Today is Saturday, December 28, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking outside of Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 54 miles. My weight was 166.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum "A Hawkeye victory in the Outback Bowl would make for a happy plane ride home."
My THOUGHT today is on Tampa and the Outback Bowl - the Hawkeyes versus LSU.
John and Lorna are coming tonight and we're flying out of Cedar Rapids at 7 AM tomorrow morning. We'll spend 4 nights at the Embassy Suites - the game is at noon (Iowa time) on January 1 at Raymond James Stadium - the home of the NFL Tampa Bay Bucs. We got a call yesterday from the travel agency and they said we could have "CLUB SEATS" for more money. We took the offer. I've never sat in Club Seats before for a football game. It will mean free food and drink.
We are so excited to get out of the cold and ice and snow. We have our swim suits packed plus walking shorts. The game time temp is supposed to be 74 degrees.
Go Hawks
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,686. Some thoughts on the Tea Party and Obamacare
Today is Thursday, December 26, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes walking in side Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 49.0 miles. My weight was 167.6 pounds.
My THOUGHT today is on the Tea Party and Obamacare. Your coworker is complaining to anyone in earshot that his healthcare-care premiums went up because of Obamacare. Which of the following would you do?
a.____Remind him that health-care companies set rates, not the government.
b. ___ Point out that his rates might me lower if he weighed less than 400 and didn't break into a sweat just from breathing.
c.____Advise him he's three weeks behind on his job quota and he's going to be glad he'll have coverage when he's fired.
d. ____Give him a chance to experience the health-care system firsthand when you hit him in the face with a stapler.
My THOUGHT today is on the Tea Party and Obamacare. Your coworker is complaining to anyone in earshot that his healthcare-care premiums went up because of Obamacare. Which of the following would you do?
a.____Remind him that health-care companies set rates, not the government.
b. ___ Point out that his rates might me lower if he weighed less than 400 and didn't break into a sweat just from breathing.
c.____Advise him he's three weeks behind on his job quota and he's going to be glad he'll have coverage when he's fired.
d. ____Give him a chance to experience the health-care system firsthand when you hit him in the face with a stapler.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,684. I'm grateful for Christmas Eve
Today is Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - Christmas Eve. The temperature at 6 AM was 16 degrees below zero. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 46.5 miles. My weight was 166.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Victoria Osteen: "There is no better way to enjoy God's abundance than to share a meal together with people you love. From the beginning of time, there have been few things that knit us more closely together as humans than to sit down and share a meal."
My THOUGHTS today are on Christmas eve. This post is what I wrote in my Gratitude Journal on December 24, 2009.
Both Ruth Ann and I came from families that opened gifts on Christmas eve - it made it easier when we got married - it was one less decision we had to make. As a child it was the most exciting day of the year. I always got a lot of gifts - the least favorite was clothes while my favorites were toys and games. As I became an adult some of the excitement wore off but it was still so much fun when I saw the excitement of Brad and Carron and in recent years, the grandchildren. Santa Claus was never a big thing in the Bungum household - Mom and Dad taught us nine kids early on that Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I'm grateful to have such wonderful memories of the 69 (now 73) Christmas Eves I've had in my life.
QUOTE from Victoria Osteen: "There is no better way to enjoy God's abundance than to share a meal together with people you love. From the beginning of time, there have been few things that knit us more closely together as humans than to sit down and share a meal."
My THOUGHTS today are on Christmas eve. This post is what I wrote in my Gratitude Journal on December 24, 2009.
Both Ruth Ann and I came from families that opened gifts on Christmas eve - it made it easier when we got married - it was one less decision we had to make. As a child it was the most exciting day of the year. I always got a lot of gifts - the least favorite was clothes while my favorites were toys and games. As I became an adult some of the excitement wore off but it was still so much fun when I saw the excitement of Brad and Carron and in recent years, the grandchildren. Santa Claus was never a big thing in the Bungum household - Mom and Dad taught us nine kids early on that Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I'm grateful to have such wonderful memories of the 69 (now 73) Christmas Eves I've had in my life.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,683. Pope Francis and Pete Bungum agree 100%
Today is Wednesday, December 23, 2013. My stats today: 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 44.0 miles. My weight was 167.2 pounds - I'm getting fat.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: " He knows nothing and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a member of the Tea Party."
My THOUGHTS today are on Pope Francis. About a month ago Pope Francis released a paper he wrote about his populist philosophy. He sharply criticized the conservative trickle-down economic theory favored by Reagan.. He said, "This theory assumes that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, low taxes, and little or no government regulation will inevitably succeed in bringing about justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting." It has been 33 years since Reagan took office and this philosophy has led to growing economic inequality between the haves and the have-nots. But the conservatives still believe it will - how stupid. Trickle-down is supposed to lead to more jobs and income for the rest of society. The 33 year history of it proves that trickle-down doesn't trickle very far - only to the to the top 1-5% or so.
I agree 100% with the Pope. In the 1980s I was saying the same thing as the Pope. In eight years of Reagan we saw tax cuts for the rich, a tripling of the national debt, factories closing, jobs being sent overseas, and the middle class shrinking. The trickle-down wrecking ball had begun it's negative work on the economic future of the U.S. - a few more "haves" and millions more "have-nots."
Trickle-down only works for the top 5% - it's as plain and simple as that.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: " He knows nothing and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a member of the Tea Party."
My THOUGHTS today are on Pope Francis. About a month ago Pope Francis released a paper he wrote about his populist philosophy. He sharply criticized the conservative trickle-down economic theory favored by Reagan.. He said, "This theory assumes that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, low taxes, and little or no government regulation will inevitably succeed in bringing about justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting." It has been 33 years since Reagan took office and this philosophy has led to growing economic inequality between the haves and the have-nots. But the conservatives still believe it will - how stupid. Trickle-down is supposed to lead to more jobs and income for the rest of society. The 33 year history of it proves that trickle-down doesn't trickle very far - only to the to the top 1-5% or so.
I agree 100% with the Pope. In the 1980s I was saying the same thing as the Pope. In eight years of Reagan we saw tax cuts for the rich, a tripling of the national debt, factories closing, jobs being sent overseas, and the middle class shrinking. The trickle-down wrecking ball had begun it's negative work on the economic future of the U.S. - a few more "haves" and millions more "have-nots."
Trickle-down only works for the top 5% - it's as plain and simple as that.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,677: Brother John's birthday.
Today is Tuesday, December 17, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 36 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.0 miles for a December total of 33 miles. My weight was 165.4 pounds.
QUOTE today from FDR: "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who has never learned to walk."
My THOUGHTS today are on brother John's 71st birthday. There were ten of us kids born to Norman and Elsie Bungum. Paul was born in 1927, Betty in 1928, Don in 1931, Jan in 1933, Jim in 1934, Chuck in 1936, Me in 1940, John in 1942, Karen was born and died in May of 1944, and Mark in 1946. I was born on November 20, 1940 and John on December 17, 1942. So John and I were two years and one month apart. As a result of the two year spread we spent the most time with each other growing up. So we have a lot of memories of each other. We had our share of fights but for the most part we got along and spent a lot of time together - especially playing football, baseball, basketball in our back yard and in school at Chatfield Junior and Senior High.
We have maintained a good relationship as adults. I think the best thing we have done as adults is to take the Major League Baseball trip this past September. With my son Brad along we visited ten major league stadiums from Sept. 1 to Sept. 17. It is probably the best memory of our lifelong relationship that John and I will ever have.
Anyway, Happy Birthday John. Be grateful you've made it to 71 in good health.
QUOTE today from FDR: "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who has never learned to walk."
My THOUGHTS today are on brother John's 71st birthday. There were ten of us kids born to Norman and Elsie Bungum. Paul was born in 1927, Betty in 1928, Don in 1931, Jan in 1933, Jim in 1934, Chuck in 1936, Me in 1940, John in 1942, Karen was born and died in May of 1944, and Mark in 1946. I was born on November 20, 1940 and John on December 17, 1942. So John and I were two years and one month apart. As a result of the two year spread we spent the most time with each other growing up. So we have a lot of memories of each other. We had our share of fights but for the most part we got along and spent a lot of time together - especially playing football, baseball, basketball in our back yard and in school at Chatfield Junior and Senior High.
We have maintained a good relationship as adults. I think the best thing we have done as adults is to take the Major League Baseball trip this past September. With my son Brad along we visited ten major league stadiums from Sept. 1 to Sept. 17. It is probably the best memory of our lifelong relationship that John and I will ever have.
Anyway, Happy Birthday John. Be grateful you've made it to 71 in good health.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,674. The Tea Party wants to take back government.
Today is Saturday, December 14, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 28.5 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds.
My THOUGHTS today are on a letter to the editor in the Anamosa paper. A lady named Jenn Jones wrote a letter to the editor entitled, It's time to take back government.
Jen a is Tea Party member and has challenged some of my letters. I'm trying to get a back and forth going with Jenn Baby in the newspaper.
Here are some of Jenn's words: The Bill of Rights were put in place to further strengthen the rights of the citizens, the states and further restrain the federal government. A national government could easily become a government of tyranny if not properly kept in check. A system that was intentionally designed to give the states all powers not specifically enumerated to the federal government has been turned inside out. Today, we have a federal government that has grown larger than probably even the founders could have imagined.
Jenn wants a convention of the states that would put forth, approve and ratify amendments to the U.S. constitution that will put restraints on the abuses of the federal government. She says it's time to take back government. It's a wonderful thought Jenn, but if you know any history I'm not sure you'd want to go back.
Jenn, there is a reason the federal government has grown. The main reason is that the state governments were the ABUSERS and the federal government had to put restraints on them in order to give equal rights to all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, gender or national origin.
Here are some examples:
1. I'll start with voting. From the late 1870s to the mid 1960s millions of African-Americans were not allowed to vote because of the Jim Crow laws in our southern states. The Congress of the U.S. passed the Voting Rights Law in 1965 to give our fellow black citizens the right to vote. If the state government had done their job the federal government wouldn't have had to step in.
2. And now that the Supreme Court has gutted part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act we are seeing again southern conservative Tea Party governors and legislatures making things more difficult for blacks to vote by passing strict voter ID rules, allowing less time for absentee voting, less time for early voting, and reducing the number of polling places. The federal government will have to step in again.
3. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and in 1968.. Why? The 1964 act made segregation and job discrimination illegal; it banned discrimination in public accommodations like restaurants, hotels, rest rooms, drinking fountains, parks and theaters. The 1968 Act extended these guarantees in housing and real estate. If the southern state governments had not abused the blacks there would have been no need for the federal government to intervene. But they didn't!!!
4. The Supreme Court decided on May 17. 1954 that "separate but equal" schools was not constitutional. Again, if the states hadn't been the abusers the federal government wouldn't have had to intervene.
5. In 1965 Congress passed Medicare to help our senior citizens pay their medical bills and not have to live a life of poverty in the retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything about it.
6. In 1935 Congress passed Social Security to help seniors have some financial security and happiness in their retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything.
7. This week the Michigan Tea Party controlled legislature passed a bill that women would have to take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care if they were raped. Is that abusing women or what? It is unbelievable!!
So Jenn the federal government would not be so large if the state governments had not been the ABUSERS of our citizens. It was the state governments that became the governments of tyranny. Do we really want to "take back government" to the states. I don't think so.
My THOUGHTS today are on a letter to the editor in the Anamosa paper. A lady named Jenn Jones wrote a letter to the editor entitled, It's time to take back government.
Jen a is Tea Party member and has challenged some of my letters. I'm trying to get a back and forth going with Jenn Baby in the newspaper.
Here are some of Jenn's words: The Bill of Rights were put in place to further strengthen the rights of the citizens, the states and further restrain the federal government. A national government could easily become a government of tyranny if not properly kept in check. A system that was intentionally designed to give the states all powers not specifically enumerated to the federal government has been turned inside out. Today, we have a federal government that has grown larger than probably even the founders could have imagined.
Jenn wants a convention of the states that would put forth, approve and ratify amendments to the U.S. constitution that will put restraints on the abuses of the federal government. She says it's time to take back government. It's a wonderful thought Jenn, but if you know any history I'm not sure you'd want to go back.
Jenn, there is a reason the federal government has grown. The main reason is that the state governments were the ABUSERS and the federal government had to put restraints on them in order to give equal rights to all citizens regardless of race, color, religion, gender or national origin.
Here are some examples:
1. I'll start with voting. From the late 1870s to the mid 1960s millions of African-Americans were not allowed to vote because of the Jim Crow laws in our southern states. The Congress of the U.S. passed the Voting Rights Law in 1965 to give our fellow black citizens the right to vote. If the state government had done their job the federal government wouldn't have had to step in.
2. And now that the Supreme Court has gutted part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act we are seeing again southern conservative Tea Party governors and legislatures making things more difficult for blacks to vote by passing strict voter ID rules, allowing less time for absentee voting, less time for early voting, and reducing the number of polling places. The federal government will have to step in again.
3. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and in 1968.. Why? The 1964 act made segregation and job discrimination illegal; it banned discrimination in public accommodations like restaurants, hotels, rest rooms, drinking fountains, parks and theaters. The 1968 Act extended these guarantees in housing and real estate. If the southern state governments had not abused the blacks there would have been no need for the federal government to intervene. But they didn't!!!
4. The Supreme Court decided on May 17. 1954 that "separate but equal" schools was not constitutional. Again, if the states hadn't been the abusers the federal government wouldn't have had to intervene.
5. In 1965 Congress passed Medicare to help our senior citizens pay their medical bills and not have to live a life of poverty in the retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything about it.
6. In 1935 Congress passed Social Security to help seniors have some financial security and happiness in their retirement years. The state governments hadn't done anything.
7. This week the Michigan Tea Party controlled legislature passed a bill that women would have to take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care if they were raped. Is that abusing women or what? It is unbelievable!!
So Jenn the federal government would not be so large if the state governments had not been the ABUSERS of our citizens. It was the state governments that became the governments of tyranny. Do we really want to "take back government" to the states. I don't think so.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day #26,673. God would be pissed off at the Tea Party.?
Today is Friday, December the 13th, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.5 miles for a December total of 26.0 miles. My weight was 166.0 pounds.
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: "If God gave his opinion about the Tea Party members in Congress this is what I think he would say. 'There's just something about your thoughts, words, and actions that piss me off.'"
My THOUGHTS today are about why I despise the right-wing conservative Tea Party members of the Republican Party.
After talking to, reading about and listening to Tea Party members I'm about ready to puke. Here are a few of the reasons why.
-Why do the conservative Republicans always go after the poor members of our society. Governor Branstad wants to charge the poorest people in Iowa 3% of their income in order to get on Medicaid. The poorest people are those making an annual salary of $11,500 or less. I'd like to see the richest folks in America pay an extra 3% on their income tax. That would make a lot more sense than having someone making $11.500 a year pay 3% or $345 a year for their medical care while on Medicaid.
-Then the Tea Party members in Congress want to cut SNAP benefits (food stamps) by $40,000,000,000 (40 billion) over ten years. These Tea Party people don't really care about the poor and their need for food, clothing, housing and medical care. They have no clue what's it's like to be poor.
- And they won't raise the minimum wage from a measly $7.25 an hour. Again they have no clue what's it is like to live on $290.00 a week - and they don't care. Their main concern is they want more tax cuts for their millionaire buddies.
-Some Tea Partyers I've talked to lately are really irate about the Strawberry Hill Apartments in Anamosa. These apartments are a subsidized federal housing project. Every time I talk to them they say every person living there is lazy and doesn't want to work. The thing is they have no proof this is true. They just think it is because they have been watching too much FOX NEWS or Rush (Drug Addict) Limbaugh. I know many of the people living in the Strawberry Hill apartments.. The reason I know them is that I walk and shop at Walmart and many of them are working at Walmart or at Theisen's Farm store. Many of them, but not all, are African-Americans. We are not used to seeing many black people in Anamosa and I have a feeling that has motivated much of the Tea Party hate. Many of these workers need a subsidy in order to live on their minimum wage from Walmart.
- This one is the clincher for my disdain of the right-wing Tea Party people. In Michigan the Tea Party controlled legislature has passed a law saying that women must now take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care from Medicaid or their private insurance company if they are raped. Can you imagine anything so despicable and unbelievable as this?
-What I've written about today are examples of what would happen if the Tea Party ever gets total control of the federal government or more state governments It is scary to even think about it.
The Tea Party believers do not know it and if they do they won't admit it but the reason we had the Great Depression and the Great Recession is because of Republican policies - mainly deregulation of the banks and other financial institutions.. For some reason the Tea Partyers blame everything on the poor. In my opinion the Tea Party people have AIDS (Arrogant, Ignorant, Definitely Stupid)(or dumb shits if you prefer.)
QUOTE from Pete Bungum: "If God gave his opinion about the Tea Party members in Congress this is what I think he would say. 'There's just something about your thoughts, words, and actions that piss me off.'"
My THOUGHTS today are about why I despise the right-wing conservative Tea Party members of the Republican Party.
After talking to, reading about and listening to Tea Party members I'm about ready to puke. Here are a few of the reasons why.
-Why do the conservative Republicans always go after the poor members of our society. Governor Branstad wants to charge the poorest people in Iowa 3% of their income in order to get on Medicaid. The poorest people are those making an annual salary of $11,500 or less. I'd like to see the richest folks in America pay an extra 3% on their income tax. That would make a lot more sense than having someone making $11.500 a year pay 3% or $345 a year for their medical care while on Medicaid.
