June 14, 2015 - Msg 101608: Hey, MDC, you know speaking of monkeys, life can be as fun as a (wheel) barrel full of monkeys. Chech this out.
http://youtu.be/j6a8sl0DybU
You know I was thinking the same thing about Asa, I don't think washing his Jeep was "taking it easy" either. Now warming up his "Wheeler" that would be more like it...haha!
By the way.... That pan from the Walmart is the one I got. I think I got the idea from TV, yep I seen it there lol....

G-Frying 🍳.

June 14, 2015 - Msg 101609: It's just getting to be sunrise, figured I'd sweep since I'm up already....
June 14, 2015 - Msg 101610: Good Sabbath all, and good sweep GF.

Thanks for the link MDC. I watched the "product video" and that thing looked good. Thanks for mentioning it Ro. Sounds like it is oven safe. I appreciate all those little cooking tips you share. I pray your Grandson is improving.

GF, Old Clark had quite a ride there, didn't he. And since I'm a morning person, I figured I better do a few things yesterday morning. Trust me though, the "Wheeler" got a good workout in the afternoon, as it will this afternoon after preaching. I have a lot of old shows I have DVR'd that I want to watch. Been watching a lot of "The Fugitive" shows. Fun to see a lot of TAGS alumni on there.

Well prayers for all for a great day.

Asa
June 14, 2015 - Msg 101611: Hey Asa, here is a "Special" project for you to work on with the GrandKidders while you relax in your "Wheeler". Don't let it be said the Goob doesn't look out for the other Grand Daddy's....

G-F...

http://youtu.be/J5FzyEaIU9g


June 14, 2015 - Msg 101612: Haha that's great GF. We gramps gotta look out for each other.

Asa
June 14, 2015 - Msg 101613: HEY YOU TWO CAN DO ALL THAT IN THE BIG HOUSE

TOM :(
June 14, 2015 - Msg 101614: iPad and Android users, I've changed the live video stream over to use YouTube LIVE so you should now be able to join us on Monday nights for the live recording and not only chat but also see what's happening in the video stream.

http://imayberry.com/podcasts/live/

-- Floyd
June 14, 2015 - Msg 101615: I think that guy has a Lego compelsion.
June 14, 2015 - Msg 101616: Wow Asa, TOM's going to have Legos the Big House now, I was getting kinda of tired of the Mr. Potato set how about you?

G-F.....
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101617: WOW, it looks like Floyd got some "bigger wires!"
I will check it out. Thanks floyd.
Oh, wait a minute, I dont have an Android OR an ipad! ha
Hope you all had a restful Sunday!
Check out our weather for the upcoming week:
http://www.azfamily.com/weather
Ah, here we go! :(
TOM-- the big house can't handle those two varmits! :)

June 15, 2015 - Msg 101618: oops! from me, MDC
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101619: I was surprised to learn that Chad and Jeremy are still performing together.

Regarding that Lego man, either he has short legs or they are cut off at the knees.

Have any of you folks ever heard of Mad Magazine? A regular feature appearing in each issue was a cartoon of a popular TV show or movie. How many of you folks remember that?
Check this out from 1987 http://www.madmagazine.com/blog/2012/07/03/rip-andy-griffith

from Poor Horatio
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101620: MDC, You may have "Royalty" (Royal Norman) for your weatherman but we here in N.E. Ohio have Dick Goddard, I believe he is the oldest active weatherman in the country at 84. Golley I think he was around to warn Noah about the flood.
TOM can vouch for his Cleveland weather accuracy, especially thos dreaded lake effect snow storms... Right TOM?

PH, Mad magazine has done some pretty funny satires over the years, I see Mayberry was not immune to them. The artist did a good job in capturing the cast members.

I forgot to remind MDC that Floyds pod-cast is at 7:00 CT Tonight! Come on in and join us, Poor Horatio has joined us at times too, you never know the topic Floyd comes up with, and join in on the conversation message board too. It can be just as fun!
It's a live stream, but he records it for everyone to watch at their leisure too. It does work best on the computer, so jump in the waters Fine!

G-F..
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101621: Good Morning Porch,

I'm leery of nonstick pans. If I was to get one of any kind, I'd do what America's Test Kitchen says, get a new one every year. After time, the coating comes off and in your food. I have 1 stainless steel pan for my husband's fish and tomato dishes, but I primarily use cast iron. My only complaint about the cast iron is the big skillets keep bending the eyes on the stove (electric).

