tis the season

It is about t   his time of the year that I am grateful to be a procrastinating fool and all the Christmas stuff is on the steps to the attic.  No UP there mind you, but it's pretty hard to move that board.  At the old house I could stash the stuff on the attic steps until it was not safely navigated.  Always a treat to go through the year before.  

There is chicken boiling waiting for the dumplings to be made which probably won't be tonight.  Tomorrow is a school day, ya know.  I will tear the chicken and save the broth for Helen Hine's home made dumplings.  Or buy a bag of Mrs. Bs.  Who the hell cares?  It's dumplings!  With chicken!  My friend Kay who is an expert at planning all things has her Thanksgiving dressing done.  I feel so inadequate ;)  Fear not...we will have Mama's Staff's dressing if it's the last thing I do.  I talked to another classmate today who is super smart and we caught up on the past 50 years talking about careers, parents and kids.  

I know a lot of folks who are suffering right now in Florida.  That damn Ian was a monster.....a century hurricane.  First time it has hit that area so hard since 1921.  The Sanibel bridge is gone stranding a lot of folks on that island.  Sanibel was always on my bucket list.  Maybe I'll live to see another bridge.  For those of you who deny climate change just remember.  Al warned us and so did all the scientists.  

Life as we know it has changed a lot during my time on earth.  We went from black and white TV to stream on demand.  All over the moon and stars with rocket science.  A whole lot of wars that were not necessary, beginning with Vietnam when I was a teenager.  Meanwhile we have neglected the infrastructure of our own country and let an idiot lead us into complete chaos.  I don't think anybody ever breached the Capitol building until recently.  Maybe it happened in history but not in my life time.  

I am a dem and always will be.  I believe in the FDR stuff like equal rights and a decent way of living for those who try.  I do believe that Biden is doing his best in these hard times but he's old y'all.  We need someone younger than he or Trump.   Somebody who is not war weary and waiting to die.  That somebody could change the course of history.   Think about that.  Pray about it instead of being blindly partisan.  I was raised by a GOP family and state.  Watergate changed all of that for me personally.  

Y'all keep it in the middle of the road.  And don't dare pass me on the shoulder again ^j^

happy day

I'm not sure but I think Hallmark and FB have been making up son/daughter/dog/cat days just to keep us engaged.  How dare any of us miss the occasion to show off our peeps!  There are winter clothes laying everywhere in piles, clean and (almost) dry.  There was a bad leak under the kitchen sink.  Like, the whole pipe was disconnected.   He said it was probably this old house settling a bit.   We surveyed the roof leak and he's got just the thing to fix that so the wintry blowing rain won't drip on me.  Life is good.  This guy bought the original Curry Funeral Home and is restoring it plus working side jobs.  Get it while you're young I say.  I can't wait to see the results.  

The book I'm reading is about a boring mom with no lurid past trying to get published while raising a family.  Her agent suggested she "dig into her inner child" and pull out some drama and abuse to get published.  And she laughed, and I did too.  Nobody much wants to hear about someone's everyday life but short stories are my genre of choice which is why I blog.  I suppose I could conjure up a few tales about the one time I got caught sneaking out with an older boy.  Of course my parents noticed that I was missing and Daddy was all driving around looking for me.  I will never forget the look on his face when he walked in to tell mom he couldn't find me.  And there I was sitting on the couch.  And he cried.  I was smart enough not to do that ever again.  

And so it goes.  We have but one life to live and mine is in the golden years period.  We have a 50th DHS reunion coming up next year and already the money is looking good.  Many thanks to generous classmates and also our trusty treasurer.  Y'alls money is in good hands and I can't wait.  Saw my buddy Joel today and got an overdue hug that we both needed plus I got to see his mom.  AND he slipped me some class reunion  money.  We have a family history that could be a best seller.

Gotta' go take a fake Lomotil.  Peace and love ^j^

never have i ever

I've been in a lot of near wreck situations in my long life but dang....today took the cake.  I turned from Highway 78 onto 51N in the right lane.  I had gone almost to DHS when some idiot passed me on the shoulder of the road.  On the right.  Whoever the hell it was honked to let me know they were on a mission.  Emergency?  I think not.  I mean this big old SUV came out of nowhere.  Uh, sick kid?  Kid in trouble?  Not my problem.  Stay in the lanes y'all.  It was one time in my life when I was wishing for a cop to witness.  

Seeing Conner and his dad at the mall the other day reminded me of how I've known him all his life.  His Mamacita got in bad trouble during labor and there was a blood bath that ended up with her getting two units of the precious life saving stuff.  Meanwhile, Conner had some trauma that resulted in him being a special needs kid.  I taught Anna and Steve how to give him IM growth hormones when he was just an infant.  He is indeed special!  He mainstreamed and graduated from Dyersburg High School.  Several times he was playing movie making and Anna brought him out to the old house and the spooky basement and attic to film on his pad.  Lots of special effects thanks to Anna. He roamed my entire house with his buddy and I think I was in the movie acting scared and all.  UCMTSU.

