This picture of gaping chasms in a Japanese road illustrate the power of the March 11, 2011 earthquake.

Repair work began on March 17 and six days later the cratered section of the Great Kanto Highway in Naka was restored and re-opened to traffic. The astonishing speed of reconstruction highlights Japan’s ability to get back on its feet.

This says a great deal about the spirit of the Japanese people, as do the following:

1. THE CALM = Not a single visual in the news media of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. THE DIGNITY = Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. THE ABILITY = The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.

4. THE GRACE = People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

5. THE ORDER = No looting in shops, no honking and no overtaking on the roads — just understanding.

6. THE SACRIFICE = Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water onto the nuclear reactors. They can never be compensated for this sacrifice.

7. THE TENDERNESS = Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak .

8. THE TRAINING = Everyone knew exactly what to do, the young and old alike. And they did it.

9. THE MEDIA = They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

10. THE CONSCIENCE = When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly

What would have happened in your community?

Here’s why…

In the current housing market this is your house as you see it.

This is your house as your buyer sees it.

This is your house as your lender sees it.

This is your house as your appraiser sees it.

And, this is your house as your county tax assessor sees it.

Good luck.  You are going to need it.

In March 2003 a Los Angeles man walked into a local casino put a buck into the slot machine and won $39.7 million. When talking to casino officials afterward he asked, “Please don’t tell my wife or publish my name.” Why? His wife did not approve of him gambling and he was afraid of what she would say or do if she discovered that he had been gambling. I may be wrong, but my guess is that she would forgive him when she discovered that he had won almost $40 million. She had 40 million reasons to forgive him.

But, if you play and win $39.7 million, it really isn’t a good idea to keep it a secret from your spouse.

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He held the party around the pool in the backyard of his mansion. Leroy was having a good time drinking, dancing, eating shrimp,oysters and BBQ and flirting with all the women.

At the party, the host said, “I have a10ft man-eating gator in my pool and I’ll give a million dollars to anyone who has the nerve to jump in. ”

The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a loud splash and everyone turned around and saw Leroy in the pool!

Leroy was fighting the gator and beating it bad! Leroy was jabbing the gator in the eyes with his thumbs, throwing punches, head butts and choke holds, biting the gator on the tail and flipping the gator through the air like some kind of Judo Instructor.

The water was churning and splashing everywhere. Both Leroy and the gator were screaming and making noises that sent chills down the spines of those closeby. Finally Leroy strangled the gator and let it float to the top like a dime store goldfish. Leroy then slowly climbed out of the pool. Everybody was just staring at him in disbelief.

Finally the host says, “Well, Leroy, I reckon I owe you a million dollars.”

“No, that’s okay. I don’t want it,” said Leroy.

The rich man said, “Man, I have to give you something. You won the bet. How about half a million bucks then?”

“No thanks. I don’t want it,” answered Leroy.

The host said, “Come on, I insist on giving you something. That was amazing. How about a new Porsche and a Rolex and some stock options?”

Again Leroy said no.

Confused, the rich man asked, “Well, Leroy, then what do you want?”

Leroy said, “I want the name of the guy who pushed me in the pool”

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“Talking Dog for Sale.”

He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the backyard and sees a Labrador retriever sitting there.

“You talk?” he asks.

“Yes, I do,” the Lab replies.

“So, what’s your story?”

The Lab looks up and says, “Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running. But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.”

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

“Ten dollars,” the guy says.

“Ten dollars!!? Is that all? This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?”

“Because he’s a liar. He never did any of that crap”

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Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new wives duties.

The first man had married a woman from Colorado and had told her that she was going to do dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple days, but on the third day he came home to a clean house and dishes washed and put away.

The second man had married a woman from Nebraska. He had given his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes, and the cooking. The first day he didn’t see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done, and there was a huge dinner on the table.

The third man had married a girl from Texas. He told her that her duties were to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn’t see anything, the second day he didn’t see anything, but by the third day some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye, enough to fix himself a bite to eat and load the dishwasher.

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Can you cry under water?

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How important does a person have to be before they are considered
assassinated instead of just murdered?

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Why do you have to “put your two cents in”… But it’s only a “penny for
your thoughts”? Where’s that extra penny going to?

