Whats UP down South

New Photo Challenge

2012-01-03T23:36:00.000-06:00

I decided it's time to start doing the photo challenges again. It will keep my mind busy and that's something I think I really need right now. I so blessed and thankful for all of you, my friends, who have given me so much support as we try to keep on living normally though this. I love you all!

So click the photo challenge link above and go see what we'll be shooting for. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.

83 More Days Till Spring

2011-12-28T23:14:00.000-06:00

Winter has never been my favorite season; I don't like being cold; I don't like wearing heavy coats; I don't like the bareness of the outdoors; but this year will be the toughest. James was at home, a LOT, with me in the Winter months and I'm missing that time with him, even though I fussed a lot when he'd hog the remote, or snored in his recliner, etc,,,those little things that I'd give anything to have him here to do again.

For over two weeks I cried about everything, anything, and nothing. I finally gave in and went to see the doc and he gave me antidepressants to try. For 3 nights over the last almost 4 months, I've slept past my usual hour, or two, or none, I actually slept for over 6 hours for two of those nights. I know it will get easier because it has to and I know Zach needs for it to.

I decided to let Zach have a puppy that can be in the house with us and right now we're going to be very busy house breaking the little rascal. Jillian and Alexis named him Cat and I thought it was a cute and original name so we decided that Cat he is. I will be glad when he gets out of this whiny stage though, he's a onary little whiny baby.

Anyway, just wanted to let y'all know that I'm still here and don't plan on going anywhere. And I'm planning on starting back with the photo challenge after Jan. 1st so dust off your cameras!

Long Nights

2011-11-29T00:38:00.001-06:00

1995, In Stein, The Netherlands visiting our first exchange student, Soony.


Some time around 1990 I think, sharing a smile about something.

http://youtu.be/s1ZKIX0ICZo

I Only Cried 4 Times Today,,,

2011-11-23T01:59:00.000-06:00

I have no energy.

Decisions are hard to make, the smallest chore seems mountainous, what were normally joyous things are not, things that used to bother me badly don’t bother me as much any more, I have never defended myself well, but now I can't find the energy to even try to very much. Let them say or do what they will. To pretend takes too much effort, and I seem to need so much rest but am not getting any real sleep,,,just dozing off in my chair off and on. I would love the solace of sleep. Nothing matters except getting through the days and the dark, hateful nights, and keeping Zach's needs taken care of.

No one can really help; it's something I have to get through myself. If I try to talk about him, I find myself breaking down in tears. I just want him back and I'm dreading the holidays so badly it even hurts to breath sometimes. I know I'm not alone with my loss but I don't know how to help others with their pain when my pain is so raw in me now.

I know it will get easier, Dear God it has to. I just ask my wonderful friends here and through facebook to please don't give up on me. I'm trying, I promise I am.

2011-11-10T00:28:00.001-06:00

I think after 40 years of marriage James and I fit together like a pair of old, ragged, comfortable slippers. You know the kind, really getting rough around the edges but also soft from years of regular use. I could sometimes read his mind, he could always read my looks. He was the good guy because most of the year he was never at home long enough to be, or want to be, the bad guy so guess who got that job?

I've been reading some of my past posts and this one made me smile (you might have to scroll up to the beginning of it.) You've probably read it before but I hope it makes you smile again even if you have.

Ka-Boom, Skid, Moan!

2011-11-01T14:55:00.001-05:00

I almost did a perfect face plant yesterday,,,I reckon if it weren't for my big boobs and front it wouldda been a sure winner.

I started falling when I tripped over Zach's flip-flop at the front door and managed to keep my wobbling balance for a few feet before gravity took over and I fell, face first, and skidded the rest of the way into the dining room with my boobs, belly, and knees taking most of the friction. I ended up with my head sort of beneath a chair at the end of the table, gasping, cause it knocked the breath right out of me. After I could breath again, but before I moved much, I started praying to the Dear Lord that no bones were broken because I sure didn't like the idea of having to lay my big, ol, fat, lazy, a**, in that floor until Zach got home from school. Prayer and a little luck worked cause after ~~a little~~, much moaning and groaning I was finally able to get some leverage to get to my feet.

I arose this morning with less soreness than I expected and only a bruise or two, and there's only a little carpet burn on one knee. I'm sure a lucky old broad; having this extra padding might have been good for that one thing at least.

Lack of Affordable Health Care and Health Insurance Killed My Husband - 2

2011-10-30T15:58:00.000-05:00

"One of the most unpatriotic things I can think of is the callous disregard so many of our fellow Americans seem to have for their uninsured fellow citizens. They are comfortable leaving millions in the hands of insurance companies all citizens know already "come between you and your doctor". And we ALL know that if you serve the corporate bottom line (our current system of health "care"), instead of being accountable to voters, you're going to chose profit over actually providing for someone's health. So many 1st world countries have successful ways of providing health care for their citizens. We should learn from them, and improve on their examples. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" should read "let me provide aide to your working-weary, your too-poor-to-get-health-insurance, your having-trouble-to-breath"... Your HMO and your insurance company already stand between you and your doctor. Don't use that as a lame excuse to prevent the uninsured from having an access to a doctor at all. The public option is compassionate patriotism at it's best."

Sort of looks like those "death panels" everyone is afraid of are already in place and thriving, don't it?

Keeping an eye on the soybean seed being unloaded.

James had worked since he was 6 years old on his family's share-cropped acres. One year, when he was 13 or so, his Dad worked for a dairy farmer. James got up at 3:30 a.m. every morning to help his Dad do the milking before he went to school. After school, he ran or hitched a ride the 3 miles home so he could help his Dad finish up the cleaning and do the milking again. He never received one dime of pay from that old dairy farm owner, hell,,, back in those days his Dad barely received enough pay to feed his family. From the day James graduated from high school until the day he died, the jobs he held could be counted on one hand. Anyone who knew him could tell you what a wonderful, hard-working, man he was, no matter what sort of job he did on a farm, and he became an excellent farm manager.

This was James's school picture during the year he worked with his Dad at the dairy barn.

The thing is, farming feeds the mulitudes, but farming in the delta region doesn't provide many perks, including health insurance for the employees. There is still a lot of "good ole boy" mentality floating around down here in our part of the Mississippi River delta, left over from the days of slavery. Many of the farm owners feel that "ya gotta keep em hungry and in debt to ya, pay em too much and they won't work nearly as hard."

So, why didn't he work somewhere else? I guess he was one of those folks who still believed in the American Dream and honestly thought that hard work would eventually pay off. Also, even when you divided his salary by the hours he worked, and it showed he worked for much less than minimum wage for many months of the year, the truth of the matter is, his salary was high enough that we could actually eat and pay our basic bills at the same time. And one of the farm jobs came with a house and utilities. I helped by working as much as I could too. We raised 3 kids who had as much as they needed although probably not as much as they wanted. We paid for their births and other medical needs without insurance by paying as much as we could one month at a time. But back (our last child was born in 1980) then the highest hospital bill for giving birth was $1100 for 3 days in the hospital (the fees had doubled from the year before cause they built a new hospital).

Kinda makes you understand why I'm pretty damned mad right now, along with having the worst heartache (even worse than some of the things my kids have said and done lately and in the past) I've so far ever had to endure in my life. My husband didn't deserve to die at age 59. He still had an awful lot of lovings to give to his grandbabies and a lot of farming to do. Dammit, I miss him!

Long Nights

2011-10-21T23:33:00.000-05:00

I've always disliked this part of the year; when the days get shorter and the nights take over so early in the evenings, but the nights are the worst now. There's too much time to think, to remember, to wonder what if,,,
The doc gave me some sleeping pills last week because I am only sleeping in short spurts. So far they've not helped.

So here I am, waiting for daylight, again.

Lack of Affordable Healthcare and Health Insurance killed my husband.

2011-10-15T15:30:00.003-05:00

My great, big, strong husband of over 40 years worked a 14 hour day in the field just 28 hrs before he died. He had called to say that he "thought" he might need to see his doctor on Tuesday morning so would I make an appointment. He refused to let me take him to ER or call an ambulance when I could tell how out of breath he was... I know he was trying to hold on because of our not having health insurance,,, I stayed in the chair and he in the recliner all Monday night after he'd come home from the field because I was afraid he'd stop breathing. On the way to the doctor Tues morning (the 6th) I was afraid he was having a heart attack and detoured to the hospital. After the morning in ER, EKGs, cts, electrocardiogram, they decided it was early stage Congestive heart failure and admitted him into ICU so they could drain fluid built up in one of his lungs. All the tests showed he had not had a heart attack. He was stable, the doctor had been by to see him and said he'd do the drainage the next morning,,that he needed to rest that night, that he was going to be OK. I left at 6 to get home to Zach and homework, etc,,,with plans to return early the next morning to wait for ICU visiting hours. I got the call at 12:46 a.m. and our life fell apart.

