Hey, Secretary, take this Down

Do I need a secretary? Hey secretary, take
this down.. or maybe I need one of those voice
recorder with me.
Because as I was walking on my morning
walk, I thought of a great blog subject. It
was so great, it would have dazzled you
and maybe bedazzled you with great humor....but...... I
forgot it...

It is all my kids fault. I told them I would
get to this one day. As I was trying to get
thru 30 years of raising kids, I told them
that I was worried that I would lose it
mentally. That my brain would turn to
mush after they were gone. . See for
30 years (from the birth of the first
one, to the day the last one left the
coop) I have had to be on top of it.
Always second guessing what they would
could come up with next. What would
be their move (some of it from ancient
history of my own childhood, which was
always a good references). What would a
3 year old think of ... what would a 8 year
old think of and heavens help us, what
were the teens going to do. Each teen was
different but took similar roads. So my
mind was active all the time. And I
read a lot too. It was my calming down
time after the kids went to bed. Oh, yea,
the horrors of it was my kids had to be in
bed at 7 every night in the winter hours
and 9 during the summer. The high schoolers
got to stay up until 9 and 10 on weekends
and summer. My adult children now ask me
how did I do it all. I just asked them one
question.. what time did you have to go to bed.
Well, after everyone was in bed...it was
mine time. And that is what kept me sane.

But here I am, with senior moments that
stretch some times into senior hours. lol
So when you see me and I am listening to
you, and when it comes my time to talk,
you will have to forgive me if I give a blank
stare for a few minutes. It means I forgot
what I was going to say. And if I interrupt you,
well it is the same reason but it is important
and I don't want to forget it before it is
my turn to talk.

Yep, lost all my practice on those darn
kids of mine. But my Sweet guy does keep
what brain matter there is still alive. After
all I have to keep up with him you know.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend

Also known for the beginning of summer.
Usually the first picnic or b-b-que. Family
and friends get to gether. While I am one of
those who use to do this and some time still
do. I am ashamed to admit, that I, in the past,
have like thousands forget the real reason for
this holiday.

Now that I am older I honor this day, but
sometimes not thinking about the real reason
it was started.

It is a day, Memorial Day, to honor all the
service men who gave up their lives so we have
the freedom we all enjoy today. We also use it
for honoring our own family and some times
friends by placing flowers on their graves. Which
is what I do now that I am older. Maybe because
when I was younger, I didn't have anyone
who had passed away. So therefore, did not
think about what the holiday is really for.
When you are young you don't think about death.

This year, as I go with my husband out to the
cemetery, I will also keep in mind our young
men who gave up their lives this year and in
the past. Just so I have the privilege to complain
about how the government runs our lives, so
I can retire and take my daily life for granted,
so I have a roof over my head and food for my
belly and for my well-being...mental and physical.

All because some young person fought for all of us. Lest, we not forget.

Grandparents and Grandchildren

There is a program on tonight, on
Primetime Live. ABC at 10pm.

I think this is a worthy program to watch.
Especially in these days and times. The
program is about Grandparents raising
their grandchildren. Some may think
that is a weird concept. But sadly it is
getting to be more and more well known.

I personally know of at least 3 grandparents
who are doing this.
In the past this has been done because
of a horrible car accident that takes both
parents. But the three that I know of
personally, is drug related. Even child
sexual abuse. Making the job harder.
Because not only are you trying to fill in
the space of the absent parents, but you
are dealing with the behavior from the abuse.

In our days, all we had to worry about was:
was the child healthy, roof over their head,
food in their belly, and clothes on their backs
and their well being.

Now these grandparents have all that
AND the behavior that is so out of range
from what the grandparent can even think of.

Trying to keep ahead of all the behavior is toll
taken on the health as well as the mental
health of these people. Some even suffer
heart attacks and see their retirement savings
depleted as they try to stay ahead of the game.
Even the ones without the sexual abuse have
behaviors. They are suffering from the
absence of their parents, or their mothers
were doing drugs during their pregnancy.

The grandparents who are not raising their
grandchildren or helping raise them by
having one of the single parents living with
them with the children, can not fathom
what all is entailed in raising these children.

A lot of the children are in therapy. Even
some of the grandparents end up in therapy as
they feel like failures because they can't keep
ahead of the problems
.
It would take a book for those to write out
what all is involved. The heart attacks, the
frustrations and even the high points when
things do go right. The good times being few
and far between.

Some grandparents end up back in the
workforce because the retirement wasn't
enough to keep up with the expense.

So if you are a parent now... work hard on
that relationship with your child. When
they are teens, hang in there and be steady
fast on keeping up with your child. Drugs and
peers are out there to ruin all your dreams.

So watch the program, if you are a grandparent
raising your grandchildren, you will see you
are far from alone... and if you aren't to that
stage yet, watch to make sure you don't or know
what to do if you are thrown into that position

And when you see your friends having to raise
their grandchildren, don't look on in piety.
Look on in amazement,and awe because there
for the grace of God, could go you or I.

