Monday, May 1, 2017

We can handle the truth

Truthfulness is something I truly believe in, even though we have been playing around with me throwing false stories at you in the Truth or Fiction challenges I still leave you with the truth in the end.

I have a hard time not being truthful, this is why what you see here are mostly actual events or things Cindy and I have done, a lot of negatives I don't discuss but over the years I most likely have mentioned everything that has ever happened with me at one time or another.

What do we talk about on our blogs? just about anything that comes to mind....right? So let's talk about anything, I read a post Jean at The Misadventures of Widowhood wrote, she did a sort of truth or dare post and I'd like to do something similar here.
First off let me go out on a limb so to say, ask me a question, any reasonable question will be truthfully answered.

I always tell you stories about myself and family, but if there is something you have always wanted to know, or something you wanted to ask, now is your chance, to take a quote directly from Jean " Lurkers, newbies or long-time readers---it doesn’t matter---hit me with your best shot."

Second for the possibility that there is someone who just drops by but never comments, I would like for you to say hi, ask a question, introduce yourself, join in somehow, just let me know you are here, don't be a Lurker, join right in you are welcome here.

Third now tell us something about yourself, tell us where you live and where you are from, or anything else that you would like to share.

There we go just three things, make it as simple or difficult as you want, this will be our Truth or Fiction challenge this week, and everyone who comments, whether you follow my blog or not will be added to the True Winners section this week, I will be happy for you to follow but won't hold you to it.

This is so easy I'll go first:

Jimmy, why are you doing this Truth or Fiction thing to your readers?
Well I just wanted to try something fun, everyone seemed to like it so I have continued with it.

I suppose that I am my first reader so I have been here from the start, most of you already know this but I was born and raised in South Carolina and live in California now.

Just that easy leave a comment, ask a question, and be a True Winner this week.

30 comments:

  1. Question: have you ever beenn tempted to post three true things that happened and confuse the heck out of everybody? True thing about me: I am a bit of a hermit.

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    1. Hi Delores, I have never thought of that one before, I am tempted now because it is actually a good idea.

      A lot more people than we realize are more comfortable being alone, my brother is more comfortable being by himself, he does better communicating through the computer than face to face.

      Thank you Delores...added you to the True Winners section.

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  2. Hey Jimmy! I have lived in various cities in Ohio my whole life. One thing I've always wondered, after watching a lot of HGTV, how do normal people afford to buy a house in California? It seems as though just to get a small Cape Cod or ranch home, you pay at least $400,000. And even then, it needs a lot of work! You can get a mansion here for that kind of money!

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    1. Hi Bijoux, I don't understand that either, the housing prices here make me wonder the same thing, for what I sold our home in New Mexico for when we moved here I could never find anything like it here for a price I could afford, Cindy's parents bought this place about forty years ago, and it was easier for us to move in with them when we came to care for them, but the bills are a lot more than we were used to, with that said I wouldn't want to be a young couple just starting out in California.

      Thank you Bijoux...3rd week for you in the True Winners section.

      Delete
  3. Question: How far are you from Costa Mesa?
    I am not a lurker.
    I live in TN, the most beautiful place on earth - in spring and fall - the rest of the year, it sucks.

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    1. Hey Lady, it is about 75 miles from here to Costa Mesa, CA.

      No you are definitely not a Lurker, you are one of us, I love Tennessee, it is a beautiful area for sure, I used to take off and drive up to Gatlinburg just for the fun of it when I was a teenager.

      Got you added to the True Winners.

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  4. Mrs. C always says that I am the worst liar, she always knows when I am fibbing. It is one reason why I don not lie...I am not against stretching the truth sometimes if it makes a story better.

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    1. Hey Joe, I understand that completely, if I were to try and lie to Cindy she would have it figured out before the words were completely out of my mouth, stretching the truth is another story though.

      Added you to the list Joe.

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  5. Here's my question: How long has it been since your wife has seen your fact clean shaven? I ask because my husband had every combination of facial hair a man could have except for a short few years later in life when he shaved it all off. It was like living with another man. I'd look over and do a double take.

    I love your writing style and I love blogs that seem authentic and talk about whatever comes to mind. You do that. I hope this topic brings a few of your lurkers out of the darkness, so to speak. It got a few my lurkers to introduce themselves and I was thrilled they did so. Blog writing can get lonely when you see hundreds lurking in your view counter but so few comment.

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    1. Hi Jean, and Thank you for the idea that brought this post to life, and thank you for your compliments they mean a lot to me.

