Anonymous Category Archives :: Consider This

Love Will Never Put You Down

Love ..........

Love will never put you down,
won't cheat or mess around.

Love won't criticize or scorn,
won't leave you forlorn.

Love won't knock you to the ground,
or make you fear certain sounds.

Love won't verbally berate you
or accuse you of not being true.

Love will not make you powerless
or increase your stress.

When you're in love, love will accept you for you,
for it respects you and allows you to stay true
to yourself and doesn't make you change.
—Unknown

Source: Weekly email "humorous" subscription, Humor -- 26 June 2007; Subject: Love.... by Robert E. Karas.

WashingtonPost.com's Faces of the Fallen: By age: 36-year-olds
U.S. Service members who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Even Better

Just when you think you know exactly how it's going — it gets even better.
—Unknown

Source: Java House counter on May 29, 2007.
Java House
210 W Evergreen Blvd # 400
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 737-2925

Truth: Truth?

Say not, 'This is the truth' but 'So it seems to me to be as I now see things I think I see.'
—Unknown – Above a doorway at the German Naval Officers School, in Kiel

Source: John McPhee Annals of the Former World, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG), New York, 2000, p.356 ISBN-13: 978-0-374-51873-8
⇒ www.johmmcphee.com
⇒ John McPhee's page for Annals of the Former World.

WashingtonPost.com's Faces of the Fallen: By Date / 2007
U.S. Service members who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom

On Being Old

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.

Growing Older, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body ... the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the cellulite. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avaunt garde on my patio. I am entitled to be messy, to be extravagant, to smell the flowers. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m. and then sleep until -- ?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50's & 60's, (and for some of us the 70's & 80's) and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set.

They, too, will get old (if they're lucky). I know I am sometimes forgetful. But then again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no," and mean it. I can say "yes" and mean it.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So , to answer your question, I like being older. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day...(if I want).

Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles.
Love simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

LIVE WELL - LAUGH OFTEN - LOVE MUCH
—Unknown

Source: Daily email "humorous" subscription, Wednesday's Humor -- 18 Apr 2007; Subject: Old Age.... by Robert E. Karas.

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark.......

01: Don't miss the boat.
02: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
03: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
04: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
05: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
06: Build your future on high ground.
07: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
08: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
09: When you're stressed, float awhile.
10: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
—Unknown

Source: Daily email "humorous" subscriptions, Tuesday's Humor -- 10 Apr 2007 by Robert Karas.
⇒ April 10, 1912: RMS Titanic departs Southampton, England on its maiden voyage bound for Cherbourg, France; Queenstown, Ireland; and New York City, New York, USA.

Toot a Flute

A tutor who tooted the flute,
Tried to teach two tooters to toot;
Said the two to the tutor:
“Is it harder to toot, or
To tutor two tooters to toot?”
—Anonymous

Source: Unknown
⇒ This is, however, one of my favorite limericks.

Getting Even

You never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him.
—Unknown

Source: Java House counter on March 26, 2007.
Java House
210 W Evergreen Blvd # 400
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 737-2925

Foolish with Enthusiasm

You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm!
—Unknown

Source: The counter at:
Java House
210 W Evergreen Blvd # 400
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 737-2925

Ole Farmer's Advice

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
—Anonymous

Source: Wednesday's Humor – 31 January 2007, from a daily email I receive from a Navy friend.

Praise the Past and Condemn the Present?

Is it not the common practice of the old men to praise the past and condemn the present? And this may probably operate much further than one would at first imagine. When those that have more experience than we, and therefore, we are apt to think, more wisdom, are almost continually harping upon this, the degeneracy of the world, is it any wonder if, being accustomed from our infancy to hear how much better the world was formerly than it is now, (and so it really seemed to them, when they were young, and when the cheerfulness of youth gave a pleasing air to all that was around them,) the idea of the world's being worse and worse should naturally grow up with us? And so it will till we, in our turn, grow peevish, fretful, discontented, and full of melancholy complaints: 'How wicked the world is grown! How much better it was when we were young, in the golden days that we can remember!
—unknown

Source: Former Times, written in the 1700's, provided by my dear friend, David Roberts, on Friday September 1, 2006

SNIPES A Poem and Tribute

Joseph Rachel Destroyer Photo Archive

USS STRIBLING (DD-867) Enters Monaco, June 1972

I served in USS STRIBLING (DD-867) from August 1970 through July 1972 as Main Propulsion Assistant. I was aboard STRIB when this picture was taken. View another photo of STRIB, with "bone in her teeth."

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US DoD

USS Capodanno (FF-1093) Underway during a MED deployment, 1988

I served in USS CAPODANNO (FF-1093) from July 1975 through July 1977 as Engineer Officer.

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Destroyers Online

USS BAGLEY (FF-1069) Underway departing San Diego harbor, circa mid-1979

I served in USS BAGLEY (FF-1069) from July 1977 through January 1979 as Engineer Officer.

