Tuesday, October 27, 2009

WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING?

10-27-09...WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING?

I've been looking for Thanksgiving this morning and all I can find is Halloween. Since I don't do Halloween I am ready for Thanksgiving to be seen. I was trying to find pictures and graphics and there are very few to be found. The ones I did find presisted in putting that blasted turkey on them. Don't want them. Nope!
When in the world did Thanksgiving become turkey day? Good grief turkey does not stand for Thanksgiving. Who started that? I'd like to give them a piece of my mind.
Stores are all decorated and pushing halloween. Halloween is definitely not a holiday for me. They go right from halloween to Christmas and they are even trying to do away with the meaning of Christmas by saying Happy Holiday. I don't answer to that, Its Merry Christmas or I don't answer.
When I was growing up Thanksgiving was as special a day as Christmas. Now it is just passed by by most. What a shame! I'm going to make it my business to bring back Thanksgiving!!!!


Saturday, October 24, 2009

NOSTALGIC TIMES

10-24-09...NOSTALGIC TIMES

I got a catalogue in the mail today and set down to look through it. Just a wish book because I wasn't going to buy anything. It is a Christmas book and boy did I ever wish! I got to noticing how they are reviving things from the past. Simple things then but with a huge price attached now.
Remember Chenille robes that ladies all ued to wear? And Chenielle bedspreads? That was the only kind of bed spread or robes I ever remember having then... Well here they were in this catalogue. Just brought back so many memories. I thought Boy I'd love to have one of those now. I almost fell off my chair when I saw the prices. Good Grief, they were much higher than any other bedspread or robe in the book. Mamma had a blue chenielle robe and I can still feel it next to me as I snuggled in her lap. Is that another way of ripping us oldies off? Could be.
Next thing I saw was as set of those bubble lights that were on the Christmas trees then. We never had any but my Aunt Georgia had a set of them and I was just facinated with them. Different colors all bubbly. I'd love to have a set of those. But again they are called nostalgic pieces. ( Whatever to heck that means) $35.00 for a string of those things. No Thank you. I can't afford them but just looking at them gave me a warm fuzzy feeling as I remembered sitting by Aunt Georgia's tree and watching those bubbling lights for hours it seemed.
Things are just not as simple or joyous anymore for me and I sure miss those nostalgic times. Don't you?

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

MY WONDERFUL MAMMA



10-21-09...MY WONDERFUL MAMMA

My Mamma was fisty just like me. But different from me because she hardly ever showed a temper. She would not argue with anyone and never gossiped. She told me that if someone was talking about someone else for me to always say something nice like, "Well look what a pretty sweater or dress they have on". I was not as good at that as Mamma is my Brother Norman is more like Mamma in that way.
We never had much but Mamma could make a good meal for us out of the least thing she had.
Mamma had to work hard. Daddy had to work away from home in another state so that left Mamma to take care of us and everything around the home.
I can remember Mamma taking care of Norman and me when we had the mumphs. Thing was Mamma had the mumps right along with us and still took care of us, milked the cow, sloped the hogs, fed the chickens, and cooked.
I was almost five when my Brother was born. I remember Mamma having to also do all these chores when she was pregnant and big with Norman. I never heard her complain. Daddy had to go and work she said, and that was all the work he could get.
Mamma had a rough childhood during the depression. They never had enough to eat. Their house leaked and had big cracks in the walls. If it rained they all had to find a dry spot to sleep and put pans under the leaks. Mamma said Grandma could also make something good out of nothing.
Kids picked on Mamma and Her Sister in School and made fun of them because they only had one dress and brought beans for their lunch.
Mamma would give away anything she had if she thought you wanted it. My Brother said one day a few years ago that he fully expected to go to her apartment someday and find Mamma setting in the floor because she had given everything she had away. That was my Mamma. She has been gone six years now. On her headstone we put, SHE LEFT THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE FROM BEING HERE.... YEP that's the truth.














Mamma on the right...Mamma with Me and Norman

MY SON RICHARD


10-21-09...GROWING UP WITH RICHARD


I had such a good time growing with my Son Richard. I had lost hope of ever having my own little baby when he was finally born. Oh what joy. A feeling down inside me I had never known and will never know again.
I just stopped everything else and devoted my time to enjoying and protecting Richard. We spent so much quality time together. Going fishing, on picnics, walks, or just sitting on a chair together while I read him a book.
Today I am thinking of all the sweet and funny things Richard said in early childhood.
Richard's Dad loved him but he was a mean alcoholic and his language was awful so of course Richard listened and repeated. He didn't really know what he was saying but I spent a lot of time trying to teach him the difference between bad words and good words. I want to list a few of the times when his sweet little voice came out with an undesirable word and I smiled in spite of myself.
Richard and I were outside one day and encountered a snake in my flower bed. It was hissing at us and coiling up like it was going to strike. I grabbed Richard and took off around the house meaning to get a hoe to kill it. As we ran Richard yelled, "Mamma get the GD shotgun and kill that SOB" Oh my goodness , I wanted to laugh, I wanted to correct, and I wanted to get rid of the snake. What I did was get in a giggle fit. Later that night I told him those words were bad even if Daddy did say them.
Another time My Daddy gave Richard a silver dollar. Richard said, "That's a GD silver hundred dollars". Now when my Daddy got tickled of course I did too.
I spent a lot of nights explaining to Richard that all these words were bad and we couldn't say them. He didn't understand then but he did later. God Bless His Sweet Heart. I'll see him again some day and we will once again giggle.






