The week be"faux" Christmas....

... all through the house,
not a creature was stirring,
not even a souse.

The stockings, though "hole-y"
hung on the mantle with care-
two dogs sit by the hearth,
shedding all kinds of hair.

The Head Granny of all
bundled in scarf and warm quilts
waits patiently for family
to don their new kilts.

The chief cook 'n bottlewasher
ponders recipes and book
for something spectacular
to taste and to cook.

She also commands
the decorating crew
rehanging lights
both colored and blue.

Her tree though quite slim
has nutcrackers and a star
angels and birds
but no boughs on thar!

The family has high hopes
that Santa will bring
not only gifts in shiny boxes
but gifts screaming "BLING"!

Be sure and ask my dear Mama what kind of "rocks" Santa brought her this year!!

Title inspiration credits go to: Nan!
Grinch paradoy a lame tribute to Dr 'Theodore Geisel' Seuss.

The ART of Discovery!

My gosh! My family is so talented!!

More specifically-- my Mother is very gifted!

She created some very unique pieces for each of us when we were growing up ... and when she had time!

For years- I have fondly remembered a chambry shirt she painted for me while I was in the hospital. I was twelve years old going on 13 (eeeeks, teenage years! She should have just boxed me up!) on February 13 (that day has always been notoriously bad luck for me!) when I tripped over my elephant-bell pants and killed my kidney. I don't recall a lot of the event except to say that I definitely made an impression in band class- and not for my musical talent!

Anyway-- earlier this week Dad brought home all kinds of boxes from the lakehouses.. that'll have to be a whole 'nother blog entry- what all surfaces from the depths of the flotsam jetsam of our lives from years past! The "treasure" this time was in Mae's boxes of clothes! Somehow-- she had come into possession of my chambry shirt!! And, not just that one-- but, another that she'd painted for Mae and one I'd even forgotten about- an embroidered short (that Mae had helped me with) that friends had autographed and we'd stitched their names on the sleeves!

WOW!! I had thought those things had gone "with the wind" long LONG ago and had even had the thought once upon a time that IF I'd saved that shirts I sure wish I hadda- cuz I'd make them into pillow keepsakes or somesuch!! AND-- NOW! I have it!In my hot little hands! Ahhhh-- fond memories!

I think that year (1974) ice cream soda art must have been in vogue or something- cuz, a couple of the candles and flower arrangements I received in the hospital were of that same theme. It was just by coincendence that our next door neighbor owned the Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream store and I recall vividly that he brought me ice cream each and every day of my two week stay. Let me tell you-- he was one very popular guest!

So there it is!! The saga of forgotten wearable art! And, my mom's talents still are "tasty"!!

Thanks, MOM!!

There's a Bathroom on the Right...

remember that song?? No? Well- just ask KID- he will!

Found a new word! Mondegreen! Had to look that puppy up! It described precisely what we'd heard (or thought we'd heard); but, I had no idea there was a term for it!

According to answers.com:

A mondegreen (also sometimes spelt 'mondagreen') is the mishearing (usually accidental) of a phrase, such that it acquires a new meaning.

The word 'mondegreen' is itself a mondegreen of "They hae slain the Earl o' Murray and laid him on the green", from the anonymous 17th century ballad 'The Bonnie Earl O' Murray', the last five words being misheard as "Lady Mondegreen". Sylvia Wright is thought to have coined the word to describe all such mishearings. While a common occurrence for children, many adults have their own collection, particularly with regard to popular music.

There are all kinds of sites for folks that enjoy reading other folks' mondegreens and the answers to all those lyrical questions you have had over the years...

Some of my favorite ones are Christmas songs that have gone awry...

Such as.... Good King Wenceslas... and his poor servents.

Good King Wences' car backed out
On the feet of heathens
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.

Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring wine and gruel.

Good king wants his applesauce
At the feast this evening
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.


And... the very, very poor Shepherds....

While shepherds washed their socks at night
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around.

I love Christmas music... Ave Marie (sung by Harry Connick) is one of my favs! I'm also enjoying the new Christmas CD by the FBC. Really puts one in the spirit!

An Olde Story of One Very Wild Christmas Gift... or... Why We Don't Invite Louise to Parties Any More!

This article is true and was submitted to a 1999 Louisville Sentinel contest to find out who had the wildest Christmas dinner. It won first prize. *(See disclaimer at end of article)*


As a joke, my brother used to hang a pair of panty hose over his fireplace before Christmas. He said all he wanted was for Santa to fill them. What they say about Santa checking the list twice must be true because every Christmas morning, although Jay's kids' stockings were overflowed, his poor pantyhose hung sadly empty.

One year I decided to make his dream come true. I put on sunglasses and went in search of an inflatable love doll. They don't sell those things at Wal-Mart. I had to go to an adult bookstore downtown. If you've never been in an X-rated store, don't go. You'll only confuse yourself. I was there an hour saying things like, "What does this do?" "You're kidding me!" "Who would buy that?" Finally, I made it to the inflatable doll section. I wanted to buy a standard, uncomplicated doll that could also substitute as a passenger in my truck so I could use the car pool lane during rush hour. Finding what I wanted was difficult. Love dolls come in many different models. The top of the line, according to the side of the box, could do things I'd only seen in a book on animal husbandry. I settled for 'Lovable Louise." She was at the bottom of the price scale. To call Louise a "doll" took a huge leap of imagination.

