Today is Thursday, January 31, 2013. My stats today; 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 43 minutes of walking = 2.4 miles for a January total of 65.6 miles. My weight was 163.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Ann Curry: "Maybe the best thing you'll ever do, you haven't even thought of yet."
My THOUGHTS today: Last week I sent Senator Grassley and email urging him to vote for banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Yesterday, a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was held to hear different viewpoints on the issue of gun control. Gabby Giffords valiantly said her piece that she had written herself on notebook paper. It nearly brought tears as I listened to her. Grassley was there and after the hearing his comments were as follows.
"We all want sensible solutions."
"The deaths in Newtown should not be used to put forward every gun control measure that's been floating around for years." (Grassley, what in the hell should it be used for?_
"The problem is greater than guns alone."
"We need to re-examine mental-health laws and violent video games."
"Limits on high-capacity ammunition magazines can be circumvented by carrying more guns."
I interpret his words as meaning he will do nothing but maybe vote for some kind of mental-health checks.
In my opinion the only thing that will change the minds of anti-gun control freakos is if someone attacks them or their family and kills all of them with a 70 bullet magazine clip. Then maybe they'll think differently (maybe!!!!) about assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. I don't, and I never will, understand why any civilian needs an assault weapon. They are made for the military to kill as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time.
As Gabby Giffords said yesterday; "It will be hard, but the time is now. You must act. Be bold, be courageous; Americans are counting on you."So Grassley, think about her words - they make sense - Americans are counting on you.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Pete BLOG-Day 26,371. Good day yesterday.
Today is Wednesday, January 30, 2013 - we have a snowstorm today - up to 6" with wind. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a January total of 62.2 miles. My weight was 163.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Debbie Macomber, New York Times best-selling author: "If you love, you get love back, and that's just a simple basic truth. If you are loved, it is because you love. It's like a mirror. We get back what we give out."
My THOUGHTS today: I feel good about what I did yesterday. I agreed to be a member of our church's visitation program. My first assignment was to visit a 90-year-old lady named Lena Dirks. I called her first and told her I was with the visitation team from church and asked if it was okay if I came about 1 PM - she agreed. We had a fun conversation for over one and a half hours. I knew Lena as I had done some painting for her about 10 years ago and I had 2 of her daughters in class back in the 1960s. I've been around old people all my life so I know they like to talk about their family. The best part of our talk was when I asked her how she had met Bob, her husband of 53 years. (he passed away in 1999 from a stroke.) She met Bob when she was 13 years old while visiting her Aunt and Uncle on a Sunday afternoon. Bob was working as a hired man for her Aunt and Uncle and her cousin said he wanted to introduce her to Bob. He introduced them and her Aunt said that Lena told her "I'm going to marry him someday." Lena says she does not remember saying that but her Aunt insists she did. They started dating when she got in high school and then he went in the Navy in 1941 for 4 years - serving in the Pacific theater (he served on 2 ships that were severely damaged but never sunk). During the war she worked in the local bank and when he returned in 1945 they got married and over the next 10 years had 4 kids - one boy and 3 girls. The boy is a Lutheran minister and a college professor in California. The 3 girls got married and all are doing well living in Cedar Rapids, Colorado and California.
I found out Lena is quite a writer. She has written her own life story and done a lot of geneology books on her family and Bob's. I looked at her books and they are well done and very interesting. When we got done talking she asked me to come back and see her again because she enjoyed it so much. I gave her a hug when I left and she responded with a firm speeze for me. It was very enjoyable for me - the visit made her feel good and laugh and it made me feel just as good. I'm going back next month.
QUOTE from Debbie Macomber, New York Times best-selling author: "If you love, you get love back, and that's just a simple basic truth. If you are loved, it is because you love. It's like a mirror. We get back what we give out."
My THOUGHTS today: I feel good about what I did yesterday. I agreed to be a member of our church's visitation program. My first assignment was to visit a 90-year-old lady named Lena Dirks. I called her first and told her I was with the visitation team from church and asked if it was okay if I came about 1 PM - she agreed. We had a fun conversation for over one and a half hours. I knew Lena as I had done some painting for her about 10 years ago and I had 2 of her daughters in class back in the 1960s. I've been around old people all my life so I know they like to talk about their family. The best part of our talk was when I asked her how she had met Bob, her husband of 53 years. (he passed away in 1999 from a stroke.) She met Bob when she was 13 years old while visiting her Aunt and Uncle on a Sunday afternoon. Bob was working as a hired man for her Aunt and Uncle and her cousin said he wanted to introduce her to Bob. He introduced them and her Aunt said that Lena told her "I'm going to marry him someday." Lena says she does not remember saying that but her Aunt insists she did. They started dating when she got in high school and then he went in the Navy in 1941 for 4 years - serving in the Pacific theater (he served on 2 ships that were severely damaged but never sunk). During the war she worked in the local bank and when he returned in 1945 they got married and over the next 10 years had 4 kids - one boy and 3 girls. The boy is a Lutheran minister and a college professor in California. The 3 girls got married and all are doing well living in Cedar Rapids, Colorado and California.
I found out Lena is quite a writer. She has written her own life story and done a lot of geneology books on her family and Bob's. I looked at her books and they are well done and very interesting. When we got done talking she asked me to come back and see her again because she enjoyed it so much. I gave her a hug when I left and she responded with a firm speeze for me. It was very enjoyable for me - the visit made her feel good and laugh and it made me feel just as good. I'm going back next month.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Pete BLOG-Day 26,370. The Golden Years
Today is Tuesday, January 29, 2013. It was 56 degrees this morning when I went walking - a record in some areas of Iowa. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 60.2 miles. My weight shot up to 164.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Life's Little Instruction Book: "Be cautious about lending money to friends. You might lose both."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with living in my Golden Years. Sister Jan sent this to us last week. There is some truth in some of the words.
I cannot see - I cannot pee - I cannot chew - I cannot screw.
Oh, my God, what can I do?
My memory shrinks - My hearing stinks - No sense of smell -
I look like hell.
My mood is bad - can you tell?
My body's drooping - Have trouble pooping
The Golden Years have come at last
The Golden Years can kiss my ass!!
Actually, so far, the Golden Years have been good to the two of us. The only two that I can relate to are a little diffuculty peeing and my memory has done some shrinking but the rest of them have not been a factor. Life is good so far and we're enjoying life.
QUOTE from Life's Little Instruction Book: "Be cautious about lending money to friends. You might lose both."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with living in my Golden Years. Sister Jan sent this to us last week. There is some truth in some of the words.
I cannot see - I cannot pee - I cannot chew - I cannot screw.
Oh, my God, what can I do?
My memory shrinks - My hearing stinks - No sense of smell -
I look like hell.
My mood is bad - can you tell?
My body's drooping - Have trouble pooping
The Golden Years have come at last
The Golden Years can kiss my ass!!
Actually, so far, the Golden Years have been good to the two of us. The only two that I can relate to are a little diffuculty peeing and my memory has done some shrinking but the rest of them have not been a factor. Life is good so far and we're enjoying life.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,369 - Governor Braindead
Today is Monday, January 28, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 57.7 miles. My weight was 162.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Heidi Grant Halvorson, motivational psychologist: "Self-compassion rather than self-esteem may be the key to unlocking your potential for greatness. Self-compassion is a willingness to look at mistakes with understanding - embracing the fact that to err is indeed human."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with Governor Braindead, sorry, I mean Governor Bumstead or is it Governor Branstad -it has to do with eight appointees he recently made. I see by the Sunday paper that our wonderful governor's eight picks for people who choose Supreme Court judges include a former gubernatorial candidate, a Presbyterian Church elder who runs a consulting business and a hospital foundation director. It sounds great until you continue reading - all are self-identified Republicans who, among them, have given thousands of dollars to Republican campaigns and causes. And state election records show that of all eight appointees seven have made contributions in their name to Republican candidates and Republican-leaning political action committees. The article didn't say anything about the lone eighth person.
