Infidelity

There has been a lot of  Newt's infidelity in the news lately.  I just can't understand it (infidelity).  When I was in the Navy and we visited foreign ports (especially in Japan), it was as if many sailors' marriages did not exist.

The sailors would visit bars and give the girls "Cherry Drinks."  After the port visits (I was in submarines), we would have to set aside special toilet facilities for the sailors that had caught a disease.  Sailors included officers and enlisted.

When I married many years ago to my Lovely Wife, I made a vow that I would be faithful and I have.  I can't understand why people do it; have they not married the right person?  Do rules not apply to them? Do vows not matter? Is go with the flow the mantra of modern people?


“It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.” Thomas Paine



“Physical infidelity is the signal, the notice given, that all fidelities are undermined.” Katherine Anne Porter


IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes to be considered wrong, wicked, immoral. If man's notions of right and wrong have any other basis than this of expediency; if they originated, or could have originated, in any other way; if actions have in themselves a moral character apart from, and nowise dependent on, their consequences — then all philosophy is a lie and reason a disorder of the mind. (DD)

What Parents want for their kids

I was thinking about the above subject during my morning walk with Frisbit.

My list includes : better life than us, good health, good spouses, intelligence, a religious background, and happiness. I'm pretty sure that our kids have most of the above.

Both of them are more intelligent then me (I'm not too dumb either).  Both have excellent spouses who great parents in their own right.  They both belong and contribute to their churches.  They both seem to be happy (son in making beer & his kids, daughter with her kids & activities).  They both are fairly healthy.

I wish I could take more credit for how they turned out, but my wife is more responsible then I am.

I decided to use the internet and search for "what parents want for their children" and found some interesting (for some reason I type intersting when I want interesting, interesting huh?)  things.

What Kindergarten Teachers Wish Parents Knew : 

1. Your job isn’t over when you drop your little one off at school; it has only just begun.
2. This is not your grandfather’s kindergarten.
3. The more self-control your child has, the more successful he will be in school.
4. Make yourself known. Come in. Look around.
5. Your child needs lots of opportunities for play outside of school.
6. Reading to your child once a day is not enough.
7. Writing exploration at home is critical
8. Homework is an opportunity for talking, sharing, and listening
9. Television and video games use up valuable playtime.
10. First-hand experiences are another teacher for your child.


Here is a list of the top ten things students around the world said they remembered and loved most about their mothers.
Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
Let me play outside a lot.
Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
 Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.

Ephesians

We are attending a Bible study on the book of Ephesians.

Paul or someone else (remember the joke about Shakespeare was not written by Shakespeare but by someone else named Shakespeare) wrote the book to Ephesians 1: 1"To God’s holy people in Ephesus."

It is amazing to me how much of the Christian faith has been defined by Paul.  When you consider, he was: Acts 8:3: But Saul (Paul) began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.


Probably the greatest contribution was Ephesians 2: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


It is nice to think that our entrance fee has been already paid for!

Debt Level

I receive a email about Thrifty Hints and this was a part of the recent one :

A healthy debt ratio, or at least an average debt ratio, is about 35 percent and below. Ideally your ratio should be about 15 percent, but if you're not above 35 percent then you're in good fiscal shape. Regardless of whether or not you have a lot of money, what you do have is under control and ready to go where it needs to go.
A debt ratio between 36 and 42 percent is where you should start being concerned and figuring out a financial plan so you can start paying some of that off. If your ratio is between 43 and 49 percent start expecting significant financial difficulties in the near future. 
If you can work your debt ratio down to 35 percent or lower then you'll qualify for the loans you want and the interest rates you want as long as your credit score is also in good shape.

We have always spent less than we make.  We live in a paid off house (not a great one by any means) and the only debt we have is our credit card bill which we pay off every month.  So our debt ratio is very small.

I like the last paragraph of the above quote : work your debt ratio down to 35 percent or lower then you'll qualify for the loans you want. 


So they are saying if you get your debt down you can borrow more to get your debt ratio back up!

Maybe this is why everyone is so far in debt, don't save up for what you want, get it now and borrow, borrow, borrow!

Football Playoffs

Until the last game of the playoffs, the home team had won every playoff game.

All of my favorites lost.  Since the only team that I am a fan of is the Lions none of the other games was that disappointing.

I was hoping that Denver would win since I was hoping the Tebow effect would continue, plus my som is in the Denver area.

I hoping Houston would win, since they were playing their 3rd string quarterback.

I was hoping that New Orleans would win because Drew Brees is a fun quarterback to watch; though I also like the SF 49ers story.

I was hoping GB would win, since we live fairly close to the team and their broadcasters are fun to listen to.

In the overall scheme of things, sports is not that important; as we Lion fans like to say wait to next year!


