January 03, 2011 - Msg 82208: Right, Ro (about SIL)..it is tempting to just leave her alone rather than have to deal with her like she is another child in the family but we have been too lax and are paying for it now. It is just such a strange and unnatural thing to have to "parent" a 52 year old woman. I hate it. I think she got "stuck" somewhere in her mental development or something.

I was watching that TAGS ep yesterday, too and was impressed with the way Andy had a conversation with Opie up in Opie's room. The way he got to the problem without actually saying it and humiliating Opie was good. It reminded me of the bully episode when Andy talked to Opie about his experience with Hodie Snitch.

Better get Erin to school...holidays are over!

Boo
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82209: Mornin' y'all! Hope 2011 has been a good one for all thus far.

I'm going to stray from the usual Porch topics for a moment in order to ask POOR HORATIO something-hope he's out there..

Or if any other Porchster knows, please go ahead & fill me in:

What I need to know is this.. How can you find out if online posts are made by the same person/computer? The reason I'm asking is I belong to an online support group and lately we have had trouble with one person who suffers from multiple personalities. She comes to the group,presents herself as one person,shares a troubling story, gets us all upset & involved and then we usually figure out it is her.For example,she presented herself as a young 15 yr. old girl who gave birth to a premature baby who died. Then she became suicidal and had one group member on the phone all night pleading with her not to slit her wrists! All a farce! This is all very upsetting to us who are there to support and be supportive of others.

This person is located in Great Britain,we do know that much. It would be most helpful if we had a way of checking when a "new" member joined the group. We can ban this person if we know it is her.

So, in plain English,because I'm not that computer savvy, if POOR HORATIO or anyone else can tell me how to check the ISP or whatever, I would surely appreciate it! Thanks in advance!
******************
possum under a rock
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82210:
possum-I have Firefox as a browser and to find out what computer is posting to this site "The Porch" all I have to do is click the view tab at the top of the page and then click "Page Source" I don't know if that works with all browsers but that my help until PH shows up.

Aloha from the great white north.
auh2o
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82211:
possum- Sorry, I should have been a little more clear. After you click Page Source find the post your looking for and it will say from and their should be a number like (71.54.38.205). That number happens to be yours and I think every time you post from that computer that number will appear on the Page Source.

auh2o
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82212: Thank you auh2o! I'm writing this all down & will check it out. Sure appreciate your help!
************
possum again
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82213:
possum under a rock, regarding the problem you have experienced at that online support group, auh2o has done a good job explaining how to check for a person's ISP. But this only applies to web site hosts who have activated or included software coding to log and display the ISP for all users. Not all sites use this feature. I do know that Floyd added this feature here on the Front Porch a few years ago after we experienced some problems with anonymous postings.
However, if you want to know exactly how to do this step by step, send me the following information:
- the URL for that online support group;
- at least one username that the person in question uses;
- the name of the internet browser you use.
Romeena knows how to contact me, so send this information to her and she can forward it to me.

from Poor Horatio
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82214: Thanks, PH. I tried what auh2o suggested,but couldn't come across any identifying numbers,so perhaps it's not set up that way.
Let me gather the info and I will get it to Ro. thanks a lot!
************
possum again
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82215: PH, I just sent the info to Ro. By URL,you mean the web address,don't you?
Like this one: http://www.tagsrwc.com ??

If so, I sent the correct URL.
Thanks in advance for your help & thanks to Ro for being the "go- between"!
***********
possum again
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82216:
Wow, you are quite technical for a possum! ha
Good sweep Boo. My prayers are with you.
HI to all!
MDC
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82217: Good morning, porch! Message received and forwarded, Possum. Glad to be of help. Isn't it annoying when someone abuses the good intentions of a person or group? Of course, a case could be made that the behavior is just a symptom of the person's illness, and should be viewed as such. Or...and this is often the case...it's just the infantile behavior of some mean-spirited person with nothing better to do. Sad, really.

MDC, that's great about the response you got from your Christmas display. Did I tell you that I got copies of forwards sent out by the people I sent the pictures to? Who knows how far those pictures have gone? A really worthy endeavor, and I'm glad someone responded to you.

Boo, I'm so glad you and Bruce are finally holding SIL to an acceptable standard of behavior. I'm sure it is very hard, as you said, to "parent" and adult like that, but somebody has to do it, since she apparently never developed her own behavior modifiers. You're doing her a favor.

Well, the freeze finally hit my irises. Flowers that were open are now soggy and drooping, and I don't know how the unopened buds fared, because I haven't been out there. So, apparently the flowers will survive down to about 30, but any colder than that will wilt them. It will be interesting to see if any more open.

Do you ever have trouble with watering some of your houseplants, when the water won't soak into the dirt, but rather runs through and wets the place where they stand, or overflows a saucer if you're using one, or if they're in a cache pot, the water pools in it and then gets smelly? It will rot the roots of the plant, too. Well, I've found two remedies. One is to use warm water and pour very slowly. Warm water will soak in quicker than cold. My favorite method, though, is to just drop a handful of ice cubes on top of the soil. They melt slowly, the water is absorbed, and the plant is happy. I try not to let the ice pile up around the stems, but if it touches a little it doesn't seem to hurt anything. I have a lovely poinsettia that I've been watering with ice, and it's still beautiful. You know how difficult they can be, dropping their leaves until they're all stems and color, no green leaves. Not anymore! Try it, it works!