Once confirmed by the Senate, the eight appointees will join eight attorneys elected by the Iowa State Bar to form the State Judicial Nominating Commission and play a key role in deciding who sits on the state's appellate courts.
Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progess Iowa said, "It's typical of Branstad's appointments. He typically gives these jobs to political supporters, It call into question whether he's picking the best person for the job. I would like to see a system in which candidates for commissions have to make their party affiliation and their political contributions public when they apply for any government board or commission."
This is one more reason I don't like Republicans. If they can't win at the polls they'll do anything to get their way - like voter suppression and and now changing the electoral college. Our judicial system is supposed to be non-political - but the general elections of 2010 and 2012 in Iowa have shown the line between judge and politician is blurring.
QUOTE from Heidi Grant Halvorson, motivational psychologist: "Self-compassion rather than self-esteem may be the key to unlocking your potential for greatness. Self-compassion is a willingness to look at mistakes with understanding - embracing the fact that to err is indeed human."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with Governor Braindead, sorry, I mean Governor Bumstead or is it Governor Branstad -it has to do with eight appointees he recently made. I see by the Sunday paper that our wonderful governor's eight picks for people who choose Supreme Court judges include a former gubernatorial candidate, a Presbyterian Church elder who runs a consulting business and a hospital foundation director. It sounds great until you continue reading - all are self-identified Republicans who, among them, have given thousands of dollars to Republican campaigns and causes. And state election records show that of all eight appointees seven have made contributions in their name to Republican candidates and Republican-leaning political action committees. The article didn't say anything about the lone eighth person.
Once confirmed by the Senate, the eight appointees will join eight attorneys elected by the Iowa State Bar to form the State Judicial Nominating Commission and play a key role in deciding who sits on the state's appellate courts.
Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progess Iowa said, "It's typical of Branstad's appointments. He typically gives these jobs to political supporters, It call into question whether he's picking the best person for the job. I would like to see a system in which candidates for commissions have to make their party affiliation and their political contributions public when they apply for any government board or commission."
This is one more reason I don't like Republicans. If they can't win at the polls they'll do anything to get their way - like voter suppression and and now changing the electoral college. Our judicial system is supposed to be non-political - but the general elections of 2010 and 2012 in Iowa have shown the line between judge and politician is blurring.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,368. Republicans don't study history
Today is Sunday, January 27, 2013. No stats today. My weight was 162.6 pounds.
QUOTE from 1000lifelessons.com: "Five Simple Rules for Happiness: Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with politicians not knowing history. Iowa has a 800 million dollar surplus in the state treasury. The Republicans in the legislature want to give nearly all of it back to the people of Iowa to the tune of about $750.00 per household in Iowa. The Democrats want to invest some of it in education, mental health and health care and some tax relief for lower-income Iowans. Branstad wants to use it kick-start his K-12 school reforms and to reduce property taxes.
Todd Dorman writes a column in the CR Gazette - he had some pretty thoughtful words. He said the lawmakers record of dealing with surpluses is not good. They usually end up blowing the whole thing and then when things get tought again and tax revenue drops we don't have any left for emergencies. Dorman suggested the state send every Iowa household a menu of surplus options and we could choose what we want. His final words were: "If the state is going to play Santa, the least you can do is ask us what we want. Just pretend we're lobbyists."
I remember the last time we had a big surplus, it was in the late1990's - the Republican controlled state legislature gave it all back to the taxpayers of Iowa. So when the financial crisis hit in 2008-09 we had to lay off teachers, cut school programs, cut funding for our 3 state universities, cut funding for our 15 junior college-vocational schools, etc. And now the Republicans want to do the same thing. Why don't they learn from our history? They don't learn because I swear they never read anything or don't want to know the truth.
It reminds me of the Republicans in Congress. Reagan and his wonderful tax cut, trickle-down economic theory in the early 1980s did nothing but triple the national debt - from less than one trillion dollars to 3 trillion dollars. (By the way, his key economic theorist was a guy named Professor Laffer - quite an appropriate name, wouldn't you say?) So what does Bushy Boy and Cheeney and the Republican controlled Congress do in the early 2000s? Clinton handed them a quarter of a trillion dollar surplus. So "W" and Cheeney and the Congress believe that tax rates must be cut in order to simulate the economy. They were repeating the same economic theory as Ronnie Reagan. And the results were the same - massive deficits. "W' and Cheeney increased the national debt from around 6 trillion to nearly 12 trillion. And when Obama and Biden took office, instead of receiving a quarter of a trillion dollar annual surplus they were handed a 1.2 trillion annual deficit from "W" and Cheeney. Those tax cuts really worked, didn't they?
Do any Republicans read the history books? I don't think so. For some reason they think their economic theory is right and it is going to work this time around. Like Romney and Ryan promised in the campaign.
QUOTE from 1000lifelessons.com: "Five Simple Rules for Happiness: Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with politicians not knowing history. Iowa has a 800 million dollar surplus in the state treasury. The Republicans in the legislature want to give nearly all of it back to the people of Iowa to the tune of about $750.00 per household in Iowa. The Democrats want to invest some of it in education, mental health and health care and some tax relief for lower-income Iowans. Branstad wants to use it kick-start his K-12 school reforms and to reduce property taxes.
Todd Dorman writes a column in the CR Gazette - he had some pretty thoughtful words. He said the lawmakers record of dealing with surpluses is not good. They usually end up blowing the whole thing and then when things get tought again and tax revenue drops we don't have any left for emergencies. Dorman suggested the state send every Iowa household a menu of surplus options and we could choose what we want. His final words were: "If the state is going to play Santa, the least you can do is ask us what we want. Just pretend we're lobbyists."
I remember the last time we had a big surplus, it was in the late1990's - the Republican controlled state legislature gave it all back to the taxpayers of Iowa. So when the financial crisis hit in 2008-09 we had to lay off teachers, cut school programs, cut funding for our 3 state universities, cut funding for our 15 junior college-vocational schools, etc. And now the Republicans want to do the same thing. Why don't they learn from our history? They don't learn because I swear they never read anything or don't want to know the truth.
It reminds me of the Republicans in Congress. Reagan and his wonderful tax cut, trickle-down economic theory in the early 1980s did nothing but triple the national debt - from less than one trillion dollars to 3 trillion dollars. (By the way, his key economic theorist was a guy named Professor Laffer - quite an appropriate name, wouldn't you say?) So what does Bushy Boy and Cheeney and the Republican controlled Congress do in the early 2000s? Clinton handed them a quarter of a trillion dollar surplus. So "W" and Cheeney and the Congress believe that tax rates must be cut in order to simulate the economy. They were repeating the same economic theory as Ronnie Reagan. And the results were the same - massive deficits. "W' and Cheeney increased the national debt from around 6 trillion to nearly 12 trillion. And when Obama and Biden took office, instead of receiving a quarter of a trillion dollar annual surplus they were handed a 1.2 trillion annual deficit from "W" and Cheeney. Those tax cuts really worked, didn't they?
Do any Republicans read the history books? I don't think so. For some reason they think their economic theory is right and it is going to work this time around. Like Romney and Ryan promised in the campaign.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Pete's Blog-Day 26,367 = I'm grateful to be HIV.