PH, goodness, I haven't heard of Mad Magazine in forever!
G-F, my husband doesn't care for basketball either (I do), but since he's a Buckeye we are rooting for the Cavs. My FIL was just talking about Dick Goddard 2 days ago! Haha!
Floyd, thank you for your hard work and dedication! I subscribe via iTunes.
MDC, I saw your Facebook post of your temperatures. That's horrible! Our 94 pales in comparison. Be safe if you venture outside.

Did y'all see that Homemaker's son, Casey, graduated from high school? I remember a few years ago when we had ankle surgeries at the same time. Time flies.

We got some bad news on my Father-in-Law. His cancer is very aggressive. His PSA has gone from 6.2 (which was up from 0 in 1 year) to 48! It's pushing on his kidneys causing his creatinine (sp?) to be elevated and may require a stent for drainage. It's stage 4, which is bad. They've put him on two medications to try to slow down the growth. If that doesn't work then he will need low dosage chemo. Basically there's nothing to be done to stop it, but maybe slow it down a bit. He looks horrible. We usually go up for 4th of July. I think we are going to go a bit later since Bryson is doing summer school until mid-July. He could use some prayers.

Still no word on the job front. Bryan still hasn't been paid for his sales. We don't know what the hold up is, but if he isn't paid soon, he will be forced to find another job. He's had other offers, so it shouldn't be too hard. He just likes the lab he's working for and doesn't want to leave, but at the same time we are running low on savings.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Lucy

June 15, 2015 - Msg 101622: Lucy, As far as the Cav's go... No one man can be a "team" I do hope the others pitch in and help LBJ. It would be nice for Cleveland to have something to cheer about!.... G-F
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101623: No "i" in "team" as the old saying goes.
MDC
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101624: Good afternoon, porch! G-F, thanks for the Lego link. I sent it to my grandson, who is a Lego whiz. The Christmas that he was eight, Eloise and I went together to buy him a Lego project, designed for kids 14 and older. It was a train, with an engine and three cars, had a track, and a motor, and zillions of tiny pieces. It actually ran on the track. Well, we figured it would keep him busy during the Christmas break, but not so. He had the thing together and running the day after Christmas. Even so, I think he'll enjoy the little "wheeler" and I have no doubt that he'll have all the parts in his collection. He has two big storage tubs filled with Lego pieces, collected since he was about two years old.

Lucy, I share your concerns about non-stick pans, to some degree. I use them, but when they begin to chip or look like the surface isn't smooth and intact, out they go. However, I don't think there's any danger with a ceramic-coated pan. That's an entirely different material, like the inside of a crock pot. However, I'll be watching these skillets, and if they start to look funny, I'll trash them, too. I have used iron skillets, and like them, but have always wondered what might live in the pores in that metal, because you can easily see that the surface isn't slick, it's a bit rough. That's the nature of the cast iron. I don't really think there's a problem, because we've cooked in cast iron for many years and no one has blown a whistle, but still, one wonders.

Prayers for your father-in-law. Cancer is such a terrible thing. Some day, someone is going to find the answer. I hope it's soon.

Well, off I go. Got a home health call to make. Blessings, everyone. --Romeena
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101625: Yes Romeena, I think today's Legos are like yesteryear's erector sets. I know I loved mine! They fetch some BIG dollars at the antique shops & at the flea mkt.. I'll bet Asa had one as a kid too... 🔧🔩 Just sayin'... It's a good thing for the kids now-a-days better than sitting around.....

Prayers for Lucy's family. I agree with Romeena it is a terrible thing to go through for sure.

G-F
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101626: MDC, I forgot to quote JBJ after last nights game, here is what he said: LeBron James: "I feel confident because I'm the best player in the world." I don't know but maybe his teammate are feeling they will just letting him be that!
.....Just an observation....
June 15, 2015 - Msg 101627: Oops you know what I ment...
June 16, 2015 - Msg 101628:
GF--got ya!
Lucy--prayers for your FIL. If he knows the Lord, all is OK no matter how it goes, but my prayers are for recovery.
PH--that was pretty good. Had to really increase screen size to read it tho. Helin's was funny!
Keep cool!
MDC
June 16, 2015 - Msg 101629: You Texas girls, Watch out, "Bill" is on the way...Got Rain?...G-F
June 16, 2015 - Msg 101630: Good morning, porch! No bad weather here yet, but I guess it's coming. The skies are heavily overcast, and the air is very still. Just has an ominous feel. I guess we're supposed to get quite a lot of rain. Wish I could send some of it out west.

