Road Rage?

Travelin' Tuesday

Have you experienced road rage directed towards you lately?

On the other hand, have you displayed road rage towards another driver in recent days?

Road rage is nothing more than a temper tantrum.

If things aren't going exactly the way we want , whilst driving our car in this 21st century, in which we are all spoiled brats, we have a conniption fit:

1. conniption fit  

   Web definitions A tantrum is an emotional outburst that is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, defiance, angry ranting and a... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conniption_fit There was not as much road rage when I  was a kid. It DID happen, but not with the frequency  that we see today. My theory is that our miserable, dull, dysfunctional lives, the dog pooping  on the carpet, our boss being a big jerk,  realizing you voted for the biggest idiot  in the universe for President, our spouse getting on us about  everything, is  the real reason for road rage...not  because  of a little error in judgement by  another  driver. Have you ever had someone pull out in front of you, and you lay on the horn,  shake your fist, and start cussing at the  driver, only to find out it's the Pastor's  wife? That's kind of embarrassing, ain't it? Back in ancient times, in the 1950's,  folks had to suffer 90 degree plus  temperatures, driving in their cars  with NO air conditioning, sweat  running in their eyes, dirt, dust  and debris coming in the opened  windows, and people  had a lot less road rage in spite of  all the discomfort. All I know is I'm tired of people yelling  at me when I make a minor traffic faux pas  that I wasn't even aware of at the time! That minor bumping of the car in front  of me in the McDonald's drive through  line was not serious enough for that  woman to have such a conniption fit!  (See above)

HE

MANESS MUSIC MONDAY

I need to apologize for being so late with Maness Music Monday!

I keep running out of tom, lately!

I didn't want to skip a day because you are the greatest Glirkazoids in the whole wide worm, and I know you couldn't live without My Life Is Only For Laughs blog! HA!

This is a cover of one of my favorite all tom, songs!

ST. LOUIS SUNDAY

My dads father was a minister in a Pilgrim Holiness Church, but my dad seldom took us to church at all.

I really never knew why.

Maybe he didn't like all of the restrictions in that church.

No smoking, drinking adult beverages, or dancing; woman were forbidden to wear makeup, and they had to wear long dresses, pants were not allowed on women (uh, I mean, umm, they could only wear dresses), no cursing (that left dad out, for sure), and frankly, not much of anything that was fun, according to our family values.

I was a baby when my grandpa died, so I don't remember him at all, but my dad's brother took over the church and dad still only took us on Christmas and Easter, except for a few times a family member talked him into it.

That was disappointing to me, because I LOVED going to church!

I loved everything about it!

I loved putting on my little suit, people smiling and shaking hands with me, the smell of Murphy's Oil Soap on the beautiful shiny wooden pews, the music, the AWESOME BIBLE STORIES!

It was the bible stories that I loved the best!

Let's talk about that in a minute.

First, I want to tell you about how I felt when I went to church.

I felt clean...I felt warm and fuzzy...I felt like I was doing something good and worthwhile...I felt righteous...I felt like like my life had meaning...

Not my family, but you get the idea.

I have some additional feelings when I go to church now... I feel humbled...thankful...

undeserving...blessed...encouraged...

srengthened...and loved.

I never had any doubts about the truth of the bible that stirred my little heart and soul with such magnificent stories about Moses, David, Daniel,  and Jesus. 

Today I still thrill at the true life accounts of folks who were exactly like you and me!

I'm not alone! 

"The Bible" mini series was one of the most watched TV series of all time! It did a brilliant job of telling the stories of these ancient people in a simple, unadulterated way, the way the bible was meant to be taught.

My mom, was not that interested in going to church either.

She never hesitated about going to church when dad was willing, but she was a free spirit that did not appreciate the self righteousness of many church goers she knew.

Mom was honest, straight forward and did not suffer hypocrites very well.

She knew what the bible said, and taught us the truth through word and deed.

She would welcome the homeless to our door (but never let them in), and always give them some food and coffee.

If we ever made the mistake of making a bigoted racial comment, she would say,"how do you know that God is not black, or brown.."whatever fit the circumstances.

She was way too loving, kind, generous, honest, fair, and unhypocritical to fit in with most churches, anyway.

