HOW "BLOGGING" HAS BECOME MY GOOD FRIEND!!

 

     I was never ever one of those kids who had an 'Invisible friend." I might have been a creative kid and a "deep thinker" but never had an invisible friend. I never told my father "Hey Dad! Don't sit there! You might sit on my invisible friend Tommy!" My Dad would have sent me to a child psychiatrist. Well, not really but he would have been concerned!  

     I started blogging probably since 2008 or so. When I first heard about blogging, my initial plan was to blog to help me work on my creative writing and develop that "writing muscle." I felt like since it was free and a great vehicle to display my writing, I thought, "Hey, why not give it a shot!" I began posting my original blog on Facebook around 2008 and I got a great response. In 2013 when I went through a rough time, I was certainly not in the mood to write so I stopped. I just couldn't do it. Actually, it was well over 5 years. I needed that time to heal, regroup and get closer to God. In September 2018 I decided to start a new blog I call "Telling it like it is", a takeoff from an ongoing comment from former sportscaster Howard Cosell from Monday Night Football. Since then, this is blog number 243 and I'm sure many more will follow.  

     So how could writing a blog be identified as being a friend? Let me explain. If there was one thing I have learned about myself from the minute I was born until 2013 it was very simple. I trusted too many people! I thought everyone was trustworthy and you could tell them things you were going through knowing they wouldn't tell a soul. Even in the church, I believed that if you shared a personal situation with a "friend" and when they told you "I'll be praying for you, brother!" that it would stay between you and that "friend." Well, that was not always the case. There are people out there who thrive on other people's business, especially the "business" of a pastor of a big church. Let's just say as we have almost completed 2 months of 2025, and to this very day I honestly don't trust a whole lot of people. I could probably tell you the number of people that I do trust can be counted with ten fingers or less. 

     When I rented a room in a house in Centereach, NY I worked a lot of hours. Many times, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. I went home very tired and truthfully, I really did not want to go out or even talk on the phone with a friend. After taking a nap and then exercising, I would usually sit on my loveseat, turn on a game and then grab my laptop. I get ideas for blogs at the craziest times...in the middle of the night, driving in my car, walking at the beach, at work or even in dreams!! Yes!! After looking back at when I first started this present blog, I can see how much pain I was in. Blogging gave me an avenue to vent, to be creative and to share some "pent up" frustrations I had. In reality, it was my friend, my confidant, my outlet and yes...that old friend I had not seen in many years who I just HAD to tell him or her what was going on. Yes, God has always been there for me and of course, He listens to my prayers, and I know He loves me and wants what's best for me. Writing these blogs was an outlet for me...a friend. 

     I have developed some new rules in my blogs in the last few years. I try not to talk about work out of respect to my boss and coworkers. I don't like to mention certain family members who I know will be offended and I really try not to bring up the past too much. I realize what happened on February 26, 1984, is over with and done (I just picked that random date off the top of my head). It's time to move on! I do find it enjoyable to sit behind my laptop and share with you all my thoughts as well as try to be an encouragement to everyone. I realize that we all go through our "stuff" and I'm not the only one who struggles. The Game of Life can be rough, but it can also be amazing! Every day is a fight, but I am so glad I have the Lord on my side! I'm also having fun making my videos on YouTube "NY Guy living in the South." Stay tuned for our next "adventure."

     Lastly, I do hope one day to finish the book I have been wanting to write for so long. I'm sure when I retire (who knows when) it will be completed but who knows maybe sooner. We shall see! The title is "20 Things I have learned in 20 years." 

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING ME & MY BLOG. 

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND!!

     

          

     

I WANT IT NOW!!

     As a kid growing up in the 1970's, I always have memories of our Thanksgiving. We spent that holiday at Grandma & Grandpa Harff's house in Secaucus, NJ. I know I have blogged about my grandfather before but let me just give you a refresher on this interesting man. He was not easy to get along with! I think my grandmother has an extra jewel in her crown in heaven for not only living with him but putting up with his shenanigans! He loved to talk, argue politics, talk some more and argue more about anything he could think of! It made for an interesting thanksgiving meal. He even tried to argue once with my father and his brother Frank about grass! Eventually, in the middle of the decade my father made an executive decision that he and my mom would host thanksgiving and no longer endure the pain of Joe Harff! 

