"A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion but doesn't." - unknown

It's 7:45 and I'm sitting in Dizzy's having just finished a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee. Yes, I had a cinnamon roll as my week's cheat on Friday but this is officially a new week. And Pam's still in MI. And it's raining buckets.
So don't judge!
Besides, I lost a pound last week. Burpees.

I have tried several search queries and can't find a list of govt. mandated car safety features by year. How far back can you go before backup cameras were required? Or ESC? Or a lane departure warning system? Or blind spot warning?
If someone was considering buying a used car, knowing which features in any given model yeaer would be standard per govt. requirements seems like an obvious factor, so why hasn't somebody created a list to show that info? Seems like a key piece of data.

Between midnight and 6 a.m. we got .97" of rain. All the ditches out where we live are full, people with flat land have a lake, and the reservoir is rising. It's still coming down! Coming up on 8:00 we're at 1.15". It doesn't affect our place on Baker Rd. except that the goat pen is a muddy mess. They don't seem to care because they stay in the barn when it's raining like this.

At 6 p.m. we're over 2" for the day an it's still coming down...hard. The say we *may* get an hour or so of a break on Tuesday, but other than that it could be May.
Walking Buddy was an expression of devotion to a sweet and obedient dog.

I did go to the gym this afternoon. I don't usually go on Sunday's but the guilt over my morning's transgression needed to be assuaged.

I had fun in class this morning. I think they've figured out who I am and adjusted to my odd sense of humor. And I've learned most of their names, so we can interact more easily. This weekend was the women's retreat so we were down a bit but that was nice in that it allowed for more of that interaction.
And they're doing a great job of learning the material. We started with a quiz. I didn't collect their papers because there aren't any grades given, but I wanted them to see how much they've learned since we started. I hope the quiz had that effect. I may do it again next week - same questions - to help them learn any items they missed.

I feel sorry for Joe Biden. Based on what I've read from people he's worked with over the years he's a truly nice guy who genuinely cares about others. He has the misfortune of frequently expressing that care and connection through touch.
Americans are ridiculously touch-averse. I suspect this emotional reserve traces back to our European heritage.
One of the things I enjoyed about Costa Rica is that they are NOT touch averse. It took me a few days to get over my unease and get to the point where I appreciated the physical contact that comes naturally to them. When Carlos is talking to me about how much he enjoys the sessions he'll reach out and put his hand on my upper arm. It's a way to communicate that he doesn't just think this, he feels it. Louis, roughly my age, gave me a big hug every time he saw me, even if it was an hour ago. A big grin, a cheery greeting - "Brother Craig!" and a hug. The women hug each other and several of them gave me the kiss on the cheek like we've seen Italians do when they greet each other.

Besides being touch-averse - Americans want their personal space - we are a hyper-sexualized culture. In every sense. And to Joe Biden's disadvantage we see a sexual innuendo in the most innocent physical contact. Grrrr! Why must it be a sexually loaded gesture to give someone a hug? Or put a hand on their back.
On their BACK, for Pete's sake!

If a man hugs a man it should last no longer than .75 seconds and include an open-hand slap on the back. Hugging a women, in the very rare circumstances where it's not a horrible act of aggression, has to be a "side hug."
We're idiots. Sexually obsessed, emotionally constricted, socially repressed idiots.

There's a tentative plan to go back to Costa Rica next year. I can't wait. I'm especially looking forward to seeing Alonso and Silvia Cabezas and their two kids. Mi familia. And Alonso's dad, Louis. We'll all hug, a lot. I'll be so glad to see those dear people that if in the middle of a conversation I feel a wave of love for them I will give them a hug. And they'll hug me back. And my heart will be warm. The same thing will happen when I go to the church Alonso pastors, and where I taught for two weeks. Most of them don't speak English and I don't speak Spanish, but we speak the language of hugs and touches.

I'm sorry, Joe. You're right, they're wrong. Don't let them or our latest cultural dysfunction change who you are. Being President of the United States is definitely not worth it!

Oh, and fair warning: if we run across each other don't be surprised if I give you a hug or put my hand on you as we speak. And if it bothers you...
get over it.