MAY 2016

MONDAY

Today was one of those days. I had a dentist appointment but was late because I realized our goat, Bonnie, was out and I had to go looking for her before I left. Thank goodness our neighbor caught her and was bringing her home when I started looking. He probably heard me yelling for her.

After my dental appointment I had to rush home to make sure Bonnie was still in the pen. I shut the door so she couldn't escape again. I didn't have time to look for the hole in the fence. 

I ran to the electric company to pay my bill that I had forgot all about until the other night. I was happy I got it paid within the grace period and didn't owe a late fee but when I went back to my truck to leave it wouldn't start. Oh great! This day was turning out to be a doozie. I called the mechanic and then Scout and Donny, just in case I needed them later. 

I wasted about an hour trying to get my truck to start.

Donny finally told me to mash the doohickey that Scout pushed when it wouldn't start the last time. I looked around under the hood. To say I'm inept is a compliment. I took some cover off of something and then had to put it back on because I didn't see anything there to push. I finally realized the doodad was right in front of me but I couldn't reach it. No problem. I got my trusty old back scratcher I carry in my truck and used the handlike stick to push the spring a couple of times then I tried to crank my truck and, by golly, it worked! That was a relief. 

I'm just glad to finally be home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

Well, today was another day. I thought, "what the heck, I'll do some running around" clearly ignoring my precarious predicament from yesterday. I convinced my buddy, Joann, to go riding around with me and we ended up at Burger's Market in Carbondale. 

Lo and behold, the truck bowed up on me and wouldn't start. Who'd a knew? Well, we called in the cavalry and waited. It was a long hot wait. Joann and I got comfy with a sun shade and ice cold water compliments of the lady from Burger's Market. 

Joann was rescued by her friend, Nancy, who came down to Carbondale to pick Joann up. My son, Scout, came by after work to see if he could help. Nothing we did worked. He gave me the number for the wrecker service and left. 

It wasn't very long before Donny arrived from work and tried to start the truck. No such luck. We finally gave up and called Dalton Wrecker and had them haul my Ford to the mechanic in Resaca. We've become such reliable customers we've built sort of a bond. I hope he won't mind coming to get the keys to my truck in the morning when I call. Crap! I wasted a couple of hours today because I didn't take the truck to the garage the first thing today like I should have. I should have known better.

Oh lord, help me through Wednesday. It looks like it's going to be a fun-filled week.

It was the fuel pump.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Rachel, Steve, Connie, Maranda, Nita, Junior, and Madison

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

REMEMBER

RIP

Edwadene McAllister, Grampaw Carter, Ev Chastain

 Vivian

AS ALWAYS

PIO

APRIL

I love April. It's probably my favorite month. Everything starts blooming and the weather gets warmer. I can remember years ago when I got my first pair of glasses and rode around in awe looking at the flowers and trees that were in bloom. I hadn't realized how blind I was until then. 

Only one thing mars the beauty of the month. This is the month that my dear cousin, Donna, died unexpectedly 36 years ago. She was only 20 years old. I wonder what she would have been like if she was alive today. She was funny, and cute, and a great friend. We grew up together so she was almost like a sister to me. 

Donna was also very stubborn. She got mad at me one time and wouldn't talk to me. I can't remember what she was mad about but if she was around I'm sure she would remember. We lived near my grandmother's house and I would see Donna out there. She acted like I didn't exist. It really hurt my feelings and made me sad. I begged my grandmother to talk to Donna and get her to forgive me (for what I don't know) and talk to me again. Thankfully, she listened to Beulah and forgave me and we became fast friends again. 

I don't know what I would have done if she had been mad at me when she died. I don't get over things easily. Neither did she.

She was mad at her mother before she died but my aunt told me that Donna forgave her. I don't know if that was true or not because I talked to Donna on the Sunday before she died and she told me she was never going to trust her mother again. She found out her mother had been seeing her ex-husband but lied about it. Donna didn't like David. 

Donna never forgave people for lying to her. She dropped several friends she grew up with for lying to her and not taking her to Florida on vacation one year. 

After Donna died we talked about her all the time and tried to piece her last few days together. I found out her husband had been seeing another woman who had been calling Donna's house to talk to him. Donna said she could hear a baby crying in the background. She thought it was her husband's baby by the other woman.