Eloise's husband, Jerry, went to an estate sale a few days ago (he does that a lot) and bought something for me! It's a big 33 LP, of Andy Griffith telling stories. The album title is "Just For Laughs", has a great picture of Andy on the front, and it includes such classics as "What it Was Was Football" and "Romeo and Juliet." I have a good turntable, but haven't played the album yet. I'm waiting until I can sit down and listen to it, and not be distracted. Jerry said he bought it for 75 cents! What a deal!

Well, gotta run. I have an appointment with my hearing aid doc this morning, for a bit more adjusting. Can't believe I've had these things for a year now, and she's still seeing me and tweaking them, free of charge. You don't get that with the less-expensive ones you order from an ad. She also has supplied batteries free up until now, but I need another box and fully expect that she'll charge for them this time.

Blessings, friends. See you later. --Romeena
June 16, 2015 - Msg 101631: Romeena, I have that album on a CD it's a good one. Just be sure the Doc sets your hearing aids to be 33 1/3 compatible....lol G-F
June 16, 2015 - Msg 101632:
MDC, I'm glad you enjoyed that Andy Grinning cartoon from Mad magazine. Your posting about having to increase the size in order to read it reminded me that the print in that cartoon is quite small to read.
To increase the print size, hold the CTRL key down, then press the + key multiple times until you can read the print. When finished, you return to the normal size by holding the CTRL key while pressing the - key multiple times. You can use this trick almost anywhere on the internet, including The Front Porch.

from Poor Horatio
June 16, 2015 - Msg 101633: PH, did you get your feed fixed from the pod-cast last night?My iPad is still squirrelly but at least I can see, hear, and message now. As you said I think it is a delay issue.....G-F
June 16, 2015 - Msg 101634: Good evening, porch. Yep, PH, that Ctrl+ trick works well on a lot of things. I have 20/20 vision with my lens implants, but sometimes a little magnification makes it more comfortable.

The ear doc didn't find any problems this morning, didn't even have to adjust the devices. The hearing test was almost identical to last year's, so my hearing loss isn't progressing.

As for "Mad Magazine", that was a part of life in the 50s, and for a few years thereafter. Alfred E. Neuman, the "What, me worry?" cover boy was as familiar to everyone as Mickey Mouse. A part of Americana, for sure.

Well, guess I'll go scare up some supper. I've got half a cantaloupe and some cottage cheese. Sounds good, and easy. Yep, that'll do it. Chunk up that melon, and top it with some cottage cheese. That's it. Off I go - blessings, friends. --Romeena
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101635: PH--as a teen, I liked the Spy vs Spy in Mad. It had some clever writers, and also the tri-fold back cover was interesting.
GOLDEN STATE just won the NBA. Sorry TOM and GF,
I was pulling for the "west."
RO--I guess your drought is officially over as more rains come. Funny how Bible-believing Texas
is getting rain, but blank Cal not so much! :)
Well, keep cool y'all, our next few days will be 115.
Prayers,
MDC
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101636: ......Yep "Wait until next year".... It's a Cleveland thing! They used to call the city " The Mistake on the Lake" call it what you may but it's just Heartbreak USA... As Barney said, Ya try and Ya try and what do Ya get? Heartbreaks, nothin' but Heartbreaks!! (Actually it was Heartaches)..sorta the same thing...As with last nights Dinner, "This too shall Pass!"..

I found out as with a lot of things in life, when you embrace things too much they seem not to embrace ya back. So I learn to embrace things that REALLY matter, Amen? And as I look out my window the sun DID rise this morning to offer us a new day of life!.... Now I better go and shave, don't want to have a beard like Goober Pyle....haha

G-F....
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101637: Good Morning Porch,

It's nice and warm, but not quite as warm as MDC. I'll stick with 97 thank you very much.

G-F, I'm sorry that your team lost, however I'm a huge fan of Steph Curry's after reading an article about his faith in Billy Graham's magazine. He's a devout Christian and gives all glory to God. So at least you can take comfort that the loss was to a great leader.
Boo, I hope you're hanging in there.

Hey to all! I hope everyone has just the best day!