Budgets and Wants and Needs

When I was a young mother and wife,
I had to keep within the budget. It was
before regular credit cards. The only thing
was charge accounts, that were out there
at that time, was Sears, J.C.Penney and etc.
J.C. Penney's the family store, which we found
out when we bought a rug on time, that they
weren't very family friendly when your
husband's union went out on strike. We got
$25 a week from the union and offered
$2 a month (our payments were $5) to
J.C. Penney's. And was turned down. So
you found a way to get the needs and make
sure you made the payments. Which brought
up creative budgeting.

How far can you make hamburger stretch,
with the 4 children we had at that time.
You can come up with some really wild
recipes when you are looking in the refrigerator.
Also learn to figure out what we were
going to eat for the month. And buy groceries
to fit that. 15 pounds of hamburger
at that time was 19 cents a pound)
to be broken up in 1 pound packages and
4 chickens (at 17 cents a pound). That way
you can take out as much as you need. 3 Roast
that are big enough to use for another dinner
during the week, and potatoes and pasta that
stretch a food budget. Making trips to the store
only for fruits, fresh vegetables for salad, and milk.
Make your own bread.

Also you get creative in the sewing of clothes.
I can remember that my husband's jeans would
wear out at the knees first. So cut off at the
knee, they became shorts for him, But the lower
part was made into jean pants for the 2 year olds.
By unstitching the seam partly, and sewing
them to each other, then put in a elastic for a
waistband.

As I got older, and the children are gone, I had
a job. Then remarried, two of us, two incomes.
And wants became needs. You know, being at
K-Mart at 7am for a sale on juicer or latte maker.
Then after about 4 times of trying to work them,
you find out you can't make latte's as good as
the shops, and the juice maker makes terrible
apple juice and you get sick of carrot juice real
fast? Then after sitting in the cupboard for a
year or so, and some one says..."gee, I sure would
like a latte maker/juicer" and you light up. You
don't tell them your experience... you just tell them
you will give them one ...free and clear. You just
want the space back in the cupboard. Bringing
back the saying, be careful what you want. You
just might get it.

Now that I am retired, it is back to budgeting.
And reviewing your wants and needs. It is
surprising how you can come up with other
things that you can do, so you can do without
what you thought you wanted. And also going
back to the buying for the month, and not as
many trips to the store, so you spend less.
Only draw back is we don't get to travel as much
with gas prices going up. And plane tickets too.

Reading is Sometimes Hard on the Nerves

Agency: States Don't Have To Pay For Sex Offenders' Viagra

I think I am going to have to stop reading so
much.... First there is the headline above....
and then there is the entertainment part of
Spokesman Review talking about a new
show, "The Bad Girls' Guide on UPN station.

Where when the girls get bored(?) they sit
around and get high. Tell me the writer was
kidding. It is bad enough that, That 70's
show does a hint of the teens doing drugs.
(I don't watch it... I watched one time for
about 15 minutes found it to be silly and gave
up on it.)
As one who lived thru the 70's as well
as the 40' 50' 60' and 80' 90' 00', I didn't
think it was so great. But I figure those
who watch Happy Days, don't think it is
so great either. And I did find that one
better. Maybe because it was a fun time for me.
But I don't understand, maybe it is my old age,
am I getting dense... but to make drugs look
like the thing to do when you are bored or
thinking?????
To give sex offender Viagra??????
I don't get it.

Slipping away

This weekend as you can see by the previous
pictures of Saturday... Bonner County lost
another building of memories.

Must seem like to the old time Sandpointers,
that they are losing pieces of their past, piece
by piece. Just in 5 months they have lost 3
buildings and a wide road is going thru
a part of what once was part of a quiet town near by.

First this year, was the Lakeside Inn.
And then, Harold's IGA closed it's doors and
then the auction, and soon the wrecking ball will fly.
And now the old Cowgirl (it has had many names
of late) has been burnt down(controlled fire)
in the name of progress.
And while this is going on, the wide road thru
Dover is being built, heading to the river.
...............These times are a changing.

While none of the buildings were of beauty
and all have their memories and rumors that
flew fast and furious.
Harold's IGA, having the tragic of the owner
being shot dead in his store. Yet for many
years my mother-in-law held court in the
corner booth of the cafe, sharing so many
laughs with Mollie, Ralph and the girls.
I am sure many others have done the same
there. I know John Campbell has told many
fishing stories there as well.
The Cowgirl over the years has many visits
by the sheriff dept. as well as rumors of
even mafia connections. But there were
many who fell in love there, fought there,
went to see the Chippendale Men there, and
console themselves with lost loves there.
And the Lakeside Inn having her own rumors
that flew as well.

But still there are a lot of people of Sandpoint
who have seen the growth of these buildings.
The hopes and dreams as they were built.
And now being destroyed for the sake of progress.
A bypass, a bank and rumors of a strip mall
type stores for Ponderay.
And the wide berth of a road that is cutting
thru Dover, to end up at the river.
The peaceful town of Dover going to the
wayside. Stories of 500 homes (some are
condo's) will bring all kinds of traffic.

