Rumsfeld's Rules

Quite a while ago I clipped a news article about some observations Donald Rumsfeld had made thru his years in politics. The guy makes some good points about life in general. Following is an excerpt...

-  Don't begin to think you're the President. (Or the Prophet, or the Boss or...) You're not. The Constitution provides for only one. (A little humility and perspective goes a long ways.)

-  Visit with your predecessors from previous administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes rather than needlessly repeating theirs.

-  Learn to say, "I don't know." If used when appropriate, it will be often.

-  Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page of The Washington Post.

-  If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.

-  Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance.

-  It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.

-  Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles de Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.

-  It takes everyone to make a happy day. (Said by his daughter Marcy in 1961, when she was 7.)

Don't suppose we could clone him and give Obama some common sense help????

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Wow Man, It's All A Fog

So remind me again how old we have to be before we remember not to fall asleep outside in the sun...

???

'Coz,

like...

I forget.

As Someone "Famous" Once Said...

The Youngest is regaling me with yet another story from the scout encampment. 1200+ scouts in one place. Pretty impressive, not without it's moments, but still pretty impressive to have all these people in one place...

He's in the middle of a tale and is telling me that he had to inform someone else that they were - "nucking futs!"

What?

"Ummm, and which one of your little buddies, pray tell, did you get that charming colloquialism from?"

"Oh, it was at school, and it wasn't one of my friends, it was my math teacher."

Yesssss.

Thank you so much, Mr. Klug.

Appreciate the help.
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Bwhahahaha

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The Truth Will Set Us Free

I like to multi-task.

While doing laundry recently I was also picking up items that were laying around and was putting them away as I crisscrossed the house searching for socks and other clothing that The Youngest likes to stuff under chairs, sofa's etc. So while my hands were full I saw some scissors on the table. Picked them up and immediately tried to trip on a cat. (You may have noticed I have a  problem keeping my feet under me...)

Real smart, I told myself. I had a visual on what those scissors could have looked like sticking in my eye...

That lead to a random memory.

Guy named Mark Grey. I knew him, years and years ago...Once told me a story about chasing his brother who was running with scissors. Long story short? Had a whole tale about how the kid ended up in the hospital with the scissors in his eye. And that his brother now had a glass eye. I was appalled but astonished because, as I told him, "Why it looks so natural, you'd never know it was glass!"

Well, his brother's eye looked normal because it was. The whole scissors thing? Never happened. As a matter of fact, most of the stuff he talked about never happened. He was a pathological liar. Looking back I think the only facts he got right may have been his parents names & his address.

Why do people lie?

So many times as an adult I have watched something happen. Then had the child/teen/adult who did it turned right around and say, "Nuh huh, didn't happen." Or "didn't do it, wasn't me." Plus there is the classic, when the parent becomes involved and staunchly states, "Not my child!" While I stand all amazed going, "I sat right here and watched you/them do it!"

Incredible.

You know, if you're unable to tell the truth or can't 'find' the truth...you can't get to or deal with "the issue."

And I know some people are counting on that. A lot. Because they don't want to, nay, refuse to deal with, or acknowledge the issue. Apparently they think that if no one talks about the elephant in the room - it's just not there. But sometimes it's a little difficult to ignore the big pile of poo that the animal leaves in the middle of the floor.

I can forgive a liar. It's not my job to define what their reality is. And as much as it hurts, especially if it is someone you're supposed to care about...they are responsible for their own salvation and we ultimately have to leave them to their own repentance.

But respect them? Trust them, their judgement or anything they say? Want to be with them?

Ummm...

Not so much.
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The Raccoon

We have a raccoon in the back yard. He's in 'Coon Heaven. There are cherries, strawberries & raspberries. A smorgasbord of vegetables. All kinds of places to hide and hang out. And best of all ... his own personal pool!!!

Arghhhh.

And I'm jumping up and down like Elmer Fudd screamin', I'm gonna shoot me some wabbit waccoon!!!!

He's a destructive little creature. Tearing branches off the tree. Bending & breaking the bushes. And strawberries? What strawberries? There are cherry pits all over the place, he's washing them off in the pool, and at the bottom of the cellar stairs where water collects briefly after a storm, plus he's pooping down there. Now he's started on the pool cover and has torn bits off the edge and someone has pulled the sealant from around the bottom of pool steps and I do believe the pool is leaking again because of it. And my fish in the front yard pond are turning up dead...

Friend Gladys has a wonderful way of comparing situations in life to the gospel. She, unlike me, has a real knack for turning the ordinary into a spiritual moment. But I'm going to take a stab at it...

Because really, I know he's one of God's creatures. And he has his place in this world.

Just - not in my mine.

And that's kinda like a lot of things and people in this life. There are different politics, religions, creeds. Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them wrong or bad. But so much of the time we're just going to have to learn to agree to disagree, and grow some tolerance. But we still don't have to be on top of each other. We can appreciate each other's differences.

From a distance.

And so dear raccoon, this week I will find a live trap for you and we'll figure out how to sucker you into it. Some nice, fresh, sweet corn perhaps????

Then you will take a trip and leave the farm.

Now those other folks I'm trying to learn to be tolerant of?

It wouldn't do at all to stuff them into a live trap to transport...would it???

And I don't suppose anyone has a spare wizard's wand? I mean, how much fun would that be - poof, they're gone. Problem solved.

Silly me, of course not.

We're not at Hogwarts, and I'm sure glad I'm not back in grade school. I'd be at the chalkboard writing one hundred times...

I will be nice.
I will be nice.
I will be nice.
I will be...
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Snack Time?

Remember the 50's - 60's movies that had all the buxom, bombshell starlet's dropping items down their cleavage for safe keeping? Money for the parking meter? House keys? Lipstick?

Hold that thought.

Now think about the last time you had some really good Chinese-type sticky rice.

Compare that to Mexican style rice. Tasty, but not sticky.

So - I'm still shaking my head because...

Last Thursday we went out for Mexican food after our service project and I brought home a doggie bag. I made brunch out of it the next day.

Yummy!

But...

That night as I undressed and got ready for bed I was somewhat bemused as I looked down at my chest....

I know. More information than anyone needs.

Totally not the same effect as the young starlets.

But I suppose if I had the munchies???

Mayhaps I should be using a bib when I eat from now on...
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