Just for Fun

From The Heart

What's in the Water4 Comments

Written by David W. White

I have no words of my own
    That will ease your family’s pain,
So, I prayed to God for his guidance
    And He put these in my brain.

When tragedy enters into our lives
    It’s difficult to understand,
We must surrender to God’s Grace
    And let Him take us by the hand.

There is no rhyme or reason
    Why this has come our way,
It’s not our fault it happened
    So, we should not ever dismay.

For a reason only known to Him
    We find us in this place,
And all of us who truly believe
    Will receive his loving Grace.

Please remember all the good things
    Our lives have always brought,
And trusting in his Holy words
    While trying hard not to be distraught.

David W. White
February 21, 2023

HOMESCHOOLED

What's in the Water7 Comments

Most of our generation of 60+ were
HOMESCHOOLED in many ways: 

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
  “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

  2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

  3. My father taught me about TIME TRAVEL
  “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

  4. My father taught me LOGIC.
  ” Because I said so, that’s why.”

  5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

  6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

  7. My father taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

  8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

  9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

click here to read more

Most of our generation of 60+ were
HOMESCHOOLED in many ways: 

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
  “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

  2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

  3. My father taught me about TIME TRAVEL
  “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

  4. My father taught me LOGIC.
  ” Because I said so, that’s why.”

  5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

  6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

  7. My father taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

  8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

  9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

click here to read more

Most of our generation of 60+ were
HOMESCHOOLED in many ways: 

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
  “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

  2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

  3. My father taught me about TIME TRAVEL
  “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

  4. My father taught me LOGIC.
  ” Because I said so, that’s why.”

  5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

  6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

  7. My father taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

  8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

  9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

click here to read more

Submitted by Pete Creasey

Most of our generation of 60+ were
HOMESCHOOLED in many ways: 

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
  “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

  2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

  3. My father taught me about TIME TRAVEL
  “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

  4. My father taught me LOGIC.
  ” Because I said so, that’s why.”

  5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

  6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

  7. My father taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

  8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

  9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

click here to read more

Gypsy…The Best Rescue I Ever Made

What's in the Water3 Comments

Written by John McElligott

Gypsy… the best rescue I ever made thanks to the “President Eisenhower Hole.”

(See the before and after pictures below.)

I thought saving lives in Vietnam was something that would never be surpassed… until I was certifying an old Nuclear Power Plant for demolition.

Well, it was easy since the site was called “The Eisenhower Hole” and was deserted for years except for the two young men in their 30’s supervising, who met me in order to show me the facility and the hole.

My wife dropped me off at the site while she went shopping in a near by town. The two men were waiting for me and smoking cigarettes. They instructed me that we must go up 10 flights of stairs in order to inspect the entire facility bottom to top.

The men decided we could do a stair run to get up to the top to see the hole that caused the facility to shut down. Well, I took off running the stairs floor by floor. Then I noticed the two chaperones were barley keeping up. So, I waited and finally they caught up with me on the 5th floor. They were throwing up and out of breath. So, I told them to walk up, and I would meet them on the top of the building. An hour later, they finally made it to the top and were vomiting and had to lay down. I proceeded to inspect the top of the facility on my own and found the hole that shut down the facility. I was amazed how big and deep it was.

This hole was a definite hazard and I decided that it was not safe to even operate the facility even for simple storage. So, I left the two supervising men on the roof and got a ride to the nearest roadside gas station and called my wife, Lisa.

Well… Lisa had found a dog pound that had hundreds of dogs barking and wanting out of the facility. Being a dog lover, I was mad and did not like how the facility operated.  I requested to see the black poodle they were giving away and I was rushed since I was sick to see how the dogs were housed and treated.

We sat down and the owner brought in a small black dog and set the pet on the floor next to me. Well… I looked down and the dog looked up and it was love at first site on my part. The small dog just gazed into my eyes, and I grabbed her and took off to the car and left my wife to work out the details.

I carried to black poodle to the car, and she was shaking badly, having been in a cage for the last 7 years and was she was used for breading purposes only. My temper was at a level that made me feel like I was exploding every time the dog looked at me.

This is how Gypsy looked the day I rescued her!

Well as soon and we got home Gypsy (new name) took off from the car and it took us hours to find her in the bushes, but we did finally and put her back in her cage. We left the door open, but she never came out for several weeks or more and avoided contact with me or Lisa.

