August 09, 2010 - Msg 80203: Good evening, Porch. If you'll indulge me, I think I'll just sit here and stare into the sky. Let me say right outta the gate that if I forget to address anyone, I apologize and hope you understand.

The trip to Arkansas is cancelled. I am choosing to stay with my wife, with my mother's blessing and biblical agreement of cleaving to your spouse, that my responsibilities are with my wife and our problems. I will be trying to get some of my Quantrill materials to Arkansas in the near future and my mother has told me to just take care of things on my end because that's all I can do. As I write this to you, I feel the tears coming to my eyes. I am so overwrought and overwhelmed that I cant see straight. God help me, for I am so tired.

Romeena-referring way back to your comments of a couple days ago, they were worth their wight in gold and you are quite a sturdy wall to lean against. I thank you for your kindness. My FIL didnt bring up the snows, I did that in telling him that my wife would be without someone to help her shovel. I just wanted to make that clear. Also, there is not much that can be done about the plow driver. We are on a main drag and there isnt really anywhere else he can plow it.

Boo- Thank you for your prayers and believe me, I lean on Jesus and God. If I lean anymore on them, I'll wind up knocking one of them over! LOL!

Asa- I am trying to figure out how to take criticism without blasting someone and what is truth in what they speak. I am buckling down in my mentality to do what I feel is right in my heart and in my mind so that I have cohesiveness(sp) as one. I know, in marriage, that the two become one, but as the line goes, I cant be right for someone else if I'm not right for me. I need to listen to myself and now compromise what I truly feel while listening to advice that might be right for me. It's a helluva mixture! But I'm doin' my best.

REV.- I am learning very quickly that these folks are a great bunch and I feel very comfortable taking my pains to them.

Auh20 - No, I am a newbie. I have only been a couple of weeks or so. Nice to meet you!! Thanks for the welcome!

Ok,folks...if I missed you, I apologize again. I hope health, love and happiness and my prayers and good thoughts are with you all. I will try to catch back up as quick as I can on everyone else's lives. God knows you have been patient with me and I will try to follow you all as normal.

Tonight, McDonald's large shakes on me!

John Masters
August 09, 2010 - Msg 80204: Two corrections....

Asa - I meant NOT compromise

Auh20 - I meant I have only been HERE a couple weeks...etc,etc.

John Masters
August 09, 2010 - Msg 80205: And three cheers again for MDC's father..Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!

John Masters
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80206: Sorry I brought the Lonesome Dove thing up, MDC...hate to spoil your facebook fun. :-) I just can't help but think about LD when I hear that word.

JM, your mother sounds like an understanding woman and you must love her very much. I know you must worry about her, too. Sorry you are having such a tough time. I will certainly remember you (and your family) are in my prayers before I retire to bed. Hang in there, friend. Your discouragment will pass, like all difficulties eventually do.

Well, Erin had a good day today. She turned 9 and I made her favorite birthday dinner of my homemade lasagna and we had ice cream sundaes for dessert. She got a new bike which she rode alot today and she said the best part of the day was beating her dad at basketball.

It has been incredibly hot and humid and it is taking alot of the energy out of us by now. We are all tired. Think I will turn in. Talk to you all tomorrow. Hope Ro has a decent night at work so she won't be too tired when her son gets here.

Boo
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80207: Hey Boo! Have a great night and it sounds like you had a pretty special day full of smiles! I am guessing Erin is your daughter?

Remembering me and my family in your prayers brought a smile to my heart!

If the rest of you come in late, I say to all a good night!

John Masters
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80208:
Hey JM, I've been pretty tied up with my dad's situation, so havent gotten to read all about yours, but my prayers are with you!
MDC
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80209: MDC, I confess, it's me.
- Hazel
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80210: ... regarding your post in the archives, that is.
- Hazel

- Sorry to rush off, but I aint got time to stand around an discuss trivial trivalarities.
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80211: Morning porch, hope all is well today. I am at work today but not feeling up to par, not really a specific things just in general, not physically up to my usual self. maybe I need one of Emma's pills).

another hot and humid day, in the mid to upper 90's with no much chance of rain.

Beth started her 11th grade year yesterday. Drove herself to school and back. Please pray for her continued safety and for a good school year. The beginning of the school year always worries me for her and now especially with her driving.

well, guess I will rustle up a little breakfast for us: scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast,apple butter, jelly, fresh fruit, sliced tomatos. coffee, tea, orange juice to drink. maybe SPOT will fetch the paper for us.

have a blessed day.
Big Maude
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80212: Mornin' Porch! *Yaaaaawn* Wow...sorry bout' that. That's a mighty fine breakfast there, Maude, mighty fine. I will grab me some eggs here.....handful of bacon......couple pieces of toast.....slather some jelly on there like this.....and pour me some OJ. MmmmmMMMMM.

Well MDC, you have your own problems to tend to, so dont give mine nary a bother. I appreciate your prayers and know that I continue to send prayers your way as well.

