The Ordeal of Change

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98971762011-09-20T07:21:34.767-04:00The Ordeal of ChangeThis is not about the Eric Hoffer book but he still might turn up from time to time.Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.comBlogger3941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-42861875049698450262010-11-06T07:43:00.002-04:002010-11-06T07:50:02.526-04:00there are no new concepts for any of us

Ever hear a new idea and liked it instantly?That happens because the idea, even one you have never heard before, is already inside of you.Concepts move through the cosmos and find homes in all of us without us being totally aware of them. If we are lucky we will stumble upon them one day and the circle will be complete.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-56266288924113834282010-08-11T11:46:00.002-04:002010-08-11T11:51:38.056-04:00path, no path

metaphorif you are looking for the path of your life can you become lost on your way?let go of the metaphor, life is just lifelive and learnthis is something that many people seem to be againstwhy be against anything?be for somethingdon't surrenderyou can leave late and arrive early

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-75168832955370843902010-08-09T13:41:00.002-04:002010-08-09T14:00:20.808-04:00three questions

What are you reading now?I just finished "A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy" by William B. Irvine. I was very disappointed when I came to the end because I really wanted to keep reading! I guess I picked up some momentum in the course of the read. I am reading "The Unfettered Mind" by Takuan Soho on the side, it seems I am always reading some book on the side, so to speak.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-91264368140776385452010-08-06T15:11:00.003-04:002010-08-06T15:53:53.285-04:00waiting

“Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope”“It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.”EpictetusJust sitting here waiting for a call regarding an echocardiogram I had this week. Of course I don't know at the moment why they have to talk to me so this must be a cosmic test.Beyond that I am feeling

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-53280235919725553792010-08-04T09:48:00.002-04:002010-08-04T09:51:33.424-04:00point of view

I met a girl who said she could interpret dreams.I said okay, this is what I dreamed last night. I was flying in the tail of an XB-35 and I heard the pilot reciting poems by John Keats and Robert Browning but he didn't know the words.She turned and walked away.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-86746272500601705942010-03-17T08:47:00.002-04:002010-03-17T08:59:26.294-04:00imanginary monologue

"I have it right here in my hand, this is it, this explains how the world should work! Why doesn't anyone else have this information?This is so frustrating! What is wrong with these people? I just don't get it! This makes me so mad!C'mon people! Get it together! What is wrong with you? I am so tired of dealing with this."And so it goes. I don't think anyone actually thinks this out in their

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-3736295458587250642010-03-08T08:25:00.002-05:002010-03-08T08:44:11.516-05:00walking on air, stepping in shit

Everyone feels disconnected from everyone else sometimes.An introvert feels this way most of the time, and isn't bothered by it.Nevertheless the message delivered by society is that we all should be connected.So what happens when a person who has built a solid foundation to stand on in life expands the number of people he deals with?Well of course he finds that the world is not as he would hope

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-15676701321712033172010-01-05T07:42:00.002-05:002010-01-05T08:51:45.175-05:00going electric

The children went to their island and delighted in mangling idioms and patting each other on the back. They spoke loudly, cheered at the flat screens, grew roots, rusted and got stuck without knowing it. They were sure of themselves.The days and nights slipped slipped along. No reason was found to interrupt the twenty four seven and challenge reality. All good things would surely pass to them for

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-48926997046095318552009-12-12T08:01:00.002-05:002009-12-12T08:47:58.165-05:00the difference

The differences between being a man and a boy is your ability to face what life hands you.My nephew has a chance at a good paying job but it is 1200 miles from home and it presents other lifestyle changes to him.At the age of 32 he is nervous and excited.I told him he shouldn't be.I explained to him that he has been living his life as a boy and it was time to leave all of that behind.In his life

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-8145020144728518432009-12-01T13:35:00.002-05:002009-12-01T13:44:45.854-05:00karma

A friend was looking forward to attending her class reunion with great anticipation.She even worked it out so that she could bring a sister, who knew everyone there, so that her husband would have someone to talk to while she danced with her old friends. You see, he doesn't dance.Well sister is a little off the wall and, well, she really made an impression on everyone at the party.Said and did

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-79249175572155260952009-11-25T06:32:00.002-05:002009-11-25T06:56:08.057-05:00just a little

Took last week off. Was lazy at first. Then my nephew, Geoff, got the call that the buyers of his house wanted him out a week early. Finished the week in quite a hurry. He did most the work. Now he is living in my house.You can't catch something with a closed fist. You must open your hand. So life throws things at us and most of us have a closed fist. The closed fist is our mind games, our

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-16897373053673225682009-11-12T12:20:00.002-05:002009-11-12T12:33:01.863-05:00identity

For a moment, I identified with my brain tumor.I suppose this has happened before, with other things, but I really don't remember.It was perhaps the realization that technically it is a brain tumor. Technically. I really don't think of it as such since it is below the brain. I feel a little guilty sometimes when I say it. For dramatic effect only it seems.The point is that, for a moment, I had

