I really don’t like hard work. Physical work is no fun. It makes me tired. Frequently, it does no good. I mow the yard and in a few days, it is as if I never did. I trim hedges and in a short time, it is as if I did nothing. I wash my car and it gets dirty again. I have just about come to the conclusion that there is hardly any kind of work that isn’t reversable.

Well, there is one kind of work that can’t ever be wasted. The work that you put into raising your kids. Now that work is never wasted. If you do it right, it will always make you fulfilled.

I suppose, in a way, the same can be said about teaching. It is a shame so many teachers don’t feel that way these days. It is certainly a shame that that the teachers unions don’t feel that way. It is especially bad that those in the Department of Education do not feel that way. Certainly, those in the Department of Education cannot say they are proud of what they are doing, that is, unless their desire is to promote failure.

Daily writing prompt

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

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One of the things my marine drill instructor said, “Never own anything you can’t carry on your back.” It might not be the best or most important thing to remember, but it is certainly worth a thought or two. It is interesting what all a person can collect during my 76 years. Most of it I don’t need. Much of it, I forgot I have. To be sure, at the time I acquired them, I must have needed them, or at least I thought I did.

Now my house is cluttered. I have a storage room full. And my attic is full. I have just about reached a point I can’t buy anything else unless I get rid of something. Actually, I have gotten rid of a lot. I get a stack and I throw away two things and keep one. And, somehow, my stack of things I will keep is bigger than the original stack. Now how in the world does that happen?

To be sure, to limit my possessions to that which I am able to carry is maybe a little too restrictive, but it is a good guide line. I think there is a lot to be said for those who live out of a travel trailer. That way, it is sort of self restricting. Even now as I sit here, I have from time-to-time considered selling the house and buy a trailer. The problem there is… how do I get rid of all the stuff, which I don’t really need.

Let me throw this one on for an extra. There was a mantra we were required to repeat a dozen or so times every day while I was in boot camp. “The road to hell is paved by the bleached bones of marines who did not plan ahead.” I don’t know about you, but I think there is some true wisdom in there, even if you were never a marine. I have found things never go as well when I lack the planning.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

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I really want to walk 2 miles a day; however, when it is hot, I just can’t handle it. Cold is uncomfortable, but with two coats and two pairs of trousers, I can deal with it. Nonetheless, I get all the exercise nowadays working on my backyard. During the pandemic I came down with the virus and did nothing for a while. The backyard had bushes that grew to four to five feet. I’m still working on them. This of course while hauling a fallen tree little by little and all the other little stuff.

At 76, I work 15 to 20 minutes and then come back into my easy chair, drink cold water and cool off next to my 8000 btu air conditioner. That generally takes about half an hour.

One of these days, I will get back to just walking.

Daily writing prompt

How often do you walk or run?

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Those of you who have followed me even a little know I have given up TV other than for news. I still have it on for my wife. Still, I am going through advertising anger. Some of these so called news programs nowadays are 60% advertising… advertising their own news programs. Worse, they are getting monotonous showing the same lame ads repeatedly. It’s their station. They can run their stations the way they want to. I just see no future in it, for either of us.

I have stumbled across some videos lately on the internet that have really surprised me. Such as, I have found full productions of “The Pirates of Penzance.” I have since watched two of them. I would guess there are many other such programs for us who like such things. It will just take a little searching. I enjoyed it far more than the programing the networks are trying to force on us these days.

I have also found other, shorter videos. There is one where a woman man used PVC pipes and plastic wrap to make a pretty good boat. Then she got an oar and rowed away. I saw a couple of men dig out a small house out of the ground in a couple of days. I saw a man build a small RC powered by air compressed in two 2 liter bottles.

Maybe most would not be entertained by such things, but I do find it fascinating to see what people can do with little more than a little imagination.

I have also found alternate sources for news. I know that it is not reliable. How-some-ever, neither is the news that comes from the newspapers, TV or radio. Moreover, most of what they put on the TV these days, isn’t news. Well, maybe it is for movie buffs. Maybe it is for those who don’t believe the sun will rise if they don’t find out what sports team won or lost. They must find out who hit home runs or scored TDs

I do have little more than a passing interest in such things. However, I do have a firm belief that none of it is truly as important as the real news. You know, who does what. Who says what. What laws might be passed and why. When I see the news on TV, it makes me realize just why so few people actually know what is happening in this world today. There was a time when people hungered for news. Maybe not so much anymore.

As near as I can tell, most of those programs that call themselves news, is, maybe 5 minutes news in a half hour program. As near as I can tell, the biggest favor I can do for them is to stop watching them. Maybe, when they discover folks aren’t watching, they just might change their ways. However, I have learned to hold out little hope. Their purpose is to make money for their corporation, not bring me the news.

Some time during the night, I will see or hear something that prompt me to write. I live under this really strange concept that if I keep plugging away, I can change a few minds. Then, in turn they too will will spread the word.

Occasionally, I will get an idea that I have a new way to present the plan of salvation. Perhaps it will be a way that will make it clearer. On the other hand, I just might get the interest of a man or woman. Then, by the power of God, one or two more people will go to heaven, instead of hell. I cannot pretend to be a big evangelist, but I do as I can and when I can. No decision is more permanent or more important. I mean, as the Word says, It is appointed for man once to die. Then comes the judgement.