-Then the Tea Party members in Congress want to cut SNAP benefits (food stamps) by $40,000,000,000 (40 billion) over ten years. These Tea Party people don't really care about the poor and their need for food, clothing, housing and medical care. They have no clue what's it's like to be poor.
- And they won't raise the minimum wage from a measly $7.25 an hour. Again they have no clue what's it is like to live on $290.00 a week - and they don't care. Their main concern is they want more tax cuts for their millionaire buddies.
-Some Tea Partyers I've talked to lately are really irate about the Strawberry Hill Apartments in Anamosa. These apartments are a subsidized federal housing project. Every time I talk to them they say every person living there is lazy and doesn't want to work. The thing is they have no proof this is true. They just think it is because they have been watching too much FOX NEWS or Rush (Drug Addict) Limbaugh. I know many of the people living in the Strawberry Hill apartments.. The reason I know them is that I walk and shop at Walmart and many of them are working at Walmart or at Theisen's Farm store. Many of them, but not all, are African-Americans. We are not used to seeing many black people in Anamosa and I have a feeling that has motivated much of the Tea Party hate. Many of these workers need a subsidy in order to live on their minimum wage from Walmart.
- This one is the clincher for my disdain of the right-wing Tea Party people. In Michigan the Tea Party controlled legislature has passed a law saying that women must now take out a "rape insurance" policy in order to get medical care from Medicaid or their private insurance company if they are raped. Can you imagine anything so despicable and unbelievable as this?
-What I've written about today are examples of what would happen if the Tea Party ever gets total control of the federal government or more state governments It is scary to even think about it.
The Tea Party believers do not know it and if they do they won't admit it but the reason we had the Great Depression and the Great Recession is because of Republican policies - mainly deregulation of the banks and other financial institutions.. For some reason the Tea Partyers blame everything on the poor. In my opinion the Tea Party people have AIDS (Arrogant, Ignorant, Definitely Stupid)(or dumb shits if you prefer.)
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,670. This is one happy day for Pete and Ruth Ann
Today is Tuesday, December 10, 2013. No stats today: My total miles for December = 18.5 miles. My weight today was 166.6 pounds.
QUOTE for today from actress Ingrid Bergman: "HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD MEMORY."
My THOUGHTS today are on Ingrid Bergman's QUOTE. According to the QUOTE I hit a home run this morning. The bad memory part is a given - that has deteriorated since age 49 just like Bill Cosby said it would. The good health part got a boost this morning at Doctor Vernon's office.
Since about November 30 I have been experiencing bloody stools. It was fresh blood every morning and enough blood to make the toilet water turn red (I actually took photos to have proof in case I went to the doctor.) My BMs had become very hard and large and it was a strain to do the job. I probably had eaten too much cheese and summer sausage on crackers while watching the Hawks beat Nebraska on November 28th. Anyway the bloody stools started after that and they have continued. I called for a doctor's appointment on Saturday and got in today at 9:10.
After giving Dr. Vernon the history of the blood and showing him the wonderful photos he agreed I may have eaten too much cheese (with a smile on his face). So he told me to drop my drawers and put his finger up my rectum. It was not comfortable but the good news was it showed no blood and he could feel nothing abnormal. Dr. Vernon is pretty sure that by getting constipated and being extra large that I had torn some tissue in the colon and that was causing the blood. I told him I had been on prunes for two days and they were helping. His advice was to continue the prunes and not to eat any more cheese (he was smiling again) until January 1st when I would be tailgating in Tampa where the Hawks will beat LSU in the Outback Bowl. We are going to Tampa on January 29 and come home on January 2.
I'm obviously very HAPPY today because: I do not have colon cancer; I will not have surgery; I will not have to have a bag because my colon is gone; Hopefully, I will not have to take any more photos of my bloody stools; Ruth Ann is extremely happy that I don't have cancer; and I'm relieved that it is nothing serious. As Ingrid said: HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD ___???_____. (What was that she said?)
QUOTE for today from actress Ingrid Bergman: "HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD MEMORY."
My THOUGHTS today are on Ingrid Bergman's QUOTE. According to the QUOTE I hit a home run this morning. The bad memory part is a given - that has deteriorated since age 49 just like Bill Cosby said it would. The good health part got a boost this morning at Doctor Vernon's office.
Since about November 30 I have been experiencing bloody stools. It was fresh blood every morning and enough blood to make the toilet water turn red (I actually took photos to have proof in case I went to the doctor.) My BMs had become very hard and large and it was a strain to do the job. I probably had eaten too much cheese and summer sausage on crackers while watching the Hawks beat Nebraska on November 28th. Anyway the bloody stools started after that and they have continued. I called for a doctor's appointment on Saturday and got in today at 9:10.
After giving Dr. Vernon the history of the blood and showing him the wonderful photos he agreed I may have eaten too much cheese (with a smile on his face). So he told me to drop my drawers and put his finger up my rectum. It was not comfortable but the good news was it showed no blood and he could feel nothing abnormal. Dr. Vernon is pretty sure that by getting constipated and being extra large that I had torn some tissue in the colon and that was causing the blood. I told him I had been on prunes for two days and they were helping. His advice was to continue the prunes and not to eat any more cheese (he was smiling again) until January 1st when I would be tailgating in Tampa where the Hawks will beat LSU in the Outback Bowl. We are going to Tampa on January 29 and come home on January 2.
I'm obviously very HAPPY today because: I do not have colon cancer; I will not have surgery; I will not have to have a bag because my colon is gone; Hopefully, I will not have to take any more photos of my bloody stools; Ruth Ann is extremely happy that I don't have cancer; and I'm relieved that it is nothing serious. As Ingrid said: HAPPINESS IS GOOD HEALTH AND A BAD ___???_____. (What was that she said?)
Friday, December 6, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Gifr #30 - I helped a 9 year-old girl have a happier Christmas
Today is Friday, December 6, 2013, My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 13.5 miles. My weight was 165.4 pounds.
My THOUGHT today is on Gift # 30. I finished my 29 gifts in 29 days yesterday. It actually took me about 36 days to do it but I made it. But I was still in the giving mode this morning when walking inside Walmart. Walmart has a giving tree with probably 100 little green tags on it. Each tag has the name and age of a child in need and suggestions on what they want for Christmas. I picked the one that said Melissa, age nine, who wanted a crafts kit to make bracelets, necklaces, etc. So I found a crafts kit for $10.00 and got it for her. The Walmart cashier charged me for it and said you don't have to wrap it as Walmart will do it for me and they would make sure it got to Melissa. That was nice of them. I feel good that I will make Melissa have a happier Christmas. And better yet she will never know who got it for her.
Giving 29 gifts in 29 days(I should say 36 days) has been a great experience for me. It made me think everyday of what my gift would be for that day. When you have a project like this it makes a person think positive. It gave me great joy to think that I was making other people feel good and would have a happier day as a result of my giving. This is what life should be about - making other people feel better and happier. It is true - "It is better to give than to receive."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift # 30. I finished my 29 gifts in 29 days yesterday. It actually took me about 36 days to do it but I made it. But I was still in the giving mode this morning when walking inside Walmart. Walmart has a giving tree with probably 100 little green tags on it. Each tag has the name and age of a child in need and suggestions on what they want for Christmas. I picked the one that said Melissa, age nine, who wanted a crafts kit to make bracelets, necklaces, etc. So I found a crafts kit for $10.00 and got it for her. The Walmart cashier charged me for it and said you don't have to wrap it as Walmart will do it for me and they would make sure it got to Melissa. That was nice of them. I feel good that I will make Melissa have a happier Christmas. And better yet she will never know who got it for her.
Giving 29 gifts in 29 days(I should say 36 days) has been a great experience for me. It made me think everyday of what my gift would be for that day. When you have a project like this it makes a person think positive. It gave me great joy to think that I was making other people feel good and would have a happier day as a result of my giving. This is what life should be about - making other people feel better and happier. It is true - "It is better to give than to receive."
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,665. Gift #29 - three little gifts to myself.
Today is Wednesday, December 5, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 11.0 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds.
QUOTE for today from Harry Sheehy, former athletic director at Williams College: "It is your response to winning or losing that makes you a winner or loser." After watching the Auburn - Alabama game on Saturday I thought this would be a good quote.
My THOUGHT today is about Gift #29.
In Regina Brett's book, God Never Blinks, she titled chapter 25, NO ONE ELSE IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR HAPPINESS, YOU ARE THE CEO OF YOUR JOY. She went on to say in paragraph two that "Women and Men would both be a lot happier if they read their own minds and took care of their own needs and wants."
I agree 100%. So Gift 29 is to myself - in fact it is a gift I have been giving myself for about 6-7 years. When I had prostate cancer surgery in May, 2007 I made some decisions I was going to follow the rest of my life. There was the possibility that the cancer could spread to my bones and that could/would shorten my life expectancy by a few years or many years. One big decision I made at that time was that I was going to make every day count and pretend it could be my last one. And I was going to make myself as happy as I could everyday by giving myself little GIFTS.
So everyday I pamper myself with three little gifts.
1. In the morning when I'm done doing my yoga or weights or ball exercises and before I go walking I gift myself with a half a banana and some chocolate. Chocolate is the gift. I love chocolate and decided I was going to enjoy some everyday the rest of my life. I buy Giardello's 60% cacao chips and eat 6-7 chips every morning. So gift #1 is chocolate chips.
2. Gift #2 is ice cream. I also love ice cream. So I buy a box containing sixteen 100 calorie ice cream bars at Walmart. I cut the bars in half so I only get 50 calories. I gift myself with half an ice cream bar everyday after my noon lunch.
3. Gift #3 is herring and nuts. I love herring and nuts. So the 3rd gift to myself everyday comes at 3:30 in the afternoon. This is my afternoon snack time. I have 1/4 cup of mixed nuts and 2 pieces of herring.
CONCLUSION; Every morning when I awaken I have 3 little gifts to look forward to. Regina said life is good when you take care of your own happiness. This is one way I take care of my own happiness.
QUOTE for today from Harry Sheehy, former athletic director at Williams College: "It is your response to winning or losing that makes you a winner or loser." After watching the Auburn - Alabama game on Saturday I thought this would be a good quote.
My THOUGHT today is about Gift #29.
In Regina Brett's book, God Never Blinks, she titled chapter 25, NO ONE ELSE IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR HAPPINESS, YOU ARE THE CEO OF YOUR JOY. She went on to say in paragraph two that "Women and Men would both be a lot happier if they read their own minds and took care of their own needs and wants."
I agree 100%. So Gift 29 is to myself - in fact it is a gift I have been giving myself for about 6-7 years. When I had prostate cancer surgery in May, 2007 I made some decisions I was going to follow the rest of my life. There was the possibility that the cancer could spread to my bones and that could/would shorten my life expectancy by a few years or many years. One big decision I made at that time was that I was going to make every day count and pretend it could be my last one. And I was going to make myself as happy as I could everyday by giving myself little GIFTS.
So everyday I pamper myself with three little gifts.
1. In the morning when I'm done doing my yoga or weights or ball exercises and before I go walking I gift myself with a half a banana and some chocolate. Chocolate is the gift. I love chocolate and decided I was going to enjoy some everyday the rest of my life. I buy Giardello's 60% cacao chips and eat 6-7 chips every morning. So gift #1 is chocolate chips.
2. Gift #2 is ice cream. I also love ice cream. So I buy a box containing sixteen 100 calorie ice cream bars at Walmart. I cut the bars in half so I only get 50 calories. I gift myself with half an ice cream bar everyday after my noon lunch.
3. Gift #3 is herring and nuts. I love herring and nuts. So the 3rd gift to myself everyday comes at 3:30 in the afternoon. This is my afternoon snack time. I have 1/4 cup of mixed nuts and 2 pieces of herring.
CONCLUSION; Every morning when I awaken I have 3 little gifts to look forward to. Regina said life is good when you take care of your own happiness. This is one way I take care of my own happiness.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Pete'w BLOG: Gift #28 - DAV
Today is Tuesday, December 3, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 6.5 miles. My weight was 165.6 pounds.
Gift #28 today is a gift of $10.00 to DAV (Disabled American Veterans). I have a strong feeling about disabled vets in America, especially the ones who got their disability fighting in Iraq. If it hadn't been for the ignorance, stupidity and lies of George W. Bush and Dickie Cheeney these vets wouldn't be in their situation today. We had no reason to invade Iraq - it had nothing to do with 9/11 and it had no WMDs (weapons of mass destruction.) We were told lie after lie after lie by Bush, Cheeney and Rumsfeld to justify the invasion of Iraq. I wonder if these 3 idiots have one ounce of remorse when they see some of our disabled Iraqi vets. I doubt it.
Gift #28 today is a gift of $10.00 to DAV (Disabled American Veterans). I have a strong feeling about disabled vets in America, especially the ones who got their disability fighting in Iraq. If it hadn't been for the ignorance, stupidity and lies of George W. Bush and Dickie Cheeney these vets wouldn't be in their situation today. We had no reason to invade Iraq - it had nothing to do with 9/11 and it had no WMDs (weapons of mass destruction.) We were told lie after lie after lie by Bush, Cheeney and Rumsfeld to justify the invasion of Iraq. I wonder if these 3 idiots have one ounce of remorse when they see some of our disabled Iraqi vets. I doubt it.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,662. Gift #23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
Today is December 2, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a December total of 4.0 miles. My weight was 165.6 pounds.
Brad and Alexandra have been here for a week so my daily schedule was not operating as usual. They went home to Denmark on yesterday morning, leaving here at 8:30 AM , driving to O'Hare, flying to Amsterdam and then Copenhagen.
My goal today is to get caught up on my 29 gifts in 29 days. The book said to try and give the 29 gifts in 29 consecutive days but if you can't just keep going or start over. Well, I'm not starting over. However, I will get the 29 gifts goal reached but it will be more like 35 non-consecutive days. So far I have described my first 22 gifts.
Gift #23 was on Thursday, November 28, 2013. It was a gift to Toys for Tots which is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. When I was walking at Walmart that morning I saw the box asking for gifts to Toys for Tots. I thought why make some little tyke happy for Christmas, So I bought a little three car choo-choo-train suitable for 6 months to 3 years.
Gift #24 was on Friday, November 29, 2013. For Thanksgiving we had our fireplace going with fire logs and real wood. Carron mentioned that she used fire logs in her fireplace all the time but she was out right now. While getting some groceries I decided my 24th gift would be fire logs for Carron. I delivered them to her house on the way home.
Gift #25 was on Saturday, November 30, 2013. Ruth Ann had mentioned to me several weeks ago that she had three crockpots but all three had problems: one didn't heat correctly, one had two legs instead of three, and the third one had both problems. So my 25th gift was a new crockpot for Ruth Ann - a big black oval-shaped one.
Gift #26 was on Sunday, December 1, 2013. Unfortunately Ruth Ann went into the hospital on Friday with colitis and diverticulitis. As I write this on Monday she is still at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Brad and Alex left for Denmark at 8:30 AM on Sunday morning. As a result of a week long stay there was a need to wash towels and bedding and straighten up the house and get things put back into place. My 26th gift was to do the following for Ruth Ann (and myself) so she would feel no stress about the house when she comes home tomorrow (or maybe today). So I spent Sunday washing, folding, and putting away three loads of clothes, getting all the dishes washed and put away, putting all the excess turkey into 8 Ziploc quart-size bags and into the freezer, and putting everything back where it belonged.
Gift #27 was today, December 2, 2013. My 27th gift was a visit to brighten the day of my friend Galen - to help brighten it I gave him a 6-pack of Busch Light. Galen is recovering from cancer - it was diagnosed last May. It was a large mass located in his right side. Thanks to chemo he has made a remarkable recovery. His hair is growing back and he looks like a healthy man again. We had a great visit with a lot of laughs and a hug when I left. Galen was custodian at the school for over 25 years. I like Galen and he likes me - we have great time together.
I talked to Ruth Ann this morning - she sounded much better. Thanksgiving night she came down with severe lower stomach pain. She developed severe diarrhea with blood in the mix. We went to the ER on Friday afternoon and she's been in the hospital since Friday night. On Saturday morning her blood pressure had dropped to 79 over 41 but they have it back to normal now. She was also dehydrated - more later - time to go visit her.
Brad and Alexandra have been here for a week so my daily schedule was not operating as usual. They went home to Denmark on yesterday morning, leaving here at 8:30 AM , driving to O'Hare, flying to Amsterdam and then Copenhagen.
My goal today is to get caught up on my 29 gifts in 29 days. The book said to try and give the 29 gifts in 29 consecutive days but if you can't just keep going or start over. Well, I'm not starting over. However, I will get the 29 gifts goal reached but it will be more like 35 non-consecutive days. So far I have described my first 22 gifts.
Gift #23 was on Thursday, November 28, 2013. It was a gift to Toys for Tots which is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. When I was walking at Walmart that morning I saw the box asking for gifts to Toys for Tots. I thought why make some little tyke happy for Christmas, So I bought a little three car choo-choo-train suitable for 6 months to 3 years.
Gift #24 was on Friday, November 29, 2013. For Thanksgiving we had our fireplace going with fire logs and real wood. Carron mentioned that she used fire logs in her fireplace all the time but she was out right now. While getting some groceries I decided my 24th gift would be fire logs for Carron. I delivered them to her house on the way home.
Gift #25 was on Saturday, November 30, 2013. Ruth Ann had mentioned to me several weeks ago that she had three crockpots but all three had problems: one didn't heat correctly, one had two legs instead of three, and the third one had both problems. So my 25th gift was a new crockpot for Ruth Ann - a big black oval-shaped one.