It has to hit a sad note for those who I refer
to as, Old Timer Sandpoint, those who were
born here before 1950.
It is even sad to me, and I am a fairly newcomer
being I have been here in Bonner County a little over 20 years

Controlled fire, as they burn down the old Cowgirl bar, another historic building leaves Bonner County  

Up in smoke... the old Cowgirl bar 

Good bye Cowgirl 

Wendy and Jeff Sater from Hoot Owl 

crowd watches history burn 

Cowgirl up in flames 

Lost in the 50's ...2005

Tradition


Today is the first day of a yearly tradition in Sandpoint. And this year, they say could be the end of this tradition. As I sit here looking out the window, it makes me sad as it is raining. And it could rain tonight. Rain on their parade.

It is called LOST IN THE 50'S. A great group of people bring to us each year, a wonderful program. It starts for us, the people who go to this, on Friday night.

The parade of cars. From the high school to downtown and around the town and out. Of course after the parade is over, then the drivers drive thru town over and over and park near town. The cars are from the 30's to the 70's. The hopes and dreams of the drivers, that have come alive. The crowds can be heard.... oh and aha's as they drive away. The peeling of wheels, the thunderous mufflers that we all love. Even some back fire, with actual fire coming out of the mufflers. (the police don't like these antics, but the crowd cheers). With this the weekend starts. The traffic controllers do a great job with the parade and thru traffic, in this small town.

Saturday, is the show of cars. Up and down First Avenue and Cedar Street, some on Second Avenue and Main Street. All the beautiful cars of the past, polished, shining in the sun light. Proud owners, some of them dressed in the 50's clothes, standing nearby to hear the people's memories of their own cars, similar to the one they are looking at now. Some of the old trucks are there as well. Men look in envy, women look at the interiors, as they have memories of their youth. The younger crowd, look at what was in the past, and admire the workmanship.

Friday night and Saturday night at the fairgrounds there is a dance. All the oldies are sung. Each year they try to find a name person to come and some times score with 2 or 3 crowd pleasers. And then there are the volunteers who lip-sync the oldies while dressed in the 50's clothes.

Sunday, there is sometimes an auction, and also the Aspirin Run for those who are young at heart and can still run.

While this will be a quick weekend, the work started last fall for the people who put this whole project together. I don't know personally the people who put this on. Except I do have an acquaintance with one of the behind the scene person. I have seen him in a video as one of the singer, and he does a great job. He also works with my husband and has gotten my sweetie to come for 3 years now, to be a bouncer of sorts. It is amazing how far this project has come. From about 30 or so cars to over 800 cars in town over the weekend. I know the parade last over an hour. Over an hour of not seeing the same car. You see the long, the short, the convertible, trucks, the start of a car project and the finish projects from last year. And these drivers are not all men. There are quite a few women drivers. And a lot of families.

So I am hoping Mother Nature will co-operate this final year. I am hoping she will get the rain out of her system this morning and then give us sunshine the rest of the weekend. These volunteers of many years, deserve a break this year more than any other year. They have worked so hard, for the pleasure of all of us.
If you live in the area, be sure to come into to town and see it all. It is worth putting up with the crowds so you can see.
And who knows, this just might be the last year you will get to see one in our area.

Moment of Poor Judgement

Sticking out your tongue... some one on my
blog did the sign for the sticking out your
tongue... and I laughed. .

See over the years, I taught my kids NEVER EVER
stick your tongue out. I have even quick popped the
tongue if they ever tried.

But it came back to haunt me, my youngest
daughter has a son. He is 14 now. But when
he was about 2, he said or did something and
I...............to this day, I don't know what possessed
me to do it...............but I stuck out my tongue.

I know, I know... 30 some odd years of telling
my own children NEVER EVER do that.
And I DID IT. And it gets worse.

My grandson thought that was so funny, that he
ran and showed his mother. Who was horrified
because I was in the room and her son did the
unspeakable.

And then to make it worse, as she told him to never do
that and he uttered those words I did not want to hear.

Why?, NANA DID IT!! The look on my daughters
face, she was about to accuse him of lying, when
she saw the look on my face.
And she has not let me forget that .... to this
day. 12 years later. And of course she told all
my kids....

Oh, the shame of just a flick of a second of poor judgement

It is just a toy,Mom

It is just a toy, Mom.

Those words came to mind yesterday, as I had to
fight the battle. The battle of the computer.

The day started out ok. I got up and got my blog
done early. It all went well. Hit publish and there
it was, in a flash.

Went to get my shoes on to go for my walk. I looked
out the window, to say it was raining, well, that is
putting it mildly. Like some one had a hose on the
roof. Went to plan B, like the day before when the
weather would not co-operate. I have a sitting bike.
You know the kind with the pedals out in front of
you instead of below you. So I did two 10 minute
sessions with that. Got a cup of coffee and headed
into the computer room.

