7/15/2025 A Ticket to What

         I was heading into the grocery store and in the parking lot I see a lottery ticket on the macadam. Not a scratch off. In the store I'm behind a lady with a tee shirt that says play the lottery. So in front of store are 4 big machines that spit out scratch offs and reg tickets. I stick in 2 dollars and get a scratch off.  Reach down and get ticket plus a reg ticket that someone left behind. It's a pick 4 for todays date. Bottom line both tickets were losers. Life is like this. Win some lose some. So I take a chance. Two things doubled up...1) ticket on ground...2) woman's tee shirt. So I took the 2 dollar chance. When making big decisions. Ask your friend's opinions and write them down. Have a dream about it. Ask DS for an answer to your question. Then put it down on paper. Always try for the answer.

       In the past, I had a tennet if I saw something double up, I would pay attention.  I used to collect post cards. One day I bought at a fleamarket one hundred Nova Scotia cards. I was going to go on a trip with my camper, so I included it in the trip. Added several hundred miles to the trip. And I never been there.  Best trip ever. Took a chance and it worked. One day found toy iron cable car at flea market. Bought it. Then at same flea market another cable car. I buy that too. Both refer to San Francisco. I was thinking of going there before I went to the market. It reinforced my impetus to venture out there. Another great trip. These are waking dreams. I use them in my life. It leads to some great experiences. Life is up and downs, look for the lessons that come with each experience. Everyone can do this. No matter where you are.

        Here's a tip, keep pushing against the unknown until it becomes known to you. Exploring the unknown will add richness and excitement to your life. We all can have rewarding experiences on a daily basis. Give and take always.

7/10/2025. Stress

        A lot of people have it, as of late. It is not fun. I have it now more than ever. How to mitigate it? Ask DS to take care of it ...for starters. Also say...I will get through this rough spot. Say that 5 times. And any time you think about it during the day. Take actions, keep them small. Your tackling it in little bites. Write down your stresses and read them everyday and what you did during day to lessen them. Any negative thoughts, see them turned into pebbles. Drop them into a bucket in your visulation. Then at the end of visulation toss the contents into a river. During this time limit the amount of negative news that you read or balance it out with positive news. At end of day write 3 things you are greatful for. You end the day with a postive action and in the morning you start the day with a positive action. Do this not only in times if stress but everyday. It's tuff I know because I'm dealing with it. I just tell myself I will get thorough this no matter what. And I take actions. It is slow going. But I have to remeber the little things to be greatful for. Like when I got stuck on the curb. That it wasn't raining. That was huge for me. And finding a 10 dollar bill in parking lot. Money for gas. Spirit comes in little ways and it can be a kind word from someone to get you over the hump. So if we dig ourselves a hole, it will be up to us to get ourselves out of it. DS can also lend an assist along the way. It will come to s point, where we can say I survived the tough time and I'm ready to create a better more rewarding life for myself. By using yes or no we can change our reality. No matter the situation ask yourself is this good for my life or not. Then take action in word and deed.

       In times of stress don't make big decisions. You want time to think on it then invite DS (Divine Spirit)  to help you make a decision. Can come in a dream or while you are awake.

7/ 09/2025. Pills

        For high blood pressure, I take Lisinoprill and the water pill which is incorporated into 1 pill. I take 2 pills. I use a weekly pill dispenser. If I miss a day I leave it and continue out the week. Sometimes I miss one day a week . So 2 weeks ago I missed 2 days . Not good at all. I looked over the situation and made adjustments. My place at the table was too cluttered. A lot of spice bottles. Put the majority of them back in cabinet. Then cleared a space on the place mat. I can see the round pill carrier clearly. For last 2 weeks no mistakes. Since practicing mindfulness this year, I do see improvements. They are small but meaningful. The more this is practiced the better you will get in all aspects of your daily living. And I'm not there yet.  That yet, I intend to acquire. Driving is difficult. Why? It's  trying to be mindful on a steady consistent basis. Making a mistake here has dire consequences. Your eyes need to focus in front, rear view mirror and the sides. By practicing mindfulness you become even more aware of how you perceive reality. It's  like adjusting a radio station to get it more clear sounding. This is taking responsibility for our own lives. Taking these actions expands on our mind's capabilities. The subtle difference between action and patience. Like,  I'd rather be late to the party than not get there.

