August 16, 2014 - Msg 98768:
TOm--you are a card! Glad your bro is doing better.
RO- I know the sen-tence probably says "panda," but I could never see a panda shooting. ha I also had a little book called (for real)"How to Teach Jr. High and Live to Tell About It." :)
Well, hang in there with your weather. Sure, it's hot here too, but humidity only about 40%.
Nite,
MDC

August 16, 2014 - Msg 98769:
"Cough, cough" Stirred up a little porch dust there.
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98770: MDC, Stirring up dust? sorta the story of life of Arizonans this year. Sooo does being a "Card" rank up there with being "a bird in this world"?

Later....G-F
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98771: ...it's Ok being a bird, I like em'.....
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98772: Romeena, They are talking about bad storms and high winds in your area yesterday, are you Ok? Hopefully your outdoor paradise did not get damaged.

Booo, Where are you? Hopefully you are doing ok, check in we've missed you.

SPOT & Possum you guys still thinking about coming to Mayberry Days? It is getting closer, I look at it as the last blast for the summer. Hopefully ya'll can make it. I'll let ya know all the best places to eat. Better get your accommodations reserved they fill up fast.

G-F....
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98773: Good Sabbath Porch.

My goodness MDC, You have the porch sparkling after that dusting. How's about you come over here and dust off my sprinkler pipe that's leaking. I'm figuring it's got about three feet of dust on it. You on buddy? :)

Yes GF, I wish I could join the club, but I still have a few years yet, Lord willing. My aching back may demand I change my thinking though. Blamed thing!

All this talk about birds has got me thinking about a poem I heard as a child.
Birdie Birdie in the sky
Let a white wash in my eye
I'm a big boy, I don't cry
But I'm sure glad that cows don't fly.

I just love those childhood classics. :)

Asa
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98774: Good morning, porch! So what am I doing on the porch during preaching time? Well, it's because I'm a cautious person. Just cautious! (Or maybe a scaredy-cat.) A thunderstorm rolled in last night about 3 a.m. and just parked itself overhead and sat there. We have had lots of rain (still raining) and lots of thunder and lightning. Normally, I don't let rain keep me from going to church, but lightning is another story. I could not have left this house without a shower and washing my hair (it looked like Don King's) and I wasn't about to stand in that shower with lightning crashing everywhere. I even Googled the question, and found very diverse answers. The National Weather Service, as a policy, advises against it. Several self-proclaimed experts on the subject said it was perfectly safe - that is, if your house conforms with this or that grounding code. Well, my house is very well built, but it's 41 years old, so I don't know what the codes were then. My dad built it, and I know he always met or exceeded all the codes. For example, in 1973 the code called for studs to be placed on 24" centers, but Daddy insisted they be placed on 18" centers. Cost a bit more, but maybe that helps to explain why this house has not moved one bit, no cracks anywhere, in 41 years. The foundation is an inch thicker and has about 20% more reinforcement in it than code required, too. He also used only the highest-quality materials available, but still - I don't know whether that would mean I wouldn't get zapped in the shower if lightning hit. Seems to me that standing in a stream of water coming through metal pipes, with a metal drain beneath me wouldn't be exactly the safest place to be. So, my frazzly hair and I stayed home this morning. Bentley and Toye Starr are delighted. They don't care what I look like.

Bentley is still doing well. His appetite is good, he still makes his little mad dash around the back yard when he goes out to potty, and he's showing no signs of being in any pain. It's been three months now, and the vet told us we'd have only two to four months with him, but not much more. So, we have hope. Please keep praying! We serve a mighty God, but one who still cares for a little dog, too. We're not giving up!

Wow. It's still raining, gently, the kind that soaks in. We need it so badly. The "stormy" part of it has moved on, and left just the rain. The sky shows no sign of clearing, so I'm hoping this will last a while.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98775: Oops. I spoke too soon. Big old flash of lightning just now, thunder rumbling, and the wind is picking up. I hope it's not going to get rowdy again. I much prefer the slow and gentle rain.

The critters apparently aren't trusting it much either. I've seen one squirrel, just briefly and then he disappeared. I've seen a couple of doves and a bluejay, but they've disappeared too. One little covey of young sparrows appeared (how often do those birds have babies, anyway?) and hung around the feeder for a while. The rain has picked up now, raining pretty hard, and the sparrows are huddled on the ledge outside my window, feathers all fluffed out. So cute! They're quite safe there. There's a three-foot eave overhead, the ledge is three inches wide, and the house is blocking the wind, so they're protected. No cat danger, either. Even Shamu, dumb as he is, wouldn't be out in this rain. So, feel safe, little birdie. You're welcome here.

--Romeena
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98776: Oh No... Asa, That one may cost you a $25.00 fine from TOM.. ;) (I'll loan you my Mr. Potato Set.)

Romeena, Doctors don't know everything, the will of a dog is strong and prayers are even stronger. The 2-4 months, that's in "people" time, you know dog time is much longer... Now if he was a giraffe that would be a whole lot different.

G-F...

August 17, 2014 - Msg 98777: Well, I just got home from picking up a few groceries at the local Braum's store. They're a mile from my house, and Kroger is three miles. Their prices are about the same or a little lower, and I park at the front door. Can't beat that.

