March 22, 2009 - Msg 71138: Good Sabbath friends.

BOO: You, Bruce, and the kids are in my prayers today. My guys accountability group meets tonights and we'll lift y'all up in prayer, too.

Sorry, my two biggest mess stories involve bodily discharges by the two oldest kids and I'd rather not relieve them, thanks.

I'm working today so I'd better get back to it.

Take care everyone.

Me-They

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71139: I'm never too busy to sweep for my friends.

M-T

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71140: Wow Me-They 2 sweeps in a row! You shootin for 3?? Boo prayers for you and Bruce, hope you can talk some sense into him, that's scary! Well, back to the race.
*Mavis

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71141: Thank you M-T, you are very kind to pray for us.

I'm rather glad you don't want to share the "bodily discharge" storiess....I'm still a little queezy. ;) ...and thanks for sweeping...I would have hated to do it myself today.

It's great to see you here on a weekend, by the way.

Boo

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71142: You burst my bubble,Me-They.. I thought maybe your biggest mess involved VICKS and MAYO!
Speaking of messes,thanks for cleaning up the one we made here on the Porch-nice sweeping!
*******************
possum under a rock

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71143: Hey there Mavis...you snuck in on me. Thanks for those prayers...

Boo

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71144: Oh my, and there is Possum, too. Hey Possum!

Boo

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71145: Hey Boo- feel better ASAP!!
************
possum again

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71146: Hey to Mavis! I'm gone now.Oh,might not be rocking tomorrow-need to take computer in.Having an occasional problem with the sound. Need something tweaked in there and it'll be good to go.Hopefully they'll only have it a day or two at the most.Will be back ASAP.

possum once more

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71147: Oh,one question,Mavis- I was looking at Ro's photo album again & in the picture of all 4 of y'all (Miss Sherry,spot,you & Mr. Neff)what did y'all do with Spot's legs?! Ha! Ha!
possum again

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71148: Possum, I didn't see that picture in Ro's album but I saw the one you are talking about on Mavis' blog, and you're right it looks like SPOT's legs are missing! ha Did you also notice that SPOT is such a young looking guy?

I just went to the dollar store to get the things Erin needs for her project and I am wiped out. Mom-in-law came over and cooked some supper for us, so that was nice...I can't eat it yet but it will be there when I can. It sure smells good, though. There is something so comforting about the smell of home cooking in the house (when somebody else makes it, especially).

Boo

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71149: Hi All.
A nice warm spring day and the sun out.
Ro did you git the photo I send for the book?
SLOW DOWN.

Slow down and stop your hurry,
Take your time, for life will wait.
Smell the flowers, hear the birds
Even if it makes you late.
Let your eyes feast on the beauties,
Let God touch you as you stroll.
As you view His great creation
Let His message fill your soul.
Slow down, and take time to listen,
You'll have joy as your reward.
The sky of blue, the sea that glistens
All are miracles of Lord.
Walk in gratitude and wonder
Finding pleasures ever new.
The blessings of our great Creator
Made for us to daily view.
Slow down, take it not for granted
All this beauty round we share.
But know that all of Nature's beauty
Speaks of God's great love and care.


TOM :)

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71150: Perfect poem, TOM. Love it! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Boo

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71151: Mavis, I was wondering how Izzy is doing..any luck with keeping her from tearing up her tail?

Boo

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71152:
Boo- my prayers for you all. My oh my! Bruce better see the handwriting on the wall!
And such stories! Asa how does one explain THAT
lipstick story to ones wife! ha
TOM- great poem for us all. We need to all be like Mr Tucker today!
I got a call from pappabear today. he is doing ok and says tanks for all the prayers!
Good Sabbath.
MDC

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71153:
Hello porch family......it's been a great Lord's Day!

Boo.....you and your family are surely in my prayers. I pray that Bruce understands that the heart is not something to play around with and those kids need him.

Asa.....man I'm sorry to hear about your back. I know all to well about that back pain. I'm praying for you.

Tom.....thank you for the poem buddy.

Well race fans....those Gibbs Toys brought it home.....1 and 2

Mavis....your town should be clearing out by now. I'm sure you're kinda glad to get back to normal on your streets. Just curiuos....are they pretty controled or do they get rowdy?

Spot...you and Miss Sherry have a safe trip back home.

Well I'm going to bed. You all have a good night. Praying for all the porch family.
Remember...nothing is too big for our God!
-REV.

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71154:
MDC....thanks for letting us know about pappa bear. Glad to hear he's doing fine.
-REV.

March 22, 2009 - Msg 71155: Would like to thank you all for your outpouring of love and prayers with regards to Kai's situation.
You guys are the cats!
And I mean that in a good way. :)

We had wanted to go to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota to have the procedure done, but, unless we can work something out with our insur@nce, she may have to go to a children's hospital in Milwaukee. It is actually the first place we took Kai to for check-ups when we first moved up to Wisconsin. I think we stopped going there due to the drive mostly.
I'd still like to see if we could go to Mayo, even if we have to pay some of it ourselves(hopefully not all of it). They are supposed to be the best, and that is what I want for Kai.