On Christmas Eve, with the help of an old bicycle pump, Louise came to life. My sister-in-law was in on the plan and let me in during the wee morning hours, long after Santa had come and gone, I filled the dangling pantyhose with Louise's pliant legs and bottom. I also ate some cookies and drank what remained of a glass of milk on a nearby tray. I went home, and giggled for a couple of hours. The next morning my brother called to say that Santa had been to his house and left a present that had made him VERY happy but had left the dog confused. She would bark, start to walk away, then come back and bark some more.

We all agreed that Louise should remain in her panty hose so the rest of the family could admire her when they came over for the traditional Christmas dinner. My grandmother noticed Louise the moment she walked in the door. "What the hell is that?" she asked. My brother quickly explained, "It's a doll." "Who would play with something like that?" Granny snapped. I had several candidates in mind, but kept my mouth shut. "Where are her clothes?" Granny continued. "Boy, that turkey sure smells nice, Gran," Jay said, trying to steer her into the dining room. But Granny was relentless. "Why doesn't she have any teeth?" Again, I could have answered, but why would I? It was Christmas and no one wanted to ride in the back of the ambulance saying,"Hang on Granny! Hang on!" My grandfather, a delightful old man with poor eyesight, sidled up to me and said, " Hey, who's the naked gal by the fireplace?" I told him she was Jay's friend.

A few minutes later I noticed Grandpa by the mantel, talking to Louise. Not just talking, but actually flirting. It was then that we realized this might be Grandpa's last Christmas at home.

The dinner went well. We made the usual small talk about who had died, who was dying, and who should be killed, when suddenly Louise made a noise that sounded a lot like my father in the bathroom in the morning. Then she lurched from the panty hose, flew around the room twice, and fell in a heap in front of the sofa. The cat screamed. I passed cranberry sauce through my nose, and Grandpa ran across the room, fell to his knees, and began administering mouth to mouth resuscitation. My brother fell back over his chair and wet his pants and Granny threw down her napkin, stomped out of the room, and sat in the car.

It was indeed a Christmas to treasure and remember.

Later in my brother's garage, we conducted a thorough examination and found the cause of Louise's collapse. We discovered that Louise had suffered from a hot amber to the back of her right thigh. Fortunately, thanks to a wonder drug called duct tape, we restored her to perfect health. Louise went on to star in several bachelor party movies. I think Grandpa still calls her whenever he can get out of the house.

*DISCLAIMER* The piece was actually written by humorist Jeff Foxworthy and appears in one of his books from 1996. As for whether it's a true story or not, Foxworthy says on the opening page of his web site of his material: "There's my life story (only 50% of it lies)."

Interesting Christmas Gifts

Since I'm still working on "the list"... and am pondering what to do about a couple of folks on my list that are the hardest folks in the world to buy for... I've been trying to think of "interesting" gift ideas! I had had a true moment of inspiration the other night-- even went so far as to get up "in the middle of the night" to write it down; only to discover that I can't even find the perfect object even on the infinite web. OH, well- it was a nice thought anyway! I wish these folks on my list were the "prankster" type of folk; I could come up with some real hum-dingers of gifts! Here's one I found on the internet tonight!

The following is a true story. For twenty-five years, two brothers-in-law traded the same pair of gift pants back and forth between them, each time finding more inventive ways to wrap them.

The one present Roy Collette wasn't looking forward to getting for Christmas 1988 was those damned pants. Yet he knew he was in trouble as soon as the flatbed truck bearing a concrete-filled tank off a truck used to deliver ready-mix rolled up. Sure as God made little green apples, those pants had to be in there. And he was going to have to fish them out, else declare his brother-in-law the winner of a rivalry that had spanned 20 years.

Being the sport he is, brother-in-law Larry Kunkel thoughtfully supplied the services of a crane to hoist the concrete-filled tank off the flatbed.

What's this game, you ask? What was the significance of these pants, and why were two grown men going to such efforts year after year to retrieve them, only to send them off again?

It all began in 1964 when Larry Kunkel's mom gave him a pair of moleskin pants. After wearing them a few times, he found they froze stiff in Minnesota winters and thus wouldn't do. That next Christmas, he wrapped the garment in pretty paper and presented it to his brother-in-law.

Brother-in-law Roy Collette discovered he didn't want them either. He bided his time until the Christmas after, then packaged them up and gave them back to Kunkel. This yearly exchange proceeded amicably until one year Collette twisted the pants tightly and stuffed them into a 3-foot-long, 1-inch wide pipe.

And so the game began. Year after year, as the pants were shuffled back and forth, the brothers strove to make unwrapping them more difficult, perhaps in the hope of ending the tradition. In retaliation for the pipe, Kunkel compressed the pants into a 7-inch square, wrapped them with wire and gave the "bale" to Collette. Not to be outdone, Collette put the pants into a 2-foot-square crate filled with stones, nailed it shut, banded it with steel and gave the trusty trousers back to Kunkel.

The brothers agreed to end the caper if the trousers were damaged. But they were as careful as they were clever. As the game evolved, so did the rules. Only "legal and moral" methods of wrapping were permitted. Wrapping expenses were kept to a minimum with only junk parts used.

Kunkel next had the pants mounted inside an insulated window that had a 20-year guarantee and shipped them off to Collette.

Collette broke the glass, recovered the trousers, stuffed them into a 5-inch coffee can, which he soldered shut. The can was put in a 5-gallon container filled with concrete and reinforcing rods and given to Kunkel the following Christmas.