I left Bentley in the utility room, because he had just eaten and slurped up a lot of water. So, when I walked back in, he had thrown up the whole thing! Sure glad he was on tile, not carpet! However, this doesn't scare me, because he has done that now and then since he was a puppy. He has a very delicate stomach, because he had parvo and nearly died when they first got him. They had him two days, and he got sick, so he was already incubating it when they got him from the breeder. After two weeks of treatment, a vet bill over $2k, he recovered, but will always have a very sensitive stomach. Of course, they contacted the breeder, and he paid the vet bill, as he should have, since it was evident the pup was already sick.

Parvo is very tricky. You can't kill the virus, and even with immunizations, which he had been given, you can't be sure. There is a brief window of time when the immunizations don't do any good, and it's hard to know when that is. That's why puppies shouldn't go to their forever home until they're three months old, to make sure they're not going to get sick. The old notion of shipping them out at six weeks of age just doesn't wash anymore. Too bad, because we all love to raise our dogs from tiny babies, but it's not in their best interest, or ours.

Naw! Sheriff TOM won't fine Asa for that joke, it was too funny!

Well, better go put my groceries away. They had some beautiful cherries, a dollar a pound cheaper than Kroger! I got a nice boneless ribeye - will get three meals out of it. Got some salad greens, cherry tomatoes and a cucumber, so will build a great salad this evening, and got a couple of avocados, too. I think I'll make some guacamole and eat it right now, since I haven't eaten all day. Love the stuff! Blessings, friends. --Romeena
August 17, 2014 - Msg 98778: Hey There.
Now G F how about you pay the fine for Asa big mouth.
Asa that was a nice one
Thank Romeena now I will have to fine some thing to eat!
S I L is doing good now, she up and giting arould
with a little help.
THANK for the prayer for her,

TOM

August 18, 2014 - Msg 98779: Asa, I think my shovel will get a work-out today, I'm getting 6 tons of gravel for my driveway this morning. So it looks like it will be nice and sharp! Better go take my Aleve and pre medicate, looks like a rough day for the back....Waaah! better call the Waambulance for me ha!

G-F.....
August 18, 2014 - Msg 98780: 6 tons of gravel GF? Mercy sakes, you're gonna do yourself an injury buddy. Hopefully the truck can do most of the spreading and you just have to dress it up a little.

Well I have a noon appointment with my Dr. to get my pelvis adjusted. Saturday I went over to my neighbors house to help out. Her Son and his family are moving in with her. (She's the widow who's husband died in the plane crash back in April) There was a bunch of us from our Church helping, and I guess I shouldn't have been one of them because I went and got the misery in my back. I knew there was no way I could go to work today and do the digging I needed to do. So here I sit with an ice pack on my rear end. But this time it is a pelvis gone out of whack. I can tell by the pain. So I feel pretty confident my Doc can fix me up.

Tom, sure am glad you liked my joke and didn't put me in the lock up. You'd have to be bringing me ice for my back every hour. Glad your SIL is doing better.

Boo, where are you girl????

Asa
August 18, 2014 - Msg 98781: Asa,it's time you take your act at the Gigolo Club down a notch-we can't have you with an out of whack pelvis! Maybe don't gyrate as much during your grand finale??! It's either that,or ditch the toolbelt!!

I'm not sure about Mayberry Days,yet, G-F. if I go,it will probably be a last minute decision. will drive up,spend a day,then head back towards the rock. Sure hoping I can make it!

Tom, it's good to hear that your SIL is getting along better-prayers,friend.

Well,gonna go scrounge up some lunch-y'all have a good afternoon!

*******************
possum under a rock
August 18, 2014 - Msg 98782: Asa, When are you going to learn? + > What Possum said<. Sounds like you have a bad case of "Elvis" in your pelvis, or better known as "Elvistis"....Good thing you were helping others or we would have to give you more of a chastising their old buddy.
Yes, Thank the Lord for a dump truck driver with a good "tailgating" touch. He did do a good job of spreading even with the curves & off-sets. So I only had to do a little moving & spreading. Sounds like I got lucky and came out in better shape than you did today....

Possum, I hope you can go, I never met a real talking Possum before, + a talking dog that is if SPOT comes too.

Well off to fight the WalMartians, hope I make it back alive, If I don't, I'll leave my "Joke Book" to TOM....

G-F....
August 19, 2014 - Msg 98783:
Maybe we should have a "Misery in the back" club, after all "misery loves company!" haha
Yall make my back hurt just reading about ya!
APB for BOO! I see Thelma Lou on FB, good stuff.
Prayers,
MDC
August 19, 2014 - Msg 98784: Good morning porch, looks like I am the first one up. already at work and getting my day started.

hope everyone has a great day.
meet you at I Hop for breakfast!
prayers and blessings to all
Big Maude
August 19, 2014 - Msg 98785: I'm up too, Maude. All dressed and ready to head out for a home health visit. I'll be back home in an hour or so, then have another call this afternoon. I wish I could get them closer together, so I could see everybody in one trip, but I have to accommodate their schedules, so it's usually not possible. No real problem, though. All my calls are here in Irving, so nothing is very far away. It's funny. Part of me loves this home health thing, and part of me is saying, "I'm 75, and I just flat dog don't want to work anymore!" Oh well. We do what we must, and I'm grateful for this opportunity. At least I'm not pulling 12-hour night shifts anymore. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
August 19, 2014 - Msg 98786: Howdy porch pals. I hope you are all well.