Maude, I feel like you this morning. I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck and rolled up under it. I have no momentum nor any gusto. Yuck, what a feelin'. This is surely a right good breakfast though! Safety and prayers for Beth and may she cruise through the school year unscathed!

Good morning to all if I miss ya' when you reach the porch! Have a great day!

John Masters
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80213: Trivial trivialities, Hazel?! Well! ;-) Please come and discuss trivial trivialities with me Hazel. I won't shoo you off the couch, even if you are a chicken.

Yes JM, Erin is my youngest child. I have 2...Sean, 15 and Erin is 9. I must appologize for not telling you anything about myself. I think we all skipped that part except for telling where we are from. Now, the rest of you just sit back and be patient while I talk to John Masters for a bit. I don't want to bore ya'll with what you already know. JM, I am 48, married for 16 years to Bruce, who is 52. I am now a stay-at-home mom but I worked as an RN from 1983 to 2000, when I quit to stay home with my first child, Sean. Sean has some neurological issues. He started having symptoms of severe anxiety at around 5 when he had a stomach virus..after he recovered he had a phobia about vomiting and we got to the point by the time he was 6 that we had to force him to even ride in the car. He would also have these episodes of irrational fear of other things and then when he was 7 he started jerking shoulders. I had him examined by a neurologist and tests were done confirming Tourette Syndrom, which continued to get worse over the years, resulting in some very tough times when Sean had severe "tics" involving different parts of the body. I would come to this porch everyday and find prayer in encouragement that helped get me through those times. Sean also had dyslexia and mild OCD. We took him to Texas Children's Hopsital in Houston, to a group of very good pediatric neurologists and phychiatrists, specializing in treating Sean's problems with the right meds. He got immediately better on the meds but started gaining alot of weight in a short time. His weight is a real concern, as he is up to 230 at 15 and is not very tall. Being off the meds is a nightmare for him, so we don't have a choice at this point. I homeschool Sean, though he was in private school for 2 years but ended up back home again. My daughter Erin has shown no sign of any similar issues, thankfully, and attends private school and loves it. She is a very sociable, active and bright child...sometimes challenges us with her attitude, which we are working on. When she was little she was a little tornado, as those here can testify; they used to hear about all of "Baby Girl's" mischevious acts. Anyway, my husband works for the government and is a computer guy...I think the official title is "Information Management Specialist" or something...whatever that means. All I know is that he stays stressed-out all the time and never gets all the work done. It pays the bills but I wish he had a less demanding job because he has some cardiac problems...just had a stint put into his heart a few months back. I told you about my parents living with my sister. We recently built a house on 5 acres that we had and we are enjoying that...more to take care of, though. We fenced the back third and have the donkey and goats to help keep that clear. We attend a Baptist Church, and we stay pretty active with that and I volunteer at the drug rehab for teens in my area, holding a bible study on Monday nights, as you may have heard me mention recently. We currently have my brother's sister living with us. She went through a very difficult divorce 3 years ago, then a mental breakdown and become addicted to prescription meds and sleeping pills. She has been in and out of a couple of rehabs and never able to get her life together. She finally hit a wall, rock-bottom as they say, and is now clean from all meds (for 2 months now) and is living with us while she goes back to school and gets the treatment she needs. She had recent back surgery, which keeps her from being able to do certain types of work and she is also severly hearing-impaired, as is my husband (all of his siblings and his mom). I have a dear sister that we affectionately call "St. Susan" here on the porch and you will hear me mention her from time to time, and her grandbaby Emily, who just turned 3. Well, guess that is it in a nutshell and now you won't feel in the dark on some of my posts. Sorry for bending everyone's ear for so long, but wanted to fill JM in. :-)

Deep breath, Maude. It's going to be ok... ;-) Prayers for Beth this morning.

Boo
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80214:
Thanks HAZEL, loved your post on my "wall!"
MDC
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80215: Wow, Boo....*rubbing eyes* ....your problem is that you have no concerns or anything to fill your time! LOL! I can defintely see why you come here to sit in the porch!
Thanks for sharing everything!

Ok...my turn....you have read about my recent situation regarding my mother and g'ma. The reason I am so concerned about my mother is, outside of taking care of my g'ma, she has helped take care of her sister (my aunt) who passed away in 1988 from diabetes. My cousins were away at college and my uncle could not keep up alone. So, my mother made trips from NW Arkansas to Kansas City about every other weekend for about a year to give my uncle any relief she could. Then...about 10 years ago....while she was living here in Kansas City, she pulled up all stakes, quit her job and moved to NW Ark. to help my g'ma take care of my grandpa. He has diabetes AND Parkinson's and it was quite a lethal combination. They had to take care of him like a child in his old age. Plus he would occasionally freak out from hallucinations. My mother and g'ma were like partners during this ordeal. Now she is taking care of her partner.
I am 41 creeping 42 and newly married to my g/f and finacee of six years. I was married once before (well, I was, she wasnt) and that lasted for two years. I have no kids and no siblings. I have lost touch with all but one of my entire friendships throughout my life. My mom is 73, my father is 80 and I wish sometimes I had some help.
My wife is constantly driven up the wall by at least one of her family members about once a month and it is stretching her patience to no end.
I have a project I am undertaking for the Gentry Public Library in Gentry, Arkansas and for Benton County, Ark. (where Gentry is located) called the "Quantrill Special Collections Research." It is a currently growing collection of books, papers and materials solely dedicated for the study of William Quantrill and his civil war guerrillas.
I have two dogs. One dachshund/chihuahua mix named Howie and a dachshund/Rodesian ridgeback mix named Lillie. They are "Frick and Frack." I have never seen expressions on any dogs face like Lillie gets. There are looks she gives me that can bust me up and put me on the floor.

