Monday, March 19, 2018

Irish Blessing: "May the most you wish for be the least you get."

Good morning and welcome back to my version of the real world, here on this Monday, March 19, 2018. Most of you probably knew that last Saturday, the 17th, was St. Patrick's Day. The people I heard promoting it mostly talked about filling up on Green Beer. Since we are a melting pot, the Irish people have played an important role in our history. One of the great contributions, from my point of view, has to be Irish music. I've been a big fan of the Irish Tenors since they came on the scene many years ago. Even before that, I enjoyed what I could find of Irish folk music. There's also a very healthy market for Irish country music which has been patterned after, American country music. I did honor the holiday. Last Friday, when I was at my desk, I listened to many of my favorites as performed by the Irish Tenors. They have over 100 out on YouTube, therefore, there's enough variety to suit every taste. I tend to like the sad tunes and believe me, the Irish have plenty of sad ones. Many of those reflect the hardships and challenges they have faced throughout their history. The photo is of the CD cover of what is perhaps my favorite compilation, (19 songs). I may have worn out that CD many years ago but it too is captured and preserved on YouTube. Call it up and give it a listen. I think you will like it. This is an Irish blessing that I had not seen before. You might have to think about it some:

Here’s to your coffin!
May your coffin have six handles of finest silver!
May your coffin be carried by six fair young maids!
And may your coffin be made of finest wood from a 100-year-old tree,
that I’ll go plant tomorrow!

I'm still waiting for them to come up with a day set aside to honor my heritage. My cousin, a granddaughter of my dad's twin brother, submitted her DNA to Ancestry.com to have it analyzed. It came back, 100% European. The highest percentages were Great Britain, 40%, Ireland, 30%, Scandinavia, 14%, Italy/Greece, 9%, Europe West, 6%, and the rest were traces in the 1% range. This means we should be celebrating European Heritage Day, and, it is celebrated in some 50 countries but not in the United States. Too white. I'm not making a racial statement, but, in our current climate, it seems that white people are the bad guys in every category looking for someone to blame. That DNA assessment would be based on my dad's family. The dad's genes typically have the most clout, but, that's not to say that my mom's contribution is without impact. All of that is still part of the ongoing debate, but, science has discovered that while children get more of their mom's DNA, the way it works within each individual typically means that dads prevail in passing on their traits. I haven't seen the same results from my mom's family. We think it to be European there as well, perhaps with Scotland thrown into the mix. If not having your own day is bothersome to you, well, Hungary will celebrate their version of European Heritage Days on September 15-16. Maybe at that time, you could whip up some goulash and enjoy your heritage. Joking. Don't write me. Because I really don't know that much about any of this.

I suppose I could celebrate a little with the Irish, maybe 30% worth. To add further confusion to all of this, the United Nations recently released the listing of happiest countries in the world, in ranked order. These rankings are based on a number of factors. It's easy to see where those countries at war are ranked the lowest. This is followed by those dealing with significant poverty and economic hardships. The United States was ranked 18th this year. That's four places worse than we scored last year. The fellow I heard theorized it had something to do with the political unrest we are experiencing. Simple enough: It's Donald Trump's fault. Here's the interesting part. The happiest nations in the top rankings were dominated by Scandinavia. Finland was number one this year. (Of course, they have a population of only 5.5 million.) I believe the next ones are from that general vicinity as well. This means the happiest nations in the world are overwhelmingly white. So much so, you need sunglasses just to read the report because, you know, so much blonde hair. I'm sure a lawsuit will be filed to contest these findings because they by, definition, must be racist. And, very unfair. Oh well, as a friend of ours used to often say, 'It is what it is'. You can look all of this up and digest it for yourself. And, please try to stay happy while you are doing it. It will help our ranking. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Happy Birthday to our Kyleigh!

Another day, another birthday! Yep. This is Friday, March 16, 2018, and we are so glad to send birthday greetings to our Kyleigh who lands on number 23 today. We do thank God for this lovely young woman who will soon be graduating from college. One of her favorite things in the whole wide world is Christmas and everything related to Christmas. What's not to love about that? At least, as her Poppy and MiMi, aka Santa and Mrs. Claus, we wholeheartedly agree! We so look forward to all that God has planned for our Kyleigh. May He continue to bless is our prayer. Amen. Our love, MiMi, and Poppy.