Saw my Doc yesterday and he twisted me around a bit and got my pelvis back in place. Still a bit sore today, but the sharp stabbing pain of yesterday is gone. Thank the Lord.

Sure hope them walmartians didn't capture GF. We haven't heard from him since. Maybe he's just sitting outside considering how he's gonna paint his porch.

Misery in the back club. I think that's a good idea MDC. I always wanted to be in a club but always got black balled.

Possum, give up my grand finale? That's my signature component. Give up that and I might as well hang up my tool belt. :)

Big Maude, I don't know why, but the IHOP's around here are pretty bad. I have been to them in California and really liked them, so when they started building them here, I was excited. But the quality of food and service is very sub par in my opinion.

Ro, I am glad you got out of those long 12 hour shifts. And I am glad you have found a little something to do to help out the bank account. It is my hope for you that you can do it for as long as you desire, rather than having to do it to make ends meet. I hope you know what I mean.

Well I'm perplexed about something. Why has Boo quit posting? I hope it's not over anything anyone said. I know she is plenty busy, but I think she liked to come here and chat with us. And I sure enjoyed her posts. Anyway, I hope she will return to regular posting. The porch just doesn't seem the same. I know a lot of folks have come and gone over the years, and some still come around from time to time. And life gets busy. I just hate to see a long time regular leave us. I hope she and her family are ok.

Well I better get down on the floor and do my back stretches. All in all, it's a fun day.

Asa
August 19, 2014 - Msg 98787: Hi All
his porch is like a home a way from home with all the good friends here!
Maybe are little world here or looking for someing
to open up wing to fly free?

TOM

August 19, 2014 - Msg 98788: Nope, Asa the WalMartain's didn't get me but it sure was close! I thought it would be better on a Monday... But, I was wrong!

I agree TOM, Sure is like a home away from home...Sometime it's better than home, only have to do a little sweeping from time to time when the porch gets dirty and a little touch-up painting on the rockers.

Oh Asa, I'm going to do my exercises too, gonna turn on Chuck Norris and watch him do his total gym work-out, yep that'll do for today....

G-F...
August 19, 2014 - Msg 98789: Good afternoon, porch. TOM, what a beautiful thought. "To open up our wings, to fly free." That's absolutely lovely. We are all restricted in some way, that's just part of the human condition. Some restrictions are visible, some are not, but we all have them, in some way. I think of Robin Williams. To look at him, you would have thought he didn't have a worry in the world, but apparently he suffered from depression and anxiety attacks, and had battled alcoholism. More recently, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I would say he had his share of restrictions. Now, I hope, he is flying free. No one knows that now but God.

I'm a little concerned about Boo, too. It's been a while since she has been on the porch, and that's not like her. Maybe I'll drop her an email.

David and Brittney are home from their vacation, and David came after Bentley today. I hated to see him go. He's such a good dog, so obedient and just has a big old goofy, kind heart. How often do you see a big dog allow a little dog to win in a game of tug with a toy? Well, Bentley does. He actually lets her win, and she, the little airhead, has the nerve to look proud of herself. She doesn't even realize that he LET her win. Furkids - ya gotta love 'em!

Well, guess I'll go rustle up something to eat. I've been busy and haven't eaten all day, not since last night, so guess I should fix that. Trouble is, I don't know what I want. I hate when that happens. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
August 19, 2014 - Msg 98790: Quick trouble check...been at lake for past 2 days...great times with friends...back to wk tomorrow...ugg....ok..any supper for tonight or shall Mrs Spot and I grab chinese?...SPOT
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98791:
I porchsters. I have seen Boo on FB, so I'm not sure why she's not been here lately.
ASA--you can be president of the club! ha
Well all, I'm worried about pappabear again.
A PO box that he gave me is returning my cards to him. I hope all is OK. Keep him in your prayers.
RO--I think I found you a vacuum hose. Will email you about it!
Prayers,
MDC
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98792: Kai's first day of homeschooling was today(her idea to start early). Still trying to get the hang of it, even though the curriculum I use has pretty much everything planned in a guide. She did well, aside from being tired from staying up too late the night before. But she minded well and did her studies.
I am still not sold on this curriculum I use, but I guess we will test drive it for a couple weeks before we send it back and try something else.

I guess I'd better get to sleep or I will be the one yawning tomorrow. ;-)

Prayers for pappabear's (and Boo's) well-being.

Goodnight all.

-Sterling Holobyte
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98793: Good morning, porch! Sterling, I really admire you, and anyone else who is willing to tackle home-schooling. I would never have had the courage to do that. It's a risky thing, but if you can do it successfully, and I'm sure you can, the rewards are great.

Wow. Pappabear's mail is coming back? That's scary. I hope he contacts someone soon. Prayers for him, for sure.

Well, guess I'd better run. Have several errands to do, need to go by the home health office and pick up my little old check, and have a HH visit to make on the way home. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98794: I talked with Boo by phone, and she's okay. Sean has had a bad case of the flu, and she's been busy with him, and trying to get things settled down after their trip. She says Sean is better today, though still not really well. I told her we had been concerned about her, and she appreciated that, but has just been very busy. I imagine she'll join us later on today. --Romeena
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98795: Awwww, Thanks for the report Romeena. I appreciate it. I have been worried about her.

