Inspiration FebMarch 2004 – Shortarmguy: Crazy emails, funny videos, inspirational stories, and interesting links!

Shortarmguy's Inspirational Page

On this page, I will post the most inspirational material I receive on any given day. So email shortarmguy@aol.com the best stuff you get. Life can be darn tough sometimes and every now and then you might need a little happiness booster. I’m hoping this page may accomplish that. After you read a few of these, you can push back from your keyboard, throw your arms in the air, wave them back and forth and scream “I’m glad to be alive!” If this happens to you, please send pictures and I’ll post them here!

March 27, 2004

Look closely at the picture and you will see His
life story penciled into his profile, starting at
His chin. This is wonderful… enjoy

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home from the war. He called his parents from San Francisco.

“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring home with me.”

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the
body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

There’s a miracle called friendship that dwells in the heart. You don’t know how it happens or when it gets started. But you know the special lift it always brings and you realize that friendship Is God’s most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed they lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

March 20, 2004

The Bible in 50 Words!

God made

Adam bit

Noah arked

Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled

Bush talked

Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided

Tablets guided

Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked

Prophets warned

Jesus born

God walked

Love talked

Anger crucified

Hope died

Love rose

Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.

Inspirational Website Of The Week

Hey Todd, sadly I just had to put to sleep my little poodle Baby of 15 yrs. I have read your wonderful tributes to your dog when he died sometime last year. So, I though you and your wife would love to see this video I found I cried my eyes out.

http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Take care, Lori

March 13, 2004

My Drug Problem

My generation just might have been lucky. I had a drug problem when I was young, but I turned out all right.

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions no matter the weather.

I was drug to the bus stop to go to school every weekday.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults and teachers.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think.

They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin, and if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America might be a better place.

March 6, 2004

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, “Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.”

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, “Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.” He looked at me and said, “Hey thanks!” There was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped hi m and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!” He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for
graduation. I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous.

Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!” He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. “Thanks,” he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.”

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn’t have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

“Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it’s depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person’s life. For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other’s lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

“Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.”

February 29, 2004

I HOPE WE CAN FIND A CURE….

Like most elementary schools, it was typical to have a parade of students in and out of the health clinic throughout the day. We dispensed ice for bumps and bruises, Band-Aids for cuts, and liberal doses of sympathy and hugs. As principal, my office was right next door to the clinic, so I often dropped in to lend a hand and help out with the hugs. I knew that to a few kids, mine might be the only one they got all day.

One morning I was putting a Band-Aid on a little girl’s scraped knee. Her blonde hair was matted, and I noticed that she was shivering in her thin little sleeveless blouse. I found her a warm sweatshirt and helped her pull it on. “Thanks for taking care of me,” she whispered as she climbed into my lap and snuggled up against me.

It wasn’t long after that when I ran across an unfamiliar lump under my arm. Cancer, an aggressively spreading kind, had already invaded thirteen of my lymph nodes. I pondered whether or not to tell the students about my diagnosis. The word breast seemed so hard to say out loud to them, and the word cancer seemed so frightening. When it became evident that the children were going to find out one way or another, either the straight scoop from me or possibly a garbled version from someone else, I decided to tell them myself. It wasn’t easy to get the words out, but the empathy and concern I saw in their faces as I explained it to them told me I had made the right decision. When I gave them a chance to ask questions, they mostly wanted to know how they could help. I told them that what I would like best would be their letters, pictures and prayers. I stood by the gym door as the children solemnly filed out. My little blonde friend darted out of line and threw herself into my arms. Then she stepped back to look up into my face. “Don’t be afraid, Dr. Perry,” she ! said earnestly, “I know you’ll be back because now it’s our turn to take care of you.” No one could have ever done a better job.

The kids sent me off to my first chemotherapy session with a hilarious book of nausea remedies that they had written. A video of every class in the school singing get-well songs accompanied me to the next chemotherapy appointment. By the third visit, the nurses were waiting at the door to find out what I would bring next. It was a delicate music box that played “I Will Always Love You.” Even when I went into isolation at the hospital for a bone marrow transplant, the letters and pictures kept coming until they covered every wall of my room. Then the kids traced their hands onto colored paper, cut them out and glued them together to make a freestanding rainbow of helping hands. I feel like I’ve stepped into Disneyland every time I walk into this room,” my doctor laughed. That was even before the six-foot apple blossom tree arrived adorned with messages written on paper apples from the students and teachers. What healing comfort I found in being surrounded by these tokens of their caring.

