Wednesday, August 31, 2005

I am furious!

I've been watching the news reports about the aftermath of hurricane Katrina with much sadness. Every station shows footage of the devastation left in the wake of one of the most destructive storms ever to come onshore in the U.S. When I saw video of the people looting in New Orleans and Biloxi I at first felt pity because I felt that perhaps they were hungry, and wet, and needed clothes and food, but after watching for awhile, I noticed that it wasn't only food and a few clothes these people were hauling by the arm loads out of the shops and stores.

Many of the evacuees have made their way north to our doorstep. Every hotel and motel in Eastern Arkansas, Northern Mississippi, Memphis, and many other areas, are full and beyond. The Grand Casino just across the river in Tunica, Mississippi has opened their doors and provided their grand ballroom for as many of the refugees as they can hold. Although safe from bodily harm, these people are running out of funds to pay for food and shelter and they have no idea when they'll be able to return home or even if they have a home to return to.

Although many of the hotels have reduced their rates for the evacuees, there have also been cases where they increased them "to keep the wrong sort of people out". It sickens me. I have to question why haven't they set aside a few rooms to offer these people at no charge? Had this tragedy not occurred they would have the empty rooms, right?

Another reason for my fury is an announcement made on Channel 3 news last night. They had to ask for many of the area churches to open their doors and their coffers to help. They had to ASK, people! There was a time when the Churches would have been the first in line to give aid in a tragedy such as this. What have our southern claims to Christianity become?

I'm proud to be a southerner with a southern claim to hospitality but at this moment I feel so ashamed.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Tis The Season

It's the time of year when the men folk around here are making their preparations for the arrival of the first Autumn hunting season. Guns are lovingly cleaned and polished, the spider webs are shaken from hunting coats, ammo belts, and game vests, and plots and plans are made to bring home meat for the table. A glow surrounds them and this strange gleam shines from their eyes as they gather to talk of their aim to kill the poor, defenseless, animals that they'll stalk for the next few months.

I have to tell you, most of the animals are fairly safe from the great hunters of this family because, although they profess skill as hunter-gatherers, we'd most likely starve if we had to depend on them to keep meat on the table. If, and when, they do bring home game, it is at great cost, so great that I believe I could have filled the freezer with a winter's worth of well cut, beef steaks for the same price.

For instance, dove hunting season begins this weekend and the projected expense is,,,

Sunflower seeds planted in May for a field for hunting, approx. $125.
New hunting license and a case of shotgun shells $ 80.
Insect repellent (cause those skeeters are rough this time of year) $10.
Incidentals $25.

Total: $240.

That'll be the cost of the meat for maybe 2 dinners made from the doves they'll kill. I do believe I could buy some fine beef for several dinners with $240.

Deer hunting season is even more expensive due to the costs of the deer stand, the arrows (for bow hunting with the $250 bow), the shells (for rifle hunting with a $700 rifle), the food and supplies for deer camp (if they go), the hand held GPS, at least 2 compasses, the atv, the gun case, gun sling, and don't forget the incidentals.

Is it worth the money? OH yeah, even if they don't bring home meat for the table, it's gotten them out of the house and out of my hair, and like I mentioned, the animals they hunt are mostly safe.


My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Lousiana and Mississippi who've had their worlds turned upside down and I hope John stayed safe!!

Monday, August 29, 2005

All cozy and safe here


current weather map

But those poor folks south of us are taking a beating right now.

I've been watching the weather on tv and on my puter and sending keep safe vibes down to John and Wanda who are coping with Hurricane Katrina. We'll get some of the weather off of this ole gal as she makes her way north but it'll depend on her track as to how much of the wind and rain we'll be having. It's the beginning of harvest time here and although my little acre needs a drink of water, the rice fields will suffer a big loss if we get too much rain, and especially, very much wind. The cotton harvest isn't too far off either so a lot of rain right now won't be a good thing for it.




Now, to answer the questions about the crappie we had for lunch on Saturday.