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-58350367697954599322009-11-11T10:19:00.002-05:002009-11-11T10:53:34.183-05:00tipping points

Tipping points reached and passed.I have reached the point where I no longer have anyone to turn to for I am the one that friends and family turn to.I have a pituitary tumor that has been messing things up for years. It is under control now and vitality is returning.I am through with those who cannot see beyond themselves.I realize that all of us are largely delusional, this enables me to realize

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-18132535670052523292009-11-09T13:30:00.002-05:002009-11-09T14:16:27.987-05:00i give no meaning

Sometimes, people say things, you know, insulting things, stupid things, nonsense.I do not give what other people say any meaning.If it has no meaning then it has no effect.I live in my moment. Not in the moments of others.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-43394329539991715122009-11-09T12:15:00.004-05:002010-01-06T07:38:49.278-05:00snapshots

Bikes: Suzuki GSX1100G, Kawasaki ZX14, Yamaha TDM850Thanks to Killboy.com and US129photos.com for use of the photos.These are pictures from our spring 2009 trip.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-39257366901792584102009-11-07T11:31:00.002-05:002009-11-07T11:37:33.529-05:00listen to music

7,514Number of songs on my portable hard drive.Play them through the PC everyday at work.Random selections.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-22355548018192512172009-11-05T07:33:00.002-05:002009-11-05T08:38:30.165-05:00currents

I find that as I give less meaning to my own thoughts other people give more meaning to them.Thousands and thousands of years ago our ancestors developed a scarcity gene. Food was scarce, shelter was scarce and other people were scarce. Everything was hard to come by so when you found what you needed you latched onto it. This is not true anymore but we are stuck with the predisposition.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-33604113505209802692009-01-01T00:10:00.002-05:002009-01-01T01:16:38.443-05:00what I learned this past year (how trite)

Change.As Ringo would say, it don't come easy.Much has changed and much has not.Once again my personal efforts fell short of noticeable achievement.Nonetheless, change must be an irresistible force because it came anyway.A story line came to and end. The last page of a book was reached. A new narrative was begun.Our mother passed away this past year. Heartbreaking. A voice lost, someone I talked

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-30562225636842230922008-01-27T21:51:00.000-05:002008-01-27T22:00:10.430-05:00laughing

Pain.Humiliation.Motivation.A set that goes together. Reality TV elements or just real life for someone.Something funny about someone else's misfortune. Laughing goes on behind their back. Pointless.Why do so many feel admiration when they learn of people helping others and yet they take joy in the misfortune of others?Move on. Put it behind you.And when you see someone else being laughed at have

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-64173918959925991072008-01-27T21:39:00.000-05:002008-01-27T21:40:39.368-05:00don't lose your way

"As it is better to lie squeezed in a narrow bed and be healthy than to be tossed with disease on a broad couch, so also it is better to contract yourself within a small competence and be happy than to have a great fortune and be miserable." EpictetusWhere is your competence? Although you might be good at many things you can never be in control of things that are beyond you. The best driver in

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-5290652139154219852008-01-26T21:30:00.000-05:002008-01-27T21:42:02.495-05:00stop

More power to the willing.Those of us that are willing to stop are the ones in control of our own lives.You cannot do the things that you want to do if you continue to do things that are no longer important to you."To start anything new, you must stop doing something old. We say that "getting in means getting out." ", Brian TracyThis is crucial.Don't just stop using the things you have,

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-21954169778475519962008-01-25T21:45:00.000-05:002008-01-27T21:45:43.235-05:00simple

"Life is basically pretty simple. You get up in the morning, you do the things you have to do and if you have time you do some things you want to do. You try not to hurt people and you help them if you can. Then you go to bed." Dean Sluyter, the zen commandments.I like this.All laid out for us, crisp clean and lean.Pretty close to what I do.Except it is a little late in the morning when I get up

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-47500096839709688112008-01-24T21:48:00.000-05:002008-01-27T21:49:29.026-05:00conception of something in its absolute perfection

Do you have an ideal? Do you see a vision of yourself as you want to be? Do you have a vision of your life as you would like it to be? Why not?This is the most important step to make for improvements in life.It's not easy. I live right in the middle of America and I am inundated all the time with advertisements designed to convince me that I must buy the product. There will always be new and

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-83691946354685247772007-11-15T04:34:00.001-05:002009-11-11T08:39:58.843-05:00one year

one year ago today my baby Snickers left meI just cannot express how upsetting this event was

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-66546050650173488562007-09-26T20:31:00.000-04:002007-09-26T20:56:30.422-04:00lost: defined

What choice can you make? When you are lost and do not know which direction to choose to find your way. How could you make a choice anyway when your destination is just a hazy dreamy accumulation of images not quite up to being a vision?Mostly we are unaware of being lost. We are living our lives and making the best of it and that is good enough. Lost in thought, not in place. That works for the

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-32838956862795586922007-06-09T23:56:00.000-04:002007-06-10T01:42:35.174-04:00back on the bike part 1

