August 08, 2011 - Msg 84989:
Hey Boo....didn't see ya there.....Oh those teen love stories:) You'll make it through them.....with prayer:)
-REV.


August 08, 2011 - Msg 84990:
And SWISH...


August 08, 2011 - Msg 84991:
Ok guys....I'm gonna have to be careful doing all this sweeping. The dust is bad for my vocals:)
-REV.

August 08, 2011 - Msg 84992: Try them out REV..MeeeeeTheyyyyy MeeeTheyyyy
If not try some spray...We don't want to have to call John Masters in..Speaking of him where's he been? He has not posted for awhile.
G-F

August 08, 2011 - Msg 84993: Hey gang...at work...STORMS here...wwill someone bring me some food?...busy busy...SPOT

August 08, 2011 - Msg 84994: Hey Spot, grub is on the way.
G-F Maybe John Masters is layed up with the hives after hearing the Rev had a dusty larnyx.

Asa

August 08, 2011 - Msg 84995: I musta laughed for 10 minutes on Asa's typo, calling Boo a crooked boob. Too funny.
Rev can't sing? Well I wouldn't be a very civic-minded citizen if I refused to step into his place. (Hand me that bug spray) Me They Me They Meee Theyyyy...
- Hazel

August 08, 2011 - Msg 84996:
You all are too funny...lol
-REV.

August 08, 2011 - Msg 84997: Thanks for the grub asa...hit the spot (get it SPOT)...I got to go read tha archives...Boo a crooked boob?...here at work aall night...will be back in a bit...SPOT

August 09, 2011 - Msg 84998: morning porch, just a quick check point chickie this morning. Storms here today with cooler temps.

been busy the past week. Mr. Maude and I attended his 35th year high school reunion in Knoxville Saturday night. Sharon Despain did not show up but we had a good time. They even sang the high school alma mater.

Hope the dust has settled Rev and your voice is okay!

Breakfast menu will be: scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, biscuits, gravy, sliced tomatoes, strawberries/cantaloupe/honeydew melon. apple butter, fresh honey and jelly. coffee, tea, juice. Remember you shouldn't skip breakfast and don't bolt your food!

Prayers and blessings to all.
Big Maude



August 09, 2011 - Msg 84999: YAWN...ok, I'm up and having my coffee. Gonna be a hot one here today..100 degrees again, but not as hot as in Ro's neck of the woods. WOW...saw a report on that yesterday.

Today is Erin's birthday and she will be 10. She is so excited about finally being "a double digit!". She didn't want a party but wanted me to fix one of her favorite meals and I ordered her a cake. She will have a a couple of friends over to eat and watch a movie and stay the night. She wanted the movie "Soul Surfer" for her birthday, which I bought her. It is supposed to be a really good movie about a Christian girl's testimony of getting through the tragedy of losing her arm in a shark attack.

Maude, how is your friend doing? Any more news about treatment?

Ok...ok..I'm a crooked boob...that's last week's news. ;)

Better get going. Always something to do around here. I think I did 5 loads of laundry yesterday and still have a couple more. You will notice, though, that I complain much less about it than I used to. Having an indoor washer and dryer in the summer makes all the differenc.

Adios,
Boo

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85000: Differenc...that's kinda like "reveng"

Boo

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85001: Always finish what you


August 09, 2011 - Msg 85002: Boo, thanks for asking about my friend. She has an appointment with the plastic surgeon on Thursday and he will explain his part of the surgery to her and will coordinate a surgery date with the surgeon. She is very nervous and scared as I would be. She is having to help her older sister (the one whose husband died unepxectedly last week) so that is even more on her plate. The surgeon has told her that she feels confident about them being able to take care of her breast cancer with the surgery. Hopefully she is right abou that! I guess they will check out the lymp nodes and then decide about the treatment.

I will keep you posted.
Maude

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85003:
Morning porch family.

Happy Birthday to Erin.....have a great day and enjoy your friends!

Maude....continued prayers for your friend.

You all have a blessed day and be sure to brag on Jesus today!
Love and prayers
-REV.

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85004:
For maude:
Mayberry Union High,
victory is yours well-nigh,
We'll hit the line
for points every time,
the orange and blue
will climb, climb, climb, climb.
And when the victory's won
you'll be our favorite son,
Proud waves your banner in
the sky!
Mayberry---Union--- HIGH! (:

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85005:
Climb? I thought it was "try, try, try, try."?
MDC

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85006: Mornin' Y'all- oh,my,such funny stuff on the Porch! Everything from dusty larynyx-es (what is the plural of "larynyx"? LarynyI? LOL) to crooked boobs!
LOL

Happy Birthday to Erin!!

Maude,thanks for the update on you friend-was wondering how she was doing.

Rev, oh yes,we had some good rainstorms this past weekend-could sure us more though. Ready for this awful heat to break!

Good singing ,whoever is singing the Alma Mater to Maudie up there!

