June 16, 2010 - Msg 79524: Ro, I found this 1959 video of Garner State Park showing the Frio river...thought you might enjoy it...nostalgic music, too. Really takes you back.
youtube.com/watch?v=ycCVu9k60NI&feature=related

Boo
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79525: oops didn't work...let me try once more:

youtube.com/watch?v=ycCVu9k60NI

June 16, 2010 - Msg 79526: oh well, not working for some reason.
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79527: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycCVu9k60NI&feature=related

from Poor Horatio
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79528:
Good nostalgic sweep boo!!
mdc
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79529: Wild Child is headed home to a cool house- Sleep,here I come! Yippee! See you guys later!

************
possum again
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79530:
Well, I think i'm learning more about goats than i ever wanted to know (ha), but then, i guess i was the one who said we should get back to goat
and donkey talk. Moral, ya might really get
what ya ask for! teehee
MDC
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79531: Baa-aa-aa
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79532:
Keep those summer stories coming.
We grew up camping too. Our trips from AZ to Minn. were camping each night, set up the tent,
blow up the air matresses (which then usually went down fast, and then take it all down the next AM.
The only time we got a motel was when it was raining. Thank God for rain! ha But then we would pull a Darling family trick of all us kids sneaking in the room later! really! Those were the days.
MDC
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79533: Thanks PH!

You're welcome, MDC. Sorry about the goat talk...guess I should email HM> I can remember those air mattresses...you would wake up on the flat ground.

Boo
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79534: Wow, Boo! That's Garner Park all right! Sure does bring back memories. We never actually camped at Garner, we always went to River Bend, upriver a mile or two. We'd float on tubes down to Garner, though, and play in their big old swimming hole, get cold drinks at the pavilion and such. Much later, when Dale and I were the parents taking our own kids there, we'd take them up to Garner and let them hang out for a while on the pavilion. Big thrill for them, and really quite safe back then. I'm not so sure about now, but I'd like to think it still is. Oh, and we never really "camped" anywhere, we always stayed in a cabin, sometimes even with a/c. My mom liked the river and the leisure time, but she also liked her creature comforts. She always said "camping" was a verb, and implied a lot of work. River Bend had very nice facilities - plain cinderblock buildings, not particularly beautiful, but they had plumbing, electricity, a stove with an oven, and if you paid a few dollars a night more, they had a/c. Comfortable beds, too. What more could you ask? My mom always said she went to the river to play in the water, not to argue with some cranky kerosene stove, and try to cook a meal in two little pans. I agree.

Joe and George finished up, and the yard looks beautiful. Apparently the critters think so too. There must be three dozen birds of all description out there, at least six squirrels, and a little half-grown possum, of all things, just came from the far southeast corner, crossed the yard, and came all the way to the house, just under my window. He bumbled around under the shrubs for a few minutes, then left, heading down the other side for the far southwest corner. There's a big pile of stones back there behind the arbor, and I wouldn't be surprised if he has a burrow in there. No problem. He digs up and eats grubs, so he's welcome any time.

Well, I'm ready to go put my feet up, have a big - make that huge - glass of tea, and watch TV for a while. I probably won't make it to the first commercial before I'm asleep. Working outside and getting sweat in my eyes and all will do that to me.

Be blessed, friends. --Romeena
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79535:
PS to 79532--we never climbed in 2nd floor windows however! ha But my mom and dad would check in and park near the room, then after about waiting an hour in the stationwagon, we'd sneak in one at a time. Ha. Maybe THAT'S why I'm...
MDC
prayers for all!
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79536:
HAZEL- how about a summer story!
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79537:
POSSUM- a summer story? (Now that you can think straight! ha)
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79538:
SPOT- A summer story?
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79539: Glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane, Ro. All of this is making me want to go to the river something awful. I think I am going to be taking my dad to Louisianna, which is not something I really want to do but its for him. He wants to go back to one of his childhood homes and see where his relatives are buried. At age 84, I will try to get him there while he can still go.

Ro, I never camped at Garner until I was 30. We always went either to Neal's or River Bend. Sometimes in cabins, sometimes in tents. I don't think I would do too well in a tent anymore and I totally understand where your mother was coming from! BTW, do you have any old photos from those trips you could post. I would love to see a picture of your mom and dad.

Lovely day today with a nice summer shower this evening. St. Susan and I went for a drive and just talked. Saw a beautiful rainbow and even saw some deer. God is good.

Better go. I think Bruce is taking us to eat at Sonic (big spender...hehe) tonight. Hey, they have 99 cent sundays after 8pm. Anyone wanna come along?...I call shotgun.

Boo
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79540:
MDC, in your Msg 79535, do you realize that the message you are PSing is your own?

Too bad I don't have any pleasant summer memories to share with you folks. I didn't go away from home much when I was a kid, except for Boy Scout Camp. And the only memories I have from that involve late night campfire stories about Slaughter House Charlie.

from Poor Horatio
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79541: Went to Whataburger instead. Better than Sonic but that will be it for fast food for awhile. We seldome eat it anymore for health and financial reasons.

