Circa 1962

so we moved from Connetticutt to Pennsylvania about the time i was hitting the 2nd grade.  Mrs. Ford was a cool teacher.  The school was right across the highway, Street Rd.;  you had to use the crosswalk with an adult crossing guard to get across coming and going.  after mom got over a good case of allergy induced hives we had to move.  seems she was allergic to the landlord who lived next door and didn't want any dogs in her house.  i think she may have been bothered by my father's dark skin, but when we did get the dog she said we couldn't have, we were pretty much forced to move.  kind of a bizarre story, if you ask me, but i'll continue.  we moved into this mansion.  you know like a 'southern mansion' from gone with the wind days.  it was about 100 years old easy, had huge columns on the porch, on property that was covered with huge huge trees, and out back there was a real carriage house, horseshoes and all.  we lived in half the house while the owners were in the process of renovating.  by far it was one of the coolest places i have ever lived and although we were there only a short time it remains a vivid memory of childhood.  anyways...mom and dad took off, probably to the commissary or something and left us kids on our own to entertain ourselves for the day.  so my big brudda decided to herd us to the stream for the day.  we had to go across a huge field and cross a back woods road and down to where the stream was.  we played pretty much of the day away.  when it was time to go we had to make the hike back.  by the time we got to the road the tar was bubbling and oozing because it had gotten so warm under the afternoon sun.  quite interesting, warm tar.  you could pull it up and mold it in your hands; from what i heard from the old people, they even chewed it.  ack.  anyway, what was really neat is you could stick your toes in the bubbles and pop them.  actually if you stood for any length of time in the tar, you could actually get stuck.  and that is just what happened about the time the local police showed up to find out what a bunch of kids were doing in the middle of this country lane.  the littlest of bruddas had stood still a little too long.  luckily my courageous and strong big brudda was able to pull him from the tar and we managed to get out of the street about the time the cops stopped.  tar does not come off easily.  and you certainly do not want to try to wash it out in a washing machine.  you pretty much have to use gasoline.  which is good for removing ticks, too.

so,,,,there you have it....the story of sticky tar and mucky muck.  maybe someday i'll write about pig pooh.

whoa-hooo  lookie there.  i'm back.  what i want to know is, where have i been?  i must be having loads of fun because when i looked at the date on my last post i was amazed at the amount of time that has passed.  

so...first up....the weather.  it has been absolutely gorgeous after a short (2-day) hot streak.  that was a couple of weeks ago.  over the weekend,,,,80.  80 all the way.  you can not beat that.  and today 91.  later this week back to 100 but then,,,back to 80.  what a crazy pattern!  but i likes it.

have managed to ride my bike every morning for about 30 minutes with the other half of the bertha butt sisters.  okay it really is a social hour but we do peddle and it should count for something.  add to that, 3 to 4 days a week to work and back.  about a total of 15 miles round trip.  not too shabby.  and i am up to 15 mph on that little jaunt.  so for those of you that know all about this gym stuff...my heart beat IS up.  okay so guess how much weight i have lost!!!!!  go ahead....guess.  WRONG.  you're all wrong.  i have not dropped one itsy bitsy teeny weenie ounce.  not one.  not sixteen.  flippin not one.  please do not say, "oh but you are building muscle."  if that were the case,  i will be the biggest brick-sh*t-house house you can possibly imagine by the end of the year.  heaven forbid.  but i am not going to stop riding.  nope, i have made up my mind i am going to stick with it and when i go see the doctor in august i'm gonna tell him, "i ain't go no metabolism."  it's gone.  i do not know how to make it work w/o hormones.  five weeks ago i was at the high end of normal...he cut the dose by 7 milligrams of go-juice.  i wouldn't think so, but maybe i am now hypo   or just a hippo.  go figure.

hmmmmmm what else.  a is into her new house.  it really is fantabulous.  and cooper went with her.  i miss him but don't tell anyone.  

j has started her clinicals.  she's birthin' babies and workin' in the er.  sounds pretty exciting.  kind of glad she's not at a local hospital....im not sure i want my daughter prickin' me.  revenge runs deep,,,,,,,  lol   i am sure she is doing a good job....i know she is a great care giver.  just let her practice on somebody else.

so its me and my man now days.  eeeeeyup.  yup.  when you are 20 you never think about the other end of life....but it is certainly worth giving it a thought if you are thinking of getting married.  cause this side of life.....well let's just say it ain't like being 20.

  think about the possibility of having to share dentures over a mc donalds meal just to save money.   ewwwww

wonder whats on the 400 channels we get...its tuesday nite....im sure i can find something.

ciao' y'all.  