Kunkel installed the pants in a 225-pound homemade steel ashtray made from 8-inch steel casings and etched Collette's name on the side. Collette had trouble retrieving the treasured trousers, but succeeded without burning them with a cutting torch.

Collette found a 600-pound safe and hauled it to Viracon Inc. in Owatonna, where the shipping department decorated it with red and green stripes, put the pants inside and welded the safe shut. The safe was then shipped to Kunkel, who was the plant manager for Viracon's outlet in Bensenville.

The pants next turned up in a drab green, 3-foot cube that once was a 1974 Gremlin. A note attached to the 2,000-pound scrunched car advised Collette that the pants were inside the glove compartment.

In 1982 Kunkel faced the problem of retrieving the pants from a tire 8 feet high and 2 feet wide and filled with 6,000 pounds of concrete. On the outside Collette had written, "Have a Goodyear."

In 1983 the pants came back to Collette in a 17.5-foot red rocket ship filled with concrete and weighing 6 tons. Five feet in diameter, with pipes 6 inches in diameter outside running the length of the ship and a launching pad attached to its bottom, the rocket sported a picture of the pants fluttering atop it. Inside the rocket were 15 concrete-filled canisters, one of which housed the pants.

Collette's revenge for the rocket ship was delivered to Kunkel in the form of a 4-ton Rubik's Cube in 1985. The cube was made of concrete that had been baked in a kiln and covered with 2,000 board feet of lumber.

Kunkel "solved the cube," and for 1986 gift-giving repackaged the pants into a station wagon filled with 170 steel generators all welded together. Because the pants have to be retrieved undamaged, Collette was faced with carefully taking apart each component.

What happened to the pants in 1987 is a mystery, and their 1988 packaging (concrete-filled tank) was mentioned at the beginning of this page. Sadly, 1989's packaging scheme brought the demise of the much-abused garment.

Collette was inspired to encase the pantaloons in 10,000 pounds of jagged glass that he would then deposit in Kunkel's front yard. "It would have been a great one - really messy," Kunkel ruefully admitted. The pants were shipped to a friend in Tennessee who managed a glass manufacturing company. While molten glass was being poured over the insulated container that held them, an oversized chunk fractured, transforming the pants into a pile of ashes.

The ashes were deposited into a brass urn and delivered to Kunkel along with this epitaph:
Sorry, Old Man Here lies the Pants. . . An attempt to cast the pants in glass brought about the demise of the pants at last.
The urn now graces the fireplace mantel in Kunkel's home.

Reflections on Autumn....

Worked in the yard today. Goodness! We gotta lotta leaves! When I came in to sit a spell- cleaned out my camera disk in anticipation of Christmas visits... the first two to begin this week. I'll take Mae and Mom to visit with cousins Sue and Dotsy in Little Rock and we'll eat out at some fancy-shmancy "girlie" place and shop for Christmas pretties and antiques. Then.... Nancy, Derral & Louie will drive in for an early Christmas visit! Yippeee!

I've still got some shopping left to finish- have most of it on a list, yet- there are always a few "holes". AND... I've been moving furniture and "stuff" around- and want to get that finished this week, too. So- all in all; a busy week it's been and will continue to be... that's all part of the season!

While cleaning the disk- I found this photo I'd taken next door at Mum's. She decorates for just about every event! This was just a stunningly beautiful day for November and I was so thrilled to find one last butterfly! He hurried on off- cuz it turned c-o-l-d the next afternoon! Anyway-- hope you enjoy.. and in the meantime I'll try to edit some other pix!

Christmas Memories...

We moved to Texas when I was six years old and getting to come "home" (an 8 hour trip) to my mother's parents' home in Arkansas (the very home I live in now!) was so very special! Our grandfather, Paw, drove us out to the farm where we picked a cedar tree, my mom, the kids and I lugged it back to the truck (he was crippled) and with my siblings we all decorated it with all the "ancient" ornaments! This year when I was helping my Mom decorate her tree- she explained that these ornaments weren't "ancient" after all-- they are old allright! Special because they had gotten them after the war (and after the Depression) and had not been able to get much imported!

A second memory is one year we came "home" and the grandparents had the attic made into a bedroom for us girls! I remember very distinctly my Paw roaring in laughter because he kept telling us he had a surprise hidden in the house for us- that we could have it the minute we found it! The house is one of those that you can make a large figure eight in through all the passages and rooms- the stairwell was added to an existing wall (there was no access previously) and because it was next to another door- he had pulled the door to sort of camouflage the stairs and we didn't think to look behind the door! When he finally showed us- (we were in awe alright!) the room was all decked out in Christmas bedding, decorations and we even had our own tree! After talking some to Mae this afternoon about this recollection- none of us are sure exactly when the build happened. In reality, it could be two separate memories- the first one being the room surprise and would have happened earlier in the year and the second of the decorated room- but, no one can recall the details for sure! So-- since it's my memory... I'll keep it this way- just one and at Christmas!

Other happy memories include: visiting with long-distance family; attending Midnight Mass at St. James with Grandmom and Granddaddy; going to Mimi's and having a "wrap" party and then going back to her home for the large Tanner family get-togethers (eleven siblings and all their families) and they always ended the evening with a hymn singing. Going Christmas shopping with Aunt Ruth and always finishing with someplace really nice to eat!

The photo is from circa 1964 and is Mom putting my new boots on!! Yippeee!! Loved those boots! Merry Christmas- have yourself some wonderful memories!

Merry Christmas!

It's that lovely time of year!! Wishing you Merry thoughts every day of the Christmas season!

