THE IDES OF AUGUST HODGEPODGE!

1. The best part of waking up is____________________________________.

     Folgers in your cup! All kidding aside the best part of waking up is that you get another clean sheet of paper to fill in and add to the book that is your life.

2.  Given a choice, which animal interaction would you most like to experience (or for those non-adventurers...which would you dislike the least?)- Swim with the dolphins at one of several locations in the Florida Keys, a lion encounter ten minutes from Victoria Falls (Africa), or a day at a remote base camp high in the Big Sur wilderness via the Ventana Wildlife Society helping track California condors?

     I am going with swimming with the Dolphins. 

3. What is something you fear about 'old age'? What is something you look forward to?

    I fear not being clear of mind and/or vision. I look to growing old gracefully with my beloved SWMBO and enjoying our grandchildren.
   
4. Hot sauce...are you a fan? If you answered yes, what's something you make/eat that must have hot sauce? On a scale of 1-10 how hot is too hot?

     I am not a fan of hot sauce per se. I do like some hot dishes such as chili and some salsas.
Anything hotter than six or seven is too hot.
  

5. It's been said that children learn what they live. What do you think children learn at your house?

     I think they learned the importance of loving and obeying God every day. I think they learned to treat people with respect and kindness. I think they learned that marriage is a tremendous blessing. I also taught them the importance of laughing every day.

6. What's your favorite movie with a number in it's title?

     I have several - Thirteen Days in October (Cuban Missile Crisis); Zero Dark Thirty; Stalag 17; The Dirty Dozen; Gone in Sixty Seconds, to name a few.

7. Saturday (August 16th) is National Tell a Joke Day...share one here.

     What do you do with an elephant with three balls? 
      Answer - Walk him and pitch to the rhinoceros.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     We learned on Monday that Robin Williams succumbed to depression and took his own life. Robin Williams was an immensely talented comedian and dramatic actor. By all accounts by those who either knew him or encountered him, Robin was a decent, generous, unpretentious man. He treated all with respect and went out of his way to encourage others. He was a fervent supporter of our troops and often went overseas to entertain them.
      Depression is such a horrible and insidious disease. It's kind of like a cancer of the soul. I wished that Robin had reached out to someone and let them know how much he was hurting. If you, like Robin, are hurting please reach out to someone, anyone! Suicide has been described as a long term solution to a short term problem. IT IS NOT THE ANSWER!
     May Robin rest in peace!