Glad pappabear is doing ok, MDC.

We were at Walmart the other day, and on a impulse buy, which I don't normally do, bought a season of Gomer Pyle USMC on dvd. That is one of the shows I have been missing seeing. Two of the episodes have TAGS themes. One is when Aunt Bee comes to visit Gomer on the base, and tries to clean up the place.
The other is when Gomer goes home to Mayberry on leave. I don't like that one so much, because it is the one where Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee, and Goober are away on a camping trip, and Gomer only gets to see them from inside the bus as he is going back to base.
Ok, actually I do like the story on that one, where Gomer initially helps out, and then helps capture, two robbers. But it would have been nice to see the gang all together again(well, some of them).

-Sterling Holobyte

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71156: Thank you for your prayers, REV. I really appreciate them.

Sterling, prayers that all works out according the Lord's will concerning Kai and where she should have her surgery.

It has been so many years since I watched any Gomer Pyle USMC that I don't remember any episodes in particular but that one with Aunt Bee certainly sounds interesting!

I should be in bed but am waiting for some clothes to finish washing so i can throw them in the dryer. See you all in the morning with my coffee...

Boo

Thelma Lou: "I wish I could hear it from his own thin lips!"...

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71157: Good evening, porch. I wish I had come by a little earlier, while everyone was here. Tom, yes, I did get the pictures. I'll get them in the album soon, probably tomorrow. The ones that arrive by email get in very quickly, because it only takes a few keystrokes to do it. For those that need to be scanned first, it takes a bit longer. Not a problem, just takes a little longer. Cute kids, by the way!

Me-They, you might want to skip this part, but I just have to share it. I'll try to soften it a bit. When our youngest daughter was about two, and not yet "housebroken", she awakened from a nap while I was out shopping, and her daddy was babysitting. She discovered she had a diaper full of a very interesting medium, and proceeded to quietly decorate herself, her hair, her bed, the window screen, etc. When I got home, I heard her wailing in the back yard and went to investigate. My resourceful husband, not wanting to have to clean the bathtub, had gathered her up, bedsheets and all, and carried the whole mess to the back yard. He even brought the window screen. He was cheerfully hosing the squalling kid off, right along with her bed linens. I should add that this was July in San Antonio, the temperature was probably about 105, and when we took a shower we usually didn't even turn the hot water on, because the cold tap ran about 85 degrees. I was about to climb his case, when I realized he actually had a pretty good idea. When the kid finally got tired of hollering, she settled down and enjoyed her "shower bath" in the yard with Daddy. He even gave her the hose and let her squirt him! There's never a dull moment with kids, I guess.

Boo, I know you'll make Bruce take care of himself, and I'm very glad to hear that you're cutting back on your activities just a bit. Now you're being smart.

Prayers for little Kai, and for the decisions you have to make for her, Sterling. God will guide.

Be blessed, all. --Romeena

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71158: Well gang just a quick trouble check...We are back!..WOW race fans if ya ever get a chance go to Bristol...the best race in the world to watch..and Meeting Mavis and Hubby was SO much fun they both are everything I expected so funny and nice and I felt like I had know them all along the 6yr journey on the porch....well thanks again Mavis...will check the post and get some Race pics to Ro..its 2:55am Monday..we just go in..4hrs of going about 20 miles leaving the track....then 5 hrs home....missed and love ya porch...and so glad to have met Mavis....so cool....bed for me...will post in the morning {late}:)...SPOT

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71159: Mornin' y'all! Glad you made it home safely,spot-now wake up and make our breakfast! Ha!
Sterling,continuing to keep Kai in my prayers.She will be fine.
Boo,hope things are better today with you & yours.
Well,I have to take computer in,so may be off the Porch for a day or two. Gotta have my sound working right-I love music videos too much!
Y'all be good & I'll be back as soon as I can.
*******************
possum under a rock

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71160: Hey SPOT, did you get your legs back?

Thanks Possum, I feel much better this morning...just a wee bit of nausea but much better. I had a hard time falling asleep last night, though. Probably didn't doze off until 2am.

That is a great story, Romeena and is exactly what I would have done in that situation. I used the water hose outside to get messes off my kids often in the summer. They loved it. You know, my mom said that my sister did the same thing once when she left her with my dad. He, though, just left the mess for mom to clean up when she got home. My dad would start gagging if he got within 10 feet of poop. He never changed diapers, either.

Ro, I sent a nice email to the pastor and youth pastor yesterday explaining that I wouldn't be available and would be concentrating on dealing with my immediate families and their needs. I really unloaded on them, ha...in a nice way, but I told them straight.

I had better go pull Erin out of bed...it is going to be hard getting her up this first day back to school after spring break~

Boo

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71161: Immediate FAMILIES? No wonder I am so busy...

Boo

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71162: Good Monday porch, hope all is well today. Lots of goings on around my end of the porch and not much time to post.

Glad SPOT and Boo got to meet in person and glad SPOT had a chance to visit Bristol. I live about an hour or so from the race track. It is a pretty amazing place race time. BMS becomes a city within itself race week. Patrick worked one of the concession stands at the race on Sunday. Helped as a fund raiser for the schools girls basketball team. ( his girfriend plays on the team). He had a busy day but seemed to have fun.