Crappie (pronounced croppie) are a fresh water, game fish that are plentiful in the lakes around here. The very biggest ones, that I've heard about, can weigh over 3lbs but I don't believe I own a frying pan big enough to cook one of those fellas. Most of the time James fillets them but we also like them fried whole (after scaling, gutting, and removing the heads). The flesh is white and flaky and soooooooooooo good!

Saturday, August 27, 2005

What a nice day.

I awoke this morning around 9ish to the pitter-patter of rain pelting the roof. We've been dryer than a pop-corn fart so that was a beautiful sound and the fact that it felt many degrees cooler than it's been these past few weeks was another good beginning to the day.



Later in the morning the Chick came prancing in all dressed up as a pink princess followed by her Mommy, Daddy, and baby sister, Jillian. We had a late lunch, early dinner of fried catfish and crappie, with fries, hush puppies, a salad, and some sliced tomatoes and onions.

I'm still burping.


I took this photo of Zach and Willie late yesterday afternoon while they were resting after a game of fetch.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Useless

Most people have those rare days when they can't get motivated to do anything but it's the opposite for me lately, I get those rare days when I actually DO something.

Today ain't one of them.

Instead of brushing this hair that looks like I've been plugged into an outlet, I've been checking to see if I could be hypnotized.

I could.

Then I discovered the reason behind all of my meandering ways by going here.

Not surprising.

Then, just to pass a little more time before I make myself move to fold that waiting load of laundry, I made a movie and played another game.

I'd better go brush my hair and get that laundry folded or I'm going to grow to this chair.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Sometimes it's just a shitty day.

I had to post this before I forgot to cause I love to pass fun things on to my friends.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/games/catchash1t.html

Thursday


I love it when I open my email and I have photos. Jerri snapped some new ones of the Chick and Jillian. Jilly will be 7 wks old tomorrow and weighs over 12 lbs already. The Chick started her dance class on Monday and LOVES it. Jerri said she was standing in the vestibule waiting for her to come out after class and all the little girls streamed out, but no Alexis. Finally, since all the other little girls had come out to their mommies already, she went in to find her. She was standing in front of the mirrors, still dancing.


I took this shot early the other morning. It's that time of the year, again, when I'm up before the sun.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

You know you're sick when,,,,,

You're snorting, sniffing, and coughing and you lay down for a bit and have a dream that the door at Wal Mart ate yer shoes, you left your cell phone at home, and you had to walk for 3 miles, on bare feet, to find a place open (An all night florist, can you believe that?) to use their phone to call home.

I awoke from this NIGHTMARE to the sounds of my mother-in-law coming through my front door. I don't know if she knocked first, I musta been bitching about my sore feet and didn't hear it.

What was the meaning of THAT dream I wonder?

Email from my sister

A lot of folks can't understand how we came to have a shortage of oil here in our country.
Well, there's a simple answer. Nobody bothered to check the oil. We just didn't know we were getting low.

The reason for this is purely geographical,,our oils is located in Alaska, California, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Our Dipsticks are located in Washington.

Monday, August 22, 2005

A note from TW

Our little blog community slowly and sadly dwindles and I've felt pains as each one has made the decision to put blogging on a back burner as other, more important, things in their lives take more and more of their time.

I sent a note to TW last week to say how much I've been missing her and she replied with this sweet and newsy letter and gave me permission to post it so all of her blog friends would know what's going on in her life right now.

Thankee, Miz Brenda.

The whole story of the blog is this--I inadvertantly left my draft up
and the Hunter read it. Unfortunately it was an entry where I was
b!tching about him. He knew I had a "blog" but he didn't realize what
kinds of things I was posting. Of course, it didn't happen on any of
the days where I posted good things about him. So I told him I'd take
the blog down, that I didn't mean to hurt anyone, just to have a place
to vent. Taking it down has paid off big time. He's pretty much being
the nice decent guy I remember from way back. And it works out since I
was having less and less time to give it anyway.