Lucy
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101638: Lucy, maybe a player with faith has somebody else in his court other than "The Greatest Player on the Planet"...just sayin'..

G-F...
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101639: There is a new pie being served in Cleveland to LBJ today...it's called:
H-U-M-B-L-E pie I think they got the recipe from Clara Edwards.
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101640: Good morning, porch! And a very wet morning it is, too. We've got a big old wind and rain storm going on, but this house is so tight and well-insulated that I didn't even know it until I got up and looked out my window. One thing's for sure, my dad built a good house! Anyway, it's raining, in short bursts with frequent pauses. Then the wind comes whipping back, bearing more rain. It's fairly still at the moment here in my yard, but I can see trees over on the next street that are just thrashing around. Apparently the wind is coming in little microbursts or something. My poor hibiscus shrubs are getting pushed around pretty hard, but they seem to be tolerating it. Those big old dinner-plate flowers are wet and drooping, but they'll come back. My window is wet, which is unusual. This house has very wide eaves, about 30" I think, and total guttering, so it's rare for rain to make it to the windows. It takes a significant wind to do that. Looks like we're in for a pretty wild ride today. I'm planning to just hunker down right here and stay put. No reason to go out today, so I won't.

Boo, how are you faring? Looks like the worst of it hit Houston, but the map shows that Corpus Christi got the outer edge of it. I hope you didn't have any damage. You probably got a lot more wind than we're getting. I think it lost a lot of its energy by the time it got here, and wind damage should be light. I see one small limb down in my back yard so far, but it's one I can drag to the street myself, and it didn't hurt anything. It landed right next to a decorative light fixture beside the pond, but didn't hit it.

Our temperature is only 74°, so the a/c is mostly not running, and all this rain will mean I won't have to water for a little while, so that's good. My electric bill and water bill will be small. Yay!

We're already getting some flash flooding in the area. Apparently, over in Dallas some nut has already driven their car into a flooded road and gotten stranded. Why will people do that??? In this case, the driver's explanation was "I didn't know any other way to get home." Ohhh-kay! Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, evidently.

Well, guess I'll go rustle up some lunch. I have some left-over pizza. A little olive oil in that ceramic-coated pan, put the pizza in it, put on a lid and use very low heat. In about ten minutes, I'll have pizza that tastes like it just came out of the pizza oven.

Y'all act like somebody now, you hear? --Romeena
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101641: Romeena, Al Roker was in your town this morning doing the weather.. He sure got wet!...
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101642: I'll just bet he did! Would have been hard to stay dry, actually. No rain at this moment, but quite windy out there. As I said earlier, I'm staying in the house. --Romeena
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101643: RO--maybe that driver wanted to get to his "ultimate home!" Some people. They do that here too. MDC
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101644: HI
Mr Dick it not in the card for Cleveland to win?

TOM
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101645: True TOM, same story different year, after the loss last night LBJ said: "WE" just ran out of talent! Funny how the Greatest Player on Earth (as he called himself) had a change of heart on what the problem was....lol

The sports news just said the Indians got beat by the Cubs 17-0! That is why I go to the Minor League games the players are hungrier and (more) eager for a trip to the "Big's"... I bet MDC's D-Backs are doing better...

G-F....
June 17, 2015 - Msg 101646: ..... Pass me some of that Pie...haha
June 18, 2015 - Msg 101647: Prayers for the people hurt or killed in that church shooting in Charleston, SC. And for the unrest that's sure to follow.
Sad you can't even go to church and feel safe anymore.

On a brighter note, Kai is doing well as a teen helper at VBS this week. I really wanted her to do this since she was getting too "into" herself and not wanting to do anything, which could partially be my fault for not finding more outings for her to go to with homeschool groups this year, but also I guess it could also be that typical teenage attitude stuff.
I did let her finish school a little earlier than I was going to in order to help with VBS. She did start the year early(her suggestion), but I was going to have her do some extra work on stuff that she was not doing so well on during the school year. So I gave her the choice of doing that extra school work or working VBS, and I told her the school work wasn't a "punishment" if she didn't want to work VBS, because I considered VBS a part of her education. And I do think she is learning more doing that than she would be by just doing schoolwork. And she seems to be liking it as well, so that is a plus.

Well, you all have a nice night and a great tomorrow.