Answered my emails, check my server site to
make sure the spam blocker was on as I had been
getting a lot of spam lately. What appears like German
spam. But the spam blocker was on.

Went to check to see what Dave O was doing on
his blog, when my computer decided to go wacko.
I sat here watching the page go up and down about
4 times, I am not even touching my mouse, as I was
going to type something. Then I figured I would check
out the site that someone typed, it was for the scans that
they are talking about for the airport. And my address
slot is missing. What is with that? Check on the upper
bar where file, edit and etc. is. To see if I happen to hit
the wrong button, even though I wasn't anywhere near
that. Nope. So I shut down the email, and online, and
server and started out again. My server doesn't
recognize my name and password. So closed down again.
Started over. Then I notice my name and password
are not in the spot where they always are. So I type
them in. Still no connection due to unrecognized name
and password. So I decided, to close the whole thing down.

Long and short of it, was getting worse instead of
better. So turn off the whole computer for the third
time. And walked away before I killed it.

Came back 4 hours later. With computers, it takes
me longer to mellow out. Remembering my son's
words, "Mom, it is just a toy. A fun toy". Well the
fun is going out of it. So I thought for a while.

Ok, lets find restore. So restored to the day before.
It restarts and bingo there is everything. Connected
online, the address slot was back.

Yes, Son, it is just a toy, a fun toy.... yea, right...
and dang frustrating toy, if you ask me.

Wondering, but not Worried or Angry

Wondering but not upset.

I know when I receive e-mails from time to time
I get those with the expressions on them. You
know the happy face, the tears, the heart, the
sad face, and mad face and etc.

But from time to time, we have had e-mails that
are written to some one in particular. And then
after a few back and forth, we find out the
person either didn't mean their e-mail like you
took it.....or they took yours not as you intended it.

It has even happen in letters over the years.
Some one misunderstanding what a person
is feeling as they have written it.

But the smiley faces of e-mail doesn't really
give a hint of ones intent. So what do we do
about this? Do we have to put up words before
our paragraphs?

Like the words.... wondering..
just thinking, thoughts to think about?

The part that really bothers me, is being
accused of being upset when I am not. I don't
get this so much in e-mails, as I did in notes of
concern to previous bosses. I did not use capitals.
I did not underline the words. When these
people have talked to me in person, I am not
angry. I am not a person who comes on strong
or aggressive. So why do they automatically
think I am angry or upset? After being accused
of such, I found myself second guessing everything
I wrote. Sometime not even writing because I
figure what was the use.

When I did write the last year or so, I had to
paraphrase everything I wrote with.....
was wondering... or something smiliar.
What do you think about this... do you see this
as problem? Even writing, "I'm joking" or I am
smiling. Being we were going thru directors faster
than children change diapers, I had to keep
ahead of the game each time.

So what do we write when we are just concern,
but not worried? Or wondering and not upset about
things.
Smiley faces seem to makes the message, into a joke
instead of a serious but non aggressive, non angry
message. Have to think about that one for a while.
Some how smiley faces just doesn't do it.
Just wondering....

something stupid or just plain lazy

something stupid....

Last Friday I did something stupid. But I need to
explain something first.

Rokon is my cat. (her name,
is another column another day) and I have
been letting her outside now that the weather is
nice. I wasn't thrilled aboutthis, as I think most
cat's that go outside, end up being roadkill. And
we do live near the road. But she had been good
about staying in the back yard.
Of course it took some yelling and hose spraying
while I was watering plants, to convince her that
the back yard was her safe place.

Then last Thursday afternoon, my sweet husband
let her out the front door.
BAD IDEA. See the screen door on the back, does
not move. It latches. But the front door is the old
wooden kind that just shuts. No latch. So Rokon found
out that if she throws herself on to the screen with
nails dug in, the door will swing open. The vacuum rod
lets it shut slowly. So she jumped down and out the
door she went. She did run to the back yard so that was
plus. But I didn't want her going out the front door.
She might think the front yard is ok too. Sure enough
she scored the front door. Ran around the front yard,
and then discovered the neighbors yard. And trying to
get her in the house was to no avail. So it was hours
later, two yard later, that she decided she would grace
us with her present in the house, after dark.

So Friday, afternoon she sees the front door open and
only the screen door between her and outside. As she
runs for the door, I am sitting in the chair beside it,
reading a magazine. I did a back swing like in tennis to
swat at her. Oh, so wrong... Yes, it stopped her. But
my arm, severe pain. From my elbow to my muscle
or the other way around. I could not lift it up. No matter
which way I turn it, severe pain. Now tears. Being an old
aide, I know the routine. Ice. So got ice. Which was a trick
in the first place, because while I am right handed, I needed
my left hand to help. You know the one hanging down next
to me in severe pain. That I can't lift. Won't even go thru
the antics of one handed ice retrieve from the refrigerator.
But trying to wrap it around my arm and deciding which
area hurt the worse, (the muscle or the elbow) was no easy
task. Boy, do we take doing things with two hands for
granted. Of course Rokon seeing me in pain, made her
escape out the front door, and I didn't care at that point.
Then my sweet husband comes home, sees the cat outside,
and says, why did you let the cat out. Then he went outside, I
think the death stare might have had something to do
with it.