My MIL has had complications from her knee replacement and was in and
out of hospitals in Atlanta, but I think is home for good now. The
Hunter's grandmother is in the hospital with pneumonia, (she's 95), and
her kids are all giving her grief and just don't want to deal with her.
His sister is taking advantage of all the illness to make off with some
more money. And then, on top of all that, we had to have our poor
Beastie put to sleep on Tuesday. We've had three tumors removed this
year, and they finally did an x-ray and found the reason for her
problems wasn't all the little tumors but the grapefruit sized one in
her stomach. After this last surgery she was going downhill and in such
pain. The Hunter was so upset, and Paloma was inconsolable--she and the
Beast were the same age. So--looks like I've had my blog entry right here.

I hope to keep up with everyone, but now that the urchins are back in
school I think the Hunter is going to actually find things for me to do.

If anyone you know I know asks for my e-mail, feel free to give it to
them. If you wouldn't mind posting any of the above (if anyone cares,
that is), maybe folks will know where I went. I know I disappeared
abruptly, but it was something that had to be done.

Keep well, and drop by on your way to the beach sometime. I miss you.

TW


Mary lou was kind enough to send me TW's email addy since I'd lost it when I changed hard drives. She or I will be glad to send you TW's addy if you'd send us an email requesting it.

I know each of us started blogging for different reasons and for some of us the reasons have changed, some have stayed the same, but for all of us I believe it's been an enriching and enjoyable experience.

I started blogging after I first visited Special K's blog and thought to myself, "hey, here's a way I can say what I think, get all the frustrations vented, and not have to worry about hurting those people's feelings that caused the frustrations in the first place". While that has changed, somewhat, I still use my blog as a journal to record thoughts and events that I feel strongly about, and to post about my family doings. I still write for me.

I do not always have time to read each of the blogs every day that I so enjoy reading, but when I can, it's almost like sitting down to have a cup of coffee and conversation with a friend when I do get a chance to stop in. I love each and every one of my blog buds very much and I cherish their friendships more than anyone could ever know.

I sure do miss my blog friends who are no longer posting but I also understand their need for change at different times in their lives.

Why do you blog?

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Creative Grandparenting 101


After being climbed over and up several times by the Chick this morning I asked her if she was a monkey cause she climbed me like a tree.

Chick as she's climbing up into my lap again: Nanny's a banana tree.

Nanaw Banana Tree as she's being stabbed in her bark by little toes: Oh, NO, there's a monkey climbing me! What color monkey are you?

Chickie monkey as she reaches the top branches: I'm a blue monkey!

Nanaw Banana Tree: OUCH, monkey! What are you pulling my leaves out for?

Chickie monkey: I not pull out you leaves. I'm picking you bananas to eat em.

(sounds of munching, creaking branches)

Nanaw Banana Tree: You need to climb down little, blue monkey cause my limbs are going to break soon.

Chickie monkey: You not broke Nanny, you be alright.

I wanna know where it is written in the Grandma Book that you'll have to spend time as a tree. I thought I was wise about this stuff and knew all about having to be stuff like dogs, cats, and ducks, but that tree stuff is tough.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

When you're hot, you're hot!

Never mind that it's been 100 degrees in the shade around here over the past few days, but I also think the devil himself has taken up residence in my body somewhere and he's been stokin' those fires with pine shavings. A cool bath hasn't even helped today cause I swear my body is heating up the water as soon as I sit in it. The bubbles were even popping to release the steam,,,,I swear! I'm smokin'!!

We're supposed to be getting a cool front through our area tonight or tomorrow brining temps that'll be 10 degrees cooler. I'm almost praying for snow (slapping hand over mouth).

Friday, August 19, 2005

School Days


I had to hold myself back to keep from running out the door to kiss that bus driver right on the mouth this morning, I was that happy to see that big, ole, yeller bus coming up the road. Zach trudged out to the driveway, shoulders slumped, as though he'd lost his best friend, while his best friend of the summer was peeping out the door (trying to contain her estatic lust for the bus driver.)

Jami called to tell me how the girls made it through their first day of school. Abie made the decision that today was her first and last day of pre-school because the teacher was mean (because Abie had to fold up her own nap mat), and the lady in the cafeteria was mean (because she put bread on her hamburger), so she's decided that she'd rather stay at home (as IF).