At 12:20 a.m. on September 7, 2011 my husband, James, at age 59, became one of the 45,000 Americans who will die from lack of affordable health care in this great country of ours this year.

to be continued,,,,

One Person's Treasures

2011-08-22T10:37:00.001-05:00

Our house is sometimes full of grandchildren so it's pretty normal for it to also be full of treasures. Sometimes these treasures are things they bring from home to give to us for special occasions, or just because they love us, and sometimes the treasures are found in the yard, or on a walk or ride around the rural area that surrounds us. But no matter their source, there are always true and wonderful treasures to be found and shared around here.

I thought of the topic for this post when I was washing my face in the bathroom last night. There on the edge of the sink was a little rocky treasure that one of the kids had found and decided that it needed keepin. To one not used to such treasures it might be seen as just an old rock, but we know better in this house.

Abby is probably our most serious treasure finder, in fact we see a great American Picker in the making with this child. Her momma said she tours the neighborhood just before trash pick-up day to see if anyone is throwing away any "treasures" just so she can rescue them.

Mr. Duck, above, was rescued back in the Spring. Never mind that he has a little road rash here and there, he looks like a duck and stands like a duck so he was worthy of treasuredom.

Abby came in with this little container earlier this month. The top comes off and there's room inside for lots of tiny treasures that are out there, just waiting to be found.

I look at the home making magazines and give a thought sometimes that this design looks lovely, or that design looks grand, but I don't think I'd trade our treasure trove of decorators with their special decorations for the world.

I'm a photo challenge Ding-Dong!

2011-08-20T09:59:00.000-05:00

I posted my challenge shots in the wrong blog. So, mine are back at the challenge blog.

I'll try to do better.

Photo Challenge: ABC's

2011-07-30T00:07:00.003-05:00

Can you find the letter I made with my green beans?

I love the shaky but impressive handwriting of our little ones as they first learn to print. Beans wrote this 2 or 3 years ago.

These banners are on the street lights on Cherry Street in Helena, AR. They could stand for Helena, or Historic Helena,,,not sure really but I love the old English look of them.

These letters are what's left of a sign that was once painted on the side of an old brick building in Helena.

I spent a lot of time searching for this one and I made one letter. I can't wait to see what everyone came up with. Don't forget to stop by our Photo Challenge blog, scroll down and click on the links to see all the other participants.

No Excuses,,,except

2011-07-13T19:13:00.001-05:00

Alexis (sittin' on the purple cube) performing in the Once Upon a Time musical put on my their Summer of the Arts program. She did a splendid job, as did all of those little cuties.

Zach spent a week in Tennessee with his Mom. This is the only picture she sent of his activities.

Here's Jaylen with one of her softball trophies. This young lady is a great fast pitcher.

Jordan with her team won their 12 and under girls softball State Championship and are now down in Panama City at the 12 and Under Softball World Series. GO Arkansas OutKast!

Jilly Beans had a birthday. Can you believe she's 6 already?

We had one good rain early this month.

I'll post some pics of our other monkeys as soon as I get some more recent ones.

Things I've found that irritate me this week.

1. Droopy Drawers. Pull up yer pants fellas,,,geez!

Sagging pants was never meant to be fashionable. Prisoners wear their pants this low because belts are a popular way to commit suicide by hanging oneself, to hang others, or to use as a weapon in fights. Prisoners are also not allowed to have shoestrings for the same reasons. But there is an even more obvious reason why pants are sagging in prison. If the pants are below a man's bottom, it is to introduce to other men that he is homosexual. As Eazy E once said about women in skirts, "For easy access, baby."


I looked over and saw this while waiting to get a drink at the McDonald's drive-thru the other day. Ewww, ewwww, just ewww!

2. The incorrect usage of the word "twins".

One of Zach's teachers mentioned her "two, twin, stepdaughters" or
Referring to twins as a pair of twins.

TWIN: either of two offspring produced at a birth or one of two persons or things closely related to or resembling each other.

consisting of two, twofold, double.

The teacher should only have mentioned she had twin step-daughters because the word twin takes care of the two part. It's the same with pair because pair also means two. Does that make any sense?

3. Casey Anthony.

Need I mention more?

Photo Challenge: God Bless America

2011-07-01T22:12:00.000-05:00


God Bless America for being able to celebrate 235 years of Freedom...,,,,

,,,,,for sunsets,,,,,


,,,,,and for rainbows,,,,,,,

Our home, sweet, home.

Photo Challenge : Playing

2011-06-18T00:04:00.004-05:00

It's that time again Ladies and Gents. I can't wait to see all the imaginative shots! Anyway, here are mine.,,,

I think the Mississippi river delta mud baths make our babies such cuties.

So, they're out on Spring Break and playing school. A vienne weenie snack too.

Scuffling and shuffling on the river walk.

I had this scheduled to post at 12:05 A.M. this morning. Dang Blogger!

Limping Along

2011-06-09T21:31:00.000-05:00

May was a bad month for a whole heap of folks living along the Mississippi River and his tributaries. I've seen water, DEEP water, where I've never seen water in all the years that I've lived off and on in the delta. Our county was given disaster status due to the storms and floods during May. Most of the damage done was to farm land that was ready to be planted or had already been planted. There were also a few places in our county where flood waters got into people's homes as well as some road closures.

There were roads closed near many of the tributaries that eventually emptied into the Mississippi River, but couldn't because Old Man River was way over flood stage. In Memphis, the river was only 1/10 of an inch away from the record flooding of 1937.

This is a field. It looked like a huge lake, it seemed to go on forever.

Another field and a flooded house in Lee county, AR

I was surprised to learn about the huge line of cars and people to be found at the Department of Human Services in Helena-West Helena, awaiting their turn at a portion of the food allowances being doled out for families affected by the disasters. The few houses damaged by storms or flood surely didn't come to the number that showed up for aid. A friend stopped on the road and asked one lady where she lived and how bad was the damage to her property and the lady replied, "It didn't get hurt, but you don't have to have damage to qualify for the free food allowance." What?????????

This guy and the one below built levees around their houses to keep the flooded creek from getting into their houses.

Weird storm clouds.

It seems that bad luck and bad weather sure seems to bring out the greedy and ugly in some folks. I just don't understand it.

Photo Challenge: May Flowers

2011-05-21T01:00:00.002-05:00

A vibrant and pretty little wild flower.

Wild little primrose.

Another little wild flower growing beside the road.

One of our South's lovely Magnolia blossoms.

Pretty lilies. I used a texture filter that I found in Paint Shop Pro Photo X2

These are my photos for the May Flowers Photo Challenge. I hope you enjoyed them and will take the time to go to our Photo Challenge Blog to click the links so you can enjoy all the other challengers.

Photo Challenge : Repeating Patterns

2011-04-29T22:22:00.000-05:00

I almost forgot this because I forgot it was Friday and I forgot that it was the 29th. Now that I've come to my senses I realize that it's time for another Photo Challenge so I'd best get these up. Please hop on over to our Challenge blog and click on the links of other wonderful challengers.

I sure hope I'm making sense. I've been up since 3:30 this a.m. cause I wanted to see Will and Kate's wedding.


I love the pretty blue color of these treated soybean seeds. Makes a nice repeating pattern too, doesn't it?


Repeating polka dots on a beach towel. Two of my favorites, polka dots and bright colors.


This is a familiar repeating pattern around here. Row after row of one crop or another.


The dots on the killdeer eggs make a distinctive repeating pattern.

This was another fun challenge. Can't wait to see all the other challenger's work.

Photo Challenge : Spring Easy

2011-04-15T23:38:00.000-05:00

Time to shine again with our challenge photos. I've been sneaking out here and there and taking a few when I could. Be sure to click over to our challenge blog to see all the wonderful shots that everyone came up with.


Wisteria


Our friendly Purple Martins are back!

Yeah, I'm cute.

A pic from a past Spring. I love this shot of the stinky little weed.

Yankton Press & Dakotan Opinion Editorials Raising Taxes On The Rich

2011-04-13T11:59:00.000-05:00

Yankton Press & Dakotan Opinion Editorials Raising Taxes On The Rich

The Amazing Human Body

2011-04-07T11:35:00.000-05:00

It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

One human hair can support 6.6 #.

The average man's penis is two times the length of his thumb.

Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.

A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.

There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

Women blink twice as often as men.

The average person's skin weighs twice as much as the brain.

Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.

If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.

Women will be finished reading this by now.

Men are still busy checking their thumbs.

Photo Challenge: Before & After

2011-03-18T19:11:00.000-05:00

It's time for a new Challenge! Miz Donna chose Before & After as our challenge topic for this round and I took a time out the other day and worked a little "after" magic on some pictures. Normally I pre-schedule my challenge posts but the past two challenges this didn't work, so I'm posting this evening because early tomorrow will find us on our way to Greenwood, MS to Zach's tae kwon do tournament.

Please hop over to our Challenge blog to view all the other delightful entries!

China berries from the camera.


China berries edge enhanced.


Schubach barn from the camera.


Barn with tinfoil texture added.

I'm going to play some more with these textures and filters soon. Can't wait to see what everyone else does.

Photo Challenge : Red

2011-02-26T01:20:00.003-06:00

It's time to be challenging with our cameras again ladies and gents. I've been ~~lazy~~ busy so I only got a couple of recent shots but some others, not so recent, that I think are worthy of sharing. Be sure to click on over to our challenge blog to see all of the delightful entrants for this Red challenge.

