Are You Stressed

Dealing With Stress
I received the following a few days ago, and thought that this was good enough to share. Stress is something we all deal with from time to time. Hopefully this will help you and me deal with it better in the future. Remember, the followings are not mine ideas or words, and I don’t who deserves the credit.

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem.. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, the burden will become increasingly heavy: and we won't be able to carry on.' 'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down: don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

(Note from Tennessee Granddaddy: It may be hard just to put down your burden; But not so, if you put your burden in God’s Hands. That will reduce stress when you know God is helping share your burden.)

Remember….

1. Just accept that, some days, you're the pigeon: and, some days, you're the statue.
   
2. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I heard this the other day…
The king and the pawn both go into the
same box after the game is over.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Life is what we make it,
always has been, always will be.
~Grandma Moses

~~~
Joke of the Day

Only in the South…

• You get a movie and bait in the same store. Maybe tanning booths too.
• "y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
• After a year you still hear, "You ain't from 'round here, are ya?"
• "He needed killin' " is a valid defense.

You know those portable signs on a trailer… I saw one outside a little market in SW Virginia a while back. It said:

Fresh Pork Chops
and Rat Poison
FOR SALE

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Wear Your Seat Belts

Embrace Life
This is one of the most beautiful and stirring commercials I have ever seen to promote the wearing of seatbelts. If you haven’t seen it, click on the YouTube video below:

Always put safety first, in everything that you do… whether it’s driving, cooking, mowing the grass, working or playing. It’s no fun to get injured for yourself or for a loved one. So, please be careful.

I hope you are having a great week. It is hard to believe that March is almost gone. I’m loving these pretty warm days of Spring.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
They say experience is the best teacher.
You’ve got to get it, but sometimes it’s painful.
We learn a lot along the way.

Good judgment comes from bad experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

Experience is something you don't get
until just after you need it.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Learn all you can from the mistakes of others.  You won't have time to make them all yourself.
~Alfred Sheinwold

~~~
Joke of the Day

One of my all time favorite jokes:

    A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave. 
     The man seemed to be praying with profound intensity and kept repeating, "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?"

     The first man approached him and said, "Sir, I don't wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than I've ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply?
A child? A parent?"

      The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied, "My wife's first husband." 

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A First for Bethany

Glossy Magazine
My daughter, Bethany, has contributed to the Rochester Magazine as part of her new job responsibilities with the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper in Rochester, NY.

Here’s a picture of the cover and Bethany’s name as the Creative Manager.

We’re proud of her and her dedication to her job and the contributions she makes. She’s a very creative person. She get’s it from her Dad, that’s Granddaddy. Ha!

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Don't be irreplaceable;
if you can't be replaced,
you can't be promoted.

You can go anywhere you want
if you look serious and carry a clipboard

~~~

Quote of the Day

Primitive does not mean stupid.
~Author Unknown

~~~
Joke of the Day

During a visit to my doctor I asked him, “How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?’

“Well,” he said, “we fill up a bathtub then offer the older person a spoon, a teacup and a bucket to empty the bathtub.”

"Oh, I understand, "I said. "A normal person would use
the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon and the teacup.”

“No” said the doctor. “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed next to window?”

Are you going to forget you read this, or do you want the bed next to mine?

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Puny Phrases

You’ll Laugh
My friend Betty sent me a list of these puny phrases the  other day. I enjoyed them and thought I would share with you on my blog. I’ve heard a few of these before, but this is the best collection I’ve seen. Enjoy!

1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
2. A will is a dead giveaway.
3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backward poet writes inverse.
5. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
   
6. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
7. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
8. You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
9. A calendar's days are numbered.
10. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
    
11. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
12. The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.
13. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
14. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
15. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
    
16. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
17. Acupuncture: a jab well done.
18. Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.
19. She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her still.
20. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
    
21. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
22. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
23. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
24. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
25. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
    
26. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
27. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
As you get older and look back in time,
what do you value the most?

For myself is is the fun time we had together with family and friends, it the funny things that happened that we laugh about today, …

It’s all about family and friends.

No person on their deathbed ever said,
“I wish I had spend more time in the office.”

~~~

Quote of the Day

In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip.
~Daniel L. Reardon

~~~
Joke of the Day

A painter was hired to paint the exterior of a church.