MeriKate said she had fun. That surprised me because I figured she'd be the one to balk about going back so that's a relief!

Krysten was happy with her first day because it was Friday and they normally don't have homework on Friday's and she doesn't like for homework to infringe on her play time.

Trish called to tell me that Jordan has decided to be satisfied with her new 2nd grade class even if none of her friends from last year are in there.

Jaylen always loves pre-school, the getting UP to go to pre-school is the part she hates.

I mostly lazed around all day with a smile on my face!

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Ya'll Smell Anything?

That aroma in the air around here would be a spiritual garden floral of jasmine, citrus, and lilies mixed with the whispering warmth of African violet, sunset amber, and golden raspberry with perhaps a shimmering of yellow tulip, sparkling star fruit, and everlasting flower. If your sinus stop tighter than a much loved jug of moonshine you'll know you've arrived.

I gave the Chick some perfume samples for her teeny, tiny purse. She's used every one of them, on everybody, and all the stuffed animals. The bird wouldn't stand still for it, but she's still plotting.

Ms. Chick decided yesterday to have a sleepover with Zach and Nannie. Then after going out to play for a bit, brought Jessie (from next door) home to stay too. Let me tell ya, there was some serious playing going on in this house! She finally closed her little, blue eyes at around 11 p.m. and I snuggled her down in Zach's room with Jessie. Zach followed soon after by draping himself across the foot of his bed to snooze. I crashed on the couch but later zombie-walked to the bed around 2 a.m.

At 4 a.m. PopPop brought the Chick to my bed because she'd come to the living room to chat with him and he was making coffee and not in a chatty mood (grin). Nanny was not in a chatty mood either so after crawling from my bed and crawling on the floor in Zach's room looking for a "lellow passie", and her "ring presssent", I was able to convince her that it was still night time outside and we should close our eyes for a little while. I fell asleep with a sippy cup propped up between my boobies. Amazingly the sippy cup was still in place this morning cause the Chick woke me up as she was retrieving it, no doubt due to the fact that I think I died for awhile and suffered rigor mortis.

That was before 8. I feel really, really, old this morning.


Wednesday, August 17, 2005

TO DO LISTS



I'm hopeless. Of the 113 things I have on this week's TO DO LIST I've done exactly 2,,,well maybe 2 1/2,,I do believe I've broken a record for avoiding, putting aside, procrastinating, and debating with myself about, the chores on that list.

I did finish up that danged tax return and get it in the mail but am still waiting for the depreciation schedule for the one that has not been put in the mail. (I reckon that lady's list has fewer check marks on it than mine). And I did finally call Meade to get them to send me a new software disk for these binoculars (that I finally found) so that I can eventually download the photos I took with them. That only took me 5 days to remember to do.

I did not, however, make it to the Open House at the school last night so I'll have to move that little item over to tomorrow in order to pay any fees and get the supplies list for Zach's school needs.

I won't bore you with the other 110 1/2 items cause then you'd know that I have done next to nothing around this house this whole, entire, summer.

Monday, August 15, 2005

As easy as riding a bike.

Do ya'll remember learning to ride a bike? I learned, by trial and error and scrapes and thorny bushes, to ride my friend's 26 inch boy's bike when I was 4 cause I didn't own a bike until I was around 7 or so. I can remember pushing that big, old, bike up next to their tall porch, leaning it against a post, then getting on the porch so I could climb off and onto the bike. Their drive was uphill so beings that I was atop that hill, I had a good down ramp in which to learn to balance and peddle that thing or wind up in that deep ditch full of thorny bushes on the other side of the road across from the drive. It only took 2 or 3 tries, to the best of my recollection, cause I have an excellent memory for pain. I also learned to keep my feet on the pedals and my ass on the seat after only one time of bouncing off and straddling that bar too.

To me, scrapes and bruises are the way of things if learning to ride a bike are your intentions. It's just part of growing up and I seriously believe bike riding led to the invention of bandaids (well I never saw a bandaid till I met up with those thorny bushes).