Today is Saturday, January 26, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking inside Walmart = 2.5 miles fo a January total of 55.2 miles. My weight was163.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Oscar Pistorius, Olympic sprinter and double amputee: "My mother used to tell us, 'Carl, put on your shoes; Oscar, put on your prosthetic legs.' So I grew up not thinking I had a disability. I grew up thinking I had different shoes."
My THOUGHTS today are about being grateful. Ruth Ann and I spent 3 days at the Isle of Capri Casino in Waterloo.It is so relaxing even if I don't win but this time it was more relaxing because I came out $130.00 ahead. I played video poker and was lucky enough to hit 4 aces with a deuce for the 5th card (called a kicker) - that was good for 2000 quarters which = $500.00. So why didn't I come home with $500.00 to the good? It is because you have to spend money to make any. Anyway, I'm grateful for the win.
I like to people watch at the casino - it makes me grateful for so many things. I'm grateful I'm not in a wheelchair or getting around with a walker or a cane. I'm grateful I don't eat like a pig - such as loading my plate up with 2,000 calories (AND THEN GO FOR SECOND HELPINGS) and then having a Diet Coke so I won't have so many calories (Ha! Ha!). I don't think I've ever seen so many women with big asses and so many men with big guts all in the same building at the same time. And that isn't just older people but younger ones also. At the Lone Wolf Sports Bar there were some young gals working that had huge butts, and I mean very very huge. It was unbelievable to see those on 20-25 year-old females.
When we got home yesterday we got a phone call from a lady at the church saying wee had 3 deaths in the last 3 days. One of them was Joan Capron Decious. Joan died from cancer at the age of 62. Joan was in my first class in Anamosa in 1962. After I had my prostate cancer surgery in 2007 Joan and I had many talks during coffee hour at church about how we were doing fighting cancer. She always asked me how I was doing and I would do the same with her. She was a fighter and was supposed to be dead 2 years ago but she lost her battle with lung and brain cancer on Thursday. I'm doing okay with mine. It has not reoccurred in 5 years. I go for my next check-up next month. Anyway, I'm so grateful that my cancer was in the prostate and not in the lungs and brain. God Bless Joan and may she RIP.
I'm so grateful that at age 73 I'm HIV. Of course, that means "I'm HEALTHY, I'm VERTICAL."
QUOTE from Oscar Pistorius, Olympic sprinter and double amputee: "My mother used to tell us, 'Carl, put on your shoes; Oscar, put on your prosthetic legs.' So I grew up not thinking I had a disability. I grew up thinking I had different shoes."
My THOUGHTS today are about being grateful. Ruth Ann and I spent 3 days at the Isle of Capri Casino in Waterloo.It is so relaxing even if I don't win but this time it was more relaxing because I came out $130.00 ahead. I played video poker and was lucky enough to hit 4 aces with a deuce for the 5th card (called a kicker) - that was good for 2000 quarters which = $500.00. So why didn't I come home with $500.00 to the good? It is because you have to spend money to make any. Anyway, I'm grateful for the win.
I like to people watch at the casino - it makes me grateful for so many things. I'm grateful I'm not in a wheelchair or getting around with a walker or a cane. I'm grateful I don't eat like a pig - such as loading my plate up with 2,000 calories (AND THEN GO FOR SECOND HELPINGS) and then having a Diet Coke so I won't have so many calories (Ha! Ha!). I don't think I've ever seen so many women with big asses and so many men with big guts all in the same building at the same time. And that isn't just older people but younger ones also. At the Lone Wolf Sports Bar there were some young gals working that had huge butts, and I mean very very huge. It was unbelievable to see those on 20-25 year-old females.
When we got home yesterday we got a phone call from a lady at the church saying wee had 3 deaths in the last 3 days. One of them was Joan Capron Decious. Joan died from cancer at the age of 62. Joan was in my first class in Anamosa in 1962. After I had my prostate cancer surgery in 2007 Joan and I had many talks during coffee hour at church about how we were doing fighting cancer. She always asked me how I was doing and I would do the same with her. She was a fighter and was supposed to be dead 2 years ago but she lost her battle with lung and brain cancer on Thursday. I'm doing okay with mine. It has not reoccurred in 5 years. I go for my next check-up next month. Anyway, I'm so grateful that my cancer was in the prostate and not in the lungs and brain. God Bless Joan and may she RIP.
I'm so grateful that at age 73 I'm HIV. Of course, that means "I'm HEALTHY, I'm VERTICAL."
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,363 = Great day yesterday.
Today is Tuesday, January 22, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 mintues of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 45.6 miles. My weight was 161.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Church Signs: Little Sayings to Help You on Your Way:
"In trying times, don't quit trying."
My THOUGHTS today: What a day yesterday was. We watched all day as Obama and Biden were sworn in for their second term. It made us feel so good to hear Obama'a speech about including all Americans in the dream and not just have a nation of a few rich while the rest have to struggle. He laid it on the line on what his beliefs and goals are for America's future. My hope is that the Republicans will feel the same way as far as contronting some of our problems. I won't bet the farm on it but maybe a few of them will be willing to compromise and get something done in a bipartisan way. Let's HOPE and PRAY this second term will be different. The Republican goal of making Obama a one-term president didn't work so what will be there excuse this time for not working together and compromising?
QUOTE from Church Signs: Little Sayings to Help You on Your Way:
"In trying times, don't quit trying."
My THOUGHTS today: What a day yesterday was. We watched all day as Obama and Biden were sworn in for their second term. It made us feel so good to hear Obama'a speech about including all Americans in the dream and not just have a nation of a few rich while the rest have to struggle. He laid it on the line on what his beliefs and goals are for America's future. My hope is that the Republicans will feel the same way as far as contronting some of our problems. I won't bet the farm on it but maybe a few of them will be willing to compromise and get something done in a bipartisan way. Let's HOPE and PRAY this second term will be different. The Republican goal of making Obama a one-term president didn't work so what will be there excuse this time for not working together and compromising?
Monday, January 21, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,362. Obama Inauguration today.
Today is January 21, 2013. Inauguration Day for Obama's second term. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 44.1 miles. My weight was 161.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Audrey Harvey in Guideposts: "Gossip is like a nasty virus. If you learn to cover your mouth you won't spread the germs."
My THOUGHTS today are on the inauguration of President Obama. I'm so happy Barack Obama is being sworn in for his second term. I shudder on what would happen to the USA if Mitt Romney was taking the oath. It is 9:50 AM and all the networks are covering the festivities and I want to watch every minute. So I'm signing off right now so I can do that.
QUOTE from Audrey Harvey in Guideposts: "Gossip is like a nasty virus. If you learn to cover your mouth you won't spread the germs."
My THOUGHTS today are on the inauguration of President Obama. I'm so happy Barack Obama is being sworn in for his second term. I shudder on what would happen to the USA if Mitt Romney was taking the oath. It is 9:50 AM and all the networks are covering the festivities and I want to watch every minute. So I'm signing off right now so I can do that.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Pete's BLOG:Day 26,361. Go Ravens and Go Yanda.
Today is Sunday, January 20, 2012. No stats today - my day off. my weight was 161.6 pounds.
QUOTE from - The Complete LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTION BOOK: "Read carefully anything that requires your signature. Remember the big print giveth and the small print taketh away."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with NFL football. The Baltimore Ravens play the New England Patriots - the winner goes to the Super Bowl. Marshall Yanda, my former student plays right guard for the Ravens. I want to see the Ravens go all the way so we can have a parade for Marshall in Anamosa. Go Ravens.