Well....I probably left out a bunch, but that's a nutshell of me. Hope I didnt put you to sleep.

John Masters
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80216: I know, I sound like some kind of sick martyr, don't I John?! haha...Thanks for giving us your info in a nutshell. :-) Sounds like you have some challenges, too. Glad you joined us, JM, and I am still awake. ;-)

Boo

August 10, 2010 - Msg 80217: Ha, I just looked back at the novel I wrote up there and I told JM that my brother's sister lives with us...well, that would be me, wouldn't it?! I meant my HUSBAND's sister....haha.

Boo
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80218: Hey Maude..Boo,JM,possum and all...Rev keep an eye out for the truck...Supper:Spaghetti and (meat balls)...texas toast and a nice salad...SPOT
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80219: That sounds like a good meal! I've got the drinks here. Dr. Pepper, Coke, Pepsi, 7-up and sweet tea.

Boo - I caught that but I thought you meant maybe sister-in-law and just forgot to type it. LOL!

JM
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80220: Can anyone tell me what the term was they used on the show for traveling salesman
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80221:
Hello porch family

Spot...the truck stopped by and dropped off the good ole meal. Good stuff.

Back to watching the Braves.

Love and prayers!
-REV.




August 10, 2010 - Msg 80222:
Hello porch family

Spot...the truck stopped by and dropped off the good ole meal. Good stuff.

Back to watching the Braves.

Love and prayers!
-REV.




August 10, 2010 - Msg 80223:
Oooopps....sorry about that
-REV.
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80224: MDC, I don't remember posting on your wall... (I sound like Barney, talking to Gomer) "I didn't give you no push!". Gomer: "Well somebody or something did!".
- Hazel

August 10, 2010 - Msg 80225: Msg 80220, do you remember which episode you are referring to regarding the traveling salesman? Seems like they called Burt quite a few different names in "The Merchant of Mayberry". But there was also the gal that ran off with a dishtowel salesman... Hmmmmm, I'm still thinking...
- Hazel
- Hazel
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80226: appears I doubled up on my name... sorry
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80227:
John Masters, I'm glad that you found this place to give you some guidance dealing with difficult family relationships.
In my case, all through and after college, I held off on searching for a mate. I then joined the military. During my military service, my father developed a terminal illness. Luckily, my mother and sister (a Registered Nurse in training) were able to take care of him during my long periods being away. After he passed away, and after I was released from active duty, my sister married and moved out. So I took over living with and taking care of mom until she passed away. With both mom and dad gone, and my sister having a husband taking care of her, that's when I determined it was time for me to find a mate. Three years after mom's passing, I found the lady who would become my wife. Doing things this way allowed me to avoid having to divide any attention and loyalty between a spouse and parents.

MDC, keep tabs on your father's treatment to minimize the chance of a mistake that could be devastating. If staff gets the impression that you don't care, why should they?

Hazel, you need more than 24 hours in the day to give you some time to relax.

auh20, glad to see you pop in and comment. We need to hear more from you.

Finally, have you folks seen the Andy Griffith commerical for Medicare? Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu8q0EU4b9w.
When I first saw it today, I did not recognize Andy. It was only after five or ten seconds of hearing his voice did I make the connection. My, he sure has aged.

from Poor Horatio
August 10, 2010 - Msg 80228: Good evening, porch! To #80220, I believe the term you're searching for is "drummer". I could be wrong, I often am, but that's what comes to mind.

I got home from work this morning, managed to sleep about half an hour, then went out to the airport to pick up my son. He had made the flight from Fredericksburg in about an hour, while it takes 4 1/2 hours to drive it! No waiting at terminals, or security checks or anything. This afternoon, he asked me how I'd like to have lunch with my daughters in Fredbg tomorrow! So, we'll leave around ten, get in there just after eleven, mouse around town a bit, and meet them for lunch at one, then fly back home, probably home by four. Isn't that a hoot?

It's hotter than an oven in this house. Something is wrong with the a/c, not sure what, but Eloise's husband Jerry will be here early in the morning to fix it. That's what he does, it's his chosen profession, he does air conditioners?

