoking, drink less beer (Pete says you don't have to stop) and booze, and do some exercise. That would help our Medicare financial situation a great deal. I know one thing for sure: If people lost weight we would have fewer hip and knee surgeries, a lot less high blood pressure problems, a lot less diabetes, fewer heart attacks, fewer strokes, people would sleep better and not snore so much (it would make your spouse happier and we'd have fewer marital problems). And best of all Medicare would be solvent for many more years than presently predicted.
This summer we were in Denmark for our granddaughter's high school graduation. Denmark has universal government run health care. When talking to a 75 year-old lady who needed back surgery she told me that the doctors wouldn't perform surgery until she quit smoking. The doctors said they weren't going to spend the taxpayers money for somebody who is a smoker. I applaud the Danish doctors for their decision. By the way, she quit smoking and had surgery.However, I don't see that happening in the U.S. Our doctors would do the surgery, send the bill to Medicare and get their money.
HUMOR today for Seniors: I wish the buck stopped here, I could sure use a few.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,323. Feeding America
Today is Thursday, December 13, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 mkles for a December total of 27.3 miles. my weight was 164.0 pounds.
QUOTE from my Chinese fortune cookie: " Hope for the best but prepare for the worst."
My THOUGHTS today are about an organization called Feeding America. This organization's goal is to provide food to the nearly 49 million Americans, including more than 16 million children, who are facing hunger right now. By working with growers, retailers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and restaurants they obtain food that may otherwise be thrown away and distribute it to local charities like food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, homeless shelters, youth programs and afterschool programs.
Anyway, I've been giving them money since 2009, when I first learned about them. Yesterday, I got a letter from Feeding America thanking me for my $30.00 donation this year. They said my $30.00 means: $480.00 worth of food and groceries distributed; 300 pounds of food saved; 240 meals for hungry people across America. It makes me feel good I can help and I'm grateful I have the financial means to help a great organization like this. What is sad is that the U.S is the largest food producer in the world and yet we have a hunger problem - it doesn't make sense.
QUOTE from my Chinese fortune cookie: " Hope for the best but prepare for the worst."
My THOUGHTS today are about an organization called Feeding America. This organization's goal is to provide food to the nearly 49 million Americans, including more than 16 million children, who are facing hunger right now. By working with growers, retailers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and restaurants they obtain food that may otherwise be thrown away and distribute it to local charities like food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, homeless shelters, youth programs and afterschool programs.
Anyway, I've been giving them money since 2009, when I first learned about them. Yesterday, I got a letter from Feeding America thanking me for my $30.00 donation this year. They said my $30.00 means: $480.00 worth of food and groceries distributed; 300 pounds of food saved; 240 meals for hungry people across America. It makes me feel good I can help and I'm grateful I have the financial means to help a great organization like this. What is sad is that the U.S is the largest food producer in the world and yet we have a hunger problem - it doesn't make sense.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,322. Today is a historic day.
Today is Wednesday, it is December 12, 2012 - in other words it is 12/12/12. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 24.8 miles. My weight was 162.2 pounds.
Quote from Guideposts Magazine by Mildred Henderson of Lancaster, PA.: "When buttoning up his sweater, Mr. Rogers commented that his mother had taught him to start with the bottom button, saying, 'If you start out right at the bottom, you come out right on top.' That can be taken figuratively too."
My THOUGHTS today. Today is a special day in the 21st century because there won't be another 12/12/12 for 100 years. The next 12/12/12 will be in the 22nd century in the year 2112. I and everybody else I know will never write 12/12/12 again (unless they are a Methusaelah),
I LEARNED when looking up the spelling of Methuselah that not only is it the name of the Bible's oldest man at 969 years but also means - "a champagne bottle holding 208 ounces, equivalent to eight standard bottles."
What a useful piece of trivia that is. I'll sleep better tonight having learned that today. Ha!!!
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens: It is easier to get older than it is get wiser.
Quote from Guideposts Magazine by Mildred Henderson of Lancaster, PA.: "When buttoning up his sweater, Mr. Rogers commented that his mother had taught him to start with the bottom button, saying, 'If you start out right at the bottom, you come out right on top.' That can be taken figuratively too."
My THOUGHTS today. Today is a special day in the 21st century because there won't be another 12/12/12 for 100 years. The next 12/12/12 will be in the 22nd century in the year 2112. I and everybody else I know will never write 12/12/12 again (unless they are a Methusaelah),
I LEARNED when looking up the spelling of Methuselah that not only is it the name of the Bible's oldest man at 969 years but also means - "a champagne bottle holding 208 ounces, equivalent to eight standard bottles."
What a useful piece of trivia that is. I'll sleep better tonight having learned that today. Ha!!!
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens: It is easier to get older than it is get wiser.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,321. Women are long livers.
Today is Tuesday, December 11, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 22.3 miles. My weight was 163.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Brett C. Hoover - author of An Atlas for the Body and Soul: "There is satisfaction in wisdom, in having loved people and accomplished things, in having not wasted all our time with caution and escape."
My THOUGHTS today are about women. I read a remarkable statistic in the paper this morning. The stat was that out of every 10 people to reach 100 years of age - 8 are women. In other words 80% of centenarians are women. The Census Bureacu reports that there are 53,364 Americans over 100 years of age. That means about 43,000 are women. The majority of centenarians are more likely to be white city-dwellers in the Northeast and Midwest. And the oldest living human in the world is Dina Manfredini, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa - so says the Guinness Book of World Records.
Why do women live longer than men? My opinion is that they take better care of their bodies by eating healthier foods and smoking and drinking less.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens: Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant.
QUOTE from Brett C. Hoover - author of An Atlas for the Body and Soul: "There is satisfaction in wisdom, in having loved people and accomplished things, in having not wasted all our time with caution and escape."
My THOUGHTS today are about women. I read a remarkable statistic in the paper this morning. The stat was that out of every 10 people to reach 100 years of age - 8 are women. In other words 80% of centenarians are women. The Census Bureacu reports that there are 53,364 Americans over 100 years of age. That means about 43,000 are women. The majority of centenarians are more likely to be white city-dwellers in the Northeast and Midwest. And the oldest living human in the world is Dina Manfredini, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa - so says the Guinness Book of World Records.
Why do women live longer than men? My opinion is that they take better care of their bodies by eating healthier foods and smoking and drinking less.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens: Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,319-20. America is changing
Yesterday was Sunday, December 9, 2012. It was a day of rest. I had an accident - I spilled a glass of water on my computer. After a two hour drying session I'm grateful it is still working.
Today is Monday, December 10, 2012. It is cold and windy today. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 19.8 miles. My weights was 164.0 pounds.
QUOTE from Ray Charles: "Music is about the only thing left that people don't fight over."
My THOUGHTS today are about how America is changing. After reading this morning's Cedar Rapids Gazette the thought going through my mind was, "My, but America is really changing." What made me think of that topic was a photo from Seattle, Washington. It was a photo of two women, ages 27 and 29, sitting at the Seattle Yacht Club and they both had wedding dresses on. They were getting married at the stroke of midnight because Wahington voters approved a same-sex marriage law on November 6th. The effective date of the new law was December 9, 2012. Weddings took place all over Washington but Seattle city hall weddings were the largest public event, with about 140 couples taking part. The city set up five separate chapels to accomodate everybody and 16 local judges volunteered to officiate the weddings on Sunday.
In 2009 the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously (9-0) approved same-sex marriage in Iowa. It got the religious right-wingers up in arms and they vowed to vote the judges out of office. In 2010 they got three of them out but in 2012 they tried to get a fourth one but failed this time. At present there are nine states that have approved same-sex marriage, 41 have not. It will be interesting to see what the U.S. Supreme Court decides about this topic. The court will be debating it shortly.
So YES, America is changing. When I was in high school in the 1950s you were considered gay if you wore a pink shirt on Thursday. Today, being gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. is much more acceptable. I have asked some of the people opposed to same-sex marriage if these same-sex couple have changed their life or been a danger to them or the state of Iowa since the Iowa law was passed in 2009. They have to admit that it hasn't but they still oppose it, of course. I just tell these people that these same-sex couples can do whatever they want in their own home /bedroom - it sure as hell doesn't bother me any and I can't understand why it would/should bother you. And they're human beings just like you and me, they're American citizens just like you and me - they do all the same things everybody else does, the only difference is what they do with their bodies in the privacy of their own homes.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens. If all is not lost, where is it?
Today is Monday, December 10, 2012. It is cold and windy today. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 19.8 miles. My weights was 164.0 pounds.
QUOTE from Ray Charles: "Music is about the only thing left that people don't fight over."
My THOUGHTS today are about how America is changing. After reading this morning's Cedar Rapids Gazette the thought going through my mind was, "My, but America is really changing." What made me think of that topic was a photo from Seattle, Washington. It was a photo of two women, ages 27 and 29, sitting at the Seattle Yacht Club and they both had wedding dresses on. They were getting married at the stroke of midnight because Wahington voters approved a same-sex marriage law on November 6th. The effective date of the new law was December 9, 2012. Weddings took place all over Washington but Seattle city hall weddings were the largest public event, with about 140 couples taking part. The city set up five separate chapels to accomodate everybody and 16 local judges volunteered to officiate the weddings on Sunday.
In 2009 the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously (9-0) approved same-sex marriage in Iowa. It got the religious right-wingers up in arms and they vowed to vote the judges out of office. In 2010 they got three of them out but in 2012 they tried to get a fourth one but failed this time. At present there are nine states that have approved same-sex marriage, 41 have not. It will be interesting to see what the U.S. Supreme Court decides about this topic. The court will be debating it shortly.
So YES, America is changing. When I was in high school in the 1950s you were considered gay if you wore a pink shirt on Thursday. Today, being gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. is much more acceptable. I have asked some of the people opposed to same-sex marriage if these same-sex couple have changed their life or been a danger to them or the state of Iowa since the Iowa law was passed in 2009. They have to admit that it hasn't but they still oppose it, of course. I just tell these people that these same-sex couples can do whatever they want in their own home /bedroom - it sure as hell doesn't bother me any and I can't understand why it would/should bother you. And they're human beings just like you and me, they're American citizens just like you and me - they do all the same things everybody else does, the only difference is what they do with their bodies in the privacy of their own homes.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens. If all is not lost, where is it?
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Pete BLOG-Day 26,318. #36-50 of Thanksgiving Story Starters.
Today is Saturday, December 8, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 17.2 miles. My weight was 163.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Rachel Chabon: "Never worry about what you are escaping from. Reserve your anxieties for what you are escaping to." (this is so true)
My THOUGHTS today are #36-50 of the 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#36-40. Juicy Secrets.
#36. If I could marry a celebrity it would be___. Pete says: It would be Karen Finney, a political contributor to MSNBC.
#37. Once, I was really embarassed when___. Pete says: In my first year of teaching my zipper was halfway down and the kids noticed it.
#38. I think my best feature is my___. Pete says: My ablility to listen to people and not interrupt them. (However, I slip up sometimes when I'm talking politics.)
#39. A secret I wish I hadn't kept is___. Pete says: Someone I know stepping out on his wife.
#40. I am secretly proud that I can___. Pete says: Maintain my daily workout routine
#41-45. Talkin' Turkey.
#41. The troublemaker of the family was___. Pete says: According to brothers John and Chuck I was the troublemaker. John was two years younger and Chuck four years older.
#42. One time I got in hot water when___. Pete says: When I lied to my Dad.
#43. But I didn't get caught when___. Pete says: I pushed the pick-up out of the driveway in our Chatfield home and took it for a drive at night.
#44. One time I got scared when___. Pete says: When I was walking through the cemetery I noticed two cars parked about 30-40 yards ahead of me. It was 6AM in the morning and I thought I had walked into the middle of a drug deal. I turned around and walked the other way.
#45. I'll always regret___. Pete says: Being a smart aleck in 8th grade at home, in church and school.
#46-50. Bragging a Little.
#46. Our family claim to fame is ___. Pete says: Having a mountain in Norway named "Bungum Mountain."
#47. Once I won a contest when___. Pete says: I do not recall winning any contests.
#48. My proudest moment was___. Pete says: When I was chosen Teacher of the Year by my colleagues in 1974.
#49. My favorite thing about people is___. Pete says: People who ask questions and listen when I answer.
#50. Something I hope people like about me is ___. Pete says: That I'll listen to you.
QUOTE from Rachel Chabon: "Never worry about what you are escaping from. Reserve your anxieties for what you are escaping to." (this is so true)
My THOUGHTS today are #36-50 of the 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#36-40. Juicy Secrets.
#36. If I could marry a celebrity it would be___. Pete says: It would be Karen Finney, a political contributor to MSNBC.
#37. Once, I was really embarassed when___. Pete says: In my first year of teaching my zipper was halfway down and the kids noticed it.
#38. I think my best feature is my___. Pete says: My ablility to listen to people and not interrupt them. (However, I slip up sometimes when I'm talking politics.)