~S

Fall Foliage!

This has been such a lovely Autumn!
We've actually had two really wonderful color events! A rare phenomenon brought on by the droughts and then the rains from Hurricane Rita.

My dear friend called me yesterday to tell me that the colors were in abundance again- at first, I really couldn't believe it! But, she was right! The mountains in Hot Springs were really putting on a show. So- I got two drives over the mountain this weekend and both times I was in total awe of the majesty of the foliage. It reminded me of Isaiah 40:8 "the grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever." The really beautiful thing about this spectacle was that even though these leaves are dying and fading; they have what is called dying grace! And, it is a lovely and poignant event! It reminded me of some women I know that have been very pretty in their youth- and in their mature years they GLOW! What a wonderful kindness God grants us; that we can observe and appreciate the beauty of His creations in all seasons.

The same DF emailed me these pics tonight from the courtyard of the hospital where she works. The rain was just beginning as she snapped these and I thought they were worth sharing- enjoy the fading beauty that is both stunning and fleeting.

S

Colossus- the Train Tag Artist

okay-- so, I'm surfing around and somehow or another stumble onto this blogger and he turns out to be really, REALLY interesting and from Gurdon (of all places!). The thing that I became so engrossed over was that HE apparently IS the railroad artist responsible for so much of the graffiti art on the sides of the railcars that I've always admired.

So... I did some research on the subject. It is commonly called "Train Tags"; and it is the subject of a recent documentary that is being filmed and made about the history and the artists. I was stunned at what I found!! The tag-artists are oftentimes mixed up with other urban graffiti artists or thought to be hobos; but, are typically railroad workers (no surprise there!).. but- get this-- since it's an illegal activity they always keep a low-profile and the railroad companies turn a blind eye!

This particular man's (Russell Butler from Gurdon) signature is "Colossus" and his blog indicates that he considers himself to be an "Outsider Artist" and does artistamps (postage). Have you ever seen this image on the side of a rail-car?? It's his! I was just so fascinated and thrilled to find that he's from Clark County!! Next time you end up having to sit at the railroad crossing- I'll bet you'll have your eyes wide open looking for this!!

Here is his blog which reads rather cryptically (apparently is his style) in that he oftentimes wrote rather prosaic little verses with his "doodlings" and offers his very dry humor.
http://exilesonmainst.blogspot.com/

Here is a sample of some of his artistamps for ATC's (?- I'm assuming here!)
http://res.npcc.edu/bbutler/buz.htm

Here is a neat article describing other tag artists and the subject:
http://www.northbankfred.com/tag.html

This is the documentarian's site - they made a bicycle trip from Nevada to Arkansas to study the trains, the markings and finally to meet "Colossus"
http://www.roadtocolossus.com/

This is one of the artist-documentarian's personal blog with an eye-opening article (and fascinating linkes) on some of LA's graffiti art that is to be destroyed by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
http://overunder.blogspot.com/2005/11/museum-to-destroy-work-by-margaret.html

Ramblings...

One of the songs I've recently downloaded is Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying". That song just makes me want to go out and LIVE! Not necessarily sky-diving.. but, you get the drift! But, it also makes me reflect on somebody near and dear to my heart.

I don't know what to get Son this year for Christmas.

I'd like to give him a "life". A really fantastic one that would completely captivate him and allow all of his wonderful characteristics to thrive and grow. But-- that's not a gift a parent can bestow on a child except by backing off and allowing them to forge their own way. That gift comes from life experience and personal maturity.

He thinks he's already got that life... doing pretty much as he pleases, with a few responsibilities and inside the cyber world.

There's just so much more out there! If I could give it, I would give him experiences. Eye-opening experiences. Vistas and views of truly magnificient scenery; exotic tastes of food and the smells of fresh fruits growing; of knowing what it's like to scale a mountain and back down it cuz it's really steep; I'd like to give him the experience of enjoying every step of the journey because THAT'S as important (if not more so) as the destination. I didn't realize these things (and still haven't many of them) until I was mature enough to actually appreciate the process of life rather than "The Events".

Maybe I should pray more for his maturity. and, my own - so that I don't miss out on any more of the journeys. The plodding along steps are the journey- are the adventure ... and enjoy each and every one because that's just the way it is. There are frangrances along the way-- smokey smells. And, perhaps not music all the day- but, there is rythym. And, there is a harmony even amongst the disharmonys of life. Maybe life is more like a piece of music than we realize.

Live Like You Were Dying
sung by Tim McGraw
written by Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols

He said I was in my early forties
with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime
and I spent most of the next days
looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options
and talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in
that this might really be the real end
how's it hit you when you get that kinda news
man what'd you do

and he said
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

He said I was finally the husband
that most the time I wasn't
and I became a friend a friend would like to have
and all the sudden going fishin
wasn't such an imposition
and I went three times that year I lost my dad
well I finally read the good book
and I took a good long hard look
at what I'd do if I could do it all again

and then
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about
what'd you do with it what did you do with it
what did I do with it
what would I do with it?

Sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named fumanchu
and then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I watched an eagle as it was flying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying

Black Friday Shopping

I do NOT do Black Friday shopping! A couple of years ago- a young lady I know that works at our local Wallys was actually bit by an overeager customer trying to wrestle several dozen customers from a bicycle! That pretty much sealed the deal for me! Not gonna happen! I couldn't care less!