My sister, Paula, built this birdhouse for me.

A trinket one of the girls left laying around. I used a texture filter from Paint Shop Pro on this shot.

This is one of my flashy red shoes,,,never worn.


A rose bloom from last summer

Can't wait to go round and visit all the other challengers! Be seeing you there!

I Keep Forgetting!!

2011-02-18T18:20:00.000-06:00

I did it again, I let my blogaversary pass right on by with nary a thought again this, the 8th year! I should remember it cause it shares a date with the Chick's birthday (aka Alexis), but I guess the excitement of a birth wipes it from my mind.

Anyway, I thought I'd look back on my first year of blogging by posting a few of the entries from back then.

How Women Really Think

Skinny people tick me off! Especially when they say things like,
'You know, sometimes I forget to eat. You have to be a special
kind of stupid to forget to eat.

A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills.
She had 14 kids, but she doesn't care.

The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about
nothing (and then they marry him).

I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are
eating too much, smoking too much, impulse buying and driving too
fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day.

I know what Victoria's Secret is. The secret is that nobody older
than 20 can fit into their stuff.

Here is a Great reason to Smile:
Every 7 minutes of every day,
someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.

My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain
consciousness.

Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while...
and it shrinks two or three sizes!

If you love something, set it free.
If it comes back, it will always be yours.
If it doesn't come back, it was never yours to begin with.
But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff,
eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money,
and doesn't appear to realize that you had set it free...
You either married it or gave birth to it.

Look at how little Zach and Jordan were back then!

New Read, New TV Show

2011-02-13T22:38:00.001-06:00

I'm not much good with change, I'm really not. Change sometimes lets me down, makes me nervous, disappoints me; all or any of these reasons are what makes me wary of change. So, I reckon my inability to accept very much change probably, quite often, keeps me from trying new things. But, sometimes, on rare occasions, I throw caution to the winds and discover a sweet surprise or two from something new. This past week, and this evening, I've done just that. So let me tell you about it.

First, I moved from my usual path of horror/murder/suspense novels to discover a really well written, first work of fiction, by Sherri Wood Emmons. Prayers and Lies is a novel that manages from the first page to make you feel as welcome as any visitor to the South is made to feel; welcome and well fed (belly and soul). An awesome book about love of family, family secrets, and innocence lost.

My second surprise was my first viewing of Harry's Law. This is a new program that started airing last month I believe. I've always loved Kathy Bates, who plays a lawyer in the show, but I'm not so crazy about lawyer shows. For lack of anything else on TV this evening we watched back to back episodes of Harry's Law and I was hooked once she takes out her gun and shoots a rat in her office without a change of expression or anything. This gal could be my friend! I think it will be coming on around 9 on Monday evenings and I'll be watching for it.

Southern Exposure

2011-02-11T14:11:00.001-06:00

Dang it's been cold, I even have icicles dangling down from my roof and it's not often that we see such as that in my little spot in the Mississippi River delta. Don't get me wrong, real Winter happens occasionally here. I remember having a really big snow, 12 inches or more, back when I was a kid and every other year or so we'll get a couple of inches. A couple of years ago we had a 7 inch snow to welcome Spring. But this year it's been cold since November and we've had two substantial snows and a couple of dustings. This morning when James left to go down to the farm for a few he said the temps were -6!! And since this is Arkansas weather, where it can snow in the morning and be warm enough for shorts in the afternoon, wouldn't you know, the temps are supposed to be up near 70 by Monday!

Night at Nanaw's

2011-02-06T12:45:00.000-06:00

"Daddy is a good boy! He's gonna let us have this puppy and we'll name her Maple."

"Nanaw, you get to choose. Do you wanna play I Spy With My Little Eye, Inky, Pinky, Ponky, or Mickey Mouse Peed on a House?" What? LOL.

I need a nap now. :-)

UT Oh :-)

2011-02-03T18:07:00.000-06:00

Never irritate a woman who can operate a backhoe...

Thus endeth the lesson.

Women are Angels...And when someone breaks our wings...We simply continue to fly....on a broomstick...We are flexible like that...

Photo Challenge: Frozen

2011-01-29T20:14:00.000-06:00

I had this scheduled to post after midnight and for some reason, blogger moved it over to a draft?? Hell's bells, I don't know what happened? Here I am though, finally!

Miz Donna says the holidays are over so it's time to do our photo challenges again so hop right on over to the Photo Challenge blog and click the link thingies to take a look at all the wonderful photos. The theme for this challenge is Frozen.

A close look into my Sonic cup of diet Dr. Pepper with a load of ice.

I call this shot and the next one, Frozen in Time

Frozen in Time 2

There ya go, those are my challenge photos. Don't forget to go take a look at the other challengers.

Old Age Prayer

2011-01-17T17:07:00.000-06:00

This lady is a hoot!!

In the News

2011-01-13T12:34:00.001-06:00

Ninety students who attend Frayser High School in Memphis are currently pregnant or have already had a baby this year.The number indicates, that 11% of the student body has entered into parenthood.

I did a little math of my own and came up with a more astounding figure; Suppose that of the 978 pupils attending grades 8 through 12 at Frayser High School, half of those are female (489). Now those 90 female students who have given birth recently or are currently pregnant puts the percentage of female parenthood on up to almost 20%!

The Memphis City School District folks are a'wondering what can be done about this problem. They're looking for grants, for funds, for what amounts to TAX money, to correct this problem. I don't know about you all, but I can think of a few corrective measures that don't have a damned thing to do with throwing good money away:

First, someone tell me what in the hell being a student at Frayser High School in Memphis, TN has to do with being pregnant? Did they get pregnant while attending school?

Make the students/teens/parents accountable. Back when Hector was a pup, and me too for that matter, if you decided to have unprotected sex before marriage and became pregnant, you, the father-to-be and your families somehow came together and came up with a plan. The plan did not include not knowing who the father was, or applying for medicaid to pay for the doctor and hospital bills, or receiving money, WIC, or Food Stamps from the government to raise a child.

Educate your kids about sex and contraceptives and don't wait until they're grown to do it. You should also not expect the schools to do it for you. More than half of the U.S. states allow that minors do not have to have parental permission to ask for and receive FREE birth control. (Hey Frayser students, TN is one of them!) The states that don't allow it, have legislative bodies who are about as dumb as a box of rocks in my opinion. Parents and teens should put out at least as much effort at obtaining AND practicing birth control as they do waiting in line to fill out all the paper work to have the government pay to have and raise a child.

Am I biased? Maybe being a little mouthy and over the line about a tender subject? Well get over it, this is my blog and that's my opinion on the subject. And by the way, I pay to watch my TV (you hear me Direct TV and WMC channel 3?), and I'm getting pretty damned tired of the news reporters using my viewing time to tell me of all the new ways being found to waste hard working folk's tax money. How bout report on ways to save some.

Ok, I'm done.

Winter Prayer

2011-01-09T18:01:00.000-06:00

Lord help me to make it through these Winter months. I'm having fantasies that include Spousal death by remote. Help me to keep my hands away from his throat as he sits snoring on his throne with remote in hand.

Amen.

Black and White

2011-01-05T15:13:00.000-06:00


I've taken quite a few pictures of this field during different times of the year because I'm fascinated by the few little trees that sit there in the middle. I like the view best when the crops are harvested because it makes them look so lonely and desolate out there all alone. Once upon a time there were many, many more thickets and small woods here in the delta, but the greed of the lumber industry and the farmers has cleared them all away. It's so sad. You can click to make any of these photos a little larger if you'd like.

I remember the old barn at Grandma and Grandpa's house; it was a lot like this one. I can recall the dank, dusty, darkness of it when you first entered in out of the sunshine. The groaning and creaking sounds it made when the wind was blowing outside. I remember climbing up into the loft although we were forbidden for fear we'd fall though in some places. And who can forget the acidic smell of the lime sprinkled potatoes stored in the old corn cribs during the Winter. Grandpa kept so many great treasures on his work bench.

Cause I said I would...

2011-01-03T20:44:00.000-06:00

I took this picture of my new bird feeder through the big window in the dining room. It's also where I take many of the hummer pictures during the summer months.

The old barn over on the highway. Winter is the best time to take shots of this old place because when the crops and leaves start to grow again, it'll be mostly hidden. I love finding old barns, buildings, and houses to shoot with my camera and I love to wonder what they would say if the old boards and walls could talk.

Only 77 more days till Spring!

Christmas Is OVAH!!

2011-01-02T17:47:00.000-06:00

Turning geriatric cartwheels here.

James got a new bird feeder for Christmas. I got one too but I think his is the best one. :-)
I'll take a picture of mine later.

My favorite presents are the "Gopher", an extend-able back scratcher, a silky, warm scarf, and the custom wine glass you can see in my header.

I spent a good bit of the holidays with a heat pad against my lower back,,,

Except for the time that Jami's dog, Hercules, decided that she needed it more than me.
Silly hound.