Supposed to be a warmer day for us today. :).

Lunch menu will be: cheesy chicken tortilla soup,
tortilla strips, brownies with ice cream. tea, soda pop to drink, or kool aid. see you all at lunch.

Have a great day and blessing to all.

Big Maude

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71163: Well Maude, I didn't get to meet SPOT (darn it), but Mavis did. See ya at lunch!

Boo

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71164: That lunch sounds great, Big Maude I'm there! Glad you made it home safe Spot it's was awesome getting to meet you guys! possum and Boo I don't know where Spot's legs went in that picture. Reckon he had them all hung up in his leash?? Rev those race goers are normally pretty good, there are some rabble rousers once in a while, but that's mostly for the night race in the fall. I'm glad to see them go, that's for sure, makes getting around town a WHOLE lot easier. Romeena that story about Dale showering her with the hose is too funny. Maybe we should have taken the hose to Mamaw's kitchen when those beets blew up, purple all over the place and Mamaw's kitchen was all done up in that old yellow folks decorated with so long ago, let's just say it was colorful! I hope that came out right, I don't wanna get down there with them spiders today and fix the porch! Now, I'm off to work on some stained glass for a while, got a busy week ahead and won't have alot of extra time to work on it this week.
Later taters,
*Mavis

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71165: sheew, it worked. :)

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71166:
Happy Monday honeys and dears!
Sterling, Mayo clinic isnt always what it's cracked up to be. We have one here in scottsdale and some local stories of botched procedures come out every so often. Start with prayer for the Lord's guidance and go from there.
RO- I know about the water! In the summer, when our tap water runs about 85 degrees, ya KNOW it's hot out, and I mean DANG hot! ha
Hey to Big Maude.
Prayers,
MDC

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71167:
BTW, I bought me a new set of "threads" over the weekend. Gonna look all spiffy for Easter this year. (Ya know, that's what Jim Linsey calls
a suit!) ha
And it sure beats what the Hubacher brothers
wear up at state prison! ha
MDC

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71168: Spot hasn't shown up YET? He must be out crawling around on his front paws,looking for his hind legs!
Good to see Maude back on the Porch.I was fixin' to do a trouble check on ya!
Got the sound working right on my computer.The guy got right on it,I went to the library,checked out some books and then on top of that,they had lots of FREE books out front! So,I carried off an armload,then went back & picked up my computer.Glad they didn't have to keep it-that saved me another 35 mile trip.
Boo,glad you're feeling better.
Sterling,the Children's Hospital at the Medical University in Charleston is top notch-ranked in the top ten children's hospitals in the country.I f you could get down here,Kai should be under the care of Dr. Fred Crawford.He did Laci's open heart surgery and he has a (no pun intended) sterling reputation. He is really one of the best.We were so lucky we live in proximity & were able to have him as Laci's doctor.He's who I would wish to take care of Kai if I could pick somebody for her. Regardless, I know Kai will receive top notch care & the procedure will go fine.
Tired from all the excitement- not everyday I find FREE stuff! Ha! Better go rest a spell! Love to all.
*******************
possum under a rock

P.S. Oh Boo,I thought of you yesterday. I was in a Goodwill and looking at DVDs & CDs. Among the CDs guess who I found? Your buddy- Zamir and his pan flute! A whole collection of love songs.No,I didn't buy it-tempting as it was! Ha!



March 23, 2009 - Msg 71169: Not yesterday- Saturday,I meant! See what FREE stuff does to me? Makes me forget what day it is!

possum again

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71170: Im here possum...been doing yard work...Maude thanks for lunch and Maude we rode all over the place up there at Bristol..heck if we had known you were that close we would for sure have came buy...which part up there?..we went everywhere visiting...Mavis we are Buds forever!..hey MDC..well supper will be what ever possum whups up...im doing yard work!..:)...SPOT

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71171:
Hey, I just checked out the picture of Spot, Miss sherry, mavis and mr neff! Cool. I see that sherry has on her Georgia Bulldogs sweatshirt!
Aint the porch wondeful!!
MDC

PS: Spot, your barn looks better than my first college apt! ha
Barn: Ya never know when to stop, do ya? You just go on and on and on!

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71172: Ha, that's funny Possum..I thought of Zamfir on Thursday while I was on the river walk in San Antonio...well, let me explain that. If you don't know much about San Antonio, you may not know that there is a river that runs through the middle of the city (Ro would know more about it than me), but it is kind of a tourist spot because of the restaurants, motels and malls, etc built along the river and there are little boat tours you can take. Anyway, Sean and his friends wanted to take one of the boats and when we got to the river to get our tickets, there was a group of musicians from Ecuador playing pan flutes! The first words out of my mouth were, "Oh no, pan flutes"....the boys just looked at me and said, "Huh?". I answered in true Lydia style, "I hate the pan flute".

Better go get Erin from school.