Well, it's lunchtime! Let's go to Mt.Pilot for Chinese! Spot, swing by & pick everybody up,ok? I'll be waiting in front of the drugstore. Hurry up-it's HOT out there! Try not to hit any puddles,ok?!

*******************
possum under a rock



August 09, 2011 - Msg 85007: I double LOL-ed up there-how'd that happen?

possum again

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85008:
I tell you what...we have a lot of singing talent here on the porch....You guys can go on the road with me and help me out.

OK Possum....se ya in Mt.Pilot for Chinese.

Love and prayers!
-REV.

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85009:
By the way....CONGRATS to Spot for 29 years at Cobb EMC today! Thanks for keeping the lights on for almost 3 decades.
-REV.

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85010: Ebo Walker was a mighty fine fiddle player, Ebo Walker was a mighty fine fiddle player...

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85011: That one makes me cry!

Congrats,spot!!

************
possum again

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85012:
Congrats to Spot, our talkin', 'lectrifyin' dog of this here porch!
And congrats to Erin! Boo, your 'baygirl' is gettin' growed up!
All the best to you and yourn. Lets have fried green tomaters and fried cabbage, followed by deep-fried twinkies!Mmm ha
Prayers for all,
MDC

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85013:
Barn dance tonight at Spot's. Possum, bring kygirl's martini glass dress and yer danglin earings! ha!
"Promanade around that hall, just promanade..."
Alamand left and dozzie doe...
MDC
MDC

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85014: Alert: Prayers needed. Sean spilled a glass of water on Bruce's laptop and it's not working! Please pray that Sean won't blow a gasket after everything that has gone wrong recently.

Boo

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85015:
Boo-try a hairdryer on it, but NOT on the heat setting.
Steve

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85016:
PS-while holding it upsidedown.

August 09, 2011 - Msg 85017: Prayers going up for neither of them to blow a gasket and for Bruce to realize it was just an accident.
- Hazel

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85018: Well, thanks for those prayers! Turns out Bruce was perfectly calm and very sweet to Sean because he knew Sean was afraid. :) It was so nice to see him give Sean a big hug and thank him for being concerned about damaging the computer, and reassuring him that it was an accident. (see Hazel...answered prayer, thanks.)

MDC, Bruce is going to take it to work and look at it. Nice of you to suggest a solution. You people are such great friends to have.

Well, Erin has been having a great time this evening. Instead of making spaghetti, she decided she wanted pizza so I didn't have to cook. We had a few close friends over, ate pizza and had cake and watched the "Soul Surfer" movie. It was really pretty good. We were watching it on blu-ray with high def and the scenes shot in Hawaii were amazing!

Well, Warren Jeffs got life plus 20...finally!!

Better go relax a bit before bed. Love to all.

Boo

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85019: Whos buying b-fast?..and where?..I"ll drive the town bus and pick yall up!.SPOT

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85020: Morning all.

Spot, I believe Boo is buying breakfast, bless her heart.

Boo, glad that the computer incident was resolved with peace. Hopefully Bruce can get it working again with no problems. And happy birthday to Erin.

Hazel, sure good to see you posting a bit more. We miss your wit and wisdom when not here.

That goes to all you folks who don't come around much. You are missed. Come back. We need you!

Yes Boo. Thank goodness for Texas Justice. I think they said it took the jury all of 35 minutes deliberation to find the sicko guilty. That's the way things ought to be. Hopefully we won't have to hear that name uttered again!

MDC, You square dancer you. I had no idea.

Possum, how'd you get that mud all over you girl?

Guess I best get rolling. This Bank ain't gonna guard itself!

Asa



August 10, 2011 - Msg 85021: Dang it,spot! You just HAD to hit that big mud puddle in front of Walker's Drug Store didn't ya?!
(Does that answer your question,Asa? LOL)

BTW, what's them green things in your holster,Asa?!

Glad Bruce didn't make a big moulage over the laptop-hope it can be fixed soon!

Y'all stay cool & have a great hump day!

*******************
possum under a rock

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85022: SPOT, Can I get maple syrup for my grits? I know that just ain't right and down South that will get ya shot, but I just like mine that way. I was once in your neck of the woods and went into a little breakfast shop and order them that way, the waitress said: "BOY YOU AIN'T FROM AROUND HERE ARE YA?". "NO, I'M FROM SOMEWHERES ELSE"!
So I opted for just butter....
Goober-Fife......

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85023:
Morning porch family.

Boo....so glad things were calm with the laptop and we pray he can get it back up and running.

Possum....I think Spot may have hit that puddle just for the fun of it...hehe

Goober-Fife.......maple syrup and grits?.....Nope you aint from around here....You're way north of the Robert E Lee natural bridge.

Well better get busy for the day. You all have a great day and tell someone that Jesus loves them.
Love and prayers!
-REV.

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85024:
The big freeze!

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85025:
ASA- In Jr College i tried to impress a girl by taking square dancing lessons with her! I guess it didnt work tho! ha (As it WASN'T Cecile!)