This morning-- I'm in my sleepy little dreamworld when the phone rings before 9 AM and it's my very best friend in the world, Kim (and her sister),- on her way from Wally's, Target and now headed to Michael's where they have big sales, too... and did I want anything?? Well! Just say m-m-m-m-Michael's to me and I immediately start to salivate! Of COURSE I want something! I want it ALL-'specially if it's on sale!! With her on her phone and me at the computer checking all the Sizzix dies for her to paw through and look for-- we scored a couple of "finds" (when did they expand their selection? forever they'd had the same ole' same ole'!) and she grabbed a side-kick (we share the Sizzix machine & dies and they stay at my house... guess that's fixing to change!)....

Prior to that store they scored a couple of iPods (now WHY didn't they call me when they got THOSE???) and all the accessories! I'm just droooooling over wanting an iPod-- maybe someBODY will get the message and slip it into my stocking.... specially since he was looking over my shoulder calling out songs I needed to download from iTunes last night! Yes, yes! I know-- we've got it all backwards! I've downloaded (and input a sizable amount of our CD collection) into the iTunes and don't EVEN have the means to play it except for the computer! Just call me prepared!!

She just called me back with an update! Not only did that sidekick ring up at $29.99- she got it with an additional 25% off!! Woohooo!! Santa is kicking bargain-butts this year! Yup! That's what's going in her stocking! What do you bet she uses it before Christmas??? And, get this! They are headed BACK to the electronics store to pick up more gee-gaws (accessories) for the iPods! Arghh.... now I wish I'd sent my Visa card along with her!

Rant, rant, rant! Grouse, grouse, grouse!!

I'm so peeved. It's really frustrating to have gotten so dependent on emails- and then to have the server just seem to implode. SBC-dsl customers use Yahoo mail servers (or maybe it's the other way around??) I dunno- but, they have been so erratic lately. Spastic is more like it! And, it's infuriating!

Last night-- I got an email over a month old! Literally! At first- I thought the girl that had sent it had just failed to correct the date. But- because I"m such a techno-geek (and nosey, too!) I checked all the headers and the source code! Sure enough-- it HAD been mailed last month! GEEZ. Where HAS that thing been all this time? In whose server has it been sitting patiently waiting?? And, how come I can get SPAM and it's current and flooding my mailbox; but, the legitimate mail is as slow as snail-mail and now- since this last week- I can't even get my mail sent from my account because the server is having issues.

SHOOT!! I need to send that mail! Granted- it's not dire or critical. But- it does save me a phone call (or three) since it's to both my sisters and sister-in-law-to-be about plans we're trying to make for a weekend Sister's Getaway. I mean-- it's just trivial nonessential stuff-- but, STILL! I'll have to call to make sure that we are completely co-ordinated! Oh... and one of the emails is just to verify that I'd sent my money for a little stamp-purchase... but, still! That reflects on me as a customer if the seller doesn't understand that I'm being prompt and all. It's all about the feedback! And, I want GOOD feedback!!

Oh, well. If you're not getting email from me-- you now know why. And, I may or may not be receiving yours either.. so call me if you want me to really and truly KNOW something! And, don't leave it on the message machine either-- cuz, there's no telling WHO might just erase those things without checking to make sure I've listened either! Even, Sam the Cat sometimes pushes those buttons... Probably the "male" thing in him... just to aggravate me more!! :-)

Have a perfectly wonderful Thursday! It's quite brisk out there (temp wise) and I've got lots of happy events to get ready for today and tomorrow! Mae is presenting a book review on "Gertrude Bell" at the Library Club this afternoon and "HMS Pinafore" this evening... then- tomorrow-- Big D!

Woohoo!

Ferncliff!

This was the view from our crop (conference) room this past weekend at Ferncliff.

It's a beautiful place, so serene and the foliage was a little past the "prime"- but, still good nonetheless.

There were 32 of us "scrap-hens" in attendance and many of us were new to the crop. We giggled, scarfed delicious snacks, giggled some more, stayed up late and giggled even more! Loads of friends and loads of fun!

The only bad thing to happen was our friend, Meredith. Meredy (as we fondly call her) attended Friday, but had to leave Saturday morning because she had a family wedding in Oklahoma. While driving to Oklahoma, she fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the road, into a ditch, flipping a couple of times. She says while she was airborne, she began praying. Luckily, there were witnesses to the crash (surprising as she was in a fairly remote part of Arkansas) and they rushed to help her. An ambulance took her to DeQueen Regional Hospital which was closer to the family awaiting her.

It was quite a rollercoaster Saturday while we tried to find out how she was doing and keep our minds occupied while we waited. Jodi called Meredy's cell phone and someone at the hospital answered it and was able to give us enough information to keep us from worrying too much. Later, Janet called the hospital and talked to Meredy on the phone. She was in good spirits which soothed our nerves. As of last night- word was that she would be released today pending review of her x-rays.

Admissions... and New Beginnings

Even when I was in junior high-- I hated the course of Health & Safety. Health and Science. Health and Anything. I abhor the obsessive talking of diet and the study of health. The time has come and now- I'm going to have to LIVE it. Eat, drink, breathe and LIVE healthy and a diet.

Last night I went to the Sign-up Seminar for the UAMS Weight-Loss Program. I had two really good escorts. My daddy and our family friend, Sandy. Sandy has been on the program since June and has successfully lost over fifty pounds. Yeah for Sandy!! Both are "in my boat" and both are supportive. Thanks- guys!

officially I begin the program in January.The more basic process of self-evaluation and introspective reflections begins now. I do look forward to being healthier. I really look forward to feeling better. I don't look forward to meal replacements. I hear they taste pretty mundane. Even the chocolate one. I don't look forward to admitting the truth leading up to my pathetic situation.

