Land Development Realities

@Supersonic_Red Prayers said and best to her and all who love her.

Pray without ceasing. 🩷🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🩷

@it_unprofession @TennisonEddie Too bad that common sense isn’t that common anymore.

We hired a consulting firm to tell us why our profits are down. They sent three 24-year-olds wearing vests. They spent two months interviewing us about our own jobs. Then they put our answers into a PowerPoint presentation. They charged us $250K for this privilege. During the final readout, one of them used the phrase synergy optimization without blinking. I looked around the conference room. Our CEO was nodding like he just received the Ten Commandments. The grand conclusion was that we need to increase revenue and decrease costs. I could've told them that for a gift card to Panera. But nobody listens to the guy who works here. You only listen to the guy who flies in on a Tuesday. I'm updating my resume to include synergy optimization. It feels like the right move.

Dad built a roller-coaster in his backyard for his 2-year-old

@Supersonic_Red Lookin forward to that!

Merc’s Bourbon and Cigar Lounge Is Officially Open! A place where the bourbon is aged, the cigars are lit… and the accountability is nowhere to be found. Join Merc as he walks you through a lifetime of “not my fault” “that seemed like a good idea at the time” and “you’re not going to believe this, but…” From sea stories to near misses From brilliant calls to spectacularly questionable ones And yes… the ongoing campaign of bad decisions involving women Nothing polished Nothing filtered Just Merc Exactly as he is Pull up a chair. Pour something strong. You’re going to need it. 👉Click Subscribe on his profile to get in @MikeyDiMercurio

@Alaskacryptogi1 @IanJaeger29 That’s because our best is too smart to want to live that life, so you get the rest.

@IanJaeger29 We are not sending our best.

I still can’t believe this is an actual sitting Member of Congress. Unbelievable.

@Rainmaker1973 …or just got lucky!

A cyclist who understands physics well. [📹 Sergi Llongueas]

@Supersonic_Red Yes, on the surface a thoughtful gesture. Caution: Governments accepting private money might result in political capital for the donor that could be cashed in as favors later on. Oh, but wait! That’s what lobbyists are already doing. Silly me!

I love this. It protects everyday Americans and the people working the front lines from being used as bargaining chips. That should never be acceptable. Praying Congress chooses common sense and lets this happen.

@Supersonic_Red You know what to do and why it’s important. One of the offsprings of faith is courage!

It's a down day for me. Fuzzy blankets, hockey and maybe an icee later if I can manage it. 🙂

@Supersonic_Red There are definite choices that we have when experiencing pain and it’s freeing to know that adding a suffering element isn’t a requirement!

Pain Is Mandatory. Suffering Is a Choice. There’s a difference between pain and suffering. Most people don’t realize how much that difference matters until they’re forced to live it. Pain is mandatory. That’s not philosophy. That’s reality. Every human being will encounter it. Sometimes it arrives slowly. Sometimes it crashes in all at once. Illness, injury, loss, disappointment, time itself. None of us is exempt. Suffering, though, is something else entirely. Suffering is what we layer on top of pain. It’s the meaning we assign to it. It’s the spiral, the resistance, the constant replaying of “why me” or “this isn’t fair,” two phrases you will never hear me say. And while pain may not be optional, suffering often is. That distinction matters more than people realize. Because I am in pain, there’s nothing abstract about it. Some days, it is a low hum in the background. Other days it’s louder, sharper, more insistent. There are limits now that didn’t exist before. Fatigue that settles in without asking permission. Moments where my body reminds me, very clearly, that it is fighting something I cannot see. I don’t deny any of that. But I also don’t build a life around it. I made a conscious decision early on to stay away from opiates. That’s not a judgment on anyone else. It’s simply what works for me. I want to stay present in my own life. I want clarity, even on the harder days. So I found other ways to navigate this. Massage helps. Movement when I can manage it helps. Distraction is not weakness. It’s strategy. Laughter matters more than people give it credit for. Even small moments of normalcy are powerful when your body is trying to convince you that nothing is normal anymore. These are not random choices. They are deliberate acts of control in a situation that offers very little of it. Because so much of this comes down to perception. If I wake up and frame myself as someone being overtaken by disease, everything contracts. The pain becomes the center of gravity. My world shrinks to the size of whatever hurts the most that day. But if I wake up and decide that pain is just one part of the day, not the definition of it, then I still have space. I still have agency. I still have a life. Attitude is everything, but not in the casual way people say it. This is discipline. It’s a decision I make over and over again to stay engaged with my life instead of retreating from it. Right now, that looks like being outside in the sun. Preparing my gardens. Turning soil. Planning what will grow next. There’s something grounding about it. Life continuing, quietly and persistently, no matter what else is going on. Seeds don’t care about diagnosis. The sun shows up anyway. And so do I. That doesn’t mean I ignore reality. There are days when my body slows me down. Days when I have to adjust, pause, or rethink what I thought I could do. There are moments where the weight of it all shows up uninvited. But those moments don’t get to own me. Pain may be unavoidable. It may visit often. It may stay longer than we would ever choose. But suffering, the surrender of your mindset, your identity, your will to engage with life, that is a line I refuse to cross. Pain is part of my life. It is not my life. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to take a nap because my body says so.

