What Color T-Shirt Did Jesus Wear?

There are people who study how different colors affect us ~ Chromotherapy and Colorology are two of many resources for this subject.

A friend of mine and his wife used to always wear black clothes ~ t-shirts mostly with jeans. When I first went to their house to see their newborn, I noticed that it was a sunny day and they had the blinds drawn and it was so dark in the living room, I thought that a seance was about to begin.

Both of them were nice people but they always had a lot of "challenges" and the glass was near close to being even 1/10th full. Actually, in their case, they would complain that ALL their glasses leaked and that they tried to return the set of glasses that they got for a wedding present but the store refused.
They portrayed themselves as victims at every turn.
The wife lost her job because of outrageous circumstances.
The husband was going to school and all his classes were a "waste of time".

Now I don't know why people are attracted to wearing the colors (or lack of color) that they do, but I do know that there are certain stereotype impressions that we get at first glance at someone who walks into a room, based just on the color they wear.

If you observed a woman wearing bright "island" type colors, is there a pre-disposition to thinking that she might be an extrovert? That she might be fun and able to easily laugh at your corny jokes?

And if a woman came in dressed in all black with a tattoo on both arms, you might come on another conclusion without speaking a word to her.

On a color therapy website, the following conclusions are evident:
Mood dressers are people who are in-tune with their emotions and dress accordingly. Do you feel pink today? Or, do you feel blue?
1. Wearing Blue - Serenity and Calm

* Creating a Serene Sacred Space
* Ways to Calm an Anxious Spirit


2. Wearing Gray or Black - Invisibility and Blending In
Wearing grays and blacks can be depressive.

Let's face it, black and gray are fashion basics. We all have the basic black suit or black dress slacks that are a must wear for a number of different social settings. Wearing black will allow you to keep a low-profile in social settings if that is your intention. Don't wear black if you want to stand out amidst a crowd. Most folks don't even bother to wear black at funerals anymore, it's just too sad to wear dreary and dark colors.


3. Wearing Green - Nurturing and Earthy

Green is considered to be one of the most healing among all the colors.

Because green is the color of trees and grasses it is a wonderful color choice to wear anytime you are wanting to feel more in-tune with nature. Green represents the Spring season and new growth.

4. Wearing Orange - Energetic and Creative
Orange urges you to get out into the world and create something grand! (author's note: some orange jackets worn by a nephew of mine is certainly an exception to this rule)

Orange is a very high energy color. Its creativity juices are extremely intoxicating and sweet tasting. Wearing orange is fun and can make you feel quite playful.

5. Wearing Pink - Open Heart
Wearing pink conveys compassion and an open heart.


6. Wearing Purple - Unique and Special
Wearing purple shows others that you want to be noticed.


7. Wearing Red - Powerful and Confident

Red can really pack a punch when needed. Ask any politician. Red is the favorite color of ties.


8. Wearing White - Fresh Outlook - New Beginnings
Wearing white will help reduce any nagging feelings of disappointment or drudge.

White represents cleansing and new beginnings.


9. Wearing Yellow - Cheerful and Happy
Yellow is the perfect color to wear whenever your spirits needs an uplift.

Yellow carries the same healing qualities associated with the sun. It offers warmth, optimism, and light. All shades of yellows and golds will cheer you up and help make you feel happier.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Now I am just a little curious as to why Jesus was usually depicted by artists as wearing white. Probably because of the climate where he was teaching, healing and changing water into wine.

But I'm thinking it might be that He read about color therapy.

Just a thought.

My Namesake

My full baptized name is Margaret Mary Murphy.
I was named to honor my Dad's sister who carried the same name. Their Mother was Margaret McCabe Murphy. Dad's Grandmother was Margaret Murphy.
You get the idea.
No one was called "Maggie", "Marge", "Mags", "Egret", "Moron"....just "Margaret".

