For our GOOD FRIDAYt this week, we wanted to bring MORE awareness to our blog. So, this week, we approached at least ten people , and gave them a B&N gift card to purchase our books, also encouraging them to participate in our contest.

Here’s the deal: Right below, there are 12 photos of movie scenes from the 1970’s.

Name all 12 movies, and send your answers to Paul’s e-mail: paulworthingtonjr@gmail.com

The contest ends June 18, 2012.

The first to correctly name all 12 photos (make sure to say if it’s the original, sequel, prequel, or remake) will be notified as our sole winner. We will announce the champion on our blog, and they will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

(P.S.-For secrecy sake Please don’t leave your answers in the comments section. But, feel free to comment about films, our blog, or anything else!)

Are you ready?

Let the game begin!

 

                                  PHOTO 1

                                  PHOTO 2

                                   PHOTO 3

                                  PHOTO 4

                                 PHOTO 5

                                 PHOTO 6

                                 PHOTO 7

                                 PHOTO 8

                                PHOTO 9

                               PHOTO 10

                               PHOTO 11

                               PHOTO 12

                                             ENJOY THE SHOW

This year, thus far, has been a whirlwind for the Worthington clan. And this week seems to be the epicenter of all things busy.

The most challenging school year has come to a wonderful end, for which the kids are extremely grateful, and so are we. We’re still working hard at work, but as of late it has been manageable. In a few weeks, we will put the final cap on our last home remodeling project.

Along with the above rapid pace, we have been home all week, hunkered down, putting the finishing touches on our third book, ‘Life’, a new three part series due to be completed mid-June.

After such a tumultuous tempo, a respite seemed to be on the menu for the Worthington’s. Therefore, my GOOD FRIDAY for this week is to spoil the family rotten. For the rest of today, we will lavish on each other the love and attention we need. Movies, food, fun, exercise, and more food: that’s how the Worthington’s roll.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful weekend.

Tell us your GOOD FRIDAYS in the comments below.  Let’s talk…

 Can you name this movie?

If so, you really know your 70’s films.

Name 12 more, and you could win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

How?

Here at Cop-A-Squat.com, we are hosting our first contest. Starting June 5, 2012, we will display 12 iconic movie scenes from the 1970’s.

All you have to do is name the correct movie from the photos and leave your answers in the comments below.

If you answer all questions correctly-YOU COULD BE OUR SOLE WINNER.

It’s literally that easy.

Again, on June 5, 2012, NAME THAT MOVIE: 1970’s EDITION will begin. Better start reviewing your 70’s movies!

 

How many times have you jumped in your car and sped off, only to discover, way down the road in the middle of nowhere, your tank is on empty?

Sucks, doesn’t it?

Right away you get in the lane near the shoulder. You turn off the A/C, roll down the window-you even cut off the radio. You will do anything just to make it to a gas pump. You begin to pray, “Lord, please, just let me make it to a gas station.”

One more mile and your car sputters and dies. You coast to a slow stop onto the shoulder. Now what?

For my Good Friday:

I traveled down the highway, my daughter in the passenger seat, my son in the middle seat. We had the music playing and the air blasting.

We passed an abandoned car. About a half-mile down, we saw a man and his young daughter walking on the shoulder. Their clothes were dirty and torn, and the man carried an old red metal gas can. I tried to pull over to offer help, but with a semi bearing down on me, I couldn’t pullover in time.

I knew the nearest gas station was at least five miles away. And it was hot.

I got off at the next exit and raced back to see if I could catch them. They had walked about another quarter-mile when we stopped them. The man looked relieved.

“Hey, is that your car back there?” I asked.

“Yeah, I just ran out of gas,” he said.

I offered to take him to the gas station and then take him back to his car.

When they got in he never stopped thanking me for stopping.

The man pointed to the girl sitting next to my daughter, who now sat in the middle row, my son way in the back seat. “This is my daughter, Erica” he smiled.

“Hi,” she spoke shyly.

“And I’m Randy.”

After the introductions we merged into traffic.

We pulled up to the pump. He got out and his daughter followed him to the cashier window. As soon as he started pumping the gas into the can I heard the pump cut off.

Over my shoulder I could see the amount he pumped: $0.68.

When they got back in the car I asked him if he needed a few dollars.

“No I’m good, we don’t have that far to go.” He tried to smile.

“Where you headed?” I asked.

When he told me how far, I knew there was no way he was going to make it on just $0.68.

“Look,” I began, “please take this ten dollars, fill up the gas can. I’ll take you back to your car, then I’ll follow you back to this station, then you can get more gas.”

He hesitated at first. I could see the tears in his eyes.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“You don’t have to say anything, just take it,” I said passing him the money.

When we returned to the station he put the remainder of the ten dollars in his gas tank. I tell you, it has been years since I felt anyone express so much gratitude. I will never forget Randy or Erica.

(Note: For Good Fridays, I don’t encourage helping others while putting yourself in danger. As you do your good deeds, make sure you proceed with caution).

Tell us your Good Friday story. Let’s talk.