I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades. -- Duffy Daugherty


On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job. -- Lou Holtz


If hockey fights were fake, you would see me in more of them.-- Rod Gilbert


The only way to stop Jim Brown was to give him a movie contract.-- Spider Lockhart


Always remember Goliath was a 40 point favorite over David.-- Shug Jordan


You can observe a lot just by watching.-- Yogi Berra


They say a tie is like kissing your sister. I guess that is better than kissing your brother.-- Lou Holtz


We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!-- Pat Williams


I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.-- Source Unknown


I'd run over my mother to win the Super Bowl.-- Russ Grimm


Quotes from : http://www.quotemountain.com/quotes/sports_quotes/funny_sports_quotes/

Give or Take

Give is a very conservative notion.  Conservatives give a lot more money to charities than do liberals.  We like to choose who we support, we don't like others to decide who we must give our money to.

Liberals tend to believe that the government can take our money and give it to the chosen ones.  The government gives our money to Solar panel companies and loses it because the Solar industry can not compete with China (Solyndra - $500 million down the drain); they want to support High Speed Rail which will cost billions of dollars and have next to no ridership (CA High Speed Rail - some states want to go ahead with it to get the "free" federal money matches).

Free federal money is not free, it is paid for by all of us.  I always thought it is more blessed to give.


“If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can't buy” Proverb

“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” Jim Rohn

“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.” Benjamin Franklin

“Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.” Bo Derek

“Money, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.” Helen Gurley Brown

I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. e.e. cummings


If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again; it was probably worth it.


If you want to say it with flowers, a single rose says: "I'm cheap!" Delta Burke


Don't marry for money. You can borrow it cheaper.  Scots Proverb


Money can't buy happiness; it can, however, rent it.

MONEY, n.   A blessing that is of no advantage to us excepting when we part with it. An evidence of culture and a passport to polite society. Supportable property. (DD)

Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow is loved or hated by many people; the above video explains why so many liberals hate him. He dared to make a pro-life superbowl ad.  He shows his Christianity outwardly and this also turns some people off.  I wish I was more able to show my Christianity outwardly.

As a football player, he is not perfect but his teammates appear to believe in him and he has always won, College champs, etc.

Here is why Steeler fans hate him!

Snow, Glorious Snow

Frisbit in the Snow

The path we used for the morning walk snow filled it in

This year, we have had very warm weather with next to no snow.  Finally we got some snow yesterday and last night; only 3-5 inches, but every little bit helps..  Of course, everyone has forgotten how to drive in the snow; so we were much more cautious driving to the Y this morning.

Another good thing about the snow is that the Y had very few people there at 0600 when we arrived.  This meant I could get my favorite locker and favorite swim lap lane (I swim 52 laps in the 25 yard length pool when we go to the Y).

Snow makes a much prettier picture then when it rains; of course, shoveling is not as much fun as it might be!

*** 

(The stars mean a new subject)

Last night, we watched a movie called "Christmas Lodge."  It did not have great acting or a complex plot, but it was a good (predictable) movie which the entire family could enjoy (which we did) plus it actually mentioned God and his guidance. It was refreshing having a movie that morally was right.

“Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, "I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway."”   Maya Angelou

The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball. Doug Larson

Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along. J.W. Watson

A year of snow, a year of plenty. ~ French Proverb

Where does the white go when the snow melts?

A snowflake is one of God’s most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!

Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean. ~Confucius

There’s one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor’s. ~Clyde Moore

I love snow, snow, and all the forms of radiant frost. ~P B Shelley

Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints.  Alfred Hitchcock

Snowflakes are kisses from heaven. Unknown

Snowmen fall from heaven....... unassembled.

Movies

A pastor, we had, said "The Neverending Story" was one of his favorite movies of all time.  I found it boring and a little frightening.  Many people like movies that are meaningful and full of symbolism, great acting and beautiful sets, etc.; but I'm afraid the movies I like have few of those things.

Some of my recent favorites are R.E.D. ,  Knight & Day, Star Trek and The Incredibles.  Pretty much I watch movies to escape; to experience a little humor & some action & not any R rated "love."

Another irritating thing is when they make a repeat of a old classic, almost always the newer version is not as good; it usually has more sex and less plot.  I would think that someone in hollywood could have a new idea (perhaps the definition of an oxymoron - hollywood & thought).

Sequels are sometimes OK, for instance the second Star Trek movie was much better than the first.  And yet they don't make sequels of some good movies like the latest Star Trek movie which is ripe for a sequel.

Nights

When it was unbearably hot this summer, the night sky was always cloudy and kept the heat in.  Now that it is winter, the night skys are almost always clear.  Why does this happen?

NASA has some beautiful pictures, here are some with the links after them:

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA03519.jpg

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA14872.jpg

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA12826.jpg

http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/IMAGES/SMALL/GPN-2000-001437.jpg

http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/IMAGES/SMALL/GPN-2000-000877.jpg