July 15, 2020 - Msg 114871: I bet Toby was hoping for a ride home in the Principals car with his head hanging out the window...
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114872: To dang hot to sweep right now... I’ll catch it tonight when it’s cooler...G-F
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114873: Oh my, how I am enjoying the stories! Possum, I would have certainly contributed to the cigarette fund! Your story about Lassie brought back a memory of our childhood wire-haired terrier, Whiskers. We lived near the middle school where my sister attended and the school had low windows that were always open. One day Whiskers found his way to the school and actually found my sister in her classroom. There he stood peeping over the window ledge whining for my sister. The teacher told her to walk home and take the dog back. LOL...they wouldn't do that these days. That dog got around. He had pups in various parts of town. He lived a dog's life..went where he wanted, when he wanted and lived indoors when he wanted. That was in the days before most fixed their animals. One day mom brought it up to dad and he no way was he doing that to Whiskers. In dad's thinking, if the dog had been a v1rgin, and had never known the joys of romance, then it would have been ok, but he figured it was just too cruel to take something like that from Whiskers after the fact. ha! You may remember that my dad was very handy with the ladies and that may have influenced his thinking.

Asa, that was a great school story! The way you described the scene, I could picture it perfectly. Anything else you want to confess to or can you on the porch? lol

More memories anyone? How about you Jason? We have told each other most of our stories but we haven't heard yours. :)

Boo
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114874: Good afternoon, porch! I'm really enjoying all the childhood stories. I guess most of us are old enough to remember when it was great to be a kid, without all the stuff that's going on now. Also, if it's stories you want, honeys and dears, I've got a million of 'em! Just ask Charlotte Tucker. I send them to her, and she publishes them in the magazine she edits. I've got one rattling around in my head right now, that I haven't written up yet. Charlotte, if you're lurking, you can expect a story in the next few days. I just haven't taken the time to sit down and write it yet. I'd share some of them here, but I tend to get too verbose, and they grow too long for this forum. Some of them were fun, though. Like the time my cousin and I waxed the second-floor fire escape slide, not realizing that a teacher would be the first one to go down it, if a fire drill was called. I can still hear that scream in my sleep.....

Well, gotta run. Eddie is here, is about finished, and will be looking for his money. Bless his faithful heart! Blessings! --Romeena
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114875: Romeena, I want to hear the one where you punched 👊🏻 Tom Landry & Roger Staubach in the nose 👃🏼 After that Super Bowl loss to the Steelers...Tell us about that story!...🤣🤣

At least that’s how my mind saw it...lol...G-F
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114876: I would love to hear any of your stories, Ro.

Today is a challenging day but we will get through it. Things are getting pretty bad in Corpus Christi. Erin had a significant setback today and we are trying to figure out what to do next. A prayer is appreciated.

Love,
Boo
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114877: Prayers,Boo. I'm sure sorry. Hang in there,my huckleberry friend. Much love to you.

Ro, I'm sorry for the loss of your cousin.

Asa,continued prayers for your son and your family.

Lastly,one big hug for all the Porchsters-
(((PORCH)))

possum again
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114878: For Boo-

"Two drifters,off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's wnd,waitin' round the bend
My huckleberry friend,moon river,and me"

(We're gonna take that trip one day!)

possum once more
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114879: rainbow's end-sorry!
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114880: When I was growing up, I became interested in baseball. I loved watching the Chicago Cubs on television because back then, they had no lights in their stadium so all of their home games were in the daytime. I also loved to play baseball with my peers. In my neighborhood, us kids would form teams to play against each other. I had a goal of making it up to the professional big leagues someday, and maybe even the Baseball Hall of Fame.
So I began to plan my career path in organized baseball. First it would be Little League. Then high school baseball followed by college baseball. Then I would get drafted by a professional team and start out in their minor leagues. As I got more experienced, I would be called up to the major leagues and hopefully end up with the Chicago Cubs. Then after a stellar career in the majors, I would retire and finally end up in the Baseball Hall of Fame. I was so convinced of this that I used to practice signing autographs! So this is how my "career" went.
Little League was divided into two groups; the minors and the majors. The minors were the younger kids and the majors were the older kids. My first year in Little League, I was assigned to the minors group because of my young age. I remember being issued my green and white uniform with the number 15 on the back. I was so proud of that uniform that I wore the baseball cap almost everyday. We were allowed to do that.
I played one full year in the minors before I met the minimum age requirement for the majors the following year. In the majors, I was issued a yellow and brown baseball cap. The uniform would come later once the season started. But we still had one month of pre-season tryouts to show off our skills. On the last day of tryouts, a small group of us, including me, were summoned to speak with the coach in private. He informed us that there were more than enough candidates for the number of players allowed on the team. As a result, he was "forced" to let some of us go. OH MY GOSH. I AM A FUTURE HALL OF FAMER AND I AM GETTING CUT FROM LITTLE LEAGUE! I had to walk home that one block from the park to my home. I was so depressed. I did not know how I would explain this to my parents. I never tried out again for an organized baseball team again. And what made matters worse, when I was a junior in high school, our baseball team won the state championship without me!

