tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.comments2023-07-04T03:04:37.725-07:00The Veteran Experience | Ben ShawBen Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08280885836684955658noreply@blogger.comBlogger782125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-76006739011686801802008-12-20T16:53:14.942-08:002008-12-20T16:53:14.942-08:00My favorite line in this post was "I can only...My favorite line in this post was "I can only say so much."<br><br>We shall see.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-30493321837529047532008-12-20T17:00:01.581-08:002008-12-20T17:00:01.581-08:00I saw a two foot pink, pre-decorated luminescent p...I saw a two foot pink, pre-decorated luminescent plastic tree at Michaels Arts & Crafts for $9.98 this afternoon. If only I had spotted it sooner! All that hassle for the same amount of wretchedness.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-8944205859226101152008-12-20T17:04:54.179-08:002008-12-20T17:04:54.179-08:00"Whose woods these are I think I know..."..."Whose woods these are I think I know..."<br><br>The important thing is you are writing. Just like peeling an onion, you take off one layer at a time, and in the end, you realize there was ntohing to it.Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-36769799485895436702008-12-20T17:16:17.323-08:002008-12-20T17:16:17.323-08:00I am not a theologian. However it seems to me tha...I am not a theologian. However it seems to me that there are some difficult to explain parts to this post. First, Jeasus is God. It is written. However, if you are going to quote Abraham...from the old testement, you are going to have to reconcile the "God of Abraham" which includes the Jews and Arabs. Or you could adopt the stance of my mother, who only read the New Testement. She said the old testament, which comprised about two thirds of the Bible, was only intended to demonstrate that man can not enter the kingdom of heaven except through Jesus.<br><br>I have no dog in this fight, but it is confusing at best. Esoteric at worst, and self indulgence without question. Where are you preaching tomorrow? I will make every attempt to be there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-4286561076421545442008-12-20T21:50:20.406-08:002008-12-20T21:50:20.406-08:00There shall be no pink trees. I may be apathetic ...There shall be no pink trees. I may be apathetic many customs, but a pink, pre-decorated tree crosses a rather distinct moral line for me.<br><br>As for the woods - they are not our own, but somebody else's. We were just visiting, and borrowing a tree.<br><br>~Ben ShawBen Shaw | byshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08280885836684955658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-5290294917689276572008-12-21T13:40:27.895-08:002008-12-21T13:40:27.895-08:00Perhaps avoiding confusion is why God refers to Hi...Perhaps avoiding confusion is why God refers to Himself as "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob"?Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-38838102320881248212008-12-21T23:15:25.414-08:002008-12-21T23:15:25.414-08:00I can relate to this project. In fact, I can point...I can relate to this project. In fact, I can point to several in past houses and current ones.Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-66340893801156193522008-12-22T15:32:50.484-08:002008-12-22T15:32:50.484-08:00You're exaggerating. It wasn't that long ...You're exaggerating. It wasn't that long ago. I'd say it was maybe twelve years ago. And the blocks didn't need repainting, because yall never painted them the original color to begin with.<br><br>Is that what those pipe things were next to the garden shed?Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-84329365638023013352008-12-22T19:43:26.640-08:002008-12-22T19:43:26.640-08:00Incorrect. The project began at the very LATEST i...Incorrect. The project began at the very LATEST in 1996. So perhaps I may have MISREMEMBERED the date. However, you may observe the wrong paint color when you next visit. It matches previous colors of the house. And yes, those clay things by the garden shed became fodder for me and a hammer. So there.Ben Shaw | byshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08280885836684955658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-32999740151677635262008-12-23T04:00:18.827-08:002008-12-23T04:00:18.827-08:00Pretty accurate description of Christmas shopping....Pretty accurate description of Christmas shopping. I am particularly fond of "free range children."<br><br>Happy Kwaanza!Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-89388672483896970262008-12-23T04:05:33.348-08:002008-12-23T04:05:33.348-08:00Elizabeth,creative writing can often be confused w...Elizabeth,creative writing can often be confused with exaggeration or embellishment. <br><br>Beating the tiles to death with a hammer sounds a bit like passive aggression to me.Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-6643213008297589422008-12-23T20:17:50.459-08:002008-12-23T20:17:50.459-08:00Heck, most of what I write is made up. The parts ...Heck, most of what I write is made up. The parts that aren't I say they aren't so the people I'm writing about won't get mad. I just had to make an effort to defend the family name in that it only takes us twelve years to complete a project, not fifteen.