#39. A secret I wish I hadn't kept is___. Pete says: Someone I know stepping out on his wife.
#40. I am secretly proud that I can___. Pete says: Maintain my daily workout routine
#41-45. Talkin' Turkey.
#41. The troublemaker of the family was___. Pete says: According to brothers John and Chuck I was the troublemaker. John was two years younger and Chuck four years older.
#42. One time I got in hot water when___. Pete says: When I lied to my Dad.
#43. But I didn't get caught when___. Pete says: I pushed the pick-up out of the driveway in our Chatfield home and took it for a drive at night.
#44. One time I got scared when___. Pete says: When I was walking through the cemetery I noticed two cars parked about 30-40 yards ahead of me. It was 6AM in the morning and I thought I had walked into the middle of a drug deal. I turned around and walked the other way.
#45. I'll always regret___. Pete says: Being a smart aleck in 8th grade at home, in church and school.
#46-50. Bragging a Little.
#46. Our family claim to fame is ___. Pete says: Having a mountain in Norway named "Bungum Mountain."
#47. Once I won a contest when___. Pete says: I do not recall winning any contests.
#48. My proudest moment was___. Pete says: When I was chosen Teacher of the Year by my colleagues in 1974.
#49. My favorite thing about people is___. Pete says: People who ask questions and listen when I answer.
#50. Something I hope people like about me is ___. Pete says: That I'll listen to you.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Pete BLOG-Day 26,317. #26-35 of Thanksgiving Story Starters
Today is Friday, December 7, 2012. It is the 71st Pearl Harbor Day. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 48 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for a December total of 14.8 miles. My weight was 164 pounds.
QUOTE from Richard Nixon: "Only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain."
My THOUGHTS today are #26-35 of the 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters. #26-30 are entitled "Modern Times" and #31-40 are entitled "Believe it or Not."
MODERN TIMES #26-30.
#26. I am happiest when___. Pete says: I'm happiest when I make other people happy.
#27. I am most at peace when___. Pete says: When I'm reading my magazines/books or watching the History Channel. Also, when I'm doing what I'm doing now - writing in my BLOG. Basically, it is when I'm learning something new.
#28. I often crave___. Pete says: My most frequent craving is for chocolate.
#29. My favorite book is___. Pete says: My alltime favorite book was THE JUNGLE written by Upton Sinclair in 1906. It was about the abuse and suffering meat packing workers endured in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The book turned me into a Democrat.
#30. My favorite movie is___. Pete says: The Sound of Music.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT #31-35.
#31. My religion is ___because___. Pete says: I'm a Lutheran because Mom and Dad were Lutheran.
#32. Politically, I consider myself a ___. Pete says: I am a Democrat. In my early 20s I was a Republican but by age 25 I became a Democrat.
#33. My beliefs once changed when___. Pete Says: When I read THE JUNGLE book in 1965. That's when I became a Democrat.
#34. My biggest hope is that___. Pete says: My biggest hope if that the ultra-conservative Tea Party members of Congress do not ruin this country.
#35. I am superstitious about___. Pete says: When the Hawkeye football team wins a game I'm superstitious enough to believe I have to wear the same clothing the next Saturday.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens:
Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
QUOTE from Richard Nixon: "Only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain."
My THOUGHTS today are #26-35 of the 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters. #26-30 are entitled "Modern Times" and #31-40 are entitled "Believe it or Not."
MODERN TIMES #26-30.
#26. I am happiest when___. Pete says: I'm happiest when I make other people happy.
#27. I am most at peace when___. Pete says: When I'm reading my magazines/books or watching the History Channel. Also, when I'm doing what I'm doing now - writing in my BLOG. Basically, it is when I'm learning something new.
#28. I often crave___. Pete says: My most frequent craving is for chocolate.
#29. My favorite book is___. Pete says: My alltime favorite book was THE JUNGLE written by Upton Sinclair in 1906. It was about the abuse and suffering meat packing workers endured in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The book turned me into a Democrat.
#30. My favorite movie is___. Pete says: The Sound of Music.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT #31-35.
#31. My religion is ___because___. Pete says: I'm a Lutheran because Mom and Dad were Lutheran.
#32. Politically, I consider myself a ___. Pete says: I am a Democrat. In my early 20s I was a Republican but by age 25 I became a Democrat.
#33. My beliefs once changed when___. Pete Says: When I read THE JUNGLE book in 1965. That's when I became a Democrat.
#34. My biggest hope is that___. Pete says: My biggest hope if that the ultra-conservative Tea Party members of Congress do not ruin this country.
#35. I am superstitious about___. Pete says: When the Hawkeye football team wins a game I'm superstitious enough to believe I have to wear the same clothing the next Saturday.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens:
Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,316. #16-25 of Thanksgiving Story Starters.
Today is Thursday, December 6, 1012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 47 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for a December total of 12.2 miles. My weight was 163.8 pounds.
QUOTE from Victor Borge: "The shortest distance between two people is a smile."
My THOUGHTS today are on #16-25 of 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters. = #16-20 are entitled Teen Talk and #21-25 are entitled I'm Not blushing.
#16. My favortie activities at school were___. Pete says: Band and sports.
#17. My first job was____. Pete says: Working at a grocery store in tenth grade.
#18. My first car was and it cost ___. Pete says: A 1951 Chevrolet and it cost $300.00.
I bought it in 1959.
#19. My favorite musical group was___. Pete says: I didn't have one. But I liked Elvis.
#20. My first home away from my parents was___. Pete says: It was Olson Hall at Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa in August, 1958.
#21. My first crush was on ___. Pete says: In third grade it was Karen Burdick in Mantorville, Minnesota.
#22. My first date was with ___at___. Pete says: The first one was in ninth grade with Rhonda Easler - we double-dated and went to a movie in Rochester.
#23. My first kiss was___. Pete says: In eighth grade and it was probably Patsy Waters in Chatfield.
#24. I met my mate ___. Pete says: I met Ruth Ann in seventh grade in Chatfield, Minnesota.
#25. My favorite wedding memory is___. Pete says: How happy everybody was at our wedding.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens: I finally got my head together, and now my body is falling apart.
QUOTE from Victor Borge: "The shortest distance between two people is a smile."
My THOUGHTS today are on #16-25 of 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters. = #16-20 are entitled Teen Talk and #21-25 are entitled I'm Not blushing.
#16. My favortie activities at school were___. Pete says: Band and sports.
#17. My first job was____. Pete says: Working at a grocery store in tenth grade.
#18. My first car was and it cost ___. Pete says: A 1951 Chevrolet and it cost $300.00.
I bought it in 1959.
#19. My favorite musical group was___. Pete says: I didn't have one. But I liked Elvis.
#20. My first home away from my parents was___. Pete says: It was Olson Hall at Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa in August, 1958.
#21. My first crush was on ___. Pete says: In third grade it was Karen Burdick in Mantorville, Minnesota.
#22. My first date was with ___at___. Pete says: The first one was in ninth grade with Rhonda Easler - we double-dated and went to a movie in Rochester.
#23. My first kiss was___. Pete says: In eighth grade and it was probably Patsy Waters in Chatfield.
#24. I met my mate ___. Pete says: I met Ruth Ann in seventh grade in Chatfield, Minnesota.
#25. My favorite wedding memory is___. Pete says: How happy everybody was at our wedding.
HUMOR today for Senior Citizens: I finally got my head together, and now my body is falling apart.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,315. #11-15 of the Thanksgiving Story Starters
Today is Wednesday, December 5, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 48 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for a December total of 9.6 miles. My weight was 164.2 pounds.
QUOTE from B.B. King: "The beautiful thing about learning iis that nobody can take it away from you."
My THOUGHTS today: Today I'll list #11-15 of 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters. They are entitled, "When I Was a Kid."
#11. Something I wish was still sold in stores is___ . Pete says: Orange Crush soda in the little brown bottles.
#12. The historical moment I remember best is___. Pete says: When I was 9 years old I remember June, 25, 1950, the day the Korean War started when North Korea invaded South Korea. I was afraid my older brothers (Paul and Don) were going to have to go to war.
#13. A famous person who made the biggest impression was___ . Pete says: Harry Truman.
#14. My first music player was a ___ and I liked to listen to ___on it. Pete says: I never had any kind of music player as a kid. My music player was my sister Jan playing the all the popular songs of the late 1940s and early 1950s on the piano.
#15. The first president I remember was ___. Pete says: Harry Truman.
HUMOR for today is about Senior Citizens:
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.
My wild oats have turned into prunes and all-bran.
QUOTE from B.B. King: "The beautiful thing about learning iis that nobody can take it away from you."
My THOUGHTS today: Today I'll list #11-15 of 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters. They are entitled, "When I Was a Kid."
#11. Something I wish was still sold in stores is___ . Pete says: Orange Crush soda in the little brown bottles.
#12. The historical moment I remember best is___. Pete says: When I was 9 years old I remember June, 25, 1950, the day the Korean War started when North Korea invaded South Korea. I was afraid my older brothers (Paul and Don) were going to have to go to war.
#13. A famous person who made the biggest impression was___ . Pete says: Harry Truman.
#14. My first music player was a ___ and I liked to listen to ___on it. Pete says: I never had any kind of music player as a kid. My music player was my sister Jan playing the all the popular songs of the late 1940s and early 1950s on the piano.
#15. The first president I remember was ___. Pete says: Harry Truman.
HUMOR for today is about Senior Citizens:
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.
My wild oats have turned into prunes and all-bran.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,314. More Thankgiving Story Starters.
Today is Tuesday, December 4, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exefcise ball and 41 minutes of walking = 2.2 miles for a December total of 7.0 miles. My weights was 164.0 pounds.
QUOTE from musician Cheryl Crow: "I used to jog every day and call it my 'gratitude run.' I'd make my gratitude list as I ran. I never ran out of things to be grateful for. My knees aren't what they used to be, but I still do my gratitude list every day."
My THOUGHTS today: Last week I listed the first 5 entries from the November, 2011 AARP Bulletin entitled "50 Thanksgiving Story Starters." Today I will list entries 5-10 entitled EARLIEST MEMORIES.
#6. My first pet was____. Pete: I never had a pet as a kid.
#7. My chores growing up were___. Pete: Mowing the lawn, raking leaves in the fall, making my bed and shoveling snow. I never took out the garbage but as a teen driver I would deliver the garbage from our nursing home to the town dump on the northeast corner of Chatfield.
#8. My favorite toy was___. Pete: Cap guns which we used to play cowboys and Indians.
#9. My best surprise was____. Pete: Getting a bike when I was 9 years old.
#10. I wanted to grow up to be a ____. Pete: From junior high on I wanted to be a social studies teacher.
HUMOR for today: Kids in back seats cause accidents. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
QUOTE from musician Cheryl Crow: "I used to jog every day and call it my 'gratitude run.' I'd make my gratitude list as I ran. I never ran out of things to be grateful for. My knees aren't what they used to be, but I still do my gratitude list every day."
My THOUGHTS today: Last week I listed the first 5 entries from the November, 2011 AARP Bulletin entitled "50 Thanksgiving Story Starters." Today I will list entries 5-10 entitled EARLIEST MEMORIES.
#6. My first pet was____. Pete: I never had a pet as a kid.
#7. My chores growing up were___. Pete: Mowing the lawn, raking leaves in the fall, making my bed and shoveling snow. I never took out the garbage but as a teen driver I would deliver the garbage from our nursing home to the town dump on the northeast corner of Chatfield.
#8. My favorite toy was___. Pete: Cap guns which we used to play cowboys and Indians.
#9. My best surprise was____. Pete: Getting a bike when I was 9 years old.
#10. I wanted to grow up to be a ____. Pete: From junior high on I wanted to be a social studies teacher.
HUMOR for today: Kids in back seats cause accidents. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,313. No Bowl Game for Hawks.
Today is Monday, December 3, 2012. My stats today: 10 Minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 47 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for a December total of 4.8 miles. My weight was 163.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Tom Hanks: "Help publicly. Help privately. Help make sense where sense has gone missing. Help science to solve and faith to soothe. Help, and you will abolish apathy - the void that is so quickly filled by ignorance and evil."
My THOUGHTS today. While reading the sports page this morning I had an empty feeling about the BOWL match-ups this year. In the BIG 10 five teams are going bowling: Minnesota(6-6), Michigan State(6-6), Purdue(6-6), Michigan(8-4) and Wisconsin(8-5) - but no Iowa, Penn State(8-4) or Ohio State(12-0). The latter two are inelgible for bowls due to NCAA penalties. And the Hawks aren't going bowling because of losing their last 6 games and going 4-8 for the season. It is only the second time since 2001 that we haven't gone to a bowl - the other was 2007 when we were 6-6. We aren't elgible for a bowl with only 4 wins and we don't deserve one anyway.