Boo

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71173: I don't mind pan flutes so much. Now bagpipes, there's a foul-soundin' instrument if I ever heard one! They sound like somebody's stranglin' a cat, and not a quiet one, either. I don't mind the pan flute or the saxophone, but I hate the bagpipes!

It's been fun reading some of the posts here recently, and it's good to see some (a LOT of) familiar faces out there in Mayberry still posting. I've missed coming here, and I'll be looking in more often from here on in.

I LOVE MAYBERRY!!!

I'll see ya.
Rafe Hollister


March 23, 2009 - Msg 71174:
Hiya RAFE! Then you must have liked my "dang hot" post! ha I say hey to ya every Christmas when i list everyone that I have met here! It sure beats lying to Miss Grayson at the lonely hearts club! ha
MDC

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71175: Well, as I live and breathe, it's Rafe Hollister! Good to see you, friend. You have been gone waaaaay too long. Did Andy find your still and send you up to the state house this time? Anyhow, it's good to see you back, and I hope you'll make this a habit.

Now, I don't mean to go disagreein' with you right from the git-go, but I happen to like bagpipes. I know, I'm very much in the minority, but I do like them, when they're played right. And Boo, I like the pan flute as well. Call me crazy....

Well, guess I'd better go take a nap. Got to work tonight, and it surely goes better if I get a couple of hours of sleep ahead of time. Be blessed, all. --Romeena

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71176:
BARNEY: Oh, it's no use, Andy! Can you tell a bird to talk?! Can you tell
a bird to just go 'chirp, chirp, chirp?' No, Andy, I'm like a bird. I was
born to sing. ...Well if you'll excuse me I got some throat spray out in the
car. If I'm gonna be doin' solos I better give myself a couple squirts.





March 23, 2009 - Msg 71177:
Bagpipes AND pan flutes!!
Lawdy, now there's a real Lydia combo,
right up there with the bongos and moz-z-erella pizza! ha
MDC

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71178:
BTW- good race yesterday!

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71179: My dear porch friends! I just received the following in an email from a friend:

I stopped by to see Betty for a few minutes this afternoon. She asked that I tell everyone how much she appreciated all the prayers for her. She looked good and said that she would like to play bunco with us before long. Maybe we can work something out so that she can play with us soon. I left there praising the Lord for this miracle.

Yep, she's talking about Miss Betty, who was not expected to live more than a few more days at one point. God is still on His throne, He is still in the business of doing miracles, and prayer still works. Thank you!

Don't stop now! She's going to have a third chemo treatment on April 3. The first two have evidently accomplished quite a bit, please pray that God will bless this next one as He did the first two. Now, I've got to go dry my eyes and go to work. God is good. --Romeena

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71180:

Prayers for Miss Betty!

auh2o

March 23, 2009 - Msg 71181:
Hello porch family.

Ro....that is great news on Miss Betty. I just praise the Lord! Will continue to pray! And by the way, I loved the story of the outside "shower". So funny!

Sterling..... still praying for little Kai. Also prayers for you and all the family. I know this is weighing on you all.

Spot....glad you made it back home safe and that you had a great time.

Mavis....how far are you from the exit with the Old Pottery (I think that's the name of it)? It's on the TN side.

Well guess I'll get off here and watch TAGS. Jim Lindsay is picking that guitar. I've never seen anyone else that could pick one guitar and get three guitar sounds out of it...hehe

Prayers and love for all the porch family. Share Jesus with someone tomorrow....it could really save their life!
-REV.

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71182: Great news about Miss Betty! Gave me a big smile on my face when I read that! Boo looks like Miss LizzyBelle will be staying here with us, her issues are so ingrained, we (us & the BTCA rescue committee) don't think she will be able to be moved again. We really only have 2 choices with her, we keep her or she's euthanized. The 2nd is NOT an option for us, so she's staying here. She's finally just about stopped mutilating her tail, it's healing, but if she gets really excited wagging sometimes she hits it and gets it bleeding again. Rev I'm not sure which pottery you are talking about, there used to be one off Exit 66 on the TN side,(can't remember the name of it though) that's about 10 miles from me, there's another one on the VA side that just closed down called Dixie Pottery, about 15 miles from me.
I'm off to bed, got a long day tomorrow.
Nite Porch
*Mavis

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71183: Mornin' Y'all! Ro,that is wonderful news concerning Miss Betty! Prayers continuing for her.
Spot had better wake up and get breakfast this morning! If he doesn't,I say we all head over to Cracker Barrel and put it on his tab! MDC will have an opportunity to show off his new set of threads!
Oh,spotty,where are ya?

Rev,I too have been amazed by Jim Lindsay's guitar skills! Ha!
Y'all have a good day!
*******************
possum under a rock

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71184: I know what you mean about Jim Lindsay, REV. The episode where he is on the street playing that guitar just kills me. I keep looking to see where he plugged it in.

Wonderful news about Miss Betty! May the Lord bless her with more healthy and joyful years.

Mavis, it sounds like LizzyBelle is making some progress and she will certainly have a loving home with you and Mr Neff. I am looking forward to seeing a picture of her...what color is she?