Not so much anymore. Some folks have invented a new kind of bike for younguns to learn to ride on. No more scrapes, cuts, or bruises, unless they can't sit up on their own yet, which, in my opinion, is not a good time in life to think of learning to ride a bike anyway.

I feel like the invention of this bike is going to put the bandaid folks plum otta business and make pansies out of our children. They won't have any scars to flaunt at Show and Tell and all those unscraped knees and elbows will lead them to believe they're model material or something.

It just ain't right.


The new SHIFT.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

I have a question.

Do men come with a built in tuner that tells them the best time to act an "ass" is when you're in the throes of PMS or menopausal? Or are the men who do the "ass acting" just so out of tune, all the time, with anydamnthing but themselves and I most especially notice it when I'm having PMS or having one of those menopausal, "kill something", days?

Today has been one of those days.

The crying jag began this morning as I was watching The Mighty. I didn't select the program, it was just on when I decided to sit and watch TV a while. I'm not much of a channel surfer and just tend to gaze at the screen while other things are running through my mind. I'd seen this movie before and it made me cry then so I should have remembered and changed channels but I was just in a mood and feeling too lazy to even push the buttons on the remote.

Anyway, I was feeling headachy and tired after I'd watched the movie and James came in to take over the remote again, so I took a short nap. I think I dozed off a for a little while but Ya-Ya was throwing a bitch fit cause I'd left the room so I didn't sleep for long. So I got up and started cooking some supper while James was taking his second nap of the day.

My bad mood escalated when I woke him up to eat supper and he noticed that I'd forgotten to make the tea. He started in with his bitching and griping so I told him not to even bother eating if the damned tea was so important to the meal. He then proceeded to tell me that he'd been the one who bought the groceries,,,yada,,yada,,yada. I left the table and told him to "eat the damned things alone then!"

I was angry enough to cry again but I was so furious I didn't want him to see just how upset I was, and didn't. Later when he and Zach drove down to the farm to check on some irrigation pivots I again parked myself in front of the TV (after clearing up their supper dishes) and Extreme Home Makeover was on. It was so heartwrenching that I cried for 2 hours.

After all that cleansing crying I should feel better but I don't. It might be a good idea for these folks around here to lay low until this emotional episode is over.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

1954





In 1954 (the year you were born)


Dwight Eisenhower is president of the US


Nautilus, the first atomic powered submarine, launches


Senator Joseph McCarthy begins leading televised hearings into alleged Communist influence in the Army


Roger Bannister, a 25 year old from England, breaks the 4 minute mile with a time of 3:59


Supreme Court rules unanimously that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional


Hurricane "Carol" hits the Long Island - New England area killing 60 and injuring 1000


Senate condemns Joseph McCarthy for contempt of a Senate elections subcommittee during his Army investigation hearings


Playboy magazine issue features Margie Harrison, the first playmate


Howard Stern, Oprah Winfrey, Christie Brinkley, John Travolta, and Jerry Seinfeld are born


New York Mets win the World Series


Cleveland Browns win the NFL championship


Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup


Lord of the Flies by William G. Golding is published



What Happened the Year You Were Born?


More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

Friday, August 12, 2005

Full as a tick.

Jerri and Bubbie and the chicklets came over today and Jerri cooked a huge belated birthday dinner for me and my favorite cake (dreamcicle cake). Now I'm stuffed and lazy.

I finally finished one of the business tax returns that are due to be put in the mail on Monday. The other client hasn't sent me her depreciation information so I reckon it's gonna be late, not that it doesn't deserve to be late, the hussy hasn't paid me in MONTHS and she's in pretty deep now so I ain't a-gonna remind her again that the IRS wants her to file on time. I don't know what these folks were thinking, I do not work well under pressure, I get all rattled and it makes me want to kick something.

I've been trying off and on to teach the Chick my "Little Chicken" poem and she made some great strides with it today. As soon as she learns it I'll make a video of it so I can embarrass the hell out of her when she's a teenager. I've tried to interest the other kiddies in the poem over the years and they weren't much interested but the Chick has a sense of humor a Nanny can appreciate and it looks like she'll be the one.

