argggggg

Gonna be a bad day. Somebody set a big fire somewhere and filled our valley with smoke. It was pretty thick at one point and caused the horses to panic. They went thru the fence and Belle has hightailed it to where she goes when she runs away. This is not good. Pat has threatened to sell her for glue if she keeps this up. I don't believe him but this is still not good. Guess I am gonna have to put my shoes on and go get her.

faerie? Me?

You scored as Faerie. Faerie: Aren't you a cute little flying person? Faeries are earth spirits. They live among each element completely hidden. They have cousins called Pixies. Pixies however, are very mischevious. They enjoy tormenting other creatures for fun. Little pranksters.. I hope you never meet one. Pixies have a bad reputation for finding a creature and clinging to them until death. Faeries can be somewhat close to a Pixie, but mostly they are loving, playful, and carry with them a child-like enthusiasm for life. Hide among the pedals of a Daisy, you are a Faerie.

Faerie

92%

Angel

75%

Dragon

50%

WereWolf

33%

Mermaid

33%

Demon

17%
What Mythological Creature are you? (Cool Pics!)
created with QuizFarm.com

 

Got this from Cynthia

early morning

My day has started. Pat is off to work and I am waiting to wake up Brook to get ready for school. In the meantime, I put a load in the dryer, another in the washer and cleaned the bathroom. Now it is time to read a few journals, open some e-mails and drink my water. Also I need to figure out just where all this energy came from. It is 530 in the morning! I want to be in bed! LOL

About the motorcycle, it was a busted hose. We found anouther problem too. The idiot that worked on the bike before supposedly replaced the hoses. NOT! Thsi hose was soft and spongy and had been leaking. The other hose was not long and had been cramped up under the air cleaner! That means that the head had not been getting all the water it needed to stay cool. No wonder we were having trouble with the bike riding a bit on the high side of temperature! We had to order the hoses. They may be in today with any luck. They are high dollar. 2 little 7 inch hoses cost $19 each plus tax! Better than buying a new radiator! It would cost $340 plus tax! The radio on the bike is only $1400! I thought I would faint when I saw that! The bike also has a small oil leak. It will take about $25 to fix that. We forgot to order the part to get that one fixed. It needs a new oil pressure switch. Not a real big problem at this time. It loses maybe a teaspoon of oil a week for now.

So that's it for now. See yall later.

disappointed

Pat and I were going to take a road trip this morning up to Fall Creek Falls. That has been put off. Last night a hose(we hope)blew on the bike. He is out there right now taking everything off to get to the hoses. Not like a car where you can raise the hood up and there they are. Nope, you have to remove this and remove that just to get to the hoses. There are 6 of them. Hopefully the one that blew is easy to get to.

I was really looking forward to going. Oh well, another day.

So I guess I will be getting busy with my cleaning. I have laundry to do and furniture to move around.

It is beautiful today and I don't want to be inside all day trying to get my work done.

Speaking of beauty. Here is a picture I took this morning out in my back field.

Redneck Horoscopes

 

Some of us (especially REDNECKS) are pretty skeptical of horoscopes, and it has become obvious that what we need are our own "REDNECK" symbols:

put your sign in the subject box and send it to everyone you know and back to the person that sent to you!!!  :)

 

OKRA (Dec 22 - Jan 20) - Although you appear crude, you are actually very slick on the inside. Okras have tremendous influence. An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. Stay away from Moon Pies.

CHITLIN (Jan 21 - Feb 19) - Chitlins come from humble backgrounds. A chitlin, however, can make something of himself if he's motivated and has lots of seasoning. In dealing with Chitlins, be careful. They can erupt like Vesuvius. Chitlins are best with Catfish and Okra.

BOLL WEEVIL (Feb 20 - Mar 20) - You have an overwhelming curiosity. You're unsatisfied with the surface of things, and you feel the need to bore deep into the interior of everything.  Needless to say, you are very intense and driven as if you had some inner hunger. Nobody in their right mind is going to marry you, so don't worry about it.

MOON PIE (Mar 21 - Apr 20) - You're the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch. It's a cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. Big and round are the key words here. You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea. It's not going to be easy. This might be the year to think about aerobics. Or - maybe not.