-Sterling Holobyte

June 18, 2015 - Msg 101648: Yes sterling. prayers for all of those in Charleston.
Glad kai is getting involved.
Nite all,
MDC
June 18, 2015 - Msg 101649: Good Morning Gang ! SPOT

June 18, 2015 - Msg 101650: Good to see you pop in Sterling, you're rocker was getting a bit dusty... What SPOT? No breakfast?...haha

MDC... 🌞 115? That's CRAZY!! But with all the high temps you had all winter I suppose you were expecting this.

Romeena, I put out some humming bird nectar feeders this year, and Yep, I saw my first one yesterday. Those little guys are Amazing!.. I made my own, "they" say the red stuff is not good for them.

I'm guessing Possum is staying under her rock where it's cool, smart girl!... Hopefully she is saving her strength to go to Mt. Airy in July....It's Gonna be BIG!

G-F
June 18, 2015 - Msg 101651: Hey y'all. We're hurting down here in the Lowcountry of SC.Sharing something a friend of mine wrote and asking you all to keep Charleston in your prayers.

Charleston. Her people, her churches, her unbridled graciousness, her strength, her proven endurance, her solidarity, her peacefulness, her longing to welcome people from all walks of life, her hospitality, her dignity, her steadfastness, her beauty, her community, her autheniticity, her poise, her harmony, her compassion, her holy status...no degree of hate will eliminate these characteristics of this beloved city.

I stand with Charleston. I'm a native South Carolinian. I'm just one of many who will see that Charleston demonstrates her resolve and dignity.

*****************
possum under a rock
June 18, 2015 - Msg 101652: Dear Lord in heaven! What gets into some people? It can only be the devil. Why on earth would that servant of evil walk into a church, of all places, and kill people who were praying? Now follow me here, I'm not in any way condoning violence toward anyone, but if this man had what he thought was a reason to attack black people, why would he choose peaceful, praying people? I can only conclude that he's a devil-spawn, and his hatred is directed toward God as much as it is toward black people. May God have mercy on his soul. I don't think I could manage it, myself.

At this time in our nation's journey, with all the threats and invasions we face from the rest of the world, this is not a time for our people to be turning on each other. We had better come together, and present a united front to the world, and call on God to help us, because that's the only way we're going to survive. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14.

"Heal their land." How good that sounds. This land could use healing, a lot of it. The answers are right there, in the Book, and yet we just don't seem to get it. Pray for America, please! --Romeena
June 18, 2015 - Msg 101653: Me again. Just got home from getting a much-needed haircut. It seems it reaches a point where it looks fine, then grows another 1/16th of an inch, and it's too long, sprawling everywhere and will not behave. I've never figured that out.

So the shooter, a little pencil-necked, pimple-faced white kid, is in custody. I should hope so! Now, predictably, the gun-grabbers are seizing the opportunity to declare that gun control is the answer. I beg to differ. I can make a good argument for what might have happened had even one person in that church been armed. After the shooter fired the first time, an armed church member could have taken him out, and saved at least a few lives. Would have saved the taxpayers the cost of a long, drawn-out trial and endless appeals, too.

Every time the liberals start their little declarations of how gun control would prevent such tragedies, a little movie begins to play in my head. I see the shooter, sitting in his lonely room, head in hands. He's saying, "Doggone it, I wanted to go out and shoot some black people in a church today, or some kids in a school, but I guess I can't. It's against the law for me to have a gun, so of course I don't have one. What to do, what to do? I know!! I'll get mom's pressure cooker and make a bomb. I can find the instructions on the internet. Yeah, that would be fun!"

Dear Leader has made his expected address, expressing concern, sadness and sympathy for the people involved. It was a decent speech, but it would have been better had he not used it to make yet another bid for gun control. A partial quote - "Once again, innocent people were killed, in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun."

Now that sounds just fine, and at first glance, it makes sense. However, I could also say - "Last week, right here in Dallas, a young person died of an overdose, because they had no trouble getting their hands on some crack cocaine." Illegal as it can be, but readily available to anyone who doesn't mind breaking the law. Why would the liberals think guns will be any different?

If someone is out to murder, they will get a gun, legal or not, or in the unlikely event they can't, they'll find another way to carry out their purpose. Dear Leader said that in other parts of the world, these things don't happen, because guns aren't available. Maybe the availability of guns has nothing to do with it. Maybe in those other societies of which he spoke, the racial tension and hatred generated by the race-baiters like Sharpton and Jackson, doesn't exist to the degree it exists here. I'm no social expert, I'm just saying what I think. What I think is, we need to stop focusing on the method, and concentrate on the motivation. --Romeena
June 18, 2015 - Msg 101654: Big storm just came thru Goob's town, a lot of flooding I can't get out the end of the road it has 3' of water, plus a large hole at the end of my driveway where the rain washed the stone away...
Happy Day we will see what tomorrow brings! They say it was leftovers from "Bill"... Thanks Bill!