I was remembering a bad trip to the river when I was 10. We took my best friend and were having a lovely time at Neal's campground on the Frio...until we decided to take a little drive and investigate and old historic cemetary (sp?) and while walking around looking at old markers, we seemed to have picked up BAD case of chiggers. It was dreadful...we itched like crazy all night and went home the next day.

Think I will watch some TAGS.

Boo
June 16, 2010 - Msg 79542: Oh hey there PH...Slaughter House Charlie? haha...poor kid.;-)

Boo
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79543:
PH- Is that like the man with the golden arm?? haha Loved those campfire stories. My dad could tell some doozies! When camping, anyone ever wake up in the middle of the night and have to "go?" Man I hated that! ha
PH- Yes I was PSing (not to be confused with PMSing) my own because I was going to add to it right away, but Boo and Ro got in there first!
WooHoo for What-a-burger! Ever get the double meat with bacon and jalepino? my oh my!
Boo, ya gonna get a goat midwife? ha
The Lord's blessings on you and yours.
MDC
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79544: Oh my! I have so many memories from river trips, but am not sure I have many accessible photos. Anything I have will be prints, not digital, but I can scan them in. I'll have to do some searching. We really didn't take too many pictures at the river because we were usually in or on the water, and a camera was just something to have to protect. I'll dig a bit, though.

I remember Neal's camp - right there on the bluffs above the river, where the highway from San Antonio crossed the riverbed. It was a low-water crossing back then, on a two-lane road, and could get a bit dicey when the river was up. Avant's camp was there as well, and when I was really small, that's where we stayed. No a/c in those cabins! I'm not even sure there was plumbing, I was only a little kid and that was a very loooong time ago. I remember River Haven and later, River Bend best of all, because we started going there when I was about ten. The road was the same little old narrow road and the low-water crossing was the same, for many years.

If you do go to the river, I'll be very interested in what you find. One of my cousins went a couple of years ago, and he said the trip was pretty much wasted. He said there were so many, well, illegals crowding the river, beer flowing everywhere, loud music, rowdy and obnoxious behavior, bordering on being threatening, that he finally packed up his grandkids and went home. According to him, you couldn't find a fifty-foot stretch of river to yourself, people were just all over them all the time. Maybe they just went on a bad weekend or something, but that's what he said. You might want to check it out with a trusted person before making the trip.

Well, guess I'll head for the ironing board. Toye Starr is a bit mopey, I hope she's just tired and not getting sick. She had a big day today. Joe and George were here, of course, and Joe and I moused around a bit, went to Home Depot and Lowe's to get some pipe and fittings so he could put a new sprinkler outlet in the new flowerbed, then went to the garden center for some more impatiens and some periwinkles, and we took Starr with us. Then when we got back home, she of course parked herself at the back door where she could watch us work, and therefore never got her accustomed afternoon nap. I think she's just tired, because she ate her supper. Guess I'll see how she is in the morning. Be blessed, porch! --Romeena
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79545:
Morning porch....what a great day to serve our Lord! Be sure to tell someone that Jesus loves them!
-REV.
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79546: It's ok, Ro..you don't have to dig up the pictures on my account if its alot of trouble. i know it would be hard for me to find any for the same reason you gave...didn't really take the camera to the river.

No, MDC, never tried the double meat jalepeno burger. I always get the plain 'ol single with cheese, all the way. Lately, though, I have been getting it with grilled onions and sometimes on toasted bread instead of buns. Pretty good. Oh, and I don't think I will be needing a goat midwife. I figure if I can deliever human infants, I can help a goat...maybe. The truth is, though, she will almost surely be fine on her own and one morning I will wake up to find a couple of newborn kids out there...the previous owner says she will probably have them on the worst night of the year! ha

Guys, I feel really bad about not posting any pictures for you all but the truth is I am trying to learn how to have my own blog that I can post on with pics and daily happenings around here, but I need an education to do it. I started on but need to learn how to post the pictures and so on and whenever Bruce tries to teach my anything on this computer, I end up getting mad because he goes too fast. He told me he would start teaching me one night a week..teach me the basics first because I don't know much about how to use a computer. We'll see how it goes.

Ro, I stayed in those same cabins without a/c a few times when i was a kid. It didn't seem to bother me, though. As recall, they had those water-cooler things in the windows? Anyways, we were at neal's just a couple of years ago but we went at the very end of August when most schools were already back in session so it was practically abandoned. No trouble at all finding seclusion on the river. I guess it is all about when you go. I think we have decided to take a short trip to Austin and go to Barton Springs this year instead of Concan. I'm at the age that I would rather pack a cooler, grab my lawn chair, hang out at Barton Springs all day and then head to a nice motel to clean up and then have a nice dinner out somewhere (did I hear an "Amen" out there?). I was thinking of taking the kids to Barton Springs one day and then to Hamilton Pool or Krause Springs the next.