from Poor Horatio
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114881: I forgot to mention that later on, I learned that the only reason I was allowed to play on the minor Little League team was because they had just enough candidates for the amount of
vacancies so they needed me in spite of my lack of talent. In the majors when they had a surplus of candidates, that is why they could play without me.
Also, before the Little League when us neighborhood kids would choose sides, I wondered why I seemed to be one of the last ones to be chosen.

from Poor Horatio

July 15, 2020 - Msg 114882:

Ha, pretty good PH! You know what they say about 'the best laid plans!' I have always been a pretty skinny guy, so, growing up, in PE class I always got picked last also, and i usually ended up in right field.
Well, one day, TWO fly balls came my way in right field in the same inning, and i caught both of 'em! :) I was beaming for the rest of the day! I can still remember the 'jock' of the class saying "Way to go, Steve."
Possum, wasn't one of the Mayberry Hotel workers named Jason?
I think so, but would have to watch that ep for the 89th time to be sure! haha Also, we used to bring wax paper to school and wax down the metal slide on the playground...zip, we-e-e-e-e that was fun.
We also played on monkey bars, the metal merry-go-round, and would jump from the swings when they were way up in the air!! "Don't you people swing around here?" Sure, we've got plenty of swings, we just don't use 'em at night!" Love that line.
RO--could you possibly give us a "Reader's Digest" version of a chilhood story? Love your tomboy adventures. I bet you wore overall dungarees and had a frog in your pocket! ha
Oh, which reminds me, on those Minnesota trips, we 'experienced' the biggest mosquitoes that you have ever seen!!
OH JASON, every now and then the porch 'gets swept,' but you can see past posts by clicking on the "Archives" word below.
MDC
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114883: MDC, check out https://mayberry.fandom.com/wiki/Jason

from Poor Horatio
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114884: That is a sad story, PH. Im so sorry you didn't make the team. You must have been so disappointed as a child.

I, too, was one of those picked last on teams. I didn't give a hoot about sports and had no interest in playing them. My best friend and I always opted to walk the track instead of participating in sports. I chose band instead and got plenty of exercise in marching band, where I found my talent. I was a good French horn player and first chair.

Things are going a bit better with Erin. She has gotten her car taken away again for awhile and will have to hang with mom, which isn't such a bad thing. I have seen some maturity in her this time, as she was willing to take her consequences without meanness and attitude. She even helped out with dinner. I know that she has a serious mental health disorder and things have to be dealt with from time to time and this covid thing has made it all the harder for her to get the treatment she really needs. We are going to try online counseling since counselors aren't seeing clients in the office right now. Clinical depression is a really bad thing and often so hard to treat. She started working out and running so I hope that will help her along with her meds and counseling. We are working on getting her on a healthier diet, too.

Romeena, did you look anything like Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird movie when you were little? I picture you that way.

Boo
July 15, 2020 - Msg 114885: Forgot to say thanks, Possum! How could I forget you?! (((BIG HUG))). I love the song verse! I am your huckleberry friend. :)

Boo
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114886: Oh wow Possum what memories Moon River brings back. The first letter I received from my then boyfriend started with those words after he graduated from one of the service academy's. We didn't end up together, I later met the love of my life but that song brings back a lot of young sweet memories. Sarah

July 16, 2020 - Msg 114887: Well for Possum, Boo, and Sarah and anyone else who likes Moon River and saxophone. (I suggest wearing a headset to really enjoy it.)
https://youtu.be/treJI2LSpaY

Really am enjoying the stories. PH, That was a sad story about your baseball career cut short like that.

Romeena, I agree with MDC. I would love to read some of your stories. You tell things so well.

Possum, It's so nice to see you posting more. We miss you when you don't. How's Laci doing these days?

Boo, sorry Erin is trying your nerves. The last thing you need on top of all that is going on in the world is strife at home.

GF, When I turned my TV on this morning I saw the very tail end of an infomercial for a power washer called the SunJoe. Is that the same outfit that made your snow blower?

Well off to deal with life.

Asa
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114888: Hey y'all- Glad I brought back some nice memories with the Moon River lyrics,Sarah. Thanks for the song, Asa. The cover by James Taylor is pure perfection if anybody wants to give it a listen. I'll have to post it here sometime.

I'm enjoying all of the stories too,even PH's sad one. Sorry about your baseball career,PH.