From Top left, great niece Reese, granddaughter Alexis, gd Krysten, gn Mikah(?), gd Abby, Front gd MeriKate, gd Jillian, gn Shelbie, gd Jaylen. We don't seem to make ugly babies here in eastern Arkansas. :-)

Our two oldest babies, Granddaughter, Jordan, and Zach.

Back to a normal routine tomorrow. I hope everyone survived the Holidays intact!

I LIKE this cake

2010-12-23T11:02:00.000-06:00

I think I've posted this before but I believe that you can never have too much of a good thing. Right?

Tequila Christmas Cake

1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
1 cup brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
Nuts
1 bottle tequila
2 cups dried fruit

Sample the tequila to check quality.

Take a large bowl; check the tequila again to be sure it is of the highest quality.

Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.

At this point, it is best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck iin the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the fruit up off the floor.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the tequila to test for tonsisticity.

Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something.

Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fald over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window.

Finish the tequila and wipe the counter with the cat.

Cherry Christmas!

Christmas Trivia

2010-12-22T21:50:00.001-06:00

Did you know:

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, Americans buy 37.1 million real Christmas trees each year; 25 percent of them are from the nation's 5,000 choose-and-cut farms.

Christmas trees are edible. Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition.

After "A Christmas Carol," Charles Dickens wrote several other Christmas stories, one each year, but none was as successful as the original. Before settling on the name of Tiny Tim for his character in "A Christmas Carol," three other alliterative names were considered by Charles Dickens. They were Little Larry, Puny Pete, and Small Sam. And, Charles Dickens' initial choice for Scrooge's statement "Bah Humbug" was "Bah Christmas."

Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday. This tradition began in 1836.

An artificial spider and web are often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees. A spider web found on Christmas morning is believed to bring good luck.

Christmas is not widely celebrated in Scotland. Some historians believe that Christmas is downplayed in Scotland because of the influence of the Presbyterian Church (or Kirk), which considered Christmas a "Papist," or Catholic event. As a result, Christmas in Scotland tends to be somber.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

2010-12-21T21:39:00.000-06:00

My Helper!

2010-12-21T00:11:00.000-06:00

Sometimes he makes me absolutely insane,,,makes me feel like I'm an ancient old crone and too old to be raising children.

At other times he does the sweetest things and helps us out so much. He helps the little ones but he may also be tormenting them by teasing them unmercifully. There's no doubt though, that he loves them.

Last Christmas I let him help with the gift wrapping just a little. This Christmas he's developed such a great talent for it, he'll probably wrap everyone's but his own!

Thank you Zach, Nanaw loves and appreciates you even when you make her crazy!

Favorite Christmas Present

2010-12-18T23:56:00.000-06:00

I think mine was the bendable leg Barbie who had eyes that closed and three lovely wigs so I could change her look whenever I wanted. I think I was 11 or 12 when I found it under our tree. We only ever got one present that was a toy cause the rest were clothes or shoes that were necessities. But I truly believe our Christmases meant more to us than the materialistic holiday they call Christmas these days.

I also remember that on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter there was anything that anyone could possibly want to eat on our table. I think I looked forward to that the most.

The Truth About Reindeer

2010-12-17T21:44:00.001-06:00

REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
While both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year,
Male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter,
Usually late November to mid-December.
Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer,
EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should've known…...
ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit
All around the world in one night and not get lost.

HO-HO-HO!

Christmas Fun and Funnies

2010-12-15T21:29:00.000-06:00

Christmas is just around the corner, is everyone through shopping? I'm getting close but not finished yet. I thought I'd post a link or two to get everyone in a Christmas mood.

How bout a visit to the North Pole to look around? Or maybe try a game or two to get your twinkle going? I even found some Christmas Fonts you might like to try.

And Lastly, a few Christmas cartoons are always good for a few Merry giggles.

Busy Weekend

2010-12-13T21:31:00.000-06:00

We knew there was some rain coming but God sure painted a pretty sky before it arrived.

Friday night was pretty cool when I took Alexis, Jillian, and Zach, to the little ice skating spot at the Court Square in Helena for a few spins around the rink. Beans (Jillian) had a little problem staying on her feet but the Chick (Alexis) below, seemed to get the hang of it pretty quick.

We awoke to a little rain on Saturday morning but didn't have much on the drive to Little Rock. It turned out to be a cloudy but nice day.

The girls spent the night and on Saturday we got up early and drove to see 2 other of our girls, Jaylen and Jordan. We had fun laughing at their boxers who thought there might be a bite of Rice Krispy treats to be had.

Jaylen's happy, smiley, face! All of our girls are such cuties (and I'm not a bit biased).

I stopped a couple of times on the way home from Little Rock to get a few shots of the gorgeous Canadian geese that were landing in the harvested rice fields to feed. We get loads of Snow geese but not so many Canadian geese the past few years.

That was pretty much our weekend. Family, fun, and food. Can't beat it!

To My Dearest Friends and Family,

2010-12-03T21:43:00.000-06:00

There were probably many, many times this year when I may have

Disturbed you,

Troubled you,

Pestered you,

Irritated you,

Bugged you,

Or got on your

nerves....

So today I just wanted to tell you...........

Suck it up Cupcake!!!
'Cause there are NO CHANGES planned for 2011 !!!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!!

2010-11-24T19:21:00.001-06:00

Not for the faint of heart. :-)

Running in my Sleep!

2010-11-18T22:14:00.000-06:00

I love reading and I love reading horror novels most of all. I love that little quickening of the pulse as you try to hurry to read your character out of a scary situation, one you know for certain you'd never find yourself in cause there's no way you'd do something so stupid as that! Nope,,,not when it comes to life and limb anyway.,,,

I've mentioned many of my favorite horror authors before I think, ,,Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston, just to name a few. Each has their own style and give little shivers as you read,, at just the right time to keep you wrapped up enough that you can't put the book down,,,
just yet.

Very few of the horror books, or movies, that I've ever read, or watched, have really scared me enough that I was bothered by what I'd read after I'd laid down the book, or the movie went off. Not until some time in the mid-70's when I watched the original, the black and white, the horrific, Night of the Living Dead. Before that movie was over I had moved from my chair and was sitting in James's lap on the couch! I had a few nights of nightmares over that movie, one of which had me being trapped in a phone booth while I was surrounded by drooling, dead, bodies!

I woke up before I found a way out of that dilemma.

Later in life, after I'd reached a more mature level of adulthood, I watched another walking dead movie called Dawn of the Dead. Once again I was very bothered by the movie and suffered through a few nights of nightmares. You'd think I'd learn a lesson from this wouldn't you? But nope, a few more years passed and I watched a remake of Night of the Living Dead. This time it wasn't so bad so I thought I'd worked through my terrors of reanimated dead folks.

Well, I downloaded several (as in 6) zombie/end times/walking dead type novels to my Kindle. Holy Shit I never realized there were that many zombie/walking dead type stories to be told! And I'm waking up exhausted from running from, and fighting, these dead folks.

Lordy, I sure hope I can keep it up so I won't be Zombie stew!

Autumn in the Arkansas Delta

2010-11-15T22:09:00.001-06:00

It's beginning to look, and feel, a little like Autumn around here.

Colorful and cool.

Photo Challenge : Broken

2010-11-13T10:37:00.001-06:00

It's that time again and I almost let it get away from me! I'm glad that I remembered to get a couple of shots of my poor, broken, shelf sitter with her broken leg. She sits and waits for me to remember to buy glue to put her back together which I hope to remember to do very soon.

I don't know why these photos are appearing sideways on here. It's weird,,,very, very, weird.

Don't forget to click on the links at the Photo Challenge Blog to view all the other great shots done by our other talented shooters.

It'll take me awhile to get around to seeing everyone's take on the "Broken" challenge today but I'll make it as soon as I can!

Here We Go Again!

2010-10-31T22:34:00.000-05:00

I thought I was through with this stuff.

The last time I attempted to help a hard headed boy with Algebra was way back in 1996. I ended up taking off my slipper to use as a head bopping tool in order to allow the knowledge to flow through his mind. Here I am again, attempting the impossible because I'm TOO OLD for this!!!!!

Just more Stuff,,,,,

2010-10-29T18:11:00.000-05:00

I read some wise words once, but sadly, they were uttered by a made up character in a book. I have hopes that the author of the book, "The Lost World" by Michael Crichton, put the words into the character's mouth and perhaps a seed of his wise ideas have sprouted and will become common knowledge some day. Michael Crichton died a couple of years ago and that is very sad.

As the wise, made up, Dr. Ian Malcolm once said, "What makes us think that as humans, we are aware? Where is the evidence for this? Humans never think for themselves because they find it much too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told, (or hear, or read) and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The most characteristic human trait is conformity! Other animals fight for territory or food; humans fight for their 'beliefs'".

Dr. Malcolm also believed that the internet would be the beginning of the end of our species because it would mean the end of innovation.

This guy was seriously wise.

There is a hole in the siding of my house. I first learned about this hole when I found suspicious plaster dust and the bottom of said hole behind my computer monitor. The man of the house ran over something while mowing that could have become a lethal weapon had it been emerged from beneath that mower in a different direction.