Asa
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98796: Aw, I love you guys! How kind it is of you to be concerned. We really are family when we call and check up on each other, aren't we? :)

Sorry to be off the porch long, but don't think I don't think of you all often. Been a stressful week, as Ro said. I think I will read over the last few days and see what I have missed...be back later.

Boo
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98797: BOO! Good to have ya back! We thought you'd runoff with the butter & egg man. Hope all is well. Thanks Romeena for making the phone call, Sarah couldn't have done it better! With all the technology stuff we have sometimes ya still have to "Call The woMAN!" Right?....haha!

Sterling, Just a question, when ya home school your child do you still have to pack the PB&J sammich? Or does she just yell "BREAD".....

G-F....
August 20, 2014 - Msg 98798: Thank you, Romeena. Don't admire me too much. As I stated before, I chose the most complete curriculum so that the instructor guides are included with it, and they basically have all the lesson plans, questions and such, so that I don't have to do all that. I figured that especially since it was my first time doing it, I should keep that kind of stuff to a minimum. I mean, some of the schoolwork is confusing enough. ;-)

Ha ha! Nope G-F, I don't pack anything. As an almost 14 yr old, Kai is old enough to make her own lunch. I just have to buy it.

Glad you're ok, Boo. And I hope Sean is on the mend(tell him it is too early to have the flu!).

-Sterling Holobyte
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98799:
GF--dont you know that satellites are orbiting the earth, and there's international television? haha Who needs Sarah? ha
BOO-glad you are OK, but stress can be bad, so take it easy OK?.
Sterling, hang in there. Have you heard of the book Rush Revere, and also one he wrote about the pilgrims? Both are good!
prayers,
MDC
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98800: Great to see you Boo. Prayers for you and your family for sure.

I hope pappabear is ok.

Sterling, I wanted very much to home school my kids when they were that age because I felt that the public school system was a failure. Especially all the social pressure that exists there. And that has been a few years ago. And I know it has only gotten worse. Around here they have now begun to up what they call "Charter Schools". Although these schools are still funded with public money, they are different in how they are administered. And they require a much heavier involvement from parents. My Grandkids go to one and it has worked out pretty well thus far.

Well my back is doing much better. Went back to work yesterday and got most of the repair completed. Sure hope it's the last one. My goodness, I just got a slug of work orders yesterday to start getting things ready for old man winter. Dang! Time just moves right along, don't it?

Prayers for our troubled old world. What a mess we have made of our lives.

Asa
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98801: MDC....I still think the world needs more "Sarah" than "Siri" just sayin'.... Technology is not all what it's cracked up to be! What happened to the good old days when you had "road maps" and all the arguing with you wife on where to turn? That stimulated "conversation"...Guys have internal GPS's anyhow don't ya know...haha Getting Lost? Never! We just visit places where we have never been before. Then we generate "communication" on how to get to a different destination. And we didn't need Dr. Phil to moderate that for us...
WOW.... I'm in it DEEP now!.... Go ahead buy a GPS, drive in silence... But wait, they do say "Silence is GOLDEN"... Sometimes you just can't say enough about being "silent"....Never Mind!..lol

G-F....


August 21, 2014 - Msg 98802: Good morning, porch! Asa, I'm glad your back is better. Just don't overdo now, and rile it up again.

G-F, I love it! "The world needs more 'Sarah' than 'Siri'." So true, and very well stated.

I don't know if it's true of all men, but my Dale did have a built-in GPS, or else he just had a lot of luck. We used to get in my big old '71 Buick wagon (back when cars were CARS) and drive out in the countryside. And I do mean countryside. If he could find an unpaved road, he would take it. One day, with all the kids in the car, we were driving down a little gravel road, which eventually turned to dirt. He kept driving, with me yammering at him to turn around. Finally, the dirt road became just a big trail, and ended at a running creek. I thought he'd turn around, but no. He actually drove my pet car off into that creek! Made a sharp left turn when we entered the water, and proceeded to drive down the creek bed! The water was only a few inches deep, and the bed was slabs of rock, with gravel in the gaps, and that wonderful old wagon just plowed right on through it. (Loved that car!) Well, by now, I'm thinking he has completely lost his marbles, but he's just looking at me and grinning, clearly enjoying it all greatly. After about a quarter mile or more, suddenly there was another little dirt trail opening off the creek, on the side across from where we had entered. He made the sharp right, climbed the gentle slope and we were out of the creek. He followed the little dirt trail until it became a dirt road, then a gravel road, and eventually led back to a paved road.

Well, I was dumbfounded. I couldn't imagine how he could have known that, or how he could be that lucky. He let me fizz about it for a couple of days, just laughing at me when I'd bring it up. Finally, he gave in and said, "Think about it. Why would there be a road, dirt or otherwise, that just ended at a creek? No point in that. Therefore, there had to be another road leading out on the other side." Well, he was right, but I wanted to know how he knew which way to turn. "Easy. When I looked upstream, I saw tree limbs and vines hanging over the water, too low for a car to pass beneath without hitting them. Obviously, nothing had passed that way in a long time, so I turned downstream." Argh! So simple! And that's a sample of life with my Dale. Never dull.