For some reason the nickname for Margaret is Peggy. Who the heck knows where THAT came from but the Irish (Gaelic) meaning is "Pearl". So why didn't they call me "Pearl"? That would be a gem of a name! (sorry, Sean, I happen to LIKE puns)

My Dad's sister Margaret Mary, named her son Edward after my Dad. She had 10 children so I think she more or less ran out of names and Ed was as good as any. But what was interesting was out of all 10 kids, all living in the state of New York, the only one who kept in touch with my Dad was his namesake.

Having said all that ~

Today I had an honor bestowed upon me that brought tears to my eyes.

3 year old great nephew Cooper has a new stuffed doggie and when asked what he named "her", he replied, "Peggy"..."now we have two!"
Maybe this honor occured because last week I bought him his first golf set and for a short time, I am high on his list. When someone gives him a discarded box to play fort in, they will be the next guest of honor.

I just hope & pray that my namesake and I will forever have a tight bond and that,
make no bones about it, I will live up to the honor.

Future Headlines

I received an email from a friend with these thought-provoking predictions:

HEADLINES FROM THE YEAR: 2029

Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia, formerly known as California .

Baby conceived naturally! Scientists stumped.

France pleads for global help after being taken over by Jamaica. No other country comes forward to help the beleaguered nation!

Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only.

85-year $75.8 billion study: Diet and exercise is the key to weight loss.

Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights.

Average height of NBA players is now nine feet, seven inches.

IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent.

Floruba voters still having trouble with voting machines.

George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.

Missing: One Small Computer Mouse

Breaking Stuff Is Not hard To Do

The technological troubles are continuing.
The ATOMIC clock on the porch has stopped searching for the correct time and date...after a change of batteries, it still thought it was Sunday (on a Wednesday).
Then, this morning, it is working perfectly.

Apparently the telephone is acting weird. When people call it sometimes rings busy when no one is on the phone. Then it will work fine twenty minutes later. Hmmm..

The clothes dryer repair person was a no-show so we have someone arriving in a minute with his screwdriver to see what is wrong. Just for a grin, I decided to start the dryer and after 14 times of it NOT heating up, 10 minutes ago, it is working just fine.

The computers are still acting fickle too. One hour they are working and the next time they just look at me without allowing the mouse to move. This post may or may not get published.

I don't think I have ever been so perplexed about such intermittent misfortunes but I DO know that I am grateful because they are trying my patience. And in that trial, I am attempting to have faith that all will work out...eventually.

Don't try to call me...the phone may not work.
Don't try to email me as it may be caught up in cyberspace.

Last time I was this overwhelmed with things going wrong, I went to the swimming pool to "drown my sorrows" and guess what?

It was closed for repair.

Spot Handles My Light Work

I used to have a volatile temper.
G O L F, the finest sport on this earth might turn a Monastic Monk into a raving looney tune.
I really worked hard at curbing my instinct to throw a club or scream obscenities at an innocent 1" sphere that was only guilty of rolling past a 2 and 1/2" round hole in the ground.
(Besides, my Mother always told me that I should never do anything that I would not want splashed on the front page of the newspaper)

Well, I hope the local reporters don't walk into my office right now.

G O L F has NOTHING on T E C H N O L O G Y, other than it is a shorter word.

Between the clothes dryer being on the fritz and the computer connections NOT connecting for the past week, my blood started to boil like the "days of old" when my birdie turned into a bogie by missing an approach shot that landed in the seemingly benign pond surrounding the green.
I know that I am so much more mature now and decided not to let "the little things get me down"...and I counted all my blessings.

One of which is my dog, SPOT, who did what I couldn't possibly do...show the regard that I no longer have for my Toshiba...and I don't have to have my actions "splashed on the front page of the paper."

I feel "relieved" now.

I Like Your Sweater

My Mom was a complimenter.
She would find SOMETHING nice to say every time I would see her, albeit somewhat of a stretch sometimes. Like one time she observed that I had worn the same yellow sweater the past 8 times that she had seen me, but "it is a nice bright color on you, even with the grape juice stains (it MIGHT have been wine?)".