      I had a full beard when Cindy and I met and she never saw me clean shaven until about a year ago, she said that I looked much younger, especially since my beard went white ha ha, then all of a sudden a few months ago she said that I looked more like my Dad than myself, I grew a goatee back and she likes that much better, said it looks like Jimmy came home....I guess I'll keep it.

      I really haven't paid attention to the view counter but I was impressed when you had a few join in on your blog, that was really nice.

      Added you to the True Winners section Jean.

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  6. Hmm...I guess I'm one of those who prefer the truth but as a storyteller I don't mind rearranging details and exaggerating at times if it improves a story. I never lurk on people's blogs. If I pay a visit I always leave a comment.

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    1. Hi Stephen, as a story teller it is almost always best to stretch the truth a bit, exaggerating to improve the story, I've never had a problem with this, I think we all do this.

      Normally when I visit someone's blog I will leave a comment, for everyone I am following like you they are on my reading list which makes it easier to find, I don't consider people who are following me already as lurkers, and you have always been one to let me know what you think of my posts and I appreciate you my friend.

      added you to the True Winners section.

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  7. Am I a lurker? That's not really my question. I read the majority (if not all) that you post but I only occasionally comment. Only when the mood hits me.

    I'm like you, I rarely lie, which sucks because I am good at it (I wasn't always so honest). To me, it comes from the fact that I don't care what other people think so I tend to tell it like it is. Not always, I know when to keep my mouth shut, but most of the time. I also know how much I hate being lied to so I try not to do it much.

    A truth post sounds fun but the truth is, I'd probably be disappointed with how few comments I get.

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    1. Hey Jeff, No you are not a lurker you have been around too long and we have all seen you ha ha, I don't know but telling it like it is in spite of what everyone else thinks, that sounds like telling the truth to me Buddy.

      Jean did a post similar to this on her blog and I was impressed with how well it was received, I think she even gained a few followers who were there in the shadows so to say, it seems to be going pretty good here, no newbies but we are all still talking ha ha.

      Jeff I for one would comment on yours, you never know there may be more than you think.

      Added you to the True Winners section.

      Delete
  8. I met Liz Taylor once when she was married to John Warner, Senator from Virginia. That was surreal to me. I wasn't even a citizen but my mother-in-law asked me to help her with her volunteer work at the Republican party. So I was included when they gave their thank-you to their volunteers via a dinner at some hotel. When touting for votes I would read my speech to potentials over the phone and pray they wouldn't ask me who I was voting for. I am a straight arrow where the truth is concerned. I would have had to tell them, well, I'm not actually a citizen, I'm just helping my mother-in-law out!!!

    I don't usually lurk though there have been times I don't comment when I'm in a hurry but can't stay away from what's going on. I usually come back though.

    I am a bit puzzled about why I can't follow you, not you but practically everyone now, so I did a question search and I got this: "Welcome to the Blogger Help Forum and thanks for posting. I know this could be really frustrating. I'm afraid, as of now, the GFC (Google Friend Connect) feature is no longer supported resulting to no follow/unfollow functionalities including profile functions." What the heck, have you heard anything like this? I am leaving totally boggled because I just tried again and the same thing happened, an error message. Very frustrating because I want to show support for my blogging friends. Sorry Jimmy!

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    1. Hey Denise, I bet that was pretty amazing to meet Liz Taylor, glad you didn't have to "spill the beans" when trying to get votes, truth be known it may not have mattered but there is always that one who would have given you grief.

      I am at a loss on the follow problem, you may try going to your reading list, then on the right hand side there is a menu that reads "blogs I follow" to the right of that is an edit pencil button, click that, and your manage blogs page will appear, there is an add button there you can copy and paste my url https://jimsop.blogspot.com/ into there and it should add me to your reading list.

      I have done this with blogs that I couldn't find a follow button for and it has worked well for me.

      I have added you to the True Winners section.

      Delete
  9. My mom cured me of lying by seeing right through my feeble attempts at an early age. Think I am too lazy to keep up with all the details of a good lie. Kind of envy those who can. Even when I tell stories, I tend to keep with the facts. I'm such a wuss.

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    1. Hey Patti, like you said keeping up with all the details of a good lie is a lot of work, the truth is much easier.

      Got you added to the True Winners section.

      Delete
  10. Question-What part of South Carolina are you from? I was raised in the Georgetown/Pawleys Island area but I now live in Columbia.

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    1. Easley is where I was born and raised, it's in the Upstate area near Greenville.

      Adding you to the True Winners section, good to see you my friend.

      Delete
  11. Hello from Idaho and guess I will ask do you have any thoughts about Idaho? I found your blog though "Drifting though life" and if you find the time stop in for a cup of coffee

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    1. Hi Dora, I am happy to have you stop by and hope to see you again, I will definitely run by your place also.

