USERS AND ABUSERS

I got one of those post cards today...from one of those companies that take advantage of people. They try to use scare tactics to get someone to buy a warranty for something...that the person doesn't really need...but these crooked companies try to convince you otherwise.

I envision some elderly persons...and those who are financially strapped...fall for the gimic...and waste their money on these type warranties. Then...when they need the benefit of what the warranty should provide them...the company will find some 'small print' in the contract so they don't have to provide the service they should.

Google the name...Century Automotive Service Corporation...and see what you find. I think it will say...what I am saying.

Shame on them.


Dan

SISTERS

Today is my sister's birthday...and I feel like such a jerk. It wasn't until this morning that I thought it would have been nice to send her some flowers...or drop her a card. Instead...I planned to call her...which I know she'll appreciate...but still...I shoulda done more.

I've been fortunate enough to have 2...great...sisters. A guy is a lucky guy...I think...to have a sister.  Maybe not every guy out there feels this way...but I bet most of them do.

It can be lots of fun to have brothers...because you get to do what boys do...heck...I've got brothers too. But for me...there's just something special about having a sister. There's a different kind of love...between a brother...and his sister.

I'm blessed to have that kind of love with 'my' sister. She's a great sister...always has been.

And today...I wish her a very special...HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Love you Jean.


Dan

SHOES

I read the headline about the anchors of NBC's Today Show..."How many shoes do you own, the anchors count 'em up." Al the weather man says he probably owns 15 pair...Matt 30-35...the ladies 50-80 pair!

Of course...my wife Cindy comes to mind.

Cindy tortures me with her shoes. Not literally...but with the 'number' of shoes she owns. And the number, and type, she owns...is NEVER enough. She is always...always...looking at shoes whereever we go. I am convinced...there are shoes in her closet that she has worn only once...that's it. There may even be some in there that she's never worn...except while trying them on at the store she bought them. Cindy loves shoes...and purses...but we'll just talk about shoes for now.

For me...as a kid...I can remember having 1...one...pair of shoes. Whether dressing up or playing outside...those were the shoes I wore. I remember at the start of 2nd grade...dad bought me 2 pair of tennis shoes...one to wear in gym class...and one to wear all the other time (so I didn't mess up my Sunday-go-to-church-shoes). Three pair of shoes...OMG!

Today...I wear tennis shoes to work...for those hard floors and doing lots of walking every day. I usually buy a new pair of tennis shoes every 4-6 months. When I do buy a new pair...there is a rotation that occurs with my other tennis shoes. The previous pair that I wore everyday...stays nearby so that if the new ones hurt my feet...I can switch back to my old comfortable ones. The pair that had been my backup shoes...go to the garage to become my 'new' mowing shoes. My old mowing shoes...go in the trash can.

Add to those...I have a pair of messin' around tennis shoes to wear during the summer. I also have a pair of sandals...expensive ones...eccos...that Cindy made me buy last summer when we took the kids and grandkids to Disney World. I will likely have those shoes until I die...just so I feel I got my money's worth out of them. I have 1 pair of dress shoes that I keep under the bed to trap all the dust bunnies that hide there. Lastly, I have a not-so-dressy-non-tennis shoes that I wear in the winter.

That's it...what is that...6 pair? I would guess that Cindy is probably closer to 30...but I don't want to get in the closet to count them to know for sure...because it'd probably make my stomach hurt.

As I said...Cindy tortures me when we go out and she sees shoes to look at. With a wry smile...and a gleam in her eye...she looks over at me...knowing...KNOWING...that she's driving me crazy. So in response...I roll my eyes at her...and whisper to her..."you're killin' me Cindy...you're just killin' me!"

I love my wife...and her 30 pair of shoes. I just don't understand...that's all.


Dan

THE FAN

In the wee hours of the morning, I was awake...and my mind kept spinning and I couldn't get back to sleep. This is a pretty normal activity for me...just another start to the day.

Listening to the noises of the house...I heard the central air conditioner running...and appreciated the coolness of the house...and I thought back 50 years when I was a little guy in Owensville.

Our little house didn't have air conditioning...in fact...I don't recall anyone having air conditioning in those days. I'm guessing we had summers...just like we're having right now...little rain for days and weeks...and day after day after day of 90 degree temperatures.

I remember going to bed at night and dad turning the fan on to help circulate the air. I always wanted him to point it at me...but he would aim it towards the ceiling...so the air could circulate through the house. Sometimes he would put it in the window sill...blowing the air out...which...he said...would pull the cool outside our in through the other windows.

I seem to remember some hot, sweaty nights...but we lived through it. Still...I sure do enjoy that central air conditioner fan blowing...in the middle of the night. I may not be able to sleep...but it's not because of the hot air outside.


Dan