Well, guess I'll get to bed. I haven't had much sleep since yesterday, and I'm pooped. Be blessed, all. --Romeena
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80229: It looks like we all have some challenges, Boo.(Including your ac not working, Ro. Ouch! hope it is not too hot there tonight).

My current challenge is trying to convince my wife, or rather, trying to stop my wife from trying to convince me to adopt her nephew's two kids, age 1 and 2 1/2.
I see a lot of trouble down the road doing that. Her nephew doesn't hang around the best people, if you know what I mean, and neither does his ex. While he was in jail, he talked so much about wanting to be a good father to his kids, but when he got out he reverted to his old ways, and barely even sees the kids if ever. His ex is the same way.
Right now the kids are with her(the ex's) mom, but she has apparently put in her notice that she can't take care of them anymore, so the social worker is looking for placement somewhere else, and since we have been babysitting them at times for the ex's mom, they want to talk to my wife about it. She wants to, but I have said from the beginning that we should babysit and that's it(I wasn't even thrilled about that in the beginning because of not wanting the parent's to come around Kai, especially with the crowd they hang out with, but at the time he was in jail and she was a no-show as well).
My wife's brother and his wife have said they can't take them, and my wife accepts that. I just hope she can accept my reasons for not taking them.
My wife's sister, who has been the one telling everyone(including my wife) that WE should have them, has also put herself out of the running, saying she is too busy and has too many kids already(4-though one is the aforementioned father of the little kids and isn't in the house). They(my wife and her sister) talked about each taking one of them, but that didn't pan out either, and I don't like that idea either. Then they would be split and the problems(of getting them together, letting the parents see them, etc) would just expand from there.
I just really feel they should be in a family that actually wants them and preferably someone out of the family, because sure as shooting, the parents will come around to visit(especially when the kids get closer to the age where they get the big load of money they get from the tribe-they are both Indian).
Like I said, I just see a lot of problems in the future.

I knew I shouldn't have said yes to the babysitting-and I was assured that is all we would be doing-because I was afraid something like this would happen.

Well, I just wanted to make mention of this, and I didn't mean for it to become a novel. My wife is already working on me about it(taking both of them; taking one of them; taking them temporarily-temporarily, yeah right; etc), and it is already wearing on me. But for my sake and for Kai's sake, I have to keep saying no.
My wife has even started being more "church-friendly" saying we could give the kids a church-going experience and bring them to God. That is a nice sentiment, but for someone who was just a couple months ago lambasting the same church and not wanting to go to it anymore, I don't like that she seems to be using God to suit her own purposes.

So if you would offer up a prayer for us, I would really appreciate it. Maybe a prayer that my wife would get a job; a really good job even. Cause I think she has too much time on her hands.

-Sterling Holobyte
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80230: Wow, that is certainly a "situation" you got there, Sterling. I will pray for you. Just curious about something, though. Why do you think your wife wants the little ones? Does she feel compassion for them? Do you think she loves them? If she does, surely you can understand why she would try to step in and help. I'm not saying she is the one to take them in, just saying that even thought her methods might be questionable in your eyes, her motive might be one of genuine goodwill and they are family to her. We will pray, you keep praying too, Sterling. Pray that a suitable home will be found for them and the parents stay OUT of the picture forever.

Have fun in Fredricksburg, Ro!

Boo
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80231: Morning gang ....yall eat breakfast yet?...if not I will be at the waffle house....JM is buying...SPOT
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80232: Ro, Bruce just called from work to ask my if I want to go to Fredricksburg for our anniversary in September. After your post yesterday i was thinking to myself that I would like to go back soon but I didn't say anything to him. Guess we are on the same wavelength or something. Sure hope you enjoy the time with your kids.

Morning SPOT.

Boo
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80233: Morning all! Doggone it, SPOT! You made me have to run by the bank real quick since I found out I was buying!

Ro - Have fun and enjoy yourself! Sorry to hear about the a/c! Good grief, I wouldnt survive if my air went out. It's been 100* and 102* here in Kansas City with heat indexes at 110* and 115*!!

Horatio - Thanks for the kind words! Yeah, I sure wish I could find Doc Brown DeLorean and go back in time about 20 years and do A LOT of things over. To say I didnt exactly line up my life right is the understatement of the year!

Sterling - You have my deepest and utmost sympathy and concern! You are in dangerous waters and have a lot of situations (I mean a real situation) staring you straight in the eyes. I will send prayers and keep my fingers crossed that this comes out to an amicable decision for all involved. I can tell this is the last thing you want and I sincerely hope you are saddled with more than you can handle or that you really dont need! It's admirable that your wife wants to get the children closer to God but maybe she needs to realize that with the kids, she gets everything that comes with them. Hope I didnt overstep my bounds by saying that. It's just sometimes, in helping, we take on way, way more than we knew was coming. BELIEVE ME, I know!

Boo - Hey there and good mornin'!

Y'all have a great day and I hope it is stress free!

