A Reformation Reflection AND a bonus reflection

Reflections on the Reformation, Part I

A Preface

As a life-long Lutheran, I feel obligated--but also blessed--to share some thoughts about The Reformation. This seems especially appropriate as we celebrate today the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses [statements for debate] on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. Germany. First, however, I offer these caveats.

• We do not worship Martin Luther. We recognize that he, like all of us, was a poor, sinful being.
• As my pastor stated eloquently in his sermon last SUN, "The Reformation is all about the One who was nailed to the cross, not the one who nailed his 95 theses to the door."
• We, like Luther, have been "reformed" through the saving acts of Jesus Christ & NOT by our own "saving" good works.
• Lutherans remind themselves of the truths found in Scripture & the Lutheran doctrines that flowed from the Reformation, even 500 years after the fact. 
• There are many Christians & Christian denominations that seem to have lost those truths.
• Lutherans believe that all who confess Jesus as their Lord & Savior will be saved, but we also recognize that it is a lifelong battle to hang on to this Truth. Yes, even for or especially for Lutherans.
• Lutherans do not have a monopoly on the truth. Yet there are some inalienable truths, which form the basis for the Lutheran Confessions.

Here is what I gleaned from our Reformation service at Grace Lutheran Church on SUN 10/29.

One of the texts from last Sunday's worship service was found in Romans 3,

"Now we know that whatever the law says it speak to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (3:19-20) MY COMMENTS:  

• Obeying the Law can take the form of works-righteousness. 
• St. Paul reminds us that our good works cannot save us. 
• Neither can the good works accumulated by those who have gone before us, like the saints whom we consider to be pillars of faith. 
• That includes saints found in the Bible. It includes saints memorialized through the ages. After all, we are all saints by virtue of the righteousness conferred on us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

A second text was from the Gospel of St. John.

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered Him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free?' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (8:31-36) MY COMMENTS:

• The Jews were fooling themselves if they really, truly believed that they had never been slaves. 
• What about their slavery in Egypt? 
• What about slavery suffered at the hands of the Assyrians & Babylonians who had carried off their ancestors into exile? They were forced to involuntarily serve these pagan masters. 
• Before we pat ourselves on the backs, don't we easily fall into a similar trap, if/when we all fall back on our heritage, i.e. "I know I'm saved because I'm Lutheran. Or Catholic. Or German?"
• Jesus speaks the Truth to both those "who had believed in Him," as well as to us today. We are all slaves of sin.
• Our good works--the good works of others--cannot save us. Only the Son, Jesus Christ, can forgive & save us.

A Battle Hymn . . . Not Just for Lutherans!

We have adopted "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" as the "battle hymn of the Reformation." We treasure it, not because it was written by Martin Luther--who, contrary to what many might think is NOT our patron saint--but because of the scriptural truths embedded in this hymn.

(St. 1) "A mighty fortress is our God, A sword & shield victorious:

He breaks the cruel oppressor's rod And wins salvation glorious.

The old satanic foe Has sworn to work us woe.

With craft & dreadful might he arms himself to fight.

One earth he has no equal."

(St. 4) "God's Word forever shall abide, No thanks to foes who fear it;

For God Himself fights by our side With weapons of the Spirit.

Were they to take our house, Goods, honor, child, or spouse,

Though life be wrenched away, They cannot win the day.

The Kingdom's ours forever." [LSB #657]

Another Reflection

Lois & I have always celebrated a 2nd anniversary in our lives. Our first date was on 10/31 in 1970. I have truly been blessed by this woman. I don't deserve the many blessings I've enjoyed through our life together. And our life together has had to endure many heartbreaks through which we have persevered...together. Thank you, Lois, for being a godly wife to me & a godly mother & grand-mother for our children & grand-children. "To God be the glory."