Coach Ferentz played a lot of freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores this fall. My hope is that by getting these young guys some experience this year it will make us a better team next year. If we don't go at least 6-6, 7-5, or 8-4 next year the radicals will be screaming for Ferentzs' head. I'm a Ferentz supporter and I know enough about football history to realize there will be down years for a team like Iowa. We are not Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon etc. It is hard to recruit to Iowa - we simply cannot get the 4-star and 5-star athletes that these other schools get. With that hindrance I strongly believe Ferentz has done a great job in his 14 years at Iowa.
The only Hawkeye football highlights this year were beating Minnesota, Michigan State and Northern Illinois. Northern Illinois went on to win 11 straight games and is playing in the Orange Bowl. At least we had we had a little something to cheer about.
QUOTE from Tom Hanks: "Help publicly. Help privately. Help make sense where sense has gone missing. Help science to solve and faith to soothe. Help, and you will abolish apathy - the void that is so quickly filled by ignorance and evil."
My THOUGHTS today. While reading the sports page this morning I had an empty feeling about the BOWL match-ups this year. In the BIG 10 five teams are going bowling: Minnesota(6-6), Michigan State(6-6), Purdue(6-6), Michigan(8-4) and Wisconsin(8-5) - but no Iowa, Penn State(8-4) or Ohio State(12-0). The latter two are inelgible for bowls due to NCAA penalties. And the Hawks aren't going bowling because of losing their last 6 games and going 4-8 for the season. It is only the second time since 2001 that we haven't gone to a bowl - the other was 2007 when we were 6-6. We aren't elgible for a bowl with only 4 wins and we don't deserve one anyway.
Coach Ferentz played a lot of freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores this fall. My hope is that by getting these young guys some experience this year it will make us a better team next year. If we don't go at least 6-6, 7-5, or 8-4 next year the radicals will be screaming for Ferentzs' head. I'm a Ferentz supporter and I know enough about football history to realize there will be down years for a team like Iowa. We are not Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon etc. It is hard to recruit to Iowa - we simply cannot get the 4-star and 5-star athletes that these other schools get. With that hindrance I strongly believe Ferentz has done a great job in his 14 years at Iowa.
The only Hawkeye football highlights this year were beating Minnesota, Michigan State and Northern Illinois. Northern Illinois went on to win 11 straight games and is playing in the Orange Bowl. At least we had we had a little something to cheer about.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,312. It's a good day;
Today is Sunday, December 2, 2012. No stats today - my day of rest. My weight was 164.4 pounds.
My inspirational QUOTE today is from "The 11 Laws of Likability" by Michelle Tillis Lederman. "Be nice to yourself. This isn't just a warm fuzzy idea, it's a scientific principle. Positive self-talk paves the way for authentic productivity and success."
My THOUGHTS today: I'm going to be nice to myself as the QUOTE says. I feel good today. The temperature outside right now is an unbelievable 60 degrees - that makes me feel good. I'm grateful I'm sleeping good for up to 6-8 hours a night. I'm grateful that my health has been great this year with the exception of a bad cold in July. I'm grateful the election is over so Ruth Ann and I do not have to use the "mute" button anymore to silence the political ads. I'm grateful that I keep my weight at about 165
pounds. I'm grateful I get to eat 5 times a day but know enough to make the quantities small so I don't gain any weight. Anyway, I have a lot of things to feel good about today. LIFE IS GOOD.
Yesterday was a fantastic day in Anamosa. Our local community theater put on Roger's and Hammerstein's "Sound of Music." I didn't know we had such acting and singing talent in Anamosa and the surrounding towns. Ruth Ann and said it was one of most enjoyable two and one-half hours we had ever experienced. LIFE IS GOOD IN ANAMOSA.
My inspirational QUOTE today is from "The 11 Laws of Likability" by Michelle Tillis Lederman. "Be nice to yourself. This isn't just a warm fuzzy idea, it's a scientific principle. Positive self-talk paves the way for authentic productivity and success."
My THOUGHTS today: I'm going to be nice to myself as the QUOTE says. I feel good today. The temperature outside right now is an unbelievable 60 degrees - that makes me feel good. I'm grateful I'm sleeping good for up to 6-8 hours a night. I'm grateful that my health has been great this year with the exception of a bad cold in July. I'm grateful the election is over so Ruth Ann and I do not have to use the "mute" button anymore to silence the political ads. I'm grateful that I keep my weight at about 165
pounds. I'm grateful I get to eat 5 times a day but know enough to make the quantities small so I don't gain any weight. Anyway, I have a lot of things to feel good about today. LIFE IS GOOD.
Yesterday was a fantastic day in Anamosa. Our local community theater put on Roger's and Hammerstein's "Sound of Music." I didn't know we had such acting and singing talent in Anamosa and the surrounding towns. Ruth Ann and said it was one of most enjoyable two and one-half hours we had ever experienced. LIFE IS GOOD IN ANAMOSA.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,310-11. I wish I had worked at GOOGLE
Yesterday was Friday, November 30, 2012. My stats: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 2.3 miles of walking for a November total of 62 miles.
Today is Saturday, December 1, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 40 mintes of walking = 2.2 miles for a December total of 2.2 miles. My weight was 164.2 pounds.
My inspirational QUOTE today from Steve Carell: "Nothing to me feels as good as laughing incredibly hard."
My THOUGHT today is how nice it would have been to have worked for GOOGLE. I found this in the December, 2012, Reader's Digest. For GOOGLE employees, even dying comes with perks. Under a policy put in place last year, a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a deceased GOOGLE employee will receive 50% of the employee's salary every year for a decade. In addition, the employee's children will receive $1,000 every month until they turn 19 (or until age 23, if they are full-time students). There's no tenure requirements for the benefit, so most of the company's 34,000 employees qualify. Laszia Bock, GOOGLE'S chief people officer, ominously calls the new policy GOOGLE'S "death benefits."
What a great company to do this for it's employees. Now that is called sharing the wealth.
HUMOR for today. Ad from a local gym. "If you're not satisfied with the results at our club, we'll give you your old body back."
Today is Saturday, December 1, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 40 mintes of walking = 2.2 miles for a December total of 2.2 miles. My weight was 164.2 pounds.
My inspirational QUOTE today from Steve Carell: "Nothing to me feels as good as laughing incredibly hard."
My THOUGHT today is how nice it would have been to have worked for GOOGLE. I found this in the December, 2012, Reader's Digest. For GOOGLE employees, even dying comes with perks. Under a policy put in place last year, a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a deceased GOOGLE employee will receive 50% of the employee's salary every year for a decade. In addition, the employee's children will receive $1,000 every month until they turn 19 (or until age 23, if they are full-time students). There's no tenure requirements for the benefit, so most of the company's 34,000 employees qualify. Laszia Bock, GOOGLE'S chief people officer, ominously calls the new policy GOOGLE'S "death benefits."
What a great company to do this for it's employees. Now that is called sharing the wealth.
HUMOR for today. Ad from a local gym. "If you're not satisfied with the results at our club, we'll give you your old body back."
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,309. I remember my siblings as being___
Today is Thursday, November 29, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 36 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a November total of 59.7 miles. My weight was down to 163.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Paulo Coelho, novelist: "It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path."
Today I will write on entry #5 from 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#5. I remember my siblings as being___.
I had 9 siblings that reached adulthood. Sister Karen died on her first day of life in May of 1944. I had 6 older and 2 younger, including 6 brothers and 2 sisters. I was #7 kid sandwiched between brother Chuck (4 years older) and brother John (2 years younger.) So growing up I spent more time them with them than any of the others. Chuck left for the navy at the end of my 8th grade year so John ranks first as far as the sibling that I spent the most time with.
The main memory I have of my brother siblings is sports. They were always playing some kind of ball in the backyard or in school. As a youngster I watched Paul, Don, Jim and Chuck play baseball, football and basketball. They would let me join them in the backyard games. I became a catcher in baseball because Don, Jim, and Chuck were all catchers. So when I started playing organized baseball in seventh grade I just assumed I should catch because that was what the Bungum boys did.
My main memory of sister Jan is her playing the piano and always being so nice to me. She had a heart of gold and I remember her taking me to my first grade class on the first day of school in 1946. Of course, I was crying and she tried to comfort me as much as she could.
Growing up I do not have as many memories of Paul and Betty as they left home before I started school in 1946. Brother Mark was 6 years younger so not a whole lot of memories.He was in 6th grade when I left for college.
And one more memory is the fights I had with Chuck and John. We had a lot of them and all I can say is that Thank God I could run faster than those two and that saved my butt on many occasions.
Of course, I have many memories of the family get-togethers we had as adults.
QUOTE from Paulo Coelho, novelist: "It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path."
Today I will write on entry #5 from 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#5. I remember my siblings as being___.
I had 9 siblings that reached adulthood. Sister Karen died on her first day of life in May of 1944. I had 6 older and 2 younger, including 6 brothers and 2 sisters. I was #7 kid sandwiched between brother Chuck (4 years older) and brother John (2 years younger.) So growing up I spent more time them with them than any of the others. Chuck left for the navy at the end of my 8th grade year so John ranks first as far as the sibling that I spent the most time with.
The main memory I have of my brother siblings is sports. They were always playing some kind of ball in the backyard or in school. As a youngster I watched Paul, Don, Jim and Chuck play baseball, football and basketball. They would let me join them in the backyard games. I became a catcher in baseball because Don, Jim, and Chuck were all catchers. So when I started playing organized baseball in seventh grade I just assumed I should catch because that was what the Bungum boys did.
My main memory of sister Jan is her playing the piano and always being so nice to me. She had a heart of gold and I remember her taking me to my first grade class on the first day of school in 1946. Of course, I was crying and she tried to comfort me as much as she could.
Growing up I do not have as many memories of Paul and Betty as they left home before I started school in 1946. Brother Mark was 6 years younger so not a whole lot of memories.He was in 6th grade when I left for college.
And one more memory is the fights I had with Chuck and John. We had a lot of them and all I can say is that Thank God I could run faster than those two and that saved my butt on many occasions.
Of course, I have many memories of the family get-togethers we had as adults.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,308. I remember my parents as being____
Today is Wednesday, November 28, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 46 minutes of walking=2.5 miles for a November total of 57.7 miles. My weight was 164.0 pounds.
QUOTE from former President Bill Clinton: "Never tell anyone to go to hell unless you can make 'em go."
Today I will write on entry #4 from 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#4. I remember my parents as being___.
When I came into the family as #7 kid my Dad was 41 and Mom was 36. So I was raised when they were going through their 40s and 50s. They were not only raising me but by the time I started school in 1946 there were two more kids (John and Mark) added to the family. By 1946 Paul and Betty were in college and brother Don was not at home as he worked on and stayed at the Tully farm in Mantorville. Some of my memories of Mom and Dad from 1946 to 1958 include the following:
-They worked hard to support 9 kids.
-They had perseverance.
-They believed in a college education for all their kids.
-They had a strong religious faith to keep them going while raising all those kids. When asked once why she had so many kids Mom said "God will help us raise them."
And they made sure that we all went to the Lutheran church every Sunday and got baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. I know in Charfield they were tithers - giving 10% of their nursing home income to the church.
-I remember Dad had a hell of a temper and wasn't afraid to use his hands on us. He was pretty mild-mannered but when he got pushed too far you better watch out.
-They always made sure we had enough to eat even when they had to charge groceries at the Erdman's grocery store in Mantorville. Mom told me once when they left Mantorville in 1949 they had over $100.00 charged at Erdman's. In today's dollars that $100.0 would be way into the thousands.
-I remember the wonderful Christmas Eve's we had with the family. We always got more than one gift even though it had to be a struggle for Mom and Dad to buy gifts for 9 kids plus the in-law spouses and then grandchildren starting in 1950. We always sang Christmas carols and read the Bible story of the birth of Jesus from the book of Luke.
-I remember Mom as being a feisty woman - nobody pushed her around or took advantage of her. If they tried they were in for a darn good fight.
- I remember that beer or liquor were never a part of their life. There was never any in the house that I ever remember.
- I remember Dad smoking his pipe until he broke his ribs and punctured his lung at age 55. When he came home from the hospital he went staight to the drawer to get one of his pipes but couldn't find any. He couldn't find them because Mom had thrown them all away or hid them. The end of the story is he never smoked again.
-And I remember Dad and Mom as being two of the most respected people in the towns where they lived.
QUOTE from former President Bill Clinton: "Never tell anyone to go to hell unless you can make 'em go."
Today I will write on entry #4 from 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#4. I remember my parents as being___.
When I came into the family as #7 kid my Dad was 41 and Mom was 36. So I was raised when they were going through their 40s and 50s. They were not only raising me but by the time I started school in 1946 there were two more kids (John and Mark) added to the family. By 1946 Paul and Betty were in college and brother Don was not at home as he worked on and stayed at the Tully farm in Mantorville. Some of my memories of Mom and Dad from 1946 to 1958 include the following:
-They worked hard to support 9 kids.
-They had perseverance.
-They believed in a college education for all their kids.