His practice was to thin the paint so that he could make a larger profit.

As he was painting the church a torrential rain began to fall and it washed all of the paint off.

Then, as quickly as the rain began, it ended, and the sun came out.

As the painter gazed skyward, he heard a voice from above saying:
" Repaint ! Go, and thin no more."

~~~

EVER WONDER ...??

1. Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
   
2. Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
   
3. Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?
   
4. Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?
   
5. Why is the person who invests all your money called a broker?
   
6. Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
   
7. Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
   
8. Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
   
9. If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of  progress?
   
10. If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?
    
    

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The Marine Corps

All Gave Some, Some Gave All
This is an excellent presentation based on a dinner given  at the Marine Corps Museum Quantico, VA for some families who lost loved ones in combat.

Marine Corps Slide Show

Remember, freedom is never free. Thanks to all our armed forces for their sacrifices that we can be free.

Fishing Yesterday
Yes, we were on the lake yesterday. It rained off and on all day long, it was very cool, no sunshine all day, there was lots of floating debris (tree limbs, leaves, etc.) and we only caught 8 or so fish, with only one keeper! And we had a wonderful day.

We all agreed it was good to be out on the water. The boat and motor worked to perfection. That 115 HP Suzuki four-stroke engine is just amazing. I wouldn’t swap it for anything. I also got to catch a few fish on my new rods and reels. A good day, but I’m looking forward to even better days.

 

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Some people have a hard shell around them. They are hard to talk to, and hard to get to know. Sometimes they are not kind. Don’t give up on these individuals. I think that under that hard shell is someone who want to be appreciated and loved.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
~George Eliot

~~~
Joke of the Day

An elderly woman died last month and having never married, she requested no male pallbearers.

In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, so I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead."

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Truth or Fiction

Interesting Fiction
I received the following in an email recently. Could it be true, I wondered? Here’s the email:

Outside England's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were for cars ($1.40),  for buses (about $7).

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.

The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility. The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.. The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain or France or Italy ... is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day -- for 25 years.
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars ....... and no one even knows his name. 

The Truth from TruthorFiction.com:  
This story is a myth, according  a notice posted on "This is Bristol,"  a visitor information website in the United Kingdom. 

The story began circulating around early April and it is believed that this is just an April Fools joke that exploded on the world wide web.

The above story brought to remembrance some thoughts that my friend Gerald and I had when we were in College at the University of Tennessee. We believed that if you put on coveralls and acted like you knew what you were doing that you could go into the student center and carry out chairs and tables. I think there’s some truth in that… it might be amazing what you could pull off by looking and acting official but by being a thief. Note: Gerald nor I never tried to do anything like that.  

Something that is really TRUE…
I’m going fishing today… yes indeed. Heading down to Douglas Lake to try for some of those crappie. The boat is all ready… all we have to do is take the cover off the boat, hook up to the Sequoia, and put in a few more rods and the tackle boxes… and off we go. They say it’s going to rain. Who cares? it spring and the fish are biting.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
When I was employed and working in industry, one thing that always irked me was people that liked to grab the credit for something that someone else accomplished.

Always give credit where it is due. You’ll be better off in the long run and you can live with yourself.

~~~

Quote of the Day

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind.
~Washington Irving

~~~
Joke of the Day

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and they could do anything God could do.

They went up to God and said, "God, we can do anything now. We can even make a man.”

God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest?"

To which the scientist replied, "Okay, great!"

But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."

The scientist said, "Sure, no problem," and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God looked at him and said, "No, no, no! You go get your own dirt!"

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Interesting Art

Horses Made From Driftwood
Who would of ever thought about this type of art… taking driftwood and making life size horses. And they are beautiful. Here’s a couple of example of this art.

These are sculpted by Heather Jansch who I believe resides in England. Visit her website to view more pictures of her beautiful work:

Heather Jansch, sculptor

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I heard once that we should keep our words soft and tender, because tomorrow we may have to eat them.

~~~

Quote of the Day

A flower's appeal is in its contradictions -
so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance,
so small in size yet big in beauty,
so short in life yet long on effect.
~Terri Guillemets

~~~
Joke of the Day

A minister told his congregation, "Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17."