Mom's Mother had taught her to be a member of the "compliment club" whereby each member would give another a "T.L." (Trade Last)..which meant that person A had heard a nice thing said about person B...and would be happy to trade that compliment last after receiving one from person B first.
Got it?
Yeah, it can get confusing.
Suffice it to say, Mom & Grandma were promoting saying nice stuff to people. They figured that many nice comments are said about people who never hear them and this way, if someone thinks they may get a pat on the back in return, they may be more inclined to spread the the good stuff.
Maybe a "T.L." is too awkward because it looks like you might be looking for a free compliment handout. That's not the point. Plus it can get REALLY embarrassing when someone has 23 nice things that they heard about YOU and you can't think of one little comment that someone else said about your compliment deliverer.

One time I was teaching an insurance class and I decided to interject a little motivational pearl and I asked each person to find something nice to say to one other person when we took our break. I told them to avoid general phrases and that the more specific the compliment, the better. If you told someone they were a nice person, you should give an example of why you are saying that.
Some fella came up to me during the highlighted compliment time and told me he like gray hair.
Thanks.

I know that we are all responsible for our own happiness and all that rot, but heck, why is it so hard to purposefully find a nice thing to say to people?
My theory (I now that you didn't ask) is that we are too wrapped up in our own ego..our own world ~ and how we look, act and appear to others.

The other night I went to a poker party and was assigned to a table where I only knew 1 of the 5 other players. During the evening I asked each one what they did for a living and how they liked their job..or where they lived, etc. By the end of the night, I knew everything about these people but not one asked me one question. However, to my surprise, they asked me to join their "group" which is supposed to be a big deal to "qualify". I guess they liked me but did they know me?
The only fact they thought they knew about me was a lie..when I finally offered up that my job was that of a "hair dresser at a funeral home"...and that proclamation was ignored as I was told that I need to put in my 25 cents to stay in the game.
Sigh...

Today to find 5 nice things to say to others on a daily basis without looking for anything in return.

Oh, by the way, YOU obviously are a very eclectic person to be taking the time to read this post.
YOU are the bomb.
YOU would get my vote in the next election (for WHAT position, I have not decided)
YOU are very patient to have even finished reading this blather.

Oh, and I like your sweater.

Happy Birthday, Mr. "Half-Way to 78" Man

This is my nephew Sean Michael Murphy.
I love him like he was my nephew.
I have loved him for 39 years.
And you know what?
I LIKE him enormously.
I mean, he is the guy who I would invite to a party, even if he and I were not related.
He is a softie with his kids, a push-over for his wife, Annie-belle, a maniac at "beans" and a pretty dern good ping-ponger.

Most of all, he is a good man whom I consider a great friend who makes a difference on this earth plane.
(NOW will you let me win at Ping Pong?)
Happy Natal, Day, Sean!

Kids Say The Darndest Things

My great-nephew Griffin is the most enthusiastic 7 year old on the face of the planet. He gets excited about watching paint dry.

He is taking his first official golf lessons with a "few" friends...ok, there are 120other kids in this FREE golf clinic that a local golf course is sponsering.
Yesterday I took him to the first session and before getting into the car he had to find his Nike shirt that "had that checkmark on it that all the golf pros wear".

He only owns one golf club..a putter and the clinic only provided a few clubs that were old, bent and/or the wrong size. I don't think they expected such a huge crowd of "freebie-takers".
Still, Grif had a great time and said he thinks he can beat Tiger Woods with a few more lessons. (He better hurry because I think Tiger is only going to be down a few months with this latest surgery he has to endure)

Well, with that kind of commitment to the "greatest sport on earth", I took him to the local sporting goods store and got him outfitted with a new set of junior clubs with a professional bag, complete with head covers and balls. He spent the rest of the day practicing his swing, making up a couple of courses (one inside and one outside) and convincing the next door neighbor pal that golf was more fun than running through a sprinkler, tossing a football or shooting baskets.