@jamestalarico @Mindcite_US How do they always get that perfect hair? Just how is that done? Literally a trim every day?

The President of the United States said I insulted Jesus. You want to know what insults Jesus? Kicking the sick off their healthcare. Bombing schoolchildren in Iran. Deporting moms and babies. Covering up the Epstein files.

@ZenfinityDesign Thx….needed that about now!

GM GM GM ! The Message today is simple. STRONGER TOGETHER. Leave Judgement to G-D. Choose Wisely and Follow HIS Commands. Have a fantastic Thursday, ALL ! The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, G-d my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. -Psalm 27:1-14

@Supersonic_Red Feed the troops all of that and more! Then, let all politicians fly coach to offset.

This outrage is a little misplaced and ignores a long standing military tradition. Steak and lobster meals have been part of military culture for decades. Anyone who has served knows exactly when they appear. The most well known example is the traditional meal before deployment or major operations. It is meant to boost morale and mark a moment before service members head into harm’s way. It’s symbolic. A pause before something serious. Interestingly, the same tradition exists on death row, where inmates are often given a steak and lobster meal before their execution. Think about that for a minute. Different circumstances, but the symbolism is similar. It marks a final moment before something significant. It’s also important to remember scale. The Department of Defense feeds millions of service members across hundreds of bases worldwide every single day. When you aggregate food purchases across that entire system, the numbers look big on paper. But they are not luxury items for a handful of people in the Pentagon. They are bulk food purchases distributed across the entire force. Context matters. Morale matters. Traditions matter. And anyone who has served understands why.

@Supersonic_Red Always great that you notice the blessings that arrive in the midst of the challenges. Inspiring!

Health update: I’m stable and doing well. Enjoying the sunlight and the first real signs of spring. A scientist from the DNR came out this morning after my call last week. They’re stocking the river to get things moving again. They already released some fish this weekend, and this morning I saw several jumping by my dock. That was a welcome sight. Overall I’m feeling pretty good. I even woke up with an appetite this morning, which is a very good sign. I still have bone pain, which is expected as long as my blast number is present, but it is improving. I have a myofascial release and lymphatic massage scheduled later today and another on Wednesday. For now I just need plenty of rest while my body continues to recover. Spring showing up and fish jumping in the river this morning felt like a very good sign.

@MikeyDiMercurio @Sassafrass_84 Yes, every single point mentioned! Of course, since they police themselves, how to do it?

Congress can be fixed. First, term limits. Second, an organization that strips them of all bank accounts and investments. While a congressman serves, he is like a Catholic priest or a monk. Vow of poverty. They get a little stipend in lieu of a salary. Third, no special interests and lobbying becomes a felony. Fourth, a new ability of the voting citizens of a state - at any time - to recall their congressman or senator. A vote of no confidence. They get fired with no pension. Fifth, travel is only allowed on government aircraft as approved by the president and only to the state they represent. No boondoggles to Epstein Island. Sixth, each congressman undergoes a yearly audit by the IRS and the voters of their state. Shenanigans are a felony and any money (like that held by their cousin's sister for them) is confiscated and returned to the treasury.