Free-for-All Friday

Challenge Returns + Precocious Grand-Child Info + Distracted Drivers

Temp Challenge Returns

I can neither confirm nor deny that I've received a plethora of requests for the Leckband Temp Challenge to return. Therefore, at 7:19a, CDT, based on stats from weather.com, here are the results.
1) Norfolk/Woodland Park, NE, 29/wind chill 15 . . . TEMP CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS *
2) Eagan, MN, 34/24/snow *
3) Ventura, IA, 31/18
4) Beatrice, NE, 32/20
5) Lincoln, NE, 32/20
6) Garrison, IA, 34/23 . BALMIEST LECKBAND

* It's true that Eagan is getting snow, but we in Norfolk/Woodland Park are experiencing gale winds. Plus it's our 3rd day this week of wind advisories. And it's my blog, lest anyone forget. Also, the wind yesterday blew off my grill cover & ripped it to sheds. I haven't been able to replace it, due to our continued, gale-force conditions. On the plus side, 2 grill covers, most likely from neighbors, showed up on our deck.

Conversations with My Grand-children

Setting:  I'm sitting with Bentley in my living room on THU afternoon. We're watching [gag me] Blippi. Rachel is sitting across from us on the couch. Blippi's Halloween song is playing. It includes some dancing skeletons.

• Bentley to Rachel:  "My bones are warm." (Rachel & me:  "What?") Moments later . . . 
• Bentley to Rachel:  "How did you make me?" (Rachel gasps. We both laugh.)
• Bentley repeats:  "How did you make me?"
• Rachel:  "I grew you in my tummy." Bentley turns back to me & whispers in my ear . . . 
• Bentley:  "No, she didn't."

I encouraged Bentley to ask his daddy how he got made. You're welcome, Derek.

Criminal Minds

From Omaha World Herald (10/5):  "'Time traveler' faces intoxication charges, Police said a central WY man they arrested for public intoxication claimed he had traveled back in time to warn of an alien invasion. Casper police said the man they encountered late MON claimed he was from the year 2048. The man told police that he wanted to warn the people of Casper that aliens would arrive next year & that they should leave as soon as possible. He asked to speak to the president of the city. The man old police that he was able to travel in time only because aliens filled his body with alcohol. He noted that he was supposed to be transported to the year 2018, not this year."  COMMENT #1:  It's unclear who is the greater criminal here:  the time traveler or incompetent aliens. COMMENT #2:  Perhaps I should have shared this under "There Is No Place Like . . . "
From Norfolk Daily News (10/7):  "Technology in vehicles dangerous for drivers. The infotainment technology of new vehicles is making drivers take their eyes off the road & hands off the wheel for dangerously long times, an AAA study says . . . Automakers now include more infotainment options to allow drivers to use social media, email & texts. The technology has also become more complicated to use. Cars used to have a few buttons & knobs. Some vehicles now have as many as 50 buttons on the steering wheel & dashboard that are multi-functional. There are touch screens, voice commands, writing pads, heads-screens, voice commands, writing pads, heads-up displays on windshields & mirrors, & 3-D computer-generated images . . . Programming a destination into in-vehicle GPS navigation systems was the most distracting activity, taking drivers an average of 40 seconds to complete the task. At 25 m.p.h., a car can travel the length of four football fields during the time it takes to enter a destinations. Previous research has shown that drivers who remove their eyes from the road for just two seconds double their risk for a crash."  COMMENT: I'll somewhat reluctantly confirm this study. It takes me an average of 3 minutes to program my dashboard latte-maker. And that doesn't take into account putting coffee beans in the grinder, filling the latte-maker w/water, placing the cup underneath it, & removing the cup when it's finished.

Warning:  This excerpt contains graphic information & may not be suitable for young children!

From Lincoln Journal Star (10/20):  "Report:  Access to products lacking. ACLU claims female inmates must pay for some hygiene products . . . (on THU) the civil liberties group called on Scott Frakes, director of the NE Dept. of Correctional Services, to act immediately to address an issue unique to incarcerated women:  access to menstrual products . . . "

Whimsical WED...THU edition

A PSA + Plagiarism for a Good Cause + Go Big Red!

From Omaha World Herald (10/25):  "Beware 'Halloween hand' & other scary injuries. If you value your fingers, be careful as you carve up the household jack-o'-lantern. One slip of the knife & you could wind up in the hospital with 'Halloween.' During OCT & NOV 2013, more than half of the estimated 4,400 Halloween-related injuries involved pumpkin carving, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported." COMMENT:  This PSA may have come too late for some of you. If your spouse & children have started calling you "Stubby," I apologize.

Dept. of Shameless Joke-Stealing

From "Breaking Brad," Brad Dickson in OWH (10/16):  "I saw an online article called 'How to Have the Most Unpopular House on Your Block for Halloween.' Putting up a 10x20' 'No Soliciting' sign & barbed wire works for me."

