Author Archives: site author

Many years ago I read a story about a young couple who just got married. The wife wanted to cook a nice meal for her husband. She made a delicious ham dinner. After they finished eating the husband complimented his wife on the food. Then he asked a question. “I noticed you cut the twoContinue reading “CYA”

“Throw me a pop up.” Those were my last words of my very first pee-wee league baseball practice. My friend Michael Taylor obliged, but the ball came down out of the blinding sun and hit me right in the mouth. It busted my lip and broke off one of my front teeth. I was sevenContinue reading “Investing”

My aerobic exercise of choice for over a decade has been cycling. It’s easy on my back and joints. However, because I live in Texas I often cycle on windy days. Sometimes the wind is in my face. I like it better when it’s at my back. That makes cycling much more pleasant, even ifContinue reading “Making Life Easier and Better”

We all know the golden rule, “In everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.  I am responsible for my actions by treating others the way I like to be treated. Taking that one step further, I do my  bestContinue reading “The Golden Rule”

In January of 1984 I read a sentence that helped change my life. “Very important people have told me that they prefer good listeners to good talkers, but the ability to listen seems rarer than almost any other good trait.” That’s a quote from Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, whichContinue reading “Secret Weapon”

Several years ago I heard a story that got my attention. It was about predicting the winner of a piano competition. The predictors were in three different groups. One group only heard the piano players. One only saw the piano players and the third both saw and heard the piano players. Since the purpose ofContinue reading “I’ll Show Them”

I’ve mentioned the influence my Dad had on me in many of my posts. I was lucky enough to have an amazing Mom too. One of her more common sayings was, “You’ll get used to it.” That often was regarding a food I didn’t care for, but it also applied to other things in myContinue reading “Mom Was Right”

I’ve been competitive all my life. I’ve always wanted to be first. I didn’t handle losing well at all. As I got older I still had a burning desire to win, but was better at dealing with losses, at least in public.  In the last few decades I found a healthy way satisfy my urgeContinue reading “Being First”

Last week an NFL player was running for a touchdown. Just before reaching the goal line he showed off by letting go of the ball. It cost his team the touchdown and ultimately the game. It reminded me of a line a sports commentator said years ago about another bonehead play. “Stupid gets you beat.”Continue reading “The Tail is Already Mine”

Being a rancher my dad often needed to make purchases for our place. The list included cattle, horses, feed and often used equipment. His motto was “What’s mine is mine and what’s your’s is negotiable.” I’ve also seen other members of my family drive a hard bargain. That hasn’t been my strength.  However, long agoContinue reading “Bargain Hunting”