Mmmm......

One more time, a big fat guy talking about food.  Not just any food, manna from heaven. 
For the most part, I like most of it.  Some of it I love.  I am motivated by a good sandwich.  Or spaghetti.  Or meatloaf.  Or a really good salad.  Or a pickle.  You get the idea. 
Last night I had a new twist on an old favorite.  My sweetheart made fried chicken.  I have always loved her fried chicken.  It was the best.  Until now.
She did her magic, using panko bread crumbs.  I don't know all the details, but she says she remembers how, and it was really easy.  All I know was that first bite made my eyes roll.  Ecstasy.
Crunchy, sweet, salty, chicken-y, tender morsels of yum.  Holy cow.
The Good Lord sure must love me.  He sent me this wonderful woman that loves me, puts up with me, and makes this epicurean delight.  My mouth will never be the same. 
Once again, thanks Jesus.  David

Three things.....

This time of year often brings slow sales.  We expect it.  After Christmas people watch their pocketbook a little more closely.  Usually though, things pick up a bit in April.  Not this time.
In order to bring in more business, we try innovation, and new marketing concepts.  By doing that, we hopefully stir some interest in our customers.  We try to get some excitement going.
Lately we have put out some dolls on auction with a ninety-nine cent starting price.  It doesn't usually bring in big money, but usually we break even and it brings people into our store.  Sometimes a family that can't really afford one of our dolls is able to get one.  Recently we sent one of these to a family in Canada. 
On a quiet Sunday morning, we got a phone call from the mom.  They were amazed and thrilled.  It was such a boost to our morale.  Rita smiled all day. 
The Good Lord has His ways.  He has his plans.  Not me.  I can make plans, but if it doesn't jive with His, it probably won't happen.  Or it will fall flat. 
Looking back at times like this, we have had many heartwarming stories like this.  It seems like He is a pretty smart guy.
Recently, I saw an interview with a man that had been wrongly convicted of murdering his wife.  After twenty-five years of incarceration, losing his wife, losing those years of watching his son grow up, he used that time for serious introspection.  He used that time to counsel other inmates.  He found a tremendous deep faith.
After his release he said there were three things he learned.  One, God is real.  He is smarter than all of us.  And He loves us.
After that, what else matters? 
So, we make dolls, and bless lives.  We live His plan.  And its pretty darned good.  I am privileged to be a part of His plan.  Thanks Jesus.  David

I was nearly a seventh grade dropout.....

A couple of days ago, I met a family that bought a doll from us.  They live in San Bernardino.  The little girls doll needed a touch up.  This doll was a reward for maintaining good grades for three years.  She got straight A's for three years!  I can't imagine being in seventh grade and doing that well.  My seventh grade experience was quite different from hers.  But I digress.
My point here is that I remember realizing, later in life, that I love to learn new things.  I love reading about new stuff.  I am constantly amazed at the human potential.  An example was seeing the International Space Station orbiting the earth from my back porch.  Only a dream a few years ago.  It was fantasy.
I love to learn of the world around me.  I enjoy reading about people.  Some I like, some I don't.  But I learn from each life. 
There is an old quote that I cannot remember verbatim, but essentially is says "An unexamined life has no meaning."  In other words, we should all learn from one another.  We learn from triumphs and travails.  This is one of the key elements that separate us from other species.  We learn to not repeat mistakes (some of us take longer than others to learn).  We learn what worked and repeat it.  We improve upon it.
We build hospitals.  We develop new medicines.  We build better and better widgets.  Just look at the telephone.  Now a tiny device that fits in our pocket, not only makes phone calls, but takes pictures, and goes on the internet.  We are the only species to have made our lives better by innovation, experimentation, and tenacity.
I am grateful God has made me a human.  I love to learn.  I enjoy seeing others learn.  It gladdens my heart when a seventh grade girl can achieve so much.  It gives me hope.  David

Faith and perseverance

Recently our doll making business has run into a dry spell.  Having been gainfully employed for thirty-five years I enjoyed a paycheck.  Every week I got paid.  Go to work, get paid.
Now, being self-employed, provides me a vastly different perspective of business.  If your product or service doesn't sell, the bills don't get paid.  The pantry and freezer dwindle.  Worries intensify.  We begin to pray more (isn't that what we all do, wait until there are problems to really communicate with God?). 
Time after time, Rita and I have run into dry spells.  We would find wood branches on the side of the road that I could bring home, cut up, and heat the house.  We pinch every penny.  But time after time the Good Lord helps us through.  Over and over.  He will help us again. 
But, I need to be more faithful.  I need to give more of myself.  I need to be more Christ-like.  It is all part of His grand design.  That we should go through trials that bring us closer to Him, that teach us humility, that help us to be better people.
Our money troubles are NOTHING like some other peoples.  I need to be more grateful.  I need to be more aware that all our "riches" come from God.  They are all blessings from Him. 
Our talents, our home, the very coffee in my cup, come from Him.
I can count on Him.  And I am grateful.  David