Gift #26 was on Sunday, December 1, 2013. Unfortunately Ruth Ann went into the hospital on Friday with colitis and diverticulitis. As I write this on Monday she is still at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Brad and Alex left for Denmark at 8:30 AM on Sunday morning. As a result of a week long stay there was a need to wash towels and bedding and straighten up the house and get things put back into place. My 26th gift was to do the following for Ruth Ann (and myself) so she would feel no stress about the house when she comes home tomorrow (or maybe today). So I spent Sunday washing, folding, and putting away three loads of clothes, getting all the dishes washed and put away, putting all the excess turkey into 8 Ziploc quart-size bags and into the freezer, and putting everything back where it belonged.
Gift #27 was today, December 2, 2013. My 27th gift was a visit to brighten the day of my friend Galen - to help brighten it I gave him a 6-pack of Busch Light. Galen is recovering from cancer - it was diagnosed last May. It was a large mass located in his right side. Thanks to chemo he has made a remarkable recovery. His hair is growing back and he looks like a healthy man again. We had a great visit with a lot of laughs and a hug when I left. Galen was custodian at the school for over 25 years. I like Galen and he likes me - we have great time together.
I talked to Ruth Ann this morning - she sounded much better. Thanksgiving night she came down with severe lower stomach pain. She developed severe diarrhea with blood in the mix. We went to the ER on Friday afternoon and she's been in the hospital since Friday night. On Saturday morning her blood pressure had dropped to 79 over 41 but they have it back to normal now. She was also dehydrated - more later - time to go visit her.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,660. Gift #22: To myself - i described gifts 1 to 8.
Gift #22 is to myself again - I'm going to bring my BLOG up-to-date. I'm doing this on Wednesday, November 27, 2013.
I didn't start BLOGGING about my "22 gifts in 29 days" until gift #9. So my gift today is to myself - it will make me feel better by posting the first 8 gifts so my readers will have all 29 of them.
Gift #1 was on October 30, 2013 My gift that day was to forward an email video to my siblings and friends - I had gotten this video from Brad. The video was about an eighth grade football team in Michigan who let one of their lesser developed teammates score a touchdown. He was mentally challenged and physically smaller than his teammates.. It was an amazing story and it brightened my day so I thought I would brighten the day of my siblings and friends also.
Gift #2 was on October 31, 2013. I visited Esther - my 88 year-year-old lady friend. She lives in the mobile home court - and has been a widow for at least 30 years. She is a remarkable woman, always in good spirits and one of the most loving and sincere people I have ever known. I visit her every couple of months. She appreciates me stopping in to see her - she says I always brighten her day - and she brightens mine.
Gift #3 was on November 6, 2013. The gift was a $15.00 donation to the Salvation Army . They are one of the best run charity organizations in the U.S. They do so much good in this world.
Gift #4 was on November 7, 2013. Brother John and wife Lorna had hosted a family get-together in St. Peter, MN the weekend before.. The gathering was to watch great- nephew Josh Bungum play football for St. John's College against Gustavus Adolphus College. Even though I had THANKED them profusely when we left I felt it appropriate to say THANK YOU again - so I sent an email thanking them again for their great hospitality and food. This expression of gratitude was my gift for the day.
Gift #5 was on November 10, 2013. This might not exactly qualify as a gift but it is to me. Ruth Ann and I made 53 lefse and 40 krumkakke. My gift to the whole affair was contributing my expertise at being the perfect lefse flipper and my expertise at getting sugar on the krumkakke and stacking them in perfect piles of four. The lefse would never have the right number of brown spots on it unless I had done the flipping.
Gift #6 was on November 10, 2013 - it was to give an extra $5.00 to my church. Every month our regular gift is automatically taken out of our bank account. As I sat in the pew that Sunday I was thinking that my gift today would be an extra $5.00 to be given anonymously. That's is exactly what I did - I dug into my pocket, pulled out a five dollar bill and put in the envelope with no name on it.
Gift #7 was on November 11, 2013 - it was to the server at the Hale Supper Club in Hale, Iowa. Ruth Ann and I go to the hale Supper Club once a week for Happy Hour - we have a couple of beers each and go home. Terry always waits on us and pours our beers and I always give her a dollar tip. My gift that day was to triple her tip to $3.00. She got a big smile on her face and gave us a big "Thank You very much." I brightened her day a little bit.
Gift #8 was on November 13, 2013 - it was a gift to HACAP - which provides free food for the hungry and needy in Jones County. On Sunday our church bulletin had an announcement that HACAP was running low on food and needed to be replenished, I went to Walmart and bought $15.00 worth of non-perishable food items like canned vegetables and fruit, Hamburger Helper and macaroni and cheese. I delivered them and got a nice expression of gratitude from the administrator. It made me feel good.
I didn't start BLOGGING about my "22 gifts in 29 days" until gift #9. So my gift today is to myself - it will make me feel better by posting the first 8 gifts so my readers will have all 29 of them.
Gift #1 was on October 30, 2013 My gift that day was to forward an email video to my siblings and friends - I had gotten this video from Brad. The video was about an eighth grade football team in Michigan who let one of their lesser developed teammates score a touchdown. He was mentally challenged and physically smaller than his teammates.. It was an amazing story and it brightened my day so I thought I would brighten the day of my siblings and friends also.
Gift #2 was on October 31, 2013. I visited Esther - my 88 year-year-old lady friend. She lives in the mobile home court - and has been a widow for at least 30 years. She is a remarkable woman, always in good spirits and one of the most loving and sincere people I have ever known. I visit her every couple of months. She appreciates me stopping in to see her - she says I always brighten her day - and she brightens mine.
Gift #3 was on November 6, 2013. The gift was a $15.00 donation to the Salvation Army . They are one of the best run charity organizations in the U.S. They do so much good in this world.
Gift #4 was on November 7, 2013. Brother John and wife Lorna had hosted a family get-together in St. Peter, MN the weekend before.. The gathering was to watch great- nephew Josh Bungum play football for St. John's College against Gustavus Adolphus College. Even though I had THANKED them profusely when we left I felt it appropriate to say THANK YOU again - so I sent an email thanking them again for their great hospitality and food. This expression of gratitude was my gift for the day.
Gift #5 was on November 10, 2013. This might not exactly qualify as a gift but it is to me. Ruth Ann and I made 53 lefse and 40 krumkakke. My gift to the whole affair was contributing my expertise at being the perfect lefse flipper and my expertise at getting sugar on the krumkakke and stacking them in perfect piles of four. The lefse would never have the right number of brown spots on it unless I had done the flipping.
Gift #6 was on November 10, 2013 - it was to give an extra $5.00 to my church. Every month our regular gift is automatically taken out of our bank account. As I sat in the pew that Sunday I was thinking that my gift today would be an extra $5.00 to be given anonymously. That's is exactly what I did - I dug into my pocket, pulled out a five dollar bill and put in the envelope with no name on it.
Gift #7 was on November 11, 2013 - it was to the server at the Hale Supper Club in Hale, Iowa. Ruth Ann and I go to the hale Supper Club once a week for Happy Hour - we have a couple of beers each and go home. Terry always waits on us and pours our beers and I always give her a dollar tip. My gift that day was to triple her tip to $3.00. She got a big smile on her face and gave us a big "Thank You very much." I brightened her day a little bit.
Gift #8 was on November 13, 2013 - it was a gift to HACAP - which provides free food for the hungry and needy in Jones County. On Sunday our church bulletin had an announcement that HACAP was running low on food and needed to be replenished, I went to Walmart and bought $15.00 worth of non-perishable food items like canned vegetables and fruit, Hamburger Helper and macaroni and cheese. I delivered them and got a nice expression of gratitude from the administrator. It made me feel good.
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,659. Gifts 19, 20 and 21
Today is Tuesday, November 26, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 49.6 miles. My weight was 166.2 pounds.
I'm going to get caught up this morning. Brad and Alexandra came Friday night from Denmark. Saturday we went to the Hawk-Michigan game and froze our butts off but it was worth it when we made a second half comeback and won 24-21. Sunday Alex's friend's from her 2008-09 yearlong stay in Anamosa had a surprise party for her at a local restaurant from 4-8 pm. She was really surprised and had a lot of fun renewing old friendships. Monday, our other granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate came for brunch and we visited until 3:30. So I haven't had a lot of time until now. I'm going to report on how my 29 gifts in 29 Days Challenge is progressing. Here I go.
Gift #19 would be for Sunday, November 24. #19 is a gift I'm giving myself. One day I heard I Hoda mention on the TODAY SHOW that every morning she read a chapter out of a book called God Never Blinks: 50 lessons for Life's Little Detours - by Regina Brett. She mentioned it was such an inspirational book. So I went and ordered it from Barnes and Noble. Thanks to Hoda, what a great gift I have given myself - it is truly a wonderful inspiring book. It is divided into 50 chapters - here are three examples: Lesson 3 is LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WASTE TIME HATING ANYONE and Lesson 4 is DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY. NO ONE ELSE DOES and Lesson 50 is LIFE ISN'T TIED WITH A BOW, BUT IT'S STILL A GIFT.
I would highly recommend this book.
Gift #20 is for Monday, November 25, 2013. Monday morning my sister Janice called from her winter home in Mesa, Arizona. She said I have to ask you for a favor. My friend down here read your Gratitude Journal a year ago and was so impressed by it that she wants a copy to use for a Bible Study she is leading at her church. The Bible Study topic is on GRATITUDE and she wants to use my book for kind of a textbook or reference. Janice said she forgot her copy at home in Bloomington so she couldn't help her friend out. I told Jan I would put a couple of copies in the mail today and they would be there in a few days.
Later in the day Jan sent an email and said she would pay the postage. I told her what I was doing with the "29 gift challenge" and I didn't want any money. The books and the postage would be my 20th gift - SO NO MONEY AND TELLYOUR FRIEND SHE MAY KEEP THE BOOK - THIS IS A GIFT FROM YOUR BROTHER PETE AND HE IS GRATEFUL AND FLATTERED THAT SHE FOUND IT INSPIRING.
Gift #21 is for Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - it is another flower for Ruth Ann. When done walking inside Walmart at 7:00 this morning I saw poinsettia plants for sale. I know Ruth Ann likes flowers and always wants a poinsettia for the Christmas season. I have done this before but decided I would do it again and make my 21st gift a poinsettia for Ruth Ann for the Christmas season. She was surprised and grateful when I had it sitting on the kitchen table when she arose.
I'm going to get caught up this morning. Brad and Alexandra came Friday night from Denmark. Saturday we went to the Hawk-Michigan game and froze our butts off but it was worth it when we made a second half comeback and won 24-21. Sunday Alex's friend's from her 2008-09 yearlong stay in Anamosa had a surprise party for her at a local restaurant from 4-8 pm. She was really surprised and had a lot of fun renewing old friendships. Monday, our other granddaughter Ellyn and friend Nate came for brunch and we visited until 3:30. So I haven't had a lot of time until now. I'm going to report on how my 29 gifts in 29 Days Challenge is progressing. Here I go.
Gift #19 would be for Sunday, November 24. #19 is a gift I'm giving myself. One day I heard I Hoda mention on the TODAY SHOW that every morning she read a chapter out of a book called God Never Blinks: 50 lessons for Life's Little Detours - by Regina Brett. She mentioned it was such an inspirational book. So I went and ordered it from Barnes and Noble. Thanks to Hoda, what a great gift I have given myself - it is truly a wonderful inspiring book. It is divided into 50 chapters - here are three examples: Lesson 3 is LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WASTE TIME HATING ANYONE and Lesson 4 is DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY. NO ONE ELSE DOES and Lesson 50 is LIFE ISN'T TIED WITH A BOW, BUT IT'S STILL A GIFT.
I would highly recommend this book.
Gift #20 is for Monday, November 25, 2013. Monday morning my sister Janice called from her winter home in Mesa, Arizona. She said I have to ask you for a favor. My friend down here read your Gratitude Journal a year ago and was so impressed by it that she wants a copy to use for a Bible Study she is leading at her church. The Bible Study topic is on GRATITUDE and she wants to use my book for kind of a textbook or reference. Janice said she forgot her copy at home in Bloomington so she couldn't help her friend out. I told Jan I would put a couple of copies in the mail today and they would be there in a few days.
Later in the day Jan sent an email and said she would pay the postage. I told her what I was doing with the "29 gift challenge" and I didn't want any money. The books and the postage would be my 20th gift - SO NO MONEY AND TELLYOUR FRIEND SHE MAY KEEP THE BOOK - THIS IS A GIFT FROM YOUR BROTHER PETE AND HE IS GRATEFUL AND FLATTERED THAT SHE FOUND IT INSPIRING.
Gift #21 is for Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - it is another flower for Ruth Ann. When done walking inside Walmart at 7:00 this morning I saw poinsettia plants for sale. I know Ruth Ann likes flowers and always wants a poinsettia for the Christmas season. I have done this before but decided I would do it again and make my 21st gift a poinsettia for Ruth Ann for the Christmas season. She was surprised and grateful when I had it sitting on the kitchen table when she arose.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,656. Gift # 18. My salmon loaf.
Today is Saturday, November 23, 2013. No stats today as I'm at Kinnick Stadium.
I'm really writing this on Friday, November 22 - because I'm going to the Hawk-Michigan game tomorrow and will not have time to do Gift 18. I'm kind of fudging a little but I want to keep my gift giving journey going.
Gift 18 really took place the other night. Ruth Ann had been busy getting things ready for the Hawk game and making plans for Thanksgiving. To save her from having to think of anymore things I decided a gift I could give her was to make supper. I made my famous "salmon loaf" - it was enough for supper on both Tuesday and Wednesday night. She really likes my salmon loaf and I like it to.
I'm really writing this on Friday, November 22 - because I'm going to the Hawk-Michigan game tomorrow and will not have time to do Gift 18. I'm kind of fudging a little but I want to keep my gift giving journey going.
Gift 18 really took place the other night. Ruth Ann had been busy getting things ready for the Hawk game and making plans for Thanksgiving. To save her from having to think of anymore things I decided a gift I could give her was to make supper. I made my famous "salmon loaf" - it was enough for supper on both Tuesday and Wednesday night. She really likes my salmon loaf and I like it to.
Pete's bLOG: Day 26,655. Gift #17: A $ contribution to the SPLC
Today is Friday, November 22, 2013. My stats today: 19 minutes of walking = 1.0 mile for a November total of 45.6 miles. My weight was 166.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Donna Chnupa: "Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place."
My THOUGHT today is about Gift # 17 in my journey to give 29 Gifts in 29 Days.
Gift 17 was an easy one. Every year I contribute to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) located in Montgomery, Alabama. The SPLC mission is to monitor and prosecute when necessary the right-wing groups or individuals promoting racism and hatred against Latinos, blacks, immigrants, etc. There are over a 1,000 hate groups in the country. My $10.00 contribution to SPLC is Gift #17. It will be doubled by some wealthy donor so my contribution is worth $20.00.
QUOTE from Donna Chnupa: "Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place."
My THOUGHT today is about Gift # 17 in my journey to give 29 Gifts in 29 Days.
Gift 17 was an easy one. Every year I contribute to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) located in Montgomery, Alabama. The SPLC mission is to monitor and prosecute when necessary the right-wing groups or individuals promoting racism and hatred against Latinos, blacks, immigrants, etc. There are over a 1,000 hate groups in the country. My $10.00 contribution to SPLC is Gift #17. It will be doubled by some wealthy donor so my contribution is worth $20.00.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,654. Gift #16: Flowers for Ruth Ann.
Today is Thursday, November 21, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 44.6 miles. My weight was 166.0 pounds.
QUOTE for today from YourPocketGuru: "If you had a bad day, don't worry. We all have a reset button - it's called tomorrow."
My THOUGHT today is about Gift #16 in my journey to give 29 Gifts in 29 Days.. Ruth Ann has been having some downer days recently so I've been trying to think of something to cheer her up a little bit. So Gift #16 was to buy her some fresh flowers at Walmart. She loves flowers and I actually think it is helping her think a little more positive. She appreciated my thoughtfulness.
QUOTE for today from YourPocketGuru: "If you had a bad day, don't worry. We all have a reset button - it's called tomorrow."
My THOUGHT today is about Gift #16 in my journey to give 29 Gifts in 29 Days.. Ruth Ann has been having some downer days recently so I've been trying to think of something to cheer her up a little bit. So Gift #16 was to buy her some fresh flowers at Walmart. She loves flowers and I actually think it is helping her think a little more positive. She appreciated my thoughtfulness.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,653. Gift # 15. To myself - 73 mintes of exercise.
Today is Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - my 73rd birthday. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 53 minutes of walking = 2.9 miles for a November total of 41.6 miles. My weight was 166.2 pounds.
QUOTE for today: "No one ever admits they're wrong half as loudly as they claim they're right."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift #15. Today is my 73rd birthday - so my THOUGHT today is on the number 73 - for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I'm 73 years old today. The second reason is I wanted to see if I could exercise for 73 minutes. Ten years ago I started this birthday ritual of exercising the same number of minutes as my age. I'm happy to say I've achieved that every year. I usually go 55-65 minutes but today I made it to 73. Next year the challenge will be 74 minutes. I'm hoping I can continue this ritual for quite a few more years.
So gift #15 today was to myself. It was not only a physical gift but a mental gift - I met the challenge of 73 minutes.
