Grin And Bear It

          First it was the pandemic which changed our lives in so many ways - isolation, covid, differences in opinion about masks and vaccines, changes in our everyday events.  And still things are not back to "normal", whatever that is.

          Then came a liberal socialist government which wants to give everybody everything - for free.  And while they were taking over inflation took over - higher prices for food, huge increases in heating costs and soon big increases in our taxes.  And there is nothing a person can do and these things will never get back to "normal" especially with our liberal administration.

          And in the midst of all of this change, besides prayer, maybe we need a little humor to keep us going.  And maybe that is my purpose in this different blog.  

         So, do you think a gallon of gas is expensive? Just put things a bit in perspective.

*   Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 = $9.52 per gallon

*   Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 = $10.00 per gallon

*   Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 = $10.17 per gallon

*   Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 = $10.32 per gallon

*   Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 = $25.42 per gallon

*   Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 = $33.60 per gallon

*   Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 = $84.48 per gallon

*   Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 = $123.20 per gallon

*   Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 = $178.13 per gallon

And this is the REAL KICKER...

*   Evian water 9 oz $1.49 = $21.19 per gallon?! $21.19 for WATER - and the buyers don't even know the source. 

          So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on water, Scope, or Whiteout, or heaven forbid Pepto Bismal or Nyquil!

          Many of us have spent too much time visiting doctors and having medical tests during the Pandemic.  Here is what one person said about a recent visit to the doctor.

           I went to the doctor for my yearly physical. The nurse started with certain basics. "How much do you weigh?" she asked. "135," I said. The nurse put me on the scale. It turns out my weight is 180.

         The nurse asked, "Your height?"    "5 foot 6," I said.    The nurse checked and saw that I only measure 5 foot 2 inches. 

          She then took my blood pressure and told me that it is very high.

         "Of course it's high!" I screamed. "When I came in here I was tall and slender! Now I'm short and fat!"

          The pandemic also gave pastors an excuse for no longer visiting the homebound from their congregation.  But one pastor found another excuse to stop visitations.

          The pastor visited an elderly woman from his congregation.  As he sat on the couch he notices a large bowl of peanuts on the coffee table.

          "Mind if I have a few?" he asks.

          "No, not at all" the woman replied.

          They chat for an hour and as the pastor stands to leave he realizes that instead of eating just a few peanuts, he emptied most of the bowl.

          "I'm terribly sorry for eating all your peanuts, I really just meant to eat a few."

          "Oh that's all right" the elderly woman says. "Ever since I lost my teeth all I can do is suck the chocolate off them."

          So be careful what you eat and maybe you can at least smile as you fill up your car with gas, buy groceries, visit your doctor or sit in a cold house this winter.

Fall Saturdays

          Fall weekends have always been one of my favorite times of the year, because of football.  For about 68 years this is how I spent by Fall Saturdays. 

          When I was in high school for seven years I played in the band and we attended and performed at every football game.  Then when I was in college I traveled for four years as chief statistician with a very successful Susquehanna University football team.  Then for 25 years I covered area high school football games for the Lancaster Sunday News.

          But next came one of the most exciting events in my Fall schedule - Penn State football games.  The first couple of years I was able to purchase tickets from some friends.  I also began to advertise for tickets in the local weekly newspaper.  I was often successful in using a Penn State ticket line on my computer.

          However I also learned that many folks have extra tickets and they would offer them for sale the day of the game.  So we made a sign that said simply "We Need Two", placed it in the window of our car and began the drive to State College.

          And that worked!  PSU fans knew what it meant. Usually we were stopped by somebody with tickets to sell before we reached Harrisburg.  One time we stopped at our local Turkey Hill and somebody saw our sign and sold us tickets.  Only once were we not successful.  For the big PSU-Alabama game we were stopped near Lewisburg and were offered tickets at $25 over face value.  We refused, stopped at Lewisburg for a brief visit with my wife's sister, drove home and watched the game on television.

          We never had to pay more than face value and we got to sit in all sorts of locations in the stadium.  That was fun.

          Then we found a gentleman in Columbia who had season tickets and seldom used them. For many years we became a frequent buyer.  Those seats were great and easy to get to.  And they were right near the handicapped parking which we used.  Easy in, easy out.

          Things changed when he died.  They moved the handicapped parking away from the stadium.  They ran shuttles which were easy to use going to the game.  But they would not send the shuttle back after the game until it was full.  That made an early departure to beat the traffic very difficult.