New battery.Fresh gas.Fire it up, short 20 mile ride to Geoff's.Inner thighs about to short circuit. Always happens on the first ride of the year. It passes.Over the next week and then some a days work will get done. Springs front and rear. New horns. New tires.Geoff, call the shop up, see how much it is to change tires.$34Dropped the first one off. Be done in about an hour. We went to a Chinese

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-54643002281312365722007-04-16T19:58:00.000-04:002007-04-16T20:22:10.826-04:00take a good look

"Take a good look!" my mother would tell me as we left someones house after visiting on Christmas day."Take a good look at the gifts you bought those kids because they won't be here next time you visit."Mother was always right.Gifts have no meaning beyond monetary value for some people.Why can't people be a little considerate and tell us, "Please don't get me a gift. I am much happier with money.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-23778705660314383862007-03-11T00:39:00.000-05:002007-03-11T01:02:36.960-05:00the secret

WOW!Just published on November 28, 2006 and number one on Amazon with millions in print. I am of course talking about "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. I was unaware of this new best seller until this weekend but such success cannot remain hidden for long and the media has jumped all over the story. In their time tested formula of presenting opposing views the media are trotting out 'experts' on both

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-24799035394095599782007-03-04T21:05:00.000-05:002007-03-04T21:21:43.733-05:00failure to see

AMERICA GOES BLIND!Since I have lifted my personal ban on politics on this blog I started to do a little online research on our politics.I thought I would start with that most basic of information, the values of the liberals and of the conservatives.Unfortunately I was not able to nail these down because all I found were rants from one side against the other.In the few places where I found

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-10275969937004713042007-02-28T11:05:00.000-05:002007-02-28T11:21:25.218-05:00an even more inconvenient truth

Today in the news Al Gore is catching some heat about the amount of electricity his house uses.It's being pointed out that he is using far more energy than the average person.It also points out that he can afford an increase in utility bills that would be the result of actions taken to stall global warming.All of this exposes the even more inconvenient truth of all alternate energy ideas.Everyone

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-79823995518219131582007-02-23T22:31:00.000-05:002007-02-23T22:59:50.750-05:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Well my mother celerbrated her 82nd birthday yesterday.I did 2 things for her that my 3 siblings didn't.1. I didn't complain.2. I bought her a present.Mom told me that my sister had sat down with her and complained for over 2 hours.My older brother called and complained about his daughters troubles with her daughter. He said it was his ex-wifes fault that the girls were so messed up.Mom set him

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-35938213882154840792007-02-22T21:22:00.000-05:002007-02-22T21:35:13.462-05:00back again

Well I was rolling along right as rain just a month ago, thinking I would keep up with my writing ambitions when I caught a virus that brought everything to a halt.It was just a common gastroenteritis but it sure knocked me out for almost a week.Time has always passed with little notice from me so here we are all these weeks later with another big gulf in my writing.But I have been thinking about

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-9138766399331137062007-02-21T21:38:00.000-05:002007-02-22T21:57:50.238-05:00view camera

Well this ugly little thing is a view camera I just bought.Found it for sale on a view camera forum and the price was better than what I found on eBay.Really, just what I was looking for. I already have lenses because I have a roll film field camera. I also already have film holders and tripod and a way to develop the sheet film so the last hurdle is getting everything in order and just doing

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-54504752516872890552007-02-20T21:58:00.001-05:002009-11-12T12:44:05.305-05:00i like mashed potatos

Well I am throwing out one of my rules with this one and crossing a boundary that I really didn't want to cross.But what the hell? These people don't read anything here anyway.I took my sister to the grocery. I had to take her because of the weeks of bad weather we've had and she won't go out in it on her own.She might be of a different mind about that if it was the first of the month.Anyway she

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-7605605002095240692007-02-19T22:19:00.000-05:002007-02-22T22:30:24.847-05:00fundamental #1

Well the anoying galoot who works next to me asked one day which way I voted on a recent referendum.My answer was that I don't care what the question is on a referendum I vote against it.You see I don't believe in referendums.We live in a representative democracy. We elect people to represent us in the legislature. Referendums are an indication that these people are not doing their

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-27699540151570161312007-01-18T20:34:00.000-05:002007-01-18T20:41:35.157-05:00spanish flu

In the news today there are reports that the scientists have resurrected the Spanish Flu. They have done this to study how it worked because it is closely related to bird flu.Good and bad.Good to know that there are people working on the possibility of bird flu infecting humans. After all it has killed over 60% of people who have caught it.Bad to know that the Spanish Flu is on the planet again.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-25353736202121913212007-01-16T22:31:00.000-05:002007-01-16T22:33:34.479-05:00deja vu

I had a number of things I wanted to write about tonight but I spent my time pouring over some maps and the hours flew away!It was just like being a kid again!

