Rambling

There are times in life when you can hang back and watch the world spin under your feet.

There are other times when you have to jump off into deep water with bullets slapping around you in the surf.

Timing is important in life and I think its that innate sense of timing that differentiates the lucky from the unlucky. That's not to say you don't have to swing at the odd curve ball from time to time.

It's also important not either read, save, or listen to your own press. All glory is fleeting (sic transit gloria mundi) and living on past glory is as destructive as seeking glory in the present or the future. Glory is an illusion just as success and failure are two sides of the same coin. I'm happy to have lived long enough to appreciate the truth in what I just wrote.

Today a guy asked me whether or not I was bothered about becoming a grandfather. I replied, "Are you kidding, I'm ecstatic!" There is a peculiar joy I feel when I see my girls growing up around me, making adult decisions, doing the right thing and learning from the wrong thing. 

Thanksgiving

Not many people read my blog but everyone who does, is counted dear to me. There is a great deal that I have to be thankful for. The things are nice, the things make life easier, but the people are what count to me. Not all that can be counted, counts.

The older I get, the more cherished my friendships are. I don't have a lot of friends. I don't want an entourage.  So --- Thanks to my family and friends.

Now on to business:  This year I had my big chance to do the traditional thing of shooting my own turkey for Thanksgiving -- you should have seen the people in the meat department scatter...

What did the mama turkey say to her naughty son?

If your papa could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!

That's it. No more for you all. Get to eating...

Health Q and A

This comes from a physician who advocates a new way of looking at health.

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is good for so many beats and that's it. Don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer. That's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. What are they? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetables). A pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: Not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more goodness that way. Beer is also made from grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I handle my body fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio is 1:1. If you have two bodies, the ratio is 2:1.

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: You're not listening. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. in fact, they're permeated in it. How could be getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Cocoa beans are another vegetable. 

Q: Is swimming good for slimming my figure?

A: Look at whales. What do you think?

Kelly's Belly

Kelly is three months pregnant. We don't know if it will be a boy or a girl yet, but I'm hoping for a second grandson... Kelly wants a girl.

Stock Market

Usually when a new president (even one as lame as Jimmy Carter or Barack Hussein Obama) are elected, the stock market climbs.

In the week since B. Hussein Obama was elected, the market has lost a staggering 16% of its equity. It's down again today at 11am Eastern. There has been no discernible profit taking. I find it depressing. Maybe the day will end "flat" without another loss to the index.