Friday, November 25, 2016

One Mouth and Two Ears

I have heard it said many times that we are given one mouth and two ears for a reason. If we listen twice as much as we talk, we might just learn something.  I am more than willing to listen to you, as long as you are willing to listen to me.  Just because you have a point of view, does not give you the right to try to force it down my throat. Speak your truth as you know it. I will listen, but please allow me the same respect, instead of picking and choosing a word or two that might offend you and then start in a tirade about why I need to think the way you do. 

I make my living listening to people. When you sell, if you learn to shut up, your customer will tell you exactly what you need to do to sell them...whatever you are selling....cars, trucks, houses, boats, airplanes or widgets.  If you are planning your next sentence in your brain while they are talking to you, you will never be a good listener.  Quiet your mind and concentrate on what the person is saying...then pause and think about it before you answer.  The pause is very powerful in conversation. I allows you to think about your answer, and makes the other person switch from talking mode to listening mode. 

I am a black belt at interrupting.  I have tried to be more aware of this, because I have learned I hear more when my mouth is not moving. I call it the two way radio method of conversation.  When you have a two way radio, you have to wait until the person on the other end says "over" signaling you that you can talk now. In return he has to do the same.  A lot less gets misunderstood when everyone is listening. 

Maybe next time you are having a conversation, used the "over" method silently to yourself when they are done speaking. Don't interrupt. You will have your chance to talk. 

Have a great day!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

TO GROUP OR NOT TO GROUP...LEAVE ME OUTTA THIS

With the advent of modern technology, the chain letter was replaced by the chain email which was replaced with the chain Facebook post which has been replaced by the chain text. 

You know, the text where you are included with 65 other people wanting to have you reply or comment to everything from Boxer or Briefs, to political views, to saying Amen, Drinks at Bob's who's in?.... to countless situations...about this time of year you will be getting group texts about Cornbread or Rye Bread Stuffing...Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays...Turkey or Tofu...So and So is having a party, rsvp...yadda yadda yadda...

Point is, I don't mind getting a text from anyone about anything. My phone pings and I look at it, and at that point decide to respond or ignore.  My bug bear is when I have to listen to my phone ping half a dozen times in a 2 minute period because everyone else is responding to the sender, and being part of the group, it is assumed that I give a crap about what everyone else thinks.  "Text me back or you are not my friend..."  What is this? Third grade?  Here's a thought....Friends don't send friends stupid group texts!" 

So, about now, dear reader, you are saying, just delete it and unjoin the thread.  I have enough threads in my life that I should not HAVE to unjoin something that I did not join in the first place.  There are times that group texts are easier for sharing things. At work, Everyone gets a daily sales report group texted to them. Fine. Necessary and expected. But when someone asked a question on that thread and everyone starts answering it's a pain in the ass. ding...ding...dingdingdingding....

It's part of life, can't be avoided, so, feel free to group text all you want, but don't feel bad if I don't reply. 

While we are on the subject of annoying text messages, What is up with all this invasive advertising on your phone now?  I can't go to Walmart, Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond or even McDonalds without my phone pinging, and a text ad saying you are at Walmart...look at these specials...Again, I could shut off my location access but WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO DO THAT??? Any thoughts?  We will address this at another time.

Have a great day.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

BAD DECISIONS MAKE FOR GREAT STORIES

There is a saying...The last words a Redneck says before he dies are "Hey, hold my beer and watch this"....

Have you ever been part of a scenario where you KNOW that it is not going to end well, but you watch it unfold in slow motion just so you can tell the story later?  

As we grow older and mature, we are less Kelsoish (Ref: That 70's show) and use a bit more common sense than we did when we were 18 and knew everything.  We are no longer 10 feet tall and bullet proof.  We have all made bad decisions at some point in our life. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but now? Not so good.  It can be a life long thing like getting married to the wrong person, and not listening to that little voice in your head.  As we grow older, we start to learn that the little voice knows what it is talking about. 

Remember the old days when you used to regale your friends with the "weekend"...I know every one of us has told the story ..."I got hammered, threw up twice in the ficus tree, got into a brawl, left my pants .. I don't know where, and woke up in my car with the cops tapping on the window....................It was a blast, man" Bad decision, great story about jail.  

Many of these decisions we make involve alcohol.  The bad decision elixor. The juice of irresponsibility.  The old "Sorry I trashed your house by driving my car into your living room. I was drunk..." 

I have been sober for 34 years, so I can not use that excuse anymore.  Now I just have to say, "Sorry, I'm just a dumbass I guess..."  