Besides all that, I just like to write. That is odd, you know. I really don’t enjoy reading that much.

When I first got out of the Marines, things were really tuff for us for a while. We had no TV. I think I did more reading in that 6 months than I ever did or ever will. I did not sit and read. We had no furniture, none.

Daily writing prompt

What are you doing this evening?

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Actually, I have thought about this one many times. First, I think all streets should be one way. I know. Most folks get real upset with one way streets. However, I don’t think anything would improve traffic flow much more. Left and right turns would be the same and it would decrease the waiting time at intersections waiting for people turning left. Moreover, the need would be for 2 maybe three lanes. There would be no need for the center lane used for turns.

Of course, there would be one block in between the alternating street directions. If there are any lights, it would be only for north/south and east/west. There would be no need for turn signals.

I would like the streets, or at least the interstates to have covers. It would keep the streets dryer and mostly snow free. Also, they would provide shade during the summer. Okay, I’m talking lots of money but it’s my city and my streets.

When the streets are originally paved, they should have about two inches thicker paving than required. Then, whenever ruts would become too deep, one of those scrappers could pass over and make it all level again. Those scrappers are really fast. They could take about an eighth of an inch off a street miles long in a couple of days. There is a side benefit. The wheels would pack the areas that have a tendency to form ruts making those parts of the street harder. Therefore, it would take longer for the next ruts to form.

Perhaps a wire or painted line should go down the middle of the lanes. Sensors in the car would keep the car in the center of the lane, or at least alert a dozing driver to a drift in steering, I have no intention of replacing the driver, just to enhance the safety.

I noticed one problem with traffic lights is that if I am behind a truck, I can’t see if the light is red. Also if the sun is behind me, I can’t see which lights are on or off. I don’t know how this can be solved, but I would work on it.

Point of interest, I heard Rev J. Vernon McGee describe a conversation with a real civil engineer who designed real highways. Rev. McGee said that he asked the engineer about how difficult it must be to get the right-of-ways with all the buildings and housing in the way. He said that the engineer said the buildings and such are no problem. It’s the cemeteries that give them fits. They can’t be moved so easy and they are all over the place. My idea: Maybe the ancient civilizations had the right idea in just building burial mounds. That way, they the mound grows mostly up and not out. Regardless, burying the dead is getting to be a bigger problem than keeping electric cars charged.

Daily writing prompt

How would you design the city of the future?

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It’s the name of a song from the musical Funny Face by George Gershwin. It was recorded by many people. If you look it up on the web, you’ll see. It’s really a nice upbeat song I enjoy listening to. I hope no one will mind me borrowing the song title. After all, I am providing some free positive advertising. Maybe a few will buy it.

Now. To get back to the subject at hand, making the world just a little bit more wonderful. It is a good thing to do. It is more better than stealing. It is more betterer than murdering. It is definitely much more betterer than causing war as Old Joe did. Some folks don’t seem to understand that. During Old Joe’s term in office, thievery has gone out of control. Rapers and murderers are being imported.

If I could, I would stop that. Actually, by writing this blog, I am doing about all I can as an old man can. That may not make me a great, but I think it does do a little good. I like to think it might change something here and there for the good. It would really be ‘S Wonderful if I can change many lives, maybe by the dozens. Maybe by the hundreds. Not likely, but hopefully by the thousands.

To be sure, that would all be good. However, what would make me really feel great if I ever found out that my words are helping people, at least one person would learn the plan of salvation and accept Jesus as their savior and their friend. Now to me, that makes it all worth the effort and then some. It would be ‘S Wonderful.

Daily writing prompt

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

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I will suggest the meal I enjoyed the most, or should I say, the two of them. I went into the Staff NCO club at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan. Later, when my wife joined me, I took her there too.

I had never had never had a filet mignon before. When I saw it on the menu, I decided to try it out. It was expensive but I decided, after the first bite it was well worth it. I decided to take my wife there and I must admit, I did not prepare her properly. It took her a while to cut through the toothpick holding the bacon on it. This was of course after I told her how tender the they are.

Once she realized the purpose of the little bit of wood, she agreed with me that they were very good. However, of course, at the price, it’s just not the sort of thing we can have every day. Maybe once a year. More likely, every other year. Still, the one I had at that staff NCO club was the best meal I ever had, twice

Daily writing prompt

What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?

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Just easier to say, “Ben”. Used to go by Benny, but I didn’t think it really suited me. There was one guy in junior high school who called me Benji. That was a long time before the movie of the little dog.

It really matters little to me. I had a cousin who went by Frankie. Didn’t know for a long time, he had the same name as me, “Benjamin Franklin Rhodes. I thought that one over for a while. Maybe I should have used “Frank Rhodes” for my pen name. Maybe then I would have sold a million or two. Lately, it would have another advantage. I would not get confused by that hopeless liberal who was in Obama’s cabinet.

You can tell me what you think about it. Should I change my pen name to Frank Rhodes?

Daily writing prompt

What’s the story behind your nickname?

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