Time is flying, you only get forty, what do you do?

It is easy to tell you what you are going to do, or should have done, or what happened from where I saw it... if I saw it at all. After all, I am Earl and this is my blog so I really do have super powers here (okay, Blogger.com, I won't mess around with the software). So here comes the End of the World, and you are there.

So make it challenging, like a Reality show with time limits, drama, and getting voted off.

You have exactly forty left, what do you do?

40 Seconds (they do count - down, yaknow.) I will pray for all those that don't know how much time is left, and for mercy I don't deserve but very much want.

40 Minutes (less than an hour, much less than an hour TV show's content - but no commercial time out will be called here). Turn it all off, the phone, the computer, and find someone you love and talk to them and hug them tight, even if it is only the pet, or the memory of someone no longer close. Remember your love, and thank God for those extra minutes.

40 Hours, almost two days. Don't go to sleep with anger in your thoughts, on your heart or in your soul. Reach out with the widest transmission tech you have and say good bye and how much your life has been blest by all their attention, participation and love. Since you have that extra time because of technology, pray for forgiveness of those that hurt you, for your own hurting of others and always for being so self centered that you never noticed them or how that made them unloved. Don't dwell on your past life too much, you have time to give them all a better future without you, just by making it right that it is your time to go. Go loving, God and all their goodness.

40 Days, more than a month, at least two paydays, and closing all debts, keeping all the important promises, gently answering all their concerns and making them happy that they can share without care your finish. Seems lots of time with lots of potential, don't waste it, get right with God, all those you love, loved and need, and then meet some new people and tell them they have a tale to tell you, and take that time to listen to everyone that will share. Do it all with Love, you could write a book about it one day.

40 weeks, lots of time - time enough not to feel pressure of it on your life. Almost too much, so did you write a Bucket List? Well, do one, and get started on it. I have a niece that assures me writing lists will improve my management of my life, this is a time it would help to have one. Look, you have already started the last forty days in all the above - days, hours, minutes, seconds = The End. No time for procrastination.

40 months, more than three years... do you have any idea how many people have been told they would have less than that to live? What do you do with that much time - most will struggle to find more time, a way out of the countdown, to change the rules, to cheat, to not being very accepting--- to think very much of themselves, unless they are wonderful thoughtful loving folks that constantly think of others first. This is where you have a chance to really look at yourself and change who you are to what you want to be remembered for, to get rid of all the demons, nightmares and ugly. You will need to smile much more, fooling everyone into beautiful with you. Always a good to make yourself beautiful and see that everyone else is, too.

40 years - that is two lifetimes from long ago - but we were little better than other primates then. Most of the people that will ever read this (there aren't that many of you) have more than forty years left - it started when you realized that you don't have any idea how much time is remaining, you don't control the clock - or the weather, or the laws of physics. You don't control anything except you - and most of us are not expert in that. God bless all your best, you do have forty of something remaining to you to live. Not that you needed motivation, but just a chance to consider those forty for someone else is helpful.

Made a fool of myself again... I must be younger...

than I realize. I went to the church picnic/games with my wife. I parked and we went out to the games, found our friends and joined in. I was doing okay, quickly becoming an oppressed minority in my own country. Very easy to do when everyone, seemingly, is speaking a foreign language that you pretend to be uncomfortable speaking and making a fool of yourself using. They also decide that you are an English Man, not an American Man, just an English Man - what an insult to the start of my country. But it does increase the pressure, the oppression of me and who I think I am.

I could be wrong, I could call all the Korean Men, Koreans (which works in America, and in the English language - but is not what Koreans call themselves, but then they don't call my country America, in their language either) but then I try to call them by name, and don't you know - that like my wife, they adjusted their American name to our culture (her name is Hong Kum-Cha, she knows it takes too long for Americans to say that correctly or use it as such, so she says to call her KC, which Americans think is Casey). So I am not totally uncaring, unknowing or unsympathetic to their normal being an oppressed minority in this wonderful sharing culture of Liberty and Justice for All. So, why am I suddenly feeling like I almost understand how much stress they are under? Well, just like they have a cultural shell that give grave offense to their person, I have one, too.

So when I saw a man put his hands on my wife to get her attention (she was cheering her team) I came quickly up behind them and called loudly to my wife to get her attention, other women noticed and also told her to pay attention to me. I told her I didn't like other men touching her, which she already knows, and then I turned and made my point with the Korean gentleman. When I was much younger I just would have hit him harder than he was ready for... but I am older and not so young. So I already knew that he hadn't meant to insult my wife or myself, touching in public is something you get over in Asia - touching in private is rare, in America it is the reverse (although I guess I have learned to accept real family type hugs from young people and children, I won't from strangers and don't get me on that whole false fake kiss-cheeks thing). So I didn't hit him, but I left all the anger and destruction on my face and I told him that if he touched my wife again I would hit him hard enough to move the left side of his face to the right side - moving my hands vigorously in the same pattern I was telling him. Leave them with visuals. Then, before I embarrassed my wife any more I turned around and left. And cooled off. Wasn't much of a Christian in my heart then - but he was still alive, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been, right?