-They had a strong religious faith to keep them going while raising all those kids. When asked once why she had so many kids Mom said "God will help us raise them."
And they made sure that we all went to the Lutheran church every Sunday and got baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. I know in Charfield they were tithers - giving 10% of their nursing home income to the church.
-I remember Dad had a hell of a temper and wasn't afraid to use his hands on us. He was pretty mild-mannered but when he got pushed too far you better watch out.
-They always made sure we had enough to eat even when they had to charge groceries at the Erdman's grocery store in Mantorville. Mom told me once when they left Mantorville in 1949 they had over $100.00 charged at Erdman's. In today's dollars that $100.0 would be way into the thousands.
-I remember the wonderful Christmas Eve's we had with the family. We always got more than one gift even though it had to be a struggle for Mom and Dad to buy gifts for 9 kids plus the in-law spouses and then grandchildren starting in 1950. We always sang Christmas carols and read the Bible story of the birth of Jesus from the book of Luke.
-I remember Mom as being a feisty woman - nobody pushed her around or took advantage of her. If they tried they were in for a darn good fight.
- I remember that beer or liquor were never a part of their life. There was never any in the house that I ever remember.
- I remember Dad smoking his pipe until he broke his ribs and punctured his lung at age 55. When he came home from the hospital he went staight to the drawer to get one of his pipes but couldn't find any. He couldn't find them because Mom had thrown them all away or hid them. The end of the story is he never smoked again.
-And I remember Dad and Mom as being two of the most respected people in the towns where they lived.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,307. I remember my grandparents as being___
Today is Tuesday, November 27, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 37 minutes of walking=2.0 miles for a November total of 55.2 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds.
Today would have been my Mother's 108th birthday. She was born in Dodge County, Minnesota on November 27, 1904. She was kid #5 - her older siblings were Effie, Boardwell, Manford, Vina, her younger sister was Sybil. Mom lived 86 years and 51 weeks. She died on my 51st birthday, November 20, 1991.
QUOTE from Marian Wright Edelman: "Failure is just another way to learn how to do something right."
Today I will write on the #3 entry from 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#3. I remember my grandparents as being ____
I did not know my Dad's parents. Grandpa Bungum died in 1923 and Grandma Bungum died in 1943 when I was two and one-half years old. My Mom's parents were John and Maline Throndson and they lived in Rochester when I was old enough to get to know them - that would have been in 1944-45. My memories of them are nothing but wonderful. They were around 80 years old when they became part of my life. For being the age they were I remember them as being so kind and loving. Brother John and I would go to Rochester and stay with them in the summer time for several days and we were frequent visitors on many Sundays and holidays. And they would come visit us when we lived in Mantorville and Dodge Center, It was always a joy to visit them. My favorite memory of Grandpa was taking their garbage to the Rochester dump. He drove his 1935 Ford and would drive like a maniac. He would ask John and I if we thought he could make it when leaving a stop sign and a dozen cars were coming. We would say yes and he would gun that old Ford and - he always made it. Grandma always asked me how things were going at school. The one thing I remember her saying to me is that "being a kid was going to be the best time of my life." I also remember that she had only one eye - she had the other eye taken out in the 1930s. They both lived into their mid-90s. Grandpa died in 1959 and Grandma died in 1967 or 1968.
Today would have been my Mother's 108th birthday. She was born in Dodge County, Minnesota on November 27, 1904. She was kid #5 - her older siblings were Effie, Boardwell, Manford, Vina, her younger sister was Sybil. Mom lived 86 years and 51 weeks. She died on my 51st birthday, November 20, 1991.
QUOTE from Marian Wright Edelman: "Failure is just another way to learn how to do something right."
Today I will write on the #3 entry from 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters.
#3. I remember my grandparents as being ____
I did not know my Dad's parents. Grandpa Bungum died in 1923 and Grandma Bungum died in 1943 when I was two and one-half years old. My Mom's parents were John and Maline Throndson and they lived in Rochester when I was old enough to get to know them - that would have been in 1944-45. My memories of them are nothing but wonderful. They were around 80 years old when they became part of my life. For being the age they were I remember them as being so kind and loving. Brother John and I would go to Rochester and stay with them in the summer time for several days and we were frequent visitors on many Sundays and holidays. And they would come visit us when we lived in Mantorville and Dodge Center, It was always a joy to visit them. My favorite memory of Grandpa was taking their garbage to the Rochester dump. He drove his 1935 Ford and would drive like a maniac. He would ask John and I if we thought he could make it when leaving a stop sign and a dozen cars were coming. We would say yes and he would gun that old Ford and - he always made it. Grandma always asked me how things were going at school. The one thing I remember her saying to me is that "being a kid was going to be the best time of my life." I also remember that she had only one eye - she had the other eye taken out in the 1930s. They both lived into their mid-90s. Grandpa died in 1959 and Grandma died in 1967 or 1968.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,305 & 306. My parents told me I was a ___baby.
Yesterday was Sunday, November 25, 2012. My stats were: 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a Novewmber total of 48.5 miles. My weight was 164.6 pounds.
For brunch we had Carron and Dave, granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate, and Dave's two kids (Dave and Melissa). Ruth Ann made her wonderful breakfast casserole of sausage, cheddar cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and some other ingrediants. It was so good and everybody pigged out.
Today is Monday, November 26, 2012. my stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 50 minutes of walking = 2.7 miles for a November total of 53.2 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds (I had too much casserole).
QUOTE from Michael Dresser, columnist, Baltimore Sun: "Thanksgiving is the one occasion each year then gluttony becomes a patriotic duty."
On Saturday I said I was going to start something new - and that was to answer the 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters I found in the AARP Bulletin. So today I'll do #2.
#2: My parents told me I was a ____baby. I was # 7 kid in a family of 9. So by the time I came along in 1940 I had 6 older siblings ranging in age from 4 to 13. Actually, I don't remember much of anything Mom and Dad ever said about me in my infant years. The only comment I remember about my infancy was by sister Betty. She was 12 years old and I guess she took care of me a lot. Her comment was, "Pete, you were such a cute baby." That's all I can write about the #2 Story Starter.
For brunch we had Carron and Dave, granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate, and Dave's two kids (Dave and Melissa). Ruth Ann made her wonderful breakfast casserole of sausage, cheddar cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and some other ingrediants. It was so good and everybody pigged out.
Today is Monday, November 26, 2012. my stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 50 minutes of walking = 2.7 miles for a November total of 53.2 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds (I had too much casserole).
QUOTE from Michael Dresser, columnist, Baltimore Sun: "Thanksgiving is the one occasion each year then gluttony becomes a patriotic duty."
On Saturday I said I was going to start something new - and that was to answer the 50 Thanksgiving Story Starters I found in the AARP Bulletin. So today I'll do #2.
#2: My parents told me I was a ____baby. I was # 7 kid in a family of 9. So by the time I came along in 1940 I had 6 older siblings ranging in age from 4 to 13. Actually, I don't remember much of anything Mom and Dad ever said about me in my infant years. The only comment I remember about my infancy was by sister Betty. She was 12 years old and I guess she took care of me a lot. Her comment was, "Pete, you were such a cute baby." That's all I can write about the #2 Story Starter.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,304. I was named after___because___.
Today is Saturday, November 24, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 48.0 miles. My weight zoomed to 166.4 pounds. (I'm getting fat again.)
Today I'm going to start something new. I found it in the AARP Bulletin. It was entitled "50 Thanksgiving Story Starters." It was written with the intension of promoting good conversation at the Thanksgiving table. So today I'll write on the #1 entry on the list of 50.
1. "I was named after___because____." I was born November 20. 1940 and was baptized with the name Peter George Wendell Bungum. There is an interesting story regarding my name. When I was hired to teach in Dubuque in 1966-67 I had to get my birth certificate from Dodge County, Minnesota. When it arrived all it said for my name was "Baby Boy Bungum." All my life I always believed my name was the above four names. Mom told me that on the day of my baptism Dad had to go tell the minister what my name was before the service started. When the minister said "I baptize thee Peter George Wendell Bungum" Mom was shocked - she was shocked because had no idea where Wenell came from. She had agreed to the Peter George but knew nothing about Wendell.
So who was I named after and why? The Peter was from Grandpa Peder Bungum and probably the Bible had something to do with it; George was from Uncle George Cutting who was married to my Aunt Effie; and Wendell was from Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate for president in 1940. I guess Dad had voted for FDR in 1932 and 1936 but thought he shouldn't run for a third term so he voted for Wendell Willkie. He must have liked him because that's where I got Wendell.
The end of the story is when I sent my birth certificate back to Minnesota I dropped the Wendell, I wasn't going to go through the rest of my life named after a Republican.
Today I'm going to start something new. I found it in the AARP Bulletin. It was entitled "50 Thanksgiving Story Starters." It was written with the intension of promoting good conversation at the Thanksgiving table. So today I'll write on the #1 entry on the list of 50.
1. "I was named after___because____." I was born November 20. 1940 and was baptized with the name Peter George Wendell Bungum. There is an interesting story regarding my name. When I was hired to teach in Dubuque in 1966-67 I had to get my birth certificate from Dodge County, Minnesota. When it arrived all it said for my name was "Baby Boy Bungum." All my life I always believed my name was the above four names. Mom told me that on the day of my baptism Dad had to go tell the minister what my name was before the service started. When the minister said "I baptize thee Peter George Wendell Bungum" Mom was shocked - she was shocked because had no idea where Wenell came from. She had agreed to the Peter George but knew nothing about Wendell.
So who was I named after and why? The Peter was from Grandpa Peder Bungum and probably the Bible had something to do with it; George was from Uncle George Cutting who was married to my Aunt Effie; and Wendell was from Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate for president in 1940. I guess Dad had voted for FDR in 1932 and 1936 but thought he shouldn't run for a third term so he voted for Wendell Willkie. He must have liked him because that's where I got Wendell.
The end of the story is when I sent my birth certificate back to Minnesota I dropped the Wendell, I wasn't going to go through the rest of my life named after a Republican.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,302-03. Love is fishing a turd out of a bathtub
Yesterday was Thursday, November 22, 2012 - Thanksgiving Day in America. My stats today: 10m minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 50 minutes of walking = 2.7 miles for a November total of 45.5 miles. My weight was 165.0 pounds.
Dave and I went golfing in the morning. We played best shot and had a 38, which was two over par. Dave is a good golfer and most of the shots were his but I did chip in from 30 yards out on hole 7. It saved a par 3 for us. I did contribute a few more strokes by doing some respectable putting.
In the afternoon we went to Carron and Dave's for turkey and the works.We ate about 3:30 - it was wonderful. Carron and her Mom are some darn good cooks.
Today is Friday, November 23, 2012. No stats today as I took the day off. We are going to the Country Club to watch the Hawks play Nebraska at 11 AM. Carron and Dave are going with us.
HUMOR for today: After looking at some of Carron's pictures from 19 years ago showing Granddaughter Ellyn displaying her first turd in the potty chair, I ran into this quote from a lady named Margaret Smith. "You don't know what love is until you become a parent. You don't know what love is until you fish a turd out of the bathtub
for someone."
Dave and I went golfing in the morning. We played best shot and had a 38, which was two over par. Dave is a good golfer and most of the shots were his but I did chip in from 30 yards out on hole 7. It saved a par 3 for us. I did contribute a few more strokes by doing some respectable putting.
In the afternoon we went to Carron and Dave's for turkey and the works.We ate about 3:30 - it was wonderful. Carron and her Mom are some darn good cooks.
Today is Friday, November 23, 2012. No stats today as I took the day off. We are going to the Country Club to watch the Hawks play Nebraska at 11 AM. Carron and Dave are going with us.
HUMOR for today: After looking at some of Carron's pictures from 19 years ago showing Granddaughter Ellyn displaying her first turd in the potty chair, I ran into this quote from a lady named Margaret Smith. "You don't know what love is until you become a parent. You don't know what love is until you fish a turd out of the bathtub
for someone."
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,301. My Gratitude Journal-My Bathroom Book
Today is Wednesday, November 21, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a November total of 42.8 miles. My weight was 164.8 pounds.
QUOTE from gratitude researcher Robert Emmons: "Reflect on what life would be like without certain things."
My THOUGHTS today: Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. It is time to reflect and be grateful for the many blessings we have living in the USA. Yesterday, I turned 72 years of age and I'm so grateful for the many blessings I have at this age. The thing I'm most grateful for is that I have my health. Without my good health it would be much easier for me to be negative and I probably wouldn't be as grateful for my blessings. In 2009 I kept a gratitude journal for 365 days in which I expressed my gratitue to the people who and things that made my journey through life a good one. It was the best year of my life as it made think positive everyday and as result I became a happier and more grateful person. In this year of 2012 I've turned my journal into my "Bathroom Book." Everyday I read what I wrote on that particular day in 2009 - in inspires me to keep thinking positive and to count my blessings. It also makes me think of many other things I should be grateful for. If you have a copy of my Gratitude Journal I would recommend you do the same - it is worth the effort even if you've read it before.