QUOTE for today: "No one ever admits they're wrong half as loudly as they claim they're right."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift #15. Today is my 73rd birthday - so my THOUGHT today is on the number 73 - for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I'm 73 years old today. The second reason is I wanted to see if I could exercise for 73 minutes. Ten years ago I started this birthday ritual of exercising the same number of minutes as my age. I'm happy to say I've achieved that every year. I usually go 55-65 minutes but today I made it to 73. Next year the challenge will be 74 minutes. I'm hoping I can continue this ritual for quite a few more years.
So gift #15 today was to myself. It was not only a physical gift but a mental gift - I met the challenge of 73 minutes.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,652. Gift #14: A phone call to help a 94-year-lady.
Today is Tuesday. November 19, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 38.7 miles. My weight today was 164.4 pounds. After two months I finally have shed 6-7 pounds and am below 165 for the first time since August 31.
QUOTE today from Marc Chernoff: "It doesn't really matter if your glass is half full or half empty. Be grateful that you have a glass and there's something in it."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift #14. About 2:30 yesterday afternoon the phone rang. Calling was a 94-year-old lady from Denver, CO. Her name is Lenore and she used to live in Anamosa and was a friend of ours from church. Lenore called to see if I could get a hold of one of her old Anamosa friends (Dorothy) now living in Cedar Rapids. Lenore said she had tried to call her many times and could never get an answer and was worried that something had happened to Dorothy. So I asked her for the phone number and told her I'd try to make connect and deliver the message to Dorothy that she had better call Lenore and let her know that she was okay.
I called Dorothy and got through right away. I told her the story about Lenore calling and being worried about her. She said she would call Lenore right away.
A half hour later the phone rings again and it is Lenore. She had just talked to Dorothy and was calling me back to thank me for contacting Dorothy. She was so grateful I had done that.
So gift #14 was the phone call to Dorothy which sure brightened Lenore's day.
QUOTE today from Marc Chernoff: "It doesn't really matter if your glass is half full or half empty. Be grateful that you have a glass and there's something in it."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift #14. About 2:30 yesterday afternoon the phone rang. Calling was a 94-year-old lady from Denver, CO. Her name is Lenore and she used to live in Anamosa and was a friend of ours from church. Lenore called to see if I could get a hold of one of her old Anamosa friends (Dorothy) now living in Cedar Rapids. Lenore said she had tried to call her many times and could never get an answer and was worried that something had happened to Dorothy. So I asked her for the phone number and told her I'd try to make connect and deliver the message to Dorothy that she had better call Lenore and let her know that she was okay.
I called Dorothy and got through right away. I told her the story about Lenore calling and being worried about her. She said she would call Lenore right away.
A half hour later the phone rings again and it is Lenore. She had just talked to Dorothy and was calling me back to thank me for contacting Dorothy. She was so grateful I had done that.
So gift #14 was the phone call to Dorothy which sure brightened Lenore's day.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,651. Gift #13. Donation to FEEDING AMERICA
Today is Monday, November 18, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 36.2 miles. My weight was 166.0 pounds.
QYOTE for today is from Diane Sawyer: "Whenever you are blue or stricken by some humiliating thing you did, the cure and the hope is in caring about other people."
My THOUGHT today is Gift #13. My gift today is to send a $15.00 donation to an organization called Feeding America. The purpose of FEEDING AMERICA is to provide much needed food for America's food deprived adults and kids. My $15.00 will be matched so it amounts to $30.00. According to their literature it will help secure and distribute $570.00 worth of food. I have contributed to this organization for the last five years. Another THOUGHT I have today is why do we need organizations like this in America - we are the richest nation in the world and we can't even feed our own people.
QYOTE for today is from Diane Sawyer: "Whenever you are blue or stricken by some humiliating thing you did, the cure and the hope is in caring about other people."
My THOUGHT today is Gift #13. My gift today is to send a $15.00 donation to an organization called Feeding America. The purpose of FEEDING AMERICA is to provide much needed food for America's food deprived adults and kids. My $15.00 will be matched so it amounts to $30.00. According to their literature it will help secure and distribute $570.00 worth of food. I have contributed to this organization for the last five years. Another THOUGHT I have today is why do we need organizations like this in America - we are the richest nation in the world and we can't even feed our own people.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,650. Gift #12.
Today is Sunday, November 17, 2013. No stats today - my day of rest. My total miles for November are still at 33.7 miles. My weight was 166.4 pounds.
QUOTE for today from John Bunyan: "You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift #12. My gift today was at coffee hour which we have after the 8 AM service. At coffee I have gotten to be good friends with Darvin Harderson, who is 93 years old. We always sit together at the first table. He uses a walker so I remove the folding chair so he can scoot up and sit in his walker. This morning I decided for my gift today I would buy Darvin's coffee - the cost is only $1.00 so it is no big deal. But the point of buying the coffee is that I wanted to give a gift today regardless of how small. It is the thought that counts. If I hadn't read the book 29 Gifts in 29 Days I probably wouldn't have done it. It has really gotten me inspired.
Darvin has an 88-year-old girlfriend named Betty. She does the driving and they go out to eat several times a week. My friend Paul Lewison and I give Darvin a lot of ribbing about his love life. He loves it and all three of us have a lot of laughs.
QUOTE for today from John Bunyan: "You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."
My THOUGHT today is on Gift #12. My gift today was at coffee hour which we have after the 8 AM service. At coffee I have gotten to be good friends with Darvin Harderson, who is 93 years old. We always sit together at the first table. He uses a walker so I remove the folding chair so he can scoot up and sit in his walker. This morning I decided for my gift today I would buy Darvin's coffee - the cost is only $1.00 so it is no big deal. But the point of buying the coffee is that I wanted to give a gift today regardless of how small. It is the thought that counts. If I hadn't read the book 29 Gifts in 29 Days I probably wouldn't have done it. It has really gotten me inspired.
Darvin has an 88-year-old girlfriend named Betty. She does the driving and they go out to eat several times a week. My friend Paul Lewison and I give Darvin a lot of ribbing about his love life. He loves it and all three of us have a lot of laughs.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,649. Gift #11.
Today is Saturday, November 16, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 33.7 miles. My weight was 165.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Morgan Freeman: "The best way to guarantee a loss is to quit."
My THOUGHTS today are on Gift #11. When arising at 4:48 this morning I knew what gift #11 was going to be. I had 30 empty cans of beer that could be redeemed at Walmart. I decided I would take them to Walmart and set them in front of the recycle machine and let somebody have them. I put a note on the box saying. "This a gift just for you. It is worth $1.50. As I walked back and forth in front of Walmart I noticed that someone had redeemed them. That made me feel good that someone had a nice little surprise at 6:30 in the morning.
QUOTE from Morgan Freeman: "The best way to guarantee a loss is to quit."
My THOUGHTS today are on Gift #11. When arising at 4:48 this morning I knew what gift #11 was going to be. I had 30 empty cans of beer that could be redeemed at Walmart. I decided I would take them to Walmart and set them in front of the recycle machine and let somebody have them. I put a note on the box saying. "This a gift just for you. It is worth $1.50. As I walked back and forth in front of Walmart I noticed that someone had redeemed them. That made me feel good that someone had a nice little surprise at 6:30 in the morning.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26, 648. Gift @10
Today is Friday, November 15. 2013. 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 31.2 miles. My weight was 165.2 pounds.
QUOTE today from Anne Frank: "No one has ever become poor by giving."
My THOUGHTS are on Gift #10. When deciding what to give today I thought of Galen Harms. Galen was the janitor at the middle school for around 25 years when I was teaching - he became a good friend. Anyway, Galen was diagnosed with cancer 4-5 months ago - the doctors told him he would be dead in eight weeks unless they started treatments right away. He has been taking chemo and radiation since that time. For my gift today I decided to call him and see how he was doing. I wanted to brighten his day and let him know I hadn't forgotten about him. He said he was doing fine - the doctors had told him they could no longer see any tumors in his lungs or any other place in his body. He goes back in January for another check-up. I told him I was so happy to hear the good news and I wanted to come up and see him this morning. He said he and wife Judy were going to Cedar Rapids today but how about getting together next week. So next week I'm going to see Galen and Judy and bring them several Busch Lights so we can celebrate the good news together.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,646. An explanation of gift giving.
Today is Thursday, November 14, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 28.7 miles. My weight was 165.6 pounds.
QUOTE for today from author Steve Maraboli: "Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them."
My THOUGHTS today. The "29 gifts in 29 days" book explained that every gift does not have to be a material thing - your gift each day can be anything you mindfully offer to another person. That can be anything from: kind words, compliments, to calling some one on the phone, to visiting someone, to writing a note or letter, to just brightening someone's day in some manner. It is simply "using your time" to make someone feel good. I like those ideas and I will use a lot of them as I go through my 29 days, including today.
Today is Day 9 f my 29 days. When I took my walk this morning from 7:15 to 8 AM I ran into a seventh grader who was walking to the bus. He was wearing a cowboy hat. It looked so good on him so I stopped him and said, "I really like your hat, it looks so good on you." He looked at me with a big smile on his face and said, "Thank you so much." I made that kid feel good - it was a "day brightener" for him.
QUOTE for today from author Steve Maraboli: "Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them."
My THOUGHTS today. The "29 gifts in 29 days" book explained that every gift does not have to be a material thing - your gift each day can be anything you mindfully offer to another person. That can be anything from: kind words, compliments, to calling some one on the phone, to visiting someone, to writing a note or letter, to just brightening someone's day in some manner. It is simply "using your time" to make someone feel good. I like those ideas and I will use a lot of them as I go through my 29 days, including today.
Today is Day 9 f my 29 days. When I took my walk this morning from 7:15 to 8 AM I ran into a seventh grader who was walking to the bus. He was wearing a cowboy hat. It looked so good on him so I stopped him and said, "I really like your hat, it looks so good on you." He looked at me with a big smile on his face and said, "Thank you so much." I made that kid feel good - it was a "day brightener" for him.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,646. More on 29 gifts in 29 days.
Today is Wednesday, November 13, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for A November total of 26.2 miles. My weight was 166.0 pounds.
QUOTE for today id from actress Helen Mirren: "It has nothing to do with clothing or makeup. Just put your shoulders back and your chin up, and face the world with pride."
My THOUGHTS today are to conclude the story of Cami Walker and the 29 gifts in 29 days. Did the 29 day giving challenge change Cami's health situation with MS?
Here are Cami's words.
I wish I could say that giving 29 gifts cured my MS, but that would not be true. I still live with a lot of the effects of this disease, but the difference is that I cope a lot better. HOW?
- I only take two prescription pills a day.
- I still inject myself daily with a drug that slows the progression of MS - the doctors say it is working because the MRI scan shows no new progression.
- Chronic pain is still a part of my life.
- I'm able to work about two hours a day on my consulting business.
- Most days, I can walk on my own - no cane is needed.
- Mark (her husband) and I are getting along better than ever. We have no children but are looking into becoming foster parents.
- I'm writing every day. In fact, I wrote this book.
- I learned from my minister the following formula for an abundant life.
GOD CONSCIOUNESS + GIVING + GRATITUDE = ABUNDANCE
- As a result of learning the formula - Cami says, "I now start each day with prayer and meditation, I give at least one gift to another person whose path I'm blessed to cross. And I say thank you and express my gratitude as many times as I can."
I'm grateful I saw Cami being interviewed in 2009. Every morning I read my gratitude entry for that day in my Gratitude Journal that I wrote in 2009. That entry was #301 for October 28, 2009. When I read that entry on Oct. 28 I decided to order the book through Amazon. I wrote at the time that I was going to try the 29 gifts in 29days. Well, to be honest I never did. But now that I've read the book I'm going to give it a try - it has been a real inspiration to me. I've already started giving and being grateful that I'm able to give. So far, I've given eight gifts that I wouldn't have done if I hadn't read the book. I record what I give each day. My gift today was buying $15.00 of non-perishable food and gifting it to HACAP. (HACAP stands for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program which provides food and other household items to needy families.)
If any readers want to learn more about 29 gifts in 29 days go to this website:
www.29Gifts.org.
QUOTE for today id from actress Helen Mirren: "It has nothing to do with clothing or makeup. Just put your shoulders back and your chin up, and face the world with pride."
My THOUGHTS today are to conclude the story of Cami Walker and the 29 gifts in 29 days. Did the 29 day giving challenge change Cami's health situation with MS?
Here are Cami's words.
I wish I could say that giving 29 gifts cured my MS, but that would not be true. I still live with a lot of the effects of this disease, but the difference is that I cope a lot better. HOW?
- I only take two prescription pills a day.
- I still inject myself daily with a drug that slows the progression of MS - the doctors say it is working because the MRI scan shows no new progression.
- Chronic pain is still a part of my life.
- I'm able to work about two hours a day on my consulting business.
- Most days, I can walk on my own - no cane is needed.
- Mark (her husband) and I are getting along better than ever. We have no children but are looking into becoming foster parents.
- I'm writing every day. In fact, I wrote this book.
- I learned from my minister the following formula for an abundant life.
GOD CONSCIOUNESS + GIVING + GRATITUDE = ABUNDANCE
- As a result of learning the formula - Cami says, "I now start each day with prayer and meditation, I give at least one gift to another person whose path I'm blessed to cross. And I say thank you and express my gratitude as many times as I can."
I'm grateful I saw Cami being interviewed in 2009. Every morning I read my gratitude entry for that day in my Gratitude Journal that I wrote in 2009. That entry was #301 for October 28, 2009. When I read that entry on Oct. 28 I decided to order the book through Amazon. I wrote at the time that I was going to try the 29 gifts in 29days. Well, to be honest I never did. But now that I've read the book I'm going to give it a try - it has been a real inspiration to me. I've already started giving and being grateful that I'm able to give. So far, I've given eight gifts that I wouldn't have done if I hadn't read the book. I record what I give each day. My gift today was buying $15.00 of non-perishable food and gifting it to HACAP. (HACAP stands for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program which provides food and other household items to needy families.)
If any readers want to learn more about 29 gifts in 29 days go to this website:
www.29Gifts.org.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,645. 29 Gifts in 29 Days.
Today is Tuesday, November 12, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total of 23.7 miles. My weight was 166.4 pounds.
QUOTE for today from changemakrs.com: "We feel comfortable with where we are in the world when we are comfortable with who we are."
My THOUGHTS today are on this book I'm reading. The name of the book is - 29 gifts; HOW a MONTH of GIVING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I first learned about this book in October of 2009 when I was watching the TODAY show and a San Francisco lady named Cami Walker was being interviewed by Meredith Veiera. Cami told how she had married in her early 30s in 2006 and within two months she was diagnosed with MS. MS is a chronic, progressive disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It's an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. Some of the many symptoms of MS are: fatigue, numbness, mobility, balance, and coordination problems, bladder and bowel dysfunction, vision loss, depression, vertigo, sexual dysfunction, slurred speech, swallowing problems, headaches, hearing loss, seizures, and breathing problems.
That's quite a daunting list, but different people exhibit different symptoms. It doesn't look like there is much to live for. Cami had many of the symptoms and was treated by many doctors - they filled her full of pills. When living in the Oakland/San Francisco area she had gotten acquainted with her next door neighbor, a lady named Toni. Toni had been born in South Africa but had moved to England when she was three because of apartheid. She ended up in Oakland where she worked for The Institute for Health and Healing at California Pacific Hospital. Toni had helped guide and shape the programs at the institute, where they marry Western medicine with various forms of alternative medicine. Toni took a trip to South Africa to visit relatives and came back with the new name of "Mbali, pronounced em-BALL-ee. When the treatments and pills didn't work Cami called Mbali and talked to her about her MS. Mbali told Cami she was falling deeper and deeper into a black hole by focusing all her time and energy on her pain. You're making it worse by putting all of your attention there. Mbali said, "I'm going to give you a tool to help you dig yourself out. I have a prescription for you. I want to give you away 29 gifts in 29 days."
After much apprehension Cami decided to give it a try. She said, "I have nothing to lose." So the book is the story, written by Cami, on how the 29 day giving challenge changed her life and improved her health. I'm not done reading it yet but it is an inspiring story with lots of life lessons for all of us. I'm anxious to read the rest of it. I'll write more on Cami and the 29 gifts in 29 days in the days ahead.
QUOTE for today from changemakrs.com: "We feel comfortable with where we are in the world when we are comfortable with who we are."
My THOUGHTS today are on this book I'm reading. The name of the book is - 29 gifts; HOW a MONTH of GIVING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I first learned about this book in October of 2009 when I was watching the TODAY show and a San Francisco lady named Cami Walker was being interviewed by Meredith Veiera. Cami told how she had married in her early 30s in 2006 and within two months she was diagnosed with MS. MS is a chronic, progressive disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It's an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. Some of the many symptoms of MS are: fatigue, numbness, mobility, balance, and coordination problems, bladder and bowel dysfunction, vision loss, depression, vertigo, sexual dysfunction, slurred speech, swallowing problems, headaches, hearing loss, seizures, and breathing problems.
That's quite a daunting list, but different people exhibit different symptoms. It doesn't look like there is much to live for. Cami had many of the symptoms and was treated by many doctors - they filled her full of pills. When living in the Oakland/San Francisco area she had gotten acquainted with her next door neighbor, a lady named Toni. Toni had been born in South Africa but had moved to England when she was three because of apartheid. She ended up in Oakland where she worked for The Institute for Health and Healing at California Pacific Hospital. Toni had helped guide and shape the programs at the institute, where they marry Western medicine with various forms of alternative medicine. Toni took a trip to South Africa to visit relatives and came back with the new name of "Mbali, pronounced em-BALL-ee. When the treatments and pills didn't work Cami called Mbali and talked to her about her MS. Mbali told Cami she was falling deeper and deeper into a black hole by focusing all her time and energy on her pain. You're making it worse by putting all of your attention there. Mbali said, "I'm going to give you a tool to help you dig yourself out. I have a prescription for you. I want to give you away 29 gifts in 29 days."