He was a notorious liar and told some outrageous tales. He had her convinced I was chasing after him and drove a wedge between us. She should have known I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. He was young and ignorant and wanted to keep Donna away from everyone who would support her. After she died, he and his sister went to an attorney to try to get Donna's house. He also told Donna's mother that some woman was chasing him at work. He had the nerve to say that people were teasing him and would clap their hands every time he walked by. I didn't understand what she meant until she told me that he meant the guys at work were accusing him of catching the clap from that woman. He was nasty.

He told so many lies that we never did know what really happened to Donna. He said some nasty things about when the detectives interrogated him. He was one of the most disgusting people I've ever known and I can't understand why Donna put up with him. I think he played on her sympathies because he lost his father when he was young and Donna lost her father when she was little, too. She got in over her head before she realized what he was really like and never had a chance to get out of the situation.

We always wondered if he had something to do with Donna's death. There never were any definitive answers for why she died. She died in her bed and was supposedly asleep when she started convulsing and bucking in bed. Her husband said he straddled her and held her down instead of getting up and turning on the light. He didn't even call an ambulance. He called my grandmother and said Donna was dead. She ran out to my mother's house and knocked on the door. 

Momma was sitting in the den, waking up, getting ready to go to work. She said she heard Beulah moaning and yelling "Open the door. Donna's dead!"

Momma hollered for Daddy to wake up; Donna was dead. She said Daddy jumped out of bed and rushed to Donna's house before she and Beulah even got there. Donna was laying on the bed, in her jeans and shirt. Daddy leaned over her and started doing CPR on her. Momma said she was on one side of Donna's bed, rubbing her hand and calling her to wake up. She said Donna was already cold. Daddy told me later on that Donna's jaw popped when he tried to open it. He thought she had been dead for a while.

That was the most devastating and tragic thing our family had ever gone through. Donna's daddy died in a trucking accident when she was a baby and our family reeled for years from that death. Donna's death would take decades to recover from. Actually, we never completely recovered from her death. Our family split and turned against each other and has never recovered. If anybody had told me our family would have disintegrated like we did, I would never have believed them. We used to be so close I thought we were invincible. I wouldn't wish that pain on anybody.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Sanna, Patricia, Susie, Debbie, Aja, Allen, and Kathy

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Jason and Hanna, Myra and Noodie, Ann and Jim

RIP
Beulah Burchfield, Henry Cornwell, and Donna Shoates

REMEMBER
Tax Time

AS ALWAYS

PIO

MARCH

I know it's March and I know I'm getting later and later every month so don't be hating. I've been busy doing things. Yeah, that's it. I've been busy. Like today, Scout came by and helped dig up the grease trap to see what was wrong with it. 

The sink and dishwasher haven't been draining for a while. For the past three days I was flushing out the drain pipe with the water hose but the water still wasn't draining fast enough. When Scout dug up the ground around the grease trap he found the concrete pipe was broken. He finally repaired it and now everything is okey-dokey again. No wonder everything has been a mess around here.

I developed leg spasms and was so sore I could barely walk after sitting over the pipe for three days. The only bright spot was the surprise I got when I looked down between my legs one day and saw a frog staring up at me from the mud. He was probably thankful for the puddle of water accumulating over his bed. Poor thing. He didn't realize he was living in a toxic waste dump.

You should have seen the chunks of grease that I flushed out of the line. Gross! I hope I didn't grease up the little frog too bad. Maybe it will moisturize his skin. 

Poor old Don has been working seven days a week and never has time to take care of the things he usually has to do around here. He's nursing a cold right now. He's probably just run down because he never gets any rest.

Don's better off than his brother in law, Noody, is though because he got burned by a brush fire and had to go to the burn unit in Atlanta. Ouch!

I went to the doctor with Momma the other day. I'm glad we went because Momma was telling the nurse about eating collard greens to thin her blood and the nurse told her that her blood was too thick already, not too thin, and she needed to quit eating greens. They thicken the blood.

I don't know what's worse, being sick or not knowing what the heck you're doing and making things worse. We went to the Oakwood Cafe afterwards and had chicken livers. 

