Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and hope you have a happy new year. This was certainly a year of change, growth, and new beginnings for the Murphy family.

In late October Will and Mary-Clayton welcomed baby Shivonne into the world. Shiv is the first grandchild on both sides of her family, and has received plenty of love from grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and extended family. She is a real beauty.

Will continues his work in the ER, and Mary-Clayton started a new job with the national 4-H office. This year they traveled to Oklahoma, North Carolina, and the beach. Okie has been a good egg, making sure to bring Shiv any toy or sock he finds around the house.

Anna moved out of their house into a place of her own, close to her job in Midtown. Her work and social life kept her busy, eating and spending time with friends. For a change of pace Anna flew out to Colorado to visit friends. In addition to her regular job (where her store set sales records), she's been doing more and more freelance graphic arts work.

Matthew had a year of growth, gaining more experience in the culinary arts, working in a few different restaurant environments around town. After a year living with friends downtown, in October he moved back home to be closer to his current job - so we get to enjoy his cooking on a more regular basis.

Ceil had a busy year, teaching art, spending time with friends, ministering to the ladies at The Table on Delk, taking periodic trips home to be with her mom, and now taking every opportunity to dote on little Shivonne. Ceil's work outside has made our yard come alive with color and beauty.

Dave had a rough year. Work was perhaps the busiest and most chaotic of his career. Both his parents passed away. And all that wasn't the worst of what he went through. Yet he was able to rely on God, Ceil, the kids, and close friends to help him through like he's never had to before. Certainly a year of growth. There was plenty of fun at Braves games, including going to playoff and World Series games. A banner year for reading – escaping into dozens of good books. And for the first time ever Dave became a regular, weekly golfer. He hopes to play even more (and perhaps improve) next year.

We took a trip to the beach during Ceil's spring break, and an artist's tour north of Asheville in the fall. When school let out in May we trekked to Chattanooga to pick out a new puppy. The family ahead of us picked another pup because they were worried their other choice wasn't frisky enough. Hopefully they got what they wanted, because our new Winnie is still full of adventure seven months later - still very much a puppy.

We're looking forward to an even better 2022, and pray that you have a blessed year as well.

Merry Christmas!

Your friends at Sac Fly Blog

History of the Father/Son

The winners list of the recent "father/son" tournament is impressive. Of course, you have to win one of the five majors to qualify. Stacks up well with any other tournament, don't you think?

95 Ray Floyd son Ray Jr def Hale Irwin & son

96 Ray Floyd son Ray Jr def Dave Stockton & son

97 Ray Floyd son Ray Jr def Dave Stockton & son

98 Bob Charles son David def Craig Stadler & son Kevin

99 Jack Nicklaus son Gary def Ray Floyd son Robert

00 Ray Floyd son Robert def Johnny Miller & son

01 Ray Floyd son Robert def Hale Irwin son

02 Craig Stadler son Kevin def Hale Irwin & son

03 Hale Irwin son Steve def Jack Nicklaus & Jack Jr

04 Larry Nelson son Drew def Bob Charles son David

05 Bernhard Langer son Stefan def Ray Floyd son Robert

06 Bernhard Langer son Stefan def V Singh / Bob Tway

07 Larry Nelson son Josh def Bob Tway son Kevin

08 Larry Nelson son Drew def Davis Love III son Dru

12 Davis Love III son Dru def Larry Nelson son Josh

13 Stewart Cink son Connor def S Elkington / V Singh

14 Bernhard Langer son Jason def Davis Love III son Dru

15 Lanny Wadkins son Tucker def F Funk D Love L Nelson

16 David Duval stepson Nick def S Cink son Connor

17 Angel Cabrera son Angel def Duval / Langer Jason

18 Davis Love III son Dru def Cink Daly Goosen

19 Bernhard Langer son Jason def Goosen / Lehman

20 Justin Thomas father Mike def V Singh son Qass

21 John Daly son John II def Tiger Woods son Charlie

Other notable pairings:

05 Fuzzy Zoeller played with daughter Gretchen

13 Bernhard Langer played with daughter Christina

13 Arnold Palmer with Grandson Sam

19 Annika Sorenstam with father

21 Nelly Korda with father

21 Gary Player & Lee Trevino with grandsons

https://www.lpga.com/news/2019/2019-sorenstam-first-female-professional-to-compete-in-pnc-father-son-challenge

Dug out an article from last summer: Charlie won by 5 strokes, shooting 3 under.