After much apprehension Cami decided to give it a try. She said, "I have nothing to lose." So the book is the story, written by Cami, on how the 29 day giving challenge changed her life and improved her health. I'm not done reading it yet but it is an inspiring story with lots of life lessons for all of us. I'm anxious to read the rest of it. I'll write more on Cami and the 29 gifts in 29 days in the days ahead.
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,644. I wonder if Bush and Cheney are proud.
Today is Monday, November 11, 2013 (Veteran's Day). 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 21.2 miles. My weight was 166.2 pounds.
QUOTE for today: "Don't ever underestimate the capacity of a human being who is determined to do something."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with the Wounded Warriors we have from the Bush/Cheney wars we have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. The TODAY SHOW on NBC this morning was honoring all veterans but concentrated on the veterans from the Iraq/Afghan wars. As I was looking at these Wounded Warriors and the physical and mental scars they have I thought of why did this ever have to happen. After 9/11 we had a right to go into Afghanistan and take on the Taliban and al-Quaida. We did and we had them soundly defeated and the majority of the Afghan people were on our side. All we had to do was finish the job - that would have included keeping a good number of troops there and then help them set up a democracy with a good deal of our help. So what did Bush and Cheney do - they decided to invade Iraq for no apparent reason other than Bush's Daddy didn't do it 1991 plus Cheney was bound and determined to prove that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and that Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons and was a threat to Israel and to us.
So Bush and Cheney pull thousands of GIs out of Afghanistan, send them to Iraq to overturn Hussein and destroy his chemical weapons. They did overthrow Hussein but surprise, surprise, there were no chemicals weapons. The other result is by pulling troops out of Afghanistan they did not leave enough troops there to stop the Taliban from rebuilding and then continuing the civil war - it is still going on today.
The Iraq War is one of the biggest blunders in our history. It is one of ignorance on the part of Bush and Cheney. As a guest column writer said in Sunday's paper, "People who do not know history are not necessarily condemned to repeat it. Instead, that ignorance actually can lead to ever bigger blunders." Bush and Cheney proved that. Before those two invaded Iraq in March of 2003 one of Bush's advisors said to Bush, If you invade Iraq, you are going to stir up a hornets nest between the Sunnis and Shiites." Bush gave him his best stupid look and said, "I thought their were Moslems in Iraq." Bush didn't even know there was such a thing as Sunnis and Shiites. Now that is ignorance at its best, especially when you are going to invade that country.
As I was watching some of these wounded warriors being interviewed my thoughts turned to Bush and Cheney. I was wondering if these two feel any sense of guilt or shame when they see these young men and women with missing legs or arms or those who were burned and their faces are deformed for the rest of their lives or those with PTSD for the rest of their lives. And I wonder if they realize how many hundreds of billions of dollars their war has already cost the U.S. and how much more it will cost in the future. Our future costs will hit the 2-3 trillion dollar range because of the disability payments to all these wounded warriors for the next 70-80 years.
I guess for a couple of guys who had never seen combat it was easy to send other men to war. Bush's Daddy got him into the Texas Air National Guard ahead off 200 other guys who should have gone before "W." And Cheney got 5-6 deferments during the Vietnam war and never served a day. The sad part is neither one has ever expressed one iota of guilt or shame or regret for what they did to these young men and women and what they did to our national debt.
I feel better getting this off my chest. For the rest of my life I'm going to be thinking the same way every time I see these wounded warriors from the Iraq war. I simply have no time for Bush and Cheney. I feel they will go down in history in the bottom five of our worst presidents. ( If they don't they definitely should,)
QUOTE for today: "Don't ever underestimate the capacity of a human being who is determined to do something."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with the Wounded Warriors we have from the Bush/Cheney wars we have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. The TODAY SHOW on NBC this morning was honoring all veterans but concentrated on the veterans from the Iraq/Afghan wars. As I was looking at these Wounded Warriors and the physical and mental scars they have I thought of why did this ever have to happen. After 9/11 we had a right to go into Afghanistan and take on the Taliban and al-Quaida. We did and we had them soundly defeated and the majority of the Afghan people were on our side. All we had to do was finish the job - that would have included keeping a good number of troops there and then help them set up a democracy with a good deal of our help. So what did Bush and Cheney do - they decided to invade Iraq for no apparent reason other than Bush's Daddy didn't do it 1991 plus Cheney was bound and determined to prove that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and that Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons and was a threat to Israel and to us.
So Bush and Cheney pull thousands of GIs out of Afghanistan, send them to Iraq to overturn Hussein and destroy his chemical weapons. They did overthrow Hussein but surprise, surprise, there were no chemicals weapons. The other result is by pulling troops out of Afghanistan they did not leave enough troops there to stop the Taliban from rebuilding and then continuing the civil war - it is still going on today.
The Iraq War is one of the biggest blunders in our history. It is one of ignorance on the part of Bush and Cheney. As a guest column writer said in Sunday's paper, "People who do not know history are not necessarily condemned to repeat it. Instead, that ignorance actually can lead to ever bigger blunders." Bush and Cheney proved that. Before those two invaded Iraq in March of 2003 one of Bush's advisors said to Bush, If you invade Iraq, you are going to stir up a hornets nest between the Sunnis and Shiites." Bush gave him his best stupid look and said, "I thought their were Moslems in Iraq." Bush didn't even know there was such a thing as Sunnis and Shiites. Now that is ignorance at its best, especially when you are going to invade that country.
As I was watching some of these wounded warriors being interviewed my thoughts turned to Bush and Cheney. I was wondering if these two feel any sense of guilt or shame when they see these young men and women with missing legs or arms or those who were burned and their faces are deformed for the rest of their lives or those with PTSD for the rest of their lives. And I wonder if they realize how many hundreds of billions of dollars their war has already cost the U.S. and how much more it will cost in the future. Our future costs will hit the 2-3 trillion dollar range because of the disability payments to all these wounded warriors for the next 70-80 years.
I guess for a couple of guys who had never seen combat it was easy to send other men to war. Bush's Daddy got him into the Texas Air National Guard ahead off 200 other guys who should have gone before "W." And Cheney got 5-6 deferments during the Vietnam war and never served a day. The sad part is neither one has ever expressed one iota of guilt or shame or regret for what they did to these young men and women and what they did to our national debt.
I feel better getting this off my chest. For the rest of my life I'm going to be thinking the same way every time I see these wounded warriors from the Iraq war. I simply have no time for Bush and Cheney. I feel they will go down in history in the bottom five of our worst presidents. ( If they don't they definitely should,)
Friday, November 8, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,641. Lefse - I love it.
Today is Friday, November 8, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a November total 16.2 miles. My weight was 166.2 pounds.
QUOTE today from Garrison Keillor: "It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."
My THOUGHTS today: My first thought is I'm happy Ruth Ann and I got the lefse made for Christmas. Wednesday afternoon Ruth Ann sent me to Walmart to buy all the ingredients we need to make lefse, the traditional Norwegian potato bread we make every year at Christmas. The list included two boxes of Betty Crocker potato buds, a pint of half and half, Gold Medal flour, sugar, and Parkay margarine. Ruth Ann mixed up the ingredients Wednesday afternoon, let it cool outside for a couple of hours and then put it in the fridge overnight. Yesterday morning we got out our round lefse grill (24" diameter), the wooden roller, cloth sleeves to put on the roller, the 19" (diameter) round board she rolls the lefse balls on to flatten them, and a folded sheet we put on the table for me to tuck the hot lefse pieces into when I take them off the grill. At 9 AM we started making the lefse. By noon we had made 53 pieces of lefse. Ruth Ann takes an ice cream scoop of the lefse mixture, puts the scoop on her round board that is covered with a cloth, then sprinkles some flour on the cloth so when she rolls out the ball it will not stick to the roller or the cloth. She rolls the ball out until it is flat at about 12-14 inch diameter, then rolls up the piece on the stick, and unrolls it on the 500 degree grill. Then I take over: she hands me the stick, for about 15 seconds I will brown it on one side, flip it over to brown it on the other side for another 10-15 seconds and then I pick it up with the stick and take it to the folded sheet on the kitchen table. I fold it twice and tuck it under about three layers of the sheet. That way it cools very slowly which is what you want to do with lefse - that keeps it nice and soft. I put four lefse on top of each other and then start another pile. When we got done at noon we had 13 piles and one extra. Working together we can make 20 lefse an hour.
Ruth Ann and I have eaten lefse every year at Christmas since we were toddlers. We are both 100% Norwegian and eating lefse is one of the customs our grandparents and great-grandparents brought from Norway in the latter half of the 1800s.
How do we eat lefse? First of all it looks like a pizza crust. We usually cut the pieces in half or quarters. I grew up eating it with real butter and sprinkling brown sugar on it. Ruth Ann's family was more for plain sugar. Some Norwegians lay it on their plate and load it up with potatoes, gravy and lutefisk (they pour melted butter and salt and pepper on the lutefisk) - then fold it up and eat it like a burrito.
What is lutefisk? That is another story. But I can assure you more people like lefse than lutefisk.
I'm happy we got it done yesterday. Now we have enough for some friends we give to every year. Also, Brad and Alexandra are coming for Thanksgiving so we can treat them. Brad absolutely loves it.
QUOTE today from Garrison Keillor: "It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."
My THOUGHTS today: My first thought is I'm happy Ruth Ann and I got the lefse made for Christmas. Wednesday afternoon Ruth Ann sent me to Walmart to buy all the ingredients we need to make lefse, the traditional Norwegian potato bread we make every year at Christmas. The list included two boxes of Betty Crocker potato buds, a pint of half and half, Gold Medal flour, sugar, and Parkay margarine. Ruth Ann mixed up the ingredients Wednesday afternoon, let it cool outside for a couple of hours and then put it in the fridge overnight. Yesterday morning we got out our round lefse grill (24" diameter), the wooden roller, cloth sleeves to put on the roller, the 19" (diameter) round board she rolls the lefse balls on to flatten them, and a folded sheet we put on the table for me to tuck the hot lefse pieces into when I take them off the grill. At 9 AM we started making the lefse. By noon we had made 53 pieces of lefse. Ruth Ann takes an ice cream scoop of the lefse mixture, puts the scoop on her round board that is covered with a cloth, then sprinkles some flour on the cloth so when she rolls out the ball it will not stick to the roller or the cloth. She rolls the ball out until it is flat at about 12-14 inch diameter, then rolls up the piece on the stick, and unrolls it on the 500 degree grill. Then I take over: she hands me the stick, for about 15 seconds I will brown it on one side, flip it over to brown it on the other side for another 10-15 seconds and then I pick it up with the stick and take it to the folded sheet on the kitchen table. I fold it twice and tuck it under about three layers of the sheet. That way it cools very slowly which is what you want to do with lefse - that keeps it nice and soft. I put four lefse on top of each other and then start another pile. When we got done at noon we had 13 piles and one extra. Working together we can make 20 lefse an hour.
Ruth Ann and I have eaten lefse every year at Christmas since we were toddlers. We are both 100% Norwegian and eating lefse is one of the customs our grandparents and great-grandparents brought from Norway in the latter half of the 1800s.
How do we eat lefse? First of all it looks like a pizza crust. We usually cut the pieces in half or quarters. I grew up eating it with real butter and sprinkling brown sugar on it. Ruth Ann's family was more for plain sugar. Some Norwegians lay it on their plate and load it up with potatoes, gravy and lutefisk (they pour melted butter and salt and pepper on the lutefisk) - then fold it up and eat it like a burrito.
What is lutefisk? That is another story. But I can assure you more people like lefse than lutefisk.
I'm happy we got it done yesterday. Now we have enough for some friends we give to every year. Also, Brad and Alexandra are coming for Thanksgiving so we can treat them. Brad absolutely loves it.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,633. I'm a happy dude .today
Today is Thursday, October 31, 2013 - it's Halloween today. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for an October total of 65.6 miles. My weight was 166.8 pounds.
My inspirational QUOTE for today from George Saunders: "Err in the direction of kindness."
My THOUGHTS today are that I'm a happy dude. I'm happy that the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. Since taking a tour through Fenway Park in 2012 I've become a Red Sox fan. That tour of Fenway was so interesting because the very knowledgeable tour guide made it that way. That young female guide knew so much about the history of Fenway and the Red Sox. So that's when I decided to become a Red Sox fan. The Red Sox have won three World Series in the last ten years. I think they have conquered "the curse of the Bambino."
I wish I could have been in Boston last night to help the city celebrate. It would've been so much fun.
My inspirational QUOTE for today from George Saunders: "Err in the direction of kindness."
My THOUGHTS today are that I'm a happy dude. I'm happy that the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. Since taking a tour through Fenway Park in 2012 I've become a Red Sox fan. That tour of Fenway was so interesting because the very knowledgeable tour guide made it that way. That young female guide knew so much about the history of Fenway and the Red Sox. So that's when I decided to become a Red Sox fan. The Red Sox have won three World Series in the last ten years. I think they have conquered "the curse of the Bambino."
I wish I could have been in Boston last night to help the city celebrate. It would've been so much fun.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Pete BLOG: Day 26,632. A tear-jerker story about some 8th grade football players.
Today is Wednesday, October 30, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga breathing and stretches, 10 minutes of lifting weights, and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for an October total of 63.1 miles. My weight again was 166 pounds.
QUOTE for today from Richard Costolo, CEO, Twitter: "Not only can you not plan the impact you're going to have, you often won't recognize it even while you're having it."
My THOUGHTS today are on an email I received from son Brad.
The email was filmed by CBS News - it was the story of what some 8th grade football players did in one of their games at a Middle School in Michigan. On the team was a mentally handicapped teammate who had never scored a touchdown. The kid was also physically much smaller than his teammates. Some of the team leaders decided on their own that they were going to let this handicapped kid score a touchdown - all the other players agreed to go along with the plan. They didn't tell the coaches what their plan was. This is what they did: Even though they could have easily scored the kid carrying the ball ran to the one foot line and deliberately fell down. Then they asked the coaches to let this kid come in and score a touchdown. He came in and scored the touchdown and his teammates carried him off the field on their shoulders. They asked the handicapped kid what it felt like to score a touchdown - he answered with the word - "AWESOME." - with a big smile on his face.
What a neat story and what a testament to the goodness and thoughtfulness of a bunch of 13-14 year-old 8th grade football players. Some of the players were interviewed after the game and I was so impressed with the maturity of these boys. They felt so good about what they had done. One of the players said this good deed changed his way of thinking about life - from being self-centered to thinking about other people and their struggles in life.
I watched it twice and found myself tearing up. If you get a chance you better see it. It will make you good about the young people in America.
QUOTE for today from Richard Costolo, CEO, Twitter: "Not only can you not plan the impact you're going to have, you often won't recognize it even while you're having it."
My THOUGHTS today are on an email I received from son Brad.
The email was filmed by CBS News - it was the story of what some 8th grade football players did in one of their games at a Middle School in Michigan. On the team was a mentally handicapped teammate who had never scored a touchdown. The kid was also physically much smaller than his teammates. Some of the team leaders decided on their own that they were going to let this handicapped kid score a touchdown - all the other players agreed to go along with the plan. They didn't tell the coaches what their plan was. This is what they did: Even though they could have easily scored the kid carrying the ball ran to the one foot line and deliberately fell down. Then they asked the coaches to let this kid come in and score a touchdown. He came in and scored the touchdown and his teammates carried him off the field on their shoulders. They asked the handicapped kid what it felt like to score a touchdown - he answered with the word - "AWESOME." - with a big smile on his face.
What a neat story and what a testament to the goodness and thoughtfulness of a bunch of 13-14 year-old 8th grade football players. Some of the players were interviewed after the game and I was so impressed with the maturity of these boys. They felt so good about what they had done. One of the players said this good deed changed his way of thinking about life - from being self-centered to thinking about other people and their struggles in life.
I watched it twice and found myself tearing up. If you get a chance you better see it. It will make you good about the young people in America.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Pete's BLOG: Day 26,631. The NSA and Spying
Today is Tuesday, October 29, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for an October total of 61.1 miles. My weight was 166 pounds.
My inspirational QUOTE today is from Ben Bernanke: "Nobody likes to fail, but failure is an essential part of life and of learning. If your uniform isn't dirty, you haven't been in the game."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with the NSA spying on Americans and foreign leaders like Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany .
There is lots of blame flying around about President Obama and the NSA spying. Who is to blame and when did it start? From what I can gather on the internet we started spying on our fellow Americans and foreign leaders when, after 9/11/01, the Patriot Act was passed when George W. Bush was President. The info on the internet said the NSA was given permission under the Patriot Act to intercept phone calls and emails on American citizens and foreigners all in the name of fighting terrorism. The internet also said the NSA has been monitoring Angela Merkel's phone messages since 2002, three years before she became leader of Germany. Why? I don't know. The sad thing is the NSA has continued to spy under the Obama Administration just like it did under George W. Bush.
Anyway, I hope Obama does something about this? It is not a good way to treat your friends.
We can thank the deceased Osama bin Laden for this mess.