POSSUM (Apr 21 - May 21) - When confronted with life's difficulties, possums have a marked tendency to withdraw and develop a don't-bother-me-about-it attitude. Sometimes you become so withdrawn, people actually think you're dead. This strategy is probably not psychologically healthy, but seems to work for you. One day, however, it won't work and you may find your problems actually running you over.

CRAWFISH (May 22 - June 21) - Crawfish is a water sign. If you work in an office, you're always hanging around the water cooler. Crawfish prefer the beach to the mountains, the pool to the golf course, the bathtub to the living room. You tend to be not particularly attractive physically, but you have very, very good heads.

COLLARDS (June 22 - July 23) - Collards have a genius for communication. They love to get in the "melting pot" of life and share their essence with the essence of those round them.. Collards make good social workers, psychologists, and baseball managers. As far as your personal life goes, if you are Collards, stay away from Moon Pies. It just won't work. Save yourself a lot of heartache.

CATFISH (July 24 - Aug 23) - Catfish are traditionalists in matters of the heart, although one's whiskers may cause problems for loved ones. You catfish are never easy people to understand. You prefer the muddy bottoms to the clear surface of life. Above all else, Catfish should stay away  from Moon Pies.

GRITS (Aug 24 - Sept 23) - Your highest aim is to be with others like yourself. You like to huddle together with a big crowd of other Grits. You love  to travel though, so maybe you should think about joining a club. Where do you like to go? Anywhere they have cheese or gravy or bacon or butter or eggs. If you can go somewhere where they have all these things, that serves you well.

BOILED PEANUTS (Sept 24 - Oct 23) - You have a passionate desire to help your fellow man. Unfortunately, those who know you best - your friends and loved ones - may find  that your personality is much too salty, and their criticism will probably affect you deeply because you are  really much softer than you appear. You should go right ahead and marry anybody you want to because in a certain way, yours is a charmed life. On the road of life, you can be sure that people will always pull over and stop for you.

BUTTER BEAN (Oct 24 - Nov 22) - Always invite a Butter Bean because Butter Beans get along well with everybody. You, as a Butter Bean, should be proud. You've grown on the vine of life and you feel at home no matter what the setting. You can sit next to anybody. However, you, too, shouldn't have anything to do with Moon Pies.

ARMADILLO (Nov 23 - Dec 21) - You have a tendency to develop a tough exterior, but you are actually quite gentle. A good evening for you? Old friends, a fire, some roots, fruit, worms and insects. You are a throwback. You're not concerned with today's fashions and trends. You're not concerned with anything about today. You're really almost prehistoric in your interests and behavior patterns. You probably want to marry another Armadillo, but Possum is another somewhat kinky, mating possibility.

 

I am a possum.

 

10 good things

I got this idea from another journal. As soon as I remember where I will let you know. She had an idea that every Monday she would write about 10 good things that happened in the past week.
10 good things that happened this week.
1. Belle got out and stayed home.
2. I found where my chicken were laying their eggs.
3. Pat and I went out together.
4. Brook made me a picture.
5. Scampi made it thru this night without an accident.
6. The trees are blooming.
7. Pat is still on first shift.
8. The sun was shining more time than the clouds were raining.
9. I lost weight.
10. My friend's sister does not have to move to New York.

****edited to add; Lisa started this last week http://journals.aol.com/mlraminiak/ComingtotermswithMiddleAge/entries/749

 

All wrong

THIS IS WONDERFUL.....and I was doing it all wrong!    

How to weigh yourself and get the most accurate result.
I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these years. !

We must get the word out. !!!! 

I weighed in at 178 today. I sure was glad to see the scales go back under 180. It has been helpful with Pat working first, I do more things. My sugar readings are finally  under 120 (for the most part) and I have had a few actually be in the upper 90's!

This week I will getting my small garden started providing my equipment works!

I need more Spring. Need more of a lot of things but Spring will do as a starter!