Ditto (10/16):  "Another popular (Halloween) costume:  the remote control. A note to mothers:  Don't send Dad trick-or-treating with your kid dressed as a remote. Dad will come home alone. 'Where's Jennifer?' 'I lost her.'"

There Is No Place Like Nebraska (Today Mississippi comes in 2nd)

From OWH (10/17):  "708,000 people traveled to watch eclipse in Nebraska. The day that the moon cast Nebraska into darkness proved a bright spot for the state's economy. The AUG 21 solar eclipse had an estimated $127 million economic impact from lodging & travel spending across the state, according to a study done for the Nebraska Tourism Commission. The study . . . estimated that more than 708,000 people traveled to watch the eclipse in NE . . . "  COMMENT:  Unlike the hundreds of thousands of eclipse viewers in the Pacific Northwest, Nebraska events did NOT include bowing to the sun god & praying for the sun to return.

From Lincoln Journal Star (10/19):  "Cornhuskers' rooftop bees hunker down. Lincoln's high-rise beehives are getting for winter. More than half of the 60,000 bees on top of the Cornhusker Marriott will soon begin dying, making room for the youngest generation to carry the lives into spring . . . The Cornhusker launched the sideline business--it plans to sell the honey & also use it in pastries--in May, after hosting an artist-in-residence who used beeswax in her paintings . . . "  COMMENT:  We were at this hotel last week for the Nebraska District LCMS Professional Workers Conference. This explains the buzzing in our ears, which we attributed to a mass outbreak of tinnitus. 

Ditto (10/19):  "NU to help hurricane relief. The NE & Mississippi State men's basketball programs are squeezing in an exhibition game, & they're doing it for a great cause. The schools announced WED that they will meet in a 1:00p charity exhibition game SUN in Starkville, Mississippi. Admission to the game is free, but the American Red Cross will be collecting monetary donations to benefit Hurricane Irma relief efforts . . . "  COMMENT: First of all, consider a donation to Orphan Grain Train. [Google us @ ogt.org.] Unlike the Red Cross, 97% of your donation to us will go directly to victims of the hurricane. And KUDOs to Mississippi. FAKE NEWS? You decide. My crack team of blog detectives could neither confirm nor deny a rumor that a fund-raiser between the Yellville AR Gobblers & a local celebrity team--including the Turkey Trot "Technicians"--will be hosting a charity event to cover legal costs in defending a lawsuit by PETT.*
* People for the Ethical Treatment of Turkeys. **
** This lame "quip" will allegedly seem funnier if you read my last blog entry. 

Caution: Political Content...But still worth checking out

Precocious Grand-Children...We're #1...Shades of WKRP...

Conversations w/My Grand-children

Bentley, age 4, was at our house yesterday, accompanied by his mom, our daughter Rachel. Here are some highlights from our conversations with him.

• Me, observing that he's using chopsticks at the table: "You don't know how to use those things." Bentley: Uses a chopstick to stab his Hawaiian sweet roll, take a bite, & give me a little stink eye. Me:  "You're silly." Bentley: "You're silly most of the time."
• Winston, one of the Broders' 2 dogs, threw up in Rachel's car on the way to our house. Bentley:  "Actually, he's getting his temperature taken when we get home."

Criminal Minds

• From Norfolk Daily News (10/19):  "Player suspended for conduct. A footballer in Italy has been suspended for 5 matches for urinating toward opposing fans." COMMENT:  This gives new meaning to "We're #1!"
• From Omaha World Herald (10/19):  "In first, Iditarod dogs test positive for drugs. For the 1st time in the history of the world's most famous sled dog race, several of the high-performance animals have tested positive for a prohibited drug . . . Several dogs tested positive for the opioid pain reliever Tramadol . . . " COMMENT:  Opioids are highly addictive. This sled driver needs to be punished. No, I'm not kidding. No, I don't think this is funny at all. Yes, if it sounds like I'm ranting, remember G.O.M.E.R. [Grumpy old men & their elucidating rants]
• From NDN (10/18):  "FAA looking after pilot drops turkeys during festival. To some it's an Ozark Mountain Mardi Gras that includes live turkeys being dropped from a low-flying plane to an eager crowd below. To other's it's just animal abuse. The FAA will check to see whether any laws were broken when a low-flying pilot dropped live turkeys at the festival over the weekend. The annual Yellville (AR) Turkey Trot in northern Arkansas has included a turkey drop for more than 5 decades, though sponsors in recent years have distanced themselves from the practice. Several birds were dropped SAT & then chased by festival-goers . . . Last year, about a dozen birds were dropped, but not all survived the fall."  COMMENT:  Turkey Trot organizer Les Nessman was quoted in this same article as saying, "We treat the turkeys right. That may sound ironic, but we don't abuse those turkeys. We coddle & pet those turkeys. We're good to them." Fake news? You decide.