My inspirational QUOTE today is from Ben Bernanke: "Nobody likes to fail, but failure is an essential part of life and of learning. If your uniform isn't dirty, you haven't been in the game."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with the NSA spying on Americans and foreign leaders like Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany .
There is lots of blame flying around about President Obama and the NSA spying. Who is to blame and when did it start? From what I can gather on the internet we started spying on our fellow Americans and foreign leaders when, after 9/11/01, the Patriot Act was passed when George W. Bush was President. The info on the internet said the NSA was given permission under the Patriot Act to intercept phone calls and emails on American citizens and foreigners all in the name of fighting terrorism. The internet also said the NSA has been monitoring Angela Merkel's phone messages since 2002, three years before she became leader of Germany. Why? I don't know. The sad thing is the NSA has continued to spy under the Obama Administration just like it did under George W. Bush.
Anyway, I hope Obama does something about this? It is not a good way to treat your friends.
We can thank the deceased Osama bin Laden for this mess.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Pete;s BLOG-Day 26,630. GOP and Obamacare
Today is Monday, October 28, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 46 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for an October total of 57.6 miles. My weight was 166.0 pounds. I'm still trying to lose the 10 pounds I gained on the baseball trip. When I left on the trip I was 162.0 pounds. I want to lose 2-4 more pounds for sure.
Quote from Barbara Walters: "My biggest regret-and I regret it every day, yet I don't do anything about it-is that I've never kept a diary." It has been said that one of the biggest regrets people have in life is not the things they did do but the things they didn't do.
My THOUGHTS today have to do with Obamacare and the GOP attitude toward it.
With Texas Ted Cruz leading the way and the TEA PARTY members following along like a bunch of sheep we have witnessed a government shutdown and a 100% effort to defund and destroy ObamaCare. This whole scenario has raised some questions for me. Here are 11 of them:
1. Why do you opponents of ObamaCare not want health care for every American?
Every American over 65 has Medicare so why shouldn't every American have it.
2. Do you believe ObamaCare is socialism? If you answered yes then please do not take advantage of Medicare at age 65 - because that is truly socialism - in other words it is government run health care.
3. Do you ObamaCare haters know that The Affordable Care Act was copied after a Republican idea that was implemented in Massachusetts in 2006? The governor of Massachusetts at the time was a Republican - his name was Mitt Romney. He was proud as a peacock that he was the governor of the FIRST state in the union to implement universal health care.
4. Did you know that RomneyCare is working in Massachusetts? Like ObamaCare they had a rocky start also with computer glitches, etc.
5.,Under ObamaCare insurance companies can no longer refuse to cover people with pre-existing conditions. Are you for or against this?
6. Do you think it is a good idea that under Obamacare parents can now cover their kids until age 26 and preventive care like mammograms and colonoscopies are free?
7. I find it hypocritical that Congressional Tea Party members are calling for the resignation of Kathleen Sibelius? (Secretary of Health and Human Services). She didn't cause the computer glitches. In 2006 when the Republican-sponsored Part D Prescription Drug Program was launched there were all kinds of glitches and delays and confusion. Some of these same congressional conservatives said at that time that we can expect this kind of problem when launching a new health care program. It took over a year to get things straightened out. ObamaCare is more complicated than the Part D Drug Plan - so I suspect it will take more than a year to get it rolling. Do you agree or disagree that these conservative members of Congress are displaying hypocrisy at its best?
8. By the way, there were many problems enrolling people in Social Security in 1935 and the same for Medicare in 1965. Do you conservatives want to get rid of these two socialist programs?
9. From January of 2003 to January of 2007 the Republicans had total control of the federal government - this included the presidency, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Why didn't Republicans pass a comprehensive health care bill for the American people when they had total control?
10. If you hate ObamaCare so much what would be the Republican plan for universal health care in Americans?
11. Many of the most conservative Republicans in the U.S. claim to be good Christians. I'm a Christian also but I truly believe that the Jesus I worship would want health care for all Americans. So tell me, what would the Jesus you worship do about health care in America?
Quote from Barbara Walters: "My biggest regret-and I regret it every day, yet I don't do anything about it-is that I've never kept a diary." It has been said that one of the biggest regrets people have in life is not the things they did do but the things they didn't do.
My THOUGHTS today have to do with Obamacare and the GOP attitude toward it.
With Texas Ted Cruz leading the way and the TEA PARTY members following along like a bunch of sheep we have witnessed a government shutdown and a 100% effort to defund and destroy ObamaCare. This whole scenario has raised some questions for me. Here are 11 of them:
1. Why do you opponents of ObamaCare not want health care for every American?
Every American over 65 has Medicare so why shouldn't every American have it.
2. Do you believe ObamaCare is socialism? If you answered yes then please do not take advantage of Medicare at age 65 - because that is truly socialism - in other words it is government run health care.
3. Do you ObamaCare haters know that The Affordable Care Act was copied after a Republican idea that was implemented in Massachusetts in 2006? The governor of Massachusetts at the time was a Republican - his name was Mitt Romney. He was proud as a peacock that he was the governor of the FIRST state in the union to implement universal health care.
4. Did you know that RomneyCare is working in Massachusetts? Like ObamaCare they had a rocky start also with computer glitches, etc.
5.,Under ObamaCare insurance companies can no longer refuse to cover people with pre-existing conditions. Are you for or against this?
6. Do you think it is a good idea that under Obamacare parents can now cover their kids until age 26 and preventive care like mammograms and colonoscopies are free?
7. I find it hypocritical that Congressional Tea Party members are calling for the resignation of Kathleen Sibelius? (Secretary of Health and Human Services). She didn't cause the computer glitches. In 2006 when the Republican-sponsored Part D Prescription Drug Program was launched there were all kinds of glitches and delays and confusion. Some of these same congressional conservatives said at that time that we can expect this kind of problem when launching a new health care program. It took over a year to get things straightened out. ObamaCare is more complicated than the Part D Drug Plan - so I suspect it will take more than a year to get it rolling. Do you agree or disagree that these conservative members of Congress are displaying hypocrisy at its best?
8. By the way, there were many problems enrolling people in Social Security in 1935 and the same for Medicare in 1965. Do you conservatives want to get rid of these two socialist programs?
9. From January of 2003 to January of 2007 the Republicans had total control of the federal government - this included the presidency, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Why didn't Republicans pass a comprehensive health care bill for the American people when they had total control?
10. If you hate ObamaCare so much what would be the Republican plan for universal health care in Americans?
11. Many of the most conservative Republicans in the U.S. claim to be good Christians. I'm a Christian also but I truly believe that the Jesus I worship would want health care for all Americans. So tell me, what would the Jesus you worship do about health care in America?
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Day 16 and 17: Major League Baseball Trip.
DATE: Monday, September 16, 2013. Day 16 and 17.
LOCATION: Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, and Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City, home of the Royals and our 10th and final major league baseball stadium.
All three of us wanted to go to the Truman Library in Independence. Rusty agreed - he took us to the Library. It was a fabulous way to spend the next three hours. World War II was over and the Cold War was just beginning. Truman had to make many tough decisions. A few of them were: how to handle the striking railroad workers; how to save Greece and Turkey from falling to the communists; how to respond to the North Korean invasion of South Korea; how to handle the Republican controlled Congress from 1947 to 1949 that opposed everything he tried and wanted to do; how to integrate the military; how to respond to the communist takeover of China in 1949; how to respond to Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948; how to win the presidency in 1948 against Tom Dewey; plus many other things.
But one decision that was easy for Harry to make was how to respond to Paul Hume, the music critic who had unkind words to say about his daughter Margaret's singing ability. Margaret Truman was trying to make a career with her singing. She gave a concert on December 6, 1950 and Mr. Hume had some pretty nasty words to say about her singing. Here is Mr. Hume's review on Margaret's singing that night.
Miss Truman is a unique American phenomenon with a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality. She cannot sing very well, is flat a good deal of the time, more last night than at any time we have heard her in past years. She has not improved in the years we have heard her. She still cannot sing with anything approaching professional finish.
Harry read those comments and that was more he could take. Nobody was going to criticize his daughter and get by with it. He got extremely mad and decided he would write a letter to Mr. Hume and let him know that, as Margaret's father, he was not going to put up with it. What follows is the letter Harry wrote to Mr. Hume.
Mr. Hume:
I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an "eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay."
It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for it shows conclusively what you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work.
Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below.
Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman alongside you. I hope you'll accept that statement as a worse insult than a reflection on your ancestry.
\
H.S.T.
When it hit the papers the response was quite favorable for Harry. A lot of people knew exactly how he felt - that any father would feel the same way if some body did that to their daughter. Anyway, the original letter is not at the library. Being it was sent to Mr. Hume it was the property of Mr. Hume. Hume sold the letter in 1951 for $3,500 to the Malcolm Forbes Estate where it hung in the family's NY corporate art galleries. In 2002 the letter was purchased by the Harlan Crow Library, a private library at the Highland Park, Texas, estate of Harlan Crow, a real estate businessman.
Monday night we went to Kaufman Park, home of the Royals. Royals won 7-1. It is a fabulous stadium with geysers in center field. a huge scoreboard, a huge concourse with many restrooms, many vendors, a miniature ball field for little kids to play on, and a museum displaying the history of baseball in Kansas City. The museum guide was dressed in a baseball uniform from the 1860s-1870s - he was so interesting and really knew his baseball. They had a big section on the history of the Negro Leagues and the famous Kansas City Monarchs. Some of the best baseball players ever played there but never made it to the major leagues because of the color barrier. Thank God for Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson in 1947.
This was our last baseball stadium - it was number 10. Except for Wrigley in Chicago all the other nine stadiums were built in the last twenty years - they are all wonderful baseball parks. They all get mostly As or A+s from me for being fan friendly.
Our stadiums included: Milwaukee, Cubs, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Yankees, Phillies, NY Mets, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City. I'm so glad Brad called in May and said, "I've got a month long baseball trip on my BUCKET LIST. I've got the time now that I'm in between jobs so Dad, what do you think?" I said, "I'm in, but not for a month - two to three weeks would be better." Being my brother John is a big baseball fan we decided to call him to see if he would like to join us. He gave an emphatic YES. So Brad got all the tickets ordered online plus he had all the hotels booked online also except for Manhattan, John did those.
The three of us made memories to last for whatever time we have left on this earth. To make matters better for me Ruth Ann was all for it. We had never been separated for 17 days in our 53 years together. Thank You Ruth Ann.
Day 17: Major League Baseball Trip. Day 17.
We left Rusty and Angie's home in Overland Park in midmorning and drove to Anamosa. We had stayed at Rusty and Angie's home for three nights. They were perfect hosts and I thank them so much for their hospitality. It was a pleasure to spend three days with them. We got home at 4 PM. John left at 5 for his five hour trip to his home in St. Peter, MN. All three of could now scratch the Major League Baseball Trip off our BUCKET LIST.
LOCATION: Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, and Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City, home of the Royals and our 10th and final major league baseball stadium.
All three of us wanted to go to the Truman Library in Independence. Rusty agreed - he took us to the Library. It was a fabulous way to spend the next three hours. World War II was over and the Cold War was just beginning. Truman had to make many tough decisions. A few of them were: how to handle the striking railroad workers; how to save Greece and Turkey from falling to the communists; how to respond to the North Korean invasion of South Korea; how to handle the Republican controlled Congress from 1947 to 1949 that opposed everything he tried and wanted to do; how to integrate the military; how to respond to the communist takeover of China in 1949; how to respond to Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948; how to win the presidency in 1948 against Tom Dewey; plus many other things.
But one decision that was easy for Harry to make was how to respond to Paul Hume, the music critic who had unkind words to say about his daughter Margaret's singing ability. Margaret Truman was trying to make a career with her singing. She gave a concert on December 6, 1950 and Mr. Hume had some pretty nasty words to say about her singing. Here is Mr. Hume's review on Margaret's singing that night.
Miss Truman is a unique American phenomenon with a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality. She cannot sing very well, is flat a good deal of the time, more last night than at any time we have heard her in past years. She has not improved in the years we have heard her. She still cannot sing with anything approaching professional finish.
Harry read those comments and that was more he could take. Nobody was going to criticize his daughter and get by with it. He got extremely mad and decided he would write a letter to Mr. Hume and let him know that, as Margaret's father, he was not going to put up with it. What follows is the letter Harry wrote to Mr. Hume.
Mr. Hume:
I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an "eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay."
It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for it shows conclusively what you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work.
Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below.
Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman alongside you. I hope you'll accept that statement as a worse insult than a reflection on your ancestry.
\
H.S.T.
When it hit the papers the response was quite favorable for Harry. A lot of people knew exactly how he felt - that any father would feel the same way if some body did that to their daughter. Anyway, the original letter is not at the library. Being it was sent to Mr. Hume it was the property of Mr. Hume. Hume sold the letter in 1951 for $3,500 to the Malcolm Forbes Estate where it hung in the family's NY corporate art galleries. In 2002 the letter was purchased by the Harlan Crow Library, a private library at the Highland Park, Texas, estate of Harlan Crow, a real estate businessman.
Monday night we went to Kaufman Park, home of the Royals. Royals won 7-1. It is a fabulous stadium with geysers in center field. a huge scoreboard, a huge concourse with many restrooms, many vendors, a miniature ball field for little kids to play on, and a museum displaying the history of baseball in Kansas City. The museum guide was dressed in a baseball uniform from the 1860s-1870s - he was so interesting and really knew his baseball. They had a big section on the history of the Negro Leagues and the famous Kansas City Monarchs. Some of the best baseball players ever played there but never made it to the major leagues because of the color barrier. Thank God for Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson in 1947.
This was our last baseball stadium - it was number 10. Except for Wrigley in Chicago all the other nine stadiums were built in the last twenty years - they are all wonderful baseball parks. They all get mostly As or A+s from me for being fan friendly.
Our stadiums included: Milwaukee, Cubs, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Yankees, Phillies, NY Mets, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City. I'm so glad Brad called in May and said, "I've got a month long baseball trip on my BUCKET LIST. I've got the time now that I'm in between jobs so Dad, what do you think?" I said, "I'm in, but not for a month - two to three weeks would be better." Being my brother John is a big baseball fan we decided to call him to see if he would like to join us. He gave an emphatic YES. So Brad got all the tickets ordered online plus he had all the hotels booked online also except for Manhattan, John did those.
The three of us made memories to last for whatever time we have left on this earth. To make matters better for me Ruth Ann was all for it. We had never been separated for 17 days in our 53 years together. Thank You Ruth Ann.
Day 17: Major League Baseball Trip. Day 17.
We left Rusty and Angie's home in Overland Park in midmorning and drove to Anamosa. We had stayed at Rusty and Angie's home for three nights. They were perfect hosts and I thank them so much for their hospitality. It was a pleasure to spend three days with them. We got home at 4 PM. John left at 5 for his five hour trip to his home in St. Peter, MN. All three of could now scratch the Major League Baseball Trip off our BUCKET LIST.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Day 13, 14 and 15: Major League Baseball Trip.
DATE: Friday, September 13, 2013. Day 13.
LOCATION: We left Pittsburgh at 8 AM and drove 681 miles to Anamosa. We saw a lot of corn and soybean fields as we drove through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. It took us 12 hours - we stayed in Anamosa. Ruth Ann was happy to see us.
DATE: Saturday, September 14, 2013. Day 14.
LOCATION" Anamosa to Overland Park, Kansas.
We left Anamosa at 9 AM and headed to Overland Park, Kansas, which is a suburb to the west of Kansas City. Our destination was the home of Rusty and Angie Russell Rusty was a good friend of Brad's from their UP People Days in the 1980s. We arrived at 2:30 - we spent the day watching football in Rusty's Man Cave. Iowa beat Iowa State 27-24 and Alabama beat Texas A&M. Angie had a wonderful dinner prepared for us. She had two of my favorites - Iowa chops and broccoli salad. They have a beautiful home in a very nice neighborhood of Overland Park.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 2013. Day 15.
LOCATION: Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs.
Rusty and his brothers have four season tickets to the Chiefs. He excluded his family this time and let Brad, John and me use them. We got to Arrowhead at 8:30 and set up the tailgating stuff. I started visiting with the couple next to us. The conversation went like this:
Pete: Where are you from?
Neighbors: Iowa.
Pete: What city or town?
Neighbors: Anamosa.
Pete: I can't believe it. I'm from Anamosa also. My name is Pete Bungum.
Neighbors: Oh, my gosh. Your granddaughter Alexandra and our daughter Kelly are the best of friends. When Alexandra was an exchange student in 2008-2009 they became best friends. Alex was at our home many times.
Pete: Brad, get over here, There is somebody here that you know and want to talk to you. (And the conversation continued....)
It is really is a small world sometimes. There were 76,000 fans and thousands of cars at the game. What are the odds that something like this could happen? They are mighty slim. Their names are Linda and Neal Vaughn. She is the principal at the Middle School and he works for the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The reason they were at the game is their son works for the Chiefs, doing video stuff.
The Chiefs beat the Cowboys 17-16. The stadium was solid red - it looked like everybody had a Chiefs red jersey to wear. I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the fans. They were really into it. The Chiefs only won two games last year and now they are 6-0. Why the difference? As Rusty explained: "We got a new coach (Andy Reid from the Eagles) and a new quarterback (Alex Smith from the 49'ers). That's the difference." Rusty was ready to give up his season tickets after last year. But he said if they get a new coach and a new quarterback he'd give it another year. They did, so Rusty kept his season tickets.