Tuesday, October 20, 2009

MY DADDY THE GIANT

10-20-09...MY DADDY

My Daddy was a small statured man. 5/7, size 7 shoe, 160 lbs. Small to some but a giant to me. I thought he was 10 ft. tall and could do anything in the world. Daddy was quiet and gentle most of the time. Slow to anger but scrappy when provoked. Daddy had a hard life. Had to quit school in the 2nd grade and work on Papa's farm. Papa seemed to think that girls needed to be in school but as he put it, Boys needed to work not push a pencil.
Daddy's Mamma died when Daddy was still a baby and Papa remarried. The step mother was not good to Daddy. Even would pray for Daddy to die. I was told that Papa didn't know about this and I choose to believe that because I loved my Papa.
Daddy left home when he was 15 to escape his hard life. He lived with his Sister and her family and joined the CCC camp since he couldn't get in the regular army with only one eye. Later he went down in the dark coal mines the only work he could get with his education. He worked in the mines for 27 yrs. I had a great life growing up in a house full of love and laughter. We never had much but our lives were full and I never suspected we were poor.



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Monday, October 19, 2009

MY GRANDMA

10-19-09...My Grandma

My grandma was only 5-2 and she weighed 250 lbs when she was young. She was quiet a sight. The first time I saw her I was two and while I have vague memories of the time I can't remember much. We traveled from Ar. to corcoran california on thr train to visit. I don't remember how long we stayed but that was the first and only time I ever saw my grandpa.
Grandma came to Ar. to live with us when grandpa died. I was 8.
Grandma and I got very close after a while but at first I resented having to sleep with her. I got used to it when on cold winter nights she kept me warm and on hot nights she laid and fanned me with a paper.
My mom and dad worked outside the home later on and grandma did the cooking and cleaning. She taught me a lot. I love buttermilk and I remember her making it with powdered milk. I wish I knew how she did it but can't remember.
She made jams without the sure gel we use now and it was scrumptious. She pressed the fruit through a cheese cloth and then cooked it to jel consistency on the stove. I was usually there watching her.
Sometimes when we got home from school there would be a cake for us. I loved her sorghum cakes. Another thing I wish I could make now. Grandma couldn't pass on recipes because she just dumped things together, no recipe. her measurements were, a pinch, a dollop, a handful, and it was hard to duplicate.Grandmas aren't like that anymore. Now they look as young as their daughters.

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Saturday, October 17, 2009

THE MONSTER ATTACK

10-16-09...THE MONSTER ATTACK

I was in the kitchen trying to get my dishes loaded in the dishwasher after dinner today. My dog Moses always comes in there and rattles his food dish everytime he finds me busy. Rattle, Rattle, Thump, Thump. Wait a minute Moses can't you see I'm busy. Oh yes I talk to my dog. He understands me perfectly too, just don't listen very well.
I got agravated at him. I slamed a spoon down on the counter, dried my hands, and said Darn you Moses I'm gonna' get your food so you'll get out of here and leave me alone.
The dog food sack in in the bottom of the cabinet. I cut the top out and just set it in there for easy access because he always does that.
Well I shoved my hand down in the sack and got hold of something besides dog food. That something else was warm and fuzzy and alive! I shrieked to the top of my lungs and did the watusi the best I could across the kitchen. Thing was I hadn't let go of the warm, fuzzy, live thing in my hand and so far had not even looked at it.
It started to squirm and reminded me it was there. That's when I looked at what I was clutching. I looked in to the little beety eyes of a dang mouse. I shreiked again. Moses started barking furiously and I heard Don gettin' up out of his recliner where he had dozed off. Shreik, watusi, shreik, watusi.
Just as Don came in to the kitchen as fast as his little short legs would carry him, I realized I still had that gag blamed mouse in my hand and I threw it with all my might still shreiking and watusi-ing. Guess where I threw the mouse? You guessed it, Right smack dab in Don's face! YEP! Sure nuff did!!
When I saw what I had done I got a giggle fit. I mean to tell you a rip-roarin' full blown giggle fit! The look on his face just tore me up and I was un-glued.
Don didn't think it was one little bit funny and he told me so. Moses was dancing round' us barking and I couldn't quit giggling.
After it all settled down a bit the mouse was long gone. I got me a piece of nylon string and secured the top of the bag. No more mice are gettin' in there I'll tell you for sure. When I get to town I'll buy a can with a lid to keep the food in.

MY HELICOPTER RIDE

10-15-09...MY HELICOPTER RIDE

I guess I'll tell my experience with a helicopter ride. My first and last ride might I add.
I was working in a buffet in Laughlin Nevada. People came in there to gamble at the casino. I didn't approve of the place or what it did but I sure approved of the money I got in tips. I worked there for about nine months through one summer and winter. I hated it there. So hot. On Christmas day that year it was 75* and I cried like a big baby to go home to Missouri where there was snow.
Anyway back to the helicopter ride. The casino was called Riverside because it sat on the Co. river or some river I'm not sure which. The man who owned the casino lived up on the very top in the executive suite with his young wife. They had a helicopter that was kept up there so they could just walk out their door and get on. Kind of like we have our cars. They took the helicopter across the river to whereever they were going.
That Christmas he decided to take all his employees on a moonlight ride down the river for Christmas. I said NO WAY NO HOW am I getting on that thing anytime and for sure I aint getting on it at night. Nope.
As the time grew closer for our "GIFT", I kept saying no. My co workers kept on at me to go. after all they said, this might be your last chance to do this. Well like a goony bird I finally agreed to go.
I can't remember exactly but I think 3 went up at one time. I made my partners let me sit in the middle. I didn't want to see anything. By Golly I was planning to keep my eyes closed.
When we lifted off that big tall building I left my stomach behind and never could find it. But I sure nuff found my supper. I'll try to make this as delicate as I can. My supper spewed out like a volcano. Everywhere there was a surface my supper made it's self known and stunk to high heaven. I mean rotten stink. Oh My God, Just when I thought I was through the Banana Flambe came in all its glory. My partners were spewed, the glass was spewed, everything was spewed. I was never so embarraced in my life!
The pilot turned around as soon as he could and took us back to the launch pad. I had to go down the elevator with my friends. I apologised all the way. One of them said, "Just shut your mouth and don't do it in here."
So guys that is my great helicopter ride. I had forgotten all about it till Barb and Audrey told their stories. Now I think I'll do my best to forget it again. YEP!!