Nothing against churches, like I said, I love going to church, but I believe mom and dad have a special place in heaven that is reserved for REAL, SIMPLE, GOOD CHRISTIANS, who love to dance.

SATURDAY MORNING POST

SPACE CREATURES TRAVEL 100 LIGHT YEARS TO EARTH TO STUDY OBAMA ADMINISTRATION...TO USE AS A WEAPON FOR DESTROYING ENEMY CIVILIZATIONS 

AMELIA EARHART'S REMAINS DISCOVERED IN HAWAII...HER LUGGAGE FOUND IN ALASKA

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER THE REASON ASIAN CARP JUMP OUT OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER...BECAUSE IT'S THE ILLINOIS RIVER

ILLINOIS IS LAST REMAINING STATE TO HAVE LAW AGAINST CONCEALED CARRY...MAFIA AND GANGSTER LEADERS LOBBY TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO, FOR SOME REASON

JOAN RIVERS WANTS ANOTHER FACE LIFT SO SHE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE STARS AT NIGHT WITHOUT TILTING HER HEAD BACK

CHRIS CHRISTIE NEEDS TO LOSE 100 POUNDS TO PLAY THE PART OF HORTON THE ELEPHANT IN BROADWAY STAGE PRODUCTION

FAN FRIDAY

I am a big fan of Manolis Paschalidis

http://www.youtube.com/user/manolisvlog/featured

Manolis may be the most delightful dude on YouTube!

He lives in Greece, where we all know the economy has taken a nose dive, but he's always happy, smiling, positive, and uplifting!

He is funny, thoughtful, and generous with his encouraging comments for other YouTubers!

However, what really makes it an absolute pleasure to watch his videos is his singing and playing the guitar!

I could try to describe it for you, but why not see and hear for yourself:

I told you he was AWESOME!

Manolis has become a wonderful and caring friend to me, so I wanted you to meet this sweet, talented man!

Check out more of his music by clicking on link below!

http://www.youtube.com/user/manolisvlog/featured

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

 I wonder if my grandpa had the same problem as me, and my great grandpa, and all of my grandpa's throughout my family history.

What problem?

Trying to keep up, and make sense of all the changes in society.

Same sex marriage, for instance.

I honestly don't get it.

I think it's like eating an octopus.

I never in my wildest imagination would ever dream of eating an octopus!

However, some folks absolutely love chowing down on octopus! 

I do not hate the people that love to eat octopus, it's just hard for me to comprehend in my limited, frequently battered from playing football, brain, how somebody could eat octopus!

When I was a kid, gay people were called fruits, queers, homos, faggots, and other unkind things.

They would get beat up, made fun of, and banned from the elite circles of kids.

Gay Texan beaten by 3 cowardly guys.

Now, it's almost a status symbol to have gay friends, and anyone who makes a negative, bigoted statement about someone's sexual preference is ridiculed and berated by the elite group.

What an enormous change has taken place since I was a kid!

From homosexuality being deviant, sick, nasty, abnormal behavior, and an abomination (Wow! Just the word abomination makes it sound  extra bad!)...
to accepted, approved, normal, loving affection of a soul mate, and legally sanctioned behavior!

How am I supposed to twist my brain around 180 degrees like that?!

Give me a break, I'm old and not fond of ANY kind of change!

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around touchless faucets and electronic toilet flush things...and don't get me started on those cock-a-doodie hand blow dryers instead of perfectly good paper towels!

I really love gay people... I have for years! 

Starting with Liberace, then the Brady Bunch dad, Elton John, Ellen, all the way up to Adam Lambert. 

In all honesty, I think I really didn't LOVE gay people until Will and Grace.

I found out that gay folks have feelings like everybody else, and they are hysterically funny!

I just get a creepy feeling when I see a dude kissing another dude on a tv show like that, on a soap opera, or in a movie! Sorry, but I'm just being honest.

What?! 

I'm not a homophobe!

I'm not AFRAID of gay guys, it just makes me uncomfortable to see them kissing each other, the same way I would feel uncomfortable if I watched someone eating an octopus carcass!

I don't hate the octopus eater for eating the octopus.

In the same way, I don't hate a gay for kissing another gay guy, it's just hard for me to understand those feelings.


