Ageless Quotes

"To know how to grow old is the master-work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living." Henri Amiel

"A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called old for the first time." Oliver Wendell Holmes

"No wise man wished to be younger." Jonathan Swift

"Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old." Washington Irving

"History will never forget Mr. Jagger's charisma. But it will certainly question his ability to sing." Wordy Dave

This Ol' Crow

Light thickens, and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood;
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse.
---Macbeth Act 3, Scene 2

All the world hates a crow. Its sin-black sheen and coarse-grained caw conjure medieval memories that make us shudder. Ravenous. Threatening. Hated by its feathered cousins no less than hawks and eagles. A pulpitless bully. But smarter than the average bird. Is that its redeeming value?

God has so ordered the habits of certain creatures to mirror those of certain men. Even Jesus compares King Herod to a wily fox. And ants are to be examples of enterprise says King Solomon. Satan is compared to a beast and a lion.

So, what creature somewhat fits your personality? Just ask a good friend for a reliable answer and laugh at yourself a bit.

Fredericksburg, Virginia

The wholesale slaughter of troops offered new meaning during the Civil War. General Ambrose Burnside's fiasco at Fredericksburg, Virginia cost dearly in men's lives. It also cost him his command after President Lincoln found him unfit for that duty.

Leaders of men may make decisions that dictate life or death. Even with the most honorable of intentions and moral right, they make wrong choices. That is so clearly seen at Fredericksburg and so many other battlefields throughout history.

The Irish Brigade played a part in this drama. My g-great grandfather was with the troops that ascended Marye's Heights that Saturday in December. 45% of the Brigade would be annihilated, along with 14 of 15 field officers. You can read a short version of the story here: The Irish Brigade and find out what happened to General Burnside here: Burnside


Little wonder that President Lincoln expressed the sorrow and pain of the war in his last portrait. The following is from the President's Inaugural Address given a month before the end of the war.

"One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether"

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

Lemon Chicken

Barb and I are playing babysitters again this weekend. First to Target where Angel wanted a 'rubber' chicken with an 'egg' inside that you can squeeze part way out of its body and watch the 'yolk' floating around inside a transparent 'eggshell.' Another wonderful toy made in ChinaMart. Then it was home to wash the car and pick a leftover lemon from the neighbor's overhanging tree. What a monster egg this was for Ms. Chick to lay!

It's another dreary, drab day to enjoy. A smattering of rain predicted. Lots of indoor options to explore. Also, I'm thinking about that digital SLR purchase that I might be able to rangle today. Body only to begin with. I've got some good lenses to use already. But I don't feel real well - kinda fluish, so with that and the rain to dampen my spirits, I'll probably stick close to home and hide the wallet.

27 Years Young

Our two families enjoyed a second Red Lobster dinner birthday celebration this year for Elizabeth. The Collins and Skinners circled a large table after an hour wait and had wonderful food and a great time as Liz opened her gifts and couldn't stop smiling and saying, 'Thank you!'

Hard to believe it was 27 years ago she popped into the world and changed our lives forever - for the better. Barb and I learned what family was all about, over-sheltered and spoiled her, prayed for her and pulled our hair out over her sometimes.

It will soon be her turn to do the same for us!

The 2006 Mix

Predictions For 2006

This link is a good read for getting the feel of where this next year will take us. These aren't the biblical prophet caliber by any stretch, so no one will get stoned if they don't come true, but you'll find them interesting, 'predictable' and some yawn-worthy if nothing else. More of the same.

The rain added some excitement to the Rose Bowl Parade this morning. Spirits looked a bit dampened with drenched hair, uniforms and instruments presenting a pretty dismal picture. Crowd color and fumbling announcers were a treat, too.

The new vacuum cleaner is roaring in the living room. Decorations are down and the tree is out on the back patio enjoying the rain. My yard is flooded again but at least the roof isn't leaking.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Latest Art Project

There are times when the unintentional ends surprise the mundane means. Angel's latest art project turned into an unusually patterned abstract with bold color and hidden pictures. Note the cat's eye and a few faces.

Sorry, but I can't give you any trade secret details about how she did it.

Happy New Year from our neck of the woods to yours. May God have mercy on us all.

December Drenching

A second straight year of flooding is confirming our fears of Global Warming with these southern hemispheric storms being pushed into the west coast. This is the wettest December since 1955. Local t.v. stations are airing full time coverage of the Global Warming flooding. A bank of Global Warming thunderstorms is fast approaching the central valley north of us.

Our t.v. has just gone blank with a severe Global Warming thunderstorm warning. They should hit us in 1/2 hour, Global Warming Time. 60 mile per hour Global Warming winds.

Guess I better sell my old pickup and get a new Passat that emits no harmful Global Warming emissions. Global Warming will stop worrying me and I will be able to focus on the other MoveOn.org crises in my life. Did I mention Global Warming?

Great Wal of China

China's new Wal(Mart) has made the old Wall obsolete. The old wall has fallen as New China partners with New America. It won't be long before China's product quality exceeds 'Made in the U.S.A.' brands, and our manufacturing sector disappears. At least until there's a revolution and the Red Menace is replaced with free-for-all capitalism. Then wages will rise and we can start competing again.

So our biggest concern is a political one. Democracy in China. The two-party system in China. Real freedom of religion in China.

"With God all things are possible," Jesus said.