Friday, October 16, 2009

GROCERY SHOPPING

10-14-09...GROCERY SHOPPING

I don't like going to the grocery store anymore. So when yesterday I decided I had to go I reluncantly got myself ready. Might as well get it over with I thought. When my husband saw me getting ready he decided he wanted to go with me. Oh Lord Goodness, That was bad enough but when he decides he is going to drive I wilted. Lord give me patience I thought.
Now Don drives about 40 MPH even on the highway. Cars pile up behind him and take chances trying to get around him. I'm thinking, Heck fire he's gonna' get us in a wreck sure as shootin'. Why can't those people just slow down. But 40 MPH on a fast highway. No that aint' gonna' happen. I try just closing my eyes and being quiet but Don is talking a blue streak and looking over at me to see why I'm not answering him. The car is swerving and when Don hits the brakes, Don hits the breaks. UMPH! Good thing my seat belt is on or my head would have hit the windshield. Well heck I better open my eyes so I can be ready for Whatever! Umph, Umph, Umph!! He asks what is wrong with me and I say nothing is wrong with me, you just tend to your driving. That makes him mad so he tells me that he is 65 years old and knows how to drive. Oh My gosh. Will we ever get there?
Well we finally did get there. I didn't know he was going in the store with me but, Yep he did. Good Grief.
Inside the store he wants to push the cart. I start out with my list ahead of him. When I get ready to put the first item in the cart I turn around and he aint' there. I locate him and say what are you doing to which he replies, Waiting on you. Well for heavens sake!!!
I finally got him to stay with me but he does stop now and then till I take hold of the cart and drag him along. He's taking the whole time. He can't hear worth a squat so everyone in the store hears him cause he talks so loud.
We finally get out in the car and home we go. 40 MPH and several Umps and by golly we pull in to our carport. I carry in 5 bags and he carries in two bags. Then I get it all put away and I've had it! Good Grief, The next time I have to go to the grocery store I'm going to slip off while he ain't lookin' YEP!!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

SLOP JAR

10-13-09...SLOP JAR!!!

Do all of you know what a slop jar is? No it is not a jar that you keep slop in. It is really a tin bucket with a lid on it. I have no idea why they were called slop jars. Every one had at least 1. We had three in our house. They were white granite with red rings around the rims. In case you are still wondering ____________ Well I'm a gonna tell you! They were in our bed rooms at night. We could pee in them but the number two job we were not allowed to do. That way we didn't have to make a trip to the john (toilet) out back just to pee. It was my job to take the slop jars out every morning and dump them and rinse them out to use the next night. Not a pleasant job. Sometimes I tried to get by with out cleaning them out which consisted of using the water in the wash pan, where we had washed our hands, and using an old broom to scrub them out. Once a week they were scrubbed good with purex water by Mama.
Now I guess I thought the slop jars just magically appeared in our house or maybe they were just somehow there. Not the case as I found out. One day an older cousin and I were with Daddy when he went to The Oklahoma Tire and Supply store in Ozark. We had no interest in going in that store we were waiting to get out at the grocery store.
We didn't know what Daddy was going in there for so we watched for him to come back. We were in the back seat. Well when Daddy came out of the store guess what he had in his hand. You guessed it, A Slop Jar!! Now Daddy didn't have the thing put in a big sack like most people. Heck Fire No! My Daddy carried that sucker right out of that store for everybody to see. OH MY GOSH!! There he came down the sidewalk swinging that darn thing by the bail as he walked. Every time he took a step the bail squeaked. Sounded just like a screech owl. We were both trying to hide in the back seat. My cousin was long legged and took up a big part of the seat. When we started ducking down to hide we bumped heads the first thing. I shrieked cause it hurt. He put his hand over my mouth but I bit him and he let go and shrieked. We got in a wrestling match trying to get down in the seat enough not to be seen by all the people on the street who were pointing and laughing. ( By the way, It was us they were laughing at not my Daddy. I guess they had figured out what was wrong with us but Daddy hadn't yet. My Cousin pushed me down in the floor and tried to lay on the seat but his big ol' feet were hanging over in my face. He was barefoot so Guess what I did. Yep! I got one of those big ol' dirty toes in my mouth and bit the blood outta that sucker. Yep, sure did. His whole body jumped and he hit the top of the car with a thud. Now guys the cars then had no plush upholstery. Nope, It was hard.! He started bellering and hollering and I started giggling. In the midst of this Daddy heard us and he threw that durn slop jar as he came a runnin'. That thing skidded up that sidewalk sounding like screeching owls in a herd. YEP! It came to rest at someones feet Daddy said later. Me I didn't see a thing cause I was still in the floor of the car with my cousin sitting on me. YEP! When I could see Daddy was opening the door and peering in. ( No back doors so he was hanging over the seat) Daddy thought for sure we were hurt and with my cousin bleeding from the toe and hand plus a scratch on his hard head it didn't help. I was pushing trying to get him off me and giggling at the same time. My cousin got out because he had to so I could get up. Daddy said, “Go get that slop jar and I'll help Clydene up”. He sure nuff didn't want to go get it but Daddy said so. I said, “daddy I don't want to get out, Lets Go”.
Later I asked Daddy why he didn't have them put that thing in a sack so this wouldn't have happened. “Heck Why” my Daddy said. It was a lot easier carried that way”. Oh My Goodness!
Now I don't see why we were so embarrassed by it. Who knows? Silly to say the least. HUH? YEP!!