"First couple out to the couple on your right
and circle 4 with all your might,
Leave your lady, and let the gent be,
Now join your hands and circle three.

Take this lady with your right hand,
on to the next and circle 4,
Leave this lady where she be,
and gent goes home, right next to three.

Two head gents go forward and back,
Forward again and do si do.
With your right hand high and your left hand low,
Spin those ladies and let them go."

We did have a lot of fun however! ha
Maybe cecile and i will take it up when we retire!
Good day to all!
MDC

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85026: REV, Let's discuss this, I do LOVE Carolina BBQ, sweet tea,RC & Moon Pies,TAGS,Bluegrass, Front porch rockin, Maybe ya can cut a Yankee a little slack on the grits? ha ha....or do I just pray for forgiveness?
Goober-Fife.............

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85027: APB FOR TOM

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85028: Good morning, porch! Goodness, such goins-on! Sorry 'bout the drowned computer, Boo, but isn't it fun to trace God's hand, even in such an event as that? It led to a bonding moment between Bruce and Sean, Hazel prayed and it ended up as a demonstration of God's attention to our little details, and likely the 'puter will survive. If not, the lessons were worth it, I think.

We are missing a lot of our regulars - wish they'd come home. Tom, where are you, my friend? We haven't seen you in a while! Please check in and let us know you're okay.

Oh, how we need some rain! It is so dry, and so hot. I know, rain isn't going to make it all that much cooler, but we need it anyway. It will cool things briefly, then when that brutal sun comes back out the air will turn to steam, but the ground needs the moisture anyway. We're on voluntary water rationing, but may advance to mandatory if things don't break soon. The economy has forced a considerable amount of rationing already. Folks who are struggling to hold onto their house aren't watering, and there are a lot of lawns that are just completely dead. Some are watering just enough to keep things from dying completely, but others have done no watering at all, and trees, shrubs and grass are completely dead. That's very sad. So far, by adjusting my watering schedule, I've been able to stay within the voluntary guidelines (mostly) and still keep things green. I've got too much money, sweat and blood invested in this yard to just let it die, as long as I can keep it going. I said "mostly", because I water around the perimeter of the house every day. Half of it is legal, because it's a dripline, but the other half is on sprayers. As hot and dry as it is, I just can't afford to let the soil around the house dry out. That's the chief cause of foundation cracks, and I don't plan to let that happen. this house is nearly forty years old, and there is one - just one - crack visible. It's a hairline crack above the corner of a door facing. Other than that, to my knowledge the foundation is sound, and that little crack probably isn't foundational. those little door facing cracks happen when a piece of lumber in the framing shrinks a bit. Irving is notorious for foundations breaking up, due to our shifty soil, but my lot is flat as a pancake, so doesn't shift much, but it will if it dries out. I refuse to let that happen, if I can help it.

Well, better get some rest. Gotta work tonight. Blessings, friends. --Romeena

August 10, 2011 - Msg 85029:
Hello porch family.

OK Goober-Fife.....you convinced me. Anybody that loves all that has to have a little southern dirt in his shoes...lol At least you do eat grits....even if it is with maple syrup:) You're alright brother:)

Spot....Uggla keeps the hitting streak rolling tonight. One more game and he'll break the Brave's record.

You go MDC....didn't know you could shake a leg like that:)

You all have a good night. Love and prayers for all the porch family!
-REV.

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85030: MDC, I don't think square dancing lessons woulda worked for me, either! haha

You are so right (about the lesson being worth it, Ro). :)I have been thinking of you and all the folks in your part of Texas...don't know how long you can take the horrible heat. It was hotter here this morning than I remember ever feeling it at that hour of the day!

Well, ended up spending a good part of my day with my mom-in-law in the ER. Her dr sent her thinking she might have a bowel obstruction. There was nothing wrong with her besides an over-use of laxatives, trying to get rid of the imaginary waste she thought she had lurking in her bowel somewhere! The poor woman is getting more and more "out there". Her mind just doesn't think right...it never did but it's getting worse. Today when we left the ER, she asked me, "What did you did with my insur@nce and medicare cards?"..."You put them in your wallet, remember?"..."No, I don't remember. I can't find them in my wallet (looking through wallet)..."Well, I had better pull over and take a look in case we have to go back to find them."...I pulled into the parking lot, she handed me the wallet and there they were in plain sight. Later, she wanted me to stop and get her a hamburger from Whataburger and when I got her home and she started eating it she said, "This has avocado on it"....Now, I knew they didn't put avocados on their burgers so i told her to look closer...."Oh, it's lettuce," she said. Strange. It is always something like that these days. The other day it took her at least 5 minutes to find the car keys in her purse as we stood outside in the hottest part of the day. Guess it is a good lesson in patience. Really seems like she is going downhill quickly and it concerns me.

Well, I can feel my Melatonin kicking in so I had better hit the ironing board. See ya'll in the morning.