Tiger Woods' son Charlie dominates nine-hole golf tournament with his dad as caddy - CBSSports.com 

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father/Son_Challenge__;!!AE29DT8V!DIP3y6adWafMsbp0XA704fUONrwOJGKIwFFnH0tD3REc4IozbOJ7OiejJ4zkMBddJp4$

Want to Make Better Big Decisons? Ask 'the Chick-fil-A Question. 

https://a.msn.com/00/en-us/AARIWyw?ocid=winp-se

I remember some things by the date, but not many. Usually I have to look back at a calendar. I was thinking recently how there have been several Christmases that have been unseasonably warm – just like there are times in the winter when we get a week or so of warm weather almost every year. But nowadays whenever it is unseasonable warm in the wintertime, that's scientific evidence for you know what.

The old cut-thru from Piedmont through the old neighborhood to Lenox is long gone. Back in the day we always used to take that back route to Lenox, before it was cut off to build 400. I remember the house on the corner that always had several Corvaires in the driveway, parked under the pines. The last couple of years we've walked though that neighborhood to get to the Peachtree Road Race start line. The neighborhood is very nice.

Jeff's Funeral

My high school teammate that passed away had been a fireman, and for his visitation and funeral the fire department did a wonderful job hoisting a huge American flag over the funeral home, and staging a long parade of fire trucks from the church to the gravesite.

An honor guard hoisted the flag-draped coffin on the back of a fire truck for the trip. At the grave a bagpipe played taps, and the honor guard presented the folded flag from the coffin to the son. Very touching.

I had heard about Bill Hanke passing away. He was 99, right? His wife is 100.

One Christmas I worked at a clothing store at the Macon Mall. I might've been home from GT, like my Freshman year. I remember packing up everything I owned early in finals week, and after my last final (on Friday, the last day of finals week) driving straight home to Macon from GT. Also that December Friday in 1977 I began a tradition of splurging for breakfast at McDonalds on the morning of my last final exam – always an Egg McMuffin and Fanta orange soft drink.

The store was Anderson Little. The manager was this big old guy, whose wife taught the baton twirlers at my high school. The assistant manager was this cooler young single guy with a mustache. One day I had a question for the assistant manager, but stayed back because he was talking to a pretty lady. He saw me waiting for him and gave me a little nod. I was standing there with a stapler in my hand, to staple price tags on garments. I was absentmindedly fiddling with the stapler with my hands and fingers, then accidentally drove a staple into my finger. I went "Oooh!!" and doubled over in pain. The assistant manager cracked up.

My new year's resolution is to be more positive and less negative, here on the old blog and in life in general. Not as easy as it sounds. To read and of course exercise more and cut back on social media. But as any responsible person I will continue to do my best to decipher between fake and real news. Seems like science is a word that gets thrown around loosely these days, by people who never really ever learned what science is. Like the old saying: those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it – perhaps the same can be said about science. Think I'll throw that out on Twitter and see who salutes.

https://www.commentary.org/noah-rothman/the-pandemic-isnt-about-covid-anymore/?fbclid=IwAR0ZiQImrorHwIu48BKDNrFzOP0LH3JcA1EToZkEyhTpD1WfSigVfOffJQk

MANNY SANGUILLEN [SABR Bio] a one-time Oakland A's player was the first native of Panama to be named to a National League All-Star team. Played for OAK in 1977. His first all star game was in 1971.  Did not see action that year but was on the NL squad two more times, and got a hit in the 1972 ASG despite playing behind Johnny Bench. Manny was born in Colon, Panama. The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers shows Manny's lifetime batting average of .296 as the fourth-highest by a catcher since World War II and tenth highest for all catchers in Major League history. See EOBC rankings. He was once traded for a manager. In November 1976 Sanguillen was traded to Oakland for manager Chuck Tanner. (the Pirates threw in $100,000.) Sanguillen then returned to PIT in 1978 and played for Tanner for three seasons.

Denison: the twelve remaining members of a group of seventeen North American missionaries kidnapped in Haiti two months ago were released yesterday. Five of the hostages had been let go earlier.