After the game John and I wondered through the Chiefs Museum inside Arrowhead. Of course, I wanted to the see the head statue of Eddie Podolak, the former HAWKEYE AND CHIEFS RUNNING BACK from the 1970s. I saw it. Eddie now does the color commentary for Hawkeye games with play-by-play guy Gary Dolphin.
LOCATION: We left Pittsburgh at 8 AM and drove 681 miles to Anamosa. We saw a lot of corn and soybean fields as we drove through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. It took us 12 hours - we stayed in Anamosa. Ruth Ann was happy to see us.
DATE: Saturday, September 14, 2013. Day 14.
LOCATION" Anamosa to Overland Park, Kansas.
We left Anamosa at 9 AM and headed to Overland Park, Kansas, which is a suburb to the west of Kansas City. Our destination was the home of Rusty and Angie Russell Rusty was a good friend of Brad's from their UP People Days in the 1980s. We arrived at 2:30 - we spent the day watching football in Rusty's Man Cave. Iowa beat Iowa State 27-24 and Alabama beat Texas A&M. Angie had a wonderful dinner prepared for us. She had two of my favorites - Iowa chops and broccoli salad. They have a beautiful home in a very nice neighborhood of Overland Park.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 2013. Day 15.
LOCATION: Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs.
Rusty and his brothers have four season tickets to the Chiefs. He excluded his family this time and let Brad, John and me use them. We got to Arrowhead at 8:30 and set up the tailgating stuff. I started visiting with the couple next to us. The conversation went like this:
Pete: Where are you from?
Neighbors: Iowa.
Pete: What city or town?
Neighbors: Anamosa.
Pete: I can't believe it. I'm from Anamosa also. My name is Pete Bungum.
Neighbors: Oh, my gosh. Your granddaughter Alexandra and our daughter Kelly are the best of friends. When Alexandra was an exchange student in 2008-2009 they became best friends. Alex was at our home many times.
Pete: Brad, get over here, There is somebody here that you know and want to talk to you. (And the conversation continued....)
It is really is a small world sometimes. There were 76,000 fans and thousands of cars at the game. What are the odds that something like this could happen? They are mighty slim. Their names are Linda and Neal Vaughn. She is the principal at the Middle School and he works for the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The reason they were at the game is their son works for the Chiefs, doing video stuff.
The Chiefs beat the Cowboys 17-16. The stadium was solid red - it looked like everybody had a Chiefs red jersey to wear. I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the fans. They were really into it. The Chiefs only won two games last year and now they are 6-0. Why the difference? As Rusty explained: "We got a new coach (Andy Reid from the Eagles) and a new quarterback (Alex Smith from the 49'ers). That's the difference." Rusty was ready to give up his season tickets after last year. But he said if they get a new coach and a new quarterback he'd give it another year. They did, so Rusty kept his season tickets.
After the game John and I wondered through the Chiefs Museum inside Arrowhead. Of course, I wanted to the see the head statue of Eddie Podolak, the former HAWKEYE AND CHIEFS RUNNING BACK from the 1970s. I saw it. Eddie now does the color commentary for Hawkeye games with play-by-play guy Gary Dolphin.
Day 12: Major League Baseball Trip.
DATE: Thursday, September 12, 2013. Day 12.
LOCATION: Pittsburgh's History Museum and PNC Park, home of the Pirates.
I got up at 7:30 and took a 1.5 mile walk down Penn Ave. I decided to try my "Good Morning" routine and see if I could get any Pittsburghers to say "Good Morning" in return, (at least more than the folks in Manhattan.) The results were good. I tried 10 people and 9 of them responded with a "Good Morning" in return. That was a 90% return compared with 0% in Manhattan. A few smiled when I said "Good Morning" but at least they responded. There was only one who stared straight ahead. He was probably a transplant from Manhattan.
We ate at the hotel and then went across the street to Pittsburgh's History Museum. We were there from 11:15 to 3:30. It is a fabulous museum exploring the history of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. There was not enough time to see it all so we had to choose. All three of us chose to see the sports section which concentrated on the Pirates and Steelers. They had a statue of Franco Harris making the "immaculate reception" in the AFC Championship against the Oakland Raiders in 1971. And another one of Bill Mazeroski jumping onto home plate after he had hit the winning home run against the Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Another interesting display was a map showing all the Division I quarterbacks and NFL quarterbacks that have come out of the Pittsburgh area. There are a lot - like over 50. All three of us are big sports fans so what an enjoyable time we had in the sports section.
I wanted to see the section on H.J. Heinz. So I spent over an hour there. Very interesting. It was quite a story of rags to riches. By the way, John Kerry is married to the widow of Senator Heinz who was killed in a plane crash in the 1980s. Anybody who goes to Pittsburgh should spend some time at this museum. It is fantastic.
At 5 PM we called a cab to take us to PNC Park. We ate at the bar/grille owned by Jerome Bettis, the great Steelers running back. It is right across the street from the stadium. I tried a local beer and didn't like it. After that I went back to my Bud Light or Miller Lite. One thing of interest was that the men's restroom was right behind the reception desk. When I was at the urinal I looked up into this glass window in front of me and I could see everybody in the restaurant. When I went out I looked at this glass window from the outside to see if people could see into the rest room and watch a bunch of men peeing. Obviously, they couldn't - the mirror was black so nothing could be seen. I bet more than one man has thought while peeing, "Can those people see me, I can see them."
The Pirates beat the Cubs 3-1. The crowd was very enthusiastic because this was the first time since 1991 that the Pirates had a chance at making the National League play-offs. They did make it but got beat out by the Cardinals - 3 games to 2 games.
Billie Bob doesn't live to far from Pittsburgh. I was thinking when the fans were all excited if Billie Bob would have gotten excited and cheered. I doubt it because that would have taken some energy plus he wouldn't have been sitting in his recliner.
PNC Park deserves all As' or A+s for my five criteria. Price of beer is a B.
The same can said for Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies. And their beer price gets a B also.
LOCATION: Pittsburgh's History Museum and PNC Park, home of the Pirates.
I got up at 7:30 and took a 1.5 mile walk down Penn Ave. I decided to try my "Good Morning" routine and see if I could get any Pittsburghers to say "Good Morning" in return, (at least more than the folks in Manhattan.) The results were good. I tried 10 people and 9 of them responded with a "Good Morning" in return. That was a 90% return compared with 0% in Manhattan. A few smiled when I said "Good Morning" but at least they responded. There was only one who stared straight ahead. He was probably a transplant from Manhattan.
We ate at the hotel and then went across the street to Pittsburgh's History Museum. We were there from 11:15 to 3:30. It is a fabulous museum exploring the history of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. There was not enough time to see it all so we had to choose. All three of us chose to see the sports section which concentrated on the Pirates and Steelers. They had a statue of Franco Harris making the "immaculate reception" in the AFC Championship against the Oakland Raiders in 1971. And another one of Bill Mazeroski jumping onto home plate after he had hit the winning home run against the Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Another interesting display was a map showing all the Division I quarterbacks and NFL quarterbacks that have come out of the Pittsburgh area. There are a lot - like over 50. All three of us are big sports fans so what an enjoyable time we had in the sports section.
I wanted to see the section on H.J. Heinz. So I spent over an hour there. Very interesting. It was quite a story of rags to riches. By the way, John Kerry is married to the widow of Senator Heinz who was killed in a plane crash in the 1980s. Anybody who goes to Pittsburgh should spend some time at this museum. It is fantastic.
At 5 PM we called a cab to take us to PNC Park. We ate at the bar/grille owned by Jerome Bettis, the great Steelers running back. It is right across the street from the stadium. I tried a local beer and didn't like it. After that I went back to my Bud Light or Miller Lite. One thing of interest was that the men's restroom was right behind the reception desk. When I was at the urinal I looked up into this glass window in front of me and I could see everybody in the restaurant. When I went out I looked at this glass window from the outside to see if people could see into the rest room and watch a bunch of men peeing. Obviously, they couldn't - the mirror was black so nothing could be seen. I bet more than one man has thought while peeing, "Can those people see me, I can see them."
The Pirates beat the Cubs 3-1. The crowd was very enthusiastic because this was the first time since 1991 that the Pirates had a chance at making the National League play-offs. They did make it but got beat out by the Cardinals - 3 games to 2 games.
Billie Bob doesn't live to far from Pittsburgh. I was thinking when the fans were all excited if Billie Bob would have gotten excited and cheered. I doubt it because that would have taken some energy plus he wouldn't have been sitting in his recliner.
PNC Park deserves all As' or A+s for my five criteria. Price of beer is a B.
The same can said for Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies. And their beer price gets a B also.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Day 11, Major League Baseball Trip.
DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 2013. Day 11.
LOCATION: Baltimore to West Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I got up at 7:30 AM and took a walk past Camden Yards Stadium and kept walking until I got to M & T Bank Stadium, home of the Ravens. It was only an extra block. M&T stands for Manufacturer's and Traders Bank. I asked some workers there where the Ravens practiced and they said they practiced in a facility several miles northeast of Baltimore named Owings Mills. I wanted to see them practice because Marshall Yanda, the right guard for the Ravens, is a former student of mine from my seventh grade class of 1997. When I got back to the hotel I told Brad and John where they practiced and we decided we would drive out and see if we could watch them practice - and I might be able to see Marshall. So I called the Ravens office and talked to a secretary - I told her I was one of Marshall's old teachers and I was wondering if it might be possible for me to see him. She said she couldn't say but she would be willing to take a message and give it to him. I told her to write, " Hi Marshall, this is Mr. Bungum, your old seventh grade geography teacher. If possible I'd like to see you this morning and give you a little ANAD quiz. She laughed and I said Marshall will know what ANAD is."
So we checked our bags and headed out to Owings Mills. Thanks to GPS we easily found it. After driving down a secluded road we came to the Ravens practice facility. But we were stopped by a little building with horizontal poles blocking off any vehicles from entering the property. We pushed a button on the outside of the building and a guy answered. John says "I was wondering if we could see the Ravens practice." The guy says, "This is private property and there is no admittance." So that was it - no admittance meant we were out of luck. If Marshall did get my message he probably didn't want to take that ANAD quiz.
At the game the night before there were cops all over the place. I asked four cops at the stadium how many cops were on the force in Baltimore? I got four different answers: 1,400, 3400, 2700, and 3,000. I guess nobody knows, the cops don't anyway.
As we were checking out of the hotel this morning John asked one of the bellhops, "How many cops in Baltimore?" He answered, "Not enough."
Then John said, 'Half of your police force must have been on duty at the Oriole game last night."
The bellhop answered, "Either there or at Dunkin Donuts." That was good for a laugh.
We left Owings Mills and headed for Pittsburgh. We drove through Maryland, part of West Virginia and onto Pittsburgh We arrived at 5PM. We checked into the Hampton Inn, a half mile or more from PNC Park, home of the Pirates. All three of us were tired so we ordered pizza from Dominoes and ate in the room.
LOCATION: Baltimore to West Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I got up at 7:30 AM and took a walk past Camden Yards Stadium and kept walking until I got to M & T Bank Stadium, home of the Ravens. It was only an extra block. M&T stands for Manufacturer's and Traders Bank. I asked some workers there where the Ravens practiced and they said they practiced in a facility several miles northeast of Baltimore named Owings Mills. I wanted to see them practice because Marshall Yanda, the right guard for the Ravens, is a former student of mine from my seventh grade class of 1997. When I got back to the hotel I told Brad and John where they practiced and we decided we would drive out and see if we could watch them practice - and I might be able to see Marshall. So I called the Ravens office and talked to a secretary - I told her I was one of Marshall's old teachers and I was wondering if it might be possible for me to see him. She said she couldn't say but she would be willing to take a message and give it to him. I told her to write, " Hi Marshall, this is Mr. Bungum, your old seventh grade geography teacher. If possible I'd like to see you this morning and give you a little ANAD quiz. She laughed and I said Marshall will know what ANAD is."
So we checked our bags and headed out to Owings Mills. Thanks to GPS we easily found it. After driving down a secluded road we came to the Ravens practice facility. But we were stopped by a little building with horizontal poles blocking off any vehicles from entering the property. We pushed a button on the outside of the building and a guy answered. John says "I was wondering if we could see the Ravens practice." The guy says, "This is private property and there is no admittance." So that was it - no admittance meant we were out of luck. If Marshall did get my message he probably didn't want to take that ANAD quiz.
At the game the night before there were cops all over the place. I asked four cops at the stadium how many cops were on the force in Baltimore? I got four different answers: 1,400, 3400, 2700, and 3,000. I guess nobody knows, the cops don't anyway.
As we were checking out of the hotel this morning John asked one of the bellhops, "How many cops in Baltimore?" He answered, "Not enough."
Then John said, 'Half of your police force must have been on duty at the Oriole game last night."
The bellhop answered, "Either there or at Dunkin Donuts." That was good for a laugh.
We left Owings Mills and headed for Pittsburgh. We drove through Maryland, part of West Virginia and onto Pittsburgh We arrived at 5PM. We checked into the Hampton Inn, a half mile or more from PNC Park, home of the Pirates. All three of us were tired so we ordered pizza from Dominoes and ate in the room.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Day 10: Major League Baseball Trip.
DATE: Tuesday, September 10, 2013. Day 10.
LOCATION: Manhattan to Baltimore, home of the Orioles.
After spending five nights in Manhattan we left for Baltimore at 8:30 AM. We arrived in Baltimore at 2:30 - checked into the Hilton, located right next to the Orioles and Ravens stadiums. We could see both stadiums from our window. Brad did a good job of lining up the hotels. John did the Manhattan stay with his time-share membership but Brad did all the rest. We were hungry so we went across the street to Frank and Nic's West End Grille. The server suggested we try a local brew called New-Bo. It was only $4.00 for a 16 oz draw. (This was more like Anamosa prices.) We all tried one and it was pretty good stuff. The food was great.
We walked to the stadium at 6:45. The stadium was called "Camden Yards" when built 15-20 years ago but now it is called "Oriole Stadium at Camden Yards." Camden Yards refers to the warehouse area that this once was. In fact, there is a huge ten story restored warehouse right next to Oriole Stadium. The bottom floor is now full of restaurants and gift shops.
The Orioles played the Yankees - Yankees won 7-5. Mariano Reveira pitched the 8th and 9th innings. Alex Rodriquez did play and didn't get booed like he dud at other stadiums.
We met a lot of interesting people that night. Here they are:
- The first bunch were three guys from Duluth, Minnesota. One of them was a marine who was stationed near by. The other two were friends visiting him. The guy named Paul told us his grandparents had a restaurant in Duluth. They were famous citywide in Duluth for their for pasta sausage recipe. When they died only three family members knew the secret ingredients in the recipe - and that is all that still know it today. Paul is one of the three and once a year he and the other two will make this pasta sausage, advertise it and sell it all over Duluth. People in Duluth still remember it and want some every year. Interesting story.
- Brad wore his Hawkeye shirt and cap and I wore my Hawkeye cap. As a result we were stopped by a couple from Winthrop and Jesup, Iowa. Had a nice visit with them. Then two other guys saw our Hawkeye stuff and they stopped and talked to us. It was a father and son-in law from Denison, Iowa. It was another great visit. It's fun to talk to people from Iowa. They are some of the best. IT'S GREAT TO BE A HAWKEYE.
- At the game we sat by three guys from Lousiana, all three were Yankee fans. They were in Baltimore on a business trip. Their company made boots for the Coast Guard. One guy said he became a Yankee fan as a young kid when his Grandpa made him listen to Yankee games on the radio. He said he had no choice in the matter. His Grandpa was a diehard Yankee fan and his grandson was going to be one also. And he was a Yankee fan. He said his Grandpa would be happy.
- This next guy was not so friendly. Brad walked down the steps to the infield to get some close-up photos of Mariano Revira. When walking back up the steps some idiot sees his Hawkeye stuff and hollers to Brad, "SIT DOWN HAWKEYE." Brad said he ignored the idiot.
- One of the beer vendors saw Brad's Hawkeye stuff and says to Brad, "How many counties in Iowa?" Brad said "99." The vendor said, "You are correct."
The next time the same vendor sees Brad he says, "Only 8 states have more than 80 counties." Brad got a kick out of the guy.
- One of the fun things we saw during the game was the "kiss cam." When a couple saw themselves on camera they had to kiss. The fans loved it, especially when one guy kissed his wife and he put his hand on her right boob. That was good for a big laugh.
- After the game we went back to Frank and Nic's West End Grille. We met Tim and Jeff - two more Yankee fans. We visited for over an hour and found out they were civilian MPs for the Department of Defense. We remarked there sure a lot of Yankee fans at the game for being in Baltimore. They said that is pretty normal as they referred to "Oriole Stadium at Camden Yards" as " YANKEE STADIUM SOUTH."
These two guys were good friends. In a couple of weeks Tim was getting married for the third time. Jeff was going to be his best man. Tim was going to have another bachelor party. Jeff said he had been to all three of Tim's bachelor parties and it would be the third time he had been Tim's best man. That was good for some hearty laughs.
- Our server was a gal named Kate. She was an Ohio girl and a graduate of Ohio University, (not THE Ohio State) She was doing HR work for a firm in Baltimore. The firm was just bought by Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids. She was worried about losing her job because of the takeover. So Brad gave her the name and email of LeAnn First, who works at Rockwell. LeAnn is a former student of mine, a graduate of Anamosa High School and is pretty high up in the company. Brad had talked business with her one other time when he was home and thought that a little personal connection like this might help Kate's chances of keeping her job. Brad told her to contact LeAnn at Rockwell in Cedar Rapids and tell her she had met us and visited with us. He said, "Kate, it can't hurt anything."