G-Flooded....😩
June 18, 2015 - Msg 101655: SAME FOR TOMORROWN G F

STOP SENDING THE RAIN HERE

TOM

June 19, 2015 - Msg 101656: We will take some of it Tom! MDC
June 19, 2015 - Msg 101657: Hey MCC, I'll trade ya some rain for a load of driveway gravel..G-F
June 19, 2015 - Msg 101658: Good morning, porch. It's a beautiful day here today, gonna be hot, but still pretty. Eddie came and mowed yesterday, did his usual nice job, and the yard looks so pretty. After all that rain, everything is such a beautiful green! That row of hardy hibiscus plants in the raised island is just solid with blooms. There's white, two shades of pink, and a deep rich red, all in a row across the back of the island. I debated about planting them, because that island has always been filled with annuals, like pansies, petunias, snaps and such. However, it's awfully big, and it was getting too expensive to put nothing but bedding plants in it. The thing swallows about twelve flats of plants.

When I found a sale on hibiscus, and got them for $4 a plant, I bought ten and put them across the back of the island, all in a row. That took up a full third of the space, almost half, and they're thriving. They froze down to the ground during the winter, but came back like gangbusters this spring. I don't know why anyone plants tropical hibiscus, which don't survive the winter here, when the hardy variety survives very well, and the blooms are so much prettier. Big old dinner-plate blooms, just gorgeous! Maybe I'll post them on Facebook.

Well, better go feed Toye Starr. She's been in here huffing and nudging and all but saying "Mom, I'm hungry!" Funny little thing. Blessings, porch! --Romeena
June 19, 2015 - Msg 101659:
Romeena, it is quite possible that the gunman chose people attending church services because he may have believed that none of the worshipers would bring a weapon to church.
Years ago when I lived in the US, even though I had a concealed weapon permit, I didn't like carrying my weapon everywhere I went. I would only take it for night travel or for travel through certain areas.
Also, many years ago, I was a member of the NRA (National Rifle Association). That included a subscription to their magazine called the American Rifleman. The articles in that magazine that I enjoyed reading the most were the Armed Citizen stories. You can read a sample at http://www.nrapublications.org/index.php/10537/armed-citizen-15/
Don't forget to click on the ARCHIVES link on the right side of that page for additional stories.

from Poor Horatio
June 19, 2015 - Msg 101660: Good evening, porch. Interesting stories, PH, and I have no doubt that the gunman chose to carry out his attack in a church. Of course, he would go to a place where he felt sure the people were defenseless. It's the same reason shooters go to schools. It's common sense. If I'm deathly allergic to bee stings, I'm not going to go stick my hand in a beehive. Here's a hypothetical situation. Let's say I'm a burglar, looking for a potential home to rob. I'm on a street where there are three houses. One bears a sign on the front door that says "Protected by Smith and Wesson." Another bears a sign that reads "Gun Free Zone." The third one has no sign. Guess which one I'm going to rob. Not the first - I know it would be highly risky. Not the third, because there is potential for harm to me. The second one, though, is like an engraved invitation.

Now obviously, people don't post "Gun Free Zone" signs on their homes. However, our customs, social practices and in many cases, the law, make certain locations safe by implication. Churches and especially schools are prime examples. I'd be willing to bet that if the Sandy Hook school had some teachers or other employees who were armed and properly trained, and some signage warning that there were armed guards present, the tragic shooting that happened there would not have happened. The shooter may have been deranged, but he wasn't stupid.

I do not have a CCL. In Texas, our castle law covers unlicensed individuals who carry a firearm when traveling. Since I only carry my gun when I'm going to be on the road, I don't need a CCL. However, I'm considering getting one. If I do, I'll also get another handgun. My Taurus Judge is just too bloomin' big and heavy to carry in my purse. It would drop a buffalo in its tracks, and it lives beside my bed (loaded) but it's not a gun to be carried easily.