Better get on with the day! Carpe Diem!

Boo
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79547: PS-Hope Starr is ok...let us know.

Boo
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79548:
Amen REV and Amen Boo! ha
Hope all is well today.
Prayers abound for all.
Any more summer stories?
I mentioned the library earlier
that we would ride our bikes to on the days
we werent at the pool. We would sit in the kids
section and read, then check out some books for home. One of our bikes always had those cloth newspaper-holding bags wrapped around the handlebars for our paper routes, so we would stash our book in those for the ride home.
We would often stop at West's drugstore for a
10 cent Coke or a coke "freeze" (ice cream and coke in a shake machine)mmmm gooood. Of course we had our chores to do at home too...hanging up diapers,
taking down diapers, folding diapers..get my drift. haha
Also, lots of Red Rover, Mother May I, Red Light Green Light, etc. Then a local cartoon show on the TV. "Yup, that's what I'm gonna do.."

MDC
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79549: (:
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79550: Hey, where is everybody? --Romeena
June 17, 2010 - Msg 79551:
Hello porch family

MDC...you mentioned the newpaper bag on the handle bars.......how many times did I have so many newpapers in that sack and try to stop with no luck at all. With all that weight on the front your brakes were pretty much useless.

Spot....our Braves did again tonight. Hope they can keep it rolling.

Let me get back to the NBA final. This is the only time that I watch the NBA but it is a close game right now.

You all have a great night sleep.
Love and prayers for all my porch family.
-REV.
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79552:
REV- here's one for ya. THE VERY FIRST morning on my paper route, it was a cold 5 am Sunday in January.
I had all those thick Phoenix sunday papers stuffed in the bags. I start out, shaky, wobbly, getting up some speed, when suddenly, my front tire hit a rock on the sidewalk, I lost balance and SPLATTT
goes my bike and the papers go sliding out on the pavement like opening up one of those telescoping plactic drinking cups!! Papers slid out 20 feet in front of the bike, the other guys at our 'station' were laughing, I was cold, hurt from the fall, and humiliated! So started my 'career' in the 'working world' at 11 years of age!! haha 7 days a week, rain or shine, cold hot, 5 am, people who wouldn't pay, dogs, cats, bullies, and "bike upkeep" all for about 6 bucks a week!! Ya think I woulda learned, but nope, I'm still workin' away!!! haha
God bless ya bro,
MDC
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79553:
Hey, question for everyone: In the ep where barney buys the motorcycle, Andy comes in the courthouse and asks Opie to leave. As Opie leaves, he say something like "Alba Sineas" to which Andy responds something like "Alby Samoa". Anyone know what that means or where it comes from??
MDC
MDC
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79554: Hey folks,

My niece, who is up from Muckwanago(don't know if that is how you spell that) came over and played with Kai tonight on the Wii. She may be 19 but she is just a big kid when her and Kai are together. She puts up with having a little "idol-worshipper" tag along always graciously.

Nutty squirrel has been taking the full cobs of corn we put on the squirrel feeder and is either taking them up a tree(saw that once) or is "squirreling" them away somewhere else, but they are always missing.

Have a nice night folks and if you can pray for my wife getting a job soon(and me a better one) it would be appreciated.

-Sterling Holobyte

June 18, 2010 - Msg 79555: Hi MDC. That first one from Opie sounds like "I'll be seeing you"(or I'll be seeing ya's)(which you probably know), but I don't know what the other one is supposed to be. Maybe just a little nonsensical jibber-jabber from Andy to be funny.

I remember having a paper route as well, MDC. But they never seemed to last very long. I think my mom got tired of driving us around when we got tired of riding our bikes around. ;)

-Sterling Holobyte
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79556: Dear Mr. Holobyte,

I'd be honored to pray for you and your wife.

(Just a stranger passin' through town and overheard some conversation from the porch.)

Blessings to you all.

June 18, 2010 - Msg 79557: Good Friday morning fellow porch dwellers. Hope you are all fine and dandy.
Boy this has been a long week. Not sure why, but I was determined on Wed. that it was Thursday. Then all day yesterday I was thinking it was Friday. When I first woke this morning, I layed there relaxed thinking it was Saturday, until reality hit and I remembered it was only Friday. Sheesh! Y'all ever have a week like that?

Ro, how did your test results turn out? I hope and pray they were good. Is Starr ok?

Sterling, prayers for you and the Mrs. job situations. It's a tough job market out there.

We lived out in the country MDC so no paper routes here. Hauled and stacked more hay than I ever wanted though. Talk about misery. I didn't mind cutting it. I didn't mind turning it. I didn't mind baling it. Heck I even enjoyed irrigating it if our water turn happened to come in the middle of the night. But oh how I detested hauling it. Just horrible!

Exciting finish to the game Rev. I sure wanted the Celtics to do it. I'm not much of an NBA fab either, but I get tired of hearing about the Lakers.

