On Mark Twain

 Mark Twain held a pistol to his head.

But he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger.

So, he put down the pistol and picked up a pen…

Many textbooks portray Mark Twain as poised, self-assured, and composed.

However, the Twain described in writings from 1865 and 1866 is far from that man…

At this time, Twain was living in San Francisco and earning $100 a month writing 2,000-word columns, 6 days a week for a newspaper called the Territorial Enterprise.

The 29-year-old Twain was struggling immensely. He was drowning in debt. The local pawnshops owned nearly all his possessions.

In a letter from 1865, he wrote to his brother:

“If I do not get out of debt in three months – pistols or poison for one – exit me,”

And he nearly took the first option.

There are many stories about what exactly made him change his mind:

One story describes how his eyes met a bill for coal he had received. The wording on the bill was so peculiar for such a low sum of requested money that it made him do a double take. It supposedly brought about a chuckle and he reflected on the oddity of life, putting down his pistol.

Some accounts claim that when he brought the pistol to his head, he couldn’t bear to pull the trigger out of his thoughts of cowardice.

Whatever the truth may be, we do know that the great literary figure had some very dark days in his lonely San Francisco apartment…

Shortly after this incident, Twain hit his first home run. He finally leaned into his inclinations of humor with The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.

It was a humorous work and was published by the New York Saturday Press on November 18, 1865. It brought him his first taste of international fame.

And the rest is history!

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE:

- The Brightest days often come right after the darkest nights.

Life is very strange. In many ways, it is like a video game, in the sense that it is full of tests. Things get extremely hard in life and as long as you hang on and keep pushing, you will make a breakthrough and get to the next level. It's always hardest right before a significant breakthrough. Then things are great for a while but eventually, the pattern repeats itself. The tests vary in difficulty but they all push the individual to ascend to higher levels of consciousness and character.

This story of Twain’s dark days displays the idea perfectly. He was in just about the lowest place a person can be, yet he didn’t let go of himself and as a result, very quickly got his first big win.

I’m sure you can relate to this story in some way - reflecting on your own difficult times. Hopefully, the video game analogy provides you with a greater awareness of the pattern.

So, when things get dark, hold on, keep pushing and bright daylight will come soon enough.

Written by The Knowledge Archivist on Twitter

Read More: https://www.droidalerts.com/separated-for-what-felt-like.../

In Rio Grande Valley for the winter

 86 degrees at our place in La Feria, Texas, with forecast of 89º high and possible light scattered showers for today.

Arrived at our place Thursday about 3:00 pm. 

Was able to park trailer on empty place east of us where we can tote things in the back door directly to the kitchen.  Was told that Tommy, who lived in Raab's old place, has moved to relatives in Florida and his house is for sale.  He was having dementia problems for some time and not totally surprised at this.  Stiver's house doesn't appear opened, but Sharleen had told us she had sold it.  Pam Elanger's sisters had bought Pat & Lois Sumner's place and were to move here in June.  However, their house sold quicker than expected and they are here, staying in Pam & Bill's Travel Trailer and Sumner's are preparing to move, probably to Arlington, TX area where they have a daughter living, so the girls can move into Sumner's place..Photo taken out back dour of our house.

Plants in back yard

are doing fine!

Our site in New Braunfels, TX on Wednesday night was near, almost below Interstate 35.  Since we had a pull through site didn't have to unhook.  All their back-in sights you had to unhook. 

Didn't take photo of Tuesday night south of Ponca City, Oklahoma, but was out of town, off a state road and under trees by a river.  Very quiet back-in site and got some rest after fighting the high winds all that day.

   Speaking of winds, we were heading into high winds most of our 1,235 miles drive down here.

Discovered this rather large (30-40) wasps nest over where we were parking the pickup.  Was able to dispatch them with some spray.

Some of unloading the pickup.

Got all the insulation panels off the windows and stored for the winter in the overhead shelves in the shop area.

Flowers are all doing well here at our place.

Was nice to use the hot tub last night.  Our 25-year old hot tub in Clarinda sprung a leak a week or so before we packed up to come south.

Had a couple pretty

good sized limbs

come off our Ash

tree onto the garage

a couple days

before we left.

Got it cut up.

I am pretty sure the following is referring to the Southeast US, not South Texas.  Enjoy:

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU MOVE TO THE SOUTH.

1. A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.

2. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in the South.

3. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in the South, plus a couple no one's seen before.

4. If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.

5. Onced and Twiced are words.

6. It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy!

7. Jawl-P? means: Did you all go to the bathroom?

8. People actually grow, eat, and like okra.

9. Fixinto is one word. It means I'm going to do something.

10. There is no such thing as lunch. There is only dinner and then there's supper.

11. Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar. It is referred to as the Wine of the South.

12. Backwards and forwards means I know everything about you.

13. The word jeet is actually a question meaning, 'Did you eat?'

14. You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is, you work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

15. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH em.

16. Y'all is singular. All Y'all is plural.

17. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.

18. You carry jumper cables in your car for your OWN car.

19. You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning, Tabasco, and ketchup.

20. The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local high school sports, motorsports, and gossip.

21. Everyone you meet is a Honey, Sugar, Miss (first name), or Mr (first name)

22. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.

23. You know what a hissy fit is..

24. Fried catfish is the other white meat.

25. We don't need no dang Driver's Ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive!!!

26. You understand these jokes and forward them to your Southern friends and those who just wish they were from the South.