      I have never been to Idaho, my first thought about it would be that I believe there would be a lot of snow in the winter, I know there are a lot of people from California moving there, our neighbors have just sold their home and Idaho is their destination.

      I am sure it is very nice there, but I myself have not seen it with my own eyes yet.

      I have added you to the True Winners section, I hope you enjoyed your visit.

      Delete
  12. Something strange about me: My youngest son was 53 this year. I am 36. The best way to explain this anomaly is to tell you about something that I read in one of Kirk Douglas’ books. A “senior” movie actress was being interviewed. The reporter said, “Forgive me, Madame, but I have to ask. Your son (who was also a star) admits to being 56. You claim to be 63. How can this be?” Her answer (& mine): “He has his life—I have mine!”

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    1. That's a good explanation in my opinion, I say if you are 36 and your son is 56 you simply don't age as quick as he does.

      When I had my 20th birthday my dad was turning 40, I laughed at him and said "you are twice as old as me now" a couple years ago he told me that now he was no longer twice as old, only 20 years older so that meant I was catching up with him.

      I couldn't argue with that ha ha

      Added you to the True Winners section.

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  13. I once had lunch with a Royal Duchess and no I am not a lurker. I always leave comments if only to say Hi. Have you ever been to the UK?

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    1. Hi Valerie, lunch with a Royal Duchess had to be exciting.

      I have never traveled to the UK, I have never been out of the US, we were talking not long ago of where we would like to visit if we ever got a chance and the UK was definitely on the list.

      Good to see you Valerie, I have added you to the True Winners section.

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  14. What are the major differences between living in South Carolina and California? What are the best things about both places? I'm a wannabe writer, living in Adelaide, South Australia. Most of my life was spent moving, we always seemed to be changing houses as I grew up, then I married a soldier and we moved every 18-24 months. I've been in Adelaide now for 31 years, but still moved around a lot within the city and no place ever feels like "home", it's just where I am right now.
    One true thing about me, when I was very young, my mother always forced me to look into her eyes when I was telling her anything, because she said there was a little man living in my eyes and if I was lying he'd be dancing. To this day I have trouble maintaining eye contact with anybody.

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    1. Hello River, The Major differences between South Carolina and Southern California other than one being East Coast and the Other West Coast is the number of people and cost of living.

      California has such a diverse population of people it is really impressive to see so many different cultures in one place, but the cost of living is extremely higher than anywhere else I have ever lived. the best thing about California is the temperatures, we are fairly close to the Mojave Desert which keeps our temperatures more on the warm side.

      South Carolina is a lot slower paced, it seems no one is ever in a hurry, the foods are more home-style and fried dishes, and when in South Carolina if you ask for a glass of iced tea it will be very sweet, Sweet tea is what we call it where most everywhere else I have lived makes iced tea unsweetened, the cost of living is lower, an example is Gasoline is about one dollar a gallon cheaper than California. For me the best thing about South Carolina is the Beauty of the state and the people are more friendly.

      Moving around like you have gives you an opportunity to see a lot of places but it is always like you are starting over, the way we have to look at it is Home is where you are living, make it your home and remember the Good Lord sends us where we are supposed to be, with that said at this point in our lives we are where we are supposed to be, and it's up to us to make it our home.

      Moms do have a way of looking into our eyes and seeing everything we are thinking, we have to love them for that.

      I have added you to the True Winners section.

      Delete
  15. Well, now you got me thinking... Okay, I'll play!

    (1) What is the most dangerous situation you've been in (other than heart attack and 100% blockage!). How did you react?

    (2) I actually don't remember how long I've "known" you. We've been blog friends for a while, and you had a lengthy hiatus.

    (3) I live in Colorado. That's it. *snore*

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    1. Hey Abby, I remember one situation when I was doing collections for the water company where I worked, I was surrounded by about five young men who had blocked me on the front porch of a house, one threatened to take all my money, my truck, to "kick my ass" and to cut me because I was disrespecting his "moms" by coming there to take her money, I couldn't get by them and I sure wasn't going to let them know how scared I was.

      I just started laughing, they asked why I was laughing I told them that it may take all five of them to kick my ass but I would make sure they always remembered that I was there, they let me pass and against my better judgement I went ahead and wrote out a receipt for his moms water bill and walked right back up to him and collected.

      Not sure how dangerous that was but deep inside it sure felt like it.

      Wow Abby I can't remember how long it has been either, but it was way before I took that lengthy break, we kept up even then though.

      You have now joined the True Winners group.

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Thanks for stopping by, jump in and tell me what you think, or just say Hi, I really appreciate your comments.