Well, got to get a few things done around here, then have to work tonight. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82218: That should be "parent AN adult", not "and", of course. And I proofread, too! --Romeena
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82219: Me again. They say confession is good for the soul, so I guess I'll tell you what I did. I pull some dumb stunts now and then (OK, fairly often...OK, really often) but this one is funny. I just got a Christmas card back in the mail. Lucy Matthews, it was intended for you and your family. I'm pretty sure I have the address right, but the problem was, I addressed it to (are you ready for this?) --- The Matthews Family! I'll bet that confused the mailman! Apparently he's not a TAGS person, or a member of our porch, or he would have understood. Anyway, "Lucy", Merry Christmas a bit late, to you and yours. --Romeena
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82220: Thanks,Ro. I think in this case we are seeing a true,full blown case of multiple personalities. I have worked with the mentally ill and have run across a few individuals with these sort of personality disorders,but never anything such as this woman. She sets up accounts,posts pictures,I mean the whole nine yards! I've even observed her different personalities interacting with one another. It is quite sad- I can't fathom what it must be like to have all those different "people" inside of you. Our little online support group just isn't the place for her,she needs professional help. Plus, she is really disturbing some of our members. I just want to be able to figure out who is real,and who is one of her alter-egos.
Funny story about Lucy's Christmas card! Spot mailed me something once and I'm lucky he didn't mess up on my address- can you see the poor mailman trying to figure out his return address? He put "Spot, Mayberry, USA"- ha ha!
Y'all take care!
*******************
possum under a rock
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82221: Good evening, porch. Around five, as I was lying in my bed trying to squeeze in a few minutes of naptime, I was thinking, "Lord, if it's not too much trouble, I'd really love to have tonight off." Well, you guessed it! I got canceled! Hooray! I really need the time. Eloise is having a knee replacement at 7:30 in the morning, (prayers for her, please) and after I know she's okay and settled in, I have to buy groceries, bathe Toye Starr and change bed linens, and do a little housecleaning because my daughter is coming tomorrow evening. Now I can at least get some of that done tonight, and won't be so pooped when she arrives, plus I will have slept instead of working all night! God loves me.

Possum, I used to be skeptical about multiple personalities, until I met a patient who suffered from the condition. It was the weirdest thing I've ever encountered, and it wasn't fake. This was years ago when I worked med/surg on day shift, and I had been asked if I would stay and work the evening shift on another unit and take this patient. I think they wanted a seasoned nurse with her, so I was "it". All through report on her, I was thinking, "uh-huh, I don't believe a word of this" but I tried to keep an open mind. I went in and met the patient, who seemed perfectly normal, a very nice woman of about 40. She spoke freely of her multiples, and referred to herself as a "portable party". She said she'd like to be free of "the others", but controlling them was like trying to keep an armload of balloons under water - they keep popping up! A very neat analogy, don't you think?

Well, I was still skeptical until about an hour later, when I went back into her room, which was dark after the sun went down. When I entered, she was quiet, but I had the definite sense that there was someone different in the room. I just felt it! I turned on the light, and there she sat in the middle of the bed, but it was clear to me that she wasn't the woman I had met, she was a child. A little girl. I sat down and we talked. She told me her name, and that she was six. She told me she liked to come out when X was asleep, "because I like to play and she's afraid to." The voice, the mannerisms, the facial expression, even the expression in her eyes, were all that of a child. Well, I was hooked. Fortunately, I was in the float pool at the time, working different shifts and different units all the time, and I asked to be more or less assigned to her for the duration of her stay. My request was granted (with relief, I think) and I spent the next two weeks, five evenings a week, working with her. It was fascinating. I met more, though not all, of her multiples. There was a 16-yr old boy, all swagger and bravado, a 4-year old girl who cried and lay curled in a fetal position most of the time. Mostly she would just say "no more, no more." Pitiful. The boy would usually emerge right after her, and would mutter dire threats about what he'd like to do to the people who hurt her. There was a young woman of unspecified age, who had grandiose visions for the future, but no plans for making it happen. There was another woman, who closely resembled the patient, but who expressed contempt for X and called her "a baby, just a stupid sissy." The doctor felt that the best clue lay in the 4-yr old girl. He felt that she represented the child the patient had been. She had lived in some foster homes, and one institution, and it was known that she had been badly abused in at least one of those places. The multiples had formed as she made an effort to protect herself from the memories. The 16-yr old boy may have represented a real, young male who might have tried at some time to actually protect the child from abuse. Fascinating, and very complicated. I enjoyed the case immensely, had a wonderful time interacting with all the multiples, and was genuinely disappointed when she was discharged, all personalities still intact, and I lost touch with her. I wonder about her to this day, whether she was ever able to extinguish any of the multiples, or merge them, or whether she just went right on being a portable party!