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-3523061918823907562008-12-23T20:17:50.458-08:002008-12-23T20:17:50.458-08:00I mean, "are."I mean, "are."Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-743307508131466152008-12-23T20:21:51.408-08:002008-12-23T20:21:51.408-08:00Happy Ramadan!Consumers disturb me. That is why I...Happy Ramadan!<br><br>Consumers disturb me. That is why I am a producer. I produce three things: CO2, music, and organic lip balm from beeswax and jojobe oil. Ok, I do consume a little, but not much. <br><br>So I guess you know what one of three things you'll be getting from me for Christmas this year.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-64749875634253534472008-12-24T01:05:16.977-08:002008-12-24T01:05:16.977-08:00OK Elizabeth. I give up. What goes into Jojobe oi...OK Elizabeth. I give up. What goes into Jojobe oil? Sounds like something you might get from rendering La Cucaraches.Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-22889096361505082972008-12-24T01:10:57.354-08:002008-12-24T01:10:57.354-08:00Prayer is powerful. No one knows how powerful. An...Prayer is powerful. No one knows how powerful. <br><br>Any small business is in jeapordy in todays megastore world. Our small town has become a one business town, with several others trying to hang on. Probably symtomatic of the country.Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-25745604394927923072008-12-24T06:16:31.321-08:002008-12-24T06:16:31.321-08:00Ben, you hit home with this one. My family has ope...Ben, you hit home with this one.<br><br> My family has operated a small hardware homecenter business for 100+ years. We have had to compete with Lowe's, 84 lumber and withen the last 10 years WALMART. And I am convinced it is because we offer a service that none of the others can campare with:PERSONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE We survived the great depression and we will see it through this ecomonomy too. Our employees are our family and they are very loyal to us as we are to them. <br>When visitng my home last weekend in Spencer W.Va, we attended the little holiday party that we held for our employees. We commenced the festivites with a prayer and then proceeded with a covered dish of home made goodies brought in by the employees. I wonder if the local SuperWalmart or Lowes compares to this.<br>Please tell Jane, that her personal touch to her loyal customers will see her through this. If Hardmans Home Center in Spencer W. Va (population 2000) can make it, she can too.Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-14410189410273354712008-12-24T09:46:31.559-08:002008-12-24T09:46:31.559-08:00I the words of Maharaji Mahesh Yogi, "What do...I the words of Maharaji Mahesh Yogi, "What does it matter?"Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-58302995928470379552008-12-24T16:44:23.246-08:002008-12-24T16:44:23.246-08:00Oh Ben, you have experienced a miserable day of Ch...Oh Ben, you have experienced a miserable day of Christmas shopping! <br> Next time when you feel like you are getting sucked into a very unmerry Christmas outing try this: slip a 20.00 bill to someone who is working very hard at their job. This is especially interesting in restaurants and airports.<br>It makes Christmas more meaningful and their reaction to your gesture is priceless.sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-24140900909592270382008-12-25T01:00:27.735-08:002008-12-25T01:00:27.735-08:00Convinced me. It is a different take,but worth cos...Convinced me. It is a different take,but worth cosidering.Uncle Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-180390131336540872008-12-25T07:52:29.412-08:002008-12-25T07:52:29.412-08:00Ben, this is great writing. What God is doing to y...Ben, this is great writing. What God is doing to you is beautiful (in a guy sort of way). Continue to write, you have something to tell the world. Merry Christmas, RayRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653542000917607383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-71430865979753288692008-12-25T13:38:28.002-08:002008-12-25T13:38:28.002-08:00One of your best so far. So far, because your best...One of your best so far. So far, because your best is still in you.<br><br>Day by day, in every way, you are getting better and better.Uncl Caesarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-63749731536781671622008-12-26T06:34:48.429-08:002008-12-26T06:34:48.429-08:00Jim Elliot once said (more or less), "Whereve...Jim Elliot once said (more or less), "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation in which God in keeping with His will has placed you."Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-72729829452595029492008-12-26T10:41:48.627-08:002008-12-26T10:41:48.627-08:00Those who sow in tearsWill reap with songs of joy....Those who sow in tears<br>Will reap with songs of joy.<br>He who goes out weeping,<br>Carrying seed to sow,<br>Will return with songs of joy,<br>Carrying sheaves with him.<br>Psalm 126:6Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-15442438605719691572008-12-26T16:52:24.499-08:002008-12-26T16:52:24.499-08:00I agree. A great post, Ben.I agree. A great post, Ben.Bettynoreply@blogger.com