Blog #2

Alive and well on for the second blog. The building process was surprisingly challenging. It was supposed to be easy, and it almost was, but using my 1990’s skill set on post millennium software created some interesting issues. For instance, since I never publish anything off the cuff, I wrote in Word. Then I copied and pasted the text into Blogger. - and it didn’t show up. Fortunately I had someone blessed with modern day computer acumen to beg help from. So now I know what I write in Word and paste into Blogger has to go into the html clipboard instead of the text clipboard. That’s your blog reader and aspiring blogger tip for the day….

You know how you need to have kids around to program the VCR properly? If nothing else, that question reveals my Worldview and when my technological aptitude started to fall behind. It was a long time ago. VCR’s are on the way out and I never programmed one. Perhaps that is the price I paid for not parenting young children. Once they get to be teens they indulge you, but don’t necessarily want to be bothered explaining what they did. By they time they’re in their 20’s, you’re already spending most of your time repairing the house and you would rather they just made whatever gizmo you’re trying to turn on work. So I got where I’m at on this blog with a lot of help from more patient people who can read directions on a computer monitors and actually apply them to make processes work. I am humbled and grateful for those who love me enough to help me look competent to the rest of the world.

We’re doing okay at ye ol’ lemonade stand, even though so many loved ones are in turmoil. It has been a very busy 3 weeks. A lot of people are rightfully needy. Major life changes are happening and we are the Kool Aide house. So we welcome strays, and we’ll keep it that way, but we are ready for most of the people in our lives to have things start working for them. We want to enjoy watching people succeeding, getting what they want and understanding the challenges they encounter on their journeys. One central theme always seems to be that you can change yourself, your perspective, and you can want what is best for you and others, but you can’t change another person. Well, I suppose that’s not true for parents, who do their best to show their kids the ropes. Molding, shaping, fine-tuning, detailing - these are the parents’ realms. And then some day, most of them get to give up their role and just hope their baby birds have the balance to fly straight and enough sense the stay away from cats.

Well, that’s it for now. Stay away from those cats, unless you are a cat person, in which case I have to say that dogs rule, but that’s just my opinion, and so’s the rest of this stuff.

Peace and Love

Rick

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Chaos and Opportunity

Opportunity grows in chaos’ fertile soil. This month has brought a nearly overwhelming level of opportunity. People are going through changes at the speed of life and sometimes it’s a rough ride. My grandson is spending lots of time watching Jerry Springer during his visit. Maybe the travails of trailer trash make sense while he processes the unwelcome mess of change that recently landed in his life. The 12 year old girl across the street is a raging cauldron of hormones. She’s not exactly rolling with the changes either. Fortunately they have video games to help them cope.

I’m at a softball game writing my first blog entry. I’ve heard this is the best way to connect with people in Cyber Space, I’m exceeding the scope of my 1990’s computer skill set, post THC and brain surgery. Now here’s a live account of a Friday evening Recreation D Co-Ed softball game: Neither side’s defense was the greatest in the 1st inning, but there’s a strong feeling among on our team that all will be o.k. The cirrus clouds are fading from yellow to orange. Bobby waits for his at bat while the opposing pitcher warms up. Our catcher’s suggested strategy: “Wait for your pitch.” He hits a single on pitch #4. Then Megan’s single advances Bobby to third. It’s only a matter of time. The opposing pitcher walks our next batter to load the bases. Loaded bases…will chaos or opportunity prevail? Is there a difference? Looking up and the clouds are darkened to purple and gray.