Taped Out

Wrapping gifts is not my favorite avocation and it's done in haste and sloppiness. Sorry, but it's the testosterone in me. My creativity ends before it begins with each present. But I do like using years-old bows that have multiple layers of tape on the back of them. Practical, thrifty and nostalgic --- now what wonderful gift was this on in 1975?

Tape is the essential article. Tape is great stuff. They pay me big bucks at work to use it, so I'm an expert after 38 years. Need something taped? I'm your man.

The Missing Annual Update

This year's annual Christmas letter never made it to press. This will be a delight to some and regret to others. We get about a half-dozen of these yearly updates. At one time some friends who live in Sacramento would send about a detailed, 5-7 page, handwritten both sides (but copied) account of everything. Most send a single page that's not even filled. Our friend Mike M. absolutely opposes giving or receiving anything during this season and told us so in a long letter a few days ago. He says, "Whenever I receive a form letter from somone on Christmas [seldom, I am happy to report!] it paralyses me. They do not ask about me. I assume they are not interested in my life. Then, if I write throughout the year, they do not respond."

Mike believes since celebrating the birth of Christ is neither mandated nor seen in the Bible, we shouldn't do it. Furthermore, he cites the history of the celebration beginning with the Roman Catholic Church and eventually being accepted in Protestantism, although rejected initially. I can understand both views, but now isn't the time for me to argue the points.

Mike also feels uncomfortable answering any kind of correspondence from women. "But often it is the wife, not the husband, that sends these December holiday letters, and I feel awkward writing to any man's wife for extended chatting."

This just goes to show there are all kinds of people in the world. So I am trusting that most of those folks who usually get our perennial letter [always written by me] will take it in stride and afford a measure of forgiveness. This blog comes close to highlighting a few things that are a bit more interesting than a detailed account of dental visits, number of pills we take or how many times I mowed the lawn this summer anyway.

Suffice it to say that God in His grace and mercy helped us through another year, granted us visits with family and friends, and met all our needs. Now you know.

Paso's Martian Connection

Far more important than life on Mars is the little known rock that bears the name of "Paso Robles." Yes, the Mars Rover scratched the surface of this sulfur laden piece of lithic mass and immediately surmised an appropriate name.

Let's see . . . a rock on Mars named Paso Robles. And the possible reasons are . . . 1. The Mars Rover was test driven on similar terrain - downtown Paso. 2. The Mars Rover was looking for a parking spot and couldn't find one. 3. The Mars Rover was stuck. 4. The Mars Rover smelled sulfur. And yes, folks, that last one must be the real reason for the appellation.

Thankfully, the good citizens and leaders of this growing community have enough git-up, gumption and go to solve the parking and sulfur problems. In the mean time, someone needs to write NASA and get this rock renamed.

Getting To The Church On Time

Saturday morning's overtime mandate dragged me out of bed at 6. It would be cold again in that old pickup. It doesn't really warm up until I'm a 1/2 mile from work, so I usually don't turn it on. What! Waste gas warming it up before I go? Forget it!

I'm there first to unlock, turn off the alarm, turn on the heaters, then start up all the equipment in pre-press. Pressman Miguel will be only one coming in with me. I'm "filling in" while Corey takes a two week vacation (one of them in Bermuda). It has been a week of 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. I've perfected the dance and wasted miles of film trying to make negatives for the press plates. There is NO substitute for hands-on training. This week's feelings of frustration, defeat and failure have been mitigated by an encouraging supervisor and a few victories. Hey, you can only do so much with so little.

Alarm set, doors locked, I head for home, have a hotdog lunch and shower for a 2 p.m. wedding at Morris Chapel at UOP. Barb is sick, so I'm going alone. It's raining. It's cold. It's miserable, but I have my trusty umbrella and a warm jacket.

I pull into the parking lot and find myself the only one there. Maybe they called it off. Or maybe it's at another church. No cell phone, so it's back to the house where Barb meets me at the door and asks what's wrong. "No one's home," I said. She finds the invitation and we both stare at it. "Sunday at 2 p.m." it says, not Saturday.

I jump back into the car and head for Target to do my Christmas shopping. The parking lot is full.

Mood Makers

Another winter forces us indoors against our summer-loving wills. December delights in delivering divine drama, while its trivial trappings take a taxing toll on our tranquility. It's the annual dilemma coming back to haunt and heal us. We decorate to celebrate. We beautify to beatify and bless.


"Then [the people] said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.' Therefore they said to Him, 'What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat."'

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' Then they said to Him, 'Lord, give us this bread always.'

"And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst . . . and this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.'" -from John 6

This season's distractions will surely blind most eyes to the reason for celebration. May yours be opened to see the glory and wonder of grace that's found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remembering Glory Road Times

How very strange to hear they've made a movie so close to home.
Glory Road is the story of the 1966 NCAA Champions from Texas Western College in El Paso (now U.T.E.P.). No big deal, except I was there trying to earn a degree at the time. I joined a bunch of friends and partied while watching the final game on T.V. Pretty exciting stuff for a small town no-nothing like me.

I was also Dance Committee Chairman that next year, so we decorated with a basketball champion theme for one of the dances. I still remember drawing these huge players on 15' lengths of butcher paper to hang on the walls of the auditorium. Unfortunately, our shindigs were for the nerdier element, so I don't think any players actually showed up for the event, thankfully. Those renditions of 'Big Daddy D.' David Lattin and Nevil Shed were pretty scary.