Got to put the rest of the groceries up and let the dog n. See everyone later.

this and that

It is a beautiful day this morning. My birds are singing loud and cheery. The sun is shining, the rain and wind have ceased. AND  I get to see two of the biggest yard puppies I have ever seen! Yesterday I am sitting here at my computer quietly playing some solitaire when I hear a thundering noise. I look out the window and lo and behold Precious is running toward the house from the back field! First thought thru my mind was where is Belle? Quickly I run into the bedroom throw on some pants and a coat and head out the door. First thing I do is hook the gate then go and hook the back gate. As I cross the back yard I see Belle and I am so relieved! I really did not want to go chasing that horse down on a cold wet day! So into the front field I go walking the fence line trying to see where they got out at. I can find no place. It is a mystery! Now Belle can jump but Precious???? She is so fat she is lucky to walk! Actually she has lost a lot of weight this winter. I put her on a diet.  Belle used to be a jumping fool. She would jump anything. A bucket on the ground? JUMP. A stick? JUMP. Precious won't waste her energy jumping! She will walk around something or wait for you to move it!
That is why I have yard puppies.
I have got to get busy building a small chicken coop. I plan on getting some Golden Comet chicks. I want them to go to one certain place to lay and roost.
The black and white cat is pregnant again. She lost her last litter. They were born too early. She seems to be holding this one! I swear she looks like she is going to pop anytime now! I am missing a kitty, a small gray and white tomcat. He was real sweet. He may just be catting around. Putput does that sometimes. He is a small yellow cat. They are so small that I am sure that they are not fighting. They avoid other cats that are bigger than them(and that is most cats!)
Scampi is doing well. He has gained weight. His ribs don't show anymore but you can still feel them ( just like you are supposed to)
Big Daddy has lost some weight. He really needed to. He is still a big cat but now he is not obese! He had a place on his ear where he had gotten hurt in a fight. I kept doctoring it and finally he scratched it open so it would drain. I kept  trying to get it to drain but I could only do so much. Pat said no way to taking him to vet. He is fine now. The ear looks much better. The skin is growing back.
The baby birds are starting to shed their feathers now. Soon they will have their adult coat of feathers.
That is it for now. Gonna get some work done.

update on the child

Thought I would let you know what happened yesterday, When Brook came home I went thru her head and found nothing. I treated her anyway. Went thru her head again, nothing, Well I did not totally trust my eyes(and that little comb) so Pat went thru her head, same thing. Her mother came over and went thru her head, nothing. That poor child had her head combed so much yesterday that I am surprised that she has any hair left! She has real thick hair so it took awhile to do it each time. I hated it, she hated it. It is over now. 9 weeks of school left, hope we make it to the end with no more "outbreaks".

P.S. Not sure if I told you. She made the honor roll but did not get any ribbon for it. They said it was because she had an N(for needs improvement). She had that in uses time wisely. Well she had that last time too and got her ribbon. In my opinion they do not give them enough work to do! Hopefully that changes next year.

AHHHHHHHH

Brook was sent home today from school. They claimed to have found lice on her head. Several other little girls were sent home also. I hate those bugs! I checked her head and found 1 bug and that was a flea! Oh well. Today I will be treating her for the bugs again. Second time this year. My head is itching bad, as soon as I got the phone call it started itching! The tricks your mind plays on you. I know I know, gross subject!

On to some other stuff. I found a nest of eggs! My little chickens are finally laying eggs. Now if they will just keep laying in the same place! These are game chicken so the eggs are more of a medium size not large. They are a pale brown also. They taste good!

Spring has sprung. The grass is starting to grow in the fields now. Soon I will be having to mow in the yard. Except for one minor problem.... my lawnmower won't start. We think the starter has gone out or is stuck.


Our next door person has a new puppy. It comes over here and tears things up. It already weighs more than Scampi but is the same height. I have been peppering it with a BB gun but it seems to have no effect. Looks like I will be calling the dog catcher. He(that person) has no intention of taking care of this dog. He never does. He allowed one dog to die of thrist that he kept chained up. Another dog was allowed to run free and was hit by a car. He left it in the road and DROVE by it everyday! Another dog was mangled in a brush hog and he did nothing for it just let it die. It took 6 hours for it to die, suffering horribly. A bullet would have been kind. There were 2 puppies, now one is gone.


That's it for now. Time to get busy again.

thorns

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses."

