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Vegetating
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Cracked 5 … August 7th, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
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Plans, Schemes and Promotions Organized by Vegetables to Help Promote Their Brand
A. Hail a Cabbage!
B. Lettuce Love One Another
C. Broccoli–Never Grew On Bush (George Herbert 41)
D. Caul-i-flower Bouquet
E. Corn–We’re All Ears
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Ask Jonathots … November 3rd, 2016
Jonathots Daily Blog
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Organic and natural foods are extremely expensive–out of reach for the average American, including me. But packaged foods are full of additives, starch or high fructose corn syrup. How do you find affordable healthy food in America?
In the realm of groceries or food products, there are only three ways to acquire nutritious portions and avoid the additives, salts and sugars.
1. You can grow your own food.
It may sound a little ridiculous, but lots of people have a small parcel of land where simple vegetables can be grown with some ease–especially things like tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and squash.
2. Look for mark-downs.
Some grocery stores are very willing to mark down produce and even meat when they are near expiration. Find those stores, learn their patterns and be there when these various products are discounted for a more reasonable price.
3. Adjust your menu for the week to what is on sale.
Sometimes produce and vitamin-rich products are set at a lower price in order to lure people into the store. They often keep those prices for ten or twelve days, hoping to “hook” people on the taste before they raise the cost.
Don’t lock into bananas when it turns out that strawberries are on sale. Don’t insist on grapefruit if they have a deal on tangerines.
And I guess I should add a fourth point:
If you’re going to get nutritious food at a reasonable price, you have to adjust to the fact that you probably will be traveling to more than one grocery store. Make shopping a joy by beating the system through finding the deals, taking advantage of the mark-downs, and then supplementing your choices with a few things grown from your own garden.
If you will do these things, you will find that your budget will permit much healthier choices.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
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Mr. Kringle’s Tales …26 Stories ‘Til Christmas
An advent calendar of stories, designed to enchant readers of all ages
“Quite literally the best Christmas stories I have ever read.” — Arthur Holland, Shelby, North Carolina
Only $5.99 plus $1.25 shipping and handling.
G-Poppers… November 21, 2014
Jonathots Daily Blog
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After I grew weary of abstinence, it followed in time that I eventually became the father to children. As they grew up, they were just as weary of celibacy, so they decided to procreate, forcing me into the role of “Grandpa.” Finding the term a bit offensive and arcane, I suggested that these “second generationers” refer to me as “G-Pop.”
So rather than being a mere passing fancy in their minds during holidays or a grave that they visit someday with a mixture of perplexity and tears, I send them my thoughts from time to time so they can someday check their in-box to garner my spirit.
I call them “G-Poppers.”
And if you arrive here on Fridays for the next little while, you will find some of these, hopefully for your reading enjoyment.
G-Pop on politics
My dear children, politics is the only business that depends on lying to get customers.
G-Pop on entertainment
Listen, kids, movies should move us or move out of the way for the next movement.
G-Pop, talk to us about sex
Sex is always better when two people think of it at the same moment.
Comedy?
Ugly folks are funnier, because even when the jokes fail, they are still funny-looking.
G-Pop, do you have an opinion on raising kids?
Parents teach their off-spring how to use kleenex, toilet paper, wear a coat, eat vegetables and say thank-you. Everything else is pretty much up to the kid.
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The Sermon on the Mount in music and story. Click the mountain!
Click here to get info on the “Gospel According to Common Sense” Tour
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Yappy Your Year… January 1, 2014
Jonathots Daily Blog
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Too much yapping. At least, I think so.
I like talking, but do you really think we need shows filled with it?
Talk shows. Dozens and dozens of them, which eventually denigrate to prejudicial statements made by people filling time, pretending they aren’t gossiping.
I’m a little tired of pundits, too. (Except I do like the rhyme, “redundant pundit…”)
Yes, the repetition of stolen ideas is not only a thievery of material, but also steals creativity from the heart of the American people.
Would you allow me to point out that another intolerable portion of yappiness is TV preachers? At a time in my life when I am seeking greater and greater humanity, they bestow either the drivel of psycho-babble or the onslaught of unexplained divinity.
And equally as frustrating is the new wave of agnosticism and atheism being promoted as an evolution in intelligence of an emerging “people consciousness.” Listen folks, it takes no energy to be an unbeliever. I suppose that’s why this lazy generation selects it so voraciously.
Oh, my dear God … I am weary beyond words of “Ducks” who seek a “Dynasty” by quacking out Bible verses, while simultaneously I have to listen to all that the gay have to say.
Am I odd? Am I so self-possessed that I must scream aloud that I don’t really care who’s zooming who, but rather, whether we are progressing in our talents while learning to drench them in humility?
I hate polls. The reason I hate polls is because the questions asked by the pollster can be twisted to bring desired results for his or her organization. And honestly, most people don’t have the common sense to listen to a question and admit, “What in the hell do I know?”
