Ray's Daily

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.

James Oppenheim

 

 

I have been reading a lot lately about how rapidly people are reacting to the current energy costs, the rapid increase in food costs, the implications of a devalued dollar, foreclosures and even job losses. It is being reported in survey after survey that people are starting to eat out less, vacationing closer to home, buying more fuel efficient cars instead of the gas guzzlers and purchasing more economical but still functional appliances.

We are quickly learning that it is highly probable that we will never have it all and for many of us a more modest life style in store for the years ahead. For many this will be a difficult pill to swallow, but should it be? The reason I ask is I had lunch with a world traveler friend who is both wise and practical. As we talked we discussed not only what we see happening around us but also how life was like when no one had as much as we do now. As we thought about it many of the things we did and had in the past really were special. As my friend talked he shared with me that he and his children have seen the mountains in Europe, the Glaciers in Alaska and the islands of the Caribbean but had not yet seen some of the special places we have right here in Indiana. I know that when I stop to think about it I realize I am fortunate enough to live in a city that provides hundreds of things I could do and see everyday of the year, yet in my more than 30 years in Indianapolis I doubt that I have seen or participated in even half. I am sure it is true where you live as well.

For me a play in a community theatre often entertains me as much, if not more than some of the things I have seen in New York and elsewhere. It is great when we again learn just how good the food tastes in a back yard cook out with neighbors. In fact just writing about food to you reminds me that I have a stack of recipes that I have yet to try and now is probably time to do so.

You know what I am trying to say. We don’t have to look at the future saddened with the feeling we will be doing less and that our lives are going to be joyless. Rather we can savor what we do have and learn to add zest to our futures as we explore new ground, build better bridges between each other and who knows we may even return to the days when just sitting talking with friends was the highlight of our day.

It is up to us, the future is not going to be good or bad just because of energy costs and the like it will mainly be satisfying or depressing depending on how we decide to live.

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As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.

Henry David Thoreau

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"Houston"

1. You must learn to pronounce the city’s name. It is Hugh-stun, not Howstun.

2. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Houston has its own version of traffic rules: Hold on and pray. There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Houston. They all drive like that.

3. All directions start with, "Go down to Loop 610"…. that has no beginning and no end.

4. The Chamber of Commerce calls getting through traffic a "Scenic Drive."

5. The morning rush hour is from 6:00 to 10:00. The evening rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:00. Friday’s rush hour starts Thursday morning.

6. If you actually stop on a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot.

7. When you are the first one off the starting line, count to five when the light turns green before going to avoid getting into any cross-traffic’ s way. Of course, you will be honked at frequently.

8. Kuykendahl Road can ONLY be pronounced by a native.

9. Construction on I-10, I-45, US 59 and Loop 610 is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment.

10. All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we must be in Pasadena!"

11. If someone actually has his turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect.

12. All old ladies with blue hair in pink Cadillacs have total right-of-way.

13. The minimum acceptable speed on Loop 610 is 85. Anything less is considered downright sissy.

14. The wrought iron on windows in east Houston is NOT ornamental.

15. Never honk at the driver of the car with the bumper sticker that says, "Keep honking. I’m reloading." In fact, don’t honk at anyone.

16. If you are in the left lane, and going only 70 in a 60-mph zone, that’s not a finger waving "Hello" to you as people pass.

17. The Sam Houston Toll road is our daily version of NASCAR.

18. If it’s only 100 degrees, Thanksgiving must be next weekend.

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It is better to be approximately right than precisely wrong.

Warren Buffett

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The reason 30+ year old women get carded is because the cashiers and bag-boys make bets on how OLD you really are and someone has to find out. They know you would lie if they asked you.

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Today is a day for making firm decisions!!!!! Or is it?

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A man goes to a fortune teller to seek his fortune. The fortune teller says, "You are the Father of two children."

The Father laughed and said, "That’s what you think, I’m the Father of three."

The fortune teller laughed and said, "Nope.  That’s what you think."

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The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.

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Andy Rooney on Women over 40 – from 60 Minutes

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will not lie next to you in bed and ask, What are you thinking? She doesn’t care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And it’s usually something more interesting.

A woman over 40 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, and what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 40 give a damn what you might think about her or what she’s doing.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. They always know.

A woman over 40 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women or drag queens. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to worry where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 40+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free. Here’s an update for you: Now days, 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage.

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You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.

Vernon Howard

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Stay well, do good work, and have fun.

 Ray Mitchell

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies.

The editor is somewhat senile.