Well, better get moving around here. I had a home health visit to make this morning, but they called and told me the sweet old fellow is moving today into an assisted living facility. I'll continue to follow him there, but he's not available today. He made the choice himself, and seems happy about it. He's 86, sharp as a tack, in a body that's just failing him. I've enjoyed my visits with him.

Blessings, porch! --Romeena
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98803:
GF--you do realize that I was just quoting Mr. Tucker, right? But I like your quote too!
Have a good day all. We had a mess of rain in our area
on Tuesday, and more expected today!
God bless,
MDC
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98804:
Glad to see Boo posting again. And sorry to hear we have lost contact again with pappabear.

Sterling Holobyte, Kai's homeschooling interests me. I have a few questions for you.
#1 I am curious to know how involved the parent (you) has to be. Do you teach any of the material or are you limited to just helping her with the homework?
#2 Although I am not asking exactly how much it costs to pay for homeschooling, I would like to know in relative terms. Is it like 50% the cost of a regular school or 75% the cost of a regular school or some other percentage?

Did you folks hear about the young Tennessee girl who was ordered to leave class by her teacher because she said "Bless you" to someone who sneezed? The teacher believes such phrases should only be used in church.

from Poor Horatio
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98805: Well, guess your fanny is no longer on the ice pack, Asa..good to hear. :)

I did hear something about the girl having to leave class for saying "God bless you"...just an ignorant teacher there...ironic.

Hope the homeschooling goes well for you, Sterling. I used to constantly second-guess myself when I was doing it. I think since sean had dyslexia and learning issues I expected to have to work as hard with Erin, but I didn't. She learned much more easily and I was pleasantly surprised by how well she did once I put her in public. She even passed the state required testing. Don't be too worried about how you are doing. I think you will be surprised at how well Kai will learn independently. Try to have some fun, too. I remember how we used to get so excited on those fall days when it would finally cool off and we would have school outside. Just a change of scenery, a picnic, little trips to the museum..freedoms you don't have in school, make things fun. :)

Boo
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98806: I am still working on getting my nursing license current and was finally able to get the last of the required Hep B immunizations this month. I am just waiting for my temporary license to come in the mail so I can begin the 80 hours of clinical work I have to complete before the permanent license is renewed. After that I can start looking for a job. I will probably try to get back into home health work on a visit by visit basis, much like Ro. I am going to ease back into it and see how it goes. :)

Still having some depressed days since Mom died and not feeling very motivated, but I know that is part of the grieving process and things will get better.

Bruce and I were so worn out from vacation that we decided to motivate one another by walking every evening. That has been going well and hopefully will keep my blood sugar low enough.

Sean is doing better but still a little weak. He is about to begin some vocational testing next week to help him find the right job. Prayers, please.

Better get the clothes in the dryer..

Boo
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98807: Yea, MDC I knew you were quoting Mr. Tucker, don't go getting sensitive on me now...haha But if you remember he DID have one of those new phones in his car. So he should have called Sarah on it and she would have told him Wally don't work on Sundays and he could of saved himself a lot of grief... Did you remember where you put your umbrella? Not had much use for it until recently, I saw on the news where there were a lot of wash-out from the sudden downpours, so be careful!

Boo, Hang in there I know how those "sad" days creep up on you when you think you are doing better, so hang tough it takes time (only you & God knows how long)....

G-F...
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98808: Whew...storms here...mess at work...will be back when I can...3 broke poles right now...hey possum,MDC,G-F,Boo,Tom..glad sean is doing better Boo...well send food if ya can...will be here late tonight...SPOT
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98809: Thanks GF and SPOT!
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98810: Ps- Would send food but made hamburger helper tonight...maybe Maude has something more appetizing.

Boo
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98811: Just how does a hamburger help? I'd just be glad if my wife would help cook sometimes.... Wait, I did get left-overs from the restaurant the other day and she reheated it in the microwave at home, so that counts as a "Home Cooked Meal"...Right?

I think Sterling knows what I'm talking about too.

Joking aside, I do like to cook, but every cook needs a break now and again...Amen?

G-F...
August 21, 2014 - Msg 98812: Ok folks here is my dinner menu: country fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, corn on the cob,
Sliced tomatoes. Home made yeast peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Sweet tea, lemonade to drink.
Prayers and blessings to all.
Big Maude
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98813: Good evening, porch. This may be short (or not). I've been gone from home quite a bit today, including this evening, and Toye Starr is feeling very needy. She wants me in my chair in the living room, so she can get in my lap and snooze. She keeps nudging my ankle, and jumping up and scratching my leg. I may have to give in pretty quick in self-defense. Spoiled little thing.

Boo, it sounds like reviving a lapsed license is really a hassle. I'm glad I renewed mine, even though I hadn't intended to go back to work. As for the little periods of depression, hang in there, hon. The blues will descend now and then, but eventually, it will pass.

About the Tennessee girl who was disciplined for daring to say "God bless you" - I can't help wondering what would have happened if she had been Muslim and dared to say "Allah bless you." I don't know if Muslims even have such a saying - probably not, Allah doesn't seem to be in the habit of blessing people, especially "infidels" - but I'd still bet you a cookie that nothing would have been said to the girl if she had said that. What do you think?