Boo

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85031: http://www.homehealthcareagencies.com/directory/tx/corpus-christi/

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85032:
Boo- I tried to attach a link above, but the censor prevented the whole address. So I suggest that you google "Free hospice in Corpus Christi"
Hospice will often come by each day for FREE! It is not just for end-of-life anymore. Also, organizations like Visiting Angels will do the same and are MUCH cheaper than a facility would be. Just my attempt at a "Poor Horatio" practical idea to help you out.
Prayers for all this day. God bless,
MDC

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85033:
Boo- a page does come up by clicking on the link. Not exactly the one I was after, but it is close.

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85034: Well, thanks MDC. Mom-in-law does have home health care already and they come out twice a week. She also has someone who comes to clean each week. Her medicare pays for the home health. I'm afraid the day is soon approaching when she will no longer be able to care for herself and if her other children won't step up to help, the nursing home is going to be her only option. I know my limits and I am going to he educating both kids at home starting in September, plus helping out with my own parents. My children are my job and have first priority. Mom-in-law's children need to take responsibility for her. I will not move her in here and take care of her full time..not going to happen. That would cause me to finally go under and lose my health entirely.

We have a nice nursing home not even a mile from us where we would be able to visit often. That is all I can do, if none of the other three kids is willing to help her.

Better go...got to go see my folks and see if there is anything i can do for them. Mom is having trouble with one of the home health aids that comes out to help her. Seems she isn't much help so I am going to have to call the agency and have them replace her. Better scoot.

Boo

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85035: Good evening, porch. Long night at work last night, good sleep today, and don't have to work again until Tuesday, so I'm a happy camper.

Boo, just a glance back over the things your MIL did makes me wonder if she's having trouble with her vision?? Didn't recognize the cards? Saw green lettuce and thought it was avocado? Can't locate car keys? (Please tell me she doesn't drive!) Granted, all of these can be explained with a cognitive deficit, but I thought just maybe it might be her vision??

As for moving her in with you, I'm glad to know you're standing firm on that one. That would just about sink your boat, for sure. If I may offer a suggestion? I don't know how Bruce's family is, only what I've heard from you. However, many families have this situation, and there's usually one that gets nominated as the caregiver (that would be you) and the others get in a snit when that person balks. It happened to Dale's folks, when his dad's mother needed supervision. There were numerous siblings, and they all decided my MIL was the one. Same situation. Daughter-in-law gets the short straw. My FIL came to the rescue. He said they would be happy to take Mom - for two months. Then she would move on to the next sibling for two months, and so on, round-robin style, for as long as it took. Well, needless to say, his sisters came up with a lovely little residential care home in about two days. As I have often said, nothing is impossible if I don't have to do it. Involve me in it, and I will take a second look! May be worth a try.

Well, guess I'll go rustle up something for dinner. Not sure what it will be. I might just cook up a pot of grits, though I think I'll skip the maple syrup. Might be okay, though - I've had grits a lot of different ways, maybe I'll try that one too. Kinda reminds me of the little boy who came to dinner in "To Kill a Mockingbird", remember? The kid who poured syrup over everything on his plate? When Scout saw it she started to say something, and Calpurnia stopped her, reminded her that the boy was a guest and if he wanted syrup on his food that was okay. So, G-F, if you want syrup on your grits you can have it, especially since you're not even a guest, you're family! Blessings! --Romeena

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85036: Thanks All for the free pass on my Grits! I do like maters with my bacon & eggs tho... No ketchup! THAT, JUST AIN'T RIGHT! Going to Bluegrass Festival tomorrow..Ralph Stanley II, The apple don't fall from the tree there. Have a good one all...Over & Out... Goober-Fife

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85037:
Hello porch family......well got my yard all cut and trimmed up today. Boy was it hot out there.

G-P.....Have fun at the Bluegrass Festival tomorrow.

Boo....we just continue to pray for your situation and remember to take care of yourself also.

Ro....I want to remember that saying...."Nothing is impossible if I don't have to do it".

Love and prayers for all my porch family!
-REV.

August 11, 2011 - Msg 85038:
OOOPPS....That was suppose to be G-F not G-P....sorry Goober-Fife
-REV.

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85039: Porch family - I'd like to ask for prayers for my daughter Heather and her family. I just learned that her brother-in-law has taken his own life. Naturally, they're all pretty distraught at this time. He left a wife (my daughter's husband's sister) and a young son. It was totally unexpected. They will deal with it, but it's going to be hard. I cannot imagine the depth of despair he must have been in, and surely don't know why. I suppose only he knew that, and he can't tell anyone now. This is very hard.

REV, I can't take credit for that little quote. It was something my dad used to say, and it applies more often than you'd imagine. Actually, I've been falling back on it a lot at work here lately. When management is being totally unreasonable, changing the rules on us, expecting perfect performance while doubling our work load, as you might expect - morale isn't the best. I've gotten a couple of laughs with that simple observation, and it helps - a little.