wrinkles

AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!
I looked in the mirror.  What happened?  Dang!  My baby face is of a grumpy old man!  Skin sags here and there.  Wrinkles!  Crows feet!  I think it happened overnight.  Must be a virus.
I realize aging is just a fact of life.  I kind of like it.  But I wasn't prepared for the face to change.  Holy cow.
But, here I am.  I don't look too bad for fifty-eight I guess.  I can still smile, laugh, get excited, get fussy, enjoy life.  So I can't complain.
The aches and pains are definitely there.  Getting up in the morning is a bit different than when I was twenty years younger. 
I have a much different perspective than I did then.  I have to watch everything I eat.  Manage my salt and fat intake.  And don't get me started on fiber.  So I watch my cholesterol, my blood pressure, my weight (I have plenty of that), the amount of sleep I get, and on and on.
But along with that is the fun part.  Farts can get really hilarious!  People ask me if I need help to the car.  6' 6" tall and they ask me if I want help.  Very nice of them, but generally, I can do it, thanks.
My hair line receded very quickly when I was in my early twenties.  I started shaving the "cul-de-sac" when I was twenty-eight.  Never looked back.  Makes my hair very easy to part.  Still don't get discounts at the barber though.
I used to be the guy people would call to move their refrigerator.  Not anymore!  Those days are long gone.  The old spine just ain't what it used to be.
My hands got old somewhere.  They are lumpy.  I look at them and wonder when that happened.  Must have been looking the other way.
Age has snuck up on me.  Sneaky little bastard.  But I intend to live life to the fullest.  I want to talk to my kids more.  I need to call my friend Larry.  I need to drink better coffee.  I love shrimp.
I need to eat more fish tacos.  I need to tell more jokes.  I love dumb jokes.
Age is coming.  I can't help it.  But I intend to fight it all the way.  I intend to go out yelling, "wahoo!"  David

mooshy stuff

Warning: you are about to read mooshy stuff.  If you do not want mooshy stuff, turn off your computer, and close your eyes. 


A shout-out!  Hooray!  Whoopee!  Bingo Bango Bongo!  Super duper Happy Birthday to the love of my life, my sweetie, my Rita.  Baby girl, sweetie, sugar plum and all that mushy rot that we say to one another but not in public.
We are with one another 24/7.  We talk, work, worry, plan, tease, fuss with each other.  I can't imagine it with anyone else.  I can't imagine.  Just you.  Nobody else.
You are my whole world.  The few times I go to the store alone, I can't wait to get home.
You make me laugh. 
You figure out the detective show WAY before I do.  You got some smarts there kiddo.
You are my best friend.
Sometimes it seems you are my only friend.
I love growing old with you.  We try to keep each other young, but old age still advances.  I like it with you. 
I love sitting on the porch and drinking our coffee. 
We talk.  Well mostly you, but I get to say things once in a while.  And you listen.  You really listen.
It is a choice we both make each day.  You choose to spend the day with me.  You choose to love me.  You choose me. 
I love you so much it hurts sometimes.  I have been sucker punched by cupid.  It is incurable.  And I don't ever want it to change.
You are stuck with me babe.  Happy birthday!

Ain't nuthin to it....

Last night Rita and I watched "The Voice."  There was a young country boy that was facing a singing challenge from his mentor.  The rehearsals were done, he knew the lyrics, he knew what was expected.  He had spent the whole week perfecting his craft. 
It was just about time to sing for the judges.  Facing his supportive family he said, "Ain't nuthin to it but to do it!"
That little phrase seemed kind of profound.  Simple.  But it says it all.  You can prepare, plan, and strategize all you want, but there comes a time when performing counts.  When you make it happen.  When you give it your best shot.  Win or lose, succeed or fail, its time.
If you don't do it, you will never know.  You will never learn and grow. 
It reminds me of a poster that asked, "What could you accomplish if you knew you could not fail?"  Books have been written about facing your fears, using those butterflies in your stomach to propel you.  We humans are so very different from the other species on this planet.  We strive to do better, we compete, we push ourselves to the limit.  We build hospitals.  We race down icy luges at ungodly speeds to see how fast we can go.  We do the first heart transplant.  We climb that mountain to see the view from the top.  We swim the English channel.  We do the unthinkable.  No other animal does that. 
I am amazed by all we, the human species, have accomplished in my lifetime.  We landed on the moon at a time when computers took up whole buildings.  We have landed on Mars and explored its surface.  We have looked so deep into space it is well past my ability to fathom.  We found planets outside our solar system! 
Our ability to achieve, to persevere, to face the odds, is what makes us unique.  While you can look at wars, corruption, and other evil, its all part of the human package.  But we keep achieving more, going faster, and building taller buildings in spite of all that.
As for myself, my fears do hold me back from time to time.  But I see my human counterparts doing all this and I realize I can do more.  I am inspired. 
I have spent my life preparing.  I have spent my life learning.  I have spent my life hoping.  Now is the time.  Now is the moment. 
"Ain't nuthin to it but to do it!"  David