Well, I'd better take advantage of this break I've been given and get busy around here. Blessings, folks! --Romeena
January 03, 2011 - Msg 82222:
Hello porch family

MDC...neat story about the display

I ordered the complete set (75 eps)of the old Amos and Andy DVDs last week and they came in today. It's been years since seeing any of these. So it will give me something else to look at on the road during this next tour.

You all have a good night.
Love and prayers to all the porch family!
-REV.
January 04, 2011 - Msg 82223:
Rev, don't know if you are a Dick Van Dyke fan, but I have all five seasons and love em.
Well, take care, prayers for all.
MDC
January 04, 2011 - Msg 82224: Get up! Get up!..Waffle house on possum and me!...SPOT
January 04, 2011 - Msg 82225: Swing by & pick me up, spotty!

Got your email, Poor Horatio and I thank you for your efforts.

Ro, I agree, these personalities are something to witness. However,in this case, I wish this lady would take her alter-egos and just go away!

See y'all at Waffle House!
*******************
possum under a rock
January 04, 2011 - Msg 82226: Interesting story, Ro. I don't think I have ever met anyone with multiple personalities but I had a schizophrenic patient in labor once and it was living h#ll for her and for me! Poor woman was the most mentally ill person I ever had to deal with before or since. Trying to care for her was next to impossible because of the delusions and "voices"..lots of paranoia, too. She had been in the mental ward for a long time and had to be off her meds due to being pregnant. It was a nightmare. I think she finally ended up delivering the baby after I left my shift and according to the nurses she delivered it standing in the middle of the bed, screaming. Horrible experience for everyone involved. Mental illness is such a terrible thing. I watched an episode of Hoaders on A and E last night...wow...talk about mental illness. The woman they featured in last night's episode was unbelievable. She must have been 70, lived on a small "farm" full of sick and tortured animals that she was hoarding and it was unlike anything I had ever seen. She constantly screamed obscenities at the people trying to help her and was in denial about the suffering of the animals. The trailor she was living in was full of different kinds of birds, turkeys, ducks, chickens, all stuffed into plastic containers with mesh covers, standing in sometimes a foot of feces. Some were dead and just rotting. They said the place smelled like what an entire cemetary of rotting corpses would smell like. Now what on earth happens in the mind of someone like that and how do we make sure it doesn't ever happen to us?! They say trauma sets it off in people. I have seen some of that behavior in SIL when she had the little dog and was living with my MIL. The dog relieved himself on everything in the apartment, I think and the smell was terrible. She never seemed to see it or believe it was happening. Her house was the most filthy place I had ever been in and she seemed to be in some sort of denial about it. Just before she was forced to move out of it, after her divorce, Bruce and I went over there to talk to her and implore her to get out of there. It was terrible, we couldn't even sit on the furniture without bugs crawling on us, so we stood. I had to walk outside for fresh air now and then. So, you see we are dealing with someone with some real issues and past traumas who needs proffesional help in a big way.

Well, I have talked too much...better go get Erin up for school.

Boo
January 04, 2011 - Msg 82227: Morning porch, hope everyone is having a good week thus far. Trying my best to get back to a regular routine with work and such. Beth went back to school today, Patrick goes back the end of next week. Will be glad to have some sort of routine.

Cloudy and cold this morning. 28 degrees. more snow may be coming our way in a couple days.

I have been working in the mental health profession for about 28 years now. I started my career working with Alzheimers/Dementia patients and with the most chronically mentally patients in the community (Schizophrenia, Bipolar,).They can be some of the most challenging folks to work
and deal with.I was about 22 years old and fresh out of undergraduate school ( meaning I knew nothing of the real world :)). I have to say I probably learned more from those folks than they ever learned from me. I would not trade that life
experience for anything. I truly believe it made me a better therapist today and certainly impacted and made me a better human being. Guess maybe that is why the Good Lord planted me in this field because it was nothing I has ever thought of doing when I was going to high school or even thought about when I started college. I has actually started college to become an elementary school librarian. Kinda weird how things turned out for me.

Lunch menu will be: pork chop sanwhiches, SLAW, chips. tea, kool aid to drink.

Have a blessed day. Prayers all around.
Big Maude


January 04, 2011 - Msg 82228:
Can we go back to politics please? It's no different than
birds standing in a foot of... I mean REALLY!? haha!!
How about we start the year off with a TAGS quote-a-thon:
ANDY: Well, if it ain't Charlie Money Bags, the big philantrapist. Howdy do!
OPIE: What you talkin' 'bout, Paw?
ANDY: I'm talkin' about the Under Privileged Children's Drive.
OPIE: Oh, they collected for that at school, Paw.
ANDY: Oh, I know they did, I know they did. And when they called your name
you gave the large, generous amount of THREE CENTS. My that was big
of ya' Diamond Jim.
OPIE: Did I give 'em too much, Paw?
ANDY: TOO MUCH!?
OPIE: I could ask 'em to give me back two cents.