Today I picked him up for his second day of "stand for 10 minutes before htting 3 balls" and he lugged his bag out and asked if we could go hit balls after his lesson.
He then proceeded to name all the gifts that he had ever received in his WHOLE life and said that he would use this one the most.

I said, "What about your swim goggles?"
"Oh,yeah, I'll use those a lot too"
Then I named a few others, including the play station that he got from cousin Connor ~ and he admitted that they were all good.
When I asked him which was the very best present that he had ever received, he paused for a full 2 minutes (a lifetime of quiet if anyone knows Griffin)...
I said, "Well?"
He said, "Hang on...I'm thinking..."
Moe pausing...then,
"I don't have a car yet, do I?"

Sigh....

I sure hope he doesn't grow out of this miniature golf set in just one year...

Happy Fathers Day, Pop

Here's my Pop.
I miss him every day but he left me with awesome memories.




The younger of these pictures was a night that DAD had danced with some of my golf team members from Ohio University after we had played (and LOST BIG TIME) OSU.
(yeah, even though we got throttled, Mom & Dad had a party and we still did some dancing that night)

The other picture is Dad ATTEMPTING to feed Griffin ~ it was a side-splitting hysterical moment. Annie was encouraging a "who can feed Griffin the best" contest and Dad boasted that he would take first prize.
He did. It was just in some entirely different category. His "win" was getting more food in ears and a nose than Grif's mouth.

When I close my eyes, my own "picture" of my Dad is of him smiling.
He could tell better jokes than Leno, Carson, and Letterman combined...and was more entertaining. And he loved to hear about every detail of my day, my work, my life.
He wanted to know everything about his grandsons and their kids. His biggest grins came when Brian & Sean were 5 & 6 years old and they would come and give him a hug and an "I love you" without being prodded.

I picture him laughing at the fun songs my brother sang with The Irish Brigade and the times he would kid my Mom about how she pronounced "winnebago" (she would say "warm bagels").
I still think of when Pop would break out into a warm chuckle when my pooch, Bailey would snatch a treat off his shoulder.

Some of Dad's biggest laughs came at the expense of his friends of the golf course when he would win a sucker bet on the links.

Yep, I miss you a bunch, Pop. Especially that last day when you asked me if I was happy ~ and when I said "Yes" ~
sigh...
you gave me your one last smile.

My Nephews Make Great Fathers

Happy Father's Day to these guys!

Brian & Connor



And Sean wtht his boys..Cooper and Griffin (Grif does NOT hae lipstick on..he was enjoying some flavored shaved ice)



Sean Michael Murphy with his little girl, Parker

U.S. Open - Golf Trivia

Golf's U.S. Open plays out this week, just in time for the customary final round on Father's Day.

How old is the tournament?
The Newport Country Club of Rhode Island hosted the first U.S. Open in 1895 with far less fanfare than the modern tournament receives.

Instead of a mad scramble to make the elite field, the competition only had 11 entrants, each of whom played a nine-hole course four times in a single day. The U.S. Open wasn't even the main draw on the course that week; spectators and golfers were much more preoccupied with the first playing of U.S. Amateur Championship at the club, which made the Open something of an afterthought.

At the end of play, Englishman Horace Rawlins claimed the title and pocketed $150 and a gold medal for his stellar performance. The Open's been played ever since with two exceptions: a two-year break for World War I and a four-year gap during World War II.

Amateurs with handicaps of 1.4 or less can play in the U.S. Open if they make it through the qualifying process, which includes a local qualifying round and a sectional qualifying round. Golfers who manage to qualify in this way had better behave themselves, though. The United States Golf Association's Web site ominously warns that golfers are "subject to rejection at any time (including during the Championship) by the USGA. The reason for rejection may include unbecoming conduct." If John Daly's been sliding by, though, it's probably tough to get the boot.