Tiger balm and Ibuprofen got me thru the night. And
Saturday, I am not doing any better. Seem everytime
I wanted to do something the lame arm was in the way,
and of course shot pain as soon as it moved in any direction.
I tried to stretch it, in hopes that would help. Oh, no, and
rubbing it was just as bad. Couldn't ignore it. So Saturday
night I Tiger balm and pills some more, to get thru the night.
Sunday, slightly better but still couldn't touch it. So opt
out of church. Got a e-mail from one of my church
buddies,that afternoon, telling me she missed me. And what a bum weekend
she had. Seems she was getting firewood out of the pickup
bed, and lost her balance and hit her head. Then later she
decided to go for a walk to make her feel better, got looking
at the deer in the field and stepped off the paved road and
twisted her foot. AND she went to church. I FEEL LIKE SUCH
A WHIMP!!. But today, my arm feels better. about half way
back to normal.

But couldn't go walking as it was raining.
So guess I better go work out on the exercise bike.
Geesh, this getting old isn't what it is stacked up to be. lol

GREEN NEON SIGNS

They are popping up like dandelions. You see the
white ones, but they can fool you. Because when
you get close they might say, dog lost, Bret and
Linda's wedding this way, or puppies for sale.

The Green Neon signs you can see them blocks
away. But you KNOW what that is. Your biggest
question might be ..
is it today or was it last weeks.

Everbody who is anybody knows that the Green
Neon signs are YARD SALES. A chance to look
thru others good stuff to see if you want it to be
come your stuff. If you need something and
don't want to buy new, you get the local Friday paper out,
you go to the sign board (in Sandpoint it is on Main
Street just off from Cedar where it Y's.) and check
out and write down the places that sound promising.

Then at the light of day or when you get up, depending
on how serious you are, you are in the car with your
list. Of course it is better to have a buddy who can
read off the address, as you drive. Then you will also
see signs at street corners or on your way to another
yard sale.

You will get to know your town better. There are
street you never heard of before, until a yard sale.
But this information isn't too good unless the person
who is asking directions is a fellow yard sale person.
Because then you can tell them, well, you know where
they had the children clothes for sale with the wild
color crib? The place is two doors down from that.
Because directions are judged by what yard sale you
went to there.

In order to be a good yard sale person you have to
have a pocket full of change. And dollar bills in your
wallet. Because after you talked the person down
on their price to $3, you don't want to be flashing a
$20 bill.

In our heyday, my daughter and I could get more
stuff in her little car. We had bungee's for all occasions.
We have tied dressers to the top, we have tied things
in the trunk that is already full of other yard sale
things. As long as we had an edge of the trunk, we
could tie it in. One of the best buys she got was a
electric motorcycle for $20. BUT, it cost her $37
for a new battery for it. lol.

It is neat to yard sale on vacation because you get
to see different kinds of stuff. That is more local
for them.
So happy yard saling.

I'm Contagious

Today I went on a mission to contaminate the
people I met on my walking route.
You see, they say smiles are contagious. So I
decided to do my best on this mission. I walked
with a smile on my face. That ought to make
people wonder what I am up to.

I smiled and told the gentleman who was running,
Good Morning. He smiled back. Ah, ha... one...
Then there is the guy who bicycles to work, and
there is the boy who bicycles to school. There was
the workman who is doing a great job with the
grass next to Panhandle Bank. Good Morning, and
smiling all the way. The lady who sits by the window
and reads her paper. Today I waved and smiled.
She waved back and smiled. Ah, one after another.

So in Ponderay there are some contagious people
who I hope spread the disease.

The sun is calling my name. Got lots of yard ideas.
Also we are going to continue with our fence we
started two years ago.This year it is the front that
will get done.

And then there is the rose bush. My daughter gave
me a wonderfully smelling rose bush for Mother's day.
And I planted it yesterday. I was proud of myself as
I got the hole dug by myself, put the Miracle Grow in
and added water. Pounded on the bottom of the pot
and out popped the rose. And into the hole it went.
It looked great. It went well. I took off the tag, and
stood back and admired my workmanship. Then I
looked down at the tag... FULL SUN...it read. I just
got finish planting it ..... in FULL SHADE.... This spot
next to the garage never gets sun. (I picked the spot
because it is a climbing rose.) So now I have to go
find a place for the rose.... In the FULL SUN.

so smile...... and GOOD MORNING

When did Children become disposable?