HUMOR for today: From the good doctor.
Q. Doctor, Is swimming good for your figure?
A. If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.
QUOTE from gratitude researcher Robert Emmons: "Reflect on what life would be like without certain things."
My THOUGHTS today: Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. It is time to reflect and be grateful for the many blessings we have living in the USA. Yesterday, I turned 72 years of age and I'm so grateful for the many blessings I have at this age. The thing I'm most grateful for is that I have my health. Without my good health it would be much easier for me to be negative and I probably wouldn't be as grateful for my blessings. In 2009 I kept a gratitude journal for 365 days in which I expressed my gratitue to the people who and things that made my journey through life a good one. It was the best year of my life as it made think positive everyday and as result I became a happier and more grateful person. In this year of 2012 I've turned my journal into my "Bathroom Book." Everyday I read what I wrote on that particular day in 2009 - in inspires me to keep thinking positive and to count my blessings. It also makes me think of many other things I should be grateful for. If you have a copy of my Gratitude Journal I would recommend you do the same - it is worth the effort even if you've read it before.
HUMOR for today: From the good doctor.
Q. Doctor, Is swimming good for your figure?
A. If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,300. I'm 72 today.
Today is Tuesday, November 20, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball, and 46 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a total of 40.8 miles. My weight was 164.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Conrad Adenauer: "I do not ask to be young again; all I want is to go on getting older."
My THOUGHTS today. It is my birthday #72 for me today. I like the quote - but I would like to add one more thing - my addition at the end would be "and to be healthy as I go on getting older."
I was born in a farmhouse in Dodge County, Minnesota - which is in southeast Minnesota. Thank God I wasn't born on November 11 as that was the day of one of the worst storms the Midwest ever had. Mom told me there was no way the doctor would have been able to make it to the farm if she had delivered on the 11th, 12th or 13th. Dad would have had to deliver and the results may not have been good as I was born with the cord wrapped around my neck. So I'm grateful I was born on the 20th and I'm grateful Doctor Affeldt was there to deliver me.
HUMOR for today: Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old.
QUOTE from Conrad Adenauer: "I do not ask to be young again; all I want is to go on getting older."
My THOUGHTS today. It is my birthday #72 for me today. I like the quote - but I would like to add one more thing - my addition at the end would be "and to be healthy as I go on getting older."
I was born in a farmhouse in Dodge County, Minnesota - which is in southeast Minnesota. Thank God I wasn't born on November 11 as that was the day of one of the worst storms the Midwest ever had. Mom told me there was no way the doctor would have been able to make it to the farm if she had delivered on the 11th, 12th or 13th. Dad would have had to deliver and the results may not have been good as I was born with the cord wrapped around my neck. So I'm grateful I was born on the 20th and I'm grateful Doctor Affeldt was there to deliver me.
HUMOR for today: Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Pete' BLOG-Day 26,298-99.
Day 26,298 was Sunday, November 18, 2012 - my day off from exercising. I did attend a Thank You meeting at the Country Club put on by Nate Willems, our defeated candidate for Iowa Senate district 48. Nate is a former student of mine from 1991. He explained how and why he lost and thanked all of us for helping him in his campaign.
Today is Monday, November 19, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 38.3 miles. My weight was 164.8 pounds.
I've got a lot of things to do so only a little HUMOR today. The same doctor who advised us not to exercise had this to say about alcohol.
Q. Doctor, should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A. Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain - Bottom up!
Today is Monday, November 19, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 38.3 miles. My weight was 164.8 pounds.
I've got a lot of things to do so only a little HUMOR today. The same doctor who advised us not to exercise had this to say about alcohol.
Q. Doctor, should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A. Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain - Bottom up!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,297. Another game day.
Today is Saturday, November 17, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 20 minutes of walking = 1.1 miles for a November total of 35.8 miles. My weight was down to 163.2 pounds.
My THOUGHTS today. Well, I'm hoping for a miracle and that would be a Hawkeye victory over Michigan (there). The odds are not good but who knows - maybe we'll just put it all together and come out a winner.
HUMOR for today: Jan, my sister sent me this email yesterday. She said she loves this doctor. It was entitled: "Love This Doctor." I'm an exerciser so I'm not going to take this doctor's advice. His words about exercise were:
Q. Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A. Heart only good for so many beats, and that it....Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend of life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
My THOUGHTS today. Well, I'm hoping for a miracle and that would be a Hawkeye victory over Michigan (there). The odds are not good but who knows - maybe we'll just put it all together and come out a winner.
HUMOR for today: Jan, my sister sent me this email yesterday. She said she loves this doctor. It was entitled: "Love This Doctor." I'm an exerciser so I'm not going to take this doctor's advice. His words about exercise were:
Q. Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A. Heart only good for so many beats, and that it....Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend of life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,296. Life must go on.
Today is Friday, November 16, 2012. My stats today amounted to a 37 minute walk = 2.0 miles for a November total of 34.7 miles. My weight was 164.8 pounds. (I must have been tired because I didn't wake up until 7:15 - I usually get up by 6:15.)
QUOTE from Sholem Aleichem: "No matter how bad things get - you got to go on living."
My THOUGHTS today. I found this quote in a book I own entitled, 3,500 GOOD QUOTES FOR SPEAKERS. I picked this because of a sad situation that developed in Ruth Ann's family this week. I'm not going to dwell on it other than to say it happened because of alcoholism, divorce, family estrangement and mental problems. It is truly sad. The perpetrator is looking at possible jail time for arson. Ruth Ann is constantly crying and beside herself but as the quote says "you got to go on living." When something like this happens relatives and friends always start blaming themselves by saying "Why didn't I do something before it happened." In my opinion that kind of thinking solves nothing and in this case I doubt that anybody would have been able to do anything anyway.
I always try to look at situations like this from a different angle than most people - and that angle is "I'm grateful nobody was killed, murdered or committed suicide."
Some FOOD for THOUGHT:
An African-American proverb says: "Life is short and full of blisters."
And Robert Frost said: "In three words I can sum everything I've learned about life. It goes on."
QUOTE from Sholem Aleichem: "No matter how bad things get - you got to go on living."
My THOUGHTS today. I found this quote in a book I own entitled, 3,500 GOOD QUOTES FOR SPEAKERS. I picked this because of a sad situation that developed in Ruth Ann's family this week. I'm not going to dwell on it other than to say it happened because of alcoholism, divorce, family estrangement and mental problems. It is truly sad. The perpetrator is looking at possible jail time for arson. Ruth Ann is constantly crying and beside herself but as the quote says "you got to go on living." When something like this happens relatives and friends always start blaming themselves by saying "Why didn't I do something before it happened." In my opinion that kind of thinking solves nothing and in this case I doubt that anybody would have been able to do anything anyway.
I always try to look at situations like this from a different angle than most people - and that angle is "I'm grateful nobody was killed, murdered or committed suicide."
Some FOOD for THOUGHT:
An African-American proverb says: "Life is short and full of blisters."
And Robert Frost said: "In three words I can sum everything I've learned about life. It goes on."
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,295. MeCain and Graham piss me off.
Today is Thursday, November 15, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 mintes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 32.7 miles. My weight was 165.6 pounds (I'm getting fat!!!!)
QUOTE from Juvenal: "Revenge is sweet, sweeter than life itself. So say fools."
\
My THOUGHTS today. After watching Republican Senators' McCain and Graham (SC) vowing to stop Susan Rice (US Ambassdor to the UN), from becoming the next Secretary of State I about blew a gasket. I lost all respect for those two guys. They claim she is unqualified because she was not on top of the Benghazi situation in Libya when four of our diplomatic corps were killed. Susan Rice is not to blame for Benghazi and she did not try to hide anything. The information given to her was the same information that members of Congress got.
If you look at the quote it appears these two guys are "FOOLS". McCain wants revenge for his 2008 defeat to Obama and both Graham and McCain are pissed that Obama won re-election last week. They just cannot comprehend that a black man and a Democrat is president of the U.S. and was re-elected.
I used to have some respect for the Republican Party - but that is long gone - particularly because of what has transpired since Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009. That day the Republicans members of Congress met and made it their goal to make sure Obama would be one-term president. To do so they would not work with or compromise with Obama on anything. Well, that didn't achieve their goal so now they are out to get their revenge. And this Susan Rice thing is just one example - I predict there will be many more of these in the next four years.
I don't think the Republican Party as it is today really cares about the American people. All that matters to them is greed, money, power, satisfying the corporations and making sure their special-interest supporters are happy with their tax breaks and tax loopholes.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A Chinese proverb kind of hits my feelings head on. The proverb says: "When you go out to seek revenge, dig two graves." I'd like to see the contemporary Republican Party fill one of those graves. Let's get a Republican Party like we had when Eisenhower was president. The 1950s version of the present day Tea Party was the John Birch Society. Eisenhower said that members of the John Birch were not only wrong in their berliefs but they were also stupid.
QUOTE from Juvenal: "Revenge is sweet, sweeter than life itself. So say fools."
\
My THOUGHTS today. After watching Republican Senators' McCain and Graham (SC) vowing to stop Susan Rice (US Ambassdor to the UN), from becoming the next Secretary of State I about blew a gasket. I lost all respect for those two guys. They claim she is unqualified because she was not on top of the Benghazi situation in Libya when four of our diplomatic corps were killed. Susan Rice is not to blame for Benghazi and she did not try to hide anything. The information given to her was the same information that members of Congress got.
If you look at the quote it appears these two guys are "FOOLS". McCain wants revenge for his 2008 defeat to Obama and both Graham and McCain are pissed that Obama won re-election last week. They just cannot comprehend that a black man and a Democrat is president of the U.S. and was re-elected.
I used to have some respect for the Republican Party - but that is long gone - particularly because of what has transpired since Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009. That day the Republicans members of Congress met and made it their goal to make sure Obama would be one-term president. To do so they would not work with or compromise with Obama on anything. Well, that didn't achieve their goal so now they are out to get their revenge. And this Susan Rice thing is just one example - I predict there will be many more of these in the next four years.
I don't think the Republican Party as it is today really cares about the American people. All that matters to them is greed, money, power, satisfying the corporations and making sure their special-interest supporters are happy with their tax breaks and tax loopholes.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A Chinese proverb kind of hits my feelings head on. The proverb says: "When you go out to seek revenge, dig two graves." I'd like to see the contemporary Republican Party fill one of those graves. Let's get a Republican Party like we had when Eisenhower was president. The 1950s version of the present day Tea Party was the John Birch Society. Eisenhower said that members of the John Birch were not only wrong in their berliefs but they were also stupid.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,294. General Petraeus - was it worth it?
Today is Wednesday, November 14, 2012. My stats today: 10 minites of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 37 minutes of walking=2.0 miles for a November total of 30.2 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Epictetus: "In every affair consider what precedes and what follows."
My THOUGHTS today: I wonder if General Petraeus thought about the quote when he had his affair. What preceded was having a good looking married woman become his biographer and then what followed was sex resulting in a severe tarnishing of his brilliant career and probably the end of his marriage of 38 years to Holly. How stupid can you get?
I've been trying to put together all the pieces of this affair. After studying the morning paper I now kind of have an understanding of the relationship between Petraeus, Paula Broadwell (biographer), Jill Kelley, General Allen, Natalie Khawam (Kelley's twin sister), and the shirtless FBI agent.
One conclusion I've reached is that the title of Kelley's book could not have been more appropriate; the title is "All In". There was something "all in" alright - it was the penis of Petraeus "all in" Kelley's vagina.
HUMOR for today: Benjamin Franklin said:
"YOU CANNOT PLUCK ROSES WITHOUT FEAR OF THORNS,
Nor enjoy a fair wife without danger of HORNS."
Do you suppose Petraeus and Jill Kelley can relate to this?
QUOTE from Epictetus: "In every affair consider what precedes and what follows."
My THOUGHTS today: I wonder if General Petraeus thought about the quote when he had his affair. What preceded was having a good looking married woman become his biographer and then what followed was sex resulting in a severe tarnishing of his brilliant career and probably the end of his marriage of 38 years to Holly. How stupid can you get?
I've been trying to put together all the pieces of this affair. After studying the morning paper I now kind of have an understanding of the relationship between Petraeus, Paula Broadwell (biographer), Jill Kelley, General Allen, Natalie Khawam (Kelley's twin sister), and the shirtless FBI agent.
One conclusion I've reached is that the title of Kelley's book could not have been more appropriate; the title is "All In". There was something "all in" alright - it was the penis of Petraeus "all in" Kelley's vagina.
HUMOR for today: Benjamin Franklin said:
"YOU CANNOT PLUCK ROSES WITHOUT FEAR OF THORNS,
Nor enjoy a fair wife without danger of HORNS."
Do you suppose Petraeus and Jill Kelley can relate to this?