What's the roughest time anyone's had at the Open?
(When I read a CNN story about J. D. Tucker, it made me feel better about playing one time with the LPGA and posting the highest score of the field ~ 83)

But it would be hard to beat J.D. Tucker in the futility department. He took the course for the 1898 Open at the Myopia Hunt Club in S. Hamilton, Massachusetts, and proceeded to shoot a 157 in his opening round. During his second round the same day, he carved 57 strokes off of his score, but that only got him to a not-so-competitive 100.

For a single hole, though, Ray Ainsley gave Tucker a run for his money. At the 1938 Open at Cherry Hills in Englewood, Colorado, Ainsley hit into a creek on the 16th hole of his second round. Rather than take a penalty, Ainsley thought he'd try to hit the ball out of the water. When his first attempt was unsuccessful, he tried again. And again. And again.

When the ball finally found its way onto dry land and into the cup, Ainsley had racked up a 19-stroke hole, a record that still stands.

That should make you feel better the next time you have to suck it up, take the penalty and take a drop.

I guess that's a lesson that doesn't apply just to golf?

Have a great weekend.

I like to Dance, I like to Boogie

I'm a HUGE American Idol fan;
I'm a PASSIONATE Dancing With The Stars fan;

I'm NOT such a cat fan...except this dancing and singing one.

Signs

Yesterday I walked into a store that had a sign on it's entrance that read "WE PROSECUTE SHOPLIFTERS".
I wondered if there were stores that DIDN'T prosecute shoplifters and if THEY had signs reflecting their generous nature.

The next store I entered had a sign that stated "NO HANDGUNS ALLOWED".
I wish I could see the surveillance camera taping the 125 people who read
the sign and went back to their truck to deposit their weapon before
returning.

Others senseless signs to me are:
a restaurant that advertises "GOOD FOOD"...I've never seen one that said "MEDIOCRE CUISINE"..
or
"HOT SOUP" instead of "TEPID SOUP"?

Furniture stores - "SUPERB QUALITY" Really? You mean your mattresses aren't "LOW QUALITY"??

"COLD BEER"...oh, nuts...my mouth was watering for a "LUKEWARM BREW"...if they had only advertised THAT!

When I see a street sign warning me, WRONG WAY, I wonder if every other street should instill confidence in the driver by stating they are going the "RIGHT WAY".

Oh, well, maybe I should have named this blog post, "HYSTERICAL OBSERVATIONS" when in fact, it's just my own musings....

I Was Never Good At Math Tests

The $21,000 Leak

So, about 14 months ago I got tired of looking at the bathroom walls being eroded by leaks next to the shower and also having replacing basement suspended ceiling tile due to errant water dripping down from the bathrooms.

I called 4 contractors to give me a "competitive, pencil-sharpening quote". Apparently they don't do either competitive or pencil sharpening.

There was Harold, who made the typical stereo-type plumber look like a G-Q magazine ad, who kept commenting on how he "hoped to get this job so he could put new tires on his truck."
So I decided on the contractor who actually showed up on time and gave me a written estimate who wasn't the cheapest but wasn't the most expensive. He convinced me to get some other "necessary work to complete now so it didn't cost more in the future".
Instead of just patching the 4" area of drywall by the shower, I was now getting two brand new showers...and as long as I was making the investment, I might as well get the best showers on the market...for "the sake of reselling your home".
He explained that the original showers were of "cheap builder construction grade" and that they hadn't been "plumbed" correctly when they were installed.
Oh, and since they would have to rip out some of the floor to install the new (state of the art) shower stalls, "you should update this cheap flooring and install nice tile for the sake of re-selling your house."

