His and my son played ball at the same park. It was before he was a writer. My wife actually got to know him well as my work schedule often kept me from seeing the games, which I hated.
I did almost get to meet Barbara Bush. Again I had to work but my wife talked with her a few minutes. Kind of a bummer when I had to bring home the bacon while the wife rubbed shoulders with the first Lady.
As a side note, I might have met some famous LA Dodgers when I was 11. Long story.
Daily writing prompt
What is good about having a pet?
The way I would have worded it is what is bad about having a pet? That is easy to answer. There is the expense, the cleaning up. There is all the training, especially dogs. There is the problem of getting someone to watch after them if you have to leave them for a while. And the worse part, of course, saying good bey when it gets time for them to go. I am 73 and I have seen many pets, both dogs and cats, get sick, old or killed. I really don’t like that part.
As for all the rest, that parts good, very good. Now you see, isn’t that easier than having to list all the good stuff, like the companionship, the humor. Then of course, it is nice to have a dog curl up next to you while you watching a sad movie or something. It’s really nice to take them for walks and to play fetch with them.
When we had a border collie. he entertained the neighbors too. More than once, we went in to a restaurant and someone working there said they recognized us. We were the one with a dog that chased bubbles or RC cars. We also had a dog that loved to swim. She really liked water. We scolded my older son many times for turning on the water in the back yard. Then, one day, my wife caught her red pawed. She was turning on the facet between her paws. I guess she got a drink, played in it a while then, of course, on one had told her to turn it off. My guess is she saw one of us doing it.
We had a calico cat that kept stealing the bread and hiding it. The next door neighbors cat was visiting us one morning and stole the last slice of ham my son was going to put on his sandwich. Wouldn’t have been so bad, but my wife had to scramble to find enough change so he could buy lunch.
I really wish we could get another border collie but that would be irresponsible. We would not be able to take proper care of it. They really need a lot of attention and, at our age, he might outlive us, leaving him stranded.
I have a photo which I posted before, but that was a long time ago. In this case it is our first border collie chasing an RC car. He always had to have a stick in his mouth, though I have no idea why. We could tell when he was tired because he’d keep tipping the car over. Then he looked over at me as if proudly saying, “Did you see what I did?”
Then, it seemed overnight, age got to him. He couldn’t hear, see or even smell. Also he had a heart problem. I really think he was the toughest one to lose.
Daily prompt
Name the most expensive thing you bought. (Not a home or car)
This is a good one. It takes away the obvious, doesn’t it? I have, over the years paid a lot for computers. I guess the one that was most expensive was a 2 thousand dollar laptop. I really liked that thing, a 486sx with 4 meg of memory. Most realize that it is a dinosaur by today’s standards, but in the mid eighties, it was about the latest and greatest.
It was what I started writing my books on, “The Secret of the Ring.” My intention was to change the world with it. Only about 25 people ever read it.
Also, I taught myself how to program in Pascal with it.
I have from time to time toyed with the idea of a small boat, but my wife wanted nothing to do with it. I came within an inch of buying a used motor home. I really, really wanted it, but my better senses took hold of me. Good thing, I’d have likely had to sell it before too long.
Mostly though, we just buy what we need. When we buy something big, it’s usually a house or car…Mostly, cars. And those aren’t allowed by the prompt. And, of course, neither are the “almost” purchases.
Daily prompt
What podcast do you listen to?
The question is based on a false assumption that all people listen to to podcasts. I just might be alone in this country but I don’t listen to any podcasts. I see no point to it.
Daily prompt:
What was your favorite school subject
I assume this means beside physical education or lunch.
Actually I really liked science a lot, specifically physics. The concepts behind mechanical advantages, I found fascinating.
Invariably, of couse, I spent hours thinking of how I could build the successful perpetual motion machine. I quickly found out I was not alone. History is full of notable scientists who actually tried to build them. Unfortunately, in every case they failed due losses of energy, usually because of friction.
I guess the closest we will ever get to perpetual motion is when we put something in orbit. Even then, I don’t know as that qualifies. I think most satellites eventually fall from the sky.
I have also had an interest in electric motors and generators. I suppose it was somewhat connected with perpetual machines. I mean, we could use the motor to turn the motor and the generator could provide electricity for the motor. I suspect I was not the first to think of that.
The fact is that I should have worked much harder on English and especially reading. I should have worked very hard on polishing my writing. But then like most kids, I was just too smart for wasting time on that.