My church, in general, is protected. I know of at least three men in our congregation who carry a concealed gun. One is a retired police officer, who carries a pistol in the top of his boot. I don't know where the other men conceal their weapons, but I do know they have them. Many years ago, our beloved former pastor received a threatening letter from some loony individual, and at that point, some of our men volunteered to carry guns. My Dale and three of his friends, all of whom were about as big as he was, named themselves the Goon Squad, and while they didn't carry weapons, they positioned themselves in the near vicinity of the pastor during services, to be able to intervene if there was a physical attack.

It's terrible that such things have to be considered, and provisions made, but such is life these days. There are crazies out there, and a wise person is not just forewarned, but forearmed as well. I pray that I would never have to use my gun, but if someone comes into my home unannounced and uninvited, I'm prepared. Some say, "Well, what would Jesus do?" I say - as He and the disciples left the upper room on that final night, headed for the garden where He knew what was going to happen, He instructed Peter and the others to arm themselves. They told Him they had two swords, and He said "it is enough." He planned to submit, because it was part of the plan, but He didn't expect the disciples to allow themselves to be murdered.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena
June 20, 2015 - Msg 101661: Wow heat if on in Ga...may hit 100 today...im here at work...I-hop for breakfsst ! SPOT

June 20, 2015 - Msg 101662: Same here Spot. Supposed to hit triple digits all next week. Been in the upper 90's all this week. Nothing like MDC is getting, but still it is dang hot as Rafe would say.

Hey Ro, you know what they say, when seconds count, the police are moments away. Not a indictment of the police, but a simple fact of life. I agree totally. Gun free zones are advertising sitting ducks, so to speak. Crazy world we live in, and getting crazier every day.

Hey GF, Did your get your driveway fixed? We could use some of that rain here for sure. Been drier than one of Rev. Breens sermons.

Guess I'll see what I can muster up for breakfast. Not real hungry this morning. Something light. Maybe 2 eggs, bacon, taters, toast, grits, some fruit, and a large glass of O.J. on ice. :)

Asa
June 20, 2015 - Msg 101663: Hey Asa ya forgot your Grape Nuts, they fill ya up not out! http://youtu.be/mNk2NfCf0NA
Yep, I did fix the hole in my driveway, I had some large stones I used first to fill in most of it, then used the regular stone to finish. Hope it holds.... Might hold.... Might Not!....Only Mother Nature knows for sure...

G-F....
June 20, 2015 - Msg 101664: hi all
G F I WOUND WAIT TO IT STOP RAINING BE FOR REPAIRING IT JUST WASH OT

TOM

June 20, 2015 - Msg 101665: Good morning, porch! Cloudy, gray and overcast this morning, but my hibiscus bushes are blooming anyway, so bright and cheery! Hardy hibiscus - what a great plant!

Yep, Asa, that's so true. The police response to the times my alarm system has gone off, has been great. They're here within five minutes, every time. I think that's great. However, if an intruder was in the house, a lot could happen in five minutes. In that interval, I don't plan to be sitting there crying and begging for my life. I will have the Judge in my hand, and I will tell him once to spread-eagle himself on the floor. If he doesn't, I will blow him away. Simple as that. Hard words from a 76 yr old grandma, I know, but it's reality. A timid little friend from church once told me that she felt it would be a "sin" to shoot an intruder, because Jesus told us to "turn the other cheek." He did, and I often do. A verbal insult will be met with a mild response. A workman cheated me out of $100, and I didn't pursue it. Jesus expects us to live peaceably, and avoid quarreling and backbiting. However, nowhere in the scripture do I find where we are told that we have to sit still and allow ourselves to be murdered. It's just not there. So, I will give one warning, and then I will shoot. Mercy! That sounds just awful, but that's where the times have taken us.