Please forgive me if I refuse to put my faith, (and my hard earned dollars saved for literary purchases) in a wet-behind-the-ears, barely out of diapers, poor little rich kid who don't know BEANS about Nuttin'. Talk about never having trod a mile in anybody's shoes but those of some designer's,,,,Heaven deliver us. Please!

I just love these kids,,,,

Photo Challenge : Fast Foods

2010-10-16T09:50:00.000-05:00

It's Photo Challenge time again so let the fun begin! Miz Donna chose Fast Foods; here we go!

MeriKate is enjoying a Wendy's burger.

We stopped in here for burgers when we were in Mountain View, AR last year. The atmosphere was awesome!

There was a pot of peanuts at every table...,,,and you couldn't eat just one!

Hope in Chili

2010-10-14T10:01:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you look around at all the meanness and ugly going on in this world and you wonder what's to become of mankind. Then God sends us a miracle and you know that all will be ok,,,at least for awhile longer.

Welcome home fellas!

Dusty Delta Sunsets

2010-10-09T22:28:00.000-05:00

It's as dry as popcorn farts around these parts. Could someone send us a little rain please?

Cymbalta

2010-10-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

I knew I've been feeling down but didn't realize anyone else had noticed until the Terrorist looked at me and said Nanaw, you need Cymbalta.

I think maybe I do.

Photo Challenge : Orange

2010-09-25T04:38:00.020-05:00

I love the light orange petals with the reddish orange streaks in this lily.

This little fella seems partial to the delicate pastel orange of this moss rose bloom.

I love how the orange of the floatie is reflected in the Terrorist's face in this picture.

Orange is it! Time for the photo challenge where we get to view all the exceptional captures from our challenge buds. Go on over and click the links to see what I mean.

Hello, Roy?

2010-09-11T17:58:00.000-05:00

I was snuggled in and sawing some humongous logs the other morning when the ringing of the phone dragged me from my bed.

Sleepy, grumpy, me: HELLO.

Voice on phone: Yes, I need to speak to Roy please.

Sleepy, grumpier me: What? I told you, or the person who called yesterday, that there is no Roy here. Roy does not live here! Stop calling!

Voice on Phone: Is this 870-572-5555?

Sleepy, grumpier, me: Yes it is.

Voice on Phone: Then I have the correct number for Roy.

Sleepy, grumpier than ever and now even bitchy, me: Are you crazy? No you don't! Roy does not live here. Roy has never lived here. I've had this phone number since 1981 and Roy didn't live here then, Roy doesn't live here now. I don't even know anyone named Roy,,,,except maybe Roy Rogers,,,but I didn't even know him really, just knew him from TV. You know they stuffed his horse when it died,,,,,,,

Click,,,,dial tone.

Voice on Phone hung up on me. Can you believe that?

Mr. Clean and Me

2010-08-15T17:28:00.000-05:00

So,,I was gonna scrub the kitchen sink,,,,Have y'all tried Mr. Clean Multi-Surfaces Liquid Cleaner with Febreze Freshness in the lavender flavor? It's some good stuff,,,so I hefted the bottle of cleaner out from under the sink and opened it. When I went to sit it down on the counter, I sort of lost my grip a little and it "plunked" when it hit the surface. I happened to be leaning over the sink at the time and the amount of Mr. Clean that splashed out of the bottle was just enough to douse my left ear, arm, and get on my face and hair. I then spent the next little while washing Mr. Clean Multi-Surfaces Liquid Cleaner with Febreze Freshness in lavender scent from my body parts.

I still pretty much smell like a sweetly scented Summer garden with an added undertone of a strange, tangy, note. If anyone notices my new scent I'll just say "thank you kindly."

Photo Challenge : Dirt

2010-08-14T01:25:00.000-05:00

Time for a new challenge and Miz Crystal chose the dirt topic. I can't wait to see all the participants over at the Brenda Photo Challenge blog.
The first challenge picture is of the Chick standing in a field of hipped rows a few days after a rain. It's the perfect time for looking for arrowheads, and old marbles, and just stuff,,, I have a family of gatherers, they search for and gather old things quite often.
I did not take this one, and I'm jealous. This is one of Jerri's shots of our Beans who's about as dirty as a little girl can get. I reckon the mud baths our children take do their magic cause I truly don't think we have a homely child critter in the bunch.

We don't lack for dirt around here. This is one of the field turn rows down the road a piece. See all the dust? That stuff billows and just hangs in the air sometimes when the humidity is as high as it's been this whole summer.
This little fella got a little muddy as Zach gathered him up out of the garden back in the Spring. He was safely moved to the corn field across the turn row.

I call this a Zen turn row cause of all the neat little evenly spaced harrow marks in the dirt. It lasted until we had a rain but even then kept it's neat appearance. Told you we had lots of dirt.
Here is the Beans and her friend Falon getting hosed down after another round of mud bathing.

Well that's all I'd better post. I don't lack dirt pictures here in the delta. :-)

I Should Be Doing Other Things

2010-08-07T16:36:00.006-05:00

Instead I've been admiring the moss rose growing in the porch planters by taking a macros so I can continue to admire their beauty even after their blooms have faded.

And since I was in Helena the other day, I drove over the levee and luckily was just in time to capture two barges passing on Old Man River. The one on the left is headed south towards New Orleans, the one on the right, tugging north towards Memphis.

I've also spent more than a little bit of time in front of the dining room window taking pictures of this little critter and his mostly friendly hummer friends. On this day, this little fella (who's about thumb high) was ferociously guarding the nectar in the feeders.
Click the photos for a larger view if you'd like.

I hope everyone is having a delightful weekend!!

I made another year!

2010-08-01T12:49:00.003-05:00

I'm 56 today and I'm loving the laughs. Y'all click to enlarge the cards below, you won't be sorry.

Miz Donna sent the card above and I laugh every time I look at it.

My kids gave me this one! Yep, they know me. LOL.
They also made me a most delicious, homemade, carrot cake. Yummmmmm!!
I also got a lovely hummingbird feeder and some new flat ware. James is making a bottle tree for me but hasn't finished it yet. I'll take pics and post them when he's done.
Happy Sunday Y'all!

Photo Challenge : Ruby Red Macro

2010-07-24T00:43:00.000-05:00

Red, Rouge, Rojo.

Can't get much redder than tomato ketchup.

This little view master type thingy is about the size of a quarter. I think the actual viewer is long lost but this was red so I shot it. :-)

Red crayon, red pencil, red marker, and the word RED.

It's that time again! Time to show off the fun we've been having with our cameras by doing the photo challenges. Click on the link to be carried over to view lots of other Red Macro challengers.

Oh yeah!

2010-07-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

I love this!

2010-07-22T10:48:00.000-05:00

Hahaha, good doggie.

CHARACTERISTICS of the NARCISSIST

2010-07-21T14:10:00.003-05:00

Do you know someone with these characteristics? If you do, I feel for you cause they can often make your life a living hell.

Certain characteristics appear with stunning regularity among narcissists. Since narcissism is on a continuum, some will have more than others.

1. Self-centered. His/her needs are paramount.
2. No remorse for mistakes or misdeeds.
3. Unreliable, undependable.
4. Does not care about the consequences of his/her actions.
5. Projects faults on to others. High
blaming behavior; never his/her fault.
6. Little if any conscience.
7. Pretends concern but is really Insensitive to needs and feelings of others.
8. Has a good front (persona) to impress and exploit others.
9. Low stress tolerance. Easy to anger and rage.
10. People are to be manipulated for his/her needs.
11. Rationalizes easily. Twists conversation to his gain at other’s expense. If trapped, keeps
talking, changes the subject or gets angry.
12. Pathological lying.
13. Tremendous need to control situations, conversations, others.
14. No real values. Mostly situational.
15. Often perceived as caring and understanding and uses this to manipulate.
16. Angry, mercurial, moods.
17. Uses sex to control
18. Does not share true ideas, feelings, emotions.
19. Conversation controller. Must have the first and last word.
20. Is very slow to forgive others. Hangs onto resentment.
21. Secret life. Hides , friends, activities.
22. Likes annoying others. Likes to create chaos and disrupt for no reason.
23. Moody - switches from nice guy/girl to anger without much provocation.
24. Repeatedly fails to honor financial obligations.
25. Seldom expresses appreciation.
26. Grandiose. Convinced he/she knows more than others and is correct in all he does.
27. Lacks ability to see how he/she comes across to others. Defensive when confronted with his/her behavior. Never his/her fault.
28. Can get emotional, tearful. This is about show or frustration rather than sorrow.
29. He/she breaks spirits to keep them dependent.
30. Highly contradictory.
31. Convincing. Must convince people to side with him/her
32. Hides his/her real self. Always “on”
33. Kind only if he's/she's getting from you what he/she wants.
34. He/she has to win.
35. Does not discuss openly, has a hidden agenda.
36. Unilateral condition of, "I'm OK and justified so I don't need to hear your position or ideas".
37. Always feels misunderstood.
38. You can often feel miserable with this person because they drain you.
39. Does not listen because he/she does not care.
40. It's always about his/her feelings, noone else's.
41. Is not really interested in problem-solving.. wants the sympathy.
42. Very good at reading people, so he/she can manipulate them.