Every Rung Goes Higher, Higher

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

 ⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written: 

   "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; 

      his righteousness endures forever." ¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

 ¹²This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  ¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

This is the first of three scripture readings being used in our services this weekend.  I don't know any more about what message will be delivered but when I read this passage it hit home hard.  I was always told "you will reap what you sow".  Simple enough, be good or when it comes your time, you will not get back good.  But when I read these verses it really says a whole lot more.

God makes grace abound!  His grace is huge....um....abundant!  God grows our supply and increases our righteousness.  And in the end, God will be praised, you will be prayed for.  His indescribable gift.

Do you hear (see) the motivation in this passage.  It's not just being good so that we will have good happen to us.  It is about  1.) be identified in Christ and 2.) to reap His blessing and 3.) So that God will be praised!  All this given to us by God, Himself because, He wants us to be rich ~ in Him.

I don't know about you, but when I read this yesterday, it just made my heart soar and gave me a desire to serve Him more.  

May His mercies rain -  no -  pour, down up on us.  Go, serve Him.

Short Lived

I just can not believe the weekend is over, along with Monday and that we are actually well on our way into Tuesday.  Mother's Day was spent with my mommasita.  It was good to get out of town, even if it was for a 4 hour car drive over a 3 hour visit.  But we are fortunate that we can get together rather easily, none of the flying stuff for us, no real vacations, just visiting.  The simple life.  (for simple minds.)

The truck choked to death a couple of weeks ago.  The new engine should be installed by Wednesday.  Not too bad, waiting.  Affords one the opportunity to come up with the funding.  My money tree out back has been plucked so badly, I don't know if it will ever grow back.  And of course, before we can get the truck back on the road the "check engine light" has now come on on the toyota.  It says engine maintenance....uh yeah.  It's hard to see through this, yet I know it will work out.  I don't know how.  I guess I don't need to know how.  It just will.

I think it must be my bed time.  I am getting pissy.....and since I don't need to take you there, I guess I will just shut down for the night.

g'nite from some where out there......

g

Moving Right Along

Ahhhhh Saturday.  I am beginning to like them.  

Especially since Cooper D packed up his hobo bag and left with his ma'ma'.  She got him a new house!  With all the dirt in the backyard ready made.  No need to tear up the lawn.  And besides a new house, he got a baby brother.  Jackson has joined the troupe.  It's a mixed lot now, ranging from white to black to gray.  With blue eyes even.  And what's best about it....my kitchen floor is free of dirt, grime, dog slopper, and the I give up attitude.  I may even wash it again today, just because I can.  [that is sick]

Clinicals start Monday for J.  Out of the classroom, she now goes to the hospital where she will be practicing her learning.  Kind of glad I don't live up there, but sure do miss her.  Maybe she will come visit me tomorrow.  Anyway, she's halfway through and no doubt in soon-time, she will be out on the streets paramedic'ing.  Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Well it is time to hop up and down, shake out the lead, and get this day on the road.  Yay.

Have a good one.  

144 Posts

Well that's interesting.  As I was bringing up this form to begin writing, I noticed that I have posted 144 times.  I have always been fascinated by that number.  Don't know particularly why, I think it had something to do w/ multiplying the biggest number we got to in elementary school with itself.  Now I know that probably sent your head reeling as you asked yourself, "Wow!  Is she a mathematician?  How did she know that?"  Relax.  I am not any where close to being a mathematician or a scientologist ....scientist, (however i am not a scientologist either.)  It's just an obscure fact that I managed to cram into this head many many moons ago that hasn't fallen out.

Speaking of many many moons ago.  The Dock-watcher just passed another moon.  Sounds like it was real exciting.  Many more moons to ya, bro.

I am rambling....

Oh yeah, the retreat.  How was it?  It was awesome.  Topic:  Soaring Faith, Isaiah 40:31.

Speaker:  Martha Lawley.  Cool lady.  Things to think about:  Faith is not just a desirable option, but the foundation of our walk with God.  It is not for Him, but what He wants for us.  Spirit or flesh, whichever one you feed will be the one that leads.  Serve for His glory.  Ask, "What have you planned for me today, Lord?"  As we come to know how big God is, we will be moved to genuine worship.  

Good stuff.  

The ocean was perfect, from the cliffs we were on.  Would have gone down to the beach but it meant climbing back up.  Fresh air makes for easy sleeping.  Gaggles of girls, from young to old, makes for good talks and warm hearts.

Good stuff.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh it was that relaxing.  :)

The End o' Six

Today, I begin my 7th month at my job with a day off.  My first full day off since I began.  I have looked so forward to it because I am taking the day off to go to the Women's Retreat.  It's a full weekend at THE BEACH.  Forecast:  rain.  But who cares.  I am looking for some quiet time, time to relax and recharge.  Yep.  

So here's to you at The Dock, and in The Rockies and even you in the Te'-ja-cho-pees.   Enjoy your weekend.  Pretend this is a post card.