The rain had picked up quite considerably as we careful made our way down the highway. It was dark, the road barely visible, with cars still driving around us at 70 mph or plus. Suddenly, up ahead, in the far left lane, there was a three car pileup. The lead vehicle a black pickup; behind him a dark green colored sedan, followed by a mid-size car.

The pickup now four car lengths ahead, sat for a moment on the right shoulder, then sped off; the sedan spun out of control and came to rest on the left shoulder; the mid-size car spun around, faced sideways, backed up across four lanes of on-coming traffic and came to rest on the right shoulder.

We were in the middle lane, which afforded us the chance to get over to assist the driver now on the right shoulder.

As I made my way to the car, I prayed the driver would be okay. From the passenger side of the vehicle I peered inside the window. A young, very frighten girl, about eighteen let down the window.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m okay, I spun out and that car hit me,” she said pointing to the green car across the street.

I could see the other car; smoke billowed from under the hood, the driver standing next to it with the door open. It was dark, rainy, and heavy traffic; there was no way I could make it safely across the highway to check on the other driver.

“Is my car messed up?” asked the young girl.

I made a quick inspection of the vehicle, “Your front headlight is busted and you have two large dents in the back.”

“What should I do?” She asked.

“My wife already called the police, just wait here.”

“Are you about to leave?”

“No, we’ll stay with you until the police come.”

“Thank you,” she tried to smile.

She pulled up close to the back of our van.

I went back to my car and we waited.

Through my side-view mirror I could see the young girl on her phone.

Fifteen minutes later a light colored truck pulled up and parked on the left shoulder.

Slowly the young girl backed up and followed the light colored truck.

I looked at my wife, shook my head in disbelief and seconds after she pulled off, the police arrived. The officer asked were we involved in the accident.

“No, sir, a young girl in a dark mid-size vehicle, who just pulled off, following a light truck, the person across the highway, and a black pickup, who fled the scene were the only ones involved.”

The officer checked my van for damage, when he found none he told me I could go.

The inconveniences and the hassles are only a few reasons people don’t want to get involved. However, don’t let a few ingrateful, irresponsible individuals deter you from doing good. As long as we don’t put ourselves or others in danger, we should each help in our own way. The world needs it!

Tell us your Good Friday story. Let’s talk…

In an earlier post, I mentioned how much I love surprising people. For our Good Friday, that’s exactly what happened.

A recycling center near our home, recycles paint, oils, all kind of chemicals. These guys work very hard in a hot, reeking, and dangerous environment. And yet, they’re always pleasant when we drop off our recyclables.  

A month ago when we dropped off some old paint and light bulbs, I had a light bulb moment myself. I went to that recycle center; a man approaches my window, with clipboard in hand.

“Afternoon sir, just pop the trunk and fill out the top portion.”

“You better check to see if you take all stuff I brought in.”

“If it came from your residence, and it’s chemicals, we take it,” he explained.

“Can you check, to make sure?”

“Yes sir.”

When he opened the rear door to our mini-van, I could see him in the rear-view mirror. He stood puzzled.

“Sir, I don’t understand,” he stood there staring down at the pizzas and sodas. He held his hands up, as if to ask, “What gives?”

“I wanted to buy you guys lunch today.”

A huge smile swept across his face.

Ah, the element of surprise.

He called over some other guys; they too were shocked.

Each man took off his glove and shook my hand and said “Thank you, thank you.”

One asked, “Why did you do this?”

“I wanted to show my appreciation for all the hard work you men do. Your contributions mean a lot to me and this community.”

As I drove out of the facility the men were smiling as they carried their lunch to the break room. A few miles down the road, the image of that moment burned in my mind. I could still see their surprise faces; truly, those are the moments I live for.

Tell us your Good Friday moment in the comments below!

This post is by no means a comparison to this impactful clip, but the line “I could have done more” is a strong reminder how we each can make a difference.

For our Good Friday, I wanted to honor the elderly. I appreciate that within them is so much of our history, wisdom, and their desire to help. My initial plan was to visit a senior citizen home in our neighborhood.

As you know, the best laid plans sometimes change.

Earlier in the week, my daughter and I visited our local video store. As I sat in the car, waiting for her return, an old, beat-up van pulled in next to me.

An older woman and two teenage girls got out of the van. As the woman walked slowly to my car, I could see her puffy, red eyes; it was obvious she had been crying.

“Sir”, she began, “we haven’t eaten in two days. Can you please help us?”

I sat stunned. “Ma’am, I just gave my daughter my last ten dollars. Whatever change she brings back, you are more than welcome to it.”

When my daughter returned, I quickly gave the woman the change: $3.54.

My heart churned. I felt so helpless. “I’m sorry, I wish I had more.”

She took the money from my hand. “Thank you, thank you,” she repeated.

The woman and her daughters returned to their van. My daughter turned to me. “Daddy, I have a few dollars at home. We can go get it and give it to her before she leaves.”

We raced home. After my wife and son heard about what happened, we rushed back to the video store, hoping to buy them groceries. But the woman was gone. We drove around for an hour trying to find them; we never did.

I felt horrible. Why when moments like this crop up I seem to always be out of pocket? My wife looked over at me. “Don’t beat yourself up; you did the best you could.”

I know she was right. I just wanted to do more.

We all can do more.

Tell us your Good Friday story.