Prelude to a Kiss

I had never watched the movie Prelude to a Kiss because I figured it was just another romance movie. Boy was I wrong. It has a good touch of weirdness that made it my kind of movie, plus a heartwarming tale of "real love".

The kiss isn’t between Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan (Rita). At their wedding reception an old stranger approaches the newlyweds to kiss the bride. When he does his soul is swapped with Rita’s. I hate it when that happens. On their tropical honeymoon the formerly wild Rita lathers on sunscreen and covers up from the sun, drinks seltzer instead of alcohol, and hangs out with other elderly vacationers. Alec recognizes the change, and later runs into the old man at the bar where Rita had worked.

Alec loves the real Rita, and takes in the old man – who doesn’t have long to live. Eventually Alec reunites Rita with the old man, and they hilariously discuss what it was like living the other’s life. They both want to swap back into their original bodies, and finally do so.

Also stars Patty Duke, Ned Beatty, Stanley Tucci, and Kathy Bates.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://dbmoviesblog.com/2018/11/24/the-meg-ryan-birthday-blogathon-prelude-to-a-kiss-1992/__;!!AE29DT8V!Ak4OmBShdEXBxLi2tSOVRz1QX4BJsuvBSgK8IIIFZIQx5F0-sBTzlBsefpzfXRjcvPQ$

I like serious movies as well. Watched one the other night. All the old Tom Clancy Jack Ryan movies. They recently made more for Amazon. The John Grisham novels made into movies. I like movies that involve presidents and military actions. Air Force One and others. Richard Gere was in a good Washington DC movie. Tom Hanks has been making good serious movies like Charlie Wilson’s War. Haven’t been big into super hero movies, though the new Spiderman movie sounds good. Never a big Matrix fan. I do like some of the action adventure movies. The Dwayne Johnson movies are usually fun to watch. Most comedy movies these days aren’t very funny. Too much sex and cussin’ and other violence, like Saturday Night Live, which thinks making fun of the President for an hour every week is humor. Heck, I could do that.

Actress Alicia Witt’s parents were found dead in their Massachusetts home. Witt was in Two Weeks Notice and several Hallmark Channel movies. Also some movie named Dune. Her mother made the Guinness Book of World Records for having hair ten feet long.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/parenting/parents-of-dune-actor-alicia-witt-found-dead-in-their-home/ar-AAS3WSO?ocid=entnewsntp

Several employees at Anna’s High Country store tested positive for the all new & improved omnicroc virus. She wasn’t in contact with them but is getting tested today. She’s down to two store employees. Her friend Caleb used to work at a different High Country in East Cobb, and will be filling in with Anna.

Historical evidence for the birth of Jesus.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.theareopagus.org/blog/the-birth-of-jesus/__;!!AE29DT8V!HoPgL7--dTH9Fwhq6-qasW36JZl5giEpVd5-Z3B9B9kV2nFVr1yzrb3osGK7jzlcA90$ 

My Christmas cards have shipped, and should deliver on Friday “before 9 pm”. Also tracking the Braves stocking cap also in route. It has already taken two flights. A friend bought the same cap, and sent me a picture. Looks good.

Ruth = Balboni X 4

Someone mentioned former Royals first baseman Steve Balboni in the same sentence with Babe Ruth. Thirty lashes with a wet noodle. I find few if any similarities. Must be some weird nickname thing I'm not aware of.

Ruth played 22 years to Balboni’s eleven, and played 2-1/2 times as many games, with three times the plate appearances.  But Ruth did not double Balboni’s stats – he quadrupled them. Four times the home runs. Four times the hits. Four times the doubles. Four times the RBIs. Ruth legged out 136 triples to Balboni’s eleven. I could go on.

avg.OBP.SLG.OPS

229 293 451 0.743 SB

342 474 690 1.164 BR

games.PA…..hits...2B..3B..HR..RBI...BB…..K

0960 03440 0714 127 011 181 0495 0273 0856 SB

2503 10626 2873 506 136 714 2214 2062 1330 BR

Ruth had eight times the number of walks but struck out at a rate half that of Balboni. The ex-Royal’s strikeout rate is in Dave Kingman range (though less than Bo). Balboni averaged 16 home runs per season. Can that even be considered a power hitter? These days middle infielders hit more home runs. And hit for higher than a woeful .229 average. Bob Uecker had the same on base percentage as Balboni. That replacement player they talk about in WAR? Steve Balboni.     