Daily Prmpt,
how I manage my screen time
Are we talking computer time, phone time, or TV time? I’ll answer all three.
No need to manage phone time. I spend very little time on the phone. Also, I used to spend quite a bit of time writing and editing of my books. Since getting sick, I do very little besides sleep and eat. Well, I do listen to the radio but frequently fall asleep while doing that.
I’m no longer sick but, being old, it is taking a long time to recover my strength. No wonder I got rid of cable. I wouldn’t use it if it were free.
Daily Prompt:
What’s something you believe everyone should know.
Salvation is easy. All you need to do is accept Jesus as your Savior. It is the most important thing a person can know. It is the most important thing a person can do.
I was thirteen at the time. It was nearing the close of a church service at Western Avenue Baptist Church at Buena Park, California. I remember as if it were yesterday. Okay. That’s a stretch. Let’s just say last week ago.
I decided to step out into the isle during the invitation. I decided to accept Jesus as my Savior and make a public confession of it. I knew it would be easy. All I had to do was step out there and walk to the front of the church.
All of a sudden, it felt like my feet were in concrete. I found them very difficult to move. I mean, this was something everyone was going to see me do. Then there was the question. What was I going to tell the preacher when I got up front. I was sure he would expect me to say something.
Finally, in my mind, I said, “Well, here I go, no matter what anyone thinks or does.” I put one foot out and oddly the other just seemed to follow automatically. It was that first step that I found so hard to take. The rest were easy.
In that moment of time, I knew, the Holy Spirit sealed my soul forever. No matter what happened from that time forward, I belonged to God.
It was so easy, but yet it was so hard. The fact is that Jesus did the hard part. He died for me. He spilled His blood for that moment, so that I would never have to experience the second death.
What I should tell everyone, is that it is their option too. They can accept Jesus as their savior as I did. Don’t try to add anything to it. It is impossible. Only Jesus has the power to save. Only Jesus has the authority to save. If you try to rely on anything or anyone else, it won’t work. It displays a false hope, a false faith in that other person or thing. You must put your faith and hope only on Jesus.
The instant you do, the Holy Spirit will seal you and you will be forever God’s child. No one, no thing will ever be able to take you away.
His promise is eternal life. If it can be taken from you, then it is not eternal. If it can be taken, then it is only until it is taken. Conceivably, it could be just 5 or 10 minutes. That cannot be defined as eternal. His promise is eternal and irreversible.
Prompt for 3 wishes
This one is tough. That is to say, I know what I would like but I don’t think any genie, even in fantasy could grant my wish.
Maybe I should back up a line or two in my explanation. Let’s look at Salomon, the king who had the wisdom to ask for wisdom. I can’t really disagree with his request, but if I were asked by God what I want, I would not hesitate, I would like to be able to heal people.
It is a vein request to be sure in that I know it would never be granted. I really know better. However, I would give up every worldly possession to be able to bring healing to the child with cystic fibrosis. I saw two of my brothers die from cancer. I certainly wish I could have done something about that. Then there are those with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
There are two hitches to the request. First, and most important, God is not genie. I fear I might even be a little disrespectful in making the comparison. Secondly, I already asked, a bunch of times. I don’t think He is willing to grant this request.
However, the prompt was there. I figured I might as well be honest about it, in a round about way. I can kind of see why. In a matter of days, can you imagine the line that would form at my front door? I’d guess there would be a number of reporters there, besides those who wanted to be healed.
As a side note: Some might have noticed I had to insert the prompt into the post the last few times. In the past, it was automatically inserted. Just figured I’d explain if anyone was wondering.
How much would I pay to go to the moon?
I don’t know. However, near as I can tell, at least there would be little chance of catching the China virus every 5 or 6 months up there.
Wait a minute. Wouldn’t be able to stay there. In that case, no need to go. I will continue to do my coughing and hacking with my feet planted firmly planted on planet earth.
Better we send Fauci to the moon, one way ticket.
It is something I have considered seriously.
During my youth, electronics seemed to be the best field and especially computers. Twice I lost my job in electronics while I saw the truck driver across the street make far more money far more regularly.
Another thought I’ve had was something with trains. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized it, but I have always had a fascination with them. I guess, in a way, I was born little late. I loved the old steam engines. Still, the Diesels are neat too. Probably less work as well.