John Masters
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80234: Sterling - I meant to say NOT saddled! LOL!
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80235: Morning all.

Boy JM, Thanks for the breakfast. Boo beat me to it and got first pickins but she left me a bit at least.

Hey Boo, so are you going to Fredricksburg for your anniversary?

I'll offer a prayer for your situation Sterling. You and the Mrs need to be as one on this for sure.

Sounds like you have come to a resolution with your problem John. That's good, although it may be hard for you to deal with.

Ro, how is your ex S.I.L. doing?

MDC, Glad your Dad is improving and you are all there willing and able to help him. I know that has to better his outlook tenfold. Your a good Son.

P.H. Yea, poor old Andy is showing his miles, ain't he? I had read somewhere his health was really bad just recently. He didn't look to be in bad health on that video, just gotten old. Guess it happens to all of us if we kick around long enough.

Has anyone heard of this rally going on in Washinton on 8/28?
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80236: Whoops. I must have smashed the wrong button.
That was me.

Asa
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80237:
John Masters and Sterling... as I was told 34 years ago by my dear old pastor who has since passed, "When you marry, you are basically marrying
her WHOLE FAMILY with all it's problems etc., and
of course, she is "marrying" yours. Sure has been true
in my married life. I have "grinned and bore it" many times, as has Cecile; latest of which is my dad's situation, then there was my mom etc.
My prayers are with you both. Perhaps a good talk to your pastors would be fruitful.
Prayers,
MDC
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80238:
APB for Homemaker!!

Asa- what rally??mdc
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80239: Hey Boo and Asa,JM..Lunch Menu: Tuna salad sandwiches or fried bologna,chips,maude slaw,tea.....ready at 12:30 est...SPOT
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80240:
That's a might early for me out here in AZ, Spot, our talkin' dog of this here porch! ha
MDC
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80241: You are so right, MDC...you marry the whole family.

(In my best PMS Helen voice): "ASA PLEASE!!...I left you plenty to eat!". teehee I haven't heard about the rally going on...what gives?

I see Homemaker over on FACEBOOK regular-like...guess she doesn't have time for the porch much anymore...sniff (Mavis neither)..sniff..sniff...don't just stand there gawkin' Asa, hand me a tissue...

Boo
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80242: Hmmm.....well, I tried a response to some of you just now and got the CENSORED screen and it told me to redo it.

I said absolutely nothing offensive, but it just wouldnt let me post it.


August 11, 2010 - Msg 80243: ^^^^ that would be me....JM
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80244: Asa - you're welcome for breakfast. Hope you got enough!

MDC - Your truth hurts! LOLOL! Thanks for prayers!

Please save me some lunch, I still have breakfast digesting!

Tonight, treats on me too. Will tell ya' where we're goin' later

John Masters
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80245:
John, our forum moderator, Floyd, aka Alan, has put in some safeguards to prevent "interlopers."
And we try to give em the Big freeze if they do make it thru.
A while back, for example, an Insur@nce co was getting thru with auto-generated ads, so now we have to "disguise" that word if we use it in a post etc. Usually the censor will make the word bold for you.
Hope that helps,
MDC
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80246: Nope, MDC...no bold words or anything. I told Asa he was welcome for breakfast, joked how you told the uncut truth on marrying into families and said how NFL football is my escape sometimes. And then asked everyone to leave my some lunch. No bold words appeared and I tried to rewrite it three times. So that's why you see the abbreviated version above. I couldnt figure it out for the life of me!

JM
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80247:
Hmmm...
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80248: Tonight.....

Dairy Queen on me! Get whatever you please!

JM
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80249: Thanks JM...maybe some tacos and a big Dr. Pepper...that sounds good to me. :-)

Boo
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80250: Jm lets grill some steaks tonight...I will hit the garden for some fresh veggies....maude slaw and tea...SPOT
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80251:
John Masters, some time ago when a posting of mine could not pass the censor, it was very hard for me to figure out what was the problem word. So I contacted the host (Floyd) here and suggested a solution. Floyd edited the censor so that your entire censored posting is returned to you with the offensive word(s) in a different color. I think he used a dark green for the offensive text, whereas the rest of the text will appear in black. So you will have to look closely to identify the offensive word(s).

from Poor Horatio
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80252:
John Masters, I just tried posting a censored word and the censor made the word appear in dark green bold text. So look closely.

from Poor Horatio
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80253:
Folks, I just found this funny story on the internet. Check it out at http://tiny.cc/ie8sh.

from Poor Horatio
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80254: Ok, SPOT...sounds good. I hope there are some maters and cucumbers out there! We'll take everyone out for Dairy Queen desserts later tonight as a treat!

Thanks for the info, Horatio! I guess it was just one of those things. I read every word I wrote and rewrote it three times. No bold or colored word appeared.