I sent out an emergency prayer request late last night to a friend who was already asleep.  I got rather into my head if you know what I mean.  We chatted this morning and he said "sure thing" God has you.  And I know that of course.  Sometimes we just have rough patches and need a faith boost ^j^

paying it forward

I've heard lots of stories about people paying for the folks behind them at the drive through but it never happened to me.  Until today.  It was unusually NOT busy at McDonald's as I placed my order and waited to pay.  Imagine my surprise when the window gal told me the man in front had paid for mine!  He was still waiting to pull out of the parking lot and I gave him a big wave and got a wave in return.  I love it when that happens.  It restores my faith in people and shows me that there are a lot of good ones.  

I saw an old friend at church yesterday who has been laying low during the pandemic because he has a lot of health issues.  I was so excited to see him and get a hug that I said quite loudly "Hey buddy!"  I kind of forgot that I was in the hush hush of the sanctuary where people are chatting quietly waiting for the service to begin.  I'm sure they heard me all the way in the back pews.  

Just as I figured, the seriously cute shirt was gone when I went back.  All they had in any of the styles or colors was XS.  Meh.  That will teach me to pass something up that I really love, which doesn't happen often.   My friend gave me some birthday money and I promised her I would spend it on myself.  There are other stores and other shirts.  Going out to look is the hard part.  I do  not enjoy browsing or digging through racks.  Lord, how I miss JC Penney.   My biggest problem is now wearing things with a loose high waist to keep pressure off of my stoma.  Seatbelts do the same thing.  I have good and bad days with it but then I still have my wits about me enough to handle it.  I wonder how it will be as I get older.

Our weather is to die for perfect but I worry about all those flood and hurricane folks.  It's so commonplace now that the systems in place can't keep up with the demand.  Hint: global warming.  I especially pray for those in the path of Ian which has already destroyed Puerto Rico ( again ) and is headed for the mainland of Florida.  I started a new book today that Patsye gave me and I can relate so much that I laugh at every story.  It is a collection of funny stuff which is what I should probably aim for rather than "a book."   I got plenty of good short stories in me.  

Happy Monday to you and yours.  Open yourself up to all that free grace ^j^

fine then

Once upon a time when I was struggling with all sorts of problems this guy came to teach our SS class...I think his name was Jack.  He was all about addiction and recovery and bragging on himself to tell everybody else how to do it.  That was when I first discovered that I was an addict myself.  I wanted approval and permission and everything else.  I learned in church today what happens to those who don't take of the least of these.  It sounded pretty fiery down there in hell.  I seriously believe that I am living my best life right here and now in communion with other believers.  When I die...meh.  Somebody will preach and friends will hold each other and remember all our good times together.  Maybe a little music down there at the Carter family cemetery.  FINE means fearful, insecure, neurotic, egotistical.

You can always count on the Middle City rednecks to fire up their guns at sunset and freak Oscar out but what do you do?  It's legal in the county.  Meanwhile, there have been several shootings in the city that I became aware of.  This is Dyersburg, people.  WTF?  

My list for this week includes the drug store, blood draw and going back to get that seriously cute flannel shirt.  Not in any particular order, of course.  Oh yeah, and the bank.  Let's all pray somebody doesn't sideswipe us.

Peace and love kids ^j^

it is what it is

I'll tell you what I need.  A good matinee with friends and something funny and awesome.  No cartoons or shoot 'em ups.  Just pure joy.  I think the last one I saw was A Star is Born and we all ended up as changed people.  I miss Larry, like a lot.  I think of his sweet self every time I look at the things he has given me.  There was a lot of love up in that friendship with his homies.  He was a master gardener and designer.  And I regret that I didn't give him a hug and a love you the last time I saw him alive.  You just never know.

I talked to one of my many married boyfriends this morning about his Mom.  Gonna' try to get by there in the morning.  I'm skipping the jumpy thing party tomorrow because Reaves wouldn't even notice me in all that chaos.  I'll see her Sunday at church and give her a late present.  I go for quality time when given the option.  I have a doggo walking deal for two Sundays in October with Nuzzie.  This girl is absolutely sweet as pie and likes to walk the backyard at Rachel's house.  Plus I get to see Mom!

This old girl is over all the petty bullshit.  My friend Adrian is a member of the Jackson council.  There is a pride event scheduled over that way and people are hating on him BAD.  I mean trolling with Christian vengeance.  Madison County is a rich and diverse city with a good mayor and great leadelrship all around.  This makes me want to get all in the fray but honestly?  

Trolls are always right.  Love you Adrian.

Speaking of which I passed a bunch of religious folk over at the pocket park yesterday holding signs and shouting.  Nicely dressed and working for the lord.  There were even kids there.  I can't imagine that the city condoned that but whatever.  Separation of church and state, ya know.  

Y'all count the blessings as they pour in.  Big Ernie loves us all ^j^

riding the wave

One of my brother's many careers has been booking bands for various events, some at his own club that is no more.  For three years now, Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funkmonsters have taken the stage at the Family Life Building out at the fairgrounds.  Always on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Crowds have been big and small but everybody always has a good time because you can't just NOT dance with these guys.  They are all in costume and rock the 80s.  The first time I saw them at Bubba's club I fell in love.  

Speaking of Thanksgiving, Kay already has her dressing made so I've at least got make a pone of cornbread before October.  She always has hers done and frozen by Halloween which is her mother's birthday.  It does my soul good to be able to remember these things.  

Y'all  keep the faith ^j^