AND one more:

27. Why did the chicken cross the road? To show that stupid possum that it CAN be done!

Later, L C M

Good weekend with family in Eastern Iowa

54 degrees here in Clarinda, IA at 12 Noon Monday, high to be 60 degrees. Reported 32 degrees this morning, but no sign of frost at all.

Spent Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning at Cam & Patty's place near Marengo, IA.  Got last visit of this year--until next April--with most of the family.  Only grandson-in-law Derek wasn't there.

Phyllis had knitted a stocking cap for David and sewn a dress for Jessica and they posed for a picture with them.

Last week I drained the hot tub and moved it to the shop building.  Had developed a slow leak the last few weeks -- will have to see if can seal it next spring before setting it up.

Picked up a lot of small branches and made them in to short chips before throwing them over the hedge onto the hillside behind it.

Last week the soybean field directly across the street from our neighbor to the west was harvested.  These photos were taken from my driveway.

At right is photo of Guard Cat Cricket.

Later, Lynn

DIARY OF A SNOW SHOVELER:

 DIARY OF A SNOW SHOVELER:

Moved to North Dakota this fall. We heard that summers are fun and winter is beautiful. We think there is no more beautiful a place in the whole world!
December 8 - 6:00 PM It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9 - We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks.
This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!
December 12 - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.
December 14 - Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.
December 15 - 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.
December 16 - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17 - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God! I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.
December 20 - Electricity's back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but. they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
December 22 - Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob-who has a plow on his truck-for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying.
December 23 - Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago. She says she did but I think she's lying.
December 24 - 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling, and then he comes down the street...at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents...but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.
December 25 - Merry f---ing Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to feed her through a chipper shredder.
December 26 - Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.
December 27 - Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $4,400 to replace all my pipes.
December 28 - Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The BITCH is driving me crazy!!!
December 29 - 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
December 30 - Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.
December 31 - I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
January 8 - Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed ???

Howard McNear (Floyd): on “The Andy Griffith Show,”

 

In Richard Kelly's book, “The Andy Griffith Show,” Andy Griffith had the following to say about actor Howard McNear (Floyd):

     "Howard, first of all, was a leading man in the San Diego theatre years ago. He never was in New York in his life. He developed this comic character, I believe, on The Jack Benny Show. Howard was a nervous man and he became that man, Floyd.

     “Then Howard had a stroke and was bad off for a long time. He was out of our show for about a year and three-quarters. We did a lot of soft shows, that is, those that were not hard on comedy -- stories about the boy or the aunt. But we needed comedy scenes to break up things.
    

      “We were working on a script one day, and Aaron [Ruben] said, `Boy do I wish we had Howard.' And one of us said, `Why don't we see if we can get him.' So right then we called up Howard's house and we got his wife, Helen. `Oh,' she said, `it would be a godsend.'

     “Well, we wrote him a little scene. He was paralyzed all down his left side and so we couldn't show him walking. We had him sitting or we built a stand that supported him. He could then stand behind the barber chair and use one hand. Most of the time, however, we had him sitting. His mind was not affected at all. He was with us about two years after that before he died. Finally poor Howard died. I'm sorry because there was never anyone like him. Kind, kind man."
Credit Goes To The Respective Owner 

Good weather in Iowa - watching weather in Florida and southeast US

 

55 degrees now at 10;00 am in Clarinda, IA on Monday morning.

At left is the temp at 7;17 am when I went out to the hot tub. Not so bad getting into the tub, but getting out wet, those three steps to the doorway were quick ones.  And think, 95 degrees last Saturday!

Watching weather in Florida where my brother Darrell and his son live some 40 miles from Orlando.

A few of photos of Band Day Parade Saturday, taken by someone not looking into the sun like I was when took my photos.

You didn't know it, but we left for a while to go to local pharmacy to get flu and Covid 19 shots.  And, when we got back I mowed the lawn-first time in almost 2 weeks.  Is now 1:45 pm and is now 68º.

At right - have you ever seen

a horse hug a person?

 

d

Okay, got to brag to brag on our kids, grandkids and great grandkids when I can.  This happy, happy great grandson David is one happy kid, dancing at an Octoberfest this last weekend.  Took these off a video.

At right and below are at the same OctoberFest.

And one at right of the two GREAT grandkids.

Later, Lynn

Visit with Harold & LaRhoda Neher in Kansas and Band Day in Clarinda

75 degrees at 8:15 pm Saturday.  To be a bit cooler.  This 95 degrees was earlier this afternoon

 -- and this is October!

We went to the Clarinda Band Day parade this morning, after eating breakfast at the American Legion Club here in Clarinda at their Biscuits & Gravy fund raiser.  

1

This afternoon we watched Iowa get beat, but Nebraska won their fifth football game of the season!.

Yesterday we drove to Hiawatha, KS and spent lunch and afternoon with Harold & LaRhoda Neher.  It was LaRhoda's 88th birthday.  Harold will be 98 next March.  They are getting along, but Harold is now on oxygen 24 hours a day and feeling his age

I drove their van which has a wheel-chair ramp for Harold to wheel into. He was able to wheel into the cafe where we had some delicious fish and tenderloin.

After I dropped the ladies off at home, Harold had me drive him several miles to where his son Tim was combining beans.  Harold was able to see the progress Tim was making in the 300 acre field near his house.   And we split 4 games of Pegs & Jokers before having a piece of pumpkin pie!

On the way to Hiawatha, we had stopped in St. Joe, MO to drop off the wire I cleaned out of our storage shed this last week.  Was able to strip some, but much was with insulation.  Also had some scrap iron.

At right is the yard where I unloaded the scrap iron.

Have you ever wondered what the population would be if copulation was painful?

Later, LC