On the subject of cooking - I broke down and ordered that "Dump Cakes" thing that's been pushed on TV lately. It came with a book for "Dump Dinners" too, and the meals look pretty tasty. You just throw it all in a dish or pan and bake it. It also came with a small frypan, with the ceramic coating on the inside. That is one doozy of a little pan! You can scramble eggs in it, then just rinse it and wipe it out with a paper towel. Absolutely no scrubbing! Just for fun, I dropped a small handful of grated cheese in it, spread it out a bit and let it cook over medium heat until the cheese had melted into a lacy-looking flat thing in the pan, much of the fat had melted out of it, and it had browned a bit. I lifted it out of the pan with tongs, held it and let it cool (took a few seconds) then put it on a paper towel briefly to soak the rest of the oil out of it. Then I ate it, sort of like a cheese chip, and it was really good! Gave me an idea - I think I could put small, thin piles of cheese on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and bake them to crisp. Would be really good alongside some soup, or a salad. Anyway, back to the little frypan - I liked it so much that I bought a 10" frypan at Target with the same ceramic inside, and I really like it too. Whatever you cook just literally slides right off, add a squirt of dish soap and some water, swish a dish cloth in it, rinse and wipe clean. You will never scrub again. Really. Now we'll see how it holds up, but my feeling is that it will make Teflon, even the newest generation of Teflon, obsolete. It's amazing stuff.

Well, before Toye Starr has a spell, I guess I'd better go and cuddle her for a while. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98814:
OOooh, GF, you are cruisin for a bruisin! ha
Also, the flooded washes were north of Phx.
We still have stupid motorists who try to cross
them! Raining right now tho at my house.
MAUDIE, good stuff...much better than warm overs.
OH ALL, when I got home from errands today, who should be
on my landline answering machine but Pappabear!
Too bad I missed the call, as I dont have caller ID to get his no. He had called to see if I had been
flooded, and I could have asked about HIM!
Well, God's blessings on all!
I dont want to start a moulage, but I wonder if
that teacher had heard 'allah bless you', if she would have said anything. OK, I'm biting my tongue.
MDC

August 22, 2014 - Msg 98815:
HA! Ro and I posted at the same time! mdc

August 22, 2014 - Msg 98816: Glad you heard from pappabear, MDC!
I haven't heard of the book you mentioned. Surprising, since the homeschool program we are using is very literature-based. Lots and lots of books; oldies and not-so-oldies. When I took all the books out of the boxes, Kai's eyes widened. I said "I thought you liked to read." And she replied, "I do, but not that much."
Like I said, I am not sold on this program yet. But, we'll see in a couple of weeks when we've had more time to "kick the tires" as it were, and see if she is actually learning anything. And retaining what she is learning.

Poor Horatio, I'll try to answer your questions the best I can.
#1. Since there is a lot of reading in this curriculum, I don't really teach her that much. I do help her with the science experiments(science is mostly taught from a cd), give her spelling words, and sometimes to just change things up a little I have her answer the questions that come at the end of her reading for any particular course verbally rather that just sit there and write them out. It has actually worked out pretty well time-wise, even with a precocious 2 yr old(almost 3 but still acting like a 2 yr old) running around underfoot.
#2. For the cost, I did get the whole package for her grade level so it was a little high, though it was lower than the private school she went to, which really wasn't that bad either. Specifically, it is about 50% lower.
You can get only specific courses if you want, and I know some people do that(including the lady who recommended the program to me), but I would just rather get everything in one package and save the trouble of figuring what is what.

If you're interested in looking further into it, the curriculum I use is called Sonlight. http://www.sonlight.com/
But there are a lot of good homeschool programs out there. I mainly chose this one because of the recommendation of one of the ladies from our church, whose children went to school with Kai, and whose opinion I respect. Though she is a seasoned homeschooling mom(and former teacher) and gets different courses from many different places.

I am not sure we have charter schools around here, Asa; at least, none that I know of, but I like the fact that there is heavy parental involvement. Maybe something to look into, since the wife wants Kai to go to public school for high school.

Thank you, Boo. I am trying to think up things I can do to make it a little more interesting for Kai. And I still need to find a good homeschooling group to get her more involved with other kids.

Have a good night, everyone!

-Sterling Holobyte
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98817: Hey MDC, One good thing about having a wife who doesn't cook...Ya don't have to worry about getting hit by a leg of lamb! A Pop Tart maybe, but not a leg of lamb ha.... I better stop, I hear one of those Pop Tart things could put a eye out if ya get hit by one! Maybe that is what "Ralphie" gets hit with in the remake of "Christmas Story"? Careful with that Kid, you'll put your eye out!....

G-F
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98818: OH I dunno GF. If she cooks there is at least a chance that flying leg-a-lamb will be warmed up a tad. If she don't cook, if might be right out of the frezzer, hard as a rock. But then again, if she is really inept in the kitchen, she might not even know where the freezer is. It's a perplexing situation all way around no doubt.

Boo, it's so good to have you back dear. The porch seemed so empty with you gone, and even the tree's didn't seem nice and full. Prayers for Sean for sure, and for you during those times when you get feeling blue. I'm sure we all have them at times. We just can't let them take control because you know who really controls those feelings, right? Darkness and despair are the opposite of Light and Hope. ;)

I guess I ain't seen that "Dumpcake" commercial Romeena. Sounds very interesting. I'll have to google it. I always say the right tool for the job. Can I get an Amen GF and MDC?

