People are Funny

So much humor in life. Take for instance the following letter written in to our local paper. A gentlemen indicated he had went to the local license branch and was upset at the clerk for putting his last name on the handicap placard he was requesting. He gives the following reasoning:

"I find her action in this totally unnecessary and in fact could jeopardize the safety of anyone with their last name on the placard. My concern in this action is that anyone could see the name look for an address with that last name nearest to that supermarket where the vehicle is parked and either go while the person is shopping and rob them or confront the person knowing that a handicap person lives at this address. In today's world of privacy this practice is jeopardizing anyone who requests a handicap placard in the state of Indiana. I will not be using this placard for safety reasons."

Ok, perhaps there's some good points made. The kicker is how the letter ends---with the writer's full name and city! So in essence the letter says "I refuse to reveal my name and the fact that I am handicapped to prevent criminals from coming to my residence...sincerely, Phinneas J. Whoopee, Smalltown USA"

My mind considers the following verse from the Bible: "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent..." Proverbs 17:28

The Joy of Scrabble

My wife and I like to play Scrabble. I enjoy many games, but Scrabble is her favorite and we find ourselves playing every once in a while. Last night was one such occasion. It wasn't til much later in the evening after our game was completed (To satisfy your curiousity--yes, I won but my point is not to gloat), that I thought more about Scrabble.

The game of Scrabble bears similarities to the game of Poker. Ok, I'm sure the Scrabble purists who might across that statement are gasping for air. Here's my point -- 'Bluffing' can be a huge part of a Scrabble game. Think about it. You can put any word you want to on the board and if you can convince the other player(s) that you know what you're talking about, you win. You force them to call your bluff, just like at a card table.

Not that I have EVER used that strategy, I'm just sayin'....

Candy Corn

I'm reading a bedtime story to my daughter last night -- frequently, she'll choose a Winnie the Pooh book. This night was no different. At the end of the story, the Hundred-Acre Wood gang are all enjoying honey at a picnic. We shared the following dialogue:

"Everyone likes honey, right Daddy?"
"Pretty much since it's sweet, that's why everyone likes chocolate and candy."
"I like candy, except for those little things that are orange, yellow and white..."
"Candy corn?"
"Yeah..."

She follows the last response by making that face....you know the one you make when you taste something awful and you wrinkle your face to the point where people know to get out of the way because things are going to come flying out of your mouth in the near future.

After she's settled in, I head to the kitchen. A short time later my wife returns from her trip to the store. She's excited to share with me what she picked up for my daughter's school snack.... You know where this is going, right? Yep, you guessed it....she had brought home candy corn!

You should realize that in over 12 years of marriage, I don't recall my wife EVER buying candy corn. And the one time she does is within an hour of my daughter sharing her disdain for it. Real-life comedy....gotta love it.

Of course, once my daughter got up for school this morning I made sure I was in the room when my wife showed her the new snack. It was enjoyable to see that face again. This tale does have a happy ending....my daughter brought goldfish crackers for her snack.

Great Ideas that Aren't All That Great

The local McDonald's rebuilt several years ago after a fire. While doing so they advertised something new that would be a part of their new restaurant. Southern Indiana residents were introduced to the double-drive thru!

Guess what McDonald's? It stinks. For those who haven't seen how it operates, let me explain it. There are 2 drive thru entrances....2 ordering kiosks....then, you merge into 1 lane to pay for & pick up your food. Does this save any time? No. What's the purpose? I'm really not sure, unless they just want to annoy folks.

Ever went to the grocery store and lamented the fact that you always pick the wrong lane? Well that's me at McDonald's. I pull in and pick the right hand drive-thru. Someone comes behind me and goes left and in a few short minutes, I'm behind them! It's truly maddening!

Thanks for listening. If a higher-up from McD's happens across this blog, please note the general uselessness of your double-drive-thru. Perhaps you should call the folks at Rally's who know how to operate one (2 separate pick-up windows). All that being said, I'm not angry enough to avoid McDonald's. My addiction to McChicken sandwiches and apples pies will keep me in their annoying little drive-thru line for years to come....and I won't be happy about it.

Admitting Error

Well, I did something the other day for the first time. Brace yourself, it's confession time! I was reading an article online by an Associated Press sports columnist. In it, he made a statement that I felt was inaccurate. It just didn't add up. It bothered me. I couldn't sleep at night. Nah, it wasn't that bad. But I did decide I couldn't let it go unaddressed - so I fired off an e-mail to him and let him know my thoughts.

My approach was to make sure this writer knew that I appreciated his work. In fact, I told him his article was excellent. However, I did point out the statement in question and explained that I felt it was way off base. I used facts to illustrate my point.

Later that day, I got a response. I must admit to being a little nervous upon opening the e-mail. This was a fellow who writes professionally. It would have been easy for him to say something along the lines of "I'm entitled to my opinion" or "Who do you think you are to criticize me?" Honestly, I wasn't sure if if I'd receive a response at all. His e-mail reply said he was thankful for my note and agreed with me that the statement I questioned was careless.

You know....my respect for this guy went way up. In the world we live in, few people admit error. Folks are quick to point a finger of blame in any direction. It's refreshing to know that there are people who will put pride aside and say "I messed up." We fail to realize the respect we can gain from others by doing so.

A Blank Canvas

I'm not an artist in a traditional sense. I've always admired those with artistic skills...the ability to draw or paint, taking a blank canvas and creating something with great visual appeal. Until the artist applies the utensil to his working space, the surface remains plain. But...oh, what potential.

Have you ever had a day in which you had nothing planned? You woke up that morning with nothing on your schedule, your time void of other commitments, a to-do list that could wait to be addressed and hours ahead of you. A certain, anxious excitement would be present within you as you considered the possibilities for the unclaimed time.

So it is with this blog. Much like a blank canvas or an unplanned stretch of time, it sits before me. Ideas abound on how to fill the space. What is my goal? Am I using it for my own enjoyment, as a mental release of sorts being able to put into writing thoughts bouncing around my head? Or do I intend to entertain those who might read this blog?

Ah, this is getting too deep. Probably why I'm not an artist...