My dad was something of a character - great sense of humor, not educated but very wise, and had a way of looking at life just slightly off-center. He was one of the happiest people I've ever known. His life was a long journey, and many of his roads weren't paved, but he always found something to laugh about. Another favorite sentiment of his was this - "If you have a problem to which there is no solution, then you don't have a problem. Just forget about it." That one has served me well over the years too, though sometimes you have to think about it for a minute before it sinks in.

Well, it's very late, and I think I'm going to bed. Peace, and blessings, friends. --Romeena

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85040: Ro, My dad was a character too! quirky sence of humor (apple did'nt fall from the tree) had many sayings that I call "Don"isms. Some would not make it past the porch sensors tho.
Prayers for your daughters family,many questions why, and you never know what people are secretly dealing with...
Good day All...suppose to be in th mid 70's today great day for Bluegrass Festival...Time for me to R-U-N-O-F-F.....Goober-Fife....

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85041: Good Friday morning Porchters. Hope you are all well and happy.

Ro, so tragic about that suicide. I had a close friend take his life when only 19 years of age. The feelings of those left behind of guilt and wondering what could I have done to prevent this remain for years sometimes. I will certainly keep them in my prayers. They will need the help of the Lord no doubt in the coming weeks and months.

Boo, prayers for your situation with your MIL. I'm glad you realise you can't also take on that responsibility. Your plate is already over flowing from what I see. Don't let anyone try to guilt you into it either. You are a tender hearted woman, full of compassion, and sometimes folks will use that to their advantage. Probably none of my business saying that, but I will anyway, because I love ya, and want you to be healthy. :)

John Masters, where you be at feller? Football season is here. You hiding from your Raider nemisis? LOL (bawk bawk bawk, my impression of a chicken) lol

Big Maude, how is your friend doing? I hope her spirits are doing ok.



Better go see what the day has in store for me I reckon.

Y'all have a safe and sane day.

Asa

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85042: Morning porch! It is TGIF.. looking forward to the week end.

Ro, I am so sorry about the suicide in your family circle. Suicide is such a sad tragic event in a families life. So much is left the for survivors to deal with, not only the loss of life and the personal affairs but the not being able to truly understands the persons decision to take their life. I see folks who are trying to move forward after a suicide as affected their lives. It is a long process for them.

Asa. My friend saw the plastic surgeon yesterday and is now waiting on a date for her surgery. She is scared and nervous about the surgery and what comes next is uncertain at this point (radiation or chemo or only the tamoxifen for 5 years). I talk to her almost daily. She is doing about as okay as she can. Her spirits seem okay but I think she is trying to hold things together for her husbands sake. They were high school sweethearts, have been married for about 3o years and were never able to have children. He recently retired after about 30+ years in law enforcement. He is pretty worried and upset. His Mom has dementia and they live next door to her and are pretty much her only support system. They are such good folks and have been my very good friends for such a long time. continue to pray for them. thanks

Boo, prayers for your family as well.

better get to work. busy day ahead.

Lunch will be Olive Garden!

Prayers and blessings to all.
Big Maude

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85043:
Ro....I am so sorry to hear of the news about your daughter's BIL. That's so sad.....they are all certainly in my heart and prayers!
Lord give them peace, comfort and strength during this tragic time.

Love and prayers for all the porch family
-REV.

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85044:
Maude.....Olive Garden sounds good...see ya there!
-REV.

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85045: Aw, thanks for those sweet words, ASA, and for everyone's prayers and words of encouragement (and great advice). You are good friends. :)

So sorry to hear of the tragedy in Heather's family, Ro. My prayers.

My prayers for your friend, also, Maude.

Boy, you think you have a problem and then you hear about the burden others are bearing. I guess the old saying is true for most people, that you wouldn't want to trade your problems for someone else's.

Went to see a movie last night with my sister called, "The Help". It actually had Ron Howard's daughter in it, playing a most obnoxious woman! haha..other than a few bad words, it was a very good movie, taking place during the early 60's, during the time Medger Evers was killed and the civil rights movement was in full swing. It's about the white, upper class and their treatment of their black "help" (which is deplorable at times) and how the black women set things right. I won't say more in case you see the movie but it is really funny at times and sad, too. I'm sure it will come out on television one of these days, minus some of the choice expletives, and it would be even more enjoyable.

Better finish the coffee and get to work.

Boo

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85046:
VICKS! (:

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85047: Prayers going up for your daughter's family, Ro. So sad..
Still holding Maude's friend up in prayer as well.

Boo, girl, I relate to so much of what you're dealing with. You stick to you guns and do what is best for YOU, your children, & Bruce.God bless ya.

And thanks,Boo, for your opinions on " The Help." I would like to see that movie!

Ok, see y'all at Olive Garden!