At long last I was well enough to return to work. As I headed up the road to the school, I was suddenly overcome by doubts. What if the kids have forgotten all about me? I wondered, What if they don’t want a skinny bald principal? What if . . . I caught sight of the school marquee as I rounded the bend. “Welcome Back, Dr. Perry,” it read. As I drew closer, everywhere I looked were pink ribbons – ribbons in the windows, tied on the doorknobs, even up in the trees. The children and staff wore pink ribbons, too. My blonde buddy was first in line to greet me. “You’re back, Dr.Perry, you’re back!” she called. “See, I told you we’d take care of you!” As I hugged her tight, in the back of my mind I faintly heard my music box playing . . “I will l always love you.”

***********Subject: Breast Cancer Stamp Booklet ******************** .

Dear Friends, Sisters, & Brothers ( Men are susceptible to breast cancer also )….
Please read and pass this on. It would be wonderful if 2004 were the year a cure for breast was found!!!!
The notion that we could raise $35 million by buying a book of stamps may sound ABSURD BUT, THIS IS POWERFUL!!

As you may be aware, the US Postal Service recently released its new “Fund the Cure” stamp to help fund breast cancer research. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland. It is important that we take a stand against this disease that affects so many of our Mothers, Sisters and Friends. Instead of the normal 37 cents for a stamp, this one costs 40 cents. The additional 3 cents will go to breast cancer research. A “normal” book costs $7.40. This one is only $8.00. It on takes a few minutes in line at the Post Office and means so much. If all stamps are sold, it will raise an additional $35,000,000 for this vital research. Just as important as the money is our support. What a statement it would make if the stamp outsold the lottery this week. What a statement it would make that we care.

February 21, 2004

Subject: Bush cost me my job, my kids and my houses

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak my mind. I lost my job this past year. When Clinton was president I was secure and prosperous, but in the last year, we had to close our operations. We simply could not compete with foreign labor. This foreign labor worked for low pay under very bad conditions.

They worked very long shifts, and many even died on the job.

This competition could hardly be called “fair.” I was forced out of the place where I had worked for 34 years.

Not a single government program was there to help me.

How can Bush call himself “compassionate?” Far worse, I lost two of my sons in Bush’s evil war in Iraq. They gave their lives for their country, and for what? So that Bush’s oil buddies can get rich. My pain of losing my sons is indescribable.

While it is trivial next to the loss of my sons, I regret to say that I also lost my home. I simply have nothing left. How can Bush call himself a Christian when he neglects people like me? I am a senior citizen with various medical problems. I’m not in a position where I can begin a new career. I was reduced to the point where I had to live in a hole in a ground, all because of President Bush.

And when the authorities found me there, did they have any compassion for my misfortune and ailments? No, I was arrested. Mr. Bush, I dare you to look me in the face and tell me you are a compassionate man! I dare you to look me in the face and tell me you are a Christian. If I had any money left, I would donate it to the Democrat Party.

If Al Gore had been elected in 2000 I would still have a job, a home, and most importantly, my dear sons!

Regards,

Saddam Hussein

February 15, 2004

Why We Love Children

1.. A kindergarten pupil told his teacher he’d found a cat, but it was dead.

“How do you know that the cat was dead?” she asked her pupil.

“Because I pissed in its ear and it didn’t move,” answered the child innocently.

You did WHAT ? ! ?” the teacher exclaimed in surprise.

“You know,” explained the boy, “I leaned over and went ‘Pssst!’ and it didn’t move.”

2. A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later…..”Da-ad….”

“What?”

“I’m thirsty. Can you bring drink of water?”

“No, You had your chance.. Lights out.”

Five minutes later: “Da-aaaad…..”

“WHAT?”

“I’m THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??”

I told you NO! If you ask again, I’ll have to spank you!!”

Five minutes later……”Daaaa-aaaad…..”

“WHAT!”

“When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?”

3. An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him “How do you expect to
get into Heaven?”

The boy thought it over and said, “Well, I’ll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter
says, ‘For Heaven’s sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'”

4. One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about
to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?”

The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t dear,” she said. “I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.”

A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice:
“The big sissy.”

5. It was that time, during the Sunday morning service, for the children’s sermon. All the children were invited to
come forward. One little girl was wearing a particularly pretty dress and, as she sat down, the pastor leaned over
and said, “That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter Dress?”

The little girl replied, directly into the pastor’s clip-on microphone, “Yes, and my Mom says it’s a bitch to iron.”

6. When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year old came into the room when I was just getting
ready to get into the shower. She said, “Mommy, you are getting fat!”

I replied, “Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy.”

“I know,” she replied, but what’s growing in your butt?”

7. A little boy was doing his math homework. He said to himself, “Two plus five, that son of a bitch is seven. Three plus six, that son of a bitch is nine….”