I have been enjoying the very early episodes of TAGS on TVLand recently. It's funny how much joy the show has brought my family and me over the years. We have been together on the couch for so many years watching TAGS in the evening and always loving it. So funny how we never get tired of it. I still remember how happy I was when I found this site years ago and realized I wasn't a "nut"...other people shared my deep fondness for the show and it's characters. :=)

Better get Erin off to school.

Boo

PS-I am finally starting to feel like I am getting back to normal after that stomach bug, hooray. Good thing, because I have Emily this morning. I am just going enjoy her this morning and not worry about anything else. She is like therapy, sweet little thing.

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71185: Good morning to all my Porch buds! MDC, I must admit that I missed your "hey" at Christmastime. I wish I'd'a seen it, 'cause I would'a given you a "hey" right back! And yes, I do like your "DANG hot!" and other TAGS quotes you use in your posts. You got a heart shaped in a bowl, you know that?

Romeena, it's good to see you too, old friend. I was sorry to read about your dear Plum's passing in the archives. I'm glad you now have little Toye Starr to take care of, and her to take care of you. How do you like this weather we're expecting the next couple of days? (Romeena and me is neighbors. I live just up I-30 from her here in Texas. If you hit Bass Pro Shops, you've gone too far!) We sure do need the rain, don't we? I hope we all get some. My lawn can sure use it. It's not too early for the first Spring rain, is it? And about you liking the bagpipes, that's fine by me. We all don't have to like the same things. What a boring world this would be if everyone was the same!

God is good, that's a fact. I thank Him for His many tender mercies and blessings in my life. Hey to auh2o, REV, my old buddy *Mavis, possum under a rock, Boo (I'm glad you're starting to feel better. That stomach bug smarts), Big Maude (are you the Big Maude me and my beloveded Charlene met in Mount Airy a few years back?), Sterling Holobyte, TOM, my fellow bagpipe hater Asa, Me-They and anybody else I missed. Have a blessed day, friends.

I'll see ya.
Rafe Hollister


March 24, 2009 - Msg 71186: Hey brother Rev..Bristol was great and meeting Mavis and hubby was very cool...possum sorry yall had to go to cracker barrell but was busy here at work..Boo glad you are feeling better..prayers for Betty!..Romeena you work nights any soon?...well let me get busy here im hee all night....SPOT

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71187: Good Morning Porch! I gotta say 'dirty me, dirty me, I'm disgusted with myself' for not saying hey to you yesterday Rafe I meant to, so I'm sayin it now, Hey to my buddy Rafe it's good to have you back home! I've missed you around here! Hope you plan to stick around for a while and not go runnin off to Raliegh again anytime soon. Boo LizzyBelle is white with a brown spot around her left eye, she's cute as the dickens. I'll get a picture to Romeena I think I have a post over on my blog about her too, http://groomerang.blogspot.com/2009/02/just-quick-post.html The Bullies have written about her too over at their blog. possum I don't know where ol Spot is, probably still catchin up on his sleep and dreamin about Bristol. :)
Well, off to work for me, dang it.
*Mavis

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71188: Well lookie there, I was just sayin Spot was still sleepin and he snuck in on me. It was great to meet you and Miss Sherry too, ya'll are good people in my book!
Now, I'm goin to work unless someone else wants to come groom and deal with the pain in the rear customers I have on the book today. Not my favorites today, that's for sure.
*Mavis

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71189: Awww, LizzyBelle is so cute. I can see in the picture that the end of her little tail looks chewed on. Hope she settles in and adjusts well over time.

Hello to Rafe. Thanks, it is good to feel somewhat normal (if I ever was)...the stomach flu is no fun at all, is it?

Well, things to do...wish I could just lay on the couch but, alas, I cannot.

Boo



March 24, 2009 - Msg 71190: That don't signify with Ernest T. Bass.

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71191: Good morning, friends. Just got home from work, and I'm absolutely beat to the socks. Don't exactly know why, it wasn't a particularly hard shift, I just didn't seem to have the energy I needed. Seems like my get-up-and-go has got up and went! (Awful grammar, but you know what I mean.) So, I'm headin' for the bed, you can count on it. Luckily, Toye Starr is content to get up there and sleep as long as I need to.

I'm sure glad I checked on the pond before going to bed, though, or I would have had a tragedy. The little bubble fountain out in the middle of one end had malfunctioned - a bit of debris had lodged in just the perfect position, to cause a jet of water to squirt straight out, like when you put your finger over the end of the hose. The stream was landingoutside the pond, and the water level was approaching halfway down. I guess it had been pumping out all night. Got a big old soggy spot in the lawn, but that's no problem, the grass will love it. However, if it had pumped all day like that, I'd have had some burned out pumps, and worst of all, some stranded and dead fish. I'd really hate to lose those guys. I literally raised them from minnows, I guess you'd call them. They were about an inch and a half long and only cost me 12 cents each, but some are now over eight inches long and are just beautiful. The biggest one is bright orange/gold, and there's one about the same size that's white with orange and black markings all over its body. They really are pretty, and very friendly. I sure would have been sick if I'd gone out there this evening and found something like that. Who would have thought?? Anyway, I fixed the bubbler, and ran enough water in the pond to safeguard the fish. Will finish filling it this evening.