Krysten, MeriKate, and Abie also came to see us today and were in rare form. The house was full of little girls for awhile there. The way Jillian is growing, she'll be right in there with the crowd real soon.



Nite all!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

A visit from The Chick and Jillian.







A makeover for Zach and the Chick selects just the right shades of pink and blue while Miss Jillian watches the "goings on" around here from Mommy's lap. Then Zach watches his baseball dvd in which he and his team mates star, as the Chick accompanies the action audio portion of the film by providing us with a table dance.

There was some smiling going on round here.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

The Time is Now.

Several months ago I was given a general diagnosis by my doctor. The diagnosis of congestive heart failure was general because I can not afford the high fees for the tests needed for a more certain diagnosis and since I don't have health insurance, a certain diagnosis would just be added worry in any case, sort of like damned if I do and damned if I don't.

I'm asking you to read about amendment HR676 and then go to this site and sign a petition supporting the amendment. It's time to take the profit out of health care and as easy as it is to sit back and do nothing when you're feeling all safe and covered by an insurance policy, the sky-rocketing premiums for health insurance and the cost of medical care will eventually affect you as well,, as it did me.

From all I've read and researched about this amendment, the cost to the taxpayer, at the most, would be a 2% addition to taxable income. Take a pencil and piece of paper and tally up the percentage of your NET income that you are currently paying for premiums. If you are one of those fortunate enough (and there are fewer of these every day) that your company covers you in full for health insurance, consider yourself lucky because at the rate the insurance companies are raising rates, it may not last long.

Please think long and hard and then sign the petition if you find it in your interest to do so.

Monday, August 08, 2005

It's Monday, and yeah I'm bitchin again.

Scrubbing Bubbles.

I found that by using this product the only way my tub looked clean was if I sprayed the stuff all over to form a layer of white over the dirt . That only worked for a few seconds, and then the foam disappeared and I was left with a dirty tub. Then I read the directions and realized that I was actually supposed to be the one scrubbing. Yep they roped me in again.

"Puttin Stuff Up"

I'm married to a fella who is always putting things away or as he says, "I'm puttin this up for when I need it." While I have no problem with him putting things in their place, I do have a problem with him never knowing where, IN this place, he puts it. The key word is this situation is UP. Pull up my little step-ladder thingy and look on top of anything above head level in this house and you'll find stuff that he's put up. Atop one of the built-in cupboards in the living room you'll find a jug of marbles and Indian arrow heads, his daddy's walking cane, a cap, 4 shotgun shells, and the personal sized GPS (with manual) that I bought him for his birthday this year. You won't, however, find the digital camera binoculars that I bought him for Christmas 2 years ago that I've been searching over a week for in order to try to take a photo of the hummingbirds buzzing the mimosa tree.

Phone Calls that begin with "What are you doing?"

When the phone rings at my house I am usually on the pot, or in the tub, or asleep, or up to my elbows in whatever happens to be in the kitchen sink, and I have to jump toy hurdles, and other obstructions to get to it (and that's on a good day, sometimes I have to find it first). I answer with a polite "hello" and most times, in reply, I get, "What are you doing?". I'd really like to know what I'm supposed to be doing when I am sporting a toilet paper tail, soap suds in one hand, and the phone in the other. One of these days I'm going to think of a good reply to the "What are you doing?" phone question but meanwhile I reckon I'll just continue to bitch about it.

Cooking

It pisses me off to spend 3 or 4 hours in the kitchen cooking a meal that takes this family 10 minutes to eat. I also get aggravated when asked if there's cereal when the table is full of finely cooked groceries (Zachary!). If I had aspirations of being a short order cook I'd be at a place where I'd at least get paid for it.

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Did anyone go check out my State of Address?

Didja, huh? huh? It's all full of interesting stuff about this great Natural State I live in. If ya'll been over the there to look it over you've been mighty quiet in those comments ovah there. And I know ya'll aren't the quiet type. (grinning).