His mother heard what he was saying and gasped, “What are you doing?”

The little boy answered, “I’m doing my math homework, Mom.”

“And this is how your teacher taught you to do it?” the mother asked.

“Yes,” he answered.

Infuriated, the mother asked the teacher the next day, “What are you teaching my son in math?”

The teacher replied, “Right now, we are learning addition.”

The mother asked, “And are you teaching them to say two plus two, that son of a bitch is four?”

After the teacher stopped laughing, she answered, “What I taught them was, two plus two, THE SUM OF WHICH, is four.”

8. One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of Chicken Little to her class. She came to the part of
the story where Chicken Little tried to warn the farmer. She read, “…. and so Chicken Little went up to the
farmer and said, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!”

The teacher paused then asked the class,
“And what do you think that farmer said?”

One little girl raised her hand and said,
“I think he said: ‘Holy Shit! A talking chicken!'”

The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.

9. A little girl asked her mother, “Can I go outside and play with the boys?”

Her mother replied, “No, you can’t play with the boys, they’re too rough.”

The little girl thought about it for a few moments and asked, “If I can find a smooth one, can I play with him?”

10. A little girl goes to the barber shop with her father.

She stands next to the barber chair, while her dad gets his hair cut, eating a snack cake.

The barber says to her, “Sweetheart, you’re gonna get hair on your Twinkie.”

She says, “Yes, I know, and I’m gonna get boobs too.”

February 5, 2004

One of the many headaches that the U.S. has had was the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques. In the waning years of the Clinton administration, Protesters demanded that the US Navy abandon bombing and naval gun fire exercises that had taken place on the largely uninhabited island for nearly seventy years.
Liberal icons bumped into one another to fly to Puerto Rico, boat over to the island, trespass (but never on a day that there was an exercise scheduled) and get arrested for the benefit of the New York Times or Newsweek. They included the Reverend Al Sharpton, Mrs. Jesse Jackson, Joan Baez, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Edward Olomos, Michael Moore and Ramsey Clark, just to name a few.

In 2002, the bombing exercises were transferred to an Air Force bombing range in central Florida , not far from the Jacksonville and Pensacola Naval Air Stations. In January, many of the protesters were back in Puerto Rico , celebrating the final bombing exercise on Vieques and waved Puerto Rican flags and placards that read ” U.S. Navy, get out of Puerto Rico .”

The following Feb, Rumsfeld announced that the U.S. Navy will close the Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico in 2004, eliminating 1200 civilian jobs as well as 700 military positions. This naval facility is estimated to put nearly $300 million annually into the local economy.

The next day a stunned Governor Sila Calderon, held a news conference in San Juan , protesting the base closure as a serious blow to Commonwealth’s fragile economy. The governor stated that “The people of Puerto Rico don’t now or never did have an interest in closing the Vieques bombing range or the Roosevelt Roads naval base. We are interested in both staying in Puerto Rico .”

When asked, the Commander-in Chief, Western Atlantic Command, said, “Without Vieques, I see no further need for the facility at Roosevelt Roads. None.”
So, Yanqui go home? Fine. But we’ll take our dollars with us. Hasta la vista, baby!

On February 21, the Secretary of Defense also announced that starting this year, the U.S. European Command would begin moving most if not all of its active combat and support units from bases in Germany to others being established in Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey to “better position them for rapid deployment to likely hot spots in those parts of the world”.

Immediately the business and government leaders in the German states of Hesse , Rhineland and Wurttemburg, protested the loss of nearly $6 billion in revenue each year from the bases and manpower to be displaced. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry speculated that the move may be “what the Americans call ‘payback’ for the actions of this government in opposing military action in Iraq .” Does anyone know the German translation for “Hasta la vista, baby?”

Oh, ain’t it nice to see a government with guts and a good memory. What fun!

GOD BLESS AMERICA !

February 1, 2004

Why don’t we hear this on the news?

Marines and Sailors,

As we approach the end of the year I think it is important to share a few thoughts about what you’ve accomplished directly,
in some cases, and indirectly in many others. I am speaking about what the Bush Administration and each of you has contributed by wearing the uniform, because the fact that you wear the uniform contributes 100% to the capability of the nation to send a few onto the field to execute national policy. As you read about these achievements you are a part of I would call your attention to two things:

1. This is good news that hasn’t been fit to print or report on TV.
2. It is much easier to point out the errors a man makes when he makes the tough decisions, rarely is the positive as aggressively pursued.

Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1…

… the first battalion of the new Iraqi Army has graduated and is on active duty.

… over 60,000 Iraqis now provide security to their fellow citizens.