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-59611147789795272332007-01-14T19:13:00.000-05:002007-01-15T00:11:31.954-05:00photo of the week

These little kids are all grown up now and have FIVE kids of their own!Click on the photo for a full size view.There is anothe jump photo posted below.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-5327796132352250412007-01-13T19:50:00.000-05:002007-01-14T20:18:19.571-05:00puzzled

A good soaking rain.A dreary day.Something for me to look forward too!Days like this pay off richly if you are interested in the river system like I am.I drove from work to a little village by the name of Jersey in Licking county. They have a small stream that you drive over before entering the village. The stream was full and flowing fast. What I found most interesting was how twisty the little

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-37026012092340273452007-01-08T19:04:00.000-05:002007-01-14T19:07:42.321-05:00photo of the week

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-57275239777295952152007-01-07T21:31:00.000-05:002007-01-07T22:07:54.021-05:00gadgets

Shocking!I have one electrical outlet behind my desk and I am forced to run twelve lines to it.Such is the nature of gadgets that I am forced into such a dangerous situation.Well, it really isn't all that dangerous. I have two rack mount power strips that I use for everything. Unlike the power strips that most people end up with for their computer gear these have on\off switches. So everything is

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-80601648015876356572007-01-06T20:39:00.000-05:002007-01-06T21:03:15.468-05:00lost

Right in the middle of the Zeitgeist. At some point in life you find yourself right in the middle of everything that is going on. But the Z waits for no one and is always on the move. For most of us it eventually becomes uninteresting, even silly and stupid. Some try to keep up with it, they end up looking a bit silly.Some try to maintain the characteristics of the Zeitgeist of their youth, they

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-64827854434387495972007-01-05T21:03:00.000-05:002007-01-06T22:58:15.506-05:00sitting on a story

The media get things wrong, we all know that. Regretfully this idea may be correct. Where I live, there is a recurring story.There is a river nearby that floods every once in a while. The media springs into action when this happens. They jump into their vans and sprint out here from the city, often they end up right at my house, sometimes all at once. Why my house?Because I have a part of

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-80435249594979290802007-01-04T19:22:00.000-05:002007-01-15T00:13:58.293-05:00photo of the week

These grainy jump photos were shot with a Minolta 110 SLR.The camera was stolen Thanksgiving weekend 1987 in a break in while we were away.The little boy in the middle is the singer in the picture of the band below.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-15449572612741219332007-01-03T04:50:00.000-05:002007-01-15T04:53:40.529-05:00q

In the mountains of truth you never climb in vain.Friedrich Nietzsche: Thus Spake Zarathustra

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-48469512557566886472007-01-02T22:18:00.000-05:002007-01-07T22:38:31.976-05:00fundamentalist politics

Living in Ohio I have met my share of fundamentalists. Even have some in the family.However this is not an entry about the effect of fundamentalists on American politics.In the U.S. when we say the word fundamentalist we are most likely talking about Christians.I am not.I am talking about living your life according to fundamental ideas that you believe in versus living your life in turmoil

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-896323845540527542007-01-01T21:05:00.000-05:002007-01-07T21:31:12.852-05:00promise much, deliver little

A blog entry starts with as little as a phrase.A phrase leads to an idea and the idea develops at the tips of your fingers as you tap away on the keyboard. You may not even be aware of where it is going.Some people drive cars like this and some don't. This driver must always go the same way while the next one will turn down any road just to see what is there.The start of a new year brings us the

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-88628937856345286812006-12-28T22:19:00.000-05:002006-12-28T22:42:07.916-05:00the danger of change

Woodrow WilsonIt's his birthday, born 150 years ago today, so I will quote him."If you want to make enemies, try to change something."I see it all the time. People upset by change.It's been upsetting to me sometimes too. Once, after working on a project for years, it was taken away from me. (Somewhat underhandedly I might add.) Very upsetting.I more or less got over this change. It, the project,

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-89523331631712860912006-12-24T00:18:00.000-05:002006-12-24T00:46:55.612-05:00accidental photographer

My brother shoots pictures too.He use to fire away with film cameras and then store the exposed film in the fridge until he could afford to process.Now he is digital.And I think he is better for it.Sure, I am a member of the school of thought that says a photographer should understand exposure and all new cameras let people off this hook. But that is a platform that a lot of people can't stand

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1165895219146514152006-12-11T22:33:00.000-05:002006-12-11T22:46:59.233-05:00living in the past

I let NPR play on the car radio all of the time.While out tonight I was listening to a show that I don't often get to hear.I don't make any effort to listen to this show and the reason for that indifference soon popped up.The show is supposed to be an outlet for people who do not feel that they can hear their side of the story in most other newscasts.In short order they were talking about the

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1165893981612904102006-12-11T22:12:00.000-05:002006-12-11T22:26:21.776-05:00snapshots

Developed a couple of rolls of film this past week. Part of my collection of unprocessed rolls sitting around the house.Snapshots.A bunch of pictures mostly unworthy of further consideration.The eye is dormant.I have more to process and expect much the same. More snapshots.Oh there were some that will be pleasing to someone in that first batch. About twenty portraits of a niece. Not too bad, just