I've got some good news and some bad news about my day. The good news is we got about 2 inches of much needed rain. The bad news is that we had a lightening strike that knocked out the electricity for about 3 hours. Added to that bad news is the news that it also knocked out the satellite and they won't be sending a repairman out until TUESDAY! Being in the house with 2 males without a TV until Tuesday is going to be dreadful, I can feel it in my bones.

It was scary but also kinda funny when the lightening bolt did it's thing. Zach had been teasing Jordan about being scared of the thunder and I'd been on him about it. He'd gone over to the storm door, with nose pressed to the glass, and was taunting with, "see,,it's not scary Jordan, it's not going to,,,,," and about that time, in a split second, the lightening struck the pole about 400 yds from the house, and traveled down to the transformer across the road here and blew it up. It was a pretty big flash of light and a really loud boom and I believe ole Zach sprouted wings for a second because he flew across the room before we even heard the boom part. Needless to say, he didn't tease Jordan anymore about being scared of the thunder.

More good news is that I finished peeling, coring, and canning another cooker full of 'maters today but that could also be bad news because it wasn't a whole hell of a lot of fun doing it.



I had another smile earlier this week. I had been doing some laundry, vaccuming, and other fun stuff and I said to Jordan, "I'm sweating, reckon it's because I've been working?" No answer from Jordan who was sitting nearby in a chair. "Reckon I'm sweating from hard work?", I said again. There was still no answer from the chair where Jordan sat, so thinking maybe she'd dozed off I said, "Jordan, reckon I'm sweating because I've been working so hard this morning?" Finally Jordan answered with, "Nanaw, I don't know what reckon means." I had to smile about my cute, little, citified, granddaughter.

Saturday huh?

This child, who's name I won't mention, just awoke from his beauty sleep (it's nearly noon here) and wandered through here to say, "Breakfast, breakfast, (clap, clap) chop, chop."

Excuse me while I go hang his little scrawny ass by his toes from the mimosa tree.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Ready to bite bullets.

We got the news a few days ago that they have come up with a new dress code for the students of Barton-Lexa High School and Elementary School. These bullets around here sport my teeth marks due to the fact that we've found out about this through the grapevine of our little rural community and not due to the graciousness of the folks that run our tiny school district. The fact of the matter is, I spent over $130 at a great JC Pennys sale the weekend we were in Little Rock buying a few shirts and shorts for Zach to start school in and he can't wear any of the shirts to school due to this newly imposed dress code. I can also scratch the option of his being able to wear a few of the shirts that still fit him from last spring.

While I can't afford to waste too many dimes, it won't hamper our abilty to eat regularly or have electricity,,,,I'm just suffering from the aggravation of having to go out and buy more shirts that will fit the code. But there are families, many families, who have budgeted and struggled to purchase new school clothes for their children who will suffer a great financial burden over this. When asked why parents weren't informed of this change sooner, the elementary school secretary stated that letters were supposedly sent out with their last report cards in early June. Surprisingly, not one family received such a letter.

I'll leave you with these sweet photos (one taken by Jerri) while I go off and chew on a few more rounds of ammunition.



Thursday, August 04, 2005

Stir Crazy

I believe I need to have more contact with the adults of our species because I’m just not getting out enough without at least one child in tow. I do have fears about it though ,,, I'm afraid I am severely lacking in adult conversational skills because I don't think Sponge Bob and Dora qualify as current events. I suppose I could start a conversation over lunch about the new animated Tarzan 2 movie. Think that would work? There was one time this summer that I was so desperate for adult conversation that I spilled my guts to a telemarketer that called and HE hung up on ME!

There have also been quite a few times lately that I've come to doubt my parenting skills at this age. I'm rediscovering that shouting to make a child/children STOP is like using the horn to steer your car, and you get about the same results. I have resorted to desperate measures, like when the kids are fighting, I threaten to lock them in a room together and not let them out until someone's bleeding.

I also feel quite inadequate in the housekeeping department. In one of the bathrooms there is toothpaste on the light fixture, water at least 2 inches deep on the floor left over from a kid throwing stuff not meant for the toilet IN the toilet and from their baths, and a dirty fingerprints on the shower curtain . Oh, and I forgot, at least one complete suit of clothes owned by the child who refuses to use the bathroom unless totally naked. Every time I hear Martha Stewart's name I cringe and want to do a swan dive into that basket full of dirty laundry that seems to breed in the utility room.