Moseying Through the Days

2010-07-19T13:10:00.004-05:00

I've been so frustrated, depressed, and so very sad over the past few weeks that I just haven't been able to get my mind going in the direction it needed to in order to do a post worth reading or writing.

Beginning with my surgery. We were billed $33,143 for it initially. After meeting with the "man" in charge of taking every penny of your liquid assets, the bill was miraculously reduced to $11,300 since that was exactly what we had scrimped to save in an IRA. I could have paid the bill out in monthly installments but it would have been with no reduction and a longer than life monthly expense.

Another $3660 is owed for the surgeon, the this,,,the that,,,but we are paying that as much as we can monthly. When that's paid we can start saving again, maybe.

A financial aid rep came by my room when the word was passed down that we had no insurance,,,did you know that we'd have qualified for financial aid if we'd had a credit score below 600? WTH?

And sadly, my best yahoo trivia, blogger, facebook, boisterous, wise, sweet, loving Kat left us on June 7th. Every time my phone rings I expect to hear her gruff voice on the line, She had the most fabulous talent for knowing when a friend needed a laugh and she sure provided me with a load of those. I am so lucky to have known her and I miss her more than I know how to say. I can't imagine the hurt her loved ones are feeling without her.

So now Summer is here and zooming by too quickly. School will be starting in just a few weeks, Zach's already having to go to football practice 4 mornings a week. The days are getting shorter and I hate that. Before we know it, it'll be Winter again and I'll be whining for Spring.

A vicious cycle, isn't it?

Just Cause,,,

2010-07-16T16:13:00.001-05:00

I thought you might need a smile today.

Telling it Like it IS.

2010-07-14T11:18:00.003-05:00

My friend Nick sent the video clip to me. He feels, as I do, that those men sitting on that committee are enjoying the entertainment being provided but aren't seriously considering a single word he's saying.

It's all about big bucks folks.

Here's a look at how much members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee received in political contributions from oil and gas interests since the beginning of 2009. Contributions are from political action committees run by oil and gas companies and from individuals employed by those companies.

The oil and gas industry has contributed more than $7.5 million to members of the 111th Congress thus far in the 2010 election cycle.

It's just sad.

Hoppin' and Shoppin'

2010-07-12T23:03:00.005-05:00

Some fine lookin' soybeans.

James, aka PopPop, kicking the dirt up to see if the late beans planted in the draw were coming up.

Well it wasn't me doing the hoppin' and I didn't do a whole lotta shoppin', but the check amount said I did so maybe it was so. Anyway, the summer trip to Sam's is outta the way and we probably won't need to go again until December. I hope.

If you click to enlarge the map up there, you can find the red dot over in the AR part of the map and see about where I live. Follow the red line that I've drawn and you can see that we did the tri-state circle during our shopping trip.

James wanted to visit President's Island to see how the soybeans and corn looked up there so we went to Memphis first to do that. Afterwards we drove over to Southhaven, Mississippi to do the shopping, had lunch, then headed home on hwy 61 in MS. It was a nice little trip and I was plumb tuckered out by the time we got back home.

I'm heading to bed now. I hope everyone had a great Monday and is looking forward to a productive and glorious week!

Where Were You?

2010-07-11T19:33:00.001-05:00

Do you remember where you were the first time you heard these?

The Day After

2010-07-05T22:10:00.007-05:00

It's July 5th, which is the day after the July 4th celebration around these parts. The fact that it's Monday makes the celebration part feel as though it was last week some time though, and not just a mere few hours ago. At least it's gonna be Tuesday in a couple of hours so that's all good.

I snapped a few pictures of the vittles we were having here yesterday but they're in the prep stage,,,I didn't get around to snapping the finished product. Could be cause we were all hungry and ready to dig in when those ribs came off the grill.

Those ribs as they were a'waitin' to be wrapped and put on the grill for tenderizing.

Alexis, Jillian, and their friend, Fallon.

Cooked taters waiting for some pickles, onions, mustard, and mayo.

My pasta salad that just needed a dollop of mayo.

We had a fine day, too much food, too much sun, too many skeeters after dark, but still a mighty fine day.

Photo Challenge - Freedom

2010-07-03T00:56:00.005-05:00

Freedom to me has always meant being able to pick a road to wander down,,, or over,,, or around,,, to another place. Every road will lead somewhere, or maybe nowhere, but I feel fortunate to be able to travel down which ever ones I choose.

The freedom topic also put this song in mind. It's been wandering around in the hollow reaches of my noggin for two weeks now.

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free, now now.
And feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
You know feeling good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

Y'all can go on over to the Challenge Blog and click on the links to see all the rest of the wonderful participates for this challenge. It's been fun!

I've been Practicing....

2010-06-22T15:33:00.003-05:00

I'm on the back side of 50 now so I've been getting in some practice at being a grumpy, old, lady with some of these folks that we purchase services from.

First on my shit list is Direct TV. Three calls in 4 days about a screen that was going blank off and on, and I finally made them understand that I'd done all their tests and they'd best send someone to fix whatever was wrong or I was going to change satellite TV providers. They finally sent a repair man out today.

Second in line is VERIZON. I hate Verizon almost as much as I hated Alltel.... Thinking on it a bit,,,I would probably hate any and all of those wireless telephone companies because they are All only interested in customer VOLUME and not a bit about customer SERVICE. I got so tired of their crappy website, and their even crappier customer service, that I gave up and let my son give his Dad his old phone instead of dealing with those people. James dropped his phone in his glass of ice water and killed it thus causing the pain and aggravation with VERIZON! I'm gonna make my phone last as long as possible just to piss them off.

I've saved Waste Corporation for last. My overstuffed trash container is still sitting beside the road waiting for a tractor to come by and knock it over into the ditch and strew garbage everywhere like they did last week when WASTE CORPORATION was late picking it up. Trash pick up day is supposed to be Monday but lately it's been mostly when they get around to it. Of course, they charge you a month in advance for these special services. I believe Tom J. Fatjo, Jr. , Jerome M. Kruszka, Charles A. Casalinova, and Tom J. Fatjo, III should get up off their corporate management asses and take a walk on the trashy side to see the crappy service their customers have to deal with on a regular basis.

Ok, I'm done bitching for the moment.

I hope everyone else is having a better week.

Photo Challenge - Bedtime

2010-06-19T07:58:00.005-05:00

Chris and Hercules after a fun in the sun Saturday.

Zach and puppy, Bindy, all tired out.

I didn't forget this time but we've had a busy, busy, house for a week and I only just had time to post for our Bedtime Challenge. Please head on over to our challenge blog to click on links to see all the wonderful challengers.

I'll be around to visit more as soon as all our company leaves.

Katerina Service and Wake

2010-06-10T13:07:00.002-05:00

At 2:30 pm MST today there will be a memorial service for our Special K and a wake at a favorite pub to follow. I'm reposting the information from facebook so that each of her blog friends can send her on her final journey with a toast.

Heather Borschowa KATS WAKE REPOST......

I am so very touched at the many emails and comments that have been written about our girl Katerina. I take comfort in knowing that she has truly meant so much to so
many all over the world, and that we all share in the sorrow and pain of her being taken from us all too soon.
Terry and I have done o...ur best to try and arrange a "Virtual" wake, however the location our girl has chosen for her celebration regretfully does not have Internet.

It was her wish and hope that all of her friends near and far could somehow take part in
this wake, therefore in place of all of us being together in the same room, at 5PM MST June 10, 2010 we will be playing the song she has chosen " Into the West" by Annie Lennox, from The Lord of The Rings The Return of the King Soundtrack.

At this time, we invite all of you to please raise a glass in her honor.

We will be posting pictures as soon we can.

Goodbye Sweet Friend

2010-06-08T15:44:00.004-05:00

Those who knew you have an empty spot in their hearts now Special K. Those who didn't know you surely missed out on a great pleasure. I'm going to miss your laughter sweet girl.

Photo Challenge - Weathered and Worn

2010-06-05T01:39:00.000-05:00

(Click the pics for a better view if you'd like.)

This granary is still in operation but has become weathered and worn over the many years it's been standing.

One of the older stones in this rural cemetary. I wonder what happened to the tree?

Weathered, worn, and weary, but happy to take a break to sit beside the lake with his fishing pole.

These tractors have performed their weary duties and are now worn and resting after many hours on the farm.

It's that time again and as usual, I sit here wondering where the time went. I had planned to do some blog posting again before now,,,,I did,,,I promise. Oh well, I'll get it together one day,,,I really will.

Lots of folks signed up over at our photo challenge blog for this Weathered and Worn Challenge. Pop over and have a look, ok?

Photo Challenge - Flowers

2010-05-22T08:19:00.005-05:00

First I forgot to sign up for this Challenge.

Then I forgot to post my pictures for this Challenge that I forgot to sign up for.

I've been moving through a brain fog lately and I sure do need to shake it off.