MAKING TAFFY

10-12-09...MAKING TAFFY

My cousin Brenda and I were always "DOING SOMETHING". Maybe we had too much time on our hands, especially in the summer when school was out. Brenda's Mama worked out of the home but my Mama was a housewife and took care of us. There were four of us, me, my Brother, Brenda and her Brother. The boys stayed inside with Mama but Brenda and I were back and forth between the houses. We lived only across the barbed wire fence and up the lane a short way. Mama could see in their kitchen window. We decided to help my Auntie out and wash her dishes which we started but that was too hard. We left some pans full of water on the wash board to "SOAK". Well "We'VE DONE OUR GOOD THING FOR TODAY" We said to each other, now lets cook something. Of course we wanted something sweet. We got out my Auntie's recipes (no book just a pile of recipes that she never used. She cooked out of her head she said. I didn't understand back then what she meant. I kept watchin' her head when she was cookin' but nothing ever came out) But I am ramblin' so back to our cookin'. We decided on making taffy because we had seen that done and the pullin' was fun. Since I've never wanted taffy since that day (YUKKY) I can't tell you what went in it but we cooked it up. What now I said. Well it has to cool before we pull it and the recipe says pour it out on a flat surface. There was a bunch of that stuff and the only flat surface we could see was the kitchen table. Sooooo! Guess What? Yep! That's just what we did and that stuff was still hot. There were cracks in that old wooden table but we couldn't help that, NOW COULD WE? OH MY GOODNESS WE SAID. We've gotta' clean this up before Auntie gets home or My Mama shows up checking on us. OH MY! OH MY! OH MY GOODNESS!!! Well DO you remember those pans sitting on the wash board soakin'? We'll just use that to clean up the floor, the chairs, and whatever else needed cleanin'. Auntie will be so happy and prowd of us when she sees how we have cleaned her kitchen , Don't you think she will, Brenda? Oh yeaw she will be so glad that she don't have to wash them dishes and mop them floors. Why no tellin what she may give us. Ok so we got all the pans down and set them on the floor under the table, got some towels and set to work!! Of course we weren't very strong so we spilled some of the pans before we got them there. Then we slipped in that soapy water(we used Oxydol detergent and boy was it slick) We wallered around down there and just cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. We thought the floor looked good when My Mama walked in with our Brothers, one on each hip, but she didn't agree with us, and there was taffy hardening on the table. OH MY OH MY OH MY!!!! You've got to understand that we were seven and eight at the time and knew better. You also need to understand that things were different back then. We were the only ones who lived down there. No one to hurt us and no one who would hurt us. Our doors were NEVER locked at our houses. NO NEED TO. Anyway back to the rest of the story. My Auntie came home about two hours later to find a spotless kitchen. Brenda and I cleaned that kitchen while My Mama watched. YES SIREE WE DID! We thought we were out of the woods now. We had baths and Mama sat us down to wait. We even saw her trying not to smile a couple of times so we just really felt good about it. "THEN MY AUNTIE GOT HOME" Mama told us to just sit right there and "DON'T YOU MOVE TILL I TELL YOU TO" We kinda thought she was gonna' brag on us to Auntie about what a good job we had done. Well we had cleaned that kitchen up real good all by ourselves, "HADN'T WE" I guess you know the rest of the story and I guess you know we didn't ever do that again. Auntie spanked us both, Then Mama spanked us both while our little snooty nosed Smart elec Brother's has cookies and milk. That is how we learned our lessons in life back then. We experienced things and we took the consquences. NO MORE NEXT TIMES. WE LEARNED GOOD. We had wonderful parents. We were spanked when we needed it and we were loved unconditionally all the time. Oh those were the best memories! THE VERY BEST THERE IS!! Kids now just have no idea what they are missing. DON'T YOU THINK?

LATE NIGHT IN THE BATHROOM

10-12-09...LATE NIGHT IN THE BATHROOM

I'm going to tell you a tale on my Husband Don. I swear if you ever tell him I told you this I'll say you lied like a big fat dog. Don goes to the bathroom a lot during the night. And I swear I think he is asleep while he goes. He doesn't wake up easy. He has gone to sleep and fell off the pot, went in the closet instead of the bathroom, (and if he ever does that again he is a goner) gone out the door and fell off the steps, I could go on and on. But right now I've got this to tell. One night last week he was up and down as usual. Well he had been having trouble with those thingies that you use Preparation H for.(GOT IT) OK. Here is the rest of the story. I have some of that strong pain rub in my drawer just below his drawer and he is not supposed to rummage around my drawer. Well as I said before I think he is asleep when he goes to the bathroom. SOOOOO! I was lying there sleeping peacefully when I was blasted out of my sleep with the loudest scream I believe I've ever heard. Then there was a slammed door and lots of foot stomping coming from the vicinity of the bathroom. Am I gettin' ahead of you? No? I didn't think so. I didn't know what was going on so I jumped (or maybe I fell) out of bed, stumped my toe on the bed rail, or something or other down there. Anyway I took off running. I was planning on running in the opposite direction of the noise. Hey I didn't know what it was. Coulda' been someone comin' to cut my throat. Right? I met Don in the hallway and he was dancing and hoping, and yelping like a hyenna. I said for goodness sake you woke me out of a sound sleep what's wrong with you ( I was saying all this through giggles because you aint seen nothing till you see Don moving fast, just don't happen!!!) IT WAS FUUUNNNYYY! Well he finally told me what happened (as soon as he could get his breath) and I was supposed to stop the giggling and get serious, RIGHT! WRONG. It's just not in me to stop giggling once I get started. NO WAY!! NO HOW!! He would dance a little and I would giggle a lot and that went on even after he got mad as an old wet hen and told me to shut up and do something. I wasn't shuttin' up and I certainly wasn't doin' nothin'. He got himself there He could sure get himself out. He wasn't supposed to be rummagin' around in my drawer anyway. SO THERE!!! I still can't keep a straight face when I think about it and Don still don't think it is one bit funny. It took a long soak in the tub before his face turned back to the normal color. His face was a rainbow of colors before that happened. I had to almost sign my name with my own blood to a contract before he would believe I wouldn't tell it to everyone I see. Well I've only told it to a few dozen people. Not bad HUH? MORAL (IF THERE IS ONE) MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWAKE BEFORE YOU USE PREPARATION H!!! MAYBE I'LL TELL YOU SOME MORE OF THOSE LATE NIGHT BATHROOM ESCAPADES LATER. YEP I WILL!!!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