.BB%...K%...........WAR

07.9% 24.9% SB     0.9

19.4% 12.5% BR 183.1

The Babe of course started out as a record-setting pitcher. Balboni only stole one base in his career. Ruth swiped 123.

The only thing Steve Balboni has in common with Babe Ruth: they played the same sport. But it could be said that Ruth played a game that Balboni wasn’t familiar. No soup for you. Bye bye, Balboni. NEXT!

NOTE: had to write this whole blog post just cuz it was too many characters for a tweet. 

Olympic Swimmer

Yesterday W&MC had their Christmas with MC's family, and they had Shivonne with a floatie, swimming around in a tub full of water.

Guy in our Sunday School class had been in intensive care with covid for weeks/months, but has made an amazing recovery. David is a very good guy who shares Jesus and helps out people he meets in need, and makes a point to run his business and treat his employees in a Christian manner. Makes you wonder if Satan used covid as a punishment for David's good works.

I hung around with him at last week's Christmas party. Doctor's had thunk he would need to be on oxygen for the rest of his life (he's about my age) due to the damage to his lungs. Now he no longer needs oxygen when he is sitting, standing, or sleeping, but only when he's walking. Next month he goes to Denver for special treatment for his lungs.

Yesterday in Sunday School at the beginning of class our teacher commented to David about the small oxygen tank he carried in his backpack. David said the tank lasted for an hour. To the Sunday School teacher I quipped: "You'd better not go long today!"

Also in Sunday School yesterday: a missionary couple shared, home from an undisclosed country overseas. The wife was one of the first in her country to become a Christian, perhaps 50 years ago. She told of the religions her family had practiced, sacrificing chickens to spirits and later trying to please Buddha so they could be reincarnated as a richer person – then being freed up by the love of Jesus, requiring no more sacrifices.

As I was leaving Sunday School yesterday I remembered to stop by the room where my small group meets each Monday (but not tonight). Every week someone changes the design of tacks on the bulletin board, and every Monday I slightly alter the board, to let them know someone is there noticing their handiwork. Kind of like a modern day Kilroy was here. Like changing their circle to my square. Sure enough when I got to the classroom the light was off, but the board had been changed from what I'd done last Monday. I changed the board again and snuck back out, hoping I wasn't noticed. It's the little things that make life worth living. 

Lately I've been stopping at Wendys every morning for the bacon egg and cheese biscuit for a dollar. Last week the guy at the window gave me a coupon book. This morning I wasn't going to stop, but traffic was light so I didn't have to wait to turn left into Wendys. But the dollar biscuit special had ended. I quickly grabbed a coupon and used it. When I handed the guy my coupon he ran my credit card – then handed me back the coupon and told me to come back soon. A nice touch.

Yesterday I designed our Christmas card. Should've done it a month ago. They probably won't deliver to me until after Christmas, so they won't go out until around New Year's. Also last night I wrote up our Christmas letter. Got to polish it up and print it out. You can tell me if I got too personal.

Today C is driving to SC. So are W&MC and Shivonne. I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday. We'll have Christmas at W&MC's house. At some point C will need to return to SC to help with her mom. Would be nice if I could get back to playing golf at least by New Years. With my luck it will rain.

Denison: I was taught in counseling classes not to tell someone "I know how you feel." That's because, even if my circumstances have been identical to theirs, I cannot understand their personal feelings as they face them. But Jesus can. Because "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14), "we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses" (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), weariness (John 4:6), grief (Mark 3:5), temptation (Matthew 4:1–10), rejection (John 15:18), and death (Mark 15:37). He has faced all we face and felt all we feel. In addition, because he knows our inmost thoughts (Luke 6:8) and we are in his hand right now (John 10:28), Jesus truly knows how we feel.