That goes for Tweets, too. We used to believe in this country that some forethought, emotion, concern, courtesy and gentleness should precede the next thing spoken. But when you have a I-Phone in front of you and you can pour out your vile reaction immediately, why take time for reflection?
It’s 2014, so it’s the Democrat’s turn to whine about how “things aren’t fair,” and the Republican’s hour to criticize everything that’s going on. Just ten years ago, the circumstances were flipped. The Republicans were the whiners and the Democrats were the attackers.
Is anyone bored yet? To me it’s similar to going to see The Sixth Sense movie for the second go-round. It was interesting the first time, but after you’ve viewed it, you know the guy’s dead from the beginning.
And when we’re talking about our “Yappy Your Year,” may I request that we discourage, ignore and possibly eliminate alarmed folks?
Case in point: would you just tell me that it’s going to rain and there will be thunder, instead of describing all the atrocities that Mother Nature could be perpetrating on my house this evening?
Would you instruct me to eat more vegetables without warning me how my present physical condition flirts with disaster and death?
And could you put a bill through Congress without having to promote that you are the savior of the world for coming up with the idea?
Which brings me to the final piece of yappiness–the only one I can really do anything about:
Me.
Yes, I need to shut up more.
- Even in my blogs, I’m pursuing brevity, dreaming of achieving wit.
- On stage, more concise.
- And unless I’m asked for it, I vow this year to not offer advice to anyone.
I’m too yappy–and words that do not edify eventually find a way to destroy.
So Happy New Year to you, my friends! And remember–talk is never cheap.
It is costly … often leaving our character bankrupt.
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Click for details on the SpirTed 2014 presentation
Please contact Jonathan’s agent, Jackie Barnett, at (615) 481-1474, for information about scheduling SpiriTed in 2014.
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Iowa Lot… July 24, 2013
Jonathots Daily Blog
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Iowa lot to fruits and vegetables. They have prevented me from killing myself with fats and carbs.
Iowa lot to my parents. They could have fought instead of having sex.
Iowa lot to my third grade teacher. She got me interested in history, and the rest is … well, my life.
Iowa lot to my enemies. Trying to destroy me, they accidentally alerted me to dangerous flaws.
Iowa lot to good tires. They make my engine usable.
Iowa lot to mistakes. They are the potholes that teach me how to be road-worthy.
Iowa lot to my family. Learning my virtues while ignoring my vices, they continue to make me look good.
Iowa lot to Gloria, who came down from her highest and accepted our kin and has gone to her hallelujah moment.
Iowa lot to my voice. It keeps working, sometimes without the assistance of my brain.
Iowa lot to faith, hope and love – these three. But the greatest is remembering to use them.
Iowa lot to God. He gives me free will and then bravely rides shotgun on the bumpy ride.
Iowa lot to my fat body. Without it, I just might have leaped on anyone wearing perfume.
Iowa lot to Iowa. She has welcomed me to share my talent and heart.
I owe a lot.
I am debtor to all.
I will spend the rest of my life attempting to repay the loan…with interest.
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The Other Half of the Battle … April 25, 2013
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Because I had seven sons come through my household, I ended up becoming a regular watcher of the cartoon show, GI Joe. Although the program had the drawback of presenting testosterone-driven solutions via muscling your way to often-violent conclusions, in the commercial breaks, they offered practical little scenarios, where children could learn the value of good manners, eating vegetables or helping little old ladies across the street. At the end of the lesson, one of the steroid-juiced characters would intone in a deep voice, “And now you know. And knowing is half the battle.”
So if knowing is half the battle, what’s the other half? If we go ahead and concede the notion that knowledge takes us halfway towards maturity, success and progress, what is needed to complete the journey?
Truthfully, I was unable to ascertain the answer by watching any additional episodes of GI Joe, but I offer to you that the other half of the battle, after we have admitted the power of knowing and learning, is allowing ourselves the opportunity for trying.
Yes, I will say it aloud: most people fail because they discuss and acquire information, but then freeze up, frightened to attempt a new idea because they are greatly terrified by the prospects of failure.
Failure is our friend. Failure confirms two wonderful facts: (1) we are trying; and (2) our latest attempt did not work.
As long as something exists in theory or is stuck in committee or is being overly debated, we never have the satisfaction of sensing that we are trying and we are never given the reassurance in our souls of discovering that something does or does not work.
Our government, our churches, our corporations and our entertainment in this country are presently frozen–in a state of limbo–because we continue to accumulate knowledge without ever trying anything.
Trying is the other half of the equation, which is initiated by knowing.
- “I know things are changing. I will try to adjust to the change.”
- “I know that all human beings are valuable. I will try to treat others like I do myself.”
- “I know that hard work is required. I will try to learn to have fun with my labor.”
- “I know that God is love. I will try to be move loving.”
When we pursue spirituality or even intelligence without adding the dimension of experimenting–trying the principles we believe in–we end up with a form of Godliness that denies the power that is available. And what is the power?
“Try it–you’ll like it.”
That is when we all learn. That is how we grow.
I know there is a God because when I apply who He is, what He is, and what I’ve learned about Him, and try … it works.
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