Continued prayers for Boo and I have been praying extra hard for Erin. Praying for Asa and his son too.

Thanks for asking about Laci,Asa. I haven't seen her much since March and all this Covid- 19 stuff started up. She is doing good,enjoying her pool and she loves to watch all of the old shows- TAGS is one of her favorites! That girl is living my childhood as far as television goes! Funny how she loves all of the old programs that I grew up with. Speaking of growing up,she will be 17 in September! Yes, I said 17. Oh,and today is her mama's 40th birthday- hard to believe my baby is 40 years old! Where did the time go?!

Well,y'all stay safe,keep cool (it is blazing hot here in the South) and stay prayed up. That's the only way we're gonna get through this mess-a lot of prayer and faith,friends.

************
possum u.a.r.
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114889: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hB0TjZlIIY

For your listening pleasure- that's the link to "Moon River" -the James Taylor version. Enjoy!

possum again
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114890: Good morning, Porch!

Just nasty. Feel it on your back and through your shirt hot here! I took the dogs outside this morning and I was wet right down the middle of my back.

It's automatic. When I see the two words Moon and River together, Andy Williams immediately jumps to mind.

BOO - I concur with possum! Prayers for you and your household. I know my father tries my patience sometimes with all this other stressful stuff happening. Remember again what I've told you...clutch those times you have a moment to yourself.

PH - Wow. Such a sad ending to your baseball hopes. I'm sorry too.

MDC - Yeah, Jason was the manager of the hotel when Ed Sawyer came to town. Might be longer, but I cant recall at the moment.

Well, our little "out in the middle of nowhere county" was doing really good with COVID. But...that's all out the window now. In FOUR days, we leapfrogged from 14 to 26 to 40 cases now. We have 189 under quarantine for possible exposure. *Sigh* it was nice to be out of the hubbub of it all while it lasted. Even the county to our southwest, who has had 2 at the most in all the time the virus has been around, has jumped to 6. THANK YOU, Bill DeBlasio!!
I told my wife that I imagine a lot of the country is thinking "Oh, so EVERYbody, but the protesters are in grave danger and EVERYthing in NY is shut down, but the protesters. But you are in the first worst epicenter where you were talking about burying people in Central Park!" "Well, COVID must not be THAT bad!" OK, soapbox back under porch now.

Y'all stay safe, stay well, breathe a little outside air and have a great day!

John Masters
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114891: Good afternoon, porch! It's sunny, hotter than a $2 pistol on a Saturday night here. That sun just burns a hole right through your shirt! Anybody who thinks the sun doesn't cause skin to age and get ugly, should look at my arms. My hands and forearms are wrinkled and spotty, like all old women, up to about 4" above my elbows. Above that, the skin is smooth, fairly plump, no wrinkling or spots. That 4" line is just about where shirt sleeves end. While my upper arms and shoulders have had a lot of sun exposure in these nearly-81 years, what with swimsuits, etc., still it has been a far sight less than my lower arms. Also, the left one is just a little worse than the right, and I attribute that to exposure through the car window when driving. The evidence is plain to see, and yet young people still go to those tanning salons, or "lay out" in the sun, as I did when I was young and foolish. Some lessons have to be learned the hard way, I guess, and usually too late.

Praying for Erin, Boo, and for you and Bruce as well. You have definitely had your challenges with her, and to some extent with Sean as well, but it seems he at least is trying to cope. If you could get Erin with a Christian counselor, it would be wonderful, and I know you've tried. Hang in there. God will prevail.

Asa, I know all too well, what you're experiencing right now. Just turn it all over to the Lord, and let him carry you. It's all in His hands now. You and Debbie are in my prayers.

Boo, yes, I guess I was a lot like Scout. I didn't look like her, I had blond hair and was skinny as a child. I didn't wear coveralls, my uniform of the day was jeans and a t-shirt in the winter, maybe a denim jacket if it was cold, but in San Antonio, often even in December a jacket wasn't necessary. Summer required shorts and a t-shirt. I don't stray far from that wardrobe even today. I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt at this moment. The only difference is that my jeans don't have holes in the knees these days, though that does seem to be in fashion. I don't buy those, why pay big bucks for something my mom would have put in the rag bag, or cut off and turned into shorts?

PH, your story of your dreamed-of baseball career is touching. You must have been so disappointed. However, it doesn't appear to have stopped you from growing into a fine man, who has served his community and country well. We appreciate you, even if you didn't become a baseball star!