Barney seems to be improving a little each day with his back finally. Thanks for the prayers in his behalf. I still have to carry him down the steps to go outside and go potty, but he is able to walk now at least.

Well it's Friday. I best get moving. Maybe I'll try and find a job that I need to consider from all angles to do. Yea, that sounds like a good Friday kind of job.

Prayers for all.

Asa
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98819: Yep, Asa there are tools for every job! I've been studyin' on getting one of those ceramic pans too. Since Romeena endorsed the thing it must be good...Cheese chips humm.. Wonder how that would be on a Pop Tart?..haha Bet it would go good with the leg of lamb, or even a TV dinner...
If I buy one do yo all think Mrs. G-F would expect me to use it? Hummm better study a little longer on that one!

G-F

August 22, 2014 - Msg 98820: ...I forgot, Asa Friday's are good days to polish door knobs, or clean up the left handed crescent wrenches.
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98821: "Dump Dinners," Ro?..That just don't sound right. ;) Hey, I discovered the ceramic frying pans months ago and I have one that I just love. So easy to use and to clean and it only cost me 20 bucks and its a big one.

Yes, getting that license current is a real hassle and if I had had any idea how much of a hassle, I would have kept it current!

Asa, thank you for your very kind words, my friend. You're the cats, you know that?

Sterling, I used Sonlight curriculum with sean for one year. I liked it because of the emphasis on literature, but sean was much younger that Kai at that time and we enjoyed reading the books together. It would not have worked for Erin. I think it is a good curriculum but you might have to tailor it for your needs, and that's ok.

Going to be doing some cleaning and straightening this weekend. Erin goes back to school on Monday and it has been around 100 dgrees here everyday. Luckily, her athletics class is first period so it wont be as brutal. She will be taking choir this, art, and drama as well as her other subjects. Busy year!

Boo
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98822: One more thing, Sterling..try not to stress too much. We tend to think that our kids aren't learning enough, or aren't keeping up with kids in other schools, but it isn't true. Individual learning at home is usually just the opposite and she will have one-on-one instruction when she needs it. I pray she will have a real love for learning. My Erin seems to have that, thankfully, and I think it was cultivated because of the low-stress environment of homeschool.

Better git! We are going to town with St. Susan today to take Erin to the mall for new shoes. It is custom for Susan to take Erin for new shoes for her birthday every year. You never saw an Aunt and niece as close as those two. Susan and I really raised our kids together and its like they have two mothers. What a blessing that has been!

Forgot to tell about my experience yesterday with my mom-in-law. Yikes! She wanted me to pick her up so she could take Erin to lunch for her birthday. since she cant drive, she invited me along. We had a nice lunch and the waitress was very nice but when it came time to pay the tab, I asked the waitress to give it to me. MIL yelled, "No you don't!" and insisted on paying it herself, and since people were staring, I gave in. It was nice of her to want to do it, but I hated for her to pay it all, I wanted to split it with her at least. When it was time to go, we were walking to the car and she said, "I didn't leave that waitress a tip because she made me mad by rushing me!". I turned around and went to put a tip on the table and MIL was yelling behind me, "No you wont!"..too late, I did. I think she got pretty mad at me but I was satisfied with the service. That was just one of the things that was kind of crazy that day. Later at a department store, she yelled at the clerk and demanded service and about scared the poor woman to death! It is getting more difficult to take her places and remember she was assaulted by a woman at the senior center in June. We have tried talking to her about it for her own safety but we just aren't getting through. She is just getting meaner. I told Bruce I think its the dementia but he and his siblings tell me she has always been mean like that, especially to people who serve her. I think the aging brain is kicking the meanness into overdrive. It's a dilemma.

Boo
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98823: Now, aren't ya'll glad that I am back to my old long-winded self here on the porch? You asked for it! hehe

Boo
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98824: Good morning, porch! Wow, Boo, sounds like you've got your hands full with MIL. I think your assessment is spot-on. It's the dementia, magnifying her natural behavior. In all the years I worked the general floor at my hospital, I saw a lot of dementia and the behavior it can produce. Generally speaking, I think it tends to magnify attitudes and behaviors that have always existed in an individual. A thrifty, frugal person will start hoarding things, no matter how useless, such as used tissues. A peaceful, happy person usually pretty much stays that way - like my dad did. And - a confrontational, hard-to-please person often gets downright belligerent and hateful. It sounds like that's what you've got with MIL. About the only way to deal with that is to avoid accompanying them into situations where unpleasant behavior is possible. Make your reasons clear - "No, Mom, I'd rather not go to a restaurant with you. No one can please you, and it's embarrassing to me when you get upset and yell at me or other people, or when you're abusive to the server. How about we make burgers at home?" She won't like it, but after all, you have the car keys.

I recall one patient, a particularly nasty old woman, who yelled at the nurses, called us names, threw things and even tried to spit on me once. Her niece came to visit one morning, and witnessed an especially unpleasant performance by the woman. When she started to apologize for her aunt, I tried to reassure her, saying things like "it's the disease process" and such. The niece just laughed and said, "No, it's just her. She's always been as mean as a snake, which is why she never married. No man would put up with her meanness and tantrums. The disease has only made it worse."