JM
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80255:
APB for TOM. Anyone heard from him lately?

mdc
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80256:
John Masters, here is more information about the censor here. Generally speaking, it will refuse non-offensive words that have an offensive word embedded. In the following example, I will have to use hyphenations to illustrate this.
Unless the host includes exceptions for specific words in the programming code, a non-offensive word like "p-a-s-s" could be refused because it has the offensive "a-s-s" word embedded in it.
The censor is also set up to refuse very long words and links. So use spaces to split very long words, and use http://tinyurl.com/ to shorten links.

from Poor Horatio
August 11, 2010 - Msg 80257: Wanted to tell Possum that Jubi had her routine scan this week and there are some spots on her lung. This may very well not be cancer, though, because she had some similar spots awhile back that turned out to be nothing. They will recheck them in 2 months. Jubi is doing fine with it but her mom Amy is having a tough time. Please keep them in your prayers. Thanks. :-)

JM, Jubi is a 12 yr old little girl that goes to church with us who has been battling cancer for three years now, I think.

Boo
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80258:
Boo, that is so sad to learn about Jubi's lung spots. I will say a prayer for her.

John Masters, the censor example I illustrated in Msg 80256 is an obvious embedded offensive word that all of us should be able to identify. However, there are some subtle offensive words as well.
Before the host began to colorize the offensive words, I could not self-diagnose one of my earlier postings when it would not pass the censor. Only after I contacted the host did I learn that the word s-p-e-c-i-a-l-i-s-t in my posting was the problem. That word seems harmless, doesn't it? But when the host explained to me that the offensive word c-i-a-l-i-s was embedded in that word, that was the problem. I could not diagnose my own problem because at that time, I had no idea what c-i-a-l-i-s was.

from Poor Horatio
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80259: Good evening, Porch!

It's a little sultry here on the ol' porch, but I reckon a huge mug of tea will take care of that!

Boo - So sorry to hear about Jubi! Prayers and best thoughts to her! These are the things you wish you didnt have to pray for. :-(

Horatio - Gawwwwwlllee, THAT is some right fancy censoring! Land sakes live, I guess I'll have to microscope my posts from herein' on out! Talk bout' nippin' words in the bud! Thanks for the extra advice!

Y'all have a great night and may you wake to a sunny a.m.

JM
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80260:
Hello porch family.

Trust you all had a great day today.

Sterling...prayers for your situation.

Ro....hope you get that AC fixed. You surely need that.

Boo....prayers continue for Jubi.

Good supper tonight Spot.....Thanks! And thanks JM for the treat at DQ.

Getting late so I'm going to hit the ironing board.
Remember....no matter how much trouble is around you, Jesus loves you!
Love and prayers to all the porch family!
-REV.
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80261: Well Boo, I just don't think this is all her idea, but more her sister's(the one who got herself out of the running-even my wife says she likes to control things, and I have seen that in the past).
I think my wife feels compassion for them, of course, but the times we have babysat them she couldn't wait for them to leave. So yeah, I think her sister's prodding has a lot to do with it.

Thanks for your comments and prayers though, Boo, John, Asa, and you too, MDC.

And MDC, yes I know we marry the whole family, but you also have to think of your own immediate family. And I know for sure I would not want those kid's parents around my house and around Kai. As I have said, they don't hang out with the best of people. The dad's mother(my wife's sister) doesn't even trust her son, and I don't blame her. It's sad, but that is what drugs will do to people.

Yes, John, that darn censor. :) I remember getting blocked just for using the word "insur@nce". For some reason, it doesn't like that word. I could understand if it did not like words like "lawyer", "politician", or "mother-in-law", but Insur@nce? ;)

-Sterling Holobyte







August 12, 2010 - Msg 80262: Good evening, porch. Or rather good morning, considering the hour.

We had a great time in Fredericksburg. The flights down were beautiful, fun and very pleasant. My son is a very good pilot, very careful, lots of experience. His plane is a six-seat Beechcraft Bonanza, handles nicely and is outfitted with GPS, radar and all the latest instruments, so is very safe. We just had a good time, and made the trip in just over an hour. We flew at 7500 feet, clipped along at 165 knots or more, bit of a headwind most of the way down. He showed me how you can approach a tight, well-organized cloud and fly with one wing in it and one out! Now that's a kick! He flew us through one small rain squall, "to wash the plane," he said, and it did. We weren't in it more than about two minutes, then popped out on the other side into sunshine. Amazing.

Sterling, you must have missed MDC's explanation above, about the word insur@nce. We had a spammer a while back who would fill pages and pages with ads for insur@nce, so Floyd just added that word to the censor list, and it stopped the problem. Until then, you could come to the porch and find you had to scroll through endless postings of ads before you got to the real posts from porchsters.

John Masters, when the censor gets you, it should display your post alone on a white page, and as others have mentioned, the censored word should appear in bold print and usually in color as well. For me, it shows up green. It's possible that your computer settings aren't displaying the bold or the color, but for sure mine does. I get censored often, and I just look for the green word and change it or disguise it, and away I go. Trust me, the porch is a better place with the censor in action. Before we had it, some pretty annoying things would happen, and some VERY offensive postings would turn up now and then. Drive-by entries, done for shock value I suppose, but some were really awful. I much prefer to deal with the censor.