Children

When I was a youngster, a child was reverend.
Parents put all their hopes and dreams in to that
child. The future so to speak. As they grew, the
parents thoughts were of doctor, lawyers, or
taken over Dad's business. Hopes and dreams.
Daughter were treated gently, taught the household
chores, of laundry and cooking, so when she married
she would be prepared. Hopes and dreams...

By the time I was a parent, we didn't think in the
lines of hopes and dreams so much, as just trying
to do it right. To make sure that the child, had every
chance at life. Education was high on the agenda.
Be it boy or girl. Watching over them, protecting them
from harm. Yes, just trying to do it right.

I think parents of today, that is 90% of them are a
little of both. Just trying to do it right and hopes
and dreams.
Everyone knows the sweet wonderful smell of a
tiny baby.
Do it right, and hopes and dreams.

But what I want to know is when did children
become disposable? When did they become
targets? The news of the past years seem to get
harder to handle.

Be it Ms. Smith who belted in her children in
the back seat of her car and let it slip into the
lake. The boyfriends who baby-sit and can't
take the pressures of a crying baby. And drug
mother who sells, or beats her child. The wackos
who stole the children out of their beds in the
middle of the night to aim and kill that child. The
children who beat other children to death. The
trusted person (Priest, relatives, teachers and etc.)
so many persons of trust,who molest... And now
we have a father who killed his daughter and her
friend and says he found their bodies.
Who told these people that children are disposable?
What has happen to society?

So hug your child, don't let a cross word end the day.
Because you never know..... you just never know.

FRIENDS

Friends...

The word friends and acquaintances are often
entwine. The person who is an acquaintance gets
the name of friend, that isn't quite that. And
someone we call friend are actually more an acquaintance.

Friend, the real word friend, as we age, brings
on a new meaning. Friend is not taken lightly.
You are there thru everything and anything.
There is a good e-mail that goes around about this.
The difference. Wish I had it so I could show the difference.

In the newspaper there are two different yet
similar articles of the most breakdown of the
human race to most of us.

One is in part denial and the other who just went
thru court and got sentenced. Both have friends,
at least I hope the denier has friends because
he really is going to need them.

The one sentenced, has friends. He sat there
as his friends stood up for him. They were not
happy about the circumstance of the charges.
May even been nausea by them, when they first
found out about it. But they have put it to the side,
and have chose to hate the sin but not the sinner.
These friends will be there after the sentence is
done. After all they went to court and knowing it
will be a matter of record, and thus likely newsworthy,
to stand up for their friend.

Any one can be there in the good times. But it
takes the real test of a friendship, to be there in
the bad times. The worse of times. And as we stand
on the side lines, not involved in this particular
worse of times, we wonder ....would we be such a
friend to those who we call friends..... and would our
friends be there for us, if we were fighting the
demon's of life and fault to them. Do we have a
real friend who can forgive the sin, yet find the
sinner redeemable. The last part of friend is end...
but to what end?

New Respect

You know when you are driving alone and
you see some one walking on the sidewalk
and it looks like they are talking to themselves..
What is your thought? My husband's thought
is look at the nut talking to himself. While my
thoughts aren't quite as extreme as his, I do wonder.

Well, today I have a better respect for them.
See I lost my walking buddy. So to make up for
this, I have started taking along my cassette
player. I listen to music as I walk. I try to take
something with a beat. Trouble is I have the
cassette player in my shirt pocket and the
headphone is covered by my scarf. So no
one sees it.

Today, my choice was one of my favorite's
which is Simon and Garfunkal's Bridge over
Trouble Waters. There I am walking with
quite a quick stride, a bounce so to speak in
my stride. I am not a shower singer as even
in the shower I do not sound good. My grandson
who heard me when he was 5 told me to not
give up my day job. That is bad when even a 5 year
old says you don't sound good.

So there I am outside, walking down the sidewalk of
Kootenai Cutacross, singing my heart out as
there is no one to hear. BUT, from some of the
looks on the faces of the drivers when I looked
at the cars, I would say... their thoughts are similar
to my husband. Look at the old nut talking to
herself. So I was thinking about how I was judging.
So now I have new respect of those whose lips
are moving as they drive or walk...

But it is hard not to sing along to
Bridge over Trouble Waters,
Cecilia, and Keep the Customer Satisfied.
But then again... it could be just me...
The old lady who sings to herself as she walks

Sunset near Mr. Schweitzer 

Some of Life's Rewards

Life has many rewards. One usually is looking
for the big ones.. But it is the small ones that
sustain us. They are the ones we over look,
take for granted. Yes, we might, and I do mean
might, relish them at the time. I say might
because a lot of times they happen and we take
it in stride without thinking about it.

Life's rewards are the birds singing as you walk.
A person you see as you go by who is dancing a
jig, or playing with a child, or just has a happy
grin on their faces. All of which make you smile.

It is a Mother's day card from an adult child who
took the time to write a few words. Especially a
son, because wives become their secretaries, so
it has the standard from XXX and OOO and children.
Every wife does it. I did it for many years. But
from time to time, a thoughtful son will take it
upon himself to write a few words in. The ones
that get the Mom's tears to drop are the ones of
thanks.