A Lie.. and the Truth....

For some time now... there has been elephant in my house- and I can no longer ignore or avoid acknowledging it. It used to be a silent creature that was just "danced" around... now, it is a real elephant and taking up too much floor space. It's not like the other critters in our house that are cute, cuddly and considered pets- oh no! It's ugly and pathetic and needy. Admitting it is both painful and a relief. It has a name, OBESITY. And.. it has a number. 296. YIKES! Did I just admit that, too?? Oh, geez. That's like the most heavily guarded secret in the Queen's court. I almost feel like I'm betraying myself by writhing this.

Two bad habits (more dirty little secrets) I'm having to give up are convenience foods and binging. That's the lie I've been living recently. Lies in the sense that what I'm doing (and eating) isn't going to "hurt" me. It has... and before I swallow (literally and figuratively) any more of it- I'm going to face it.

I am going to deal with it, though. And, I am going to choke down the awful truth- as bitter as it may be... it can't be any worse than the meal replacement stuff. The "stuff" is some powdered concoction of 800 calories of 125% of the RDA and can be made into liquid shakes, baked into chips, grilled (as in pancakes) and more. Oh, joy! *said sarcastically* Now, I get to go to cooking class.... grrr..... more of my favorite past-times... NOT!

What a vicious cycle...

pain = not being consistent
not cooking real food consistently = convenience foods
convenience foods = unsatisfied well-being
unsatisfied well-being = binging on more convenience foods
convenience foods & more binging= more pain

What a paradox. And, it's not really as simple as all those equations either. But- it's about as basic and concise as I'm able to grapple with today.

And, so-- I start fresh. Now. Today. In the present time. Like the lyrics from the Tracy Chapman song "New Beginnings".... Starting all over. Start breaking the cycle. Start breaking the chain. Starting all over. Make new symbols. Make new signs. Make a new language. Easier to redefine the world by starting all over.

And, calling my elephant "Obesity" is a great beginning.

Prayers requested. I'm a pretty weak and pathetic soul when it comes to facing myself and my elephant.

Ferncliff---here I come!

Oh-- it's been the most gorgeous foliage this past week! I've had the pleasure of driving "over the mountain" (to Hot Springs) and once further up the interstate on errands and such! And, the colors have been stunning!! Surprising considering the lack of moisture we've had all year that there were even any leaves left on the trees at all! It even inspired me to get my Rebel out and snap a few pictures-- and send the Olympus off to repair the flash unit.

Why is it that picture images are so very vital to me?? I can't even begin to explain that-- but, by framing a composition and trying to achieve the right lighting that just completes a part of my that I can't define. And, then-- to further document the image by embellishing it with paint, ink and paper-- oh- that's really satisfying! And, that is why I look so forward to going to scrap retreats! Besides the friendships!!

Ferncliff is a beautiful little Presbyterian church camp not far from Pinnacle Mountain. It's what is termed as "cozy" and a bit like primitive in comparison to other retreats that are offered. I think the name alone inspires creativity and an ambiance for an artists getaway! From what I understand- the history of the Ferncliff crop is just a few friends looking for a cheap getaway. The waiting list has grown every year since! I've been on the waiting list for three years- I'm finally IN! Friend, Kim, is also "in" and we start our trek Friday.

This week should have been spent packing and pre-planning page kits... but- I decided to reorganize (complete with new tables and floor and shelving lay-outs) my studio. WHAT A MESS!! But- for some strange reason- I couldn't seem to THINK in the other configuration.. so- maybe NOW I can think through the mess and get some stuff found (of course, I've lost it all in the organization process!) and packed and get outta here! I also got an appointment to have my yearly gyno- check up and got an opening in the UAMS seminar weight-loss program; so-- I'm multi-tasking as well. I just hope I don't forget to pack the important stuff for the retreat... bed roll, pj's, some make-up(?), make home-made sweet-treats, argh... I'd better make some bigger lists.. and somewhere had better find some more time!!

What first sounded restful and peaceful is now looking like a looming stresser!! UGH!! How could THIS happen?? Oh. wait. Calm down. Deep breaths... think fall foliage... think.... lovely pictures... think... I don't have them PACKED YET!! ARGH! Gotta run workaround!!

The End of October and Waiting for Rain!

... or... Just When I Get My Ducts All in a Row-- it's Duct Season.

Well... it's finally here! The end of the month! This is not my favorite day of the year. I don't like the pagan holiday. It always makes me fearful for my outside cats. Both solid black. Not that I'm superstitious mind you-- it's because I live in a town full of stupid "enlightened" people; some of which have been known to very openly practice their witchcraft. Those types will claim adamantly that there is no blood sacrifice of either innocent animals or humans. My opinion on that is THEY may not practice the truly hard-core beliefs; but, there is proof positive that it IS a practice and you never know when some zealot will go over to the darker side- thus, my apprehension.

Yeah. I know. I used to decorate all out. That was back in my own "dark ages". Now I prefer just to ignore the event. I don't even have chocolate candies! For the record- we only ever have about 1-2 trick or treaters per decade; so, no I'm not being a an old mean stick in the mud either.

This has been the driest year since I can remember. Summer of 1980 was this dry-- but, that Fall the rains came. This year-- we're still waiting. We are expected to see some with the front moving through today- yeah! Surprisingly- we had a major weather front move through last week bringing much cooler temps (even in the 30's- yikes!) but no rain. This week's temps won't be so cold- which is a major relief to me! Because the electricians came and ripped out all my duct work today!