QUOTE from - The Complete LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTION BOOK: "Read carefully anything that requires your signature. Remember the big print giveth and the small print taketh away."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with NFL football. The Baltimore Ravens play the New England Patriots - the winner goes to the Super Bowl. Marshall Yanda, my former student plays right guard for the Ravens. I want to see the Ravens go all the way so we can have a parade for Marshall in Anamosa. Go Ravens.
Also today I watched Barack Obama take his oath of office for his second term. I like that guy because I trust him, he has intelligence and he knows history. Some things our former president didn't have.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Pete Blog-Day 26,360. More Male or Female objects..
Today is Saturday, January 19, 2013. MY stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 41.1 miles. My weight was down to 161.6 pounds (my second day of no sweets).
QUOTE from Linda Henley: "If God had intended us to follow recipes, He wouldn't have given us grandmothers."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with more Male or Female objects. They're good for some more laughs.
6. TRAINS: Definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.
7. EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.
8. HAMMERS: Male, because in the last 5000 years, they're hardly changed at all, and are definitely handy to have around.
9. THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying.
QUOTE from Linda Henley: "If God had intended us to follow recipes, He wouldn't have given us grandmothers."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with more Male or Female objects. They're good for some more laughs.
6. TRAINS: Definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.
7. EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.
8. HAMMERS: Male, because in the last 5000 years, they're hardly changed at all, and are definitely handy to have around.
9. THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Pete BLOG-Day 26,359. Male or Female.
Today is Friday, January 18, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 38.1 miles. My weight went down (after I went on my one-day diet) to 162.6 pounds. I lost 1.8 pounds in 24 hours.
QUOTE from Ruth Goode: "Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children."
My THOUGHTS today. After the sad news the last couple of days it is time for some HUNOR. I received an email from sister Jan yesterday. It is funny.
MALE OR FEMALE? You might not have known this, but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples:
1. FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.
2. PHOTOCOPIERS: They are female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc it you push the wrong buttons.
3. TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.
4. HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under their butt.
5. SPONGES: They are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.
I'll have 5 more tomorrow.
QUOTE from Ruth Goode: "Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children."
My THOUGHTS today. After the sad news the last couple of days it is time for some HUNOR. I received an email from sister Jan yesterday. It is funny.
MALE OR FEMALE? You might not have known this, but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples:
1. FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.
2. PHOTOCOPIERS: They are female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc it you push the wrong buttons.
3. TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.
4. HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under their butt.
5. SPONGES: They are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.
I'll have 5 more tomorrow.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,358. My fourth sibling passes.
Today is Thursday, January 17, 2013. My stats today: 10 minuted of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 47 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for a January total of 35.6 miles. My weight was 164.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Joseph Jefferson: "We are but tenants and shortly the great Landlord will give us notice that our lease has expired."
My THOUGHTS today. My brother Paul's lease expired. Paul passed away on Tuesday, January 15, at 6:50 PM in a Modesto, California hospital. He was 85 (would have been 86 on March 20). He leaves behind wife Nellie. daughter Kim, grandsons Matthew and Javon, sister Jan and brothers Don, Jim, John, Mark and me Pete. And of course all the in-laws: Joan (Don), Don Blattie (Jan), Verleen (Jim), Marlys (Chuck), Ruth Ann (Pete), Lorna (John), and Marge (Mark). Plus many nieces and nephews. to numerous to name.
Paul is the fourth sibling to pass. Sister Karen died of heart trouble in her first day of life in May of 1944, sister Betty died in November of 2007 from ovarian cancer, brother Chuck died of a stroke in June, 2012. I'm not sure what the doctors will say was the cause of Paul's death. I do know he had been going down hill for several years and was getting weaker and weaker.
Losing two brothers is seven months is hard to take. At Chuck's funeral in June I remember talking to brother-in-law Don and he said, "There are going to be a lot more of these in the years coming up." How true. The six of us left are ages 82, 79, 78, 72, 70 and 66. And the in-laws are similar ages.
Paul had a good life. He truly enjoyed being a Lutheran minister. He had about 80 good years, the last five were a downhill slide. At Paul's retirement party at our house in Anamosa in 1992 all eight of us kids roasted Paul real good. Tons of stories were brought up about our memories of Paul. One of the things I said that night was: "Paul, I remember when I was at ages 7-8 and you were around 21-22 and we would sit on the front porch of our house in Mantorville and you would always ask me this question: 'Pete, do you think you will ever amount to anything?'" I told Paul I hope I get a passing grade. We had so many laughs that night - it was one of the most happy and memorable family nights the nine of us kids ever had.
Paul was special to Ruth Ann and me. He married us at Root Prairie Lutheran Church in Foutain, Minnesota on June 18, 1960. He married Brad and Inge on October 18, 1986 and he married Carron and Dean on May 2, 1987. Both Brad and Carron were married at St. Paul Lutheran Curch in Anamosa, Iowa. Ruth Ann and I were also sponsors for grandson Matthew in 1991. And Ruth Ann and Paul were very close. They had this running discussion every Christmas when they would ask each other if they had gotten their Christmas present. Of course, neither one ever sent a gift - they always blamed it on the Pony Express being too slow. If was funny to hear those two go at it.
Paul is being cremated and there will be a special memorial service this summer for him at West St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Oslo, Minnesota - less than a mile from the farm where he was born. It was his boyhood church where he was baptized in 1927 and confirmed in 1941. His daughter Kim told us last night that she will scatter some of his ashes around West St. Olaf after the service.
Paul, you will be missed. God Bless and Rest in Peace.
QUOTE from Joseph Jefferson: "We are but tenants and shortly the great Landlord will give us notice that our lease has expired."
My THOUGHTS today. My brother Paul's lease expired. Paul passed away on Tuesday, January 15, at 6:50 PM in a Modesto, California hospital. He was 85 (would have been 86 on March 20). He leaves behind wife Nellie. daughter Kim, grandsons Matthew and Javon, sister Jan and brothers Don, Jim, John, Mark and me Pete. And of course all the in-laws: Joan (Don), Don Blattie (Jan), Verleen (Jim), Marlys (Chuck), Ruth Ann (Pete), Lorna (John), and Marge (Mark). Plus many nieces and nephews. to numerous to name.
Paul is the fourth sibling to pass. Sister Karen died of heart trouble in her first day of life in May of 1944, sister Betty died in November of 2007 from ovarian cancer, brother Chuck died of a stroke in June, 2012. I'm not sure what the doctors will say was the cause of Paul's death. I do know he had been going down hill for several years and was getting weaker and weaker.
Losing two brothers is seven months is hard to take. At Chuck's funeral in June I remember talking to brother-in-law Don and he said, "There are going to be a lot more of these in the years coming up." How true. The six of us left are ages 82, 79, 78, 72, 70 and 66. And the in-laws are similar ages.
Paul had a good life. He truly enjoyed being a Lutheran minister. He had about 80 good years, the last five were a downhill slide. At Paul's retirement party at our house in Anamosa in 1992 all eight of us kids roasted Paul real good. Tons of stories were brought up about our memories of Paul. One of the things I said that night was: "Paul, I remember when I was at ages 7-8 and you were around 21-22 and we would sit on the front porch of our house in Mantorville and you would always ask me this question: 'Pete, do you think you will ever amount to anything?'" I told Paul I hope I get a passing grade. We had so many laughs that night - it was one of the most happy and memorable family nights the nine of us kids ever had.
Paul was special to Ruth Ann and me. He married us at Root Prairie Lutheran Church in Foutain, Minnesota on June 18, 1960. He married Brad and Inge on October 18, 1986 and he married Carron and Dean on May 2, 1987. Both Brad and Carron were married at St. Paul Lutheran Curch in Anamosa, Iowa. Ruth Ann and I were also sponsors for grandson Matthew in 1991. And Ruth Ann and Paul were very close. They had this running discussion every Christmas when they would ask each other if they had gotten their Christmas present. Of course, neither one ever sent a gift - they always blamed it on the Pony Express being too slow. If was funny to hear those two go at it.