You may have noticed that I have struggled some in my efforts to reign in and corral my words this week. They, at times, seem to have a mind of their own. Unruly, uncooperative, and often discombobulated, but, I typically end up letting them speak for themselves. They do have some advantage. They start with the blank page and it is on their side. At times, they tend to try and disguise themselves by changing the letters in their name. Fortunately, I have the Grammarly utility roving around to identify would be impersonators. But, it doesn't catch them all and occasionally one of the traitors ends up on the final electronic page. I know you have seen that from time to time. The other thing they like even better is when they can entice me to use a correctly spelled candidate but it turns out to be the wrong word to begin with. Oh, they just love that one. There are many reference materials available to help guide the construction of well-written sentences. I suppose the one commandment I neglect more than all the rest has to do with making sure every word is necessary. What fun is that? Maybe that's why I have a word rebellion on my hands. They don't like me taking advantage of them in pursuit of being recognized as Mr. Wordy. Then again, it is my blog, and they will have to get used to me channeling Frank Sinatra, "I Did It My Way!"

Please hold back your inquiries about my mental well being, but, I do appreciate the concern. There are some things one must learn to live with. I used that photo mostly because I liked it. I get the message it conveys based on the caption, but, I liked it, with or without some deep meaning. I would never vote for Hillary Clinton. Her view of the world and how things should be done is diametrically opposed to my way of seeing things. However, I really don't see the value of folks putting up photos of her falling on some stairs in India with nasty comments superimposed on them. That to me is not only cruel but, for many who are doing it, in my opinion, they are not doing their testimony as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ any good at all. Those chiming in with agreement to these mean memes are aiding and abetting in this un-kind endeavor. I do know that in the opinion of the world, all is fair in the political realm. I see lefties posting ugly photos of President Trump golfing with his belly hanging over his belt along with some hateful comments. I think those to be inappropriate as well. As far as political cartoons go that describe policies and leanings, well, they are not so personal and they are a part of how opinions are expressed. That's my take. No room for hate. From any side. And, especially from those of us who are called to have the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:5) I think I had better stop and go and get my pontificating creds checked. I do hope you have a wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. May God bless us all is my prayer. Amen. ....More later.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ~ From the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians, Chapter 4, Verses 6-7, as rendered in the New King James Version of the Bible.

I don't know about you, but I could get used to a wee bit of heat in the wee hours of the morning while using the A/C on the drive home. There's just something about that combination that appeals to me. It's Thursday, March 15, 2018, and as is my frequent habit I'm talking about the weather. We have been flirting this week with a dip into the high thirties. I think we've maybe got to 41. That is so nice, especially when we think about how we've already been in the mid-80's this year. Okay. Yep. Add my name to the list because everyone does talk about the weather but no one does anything about it. Enough about that, because the cool will all be gone soon. We never know what a day might bring. The front that brought us this cooler air slammed into areas north of us, creating tornadic like winds that took down trees. Some of those trees fell at a campsite in East Texas. One tree fell on a tent and killed the mom. A bus carrying an area high school band on their way to Disneyworld lost control and plunged into a deep ravine. The driver was killed. Many of the students were injured but all of them are expected to recover. Spring Break. A time for enjoyment and leisure. However, life is filled with unexpected happenings and some of them can be tragic. That's why these folks needed the Lord to be with them and that's why you and I need Him as well, every single moment of every single day. I pray for all those impacted. May God be near to them all. Amen.