There Is No Place Like Baltimore

From NDN (10/20):  "'Fatberg' removed. A 'fatberg' that may have taken beyond half a century to grow below Baltimore has been removed. News outlets report the city's Public Works department used a camera, pressure washer & truck-mounted industrial vacuum to clear the mass of curdled grease, wet wipes & other waste . . . The notorious glob was found clogging up to 85% of a 24-inch pipe near Penn Station . . . It's blamed for causing more than 1 million gallons of sewage to overflow into the Jones Fall stream. It's the culmination of objects caked along a pipe's walls that shouldn't go down drains . . . " COMMENT:  First, I apologize IF this article caused tummy distress if you read it while eating breakfast. Second, somebody must be held accountable for this. Barack Obama? She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named? Donald Trump? Inquiring minds want to know.

Political Potpourri

From "Why NFL games are unwatchable," a column by Michael Reagan in NDN (10/24):  " . . . If I want politics, I can watch 'Hannity,' listen to Rush or tune in to one of the liberal Trump-bashing Sunday shows like 'Meet the Press.' The NFL should keep political posturing or messaging of every kind out of its games. It's up to team owners to put an end to pre-game kneel-downs & protests before it gets out of control. The owners need to tell their protesting stars & scrubs that, yes, you have a 1st Amendment right to kneel or sit during the National Anthem if you want. But they should add that if a player wants to make a political statement on game day, as owners they also have the right to make them sit out the rest of the season."  COMMENT:  I know that I'd mentioned in previous blogs that my content would veer away from political content. However, it's my blog, & I can write whatever I want. It's your choice to stop following me. Actions have consequences.

A New Feature

Coffee...Grand-children...Fishing Fans...Political Potpouri...Donuts

"E-Letters" to the Editor

I thought it might be nice to share with you emails that I have received lately from my plethora of faithful blog followers. After all, my blog was always meant to be interactive.

Dear Fellow Coffee Connoisseur:

These days we don't see many references to your alleged coffee of choice, Seattle's Best Dark Roast #5. What gives?

• Dear fellow connoisseur:  I still love Seattle's Best dark coffee brew, but I've expanded my coffee repertoir & embraced Sumatran Reserve, which my daughter Sarah thoughtfully provides for me when Lois and/or I are visiting the Worley's; also Trader Joe's dark roast; & I'm anxious to try a coffee blend that I picked up during Lois' high school class reunion in Concordia, MO, a few weekends ago. The name of this much anticipated delicacy? "This Is Most Certainly Brew." No, I'm not making this up. If I knew how to include pictures on my blog, I'd show you the picture I took of the package.

Dear Grand-parent in Arms:

You undoubtedly have the cutest, most witty, intelligent, & otherwise adorable grand-children. Any "Conversations w/Grand-Kids" lately that you'd be willing to share?

• Dear fellow grand-parent:  Certainly. We have 2 grand-children in Lincoln, NE, thanks to the Worley's. We have a "good-bye" ritual. When we prepare to leave the house, we exchange hugs with our grand-daughters & tell each other "I love you." Last weekend as we were preparing to leave on SAT, 8-year-old, Hadley, added this comment to her good-bye to Grandma. [That would be Lois.] To the best of my recollection, it went something like this:  "I will always remember you." [It did make us wonder if she knows something that we don't know.]

Dear Fishing Aficionado:

We haven't heard much about your fishing adventures for awhile. How goes it?

