breadcrumb Johnny Sparton Blog

Thankfully they have health insurance

Just heard on the radio....yes....I do listen to the radio a lot, maybe too much. confused laugh


Anyway, they had a guest on their talking about the top cancer fighting medications and how they double and tripled in price in the past couple of years. He said, an increase in price like that usually takes much longer time. Even with insurance, a patient can still spend upwards to $100,000 a year on medicine. Basically, taking, the majority who can afford this medication, their life savings. Thankfully we have insurance....still broke anyway. very mad

It seems as big business can stick it to the population no matter what.
Post Comment

California in trouble?

A few days back I heard that wild fires are bound to happen in California and now, it appears to have happened. Right now I am watching cars on fire on the freeway and people stranded. I cannot say I have ever seen this before. Why was traffic not diverted from the fire? They are also saying on the news there is no water nearby. With the lack of water, aside from a historic drought, are they at risk at historic fires? I would say, it appears so.

As far as my question about the diversion of traffic. The same question was just asked on the news. They say it was a fast moving fire...so, I guess that explains that.

Best of luck to Californians and be safe!
Post Comment

Different seeing it in person

I grew up most of my life in a small rural area. Only recently, I moved to the city. In movies and on television there are many homeless people to be seen. They are pan-handling, huddled around a garbage can fire, or sleeping under bridges. On television, I really never thought much of them. After all, it is just a tv show...surely they are paid actors and actresses.

New to the city, I have ran across a few pan-handlers. It is illegal here but there are some that press their luck. I really do not think anyone really ever thinks to turn them over to the authorities.

I try to get my walk in at least 3 times a week. Tonight was one of those times. A chilly 57 degrees, but just warm enough for me to go walking in a short sleeve shirt. I knew after getting about half of my walk in I would be warm enough. I wish I would have worn my over shirt.

I do three laps around a 7 city block stretch and this is the first time I actually witnessed this is real life. There was an old man with nothing more than a paper thin wind breaker on sleeping on a bench. He had his head rested upon the cement arm rest. What could I do other than just look at him each of the three times I walked past him, wondering how one get themselves in such a circumstance.

I pondered....obviously it is a financial difficulty. But how? Is there a psychological issue with this guy? Is this guy lazy? Does nobody want to give this guy a chance? Has he given up on life? Maybe he wants to live that way? All I know, I wish I could have given him the shirt I did not wear with a couple bucks in the pocket. :(
Post Comment

Sure Signs of a Healthy Relationship

I was just reading this in the latest issue of Psychology Today. It followed the story, "Adjustment Bureau" by Theresa E. DiDonato, Ph.D.

Since we are on a dating site and many of us may have been in a previous relationship that may or may not of worked out exactly as we hoped, or, we are currently looking for a relationship and may have questions on how we can preserve it. I thought that these following tips may help some of us:

"Sure Signs of a Healthy Relationship"

-PARTNERS SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH People are more satisfied in a relationship when a partner actively supports their efforts to expand their own horizons.

-THEY SHARE THEIR EMOTIONS It's not enough to talk with a partner; couples in thriving relationships engage in emotional self-diclosure...the communications of thoughts and ideas with anoter person.

-PARTNERS PAY LESS ATTENTION TO ATTRACTIVE OTHERS The kind of commitment that appears in thriving relationships activates an implicit attentional block against the allure of attractive alternative partners.

-COUPLES SEE THE POSITIVE SIDES TO COMMITMENT Romantic commitment is multifaceted, reflecting positive, negative, and constraining elements. How people view their commitment predicts the quality of their romantic relationship.

-THE PRACTICE SELF-COMPASSION Good partners are kind to themselves. Being gentle toward oneself after a failure, for example, predicts the types of behavior that promote healthy relationships...such as offering empathy and concern for a partner in need.

-THEY EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE Feeling grateful is one thing, but telling your partner is another. Sharing feelings of gratitude is linked to positive partner perceptions and more willingness to voice relationship concerns.

-BOTH FOCUS ON HUMILITY Those who keep the ego in check are more attractive and are evaluated more positively as potential partners. According to research by Daryl Van Tongeren at Hope College, humility may be an important ingredient for relationship success. In addition, humility is tied to forgiveness, a powerful tool in happy unions.

*July/August 2015 Psychology Today page 43
Post Comment

Just how intelligent are we?

It is 5:30 a.m. here and I was just laying down. Obviously, I could not sleep otherwise I would be asleep right now. laugh Anyhow. The kitchen window is open and I can hear the birds chirping outside. I have no idea what those noises all mean, but be sure they mean something to their species.

Just how intelligent is our species? I have heard it said on more than one occasion how our human language limits us. I guess what they mean by that is there is so many things we could convey to each other but it is simply missed with words.

As the birds are doing their sounds, it made me realize, they are surviving as a species. I mean, they seem to be happy...if birds can be happy. They seem to have offspring, provide for their young, and teach them of the ways of the world with flight.

Our species seem to want to abort their young, complain rather than do and solve, neglect our young, neglect others, and put only ourselves first.

I am not aware of too many animals in the world that are actually harming the only environment that they need to leave in. Or, when is the last time you seen a fat cat....and I am actually talking about a fat cat not some rich guy...hoarding all this food that he/she does not need while its neighbor is starving to death?

