Valentines, chocolates and yoga

Posted on February 11, 2012 by dfolstad58

Valentines Day and it is the annual time of year that men dutifully run out and purchase the obligatory chocolates, card, and roses.  (me included)

It is not a holiday, just a day halfway between chocolate Santas, and chocolate bunnies in which chocolate and chocolate gift giving deserved promotion – don’t believe all of the Saint Valentine hooey.

Cupid relies less on gifts of chocolate I suspect, than hands-on thoughtful actions of the brawnier sex. My very intelligent son-in-law (TA) plans getaways for himself and his bride when he is not saving for their more lengthy escapes. Definitely an advanced IQ! They enjoy trips and (in a real sense) Valentine’s Day on every getaway.

Hint to men everywhere ; Mini-holidays spread throughout the year are guaranteed to kindle fun, relaxation and romance.  All three are appreciated by anyone and frequently.

An array of Valentine's Day-connotated candy d...

Image via Wikipedia

A home-cooked meal and clean kitchen in my wife’s mind shows more planning and consideration than dinner out and gift certificate albeit she like receiving those gifts also.  But it more likely that she will actually eat the dinner, and enjoy the clean kitchen than she will actually use a gift certificate. In fact I believe I read that more than 35% of gift certificates are never used! Yikes!- Cash just given away!

 My wife Sue is trying yoga for a month. She is enjoying it albeit she complained in a funny way about the “darned dog” pose. She has taken my yoga mat and she has informed me that she won’t return it unless I replace it with one the exact duplicate in thickness and color.

Slowly the messages sift into my brain. Clue to me – she wants chocolate (she always wants chocolate, so this goes without mentioning) and yoga mat for Valentines Day this year.  I will pay the ransom for my mat to be returned, purchase the dark chocolate I enjoy albeit at the retailer she likes who charges too much. Voila! my February 14 chores are done early!

Now I need only find my bow and arrows, and trousers before Tuesday!

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Love at First Bite or Falling Off a Dock in the Bay

Posted on February 10, 2012 by dfolstad58

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I can’t say the exact date I met my wife Sue. I remember I met her at a campfire near Todd mountain at a church group weekend. She looked nice in jeans though and she must have made an impression.  I state that assertion because not long afterward I had a dream and she was in it on August 5, 1979 but I no longer remember the dream.  I still remember the date of the dream because the next day I was motivated to take her out on our first date.

Sue was working at a gas station just outside of Kamloops then, and I was working at finance company. The first part of the day wasn’t a “date” but we met at a dock to go waterskiing with another friend.  Sue told me much later that she was testing me at the dock as she kept wandering around and leaving me alone. She said since there was other girls around on the dock she was checking to see how interested I was by making me follow her around on the dock. (how naive I was)

Anyway I caught her on the dock, there she was, in her white swimsuit, and I had her pushed out, leaning off the dock, and in danger of falling into the cold river water.  Sue looked into my eyes, holding on my hands, and said “no DON’T” – so I pulled her in to safety.  Then shoved her suddenly backwards off the dock into the water!

Sue came up laughing, and had to chase after her floating clogs.  Lucky for me she had a sense of humor.

The same day was our official first date – we went to the movies – “Love At First Bite“.

Cover of "Love at First Bite"

Cover of Love at First Bite

After that date we were inseparable and married about six months later.  It has been nearly 32 years of marriage now and I still love her laugh.

That first bite must have been love.

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Are Men Brain Damaged?

Posted on February 7, 2012 by dfolstad58
The brain

Image via Wikipedia

I could be in trouble for starting off a blog post with title ” Are Men Brain Damaged?”  But I think this may be the question that fairer sex sometimes are asking each other.  Men and women certainly see things differently, even simple things like shopping.

Men wonder why women have so many shoes, and women wonder what men find so fascinating about hardware stores.

 

 

The answer to the title question is Definitely Not – Men are Not Brain Damaged.  We are just wired differently; but if you are interested in seeing how a woman’s brain is represented – here is link you should check out. Woman’s Brain according to Scientists 

Quote for today:  Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.   Buddha

 

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Superbowl Ads – these are the two I like

Posted on February 5, 2012 by dfolstad58

If you loved Ferris Bueller starring Matthew Broderick (and who didn’t?)  

 

The NEXT SUPERBOWL AD (BELOW)  IS JUST AMAZING FOR SIZE AND SCOPE. As far as commercials go; I don’t think they get bigger or more stupendous than this ! (sorry Jerry Seinfeld – but this has you beat!) 

 

 

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Valentine’s Day Poll – take the poll !

Posted on February 4, 2012 by dfolstad58

 Valentine’s Day is nearly here.  Are you looking forward to it? I have mixed feelings about Cupid’s day. It is kind of sweet,  and I enjoyed it as a kid making cards for the other kids in my class. I remember filling them all in and we had valentines we could give to all our friends, boys and girls in our class.  Innocent, and cute.

 It would great if we could keep that kind of Valentine’s Day now that we are adults. As adults we work with and like (hopefully) most of the folks we speak with on an almost daily basis. We enjoy our inter-actions with them and they add to our lives. 

Shouldn’t that be enough for a Valentine’s day card? It says ” I like you and want you to know it”  That should be enough. That was enough when we were just kids.

A tiny 2-inch pop-up Valentine, circa 1920

Image via Wikipedia

Now Valentine’s Day makes some people depressed because they are single and it just depresses them with others pushing the romantic Valentine Day is just for the romantic theme.

I would give a Valentine Day card to everyone in my family, my wife, son, daughter, son in law. I have special friends, and family that I appreciate and it feels good to express that.

I would give co workers, and friends a Valentine Day card also to say thanks for brightening my every day, and you make my life better.

Who else has thoughts about Valentine’s Day?

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Accepting Graciously..

Posted on February 2, 2012 by dfolstad58

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Today I was pleasantly surprised by unexpected compliments. I didn’t know what to say.  I am not sure who told me about graciously accepting a compliment, but I remember what I always tell people when they find it hard to accept one. I tell them “it’s a gift…just a graciously accept it.”    Today, I decided quickly to follow my own advice, and just accept the unexpected, and kind words.

How nice it is to be appreciated, and thanked. I find it sad, or  perhaps merely disappointing that sometimes people are surprised when they are complimented or thanked for the work that they do.

I hope soon that you will be pleasantly surprised by someone who takes the time to tell you “thank you” or give you a compliment.  Accept it graciously.

Some of the most important, and memorable lessons of our lives we learn are before we attend any classes or school.  I think that being taught manners by my parents and grandparents are some of those lessons.

I remember my grandmother teaching me “please” and “thank you”, while visiting her when I was knee high. Thanks Baba, for the lessons, and the memories.

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