Ripples.

I wasn't worried about my wife, or her faithfulness or love for me, I was concerned about how my bad behavior might affect her world. She later was approached by the frightened man and she brought him over to introduce him to me (which is a very Korean thing to do - one doesn't really exist until properly introduced). I wasn't having any introduction to a potential target of my stupidity and shame. So I told her I didn't need to meet him, what I didn't want to say was that I was ashamed and didn't want him to think he was better than I (which was really why he wanted to be introduced - it would make me the barbarian - but he and I already knew that, I didn't want him to have a 'face' advantage). I don't think he thought I was going to kill him or he would have had the Pastor for the English Language Service come introduce me and mediate. I had already told the Pastor I had made a fool of myself, that was as far as I was going today.

My wife was telling the story about her wild man husband and his over protectiveness to her friends, in Korean, and was observed and reported to me by one of my American friends.

Later he, brought his fine little Boston Terrier by to be admired, his family ate lunch near us.

I pulled in some of the Tug of War, on his side of the rope, next to him, we did well together but never spoke.

Because they needed to pretend to be inclusive the English Men were asked to run in a relay. Our team had only three American Men able to run, kind of. So I was encouraged by my wife to run, and did. I ran hard, and it was faster than I had been running in a year. Surprised me that I made it so well, so although it didn't get us a win, it made me smile to be that much in motion. Funny years and years ago it wouldn't have been even mentioned.

I helped clean up, brought our stuff and my wife home, and almost immediately crashed before the news. Which is always a good thing, missing the news at the front of the broadcast. But I was wiped out, and I hadn't even fought a three minute round. I need to get hard bodied again if I am going to be so young in my passion and foolishness. I should have done more like my Sunday School teacher, he was a hippie and a monk for some of his previous life, he knows how to party.

 It is tough to be mellow as an oppressed minority, but good to be able to put yourself in their shoes - and not have to live there forever. When are we, Americans, going to stop trying to make everyone think we are the good guys? Only we know that, but we have been wrong before. But I will hardly admit it. Maybe tomorrow I will be a better man.

Word choice is important, even in prose...

I avoid poetry often, I have challenges in rhythm, rhyme and spellin'. But I admire the use of terms such as 'secret'. As soon as it is attached to another noun or verb - darkness and evil intent swirl around and the word is 'alive!'. Secret Swiss Bank accounts, secret tax forms, secret sessions with sinners, secret whispers of sweet nothings. Public is right out there! Public displays of affection; public and publish - just must have a common Latin root. How many folks reached for Latino, Latina or Latin culture first instead of Latin, old Roman language important in law, science and churches not Greek? Depends on how you were schooled, where you learnt whatcha know.

I am fat, sigh, in eras past I could be portly - which sounds so much better doesn't it? Doesn't change the body shape nor the size of the clothing, but it does change my mind and others about my condition. It doesn't answer the truth of what is inside me, just how we are going to describe me to the folks that don't know nor care.

If you don't know yet, school is about to start for the youth, the adults are to be paying attention, but not too closely, to the struggle for the highest seat in the land. I wonder who would want that seat if it were on top of something really high? or very public? I will hold that is all a distraction, the damage is being done by public servants and those that are really in charge of the change, chains and the choice. You can't do too much about all that, just know what you can take care of... yourself and all those you love.

I like shooting, I am interested in military matters, airborne, armor and combat and small unit stuff. I like to think I invested well (I didn't, but it sure has helped). I know that the economy is important, but am still learning from economists that do much better with facts and measurements and are so different than what is presented nightly in the news... SO Different! What I know about military and shooting, which is almost professional expert grade but dated, is always better than all the embedded correspondents can give me, so I figure that is how much of a miss the news is on everything else. And I always remember that their intent is to keep me watching so they can sell ad time to sponsors, no real interest in making a truth known just keep me watching, give me a teaser to stay with you for after the commercials break.

I am going to leave the computer cave, and take my wife and a bunch of stuff (is it possible to leave the house with just what you carry on your back?) to the Spanaway Lake Park and enjoy a day with the Tacoma First Baptist Church Olympic Games! We once walked almost daily or at least weekly in the park, but budget battles, access during unsafe hours of darkness and parking fees drove many of us, just users, away. My tax rate doesn't get affected by that, just my appreciation for the stupidity of the Parks and County governors. I will have fun, there will be lots of beautiful people, fine foolish chatter, an opportunity to feast (oh, yeah, in about four cultures worth of taste) and get sun burned. Instead of just aggravated by time marching steadily on with us lemmings.... God bless your day, He has already started on mine, I will share.

How do you say 'I love you'?

I like to think I start by telling her she is beautiful, in the morning, before she has really waken, long before makeup and dressing for success. While she still thinks I am lying, I must be over sexed, need glasses, hiding something bad or want my breakfast an hour ago.. there must be a reason.