January 04, 2011 - Msg 82229: MDC
January 04, 2011 - Msg 82230: Ok, I've got to tell my "multi- personality" story too- (sorry, MDC!)..
I worked as the Activity Director once at a state run mental health facility. I was assigned to a building that housed about 25 mentally ill men. (That's why I get along so well with Spot! Just kidding,spotty! LOL) Anyway, there was one guy in there named Junior who was just the sweetest guy- big ,tall, lanky, black guy about 30 years of age. But Junior had multiple personalities: Dummy, Dummy #1, Dummy #2 and so on.
One day I was working getting some info from their charts and decided to sit up in the front of the building to work in peace & quiet. The other staff & clients were in the back of the building. Junior was walking up and down the hall,laughing and talking to himself. He spoke to me and I called him over & showed him his photograph in his chart. Well, my goodness! I could see the transformation come over him right then & there! His entire face changed and his voice dropped to a threatening growl as he asked me why I was showing him a picture of " Dummy". Then he said in that menacing voice " I ought to slit your throat!"
Well I immediately closed the chart book and just sat there quietly. And just as quick as a flash, he reverted back to Junior and began laughing and walked away. It was the oddest thing I've ever seen come over a person- not to mention SCARY!
We had another guy who use to walk around saying he was Elvis and Johnny Cash- now, I enjoyed those guys!
***********
possum again
January 04, 2011 - Msg 82231: Thanks for making me laugh out loud, Possum (about why you get along so well with SPOT)! HAHA..poor SPOT. Scary story about Junior. By the way, could Elvis and Johnny Cash sing?..just wondering...

Maude, I'll bet you have had some experiences! I can remember my last year in nursing school we were required to do clinicals in the mental ward of the county hospital in Corpus Christi. What a wild ride. I was more comfortable with it than most of the students (I don't know what that says about me and don't want to know) and actually enjoyed alot of it. I will never forget, however, a young woman who was paranoid. She was in a living h#ll all her own and it just hurt so much to see her that way, living in a constant state of high anxiety. Meds didn't seem to help her much. I think about her from time to time and wonder if she is still living. She would be in her 50's or 60's now.

Better go help Erin with some English homework. She is learning adverbs and I am having trouble figuring out some of this homework. How sad is that?

Boo
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82232: Duh!duh!...Spot here!..hee hee....Good Morning Porch...hey there Boo!..Maude I slipped a Pork Chop from lunch yesterday for my Lunch today at work!...but in the mean time breakfast menu:2 eggs your way,country ham and red eye gravy,bisquits,grits,hashbrowns,bacon,oj,milk,coffee...ready at 7:47 est...be on time!...peace out porch....SPOT
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82233: Hey there, SPOT. Thanks for breakfast.

Where is everyone this morning? Rise and shine.

It is warming up her in south texas and is very humid. :-( but at least I'm not shoveling a foot of snow out of my driveway.

I feel like crawling back into bed but have to get Erin to school and there are chores to do.

One question, though. I was watching a color ep of TAGS yesterday and someone called Aunt Bee "Mrs. Taylor", which was probably just a mistake but does it ever say in the show that she was a MRS.? I wonder if she was supposed to be Andy's aunt by marriage or by blood...?

Boo
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82234: Good morning, porch! Boo, to answer your question, I recall numerous instances where she was specifically referred to as "Miss Taylor", so I'm quite sure she was related by blood. In fact, it seems to me there was one time where she corrected someone, emphasizing the "Miss" - or am I thinking of the one where Clara is talking to the man who was selling the organ to the church?

My daughter and SIL are here, came in last night, will be here through tomorrow. We've had a lovely visit so far, I think he'll go into Dallas today and spend some time with his brother, and she and I will just go mousing around somewhere. Tonight I want to take them to Villa's, a Brazilian grill here in town that's just fabulous! Wonderful food, and they finish it off with slices of fresh pineapple, dusted with cinnamon and sugar and grilled. Delish!

Have a great day, Mayberry! I love you all! --Romeena
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82235:
Boo, just remember that adverbs mainly answer or describe "how." How were we walking? We were walking briskly. How does the paint dry? the paint dries slowly. etc.
Prayers for all on this fifth day of the new year!A new congress convenes and a new year dawns.
Resolutions to be made (and broken!) haha
Oh well, It started out good. teehee.
God bless,
MDC
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82236: Morning porch, hope all is well.
Boo: I totally understand about the challenges of helping our kids with homework. I stopped being able to be much help at about 8th grade, especially with the Math classes. I could review questions with them, shop for supplies for projects and cut and paste really well but other than that I had to do a lot of research before I was much help in some of the upper level science and honors classes.

Romeena: I do have lots of stories and memories of the folks that have crossed my path over my years of working in community mental health. I often wonder what it says about me that I do what I do and seem to have a good understanding of folks with those type issues. Guess I fit right in with them, :)

I'm going to the Brazillian grill with Romeena tonight!

Better get back to work. have a blessed day.