     I do have one memory of thanksgiving that was fun sitting in my grandparents living room. My brother and sister and I would watch the movie on TV "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory." The movie came out in 1971 and starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and also starred Jack Albertson who would later star in the TV show "Chico & the Man." There is one part of the movie I would like to blog about that always bothered me. Actually, it was one of the characters. Veruca Salt! She was the little bratty girl who would always say, "I want it now!" I don't remember every part of the movie, but I do remember Veruca! In fact, I could not stand her! Whoever the actress was who played her was, in my opinion excellent and should have won multiple awards for portraying the part of Veruca. In the movie children all over the world were hoping to find the Golden tickets that were hidden in the Wonka bars. Veruca's father was very wealthy and owned some type of factory in Great Britain. He ordered cases of candy bars to be shipped to his factory and had all his factory workers searched through every candy bar. The first time we see Veruca she is sitting at her father's desk at his job complaining and saying his workers are not looking fast enough for "her" Golden ticket". Not once did the father ever say "Veruca, shut your trap and learn to appreciate what you have and be quiet!" Nor did he say "Veruca, when we get home you are going to be grounded for a very long time!" Instead, he told his workers to work harder. He never corrected her...EVER! When the Golden Ticket was found by a factory worker, and she came running to Veruca's father's office, Veruca never said, "Thank you," instead she said, "Give me that! It's mine!" She grabbed the ticket away from the worker with absolutely no appreciation!  Later in the movie when everyone who found the Golden Tickets were touring Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, Veruca was at it again! She wanted one of the golden gooses to keep for herself. What a brat! Even after her father tried to negotiate with Willy Wonka, Willy said, "They were not for sale." Veruca fell for her untimely death through a trap door! As a kid I was rooting for Charlie to win the big prize not Veruca! The last man, or boy, standing was Charlie!

     I think in each of us there may be a Veruca Salt! How many of us want things instantly? How many of us "Want it Now!!" Do you remember the days before ATM's? We had to walk into a bank. Before cellphones? We had to use a pay phone. When you wanted information, you actually had to go to the library? You answered your telephone not knowing who was calling (before caller ID). What about our prayers? Do we expect God to act quickly? Maybe he wants us to wait for an answer? I have a hard time with "Name it and claim it" or "Blab it and grab it" Christians who are "telling God what He should do." I am a firm believer that everything is in God's timing, not ours! Last week, I heard some very disturbing news about something I really wanted. I would rather not say what it was because truthfully mentioning it still hurts! I was hoping this would all work out, but it did not. I will be brutally honest and say I started getting depressed about it. Not clinically depressed but an overwhelming sadness came over me. I tried very hard to put a smile on my face at work. It was not easy. Now please understand my attitude was certainly not like Veruca Salt's. I am grateful that my parents did NOT spoil me. I graduated high school in 1982 and I'm sure there were kids who were handed keys to a brand new 1982 Corvette as a graduation gift. My father told me, "If you want a car, you will need to work for it!" I bought my first car in 1984. It was a 1972 Pontiac Ventura, and it was dark green. When I brought it home and parked it in the driveway, my dad said "You must be proud! You worked hard for this!" 4 years later I bought a new vehicle. a 1988 Mazda Pick-up truck that was light blue. I actually picked it up on my birthday. My father said those exact words again! I was proud! I did work hard for it! 

     I have learned this past week that having "stuff" in life doesn't matter. When we die, we are NOT taking it with us. I have also realized that this very thing I desired, something better will come along. Waiting is not fun, but I would rather wait on what God has for me than be Veruca Salt and say, "I WANT IT NOW!!" I would never ever want to be a "Brat" in God's eyes! Just some food for thought as we all continue to live this life and do our very best on planet earth!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!!    

 

REACHING THE TOP...COASTING DOWN THE HILL!!