*******************
possum under a rock

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85048: YOUR guns, not you guns. Typo!

possum again

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85049: Good morning, porch. Boo, thanks for the opinion on "The Help." I wondered what it would be like. I have the book, read about half of it and put it down. Not that I wasn't interested - I was - but it was pretty heavy stuff, and I just wasn't in an emotional place where I wanted to deal with it. As you said, the behavior of the white community at that time was deplorable, and that's a gentle word for it. I have many black friends, and I kept seeing their faces for some of the characters in the book, and it was just too much. I'll finish it, I'm sure - it's still in my "stack" - but maybe not today. I guess the movie will force it, because I'll want to finish the book before seeing the movie, and I do want to see it. Things were indeed awful back then, and I'm old enough to have witnessed much of it firsthand. It wasn't pretty. Some day I'll tell you about something that happened that nearly cost my dad his job.

Well, I need to get off my backside and get a few things done around here. This house is a disgrace. I've worked so much this week I've just let it go to ruin. However, when you live alone, there comes a day of reckoning and there's no one to shift it off on! I do give in and call Maria when there's heavy cleaning to do, because I just don't have the steam to do that anymore, but the house isn't actually dirty so much as just, well, messy. Cluttered. That's not Maria's job, that's mine, so I'd better "get to it!" Blessings, friends, --Romeena

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85050:
Well, that was my VICKS comment above trying to lighten up the heavy mood of the porch; hope it did a little bit; but i'd also like to add my own comments. Growing up here in the 50s-60s, we had several black people in our catholic school and church and neighborhood and all was always just fine. Kids pick up on that type of thing, and we were all just one big family of humanity, playing and praying, etc together. There were a few problems in the mid-sixties "south of the tracks" but that was happening all over during that time.
So anyways, I'm "box sliding" back under the porch.
Prayers continue for all!
Have a good weekend,
MDC

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85051: YAY, someone said VICKS...it's been way yonder too long! ;)

Possum, you don't know how many times I have thought of you when my MIL is trying to "manipulate" her circumstances through deception. I guess it's just one of those things some families have to deal with when it comes to the elderly.

Ro, I get a sense from what you wrote that them movie is not as difficult as the book. There many humorous things that helped lighten the emotion of the subject. The two main black characters were just great...one was a serious character and one was just, plain funny most of the time! The white women's characters were very animated and sometimes over the top, though, which may have taken away a little from the sadness. There is a white woman that the "uppity" white women think of as white trash and she is just wonderful...one of my favorite characters in a movie, yet. She is a beautiful young, rather ditzy, but sweet woman who has no clue about how to do any domestic duties for her new husband so she hires "help" and the results are so funny (and touching)!

Ro, i would love to hear the story about your dad when you are ready to tell it. My dad has a few, very sad stories of growing up in Louisianna and East Texas. I know I have shared them here before. He witnessed actual lynching of young, black men when he was very young but he never forgot and taught us to respect all men (and women).

Ro, every time I turn on the news, they are talking about the heat in the Dallas area. Today on CNN they had a report about how wild animals are abandoning their babies due to lack of food and water. The local shelters were saying that they have had a 75% increase in wild animals being brought in. They interview a woman who found a little baby animal in her backyard, alone and it was crying. She had no idea what it was so she took it to the vet who told her it was a baby squirrel that had been abandoned. It was the cutest little pink thing with no hair at all! They are taking care of him and will release him back into the wild at some point.

Well, time to get more chores done.

Boo

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85052: Oh, hey there MDC...thanks for saying "VICKS"..hehe...I'll bet some of the newer members of the porch think we have lost our minds! ;) You know, what you said about the black people in your community growing up is how it is here. Deep in the south part of Texas, you don't see the racism that you do in other parts. I never witnessed it here as a child. Our black families blended right in at school and church and in our neighborhoods...I never saw any difference made.

Boo

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85053: Hi, folks. What you're saying about the relatively peaceful transition from segregation to full integration is nice to hear, but doesn't coincide with some of what I remember. We have to keep in mind that I'm just about a generation older than most of you, so that would make a tremendous difference. However, as Boo said, Texas seemed to get through it a little easier than some of the Deep South cities did. We had serious segregation - on buses, in theaters and restaurants, separate water fountains, all that stupid stuff - but when the laws changed, the shift was relatively trouble-free in most places here in Texas. By the time I graduated from high school in '56, we had several black students, even in our little rural school, and everyone got along fine. The '40s were a bit different, because segregation was still in full force then. That's when my dad nearly lost his job. Here's what happened:

Daddy drove a city bus in the early '40s (long before he started building houses) and of course the buses were segregated, with black riders required to sit in the back of the bus. Late one evening, the bus was full except for one seat, up front. He stopped for a rider, a black woman who worked as a domestic. He picked her up every day, knew her name, and she called him Mr. Jim. Since no other seat was available, Daddy told her to sit in the one near the front. She hesitated, but did it. Naturally, at the very next stop, a belligerent white man boarded, saw her and demanded that she go stand in the back so he could sit down. (I'm not kidding, things like that happened!) Daddy knew how weary she was, and told the man "She gets off in two stops. How 'bout giving her a break and let her keep her seat until then?" The man became very hostile, demanded his "rights" and the lady started to get up to move. Daddy told her to sit down and offered to punch the man's lights out for him. There probably would have been a fight, but the lady intervened, told my dad "it ain't worth it" and went and stood in the back. The man took the seat and Daddy sat back down in the driver's seat and drove to the lady's stop. When they got there, he set the brakes, walked to the back and escorted the lady safely off the bus. As you might expect, the man took Daddy's name and badge number off the ID card up front, and reported the incident. Daddy was reprimanded for not following policy, which conformed to the law in effect at that time, and was told it had better not happen again. He found another job not long after that, and he never regretted what he did. I was always proud of him for that, among many other things.