The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands.
He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17.
Every hand went up.

The minister smiled and said, "Mark has only sixteen chapters.

I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying."

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Do We Learn Anything from History?

A Quote from 55 BC? Not Exactly.
The following has been circulated on the internet as a true quote by Cicero in 55 BC.

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." 
                                                  ~ Cicero - 55  BC

The Actual Quote made by Cicero is as follows:

"The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign hands should be curtailed, lest Rome fall."

It seems some have added to the quote to better reflect conditions in the United States. It seems we could learn something from Cicero’s actual quote… especially the bit about the arrogance of our elected officials. It seems they have forgotten what the “will of the people” means.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Here’s a good one to remember: “That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.”

~~~

Quote of the Day

The day the Lord created hope was probably
the same day He created Spring.
~Bern Williams

~~~
Joke of the Day

A couple of signs:

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m.
( Please use large double door
at the side entrance.)

Low Self-Esteem Support Group
will meet Thursday at 7PM
(Please use the back door.)

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Welcome to Spring, 2010

Enjoy the Warm Days
This is wonderful! Spring is here! Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the sun is shinning.



The daffodils are about to bloom. Look at these buds just about ready to pop open. Here’s the new birdfeeder we purchased on Saturday. It’s filled to the brim with nice black sunflower seeds. some of the birds have already found it.

Friends
We are all fortunate to have friends. Here’s a nice poem I received last week about friendship. This is dedicated to all my friends:

If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you
And share with you its beauty
On the days you're feeling blue.

If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own;
A place to find serenity,
A place to be alone.

If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea,
But all these things I'm finding
Are impossible for me.

I cannot build a mountain
Or catch a rainbow fair,
But let me be what I know best,
A friend who's always there.

                                 ~ Author Unknown

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I’m thinking about going fishing.
I think the time is right. And I have some good friends who I want to go with me.
Perhaps we catch only some rays of sunshine,
or a splash of water from the wake…
It doesn’t really matter,
for we have been together on the lake.

~~~

Quote of the Day

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.
~Proverb

~~~
Joke of the Day

A trucker came in to a truck stop cafe and placed his order. He said, "I want three flat tires, a pair of headlights and pair of running boards." 

The brand new blonde waitress, not wanting to appear stupid, went to the kitchen and said to the cook, "This guy out there just ordered three flat tires, a pair of headlights and a pair of running boards. What does he think this place is, an auto parts store?" 

"No," the cook said. "Three flat tires mean three pancakes, a pair of headlights is two eggs sunny side up, and running boards are 2 slices of crisp bacon." 

"Oh, OK!" said the blonde. She thought about it for a moment and then spooned up a bowl of beans and gave it to the customer. 

The trucker asked, "What are the beans for, Blondie?" 

She replied, "I thought while you were waiting for the flat tires, headlights and running boards, you might as well gas up!"

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The Turtleman

Grabs Snapping Turtles
Unbelievable! You have to see to believe what this guy does for fun. Watch him reach into the murky waters and pull out angry snapping turtles by the tail. The Turtleman is a true character who is good at what he does, and listen to his rebel yell.

I’ve come to the conclusion that people will try and do just about anything. What hasn’t been done yet? You name it and someone will try it.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Lost opportunities? We’ve all had some for sure. Why didn’t I buy Microsoft stock in the mid 1980s? But someone reminded me that opportunities are never lost, the ones you miss, someone else got them.

~~~

Quote of the Day

When you stretch the truth,
watch out for the snapback.
~Bill Copeland

~~~
Joke of the Day

A preacher trained his horse to go when he said " Praise the Lord " and to stop when he said " Amen "

The preacher mounted the horse and said "Praise the Lord " and went for a ride.

When he wanted to stop for lunch , he said  "Amen."

He took off again saying " Praise the Lord "

The horse started going toward the edge of a cliff. The preacher got exited and said "whoa, whoa!”… but the horse kept going!

Then he remembered and said " Amen " and the horse stopped at the edge of the cliff.

The preacher was so relieved and grateful that he looked up to heaven and said " Praise the Lord!"