Now- maybe with new ducts; I hope to have lower utilities and much clearer sinuses!

Miss Katrina (Katarina) Kat has made herself quite at home and part of the menagerie. She adores her big brothers, and is relentless in getting them to play along... then when she finally tires, curls up next to one of them! So sweet! Her name changes as does her mood-- Katrina for when she's being a spit-fire; Katarina for her more placid moments, and Ekhatarina for her regal periods. She's growing, too-- but, still the daintiest of the felines. I frequently wake up to all three of the inside kittys bunked up next to me and she's often the recipient of a bath from one of the Big Boys.

Well- I'm off to look for more raindrops! It did finally come through in between my starting this entry and finishing it!

Anguish Languish

Besides images.... I love words! There are some that I love even more than others... chocolate, for instance! But- that's a whole 'nother blog! To begin- I looked up the definition of WORD.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
word (wûrd) n.
A sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing or printing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes.

Something said; an utterance, remark, or comment: May I say a word about that?

Computer Science. A set of bits constituting the smallest unit of addressable memory. Or a software program allowing the means to communicate the written conversation and more.

words Discourse or talk; speech: Actions speak louder than words.

words Music. The text of a vocal composition; lyrics.

An assurance or promise; sworn intention: She has kept her word.

A command or direction; an order: gave the word to retreat.

A verbal signal; a password or watchword.

News: Any word on your promotion?
Rumor: Word has it they're divorcing.
words Hostile or angry remarks made back and forth.
Used euphemistically in combination with the initial letter of a term that is considered offensive or taboo or that one does not want to utter: "Although economists here will not call it a recession yet, the dreaded "R"’ word is beginning to pop up in the media” (Francine S. Kiefer).
Word
See Logos (sense 3).
The Scriptures; the Bible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is it any wonder that words such as: gregarious, effervescent and charismatic aren't just fascinating words? They convey qualities of intriguing personality.... and that's just in the description of wines! But- those words define the essence of optimistic attitudes looking forward to whatever is coming down the road. I'm drawn to these types of words.

But- what about the regular mundane words of our language? Cup, plate, pan. Pretty plain, fairly straightforward words describing items on a dinner table. I think on the whole that the English language has more of these words that are very direct and useful.

What if they should all get mixed up? The regular old boring words with the frivolous ones? What if there was a shortage of words? Like during the World War II (not word war, lol!!); very basic essentials such as gasoline, sugar and rubber was conserved and hard to obtain. You only used it as necessary and to have an abundance of it was extravagant! People made do with less- but, they still had their frivolous words and descriptions.

During that time- Professor H L Chase of Ohio posed that very question of "What if the world encountered a situation requiring that words be rationed?". His solution was substitution...

WARNING: It may be necessary to read the following aloud in order to get the full intent.
*******************************************************
Wants pawn term, dare worsted ladle gull hoe lift wetter murder inner ladle cordage, honor itch offer lodge, dock, florist. Disk ladle gull orphan worry putty ladle rat cluck wetter ladle rat hut, an fur disk raisin pimple colder Ladle Rat Rotten Hut.

Wan moaning, Ladle Rat Rotten Hut's murder colder inset. "Ladle Rat Rotten Hut, heresy ladle basking winsome burden barter an shirker cockles. Tick disk ladle basking tutor cordage offer groin-murder hoe lifts honor udder site offer florist. Shaker lake! Dun stopper laundry wrote! Dun stopper peck floors! Dun daily-doily inner florist, an yonder nor sorghum-stenches, dun stopper torque wet strainers!"

*******************************************************
This excerpt, believe it or not, is beginning of the very familiar fable of Little Red Riding Hood. This curious version was written in 1940 to show his students that intonation - that is, the melody of a language - is an integral part of its meaning. The words here are all common English words, but not the ones you'd expect to tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood and for lots more of the famous "translations" try this link!

http://www.lifesmith.com/english.html

... and I do hope you, too- Enjoy Your Words!

KATarina!

Byron found her and two siblings and their mama several weeks ago at the sawmill... she was the prettiest of the bunch. And, such a spitfire says he.... So far-- our other cats only hiss and spit when she is spotted. She's not the typical kind of feline; she has yet to really explored the house other than to find my former beloved's, Bill's, old bed here near my computer. She does seem to be more nocturnal. No big s'prize there!



I'll update on her "adaption" to the boyz later!

Dear Diary... and a tribute to Pargie

Today is a happy day! and a day to remember special folks.

Had coffee, breakfast and read the paper with my dgmom, Mae. The cortisone shot the doc gave her has vastly improved her quality of life in just a matter of hours; late Thursday night she had been in so much pain that we thought she may have had a compression fracture or a pinched sciatica nerve. Visited with my 'rents and sister and nephews. They got the call from x-bil that there is ELECTRICITY at the lake houses in River Bend! And, life is looking much more civilized for folks in Deep East Texas.

Dear husband came in this morning from an incredibly long week at the sawmill and only has one more night to go-- 'til he has to start it all over again. I know these long hours are taking a toll on him- but, his general attitude seems to be handling it. PTL! There's not a whole lot I can do to contribute towards a positive outlook; but, having dinner (or breakfast as the case may be) ready is about my only option.