From mankind's earliest writings, homosexuality has been viewed as an abomination, a sin against nature, in nearly every society that has ever existed..until the last few years.

So, I guess I just answered my own question. 

I do have to cope with changes my forefathers never had to face.

God help me be kind, caring, and compassionate to everyone, in spite of their different beliefs, moral decisions, and attitudes that I don't understand.
My sins are just as bad as everybody's sins, and I do not deserve your forgiveness and understanding.
So, who am I to judge other people.
Amen.

OUT OF THIS WORLD WEDNESDAY

In the distant future past.

On a planet far ago,

Lived a Glirkazoid named Gary,

Who would always say, "hello,"

To every little creature,

That he met along his way,

As he strolled along the glidewalk,

That he traveled every day.

His violet heart was beating fast,

He knew that soon he'd see,

A sight that made him happy,

And filled his life with glee,

That perked up his antennas,

Each day upon his hike,

The beautiful, sweet, 

Lady Mim, riding her pink bike.

She rode past him every morning,

When the Glirkan sun turned blue,

And he didn't know just what to say,

Or what he had to do,

To make her stop and chat a bit,

Or maybe share a bite,

This lovely, charming,

Lady Mim, riding her pink bike.

The gloggies never barked at her,

They knew that she was nice,

She lived near by a country lake,

A little paradise,

The sight of Mim and her bright smile,

Made even the purtles take flight,

They'd fly up high,

For Lady Mim, riding her pink bike.

Gary said, "This is the day 

that I will find the nerve, 

To share the feelings in my heart,

When she slows for this curve,"

But the only thing that he could do,

Was smile and wave in fright,

To the sweet and lovely,

Lady Mim, riding her pink bike.

TRAVELIN' TUESDAY

In the "olden days" we didn't have 4 lane, divided, super highways to zoom us  across America like there is today!

We had narrow, undivided, two lane highways that went through every little town along the route.

Route 67, for example.

When we drove from St.Louis to my Grandpa's farm near Silva, Missouri (not far from Piedmont, if that helps), we had the pleasure of going through Fredricktown, Farmington, Bonne Terre (Good Earth), and even Lodi Missouri.

Well, Bonne Terre was actually off the old route 67, but we could see the lead mine chat mounds, or whatever they were called.

The area always looked all dry and desert-like to me.

Lodi was so small I shouldn't be counting that either.

The 2012 Lodi (zip 63950), MO, population is 53. There are 6 people per square mile (population density). 
Families of Lodi
The median age is 47.3. The US median is 37.3. 58.54% of people in Lodi (zip 63950), MO, are married. 11.36% are divorced.
The average household size is 2.36 people. 20.00% of people are married, with children. 13.33% have children, but are single.

Race in Lodi 

98.11% of people are white, 0.00% are black, 0.00% are asian, 0.00% are native american, and 0.00% claim 'Other'.
50.15% of the people in Lodi claim hispanic (meaning 49.85% are non-hispanic).

Now, I may be all wrong about the towns we went through on route 67, if it REALLY was route 67, and if Bonne Terre even had lead mines, but that's the way I clearly remember it.

We would always see the BURMA SHAVE signs that were witty and funny.

For instance: If it's music...you do crave...get a tuba...BURMA SHAVE!

Not Missouri, but the best Burma Shave sign picture I could find.

I'm so glad we are finally to the part where we hit the country roads!

That's what I liked best!

When we got to Silva we started driving down the almost one lane, reddish clay, gravel roads that actually had creeks running over the road in places!

At dry times there would only be a trickle of water running across the road, but in rainy times it would be wide, and deep with water, and dad had to be careful not to stall the car out in the middle of the raging torrent!

Very cool, indeed!

If another car came the other way, we had to pull as far over as we could to let him go by, and everybody would wave to each other! 

That's what they did down there.

We couldn't really wave to everybody in St. Louis, because there were too many people,

and we would have been arrested, I think.

This story is really cool! 

My Grandpa was not known for being the sweetest man on earth, but one time we went down to his farm in the spring, he hooked a little wooden trailer to his tractor, and he took all of us kids around to see the newborn baby pigs, calves, and other creatures that doth did dwell upon his 900 acres of farm and timber land.

I kept asking why the bull was playing piggy-back with the cows, but no one seemed to know the answer.