Random thoughts

Random thoughts: Saturday’s Ice Cream

/ Jim McDonald / Leave a comment

Saturday’s Ice Cream

 

Saturday was not a day of rest and relaxation, but it was a day of fun and friends.

 

For close to a year now, I’ve been a member of a Charles County, MD. writers group called, Life Journeys Writers Guild (LJWG). From 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, July the 29th, close to sixty LJWG members were in attendance to our Big Quarterly meeting.

 

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It was held at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, MD., which houses our Independent League baseball team, the Blue Crabs. We occupied the luxurious Legends Club, overlooking the field; with laughter, good finger food and two great speakers. By the way, we are always looking for new members.

 

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The Blue Crabs had a game after our meeting and those who wanted to watch it were given free tickets. About a dozen of us stayed and enjoyed the game.

 

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It was a Star Wars theme, and we enjoyed all the characters that were prodded out for our amusement. Our fearless leader, Yvonne Medley, was full of laughter as she guided us to a great day. You can see her hiding behind our collection of writers, next to the big blue and white critter called, Pinch.

 

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Pinch and the group

 

Around the fourth inning, I set out on a very important mission. I braved the crowds by myself in search of the perfect ice cream cone. My first stop was the rest room, then I walked past the alcohol vendor, but I was distracted by an image of immense satisfaction and missed the first ice cream spot.

 

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The distraction, six Redskinnets ‘The First Ladies of Football’.

 

I’m a Washington Redskin fan, so the colors of burgundy, white and gold stand out. The unexpected vision of beauty momentarily froze me in place. However, it didn’t take long to move my feet and get a closer look at those colors.

 

As usual I like to get right in the middle of things, confirmed by the photo below. I might be old, but I ain’t dead yet. Can you tell by my grin? I hung out and flirted with these scantily clad young ladies, till I ran out of lies to tell them about my greatness.

 

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At the Regency Furniture Stadium with six of my newest fantasies

 

After I bought their personally signed calendar, I turned and went back to the group. The guys were secretly giving me kudos, while the women of the group ribbed me about my purchase. Needless to say, I forgot all about the ice cream and had to go back later to get it.

 

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Back cover

 

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Front cover, Erika

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Random thoughts: Communication Matters

/ Jim McDonald / 4 Comments

Communication Matters

 

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One sign of respect

 

I’m not always right, some might say, hardly at all and of course they’re entitled to their opinions. However, when I’m talking, I think it’s very rude when someone cuts me off in mid sentence. Venting is one thing and that’s understandable as long as it’s in the right setting. This editorial is not about venting, it’s about disrespect, selfishness and the inability to remain teachable.

 

When I use the word, ‘you’ in this article, I am targeting those on the other end of some of my conversations, not you the reader.

 

First off; when you cut me off in mid sentence, you’re telling me, what I have to say is of no consequence or doesn’t matter. Who are you to imply that to me? You’re no better than me and it doesn’t matter if you’re blue collar, white collar, job statues or your experience. Your opinion is only your opinion and normally not much more than that.

 

Self-centered conversations typically means there is no communication, which also means the conversation is coming from one direction. It’s a very selfish and arrogant person who relies on their opinion and only theirs. A one sided conversation like that normally come to a quick and abrupt end. The results are more than likely not the desired one. Both parties will probably leave the conversation unfulfilled or with an unresolved issue.

 

I had a friend, Melvin Foster, and one of his more memorable quotes was, “Always remain teachable…” He passed away several years ago after living a nice long life. He was a very knowledgeable man in many areas, but since he remained teachable throughout his life, he continued to grow in his accomplishments till his death. That was made possible, because of his ability to listen. His grounded behavior was loved by many.

 

Most days I can handle these selfish interactions and just walk away. Sometimes it’s not so easy though, especially when I need a specific answer and the person doesn’t listen to the question. Maybe they’re having a bad day or maybe they think they can read minds.

 

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Communication is the key for ‘human beings’ to progress nicely throughout the day and we as ‘human doings’ are not doing it well.

 

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I have noticed that those who actually want help people, have the ability to listen and then formulate a plan based on most of the facts and issues at hand.

 

I need to admit, that sometimes I fail in this very same arena. When you listen to and exchange words with another person, you are showing them the respect they probably deserve, just like you do.

Random thoughts: life changes

/ Jim McDonald / 2 Comments

Life changes

 

Did I ever tell you how and where I got saved?

 

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At a local cemetery

 

In two days, it will be 27 years since I walked out of Charles County Detention Center in La Plata, MD. I was picked up by my mom and two sons after a stay of nine months.

 

That midnight we drove past Lady Liquors and went for a pizza and soda instead. To drive past that liquor store was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Life is much better without the drink and the drug.

 

While I lived in the jail, I got saved by Christ Jesus on February 20, 1990. My mom’s minister visited me every Thursday like clockwork and answered every question I had in a very personal and astute way. He was God’s emissary that led me to Him.

 

When I was released on June 6, 1990, I immediately started going to Alcoholics Anonymous and still do. In ’91, I started to volunteer at the same detention center by taking AA meetings in there. In ’93 I stopped carrying the AA message and began escorting four men, what I felt were Godly men from Forest Park Baptist Church, behind the walls of safety to deliver the Gospel message.

 

It wasn’t long, when one of the men wasn’t able to make it and since I was just a babe in Christ and scripture, all I could do was talk with them about what God did for me. The next time that happened, I had a tailored message from scripture specifically designed for the inmates. Before the year was out, I was the only one going in, from my group. I did that till 2000.

 

Since 2001, I’ve been a member of Southern Maryland Christian Academy and see Pastor Marvin and bunch of my friends often. However, since 2002 I frequent church once a month, every other month or not for months at a time.

 

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Southern Maryland Cristian Academy

 

I have a very personal relationship with my Savior Jesus and my poetry is based on what He has done for me.

 

I am so proud to be clean, sober and Saved.

Random thoughts: Facebook friend request

/ Jim McDonald / Leave a comment

Facebook friend request

 

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I am 99.99 percent sure that this picture does not belong to the spam artist that sent me the friend request.

 

 

I wish all these pretty young ladies really wanted to be my friend instead of selling me something or taking something from me. Come on guys, a lady that looks like this, does not need me as a friend. I could only dream. 😉

Random thoughts: What if someone online dies?

/ Jim McDonald / 3 Comments

Random thoughts: What if someone online dies?

 

If a friend of mine dies, I get the information from; a text, word of mouth or maybe the obituaries. This is how it works if I know the person in a tangible sense, another words physically.

 

What happens if an online friend died? If I have never met them in person and we chat on a weekly basis. What if they die?

 

Some of my online friends live somewhere in the world and I have no idea what corner. Are they married, do they have kids, what country do they live in, what state, how old are they or really who are they?

 

I don’t need the answers to those question, but after a few conversations with the same person, those questions arise.

 

All of a sudden they stop posting. At first I might think, maybe they’re moving or something else minor is going on in their life to keep them from the net. What if they had cancer and didn’t let us know or maybe they were in a bad accident of some sort. What if Colonel Mustard killed them in the Kitchen with a knife?

 

Life comes and goes, that’s the way it is. It has to be that way or we would run out of room. It’s a sad thought, knowing a friend could die and I wouldn’t know anything about it.

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This is Ben and I just met him at the La Plata Starbucks. I might not ever see him again, so he might fit this little story.