It was a fun night in Baltimore.
-;
LOCATION: Manhattan to Baltimore, home of the Orioles.
After spending five nights in Manhattan we left for Baltimore at 8:30 AM. We arrived in Baltimore at 2:30 - checked into the Hilton, located right next to the Orioles and Ravens stadiums. We could see both stadiums from our window. Brad did a good job of lining up the hotels. John did the Manhattan stay with his time-share membership but Brad did all the rest. We were hungry so we went across the street to Frank and Nic's West End Grille. The server suggested we try a local brew called New-Bo. It was only $4.00 for a 16 oz draw. (This was more like Anamosa prices.) We all tried one and it was pretty good stuff. The food was great.
We walked to the stadium at 6:45. The stadium was called "Camden Yards" when built 15-20 years ago but now it is called "Oriole Stadium at Camden Yards." Camden Yards refers to the warehouse area that this once was. In fact, there is a huge ten story restored warehouse right next to Oriole Stadium. The bottom floor is now full of restaurants and gift shops.
The Orioles played the Yankees - Yankees won 7-5. Mariano Reveira pitched the 8th and 9th innings. Alex Rodriquez did play and didn't get booed like he dud at other stadiums.
We met a lot of interesting people that night. Here they are:
- The first bunch were three guys from Duluth, Minnesota. One of them was a marine who was stationed near by. The other two were friends visiting him. The guy named Paul told us his grandparents had a restaurant in Duluth. They were famous citywide in Duluth for their for pasta sausage recipe. When they died only three family members knew the secret ingredients in the recipe - and that is all that still know it today. Paul is one of the three and once a year he and the other two will make this pasta sausage, advertise it and sell it all over Duluth. People in Duluth still remember it and want some every year. Interesting story.
- Brad wore his Hawkeye shirt and cap and I wore my Hawkeye cap. As a result we were stopped by a couple from Winthrop and Jesup, Iowa. Had a nice visit with them. Then two other guys saw our Hawkeye stuff and they stopped and talked to us. It was a father and son-in law from Denison, Iowa. It was another great visit. It's fun to talk to people from Iowa. They are some of the best. IT'S GREAT TO BE A HAWKEYE.
- At the game we sat by three guys from Lousiana, all three were Yankee fans. They were in Baltimore on a business trip. Their company made boots for the Coast Guard. One guy said he became a Yankee fan as a young kid when his Grandpa made him listen to Yankee games on the radio. He said he had no choice in the matter. His Grandpa was a diehard Yankee fan and his grandson was going to be one also. And he was a Yankee fan. He said his Grandpa would be happy.
- This next guy was not so friendly. Brad walked down the steps to the infield to get some close-up photos of Mariano Revira. When walking back up the steps some idiot sees his Hawkeye stuff and hollers to Brad, "SIT DOWN HAWKEYE." Brad said he ignored the idiot.
- One of the beer vendors saw Brad's Hawkeye stuff and says to Brad, "How many counties in Iowa?" Brad said "99." The vendor said, "You are correct."
The next time the same vendor sees Brad he says, "Only 8 states have more than 80 counties." Brad got a kick out of the guy.
- One of the fun things we saw during the game was the "kiss cam." When a couple saw themselves on camera they had to kiss. The fans loved it, especially when one guy kissed his wife and he put his hand on her right boob. That was good for a big laugh.
- After the game we went back to Frank and Nic's West End Grille. We met Tim and Jeff - two more Yankee fans. We visited for over an hour and found out they were civilian MPs for the Department of Defense. We remarked there sure a lot of Yankee fans at the game for being in Baltimore. They said that is pretty normal as they referred to "Oriole Stadium at Camden Yards" as " YANKEE STADIUM SOUTH."
These two guys were good friends. In a couple of weeks Tim was getting married for the third time. Jeff was going to be his best man. Tim was going to have another bachelor party. Jeff said he had been to all three of Tim's bachelor parties and it would be the third time he had been Tim's best man. That was good for some hearty laughs.
- Our server was a gal named Kate. She was an Ohio girl and a graduate of Ohio University, (not THE Ohio State) She was doing HR work for a firm in Baltimore. The firm was just bought by Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids. She was worried about losing her job because of the takeover. So Brad gave her the name and email of LeAnn First, who works at Rockwell. LeAnn is a former student of mine, a graduate of Anamosa High School and is pretty high up in the company. Brad had talked business with her one other time when he was home and thought that a little personal connection like this might help Kate's chances of keeping her job. Brad told her to contact LeAnn at Rockwell in Cedar Rapids and tell her she had met us and visited with us. He said, "Kate, it can't hurt anything."
It was a fun night in Baltimore.
-;
Friday, October 11, 2013
Day 9: Major League Baseball Trip
DATE: Monday, September 9, 2013. Day 9.
LOCATION: Manhattan and Citi Park, home of the Mets.
We got up at 5:15 AM in order to get to the NBC TODAY SHOW by 6:30 . We walked to NBC studios, it was about a mile. I was really excited as I watch it every morning. It was on my Bucket List to go to the TODAY SHOW once in my lifetime. When we got there Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie were already in there chairs. Natalie Morales and Al Roker showed up about 6:45. It was so interesting to see what happens when they are not on camera or they are on commercial break. For instance, the make-up people come up to the four of them and dust their faces again with make-up and Natalie and Savannah get more lipstick put on plus their hair is combed again. And Al got up and walked the fence line talking to the visitors, unfortunately I was not in the right position. Another thing that was interesting was Natalie and Savannah had blankets over their legs which were hidden by the desk - it was chilly that morning, They do not read their lines from a written script in front of them - instead they read their lines from the autoscript cameras they are staring into. We got to see Dr. Oz being interviewed plus comedian Steve Harvey. There was a man and a woman who were the producers and giving the orders. They gave the countdown starting with 60 seconds, to 30 seconds, to 15 to 10 to 5 and to zero = You're on. Brad and I tried hard to get on camera. Brad was more successful than I was. Brad's friend, Rusty in Kansas City, said he saw Brad several times and me a couple of times. Ruth Ann did not see Brad or me. It was so interesting. Seeing the TODAY SHOW was was one of the highlights of my 17 days.
Later in the morning we began our tour of Manhattan Tour on one of the double-decker buses you see on TV. We toured lower Manhattan in the morning and upper Manhattan in the afternoon. Some of the highlights we saw were:
- penthouses, condos, and apartments that were rented or owned by the rich and famous such as: Jackie Kennedy, Seinfeld, Frank Sinatra, Dale Carnegie, the Vanderbilts, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paris Hilton. The guide said Paris moved to LA because it was easier to spell. The guide said rents ran from $5,000 a month to as high as $40,000 a month.
- Other sites were: Norman Vincent Peale's church, Madison Square Garden, Soho, Greenwich Village, Battery Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, United Nations, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Natural History, Central Park (it is really big), Harlem (we learned Harlem is a Dutch word. They settled it first in the 1600s and named the settlement New Haarlem, after a town in the Netherlands), the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, Columbia University (this is where Lou Gehrig went to school), John Lennon's apartment and assassination site, Empire State Building, and then we went by Wall St, again, Ground Zero and One World Center, Statue of Liberty plus many other interesting sites. It cost $55.00 plus I gave a $5.00 tip to the two guides - it was worth every penny.
We got back to the hotel by 4:30 . We walked to the subway, about 4 blocks away and went to Citi Park, home of the Mets. The highlight was in the subway when we happened to sit by an Italian guy. He was in his 50s, a salesman by profession, a devout NY Giants fan, a big time gambler and a big big big loudmouth. But he was a funny guy. The Giants had lost to the Dallas Cowboys the day before and he let us know he didn't like Tony Romo, the Cowboys quarterback. He kept calling him Tony HOMO. He said he was a bigtime gambler and had played $5,000 a hand at the blackjack tables. He would go to casinos with $60,000 to gamble with. He said he had been married three times and said his wives didn't like his issues with other chicks. But he did admit they were all good housekeepers - all three wives got to keep the houses. We had some good laughs listening to this guy.
Citi Field is great. It deserves in an A to A+ in all of my rankings - from restrooms to wide steps to railings to friendly workers to wide concourses to a B for the price of beer (I'm still going by Anamosa prices). Wesley took the train and subway from McGuire Air Force Base to join us again. I think Wesley really enjoyed his three visits with Grandpa Pete (age 72), Great Uncle John (age 70), and Uncle Brad (age 52) - even if he is only 22 years old. He was a delight to have with us.
One friendly employee was Anne, who was working by the bullpens in centerfield. We were walking around the concourse and wanted to get close to the bullpens and watch the pitchers warm up. At first, she said we couldn't walk down and look over the railing. But then we told her about our baseball trip - she loved the story and that's when she relented,. She opened the gate and said "go ahead." So we watched the Mets pitchers warm up. That was very nice. I say Thank You Anne.
The Mets played the Washington Nationals, often times called the Nats. The Nats won by a score of 9-1 on a one-hitter by a pitcher named Geo.
LOCATION: Manhattan and Citi Park, home of the Mets.
We got up at 5:15 AM in order to get to the NBC TODAY SHOW by 6:30 . We walked to NBC studios, it was about a mile. I was really excited as I watch it every morning. It was on my Bucket List to go to the TODAY SHOW once in my lifetime. When we got there Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie were already in there chairs. Natalie Morales and Al Roker showed up about 6:45. It was so interesting to see what happens when they are not on camera or they are on commercial break. For instance, the make-up people come up to the four of them and dust their faces again with make-up and Natalie and Savannah get more lipstick put on plus their hair is combed again. And Al got up and walked the fence line talking to the visitors, unfortunately I was not in the right position. Another thing that was interesting was Natalie and Savannah had blankets over their legs which were hidden by the desk - it was chilly that morning, They do not read their lines from a written script in front of them - instead they read their lines from the autoscript cameras they are staring into. We got to see Dr. Oz being interviewed plus comedian Steve Harvey. There was a man and a woman who were the producers and giving the orders. They gave the countdown starting with 60 seconds, to 30 seconds, to 15 to 10 to 5 and to zero = You're on. Brad and I tried hard to get on camera. Brad was more successful than I was. Brad's friend, Rusty in Kansas City, said he saw Brad several times and me a couple of times. Ruth Ann did not see Brad or me. It was so interesting. Seeing the TODAY SHOW was was one of the highlights of my 17 days.
Later in the morning we began our tour of Manhattan Tour on one of the double-decker buses you see on TV. We toured lower Manhattan in the morning and upper Manhattan in the afternoon. Some of the highlights we saw were:
- penthouses, condos, and apartments that were rented or owned by the rich and famous such as: Jackie Kennedy, Seinfeld, Frank Sinatra, Dale Carnegie, the Vanderbilts, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paris Hilton. The guide said Paris moved to LA because it was easier to spell. The guide said rents ran from $5,000 a month to as high as $40,000 a month.
- Other sites were: Norman Vincent Peale's church, Madison Square Garden, Soho, Greenwich Village, Battery Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, United Nations, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Natural History, Central Park (it is really big), Harlem (we learned Harlem is a Dutch word. They settled it first in the 1600s and named the settlement New Haarlem, after a town in the Netherlands), the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, Columbia University (this is where Lou Gehrig went to school), John Lennon's apartment and assassination site, Empire State Building, and then we went by Wall St, again, Ground Zero and One World Center, Statue of Liberty plus many other interesting sites. It cost $55.00 plus I gave a $5.00 tip to the two guides - it was worth every penny.
We got back to the hotel by 4:30 . We walked to the subway, about 4 blocks away and went to Citi Park, home of the Mets. The highlight was in the subway when we happened to sit by an Italian guy. He was in his 50s, a salesman by profession, a devout NY Giants fan, a big time gambler and a big big big loudmouth. But he was a funny guy. The Giants had lost to the Dallas Cowboys the day before and he let us know he didn't like Tony Romo, the Cowboys quarterback. He kept calling him Tony HOMO. He said he was a bigtime gambler and had played $5,000 a hand at the blackjack tables. He would go to casinos with $60,000 to gamble with. He said he had been married three times and said his wives didn't like his issues with other chicks. But he did admit they were all good housekeepers - all three wives got to keep the houses. We had some good laughs listening to this guy.
Citi Field is great. It deserves in an A to A+ in all of my rankings - from restrooms to wide steps to railings to friendly workers to wide concourses to a B for the price of beer (I'm still going by Anamosa prices). Wesley took the train and subway from McGuire Air Force Base to join us again. I think Wesley really enjoyed his three visits with Grandpa Pete (age 72), Great Uncle John (age 70), and Uncle Brad (age 52) - even if he is only 22 years old. He was a delight to have with us.
One friendly employee was Anne, who was working by the bullpens in centerfield. We were walking around the concourse and wanted to get close to the bullpens and watch the pitchers warm up. At first, she said we couldn't walk down and look over the railing. But then we told her about our baseball trip - she loved the story and that's when she relented,. She opened the gate and said "go ahead." So we watched the Mets pitchers warm up. That was very nice. I say Thank You Anne.
The Mets played the Washington Nationals, often times called the Nats. The Nats won by a score of 9-1 on a one-hitter by a pitcher named Geo.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Day 8: Major League Baseball Trip.
DATE: Sunday, September 8, 2013. Day 8.
LOCATION: Manhattan to Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies.
Citizens Bank Park was our sixth stadium on our 17 day tour. We left Manhattan at 9:30 to drive to Philadelphia to see the Phillies play the Braves (Phillies won 3-2). We stopped at a gas station/convenience store in New Jersey to pick up grandson Wesley. He had driven there from his Air Force base, only 10 miles away. We had a good parking spot as the porta-potty was only 10 steps from the front bumper of our car. Our next door neighbors were from the area. They were four guys, around 60, who had been life long friends. In fact, three of them earned their Eagle Scout awards together. We visited with them for an hour and as game time approached the one guy says, "It's now time for some power drinking." So the four of them guzzled their Heinekens and Coronas and headed for the staduim. The were fun to talk to. They said they usually went to one Eagles game a year. The Eagles stadium (named Lincoln Financial Field) was right next to the Phillies Stadium. In fact the same parking lots are used for each stadium.
At the game I met Jim and Meg - all three of us were standing in the concourse - we started talking and our conversation lasted for over an hour. Jim and Meg were from the area and were big fans of the Phillies. He was a retired UPS driver while Meg was still working for FedEx. They had traveled a lot and recommended two tours they thought Ruth Ann and I would like. One was the NAPA Valley Wine Tour in California - the other was the Jack Daniels Whiskey Tour in Tennessee. They were also a fun couple. Talking and meeting new people is one of my favorite activities.
After the game all of us were hungry. I told Wesley that I wanted to have a PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SANDWICH as I had never had one before. He said he knew just where to go because this place had the best tasting sandwiches in Philadelphia. He directed Brad to TONY LUKE'S. There was a big crowd so we had to wait but it was worth it. A Phillie Cheese Steak Sandwich consists of a big hoagie style bun with lots and lots of thin sliced beef and cheese. They are huge and they are delicious. Mine was so big I could only eat half. I finished the other half at bedtime.
On thing we all noticed about New Jersey is that you cannot pump your own gas. You will be fined if you do. There are attendants on duty at every station and they must fill your tank. The only reason we could think of why New Jersey does this is that it provides jobs and maybe there is a safety factor involved.
LOCATION: Manhattan to Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies.
Citizens Bank Park was our sixth stadium on our 17 day tour. We left Manhattan at 9:30 to drive to Philadelphia to see the Phillies play the Braves (Phillies won 3-2). We stopped at a gas station/convenience store in New Jersey to pick up grandson Wesley. He had driven there from his Air Force base, only 10 miles away. We had a good parking spot as the porta-potty was only 10 steps from the front bumper of our car. Our next door neighbors were from the area. They were four guys, around 60, who had been life long friends. In fact, three of them earned their Eagle Scout awards together. We visited with them for an hour and as game time approached the one guy says, "It's now time for some power drinking." So the four of them guzzled their Heinekens and Coronas and headed for the staduim. The were fun to talk to. They said they usually went to one Eagles game a year. The Eagles stadium (named Lincoln Financial Field) was right next to the Phillies Stadium. In fact the same parking lots are used for each stadium.
At the game I met Jim and Meg - all three of us were standing in the concourse - we started talking and our conversation lasted for over an hour. Jim and Meg were from the area and were big fans of the Phillies. He was a retired UPS driver while Meg was still working for FedEx. They had traveled a lot and recommended two tours they thought Ruth Ann and I would like. One was the NAPA Valley Wine Tour in California - the other was the Jack Daniels Whiskey Tour in Tennessee. They were also a fun couple. Talking and meeting new people is one of my favorite activities.
After the game all of us were hungry. I told Wesley that I wanted to have a PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SANDWICH as I had never had one before. He said he knew just where to go because this place had the best tasting sandwiches in Philadelphia. He directed Brad to TONY LUKE'S. There was a big crowd so we had to wait but it was worth it. A Phillie Cheese Steak Sandwich consists of a big hoagie style bun with lots and lots of thin sliced beef and cheese. They are huge and they are delicious. Mine was so big I could only eat half. I finished the other half at bedtime.
On thing we all noticed about New Jersey is that you cannot pump your own gas. You will be fined if you do. There are attendants on duty at every station and they must fill your tank. The only reason we could think of why New Jersey does this is that it provides jobs and maybe there is a safety factor involved.
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