Yesterday, I received word about the passing of a former work associate's wife. He is really broken up about this situation. They had both lost their first spouses many years ago, but, were totally devoted to each other. Now, he is having to go through this again. She was discovered to have Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer just a few months ago. I worked with him for a number of years before he retired from here at the Company. He and I were always big in kidding each other. This is a sad deal for him. He had been devoted to his first wife and they raised a family. She had been devoted to her first husband and they had raised a family. It's good to know they are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. They know this life is not the end. Yet, my heart goes out to my old work buddy because I know he is hurting. Jesus felt that first hand at the grave of his friend, Lazarus. Grieving is a natural part of our sojourn. However, we are able to grieve with hope even as the Apostle Paul advised, "Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him. What we are teaching you now is the Lord's teaching: we who are alive on the day the Lord comes will not go ahead of those who have died. There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." (1st Thessalonians 4:13-17, as rendered in the Good News Translation).

I am doing this, that, and the other in support of closing out mom's and dad's earthly affairs. Based on what I've experienced thus far, I've learned to preface any coordination and communication with my co-executor brother, and others, by using this moniker: Nothing is easy. We knew it would be this way. Others have shared their war stories. The fellow who owns our Company had this to do a few years ago with the passing of his dad. It was supposedly all taken care of and since there wasn't a lot of business and family involved, it was thought to be easy. Nope. It took him two years to get it all taken care of. I think we've done fairly well by that standard since we're still in the first year, however, we still have a ways to go. That too is a part of life here. It makes me want to do a better job for my wife and children in terms of preparing for that coming day. I have that on my to-do list when the smoke clears from the current project at hand. I can hear them now. He was a man filled up with great intentions. Hopefully, I will get my 'round to-its' prioritized where this one gets completed. I don't want to see Paw Paw Mac in heaven and when he asks me what happened and I say, "Well, this is not how I wanted it to go." I well know what he will say, "Well, son, if that's not what you intended, what exactly did you intend?" How many times did I hear that one? Let me quickly add, I will be so glad to hear anything from him again! May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

“Facts are like cows. If you look them in the face long enough, they generally run away.” ― Dorothy L. Sayers, (1893-1957), Renowned British Crime Writer

Good morning. It's Wednesday, March 14, 2018, and I bid you a hearty hello and welcome. Since I have more or less appointed myself as a social media observer, critic, and curmudgeon at large, I thought I would flesh out how stuff goes viral without corroborating evidence as to the accuracy of the claims being made. That photo and caption were originally posted by a supposed U.S. veterans conservative organization. Many others grabbed it and ran with it. Now it is appearing all over the social media outlets. It states this information as being fact-based. There is a problem. It may be, but, thus far, fact-checking by different groups has not been able to validate its claim. The best they can conclude is that it is unproven. Why? Those assigned to the White House are selected via a process that is highly secretive. Only a few are ever privileged to serve in this arena. Now I will give you my thoughts about this photo. When I saw it, instead of saying "Look at that, un huh, I would have guessed that to be the case.", I immediately wanted to know if I could find out if it was true or not. I attempted to do that. The best I could come up with is that if it is true, no one has been able to validate it as being factual. However, and this is the big, however, it fits the preconditioned notions of many individuals and groups, therefore, it is appearing all over the place as FACT. It sure looks legit. I mean, 13,506. Just last week. And, zero, applied during the time that President Obama was in office. Not even one African American or Hispanic American wearing the uniform of our nation? This one, by the way, is mild compared to some of the others. Guess what? These types of memes come in all sizes from all viewpoints, far right, far left, and everything in between. I thought it was interesting enough to share. That's how it found its way onto my blog for today.

Part of appreciating where you are is in thinking about where you came from. Using the photos associated with Google Maps, I came up with two of the places we lived as we were making our way forward. The first one is a duplex located in Alexandria, Louisiana. We lived in the left side of that house from 1966 to 1968. It, of course, looked different back then. We ate us a whole lot of beans, rice, and homemade biscuits in that place. It was from that humble abode that I pretty much launched my white collar career. (I use the word career only as an identifier because I've never been a career oriented person, just someone who worked in different jobs at different times.) Our eldest, (Chris, now 52), was a newborn when we moved to Alexandria in the winter of 1965. We lived at first in a garage apartment before moving to the duplex. (The duplex was a little cheaper.) We made our home there. I have fond memories of us living in that place. The next photo is of the first house we purchased after having moved to the Houston area. I took a job with Pennzoil Company in October of 1969. I moved Marilyn and the two boys at that time, Chris and Jimmy, to an apartment complex in Southwest Houston in January of 1970. We bought that brand new 1,200 sq. foot house in 1971, the year our Rodney was born. It was small but we didn't know that it was. We just had to worry about making the $168.00 payments each month. Looking back reminds me of great times and also trying times, however, they help to reinforce the one thing that has been consistent, God and His mercy and grace. For that, and so much more, I am thankful. Amen.