Me? Well... I'm just about ready to settle down and do either some a) cyber shopping or b) real shopping if I can convince sister to run away to LR for the day or c) something creative. I would have liked to have gone with G-pa and the boys to set up camp in the Ouachita mountains at Albert Pike on the Little Missouri River; which was their plan until Donald called with the official word of electrification. They were going to just "get away" for a few days and since it's only an hours drive (and a pleasant scenic one at that!) we could have tagged along in a separate vehicle and just picnicked with them and gotten some photo ops. But- that doesn't look like it's happening now; so, back to plans a, b or c.

Last night Sister and I went to Wally's and fawned over the large shipment of chrysanthemums. We bought a couple of mums for our Mum and left them in strategic places in her front yard so that when she walked out she'd be surprised. Dad, of course, discovered them first-- I'm not sure but what HIS wasn't the bigger grin! He so enjoys pleasant little surprises! I often think that he and our great-maiden-aunt, Clarice or "Pargie", were kin in that regard. Pargie dearly loved granting wishes and I think a big part of the joy she experienced was the planning and the execution of those little gifts. She made the best Strawberry cakes and when we lived 8 hours away and it was our birthday; she still made sure we had our cakes and shipped them on the Greyhound/Trailways busses.

I have many fond remberances of living next door to Pargie and Grammy (Pargie and Mae's mama). Parge and Grammy raised my Mama until she about 4 years old because Mae & Pa's jobs were in separate towns and Pa was away at school and they didn't get to all live together as a family until then- and, then it was in Arkadelphia with his aunts that had raised him since his mama had died. But, prior to that while Mama was learning to walk and talk and "be nice to the ladies" as Grammy would say- Pargie would call my mother "Little Partner" and Mama would call her "Pardner" back; but it came out "Pargie" and it stuck.

We lived next door to Pargie and Grammy in Hope from the time I was about 4 until I was 6. Often in the mornings, I would wake and be stirring before Mama and Daddy and I was allowed to go over next door. There, Pargie would fix me the biggest stack of pancakes (large enough to fill a fiesta plate!) complete with Brer Rabbit Syrup- I don't think I could EVER eat but a 1/4 of them! On cold mornings she would prop my feet up in front of the open stove to warm them. Some mornings we had oatmeal. And, some mornings she would make cinnamon toast and chocolate milk and take me and Robin (when she got big enough) across town to our favorite water-tower to sit, dine and just enjoy the view. I don't know why we had such a fascination with the old water tower; but, we did. Some other times we would go to the city park and have breakfast there- with the squirrels on the merry-go-round.

Suppers were always on Pargie's glassed-in back porch. Though I'm sure I did actually eat at the dining table- (I can barely recall having lost my first tooth on an ear of corn at that table one Sunday lunch) typically I ate at the large roll-top desk on one of the "wings" that could be pulled out for additional desk space. I remember it faced the tv and since Vietnam was the news of the day, I recall Roger Mudd and Walter Cronkite, bologna cut into squares, English peas and mashed potatoes all sort of as one memory. When we weren't eating- we took a blanket and draped it over those wings so that we had a cave under the desk.

Grammy's chair sat in the corner with a speaker next to it so the news blared from both directions. Her rocking chair was a swivel rocker and had large wide arms just the perfect size for little girls to crawl on and perch next to Grammy. She read us many a story there. Sometimes, she would go outside and sit in the backyard metal chairs. Those are comfy "springy" chairs that I still have on my patio. In Grammy's backyard there was a lovely pear-tree; that I dubbed the "Toy Tree" and would hang toys as "presents" for Robin to find when she woke from her nap. Too, Mr Arthur, was frequently in the backyard and was always fun to talk to or walk behind as he used one of those old fashioned gasless lawn mowers. I was fascinated with that thing. I liked Mr Arthur, too- he always wore a dress hat and suspenders even when he did yard work and spoke with a really deep Southern negro dialect. It was years later that I learned that he had been Daddy Arch's (Grammy's husband) right-hand man at the brick plant and said that had he been there the day that Daddy Arch had been hit with the boom and injured he wouldn't have died.

Other memories of Pargie include: Robin and Ginger Monkey (a stuffed animal) that she coveted at the local Kresgie's store.. or was it a Woolworth's, Ben Franklin's or a Five and Dime? The "I Dream of Jeannie" poseable doll from a hardware store up on Main Street in Hope. The bank building in Hope that had the concrete "louveres" in which we played hide and seek. Being carried up the back steps by Pargie after a ballgame and she loosing her balance, her trying to keep me and my popcorn from falling and ultimately breaking her knee on the way down. Getting hit from behind and smacking my forehead on the radio buttons in Parge's car (again, after a ball-game). Pargie's bread.... no modern bread machine to this day can equal her homemade bread. Going to work with Pargie on the swing-shift at the hospital and later on Saturdays at Gurdon's hospital. Her patiently helping me hunt and peck while making arm-bands for the newly admitted patients.

Later on- introducing Pargie to Byron; and his absolute delight upon hearing that after my long frantic search of the house for my college science book- discovering that SHE had it and was reading it just for fun! She absolutely adored Byron and I think was completely in favor of us getting married; while she was so sick and battling her cancer she was also determined to help Mae host our wedding reception (in their home) in typical Pargie fashion. I only wish Pargie could have known her great-great nephews; we just THINK that they are spoiled rotten- if she were around we'd all KNOW it for certain!

She was a great great-Aunt.
Clarice Cannon ~ Pargie
Loved by many- Remembered Fondly to this very day.
May, 1905-October, 1982.