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,292-93 I'm tired and need a nap
We spent Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday morning at the Isle of Capri Casino in Waterloo.
Today is Tuesday, November 13, 2012. I walked 4.1 miles at the casino for a November total of 28.2 miles. My weight is unknown until tomorrow morning.
I'm too tired to write anything profound today. I'm going to take a little nap right now.
Today is Tuesday, November 13, 2012. I walked 4.1 miles at the casino for a November total of 28.2 miles. My weight is unknown until tomorrow morning.
I'm too tired to write anything profound today. I'm going to take a little nap right now.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,291. Lazy day today.
Today is Sunday, November 11, 2012. No exercise stats today.
My THOUGHTS today. Sunday is a day of rest for me - that includes rest for my body and rest for my mind. I've discovered that having Sunday as a lazy day is good for me - especially my mind - and there is no guilt about it. Being lazy on Sunday motivates me to make use of the other six days of the week.
So that's it for today.
My THOUGHTS today. Sunday is a day of rest for me - that includes rest for my body and rest for my mind. I've discovered that having Sunday as a lazy day is good for me - especially my mind - and there is no guilt about it. Being lazy on Sunday motivates me to make use of the other six days of the week.
So that's it for today.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,290. Game Day in Iowa City
Today is Saturday, November 10, 2012. My stats today; 10 mimutes of yoga, 10 minutes of the exercise ball and 38 minutes of walking=2.0 miles for a November total of 24.1 miles. My weight was 163.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: "After listening to what the Karl Rove's, Rush Limbaugh's, Bill O'Reilley's, and other right-wing nuts want us to BELIEVE about why Romney lost the election I noticed in the word "believe" that the middle three letters spell the word 'lie.'"
My THOUGHTS today. My main thought is that I want the Hawks to beat the Purdue Boilermakers. They play at 11 AM in Iowa City.
My second thought is that I'm so happy the election is over and that Obama won.
HUMOR for today: When Romney talked to his millionaire buddies in Florida about the 47% who don't pay any income tax he didn't mention this little nugget. According to Jim Hightower, who writes the "THE HIGHTOWER LOWDOWN"- Last year, there were about 4,000 U.S. households with incomes above a million dollars - they ended up paying zero federal income tax. ( I found it rather humorous that Romney never mentioned that).
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: "After listening to what the Karl Rove's, Rush Limbaugh's, Bill O'Reilley's, and other right-wing nuts want us to BELIEVE about why Romney lost the election I noticed in the word "believe" that the middle three letters spell the word 'lie.'"
My THOUGHTS today. My main thought is that I want the Hawks to beat the Purdue Boilermakers. They play at 11 AM in Iowa City.
My second thought is that I'm so happy the election is over and that Obama won.
HUMOR for today: When Romney talked to his millionaire buddies in Florida about the 47% who don't pay any income tax he didn't mention this little nugget. According to Jim Hightower, who writes the "THE HIGHTOWER LOWDOWN"- Last year, there were about 4,000 U.S. households with incomes above a million dollars - they ended up paying zero federal income tax. ( I found it rather humorous that Romney never mentioned that).
Friday, November 9, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,289 Walmart friend to Canada
Today is Friday, November 9, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes if yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 38 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a November total of 22.1 miles. My weight was 163.8 pounds.
QUOTE from Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland: "One thing that's always been very startling to me is to see that on the floor of the Houe of Representatives when you look over on one side where the Democrats caucas and you look to the other side and it looks like two different visions of America."
My THOUGHTS today. The quote above caught my attention this morning - here is why. What she is talking about is the following:
1. In the House white men hold 90% of the Republicans seats - Dems are 47% white.
2.. There are 57 women Democrats - Republicans have 20.
3. Democrats have 23 Hispanics - Republicans have 5.
4. Democrats have 41 blacks - Republicans have 1 maybe 2 (undecided election.)
Edwards said "When voters look at the Democratic Party, what they see is America."
HUMOR for today. One of my Walmart friends is threatening to move to Canada because Obama was re-elected president. She has stated she hates "socialism" so one of her colleagues told her that Canada was much closer to socialism than the U.S. That didn't faze her but the colleague told me she reconsidered because she said "she wouldn't be able to get FOX News in Canada." Now that is good for a laugh.
QUOTE from Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland: "One thing that's always been very startling to me is to see that on the floor of the Houe of Representatives when you look over on one side where the Democrats caucas and you look to the other side and it looks like two different visions of America."
My THOUGHTS today. The quote above caught my attention this morning - here is why. What she is talking about is the following:
1. In the House white men hold 90% of the Republicans seats - Dems are 47% white.
2.. There are 57 women Democrats - Republicans have 20.
3. Democrats have 23 Hispanics - Republicans have 5.
4. Democrats have 41 blacks - Republicans have 1 maybe 2 (undecided election.)
Edwards said "When voters look at the Democratic Party, what they see is America."
HUMOR for today. One of my Walmart friends is threatening to move to Canada because Obama was re-elected president. She has stated she hates "socialism" so one of her colleagues told her that Canada was much closer to socialism than the U.S. That didn't faze her but the colleague told me she reconsidered because she said "she wouldn't be able to get FOX News in Canada." Now that is good for a laugh.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,288. Election comments
Today is Thursday, November 8, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise balland 38 minutes of walking=2.0 miles for a November total of 20.1 miles. My weight was up to 164.6 pounds.
QUOTE - an Amish proverb: "Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place."
My THOUGHTS today. After listening to Obama in his acceptance speech, and listening to John Boehner and Harry Reid talk yesterday I think their is a ray of hope that some kind of compromises can be made. Here is my thinking;
1. The Republicans will not have a goal anymore of making Obama a one-term president - so they should/could be more flexible.
2. Obama should/could be more flexible because he will not have to be concerned anymore about making people upset in the swing states with his decisions. In other words he won't have to be worried about getting re-elected for a second term.
3. The American people are demanding that something be done with both sides working together to solve problems - and they will have to compromise in order for that to happen.
4. History shows that compromise can happen and good things can happen. Look at the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994. Clinton had to work with Newt Gringrich and the Republican majority and some good things happened. Clinton moved to the center and the Republicans did the same.
SO THAT IS MY THINKING AT THIS TIME - HOPE I'M RIGHT.
OTHER THOGHTS:
1. I'm happy that Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins was not removed.
2. In my opinion the Obama campaign team can be described as geniuses. They had this electorate figured and concentrated their efforts on the nine swing states. They concentrated getting out the vote from blacks, latinos, single women and the young. It worked.
3. According to CNN 80-90% of the people in the world are extremely happy Obama won. If the people in the world could vote for president - Obama would get 80% of the vote. When George W. Bush left office his worldwide approval rating was about 10%.
4. The Republican Party has turned into an angry WHITE man's party who feel the country should go back to the 1950s. I noticed at their convention and in all of Romney's campaign crowds you could seldom see a nonwhite. They are going to have to change if they want to be a player on the national stage.
QUOTE - an Amish proverb: "Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place."
My THOUGHTS today. After listening to Obama in his acceptance speech, and listening to John Boehner and Harry Reid talk yesterday I think their is a ray of hope that some kind of compromises can be made. Here is my thinking;
1. The Republicans will not have a goal anymore of making Obama a one-term president - so they should/could be more flexible.
2. Obama should/could be more flexible because he will not have to be concerned anymore about making people upset in the swing states with his decisions. In other words he won't have to be worried about getting re-elected for a second term.
3. The American people are demanding that something be done with both sides working together to solve problems - and they will have to compromise in order for that to happen.
4. History shows that compromise can happen and good things can happen. Look at the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994. Clinton had to work with Newt Gringrich and the Republican majority and some good things happened. Clinton moved to the center and the Republicans did the same.
SO THAT IS MY THINKING AT THIS TIME - HOPE I'M RIGHT.
OTHER THOGHTS:
1. I'm happy that Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins was not removed.
2. In my opinion the Obama campaign team can be described as geniuses. They had this electorate figured and concentrated their efforts on the nine swing states. They concentrated getting out the vote from blacks, latinos, single women and the young. It worked.
3. According to CNN 80-90% of the people in the world are extremely happy Obama won. If the people in the world could vote for president - Obama would get 80% of the vote. When George W. Bush left office his worldwide approval rating was about 10%.
4. The Republican Party has turned into an angry WHITE man's party who feel the country should go back to the 1950s. I noticed at their convention and in all of Romney's campaign crowds you could seldom see a nonwhite. They are going to have to change if they want to be a player on the national stage.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,287. Obama Wins
Today is Wednesday, November 7, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of weight lifting and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a November total of 18.1 miles. My weight was 163.4 pounds.
QUOTE from 90-year-old Iris Apfel: "It you're lucky enough to get old, I think you should celebrate it." (I agree)
My THOUGHTS today. Thank God the election is over and Obama won. I'm happy but I don't relish his job in the coming weeks because the Republicans kept control of the House of Representatives. There are going to have be some big decisions made in regard to taxes, debt, jobs, etc. And compromise is going to be needed. Unfortunately, compromise to the Tea Party Republicans is that you must agree 100% with their ideas. We just have to HOPE that something can be worked out for the good of the country.
The bad news is that Nate Willems, my former student, lost his race for the state senate. What a bummer. He lost to a farmer named Dan Zumbach. I have a feeling Nate is not done with politics as he has already spent three terms in the Iowa House and is only 32 years old.
QUOTE from 90-year-old Iris Apfel: "It you're lucky enough to get old, I think you should celebrate it." (I agree)
My THOUGHTS today. Thank God the election is over and Obama won. I'm happy but I don't relish his job in the coming weeks because the Republicans kept control of the House of Representatives. There are going to have be some big decisions made in regard to taxes, debt, jobs, etc. And compromise is going to be needed. Unfortunately, compromise to the Tea Party Republicans is that you must agree 100% with their ideas. We just have to HOPE that something can be worked out for the good of the country.
The bad news is that Nate Willems, my former student, lost his race for the state senate. What a bummer. He lost to a farmer named Dan Zumbach. I have a feeling Nate is not done with politics as he has already spent three terms in the Iowa House and is only 32 years old.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,286. It's election day in America.
Today is Tuesday, November 6, 2012. My stats for today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking for a November total of 16.1 miles. My weight was 163.4 poubds.
QUOTE - an American proverb: "The only thing we learn from new elections is we learned nothing from the old."
My THOUGHTS today. Well, it's finally here - ELECTION DAY IN AMERICA. The quote struck me as being so true. If Romney wins I think it will be because his supporters do NOT necessarily like him or believe him. So why will they vote for Romney? It is because they HATE President Obama so much they are willing to put Romney in the White House even though they have no idea what he will really do. He has taken so many positions on nearly every issue that I have no idea what he will do as president. A lot of the HATE has to do with the color of Obama's skin. Just look at the people in Romney's campaign crowds - they are all white people. To me, it is scary.
Now, back to the quote. Romney is espousing the same philosophy of government that George W. Bush had - tax cuts for the wealthy, increased spending on the military and less regulation on big business. We tried that and look at what it got us. A near financial collapse of the our economic system - mainly due to removing regulations for the conduct of business in the U.S. And now Romney wants to do the same thing. Why will it work his time when it has not worked before? We need regulations on business, especially the big Wall Street banks. The Great Depression was caused by having no regulations on businesses and banks. It comes down to greed, money and power. Humans will not change when it comes to these three things.
This election reminds me of the 1948 one between Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey. From 1947 to 1948 Truman had to work with a Republican Congress that blocked everything he wanted to do for America - Obama has had the same situation in 2011 and 2012. When Truman campaigned for President in 1948 he had this to say about the Republican Congress and their wealthy supporters. He referred to the Republican Congress as the "do-nothing Congress" and their wealthy supporters as "gluttons of privilege," "bloodsuckers with Wall Street offices," and "economic tapeworms."
Those words sum up my feelings about today's Republican Party.
QUOTE - an American proverb: "The only thing we learn from new elections is we learned nothing from the old."
My THOUGHTS today. Well, it's finally here - ELECTION DAY IN AMERICA. The quote struck me as being so true. If Romney wins I think it will be because his supporters do NOT necessarily like him or believe him. So why will they vote for Romney? It is because they HATE President Obama so much they are willing to put Romney in the White House even though they have no idea what he will really do. He has taken so many positions on nearly every issue that I have no idea what he will do as president. A lot of the HATE has to do with the color of Obama's skin. Just look at the people in Romney's campaign crowds - they are all white people. To me, it is scary.
Now, back to the quote. Romney is espousing the same philosophy of government that George W. Bush had - tax cuts for the wealthy, increased spending on the military and less regulation on big business. We tried that and look at what it got us. A near financial collapse of the our economic system - mainly due to removing regulations for the conduct of business in the U.S. And now Romney wants to do the same thing. Why will it work his time when it has not worked before? We need regulations on business, especially the big Wall Street banks. The Great Depression was caused by having no regulations on businesses and banks. It comes down to greed, money and power. Humans will not change when it comes to these three things.