MAURY WILLS [SABR Bio] was punished as a Pirate for refusing to play after Robert Kennedy was assassinated. On 10-Jun-1968. The RFK assassination had taken place four days earlier. That's the date of G he sat out. Research continues to determine the nature & extent of Pittsburgh's punishment. Ichiro Suzuki broke his record for plate appearances in a season. Wills had 759 PA in 1962. Pete Rose tied that in 1976. Ichiro had 762 in 2004, but Pete Rose, & Dave Cash also broke it and before Ichiro did. Jimmy Rollins' 778 in 2007 in the current standard. Wills was the first National League player to win Most Valuable Player and Gold Glove awards in the same season, in 1962. 

Used to have a pair of these back in the day. Man were they cool. Letterman wore them for years.

Daly Beats Player, Trevino, & Woods

What if twenty years ago I told you we'd be watching a golf tournament in 2021 with Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, David Duval, Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, John Daly, Tom Lehman, Mark O'Meara, Padrik Harrington, the current top players in men's and women's golf Justin Thomas and Nelly Korda, British Open champ Stewart Cink, and major championship winners Matt Kuchar, Rich Beem, Henrik Stinson, and Bubba Watson. And it would be as fun to watch as you would've thought it would be.

Today Team Woods birdied a tournament record eleven straight holes, and just missed a chance to tie Team Daly on the last hole (that's country western singer Long John in the Santa Claus suit above). On 16 and 17 Charlie stuck his approach shots close, and sunk several long birdie putts.

Charlie was confident enough and familiar enough with Justin Thomas to mess around with him on the range.

Yesterday I drove C to Avalon in Alpharetta so she could do some shopping. Me and Winnie stayed in the car. I grabbed a milkshake at Chick-fil-A. Leftovers for supper.

I watched the golf and some of the bowl games. Not a good start for me. I said no way UAB would beat BYU, so of course they did. Deion and Jackson State were humiliated.

Sunday School this AM. After park I had to run across the street, which probably wasn't the smartest thing to do. Not yet 100%. I skipped the service in the gym because they shine the lights straight into your eyes.

Speaking of Charlie Woods, when I was a kid there were two sporting goods stores in downtown Macon: Willingham Sporting Goods and Charlie Woods Sporting Goods. This was before there was Macon Mall. When we'd go shopping I knew they quickest route from Willingham to Charlie Woods, which back alley to take. Some of the stores downtown had back doors you could use, like Neals, a small department store with a decent toy department, as I recall. Another favorite store was the hobby shop on Ingleside, which carried Matchbox cars, models, and Hardy Boys books. This was before Hot Wheels and G.I. Joes. Later in high school I would work next door at the Baskin Robbins.

First Bite: Egg Harbor

Friday brunch at Egg Harbor Cafe in Sandy Springs. Popular place, and I can see why. Anything you'd want on the menu. I made the right choice: the fried chicken biscuit. So good. Had to eat it with a fork and knife. Ceil opted for the omelet with both the potatoes and grits for sides.

Just as we were finishing we were delighted to see Reid and Edie arrive, there to meet and eat with Claire.

Friday night supper: spaghetti and meatballs,

a meal that Matthew couldn't resist joining us for.

Saturday: eggy boy sandwich for breakfast, Chickfila shake, homemade blueberry muffins, and chicken soup with jasmine rice.

Here we go again: as usual there are a host of teams picked to finish ahead of the Braves next season, including the lowly Mets, who signed one pitcher. All the Braves did last year was beat the Dodgers and win the World Series without their best hitter and pitcher. 

Joe Namath was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, who had to settle for free agent QB Jim Hart. Hart went on the re-write the Cardinals record book. Namath never played for the Cards, but did okay as well.

Tech: Less Talk Please

GT head coach Geoff Collins on the changes ahead: ‘Less branding, more coaching’ Sorry but the more that guy opens his mouth, the more of a train wreck the whole GT football program becomes. Don't say these things out loud! Hiring a consultant? The players already have too much input, picking the uniforms and music and such. The focus needs to be on the field. The turnaround will not be coming any time soon.

And the GT fans on social media are just as bad. So hard to watch.

Pretty bad when all you can get excited about are the defensive tackles. Don't they see how ridiculous all this is?

https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/geoff-collins-on-changes-ahead-less-branding-more-coaching/RHHOJQAPSZG7JGJKZCURDWGHJQ/

Under new management, the Stripers let fans vote on which superhero jerseys should be worn. I was partial to the Hulk due to the color. Of course most fans sided with the Black Panther.