          Later, after we stopped going to the games, they moved the handicapped parking to another part of the town which meant you had to use the shuttle.  It was just too far to walk.

          We miss the tailgating.  That was amazing.  The setups, displays and variety of foods were incredible.  Some folks don't even go to the game, they tailgate, stay at their cars and watch the game on television.

          When we were more able we often walked downtown before the game and shopped in the college stores.  If we were there on the right weekend the Ag Building had a tremendous show featuring flowers and produce.  And there were vendors and displays around and in the Bryce Jordan Center.  So many interesting things to do before the game.

          And I enjoyed the pregame events in the stadium.  The warm-ups, the cheerleaders and the appearance of Joe Pa.  Then came the band and their great sound.  But the highlight was the appearance of the drum major who did his traditional flip at midfield.  And when he landed upright on his feet, the crowd went wild.

          Of course there was the excitement of the game.  The crowd noise and participation was incredible.

          But alas, all good things must come to an end.  Now that we have trouble walking we have been forced to give up this experience.  

          Now instead we trade the experience for a short walk to our living room,  sitting on a recliner instead of being crunched in a small bleacher seat, watching the game on a large television, going to our own bathroom instead of waiting in long lines, getting a snack without paying inflated prices, and avoiding the heavy traffic going home.  And when there is rain, hail, sleet or snow, we are comfortable in our home.

          But I still miss the excitement of being there!

          

"Lucky" Benny! (LB)

First, a little brain twister for you to warm you up:

A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?

(Answer below)

NOW - LOOKING BACK - Repeating and editing a blog that I first published on May 5, 2010

          Somebody recently sent me this story and I thought you might enjoy it. So here goes … Benny worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His primary job was to keep the exhibits clean and polished. 

         One day he happened to be dusting around the Arabian exhibit, and he noticed an ancient urn that needed some cleaning. He got out his dust rag and began polishing. 

         Lo and behold, an enormous genie appeared before him. "Master," the genie began, "I am the genie of the urn. I can grant you three wishes, but there is one condition I will put on you - You must never shave or cut your beard for the rest of your life, or you will be forced to take my place inside the urn forever." Benny thought about it for a bit, and decided it was a fair condition for three wishes. 

         So Benny wished for 49 percent of the total Microsoft stock, which was promptly granted. Then he wished for the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife, and lo and behold, she was. Finally, he wished for fame and fortune, and he instantly became a worldwide celebrity. 

         Over the years, Benny's beard became longer and longer until it almost reached the floor. As it grew longer, it began to itch. He tried to ignore it, but the itch became more and more irritating, while the memory of the genie's warning faded. 

         Finally he decided he had to get rid of the beard and he shaved it off. Instantly he was trapped in the urn, to stay there forever.  

          The moral of the story? ...... A Benny shaved is a Benny urned.

          Be careful what you wish for!

BRAIN TWISTER ANSWER -

The third room. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead. 

Disagreements

          About a year ago I posted a comment on Facebook thanking those who had gotten their covid shots making my life a little safer.  It was an honest comment of gratitude and nothing more.  But it really stirred up an unexpected negative reaction.

           I received all sorts of negative comments in return telling me that I had no right to condemn friends who have chosen not to get the shots.  Many of these came from folks I barely knew. Others came from friends and fellow Christians. And many displayed anger. I  didn't see that coming!

           I think I was also defriended by some of my Facebook "friends".  I learned quickly, but too late, not to discuss covid and vaccines with others.  Sadly it is too explosive a topic especially among conservatives and Christians.

          I am saddened that many churchgoers can't be tolerant of the opinions of others.  We are the same ones who cry intolerant when those with alternate views on things like abortion and gay marriage attack us.  We may have different viewpoints but we still need to take heed to the scripture, "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving".  Or has this admonition been taken out of our lives?

          Early in the pandemic I heard pastors from two different Bible Fellowship Churches pray and ask the Lord for unity in decisions on things like mask wearing.  It appears that they were facing criticism over their decisions.

          If you have been following the news you may have heard of the many arguments and disruptions at school board meetings over mask wearing and covid procedures.  Patrons have been taken out of meetings by the police because of their disruptive actions.  Board members have been threatened.  And it appears that much of the protests are coming from conservatives and probably even "church people".  What have we come to?  Isn't there any common courtesy any more?