The proverbial old saying does apply. There has been much water that has flowed under lots of bridges during my sojourn here on the planet. Yet, we find ourselves on the threshold of making something of our life, one day at a time, and that particular one day happens to be today. I enjoy remembering the past. In fact, I know some folks who tend to want to live in whatever version of their past that was more agreeable than where they are today. The truth is, we can't go back. We can't change yesterday, but, we can do what we are able to do with the time we have left and while the journey does begin with a first step, today is where progress will be made or not made. Today. I am reminded of that challenge offered to the Israelites by their faithful leader, Joshua. "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Book of Joshua, Chapter 24, Verses 14-15) I thought about him saying the choice was to be made this day! And, that was true for them and it is also true for you and me today. Lord, help us to choose the way that will honor you. Today. Amen. ....More later.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

“I talk to myself, not because I'm lonely, but because sometimes I'm the only one who understands what I'm saying.” ― Anthony T. Hincks, Minister and Naturalist

Welcome, one and all, it's Tuesday, March 13, 2018. I have to admit the truth. Early yesterday morning, I left the door wide open here at my home away from home where I hunt and peck my way to producing these daily episodes, however, the temperature continued to drop, making it into the mid 40's, therefore, I finally threw in the proverbial towel and got up and shut the door. It was very pleasant for the first couple of hours but around 6 a.m. that dewpoint did a number on me and I had to yield to the cold on my neck and back. Yes. I do hate to disappoint anyone, but, I should get some points for trying. Oh yeah. The bugs thought I had moved to an open door policy so many of them decided to come in and visit. Friendly. They must like my writing because they tend to congregate on my computer screen. (Yes, I am aware that it is the light from the screen. Give me some credit.) You can see what I have to deal with each day. There you were, thinking that being me must be a piece of cake. At least I have an excuse. It's a really good one, I'm sure of that. And, as soon as I find out what it is, I will share it with all of us, beginning first with me, myself, and I. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to keep the home fires burning. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

The other evening we stopped by the Dairy Queen with another couple. While I was there, I gave a young African American boy, he was maybe 5 or 6 years old, one of my Santa cards. I had hesitated a little because his mom and dad were dressed in hip-hop attire. He was ecstatic and couldn't get over me standing right there by him. He gave me a whopping high five. His parents were happy for him, even though they appeared to be a little puzzled by his response. He was genuinely happy. Me too! In today's world, some say kids like him should only see a black Santa. Others think we need women Santa's to counter the male-dominated world of Santa-dom. I get exhausted just thinking about idiotic stuff like that. The character is, after all is said and done, based on a real historical person, Saint Nicholas. We might argue about how perverted and commercialized the Coca-Cola interpretation might be, but, here's my take. That little boy was overjoyed. I'm not going to explain it any further than that. Jesus loves the little children of the world, yellow, brown, red, black, or white, they are all precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. And, just so you know, so does this Santa!

Most of the people in our area are on Spring Break. Facebook is crammed full of family outings and vacations. Here's a man-on-the-street observation. Judging from how light the traffic has been, folks really are taking "a break". Could it be that within the acrimonious and hate-filled environment that defines our political world today, that maybe, just maybe, the positive things that are being done have given some hope to folks? The tax reform. The improved economic climate. The job market. We should never underestimate the power of a more confident spirit within the citizenry of our nation. When people have a more positive outlook about where we are and where we are headed, they do things like book trips and do more leisure-oriented activities. I don't even qualify for being called a shirt sleeve economist, but, I do know that the traffic was really light yesterday going home. Sure. The schools are out and that accounts for some of it. But, I'm telling you that folks have left the area. When I got home yesterday I told the wife it was almost like The Rapture had occurred and we had been left behind. I do hope my throwdown assessment is accurate because that would be good for families and for our nation. Meanwhile, I'll zip on down the road and enjoy the commute just a tad more. That is, until next week when they all get back. Take care and enjoy. May God bless and keep us all is my prayer. Amen. ....More later.