Well, I'm supposed to pick up Eloise and the rest of the ones who flew to Destin in an hour or so, so had better get rounded up around here. They're going to be tired, and won't want to stand waiting at the airport! Blessings, friends! --Romeena

August 12, 2011 - Msg 85054:
Wow Ro....that is such a great story of your dad.....and yes you should be very proud!
-REV.

August 13, 2011 - Msg 85055: Good for your daddy,Ro!

*******************
possum under a rock

August 13, 2011 - Msg 85056: Good morning, porch! Well, we finally got a little rain here. I don't know how much, it rained during the night, but when I got up this morning, the walkways were wet, and the top of the pond's umbrella is wet - the sprinklers wouldn't have done that. I have the impression that it didn't rain much, but even a little is better than none. It's cooler too - actually just 77 degrees out there, at almost 10:30. Of course that will change as soon as the sun burns through the clouds, but it's nice right now. Maybe I'll take my clippers and a big trash bag and go prune roses.

I hope I can find my roll-up bag liner. That's the handiest thing! Have you seen them? It's a long sheet of fairly stiff material - I don't think it's exactly plastic - and it's about 30" wide and 4 or 5 feet long. You roll it up and insert it into a trash bag, then let go. It tries to straighten out, and this expands the bag and holds it open, with the bottom flat. You can then stand it around the yard, and just drop trimmings and stuff in, like a barrel. When it's full, you just pull the liner-thing out, and you have a bag of trash, ready to tie up and discard, or carry to the compost pile, or whatever. Very, very handy! I can't always find mine, though. Like many of my yard tools, it often disappears, then comes home in a week or two. Eddie has a habit of "borrowing" my stuff! My ladder spends more time riding around on his truck than it does hanging on my side fence, my trimmer/edger was gone for three weeks, but when it came home it had been repaired, cleaned and re-strung. The pump sprayer went traveling too - only problem was, it wasn't mine, it was Joe's! No problem, I have one (it was in a closed cabinet) and Joe just used mine until his came home. It all works out. Eddie always returns what he borrows - eventually. I don't mind. I'm concerned about him right now, though. He usually comes on Thursday, but called and said he'd be here Friday instead, as he wasn't feeling well. He's been having dizzy spells, and I know he has high blood pressure. Then he called yesterday, and said he was still not feeling well, so would be here today. He's still not here. I hope he's okay - I really like Eddie, he has become a friend who takes good care of my yard. He's the sole support of a little 6-year old daughter, too.

Well, guess I'll go feed these pups. Bentley is still with me, as David and Brittney are driving home from Destin, won't get here until tomorrow. Anyway, the furkids and I slept late this morning, gotta get moving around here! Blessings, friends! --Romeena

August 13, 2011 - Msg 85057: HOT,HOT here in Ga...yall got any Cool ideas for Lunch?...SPOT

August 13, 2011 - Msg 85058: Wonderful story, Ro, and I wouldn't have expected any less from the man who raised a daughter like you. When my dad was living in Louisianna in the 30's, he lived in a town called Welch and he said that they actually had signs posted in town that warned the black folks not to be out past dark. He also remembers seeing a black man tied to the back of a car and drug around the courthouse, then hung...no trial, mind you. My dad's dad was in the KKK for a short time but that didn't last once he realized what was really going on. Dad also remembers attending a trial in which a white man was on trial for shooting a black man in the back, on the street in front of the white man's shoe repair shop. The black man said something to the white man's wife that he didn't like so he shot him. The all white, male jury aquitted him.

Glad you got a little reprieve from the heat, Ro. It keeps looking like it might sprinkle here in the morning but by noon the sky is cloudless and the sun is relentless again. My dogs spend the mornings chasing bugs, in between quick dips in their pool, and the afternoons napping in the shade. I am tempted to take the clippers to them and shave them but I'm afraid they might get a sunburn or it might make them itch. The heat never seems to bother the goats and Thelma Lou much. They just wander around grazing with little rest periods throughout the day. Did I tell you that my new little pygmy, Elvis is now the boss? He has taken authority over Raspberry and he bites her on the behind when she gets out of line. Pretty funny to watch.

Been a lazy saturday so far but time to get up and moving. Have to make dinner for mom and dad today since St. Susan took a day trip to San Antonio to get away...not sure San Antonio would be the place to be right now...talk about HOT and no breeze. If I were going to take a day off I would head for a river.