MDC, I would love to post a shortened version of some of my stories, but that's hard to do. They're all about a page to a page and a half in the magazine, and I had to do some editing to get them down that short. It does occur to me that I could email them to anyone who is interested. I'm sure Charlotte Tucker wouldn't mind, and since they're my stories, I don't think that would violate any copyright rules. The magazine she edits goes to nursing homes, rehab centers, anyplace that serves elderly or ill folks, and employs an activities director. Because the audience is primarily elderly people, my "reminisce" stories fit in well. If any of you would like me to email a story now and then, just speak up and I'll create a group list for that purpose. If we do that, and you receive one and decide you don't want anymore, you can just let me know, and no hard feelings. Or, you can just "delete" the rest when they arrive, and I'll never know! Gotta love email!

I write the stories simply because I enjoy doing so. Going back and recalling those events takes me to a happy place for a little while, and the frosting on the cake is when someone else enjoys hearing about it. Asa, you very kindly said that I tell things well. I'm glad you feel that way, but you might be interested to know that I can't verbally tell a story well at all. I stumble and lose my train of thought, or as my Dale would say, I "zing" off into something else. However, at this keyboard, I just put my hands over the keys and words appear. Sometimes I even surprise myself! It's something I enjoy very much, and am grateful for the technology that makes it so easy. When I was younger, before computers, I would often try to write a story, using a pen and a tablet, and would end up erasing holes into the paper, trying to change and re-word something. Even with a typewriter, it was hard, for much the same reasons. Then came the word processor, and I can highlight, cut and paste, and make corrections, additions, deletions, etc., with ease. It's like a little miracle, and I'm so grateful. Also, it's all stored and available to me at the touch of a couple of keys, and there are no stacks of papers and tablets lying around. Wonderful! God is good!

Blessings, friends. Stay safe, stay healthy. Prayers for all who are ill. --Romeena
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114892: Here's a pip for ya'.

Our little county just skyrocketed from 40 cases of COVID two days ago to 72 now! In FIVE days, we have went from 14 to 72 active cases!

My confidence in keeping away from this virus is starting to diminish. One idiot went to Walmart, Aldi's and Wood's (another supermarket) while they HAD symptoms!

John Masters
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114893: Well, JM, things are really bad here in the corpus Christi area right now and it wasn't because of any protests. I believe it has to do with the beaches and score of people who travel from all over to vacation. Today a good friend took her elderly mother to the hospital because she has been fighting the virus for several days and is worse. They turned her away for lack of beds and told her to just go home so my friend is trying to care for her. It is hitting so close to home now. I wish, since we have known about this thing for several months, that something could have been done to prepare for this. There just aren't enough hospitals in our area and now they are sending people home to die because there is nothing else to do. I have a good friend who is an RN working in an ER in Corpus Christi and she sent me the saddest message last night. I wont go into it here on the porch, but its real here and its getting worse. God help us. There is just not enough staff or hospitals to care for the sick here. They flew in 40 nurses from out of state and many of them walked off the job in the middle of shifts. Its just too much. I wish there had been a way over these months to prepare and even build mobile hospitals but even at that, how would you staff them? I think feeling helpless is the worst, but if you think about it, there is a lot we can do at home to get better if we do get sick. Sometimes the hospital is the worst place to be, especially without staffing.

Thank you all for your prayers for Erin. Today seems better.

Boo
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114894: Ro, I'd like to get in on the email list and receive your stories. How do I sign up?

Ang
July 16, 2020 - Msg 114895:
BOO--Please keep in mind in all this that actually we DID prepare. Samaritan's Purse set up a field hospital in Central Park, hospital ships were brought in to NY and LA, masks were being made by the thousands, people were sheltering in place, everything was closed down. Not even the professionals figued it would get so bad. Here in AZ things are starting to level off. We have had a big increase the past few weeks, yes, but we have also had a HUGE increase in TESTING, so naturally that will show more cases,
but the news doesnt report that. Think of the H1N1 of 2009. Thousands died of that one too, but no special precautions were taken, it just 'ran it's course.' The only thing said back then was wash your hand more, which i did.
Prayers for all those workers!
Regarding Erin, the best counselor we have, especially these days, is the Holy Spirit! :) He is the 'gift of the Father,' sent to us for consolation and help if we will open up to Him. Look what he did for Peter! The same Peter who denied even knowing Jesus weeks before the descent of the Holy Spirit, went out BOLDLY and preached the gospel. The Bible says that 3,000 accepted Jesus that day! And it also says that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. He is always my first 'go-to' in times such as this, and he helps direct me to soothing
scriptures, such as "We are not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." Prayers for your whole fam! :) Maybe Erin would find some solace there in the Word, now that she is doing better.
Nip it in the bud! :)

POSSUM--see, I'm a trained noticer, Jason IS a Mayberry folk! ha
Thank you PH for finding that link.