-- Alphonse Karr

friends

Another entry inspired entry.  http://journals.aol.com/mlraminiak/ComingtotermswithMiddleAge/entries/742
As I was growing up I lived in a house in a neighborhood where everyone else had lived for years (including my parents) I did not make many friends because there were not many my age there. The few friends I made growing up, I can count on 1 hand. Then my father died and high school started. Life changed.
I never did fit in. I was the smart girl. I wore glasses and had a hearing aid. I did not dress the way others did. I did not own a pair of blue jeans. I had long hair when short hair was popular. I was not a freak(people in their 40's understand that one), I was not a prep or a jock, I was a nothing. Eventually I feel into a crowd of other nothings and discovered drugs and drink. Life changed again. I could go on and on about the different things that I did and had done to me but I won't. There is a lot of painful memories about that period of time and I am not ready to let it all hang out.
To rescue me from my evil ways and evil friends my mama moved me to the other side of the country. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire. I still did not make friends. How could I make friends when I did not even like myself? Sure I met people, some of them I should have stayed with(sorry Jeff) and others I should have stayed away from. Maybe I had a death wish, I don't know, I do know that I should have not been where I was but there I was.
I will not tell you everything about those times and the times following those times. They were dark years in my life. I tried telling people about them before and suddenly, my friends would no longer be around. It became and is still a big part of my life... what you don't know, won't hurt me.I can't allow myself to feel all that again. Many people when they meet me think I am standoffish, maybe I am. Partly it is because I usually do not hear what they are saying or I mishear what they are saying. Another reason is I get hurt easily, I love easily therefore I get hurt easily. I have acquaintances, people I speak to and wave at, no one I can call and say let's have lunch I need to talk.

Today I still can count my physical friends on one hand. Actually I can count them on 2 fingers. I have one friend that I have known for 25 years. She knows many ofmy secrets but not all. She is the one special person I have in my life. I don't get to see her often enough since we live so far apart.

Where was I going with this? I read a lot of journals, not all of which I comment on on a regular basis. Several of the journals I read I regularly communicate with outside of the journal format. I belong to a private group with the only chat room that I go to. Mostly I go there to listen to other people talk. I have meet a few people in Pogo that I play games with, several of which I have become friends with. I am not lonely anymore even though I am alone most of the time.
Where was I going again? Still not sure. I know I had something in mind when I started but this is where I ended up. I think I will stop this entry  and get on with whatever I was doing before I started it. If I can only remember what that was......

Everyday

Everyday of your life counts, everyday matters. In just a bit deeper, every second of everyday counts. We have no guarantee that we will have another second left in our life. I am not saying live every moment as if it is your last. I think that if everyone did that then life would be very short. What I am saying is that what you do now affects what happens later on in your life.

Every bite of food you eat affects you. It affects your weight, your blood, your heart, everything. It affects the people around you, the ones that love you. Being overweight or underweight( and I have been both) affected me physically and mentally. I had no energy, I had no love for myself or anybody else, I would get sick easily. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Everything you read or watch affects you. Do you know of someone that is always full of dread and doom? What do they read or watch?

Every word out of your mouth affects you and those around you. Do you cuss and then wonder why the children do? When you are angry do you start with language that would curl hair? Once the words leave your mouth (I am not just talking about cussing, I am talking about hateful hurtful words) and they are heard, they can never be taken back. You can be forgiven for them, but believe me when I tell you this, they will never be forgotten.

Everyday counts, everything counts. Every kind act, every kind word, every smile, it all counts.

Everytime you wave someone to go in front of you, everytime you smile at that  child in the store. Who knows, maybe no one has smiled at that child, that smile matters to that child, it counts. Everytime you say well done, it matters.

Life can be short or a long time. What you do right now, right this second counts.

ut oh Alert troubles big time

Just in from AOL..

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if anybody needs help in setting up a blogglines account i will help you.

test results and stupid van

Back from the mammogarm. I almost did not make it. Stupid van. I pulled in to get some gas ($2.45 gallon) and it died. I hate this van! Anyway there are some rude mean people in this world. I was pulling away from the pump when the van died. There was a car right on my rear that almost hit me because the van stopped cold.They blew their horn then sat there waiting on me to move. No can do. I was stuck. They finally got out and stretched the hose to get their gas. Car after car pulled in and pumped gas. Some blew their horns, at least 1 gave me an obscene gesture. After about 30 minutes of this I was sick to my stomach and crying.And people wonder why I hate going any place. Finally  a young man and his mom came over and asked if they could help me. They called around and found somebody with a jumper box, went and got it and came back to jump me off. I cried.