Sterling, you've got a really serious question facing you, one that's going to need a lot of prayer. We'll help you with that part, my friend, but just at first impulse, I'll have to quote my mother. "When in doubt, don't." Someone once asked her how you apply that if you have prayed about it and you feel like God is telling you to go ahead. Her reply was really the obvious one - "If you have truly prayed, and you feel God is leading you, you won't have any doubts." As she told me when I was a teenager, the doubt you feel may actually be God warning you.

In the event that you and your wife decide to go ahead with it, may I suggest a trial period before any final papers are signed. Then when that time comes, insist upon the parents legally relinquishing all parental rights, including visitation. You don't want to just become a legally-bound babysitter, with the troublesome parents bouncing in and out whenever they take the notion. If you take those kids to raise, it should or nothing. Otherwise, you're asking for trouble, and the kids will never know a minute's peace or security. And neither will you. OK, that's my two cents' worth.

Now I'm going to put my weary self to bed. In a cool house! Jerry came by this morning before we left and fixed the a/c, so it's nice and cool. Since it was over a hundred today, that's much appreciated. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80263: Sorry, in the next-to-last paragraph above, it should read "it should BE ALL or nothing." I'm sleepy, can you tell? --Romeena
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80264:
Hey Folks

Muggy and warm and muggy here this morning with muggy on tap this afternoon followed by muggy tonight. But, I hear we're the least muggy place in the country so... I guess we got that going for us.

Asa- A progressive? Me? Well, let me tell ya mister you call someone a Progressive around these parts and you'll get elected Governor. At one time, in Germany, it would have got ya a seat in the bunker. I don't know what's happening in DC on the 28th, probably wouldn't make it past the censor anyway.

Sterling-I had know idea what to say to your post that is until I read Romeena response. Good advice there, buddy.

Thanks for the kind words friends.
Peace & Prayers,
auh2o
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80265: Good morning porchters. Hope you are all fine and dandy.
So good to see you Auh2o. Progressive! Love the soup. Can't say much about the ideology though. Seems an oxymoron to me. But in this day and age anything can be packaged up, spit shined, and made to sound opposite of what it is. Strange days in which we live.

O.K. This rally on 8/28 I refer to is being spearheaded by Glenn Beck. It is not a protest nor a call to arms or anything like that. But he believes (and I agree with this) that our only hope of getting out of this mess we are in is for people of all faiths to turn to God and seek Him out and ask for His hand to heal this nation. The rally I think is a basic call for all God believing and loving people (again of all faiths) to rise above the small things that divide us and join together as one to seek Gods blessings upon our Nation. I wish I had the means to go. But I don't. By the sounds of things it is going to be quite a big event. But don't expect to hear about it on the evening news (maybe FOX NEWS will carry it). Anyway, if you listen to his radio show you will learn more about it. Or his website glennbeck.com I'm sure will link to it.

Ro, you must have not seen my asking about your ex son in law? How is he?

Boo, nice and cool on my porch this morning. Right around 60, with low humidity. I wish I could bottle you up some and send it to you. We have had two weeks of hot and very humid (for us) weather, so this has been a nice break. Only supposed to be around 80 today for the high.

Well better get. Believe it or not I have got to start thinking about getting some things ready for winter. If I don't get an early start I'll get caught with my pants down. Not good for anyone. :)

Asa
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80266: Good Thursday porch folks. just doing a quick check point chickie this morning. I didn't make it by yesterday, but looks like the porch was pretty nice and full.

I am still feeling pretty "drained out". seems like since my surgery back in February I just don't have the same staminia I did have. maybe it just takes time to get totally over that but my get up and go has cetainley taken a hiatus.

I agree with Romeena's response Sterling! I will
send a praryer up for you and your family. I very difficult decision.

Beth has had a pretty good week so far with her first week of 11th grade. She has driven to school and back without any problems but seems pretty worn out in the afternoons. She is having to get up much earlier so it will take her a few weeks to get into the swing of things. Please continue to pray for her safety on the road and at school.

Very muggy and already 75 degrees in Northeast TN this morning. storms predicted for later in the day. :(

Breakfast menu will be: french toast with syrup and powdered sugar, sausage, bacon, sliced peaches, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and bananas. coffee, tea, white or chocolate milk. see you at breakfast.

Better get moving on with my day. Prayers and blessings all around.

Big Maude


August 12, 2010 - Msg 80267: Well Sterling, it sounds like a compet;tion between your influence and sister's influence (wouldn't wanna be in your shoes! ha)...seriously, though, I understand why you would really be hesitant if your wife is eager for them to leave when she babysits them. The part about the drug-using parents I could probably deal with by arranging to meet them elsewhere when and if visitation was an issue (I think Ro is right on that issue) but if the wife can't handle them for a short time, that could be a real problem. Another thing we didn't talk about is age. Not that you are old but taking care of two babies that age is a huge committment and both of you would have to be on completely on board before it would work. Prayers!