All goes well here, just enduring the heat like any other summer, but I do miss going to the gym. I had been going 3 times a week since i completed my cardio-rehab in January 2019, and I waould always feel very refreshed after a workout. I am doing what I can at home with bands and some dumb bells, but I miss the treadmill and lat machine for sure.
Our gov says maybe July 27, so we'll see.

RO--please put me on that email list for stories if you get the OK from Charlotte. THANKS!

Hang in there all,
MDC

July 16, 2020 - Msg 114896: Yes Asa, the Sun Joe is their summer time line of products. They send me emails all the time with what they have to offer, every thing from power washers to trimmers, tools, and pretty much anything to do with outside work...

BTW...I’m posting LIVE from the Mayberry Meet-Up. Floyd said he may post stuff on the Facebook thing so look out for it I’ll let you know if he does so y’all can see it...10-4?

G-F
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114897: Afternoon, Porch

Some little teeny tiny cells around our area decided to band together and form a light thunderstorm. I went outside on the porch and watched it rain. Sometimes, that can be so refreshing. Almost therapetic.

I have been away from the news and this morning I looked. And I'm sorry I did. Period.

Hope you all are doing ok. Better git to some things. Stay safe, folks!

John Masters
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114898: Boo - Thought you might be interested in an article I just read that said the state of Texas was removing over 3,400 cases of positive COVID patients from their databoard because they were being counted by ASSUMPTION. Health officials were assuming some people were positive because they had a couple of symptoms, but were never tested. If they had say a runny nose and cough, they would say "COVID!" and that was that.

John Masters
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114899: Whooo! Finally got home, and not a minute too soon. I am just beat to the socks, clemmed, pooped, whatever you want to call it. I went and got a haircut, took Trinket with me, which is no small undertaking. I try to take her wherever I can, so she will be well socialized and not panic in unfamiliar situations. She actually does pretty well. I have been a customer of the shop I went to for about forty years, same hairdresser for 35, and they don't mind if I bring Trinket. She sits on my lap, under the drape thing, with just her head sticking out. She gets a lot of petting and attention, and behaves well. From there, I went to the pharmacy and picked up some scrips, and of course Trinket stayed in the car for that. I was only in there about three minutes, and the car was parked in shade.

I brought her home, and went to the bank and cashed a check, then to the grocery store. I went to a place I hadn't shopped before, a store that caters to the Hispanic population, and I will be going there again. Their produce section is awesome, and in the meat department I got some very nice ribeye steaks for about $2/lb. Can't beat that. I'll have one tonight and see how they are. They don't have a lot of marbling, surely not prime and probably not even choice, maybe just select, who knows? I'll find out. I put a little Adolph's tenderizer on the one I'm going to cook. Can't hurt. Anyway, just over $5 for four small steaks ain't bad.

Then came the hard part, when I got home. I had to unload the car, and that's not easy. I had a watermelon, and that rascal is heavy! Also some 12-packs of Gatorade for Eddie and Tommy. I just don't have a lot of lifting power these days.

I also bought a quart of half-and-half, a small whipping cream and some fresh eggs. I'm planning to make some ice cream tonight! I have one of those small 1 1/2 qt freezers, the kind that doesn't need ice and salt, the canister itself is frozen. You just pour the ice cream custard in, put in the little dasher and turn it on. The dasher rotates, scraping the sides down, until the custard is frozen. It works very well. I'm going to make peach! A friend gave me a pint of homemade peach preserves, and they're very good. The flavor is great, and there are lots of wonderful peachy chunks in it, but the rest is pretty thin and runny. It won't stay on the toast! It's like honey. I figure about 3/4 cup of that in the regular custard will deliver some really good peach ice cream! I could just make vanilla ice cream and spoon the preserves over it, but I want to experiment. Experiment? Ha! I know it will be good!! If you're in the area, drop on by, and I'll share!

Ang, I will need your email address. We do try to avoid posting them here, as a bot can pick them up. If you happen to be in email contact with any other porchster, see if they have my address (many do) and ask them to send yours to me. If that doesn't work out, let me know, and we'll think of something.

John Masters, that is very interesting. I'm glad that my state at least is correcting a very grievous error. I think that there is some serious miscounting going on all over the nation. I know it's bad - obviously it's awful along the Texas coast, thanks to the dunderheads that continue to flock to the beaches - but people are sitting in bars all over the country, and don't tell me they're all six feet apart and wearing masks! So California declares that people can't sing in a church service, in spite of distancing and masks. Go figure. It seems to me that if anything is contagious these days, it's stupidity.

Now, I'm going to go finish cooking my dinner, feed Trinket, and settle into my recliner with my pup at my feet and my dinner in my lap. Should make it by 6, when MASH comes on. If not, I'll just "rewind", or just stop it when it begins, and start when I'm ready. Gotta love Dish Network!