This lasted for a few months and then one day Gypsy looked at me and we have been joined at the hip ever since.

This is my Sweet Gypsy now!

We sleep together when I am home, and I have never loved a pet this much since my dog Roof.

John, Tom, Bruce McElligott with Roof

Not a day or night goes by that Gypsy and I don’t make “Eye to Eye Contact” and it Makes My Heart Throb!!!

Philosophy

What's in the Water5 Comments

By Pete Creasey


I asked a friend who has crossed 70 & is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself. He sent me the following:

1. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.

2. I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3. I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4. I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.

5. I stopped telling the elderly that they’ve already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.

Continue reading →

Exercise for Longevity

What's in the Water2 Comments

Written by Bob Ittner

I have been blessed with good genes. My father played tennis into his nineties and walked to the post office from his office during the week-about a mile. My mom had a heart attack working out at the Y when she was 93. 

Besides good genes I have stayed active and blessed with coaches, trainers, and friends who encouraged me growing up in Midland and beyond. 

As we age it is even more important to stay active and fighting the tendency to say I will do it tomorrow. Walking, swimming, yoga, biking, the new favorite pickleball are all good activities 4 or 5 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes each session.

For me I like walking our dogs, doing yoga-stretching is very important, cycling , and playing Wallyball 3 times a week getting up at 5:30 AM. Exercising with others helps with the commitment because you don’t want to let them down.

Finding exercise that you enjoy is crucial otherwise you won’t do it. I have never been a golfer, hunter, or fisherman but depending on how you do these, they can be valuable forms of exercise. 

Sleep, diet, and weight are important, but these are subjects for another time. 

The Best Rescue I Ever Made

What's in the Water8 Comments

Written by John McElligott

Gypsy… the best rescue I ever made thanks to the “President Eisenhower Hole.”

I thought saving lives in Vietnam was something that would never be surpassed… until I was certifying an old Nuclear Power Plant for demolition.

Well, it was easy since the site was called “The Eisenhower Hole” and was deserted for years except for the two young men in their 30’s supervising, who met me in order to show me the facility and the hole.

My wife dropped me off at the site while she went shopping in a near by town. The two men were waiting for me and smoking cigarettes. They instructed me that we must go up 10 flights of stairs in order to inspect the entire facility bottom to top.

The men decided we could do a stair run to get up to the top to see the hole that caused the facility to shut down. Well, I took off running the stairs floor by floor. Then I noticed the two chaperones were barley keeping up. So, I waited and finally they caught up with me on the 5th floor. They were throwing up and out of breath. So, I told them to walk up, and I would meet them on the top of the building. An hour later, they finally made it to the top and were vomiting and had to lay down. I proceeded to inspect the top of the facility on my own and found the hole that shut down the facility. I was amazed how big and deep it was.

This hole was a definite hazard and I decided that it was not safe to even operate the facility even for simple storage. So, I left the two supervising men on the roof and got a ride to the nearest roadside gas station and called my wife, Lisa.

Well… Lisa had found a dog pound that had hundreds of dogs barking and wanting out of the facility. Being a dog lover, I was mad and did not like how the facility operated.  I requested to see the black poodle they were giving away and I was rushed since I was sick to see how the dogs were housed and treated.

We sat down and the owner brought in a small black dog and set the pet on the floor next to me. Well… I looked down and the dog looked up and it was love at first site on my part. The small dog just gazed into my eyes, and I grabbed her and took off to the car and left my wife to work out the details.

I carried to black poodle to the car, and she was shaking badly, having been in a cage for the last 7 years and was she was used for breading purposes only. My temper was at a level that made me feel like I was exploding every time the dog looked at me.

Well as soon and we got home Gypsy (new name) took off from the car and it took us hours to find her in the bushes, but we did finally and put her back in her cage. We left the door open, but she never came out for several weeks or more and avoided contact with me or Lisa.

This lasted for a few months and then one day Gypsy looked at me and we have been joined at the hip ever since. We sleep together when I am home, and I have never loved a pet this much since my dog Roof.

John, Tom, Bruce McElligott with Roof

Not a day or night goes by that Gypsy and I don’t make “Eye to Eye Contact” and it Makes My Heart Throb!!!