I was in the Marines. There were times I gave up virtually all luxuries, even sleep. Moreover, I am sure there were many who lived in worse conditions than me.
Tag Archives: dailyprompt
We All Should Know
However, so very few do. First, common sense. Second, courage. Third honesty. Finally, and most importantly, a good sense of humor. Sometimes, it helps to be able to laugh when the world starts falling down around you. Otherwise, it just might drive a person to madness.
Some might call it madness to laugh in the face of adversity. Then again, we are all entitled to an opinion. Personally, I consider a coping mechanism and I try to use it regularly.
Daily writing prompt
What are the most important things needed to live a good life?
I’ve Had a Few
This won’t be new to some, perhaps most of you. I have already written about them, though not at once. I started in a fast food restaurant for about 2 years. I spent 9 years in the Marines where I learned a lot, including that I am a poor leader.
For a short time after my discharge we had problems for a while. It proved you can learn from just about any job. during my time as a security guard I learned a lot about people that I carry with me to this day.
I went from there to repairing computers. I repaired the little ones and the big ones. I repaired big monster printers and huge disk drives that weighed 900 pounds. Years ago, I told a humorous true story of something that happened to me while working on a thousand pound tape machine. Won’t repeat it here. it would take too long. Maybe one day I should go back and make a list so those who want can go back and read them. On the other hand, maybe I can just put them all in a book. Open to suggestions.
One day computers, printers, disks and tape drives stopped breaking. In fact, I don’t even know if anyone even makes tape machines anymore. No need for them.
That put me in the unemployment line again. Well, I taught for 3 years while in the Marines, so I figured I might try to go back to teaching. I had hoped to get into teaching the basics at the Navy base at Millington, but they put me to work teaching radar instead, for three years.
I thought I had a secure position until peace broke out. They started tearing down the Berlin Wall and about half of us instructors were sent job hunting again. It’s sort of one of those things where really good new was not so good for some of us. Sometimes it happens that way. If you haven’t already seen it you will.
I found a bank that used the a computer I used to repair and went to work there. Wow. Did I learn a lot about banking by running that computer. You know, it’s the sort stuff you thought you knew but didn’t
Regardless, it was hard work and I was getting old. When I saw an easier one that paid more, I jumped at it, operating a computer but far easier. I guess I worked there close to 20 years. And by the way, the folks I worked for there were just the best. Sort of made me look forward to going to work.
When I first started repairing computers the processors were 1800 pounds. The input output processors were 800 pounds. Altogether, the computer weighed about 30 thousand pounds. The all-in-one I just bought which weighs about 20 pounds; if it existed back then, I could have replaced the entire computer and all that was in the room. Well, that would not have included the printers and three huge air conditioners. They each had two compressors that I don’t think two of me and a small boy could have lifted, even if I were in the shape I was in right out of boot camp.
My suggestion, don’t look into computer repair as a secure way of making a living. It has turned into the genuine Maytag repairman job.
I haven’t made a fortune, but I had some good times and raised a couple of sons on the way. By the way, I have 4 pretty good grand kids too.
Now my job is spoiling my wife for just as long as I can. She deserves it, really she does. I’m not just saying it.
Must Contain Chocolate
I know. It is obvious. Nonetheless, some manufacturers make chocolate bars that are over half something else. I mean, a few nuts are okay but I’m not real keen on wafers, especially when when they are mostly air.
Let’s get down to basics, most of the time whenever I buy a chocolate bar, it has Hershey printed on it. Sometimes it has almonds in it, but usually it’s just chocolate, you know what I mean. Just almost pure calories.
It’s just the stuff that really tests my self control.
Driving
If I could I’d get about a 35 ft motor home and just start driving. It is something I wanted to do since my early 20s. Can’t see it ever happening now. As I mentioned afore, we’re living off Social Security.
Well, if folks start buying my books it stands a small chance of happening. Then again, as I said, can’t see that happening.
Daily writing prompt
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
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.
Kind of Obvious
When I’m tired, so I go to sleep. I sort of have an advantage. Being retired allows me to sleep most any time, except, of course while I’m driving.
Daily writing prompt
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
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.
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.
Yup.
It’s helped and it’s caused problems. Mostly, it has caused problems. If only tools, such as hammers, can only be used for good. The problem is, with some, you give them a hammer and everything is a nail.
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