Big Maude
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82237: Thanks MDC...I will remember that about adverbs today, but will I remember it tomorrow?? ;-)

I think you are right about Aunt Bee, Romeena. Guess she dedicated her life to raising other people's children and never had any of her own. Somehow her character doesn't seem to have the "old maid" characteristics that you often see in the old movies and TV. To me, she seems more like a widow.

Hey, I want to go to the Brazillian grill, too, Maude. I'll pick you up and we can drive to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to meet Romeena for dinner.

Break over...back to the endless chores.

Boo
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82238: Good day porch family:
Just wanted to say Hi and read up on the many archives I have missed...it's nice to see some people on here NEVER change!
I wanna go to the Brazillian Grill too. Let's see...vacuuming done, laundry finished,dishes out of sink...
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82239:
When i first started coming here i thought you all really DID go out for dinner together, and i thought everyone lived near each other! Aint that funny! Then as time went on I thought, no they live in different states! ha
ya all have a good evening.
MDC
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82240:
Hello porch family....rainy here in SC.

MDC....that's funny....the first time I saw all these post I didn't know what the heck was going on either...lol

Ok..if all ya'll are going to meet Ro at the Brazillian Grill, I'm going too! That grilled fresh pineapple sounds good.

My daughter came home today with a sore throat...Lord please keep me from getting it. That's the last thing I need heading out on this busy tour Friday.

My love and prayers are for you all!
-REV.




January 05, 2011 - Msg 82241: Well, heck! I wanna go too! Rev,jump on I-26 East and pick me up- I'll be waiting!
Hope you don't get a sore throat-praying for you!
*******************
possum under a rock
January 05, 2011 - Msg 82242:
Rev--OREGAMAX capsules! haha Boo may laugh, but I tell ya, it works. People at work get colds, sore throats, etc all winter long, but the oregano works as a natural immune booster.
There is an on-line book called "The Cure is in the Cupboard" that is really good!
and I will indeed be prayin tho Rev that your uvula and those platinum pipes remain well! (:
Possum- I'll take Otis's route to the still thru Ohio and meet ya all in Dallas! ha
God bless and sweet dreams.
MDC

January 06, 2011 - Msg 82243: I'm not laughing, MDC, but just be sure if you get the liquid form of the oregano that you dilute it ALOT before ingesting it.

Gearing up for another busy day. I have been trying to get the pantry cleaned up and organized, clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen and organize the laundry room in the new year. Its going more slowly than I anticipated and I found a mess under my kitchen sink where some liquid soap turned over and leaked out all over the place. No fun to clean that up.

I noticed my dog, Hank wasn't eating yesterday so I hope he is not sick today or requiring a trip to the vet. Its not like Hank to stop eating, that's for sure.

Better get moving in that direction. The coffee is finished and its time to officially start the day. Hope you all have a blessed one.

Boo
January 06, 2011 - Msg 82244: Morning porch, at work today as usual. snowed again last night, roads are pretty clear. The now is really pretty, it has fallen and laid on the tree limbs and bushes so it makes a lovely winter wonderland.

Please pray for my uncle, soon to be 83 and recently learned he has lung cancer in both lungs. apparently not much they can do at this point. thanks.

breakfast menu: scrambled eggs, english muffins, sausage, bacon. apple butter, jelly, coffee, tea, chocolate milk to drink.

have a blessed day, prayers for everyone.
Big Maude
January 06, 2011 - Msg 82245:
Boo-come to think of it, I think REv DOEs have the liquid form.
Maudie- that sure does sound pretty. I wish we could post photos here, would like to see that.
Have a good day.
MDC
"On my word as a gentleman." ha
January 06, 2011 - Msg 82246: Thanks for b-fast Maude...busy here at work...I will get lunch:open face roast beef sandwiches,maude slaw,tea.....SPOT
January 06, 2011 - Msg 82247: Good afternoon, porch! Rob and Richard just left, we had such a nice visit. Didn't go to the Brazilian grill after all - in case you were wondering why we weren't there! We ended going out to Roanoke and met Dave and Brittney and the boys at Babe's for fried chicken. Yum!

All this talk of snow -- it's 52 here right now, beautiful, sunny and bright. However, they're predicting some really cold weather over the next few days, maybe even some snow next week. That should be interesting.

Eloise is doing okay after her knee replacement, but not as well as she had expected. The last one, she just bounced right back, but is having some problems this time. Lots of nausea, more pain than with the other one. Supposed to go home tomorrow, but we'll see. Prayers for her, please.

Well, I think I'm going to go have a little nap before heading for work tonight. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
January 06, 2011 - Msg 82248: I forgot about Eloise! I didn't remember to pray for her but will now. Poor Eloise, that is rough.

Have a good night at work, Ro.

Boo
January 06, 2011 - Msg 82249: I have a question for you ladies who have been through menopause. For the last few nights, I have been getting something that may be hot flashes but not sure. My face starts to feel very hot and is flushed for about thirty minutes, but the rest of me is ok. Sound weird? Just wondering if any of you ever had that happen?