Then I looked at the front foyer and have always wanted that updated...well, at least after "The Hammer" explained that "first impressions are essential when re-selling your house". Then as he helped himself to a glass of water in the kitchen, I could see his eyebrows furrow with disdain as he surveyed the kitchen flooring.
"For just a few extra dollars......"
Perfect logic so naturally, being the logical person that I purport to be, I agreed.

Since he and his team of bandits were going to do new flooring for the two master bedroom bathrooms, the foyer, the kitchen, the only mis-matched room would be the third guest hallway bathroom so how could I say "no"?

So, after three weeks of living with dust and draining my bank account by over $21,000, I was happy...or was I?
(I did observe that their dress code should have included masks and the bill should have had a ransom note attached)

Well, it's been just over a year and I don't pay any attention to the flooring anymore.
The shower doors seem kinda heavy.
And if I spill anything over 4 ounces on the expensive Italian kitchen tile, it shows a dent.

Oh, and one more thing ~

The basement ceiling tiles have water stains re-appearing and their is a nice 3" water erosion mark in both bathrooms again...next to the expensive shower stalls that were supposedly installed correctly.
I guess I need to fix these things for "the sake of re-selling my house."

I just can't remember where I put Harold's phone number.

Judge Cannot Control Laughter

Drug-possession defendant Christopher Johns, on trial in
March in Pontiac, Michigan, said he had been searched
without a warrant. The prosecutor said the officer
didn't need a warrant because a "bulge" in Christopher's
jacket could have been a gun. Nonsense, said Christopher,
who happened to be wearing the same jacket that day in
court. He handed it over so the judge could see it.
The judge discovered a packet of cocaine in the pocket
and laughed so hard he required a five-minute recess to
compose himself.

Stupid Flies

The summer has arrived full force here in southeastern Ohio.
The thunderstorms and 90 degree temperatures have announced their arrival this week. Other un-welcomed guests have appeared as well.
The HOUSE-FLY.
These pesky pests have apparently been trained at some Olympic Fly-camp. They are quick, sneaky and quiet. They are un-related to the sluggish Texas bar fly that you can catch in one hand while drinking a cold one with the other. (not that I, personally, have ever done that. I've just heard stories from my Granddaddy)

I read today that a Swiss University near Geneva has studied the intelligence of flies. The results of this research show that stupid flies live 80-85 days vs. the intelligent fly's mere 50-60 days buzzing around. The "underdeveloped neural activity" is a plus for these tiny enemies.

I just don't get this research ~ on so many levels.
1) Who would take a job investigating these fly-by-nights, anyway? Can you see the business card of such an individual? Tony Jenkins, Fly IQ investigator. That poor guy could never be successful picking up a girl at a bar with those credentials.
2) Isn't it the clever flies that out-wits, out-lasts and out-plays the fly swatter who is the last SURVIVOR?
3) Wouldn't the more intelligent fly give lessons to it's baby flies on how to avoid the hazards of getting trapped between a window and it's screen, never to draw fly breath again?

I'm thinking that maybe I should go into my own rigorous training for the summer fly-swatting contests. That's it...today I get a new fly swatter and cut down on carbs and run the stairs and do "swats" three times a day.
I'll show those flies who's got the better I.Q.

What does "I.Q." stand for anyway? (maybe "I quit"?)

Double Happy Birthdays!!

Anniebelle Murphy & Parker-belle Murphy







Annie turned "thirty-something" yesterday (ok, 35, aka "half-way to 70! ~ if you MUST know!) and tomorrow, Parker becomes a terrific two (she is by-passing the "terrible-two's" deal).
We are all blessed that these two souls have graced our world.

I love Annie like a sister, niece, best friend and confidant. We laugh together until my sides hurt...we speed dial each other when we discover the silliest of details (like which lifeguard is on duty today) and we are partners in a business (that is not quite ready for prime time players) that helps others proceed with life in a perfect way ~ like we do.

I love Parker like she is the prettiest, funniest, most creative, most talented, FEMALE Murphy under 35 years old.
These two are the best!

~ oh, and can you tell that I love them?