Now you know why I do not sleep.....or rather, now you know why I should be sleeping. laugh
Post Comment

Don McLean American Pie

On my way back from the restaurant, I was listening to an interview featuring Don McLean. He was the writer and singer of American Pie. To my surprise it was mentioned there have been colleges that studied the meaning of this song and books have been written about it. McLean essentially said the song was about how America was going the wrong direction. He stated that this song was a new genre of music for its time. He also stated that he considers himself a thinker and his thoughts of the time were put into the lyrics of this song. Even with this most recent interview, he says America is still going in the wrong direction. Aside from all this, he made a statement that got me thinking, and I would like to hear what you think. He said everyone (and he stressed everyone) struggles to keep their sanity. The struggle is a fight that we all must do and continue to do. What do you all think....do you find yourself fighting to keep your sanity?

I assume American Pie is about this struggle that America is losing with. .....who knows, it might pertain to more of the world today. dunno


I do not think too many will admit they are struggling to keep their sanity, but, it might be something to think about as well. However, if Mr. McLean is right, maybe that may change some of our perspectives toward others. After all, we are all fighting.
Post Comment

pondering

I was just on my way back from a movie when I was looking out into the night sky. Parking my car, the stillness of the night revealed the lively chirping of the crickets.

lol


awkward transition here....:)


It is often said as we go through life, we will discover our purpose of life. Don't you often wonder if there has to be more to life than just waking up, doing your routine, going to sleep, only to wake up to do the same thing over and over and over and over and over....okay, you get the picture.

Have you discovered your purpose? Do you believe we have a purpose? I can imagine a lot of people will say that their children are their purpose. That could be. Is it really your purpose if you are doing it for "my" child/children? That just sounds a little selfish to me (what do I know). Maybe they might be a hint or a path to your purpose??? I really do not know.

I cannot say I have discovered my purpose yet. I live my life trying to leave people better off (even if just so slightly) than they were before they met me. I might give them a genuine compliment, give them a constructive criticism, help them with something, give my non-bias advice/opinion, or give them few extra bucks to help them through this difficult life. Is this my purpose? I do not know.

What do you all think? Do we have a purpose? Do we have no purpose? If you think there is a purpose each of us have in life and you think you discovered yours....do you care to share it here? If so....let's hear it. :)
Post Comment

Are women losing their trump card?

I was just watching a tv show tonight.....Nancy Grace. She was talking about how a Doctor was extorted by a lady on Ashley Madison dot com. For those of you who do not know what this website is all about, it is for married men to hook up with women discretely. However, as the Grace show covered, there was a lady who worked for the sheriff's department that was also a member of that website. She had this hook-up with a doctor and wanted him to pay off her credit card bill of $7000. The doctor's information was suppose to be hidden, but since she was part of the sheriff's office, she was able to find out his personal information.

Nancy had the CEO of the website on the phone. The CEO stated, that the website was a supplement for a marriage. It could be used to help hold marriages together. I do not know how much I agree with that. For sure, it does offer discrete sex to men...whatever that may do for a marriage.

But, to the title of my blog. "Are Women Losing their Trump Card?" It is very widely known that as the length of time a marriage extends, it is very common that sex between the couple decreases. I have also heard, women would give their man sex if they did something "nice" for them. Some women in a marriage would use sex as a manipulation tool to get their man to provide some sort of service to them. In essence, a woman's availability for sex is her trump card.

Now, with this new dating site, have women lost their trump card, or are they in the process of losing it?


Anyway....hitting the hay here.
Post Comment

It's that time of the month

To my surprise, I woke up this morning to find myself and all of my blankets soaked with this red color substance. Could it be blood? Could it be my time of the month? rolling on the floor laughing No, it is just April first. laugh


But...it is that time of the month. It is my weigh in time. To my support partner Wall, I am excited to announce that I lost 3 1/2 pounds. I even ate donuts last night. applause

That makes it a total of 13 1/2 pounds since the beginning of the year. This whole losing weight thing is just tooooooo easy. thumbs up grin
Post Comment

Would you partake in an open relationship?

I am not sure what I think of this. Let's say you run across this hot guy or woman and he/she is married. He/She expresses that their spouse and them are in an open relationship and there is no doubt about that. Would you partake in a s*xual fling with them?
Post Comment

I am living proof....

So, I am on this diet now. There was one night when I was pretty hungry so I decided to check the cupboards. It was late and very cold outside and I found some instant oatmeal that was a year and a half past its expiration date. I ate it....laugh I mean, what can really go bad with dehydranted oatmeal? I ate it, it tasted good, and I am alive to tell you about it. rolling on the floor laughing

BTW Wall....I weighed myself tonight and I lost 2 1/2 pounds for the month. Not as much as I wanted to lose, but no complaints. grin
Post Comment

How old is your oldest article....

How old is your oldest article of clothing that you still wear? I have a pair of Levis jeans that are at least 10 years old. I had to bring them in once to get the crotch area patched, but they are still holding up. I am wondering if I can get 30 years out of them? laugh
Post Comment

This is a list of Johnny_Sparton's Blogs. Click here for Johnny_Sparton's Blog List

We use cookies to ensure that you have the best experience possible on our website. Read Our Privacy Policy Here