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1164422231139604302006-11-24T21:06:00.000-05:002006-11-24T21:37:11.216-05:00the rational collector

Some people collect cookie jars. Some collect beanie babies. That's all well and good but I am a more rational collector. I collect things that I can use. Among these collections of mine you will find a small one of cameras. I have returned recently to this collection after laying off it for a number of years. I've been placing bids on eBay on some expensive ones and some not so expensive

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1163914400219726892006-11-18T23:55:00.000-05:002006-11-19T01:10:32.236-05:00sorry

Time to quit the bullshit and get back to work.This blog was never about some foolish person who thought he had his life together.It has always been about a foolish person who knew he didn't have his life together but at least was taking a shot, sort of, at getting it together. The door has always been open for readers to join in and help themselves.Of course I've wasted a lot of time for the

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1159754536381248932006-10-01T21:44:00.000-04:002006-10-01T22:02:48.396-04:00what I would do if I had money

It's a recurrring line of thought that most of us have.It came to me today (or was it yesterday?) on my way to the races. I saw a sports car I would like to have and I thought "What I could do if I had money."Of course I am talking about lots of money. Big lottery jackpot kinds of money. Millions and millions of money.See if you can recognize the funny part.After I set up my new residence I will

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1159321134863221552006-09-26T21:17:00.000-04:002006-09-26T21:38:54.936-04:00race on sunday, grade school on monday

" The 72 Metrakit race turned out to be one of the best races of the day. 14-year-old Tommy Aquino (24) battled side by side with 11-year-old Cassidy Heiser (67) in every corner in every lap. Aquino eventually won."From the 2006 Road Racing Grand Championships article on the AMA site here.How does an 11 year old do this on Sunday and report back to grade school on Monday?

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1159268697883483682006-09-26T06:53:00.000-04:002006-09-26T07:04:58.070-04:00without comment

It's quite normal, letting life go by without comment. Some people can talk endlessly about the events in their lives without ever really saying anything. They are looking for validation. Some people can go through every single day without the need to talk about themselves at all. They are not looking for validation. Normal events pass with normal meanings, or do they? I look out my window at

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1156392676494884832006-08-23T23:58:00.000-04:002006-08-24T00:11:16.510-04:00allies

Last year I worked a job that did not require too much of me mentally.That job was my ally.No demands allowed creativity to flow.Perhaps I am returning to that place as I gain experience with my new tasks.Can you return to such a place?After all Lennon and McCartney never reunited. Miller and Kazan never found the magic again. Simon still doesn't need Garfunkle.It will not be the same.Freedom

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1149654660926106642006-06-06T23:59:00.000-04:002006-06-07T00:32:37.713-04:00the very day

The very day after I write about lagging brain development in young people my nephew gives me an example.We talked about a motorcycle trip together for a week and did so again this past Sunday. Come Monday he wants to know again when the trip is because his children are coming to stay with him for the summer."Oh, you forgot to mention that. Since they get here the week before we plan to leave and

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1149564816999501142006-06-05T23:24:00.000-04:002006-06-05T23:33:37.016-04:00uncle chris' little joke

While with nephew or neice whenever the chance arises to question the judgement of a young person I always explain to them that the juvenile mind is not developed."Young peoples's brains don't work right. Give them time and they will develop.""How long will that take?""I think the brain will be fully developed by (the listeners age plus two.)"Gets them everytime.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1149475009458228062006-06-04T21:45:00.000-04:002006-06-04T22:36:49.496-04:00preparedness vs readyness

I've been doing some small jobs on a motorcycle of mine.Everything could have been done in an afternoon.That is, if I had been prepared for the work.Days have stretched into weeks and before too long weeks will stretch into months.Now then, I was ready for the work but readyness is different from preparedness. Being ready is a matter of confidence. There was nothing about this work that I had not

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1149391345993684692006-06-03T23:04:00.000-04:002006-06-03T23:22:26.013-04:00planning a trip

A bike trip.With my nephew who just got out of the army.A snippet of the route here, a snippet of the route there.There is a destination but it's secondary.More or less, write down the segments to ride and string them altogether.Goals are fine but sometimes it's not about the destination.Sometimes it's about the journey. Vistas need to be seen, hollers explored. Small restaurants need to be

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1148737859392704932006-05-27T09:40:00.000-04:002006-05-27T09:50:59.426-04:00we get what we deserve

I rewrote a letter for a friend yesterday. Sort of a business letter. Less than 400 words.She wrote the letter out in hand to begin with and I was to copy it on the PC so it could be printed. I was also supposed to clean it up a little bit but not get too fancy.I didn't change anything at all in the first couple of sentences and thought I might get through the whole thing like that but my

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1147408310473328382006-05-11T23:59:00.000-04:002006-05-12T00:31:50.513-04:00just writing