Boo, It sure has been fun as I have been reading some of the archives to read about your experiences in animal husbandry. I love the name of Thelma Lou for your donkey.

I guess possum is still sleeping after watching Laci. Old possum ain't no spring chicken anymore, is she. LOL

HM, Whats going on in your kitchen? You made any golf bal.... uhh.... I mean meatballs lately?

Still waiting on that phone call N.N.

Well better get going. It's Friday. We all chip in and buy breakfast burritos from Carls Jr. on Fridays. They is pretty good.

Prayers and blessings to all.

Asa


June 18, 2010 - Msg 79558: HEhe...good morning, ASA...I don't think Homemaker has made any meatballs in a long time. Maybe she will make some for you tonight.;-) Glad you are enjoying my animal stories.

Well, I am just gettin up at 10am! I was out until after 3 last night. Bruce's sister is having a breakdown and his other sister and I were sitting with her until she finally fell asleep. Very sad situation that we don't know what to do about. She refuses to go to a counselor or to get help but I am afraid she will end up trying to take her own life. I think she is undiagnosed bipolar. My poor mother in law is trying to take care of her and I think Bruce and his brother may need to step in and do something to help. Its hard to know how to help her, though. Unless she threatens to harm or herself or someone else, there is no way to force her to seek help, by law. Have any of you had a similar experience that you have dealt with?

Better get some chores done.

Boo
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79559:
MDC regarding the question you asked in Msg 79553, you can view that scene at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuvDb2GFs8M and cueing it up to approximately 3:50.
Apparently this was something that the writers Fritzell and Greenbaum used to say when they were kids. "Abyssinia" means "I'll be seeing you." The response, "See ya Samoa," means "[I'll] see you some more."

from Poor Horatio
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79560: I'm sorry I haven't been on the porch for awhile. 11 days ago I had a severe burn accident. My heating pad caught on fire. I have second degree burns on 2 of my fingers and 3rd degree on my bottom. I cannot sit and typing is difficult. If you follow me on facebook you'll know the story. Y'all take care and I'll be back soon.
~Lucy
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79561:
Sterling Holobyte, sorry to hear about the job situation for you and your wife. I'd pray for both of you, but my own prayers have not even helped me.

Boo, that is also sad to hear about Bruce's sister. With someone resisting treatment, I suspect forced confinement will eventually become the only other option. She needs to be monitored frequently.

from Poor Horatio
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79562: Hi All.
Everyhing fine hee.
Stepdad came home about two weeks a go.

TOM

June 18, 2010 - Msg 79563:
Lucy, that is awful to hear about your severe burns. Can't read your facebook since I don't know the URL.

from Poor Horatio
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79564:
TOM, glad to hear everything is fine with you and your stepdad.

from Poor Horatio
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79565: My goodness, such happenings! Lucy, I'm so sorry about your injuries. That's awful! Burns are so very painful. Praying for you, dear girl.

Sterling, certainly I'll be praying for your job situation and your wife's as well. This is a tough time to be out of work, but God is in control. Something will turn up.

To the poster of #79556 - you are very kind. Thank you for your concern and your prayers on behalf of our dear Sterling. You sound like a Mayberry kind of person. Come back anytime - become a "regular" if you'd like. You would be most welcome.

Tom, it's good to hear from you. I'm glad your stepdad is home - I assume he's doing well? We miss you when you're not around.

C Darlin', are you there? Everything okay? What are some of your favorite vacation memories?

Boo, that's a pretty difficult situation with Bruce's sister. You're right, the laws are so strict, governing to what extent you can intervene. It has to be that way, to prevent someone from just deciding to lock someone away for selfish reasons, but it does make it difficult when you have a situation such as you've described. Does she have a regular doctor who is sympathetic to the cause?

Asa, my test results were somewhat improved, but still far from normal. Doctor still doesn't know what's causing the failure. He drew five tubes of blood, and hopes to find some answers there. I guess I'll know in a little while. Meantime, I feel fine, no symptoms at all, just wacky numbers.

PH, you are so knowledgeable, and always to quick to respond with answers. Your education was worth every penny! I think you're right, the "Abyssinia" and "Samoa" word plays came from somebody's geography lessons, and they just worked it into the script - just nonsense stuff, like "23-skiddoo" back in the flapper era.

REV, we had our monthly potluck and entertainment at church last night. Everyone is looking forward to your concert in October. The folks who sang last night are a husband and wife team, Don and Judy Earley, who call themselves "Earley Praises." They're quite good, and everyone enjoyed them. They mostly perform locally, so you probably wouldn't have crossed paths much, if at all.

MDC, that's a bit of nostalgia you've described there. I don't know about the rest of the country, but there are no more bike routes around here, they're all motor routes. The carriers have around 300 customers each, and a car is required. Kinda sad - the kid on the bike, throwing papers, is a bit of Americana that I hate for us to lose.