Paul is being cremated and there will be a special memorial service this summer for him at West St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Oslo, Minnesota - less than a mile from the farm where he was born. It was his boyhood church where he was baptized in 1927 and confirmed in 1941. His daughter Kim told us last night that she will scatter some of his ashes around West St. Olaf after the service.
Paul, you will be missed. God Bless and Rest in Peace.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Pete BLOG-Day 26,357. The Ten commandments-Minnesota Style..
Today is Wdenesday, January 16, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 33.0 miles. My weight was 163.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Grandparents.com: "Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies."
My THOUGHTS today: Just a little HUMOR today. I grew up in Minnesota and I'm 100% Norwegian. The following email from friends Dale and Pat Jenson made me chuckle. The title is The Ten Commandments-Minnesota Style.
1. Der's only one God, ya know.
2. Don't make dat walleye on yur mantle an idol.
3. Cussin' ain't nice.
4. Go to church even when yur up nort.
5. Honor da folks.
6. Don't kill. Ketch and release.
7. Der's only one Lena fir Ole. No cheatin.
8. Fit ain't yur lutefisk, don't take it.
9. Don't be braggin bout how much snow ya shofeled.
9. Keep yur mind off yur neighbors hot-dish.
QUOTE from Grandparents.com: "Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies."
My THOUGHTS today: Just a little HUMOR today. I grew up in Minnesota and I'm 100% Norwegian. The following email from friends Dale and Pat Jenson made me chuckle. The title is The Ten Commandments-Minnesota Style.
1. Der's only one God, ya know.
2. Don't make dat walleye on yur mantle an idol.
3. Cussin' ain't nice.
4. Go to church even when yur up nort.
5. Honor da folks.
6. Don't kill. Ketch and release.
7. Der's only one Lena fir Ole. No cheatin.
8. Fit ain't yur lutefisk, don't take it.
9. Don't be braggin bout how much snow ya shofeled.
9. Keep yur mind off yur neighbors hot-dish.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,356. Why Americans live shorter lives.
Today is Tuesday, January 15, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a January total of 30.5 miles.
QUOTE fron Carl Sandburg: "Life is like an onion; you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with why Americans live shorter lives and have poorer health than other industrialized nations. Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginis Commonwealth University served as chariman of a research committee that studied health care in 17 industrialized nations. Here are some of the reasons for our shorter lives and poorer health.
First of all these facts: U.S. life expectancy for men is 75.6 years - the lowest of the 17 nations. And life expectancy for women was 80.7 years - second lowest. WHY?
1. We have more gun deaths. We average 6 violent deaths per 100.000 people. Only Finland was anywhere near close with 2 deaths per 100,000.
2. We have more infant mortality and low birth-weight babies. The rate of premature babies in the U.S. is 12%, comparable to sub-Saharan Africa.
3. We have more adolescent pregancy and sexually tranmitted infections. U.S. pregnancy rate for girls aged 15-19 was more than three times greater than any of the other 16 nations.
4. We have more HIV and AIDS. The incidence of AIDS in the U.S. is 122 per million - nine times the average of the 14 per million in the others.
5. We have more drug-related deaths. We may drink and smoke less than others but we abuse more prescription and illicit drugs.
6. We have more obesity and diabetes. Our calorie consumption was 3,770 per day, higher than any other nation.
7. We have a lot of heart disease. Only Finland was higher.
8. We have more injuries and homicide. Our deaths from car crashes, non-transportation-related injuries, and violence occur at much higher rates than others and are a leading cause of death in kids, adolescents, and young adults.
9. All the other nations have universal health care. As a result we have the largest percentage of uninsured population and more limited access to primary care. (Let's hope Obamacare will solve some of our problems - it emphasizes preventive care.)
QUOTE fron Carl Sandburg: "Life is like an onion; you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with why Americans live shorter lives and have poorer health than other industrialized nations. Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginis Commonwealth University served as chariman of a research committee that studied health care in 17 industrialized nations. Here are some of the reasons for our shorter lives and poorer health.
First of all these facts: U.S. life expectancy for men is 75.6 years - the lowest of the 17 nations. And life expectancy for women was 80.7 years - second lowest. WHY?
1. We have more gun deaths. We average 6 violent deaths per 100.000 people. Only Finland was anywhere near close with 2 deaths per 100,000.
2. We have more infant mortality and low birth-weight babies. The rate of premature babies in the U.S. is 12%, comparable to sub-Saharan Africa.
3. We have more adolescent pregancy and sexually tranmitted infections. U.S. pregnancy rate for girls aged 15-19 was more than three times greater than any of the other 16 nations.
4. We have more HIV and AIDS. The incidence of AIDS in the U.S. is 122 per million - nine times the average of the 14 per million in the others.
5. We have more drug-related deaths. We may drink and smoke less than others but we abuse more prescription and illicit drugs.
6. We have more obesity and diabetes. Our calorie consumption was 3,770 per day, higher than any other nation.
7. We have a lot of heart disease. Only Finland was higher.
8. We have more injuries and homicide. Our deaths from car crashes, non-transportation-related injuries, and violence occur at much higher rates than others and are a leading cause of death in kids, adolescents, and young adults.
9. All the other nations have universal health care. As a result we have the largest percentage of uninsured population and more limited access to primary care. (Let's hope Obamacare will solve some of our problems - it emphasizes preventive care.)
Monday, January 14, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,355. The number 13 - Be prepared.
Today is Monday, January 14, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 55 minutes of walking = 3.0 miles for a Jauuary total of 28.5 miles. My weight was 162.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Charles M. Schulz: "Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use."
My THOUGHTS today: This year of the 21st century ends in the number 13. The Sunday paper had an interesting article about the number 13. The title was: "PROCEED WITH CAUTION -Will we survive the entire year of '13?"
Fear of the number13 is called triskaidekaphobia. National Geographic once estimated that on Friday the 13th the economy loses more than $800 million from consumers avoiding travel, movies, dinner, weddings, and more. You have to wonder: How much more will be lost in a whole year branded with the number 13? The biggest problem this year will be in September and December, months harboring the year's most ominous dates - Friday the 13th, 2013. The author said that on Friday the 13th some people won't even get out of bed. He went on to say that even when nothing happens some people will still believe the same old thing about Friday the 13th the next time. It is so big a big fear that hundreds of hotels and office buildings choose not to have a 13th floor; hundreds of airports don't have a Gate 13; and developers bypass 13 when numbering new homes. Fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekaphobia.
Where did this fear of 13 come from? Researchers hypothesize as follows:
-Jesus had 13 people at the Last Supper and he was crucified on a Friday.
-In Norse mythology Loki, the 13th guest at a dinner party, had Balder the Beautiful shot with a mistletotipped arrow, plungung Earth into darkness.
-In 1772 B.C. in Babylon, Hammurabi's Code of Laws omitted the number 13 in its list of laws.
-Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Jack the Ripper had 13 letters in their names.
-And did something happen 100 years ago in 1913 that was really terrible/bad? Well, you decide - on February 3, 1913, the states ratified the 16th amendment to the Constitution, giving the government the power to impose and collect income taxes!!.
MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING TO THE NUMBER 13.
HUMOR for today: Grandmothers are just antique little girls and Grandfathers are just antique little boys.
QUOTE from Charles M. Schulz: "Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use."