Why do we even have a congress when it's clear that they no longer work for we the people? At this point, it's just us giving them money to launder and get rich while we suffer. Congress should be abolished. This is what our forefathers warned us about.

@BamaSaltyMarine … and we sometimes tried it anyway!

When I was a kid, you didn't need to say " Don't try this at home" because we weren't a bunch of idiots.

@HustleBitch_ Felt the same way with mine. Never wore it, eventually got rid of it!

🚨 MIKE POSNER SAYS HIS $70,000 ROLEX MADE HIM MISERABLE — SO HE DITCHED IT FOR A $40 TIMEX American singer and producer Mike Posner says buying a luxury Rolex turned out to be one of the worst “deals” he ever made. He thought the watch would make him feel cooler. Instead, it made him anxious. Posner says every time he traveled with it, he was constantly worried: • it would get scratched • a backpack zipper would damage the face • he’d forget it in a hotel safe He says the watch was a Rolex Day-Date with a diamond bezel, a model often referred to as the “Presidential” Rolex because it has been worn by multiple U.S. presidents. Eventually he realized something unsettling. “I didn’t possess the Rolex… it possessed me.” So he ditched it. Now he wears a simple Timex and says it gives him way more joy because he doesn’t have to worry about it. His message: “Don’t slave away for possessions… don’t let your possessions possess you.” Did Mike Posner just say the quiet part out loud about luxury status symbols?

@krassenstein God isn’t within a thousand miles of that stunt.

BREAKING: Moments ago at the White House this took place. A bunch of old people praying for a convicted felon, adjudicated rapist, who appears to have just blown up 100+ Iranian schoolchildren, while he hides the Epstein files, in which he appears in thousands of times. We are a joke.

@Supersonic_Red Thanks and best to you. Your’e strong and prayers for you will be said. You’re not alone as I have just finished radiation & chemo for my own “thing”. God is there for us when we keep the door open!

Quick health note so everyone understands why I’ve been a little quiet. Some labs suggest my leukemia may be stirring again. My number today was 4.7, which is still below the threshold where treatment usually begins. In my case it has often come back down on its own, so for now we are watching it closely. For perspective, I’ve had two bone marrow transplants and fourteen rounds of chemotherapy over the years. I know this road well, and I choose carefully when it’s time to intervene and when it’s time to let my body do its work. Right now I’m resting, managing the aches that come with this, and giving it a little time. I may not be as active here for a bit. Please don’t worry if I’m quiet. I promise you I have excellent doctors watching things closely. One small request from someone who has been living with this since 1997: please don’t send medical advice, miracle supplements, or the latest thing someone read about online. I know it comes from kindness, but after two transplants and fourteen rounds of chemo, I’ve learned to trust my team and my own experience with this disease. Prayers are always welcome. Advice is not necessary. I’ve been doing this since 1997 and I’m still here. At this point I figure I either know what I’m doing… or I’m the luckiest, most stubborn redhead alive. And if I’m a little quiet for a while, don’t worry. My partners in crime, Merc and Joe, always know what’s going on and can answer questions if needed. Every pilot knows you never fly alone. I have the best wingmen.

@MattWalshBlog Yes, the old books and unabridged for the true flavor.

One thing you notice when you read pretty much anything written more than 100 years ago is just how impoverished and bland and limited our language has become. People spoke and wrote in a kind of effortlessly rich and descriptive way that almost no one does today. On this site a lot of people write almost exclusively in cliches and internet lingo. A lot of people speak like that too. The language contracts, our conversational vocabulary shrinks more and more over time. And the more limited we become in our language, the more limited we are in our thinking.

@Supersonic_Red Mini bikes, BB Guns, wheelies on Mustangs (w/o helmets), the odd sprain, curb jumping, inner tubing at high speed, dodge ball, 4 square, Little League, rope climbing in the gym with the 2” “safety” pad…. The sweet spot in time and it was just freaking glorious!

Truth. Helicopter moms didn’t exist and it was wonderful. Our friends were everything. Our world was outdoors. We figured things out ourselves and were stronger for it.