Many a poet have written sailor tales
About South Sea Isles and furious gales
So, I'll not waste your time with a tale of this type
Rather, I'll write of the sweaty, greasy snipe.

He works in his hole when the temperature is right
When the thermometer reads one twenty Fahrenheit.
There's no salt water in his blood,
Just stinking fuel oil and slimey bilge crud.

He goes to sea with visions of bright sun, and wind swept spray
But there are no hours of this in his working day.
Four hours on and eight hours off, and between, turn to and watch relief
No matter whether a boot FA or a salty Chief.

He works all hours and never tires.
And he can fix anything wih permatex and bailing wire.
When the ship pulls into port with the crew all in whites
There's a standing order for him to stay out of sight.

No bronze skin for this oily stud,
He's only time for a soggy butt and a cup of mud.
He's got a leak to fix, and a pump to pack
Before he can hit his long empty rack.

When the ship's inport and the crew's ashore
He's still in his hole sweating from very pore.
While deckapes and radiogirls are filled with glee
He must again get his engines ready for sea.

But, he's not mad, and he don't cry
He's just glad that cows don't fly.
For the fact is known both far and near
That this is the life of an engineer.
—Author Unknown

Source: I can't remember who shared this poem with me so very long ago. To this day the sweet smell of diesel engine exhaust is comforting, as it signals that the Emergency Diesel Generator has started and will soon be on the line. It means we'll have a fighting chance to recovery from yet another "drop the load" and bring the main plant back on the line and the ship underway again.
This entry is in honor of all the "Snipes" [marine engineers] who ever served at sea in a US Navy ship.
See also: USS CAPODANNO.org

Fractions :-)

Question: Who invented fractions?
Answer: Henry the 1/8^th.
—Unknown student

Source: Teachers: Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes Daily calendar Friday, February 3, 2006 Andrews McMeel Publishing ISBN: 0-7407-5200-6

The Real Patriot

The real patriot:
is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and
rejoices that the system works.
—Anonymous

Source: February 3^rd entry: Office Perpetual Calendar by Judy Johannesen, Haymarket, Virginia

Love Compared to Indifference

Love will find a way. Indifference will find an excuse.
—Anonymous

Source: Teachers: Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes Daily calendar Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Andrews McMeel Publishing ISBN: 0-7407-5200-6

Politicians Rebuild!

The world hasn�t seen anything yet:
Wait til the politicians start to rebuild and regulate IT!�
—Anonymous

Source: January 18^th entry: Office Perpetual Calendar by Judy Johannesen, Haymarket, Virginia

A Man's Real Strength

A man should be like tea:
His real strength appearing when he gets in HOT WATER!
---Unknown

Source: November 27^th entry: Office Perpetual Calendar by Judy Johannesen, Haymarket, Virginia

The Goose Story: A "V" Inspiration

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in "V" formation, think about what science has learned about why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following it. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock can fly at least 71% farther than if each bird flew on its own. Perhaps people who share a common direction can get where they are going quicker and easier if they cooperate.

When a goose falls out of formation, it feels the resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of flying with the flock. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will work with others who are going the same way as we are. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies on the point. It pays to take turns doing hard jobs for our group. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Finally, (get this!) When a goose weakens or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese fall out and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and they then set out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with the group. If we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other like that.
—Author Unknown

Source: Inspiring Words -- Volunteer BC

Shortcut to Winning and Success

There is no shortcut to winning and success. There is only getting started and sticking to it.
—Anonymous

Source: Daily Inspirational Calendar Friday, September 30, 2005 entry

Hard Work, Not Enough It Is

Hard work isn't enough.
A man must move forward too.
I never saw a man pick a field of corn standing in one place
—Unknown

Source: September 13^th entry: Office Perpetual Calendar by Judy Johannesen, Haymarket, Virginia

Change: The Essence of Life

Grasp the opportunity to manage change, not avoid it. Change is the very essence of life.
—Unknown

Source: Daily Inspirational Calendar Thursday, February 22, 2002 entry

Yesterday into Today?

Don't let yesterday keep today.
—Unknown

Source: Shared with me by one of my students, Joelle, in March 2002. Thank you Joelle.

Watch Your Thoughts

Watch your thoughts; they become your words.
Watch your words; they become your actions.
Watch your actions; they become your habits.
Watch your habits; they become your character.
Watch your character; they become your destiny.
—Unknown

Source: Teachers Calendar Thursday, February 5, 2004 entry

Chance Favors?

Chance favors the
prepared mind.
---Unknown

Source: January 30^th entry: Office Perpetual Calendar by Judy Johannesen, Haymarket, Virginia

Speak the Truth?

Liars, when they speak the truth, are not believed.
---Unknown

Source: Chinese Fortune Cookie, Chu's Restaurant, Portland, OR

Pigs and Teaching

Never try to teach a pig to sing....
it wastes your time and annoys the pig.
--Anonymous

Catch Your Heart

There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few that will catch your heart....
Pursue these.
--unknown