I suppose all our kids and grandkids will all have great stories to tell based of really bad decisions.  It's our rite of passage from know it all youth to I really don't want to know adulthood. 

So today, with all my heart, I ask you to think twice about that bungee jump....

Have a great day!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

And so it begins..................

With a week and a half until Thanksgiving, we got it out of the way today.  My brother in law and his wife are here visiting from Canada.  The timing of their trip made it easier to have turkey and all the fixins' today.  My wife and I will then use this T-day credit, and do NOTHING on Thanksgiving day but sit at home in our jammies and watch the Macy's parade.  (I will admit it was strange to cook a full blown Thanksgiving day dinner (Complete with pie and naps) and not have the parade on.  Maybe I will DVR it this year so if by chance I find myself in a similar situation next Fall, I can watch it again. That all said, I guess my family has officially kicked off the Holiday Season.  Ho Ho Ho. 
The Christmas CD we talked about earlier is done, just waiting  to get it packaged, but they are ready to order.  E mail me at Speedcatproductions@hotmail.com for Pay Pal instructions. They are 10 bucks each plus 2 bucks shipping, with the proceeds going to St Jude's Children's Hospital and Toys for Tots.  It's a great album featuring 10 great Las Vegas headliners. 

Within the next two weeks, there will be nowhere in town that you can go without being in the midst of Christmas music, trees, lights, Bell ringers (donate something this year) and good tiding of great joy. Not to mention all those great Black Friday deals!  It is the start of my favorite time of year, albeit totally commercialized. Oh well, we take it all. Heck, it's Christmas!! 

Do yourself a favor.  Between now and December 24th, make it a point to watch  It's a Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause, A Christmas Carol (my favorite is George C Scott), The Family Man, Holiday Inn, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Christmas with the Kranks, The Christmas Story, And end it Prancer on Christmas Eve.  

Deck someone's halls and Jingle someone's bells this year.

Have a Great day.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Salute a Veteran Today

It does not matter if you "Support" going to war or not. Leave the feelings aside and salute a Veteran today.  These are the people who keep our country safe. They are the ones who go into the belly of the beast so we can sit on our couch and watch Monday night football. 

My Father is a Vet. He served for over 30 years in the Army. He went to Viet Nam at least twice that I know of. He met my mom when she was a young strudel in Germany about 5 minutes after he enlisted. They met in 1958 and I was born in '59.  My Dad is oine of the best men I know. He was proud to serve our country and fight for our freedoms that we have today. 

It really does not matter if you are Republican, Democrat or Indie. When you are on the field of battle, you don't ask the guy next to you who he or she voted for. You just take care of the person wearing that uniform that says "I am an American, and I will fight to the death to defend the great country I love." 

God Bless our servicemen and women in all the military branches. Thank you for being there for US every day. You deserve the best our country can give you. You are all heros. 

Have a great day!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Election is over, let's talk FOOD!

Election is over! (YAY) and we have a President Trump.  Cheer if you like, Swear if you're pissed.  Let's talk about Thanksgiving Dinner.

This year, we are doing T-day a week or so earlier with relatives coming to town.  As I am on the low carb / very little sugar diet, Holidays are going to be a bit different for me this year. First off, I have to stay away from the thing I wait all year for. My Martinelli's sparkling Cranberry/Apple juice. LOADED with sugars. 

My inspiration is that I have dropped 23 pounds in about 6 weeks by doing nothing more than cutting out 90% of carbs and sugars.  I DO feel better, and losing the weight has made it easier to RUN away from all those no no foods that tend to make me rounder. 

I still allow myself a little dark chocolate every day and some carbs.  But I have leaned that I do not have to eat the WHOLE loaf of french bread or the entire 1/4 pound chocolate bar.  

So, for Thanksgiving this year it's non hormone fed turkey, cornbread stuffing, (Half a serving for me) Green Beans and a bit of cranberry. Easy on the gravy as it FAT FAT FAT, and and some organic mashed potato (half my usual amount).

To drink, I have gone to Club Soda and lime. Refreshing and bubbly.

