¿Qué Dijo Sólo Usted?

(Phone rings on a government employee's desk)


Government Employee: "Department of *******, this is *****, how can I help you?"


Juan Q. Public: "¿Dice usted español?" (Do you speak Spanish?)

Government Employee: "No, I don't..."

Juan Q. Public: "¿Puede usted encontrar alguien que dice el español?" (Can you find someone who speaks Spanish?)

Government Employee: "No, YOU find someone who speaks English, and call back."

Cool Geography Games

A friend of ours, Ron Tagliapietra, is an avid mountain hiker, published author, and a professor who has created several on-line geography games. Here is the email he sent us... give his games a try!

"Dear friends,

I now have 22 geography games on the website, http://purposegames.com . Links for games appear below. When you are done playing a game, you can hit the back button to rate the game and/or to post comments on its strengths or weaknesses. My games need players, so I hope you will check them out.


The most popular games on the site are identifying the 50 US states and identifying the countries on 4 continents. I made country games for 2 other continents.

N. America (23 countries, 4 territories):


Oceania (14 countries, 3 territories):



City games are also popular. I have contributed 5 of these.

Capitals of North American countries (23 capitals)


Capitals of Oceania (14 capitals)


Cities in California (18 with populations of 200,000)

Largest city in each state
(question format)



While nowhere near as popular, hikers may be interested in these 8 games.

22 Cascade Mountains

40 Southern Sixers

Highest waterfall in all 50 states

National Parks (all 58)


50 state highpoints

13 Canadian highpoints

5 county highpoints in HI

14 islands in Hawaii

Counties
Every state has a county game except NY, VA, and maybe NC, just search the site for the state. To find WV, you must search for "counties". I stumbled on MS (and maybe NC) and don't know how to find them. The CO and AK games are not up to date (missing newest counties). I made the 7 county games listed below (in order of popularity):

RI (5 cos.)
OR (36 cos.)
VT (14 cos.)
MA (23 cos.)
SC (46 cos.)
MN (87 cos.)
MT (56 cos.)

I am working on a game for the most powerful waterfall in each state. I will probably also eventually do county games for the 3 missing states.

Finally, there is a worldwide prominent mountains game (made by Wentu).


Please try out some of my games!
ron tag (my nickname on purposegames.com)"

Two Government Employees

~~~

Every day, I go to the Post Office, at least once. I've gotten to know a lot of the employees. Some are great, others not. Consider these two:

Employee A:

He finishes weighing my pre-paid packages, preparing to scan them in and give me a receipt. "Uh-oh, this one is an ounce over! You need 11 cents more on the package."

I've already waited 10 minutes in line and am standing there with only my cell phone and my keys. I say, half joking, "Have you got 11 cents in your pocket? I'll give you a quarter next time I see you!"

He smiles, slaps an 11-cent stamp on the package, and waves me on.



Employee B:

She finishes weighing my pre-paid packages, preparing to scan them in and give me a receipt. "Uh-oh, this one is one/hundredth of an ounce over! You need 11 cents more on the package."

I've already waited 10 minutes in line and am standing there with only my cell phone and my keys. I say, "One/hundredth of an ounce over?!?! You're kidding me! You mean .01 of an OUNCE?!"

She plants her feet squarely on her little rubber mat, looks me in the eye and says, "11 cents please! Next time, don't lean so heavily on your pen when you write!"

"I don't have my wallet with me. Are you really going to insist on the next rate for one/hundredth of an ounce?" I ask incredulously.

She slides the package back to me, and just glowers. This is a day I will definitely be making two trips to the Post Office.

My "Life Song"

Jessica posted song lyrics on her blog and suggested others do the same. Rebecca posted on her own blog and I decided to do the same.

This song has been meaningful to me for many years. In fact, in my funeral instructions, I have requested just two things: that I be buried, not cremated, and that this song be sung - joyfully!

Various verses have been especially relevant at different times. During this season of my life, I cling to Verse Two.

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   
   
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
     
     
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
   
   
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
   
   
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
   
   
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
   
   
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

Just For Jessica

8 Things I am Looking Forward to:

1. Seeing Rebecca, Josh, Caleb and Annabelle in about two months.
2. Dinner with Yvette tomorrow at Olive Garden.
3. The Haiti Dinner this Saturday.
   
4. The Living Room Concert (Jon Troast) at the Fletchers next week.
5. Summer, in general (love those long days).
   
6. Feeling better soon (new medication).
   
7. My next long talk with Debbie.
   
8. Sleep - always excited about that!

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Drank coffee and talked with my man.
   
2. Went to church.
   
3. Went for a yummy frozen yogurt at a new place we found.
   
4. Finished listing the rest of the bicycle parts on ebay.
   
5. Talked with Rebecca on skype for her birthday.
   
6. Sniffled a little because I miss Caleb and Annabelle so much.
   
7. Watched "John Adams" (a documentary mini-series)
   
8. Took a hot relaxing bubble bath.
   

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Go to Singapore.
2. Go to Minnesota with my man.
   
3. Sell our house(s).
4. Move to the coast.
   
5. Thoroughly clean my house.
   
6. Figure out how to market Rick's Art Lamps successfully.
   
7. Get a pancreas transplant.
8. Memorize portions of the Bible (I try, but I ain't as sharp as I used to be...)
   

8 Shows I Enjoy on DVD:

1. The Office
   
2. JAG
3. NCIS
4. Law & Order (1990s)
5. Law & Order (CI)
6. Numb3rs
7. Lie to Me
   
8. John Adams
   

I love you Jess!