• Dear Fellow Fishing Fanatic:  After a 2-month or so hiatus, I returned to my favorite fishing hole last Sunday. The good news? Within 15 minutes I caught an 18" bass--confirmed by tape measure--one of the best fish that I've ever caught in this pond. The bad news? During the next hour-and-a-half, I caught 0 fish & only had 1 strike. CAVEAT:  It was terribly windy, which rendered my attempts to land my lures where I suspected the fish to be hanging out pretty much useless even when the wind was at my back. Also, I couldn't do much with my black-tail wiggle worms, because they kept dredging up weeds. I doubt if I'll try again until Thanksgiving break when a son-in-law & son will be able to join me. AN ASIDE:  As usual, I tend to do more fishing than catching.

Dear Paul:

Is it okay if I call you "Paul?" I consider myself to be on a first-name basis with you. Where was I? Oh yeah . . . I know that you attended the Nebraska District LCMS All-Professional Workers Conference in Lincoln. Would you mind sharing the highlights with us?

• To Whom It May Concern:  Do you mean besides the "fix-your-own fajitas" dinner on THU & full breakfast buffet on FRI?

Dear Traitor:

You used to blog frequently & fearlessly about matters pertaining to politics. It was clear that you have a decidedly partisan bent, which coincides with many of your readers, including me. Why don't we see many if any political broadsides from you anymore.

• Dear Misguided yet Understandably Disappointed Reader:  By the time we got through the 2017 election process, I was already noticing that my thorough browsing of partisan sources *, not to mention my comments related to these sources, was really dragging me down. I had to cut back for the sake of my mental health. Besides, ever since DT got elected, partisanship in both on-line & printed resources has certainly been tempered. ** I think I may dabble occasionally in such matter, since I know that my readership appreciates my fair & balanced comments.* My favorite partisan columnist continues to be Jonah Goldberg. You can find a link to his columns either on the Drudge Report or National Review Online (NRO).** I'm kidding, as far as you know.

Dear Current Events Monitor:

I read this item in the Norfolk Daily News on 10/20. "Sweet surrender. A 21-year-old man wanted for parole violations surrendered at a suburban Detroit police station--with a dozen doughnuts for officers. The sweet gesture didn't help Michael Zaydel. He still was sentenced to 39 days in jail .  . " Do you think his gesture was in poor taste? Do you think the police overreacted to his gesture of hospitality, which surely wasn't meant to antagonize them?

• Dear Fellow Newspaper Addict:  My favorite donuts can be found in Norfolk at Daylight Donuts on 13th Street (U.S Hwy 81) next to Runza. My personal preference? Their apple fritters. AN ASIDE:  You need to stop there by or before 8:30a, since they will likely be sold out by then, & you'll find this "carb haven" closed for the day.

Guaranteed to be free from political commentary

CLEVER GRAND-KIDS, EXOTIC FOOD,  & OHIO vs NEBRASKA 

ADVENTURES WITH MY GRANDSON #1

We get face-timed by Kelvin (2-yrs-old in JAN) fairly often. He's got his parents--at least one of them's--sense of humor. I'd like to think that he's inherited this from his Papa Paul, too.
LAURA:  "Calvin, show Papa & Grandma what you can do. Say "kuh kuh Calvin."  
CALVIN:  "Kuh, Kuh, Mommy."
LAURA:  "Say kuh, kuh, Calvin."
CALVIN:  "Kuh, Kuh, Daddy."
LOIS:  "Say Grandma."
CALVIN:  "Papa."

ADVENTURES WITH MY GRANDSON #2

Conversation #1, on the way to preschool yesterday.
BENTLEY (age 4):  "Where's my backpack?"
RACHEL:  "Uh, oh. I forgot it at home. Mommy's sorry."
BENTLEY:  [Gives Rachel some serious stink-eye.]
RACHEL:  "Mommy's sorry, Bentley."
BENTLEY:  [Stink eye continues all the way to Helping Hands pre-school.]
RACHEL:  "I love you, Bentley. Tell Mommy you love me."
BENTLEY:  [More stink eye.]

Conversation #2, Papa & Bentley at Hy-Vee. I'm pushing him in a kids' shopping cart. He informs me that it's his favorite color. That would be red.
BENTLEY:  [As we walk down the candy aisle, he points at several sacks of candy.] "Papa, I want that!"
ME:  "No."
BENTLEY:  [As we walk down the cookie aisle, he points at several packages of cookies.] "Papa I want those, Papa!" [Now he's getting fussy.]
ME:  "No. I already have treats at home. We don't need cookies either." [Now he's really pouting.]
BENTLEY: "I want those!" [He points at a package of sanitary napkins.}
ME:  "No!"
BENTLEY:  "Why?"
ME:  "Your mother can explain why."

