Our first morning in Winona Carol and I decided to go up and have a peaceful continental breakfast before starting out a day of shopping. The breakfast was on the second floor and we were some of the first ones there. When we sat down about 25 more people came up to get their day started right! We were sitting at a table for four and a man (whom we guessed to be the girls volley ball coach) - sat down his coffee and napkin and asked if he minded if he would sit with us. Well we couldn't very well say no as he had already made himself at home. He started out the conversation asking us what we did. Carol told him she worked for the NewUlm Diocese and he said "well, you work for the biggest cult in the United States!" Carol said "come on now... it seems every where I go lately I have to defend my church" - He said "well it's not the people it is the church, did you know they are the richest organization around? They own the biggest art collection in the world - it is in Rome."
...yes, this is how our conversation started! Little did we know that by the time we got done with our "peaceful continental breakfast" we would know...
...That our new friend indeed had a lot of Catholic friends - hey, they are good people with blinders on!
...That his favorite minister in the whole world left Spicer and was picked up later for molesting little boys.
...That basically he is rich and sold a $300,000 dollar house to a Dr. - with a full, beautiful horse barn that the Doc changed into a shed.
...That he and his wife are now leasing a place with option to buy - the way to buy real estate is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Oh yes, things are selling in this economy... you just have to have property in the right LOCATION!
...That kids should NOT be insured under our insurance until they are 25 - it is a big joke - our kids need to get jobs and insure themselves. Oh yes, there is jobs out there and a lot of them!
...That his daughter carries a black berry and so does he, he lets her know what kind of add he needs - she writes it up, draws it and gets it sent back to him in less than 2 hours, where as the other artists that he used to employee would take more like 2 days.
...That his son is now done with college and needs to find a job and get the heck off his parents insurance for goodness sakes.
...That he woke up one morning and said "honey, we are selling the bar and grill - you are going to find a job and I am going to find something to do with my education, we will sell the house and downscale."
...That there is a big difference between a CROSS and a T, and for $5,000 dollars he can have the T turned into a CROSS and he will throw in the first $1,000.
...That where Carol and I are working (non-profit organizations) are the down fall of the American Economy.
...That teachers get paid way to much money for only having to work 6 months out of the year (?)
...That all Miranda has to do is spend $500.00 get some brochures made up of her art work, showing what she can and will do, get some business cards made up and deliver them to 200 people. Then if she hasn't heard from them she should give call backs. She should charge $35.oo an hour and have a disclaimer on the bottom about how many redoes she will do for the quote she gives them.
...That his son's college professor had no idea how to start a bar and grill and his son had all the information on how to successfully start one.
...That college professors are the highest paid bums in the world.
...That America is still the greatest place to live in all of the world!
and if it wasn't so late - I am sure we could have learned more about this wonderful land we live on...
But, it is time for him to go out and catch a few rays as he goes to his associates and sells them a line (or two!)
"Carol, you and I need to find something to laugh about - I think I am depressed!"
and Carol said " I think next year on our vacation we will go to Rome and see the art collection!"