Rafe, do you ever eat at Babe's fried chicken place? There are several around the Metroplex, but the original is in Roanoke, and I still think it's the best. We ought to get together and meet there sometime. Daphne and I have already done that, and we could make it a threesome. Or a foursome if my friend Eloise goes. Or a fivesome if Daphne brings her hubby. (I sound like Emmett, when he was wanting to wangle an invitation to Howard's party.) Oh, and thank you, Rafe, for the kind words about the loss of my little Plum. I guess everyone in the world knew how much I loved that little furkid. I still miss her so much.

Well, I'm off to bed. Be blessed, everyone. --Romeena

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71192:
Also in "Jim Returns" ep, when he first walks in playing, he's got the 'lectric sound going! ha
Possum- we rented "Mamma Mia" over the weekend
and i cant get "Daning Queen" out of my head! ha
"See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen" Notmy kind of movie, but it was my wife's birthday, so...
Boo- I thought we were the NORMAL oneand the rest of the world was nuts! ha
Did you ever try any of the oregano oil that you bought. It's the "elixer of life"! ha
With Rafe back, maybe Hodie Snitch and fred goss
will return too.
Also pipeman pappabear!
R0- get some rest dear. I could just be the "cr-ps" thing that is going around.
Rafe, you beat everthing, you know that!
Next thing ya know, you'll be in the musi-CAL!
Prayers,
MDC


March 24, 2009 - Msg 71193: Did you have to bring up "Dancing Queen", MDC?? I am never gonna get that cheezy song out of my head. Hey, I never actually tried the oregano oil because Erin never ended up needing it but it's there for the next time. You know, I opened the bottle and smelled it and then closed it back and put it in the cabinet. Well, everytime I open the cabinet I smell Oregano now. That is some strong stuff! I am almost afraid to try it. Will I start to smell like Oregano if I do?

Boo

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71194: Hey, I was just thinking, MDC...maybe you smell like Oregano and don't even know it. When you come into a room does anyone ever say, "I smell spaghetti?" or "Something smells like my Mama Mia's kitchen"?? Just wondering, is all...

Boo

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71195:
Boo-If you opened it, you may want to keep it in the fridge. I've never been told that i smell like oregano! ha And believe me, cecile would let me know! (:
And ya just HAD to bring up Mamma Mia again, didnt ya! haha
Did you get the book also? "The Cure is in the Cupboard."
Boo is buying dinner at Babe's!
MDC

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71196: BOO: How about if I hum "Take a Chance on Me?" Will that get "Dancing Queen" out of your head?

Glad that you're feeling better. And I'm happy to hear that you are lightening your load a little and refocusing. Don't think for one minute that you're getting out of doing my shorts, though.

ROMEENA: Great news about Miss Betty! Continued prayers.

RAFE! Is that really you? Just about the only part of Miss Crump's I miss is our occassional conversations. Do you still hang out there? Anyway, it's great to have you back with us.

MDC: Shhh! That's a secret spice!

"Babe?" You mean the Styx song? (Ha! Now that's stuck in yer head.)

I've discovered that I can listen to TAGS while I work. Yesterday, I was busy, but instead of listening to the radio as usual, I brought up a TAGS ep on TV Land and listened to that. It sure lit up the day a bit. Plus, I'm sure AUH2O will be happy that I replaced NPR with Andy, if only for a half hour.

Well, back to work. I'm at an all-day seminar manana so I'll talk to y'all on Thursday. Take care and act like somebody.

APB for STERLING, AFD, IDELLE, HOMEMAKER!, GOOBER, and others.

Me-They

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71197:
What'd I do? Seems I'm leanin' a little to the right...

Too much squeezins.

M-T

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71198: Hey to Me-They! Thanks for the welcome back. Bud, if you are leanin' a little to the right, you're OK in my book. :-) I miss our conversations too, but I haven't been to Miss Crumps's since a lotta frogs was polliwogs. Too many dang messages to keep up with, if you ask me (and I know you didn't). I figured my posts over there would just add to the ruckus, so I bowed out.

I see that SPOT posted on the Porch this morning after I had said "hey" to everybody I could think of, and I realized I missed sayin' "hey" to him. So "hey" to SPOT! It's a pleasure to make your aquaint... acquan... akwaint... IT'S NICE TO MEET YA! :-)

To my bud *Mavis, please don't feel bad about not sayin' "hey" to me the other day. I know you was real excited about your visit with SPOT and Miss Sherry, and it's understandable that you wanted to share your fun times with us. I'll be around here for as long as you all will let me. I'll just rock quietly in the corner of the Porch (if I start to snore just pay me no mind) and will say something if it comes to mind. It's good to see you again, bud.