Well, I think I'll go make a lap for Toye Starr (she's fine, thank you, Asa) so she can take her nap. I might just doze a bit myself. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79566: Argh! That should have been "SO quick to respond" up there. And I proofread it, too! --Romeena
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79567:
Yes RO, no kid routes here anymore either. Sign of the times I'm afraid.
What really shows how much Phoenix has "grown" is when back in the day, at 4:30AM, i would ride to my "paper station" about a half mile from our house, and i could ride right down the middle of a major street and never see a car in either direction.
Well, about a year ago, I had reason to have to be in that same general area at about 4:30 AM, and it was like regular daytime traffic!! (at 4:30 AM!!) It was quite strange.
Sterling, recall how any money to be made relied on "collecting" the weekly 50 cents, or whatever, from each customer, then having to "pay our weekly bill" to the area manager. Anything above the bill amount was profit, which topped out at about 6 bucks a week! ha But good for a few packs of gum with baseball cards or viceversa, ha, a few sodas, pool admission, a few comic books, maybe a grilled cheese at the drugstore soda fountain, some to "savings" where the teller would actually hand write in the deposit amount in my "passbook", ha, and maybe an ice cream at the Mr Softie truck! Then back to the route! haha

PH and others, thanks for the TAGS info, interesting. I know on the reunion show, Andy really praised those two writers!
So now I know about hollaring for fish and saying adios samoa! ha What else will i find out? teehee

Prayers for all situations.
hey to the strangetr in town,
MDC
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79568:
Of course there were some folks who "never paid"
until my big dad would come along on my collecting night!! (:
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79569: Thanks friends, Idon't know what will happen with SIL. The last time she got this bad, her daughter had to get a power of attorney and have her committed to a mental health facility. I'm sure the POA was only for that time period and her daughter seems to be at a point where she doesn't want to be involved anymore, which is sad but I think her mother's problems were drowning her for several years and she is only in her 20's. We'll see what happens. I put the ball in Bruce's court and he and his brother can determine how to help her (or if they can). She is terrified of being locked up in a facility again and that is why she refuses treatment I believe. Ro, she had a doctor that recently moved from the area so she has to find another, which doesn't help matters.

Lucy, somehow I missed that you had been injured. I am not on facebook much anymore. How terrible and I am so sorry. My prayers for your recovery.

Boo
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79570: Hey y'all- I'm several days behind on what's been going on here on the ol' Porch -been busy with Laci & then my mom. Now when I get a chance to rock with y'all, these dang T-storms pop up! Just wanted to say "hey" and hope all is well. I did see that Lucy got burned. Feel better, Lucy!
Love to all & will catch up soon!
*******************
possum under a rock
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79571:
Prayers for Luci, Sterlings wife and all!!
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79572:
Hello porch family.

Lucy.....glad to see ya back but sure sorry to hear about the burns. Prayers for you!

Boo....praying for your SIL.

Asa....I was hoping Boston could have pulled it out also.

MDC....man you had a bad start with the paper route. I had my share of spills also.

Ro....yep we're going to have a great time at your church. Looking forward to it!

Tom....thanking the Lord that your stepdad is home now.

Sterling....prayers your way!

P.H.....are you still traveling into Canada on a regular basis?

Possum....ya'll getting any rain down on the coast? We sure need some here in the Midlands.

Well better get busy getting some things done.
Love and prayers to all the porch family!
-REV.


June 18, 2010 - Msg 79573: Hi friends! Hope you all are doing well.I just came back from taking my son to see Toy Story 3 it is so good.There are some parts where he and I both cried,it is so sweet!Tom,I see your stepdad made it home,glad to hear he is ok. MDC, reading about you all pulling tricks like the Darlins in a motel on those rainy nights made me laugh! Romeena,did you say that you live in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area? There is a young man that is going to church where I do,and he is working on the oil drilling they are doing up here,and he is from the Dallas/Ft.Worth area,I can't remember the name of the town he is from,I will have to ask again.He is planning on going to bible college in the fall in Texas.Lucy,so sorry to hear about your burns,I hope they are better soon.Wish I could visit longer friends,but,I have to go.Prayers for everyone-ky girl
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79574: when I get to stop back again,I will share a summer story,I have enjoyed reading all of yours that you have shared!-ky girl
June 18, 2010 - Msg 79575: Hello Family:
Just stopping by for a quick visit. Reading up on all the activity here. We are a busy bunch!!
Asa- I tried to call the other night, but you weren't answering!! I thought maybe you saw who it was on caller-ID.
Gotta get some sleep. Lots to do tomorrow. ~New Neighbor
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79576: Hey KYGirl, was thinking about you yesterday and hoping you would drop in. My niece took my kids to see Toy Story3 tonight and they loved it. I will wait and see it on DVD. I had planned for bruce and I to have a date night tonight but he came home sick with the cold this past week, so he took some cold medicine and took a nap. We did go for a drive later and get something to eat, though, so it was an ok evening. The weather is nice here this evening. Not as humid as usual and breezy...beautiful sunset with blue and pink clouds.

