Chain Ring Cowboy

I don't know why I decided to sit in a different part of the church that Sunday. Being a creature of habit, I usually sit in the same area because, maybe I like the angle or feel comfortable around the people, who knows for sure. But that particular Sunday I decided to sit way back and way right, a place where I thought no one would go. Having sat off to the left of center and a little front of the middle for so many times, it was time for a change of location. I was early and claimed a place at the end of the pew, which reminds me, I have been guilty of thinking badly about people who show up for church early so they can claim the end of the pew, right in the middle of the church imposing discomfort those who have to crawl over the seated rascals clinging to their end position. Most folks look around and decide to get an easier passage to their seat, so that when the usher has to do his job, folks will finally get to tromp over the end huggers. But this piece is not about them tod...

It occurred to me that something bad is happening with language we Americans use. Like technology, it seems to me that changes are made at an ever increasing rate, and a debate is whether these changes are for the good or not. Communication and information transfer is one of the primary drivers in the techno world, and as more and more people have devices that assist in making communication easier, the opposite seems to be happening. From the mature members of our society to the very young, more and more folks have cell phones for example, that can allow talking, text messaging, and image transfers. I have seen in more than one place where a family can all be equipped with these communication devices that result in each one being locked in on that device, not able to be "there" for the immediate world around them. If a parent calls one of his/her children, that parent had better call all the children, because the notion of spreading the message via mouth is rare to happen. Ev...

A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush, but to catch a flying bird with your hands is better than, well, I hope you set the one already in your hand down first. Too many birds in view, your hand, flying and in the bush can scatter your focus like a covey of quail when it sees a golden retriever. Soupy weather today. I am glad this is drive day anyway, I hope it clears off tomorrow, and I will feel like the weather is working on my schedule. Today is my dad's 82nd birthday. Happy Birthday Pops. I hope I am as sharp as you are when I get to that milepost.

I had a new experience today, I rode a bicycle to work. It seems that I used to do that back a long time ago, it was so much fun, I think I will start up again. There are 4 creeks and one river to cross on the 10 mile trek, and descending to the bottom of each resulted in being chilled, the chill that makes the eyes water. Of course the work it takes to grind back up out of the bottom makes for warming. It's funny how the cool feeling going down can be a bit uncomfortable but I would rather it stay when it goes away going back up.

He knows he can be a positive influence on those good people, because they are an absolute positive influence on him.