Monday, March 12, 2018

Happy Birthday to our Celeste Danielle!

I pause today to recognize a very special granddaughter. This is a remarkable young woman. She has had to deal with many obstacles during her sojourn here, but, she is an overcomer! A noted academic scholar and now currently serving the public as a police and emergency dispatcher, we couldn't be more thankful to God for her and the life that He has given to her. A few months ago she was involved in a near-tragic work-related accident while doing a ride along. She had to have multiple surgeries and was in the hospital for an extended period of time. After that came rehabilitation. Again, she put her heart and mind to the task at hand and God provided. It wasn't easy, but, she is now back at her regular schedule. Resolve. Fortitude. And, beauty. Happy Birthday, Celeste Danielle, and may God continue to bless. Our love, MiMi, and Poppy.


Well, well, you did show up after all. Good. Now it's time for us all to get on with all that we have on our plate for today, Monday, March 12, 2018. I will admit that I was as shocked as anyone regarding a potential meeting between the murderous dictator from North Korea and our President. Hopefully, a lot of thought will be put into this meeting before it actually happens. If it does. However, may I go on the record, one more time, to point out the obvious. The seething, scathing response from the liberal left is absolutely pitiful at best, and, totally disingenuous. They are appalled that anyone would even consider having such a meeting. Wait just a cotton picking minute. These are the same people that fawned all over President Obama for his giving away billions to the murderous Iranians. In fact, they heralded him as a world statesman for accomplishing this so-called nuclear agreement. These same people, openly lampooning President Trump for even thinking about this meeting, they are the same ones who fell all over themselves in President Obama's outreach to Cuba, a regime known for its brutal treatment of any and all citizens who fail to fall in line with the dictatorship. I'm doing nothing more than pointing out the blatantly obvious. It's easier to see than the neon emanating from Vegas on a very dark night.  If people can't see this politically motivated flimflam, well, I can't really help them. But, you can decide for yourself. Man, some of this stuff is hard to believe that it could even be read off their teleprompters with a straight face. This is why trust for news media is in the tank. Period. I rest my case. Again.

Yeah. I agree. I sure do a lot of resting my case regarding the stuff I write about in these daily visits. And, as I often do, I add the fact that it happens on all sides, but, this one was so glaring, I felt like I should share it. This is the reality in our world where everything that happens is subject to being politicized and spun. Both sides and everyone in the middle take their shots. I get a little weary hearing people talk about how this situation has always been a part the fabric of our politics. That is likely the case. However, historical instances did not exist in a world where instantaneous communications allow these manipulations to go viral. Social media becomes saturated before a response or correction can even be formulated. Often, the damage is done, in real time, on the fly, and it continues to circulate as truth long after it has been proven to be false. I see this all the time. Certain media folks continue to quote discredited reports to support their findings long after they have been rejected by independent fact-checking sources. By the time someone in a political setting has an opportunity to set the record straight, they are way behind on the new ones that need to be dealt with. Lightning speed. Even a planted rumor can do major damage. That's the world we live in. Sadly, the technology is not the issue, it's the use of it to instantly plant seeds of doubt, real or imagined. Just from my little corner of the world, I see stuff being posted and reposted time and time again that has been proven to be false. Because it agrees with a person's political persuasion, they grab it and send to all their friends, without regard to whether it is true or not. I agree this kind of stuff has always been around, but, today it can be unleashed to take on a life of its own. You do have my permission to read this again when you have trouble going to sleep. It should help.

Okay. I suppose you now know what I have to deal with in trying to manage the little gray cells. They are very difficult to corral on any given day. Have yourself a most wonderful rest of the day, Monday, and I'll see you next time. Lord willing. Until then, may God bless. Amen. ....More later.