Where people get slammed dieting during the holidays, is, of course, candies and cakes and pies and ice cream, and of course alcohol.  (The 5 Holiday food groups).  My weakness being the baked goods. I don't drink, so I don't pour on the sugar there.  (Alcohol turns to sugar the minute it passes your teeth). I have given up doing the score card...you know,  If I don't have this, I can have this...does not work, because you have no willpower.  That is the key. Step away from the table.  Here is my challenge. Today, I weigh 223.7 pounds (from about 246 6 weeks ago). My goal through the holidays is not so much to lose a whole lot more, (That would be nice, but it's a lot of pressure) but to maintain where I am and not gain. I will occasionally end a blog with today's weight. But I will not make blogs here  about what I am eating...what a bore. Join me in the challenge. What the hell? 

Here is something my wife told me that has helped a lot. Your divine beings watching over you take you literally when you say stuff. Being your spiritual guardians, they try to help you. So if you say "I have lost XX pounds on this diet," they will find the weight you lost and give it back to you. Instead, think of it as Releasing the weight instead of losing it.  A simple mind thing, but hey, it works. 

Please become a follower.  Thanks! Have a great day!

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Wow, we can talk about something else now!

IT's election day! Haleluya! The news cycles will squeeze every drop out of this wet rag. It's all we have heard about every day, all day for 2 years! What will all the news anchors and experts talk about now?  I'll be back after this AD!

How about this?  I work for Kia. Proud to be a multiple Kia owner. This year Kia is coming out with the 2017 Kia Soul TURBO.  That's right. The Hamsters are about to be supercharged. I am sure you have seen the Soul everywhere. They are one of the most popular selling cars in the free world. They are fun to drive, get great milage and are very affordable. But, now, they are going to be a little fire breathing monster. 201 HP out of a 1.6 Litre. Here's the deal, not only TURBO, but also leather, navigation, push-button start, cooled seats, the whole nine yards. 

Remember that Kia also features the 10 year, 100,000 mile drive train warranty and the 5 year 60,000 bumper to bumper PLUS at no added cost, 5year, 60000 mile road side assistance.  Email me for info..cashatkia@centurylink.net

Now back to our show....

I am sure that the end of this election coverage is nowhere in sight. We will go from who will win, to who won and what the hell are we going to do now?  If HE wins, he's not a politician..If SHE wins, she is the ultimate politician....The future of the USA depends on one of these two.  Makes one feel like a long tailed cat in a room full of Rocking Chairs. I guess all one can do it cast your vote and hope for the best. Again, I am not going to tip my hand. I voted for who I thought would be best. But as vile as this election has become, no matter how I voted, the other side will go to lengthy and ugly remarks about why I am an ass****.... That's my whole point, we live in a Democratic Republic where everyone, even you is entitled to vote for who you think is best.....Even if you ARE wrong. 

Have a great day.


Sunday, November 6, 2016

Trying to stay incognito during this election time

With just a couple of days left until the election, I have, in fact voted early.  I will not disclose my choice in a public forum, suffice to say, those who know me probably can guess my choice. 

What I have seen, and I know I am not breaking any big story here, is that it seems this has become an election based on who you hate rather than who you think is most qualified to run the country.  fireballs being launched from both sides accusing the other person of massive wrongdoings, political incorrectness, stupidity blah blah blah.....What we have not heard a lot of, is how we are going to fix the mess this great country is in.  Yes, there is the occasional "I will do this or that" in between reminding us why the other person is the wrong one to fix things. 

I voted for the first time in my life back in the early 80's. I have since voted both Republican and Democrat. I looked at the choices and made my choice for President based on who was best for the job based their policies. This time, though, it seems like it's more important to know what a bad person the other candidate is rather than where they stand on policy.  It's the rise of the inferior man. (Person). 

I really can not wait until the election is over. All the news channels speculating on who is ahead or not ahead...and the polls...don't even get me started on polling.  (Think Brexit)

I do believe that the news media is too involved in the political machine.  Even 20 years ago, you did not know everything a candidate was doing every second of the day, and less about what they did, say 20 years ago.  My personal opinion is that the news media needs to just report the facts, and quit bringing in panel after panel of experts who can only speculate and yell insults at each other.  When I was involved in radio for almost 20 years, the number one rule in news was to NOT editorialize.  NEWSFLASH...THe news is not supposed to be entertaining. It's supposed to be informative. This is what happened today, this is who is involved and we will be back with more as we learn the FACTS.... Pretty Simple.  I know we will never get back to just reporting the news. I long sometimes for the old days.  I often yell at my T.V...."Just tell me what's going on!!!" I don't think I can even watch election coverage which starts...uh...a year ago... I will just lob in now and then to see who they THINK is going to win.

Cynical? Probably.  BUT,  let he who has not thought this cast the first stone!

Have a great day.




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