SITTING ON MY BUTT

10-12-09...SITTING ON MY BUTT

Falling happens fast and all you can do is look around to make sure no one is watching and get up. That applies to everyday life as well as actually falling.
One morning last week I went into the bathroom to get dressed. My Goodness, I've never had such a production of the simple task of getting dressed.
The first thing I did was to get my jammie top hung in my glasses as I took it over my head. Couldn't see a dad burned thing as I did my acrobatic act of getting loose and not breaking my glasses. My hair then got hung up in a button on the jammie top and I got claustrophobia real fast. I kept quiet because I didn't want anyone to see the predicament I was in. I finally tore the hair out by the roots and I was free.
I sat down on the closed commode to gather my wits. My goodness by now I was shaking like a leaf in a tornado. Ok Now I know I have to get the rest of my clothes on. I sat right where I was and proceeded to put my support hose on. Now anyone who has ever worn them dang things know what a struggle that is. Tug, wiggle, tug, pull, wiggle, and squirm and be sure you pee first. YEP!
By the time I got them things up I'm worn out again so I set back on the pot lid for a spell. My Gosh! Maybe I'll just go out like this I'm thinkin'. But No, All that's left is my jeans and my shoes so I proceed.
I get one leg in the jeans and it's the wrong leg so off they come and I put it in the leg it belongs in. So far So good! One more leg to go. Now you aint'a'gonna believe this. I lifted my other leg and aimed at the leg of the jeans. I got it part way in the leg. Good, Right? Wrong!! Heck fire I'm trying to put both legs in the same hole. Dad burn it anyway!
Now here is where it gets interesting. I can't see spit because I took my glasses off and put them in a safe place. Don't wanna' break them things now do I? Nope! All at once I've danced my last dance and I sit right down on that cold hard floor. YEP! Smack dab on the floor with my legs all tangled up till I don't think I can move an inch. Now would be a good time to holler for help wouldn't it? Heck fire no, I aint gonna let nobody see me in this position. I rolled around like a sack full of balloons for I don't know how long but I finally got on my feet. Me Myself and I got on my feet. Yep! That is when the pain showed up big time. I got myself in my recliner and used my heat pad and my ice pack at the same time. Was not about to tell anybody I fell. Heck fire no way will I tell certain people that I fell. I aint telling anybody. So you just dreamed you read this. OK? YEP!

INNER THOUGHTS

10-12-09...INNER THOUGHTS

I had the best of my life when I was growing up in my Parents house and when My son Richard was growing up in my house. Anything before or after has been window dressing. I have gone on but I've never been the same person.
I've had to strive daily since Richards death. It has not been easy. No one then or now wants to talk about or listen to me talk about my son. I don't really understand that but I do accept it finally. I have pen and paper and I can talk about and to Richard. I do that every day. I can keep him alive in my heart in the same way I keep my childhood alive. Sweet good memories that are all I can have of happier times.
Richard was a beautiful sweet child until life situations colored his inner self just the way they did mine. The only thing I could provide for Richard for many years was my Great unconditional love. I did that and I still do that. He was and he will forever be my main source of life. I will see him again someday when The Lord calls me home. I am ready to go but I am also ready to stay if that is The Lords Will. When I finally do walk through the Gates of Heaven I know Richard will meet me and then I will be with him forever. I look to that day, but for now I am striving to do as My Lord expects of me here on this earth.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

TO TOLERATE

10-9-09...TOLERATION IS NOT A MYTH

tol·er·ate

1. To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit.
2. To recognize and respect (the rights, beliefs, or practices of others).
3. To put up with; endure
4. Medicine To have tolerance for (a substance or pathogen).
This is the definition of tolerate.


I've tried to learn tolerance and in my life I've had to use tolerance a lot.
No matter what happens today my life will go on unscathed. If I wake in the morning things of today are just water under the bridge never to return. I'll forget what people have said to hurt me and I'll hope that I have said things to make someone feel loved.
You can learn a lot about a person by what and how much they can tolerate, and that no matter how much I am irritated by them I'd probably miss them if they didn't exist.
Daddy said don't always stand outside with your face lifted to the trees just waiting for a bird to come along and deposit right between your eyes. If you do this you are expecting and will get the worst.
I've learned that people who hurt others for no reason have very likely been hurt themselves. But just because I have pain and hurt doesn't give me a right to be a pain!!
I know that I need to look past what others are saying and doing but to look at my own shortcomings.
My Aunt once told someone who was making trouble to sweep off her own doorstep before she criticized others.
Tolerance is a big word. Hard to achieve sometimes but I strive for it daily. I know that I fail and I'm not perfect and I still have a whole bunch to learn.