Anyway, here they are and for a REAL pleasure be sure to click on over to the Challenge Blog to view all the participants.

Pretty little wild roses that are growing beside the gravel road. If you click it bigger and look closer you can probably see the dust on the blooms and leaves. I love these little surprise splashes of color that I get to see sometimes.

This is my Peace rose. The blooms are huge and it smells soooooo good!

I'm not sure what this rose's name is, but it puts on a show with all the different shades of color that it displays on the same bush.

Now I'm going to surf over to see lots and lots of flower pictures while I sip on my first cup of morning coffee.

Photo Challenge : Circles

2010-05-01T01:39:00.000-05:00

Cypress Tree balls. Kind of look alien don't they?

Circular Sunflower center.

I snapped this shot yesterday of a balloon that escaped from somewhere. My mind said, "hey,,circle" so I grabbed the camera and SNAP. The first two shots were taken last summer.

Don't forget to pop over to the Challenge Blog so see all the wonderful entries for this Photo Challenge.

I Want to be a SuperHero

2010-04-28T11:02:00.004-05:00

Super Nanaw, that would be a fine calling, dontcha think? I'd want to be a superhero who saved the world from those who would ruin it with their lack of manners, their inability to tell the simple truth, and those who insist on letting their pants slide down to mid-butt cheek.I would proudly go about doing my superhero job of confiscating cell phones and fining people who insisted on texting, or talking during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or while in meetings, or in class rooms, or even, for crappy's sake, in the toilet. I'd find a corner for every child caught not replying to their elders with respect, and I'd insisit that everyone at the dinner table mind their manners.

I would find great joy in monitoring what came out of the mouths of our politicians, our newspapers, and news networks. There would be an automatic overnight in jail with BIG Bubba,,,or Bubbette, for those caught lying or misrepresenting the facts to the American public. Longer sentences would be handed out to those more deserving.

As for those butt-cheek bearers? I'd spend a portion of each day swooping down on the offenders to snatch those pants right on down to their ankles. Maybe if enough folks pointed and laughed at those bare assets, they'd buy britches that fit and wear their belts where they belonged!

Who started that trend anyway? Are they brain damaged?

I can't think of anymore wrongs to be righted today but I'm sure more will come to me soon. Y'all have a nice day now, ya hear?

Photo Challenge - Lighting

2010-04-24T00:54:00.000-05:00

This was taken in June. A tractor was preparing this field for planting late soybeans in front of the house. The dust and the position of the sun made this hazy shot look spectacular.

An early morning shot of the morning glory on my deck. I love how the sunlight is just barely touching the blooms.

The glow of the setting sun behind this shot of my Maximillion Sunflowers in late October.

I love this picture of Beans that I took a couple of years ago. She was pretending to sleep in the shade.

I had to visit the past for photos for this Lighting Challenge. While I've taken a few photos over the past couple of weeks, I wasn't in shape enough to get any that I was satisfied with for the challenge.

I know there will be some amazing shots to be seen over at the Photo Challenge Blog so please go over and visit and click the links to see them.

Room 141

2010-04-18T07:49:00.002-05:00

My first night room 141 at our local hospital was probably the least comfortable one of all. I still had that nasty organ that was causing me so much pain, so even with an occasional pain shot, I was only sleeping for an hour or two at a time. During one stretch of snoozing, the head of my bed, which was raised 6 inches or so, suddenly fell, slamming to a flat position, shaking my brain enough to give me a headache.

After such a rude awakening, I decided to sit up for a bit before trying for a little more sleep before the pain meds wore off. About 20 minutes later, I'm still sitting there, watching TV and minding my own business when the TV/Call button thingy suddenly went off the table and landed in the floor between the bed and the table it had been on.

I was wide awake at that point so when a nurse came in to take my vitals a little while later I asked her if the room was haunted and told her why.

She didn't hang around to chat. I don't know why.

If there was a ghost visitor that first night in room 141 he/she/it must have been satisfied with just letting me know they were there cause nothing else went on during the rest of my stay.

Moving Right Along

2010-04-17T11:35:00.003-05:00

I ventured out alone today to do some needed shopping. Thank goodness for the bench located in the back SE corner of Wal Mart where I rested up half way through my shopping list. Thank goodness also that every "associate" I spoke with or had a question for (with one exception) was so polite and helpful today. This is not the norm for our area Wal Mart so it was such a pleasure. The feelings of good will lasted until I visited the Wal Mart pharmacy to purchase some sterile saline solution that I needed for my wimpy wound packing. After waiting for 15 minutes or so for someone to acknowledge my presence, a young whipper snapper pharmacy worker informed me that in order to purchase the sterile saline solution for wounds I'd have to have a prescription from my doctor.

Uh,,,What?????

I don't recall needing a prescription when I'd purchased it from our family pharmacy over in town when James smashed his toe into smitherens back a couple of years ago.

Just so happened, our family pharmacy manager had been behind me in line at said Wal Mart and she was still there when I was leaving the pharmacy area so I asked her if I needed a prescription to purchase the sterile solution. She told me that she'd never heard of such and called over to Helena, where they're located, to tell them to have some ready at the drive thru window for me.

So that dilema was solved and I didn't even let the fact that I had to drive 10 more miles to pick it up disturb my feelings of calm from having an almost normal, shopping trip.

I got the hospital and surgeon's bill for my gall bladder removal yesterday but I'm not ready to say the numbers out loud yet cause one of them is very, very, scary. I'll be negotiating with them on Tuesday when I plan to tell them that there isn't much left to sell except my birthday,,,,and maybe a kidney...do they know of any takers?

I'm Healing and getting Sicker by the Bill

2010-04-15T12:35:00.002-05:00

I got sick. I couldn't avoid a trip to the hospital. I have no insurance. I do not have the funds nor the assets to pay for the huge hospital bill that I know is coming. I've decided to blog about what occurs when something like this happens to the lower middle class folks who work (or have worked far more than their fair share) for a living so they don't qualify for any sort of help. There are far, far, more of us than most of you want to believe there are.

The first two bills came in the mail today. One is from Florence, NC from Arkansas Pathology Associates for looking at a biopsy. I had to call them to find out what the bill was for because this was not included on the bill. I then asked them if they would reduce their fees if I was able to pay cash for the charge. The young lady replied, "No". So I then asked if the billed amount was what Medicaid, or Medicare, or what an insurance company would pay them and the young lady again replied, "No" because we would be paid at their discounted rate for the procedure.

So. Arkansas Pathology Associates may only receive 50 to 60% for this charge from a medicaid, medicare, or insurance provider, but someone like me who can't get insurance, can't afford insurance, and does not qualify for medicaid or medicare, has to pay the full amount charged.

Does anyone other than myself see how wrong this is?

The second bill came from the Anesthesiologists group and the amount was for $1105. I called them because anesthesiologists wasn't on the statement anywhere and again, I wanted to know what the charges were for. A young lady named Crysta was immediately helpful and provided me with the information I requested. When I told her I did not have insurance she immediately told me that she could discount the charged to less than half and if I could send her a check for $500, the account would be paid in full. Before agreeing to this, I asked her if I'd still get the discount if I couldn't pay the $500 in full but had to pay it over 3 or 4 months. She told me no. If payments were set up, the original charges would be due.

I can't see too much right about this either. If you don't have insurance your cost for medical is automatically 50 to 70% more. I'm very glad that I have $500 to send to them but I'm running out of money and the largest bills haven't even arrived yet.

I wonder if I have any body parts worth selling?

Still moving slow

2010-04-11T21:53:00.003-05:00

I feel better and better every day that passes but sitting in this chair here in my office still has to be for short periods cause it's still a bit painful. It may take me a few days to get around to see all the Black and White photo challenge pictures but I'll get there. I can't wait to see them all!

Thank you so much for all your get well wishes!

Black and White, and blue all over

2010-04-05T10:16:00.005-05:00

Practiced my black and white shooting skills before I got sick. I sure hope I can shoot some more later this week.

Needing Jeanette's staple remover.,,,,,or maybe a church key. :-)

Friday Surprise

2010-03-26T22:04:00.003-05:00

At 5 a.m. this morning I was rudely awakened by a sharp, stabbing pain. I turned, I wiggled, I tossed back and forth a bit, I tossed back and forth a lot,,, trying to find a spot in my bed that would help ease the pain. Finally, after 30 minutes the intensity was worsening so I gave up and got up. Throughout the morning I paced, I stretched, I cried, I had dry heaves, I used heat, I used ice, but nothing was helping to diminish the pain in my upper right abdomen.

I felt it was too high to be my appendix, and in the wrong spot to be the usual acid indigestion/heartburn that I frequently have so I figured my gall bladder had to be the culpret. Let me tell you folks,,,I've had 3 large babies and I can't remember having labor pains as intensely agonizing as this pain. Not even kidney stones a few years ago was this bad,,,I swear!

I've had years of back pain for which I've seldom taken anything stronger than ibuprofen but
I gave up at 12:30 today and called the doctor. I needed relief in the form of some major pain medication and was at a point where I didn't give a hoot what it was or for how long it would make me goofy.