Thanks for saying doing my best was good
enough, thanks for squeezing when you hug,
thanks for being tough when it wasn't popular, and
thanks for the adventure that was my childhood.

From the mothers view, it is validation that you did
something right. That your child didn't think you
were just there. All the hard work, the tears, the
laughter, even the moments of anger words, were
worth the ride of parenthood. And you truly wish in
your heart, that your adult child gets to enjoy the
ride as well. And someday your grandchildren will
thank their parents... Thanks, no I really mean it... thanks.

So Happy Mother's day to all of you Mothers,
Grandmothers, stepMothers, adoptive Mothers,
and those who step up to the plate to help a child.
The road is bumpy at best, but the rewards are
overwhelming. Some of them great, and some of
them small.
God Bless all of you.....

And also the unsung heroes, the dad's who make sure that
the Mom's are honored until the children are old enough,
to do it themselves.

Meanest Mother in the Whole World

In the early 1970's I use to listen to a radio station called KUTI radio out of Yakima, Washington. The show was called Party Line. The dj read this essay. It has been my favorite Mother's Day story for years. And I bring it out every so often. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The Meanest Mother in the Whole World.

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs and toast. When others had cokes and candy for lunch. I had to eat a sandwich. As you guess, my supper was different from the other kid's too.

AT LEAST I wasn't alone in my sufferings. My 2 brothers had the same mean mother as I did. My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were on a chain gang. She had to know who our friends were at all times, and what we were doing. She insisted if we said we'd be gone one hour or less, we would be gone one hour or less, not one hour and one minute.

I am nearly ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us. Not once, but each time we did as we pleased. Can you imagine someone actually swatting a child just because he disobeyed? Now you can begin to see how mean she really was.

THE WORST IS yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and up early the next morning. We couldn't sleep til noon like our friends. So while they slept, my mother actually had the nerve to break the child labor law. She made us work! We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook, and all sorts of cruel things. I believe she laid awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.

She always insisted upon our telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, even if it killed us. And it nearly did.

By the time we were teenagers, she was much wiser and our life became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the horn on a car for us to come running. She embarrassed us no end by making our dates and friends come to the door to get us. I forgot to mention, while my friends were dating at the mature age of 12 or 14, my old fashioned mother refused to let me date until the age of 15 and 18. Fifteen, that is, if you dated only to go to the school functions, and that was maybe twice a year.

MY MOTHER WAS a complete failure as a mother. None of us has even been arrested, divorced or beaten his mate. Each of my brothers served his time in the service of our country. And whom do you have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? Your right, my mean mother.

Look at the things we missed.... We never got to march in a protest parade, not to take part in a riot, burn draft cards and a million and one things that our friends did. She forced us to grow up in God fearing, educated, honest adults.

Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my 8 children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me mean.

Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest mother in the whole world.

(PARTY LINE- KUTI RADIO, Yakima, Wa.)

Looking thru stuff

In my search of a paper last night, I found this
picture that I posted last night. I was experimenting,
and found the Hello/Blogspot so I can put pictures
on my site.

That takes a bit of trial and error. For me..lots
of both.

It is amazing the stuff I have collected. I had to
send my computer in the shop over a year ago,
with my son. So I had to save things on floppies
because I didn't have DVD at that time to record
on. Only the player part. My son and his friend
installed it for me.

So in my search for my Friday (or maybe I will do
it tomorrow, Thursday) I was trying to find this
paper. I thought I had copied it on a floppy at one
time. So I had to go thru about 40 floppies. I have
lots more but they are titled with things I knew it
wasn't on. Pictures, recipes and etc. So with no luck
there, it was search the file cabinet as that is where
I had the paper copy of it for years.
Nope, not there.
So then it was look in the papers I have in two
different boxes and a bag. They are the to be file
some day when I have plastic boxes with my
children's name on them, or file in the cabinet.
But need folders for them.
After searching for 3 hours. I found it.
Thankfully. But I came acrossso much stuff.
Obit for old friends I have lost in the past 5
to 8 years. Pictures, cards and etc. And
that is where I found this picture.

The picture is of me, 30 years ago. And if you are
wondering what the daylights I am doing. This is the story.

My deceased husband, Marvin and I had bought a
house in Cooke Canyon in Ellensburg, Washington.
It was a 3 room house on 10 acres. But no bathroom
and no water in the house. It had a well, but the
water had not been piped into the house. And no
hot water heater. No sink. So that is me washing
dishes in a pot that I had heated water up in on the
stove. And that is the wood pile behind me. We lived
along side of the creek. The year was in 1976. My
mother said that only thing missing was a rifle. lol....
But that is another story for another day

30 years ago 

Farmer's Advice

I got this as an e-mail the other day...and
I thought they were wise words...so passing them along

An Old Farmer's Advice:
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
* Life ain't about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm, 'cause the colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
* It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
__________________________________________________

Tips...do you tip for bad service??