TODAY IS ALL WE HAVE

10-9-09...TODAY IS ALL WE HAVE

My Parents taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do. They said try, reach for it. If you fall get up and try again. They said don't worry about the future or even tomorrow because Today is all we have. Do your best today and the future will take care of it's self.
The falling is what makes us strong, or does us in. We can lie there and wait for tomorrow or get up and finish out today. They taught me to get up. There is no future if you don't get up.
I have friends and family who are in such a hurry to get to tomorrow they forget about today and now. You can ask them to come for a visit but they don't have time because tomorrow they gotta have this or that done. How very foolish. Look what they are missing.
Now I'll admit I'll was one of those hurry up kind of people now and then but not as much as some I know. I had a dear friend who never could even be still long enough to have a phone chat with me. She had been that way all her life. She thought I was lazy I am sure because I took time to enjoy today. My house wasn't always spotless but you could eat off her floors if she would let you walk on them. I refused to have to take my shoes off every time I went in her house. Therefore we lost touch. She died a few years ago. Still in a hurry to get somewhere. If she had only slowed down and looked to today. She didn't seem to realize the future would take care of it's self.
I am slow now because I have to be. I neither know or care about the future. I live today to the best of my ability. That is what my Parents taught me and I'm still here. I'm still slow but I still enjoy the sunrise. When God calls me I'm ready to go but I sure aint gonna hurry the going none!!!! Nope!!!

RETIREMENT

10-9-09...RETIREMENT!!!!!

Planning my retirement was a big joke. When I got up early every morning and hit the road to work without my third cup of coffee. I thought, Boy one of these days I can sleep all day if I want to. I can sit in my robe and drink coffee as long as I want to every morning.
What A joke. I'm up at least four time nightly cause my bladder has to be emptied. Then in the mornings three sips of coffee and off I go again. Sit All Morning? HA!
I remember my Daddy saying many times. “I've worked all my life so that I could retire and do anything I want to do. Now that I have I aint' able to do a dad burned thing. Boy Howdy am I understanding that right now.
I wanted to concrete my alarm clock in. The durn thing had been thrown across the room enough times it was shot any ways. I threw it in the trash and got me one of them new fangled clocks with a whole bunch of settings. It talked to me, played music to me, and even sounded like rain, or waterfalls, or a bunch of other things. The blamed thing did have an alarm on it but I wasn't planning on using it. WRONG!!! Now days I have to set that durn thing anyway cause Drs seem to think all us oldies need early morning appointments. First time I heard a space machine coming in my bedroom at 4:00 Am I threw that durned new fangled clock farther that I ever did the old wind up.
In retirement there is never any sleeping in. Nope! Your body is used to being up early and teaching an old dog new tricks never happens. Ya Know, You can lead a horse to water but ya can't make him drink', that kind of thing.
Driving at night is a hazard to everyone on the road so those peaceful moonlight rides in the country are out of the question. Now that I have time I can't see to drive and I can't get away from my pot very long or I'll have to change my clothes. Oh Well why the heck I thought I wanted to do that is now a mystery to me anyway.
Week-ends are just regular days now. No rushing to do laundry, shopping, etc. Now it's trying to figure out what day of the month it is or even what month or year it is. GOOD GRIEF
But Heck Fire, I'm retired and that's what I worked for all those years. Well By Golly I've reached my goal and reaching a goal aint nothing to look on lightly. NOPE!!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

MY CHOICE

10-7-09...MY CHOICE

I love sunrise. It is the start to a brand new day. Everything including me is fresh and new. Ready to face what the day will bring with a new perspective on what lies ahead. I can use the new day any way I wish. Mistakes of yesterday are no more. They all flew away in my dreams if I am lucky. I don't have to bring all the stupidity of yesterday in to my new day unless I choose to. The fact that sometimes I choose to is my fault. Even if the sun is hidden behind the clouds and the dark sky is red , I can choose to see the beauty in that too. MY CHOISE.
The sunrise brings all things new. It is a quiet time when it seems all the world has grown still and peaceful. I have all I need to make this day great or a disappointment. Again it is MY choice. I can choose to enjoy the Peace and beauty as the sun rises over the horizon or I can close my eyes and refuse to enjoy it. MY Choice.
I have lots of possibilities for today. I am the only one who can see these possibilities to fruition. My Choice
I can let irritations creep in, and sometimes I do, or I can rise above them. My Choice.
I love sunrise so why do I choose sometimes to snub my nose at it and think, “You can't make me like things the way they are. I want more”.
I have a choice to make for my day as that magnificent orb of golden light awakens the earth and gives light to my world fresh and new. My choices are not always right and good but I Choose to make my choices better every sunrise. THAT'S MY CHOICE!!!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

MELANCHOLY

10-6-09...MELANCHOLY

a feeling of thoughtful sadness

a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed

characterized by or causing or expressing sadness; "growing more melancholy every hour"; "her melancholic smile"; "we acquainted him with the ...

black bile: a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy

somber: grave or even gloomy in character; "solemn and mournful music"; "a suit of somber black"; "a somber mood