It is pretty chilly outside tonight. Very clear and cold for south texas and I love it. I took the kids for a drive tonight and now am just relaxing...maybe I will pop in a TAGS DVD before bed. Isn't it Maude who likes to watch TAGS before bed? Hey, I saw Ben Weaver in a movie on Turner Classics tonight. I caught the end of it and don't know the name but it starred Loretta Young and Ben played an old fellow who witnessed a hit-and-run accident that injured a child. Anyone know what movie it was? It's funny how often I run into TAGS actors in other movies from the 50's and 60's.

Guess I will see you all in the morning with my coffee.

Boo
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82250:
Hello porch family.

Continued prayers for Ro's friend Eloise.

Maude....prayers for your uncle.

MDC....yep, I have the liquid form....and yes Boo you gotta be careful using it in the liquid form..it will light you up...hehe

Well gang I leave out early in the morning for my three week tour. I may not get to check back in until next week. As always, depends on the internet service available where ever I'm at. Internet or not...you all are always in my heart and prayers.

Spot...I'll be looking for that UPS truck while out on the road.

Just want to see Jesus lifted high and lives touched on this tour...that's my earnest prayer!
And don't ever forget.....Jesus loves you!
-REV.

January 07, 2011 - Msg 82251:
Prayers for Big Maude's uncle.
Have a good evening,
Good night,
MDC
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82252:
All the best to you REV. Thanks for all you do!
God go with you,
MDC
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82253:
Boo, regarding your red hot face symptom, when was the last time you had your blood pressure checked?

REV, good luck with your upcoming journey.

from Poor Horatio
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82254:
Good morning porchsters!
Good point PH, glad we have you here to think of such things. Boo- please have it checked.
Have a good day all!
MDC
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82255: Lunch menu: grilled hamburgers,baked beans,chips...SPOT
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82256: I thought of that right away, PH, and immediately took my blood pressure and found it to be 117/74, so that wasn't it. I keep a pretty close eye on the BP because EVERYBODY in my family has it except me. As I age, though, and lose estrogen, it will be more likely to start being a problem. I had a short period of time a few months ago that it was elevated a few times but that has never happened again. I do keep an eye on it, though, thanks.

Have a wonderful tour, REV. Prayers for you!

Thanks for lunch SPOT..sounds really good.

Been doing chores all morning now I have to help Sean with his school work. You all have a terrific afternoon.

Boo
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82257: Hey y'all-
Hope everyone's doing well on this Friday. Safe travels, Rev and God Bless!

Boo, I've been like that before. It's not my BP because I am on a beta blocker for Mitral Valve Prolapse. Could be hot flashes, girlfriend! At least you're getting them in the Winter- ha ha!
No, I'm not laughing, I know how it feels. Hang in there!

Prayers for Maude's uncle, Eloise and all in need.

Good lunch Spot! I've got chili for supper- y'all come on over to the Rock and join me!
*******************
possum under a rock
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82258: Howdy, porch. Just spoke with Jerry, and Eloise is all dressed and waiting for a transporter to pick them up - she's going home. Jerry said she has already informed him that "we're stopping at McDonald's on the way home, because I'm hungry!" So - she's okay! I'm playing bunco tonight, so will just let them handle it and get settled in, then will probably take something over there tomorrow - maybe a pot roast or some such.

Boo, you have described the onset of hot flashes perfectly. Have fun, dear!

Well, guess I'd better go feed my little friend, and then hit the shower. Be blessed, all. --Romeena
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82259: Good Friday porch, its about 6:45 pm on my end of the porch. It has been snowing off and on all day today, mostly fine wet snow so the roads have been clear until about now and it is starting to stick on the road. Patrick is working tonight so hopefully he will be okay getting home.

took Beth to the dentist this morning for a crown and about fainted when they told me how much "my" part was going to be.
Woe! Thank goodness we had some ins#rance. anyway. she saw a young female dentist and really liked her.

Supper menu will be: cubed steak and gravy, salad, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls for sopping up all that gravy.
chocolate layer cake. tea kool aid to drink.

have a blessed evening. Prayers all around.

Big Maude
January 07, 2011 - Msg 82260: HAHA...thanks, Ro and Possum for the encouragement. Last night I sat in my chair with a wet washcloth on my face for awhile, then I would twirl the washcloth around a bit to cool it down again, then back on my face! So far no hot face tonight. :-)

I feel your pain, Maude! Those dental bills are horrendous even with insur@nce. I think I still owe a couple of thousand on the kids..need to check in on that.

Lovely weather here today and a beautiful clear evening. God bless you and your's!

Boo

PS-Glad Eloise is getting better.
January 08, 2011 - Msg 82261: Hi All.
Boy is it a little cold right now 19 and a snow stomr is here.
Good old 14-a I can heard it now and can not wite.

TOM :(
January 08, 2011 - Msg 82262: Wow, its in the 60's here TOM. Hope you stay warm.