Boo



August 13, 2011 - Msg 85059: Wow - you and me both, Boo! How I'd love to be sitting in an innertube, floating on the Frio right now, with occasional runs of rapids just for fun. Now that's my idea of a vacation!

Your dad remembers the same time period that I do, just about. My parents grew up in and around San Antonio, my grandparents were from small towns around the area. As you observed earlier, things were a little less intense in Texas, rougher for the black community in Louisiana and other deep south states. Not that they had it easy in Texas - they didn't - but there was perhaps less actual violence and abuse. Thank God, things have come a long way. There's still a distance to go - we're not fully "there" yet - but still, we have come a long way. It's going to take at least another generation, I think.

Yep, my dad was one of the good guys. I know I talk about him a lot, and quote him a lot, but I don't want anyone to think my mom had no influence. She definitely did. My mother was a gem. A little bit prim, but with a sly, slightly sneaky devilish streak now and then that just delighted my father. She was a wonderful, home-style cook, a spotless housekeeper, a staunch defender and supporter of her children and her husband, and a deeply committed Christian. She was intelligent, articulate and wise, and was the "go-to" person in the family when someone had a problem and needed counsel. She was 17 when she married my dad (he was 18) and they were as much in love when she died after 63 years of marriage as they were when they were kids. Never a day passes that I don't remember something she said, or draw on some bit of wisdom she imparted to me, or just think of her with a little spasm of love in my heart. She was a lady, through and through, and I always knew she expected no less of me.

Well, guess I'll mosey. I have a couple of furkids here who are snuffling around, trying to let me know they need some snuggling. Toye Starr is no problem, but big old 45-lb Bentley thinks he's a lapdog too, and that can get tricky! Blessings! --Romeena

August 13, 2011 - Msg 85060: I'm back. Had a frozen Chinese dinner. One of those things that come in a bag now, and you heat them in a skillet - not bad at all, really. I added some water chestnuts and a handful of peanuts, and it was really pretty good.

This evening is just beautiful! It's one of those evenings that I always find so enchanting. The temperature never got above the mid-80s today, and while it didn't rain anymore, the clouds never went completely away either. Those conditions usually result in a pretty sunset, and today was no exception. My favorite part is those last few minutes before the light fades out of the western sky, and the air all around just glows. It started out as golden light, and seen falling across all the green the the splashes of color in my yard, it was so pretty. Then a soft rose blended in, like a blush, just for a couple of minutes. So pretty. The air is perfectly still, not a leaf is stirring. The birds and squirrels are nowhere to be seen, already in their jammies and gone to bed, I'm sure. It's not hard to imagine that I could hear that rose-gold air being suddenly split by the blast of a trumpet, and then I could look up and see the Savior, descending through those beautiful clouds. Some day.... - but until then, it's lovely to be able to see and enjoy the beauty around me.

Blessings, friends!--Romeena

August 13, 2011 - Msg 85061: Ro, I talked to my dad today and he told me the occurence I spoke of about the man being shot was in Brownwood, Texas. Guess things were pretty bad in East Texas, too.

Your mom sounds like she was a wonderful woman, Ro.

Boo

August 14, 2011 - Msg 85062: Good morning, porch! Just passin' by on my way to preaching, got my dangly earrings on and everything!

Boo, I wouldn't doubt for a minute that the shooting took place in Brownwood. When I said things were a little less violent here, I didn't mean to imply that we had no trouble at all. We did, and we still do. That terrible thing that happened in Jasper, Texas not so very long ago is an example. There will always be bigots and mean, violent people, no matter where you are. I do think it was worse in some areas, less so in others, but desegregation in this country came with a price, and it's still not fully paid. It was bad, and the only consolation is that segregation was worse. Today, I can happily say that my church is integrated, and is the more spiritually rich because of it.

Well, gotta run. Blessings, friends! --Romeena

August 14, 2011 - Msg 85063: Ro, I was in Michigan, just out of Detroit staying with my grandparents the summer that Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. I remember the riots and curfews..couldn't be out after dark that summer. I was six but remember it. We couldn't go into Detroit at all because of the violence.

Should be getting ready for preachin'...didn't sleep well but will make it.

Boo

August 14, 2011 - Msg 85064: Ya'll come over to Goober-Fifes after preachin today... Got a big pot of breen beans,bacon & taters out of the garden on the stove. Along with some maters,watermelon & cornbread. Thinkin about some peach cobbler too? But I need those Carolina folks to bring the Cheerwine. Maude you don't need to bring the Dr. Enuf, 1 was enuf for me! Peach ice cream would be great tho! The Texas folk can bring the Dr. Pepper...Supper's @ 3:00 GST (Goober Standard Time). REV, you do the singing? Hope you got rid of the dust in your larynx,if not, get a slug of Cheerwine and you'll get right....The Bluegrass show Friday night got me inspired. Supper's @ 3 bells!!!wink wink Romeena!
Goober-Fife......