James was somewhere between the farm and Memphis moving equipment, Zach was gone fishing with our neighbor, Jeffrey, so I got dressed and drove myself to the doctor. A shot and some wonderful pills are keeping the pain monster at bay for now. I am supposed to go back on Monday for an ultrasound of my gall bladder and upper, right abdomen.

I hope they don't find rocks in there.

Resting Up

2010-03-24T17:28:00.006-05:00

This picture has a cute story that goes along with it. A few minutes earlier, our Jilly Beans had sauntered over to where these two cute little boys were playing with their power truck. In less than 2 minutes she had the driver taking her for a ride. 2 minutes after that she was driving it.
Our Beans is quite a little flirt.

The girls catching a big bass.

The raptors recuperating..

I was very disappointed when I was downloading my pictures and discovered that I had taken every one of them at the smallest setting. I don't know how I did that but some of them won't be worth printing for sure.

We had a good time in NW Tennessee but I'm still tired from it. I think the kids had a good time though so it was worth a little weariness.

Before I Forget

2010-03-21T19:57:00.004-05:00

Mrs. B. over there at Soul Survivor kindly gave me this award and I'm supposed to pass it on. I figured I'd better do it right now cause once I turn this puter off things that are out of my sight are mostly out of my mind too. I love when the people who click on my blog link take a little time out of their day to pause and read about what's going on down here in my part of the South.

Even when my posts have been few and far between as they have been lately.

Thank you Brenda!

And now,,,,Here are the rules:

1. When you receive this award you must thank the person that awarded you in a new post.

2. Name 10 things that make you happy.

3. Pass this award to other bloggers who make you happy.

1. Speckled Malted Milk Eggs

2. A hot bath on a cold day

3. A cool bath on a hot day

4. The sweet scent of a new baby

5. The smell of the first Spring rain on a fresh plowed field.

6. My kids,,,,some days

7. Our grandbabies

8. A good book

9. strong, black, hot coffee

10. Diet Dr. Pepper

I'm passing this on to all of the bloggers who reside on my blog list over there to the right cause they all make me happy every time I click over to see what they've been up to.

2010-03-20T01:45:00.006-05:00

James's mother made pear preserves and peach marmalade last summer. I thought they made a pretty picture sitting there side by side.

Apples and tangerines

Orange close-up. You can almost smell the citrus aroma.

A big ol red apple.

It's time again for our photo challenge! The prompt this go round is Fruit/Macro so I hope everyone has been seeking out the fruits! Don't forget to go to our Challenge Blog to click the links to view all the great shooters who've joined us this time.

I had planned on taking a picture of my bowl of peaches and berries that I've been having for breakfast every morning but by the time I thawed the fruit just right, and sprinkled the equal on it just so,,,I couldn't wait to take the time to get the camera to shoot it before eating it. Sorry about that.

Ok, I"m gonna get busy here,,,,

2010-03-19T12:09:00.003-05:00

In a minute. But first I wanted to post a couple of Springy pictures that I snapped yesterday.

Here's Mr. Robin looking all important as he struts his stuff. There must have been a Robin bachelor party going on over at the Helena River Park yesterday cause there were about 6 or 7 of these fellas wandering around.

This is worth clicking to see it bigger

I stuck the camera out of the truck window on the way home last evening to take this one. A car/truck/something with a motor had preceded us down the first gravel road leading home and the setting sun put such a pleasing glow over everything that even the dust clouds were beautiful. Dust is for sure a sign of Spring where I live. It means the tractors can get in the fields and get busy.

I'm taking a laptop with us on the trip so I'll be checking some time tomorrow to see all of the pictures for the new challenge.

Later gaters!

Some Things Just Ain't Right

2010-03-14T18:16:00.002-05:00

The other day,,,I'm not sure if it was one day last week or the week before,,, but I happened to flip the TV over to channel 5 and caught some of Rachel Ray's talk show. Rachel was having a discussion with the legal minded Lisa Bloom and something she said just about made me jump up and down with righteous indignation cause it was just so wrong!

This woman, this TV lawyer, sat right there and in a gossipy voice, with Rachel hanging onto every word, had the nerve to say that while Tiger Woods came clean at a live press conference,,,apologized to his family, apologized to his friends, apologized to the wholedamnedworld (I repeat, this was on live TV), he did not, and should have, apologized to the women with whom he had the affairs.

WHAT???

I gotta tell you, I don't think Tiger Woods should have apologized to the world live on TV cause I don't think what he did, or didn't do, or does, concerning his marriage vows, is any of our business. I can see that he may have needed to apologize to some of his endorses, but only if there was some sort of morals clause in the contracts.

Those women? Why they're just what we in the south discretely call "old road whore groupies". This wasn't some Joe Blow from Kocomo they were messin' with, they knew he was married and they didn't care one iota. They were hoping some of his money would dribble on down to them or at least the recognition that went along with his celebrity status. For sure, if I were married to a dude with a ton of money and he did me wrong with some ol trash like that, I'd be suing their asses off, right along with his.

I've watched Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals for years but I'm not sure if I want to watch her talk show again if she's going to have that trash talkin' lawyer on there again.

Some things just ain't right, ya know?

It's Wednesday Already!

2010-03-03T22:30:00.002-06:00

When WalMart starts putting this stuff out it means Spring might be just around the corner.....or it could mean a foot of snow next week,,,,

Where did the day go? What did I accomplish?

Nowhere and nothing.

Photo Challenge - Wood

2010-02-27T01:17:00.000-06:00

The wooden river walk board walk at the River Park in Helena, AR.

James pruned the oak tree a couple years ago. This scar reminds me of an eye.

And here's the male of the woodpecker pair that's been hanging around my yard for the past couple of years. Do you see the pecan in his beak?

It's that time again and I'm afraid I let it slip up on me again. I've gone into old photo files to hunt for the above Wood shots for the new Photo Challenge. I hope to be in here early tomorrow to view all of the other challengers over at the Photo Challenge Blog.

I've been missing my blog and I'm trying my best to get my mind situated so that I can get back on the blog track. I miss my blog buds most of all.

Photo Challenge - Red

2010-02-13T01:37:00.000-06:00

I bought PopPop a box of chocolates for VDay so I was sneaking and got a shot of the box before I hid it.

I love the taste of a deep red pickled beet.

His and Hers preserves. I don't care for anything that's too sweet so I love the sugar free Red Raspberry preserves cause Splenda just doesn't seem to be as sweet as sugar. Pop and Zach want theirs loaded with sweet.

To view some very talented shooters, please visit the Photo Challenge Blog and click on the entrants there.

MORAL FOR TODAY

2010-02-07T13:29:00.000-06:00

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and
help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he
quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

NOW .......
Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and
the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover
your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

It Was Close!

2010-01-31T15:21:00.006-06:00

The ice made the snow geese visit the harvested fields again in a feeding frenzy.

The ice make everything look magical but two more hours of freezing rain would have probably put out the electricity and a degree or two colder might have made our roads as big a mess as they were along I40 to the north of us. My willow tree did a lot of creaking and moaning but she held on to her limbs.

James was nice enough to take me for a drive to the horse pasture down the road a bit where I took this picture and the one below.

Only my HughesNet satellite was out for a couple of days; not pleasant but not a disaster. Click on the photos to see the bigger picture.

Photo Challenge - The Best of 2009

2010-01-30T01:34:00.000-06:00

I found it so difficult to choose favorites/bests for 2009 but I decided that these would do. Dirty little hands and a resigned little "hoppy", what wonderful memories!

A splashy pink bloom opening up as a sign of Spring.

A once familiar summer sight. Krysten, MeriKate, and Abby cooling off in the neighbor's pool.

I've had to go round the back way to post for this challenge because we're in the midst of an ice storm; we have electricity but the HughesNet satellite is down which is par for their course. Odd how it hasn't affected our Direct TV satellite, hmmmm?

Anyway, got this trusty dial-up going here so I'm going to try to post my BEST of 2009 for the Photo Challenge. Don't forget to go over to the Photo Challenge Blog created by Miz Donna down there in the great state of Texas and click on the other participants in the comments to see all their great photos.

What I Want In A Man

2010-01-18T22:16:00.003-06:00

What I Want In A Man!
Original List:

1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32)

1. Nice looking
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42)

1. Not too ugly
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52)

1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting
5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off the couch on weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62)

1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72)

1. Breathing.
2. Doesn't miss the toilet.

Thanks Miz Donna!

A new Teenager in the House!

2010-01-18T22:07:00.004-06:00

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate covered cherries on top.

Jessie came by, Zach's oldest friend.

2010-01-09T19:26:00.004-06:00

For a few days now we've had a bunch of snow geese settling in at the corn field across and down the road from our house. You can see our house across the field here (it's the one on the right).

This is all the snow we've had. The temperatures have been gruesome; colder than an Alaskan well diggers arse for sure. I think it's supposed to climb up to 30 degrees tomorrow so that might feel like a heat wave! Tuesday it's supposed to be up to 55, almost warm enough for swimming. :-)

I'm keeping up with the 365 project, barely.