I got some good news (I hope) yesterday concerning sis-in-law. Mom-in-law said she heard from her from where she is visiting friends and she said her friends are going to help her get into a low-income apartment there where they live. I pray its true and that they can pull it off! Things have been going so much more smoothly and less stressful around here. I feel like my stress level has greatly diminished. Please pray with me that she will follow through with finding a place up in Killeen near her friends. It would be a very good choice because her friends are an older, very stable couple that pastor a small Baptist Church there. I think he may have recently retired and they have no children at home. I think they can probably do alot more for her because she seems to listen to them more than anyone and I'm sure they have alot of experience with the kind of difficulties she is having.

Be back later.

Boo
January 08, 2011 - Msg 82263: Good morning, porch. Wow, Boo, that sounds like a perfect solution for SIL. It's not unusual that she would listen more to that couple than to her family. Quite often, people feel like they're giving over control when they follow the advice of family members, but for some reason, they see it as an autonomous choice when they listen to someone else. We humans are weird little critters.

Tom, you stay warm! I wish I could send you some of our sunshine. It's 43 here in the Dallas area, may not warm up much more, but it's not bad. The sun is shining, and there's no wind, so it's almost too warm here at my desk, by a south-facing window, with the sun streaming in.

Well, Eloise is home, Jerry needs to go fix someone's furnace, so I'm going to take La Starr and go stay with her while he's gone. He was helping her into the shower when I called, so apparently she's doing pretty well. I just don't want her to be alone.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
January 08, 2011 - Msg 82264: Well RO, I have not heard it from her yet and when I question MIL about it tonight, she said something about that they were trying to help her find a "shelter" and I just don't see her actually doing that. I think she will want to come back. We'll see.

Very sorry to hear about the tragedy in Tucson today. Just horrible, especially the little 9 year old girl being shot. The last I heard on FOX is that 6 were confirmed dead and 15 wounded. So sad.

Boo
January 08, 2011 - Msg 82265: Happy Saturday Porch, its about 7:30 pm on my end of the porch and around 20 degrees. We've had snow again today and with the cold temps not much as melted away.

we did get out for a while this afternoon but came home in time for a supper of leftovers + manwhiches, french fries. warmed us up after being out in the cold!

I bought a cool DVD at Target today, classic episodes of Dick Van Dyke, The Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith and Dick Van Dyke. Can't wait to watch all those old shows. Sure beats what is on tv these days.

snack will be: cinnamon toast, hot chocolate.

have a blessed evening. Prayers all around.

Big Maude
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82266: Morning y'all. Prayers for the AZ Congresswoman and all affected by yesterday's shooting. I have been thinking about MDC since I heard that-such a tragedy for his state..for the entire nation.
Maude, I think I saw that DVD at Amazon.com and almost ordered it. Let me know what you think of it- hope you enjoy it.
Well, we've got a big Winter storm headed this way,so I've been getting prepared. Got my canned goods, batteries, bread, peanut butter, tp,firewood..guess I'm as ready as can be. Sure hope things don't freeze up and we lose power. If I'm MIA around here the next couple of days, y'all will know why. Spotty, you take care because y'all are gonna get slammed from what they're saying. Prayers for the South as we weather the storm.
*******************
possum under a rock

P.S. Boo, praying that works out with your SIL.
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82267: I'm watching the early news this morning hoping that the news media finally gets their facts straight regarding the tragic shooting in Arizona. Yesterday, multiple news agencies had reported that the Congresswomen had died, and that the youngest victim was 9 months old.
This morning, I heard a telephone conversation with the grieving father of the youngest victim, 9 year old Christian Taylor Greene. How ironic it was to learn that she was born on a tragic day (9/11/2001) and also died on a tragic day.
I pray for all the dead and their families as well as for all the injured and their families.
I also want to thank those brave civilians who tackled the gunman. Unfortunately, the news media is not reporting much about those brave civilians.

from Poor Horatio
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82268: excuse my error in the previous message. The 9 year old victim is Christina (not Christian) Taylor Greene.

from Poor Horatio
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82269: They just interviewed this little girl's mom by phone on Fox News. Gretchen,the anchor was choked up,and oh, the poor mom! Even I had tears in my eyes.
She was a beautiful child- they showed her photograph. Beautiful, inside & out. So sad.
************
possum again
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82270: Just so sickening, isn't it? There are some very sick individuals out there and I'm just glad this sort of thing doesn't happen more often. Having a nine year old daughter, myself, I just can't imagine going to the grocery store and her being killed by some lunatic.

We had a storm her last night like none I have seen since Hurricane Celia! That wind was blowing so hard I really thought it was a tornado at around 4:30am. It then started to hail for awhile. Sean and I were up for a couple of hours waiting for the tornado warning to clear. Unbelievable and when we got up this morning, there were piles of hail stone all over the yard and the oad trees had been stripped of half their leaves. Weird!

Better finish getting ready for preachin'.

Boo
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82271: Good afternoon, porch! Wow - it's snowing here! Big, fat lazy flakes drifting down, lots of them! The temp is only 36, so it's not sticking, but it sure is pretty falling. The temp is supposed to drop this afternoon, so maybe we'll get some accumulation, but right now I'm just enjoying watching it fall. So pretty! The flakes are as big as quarters!