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

From Omaha World Herald (10/14):  Headline. "Burgers surprisingly good even though they don't contain meat."  COMMENT:  "Liar!"
Ditto (10/13):  "Older folks are coffee drinkers. Who drinks the most coffee? Older people. Percentage of people, by age, who reported having consumed a coffee beverage within the past day:  Ages 13-18, 37%; Ages 18-24, 50%; Ages 25-39, 63%; Ages 48-59, 64%; & Ages 60+, 68%.  COMMENT:  Hey, millennials & Generation X-ers. How does it feel to be coffee weenies?
Ditto (10/13):  +Headline+ "These burgers get protein from insects. Swallow deeply, pinch the the nose & repeat the mantra: 'Tastes like beef, tastes like beef.' Then bite into the burger of rice, chopped vegetables, spices & mealworm larvae. The Swiss supermarket chain Coop, to a bit of domestic hoopla, has begun selling burgers & balls(?) made from insects. It's being billed as a legal first in Europe, a continent more accustomed to steak, sausage, poultry & fish as a source of protein."  COMMENT:  My crack team of blogger researchers have not yet been able to find any evidence that this is permitted under sharia law. *
* I'm not a hater, but Europeans are, let's face it, weenies when it comes to giving up beef for insects.
** My crack team of of blogger researchers have also been unsuccessful in verifying that the insect larvae includes endangered monarch butterflies.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE OHIO

OWH (10/3):  "Heard but not seen. Residents of a quiet town in southwest Ohio swear they're not seeing things when they tell people monkeys are on the loose in their neighborhood. Residents in Lebanon, a city about 30 miles northeast of Cincinnati, have used their phones to capture photos of the monkeys hanging out in trees." [SEE comment below.]

FOOTBALL FOLLIES 

It pains me to say that our Cornhuskers are 24-pt underdogs against Ohio State today. I think I read that this is the largest pt spread against Nebraska since the late Middle Ages. All I can say is that at least the people in OUR state aren't running around taking pictures of alleged monkeys in our trees. * And our FB program doesn't cheat.
* In my continued quest to be transparent, I must admit that Ohio has a few more trees than Nebraska. **
** Although Nebraska is home to the largest, man-planted [or human-planted for those of you who are feme-nazi's] National Forest in the U.S., in the Sandhills around Halsey. ***
*** To be fair, Ohio does have some National forests. However, our National forests have buffalo, antelopes, whitetail & mule deers, coyotes . . .  Ohio National forests have monkeys. LOL. ****
**** Looney old Lutheran

Cornhusker Blog Lite

Eating "Tainted" Fish + Shameless Joke Stealing + G.O.M.E.R.

Mental Health & Blogging

• Journaling is one of many activities that can help us cope with clinical depression & chronic anxiety. You may have noticed [with some relief] that I haven't been blogging as often for at least the last month or so. My "substitute journaling substitute" has taken the form of the plethora of devotions that I write for Orphan Grain Train.
• Walking is also one the list of activities that can help with chronic issues like these. Unfortunately, I stopped walking Sammy pretty much after I hurt myself while hiking in Northeast MN last June. The injury to my neck vertebrae prevented me from putting Sammy on a leash & having him jerk me around. After my last appointment, my PT therapist gave me the green light to start walking him again. I started walking him again but w/o the sense of urgency as before. I'm trying to get back to my previous routine, which was walking my dog once in morning before I headed to OGT & once in the late afternoon after I returned.

Food for Thought

From OWH, 10/6:  "North Korean workers prepare seafood for U.S. consumers. Americans buying seafood for dinner @ Walmart or Aldi may inadvertently have subsidized the North Korean government as it builds its nuclear weapons program, an AP investigation has found. Their purchases may also have supported forced labor . . . Often the fish arrives in generic packaging. But some were already branded in China with familiar names like Walmart or Sea Queen, which is sold exclusively at Aldi supermarkets." COMMENT #1:  I wonder if NK is branding its ICBM's w/the "China label" to sneakily shifting the blame to China [whom we know is a good friend to the USA [lol]. COMMENT #2: If you are an anti-war and/or anti-nuclear power advocate, wouldn't buying fish from Walmart or Aldi make you a hypocrite? 