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Air Planes

EAA Airventure 2009
The person who created this video did an excellent job. A 10 day trip was  condensed into 6 hours of HD video. This video is a 5 minute condensation of the 2009 EAA Airventure. You’ll see all types of aircraft in this music video… and I mean all types. You might want to cut your sound down to low, as I found it a little on the loud side.

The EAA organization is the Experimental Aircraft Association, and it embodies the spirit of aviation. Checkout their web site: EAA.org

Dad, I didn’t see any Ercoupe’s in the video above. Here’s a good picture of an Ercoupe that should bring back some fond memories. Dad used to own and fly an Ercoupe like the one in this picture.

ERCO Ercoupe in flight

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Getting older changes your perspective. I think about going to bed around 9 pm. When I was young, then at 9 pm I was thinking about going out. Also, the older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

~~~

Quote of the Day
May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

~~~
Joke of the Day

God gives you two ends to use,
One to sit and one to muse.
Success depends on which you choose,
Heads you win, tails you lose.

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Military Pictures

Good Pictures
If you’re a little like me, you will enjoy some neat pictures of our U.S. military. These represent some good photography, and some of the pictures make you wonder. Here’s some interesting military pictures from these three sites:

1. Military 1
2. Military 2
3. Military 3

Here’s some examples:

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Have you started work on your income taxes? April 15 will be here before you know it. Did you ever notice:
When you put the 2 words "The" and "IRS" together
it spells "Theirs."

~~~

Quote of the Day

People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.
~Will Rogers

~~~
Joke of the Day

After a long, dry sermon, the minister announced that he wished to meet with the church board following the close of the service.

However, the first man to arrive was a total stranger.

"You misunderstood my announcement. This is a meeting of the board," said the minister.

"I know," said the man, "but if there is anyone here more bored than I am, I'd like to meet him."

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Roman Numerals

Remember?
I was never an expert on Roman numerals. These days I hardly think about them unless I get a crossword puzzle clue that involves them.

I can get around the clock with Roman numerals…
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII … and that’s about it. They can get complicated. My birth date in Roman numerals is

December XV, MCMXXXVIII

Yes, I’m LXXI years old.

How did I figure that out. Well… there’s a web site that lets you convert Arabic numbers and Roman numerals. For more information on Roman numerals and a handy conversion tool, click On Roman Numerals.

When I was in high school they taught using Roman numerals in outline. It was called an alphanumeric outline using Roman numerals, capitalized letters, Arabic numerals, and lowercase letters, in that order. It looked something like this:

I.
    A.
    B.
    C.
II.
    A.
       1.
       2.
    B.

But soon as I went to work I found they used a decimal system for outlines and reports …

1.0
     1.1
     1.2
2.0
     2.1
          2.1.1
          2.1.2
          2.1.3
     2.2
     2.3

I don’t do any outlining anymore, except in my head, and it’s pretty simple. You don’t need to do much outlining for a shopping list.

Oh me! What a boring post today. Who cares about Roman numerals and all that stuff anymore. And I don’t know what made me think about it to begin with.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Be kind to everyone, and wear a nice smile. It will make your day go better for yourself and to others.
Be a blessing while you may.

~~~

Quote of the Day

If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him
by asking if there is anything you can do. 
Think up something appropriate and do it.
~Edgar Watson Howe

~~~
Joke of the Day

One Sunday a pastor told his congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked the people to prayerfully consider giving a little extra in the offering plate.

He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns.

After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in offering.

He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he'd like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate.
A very quiet, elderly, saintly lady all the way in the back shyly raised her hand.

The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor.

He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns.

Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three handsomest men in the building and said, "I'll take him and him and him."

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Body Protection

A Suit of Armor
When we were in Memphis, TN last week we saw this coat of armor in one of my cousin’s home. I snapped a picture with my phone and emailed it to my granddaughter, Kara. She wrote back quickly to tell me see saw eyes looking out of the the visor. It does look like eyes, see for yourself.—>

Can you imagine what it would be like to put on a suit of armor? It would be heavy, make you slow and not flexible, etc. Then think of going to battle dressed like that. I just can’t imagine what it would of been like. The only armor I wear is Right Guard.

Here’s another picture of a suit of armor. Want to put it on and go to battle?