Blessings, all! Stay safe, stay healthy. --Romeena
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114900: I know you are trying to make me feel better, MDC and JM, but I find myself in the thick of it right here. Two more friends lost friends or family to the virus today. My nurse friend who works in ICU here said they had to admit 38 patients to the ICU in one 12 hour shift. She has had to see doctors make decisions about who lives and who dies. No one has come to help us down here. No Samaritan's purse here. I certainly wish they would send us help. As a nurse, it is grieving me to think of it so I have to try and put it out of my mind. I know that at my age there is no way I could put in 18 hour, grueling shifts and I would fear bringing it home to Bruce. I just hate it in a way I cant even describe because it is now in my own backyard. I am making preparations, making sure I have a nebulizer and the natural products that I can use here at home in case I have to take care of my own here. There is more I could say but this isn't really the place for it. Please pray for Corpus Christi and the surrounding area because we are getting hit hard and its not just because there is more testing. I am talking about getting hit hard with very ill patients. You could say that its not such a large number considering the size of the population, but if you don't have enough nurses and hospitals to care for the ones that are sick, its just awful.

Boo
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114901: Thanks to all who offered sympathies on my failed baseball career. It was a traumatic time for a kid like me. But there was an indirect highlight. One of my nephews was a member of his high school baseball team when they won the state championship.

Hello to Jason. Glad to see new blood posting here. My posting name comes from the "Opie's Charity" episode. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGrL5C4uS1s.

G-F, when will you be posting live from Mayberry Days?

I also had a chance to read some of the archives and saw Mayberry Deputy make an appearance after a long absence. Welcome back.

Here is a Mayberry trivia video for you all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCVyZgEFBOs

from Poor Horatio
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114902: After reading all of Boo's sad news about nurse shortages, here is how it was handled here in Canada. The Canadian Forces (Army) activated some of their medical support personnel and assigned them to long term care homes. There they witnessed not only the shortage problems with personnel and supplies, but also reported patient abuse. The government threatened to revoke licenses and take control of some of the more serious cases.

from Poor Horatio
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114903:
TROUBLE CHECK! (:
July 17, 2020 - Msg 114904:

"I'm picturing you and your mother settin' around with your hats pulled down over your ears!" (:
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114905:

Allan Newsome (our Floyd) posted some photos of him and his wife inside the Taylor Home Inn. Wow,
it is a spittin' image of the Taylor home. Very well done. GF are you there yet?
PH--thanks for the video link, interesting tags stuff. I think some Army nurses are helping out in various areas here too.
BOO--I'll just mention one more thing, and then tick a lock: Here are the passages about the Holy Spirit and His attributes for us to use in our lives... Isaiah 11: 1-3, Galatians 5: 22-23 and 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10.
I think they will help give you some inner peace in the midst of all this.
I am so sorry to hear of your 2 friends who have died. I pray that they knew the Lord. These times need us to not freak out, but to be able to help comfort people, and help where possible. Maybe you could donate goods to a church food pantry, or something similar. Just an idea. Peace and prayers.
RO--You did indeed have a busy day. I trust you wore a mask, and sanitized inbetween stops.
Seems like you got a lot done tho. So how were the steaks? Diamond Jim's or Mr. Foley's?
JASON, are you still around. Hope all is OK.
More later,
MDC

July 18, 2020 - Msg 114906: TROUBLE CHECK! Spot !

July 18, 2020 - Msg 114907: Yep....G-F Is right here in it...I asked Allan to post any of the links to it on the Porch site too....

Dear Peasants (Ha Ha): Would have written sooner but I have been on the go every minute since I got here and checked into the Inn. It sure isn't like Mayberry, where they roll up the sidewalks every night. Ha. Ha.
Have to close now. Having fun but money sure doesn't last. Been here only three days and already gone through $10. Well, see you in the funny papers. Ha Ha.......G-F
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114908: Good morning, Porch

Breezy and nice here. Kinda cloudy, but no rain to be found.

Last night, I made the mistake at looking at some news before I went to bed and I absolutely blew my stack! I was fit to be tied angry, livid! I read what Warren, Harris and Pelosi tweeted about the DHS Police / agents arresting Antifa and violent protesters in Portland. Now, I know there has been a lot said and a lot of actions taken by the Democrats to show their true colors (Pelosi ripping Trump's speech jumps to mind), but, in my opinion, THAT was where the line was drawn and they fully and completely exposed themselves!
To call our DHS agents "stormtroopers"?!?!?! To compare them with Nazi soldiers?!
Then they say "secret police" when DHS and POLICE is on their uniform! But, oh no, let's not call Antifa "secret" when you cant see any skin underneath their black clothing, hoods, goggles, bandanas, hats, caps, etc. But the police? THEY'RE secret!
Next, let's go to them calling Antifa and protesters "citizens" and they have a right to express themselves! That is BEYOND comprehension!
Warren has the audacity and absolute nerve to say the police is violating their constitutional rights?!?!
Last night, for me, the last line had been drawn in the sand. To me, this election will be bigger than the Super Bowl as I am already hyped and ready for it like it's the big game! It seems the only good news is that Ihan Omar, or whatever her name is, is getting crushed by her opponent in terms of campaign donations. She just might be on her way out already! I know we use the Porch for a getaway and to have nice conversation. But I am a very angry American and my red, white and blue blood is boiling.

