A PARROT IS A MACAW? WELL, SOME ARE

And I didn't know that. But I'm still better off than a guy I heard about in a joke at Promise Keepers. It was told by Joseph Garlington, and I wanted to give him due diligence. Also, I want to apologize, because I don't tell very good jokes. Or re-tell.

It seems there was this missionary in Africa who had friends in the US. They told him they loved birds and wanted him to mail them one from Africa.

It was quite a chore and rigamarole to go through to get one of Africa's beautiful birds shipped to the United States. But the missionary prevailed, sending his friends a beautiful macaw.

Upon his return he eagerly awaited his visit to their home to see his beautiful bird and the joy it must be bringing to his friends.

When he entered the house, he didn't see the bird. Not having any contact with them since he sent it, he said, "Didn't you get the bird?"

"Oh, yes; it was wonderful, " the father replied.

"Well, where is it," he asked.

"Why, we ate it. With garlic and Hollandaise sauce, it was very tasty."

"But that bird was very expensive. Very intelligent. Why he spoke two languages," the missionary insisted.

The father answered simply, "He should have said something."

PIT BULL TERRIER PUP AND THE AMERICAN WAY

Only in America.

Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick goes to court to plead innocent to raising pit bulls for the sole purpose of teaching them to fight other dogs. Millions of dollars support this barbaric form of entertainment.

Only in America.

PETA and RES and a plethora of other agencies support animal rights. Many vegeterians eat "nothing with a face".

Only in America.

Pets are treated better than people. Brittney, Paris, and Lindsay pose with their dogs, cuddling and heaping lavish praise on them. They show more respect for their pets than themselves.

Only in America.

Abortion reigns. Since Roe v Wade the numbers of babies murdered is astronomical. "Women have a right to their own bodies," is the lame refrain. But who speaks for the rights of the unborn? the never to be born?

And only in American are the anti-abortionists looked at as freaks. While America is outraged (as it should be) at the likes of Michael Vick and the dog fight promotors.

Only in America are our priorities totally out of whack. I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling very nationalistic today.

OBAMA AND YO MOMMA

was the punchline of a joke I heard about a returning soldier from Iraq. He was asked by Chelsea Clinton whom he feared now that he was back on American soil, and that was his answer. So what brings this to mind? And how did I connect that with the picture of the smirking guy reading a newspaper?
At the St. Louis airport on Wednesday, I spotted my first Obama tee shirt. I suspect I had the same smirk that the pictured man had. It stated in big letters Obama for a Change. Right, I thought. But certainly all change is not good.
If you thought,"Oh, he just doesn't like him because he's black." Wrong. Well, partially wrong. If you stopped at the 6th word, you'd be right. But I really like J. C. Watts, Lynn Swan, Condy Rice, Colin Powell, and Alan Keyes--all black, and all with much more experience that Barak Obama. Now, if giving speeches is all that a US President had to do, I might understand the attraction. Yet he still might be at the bottom of the list I provided, but he's still good at that. He turns a phrase as well as any. But what does he say? What has he done? What are his proposals? When you look closely, I think you'll see--there's not much substance there. I can't say,"Where's the beef," because he has plenty of beefs. Just no viable solutions. He tears down. He's not a uniter. Just the sort that the media love. Advertisers, too. Voters, I hope not.
My tee shirt might read Obama--Not hardly (sic). Or if I use Jessie Jackson syntax Obama--Not Now, Now Ever, Never.

TALKING YOUR ARM OFF

I've heard that expression forever. This picture illustrates what can happen if you allow it.

So where do you hear it? Churches, ballgames, schools, airplanes, cell phones, golf courses, restaurants, dorms, shopping, or whenever two or more females are gathered? I know, the answer is all those places plus more. Certainly I could add men to the last on the list, as well.

Also, the list is endless. How about meetings, family get togethers, car rides, parties, or dates? We could prioritize them by most annoying. Maybe certain people come to mind in certain places. For instance, if you mention neighbors talking, a picture of my former neighbor on two streets (we both moved) is at the forefront. I'd mention people who repeatedly tell the same story to the same people (remember the day Wanda Wood got a hole in one here?) but that hits way too close to home.

So I'll end by saying that sometimes silence is quite golden. Other times, it is not welcomed. But that doesn't mean it's time to talk.

PK NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

What an experience! What a re-charge of the old spiritual battery!

Our son Scott has attended 4 or 5 Promise Keeper Assemblies ? Outings ? Conventions ? Weekend Meetings ? Celebrations ? Gatherings ? Fellowships.

Yeah, that's it. Fellowships (no pun). This past weekend was my first.

I'd looked forward to it ever since Scott invited me several months ago. In fact, I'd talked to some church friends about going for several years, but that's all it amounted to. Till the Nashville PK 2007.

Over 9,000 Christian or soon to be Christian men gathering to celebrate Jesus as Lord. Speakers, videos, and great worship music brought a overwhelming spirit to the Gaylord Center for Friday night and Saturday. The feeling was one that would be hard to replicate anywhere, and equally difficult to describe to someone who has never attended. You just have to experience the focus, the impetus of the experience.

I said it was a spiritual re-charger. And I meant for a lifetime, not just the short term. If you ever have a chance to go, please do it. You won't be sorry.

RANIER CHERRY TIME

IS SO CLOSE TO BEING A THING OF THE PAST

If you know me at all, you know I love a good lobster, a good steak, a good baked potato and garlic. If you know me better than most, you know that two foods I dearly cherish are Ranier cherries and tomatoes.

I've blogged before about beafsteak home grown Southern Illinois tomatoes. I've stated that I'd select a baloney sandwich on fresh bread and a tomato rather than a steak I cook out--the best, or the ones at The Grill at the TPC or Desert Canyon. The latter two being the second best steaks around.

But Ranier cherries are to die for. Actually, these pictured are not big enough for Raniers nor or they yellow enough. That's right, the perfect Ranier has some yellow to it. I wait all year for them. They're only available in our area about the last week of June. Then they go for $8.00 a pound. Now, that I'm getting my fill of them, they're about $2.99 a pound. Well, I never get my fill, but by the end of July after having them available everyday, even I sometimes pass them up.

Cherries, tomatoes, the Cardinals--I guess I'm attracted to red.