You can read about the Armour of God in Ephesians 6, verses 11-18. it says to put on the whole armour of God.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Don’t forget that life is both precious and fragile. It is a gift from God. Take care in all things. We have only one life to live. Be the best you can be.

~~~

Quote of the Day

One moment of patience may ward off great disaster.  One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.
~Chinese Proverb

~~~
Joke of the Day

Setting: A small rural community, so small, in fact, the only church in town is a small Baptist church whose pastor must also double up as the local barber to make ends meet.

There happened to be a man in this small community who had invested wisely and was enjoying his newfound comfort.

This man got out of bed one day to go through his daily routine. He looked into the mirror as he was about to shave and decided, "I make enough money now, I don't have to shave myself. I'll go down to the barber and let him shave me from now on." So he did.

He walked into the barber shop and found the preacher/barber was out calling on the shut-ins.
His wife, Grace, said "I usually do the shaves anyway ... sit down and I'll shave you." So he did.

She shaved him and he asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"$25," Grace replied.

The man thought that was somewhat expensive and that he may have to get a shave every other day. Nonetheless, he paid Grace and went on his way.
The next day, he woke up and found his face to be just as smooth as the day before. No need for a shave today, he thought, well, it was a $25 shave.

The next day he awoke to find his face as smooth as the day before. Wow! he thought. That's amazing, as he normally would need to shave daily to keep his clean-shaven business look.

Day 3, he woke up and his face was still as smooth as the minute after Grace had finished. Now, somewhat perplexed, the man went down to the barber shop to ask some questions.

This particular day the pastor was in and the man asked him why his face was as smooth as it was the first day it was shaven.

The kind old pastor gently retorted, "Friend, you were shaved by Grace ... and once shaved, always shaved."

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Drinking Tea

And Reading "The Lady Tasteing Tea"
This is a book about the history of statistics that my son Kevin gave me. I'm almost finished with it.

This is a special post from my Droid cell phone. My standby computer is in the shop for a few days.

My blog posts for Tuesday and Wednesday were prepared in advance. Please excuse.

Thanks for checking in on Granddaddy.

The Master’s Touch

A Good Poem
I’ve always enjoyed this poem about the touch of the master’s hand. I’m sure you’ve seen it, but here it is again.

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

'Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good folk?" he cried.
"Who'll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar ... now two ... only two ...
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three" ... but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.

Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
As he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars ... and who'll make it two?
Two...two thousand, and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once and three thousand twice ...
Three thousand and gone!" said he.

The people cheered, but some exclaimed
"We do not quite understand ...
What changed it's worth?" and the answer came:
" 'Twas the touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with soul out of tune
And battered and scarred by sin
Is auctioned cheap by the thoughtless crowd
Just like the old violin.

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul, and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the master's hand.

O Master! I am the tuneless one
Lay, lay Thy hand on me,
Transform me now, put a song in my heart
Of melody, Lord, to Thee!

By Myra Brooks Welch

A Thought--I was thinking that we are like instruments… a musical instrument, a carpenter’s tool, etc. Our value and worth depends on the touch of the master. If God is not our Master, we appear to be almost worthless. But with God controlling we can have much value.

 

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
We’re on daylight savings time. They say we’ve got an extra hour of day light. Where did it come from? We sure didn’t slow down the earth’s rotation did we?

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Quote of the Day

What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment.  And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new.  Right now.
~Author Unknown

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Joke of the Day

You are driving in a car at a constant speed. On your left side is a valley and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you. In front of you is a galloping pig which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a helicopter flying at ground level. Both the giant pig and the helicopter are also traveling at the same speed as you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?

Scroll down for the answer.

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** Answer: GET OFF THE CHILDREN'S CAROUSEL !

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Some Things Are Worth Repeating

Remember the “Law of the Garbage Truck”?
Well, here it is again. It’s good advice for us.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.  We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.  My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy.  And, I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that?  This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.  They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.  As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally.  Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.  Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.  
The bottom line is that: “successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. “

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... Love the people who treat you right.  Pray for the ones who don't. 

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

 

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Enjoy the warmth of spring.
Try to get outside and enjoy nature.

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Quote of the Day
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
~Thomas Fuller

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Joke of the Day

A business man called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China.

After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa.

"Oh no I don't, I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those."

I double checked, and sure enough, his stay required a visa.

When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express card."

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