Ok...podium under the porch.

MDC - I have seen the website for that Taylor Inn and it's remarkable! Even have the courthouse and jail in the basement, I believe.

G-F - Any chance of hearing about those waitresses in the peekaboo blouses?! ;)

Ok, folks...better git. Sorry if I brought the porch down a little, but I know we are all red blooded proud Americans and I thought I could share my feelings, however intense, with you. Have a great and safe Saturday!

John Masters

July 18, 2020 - Msg 114909: Good morning, porch! Another hot one here, partly cloudy but no rain expected. Lots of critter traffic out back, but they'll disappear in a little while, when Eddie and Tommy arrive. They didn't make it yesterday, Eddie wasn't feeling well. I worry about him. He's almost 70 now, has terrible arthritic knees, and is moving pretty slowly. He still does a nice job in my yard, he has done so for about 23 years, and he is my friend. I'll stick with him as long as he wants to keep working here. He's going to have his worst knee replaced after the yard work slows down in the fall/winter. That should help him, but I still worry about him.

MDC, of course I wore that miserable mask, though it definitely hampers my breathing. I'm right on the edge of tolerance in that respect, and the mask doesn't help at all! As for sanitizing, I carry a small bottle with me, have another in the car, and will help myself to a squirt wherever I find it. The stores have it at the door, and one store even has little stations at different places in the store itself.

As for the steak, it was pretty much a Diamond Jim steak, but what could I expect for $2 a pound? However, I confess to getting sidetracked, and left it under the broiler far too long. I like my steak rare, and this one was well done and then some. A prime steak would have been tough and chewy in that case. I'm going to try again tonight, and then freeze the last two for future use. If cooking the one tonight to the rare state I prefer doesn't make it better, then the last two will be cubed, simmered all afternoon in a can of onion soup, some mushrooms and seasoning added, and they'll do fine over some rice. Actually, I knew better than to buy those steaks. The price should have been warning enough, and then when I saw that there was little to no marbling in them, I should have just walked on by. We live and we learn!

Well, Eddie and Tommy are here, guess I'd better go check in with them. I discovered a little mini-grove of young pecan trees in a bed along the side of the house. The squirrels bury the pecans, and they sprout. By the time the little tree gets about a foot tall, and can be noticed among the other things growing there, the tap root is about 18" long, and there is no pulling them up. They have to be dug out. There are about six of them in that bed now, and they'll be moving the house off its foundation, if they're not dealt with. It takes one of the long, narrow shovels to dig them out. Some people call them a sharpshooter, my dad called them a bildookey. No, I can't explain that name, and neither could my dad! He just said it was what his daddy called it.

Well, better run. Blessings, all. Stay safe, wear your mask, and wash your hands! --Romeena
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114910: Hey, John Masters! No apology needed. You just said very clearly what I'm sure we're all feeling. Storm troopers? Secret police? Nazis? Good Lord in Heaven, what is it coming to? How dare they! Actually, I think they're shooting themselves in the foot. People are getting so sick of them and their whining and name-calling and pot-stirring, and now weaponizing even the Covid thing. I have a feeling, and I pray that I'm right, that they're in for a huge shock in November. I think we can expect to see Pelosi's eyebrows make it all the way up to her hairline. As my oldest son said of her, several months before his death - "she's evil, she's vile, she's a no-class broad." That from my quiet, mild-mannered son who rarely spoke ill of anyone. If he could see her now, and hadn't passed already, he'd probably die of an apoplectic fit! He just flat-dog couldn't stand her. And neither can I!

Thank you, JM, for telling it like it is! --Romeena
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114911: JM...Not seeing waitress with that, but many peek a boo masks tho...lol...G-F
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114912: Hey folks,

Floyd here at the Mayberry Meet-up 2020 in Mt Airy! Here's a link to the video I did yesterday to report on Day 1. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160141102283696&id=103135243695

And here's the report I just did today. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160144276623696&id=103135243695

If you follow me on Facebook https://Facebook.com/anewsome I posted photos you should be able to see. You don't have to be on Facebook to see the stuff.