I have some assignments and I have to get cracking on them so here goes.Was a time in the life of everything when it was at its peak. Pick a subject and write about it. Do we do our part to maintain that peak time? To diminish that peak time? To transform that peak time?Use to meet on a cement island with some buddies. We would don our hats and saddle up and cruise south down a winding river road

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1145844966402724872006-04-23T21:56:00.001-04:002006-04-23T22:16:06.403-04:00rut

Having something to do may be the greatest motivator.It is very easy today to work for a living while not really having anything else to do. Too easy.Once you get settled in and everything is running right you can kick back a little and enjoy.Too often the kick back becomes a habit.Science should develop a term for this. This condition, this disease should be identified.No doubt about it, I am

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1142949171919727692006-03-21T08:30:00.000-05:002006-03-21T08:52:51.950-05:00of old gas stations and all of us

I have few obsessions.One I do have is a recurring thought process that races through my mind whenever I pass an old closed gas station. Actually this pattern of thought occurs whenever I pass any old commercial building but gas stations make the best example.Whenever you see a closed gas station stop a minute and think about what it might have looked like in its hey day. Stop and imagine what it

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1141886369826117922006-03-09T00:07:00.000-05:002006-03-09T01:39:29.870-05:00reality

I watched Black.White. on Fx tonight and one thing was clear.I heard about Barry Bonds and steroids this week and one thing was clear.Your reality is your first value.In self improvement living your values is just about at the top of the list. When we try to put a finger on our own personal values, the character traits that mean the most to us, we naturally start looking at a list of

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1141626994779012172006-03-05T23:39:00.000-05:002006-03-06T01:36:34.816-05:00bass lines

Some people can't work without music. Some people can't drive a car without music. Some people can't do anything without music.Most of them aren't very interested in music. They can't tell you how many notes there are much less name them. They can't tell you anything about tempo beyond 'fast' or 'slow.' Music is a mystery to them, it might as well be something magical, like electricity!So why do

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1141537558287009602006-03-04T23:31:00.000-05:002006-03-06T01:37:19.020-05:00send off

A couple of beers with a couple of the guys. Not much to it.It is sad how little independence people have today. Half couldn't come at all, half who did couldn't stay.Everyone can tell you what freedom is but few can demonstrate it.To be free, freedom must be an overriding value. It doesn't have to be first 100% of the time, just available.I can tell you that I'm not free and I don't know anyone

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1141374028960486782006-03-03T03:11:00.000-05:002006-03-03T03:20:28.980-05:00time for a change

Change does not come easy. Sometimes you must change a lot to change a little. That is the stream that my little boat is in right now.One more night at work, out for a few beers with the crew and then I'm on vacation.I have 32 things to do on my to-do list. It would be really something to get them all done.When the vacation is over I go back to work on day shift.Different time, different work,

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1138593802169402002006-01-29T22:31:00.000-05:002006-01-29T23:03:22.210-05:00sold off in three rings

On Saturday I went to the home of a man who thought he might live forever. I was there because he was wrong. I didn't know him, nor anyone in his family, nor did I talk to anyone who knew him but I could tell that he thought he would never die. How? By the amount of stuff he had piled into his shabby brick two-story. There is no other explanation. All the wood parts on the house were years

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1138148495523107592006-01-24T19:10:00.000-05:002006-01-24T19:22:20.936-05:00oops!

Oops!Nothing in a month!Shocking!I am still here. Snickers is okay so life is good. I've been working in my house so I'm getting something done.Getting organized. What a chore!Shelfs are being weighed down with things that must go. No getting around it, you can't keep all of your interests forever. I've been the ideal consumer over the years and it is time to start unloading things, mostly at a

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1135487709318815402005-12-24T23:51:00.000-05:002005-12-25T00:15:09.336-05:00accounting

It helps to look at things differently.I tend to like organizing and planning things but I am not obsessive about it. I guess that is why the old Franklin Organizer didn't last very long with me. Of course Franklins didn't last very long with most people. A wave of popularity and then into the bottom drawer of the desk.Now I am taking up accounting.I have some columnar pads and I am going to use

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1134197078535825472005-12-10T01:33:00.000-05:002005-12-10T01:44:38.556-05:00too busy

From Wednesday to Thursday at least three good ideas for posts came to me.I stopped for a moment Thursday afternoon and thought about this, and then went about my duties at work. Consequently those three thoughts never returned.Busy.Being busy may be bad for my writing but it is something in and of itself. I think a lot of people would be happier if they just stayed busy. The most miserable

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1133220822536803442005-11-28T18:28:00.000-05:002005-11-28T18:33:42.570-05:00the secret

I just wrote about this on 1,151! and it belongs here too.When I was writing everyday for Ordeal I was doing something that I am not doing now.I was always thinking of something to write. In everything I read, every conversation I had, every thing I saw on TV or heard on the radio I was snatching ideas that I developed into articles.I haven't been doing that of late.It is time to carry a notebook

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1133191370629456902005-11-28T09:58:00.000-05:002005-11-28T10:22:50.716-05:00stop