Sure his career average is lower than any Hall of Famer, and his WAR is like 650th. Sure the end of Andruw's career was far from great, but such analysis overlooks the obvious: his first eleven season were elite, both at the plate and especially in the field. Plus he started earlier that most he's compared to. If Harold Baines and Tony Oliva are hall of famers, so is Andruw. And Dale Murphy. 

Jake Fromm: New York Giant

Corn Flakes Advisory Board

Rough day at work yesterday. Stayed late to arrange a hot shipment. On the phone on the way home. Get home and more frustrating emails. Got in this morning and more hard crud to deal with. Will probably be working late tonight. I'm not the only one stressed out – my whole team is on edge.

Reminds me of the old Jay Leno story of the guy with the cushy job at the Corn Flakes Advisory Board. The secretary buzzes over the intercom "Mr. Smith, there's a lady on line three who wants to put strawberries in her corn flakes, Is that all right?" Harried, Mr. Smith replies "Sure, but Sally, hold my calls. I'm worn out." 

I hope to do a lot of resting all weekend, including watching a little bowl action and the father/son golf tourney. Need to get tires for the car.

After school yesterday C did some shopping. M baked cookies. We ate supper at the El Porton next to the Stinky Kroger. Part of the thrill of going to a Mexican restaurant is the language barrier between customer and the waiter. It's always a surprise to see what food comes out.

No progress yet on my Christmas card or letter. Perhaps this weekend. Just heard the VP specifically instruct his assistant to write "Merry Christmas" on the cards he's sending out, and not Happy Holidays.

C has lunch with an old friend today, then dinner out with friends to celebrate a birthday. Due to time I might just grab fast food on the way home.

I will miss the funeral for my former teammate Jeff Stewart. His obit was impressive. Solid guy, and a former Mr. Georgia to boot.

https://www.mcculloughfh.com/obituaries/Lt-Jeffery-Wade-Stewart?obId=23370774&fbclid=IwAR2SRRZbcyixO7iBtbVdEoRumACLakL5b0xH_Y_M62vyTTuBzjYfys3OFxo#/celebrationWall

Carl Sandberg: "A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on."

Psalm 127:3 – "Children are a "heritage from the Lord"

MONTE IRVIN [SABR Bio] was targeted as the most qualified candidate to break major league's color line before he was drafted into the military in 1942. He served but came back well to a fine career, joining the Giants in 1949. He used the assumed name "Jimmy Nelson" to protect his amateur status while attending university where he planned a career in dentistry. Briefly attended Lincoln University in Chester County, PA. There is a beautiful statue of him in a park named for him in his hometown. The statue & park are in Orange, New Jersey. He was the only player to steal bases for his team in his first World Series, in the 1951 WS, including a steal of home in the first inning of the 1^st G. of his first MLB WS. He played with six future Hall of Fame teammates before arriving in the majors and three more thereafter. Playing for the Newark Eagles 1938-43 and 45-48, he played with Ray Dandridge, Willie Wells, Mule Suttles, Leon Day, Biz Mackey & Larry Doby. With the Giants, Willie Mays & Hoyt Wilhelm were teammates from 1951-55. In 1956 on the Cubs he played with Ernie Banks.

Denison: in The Intolerance of Tolerance, biblical scholar D.A.Carson identifies a shift in the way our society defines tolerance. In the "old tolerance" religions were free to believe their beliefs were true and to share them with others. In the "new tolerance," no beliefs are more valid than others, and sharing them is imposing our views on others. Voltaire exemplified the "old tolerance" with his famous maxim: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." The "new tolerance" illogically counters: "I consider what you say to be intolerant, so I will not tolerate your saying it."

Denison: Harvard University research documents that regular worship attendance corresponds to a 47% lower risk of divorce, 33% lower risk of mortality, and 29% lower risk of depression. Gallup reports Americans' mental health declined 9 percent from 2019 to 2020, with only one exception: those who attend religious services weekly, whose mental health improved 4%. Another study shows highly religious individuals suffered less distress last year than other groups. 