This election reminds me of the 1948 one between Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey. From 1947 to 1948 Truman had to work with a Republican Congress that blocked everything he wanted to do for America - Obama has had the same situation in 2011 and 2012. When Truman campaigned for President in 1948 he had this to say about the Republican Congress and their wealthy supporters. He referred to the Republican Congress as the "do-nothing Congress" and their wealthy supporters as "gluttons of privilege," "bloodsuckers with Wall Street offices," and "economic tapeworms."
Those words sum up my feelings about today's Republican Party.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Pete's BLOG-DAys 26,284-85. I did my duty.
Today is Sunday, November 4, 2012. I did my duty today as an engaged American. I had volunteered to work for President Obama's re-election. So today I knocked on the doors of over 70 homes in the mobile home park plus 25 more homes, apartments and a Senior Center (on a neighboring street) handing out reminders to people to vote and to tell them that our polling location had changed from the Masonic Lodge to the city library. I also encouraged them to vote for President Obama. The results were about 90% positive. Only 3 refused to talk and then shut the door in my face. The kinder ones that were definitely for Romney usually didn't say anything and just kind of smiled and said they were going to vote - but there only about 5 of them. Six weeks ago I was given a computer list of all the Democrats in the mobile home court. I did get 22 people to sign up for absentee voting. Plus on 3 other days I handed out flyers for Nate Willems. Nate is a former student who is running for state senate. I feel good when I participate in the democratic process.
Today is Monday, November 5, 2012. I finished my campaigning for Obama this morning. I went to a nursing home to talk to a few more but two of them had been shipped out of town to other nursing homes and the third one was in hospice. Not any help with them. I turned in my list to Democratic headquarters in downtown Anamosa. They asked me if I would make some phone calls and I said NO. I told them I had done my duty and besides people were sick of any more phone calls. Now it is just "wait and see" on what happens tomorrow.
Today is Monday, November 5, 2012. I finished my campaigning for Obama this morning. I went to a nursing home to talk to a few more but two of them had been shipped out of town to other nursing homes and the third one was in hospice. Not any help with them. I turned in my list to Democratic headquarters in downtown Anamosa. They asked me if I would make some phone calls and I said NO. I told them I had done my duty and besides people were sick of any more phone calls. Now it is just "wait and see" on what happens tomorrow.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,283.
Today is Saturday, November 3, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking - 2.5 miles for a November total of 8.6 miles. My weight was 162.8 pounds.
QUOTE from Sissy Spacek: "You are here to make the world a better place because you've lived."
My THOUGHTS today. Well, it's another Saturday in the fall which means another Hawkeye football game. The Hawks play Indiana (there) at 2:30. I heard there was bad weather so it may delayed until after 3. Go Hawks!!
HUMOR for today: The other day at Happy Hour a white guy made some ugly smart-as remarks about Presient Obama. I wanted to confront him but instead Ruth Ann and I moved to another table. If I had wanted to start an argument it would have been easy. The words that were close to my mouth were these two gems.
"If I wanted to hear from an asshole, I'd fart,'
"I'm impressed. Never before have I met someone with such a small mind inside such a big head." (He's over 300 pounds with a huge head - Ruth Ann and I are reminded of ARCHIE BUNKER every time we see him))
QUOTE from Sissy Spacek: "You are here to make the world a better place because you've lived."
My THOUGHTS today. Well, it's another Saturday in the fall which means another Hawkeye football game. The Hawks play Indiana (there) at 2:30. I heard there was bad weather so it may delayed until after 3. Go Hawks!!
HUMOR for today: The other day at Happy Hour a white guy made some ugly smart-as remarks about Presient Obama. I wanted to confront him but instead Ruth Ann and I moved to another table. If I had wanted to start an argument it would have been easy. The words that were close to my mouth were these two gems.
"If I wanted to hear from an asshole, I'd fart,'
"I'm impressed. Never before have I met someone with such a small mind inside such a big head." (He's over 300 pounds with a huge head - Ruth Ann and I are reminded of ARCHIE BUNKER every time we see him))
Friday, November 2, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,282
Today is Friday, November 2, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 64 minutes of walking = 3.5 miles for a November total of 6.1 miles. My weight went to 162.6 pounds.
QUOTE from the "Happy Hour" exhibit at the Institute of Comtemporary Art, Philadelphia. "Every exit is a start."
My THOUGHTS today. November 2nd is a special day in our family. Brad was born 51 years ago today in Decorah, Iowa. I was a senior at Luther College and Ruth Ann was working in the Treasurer's Office at the college. It was a memorable day in another way as six hours after Brad was born the gymnasium at the college burned to the ground. It is mind-boggling how fast these 51 years have gone - it seems like only yesterday that he was in high school. Brad has done well in his life. He lives in Taulov, Denmark with wife Lene, and kids Alexandra, Mads, and Mathilda. He is employed by Aperican Global, a San Francisco based global consulting firm. He is in charge of their operations in Europe and Asia.
HUMOR for today: I love to study political history. One of my favorite stories is from the 1948 campaign between Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey.
One time a guy yelled at Truman as he was giving a speech. The guy said "Give 'em hell, Harry. Truman replied: "Well, I never give anybody hell - I just tell Republicans the truth and they think it's hell."
QUOTE from the "Happy Hour" exhibit at the Institute of Comtemporary Art, Philadelphia. "Every exit is a start."
My THOUGHTS today. November 2nd is a special day in our family. Brad was born 51 years ago today in Decorah, Iowa. I was a senior at Luther College and Ruth Ann was working in the Treasurer's Office at the college. It was a memorable day in another way as six hours after Brad was born the gymnasium at the college burned to the ground. It is mind-boggling how fast these 51 years have gone - it seems like only yesterday that he was in high school. Brad has done well in his life. He lives in Taulov, Denmark with wife Lene, and kids Alexandra, Mads, and Mathilda. He is employed by Aperican Global, a San Francisco based global consulting firm. He is in charge of their operations in Europe and Asia.
HUMOR for today: I love to study political history. One of my favorite stories is from the 1948 campaign between Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey.
One time a guy yelled at Truman as he was giving a speech. The guy said "Give 'em hell, Harry. Truman replied: "Well, I never give anybody hell - I just tell Republicans the truth and they think it's hell."
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Pete's BLOG-DAy 26,281. Absentee/provisional ballots could be the decider.
Today is Thursday, November 1, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 2.5 miles. My weight went to 163.2 pounds.
QUOTE from E.E. Cummings: "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
My THOUGHTS today: The headlines in the morning paper: "ABSENTEE IOWANS COULD HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD WAITING." Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The contest for president comes down to a handfiul of swing states, then down to hotly contested Iowa, then down to a handful of counties. And America waits, for several days. Linn County (home of Cedar of Rapids) could have 3,000 absentee ballots out and the pollsters keep talking about a 2,000 vote margin for the presidential race across the state. The auditor of Linn County said that "We could have 3,000 requested absentee ballots in Linn County that never come back." Voters who requested absentee ballots but decide to vote in person will cast provisional ballots, used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter's eligibility. If the voter is declared legitimate his/her provisional ballot will not be counted until two days after the election.
So - it is a possibility that Iowa and Linn County could be a deciding factor in this election - and we might have to wait several days to find out who wins. I hope not but it is possible.
HUMOR for today from Carol Burnett: Carol said that "Giving birth is like taking your lower lip and forcing it over your head."
QUOTE from E.E. Cummings: "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
My THOUGHTS today: The headlines in the morning paper: "ABSENTEE IOWANS COULD HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD WAITING." Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The contest for president comes down to a handfiul of swing states, then down to hotly contested Iowa, then down to a handful of counties. And America waits, for several days. Linn County (home of Cedar of Rapids) could have 3,000 absentee ballots out and the pollsters keep talking about a 2,000 vote margin for the presidential race across the state. The auditor of Linn County said that "We could have 3,000 requested absentee ballots in Linn County that never come back." Voters who requested absentee ballots but decide to vote in person will cast provisional ballots, used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter's eligibility. If the voter is declared legitimate his/her provisional ballot will not be counted until two days after the election.
So - it is a possibility that Iowa and Linn County could be a deciding factor in this election - and we might have to wait several days to find out who wins. I hope not but it is possible.
HUMOR for today from Carol Burnett: Carol said that "Giving birth is like taking your lower lip and forcing it over your head."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,280. Dirty last minute campaign tactics.
Today is Wednesday, October 21, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a grand total of 64.7 miles in October. My weight was at 163.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Kevin Costner: "Failure doesn't kill you, It increases your desire to make something happen."
My THOUGHTS today. There are six days left until the 2012 election. The morning paper had an article listing some of the nasty campaign tactics being used in the last week. HERE THEY ARE:
1. Voters in Florida. Virginia and Indiana getting phone calls telling them they can vote early by phone and don't need to go to the polls.
2. Elderly voters in Broward County (Florida) who requested absentee ballots say they were visited by unknown people claiming to be authorized to collect the ballots. (Everybody knows where they will end up.)
3. In minority neighborhoods in Ohio and Wisconsin billboards were put up warning that voter fraud is a crime punishable by jail time and fines.
4. 7 million voters have received a DVD entitled, DREAMS OF MY REAL FATHER. The DVD says that Obama's father was not the one we know but a guy named Frank Marshall Davis - who was a communist agitator living in Hawaii.
It appears to me that these are all efforts by the GOP to suppress the vote for Obama. The GOP hate for Obama is so great they will stoop to any level to beat him.
QUOTE from Kevin Costner: "Failure doesn't kill you, It increases your desire to make something happen."
My THOUGHTS today. There are six days left until the 2012 election. The morning paper had an article listing some of the nasty campaign tactics being used in the last week. HERE THEY ARE:
1. Voters in Florida. Virginia and Indiana getting phone calls telling them they can vote early by phone and don't need to go to the polls.
2. Elderly voters in Broward County (Florida) who requested absentee ballots say they were visited by unknown people claiming to be authorized to collect the ballots. (Everybody knows where they will end up.)
3. In minority neighborhoods in Ohio and Wisconsin billboards were put up warning that voter fraud is a crime punishable by jail time and fines.
4. 7 million voters have received a DVD entitled, DREAMS OF MY REAL FATHER. The DVD says that Obama's father was not the one we know but a guy named Frank Marshall Davis - who was a communist agitator living in Hawaii.
It appears to me that these are all efforts by the GOP to suppress the vote for Obama. The GOP hate for Obama is so great they will stoop to any level to beat him.
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,279. Right-wing christians and Iowa judges.
Today is Tuesday, October 20, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 27 minutes of walking = 1.5 miles for an October total of 62.7 miles. My weight stayed at 164.0 pounds.
QUOTE fron Harrison Ford: "The best thing about change is we all have big changes in our life that are more or less a second chance."
My THOUGHTS today: In 2009 the Iowa Supreme Court, by a vote of 9-0, legalized same-sex marriage. The right-wing christians in Iowa were up in arms and called the nine judges "activist judges." Under the leadership of a guy from Sioux City named Mr. Vander Platts they started a movement to remove these "activist judges" from the Supreme Court. In the 2010 election they succeeded in voting out the three judges who were up for retention. In 2012 they are out to remove a fourth judge named David Wiggins. They plan to continue in future elections until they get the other four voted off the court. I hope they fail this time and in the future. All these judges did was uphold the constitution of Iowa. The court decided that gays and lesbians are entitled to the same sort of legal recognition other Iowans have along with the same rights and privileges. I agree 100%.
What the right-wing fundamentalist believers are doing in Iowa is why I sometimes despise the christian religion in America.
QUOTE fron Harrison Ford: "The best thing about change is we all have big changes in our life that are more or less a second chance."
My THOUGHTS today: In 2009 the Iowa Supreme Court, by a vote of 9-0, legalized same-sex marriage. The right-wing christians in Iowa were up in arms and called the nine judges "activist judges." Under the leadership of a guy from Sioux City named Mr. Vander Platts they started a movement to remove these "activist judges" from the Supreme Court. In the 2010 election they succeeded in voting out the three judges who were up for retention. In 2012 they are out to remove a fourth judge named David Wiggins. They plan to continue in future elections until they get the other four voted off the court. I hope they fail this time and in the future. All these judges did was uphold the constitution of Iowa. The court decided that gays and lesbians are entitled to the same sort of legal recognition other Iowans have along with the same rights and privileges. I agree 100%.
What the right-wing fundamentalist believers are doing in Iowa is why I sometimes despise the christian religion in America.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,278. I'm not alone in misery.
Today is Monday, October 29, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 47 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for an October total of 61.2 miles. My weight was 164.0 pounds.
QUOTE from Steve Jobs: "The best thing about change is things don't have to change the world to be important."
My THOUGHTS today: The Hawks lost Saturday to Northwestern. There is much anger and misery in Hawkeyeland. However Mike Hlas, a sports writer for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, put things is perspective with today's column. His main point was that Hawkeye fans are not alone - he gave several examples of other fans across America who are also angry and suffering.