 

     I am a big fan of physical fitness. I might not look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I do believe we should take care of ourselves, and the body God gave us. I try to go to the gym, go for walks and ride my bike when I can. I do have an active job at Chick Fil-A, but I do feel it is important we keep our blood pumping and try to stay in our best shape possible. Believe me when I say that "The Battle of the Bulge" is an ongoing battle for this guy writing this blog.

     Since I have moved to South Carolina I have had a lot of things in storage including my bicycle. I was blessed to win this bicycle when I worked for TruGreen back in 2015. Our branch won a sales competition, and I was allowed to pick a prize from a catalog. I chose a bicycle! I always enjoyed cycling in the spring, summer and fall. The winter not so much. But I did try to take my bike for a spin and get much needed exercise when I could. Since my bike was stored at a local U-Haul, I was not able to ride since December. Not until February 5th. It had been 2 months since I rode my bike. The area I cycled in New York was primarily flat, so I had no hills to climb. Unfortunately, that was not the case where I rode in South Carolina recently. There were some tough hills to climb.  Climbing up the hills cause me to huff and puff and work hard to get up that dreaded hill. I didn't look at the top of the hill. I only thought about each time I pedaled and pushed myself to get where I need to go. When I got to the top, I smiled because I knew one thing! I would have an opportunity to coast down the hill until...you guessed it...I had another hill to climb. On this particular day last week, I rode about 1 1/2 miles. Not bad after a two-month layoff! Not great either but there is always room for improvement! 

     This endeavor reminds me of life. How many times to do struggle when we climb up the worries and problems of life. We struggle and it's hard. We get angry. We wish we could coast but we know life can be a struggle. We wonder when it will ever end until...we reach the top and then...we coast...we realize life is good, things are going well, we are happy. We hear the song "I'm into something good" by Herman's Hermits in our ear as the wind blows in our face and then as we coast down that hill...guess what?? We have another hill to climb! I wish I could tell you all life will always be a downhill coast but that would be a lie. We all have many hills to climb. I have found this out not only recently but for many years. I have also discovered it is not only me but everyone who goes through this. My friends, it's called life. I know as I cycle, the more hills I climb, the better in shape I will become. In life, the more hills I climb, I will be able to face life's challenges. The difference is, when you put Jesus first, He makes all the difference, and He is there to help us when we struggle. All I know is that I cannot do it without Him! Reaching the top will always be a challenge. Thank you, God, for giving me the strength to be an overcomer!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS RIGHT!!

     Abraham Lincoln's birthday is coming up on February 12. If he were alive, he would be turning 216!! That is certainly A LOT of birthday candles on his cake! You might need a fire extinguisher! Obviously, Honest Abe as they called him would certainly not be alive at 216 years of age. Sadly, he died at 56 years of age. As we all know he was assassinated while watching a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. Mr. Lincoln was our 16th President but also a very solid in his faith. Recently, I heard one of his quotes that really intrigued me. Before I get to his quote, let me just say I have always admired Mr. Lincoln. He went through a tremendous amount of pressure as our President. His job was not easy. He led our country during the Civil War, and he was extremely instrumental in ending slavery in America. Mr. Lincoln did not give credit to himself, nor to those around him. He never ever said "It seems as though all the planets all lined up for me during my presidency. It must be obvious, folks!" No chance! Mr. Lincoln gave all the credit and glory to God. His quote, which I read recently in a book declared this:

"I would be the greatest fool on earth if I did not realize that I could never satisfy the demands of the high office without the help of One who is greater and stronger than I am." 

     Wow! Here is a well-known President who was successful in guiding our country. A man who served our country well from 1861-1865. A man who grew up poor and was self-educated. A man who wrote the Gettysburg address and to this very day you see his profile on every penny and $5 bill who is giving God all the credit and glory. He is admitting that he put his trust in God to lead him and direct him during his Presidency. I admire that and it tells me that every single day, I need to be doing the same! Whether I'm taking orders and Chick Fil-A, teaching kids at church or serving as a Child Evangelist. I need to rely on the One who is stronger than I am! This is food for thought for everyone! Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln! May we follow your amazing example and learn from this! 

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK EVERYONE!