My Doctor called with my blood work results. Everything is pretty much the same so the only increase is my sugar pills. I get tested again in 3 months. This time if that stupid cholesterol level is not down I start on pills.

Okay back to my carpet cleaning. This is taking forever  but I will get it done.

It let me in LOL

I'm in now so I will make this quick in case I lose it again!LOL

Went to the doctor yesterday and my blood work drawn and got all checked out. My doctor increased my diabetics medicine without waiting on the blood work to get back. I had taken her a chart of my daily sticks and from that she decided that I needed an increase. She also put me on antibiotics for my sinuses. I have not been able to bend over lately without it feeling like my head was about to explode! Anyone with sinus trouble knows what I am talking about. She could see the water building up behind my eardrums. She also noted that I had missed my last mammogram appointment and got onto me. I have an appointment today to go get that done. So I will be getting pressed today. I have a lump that they are keeping an eye on so I am not supposed to miss my appointments.  

Pat was off yesterday and I did not get a thing done! So today will involve a bit of catchup on my work. I am off into the back bedroom and I will be shampooing the carpet in there. I am so ready to move the saddles out of my bedroom back into their own room!

My add entry button is missing!
I will be posting and entry by IM if it does not clear up soon.

still here

I'm still here. This carpet cleaning is hard! LOL I have the hallway and livingroom done. I had to do them twice. Wintertime is dirty around here. I could probably do them a third time and still get dirty water. I will just wait until next month and do them again. The furniture is back in place, well almost. Some things did not get placed in the same spot they were before. The birds are back in the south window of the livingroom. It does not get as hot there. Somehow or another 2 chairs of my new patio set are in my livingroom! O well. They can stay for now. I am not ready to get the loveseat out of the bedroom yet. Still have some serious cleaning to do in here but it looks 100% better now.

So Pat is on first shift this week. He is taking the place of a guy that is out having surgery done. I am hoping that he stays on first for awhile. He is happier there and so am I. I can get more work done if I can make noise in the morning!

So it is almost time for me to take the truck into the bodyshop to get fixed. I have to get ready to go now. See yall later!

Busy day. Cleaning the carpet in the living room. Music on and away I go again!

some thoughts

I have been doing some reading today and found a post in one journal about J-Land's community. The following was my response to what she wrote.

I suppose in a way living here in the journal community is sort of like living in an apartment building/complex. People move in and people move out. Sometimes they tell you and other times they don't. Sometimes you continue the friendship that started after they/or you move other times it ends. There are times that you continue the friendship and over time it slowly peters out. So goes life.

I am glad to be here and I welcome my new neighbors and all my old ones that stop in. I am sorry if I don't talk to you as much as I used to but that is me. I go through times when I don't talk to myself, much less my friends.

The 5'er

If you want to play all you do is cut and paste these questions into your journal. (there is no deadline as to when you can do "The 5'er) When you have answered them go leave a link in Robin's comment section.  On the following Friday I will have a new set of questions! Have fun!

 

This week's theme is Green! Ya know...for St. Patrick's day and all.

LET'S PLAY!!!

 

1. What is your least favorite GREEN vegetable?

It has to be broccoli!

 

2.  Did you ever wear GREEN on St.Patty's day so you wouldn't get pinched?

Yes, in my younger years and now that I am older and have a youngster in the house I have to wear it again!(Hate getting pinched!). 

 

3. If you have grass in your yard is it GREEN in the winter or brown?

Grass? We are supposed to have grass in our yard?

 

4. Ever have GREEN beer?

No.

5. Have you ever been told you had something caught in your teeth that was GREEN?

I really cannot think of anytime that has happened.

 

*Bonus question*

Do you know who GREEN Day is?

I might know their songs but I am not sure. I listen to music and rarely find out who is singing what.

bike riding

The week is winding down. Soon Pat goes back to work. The closer it gets to time to go back the more tense he gets. He really hates his job, or rather the place he works at.