Maybe later I'll tell you a story about a time when a drunk man actually walked in our back door, out of the blue. Fortunately, Dale was here, and his response was classic Dale, and so very funny.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
June 21, 2015 - Msg 101666: Howdy Folks. Just passing through Mayberry.
June 21, 2015 - Msg 101667: HI ALL, I have been laying a bit low since Charleston, trying to digest it all. I would like to respond in a little "different" way, and i hope you all "get" what I am trying to say. The first thing is this: why are there churches still referred to as "black churches?" I'm sorry, I just don't get that. Of all the places that should have "integrated" a LONG time ago, it should have been churches. Maybe I am crazy, but could you imagine a newscast beginning, "In a white church today..." What? the R word would be all over the map. Yet, believe it or not, I think Jon Stewart, of all people, got it pretty much right, we should be all more together as a country. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjzrvRKv6Ks
Maybe i could put it this way, and I know it sounds like horn-tooting, but I really dont mean it to be that;
but we have had the most WONDERFUL next door neighbors for the past 37 years. We watched their kids grow up, we've had BBQs together, we've cheer on sports teams together, yet on Sunday, they go one way, and we go another. And yes, we're white and they're black. We've both invited each other to each other's church, but we've never gone. Well, I am going to
change that, and GO. I know I'm just one person, but Jesus started with just 12. We have about 12 "reg'lars" here. If we all tried it, even just once, we may start something. OK, that's all I'm gonna say about that. May God still bless America if, as RO reminded us, "we humble ourselves and pray..."
Back to Mayberry! :)
Love ya all, prayers,
MDC
June 21, 2015 - Msg 101668: MDC, I'm not a Jon Stewart fan but I have to agree he did hit it spot on. And I do "get" what you're saying, I was not brought up that way. I was not exposed to it until I started working. I was working in the Public Housing sector so I got an education very quickly on racial differences, but I always looked at it this way, (and still do) Folks are Folks no matter what color they are. I hate the color words, white, black, yellow, red... In my opinion if you look at your color wheel we are a wide variety (mix) of colors.. From slightly beige to brown to cream so how do you define black or white? We are just "FOLKS" of planet earth!
And as Forrest Gump said: " That's all I have to say about that!".... Sooo Everyone have a blessed day and celebrate and Honor/ Remember all the Dad's out there today....

G-F...Earthling!
June 21, 2015 - Msg 101669: Happy Father's Day, all you porch dads. --Romeena
June 21, 2015 - Msg 101670: Thank you for that, MDC & G-F. We're still hurting very much here in SC,but I must tell y'all that I am so very proud of how Charleston is coming together & not letting this tragedy stir up even more hatred. I am truly blessed to have been born & raised right up the road from the Holy City.

Now,on the flip side, this white South Carolinian believes it is time for that flag (y'all know which one) to come down. Yes, there is a proud history behind it,but it has also been used to represent things that I for one,am NOT proud of. I am so sick of seeing these ignorant rednecks using it as a symbol of their hate-filled agenda!Yes,remove it from the State House grounds-put it in a museum or drape it across the Hunley or something of that nature.It just doesn't need to be flapping in our faces anymore.

Ok, climbing down from the soapbox..

I wish all of the Porch Daddys a very Happy Father's Day!

************
possum u.a.r.
June 21, 2015 - Msg 101671: Applause, applause! Good for you, Possum. This white Texas gal stands right there with you! You know we Texans consider ourselves Southerners. We're not Yankees, so I guess that makes us Southerners. (heehee) Really, I think being Southern is a state of mind, like Mayberry.

As for the flag, I agree, it no longer has a place on the flagpoles of America. There was a time when it represented much more than it does now. It represented honor and patriotism to half of our nation, and a dedication to a principle that still is true today - that of states's rights. The war was never really about slavery. Slavery was wrong then, it's wrong now, and it will forever be wrong. Left alone, slavery as it existed then would have died out pretty quickly anyway, because most people know in their hearts that it's wrong. Margaret Mitchell presented that belief in "Gone With The Wind", using Ashley Wilkes to voice it. Unfortunately, most of the flag-wavers of today have very meager knowledge of the history of the Civil War, what was behind it, what it cost in terms of lives lost, and the futility and folly of it all. No, they're mostly young rednecks who go around waving it, or wearing it on their clothing, thinking it makes them appear big and bad. They think it represents having power over lesser mortals. I think it just makes them look stupid. Grow up, people!

Sadly, we have another form of slavery in the present day, and it will only be eliminated by a major change of philosophy in this country. A very large percentage of our population is enslaved today, and they don't even know it. Slaves in the old South were totally dependent upon their masters. If he didn't provide food, they didn't eat; if no clothing or some semblance of a roof over their heads, they were helpless. We are now in about the fourth generation of modern enslavement in America, with people totally dependent on the government to provide their basic needs. If their check doesn't arrive, they'll go hungry. Or go out and hold up a store. They no longer have the incentive, and therefore the will, to provide for themselves. Something has to break, and eventually, it will.

OK, I relinquish the soapbox. Anybody else?

Blessings! --Romeena