The kid and I have watching the season 5 TAGS DVDs I got and I am dissapointed in them. Season 5 was just not as good as 1-4. Something changed and not for the better. I watched the episode tonight about when Andy's "cousin" Gloria comes for a visit to help heal a broken heart and Helen absoultely goes over the edge with jealousy. It was terrible...I wanted to smack that smug look off her face. Sorry, but you all know how I feel about Helen. I think she is horrible. She seems to have a burr under her sadle in every episode. It's getting on my nerves...now I'm going to tell you how I really feel! hehe;-)

Boo
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79577: Good morning, porch. Just got home from work and am beat. Bed is calling, and soon!

Boo, I know what you mean about Helen. When she got that injured, pouty look on her face, refused to to anything Andy wanted to do - so manipulative - you do just want to smack her. However, Andy is to blame too. He catered to those jealous, hateful moods, and just reinforced the behavior. That kind of stunt would have never, ever, have worked with Dale. I would have been told in a big hurry to get over it, or call a lawyer. He would not have been yanked around like that, and I respected him for it. And, I might add, he never treated me that way either.

Well, I'm outta here. My back is killing me, and I just need to go to bed. Abyssinia! --Romeena
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79578: Good analysis of Andy, Ro. The thing that bugs me is that I wish the writers had not made them do something seemed out of character. Andy was always portrayed as an intelligent, wise and quietly strong character in the show and then all of a sudden, Helen gets her "nose out of joint" and he turns to mush and caters to her deplorable behavior. It seemed to get worse over the years and I think that is unfortunate that the writers would turn her character into shrew in the later seasons of the show. She wasn't bad early on. It was all to just have something to do a show about, I guess, but it was bad writing, I think. Seems to me that the original Helen would have been understanding of a young woman with a broken heart and asked her to tag along, or offer to say home and everyone spend the evening together in a game of cards or something. I don't know, with some TV characters, the jealous woman thing works and is funny but with Helen, it was NOT. She was positively venomous, not funny. There was just such a start contrast between the calm, polite character of Gloria, and the jealous, high-strung Helen. Well, enough about that!

Sorry about your back, Ro.

I got the best night's sleep i have had in weeks last night. Not sure why...guess getting over the cold and feeling better. Now to prepare for Father's Day tomorrow. I will be cooking some of Bruce's favorites for lunch and I have to come up with something for my Dad.

Better scoot..

Boo
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79579: Boy, there were too many mistakes to correct in that first paragraph...sorry for the typos! I meant "stark" contrast, of course.

Boo
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79580: Gotta try this again:
http://vanishingamerican.blogspot.com/2007/09/if-america-had-front-porch.html
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79581: Yay, it works....this is a great article about times when folks spent time on their porch, getting to know their neighbors and why things have changed...you will like it, I think.

Boo
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79582: Front porch memories...now, that might be a good subject for the porch. I shared my memories of my grandparent's front porch in Michigan and the evenings spent on the glider listening to Grandma and my aunts tell stories about life in the little coal-mining town they were from. How about the rest of you? Most of my growing up years we didn't really have a front porch and my parents were the types to stay busy or just sit indoors in front of the TV in the evenings so I didn't really have the front porch experience until I went to michigan in the summers. We had a front porch when i was about 2-6 but we were seldom on it, as i recall. I do remember dad making homemade ice cream out there with the old crank freezer.

After reading the above article, I think I am going to set some real limits on the TV viewing around here. Before this house was completed, I used to sit on the front porch in the evenings with the kids and I determined to do the same after it was completee, but the call of the TV and the computer have kept the kids indoors so much of the time. Bruce and I gave the kids a chore list for each day that they have to complete and they are doing well but one thing we didn't do is take some control over the amount of time they spend in front of the TV. We put a limit on computer time but not television. I have to say that i have been alittle ashamed of myself for watching some of the reality tv trash that comes on and allowing to sean to watch it, too. The bad words or "beeped" out but they may as well not be because you know what they are saying and the content is just not appropriate for anybody. I got started watching this crazy reality show on VH1 that is really fun to watch but then I thought, 'why do I enjoy this rubbish? It's not a good thing to be putting into my mind and what kind of person would find this amusing?'...I was referring to a new show called "You've Been Cut Off" about a group of women who are spoiled rotten, "princesses" who get cut off by the families supporting their rotten behavior and have to live together in a modest home, do chores, cook for themselves, etc. It is pretty funny but there are constant cat fights between the women, lots of "bleeping" of words and general deplorable behavior...who needs it? I'm done with it. Time to expand the mind with more wholesome things. :-)

Boy, I have been on some kind of a filibuster...where is some to shut me up?

Boo
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79583: "someone" to shut me up, sheesh!

June 19, 2010 - Msg 79584:

Just passing through to catch up. Prayers for all who have asked for them - and some who haven't.

LOVED the Garner State Park video, Boo! The last couple minutes were particularly poignant, with "Blackland Farmer" playing and the kids smiling into the camera. What a happy looking family.