Brook was out of school yesterday. I am not sure why, school holiday for something. We decided to take our cans in to sell and then go to the park. Filled the truck up with cans and scrap alum and them tossed her bike on top and off we went. After selling the cans we went to Sonic and ate then headed to the patk. Once there Brook was all excited about her Papaw teaching her how to ride her bike. She was so scared of him letting go of the bike . He told her not to worry and off they go down the parking lot. LOL He was not holding on. As soon as she realized that he was not holding she fell. Then when she realized that she had been riding the whole time by herself she was so happy. The grin on her face would have lit up the world! She rode it time and time again. She could not get started by herself or stop without falling but she was riding! We left to head home when the parking lot started filling up with ball players arriving to play ball.

After getting home She wanted to ride some more so she did.

Today she and her Papaw went for a ride and had an accident. She fell and hit her throat on the handle bars. Stop her breathing! Her Papaw grabbed her and ran up the hill towards the house. I saw them and went and picked them up in the truck. She was breathing then but boy was she scared! So was Papaw. Said that she can not ride her bike on the farm again. He is very protective of her. Naturally she is too scared to ride again but I did managed to get her back onthe bike again. She still needs to learn how to stop and how to keep her speed up  but she is finally riding! Practice makes perfect!

That's it for now. Going back out in a bit. Have to do some grocery shopping or we will starve to death.

o

"Be kinder than thought necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

 author: James Matthew Barrie

*thanks Mosie, I did not know who said it.

mountain trip

Pat and I took another trip today. This time we did hit the mountains. We went up to Cloudland Canyon. It is a beautiful park up on Lookout Mountain. In the summertime you can see hang gliders all over in the canyon. I just could not decide which picture I liked best so I give you all of them!

On our way, first stop was Subway. I wanted to eat before heading up the mountain because this time of the year there may not be anything open to get anything to eat. After eating down the road we go, past the road to the dump and up the mountain! I love going up this mountain even though it has sad memories for me. I lost a friend on these curves.

The weather was great. A perfect day for riding in the mountains. Soon we are on top and into Cloudland Canyon. A state park not to far from our house. In the summertime you can see people hanggliding thru the canyon. Sometimes you hear some tragic stories about accidents up here, a cave in or a fall, maybe a glider gone down in the wrong place.

Looking over the bluff we decided to take a bit of a hike. At the bottom of the canyon is a waterfall. The roar of the water could be heardduring our hike down the canyon. Soon we get a glimpse of the water. Seeing the little bit that we saw just made us more determined to see it. Down we go deeper and deeper into the canyon. Soon we find the water and follow it up stream. There it is, the waterfall. It is not a real big one but none the less it is beautiful. The water beneath it is almost emerald green. At the top, the sun is reflecting on the water causing it to sparkle like millions of diamonds. Now it is time to head back up the mountain! Finally we get to the top. We learned a valuable lesson today. Before going on a hike... remove your leathers! Now it is time to head home.

What a wonderful day.

Now it to finish dinner. I have a roast in the oven and the smell is driving me crazy!

Good news. The doctors have released Pat's sister. They were able to stop the attack before any damage was done to her heart. She has already had 1 heart attack and has several stents in place. Thank you for prayers.

Pat's baby sister had a heart attack last night. Pray for her. She is a widow with 2 children, ages 15 and 11.