Criminal Minds - California Edition

From USA Today, State by State, 9/28:  "Two people from San Bruno were charged after breaking into an apartment, pepper-spraying a resident & stealing a cat. Police say the suspects knew the victims, & there was a dispute over who owned the cat." COMMENT:
According to my sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, the REAL reason these people got pepper-sprayed is because they refused to vote in favor of "sanctuary status" for San Bruno.

Department of Shameless Joke Stealing

From TV Week, latelaughs, OWH, 10/6:  "In TX this weekend, a movie theater hosted a showing of the movie 'It,' that was for an audience made up entirely of clowns. Only one car showed up, but the place was packed." (Conan)
Ditto:  "I heard that Hillary will actually be signing books at a Costco in Connecticut. It's gonna be awkward when someone gets to the front & goes, 'Oh, I thought this was the line for cheese samples.'" (Jimmy Fallon)

G.O.M.E.R. *

I'm getting a little(?) tired of all this brouhaha over the NFL players. Here's my take for what it's worth.

• Freedom of speech is important.
• The players are employees & their employers--team owners--have the right to shut down the protests and/or fire those who take part in kneeling and/or locking arms.
• Freedom of speech works both ways. Those who support the players' right to free speech but condemn President Trump for his tweets are being hypocritical.
• Yes, it's debatable whether our President should have inserted himself in the fray.
• However, I believe that actions have consequences. Therefore, President Trump is suffering from the natural consequences of his behavior--more criticism from both ends of the political spectrum--although those condemning him are/were in the anti-Trump camp to begin with. He can't have it both ways.
• This also means that players who join in these "demonstrations" have to understand that getting fined, fired, and/or blackballed is also a consequence of their behavior. They, too, can't have it both ways. Martin Luther King, Jr, stood for civil disobedience. As I understand it, he preached that people who practice civil disobedience must be willing to accept the consequences of their behavior. It may be the right thing to do, but choosing to practice civil disobedience can lead to arrests, jail time, fines, etc. Yet I also think he thought this was more effective [taking the moral high ground] than using other means to achieve good. [I'm talking more about those whose public protests have resulted in property damage, injuries, looting, etc.]
• And NFL owners have to accept that these players are costing the NFL big bucks. They can't have it both ways, i.e., supporting the players on one hand & condemning those who choose to spend their money elsewhere, whether fans or advertisers, for . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . actions . have consequences.

* Grumpy Old Men & their Elucidating Rants

One or more trips down memory lane.

CLASS REUNION REDUX

I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little fatigued as I blog about Lois' Class of 1972 reunion a week ago. So, here are some closing thoughts.

• What a joy to see how how this reunion brightened up Lois. She obviously treasured her time with classmates.
• A lot of nostalgia was to be had. Both she & her classmates reveled in stories about the "good ol' days."
• If there was one disappointment, it was the low attendance. She & others obtained a mailing list & will try to update date contact information in advance of the next class reunion. [What this reunion lacked in quantity it made up for in quality.
• It would have been a good weekend to stock up on vineyard and/or winery investments.
• The FB & VB games provided a nice walk down memory lane.
• When the homecoming king & queen, prince & princess were announced, it brought us both back to 1970, when Lois was nominated for high school princess *; I was asked [It's a long story.] to be her escort; nobody told me I would have to rent a tux; & Lois was crowned Homecoming Princess. And, lest I forget, my sister played a prominent role in this whole affair. **

* St. Paul's College was still in existence, so it was decided that a college student would still be crowned homecoming queen. Adding a high school princess to the festivities was a first-time concession. Where was I? Oh, yeah . . . Homecoming in 1970 [Do I have the year right?] was where I was introduced to my future wife.

** By "affair" I'm referring to the beginning of a wholesome relationship, not a carnal one. ***

*** And you should be ashamed if you are even thinking that!

• The price is right is still right for lodging in Biltz Hall. 
• I experienced nostalgia, too. My time at St. Paul's involved some of the best year's of my life.
• I recalled some memories of my years as a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. They were good memories.
• I recalled some memories of Concordia, MO. Many, but not all of them were good.
• I enjoyed treats from Creemee Freeze several times. [I still remember the year that they introduced a peanut butter sundae. For at least that one summer, their PBS out-scored our all-time favorite CF treat:  a hot fudge sundae.]
• I enjoyed spending time w/Lois' classmates & they did a nice job of including me and/or acting like they didn't mind my presence.
• Hail St. Paul's, my alma mater!