      Also, when we get inner nudges, listen to them. They are there to teach some aspect on our life. Follow through and write down what you learned from that inner nudge.

7/04/2025. The. 4th

         249 years ago, 56 men signed on the dotted line. This Declaration of Independence would put those men in jeopardy. If caught they could get hanged. All of them had families.. Took a lot of guts to do what they did. Twelve signers had their houses ransacked and burnt to the ground. Five of them were captured. They were eventually released or exchanged in prisoner swaps with the British.

          Robert Morris was a wealthy merchant who helped finance the war. After the war he went into real estate which led to his downfall and dying in poverty. James Wilson would spend some time in debtors prison. Carter Braxton was s planter & trader. His ships were harresed by the  British constantly. He also dies in poverty. Thomas McKean was constantly hounded by the British and was forced to move his family on a regular basis. A lot of his things were taken from him and he too dies in poverty. Ellery, Hall, Walton, Clever, Guinness, Hayward, Rutledge & Middleton.  The Brits and Torries loot their properties 

        Thomas Nelson Jr, he urged G Washington to open fire on his house at Yorktown, that was occupied by Cornwalis. His house burnt to the ground. He dies in poverty too. Francis Lewis, his home and grounds are destroyed. His wife is put in jail and she dies a couple months later. And now on to the saddest fate of all. John Hart. He is driven from his dying wife's bedside. Their 13 kids are scattered  as his homestead is laid waste. On the run for more than a year, iving in the woods and caves. He returns home to no kids or wife. He dies frwom exhaustion 2 weeks later.

        Other signers were B Franrklin, B  Harrison, T Jefferson,  Francis Lightfoot Lee,  J Hancock,  Adams and Samuel Adams.t

       I'm surprised that none of the richer signers helped the other signers when they struggled. After all they were all in it together. The US didn't help them either. 

       Was it worth it? Only those who signed can tell you. Alot of these men lost everything. But their sacrifice created the United States. It would go on to combat evil in the world. Think on these men who lost everything. This is their day.

6/30/2025 Hodgepodge

        The 2nd day after I bottomed out car a 6 in curb. I exit the same restraunt door and there sits a slightly larger car with it's  2 wheels over the curb on the same island I was stuck on. The guy or gal hit it hard and broke a 2 ft section  out of the curb.  I tried to help. Told him to stop accelerating. White smoke came from the tire as it spinned on the rocks. I got the trunk carpet out of my car and put it under the back tire. It's rear wheel drive. I say go slow. Nope he can't follow directions and the carpet goes flying behind the car. In the mean time a guy pulls up with a big new blue pickup with hitch pulls recessed into the front bumper. He drops in a tow rope and pulls him out in 5 seconds. Dude where were you 2 days ago?. I am thankful to the guys who helped get me out of my predicament, the other day.

      Seems of late, I'm always low on cash. Needed money for gas. I park in this spot randomly and I step out almost atop a 10 dollar bill. I got gas

       I buy these markdown oranges. As of the last 2 weeks I haven't. Was thinking about it recently. Then yesterday I pull into a random parking spot at grocery store and park kitty corner. Get out and rescue a big navel orange. Not damaged. It got away from somebody. Thank-you  DS. Washed it up the next day it was good. Keep your eyes open and get creative when looking to move forward.

       Never give up hope. Never. Don't  say things negative with a lot of emotion. Someone once said something about wishing they were dead. Well they didn't die but things went bad. I always say I will get through this and then take some form of action.

      When making a big purchase, take your time list the negatives and positives. Write them down. I ìwrote previously about a truck I wanted. I got tipped off by the trans problem but discounted it, because it didn't  happen again  plus I liked the look of the truck. The trans wound up setting me back another 1000. The trans was previously fixed by this shop. Like 6 mos prior.  I went to the same place. I got 2 to 3 years out of the truck. Went thru a puddle and that was it. Guy spent 10 hrs on looking for the problem in the electrical system. He said more work would be needed. Too much money. Gave him the title instead. All that grief because I cast commonsense to the side.