… nearly all of Iraq’s 400 courts are functioning.

… the Iraqi judiciary is fully independent.

… on Monday, October 6 power generation hit 4,518 megawatts-exceeding the prewar average.

… all 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open, as are nearly all primary and secondary schools.

… by October 1, Coalition forces had rehab-ed over 1,500 schools – 500 more than scheduled.

… teachers earn from 12 to 25 times their former salaries.

… all 240 hospitals and more than 1200 clinics are open.

… doctors salaries are at least eight times what they were under Saddam.

… pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700 tons in May to a current total of 12,000 tons.

… the Coalition has helped administer over 22 million vaccinations to Iraq’s children.

… a Coalition program has cleared over 14,000 kilometers of Iraq’s 27,000 kilometers of weed-choked canals which now irrigate tens of thousands of farms. This project has created jobs for more than 100,000 Iraqi men and women.

… we have restored over three-quarters of prewar telephone services and over two-thirds of the potable water production.

… there are 4,900 full-service telephone connections. We expect 50,000 by year-end.

… the wheels of commerce are turning. From bicycles to satellite dishes to cars and trucks, businesses are coming to life in all major cities and towns.

… 95 percent of all prewar bank customers have service and first-time customers are opening accounts daily.

… Iraqi banks are making loans to finance businesses.

… the central bank is fully independent.

… Iraq has one of the worlds most growth-oriented investment and banking laws.

… Iraq has a single, unified currency for the first time in 15 years.

… satellite TV dishes are legal.

… foreign journalists aren’t on 10-day visas paying mandatory and extortionate fees to the Ministry of Information for “minders” and other government spies.

… there is no Ministry of Information.

… there are more than 170 newspapers.

… you can buy satellite dishes on what seems like every street corner.

… foreign journalists (and everyone else) are free to come and go.

… a nation that had not one single element – legislative, judicial or executive – of a representative government, now does.

… in Baghdad alone residents have selected 88 advisory councils. Baghdad’s first democratic transfer of power in 35 years happened when the
city council elected its new chairman.

… today in Iraq chambers of commerce, business, school and professional organizations are electing their leaders all over the country.

… 25 ministers, selected by the most representative governing body in Iraq’s history, run the day-to-day business of government.

… the Iraqi government regularly participates in international events. Since July the Iraqi government has been represented in over two dozen
international meetings, including those of the UN General Assembly, the Arab League, the World Bank and IMF and, today, the Islamic conference Summit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced that it is reopening over 30 Iraqi embassies around the world.

… Shia religious festivals that were all but banned, aren’t.

… for the first time in 35 years, in Karbala thousands of Shiites celebrate the pilgrimage of the 12th Imam.

… the Coalition has completed over 13,000 reconstruction projects, large and small, as part of a strategic plan for the reconstruction of Iraq.

… Uday and Queasy are dead – an! d no longer feeding innocent Iraqis to the zoo lions, raping the young daughters of local leaders to force cooperation, torturing Iraq’s soccer players for losing games, or murdering critics.

… children aren’t imprisoned or murdered when their parents disagree with the government.

… political opponents aren’t imprisoned, tortured, executed, maimed, or are forced to watch their families die for disagreeing with Saddam.

… millions of longsuffering Iraqis no longer live in perpetual terror.

… Saudis will hold municipal elections.

… Qatar is reforming education to give more choices to parents.

… Jordan is accelerating market economic reforms.

… the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the first time to an Iranian — a Muslim woman who speaks out with courage for human rights, for democracy and for peace.

… Saddam is gone.

… Iraq is free.
… President Bush has not faltered or failed.

… Yet, little or none of this information has been published by the Press corps that prides itself on bringing you all the news that’s important.

Iraq under US lead control has come further in six months than Germany did in seven years or Japan did in nine years following WWII. Military deaths from fanatic Nazi’s, and Japanese numbered in the thousands and continued for over three years after WWII victory was declared.

It took the US over four months to clear away the twin tower debris, let alone attempt to build something else in its place.

Now, take into account that Congress fought President Bush on every aspect of his handling of this country’s war and the post-war reconstruction; and that they continue to claim on a daily basis on national TV that this conflict has been a failure.

Taking everything into consideration, even the unfortunate loss of our brothers and sisters in this conflict, do you think anyone else in the world could have accomplished as much as the United States and the Bush administration in so short a period of time?

These are things worth writing about. Get the word out. Write to someone you think may be able to influence our Congress or the! press to tell the story.

Above all, be proud that you are a part of this historical precedent.

God Bless you all. Have a great Holiday.

Semper Fidelis,

CO

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