My THOUGHTS today: This year of the 21st century ends in the number 13. The Sunday paper had an interesting article about the number 13. The title was: "PROCEED WITH CAUTION -Will we survive the entire year of '13?"
Fear of the number13 is called triskaidekaphobia. National Geographic once estimated that on Friday the 13th the economy loses more than $800 million from consumers avoiding travel, movies, dinner, weddings, and more. You have to wonder: How much more will be lost in a whole year branded with the number 13? The biggest problem this year will be in September and December, months harboring the year's most ominous dates - Friday the 13th, 2013. The author said that on Friday the 13th some people won't even get out of bed. He went on to say that even when nothing happens some people will still believe the same old thing about Friday the 13th the next time. It is so big a big fear that hundreds of hotels and office buildings choose not to have a 13th floor; hundreds of airports don't have a Gate 13; and developers bypass 13 when numbering new homes. Fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekaphobia.
Where did this fear of 13 come from? Researchers hypothesize as follows:
-Jesus had 13 people at the Last Supper and he was crucified on a Friday.
-In Norse mythology Loki, the 13th guest at a dinner party, had Balder the Beautiful shot with a mistletotipped arrow, plungung Earth into darkness.
-In 1772 B.C. in Babylon, Hammurabi's Code of Laws omitted the number 13 in its list of laws.
-Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Jack the Ripper had 13 letters in their names.
-And did something happen 100 years ago in 1913 that was really terrible/bad? Well, you decide - on February 3, 1913, the states ratified the 16th amendment to the Constitution, giving the government the power to impose and collect income taxes!!.
MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING TO THE NUMBER 13.
HUMOR for today: Grandmothers are just antique little girls and Grandfathers are just antique little boys.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26, 354. Go Baltimore Ravens
Today is Sunday, January 13, 2013. No stats today - my day off. My weight was 163.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Denzel Washington: "Don't aspire to make a living. Aspire to make a difference."
My THOUGHTS today: Go Baltimore Ravens!!!! The Ravens beat the Denver Broncos yesterday by 38-35 in double overtime. I want the Ravens to go all the way to the Super Bowl (and win it). In order to do this they will have to beat the winner of the New England-Houston game bring played at 3:30 today. I have a personal reason for this as a former student of mine plays right guard for the Ravens. His name is Marshall Yanda and he just made second team all-pro. Maybe he'll think of me as his favorite teacher and reward me with a little ____?_____(Ha Ha). GO RAVENS.
HUMOR for today: The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy. (Sam
QUOTE from Denzel Washington: "Don't aspire to make a living. Aspire to make a difference."
My THOUGHTS today: Go Baltimore Ravens!!!! The Ravens beat the Denver Broncos yesterday by 38-35 in double overtime. I want the Ravens to go all the way to the Super Bowl (and win it). In order to do this they will have to beat the winner of the New England-Houston game bring played at 3:30 today. I have a personal reason for this as a former student of mine plays right guard for the Ravens. His name is Marshall Yanda and he just made second team all-pro. Maybe he'll think of me as his favorite teacher and reward me with a little ____?_____(Ha Ha). GO RAVENS.
HUMOR for today: The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy. (Sam
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,353. And still more reasons to Thank Obama
Today is Saturday, January 12, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 42 minutes of walking = 2. 3 miles for a January total of 25. 5 miles. My weight was 162.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Reba McEntire, singer: "I'm not afraid of failure. I just want to try new things. If they don't work out, I'll do something else."
My THOUGHTS today: My final reasons to be grateful to President Obama compared to George W. Bush.
20. No longer is the U.S. going without a health care law.
21. No longer will health insurance companies be able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions OR cancel coverage when you get sick OR put a dollar limit on your coverage.
22. No longer will women have to pay for contraception, pap smears, mammograms, well-baby care, and cervical cancer screenings.
23. No longer will Senior Citizens have to pay for annual physicals.
24. No longer will there be a prescription drug "donut hole" after 2020.
25. No longer are credit card companies able to assess unfair and retroactive rate increases or hidden fees.
26. No longer will Anamosa go without a new Middle School - thanks to Obama;s plan.
27. No more cowboy diplomacy by a shoot-em-up (ask questions later) President and Vice-President. Under Obama America has a whole new respect in the world.
HUMOR for today: If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex. (So say some conservatives)
QUOTE from Reba McEntire, singer: "I'm not afraid of failure. I just want to try new things. If they don't work out, I'll do something else."
My THOUGHTS today: My final reasons to be grateful to President Obama compared to George W. Bush.
20. No longer is the U.S. going without a health care law.
21. No longer will health insurance companies be able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions OR cancel coverage when you get sick OR put a dollar limit on your coverage.
22. No longer will women have to pay for contraception, pap smears, mammograms, well-baby care, and cervical cancer screenings.
23. No longer will Senior Citizens have to pay for annual physicals.
24. No longer will there be a prescription drug "donut hole" after 2020.
25. No longer are credit card companies able to assess unfair and retroactive rate increases or hidden fees.
26. No longer will Anamosa go without a new Middle School - thanks to Obama;s plan.
27. No more cowboy diplomacy by a shoot-em-up (ask questions later) President and Vice-President. Under Obama America has a whole new respect in the world.
HUMOR for today: If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex. (So say some conservatives)
Friday, January 11, 2013
Pete BLOG-Day 26,352. Still more gratitude for President Obama
Today is Friday, January 11, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a January total of 23.2 miles. My weight was 162.4 pounds.
QUOTE from Felix Baumgartner, record-setting Austrian skydiver: "I wish the whole world could see what I see. Sometimes you have to go up really high to understand how small you really are."
My THOUGHTS today: Here some more reasons Americans should be grateful for Obama in comparison to George W. Bush.
13. No more hunters getting shot in the face by the vice-president of the U.S.
14. No longer do our military personnel have to hide their sexual identify because Obama got Don't ask, Don't tell repealed.
15. No more news about Terry Schaibo or Valerie Plame.
16. No more silencing of NASA scientists or other scientists regarding their concern about global warming.
17.No longer is Wall Street operating without some government regulations.
18.No more shoes being thrown at the Presient of the U.S.
19. No more job losses at the rate of 700,000 a month like we had when Obama took office.
HUMOR for today: Abe Lincoln said: "It is a fortunate thing I wasn't born a woman, for I cannot refuse anything."
QUOTE from Felix Baumgartner, record-setting Austrian skydiver: "I wish the whole world could see what I see. Sometimes you have to go up really high to understand how small you really are."
My THOUGHTS today: Here some more reasons Americans should be grateful for Obama in comparison to George W. Bush.
13. No more hunters getting shot in the face by the vice-president of the U.S.
14. No longer do our military personnel have to hide their sexual identify because Obama got Don't ask, Don't tell repealed.
15. No more news about Terry Schaibo or Valerie Plame.
16. No more silencing of NASA scientists or other scientists regarding their concern about global warming.
17.No longer is Wall Street operating without some government regulations.
18.No more shoes being thrown at the Presient of the U.S.
19. No more job losses at the rate of 700,000 a month like we had when Obama took office.
HUMOR for today: Abe Lincoln said: "It is a fortunate thing I wasn't born a woman, for I cannot refuse anything."
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,351. More GRATITUDE for Obama.
Today is Thursday, January 10, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 53 minutes of walking = 2.9 miles for a January total of 21.2 miles. My weight stayed at 162.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Will Rogers: "We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."
My THOUGHTS today: I said I would list more of the reasons Americans should be grateful for Obama's first term compared to Bush's two terms. Here goes:
7. No more books published like "Bush's Brain."
8. No longer does my son Brad, living in Denmark, have to conceal the fact he is an American like he had to do when Bush invaded Iraq.