There is a reason, I normally get up first and think about how miserable I would be if she wasn't there... long ago my commander asked how my wife was. I laughed and said, I don't really know, there was a lump under the covers when I woke this morning, it matched the lump that was there when I fell asleep last night. I was working as a Drill Sergeant, and only one way to stay ahead of the trainees, to sleep less and pounce more.

We have been separated by miles, and countries, and always by culture and language. We are separated by being different, still we touch with a smile, a look, and a question or an offering unasked. I don't like alone, been there, done that, still own the t-shirt. It hides in a drawer labeled stupid.

Just another reason to trust in the Lord and the promise of Life everlasting... being in a Heaven with all my enemies and my loved ones and introducing them to each other. For they all had a part in making me, Earl.

Problems with politics, again?

In America, always.

If the Democrats were serious about winning the Presidential election, VP Biden would bow out gracefully now, some fine smart replacement get selected, win the debate with Ryan and assure themselves a golden path to 2016, but politics is made of fools...

That was my thought, but why would the really smart people in Wall Street, business, and government leadership suffer fools? Because, most of America isn't as smart as they are... and fools can be bought, paid for and discarded when they become a liability. One doesn't have to be really a critical thinker to be kind to others, really, some of the nicest people I meet know they aren't smart, but they understand nice and work well at being such.

Election day, our votes count, the rest of the time our political leadership looks to where the money and power come from, which is not from the voters. 

Now except for many strange voters in long time voting status but no face that can be photo ID'd, most voters will use those places that can be bought for their information on the candidates, the effect of laws, the hard work of the candidates and how good they look when sober in the sunlight. Most of us will never see them in their drugged or drunken stupor, in some sleazy den of some slime.

So, don't be surprised that media, and politicians are so corrupt and very ineffective. Government isn't run on sound principles, it isn't even rocket science, it is all about illusions.

 

Do you know where your representatives are? Do you have a real idea why they don't have a clue? Can't craft a solution to a problem? Me either.

Joe Biden, didn't mean a reference to slavery, but he did... not to America's black history - but to ALL the People's slavery to an ever growing government, greedy bankers and money men. We all wear the chains until we break free of the borrowing binges - personal debt, family debt and government debt. REALLY!

So, you really believe that the media knows something?

Watching news programs have convinced me that mostly they don't know, but they want to keep me watching. Breaking news is always something that has just happened, or is happening and they don't know but they are going to cover it.

I can tell where they are so out of  touch, by how much money they are spending on their clothes and make up. There are lots of fine folks presenting the news, telling us stories and entertaining us, but it is all for them and the bottom line. Give me BBC news without commercial interruption, give me Australian news without commercial interruption, then I will find out things without wondering if a political philosophy that might change my laws and the governments attempts to enslave me. Joe Biden says that Romney is going to have us back in chains.

Ah, well, back to being a clinger. I sent an email to O'Reilly, he doesn't know much about firearms, the American laws, the 2nd Amendment and is so easily swayed by the fear mongers out there (could it be he are one?).

For you not reading his email, nor on my friends on Facebook:

You can own a machine gun in the United States, there is a tax that must be paid. No new machine guns are to be introduced. You would have lots of problems buying an illegal machine gun at a gun show, but you are correct that the unregulated (black market) market can provide what the government denies. Prostitution, drugs and other illegal items are all available, often from the law enforcement folks.

The Second Amendment is about arms used to defend the security of a free State, and the government not being able to infringe on the rights of the people. In MA of 1775 they had cannon. It machine guns had been available they, the people, would have had them. You are a product of a modern civilized country that pretends it has the people's best interests at heart - and then does all those things we fought a revolution over.

Still a great program, if you would become a bit more humble, and on firearms and the law - you come close to Jesse Watters' cute little airheads.

I don't like it personally...

and then the reasonable, white lady, sipping her coffee - tells me that it is time for a conversation about legalizing marijuana. I mute the conversation, for I have decided not to participate in stupidity.

It is a beautiful morning here, I woke my wife earlier as she had asked. She goes to the garden, the tiny one in the backyard that is still mostly grass. Picking sesame leaves and cucumbers, there are beans and tomatoes and other plants there. I think I should thank the Lord, so much from so little, and project my thoughts to growing more, planting the entire yard. How much is possible? Remembering that I am just the guy with the shovel, rake or hoe - my wife is the grower, the farm girl from far away. And where would I put the rabbits, and chickens? Why? because my faith in God is much stronger than my faith in government, I will get more from what I put into the soil, and farm than what I sent to Washington, DC or Olympia. And certainly the sounds of nature and nurture are winners when compared to the rants and poisoned perceptions so professionally polished to strike fear in my life. But I have been frightened of real killers, and got over it and on to other things.

Well, have to start breakfast and exercise - keep moving, keep smiling and find somebody to love more than self. Thank the Lord for He is Good. Take care out there.