1. Auburn won the national championship two years ago. Today, Auburn is 1-7.
2. Texas is 6-2 but they are 9-13 in the BIG 12 since going to the BCS championship game in 2009.
3. Tennessee is 0-5 in the SEC and 26-32 since 2008.
4. Miami is 4-4 and only 17-16 since 2010.
5. Virginia Tech is 4-4 after winning 10 or 11 games from 2004 to 2011.
Misery supposedly loves company - I guess his words were to make HAWK fans feel better. I don't think it will make much difference!!!!!!!
HUMOR for today from George Burns: He said, "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city."
QUOTE from Steve Jobs: "The best thing about change is things don't have to change the world to be important."
My THOUGHTS today: The Hawks lost Saturday to Northwestern. There is much anger and misery in Hawkeyeland. However Mike Hlas, a sports writer for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, put things is perspective with today's column. His main point was that Hawkeye fans are not alone - he gave several examples of other fans across America who are also angry and suffering.
1. Auburn won the national championship two years ago. Today, Auburn is 1-7.
2. Texas is 6-2 but they are 9-13 in the BIG 12 since going to the BCS championship game in 2009.
3. Tennessee is 0-5 in the SEC and 26-32 since 2008.
4. Miami is 4-4 and only 17-16 since 2010.
5. Virginia Tech is 4-4 after winning 10 or 11 games from 2004 to 2011.
Misery supposedly loves company - I guess his words were to make HAWK fans feel better. I don't think it will make much difference!!!!!!!
HUMOR for today from George Burns: He said, "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city."
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,276-77. Hawks lose - newspapers endorse.
Yesterday was Saturday, October 27. 2012. My stats were 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for an October total of 58.6 miles. My weight was 163.6 pounds.
News of the day: Hawkeyes lose to the Northwestern Wildcats 28-17. (No comment from Pete.)
Today is Sunday, October 28, 2012. No sats today as I take Sunday's off.
News today: The Cedar Rapids Gazette and Des Moines Register endorsed Mitt Romney for President of the U.S. It is not my choice but "Thank God" we live in a democracy where we have a free press (thanks to the first amendment) and the press can endorse anybody they want without fear of suffering any consequences. I'm grateful I live in America.
News of the day: Hawkeyes lose to the Northwestern Wildcats 28-17. (No comment from Pete.)
Today is Sunday, October 28, 2012. No sats today as I take Sunday's off.
News today: The Cedar Rapids Gazette and Des Moines Register endorsed Mitt Romney for President of the U.S. It is not my choice but "Thank God" we live in a democracy where we have a free press (thanks to the first amendment) and the press can endorse anybody they want without fear of suffering any consequences. I'm grateful I live in America.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,375 - Hawkeye change and hope.
Today is Friday, October 26, 2012 - a cool day in the 40s and 50s. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 47 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for an October total of 56.1 miles. My weight got down to 163.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Linda Ellerbee: "The best thing about change is that it's a synonym for hope."
My THOUGHTS today: The above quote reminds me of the Hawkeye football team. From 1999 to 2011 I heard radical Hawk fans criticize Ken O'Keefe ( the offensive coordinator of the Hawks) for not being imaginative enough in calling plays. The O'Keefe haters said our opponents always knew what we were going to do because we were so predictable. Well, we got change this year when O'Keefe was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their offensive coordinator. So Ferentz hired Greg Davis, the former offensive coordinator at the University of Texas, to replace O'Keefe. All the O'Keefe haters were excited that this was the CHANGE the Hawks needed and their HOPE was that this would enable the Hawks to open up their predictable offense and change it into an UNPREDICTABLE one and then score a lot more points and, of course, win more games. WELL, the CHANGE did not equal the HOPE - we are scoring less points than last year, quarterback Vandenburg's stats are way down from last year and we are as predictable as ever, if not worse.
So, the bottom line is exactly what the quote says. = change is a synonym for hope. But, unfortunately, change does not always fulfill the hope
HUMOR for today: The other night I talked to one of the biggest O'Keefe haters I've ever known. He had complained about O'Keefe for 13 years. But the other night his words were, "Where is O'Keefe when we need him?" It was a good laugh for both of us.
QUOTE from Linda Ellerbee: "The best thing about change is that it's a synonym for hope."
My THOUGHTS today: The above quote reminds me of the Hawkeye football team. From 1999 to 2011 I heard radical Hawk fans criticize Ken O'Keefe ( the offensive coordinator of the Hawks) for not being imaginative enough in calling plays. The O'Keefe haters said our opponents always knew what we were going to do because we were so predictable. Well, we got change this year when O'Keefe was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their offensive coordinator. So Ferentz hired Greg Davis, the former offensive coordinator at the University of Texas, to replace O'Keefe. All the O'Keefe haters were excited that this was the CHANGE the Hawks needed and their HOPE was that this would enable the Hawks to open up their predictable offense and change it into an UNPREDICTABLE one and then score a lot more points and, of course, win more games. WELL, the CHANGE did not equal the HOPE - we are scoring less points than last year, quarterback Vandenburg's stats are way down from last year and we are as predictable as ever, if not worse.
So, the bottom line is exactly what the quote says. = change is a synonym for hope. But, unfortunately, change does not always fulfill the hope
HUMOR for today: The other night I talked to one of the biggest O'Keefe haters I've ever known. He had complained about O'Keefe for 13 years. But the other night his words were, "Where is O'Keefe when we need him?" It was a good laugh for both of us.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,374. The world's happiest people.
Today is Thursday, October 25, 2012 - it is turning cold today - in the 40s and 50s. My stats today: 10 minutesd of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 46 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for an October total of 53.5 miles. My weight got down to 164 pounds.
QUOTE from Jim Abbott - the one-handed baseball pitcher: "Never allow the circumstances of your life become an excuse. People will allow you to do it. But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have."
My THOUGHTS today: I've been reading The Reader's Digest article about HAPPINESS - it is entitled "HAPPY HUNTING." What caught my attention the most was a list of the 11 happiest nations. Here they are:
1. Denmark 2. Finland 3. Norway 4. Netherlands 5. Canada 6. Switzerland 7. Sweden
8. New Zealand 9. Australia 10. Ireland 11. United States
The criteria used was - thousands of people from many countries were asked how happy they were, based on their job, health, income, and life expectancy. One thing they all have in common is they universal health care for all citizens. The U.S. is trying to get there but the election in 13 days will decide if we keep it. It Romney wins he has vowed to get rid of Obamacare.
HUMOR for today: In the mid-1970s (after the Watergate scandal) employees of a Southern California hospital referred to constipated patients as the "Enema List."
QUOTE from Jim Abbott - the one-handed baseball pitcher: "Never allow the circumstances of your life become an excuse. People will allow you to do it. But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have."
My THOUGHTS today: I've been reading The Reader's Digest article about HAPPINESS - it is entitled "HAPPY HUNTING." What caught my attention the most was a list of the 11 happiest nations. Here they are:
1. Denmark 2. Finland 3. Norway 4. Netherlands 5. Canada 6. Switzerland 7. Sweden
8. New Zealand 9. Australia 10. Ireland 11. United States
The criteria used was - thousands of people from many countries were asked how happy they were, based on their job, health, income, and life expectancy. One thing they all have in common is they universal health care for all citizens. The U.S. is trying to get there but the election in 13 days will decide if we keep it. It Romney wins he has vowed to get rid of Obamacare.
HUMOR for today: In the mid-1970s (after the Watergate scandal) employees of a Southern California hospital referred to constipated patients as the "Enema List."
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,373. I feel good.
Today is Wednesday, Ocotber 24, 2012 - it is an unbelievable day - setting record temps of 80 degrees. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of weight lifting and 50 minutes of walking = 2. 8 miles for an October total of 51 miles. My weight was 164.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Eckhart Tolle in Guidepost Magazine: "Accept-then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. This will miraculously transform your whole life."
My THOUGHTS today. My thought right now at 2:30 PM is that I feel good. I feel good because I accepted the day as if I had chosen it and I would work with it and not against it and then I acted. What I did was get my big clippers out of the shed and cut down or timmed the nearly 50 flowers we have planted on the east and south sides of the house. I then hauled them to the city yard waste disposal site. So I feel good for accepting the present and then acting.
HUMOR for today: Nixon was out walking along the beach at San Clemente and decided to go for a swim. He got out beyond the waves and suddenly began drowning. Three teenage boys saw Nixon is trouble so they rescued him, Nixon was so appreciative that he told the boys "I'd be willing to use my influence to help boys in any way I could. Is there anything special you want."
The first boy said "I'd like to go to West Point." Nixon said "I can handle that."
The second boy said "I'd like to go to Annapolis." Nixon said "I'll see to it immediately."
The third boy said "I'd liike to be buried in Arlington Cemetery." Niuxon said "That's a very strange request. Why would you want to be buried in Arlington?"
"Well," said the third guy, "when I get home and tell my father who I saved from drowning, he's gonna kill me!"
QUOTE from Eckhart Tolle in Guidepost Magazine: "Accept-then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. This will miraculously transform your whole life."
My THOUGHTS today. My thought right now at 2:30 PM is that I feel good. I feel good because I accepted the day as if I had chosen it and I would work with it and not against it and then I acted. What I did was get my big clippers out of the shed and cut down or timmed the nearly 50 flowers we have planted on the east and south sides of the house. I then hauled them to the city yard waste disposal site. So I feel good for accepting the present and then acting.
HUMOR for today: Nixon was out walking along the beach at San Clemente and decided to go for a swim. He got out beyond the waves and suddenly began drowning. Three teenage boys saw Nixon is trouble so they rescued him, Nixon was so appreciative that he told the boys "I'd be willing to use my influence to help boys in any way I could. Is there anything special you want."
The first boy said "I'd like to go to West Point." Nixon said "I can handle that."
The second boy said "I'd like to go to Annapolis." Nixon said "I'll see to it immediately."
The third boy said "I'd liike to be buried in Arlington Cemetery." Niuxon said "That's a very strange request. Why would you want to be buried in Arlington?"
"Well," said the third guy, "when I get home and tell my father who I saved from drowning, he's gonna kill me!"
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,372. The last debate.
Today is Tuesday, October 23, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the esercise ball and 40 minutes of walking = 2.2 miles for an October total of 48.2 miles. My weight was 165.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Kristen Bell: "Laughing is so good for you. It legitimately burns calories and just makes you happier on a daily basis."
My THOUGHTS today. The third and final debate was last night in Boca Rotan, Florida - the topic was foreign policy. Obama definitely won the debate but the thing that sticks out in my mind is how Romney can flip-flop on about every position he has taken thus far in the campaign. He agreed with Obama on most of the positions Obama has taken on foreign affairs. So the question on my mind is if Romney and the Republicans take control of Congress which Romney will we see once he is in power. Will it be the Romney of last night or the Romney we've seen in the last year. The other thing is 17 of his 24 advisors are from the Bush-Cheney team and look at what they did to the world and the lack of prestige the U.S. experienced in the world as a result. Romney scares me because he has no understanding of the world and his Bush-Cheney advisors are worse yet. We don't need "comboy diplomacy" anymore. I can forsee another war in the Middle East. But you can bet that if we do that none of the sons or daughters of the decision makers (Romney and advisors) will be fighting and losing their life or limbs.
HUMOR for today. I need something to laugh at after writing the above. This is a true story.
I (a lady) was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was unhappy with the women's type I had been using. After browsing for several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who worked at the store. He asked if he could help me, without thinking, I looked at him and said, "I think I like playing with men's balls." I was so embarassed that I left immediately.
QUOTE from Kristen Bell: "Laughing is so good for you. It legitimately burns calories and just makes you happier on a daily basis."
My THOUGHTS today. The third and final debate was last night in Boca Rotan, Florida - the topic was foreign policy. Obama definitely won the debate but the thing that sticks out in my mind is how Romney can flip-flop on about every position he has taken thus far in the campaign. He agreed with Obama on most of the positions Obama has taken on foreign affairs. So the question on my mind is if Romney and the Republicans take control of Congress which Romney will we see once he is in power. Will it be the Romney of last night or the Romney we've seen in the last year. The other thing is 17 of his 24 advisors are from the Bush-Cheney team and look at what they did to the world and the lack of prestige the U.S. experienced in the world as a result. Romney scares me because he has no understanding of the world and his Bush-Cheney advisors are worse yet. We don't need "comboy diplomacy" anymore. I can forsee another war in the Middle East. But you can bet that if we do that none of the sons or daughters of the decision makers (Romney and advisors) will be fighting and losing their life or limbs.
HUMOR for today. I need something to laugh at after writing the above. This is a true story.
I (a lady) was at the golf store comparing different kinds of golf balls. I was unhappy with the women's type I had been using. After browsing for several minutes, I was approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who worked at the store. He asked if he could help me, without thinking, I looked at him and said, "I think I like playing with men's balls." I was so embarassed that I left immediately.
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