Hubby has mentioned several times that the peas, tomatoes, and green beans, needed picking and it was all I could do not to jump up and throttle him. I think he must have noticed that glazed look in my eyes because he come indoors today with 2 cucumbers that he'd picked.

I think I'd like to be alone just long enough to begin to feel a little lonely but as it is, I can never even go to the bathroom alone without someone screaming outside the door even though you've told them not to bother you unless it's an emergency. Their idea of an emergency and yours are not the same. I feel it's an emergency if bleeding is involved. The bleeding should be on site though and not from someone on TV. The ringing of the phone is not an emergency either and it makes me feel sort of naked to have a phone conversation from the tub, even if the caller can't see me.

Images of a tropical island with hunky waiters carrying little, potent, drinks with umbrellas are floating through my mind. This could be a sign of insanity.

Did I mention that it's just 16 more days until school starts?

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Never use a preposition to end a sentence with.

Well hell, why not?

A lesson in Hickphonics

1. HEIDI - noun. greeting.
2. HIRE YEW - complete sentence. remainder of greeting. Usage: "Heidi, hire yew?"
3. THANK - verb. ability to cognitively process. Usage: "Ah thank ah'll have a bare."
4. BARE - noun. an alcoholic beverage. Usage: "Ah thank ah'll have a bare."
5. FARN - adjective. not from here. Usage: "I can't unnerstant a wurd he sed. He must be from sum farn cuntry."
6. DID - adjective. not alive. Usage: "He ain't breathin.' Must be did." Might also be pronounced "daid".
7. HAZE - a contraction. Usage: "Is Bubba smart? Nah, haze ignert.
8. SEED - verb. past tense of see.
9. VIEW - contraction: verb and pronoun. Usage: "I ain't never seed New York City...view?"



Arkansas State Motto: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Laugh

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

The 'maters didn't get canned yesterday,,,,,

So I reckon I'll have to get on those bad boys today. I have to run into town first to pick up a few more jar lids but I'm waiting a little while before I wake Zach up because he's grumpy enough when he wakes up on his own but MUCH worse when you wake him.

My birthday was just another day except that I had a call all the way from Belgium from Tine and I had such wonderful wishes in my comments and email from my special blog friends. Mary lou and Phyllis sent birthday wishes through snail mail that gave me big smiles. At the reunion on Saturday, Paula gave me new gardening supplies, Terri, a new bracelet, Trish, some new Victoria's Secret body spray and wash. Jami and the girls gave me a sweet card and a watch, and James took Zach, Jordan, and I out for pizza last night. It was nice that I didn't have to cook after playing referee for most of the day yesterday.

I hope Jordan is having a good time this week, I know I'm enjoying her visit with us.
I think Zach gets on her last nerve at times so I hope she's not too homesick for her Mom and Jaylen. I'm going to get her some new tennis shoes today (her's blew a gasket I think) and and buy a new game for her and Zach to play while she's here. I'll try to contain her and Zach at some point today so I can get a few photos.

Meanwhile, here's a photo of the Terrorist (Zach) out on the field at Autozone Park with the Memphis Redbird's second baseman, Bo Hart. They let the boys stand with a player as the National Anthem was played.

Monday, August 01, 2005

Reunion 05

Boy I hope this works cause I'm too pooped to work on it anymore right now.

We went to the Memphis Redbirds game yesterday and for the past two nights I've been up late visiting with Hop and Lisa before they go back home to Alabama (we try to cram 2 years of catching up into a few hours). Today I have Zach, Jordan, Krysten, and Abie here and a 5 gal. bucket of tomatoes to can. I won't even mention the other things that I should be doing.

Thank you for the many birthday greetings, ya'll just don't know how special that makes me feel!

Oh, I just had an email telling me that my State of Address has been posted at the 50 U.S. State Blogs site. Ya'll can go have a read if you'd like.