-- Floyd
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114913: Floyd, regarding those three links you posted concerning Mayberry Days, I was able to watch the first two without any problems. However, although I was able to view the home page of your Facebook site, when I click on the SEE MORE PHOTOS link, I receive the following message "You must log in to continue." So since I do not have, I can't view those additional photos.

from Poor Horatio
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114914: ^^^ what Horatio said!

John Masters
July 18, 2020 - Msg 114915: I am seeing lots of "evil, vile and no-class politician on both sides of the isle. Its a real shame.

Thanks MDC, I am doing better. A dear friend who was worried about my emotional state came for a visit last night and that lifted my spirits. I didn't watch any news today but stayed busy with other things, went for a swim at St. Susan's and just gave my nervous system a rest.

One of my good friends who is the nurse I mentioned that works ER in Corpus Christi did get sick today with covid but we are praying and hoping she will do ok. She is fairly young with no health issues that I am aware of. Poor girl was just down and exhausted so it was easy for the virus to take hold, I guess. Please say a prayer for Amanda. She has a very talented nurse who has absolutely gone above and beyond the call of duty for the last several months and after all her dedication, now she is sick.

One more thing I wanted to mention. Another of my nurse friends that I have been conversing with was talking to me about how many who become ill with covid have serious blood clotting issues so they are being treated with blood thinner and being sent home on them. So, I am going to buy some 80mg aspirin tablets to keep on hand if we get sick. Bruce is already on blood thinners so helpfully that will help protect him.

PH, that is interesting. I hope the military will come to our need soon.

Going to go relax before bed.

Blessings,
Boo

Well, going to go relax. Stay well and blessed.
July 19, 2020 - Msg 114916: Good morning, porch. I'm here at my window, keyboard in front of me, waiting for my church's service to begin on Facebook at 10:45. I'm so glad they're doing that. We are having a service in the sanctuary, and that will be presented over Facebook as well. The in-person service is limited to 100 people, with all the amenities observed. It is by reservation, since the seating is limited. They did ask that anyone who could be considered high-risk, should not attend the live service, but join in on Facebook instead. That seems reasonable to me, so I'm staying home.

I sure do miss being in the sanctuary and feeling like a part of the worship, but I guess when you're a week away from 81, diabetic, have respiratory and cardiac issues, you could be considered high-risk. Ya think?? I'm just grateful for the technology that puts the service right here on my monitor screen, with just a few keystrokes. I don't even have to get dressed!

Boo, you are so right. We have crummy people in office or seeking office in both parties. However, it's Pelosi's incessant campaigning for ever-more-vicious baby murder that just turns my stomach. What began years ago as a difficult, last-ditch, no other reasonable choice, decision by a girl and her mother and her doctor, following a case of rape or inc#st, has been twisted beyond recognition. It's now a routine choice for birth control. I know, even then it was sometimes used for convenience or to avoid embarrassment, but it was rare, and not a wholesale slaughter, like it is today. Trust me, I worked for 17 years in a mom-baby unit in our hospital, and I know what I'm talking about. When a 26 year old woman sits in a bed cooing at her newborn and telling it how much "mommy loves you", and I know she has a history of six elective abortions behind her, it just makes me sick. I always had to wonder, what makes that particular baby so special? Apparently, it was the "right man" at last. The others had been the products of an "oops!" and the guy was long gone.

No, I don't think a 13 year old victim of an assault should have to deliver a baby. But we have gone from the termination of an occasional few-weeks-old, non-viable fetus, to the murder of a living, sometimes already breathing baby, fully capable of life after birth, and we are slaughtering them by the thousands. Check this out: https://tinyurl.com/y67gdww6.

I'm not trying to start a moulage, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but it should be an informed opinion, and it's been my experience that many people aren't truly aware of what's involved here. I believe a woman should have a choice, absolutely. But that choice should occur before conception, not after. She can always say "No!" The very rare cases in which she was given no choice, can be dealt with privately after much thought and prayer. Abortion should not be a substitute for birth control, and sadly, in the vast majority of cases, it is. By the way, run a little Google check on Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. She was a pretty unsavory character, an admirer of Adolf Hitler, and was bent on bringing a "pure race" to America. Check this out: https://tinyurl.com/ydccgbdj.

OK, enough of that. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. Also, I am aware that the Bible teaches that sin is sin, God doesn't see it in degrees. It says that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." I believe that, and I bear my own guilt with humility. Still, when I think of all those tiny lives lost, mostly because someone was careless, it breaks my heart. I remember when we lost our little Logan, an hour after his birth, due to a lethal birth defect. We at least had that precious hour with him. Planned Parenthood would have killed him, before or after his birth, and we wouldn't have even had that.

Blessings, friends. Stay safe! --Romeena