9. No longer are American entertainers, like the Dixie Chicks did, having to feel embarassed about who is President of the U.S.
10. No longer is Osama bin Ladin threatening to do more violence to and killing of Americans.
11. No longer are Halliburton and KBR ripping off the U.S. government of millions of taxpayer dollars.
12. No more news these days about Abu Ghraib or torture like waterboarding.
HUMOR for today: Speaker Boehner has reappointed Michelle Bachman to the House Intelligence Committee. (It is so sad but it is also so funny).
QUOTE from Will Rogers: "We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."
My THOUGHTS today: I said I would list more of the reasons Americans should be grateful for Obama's first term compared to Bush's two terms. Here goes:
7. No more books published like "Bush's Brain."
8. No longer does my son Brad, living in Denmark, have to conceal the fact he is an American like he had to do when Bush invaded Iraq.
9. No longer are American entertainers, like the Dixie Chicks did, having to feel embarassed about who is President of the U.S.
10. No longer is Osama bin Ladin threatening to do more violence to and killing of Americans.
11. No longer are Halliburton and KBR ripping off the U.S. government of millions of taxpayer dollars.
12. No more news these days about Abu Ghraib or torture like waterboarding.
HUMOR for today: Speaker Boehner has reappointed Michelle Bachman to the House Intelligence Committee. (It is so sad but it is also so funny).
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Pete's BLOG- Day 26,350. BEING GRATEFUL FOR OBAMA
Today is Wednesday, January 9, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes lifting weights and 46 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 18.3 miles. My weight was 162.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Malcolm Glaswell: "The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are lacking in the latter."
My THOUGHTS today: Yesterday I said I would list some of the reasons Americans should be grateful to President Obama for what he's done in his first four years. What I'm doing is comparing and contrasting Obama's record to Bush's record. Here is a sample:
1. No more lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction or yellowcake in Africa.
2. No more seeing our president looking for WMDs under his desk and behind curtains in the Oval Office and then smiling about it. And doing this when our troops were getting killed and maimed in Iraq.
3. No more war in Iraq.
4. No more talk from our president about privatizing Social Security and Medicare.
5. No more books like "Bush's Brain."
6. No longer are GM and Chrysler going bankrupt - they are thriving.
I'll list some more tomorrow.
QUOTE from Malcolm Glaswell: "The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are lacking in the latter."
My THOUGHTS today: Yesterday I said I would list some of the reasons Americans should be grateful to President Obama for what he's done in his first four years. What I'm doing is comparing and contrasting Obama's record to Bush's record. Here is a sample:
1. No more lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction or yellowcake in Africa.
2. No more seeing our president looking for WMDs under his desk and behind curtains in the Oval Office and then smiling about it. And doing this when our troops were getting killed and maimed in Iraq.
3. No more war in Iraq.
4. No more talk from our president about privatizing Social Security and Medicare.
5. No more books like "Bush's Brain."
6. No longer are GM and Chrysler going bankrupt - they are thriving.
I'll list some more tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Pete BLOG-Day 26,349. Walking to and from the pub.
Today is Tuesday, January 8, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a January total of 15.8 miles. My weight was 163.6 pounds.
QUOTE from Desmond Tutu: "Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
My THOUGHTS today deal with trying to finish up a "letter-to-the-editor." The topic is why Americans should be grateful that President Obama is getting a second term. I identify many of Obama's accomplishments in his first term compared to what Geroge W. Bush did in his two terms. So far I've come up with 30-40 achievemients - I'll share some of them in the next couple of days.
HUMOR for today: It's a ten-minute walk from my house to the pub. Weirdly, it's a two-hour walk from the pub to my house.
QUOTE from Desmond Tutu: "Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
My THOUGHTS today deal with trying to finish up a "letter-to-the-editor." The topic is why Americans should be grateful that President Obama is getting a second term. I identify many of Obama's accomplishments in his first term compared to what Geroge W. Bush did in his two terms. So far I've come up with 30-40 achievemients - I'll share some of them in the next couple of days.
HUMOR for today: It's a ten-minute walk from my house to the pub. Weirdly, it's a two-hour walk from the pub to my house.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,348. A fun funeral.
Today is Monday, January 7, 2012. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 46 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 13.8 miles.
My weight was 163,8 pounds.
QUOTE from Larry Page, cofounder of Google: "It is often easier to make progress on mega-ambitious dreams. Since no one else is crazy enough to do it, you have little competition."
My THOUGHTS today are about a happy funeral.Thsi morning I went to a funeral at our church. Thr deceased was Bud Hahn who was 2 weeks shy of being 93 years old. Bud and Ruth Ann and I hade similar roots - we all were born and raised in southeast Minnesota. He was born on a farm near Preston in 1921 and we were raised in Chatfield, only 15 miles away. Bud was in FDRs Civilian Conservatiion Corps and served in the Coast Guard during WWII - making several trips across the Atlantic. He was trained in elcetronics and got a job working for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids in 1953 - and retired from there in 1983. I mention this funeral because it was a happy funeral - it was truly a celebration of Bud's life. It is the kind of funeral I want for myself and for Ruth Ann.
HUMOR for today: The houses that undertakers make last till doomsday. (by William Shakespeare.)
My weight was 163,8 pounds.
QUOTE from Larry Page, cofounder of Google: "It is often easier to make progress on mega-ambitious dreams. Since no one else is crazy enough to do it, you have little competition."
My THOUGHTS today are about a happy funeral.Thsi morning I went to a funeral at our church. Thr deceased was Bud Hahn who was 2 weeks shy of being 93 years old. Bud and Ruth Ann and I hade similar roots - we all were born and raised in southeast Minnesota. He was born on a farm near Preston in 1921 and we were raised in Chatfield, only 15 miles away. Bud was in FDRs Civilian Conservatiion Corps and served in the Coast Guard during WWII - making several trips across the Atlantic. He was trained in elcetronics and got a job working for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids in 1953 - and retired from there in 1983. I mention this funeral because it was a happy funeral - it was truly a celebration of Bud's life. It is the kind of funeral I want for myself and for Ruth Ann.
HUMOR for today: The houses that undertakers make last till doomsday. (by William Shakespeare.)
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,347. Darvin's 93rd birthday.
Today is Sunday, January 6, 2013. No walk today - it is my day of rest.
QUOTE from Sam Levenson, humorist: "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."
My THOUGHTS today. I'm happy for Darvin, my 93-year-old friend, who will be celebrating his 93rd birthday on the 8th. His lady friend, Betty, had a song request for him on this morning's radio show (The Leo Greco Show) from WMT radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The song had to do with being a farmer all his life. He is a good guy and I'm so happy he found Betty to offer him some companionship in his later years. He almost acts like a high school kid as he is so happy to be with Betty. Way to go, you two.
QUOTE from Sam Levenson, humorist: "As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."
My THOUGHTS today. I'm happy for Darvin, my 93-year-old friend, who will be celebrating his 93rd birthday on the 8th. His lady friend, Betty, had a song request for him on this morning's radio show (The Leo Greco Show) from WMT radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The song had to do with being a farmer all his life. He is a good guy and I'm so happy he found Betty to offer him some companionship in his later years. He almost acts like a high school kid as he is so happy to be with Betty. Way to go, you two.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26, 346. The debt ceiling fiasco
Today is Saturday, January 5, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 40 minutes of walking = 2.2 miles for a January total of 11.3 miles. My weight was 163.2 pounds.
QUOTE from Zadie Smith in the Reader's Digest: "The world does not deliver meaning to you. You have to make it meaningful...and decide what you want and need and must do."
