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Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #8,761

yeah I know you did not ask!

You should so be blessed – well cursed at times actually – with a mind such as mine, making all these weird connections between my rumored neurons. Just be thankful that I do not share all of my random thoughts.

I am quite content being male.  I am also not a Swiftie.  In fact, I don’t get the whole global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift.  I cannot name one of her songs. I did go to YouTube a while back to listen to one of her tunes, only to discover that it was not my type of music.  I also do not find her particularly attractive, not ugly, just not my type.

Having said all that, I would love to put a “Childless Cat Lady for Kamala” bumper sticker on my pick-em-up truck.  I reckon I could claim the truck belonged to my wife???

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I Am Officially Old – Part II

I went golfing last Friday evening fairly late in the day. When I was done with my round I drove the golf cart up to my 18 year old mid-life crisis vehicle, Li’ Blu, to unload my clubs and other golfing paraphernalia. When I was I done I hopped in the cart and drove around the club house to the collection area for golf carts.

As I approached the drop off zone, another cart was approaching, being driven by a young man of around 6 years of age – hard to tell these days as they all look so young.  He was short enough that he was standing with his backside supported by the cart seat.  It was the only way he could reach the pedals.

Always the wisenheimer, I asked for his driving license and proof of insurance.  The kid said something which I do not remember, but his father, who was trailing the cart, said he was older than he looked.

It was at that point that the licenseless  muchacho remarked, “I am 39 years old.”

Why 39? A bit of an odd number, but maybe someone he knew recently had this birthday.

Still the wisenheimer, I responded, “Well if you are 39, I must be 150.”

He then jumped out of the cart and ran back to his mother waiting by their car saying, “That man is 150 years old.”

Obviously my well honed sense of irony (sarcasm?) was lost on this innocent.

It was at this point that the mother waved at me with a big grin on her face, laughing.

Obviously, I am officially old.

I wonder what I will look like when I reach 200.

Just as an aside, up until 4 or so years ago, I always walked the course carrying my bag.  My back will not let me do that anymore.  I even tried push carts and pull carts, but they hurt my back in a different way.  Oh well, a fun gig this getting old is.

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My Sister Irene by Juanita Carr Rush

This is a short piece written by my mother about her sister, my Aunt Irene.  They came from a very large sharecropping family.  Mama Carr, my grandmother, had a total of 11 children, two of which died at a very young age, of the remaining nine, only one was a son, Paul Henry Carr.  I have written of him before as he died in WWII, and he is remembered as one of the many heroes of that global conflict.

My Aunt Irene, subject of my mother’s story

My sister Irene was fifteen years old when I was born. My mother was in her 40’s and had quite a rough time, both with the birth and for a few weeks afterward. As my two oldest sisters were already married and out of the home, it fell to Irene to assume primary responsibility for my care. I was the last of eleven children and the ninth daughter, so I guess my mother had run out of girls’ names or else was too ill to think about it. Anyway, Irene not only took care of me she also gave me my name. She has told me that I cried almost constantly the first two or three weeks of my life. I imagine that it was probably because I was not getting sufficient nourishment from Mama, but to a fifteen year old Continue reading “My Sister Irene by Juanita Carr Rush”

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I Did Not Realize I Was So Angry

The other day, a few days before the Missouri primary, I stayed home to do honey-dos around the old hacienda, mostly yard work.  I had stepped inside for a moment, and then I went back outside through the garage, out to the front of our house.  As I did so a middle-aged, somewhat matronly woman was walking down our front sidewalk away from our front door.

I saw a stack of red flyers in her hand, so I asked, “Are you canvassing for a Republican?”

She nodded yes.

That is when the demons took hold of me and I went on a bit of a rant.

“Just so you know, I would never, ever vote for a Republican.  I would never vote for the party that has the convicted felon, Trump, as it leader, for a party that refuses to condemn January 6th, for the party that is hell bent on taking away our voting rights, for the party that is taking away women’s reproductive rights, for the party that is Continue reading “I Did Not Realize I Was So Angry”

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Señora Attends Allegro 2024 Summer Camp

Just in case you are not a long time reader (tehehe) of my silly little blog, Allegro is a choral group for persons 50 and over.  Señora repeatedly tells me that she just loves being around so many talented folks.

Señora is on the first row, second from the left in the opening shot.  She is also to be seen at various points during the video.  Enjoy the music.

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J. D. Vance Owes Me 10 Minutes

J. D. Vance owes me ten minutes of my life back.  Well, actually, whoever started the rumor about this troglodyte having an amorous, physical relationship with a couch owes  me the ten minutes.

One of the late night TV hosts was running on with many jokes about the alleged “romance” between Mr. Vance and the couch.  Señora was totally perplexed.  I told her it has been rumored that Continue reading “J. D. Vance Owes Me 10 Minutes”

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Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #4,245

yeah I know you did not ask!

You should so be blessed – well cursed at times actually – with a mind such as mine, making all these weird connections between my rumored neurons. Just be thankful that I do not share all of my random thoughts.

Various folks over the years have talked about how the fashion industry, Hollywood, etc have created an epidemic of body dysmorphia among young women and likely young men too.  If nothing else, it causes unachievable expectations in young men about what young women should look like.  They take beautiful young people, photograph them in glamorous  situations, using the most flattering of lights, then doctor the photos afterwards to eliminate any blemishes.  Have you ever seen a pimple on a picture of a super model?

I have been thinking about this of late as AI generated images on the web are becoming more and more common. The women depicted are unbelievable beautiful and without a flaw, like nothing I have ever seen in real life.  Even the men in their 60s and beyond have washboard stomachs.

If there is truly a prevalent problem with body dysmorphia in our society, AI is not helping.

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Car Talk Puzzler: Lawn mowing

Long time NPR listeners will remember a Saturday morning staple, Car Talk hosted by the Tappet Brothers, Click and Clack, aka Tom and Ray Magliozzi.  For many years it was the most highly rated show on NPR. One of the regular features of the show was their Puzzler.  Frequently it dealt with subjects automotive, but not always.  The one of interest for this blog posting dealt with lawn mowing.

This particular Puzzler involved a gentleman who had had the same lawnmower for many years.  He had always been able to mow his lawn with one tank of gas.  The last year or so, he had to refill the lawnmower’s gas tank to complete his household chore. Of course, with it being Car Talk you were thinking of various causes mechanical.  After much joviality and Continue reading “Car Talk Puzzler: Lawn mowing”

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Season Liberally

Señora has a bit of an addiction problem with Penzeys Spices.  Well, the truth is that I have a bit of a problem with her Penzeys habit.  I collect lint balls, she collects spices. Whenever they have a sale she is down there.  I frequently feel that we are drowning in spices.

I did find the back of her most recently purchase interesting, however.  Even though I agree with the sentiments expressed on the label, I am generally of the opinion that businesses should keep their politics and religion to themselves. There are several business that I try to avoid due to their politics or religious sentiments, e.g., I never, ever eat at Chick-fil-A.

Her current purchase is labeled Outrage whose ingredients are:  Salt, black pepper, red pepper, citric acid, shallots, lemon peel, white pepper, garlic, green onion..

In case you cannot read the back of the jar in the photo:

The ongoing Republican effort to end our democracy is Outrageous. The party’s purge of those disloyal to the January 6 plotters is even worse. When does a party end and fascism begin? When good people give up on being Outraged. Your love is strong; use it to keep Outrage alive.

Outrageously good on avocados, eggs, fish, vegetables, salads, chicken, hummus, sandwiches, and cheeseburgers.

Season Liberally

Just another day in the extremely divided USA.

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