I didn't want to say any of the above so I'll just say I have been melancholy for several weeks now.
I'm getting tired of covering up my gray hair, wearing long baggy shirts to hide my corn pone hips, or to hide the age spots on my face. Heck fire that is too darn much trouble. Besides that it takes too much time from the things I still find enjoyable.
I like to remember my youth fondly but not try to achieve any of it again. I want to sit in my chair and rock as I watch the beauty of the changing seasons around me. I want to see what I can see while I can still see. I want to go as many places as I can while I can.
I don't want to remember any hard, sorrowful , or tragic events in my life. But I do want to remember every one of the sweet, magic, exciting, and wonderful memories of my life because I have had a bunch of them.
I don't want to regret anything I have ever done or said, (though I surely do sometimes). I've been told a bunch of times that I need to leave the past behind. Well I respectfully disagree with that. What I try to do is cry for happy and also laugh for happy. Remembering things makes me stronger and more determined to rise above the bad and be proud of the good.
It is kind of like a great painting, a masterpiece so to speak. Paint it all as you go and when the paint is dried and flaking you still see it just as it was when the paint was still dripping. Fresh and new and alive.
I want to keep the young girl in me alive and healthy. I want to look back on it all and smile. A old lady once told me, “Honey even the worst, most tragic and hurtful times in your life you can always find something good that happened then also”. I got to thinking about that and putting it in to practice. You know what? By golly it works!! We don't have to block anything from our lives, we just have to learn how to look on them and say, “JUST LOOK WHAT I LEARNED FROM THAT. LOOK WHAT I GOT OUT OF THAT”!
So now as I sit here with gray hair, wrinkles, sagging body, and forgetful mind, I will have no regrets, I will not worry about how others see me. I will be very content with what I am!!!! YEP!!!

STILL SMILING

10-5-09...Still Smiling

I'M STILL SMILING
There have been times in my life when I've missed someone so much that I just want to pick them from my dreams and hold them close and hug them. This will never happen but what would life be without that hope that I hold out for. Good Memories are alive in me and when I am so sad I feel like I can't go on I hug those people in my dreams and keep them close in my heart.
Doors of happiness will usually eventually close, but another door will open. I have at times focused all my attention on a closed door that I can't see the new door opening for me. I have most likely missed some of my open doors and they have closed softly behind me.
Looks are often deceiving and the door I am reaching for has no door knob and will not ever open again for me. I have looked for things to make me smile. Closed doors will not cure anything that my heart might feel but happy memories can soothe and add balm to the sting.
I dream what I want to dream for, and strive to be what I want to be and for all the things I want to do, but why do I still look back at the closed doors and wish for what is never to be.
I can still have happiness by making someone else smile and making the best of the things I have and things that are to come. A smile can make so much difference.
I know that a bright future is based on leaving the doors of hurt closed. By going forward in life while still keeping the good memories alive is the only way to be the only one smiling at the closing of my last door.

Monday, October 5, 2009

STUPID FOOLS

10-5-09...STUPID FOOLS!!!

I have been on line and on the phone all morning trying to get a new cell phone which I need desperately. Good Grief!!! These people can act sooo dumb! My Daddy used to call people like that educated fools! If he could only see how very stupid they are now. It is like they are missing all the points I am trying to make. Daddy would not mess with them at all when they started trying to look down on him and act like he was an imbecile, and by golly I aint going to either. That ol' bag told me that my account or myself don't even exist. HUH? What? I sure nuff' exist and I've had an account since 2001 you stupid woman. I told her to just forget the whole darn thing. Don't call or email me again, OK? Well again she didn't get the jist of my comments. Now how come I knew she wouldn't?
A man was the next one to call. I guess that old lady gave up on me. Well, I was sick of her too. He went through a rigamamore about me not wanting to understand what they were telling me. I hung up on him. Another lady emailed me, My name is Susan and I will be happy to assist you as soon as you set up an account. Now I'm getting' mad as an ol' wet hen.!! All in the heck I want is a new phone. What part of that can't you understand? Good Grief!!! I didn't answer that one for a while. Had to cool down my burning thoughts and not say something I shouldn't.
Ok Now I get another call which I very quickly hang up on. Then I write a message to Susan. Susan, Honey would you tell those stupid fools up there not to call me anymore. They are too ignorant to understand plain talk. All they know is what is in a book and they don't even know how to find it in that book. She answers, You are refusing to give us the info we need to help you. Oh My Gosh, Lord Have Mercy. Those idiots!!! I answer the email. You are the most stupid bunch of people I have ever come in contact with in my 64 years here on this earth and each contact is worse. You guys just forget it OK? I will be checking with other wireless companies. All in the heck I want is a new phone. If I can't get one from you idiots then I will go to a company where I can!!!!! Thank You For Your help and consideration.
An hour later I got another email. I'm quiet certain I will be getting a new phone very soon. Well, When I decided to answer the email. Done hung up on Larry by golly!!! To Be Continued!

AUTUM LEAVES

10-4-09...AUTUMN LEAVES

Lets rake the leaves together, Yellow, brown, and red
We'll make a big ol' bonfire, because the leaves are dead.
Maple leaves and beech leaves, birch leaves, and oak
fir cones and pine needles to kindle in to smoke.
These leaves that all summer, gave us all cool shade
nothing to be left of them when our bonfires made.
There's only left now ashes, but from the ashes dust
The sun will one day fashion, life anew, we trust...
And once again awaken when winter closes door
to complete natures cycle, when spring peeps in once more.
Clydene
(Thomas)
Overbey
2005