That's a outSTANDIN' idea you had, Romeena, about us meeting up for supper sometime. And Babe's is a right fine choice. I've never been to the one in Roanoke, just to the one at Belt Line and Garland Road. Babe's serves up some real good food, and I know we'd just have a grand old time if we could meet and greet (and eat!) there. Why don't we DO IT? But we'll have to make it a SIX-some (the five you mentioned, plus my beloveded Charlene). Why don't you email me with the best time for you all to make it, and we'll work from there. You remember my email address, right? (RafeHollister@yahoo.com)

And MDC, YOU beat everything, you know that? Keep it up with the great TAGS quotes, bud. I can't get enough of 'em.

Hey to Boo and anybody else that's lookin' in and not posting. You all have a fine evening.

I'll see ya.
Rafe Hollister


March 24, 2009 - Msg 71199:
Must be a sign--Me-they's leaning to the RIGHT! ha

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71200:
And there goes Rafe with his porky pig imitatian!
Do you take off on Cary Grant too? Judy, judy, judy.
MDC

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71201: Try to walk straight, will ya M-T? Oh, and thanks for getting my mind off Dancing Queen and onto Styx and Take a Chance on Me (NOT). Sorry to all the ABBA fans out there, but...yuck. I had to laugh at my brother who was visiting from California the other day. He is about to turn 60 but you would never know it to look at him..anyway, my brother-in-law was burning him some oldies on the computer and my brother said that what he really liked was BeeGees...."What?", I asked with a look of amused confusion on my face...."You like Bee Gees?". What I was thinking but didn't say was, 'Gee, I never knew you were THAT much of a geek'. Poor David....still stuck in the "land of disco".

Gotta go...Babe's it is. I'll pay AND leave a 2-quarter tip, how's that?

Boo

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71202:
No, but he can do Chester. teehee
And watch out, he may just fill in for Sam Adams.
No more fishin or huntin with the new guy.
The Katzenjammer kids

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71203: Ji-ji-ji- Jive talkin' Stayin' alive, stayin' alive..
The phantom beegee

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71204: Well hello there Rafe!!..Boo I had all of Styx"s tapes..REO speedwagon,ELO and yes the platform shoes!..if fact gang Im gona hunt up a pic of me back in the day...whew..and post it with Ro..M-T you better put a cork in that bottle :)..what is "Babe"s"..were they some up around Bristol where Miss Sherry and I was at the race?..around Mavis"s?..and dito M-T for the APB porchters..CHUCK!..Salty dog?..Lucy hope you are doing ok..I worl all night tonight and double tomorrow then off 6 days...went and got 40 bags of red mulch yesterday..my work is cut out!..well rain heavy here tomorrow and thu but then clear..Maude if you will just cover the slaw for supper I will get the rest..menu:Baked chicken with just a touch of cajun season,rice,boiled cabbage,pinto beans,green onions,salsa for Romeena,rolls,Boo tea,apple pie...ready at...ummm..probably umm..6:30 or so...prayers to all ....signed:SPOTthe"have been to the bristol race" dog of your porch

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71205:
M-T Yes sir, TAGS is a step up from NPR.

Spot-Rut-row! Icksnay icturespay omfray 70'say.

auh2o

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71206:
You people crack me up!

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71207: Good afternoon, porch! Boy, do I feel better. I slept about five hours, and will get to sleep again tonight, so maybe I'll get caught up. Actually, I didn't go to bed when I said I was going to - I went back and read in the archives instead, the posts from a few days before I lost the Plum through a week or two afterward. I just sat here and read and cried. You people were all SO kind! The love and friendship expressed in those messages! I'm so glad I did that, because some of it I didn't remember - possibly never actually saw, due to the trip to Destin, having to use the cranky laptop connection, and just being too beat-up emotionally to read. I didn't realize (or remember) that you had offered to post my little poetic tribute to Plum, but it surely would have been fine with me. I'm not sure - would that have been allowed, since it had been published already?

For those who might be wondering, Babe's is a local fried chicken place, started out with just one store out in Roanoke, a small (two stoplights) suburb of Dallas and Ft. Worth. It has expanded until there are about six or so now, I think. Each restaurant has its own personality, and the menu varies a little bit with each one, but the star of the show is always the fried chicken. For a single price, just under $10, I think, you get a wonderful meal. It's served family style. With a chicken dinner, they bring out bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy like mama used to make, salad, creamed corn that's just delish, and wonderful biscuits, real butter and honey. The chicken is brought on a big platter, and they allow one leg, one wing, one thigh and one huge "chest" per person. The diners can divide the pieces up any way they choose. The side dishes are refilled as needed. The chicken is not refilled, but it's never needed. We always bring some home. Four of those enormous pieces is more than most people can eat anyway. The chicken is battered and fried southern-style and is just wonderful. Some of the locations offer chicken-fried steak, and/or pot roast or meat loaf as well, but the chicken is the best deal. Absolutely wonderful! Rafe, I'll get busy on setting up a time, and if your beloveded can join us, that would be great! Daphne, have you got your ears on? Are you with us?

Well, gotta think about dinner tonight. I have run out of leftovers (argh!) and may have to start from scratch. Or maybe I'll just go get something from Sonic. Be blessed, everyone! --Romeena

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71208: Don't listen to Auh2o, SPOT...I wanna see that 70's picture bad! Now that's a good idea..how about we all try to find a "groovy" picture of ourselves for the album...I think maybe I can find some shots from the 70's...or the 80's would be fine, too. What do ya'll think?? I'll look tonight.