Ro, as to your grandmother's philosophy, I find that sometimes I may not have doubts when it comes to God wanting me to do something but I sure have "don't want to's!". ;-) Glad you had a good time flying to Fredricksburg. Bet it was hot there. It was brutal here yesterday..unbelievably hot. Gonna be one of those days where I have to be out running around in it and I don't look forward to that.

Wow, Auh2o...I don't believe I have heard the word "muggy" so many times in one conversation! You think it's muggy there?...You just think you know what muggy is until you have lived down here in "Muggy Land" in the muggiest part of the country. It's so muggy here that there is no break in the mugginess. Everyday the same...muggy, muggy, muggy. It really is the muggiest! ;-) hehehe

Boy, i wish you could bottle it up and send me some of the cool weather, too ASA! That would be so great. Two weeks of hot and humid weather, eh?...how'd you like try 4 months of it so far, with two more to go?...you were a smart man to settle in Utah! By the way, it's "Progresso" soup...not "Progressive" Goober. ;-) You know I must be getting nicer because I don't have the usual urge to choke the "ahem" out of you when you talk about your cooler weather. You go ahead and get ready for winter because you don't want to get caught with your pants down, for certain. It wouldn't do to have frostbitten bits. :-)

Boo
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80268: Hey Maude...there's that muggy word again. Hey, sorry you are feeling less energetic...could it have something to do with the heat and high humidity? Make sure you are drinking plenty of water because even just a little dehydration can make you feel tired. :-)

Boo
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80269: VICKS!!...It's about time someone said it.
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80270: Ooops, guess one of these days I will have to explain that one to JM.

Boo
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80271: Hey, what about this Steven Slater flight attendant guy who cussed out passengers on the loud speaker, grabbed two beers and took the emergency exit slide? People are calling him a hero. Looks to me like he had a little-girl, drama queen fit. Why is he a hero? Any takers on this moulage??

Boo
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80272: Hello everyone.

MDC: I just dropped by to let you know that I received an email from your personal email account with a hot link I didn't recognize. However, it contained no message. The mail also was sent to several others people. It was caught by my spam filter. I don't know if it was valid or not, but thought I'd let you know. You may receive an "out of office" email back from my work account since I just got back from vacation today and hadn't turned it off yet. If the email was valid, please let me know via email since I don't stop by here much.

BOO: I believe the guy was hit by a passenger and just decided he couldn't take the abuse from surly passengers anymore. Last straw kind of thing. Doesn't excuse bad behavior on his part, though. However, having waited tables for many years I can understand the urge.

Hope all is well with you porchsters.

Me-They
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80273: Hey all...thanks for breakfast Maude....I will have lunch in just a bit....HOT in Ga...SPOT
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80274: Oh ho...say the word "moulage" and here comes Me-They! GREAT to see ya, friend. :-):-) Yes, I dealt with lots of horrible, rude people for years as a nurse and wanted to do all that and more. At least maybe his actions will make someone think twice before abusing someone who is there to help them. Hope you had a great vacation.

Boo
August 12, 2010 - Msg 80275:
Big Maude, sorry to hear you are not feeling up to par. Could it be iron poor blood like those old television commercials advertised for Geritol?

Sterling Holobyte, even though I needed some time to think about your family situation, I still can't come up with a decent suggestion. Adopting such young children is a huge responsibility that needs support by both you and your spouse. And from what you have revealed about their parents, those children need someone to care for and nurture them. Maybe in time I can offer you some constructive advice. In the meantime, I can only offer you prayer.

Boo and MDC, regarding the mugginess both of you are reporting, even up here in Canada we are experiencing some muggy weather. I wonder how this heat is affecting our TOM?

REV, you mentioning about hitting the ironing board made me think. Do you remember back in your Navy days when sailors would flip their uniforms inside out and place them under their mattress to keep them "pressed"?

Since Asa has already mentioned it, for those of you interested in learning more about the Glenn Beck "Restoring Honor" rally that is scheduled for August 28, you can read about it at http://www.glennbeck.com/828/.

Boo, regarding Steven Slater, I'm kind of neutral. I can understand his frustration that could have led him to quit his job, but the manner he choose was not very professional. And although some egos may have been affected, he really didn't injure anyone or damage property as far as I can tell. He is not entitled to his 15 minutes of fame. As he makes the rounds of the talk shows and maintains his Facebook and MySpace web sites, I would not be surprised if there is a book, a movie, and maybe even a reality show in his future. As country singer Johnny Paycheck used to sing ... Take this job and shove it ... I ain't working here no more.

Finally, I happened to watch "America's Got Talent" earlier this week, and was amazed by one of the contestants. She is only 10 years old and yet sings like a professional adult singer. Watch her performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPITHzdUUDk and see what you think.

from Poor Horatio