Coffee Service + Gourmet Dining + More Wine + More Gourmet Dining

CLASS OF 1972 REUNION POST-MORTEM

SAT 9/30 + DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS

• My day began early. Since I was allowed to join Lois for her 45th Class Reunion @ St. Paul's Lutheran High School, there were certain responsibilities I was expected to embrace.
• There was no coffeemaker in our luxurious semi-suite in Biltz, Room 207 [or was it 2009?] I got up before Lois, just as I had done on THU & FRI mornings, & made a coffee run to McDonald's. [FYI...McD's serves the best coffee of any other fast food emporium. I'm just sayin'.]
• We enjoyed a continental breakfast in Paul Mehl's office. Paul [I hope he's not offended that I consider us to be on a first name basis.] is the President of SPCHS. The cinnamon rolls were my favorite.
• At lunchtime Lois & her colleagues dined at The Palace. Back in the day my parents considered The Palace to be a Den of Iniquity. [It was one of two bars in town, Kozy Korner(?) being the other one. Today it is known for it's gourmet food & quality beer. According to Lois, they had a great time. I had to take her word for it, because . . . 
• I was "excused" to eat lunch at China Garden. That's right--there is a Chinese Restaurant in downtown Concordia [something sorely lacking back in the day].
• Lunch was delicious. I had Shrimp w/Almonds, which came w/chicken-fried rice & egg drop soup. MY RATINGS:  Food ++++ Service +++++ Ambience +++ Value +++++
• The alumni consortium visited a winery in the afternoon, I think up near Waverly. Once again, no wineries were around to the best of my knowledge back in the day.
• Lois spent a  most of the rest of the afternoon socializing w/her peers in the    BBACC *. I can neither confirm nor deny that a a plethora of wines were " sampled.
• Although invited, I chose not to accompany the group to the winery. I spent the afternoon in our luxurious semi-suite, catching up on my reading, although I did sneak in a trip to Creemee Freeze for a hot fudge sundae.
• However, I was also invited to accompany the Class of 1972 mob to a Mexican restaurant--whose name escapes me--for supper. [Yet another dining option sadly lacking back in the day.] 
• Although I'd like to believe that my invitation was the result of my history of witty & informative conversation . . . 
• I suspect that my invitation was due to the need for a designated driver.
• My entree was a combination platter w/a chili relleno **, taco, & tostada.
• Food ++++ Service +++++ Ambience +++++ Value +++++
• When we got to Biltz, the Class of 1972 met again in the BBACC *. I wasn't encouraged to attend, so I stayed in our luxurious semi-suite, channel surfing & watching Youtube videos.
• I can neither confirm nor deny that a plethora of wine was consumed yet again.  

* Biltz Basement Alumni Conference Center(?)

** Usually my favorite Mexican restaurant entree. I was considering the shrimp fajitas, but I wasn't sure I could eat that much for supper. ***
*** Ha Ha . . . When has hat ever stopped me?

SUNDAY 10/1 + DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS

• We had a surprise knock on the door just as we were getting up.
• Lois' classmate Dawn--the only other female from the Class of '72 to attend--had brought us coffee from Casey's. *

* You're my favorite member of the Class of '72, Dawn. Don't tell the others. **

** Actually, Lois would technically be my favorite member of the Class of '72. but you were a close 2nd. 

• Dawn, Ed, Lois & I went to church at my home congregation, St. Paul Lutheran.
• It was reassuring to observe two traditions that are still being kept up. (1) The congregation could still be described as "The Singing Congregation." When I was growing up, St. Paul's was known for being a singing congregation. (2) The front pews still remain mostly vacant.
• It was a little alarming to have Holy Communion served convention style. It left me wondering if my home congregation is beginning to swing to the liberal side of the theological spectrum. 
• Ditto the use of the LSB. [What happened to TLH?]

After church we bid farewell to Concordia & hit the road for an uneventful trip back to Norfolk.

NEXT UP:  Paul's 50th anniversary reunion in 2021.