I remember our campouts - the Coleman stoves, Koolaid, sammiches, cousins chasing each other around. . . and of course, falling asleep in the tent. Those were the days.

I also really enjoyed reading the "front porch" link. There's a lot to be said for the old days when neighbors would get together and barbeque and just hang out. We kids would catch lightnin' bugs and play games.

Seems that when air conditioning and television came along, families just kind of withdrew into their homes. Ever notice when there's a power outage in your neighborhood the first thing people do is go outside and start talking to neighbors? And as soon as the power comes back on, everyone makes a beeline into their houses? haha.. There's some psychology in there somewhere, but far be it for me to try to sort it out.

Love to all!

~De§~

June 19, 2010 - Msg 79585: Very good point, DES (about the power outage). That's exactly right..sad, really. Great to hear from you. Don't be such a stranger...you're my closest neighbor, afterall. :-)

Boo
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79586: Good afternoon, porch! Got a good nap and now I feel much better. De§, it's good to see you. Another Texan heard from! You are absolutely right - the advent of air conditioning as well as TV had a lot to do with the demise of "porch-sittin'" in this country. The term really describes an attitude and activity, rather than a specific location, just as Boo said. We didn't have "sittable" porches either, but the concept was the same. Everyone had those metal chairs - you know the ones I mean. Solid backs and seats, tubular frame, all painted in pretty colors. In addition, every garage held at least four of those folding, webbing-laced lawn chairs, which could be pulled out and set up for visitors on a moment's notice. So, our "porch-sittin'" was actually done in the front, back or side yard, depending upon how the house was situated and where the deepest shade could be found. Drive down any residential street, and you'd see little groups of neighbors clustered here and there, just sitting and talking. Dinner was always at six, the dishes done by 7:30 or so, and that left about two hours to just sit and enjoy good company. Ice cream freezers were put to use, many a big old Black Diamond watermelon was cut and shared, (just spit the seeds into the grass) and the problems of the world were solved by those lawn-chair philosophers. It was a happy time.

Then came a/c and TV, and the motivation for sitting outside was gone. It was now cooler in the house than outside, and nobody wanted to miss "I Love Lucy" or "Gunsmoke", so the adults stayed indoors. Eventually, the kids did too, because there was no one to respond to our calls of "Mama, watch me!", and besides, when the adults moved their gatherings into the houses, the ice cream freezers and watermelons went with them! It's a shame, really, because those little evening gatherings were, to a great extent, the glue that held America together in those days. We have lost something valuable, I think.

Well, enough of that. I slept all afternoon, and am now all rested and refreshed, and have no place to go! Eloise just called, they're making burgers and hotdogs at her house tomorrow for Father's Day, so I'll join them. She's always so kind to include me when she plans something like that.

Be blessed, friends! By the way, for what it's worth - Lowe's is now selling those solid metal lawn chairs I was describing. They're still pretty, and still comfortable! --Romeena
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79587: Hey gang sorry but storms have kept me busy here in Ga...hey Boo,Ro,Rev,Possum,MDC,c-cuz,des,Lucy and all....well its bed for me work at 6am for a 24 hr shift...will holler from work tomorrow I promise....amd will read the mail....breakfast at huddle house on Rev and I...Maude get me a news paper ok....SPOT
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79588:
Hello porch family.

Boo...I remember sitting on the front porch with all the adults talking and telling stories that they thought was so funny but I would just sit there thinking..."They think that is funny?" O they were some great times.

Ro....glad you got some rest. Enjoy your visit tomorrow.

Good to see you DES!

Spot....I'll get to the Huddle House early to save us a big table.

You all have a good night and a Jesus filled day!
-REV.

June 19, 2010 - Msg 79589: Loved your comments, Ro. You can't go back but how sweet it would be to do so for awhile. :-) BTW, those metal chairs you are talking about are the ones I bought at Lowes a few weeks ago for my back porch. I got the pretty yellow ones.

REV, maybe the old folks stories weren't so funny, I guess but my grandma and aunts used to scare the dickens out of us. After the sun went down and we were sitting around on the porch, it seems that they would always start talking about the magic and witchcraft (Firefox) of the Appalachian people (which they were). They would start with that, then they would compare horror stories about childbirth, then usually end up talking about Revelation and the end of the world. How's that? Scared me to death! I have always been careful about what I talked about in front of the kids to avoid scaring them but my relatives had no such inclination, let me tell you. I think they got a kick out of it. I guess somethings about those days I don't miss at all! hehe

What is everyone doing for Father's Day tomorrow? Poor Bruce has that cold and just wants to hang out at home and rest. His mother is bringing over a meatloaf and I made some fresh green beans with new potatoes...not sure what else to make. Maybe some corn or beans. I will go visit my dad tomorrow evening and maybe take him out for a drive. He loves doing that.