motorcycle

Yesterday was a great day. The day started out a bit cold and warmed up fast. Pat and I decided to go on a motorcycle ride.  We pulled the bike out and loaded her up(Actually we unloaded her. Pat carried a lot of junk around with him) We pulled our leathers on and headed out the door.LOL Nope forgot something. I go back in and barricade Scampi in the laundry room because we were going to be gone all day. Back out the door and off we go. Nope still can't leave. Back off the bike and feed the horses. Now we are gone! FIrst stop in the leather shop. Pat needed new chaps. The zipper had busted in his chaps when he rode his bike the other day. We get there and surprise! they gave us some new ones for half price! We had the old ones with us and showed them what happened. New leathers on and back on the bike. We are off to the mountains. Nope wrong again, first stop is his mama's house. Sigh...... Of goody. He can't take much of his sister's BS and we are back on the bike again. NOW we are off to the mountains! Down the road we go, Lookout Mountain ahead of us and then a turn, now where is he going? We ride along the foot of the mountain thru St. Elmo. St. Elmo is an older area in Chattanooga that became really run down. The area is slowly becoming a place to go again with all the remodeling of the old historical homes and little shops. So I am thinking, are we headed up the mountain from there? Nope. Apparently Pat has decided to make a river run instead. No problem, I will just sit back and enjoy the ride. Traffic is not too bad. We ride along the Tennessee River part of the way on the mountain. The river, railroad track and freeway is below us. There is a stone wall that runs along side of the road with testimonies of crashes in it. Places where the wall has given way because a car or truck has gone thru it. People tend to drive this winding road much to fast. Down the road we go off the 4 lane unto a 2 lane, trees on both sides, cooler, cleaner air. Ahh. Glimpses of the river in coming thru again. Soon we are at our place where we put the boat in at, Sullivan's Landing. As we are riding we past other single riders or groups of riders out enjoyingthe day on their bikes as well. On the river are boats enjoying the water, some speeding along others drifting along the banks fishing. Soon we get around to where we can see Nickajack Cave, a wildlife reservation area for the gray bats. The area to the cave was closed so we could not get there. Pat and I plan on going back in the spring so I can get pictures of the bats. We continue our ride and the hop on the freeway to head back home. All and all it was a great day.

Pat is on vacation this week so I may not be one much. See everyone later !

thinking

I was doing some reading today and read an entry about a grandmother turning 100 years old. It got me to thinking about my Aunt Crissy. She was a spry old lady that enjoyed life. She lived in a small town and enjoyed a small town life. She married young and they moved into their small honeymoon cottage.. Shortly after they were married he was killed. She never remarried and stayed right there in their little house until she was 103 when she fell and broke her hip. She then sold her house and moved into a nursing home until her death at age 108. I remember one thing she used to tell us, live life well. She said that if we did then we would never regret what has happened to us. I remember when she sold her house, she said that it was time. I did not tell you how she broke her hip. Well.... she tripped over something in her yard. She was chasing down someone that broke into her house in the middle of the night! I can just see her waving her cane at him telling him to stop! LOL I remember something else. Once when we were there she pulled her dress up above her knees, she wore those old stockings that were rolled. Well anyway she said to me and my sister, " Oh I wish I was young like y'all and had my pretty legs back so I could wear those short dresses the girls do now!" She did a light hearted dance around the room and laughed and sat back down.

She was content with her life. She found happiness where she was at. She did not have to go searching the world for it. She found people to help right there where she lived. She knew what was happening in the world outside of her small town and she choosed to make her corner of the world a better place. She sewed and rolled and cooked and cleaned and just whatever she could to help others. She did not waste energy on anger. She gave love instead.

I wish I could be like her. I worry about things I can do nothing about. I need to not worry and just do what I can do. Do what I can to make my corner of the world a better place. Starting with my home. I know that it would please Pat (and myself) if my house was cleaner. I know that there are those saying so what. It is a so what, it would make me feel better. I hate what I have done. It is a perfect mess. I have to realize that I cannot make it a perfect clean in one day, actually I can never make it a perfect clean. I have to accept that and do what needs to be done to make it an acceptable clean somewhat short... ok a lot short, of perfect clean.

I have to turn my anger into something good, not let it work to destroy me and what I have.

I have to be true to myself, and that means I have to be honest with myself about things.

I have to let myself like me more than I do.

I need to live life well.

we understand

  Top Ten Things that Only Women Can Understand

10. Cats' facial expressions

9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors

8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds

7. Fat clothes

6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time

5. The difference between beige, off-white, and eggshell

4. Cutting your bangs to make them grow

3. Eyelash curlers

2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made

1. Other Women

a funny

 Oil Change instructions for Women:

      1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3000 miles since the last oil change.

      2) Drink a cup of coffee.

      3) 15 minutes later, write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle.

      Money spent:

      Oil Change $20.00

      Coffee $1.00

      Total $21.00

      ==========================================================

 Oil Change instructions for Men:

     1) Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00.

     2) Stop by 7 - 11 and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20, drive home.