There are exceptions - I've seen a few naturally pleasant people who become unpleasant and demanding as dementia progresses, but not many, maybe two or three. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen the opposite - anyone who was naturally mean who got sweeter with the disease. At least if that was the case, the family never told us. My own dad kept his positive attitude, his daily choice to be happy, and his delicious sense of humor right up until the last, and I thank God for that blessing. I'm trying very hard to follow his example. My precious mom never experienced any dementia. She was just a reasonable, positive and sweet person all the time, right to the end.

Well, better go. Toye Starr is hungry. She hates it when I stop off at the computer in the morning, before I feed her. I need to stop doing that, poor little thing. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98825: Hi All.
A little rain day here
Look like the porch has it other three stooges on it?
Now boys stop the fighting about cook and stop play with your food!

TOM

August 22, 2014 - Msg 98826: TOM..The "Boys" are reporting for duty....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJB0bcfdxjo

...Curley Fife
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98827: Thanks for the confirmation, Ro..I don't have a lot of geriatric experience as a nurse, but suspected that it was the dementia. I did deal with dementia with my dad but as he got worse, he was kind to everyone. He was always crazy about the ladies, though, and he was very flirtatious in his later years. That did give us some uncomfortable situations!

I feel sorry for my MIL because she alienates so many people. We will always be here for her her behavior makes it hard for everyone and family wants to avoid her. The first Christmas after dad died, Bruce asked one of his siblings to please invite her to share Christmas with them since we have her for every holiday every year. His brother offered and they went out to eat at a nice seafood place on Christmas. MIL embarrassed the tar out of them complaining about everything that she was served. Oh well, welcome to our world. She just never seems to get it. In her mind, I really do believe she thinks she is the queen of England. ;)

I ordered an electric pressure cooker online the other day after reading many reviews, etc. and got it yesterday. Cooked some chicken in it and it turned out great..and fast! I am thinking it is going to be helpful when I go back to work. If any of you uses a pressure cooker, I would love it if you share some recipes.

Gotta go..special prayer service at church tonight.

Boo
August 22, 2014 - Msg 98828: Boo, I know nothing about cooking with a pressure cooker. I'm a big scaredy-cat, I guess. When I was about nine, my grandma was cooking a roast in her pressure cooker, and I guess the little pop-off valve got stuck and didn't open to release excess pressure. Suddenly the thing blew the whole valve assembly off of the lid and shot it through the ceiling. My dad found it later, up in the attic. I decided then and there that I'd never cook with something that could shoot at me, and I never have. I know I've probably missed making some very good meals, and I'm betting you'll produce some great meals with yours.

Dementia often removes the "filter" that keeps us from saying and doing outrageous things, and it sounds like that has happened with your MIL. It surely happened to my dad's sister! We were afraid to take her anywhere. Once we took her to a Mexican buffet restaurant, one of those all-you-can-eat places. Aunt Bess had the figure of a young girl (never had kids) and was very vain. She ate like a little bird. We all filled our plates with good stuff, and she got a little salad and a taco, and made clucking noises whenever she looked at our plates. Then it happened. Just as we were sitting down at our table, a man who must have weighed at least 500 pounds walked past us. His plate was piled at least six inches high with food. I tried to block Aunt Bess's view, but she saw him. In a voice that carried over the whole room, she said, "Well, would you just look at that! Look at his plate! No wonder he's as big as a truck! You'd think somebody that big would know not to eat like that, he's killing himself. Somebody should notify his doctor. I hope he uses two chairs." And on she went. We couldn't shut her up! The man turned and looked, then went on his way, looking miserable. Poor guy was so embarrassed, but no more so than we were. I wanted to stuff a napkin in her mouth, but it would have done no good. She ranted on about it (loudly) for another five minutes or so. Her husband just kept his eyes on his plate and never said a word. Finally, my dad said, "Bess, if you don't shut up, I'm going to take you home right now!" I think the whole restaurant heard that, too, because he wasn't kidding. She knew it, and finally hushed, but I'll always be grateful that the poor man had the grace to just let it go and not make an issue of it.

When they get to that point, there's really not much you can do, except try to limit their exposure to situations where they can cause embarrassment. Bess really didn't realize she was doing anything wrong. After all, this is the same woman who, a few weeks later, tried to stash a serving of cake and ice cream in her purse, to "take it home and eat it later." She got very indignant with me when I told her it would melt and ruin her purse. I finally satisfied her by putting a piece of cake in a disposable container. She didn't notice that I didn't include the ice cream. It can be difficult at times.

We had "Movie Night" at church last night. Our JOY group, which meets on the third Thursday of the month, met last night. Admission was 35 cents, hotdogs were a dollar, popcorn and soft drinks were ten cents, candy was a quarter, all at the "Concession Counter." The "Movie" was a selection of skits from DVDs of "The Carol Burnett Show", and it was all just a whole lot of fun. We had Bugs and Daffy cartoons, too. If they decide to do it again in a few months, I'll offer my TAGS DVDs, and suggest a few episodes to show.

Well, guess I'll rustle up some grub, cuddle Toye Starr, and have a quiet evening. Blessings, friends! --Romeena