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1133159104003877352005-11-28T01:10:00.000-05:002005-11-28T01:25:04.026-05:00order

I've spent the Thanksgiving weekend bringing a little bit of order to my house. I'm one of those semi-mad scientist types with rooms right out of a scene in a movie. You know, books and magazines piled high, black electronic things strewn about, a row of computers, tools and cameras and guitars everywhere and a little Dachshund scampering about.Well now that I'm almost done it all looks a lot

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1132373812898197372005-11-18T23:14:00.000-05:002005-11-18T23:16:52.923-05:00phish

Some of these still get through and I have to admit I find the twisted English to be pretty funny. Here is one for your enjoyment. Link deleted. Sir/Madam, Your specific position has been reviewed to the crucial commissions, and upon painstaking forethought, we are able to propose to you the subsequent opening offer. Based upon painstaking forethought you make the grade to obtain a sizable

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1132297624313112142005-11-18T02:01:00.000-05:002005-11-18T02:07:04.346-05:00excerpts from a letter

In closing a letter to a friend who doesn't much care for computers I wrote, "Now keep plugging away at the PC it's good for you." He responded, "Good for me!!??? In what way??"I replied, "It's neuroscience man! It's all about the synapses! It is good for all of us to spend time learning new things, forms new synapses in our heads, makes our brains better. Buy some old math books at

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1131677790717097142005-11-10T21:41:00.000-05:002005-11-10T21:56:30.736-05:00glaze

The 'Beav' came into the shop early. He was grinding away at something when we came back from lunch so we went over to have a look. There he was, disc grinding a lawn mower blade. The other fellow said, "Be careful, you'll take the temper out of it." Beav nodded in agreement and said he knew what he was doing. The advice continued, "You know the best tool for that job is a file." (It is.)

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1131594123712314502005-11-09T22:31:00.000-05:002005-11-09T22:42:03.733-05:00fall

It's fall.Fleas get on the dog and then mice come in the house.I didn't have any trouble killing the little bloodsuckers that were biting my Snickers but the mice have given me pause.The first one I trapped got caught by a hind leg and screamed its head off. He scurried under the piano when I reached for him; he crossed from there to my bedroom and came to a stop.I picked up the trap and carried

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1131006974193707532005-11-03T03:14:00.000-05:002005-11-03T03:36:14.216-05:00take three

I'm writing this same story, more or less, for all three blogs.I went to see this car, I was interested in buying it. I had talked myself into thinking that it was a good idea.When I looked it over, I found out it wasn't for me.I left, with issues.What happened was that the owner, David, kept the car somewhere else and brought it down to his house at my request so I could have a look at it.It's

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1130745475256236282005-10-31T02:43:00.000-05:002005-10-31T21:50:06.116-05:00don't lose your way

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1130207437025333782005-10-24T22:12:00.000-04:002005-10-24T22:30:37.046-04:0015 minutes to spare

That's the time I have right now to write something. Any time spent on writing is time well spent in my book. I've been daydreaming a lot lately about buying another car, you know, something I don't need. I have no particular car in mind just an idea about driving a gas saver about half the time. It will pay for itself, provided it only costs about two thousand dollars, gets at least thirty

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1129854874636475682005-10-20T20:29:00.000-04:002005-10-20T20:34:34.646-04:00flu

I've been telling people about the flu. I've painted a dark future in my rants. I add that the worse may not happen at all, but... Since I wrote about it here a few postings ago I won't say anything more about it. The bad possibilities are endless though and you should look into it. It hasn't crossed over to us yet so you have time to prepare. Prepare you must because if the worse happens

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1129164071305552602005-10-12T20:15:00.000-04:002005-10-12T20:41:11.320-04:00almost

Last time I went to the grocer I almost got mad and walked out. Almost. I went through the self-serve checkout and for a moment I felt my blood boiling. Just for a moment. You see I scanned my card and then I spun the carousel around and fluffed open a couple of bags. That caused a sensor to trip so I turned and looked at the attendant, took a minute, then he came over. He said, "You

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1129095810345312542005-10-12T00:01:00.000-04:002005-10-12T09:41:35.833-04:00acceptance

"If there is a key to my progression, I think it is in the fact that I never accepted any sort of constraint but immediately moved out beyond it. For me 'can't' simply isn't acceptable, and I urge my students to get it out of their vocabulary. I want them to kick against any boundaries that are set up and to figure out how they can shift resources to move beyond them. It takes imagination and

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1129017227024592522005-10-11T03:37:00.000-04:002005-10-13T02:43:12.800-04:00simple

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1128581676955383992005-10-06T02:35:00.000-04:002005-10-06T02:54:36.973-04:00back in the news

It's flu season! Concern over the spreading bird flu in Asia is on the rise. "Raising fears of a deadly flu pandemic, President Bush said Tuesday that he is considering the use of troops to impose a quarantine in the event of an outbreak." Ron Hutcheson, Knight RidderThe President has recently read about the Spanish Flu and it scares him. If you read about it you might find reason to worry