Boo, that hailstorm sounds serious. I really fear hail, because it can do so much damage, not only to property, but to living things as well. Animals out in it can be injures, or even killed by it. Scary stuff!

I watched a hilarious little scene unfold just now. Mr. (or Ms.) Squirrel came creeping along the wires out back, holding on for dear life. Back legs slipped off once, but front legs held, and he or she got back on and kept coming. They have a little highway they all follow, and I love to watch them. They come along the wires until they get to my yard, then hop off onto the first tree, a small wild elm which is draped with wisteria vines. They follow the same path through that tree, then use some over-reaching vines to get them to the next tree. Down a long sloping limb to a fork in that tree. From there they can jump to the nearby cottonwood, to which a nest box is attached. Today's visitor was headed for that box. However, I knew something about that box, so I just watched and waited. Sure enough, when the newcomer made a dive through the entry hole, in a split second he or she came flying back out, with the current resident in hot pursuit. So funny! Poor little thing took off, and is now holed up in an old nest further up the tree. It's just a big wad of leaves and twigs, probably doesn't offer much protection, but is better than nothing, I guess. There are two more nest boxes in the trees up here by the house, but they may be occupied as well. I haven't seen anyone move in, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

Drat! I have things I should be doing, but I just can't tear myself away from this window. Everything is so beautiful out there. I'm worried about the little wild things, though. I think I'll go put out some nuts and a suet cake, and maybe a chopped apple. Anything that goes out there right now has to withstand the wet snow, and those things will. Maybe some sunflower seeds too.

Blessings, friends. Stay warm! --Romeena
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82272: Hey Gang ...getting ready for ice storm here in Ga...packed for a few days at work...going in at around midnight tonight....may be there for a few days...yall got anything for lunch?...SPOT
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82273:
Hi all, well I just COULD NOT bring myself to write yesterday! Such a horrible day here in our state and for our nation! Congresswoman Giffords was holding one of her "Congress on the Corner" events where constiuants come right up and talk with her "on the street corner" so to speak. She has done these since 2007, and this one was at a Safeway strip mall. The 9 year old had been brought by a neighbor who wanted her to meet the congresswoman. And the federal judge had just stopped by to say Hi. What could be more "Americana" than a member of congress talking to constiuants?? But folks, this was not political, this was one deranged nut (whose fb and myspace postings and youtube videos prove it)
who was out for blood. Like Booth to Lincoln or any of these things, the chaf is here among the wheat. Please pray for her, for our state and nation. We need it so badly right now. God
bless America. Love you. Prayers, MDC
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82274:
Hi all, well I just COULD NOT bring myself to write yesterday! Such a horrible day here in our state and for our nation! Congresswoman Giffords was holding one of her "Congress on the Corner" events where constiuants come right up and talk with her "on the street corner" so to speak. She has done these since 2007, and this one was at a Safeway strip mall. The 9 year old had been brought by a neighbor who wanted her to meet the congresswoman. And the federal judge had just stopped by to say Hi. What could be more "Americana" than a member of congress talking to constiuants?? But folks, this was not political, this was one deranged nut (whose fb and myspace postings and youtube videos prove it)
who was out for blood. Like Booth to Lincoln or any of these things, the chaf is here among the wheat. Please pray for her, for our state and nation. We need it so badly right now. God
bless America. Love you. Prayers, MDC
January 09, 2011 - Msg 82275: oops, sorry about the double post. mdc

January 09, 2011 - Msg 82276: We're praying, MDC, we're praying. God Bless, friend.

Storm hasn't gotten here yet. They're calling for a "Wintry Mix"- translation?
A Wintry MESS! Keep the lights on, Spot!
************
possum again
January 10, 2011 - Msg 82277: Good morning Porchsters! Thought I'd check in while I can. We had a dusting of snow during the wee hours and now the ICE is falling like crazy! Sure hope the power stays on! Hope Spot & Lucy are ok over in GA. If you're in the midst of this Southern Winter storm- take care!!
Stay warm & safe & I'll check in when & if I can.
*******************
possum under a rock
January 10, 2011 - Msg 82278: Yes Ro, it seems the hailstorm did some real damage around the area...knocking down billboards, firework stands, at least one mobile home I saw was flattened. We were lucky and only lost about half the leaves off our trees and nothing else. The animals were safely sheltered. The shed Bruce finished for the animals is good and strong and they were in there with lots of hay. The dogs were in their dog houses inside the covered kennel Bruce made for them so everyone was fine the following day.

Very sad about what happened in your state MDC. Prayers for Arizona continue. Crazy times we are living in, but if you think about it, wherever there are people in a free society, there will be tragedy caused by some crazy individual. I was watching a documentary the other day on the history channel about the history of the KKK. Wow, that was something else. It is unthinkable what destruction hatred can bring.

Sorry about your bad weather, Possum. Hope you stay warm and have electricity. Check in when you can. I am jealous of Ro and her snowflakes up there in Irving. She gets snowflakes, we get hail! Sometimes I really wish I didn't live right on the coast.

Better get Erin up for school.

Boo