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/mom-meets-911-operator-who-helped-her-deliver-baby-in-her-car/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=195992381&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--8WIdI-8H0TD4n7r3T6grDMjsuoZbR4O4BhukAenLuioKp0x0CfsZwZMhxo6uf2Capn8XkDXq_xOh54Yo4YYC1_K5bwQ&utm_content=195992381&utm_source=hs_email

Rubber Ducky

 
Shivonne seems to be focused on the rubber ducky to her left.

Guy at work has lost 35 pounds in the month before Thanksgiving, on a special doctor monitored diet. He drinks 4 shakes per day. Costs $500 per month, Wonder if it’s covered by insurance. I’m gonna hit it hard starting in January. Will try to get M to go to the gym with me.

Tuesday: had to work late last night to file a report. Left at 5:50. Since C was at her ministry I stopped off to do some shopping. Then traffic was bad and I had to stop for gas. Was almost 730 when I got home, and Winnie wanted to play. Couldn’t relax until C got home an hour later. Never fired up my laptop. Forgot to get my empty lunch bucket out of my backpack.

Tuesday afternoon my customer had ordered two truckloads for this morning, but wanted to send in a truck last night for some of the material. I made the arrangements with the plant, who kept asking when the truck would arrive. As I was going to bed I happened to check my work email. The customer was never able to set up a truck, meaning that hot material would just sit there. I relayed the info to my plant, who rearranged things so that everything would ship. Then this morning of course the truck with the hot material broke down. Murphy’s law.

Didn’t sleep well Tuesday night. Woke up at 5 am and got ready for work. McDonalds had a special offer this morning, that only 10000 people could get. I placed my mobile order and went through the drive thru by 6:15 am. Not really sure if I got in with the first 10000. Won’t know for a couple of months.

Dreamland BBQ for lunch – smoked turkey and ham. Good. Been working all morning on year end stuff. Plenty to do. Big company webcast today, sharing success stories. Not to drag but several of the stories sound like the things our team has to overcome almost every day.

Anna went to JCT Kitchen at Westside Provisions on Monday night. It’s closing on December 31.

I continue to be stalked by former MLB pitcher turned announced Rick Sutcliffe. I posted a photo of me with Joe Pepitone and Sutcliffe forwarded it. Second time that happened.

To keep from getting sick, employees at a Chickfila in Arizona were working from home via Facetime. Many lauded the idea, though some criticized the innovation just because it was Chickfila.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/tell-me-you-live-in-america-without-telling-me-chick-fil-a-drive-thru-cashier-working-remotely-sparks-debate-on-tiktok/ar-AARMwUA?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531

I was never crazy about the Collanade. Bob Lamb and wife Peggy eat there. They got married the same day we did.

Family in my Sunday School moved from Egypt to Atlanta. The husband works with The Church of the Apostles broadcasting the messages around the world, into various languages. His wife Susie joined our Sunday School class since they live in the area. They were at the party yesterday and I spent time with them. He said Michael Y is like 72 years old but has no plans on retiring. Bryant Wright “retired” but accepted another position with a global ministry, and also works to encourage young pastors. Susie said her parents are missionaries in Germany. Her dad id 80 with no plans on retiring. She wishes they would visit the grandkids more.

Monday I got three projects done halfway. Tuesday I worked on my bowl picks.

PETE ALEXANDER  [SABR Bio] was named for one U.S. president and portrayed by another. HOF Alexander’s birth name is Grover Cleveland Alexander, Grover Cleveland being the 22nd & 24th U.S. president. Alexander was born in the middle of Cleveland’s first term. A biopic of Alexander came out of Hollywood in 1952 entitled “The Winning Team” with the pitcher played by a young Illinois actor who later became the 40^th U.S. president (Reagan almost got top billing). Only Cy Young and Walter Johnson notched more career victories. Alexander is tied with Mathewson at 373 wins. Young had 511, Johnson 417. In 1915 Alexander had the fifth most shutouts of any major league season ever, with twelve. The following season Alexander racked up the all time record: 16 (tied with George Bradley’s 1876 effort).

Henri Nouwen: "It is hard to believe God would reveal his divine presence to us in the self-emptying, humble way of the man from Nazareth. So much in me seeks influence, power, success, and popularity. The way of Jesus is the way of hiddenness, powerlessness, and littleness. It does not seem a very appealing way. Yet when I enter into true, deep communion with Jesus, I will find that it is this small way that leads to real peace and joy."