Boo
June 19, 2010 - Msg 79590: BTW, I grew up terrified at the prospect of having children because of all the horror stories I heard growing up and you know what? I had a practically painless childbirth experience with with both children. Wonderful experiences that I wouldn't trade anything for and to think I lived in fear all those years...there is a real lesson in that about trusting the Lord and not being afraid.

Boo
June 20, 2010 - Msg 79591:
Boo-Good for you regarding the TV! Even with me just having free over the air channels, I am
shocked at some of the content and bleeps etc!
I'll promise to stand with you on it!
I make my pledge right now.
God bless!
MDC
June 20, 2010 - Msg 79592: HAPPY FATHER DAY TO ALL YOU DAD.

TOM

June 20, 2010 - Msg 79593: Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads on the porch!..lets eat!....SPOT
June 20, 2010 - Msg 79594: Happy Father's Day to all the Porch dads and granddads! Hope y'all have a wonderful day! ♥

*******************
possum under a rock
June 20, 2010 - Msg 79595: Thank you so much, MDC..let's encourage one another in our decision.

Boo
June 20, 2010 - Msg 79596: Good morning, porch! I didn't make it to church, not sure I'll make it over to Eloise's later. I woke up once during the night with an attack of vertigo. Haven't had that in months, but I've got it now. Happily, it's not a really severe attack, I can still get around the house, but I wouldn't try to drive. If I do go to Eloise's later, David will have to come get me. I'm dizzy, but functional as long as I don't make any sudden moves. I've taken meclizine, and it has helped a little, but I still have that feeling that I'm on the verge of a big old sweeping dizzy spell, the kind that takes you to the floor. The last time I had one of these, I fell off the bed trying to get the phone. Talk about feeling silly!

So, MDC, do you have any herbal suggestions? And if you say "oregano" I'm going to swat you. However, it won't hurt because my hand will be moving so slowly you'll barely feel it! Anybody know an incant for dizziness?

The pond filter is clogged, but the fish are just going to have to cope. I've got better sense than to go go out there in the heat, and lean over that water to pull the filter. I can see the headlines now - "Dumb old lady gets dizzy and drowns in her own fishpond." Ha! Actually, yesterday I rescued a potential drowning victim from the pond. My neighbor has two little terrier-mix dogs, cute little guys, about ten pounds or so. I had seen them poking around in the back yard, which I really don't mind as they don't hurt anything, but I knew Eddie must have left the side gate open, as there's no other way for them to get in. I went out a few minutes later to close the gate, and one of the dogs was still out there. Odd, because they're always right together. Then I saw tiny splashes at the edge of the pond. Sure enough, the smaller dog was in the pond, trying to get out, but unable to do so. Since the pond wall is stone at ground level, it's straight vertical and he just couldn't get a foothold. There's one area that has sagged a little and he might have made it out there, but it was across the pond and he didn't have sense enough to swim over there. Anyway, when I walked up to him, I never saw such big pleading eyes! I reached in and fished him out, and was he ever a happy puppy! I'm so glad I saw him, because it would have been just horrible if he had drowned back there. Anyway, I shooed both of them out of the yard, and shut the gate. I wish his owners wouldn't just let them roam, they're going to get killed, but you can't tell that man anything. The pups roam the neighborhood, and there are hazards. The highway is about a quarter-mile away, there's a Sonic at the far end of the street (imagine those two in a Sonic parking lot!), there are bigger dogs that wander through now and then, there are people who wouldn't hesitate to pick them up, there's one old grouch who might do them harm if they dug in his yard, and besides my little old pond, there are several backyard swimming pools. The dogs do wear collars, but no tags. I don't know if they're micro-chipped or not, but I doubt it. I just wish people wouldn't let their pets roam. It would break my heart to run over somebody's pet, and I would be very, very angry at the person who put them at risk. I know, pets can escape now and then, but these two are out every single day. They run the street for hours at a time, every day.

Well, that's my Sunday rant. Too bad I didn't get to go to church, to put me in a better mood. I really wanted to go today, to honor not only our Lord, but my dad as well. He passed on Father's Day morning, seven years ago. I sure do miss him - his humor, his wisdom, his unfailing love of his Lord. He lived a life that served as an example to his children and grandchildren, and to anyone who knew him. Loved and respected by all, and at peace with everyone. He was 85 at his death - a long life, well lived. Happy Father's Day, daddy.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena
June 20, 2010 - Msg 79597: Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad's, Grandpa's, uncles and "father figures" on the porch!

Please pray for our church youth group as they left this morning for youth bible camp. 45 youth and about 10-15 chaperones are traveling to Alabama for a week of bible study, fun and fellowship. Please pray for safety, traveling mercies and that great things will happen from their study of James this week. Beth is with them but Patrick was unable to go due to his summer classes. Thanks so much.

better get moving on some chores. My husband is working today 10-6 so Patrick and I will pick him up at 6 and plan to take him to Olive Garden for supper. Ya'll can join us if you want.

Prayers and blessings to all.

Big Maude
June 20, 2010 - Msg 79598: feel better Romeena

Big Maude