Feast

We had a feast at our house last night. . . frog legs and fresh fish! Alex the wonder boy, caught a 15-lb'er catfish, and he and Mike got about 50 frogs last weekend. Add to that corn on the cob, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, baked beans and jalepeno hushpuppies, we ate well!

Alex also came by yesterday and I had him make a cake, from a mix. Turned out pretty good! Had a houseful to eat, and they pretty well cleared out everything but the cake. We'll have it tomorrow under the maple tree.

I'm washing and hanging out clothes. Yes, Tug is there to help.

Still haven't turned on the A/C; just can't make myself do that when there is a breeze and the house is pretty cool. As long as I don't cook much -- which is my goal in life, not to have to cook! I think it's unobtainable, tho.

The barn party is the last weekend in June; hope all can attend. Will have a house full of people then, too. But that's fun. We eat from daylight to way after dark. Smoked hog, "beer butt" chicken and lots of fixins. Pass the word and show up on the last Saturday in June!

Time to hang out clothes. . .luv, mom/mrt

My New BFF

It seems I have a new "best friend forever". . . Named Tug, the boys' chocolate lab "pony". Since he broke his log chain leash and comes out of every collar, we just turned him loose. Now he stays at home. . . really close at home. His new hangout is the rug on the back porch. You have to wake him when you want to go outside.

And everytime I go outside, he follows me wherever I go. . . to the clothes line, watering flowers, to the car, to the barn. Today, he followed me round and round as I mowed the yard! He wore me out! Then when I sat down to watch the hummingbirds, he wanted to play fetch! I threw the toy up into the tree. He is still pondering how to get it down.

Yesterday he slept in the sunroom while I made strawberry/rhubarb preserves.

The good part is? I can tell him anything and he never repeats it. He loves me even after I kick the fire out of him for jumping on the car.

Yep, I have a new BFF. Whether I want him or not! . . . luv, mom/mrt

Health Care

The Damn-o-crats are always spouting "health care for everyone". Well, there is! It's called Medicare or Medicade, or something else in another state. And there's the federal "spin down" program which pays for catastrophic incidents -- a one-time thing. And the medicals have to accept whatever the government decides to pay. And if you go to a state supported hospital, if you can't pay you don't have to!

Not true for the insured! Whatever the insurance companies don't pay, the sick and afflicted have to pay out of pocket. Being "insured" doesn't mean you're covered for everything, either. It all boils down, again, to what the insurance companies want to pay.

Now, who has the better deal here?

And medicine, pharmacy companies give medication to the under priviledged. Insurance companies pay whatever they want and you are responsible for the rest.

Who has the better deal there?

I'm tired of the government trying to be everything to everybody. Get an education. If you don't have the money, the government already has programs to pay for that. I paid to put three thru college. We had to eat road kill, but they all have educations and are leading productive lives!

Then . . . Get a job. None in your neighborhood? Move. I hate it that my kids are spread all the way across the country, but I know it's a must.

Then . . . Quit having a half-dozen illigitimate children. Quit teaching your kids that sex will cure everything -- nor alcohol nor dope. Nor walking around in britchies that fall off your butt, nor clothes that don't have enough fabric in them to wad a shotgun. They don't make you look cool; they made you look stupid.

Have I covered it all?

Gotta go walk; cholesterol is up and sugar. luv, mom/mrt

Mundane

We live such exciting lives. . . I had to go to town today. It's probably been a couple of weeks since I had to get dressed and drive that 4 miles. Anyway, I went to the doctor, bank, pharmacy, post office, both court houses (one to vote and one to pay tax on the car, which required two offices), insurance office, grocery and the smallest Wal-Mart in the world! Doesn't take long to spend $400!

Best part of the day was having lunch with my friend "Dammit" Tracy and my (her) daughter Amanda. Mandy, Tracy says, is more like me than anybody in their biological family. Which is a compliment, right??? We ate at Miquel's -- my first restaurant adventure since getting dentures. Took me nearly an hour to eat a chimichanga, but it surely was good!

I saw a classmate in the courthouse who asked about a class reunion this year. Those people I graduated with? They didn't talk to me then so why would I want to party with them now! She wants me to help plan it, but I will conveniently be somewhere else whenever it is.

Let me explain how I was a bit different in high school. I went to the prom with my best buddy David and we had a great time. But, the best part was when we left we went frog gigging and got about 50 frogs. That was some feast! And while the other girls were cheerleading or flirting, I would rather have been working on the farm. I even took a few flying lessons! But I did have a 3.5 gpa and was in the Ornery, uh, Honor Society!

I guess my only sissy stuff was piano lessons, which I loved! Sometimes. Not scales or finger exercises. They were boring. But tearing into one of Bach's inventions or Beetoven's firey pieces brought me great delight!

Just heard on the news that some middle school kids here were drinking vodka and Gatorade on the school bus -- at 7:30 a.m. When they got caught and had to face the consequences, they began making threats against some other students they thought turned them in. Where are the parents of these kids? In addition, some of the kids (we're talking 6-7-8th graders) also admitted to sniffing paint and gasoline! That stuff will kill you dead!

I'm so glad my children were perfect. . . what? there's a question about that????

Guess that's all the ramblings. I can't write every day, because I don't do anything to write about! And with no kids or grandkids around, and not working in the public (YEA!) there's just not much going on. Even the cat and dog are boring now, without grandkids to create antics with them. It's a layed-back life, and I like it! luv, mrt

Solid Food

For the first time in 2 weeks, I ate solid food today! Yeah! McDonald's french fries; well about 1/2 of a small order. I'm getting pretty tired of mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, oatmeal and ice cream. . . never thought I'd ever get tired of ice cream!!!

This has been since I had to get dentures. Yech! Brush your teeth and go to the dentist at least twice a year for cleanings! It's important, especially when you get older! My problem was actually my gums shrinking; seems it's a family thing. Once you get used to the plate, it isn't so bad -- as long as they fit! I've been back twice to get them fixed; got one more to go!

Also went shopping in E-town. Got Mike madras shorts and red polo shirt; he's not too thrilled with the shorts! Also got the mugs I've been wanting for 2 years. They match the wallpaper border in the kitchen. They had been $25, but were on sale today for $4.99. . . I needed some more mugs! Counting the ones in storage I probably have over 100.

Got some very pretty cards for mother's day; thanks Jifner and Doug and Todd and 'Chelle -- and Ashton. Sarah was going to come up yesterday but it was dern near a hurricane and I told her to stay home. I really miss my other little boys. I keep praying for their return to the family.

I've decided to spend George's welfare check; gonna get new kitchen counter tops I've been wanting for 2 years! And hopefully some update on the cabinets. After 30 years, they're really needing some help.

Guess that's all. . . my kids and grandsons are scattered from shore to shore (well, Sarah's on Vastwood's "shore") so that doesn't leave much to write about. I love my kids and grandsons to the core of my being! Thanks guys, for letting me be a part of your lives! luv, mom/mrt