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1128495750796286502005-10-05T02:15:00.001-04:002005-10-05T03:02:30.796-04:00blog spam

Rex and I have noticed with complete disdain worthless comments made immediately after a posting on our blogs. These comments all follow a pattern, "I like your blog!" "I've bookmarked it." "Please visit mine." "Here is where you can find it." I call it blog spam. They never say anything about the posting. I don't think they even read the posting. This is just another form of spam.Too bad.There

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1127963632003478622005-09-28T22:58:00.000-04:002005-09-28T23:13:52.056-04:00does matter

I was listening to a radio talk show on the way home last night. Which one? Doesn't matter. Of course the host is on one particular side of the fence. Which side? Doesn't matter. (Why can't the media find people who are reasonable and not automatically on one side or the other?) For the second night in a row this fellow was talking about a current hot topic. Which topic? Doesn't matter. I

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1127280900930323322005-09-21T01:25:00.000-04:002005-10-01T14:59:20.896-04:00this and that

I'm going to the races for the rest of the week so there won't be anything new here until Monday or there abouts.I am taking along a notebook and some books so I hope to scribble something down before I get back.I had my car serviced today and asked the mechanic who he recommended for an alignment. Of the two most likely candidates he pointed out that one always seemed to be upset and cranky,

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1127108118563521852005-09-19T01:24:00.000-04:002005-09-19T01:53:01.080-04:00porkbusters

I think I can safely link to this without breaking my rule regarding politics. In light of money not spent on infrastructure in New Orleans that might have prevented the hurricane Katrina catastrophe the blogosphere has taken up the challenge of identifying pork barrel spending on a state by state basis. This should be more reasonable than the so called watch dog group that does this now.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1126301004382697232005-09-09T17:02:00.000-04:002005-09-09T17:23:54.400-04:00a gathering of humans

I went to a meeting. A large space, four or five hundred chairs, two or three hundred in attendance. They all sat as far away as possible from the speaker. Genetic predisposition? It wasn't a seminar. You invest something when you go to a seminar. You sit as close as you can at a seminar. You're paying for whatever the speaker has to say at a seminar. It was a meeting for work.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1126066671132458952005-09-06T23:51:00.000-04:002005-09-07T03:58:25.606-04:00cogito, ergo sum

Descates reached what he felt was the ultimate level of doubt. Everything he had been taught, everything he believed, he now questioned. He found one thing he could not question, his belief in his own existence. It is impossible to doubt that one exists.Today, too many people have no doubt about what they believe. They have been taught and they do not question what they have been taught. They

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1125985499081720942005-09-06T01:04:00.000-04:002005-09-06T01:44:59.090-04:00your choice

"what can happen to somebody can happen to anybody." Publilius"If a man locks this saying into his very marrow and remembers, when he looks at other people's troubles, of which there is a bountiful supply daily, that they have an open road to him also, he will equip himself long before he is attacked.It is too late to outfit a man for confronting danger after the danger has arrived."I never

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1125854162775775062005-09-04T12:26:00.000-04:002005-09-04T13:16:02.783-04:00sybaris

Understand risk. If you lack education or people skills you risk being left behind. If you allow yourself to become unhealthy you risk being overpowered. If you vow to improve and then don't you risk everything. Insurance is a hedge against the risk in our lives. It comes in a number of forms, you can buy it or you can create it for yourself. I expect you are already aware of the kind

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1125539106665038032005-08-31T21:27:00.000-04:002005-08-31T21:45:06.673-04:00prepared for what?

No one wants to struggle, it is just part of life and struggle we must, sooner or later. It is too easy here to let ourselves go, we do not need the physical assets of our youth and we can do without the mental assets of someone with vast experience. We can fantasize about everything by watching TV, we can pretend that we are in the game by watching someone else play, we can tell ourselves

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1125539654908630322005-08-31T20:47:00.000-04:002005-08-31T21:54:14.910-04:00inkblotter

Be sure to look in on inkblotter from time to time. You can find a link in my 'blogs worth a look' list. The young lady lives in Jackson, Miss. She has family in New Orleans.

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1125498772638913022005-08-31T10:23:00.000-04:002005-08-31T10:32:52.650-04:00testing

Millions of people are being tested by fate as I write.The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the south is awe inspiring. If I was in New Orleans or Biloxi or one of those rural areas that we haven't even heard about yet, I would be ill prepared for this test. Would you be prepared? I don't mean things like having supplies set aside, I am talking about being ready physically and

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9897176.post-1125473809605466232005-08-31T02:55:00.000-04:002005-08-31T03:36:49.626-04:00test

I once read that Walt Bellamy would play poorly against lesser opponents and rise to the occasion when he played against Wilt Chamberlin or Bill Russell. Perhaps when he played against the stars he knew it was a test and he met the challenge.We do not know what we can be if we don't test ourselves.Ultimate Fighter 2 started last week on the cable network Spike TV. In every episode you see the

Chris Schaferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409676907199130770noreply@blogger.com0