       Find your moments of contentment. I like birds. I get up 5: 30 each morning. I open the door put the ceiling fans on and enjoy the morning, listening to the birds. No mowers, no big trucks, no horns,  no people screaming and no sirens.

        Yesterday I walked into a Chinese food place. I see the big jar with fortune cookies. I get urge to buy 2, .30 cents. The first cookie has no fortune. That has never happened. Tell the gal she gives me another one. First fortune proclaim patience and  prosperity.  The second says your in for a thrilling experience. Those were the best fortunes I ever got. In my life when there are doubles I pay attention. Thank-you DS.

        Up ahead the gates go down with red flashing lights. Two big diesel engines approach the crossing. Wild bushy hair guy starts to peddle faster to beat the frieght train, are you nuts! I know that there was no way he could do it, too far back. Why try to risk your life when all you have to do is wait. The train was over a mile long. Four cars turned around and I was at the dropped gates.  The end of train was not a caboose but another pusher diesel engine. 15 minute wait is all. Err on caution. Live to see another day.

6/23/2025 Lifting the Bell

        So for now 2 years, I've been working out with the 20 pound dumbell. Most of 24 I scaled it back. Doing 70 reps with the left arm and 55 with the right, per day. Doing some more lesser reps once in awhile. The slight wrinkles in biceps are still there.  Now I'm doing 65 reps with the left arm and 40 reps with the right. Then I do 30 with the right and 40 with the left. Then repeat. In 2 weeks I see quick inprovement with the bicep. I do the exercises at home. The more reps you do will have a bigger payoff. Just don't over do it. As long as you do something every day or every other day. Ar least you will maintain what you got. After 2 years I'm pleased how it is working out. The smaller reps seem to be the charm. Building muscle and flexible exercises protects your bones & joints. A new exercise is holding the dumbell vertical. My left  & right fingers wrap under the bell held between my legs when sitting. I rest my arms on the thighs. Then I lower the weight up snd down til a count of 25. This exercise does a lot of good. I do 2 reps per day. Another exercise is to lift the bell over your head while standing lock your elbow when overhead and hold to a count of 50 for each arm.

      I still do the stretches with the open door frame for my back in which I discussed in a previous blog. I do it in the morning when I get up. It takes the little kinks out and I'm good for the day. When doing exercises try different things. Always go slow and if feeling a twinge of pain stop. It also wise to see a doctor and get checked out for sny potential problems. Doctors can't do everything but by listening to them you can extend your life. My father fell shory by 1 week shy of 92. He listened to his doctors. No one in his family ever made it to their 90s. He got himself an extra 6 years. Compared to his brothers.

6/17/2025 More on Breed

        A long time ago I envisioned myself atop Breed's Hill on this day. June 17th at 6 am. The explosions heard in Boston went on all day. The sounds came across the Charles River. According to a domestic servant the sounds were horrific. As well as the black smoke from the city of Charlestown burning. It was the most terrifying day she ever went through. She recalled many years later. 

       I didn't make it here. Oh well. One day I hope to someday.  The colonials lost the battle but won the war. They put fear into the souls of the regulars, as well as the brass. Attacking fortified positions was a mistake not to be repeated by the British. Caution would enter into play. This caution prevented them from pushing the envelope in future engagements.  There is a balance between caution and out right aggressiveness. They the Brits failed to walk this tight rope. Thanks to this day 250 years ago. 

       The 20th century rolls around and we were there to help our hated adversary out in 2 world wars. You never know in life. The worm can turn. In warfare as well as our own lives we have to strike that balance between aggressiveness and caution.  Fortunately we have a helper in DS ( Divine spirit. It is ours if we seek it out.

       This day above all others was a single day that changed the course of world history. A great nation arose atop this hill. This nation would be a force of good. A nation that would keep the world out of tyrany. Growing pains along the way sure. I believe God's plan was behind the US. He foresaw what was coming down the pike. Trust in God first, form that connection. It is on our money In God we trust, don't just think of it as a slogan. But something that is lived on a daily basis.