          Now I have stopped expressing my viewpoints on these subjects but a few of my "friends" on Facebook haven't. They must feel that they can convert me. From a few Christian friends I continue to get posts that the covid is a hoax, it is just a normal virus.  I am told that mask wearing does nothing.  I hear that vaccines are not good and shouldn't be required.  And the government can't make us wear masks and take away our rights. Now I listen but I don't respond.

           My wife and I have gotten our shots, as recommended by our doctors.  We plan to get the third shot as soon as our brand becomes available.  We wear our masks.  We ask visitors to our house to wear their mask if they are not vaccinated.  All of our immediate family are vaccinated.  But not all of our extended family has chosen to do so and we have chosen to accept that but not to visit with them.

            Many have resisted getting the shots because they feel the government can't force us to do so.  Some believe that this is the first step in the antichrist requiring us to have the number 666.  I guess they could be correct, but the Lord has not yet led me to resist.  I obey many things that the government requires such as - wearing seat belts, stopping at red lights, paying taxes, getting required shots for school and taking the polio vaccine.

          We have had friends who have died from covid.  We know many who have suffered through it but fortunately have survived.  So we are taking it seriously.  And I no longer am debating this with the few friends I have left.  Life is too short to be rude to others.

          Oh yes, my grandfather died in 1918 in the Spanish Flu epidemic.  And that also wasn't a hoax.

Land of Plenty

          Compared to the rest of the world, we live in the land of plenty.  Most of us really lack for nothing.  

          It is appalling to see pictures on the news of folks around the world living without homes and food.  It is also distressing to realize that there are many folks right here in the United States who are also homeless and living in poverty.   I can't imagine their pain.

          Growing up the only time that I can recall not being able to get things we needed was during the oil shortage many years ago.  I remember waiting in long lines to get gas.  I remember the restrictions of only being able to buy gas on even or odd days and of keeping several cans filled.  But those days didn't last long.

          Of course I did not live through the depression or through the war years where there were rations and shortages.  Those must have been very difficult times.

          But recently we have seen growing shortages of some goods and services.  Some of this has been the result of the pandemic.  When it started we saw empty shelves of things like toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning materials.  Some of this was because people began to hoard these products.  Then these things began to return to stores.

          However, recently one major store announced that they were again placing limits on these products.  Is this shortage back again?

          But there are shortages elsewhere.  Have you looked at car lots?  The local Toyota dealer's lot has about 10% of the number of cars that it normally had due to shortages in chips.  We were considering a trade in but the shortages and the increases in price have made us reconsider.

          When we had to replace our microwave after our kitchen fire the store where we have purchased all of our appliances for years had none in stock.  In fact they had very little stock of any product.  This week I read where they have temporarily closed their one store.

           We have a relative who has been waiting for many months for a new refrigerator which they ordered.  They also tried to buy some new furniture and found that it would be backordered until sometime in 2022.

          A local diner which we used to frequent, often for breakfast, has stopped serving breakfast.  They now don't open until noon because they can't hire enough staff.

          My car inspection period begins October 1.  In the past I could call a week or less in advance for an appointment.  I like to get it done as soon as the period begins, so this week I called to make an appointment.  The first that they could take me is October 28 - a month away.  I asked why and they told me that they are short staff.

          The same day I called a specialist who we have seen regularly in the past.  Again I could usually get an appointment a week or two in advance.  This time the first available date was November 3.

          We have another relative who has been waiting for months for workmen to show up to do some needed repairs to their house.  Many promises, but so far no results.

          And I could probably fill this blog with recent experiences with the U.S. Postal Service.  We have had lost mail, delayed mail, and mail delivered to the wrong location.  They claim it is because they are short of help due to covid.  Now they have announced increased charges and longer delivery times.

          Oh yes, I just heard that there will be shortages this year in Christmas items.  So you are being warned to shop early and buy early, especially if you are buying online.  Maybe we should order now for 2022.

          So are all of these shortages just short term or are they here to stay? To me it appears that President Biden and his liberal democrats plan to fix things by running up the debt and giving everybody all that they want.  Why work and even run a business when the government will provide all that you need?  These are dangerous times for our country.

          But thankfully, we as believers have all that we really need through Christ.  He is our provider.  There are no shortages with Him.  What He has promised He will do.

All that I need is in Jesus

He satisfies, joy he supplies

Life would be worthless without him

All things in Jesus I find

Peace and joy everyday I find

When I call him

He answers right on time

When my burdens get hard to bear

I go to Jesus in secret prayer

Everything in Jesus I find