Friday, March 9, 2018

"As I look around on Sunday morning at the people populating the pews, I see the risk that God has assumed. For whatever reason, God now reveals himself in the world not through a pillar of smoke and fire, not even through the physical body of his Son in Galilee, but through the mongrel collection that comprises my local church and every other such gathering in God’s name." ~ Philip Yancey, Christian Author

Good morning and welcome to Friday, March 9, 2018, a day that many people will be celebrating around these parts because, for most of our surrounding school districts, it's Spring Break next week, and they have a week of vacation planned. Being with family. That's a great idea because family is God's idea. He originated the family. Dad, mom, brother, sister, it is all God's design. It's no wonder that when He established His local New Testament body of believers, He often referred to the members as family. Here's an excerpt from my blog, dated March 10, 2008, ten years ago, "The family part is the most crucial because that's exactly who we are as a local Church. We are the family of God and brothers and sisters united by our common birth experience through Christ. That is a remarkable benefit that comes with our salvation as we connect ourselves into God's people and identify with His chosen approach to carrying out His plans, that being the local New Testament Church. What a privilege to be a child of God! And, what a privilege to be a member of one of God's local Churches! Some like to think that being a child of God is enough and that is certainly the most important because it does provide for our eternity in heaven. However, God has a plan for every one of His own in this age and that plan includes them becoming a part of a local faith community." I am aware that participating in a local body of believers has been a consistent theme of mine throughout my blogging career. I am not always where I should be at any given time in my walk with the Lord, but, I am certain that doing life His way includes being a part of a local congregation. Amen.

Maybe I'll call that opening a sermonette and be done with it. The cooldown this week has been very nice, however, it can't fool me. It's not winter cold. It's different. It has a temporary feel to it like it's just playing with us. For us, this Saturday, (It's actually not Saturday, therefore, technically, the official change is made at 2 a.m. on Sunday.), is when we all get to do our robotic duty by messing with our clocks in order to adjust for daylight savings. Springtime means spring forward. This means we set our clocks up an hour. I hear people say this adjustment means we lose an hour of sleep. I suppose that could be the case but one can do something about it. We try to change our clocks early in the evening. This gives us the choice to go to bed at our regular time. I hear people say if they do this it means they might miss a favorite TV program. Really? That hardly seems possible with all the recording technology we have today, along with being able to watch almost any program on the internet at a time you choose, or the inevitable reruns that one will likely see, often, more than once. But, it is a choice. I typically try to do my best to keep my internal clock in sync if I can. However, there's no question that it will be complaining about the time change for several days. I could refuse to participate, but, that too has its own set of complications and consequences. Our pastor said it might be good for some of our folks to ignore the change. That way they would end up showing up early and being at the Church in time for Sunday School.

The write up I did about my train riding experiences struck a chord with several people. Or, maybe it was what I said about my dad who left mom and the six of us, at such an early age for him, just 31 years young. I saw a fellow's posting the other day where he was pleading for help in tracking down his ancestors. He had waited until late in his own life to get started on this project, therefore, many of his older relatives have passed on. I know that feeling. All too well. I almost made contact with my dad's twin brother, but, I missed him by two months. I was getting close to finding him, but, he checked out of his temporary dwelling here and made that move into his heavenly home before I got to talk to him. I had so many questions that he could have answered. It was not meant to be. Based on what I learned later from his children, he may not have been willing to answer the questions I had. According to them, he rarely talked about him and my dad, and when he did, he was very guarded in what he revealed. I even consulted with a genealogical professional. She reviewed all that I had done and thought to engage her services would likely be mostly a waste of my money. While I was thankful for her honesty, I certainly was a little letdown. I had several years of working on my mom, but, she was as tight-lipped as a lost home-canned jar of pear preserves where the lid has become welded into the jar itself. I can hear her refrain, "Son, why not leave well enough alone, and let sleeping dogs lie?" Maybe that's why the lonesome whistle of the train still speaks to me. Or, I suppose it could be indigestion. Enjoy your Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. I will do my best to regroup and try to show up, punch in, and be ready, come next Monday morning. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.