Saturday, October 3, 2009

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

10-3-09...THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

Have you ever just wanted to box someones jaws? I mean you'd just like to turn someone any which way but loose. Of course you can't and wouldn't do that.
A lady called here the other night and started a spiel about something she was selling. I think that what it was but now I'm not sure. In the first place I couldn't understand a thing she was saying so I did just what I usually do. I hung up on her. She called back, “Thes is veely m'portent Meem”. “Well MEEM! It aint portant to me because I don't know what you are talking about”. And I hung up again. Next it was a recorded message with that same irritating voice. I hung up again. Next a call came and my caller ID showed private message. I never answer them. KER PLUNK AGAIN!!. The next time it said pleeze dial 55. KER PLUNK AGAIN!! I was thinking I wish that ol' bag would call back and not hide behind a recording.
My phone is on the do not call list but as you probably know you get them anyway now and then. I was really getting flustrated. My red neck was on fire and my southern charm had dropped by the wayside when the phone rang again. GOOD GRIEF, Now I've Had it! I told her, I can't understand you so would you please stop calling me because I'm ready to call the police if you stop at once.” The nerve of that ol' bag, she said she couldn't understand me either and asked what kind of accent that was. WELL THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME!!! Now I'm hollering, or maybe you'd call it screeching. Till now I had called her honey a bunch of times which is just a part of my southern vocabulary. I had not wasted my sugah, or sweet pea on her. Here is what I said the next time the phone rang::---- “Lady I done tole you not to call hyer no more. You caint understand me and I sure caint understand you so what the hecks the point. If I could git my hands round your neck I'd squeeze yur goozle right out your butt, but first I'd cork yur butt with my foot.” My Pastors wife's sweet voice said “Clydene, what in the world is wrong with you”. Oh My Gosh it took some splainin to get outta that one. After I got my BP under control she started giggling, I started giggling and I felt better. I had a dream that night and let me tell you I beat the tar outta that blasted lady who had been pestering me. By golly I did just what I had told her I would do. Course it was my Pastors wife I told. Never pick up the phone and spout your mouth off without being sure who you are talking to. It could be your mother in law maybe.

Friday, October 2, 2009

YOU AINT SO GREAT!!!!!

10-2-09...YOU AINT SO GREAT!!!!!

I was told this fact in no uncertain terms once when I got too big for my britches and my Mamma had enough of me. HE HE
She didn't say it in exactly these words but I wanted it to rhyme.
Sometimes you feel so portant' and you think you're
natures only bloom.
You get to thinkin' my dear, that you're the best in the room.
You might think the earth without you would leave a big ol' hole'.
Honey just do what I tell you,
you'll see how it humbles your soul.
Draw up a bucket of water and stick your hand in
up to your wrist.
Take your hand out and look at the hole remaining,
and measure how much you'll be missed.
Just splash round all that you want to,
and stir up that water some more.
When you stop you'll find in a second,
the water is the same as before.
Now honey I just wanna tell you,
do the very best you can.
I'm proud of you, but remember,
There's no indispensable man!!! (OR GIRL)
NOPE!!!!!

CRAZY SHOPPING TRIP

10-2-09...CRAZY SHOPPING TRIP

I should not! I repeat, Should Not!! attempt to go shopping. Especially on Friday. The stores are always packed and people are getting more rude everyday. Good Grief! What has happened to people. Everyone is in such a hurry that they don't even see you as they speed by pushing those carts. They'll mow you down if you don't get out of their way.
I had ordered some shoes on line from WalMart so I could stay out of the store as much as possible. The shoes came yesterday. Three pairs of them. Heck Fire, They were too big. I had to take them to our local store to return or exchange them. Of course they didn't have the shoes in the store but they returned my money.
I lugged them in the store and to the service desk. OMG was that whole store packed and the lines at the service desk were long. I had to wait for almost 30 minutes for my turn. One couple ahead of me was told they couldn't return their stuff for some reason. They argued with the lady. She called the Manager who took her sweet time getting there. The couple was mad as hornets but took their stuff out. The Manager left and went back to where ever she came from. Twice more she had to be called up and twice more she took her time getting there.
The lady behind me in line just kept bumping me with her cart. Never an excuse me. I finally had enough of that so I said very politely, "Honey you are going to wear my backside off with that cart. Now it wouldn't hurt me a bit to lose some of my backside but I'd rather not do it this way". She looked at me like I was from Mars or somewhere and never said a word but at least she quit bumping my poor fanny.
When I was next in line the Manager was called again and again took her time getting there. She came sauntering up there like a snails crawl. When she was getting ready to leave again I said, "Honey would you please just stay here till I get my shoes returned? If I have to wait on you to come back again I do believe I am going to wet my britches. And besides I am worn to a frazzle and hurting like crazy from standing here". She flipped her bleached hair and said, "I guess I can do that". I thanked her and finally got my money back.
I decided I'd go see if they had the shoes in the store and of course they didn't. On the way back to the shoe department something swished by me and right back in front of me and stopped. There was a little man strutting around like a bannie rooster pushing a cart. Now he was struck on him self or something I guess. All dressed in a white shirt and tie with a employee badge on his shirt. He was returning things to the aisles from somewhere. Probably things that were brought back in that darn line I just came out of. I almost run in to him when he stopped in front of me. He looked at me like I was a worm under his feet and never said excuse me, I'm sorry, or kiss my butt! Two aisles over he did the same thing to me. By now I didn't want to kiss his butt but I wanted to kick it. I said, "Well Good Grief you are going to knock me down if you don't be more careful". That sucker looked at me like I was stupid and just and kept swishing up the aisle. My cool was gone by then. I came unglued at the seams. I went up that aisle griping and fuming and everyone was looking at me then. But that's OK because I came upon on the bannie rooster and bumped right in to his butt. He was bent down putting something on a shelf close to the bottom. I said, "Well Good Grief, I wish they would stop leaving trash in these aisles for us to have to dodge". Then I went on my merry way not looking back. NOPE! I don't need to go in a store, I get too emotional. TEE HEE HEE!!!!