Can’t Remember the Title, Sorry

Seems like it was about a horse named named Dog Patch, though that makes no sense. Maybe it was the name of the place. Then it was so long ago, maybe I’m just confusing it with Lil Abner. At any rate. I was about 8 and it was a about a race horse. Though I read it many times, I just can’t remember much about it. Just how the horse was transported into town for the big race, and of course he wins it by a nose.

Maybe someone else read it and can remind me of the name. Now that it was brought up, I’d sort of like to read it again.

Daily writing prompt
Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

Heights, Public Speaking

I have no idea what scares me the most. However, I have somewhat overcome speaking in public as I spent 7 years teaching electronics for the military. Still, you get me outside electronics and my knees shake.

By the way, anyone who has a fear of heights should be well aware that they will have to manage those fears in the Marines as I did, more than once. I’m not real proud of it. If I hadn’t jumped, they would have pushed me and that’s worse.

Daily writing prompt
What fears have you overcome and how?

Define Religion

Not a fan of even the word religion. I am a Christian. That is to say, I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Religion is for people who like to follow rituals. Many times, God has scolded the Israelite people for mindlessly following rituals, for being religious while leaving God out of it.

When Jesus set up His church, He left but two rituals, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Even so, people have made this into a ritual and they leave Jesus out of it. Many of those who go through the ritual have no relation with God. They do not love Jesus nor do they desire to do his his will.

They call themselves religious but they love not his children, but rather kill them before they are born. Some would go so far as to kill them after they are born. They look at God’s children as an inconvenience to be gotten rid of as a wart or something cancerous. However, many show up on Sunday and chant the words without even considering them.

Old Joe calls himself a Catholic, but he has intentionally said and done things that result in the deaths of thousands. Truth be told, I don’t think the man has any relationship with Jesus. He might call himself Catholic but I can’t see any proof of him being a Christian.

Such can be said of many. They have their faith in their church, their religion and or their preacher. When they see Jesus face-to-face, they will realize they should have had their faith in Jesus. Only, it will be too late. Some with have decades to accept Jesus as their Savior. They will have no excuse. There is simply no religion that will save them and it will be too late for any extensions or revisions of their remarks.

Daily writing prompt
Do you practice religion?

Primenister Netanyahu

For years I have been trying to get a message that to him that, while others might not like his methods, I do. In fact the world would be far better off if more of the world’s leaders were more like him, both in courage and ideology.

I guess I could send a message to someone somewhere but I have never found a way to make sure the message would get through. In fact, in this current world, I suspect there are many who would make sure the message never got through.

I know the message would do him little good, but I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt. For that matter, maybe it wouldn’t hurt for a bunch more folks send him a reassurance now and again. I mean he knows he’s doing what’s right. But it does help to know there are a few who agree.

Daily writing prompt
Who would you like to talk to soon?

Does That Include Tomatoes

I have heard that some folks say tomatoes are not fruits but veggies. I don’t know. I’ll just call them fruits for now. They are very good you know, on salads, hamburgers and sandwiches. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I simply chop them up and eat the pieces. Sometimes I eat them with my sausages and eggs for breakfast. It sort of depends on if I have any.

I have tried to grow them. I’ve been told it is easy. That, I guess, makes me a total failure as a farmer. With two plants I had two decent sized tomatoes. They were pretty good though. There is something to be said about a tomato fresh picked.

The place I lived out in California had a banana tree that grew small bananas. They were small but they were very good. Again, It’s likely because it is right off the tree. I do believe bananas are best on cereal. When I use bananas, I don’t use sugar at all on my cornflakes.

Strawberries are great. A neighbor had a patch of them and let me pick one now and then. It spoiled me. I like store bought berries but I miss the neighbor’s berries better. We tried one year to grow them. End of story.

Love grapes in almost any form. I eat them off the clusters as raisins and in grape juice. Well, I drink the juice. You get the idea.

As I mentioned before, I really like pineapples on pizzas. My wife does like to steal them all, so I have to be fast. They are also good on ham and slow cooked chicken. Occasionally, I’ll eat a few pieces by themselves, but I am not one who for things with strong flavors.

Now, let me see. I think that is already five but let me add one more. We used to have an orange tree in our backyard when I lived in orange county. Now, isn’t that something. Good food on the tree. All I had to do was reach up and pick it. The only work was peeling it. I did get good at it. I had lots of practice.

There was a small problem though. Every time I bit into it, I got the juice all over my hands and face. I guess, I am just one of those complainers. Always have to find something to complain about.

Daily writing prompt
List your top 5 favorite fruits.

Don’t Like Cold Weather

I’ve said this before and I will say it again. I was brought up in southern California, which for sure spoiled me. So, don’t like cold. Don’t like hot. Certainly don’t like humidity.

One might ask, then, why did I leave California? Even more so, don’t like the California politics. Don’t like California taxes. Don’t like California crowds.

Daily writing prompt
How do you feel about cold weather?

Yep, 3

The 1st one, arm, took me out of my first year of Little League. I think that was the one that upset me the most. I guess I was about 55 when I shattered my left ankle. The ankle still hurts, especially just before a good rain.

The broken right ring finger I’d call the strangest. I had gone on a walk, for my health. The walk was almost done and I was in the street in front of my house. I carelessly stepped on a pine cone and I was horizontal on street in pain, instantly.

I was in so much pain I couldn’t even sit up. Finally I recovered a little and started brushing the gravel off my sore hands when I noticed my finger was pointed the wrong way.

When the damage report came in, I broke my one knuckle and dislocated another. Ironically, the one I broke is fine now. The one I dislocated will hardly bend after 6 or 7 years.

Important note. I had an enlarged parathyroid causing low calcium in my bones. Had I had it removed years earlier, I very likely would not have broken the ankle and finger, or at least not as badly. At least this is what I was told. Also, the high calcium in my blood led to kidney stones and a lot of pain. For this reason, I would strongly suggest checking calcium level regularly as I have found this to be a common problem. If you look up the parathyroid, you will see that when it is enlarged, it can cause a wide range of symptoms. Also, it is a easy, relatively painless and inexpensive check.

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever broken a bone?

Follower, Definitely

I’ve actually written on this before, without the prompt. It took me about 7 years in the Marines to figure this one out. I mean, for years, I thought I was a good leader.

Then I was promoted to staff sargeant. Then my eyes were opened over the next few years. The problem, you see, is that leaders must make decisions. Leaders must be good at organizing a staff. And yes, sometimes leaders must say or do things that are not popular in order to accomplish goals that some don’t like. Moreover, the leader must make it appear that decisions coming from above are his.

Finally, when things don’t go right, no matter who is at fault, the good leader steps forward and completely takes responsibility.

I have seen bad leaders quickly point the finger and say, “It’s not my fault. I didn’t do it. Old Joe must be at fault.”

Then again, if someone were to give me that excuse today, I’d believe him. In this case, Old Joe’s always messing up. And, by the way, he’s always quick to point his finger at someone else.

There are many characteristics of a good leader. Truly, objectively, I just don’t see any of them in Old Joe, certainly not honesty, the very most important one. Certainty not knowledge, another one of those big ones.

While I do have some of the characteristics, I lack one thing. I hate making decisions, especially one that effects others. Since leaving the Marines, I have avoided positions of leadership. I learned my lesson.

Daily writing prompt
Are you a leader or a follower?