Out & About At Eateries

Dad: Hey Mike, it was nice to have you share our anniversary with your girlfriend, Becky.
Mum: Yes, it means a lot you can share this with us.
Mike: No problem. 
Becky: My folks never celebrate their wedding anniversary, so it's nice to do it with you both. 
Mike: So, how many years is it?
Dad: Err...Elbow in ribs.
Mum: 25. It only seems like yesterday. 
Dad: That's right, honey.

Trudy: It's two years since we tied the knot.
Sam: Yeah. I don't regret a minute. 

Trudy: Your mum felt I was a bit old for you. Is she over that now?
Sam: I think so. Regardless, we are happy together. 
Trudy: Will you still love me when I'm 64?
Sam: Sure I will. 
Trudy: You keep me young. 
Sam: I can't take the credit for that. Your genetics are the reason.
Trudy: Well, I'm giving some credit to you. 

Amanda: What do you mean, I have to economise?

Roger: It's just the credit card payments are getting a bit high.

Amanda: Don't you think I'm worth it?

Roger: Of course, you're worth it. It's just...we can't afford it.

Amanda: And you bring it up at a romantic dinner.
Roger: Good point. I should have mentioned it sooner. We can't really afford this. 
Amanda: Roger, this is just not good enough!

Mark: So are you shouting me, or am I paying?

Tabitha: How about the person who blinks first pays? 

Mark: You're on. And don't kick me in the shin.

Tabitha: I don't play dirty. 

Mark: You are always tricking me. 

Tabitha: You're so gullible. 

Mark: I'm trusting, that's all.

Tabitha: How about you pay and I'll shout you dinner?

Mark: You're on.

Tabitha: My place at 7pm. Macaroni cheese? 

Mark: You got me again.

Signs I'd Like To See

At a restaurant: 

If you wish to dine at this establishment, you will have to turn off all devices before entering. 

At a sports stadium: 

Please take your litter as you leave and place it in the rubbish bins at the exit.

At a supermarket:

Please return your trolley to the correct location. 

In any public space: 

If you need to talk on the phone, understand that the rest of us don't want to hear it. 

At a busy boat ramp:

Be aware that others are waiting for you to move.

In a kitchen:

Do not leave your dirty dishes here. Others are not your servants. 

Being Successful

A good time does not have to cost a lot of money. A nice place, good company and some simple food may be the best time we will have.

When a person receives a warning of an impending disaster, the key difference between being either a survivor or a victim is not necessarily the gravity of the danger. It's more likely the response taken to the warning. 

If swimming at a beach with some rips, how good a swimmer we are is less important than following the guidance of the lifeguards.

A good skier who goes off-piste may be in greater danger than a lesser skier who stays on a groomed and patrolled slope.

A happy relationship's durability isn't based on physical attributes or similar tastes. More important is how we treat our significant other, with love, respect and yielding when there is no important reason not to. If both do that, then harmony should be much more likely. 

A fast runner may not win if they exceed their ability to maintain a certain speed. Pacing one's self realistically is a more successful strategy.

Simple Thoughts

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

We should learn from the past, but we shouldn't live in it.

We can't change what's happened, but we can influence what's going to happen.

Try to shape the future into being the best it can be. 

Take a step back and see the bigger picture.

What we can't find might be right in front of us. 

The cost of making money shouldn't come at the expense of what's important. 

Money is a protection, but it can also be damaging.  

Life is a gift if we keep our eye simple.

Things that are truly valuable are not complex. 

Introducing The 'Short Stories' Blog

Hi there. I've started a blog on the subject of short stories. I was wanting to post them here but I decided they needed their own platform. They can be easily accessed by simply clicking on 'Short Stories' shown under 'Links to my other blogs', to the left. 

A new story will be posted each day, NZ time - 6am for the foreseeable future, for now at least into mid September. They are designed to reflect real life and have a moral attached to them, without it being overly emphasised. 

The themes are varied and access is easy.  Anyway, have a look if you feel so inclined. Feedback welcome, here or on a specific article at Short Stories. And, no, you don't need to buy me a coffee.