     3) Open a beer and drink it.

     4) Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.

     5) Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.

     6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it.

     7) Place drain pan under engine.

     8) Look for 9/16 box end wrench.

     9) Give up and use crescent wrench.

   10) Unscrew drain plug.

   11) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil:splash hot oil on you in process.  Cuss.

   12) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms.

      Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.

   13) Have another beer while watching oil drain.

   14) Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.

   15) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.

   16) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil  everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties. Drink a beer.

   17) Buddy shows up; finish case of beer with him.  Decide to finish oil change tomorrow so you can go see his new garage  door opener.

   18) Sunday: Skip church because "I gotta finish the oil change."

Drag   pan full of old oil out from underneath car. Cleverly dump oil in hole in back yard instead of taking it back to Kragen to recycle.

19) Throw kitty litter on oil spilled during step 18.

 20) Beer? No, drank it all yesterday.

  21) Walk to 7-11; buy beer.

  22) Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to  gasket surface.

  23) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.

  24) Remember drain plug from step 11.

  25) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.

  26) Remember that the used oil is buried in a hole in the back yard, along with drain plug.

  27) Drink beer.

  28) Shovel out hole and sift oily mud for drain plug.  Re-shovel

oily  dirt into hole. Steal sand from kids sandbox to cleverly cover oily patch of ground and avoid environmental penalties. Wash drain plug

in  lawnmower gas.

  29) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor.

Throw  kitty litter on oil spill.

   30) Drink beer.

   31) Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes.  Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench  tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame.

   32) Bang head on floorboards in reaction to step 31.

   33) Begin cussing fit.

   34) Throw stupid crescent wrench.

   35) Cuss for additional 10 minutes because wrench hit bowling trophy.

    36) Beer.

    37) Clean up hands and forehead and bandage as required to stop

blood   flow.

    38) Beer.

    39) Beer.

    40) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.

    41) Beer.

    42) Lower car from jack stands.

    43) Accidentally crush remaining case of new motor oil.

    44) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled  during steps 23 - 43.

    45) Beer.

    46) Test drive car.

    47) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.

    48) Car gets impounded.

    49) Call loving wife, make bail.

    50) 12 hours later, get car from impound yard.

 Money spent:

    Parts $50.00

    DUI $2500.00

    Impound fee $75.00

    Bail $1500.00

    Beer $40.00

   Total - - $4,165.00

    But you know the job was done right!

Im in

That was really weird. I never had it happen that I was unable to reach my journal or comment in any! When I saw my journal, I saw what yall saw. No add entry button, but there was an add alert button for IF ENTRIES WERE MADE!

I see a few changes from the update this morning but nothing that I see really effects me yet.

Candy and her husband have moved. Brook is still here because they do not have a bed for her yet. I am so hoping they do not get one real soon. I hope they work on the rest of the place and their bedroom before doing something about Brook's bedroom. They have stopped by here everyday after work to get some of their stuff. I wonder if they will make a point to stop by after they get everything?

What is going on? Nothing really. I am trying to clean my house up. I have really let it go. I keep working and working and I never seem to get ahead of it or even stay on an even keel. I need a maid!

Got some wonderful news(said with a sneer). Pat's mama calls us and tells us that Pat's wonderful, beautiful wife(not talking about me, talking about his ex) is moving back to town. She is crazy (both of them) Pat's ex is not wonderful. She tried to kill Pat on several occasions (scars to prove it and more than 1 person has talked about them), stole, lied, cheated(has another man's child) and they have not seen each other for about 20 years. Yet this same person(because she is crazy) used to call all the time and tell me that Pat will never be over her, that he was hers forever. Yes it was her. I had caller ID and she never blocked her number. Am I worried, in a word NO. First he does not love that psychotic b**** (his word not mine) and second, it is her brother not her that is coming thru here for a visit with his son in North Carolina! Pat's mom used to tell me all the time that if J. B. ever came back to town I would have to leave because Pat would want her. If Pat wants her then he is welcome to her. Like the saying goes... Set them free if they don't come back they were never yours to start with.

There I got that out of my system and I feel better.

This is a test. I tried to make an entry in my journal and leave comments in others and I cannot do so. This test is to see if I can make an entry this way.