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Once you’re in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were
buried in for eternity?

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Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

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What disease did cured ham actually have?

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How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be
a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

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Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up
like every two hours?

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If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

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Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?

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Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in
binoculars to look at things on the ground?

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Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They’re going to see
you naked anyway.

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Why is “bra” singular and “panties” plural

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Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible
crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

————————————————

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about
him?

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Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

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If the professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of a coconut,
why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?

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Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re
both dogs!
If Goofy is Mickey’s dog, why isn’t Mickey Goofy’s mouse?
(I figured these one out: Goofy wears clothes. If you’re a cartoon character and wear clothes, you can’t be owned by someone. Even if it’s only a bow tie!)
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If Wiley E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME junk, why
didn’t he just buy dinner?

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If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

————————————————

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same
tune?

————————————————

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

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Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at
you, but when you take him for a car ride; he sticks his head out the
window?

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When the conversation centered on whether they had any children the California woman started by saying, “When my first child was born, my husband built a beautiful mansion for me.”

The lady from the South commented, “Well, isn’t that precious?”

The first woman continued, “When my second child was born, my husband bought me a beautiful Mercedes-Benz.”

Again, the lady from the South commented, “Well, isn’t that precious?”

The first woman continued boasting, “Then, when my third child was born, my husband bought me this exquisite diamond bracelet.”

And again, the Southern lady commented, “Well, isn’t that precious?”

The first woman then asked the Southern lady, “What did your husband buy for you when you had your first child?”

“My husband sent me to charm school,” declared the Southern lady.

“Oh my God! What on earth for?”, asked the first woman.

The Southern lady responded, “Well for example, instead of saying “Who gives a sh*t?” I learned to say, “Well, isn’t that precious?”

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Each Friday night after work, Bubba would fire up his outdoor grill and cook venison steak. But, all of Bubba’s neighbors were Catholic–and since it was Lent, they were forbidden to eat meat on Friday. The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest.

The Priest came to visit Bubba and suggested that he become a Catholic. After several classes and much study, Bubba attended Mass—and the Priest sprinkled holy water over him and said, “You were born a Baptist and raised as a Baptist, but now you are Catholic.”

Bubba’s neighbors were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood. The priest was called immediately by the neighbors.

As the Priest rushed into Bubba’s yard, clutching a rosary, and prepared to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement. There stood Bubba, clutching a small bottle of holy water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat and chanted: You wuz born a deer, you wuz raised a deer, but now you are a catfish.

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My name is Jim. Let me relate how I handled the situation with my wife, Peggy. When I retired a few years ago, it became necessary for Peggy to get a full-time job along with her part-time job, both for extra income and for the health benefits that we needed. Shortly after she started working, I noticed she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from the golf club about the same time she gets home from work .

Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts dinner. I don’t yell at her.

Instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me when she gets dinner on the table. I generally have lunch in the Men’s Grill at the club so eating out is not reasonable. I’m ready for some home-cooked grub when I hit that door. She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating. But now it’s not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after dinner.

I do what I can by diplomatically reminding her several times each evening that they won’t clean themselves. I know she really appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to get them done before she g oes to bed.

Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think. For example she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. But, boys, we take ‘em for better or worse, so I just smile and offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even three days. That way she won’t have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn’t hurt her any (if you know what I mean). I like to think tact is one of my strong points.

When doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs more rest periods. She had to take a break when she was only half finished mowing the yard. I try not to make a scene. I’m a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while. And, as long as she is making one for herself, she may as well make one for me too.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Peggy. I’m not saying that showing this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody knows better than I do how frustrating women get as they get older. However, guys, even if you just use a little more tact and less criticism of your aging wife because of this article, I will consider that writing it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put on this earth to help each other.

Signed Jim

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Jim died suddenly on July 27 of a perforated rectum. The police report says he was found with a Calloway extra long 50-inch Big Bertha Driver II golf club jammed up his rear end, with barely 5 inches of grip showing and a sledge hammer laying nearby.

His wife Peggy was arrested and charged with murder. The all-woman jury took only 15 minutes to find her Not Guilty, accepting her defense that Jim somehow, without looking, accidentally sat down on his golf club.

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