My THOUGHTS today: With the debt ceiling fight looming in the weeks ahead the thought going through my mind is, Why did the Republicans cut taxes in 2001 and 2003 under "W" and think that they were going to produce more revenue when 'trickle-down' economics didn't work under Ronald Reagan. He tripled the national debt in his 8 years from one trillion to over three trillion by doing the same thing. And why didn't the Republicans pay for W's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq instead of putting them on the credit card? And why didn't the Republicans pay for the Part D Prescription Drug law implemented in 2006 by putting those expenses on the same credit card? For some reason the Republicans never hesitated to raise the debt ceiling when "W" was in office. But now with Obama as President they are threatening to shut down the government unless they get their way. This is why I hate Republicans - they are truly the "problem-creator's" for the USA.
HUMOR for today:
Q. What was the smart thing a Democrat did who bought an outhouse?
A. He rented the basement to a Republican.
QUOTE from Zadie Smith in the Reader's Digest: "The world does not deliver meaning to you. You have to make it meaningful...and decide what you want and need and must do."
My THOUGHTS today: With the debt ceiling fight looming in the weeks ahead the thought going through my mind is, Why did the Republicans cut taxes in 2001 and 2003 under "W" and think that they were going to produce more revenue when 'trickle-down' economics didn't work under Ronald Reagan. He tripled the national debt in his 8 years from one trillion to over three trillion by doing the same thing. And why didn't the Republicans pay for W's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq instead of putting them on the credit card? And why didn't the Republicans pay for the Part D Prescription Drug law implemented in 2006 by putting those expenses on the same credit card? For some reason the Republicans never hesitated to raise the debt ceiling when "W" was in office. But now with Obama as President they are threatening to shut down the government unless they get their way. This is why I hate Republicans - they are truly the "problem-creator's" for the USA.
HUMOR for today:
Q. What was the smart thing a Democrat did who bought an outhouse?
A. He rented the basement to a Republican.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Pete BLOG-Day 26,345. More thoughts about voter fraud in Iowa
Today is Friday, January 4, 2012. My stats today" 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 48 minutes of walking = 2.6 miles for a January total of 7.1 miles. My weight was 163.8 pounds.
QUOTE from Cee Lo Green in Guideposts: "You have to dream big, wish hard, and chase after your goals, because no one is going to do it for you."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with voter fraud in Iowa (or lack of it). Iowa's Secretaty of State, Matt Schultz, is still still trying to prove there is massive voter fraud in Iowa's elections. He is pressing forward with his plan to access government immigration and transportation databases to compare information with voter rolls. He is basically trying to scare people to stay home and not vote, mainly Latinos. Of course, Schultz is a Republican, getting elected in 2010. It seems to me we should be expanding democracy, not restricting it. It is part of an effort to suppress voter turn-out in 2014 and beyond - especially for voters who will most likely vote Democrat. The facts are, according to the 99 county auditors in Iowa, there is little fraud, if any, in Iowa's elections. If I was a Republican I would be ashamed.
QUOTE from Cee Lo Green in Guideposts: "You have to dream big, wish hard, and chase after your goals, because no one is going to do it for you."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with voter fraud in Iowa (or lack of it). Iowa's Secretaty of State, Matt Schultz, is still still trying to prove there is massive voter fraud in Iowa's elections. He is pressing forward with his plan to access government immigration and transportation databases to compare information with voter rolls. He is basically trying to scare people to stay home and not vote, mainly Latinos. Of course, Schultz is a Republican, getting elected in 2010. It seems to me we should be expanding democracy, not restricting it. It is part of an effort to suppress voter turn-out in 2014 and beyond - especially for voters who will most likely vote Democrat. The facts are, according to the 99 county auditors in Iowa, there is little fraud, if any, in Iowa's elections. If I was a Republican I would be ashamed.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 24,343-4. A stress reliever
Wednesday, January 2, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of lifting weights and 37 minutes of walking = 2,0 miles for a January total of 4.5 miles. My weight was 164.4 pounds.
Ruth Ann and I went to Preston, Minnesota to visit Roger, Ruth Ann's brother.
Today is Thursday, January 3, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a January total of 6.5 miles. My weight was 164 pounds.
QUOTE from Reminisce Magazine: "
A lot of us would like to move mountains, but few of us are willing to pracrice on small hills."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with relieving stress. Today I relieved a stress I've had for 10 years. I bought a pick-up in 2003 from an old colleague at the Middle School. It was a 1989 Nissan pick-up. I've had nothing but headaches with that thing since I bought. It never would start right and I think I put a new battery in just about every year. For some reason they would wear down in a hurry and Theisen's Farm and Home Store would give me a free one. Anyway, today I had Dave (Carron's friend), and a friend of his pull it into my driveway and that is where it will stay until I can sell it for $300.00. The stress of that pick-up will be no more for Pete Bungum - I'm done with it.
HUMOR for today: "Did you hear about the guy from Texas who incorporated himself and became a laughing stock?"
Ruth Ann and I went to Preston, Minnesota to visit Roger, Ruth Ann's brother.
Today is Thursday, January 3, 2013. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 37 minutes of walking = 2.0 miles for a January total of 6.5 miles. My weight was 164 pounds.
QUOTE from Reminisce Magazine: "
A lot of us would like to move mountains, but few of us are willing to pracrice on small hills."
My THOUGHTS today have to do with relieving stress. Today I relieved a stress I've had for 10 years. I bought a pick-up in 2003 from an old colleague at the Middle School. It was a 1989 Nissan pick-up. I've had nothing but headaches with that thing since I bought. It never would start right and I think I put a new battery in just about every year. For some reason they would wear down in a hurry and Theisen's Farm and Home Store would give me a free one. Anyway, today I had Dave (Carron's friend), and a friend of his pull it into my driveway and that is where it will stay until I can sell it for $300.00. The stress of that pick-up will be no more for Pete Bungum - I'm done with it.
HUMOR for today: "Did you hear about the guy from Texas who incorporated himself and became a laughing stock?"
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Pete's BLOG-Day 26,342 Dear Abby's Resolutions
Today is Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - New Year's Day. My stats today: 10 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes on the exercise ball and 45 minutes of walking = 2.5 miles for a January total of 2.5 miles. My weight was 162,8 pounds.
QUOTE from Hillary Clinton: "Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."
My THOUGHTS today: Every New Year's Day Dear Abby runs the same column - it is the often-requested list of New Year's resolutions that were adapted by her mother from the original credo of Al-Anon. Here it is:
1. Just for today, I will live through this day only and not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow.
2. I know I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
3. Just for today, I will be happy and not dwell on negative thoughts.
4. Just for today, I will accept what is and face reality.
5. Just for today, I will improve my mind and not be a mental loafer.
6. Just for today, I wil make a conscious effort to be agreeable and be kind and courteous.
7. Just for today, I will do something positive to improve my health.
8. Just for today, I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions.
I love this list - I've tried to follow most of them.
QUOTE from Hillary Clinton: "Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."
My THOUGHTS today: Every New Year's Day Dear Abby runs the same column - it is the often-requested list of New Year's resolutions that were adapted by her mother from the original credo of Al-Anon. Here it is:
1. Just for today, I will live through this day only and not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow.
2. I know I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
3. Just for today, I will be happy and not dwell on negative thoughts.
4. Just for today, I will accept what is and face reality.
5. Just for today, I will improve my mind and not be a mental loafer.
6. Just for today, I wil make a conscious effort to be agreeable and be kind and courteous.
7. Just for today, I will do something positive to improve my health.
8. Just for today, I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions.
I love this list - I've tried to follow most of them.
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