We went to a chain restaurant near the
highway in CdA for breakfast last Saturday.
The food was good but the service was not.

We were seated and given menu's and coffee
that we asked for. In the usual allowed
time the waitress came to take our order.
So far so good. Then things started to go down hill.

You see we didn't see her again until the
food came out about 15 minutes later. We
were without coffee, for 10 minutes of that
time. We sat the cups near the edge, as a
sign that we were out. The waitress came
about 8 tables from us but never looked at
us, one time. So we couldn't flag her down
to show we were without coffee.

The food comes and she says, oh, you need
coffee. Also would you like ketchup, Tabasco
sauce or anything else? (she asked us, we
didn't tell her) My other half said he would
like Tabasco sauce and also a glass of water.
(I remember when we use to just get a glass
of water. Now you got to ask.) She said
right away. She brought the coffee.

We never saw her again, for 15 more minutes.
When she asked if everything was ok. I told
her my husband was still waiting for the
Tabasco sauce and water. She went and
got it and said, sorry, as she quickly left.
He only had one bite of egg left.

We finished and waited another 10 minutes
for the bill. Finally gave up and went up
the cashier and there she was talking to
one of the other workers. We went to cash
out and told the young man we wanted to
go and the gal didn't give us her ticket.
Which she ran right over and cashed my
husband out.

The question was as we left the table, do
we tip? If we do, what? We have a policy
of tipping either way, good or bad. We left
a quarter. My daughter told me a few years
ago, when we got bad service always leave
a tip, or they will think you forgot. By leaving
a small tip, they will get the message you
didn't like the service. So the quarter. We
have given a regular tip when the food was
not the greatest, or slow coming. Because
that isn't the waitress fault. That is the cooks fault.

About 17 years ago, my daughter and her friend
took us to the Onion Restaurant in Spokane
on Division street. That had the world worse
service. There were 4 other tables full, the
rest was empty. We ended up getting our own
coffee. After 20 minutes the waitress showed
up with menu's and because we knew what
we wanted, we gave her the order right away.
Good thing, as we didn't see her for almost
half an hour. We finally got our food, she
disappeared.No silverware, so my husband
got up and found their little station and got
it for us. It was suppose to be all you can eat
of spaghetti that the girls got, but they never
got a chance to get more. As we started to head
to the cashier, she came running up the stairs
(we were on the slight upper side) and asked
us if we wanted dessert as it came with it. The
girls were disgusted, but asked if it could be to
go. She said yes, so they asked for cheese cake.
She offered a topping for free as she said she
had not been the best of waitress. Like duh!.
The girls had put a penny for a tip. So they
agreed and we told them we would go get
the car at the back of the parking lot and pick
them up at the door and they were rethinking
their tip to upgrade to a dollar. We waited in
the parking lot for 15 minutes. The girls
came out madder than wet hens. They just got
the cheese cake. They left the penny for the
tip. They complained to the cashier and he said,
well, sometimes it get busy here, so it is slow
service. The girls looked around and told him
that there was about 4 tables full when we came
in.. and maybe 6 tables now. He walked off and
said well, that is the way it goes sometimes. None
of the 4 of us have been back. That had to be the
worse. And that is when my daughter told me,
leave a tip, so they will know how bad it was.
What do you do, when you get bad service?

Country Girl or Country Bumpkin

Thank God I'm a country girl.....
Well, on Saturday it was more like a
country bumpkin.

My other half and I went for a drive. We
went to CdA and stopped by the park .
It is a beautiful park and a beautiful day
to enjoy it. Was witness to the start of a
wedding and Arbor Day meeting and planting.
Also a budding American Idol at the bandshell.

Then we left CdA behind and went to Worley,
stopped at the Casino, and there the country
bumpkin came out. I walked thru ALL those
rooms, machine after machine. The rooms winding
around and into another one and then another and
another. There must be a 1000 machines in all. My
other half tried two different machines. But had no
luck. I don't gamble.
I don't think of it as a sin so to speak. But I worked
hard to get the money in the first place, so flushing
it down the toilet (which is how I think of it) is too
hard on my nerves. See, I don't think anyone should
gamble unless they can flush $20 bills down the toilet
and not flinch. I can't. So I made a trip to the gift shop
to see what they had. Nice things, nothing I wanted,
but nice. Nice prices too. They did have a jacket
I liked. But $220 is too rich for my blood.. I told you
I was a country bumpkin. One thing I did notice is
all the sad faces. There wasn't one smiling face there.

We left the Casino after about 40 minutes if that,
and drove back up the highway. Deciding to go up
Highway 58, as my guy had not been there in years
and I never been there. It was a beautiful drive. All
of the country with the rolling hills. Sure makes
me glad to be a country girl. We sure live in a
wonderful area.The great NorthWest.
We went thru Spokane Valley and headed back
to Idaho. Really nice drive and we didn't use much
gas. Very enjoyable day.