Boo

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71209: Gee,thanks for "Dancing Queen",MDC. On my song judge-o-meter-you just took a BIG downward drop! Ha! Thought you were beginning to pick better songs,but you let me down with that ABBA crud! Couldn't stand that group! All the others y'all named were ok,even like some of the Bee Gees stuff,but ABBA? Geesh!
Oh,so we're gonna post pictures of our YOUThood? Hee Hee,this oughta be a blast.I'll do it if y'all will do it-okay,spot? You go first-send that 70's pic to Ro and I'll try to dig up one of my oldies. You too,Boo! Send that groovy pic to Ro!
Far out!
*******************
possum under a rock

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71210: I aint a bit skeered to post a long hair pic!.. thu on my off day and I will look for a few good ones...get ready Romeena..and some of you guys just need to post a pic period!!Skeered?..ha ha...not me...back in a bit..SPOT

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71211: SPOT, I was looking through my sub-album on Ro's site and realized there is only one picture of me in it and it is far away and blurry. I will try to get one that is easier to see...I'm no chicken (spring or otherwise). I might have a tougher time finding a groovy 70's one since most of our pictures are packed away in storage somewhere. I'll try, though. You know who's picture I want to see? Auh2o's, that's who. I'd like to see a picture of the big guy. Maybe he has an old 70's picture with bell bottoms or something that he can send. And SPOT, put your legs in the next pictures you post...

Boo

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71212: OK, here is another thing I really hated in the 70's...any of the music from the movie Grease. I despised it all and when that movie came out, it was all they played on the radio. I remember it well because it was the summer that I took driving school and the instructor listened to pop music on the radio as we drove. Seems like all that came on was Grease music or ABBA! I was more into "real" rock music, or at least "real" talent. To each their own, though. Hey did any of you like Tommy James (Crystal Blue Persuasion and Crimson and Clover)?....seems the topic of oldies comes up alot here on the porch. Were any of you into "Urban Cowboy" when it came out? I always hated country music but had lots of friends that hung out on weekends at a place like Gilley's. We had a place in Corpus Christ, kind of outside of town called "The Yellow Rose" and it was the country dance hall of the area. Everyone went there, except me. I got talked into it once during my college years and it was the last time I went. Sat at a table drinking a margarita (just one) and thinking about how ridiculous people looked in those tight Wranglers and cowboy hats. I may be from Texas, but I was never "country". No offense to them that are, though. I have a certain fondness for the western wear now, as long as it is on someone else, and especially if they are well-built!

Better get Erin to bed...

Now where is that Hank the Cowdog book?

Boo

March 24, 2009 - Msg 71213: Good evening, all. Just heading for bed. Even though I slept this afternoon, I can still use a good night's sleep, and my friend Ted will be here tomorrow morning early, to replace the door facing and some siding where the termites were getting started. Wise man, he saved a couple of quarts of paint from the last time he painted outside, so the repair job won't show.

I love your idea of an album of porchsters in their '70s persona - however, since I'm about twenty years old than most of you, I may have to go back to the '50s to be on equal footing - that is, young and naive. I'll start us off with a picture or two. Look for a sub-album entitled "Vintage Porchsters", unless someone has a better idea for a title. I'm open to suggestions.

Be blessed, everyone! --Romeena

March 25, 2009 - Msg 71214: OK, this time I'm really going to bed. I set up the "Vintage Porchsters" sub-album. Only one picture in it - me, age 16. Since it's the only one, it's also the cover picture, so unless you want to keep looking at that picture, you'd better send me some of yourselves.

Tom, I haven't forgotten - I've just got some stuff stacked on top of my scanner (income tax stuff) and will have to move it before I can scan those pictures in. I'll get it done, please forgive me. I'm old and slow! The picture of me is actually a scanned photo, but the scan was done a couple of years ago, by my cousin, and he emailed me the digital picture.

Be blessed, all. --Romeena

March 25, 2009 - Msg 71215:
Hello porch family....rain heading into the Carolinas tomorrow.

Mavis......it must the exit 66. There's a McDonalds there too. Also I'm pretty sure it's one exit from the Cracker Barrel.

Rafe....so glad you dusted off your rocker and joined back in with us.

Ro.......if you go to Babe's, be sure to send me a plate. My mouth starts watering just thinking about that place. It was so good!

Spot.....I'll be in your state this weekend...North Ga....up on the border of Ga & NC. I'll turn the volume up real loud so maybe you will hear it.

You all take care and be blessed. Have a great night. Prayers for all the porch family.
-REV.

March 25, 2009 - Msg 71216: Well, let me be the first to say, "Hubba-Hubba, Romeena was really stacked!"...great picture Ro, by the way, I was surprised to see that they made color pictures way back then (JUST KIDDING!!). You really look lovely and what a figure. I'll bet you had to beat the guys off with a stick.

Hey REV, have a great evening.

I am going to hit the sack myself...see ya'll in the mornin' with my coffee.

Boo