Donny and I got to eat at the Oakwood Cafe with Colt and Meredith and her family for dinner last week, too. We got to see Baby Alice She is such a sweet baby. We are so lucky. 

I made a road trip to Acworth last weekend to see my cousin Debbie. She is one of my favorite cousins. After tax season we're going to Character's Famous BBQ and check it out. I can hardly wait. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Heather, Jami, Dana, Mike, Mary Jane, Johnathon, Jason, Alex, Patsy, Sunshine

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

RIP

Jerry White, Debbie Chitwood, Crick Marshall, Mary Bell Carter, Evelyn Chastain, and Lela Smith

REMEMBER
Daylight Saving Time, St Patrick's Day, Spring, Palm Sunday, Easter

AS ALWAYS

PIO

FEBRUARY

Happy February. We're in a new year and spring is on the way. I looked hard today and noticed daffodils starting to bloom. It won't be long before the forsythias make a showing. We're getting plenty of rain so it should be a good year. Right now, as I look out my dining room window, it's dark outside. We're under a thundercloud. 

Today is my beloved husband's birthday. He's finally as old as me again. I happen to be a few months older than him. That's why I tell him he should defer to my wisdom, because I'm older, don't you know. He usually just lets me have my way because I'm so vocal and won't shut up.

Yesterday we took a trip to Cracker Barrel and used the gift card we got for Christmas from Katie and Scout. Donny has been nursing a cold and didn't feel very good but he enjoyed getting out and eating his favorite meal, steak and eggs.

I'm happy to report everything is going okay with everybody in the family. I've gotten to visit my granddaughter, Alice, a few times and I think she is beautiful. She has such cute little chubby cheeks.

Momma had to call a plumber out to fix her pipes under the house. It's fifty-five years old and the cast iron started to leak. She finally got that fixed so she is hunky-dory now. I hope the pipes last another fifty-five years.

I have a ton of supplies so I can start painting Colt's room. I keep saying I'm going to paint but haven't started yet. I think I need to build a fire under me. I'm just afraid that if I get started I'll want to paint the rest of the house and that's not going to happen.

Well, until next time, or until I do something outstanding, tah-tah for now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Mikki, Alicia, Brooke, Don, Douglas, Bailey

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

RIP
Delbert Callahan

AS ALWAYS

PIO

The Nursery

This month has flown by. I'm glad. The sooner spring comes, the better. I've been cleaning up Colt's room and making a nursery for the baby, Alice. Colt put up new closet doors and I bought some paint. Oh wow! I guess I'm going to have to paint soon. I'm trying to get psyched up. Lord, help me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Rhonda, Amanda, Evelyn, Ann, Frankie, Lisa, Angie, Sue, Norma, Joey, Donna, Valerie, Angela, Jacob, Bennett, Mika, Brenda, and Teresa

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Donny and Pam

RIP
Roy Burchfield, Jimmy Hutson, Sam Burchfield, Vivian Shoates, Lela Smith, Beulah Burchfield, and Roger Rowland

HAPPY NEW YEAR

AS ALWAYS

PIO

Merry Fricking Christmas

Guess what. I'm celebrating Christmas the only way I know how. I'm celebrating it alone on this quiet Christmas evening. It's been a long year and a lot has been going on. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing but it's been a long year anyway.

Me and the family celebrated in separate locations this year. That seems most appropriate, considering. I don't care really. At least we're all alive and healthy. That's a good thing. We're not all together and that's a bad thing. Maybe next year will be different. I don't know. I don't know anything any more. I used to think I knew everything. Now I don't know anything any more. Boy, time has a way of smacking you down. Doesn't it? 

The rain has  been pouring down and I'm in the middle of a flood zone. It looks like we're about to wash away. I don't care. Maybe we'll get to meet the neighbors that way.

I was hoping to see the full moon but that's not going to happen either.

Sometimes it feels like you're being betrayed by the ones you love and sometimes it seems like the only thing you can do is fight for your loved ones. This year, it's a two-fer. I guess that's all we can expect sometimes.

I have been jumping through hoops trying to take care of everybody and sometimes I forget to take care of myself. I don't know what to do. I guess I better take care of myself so I can be stronger and have a clear mind so I can take care of everybody else. 

I guess you figured out I'm feeling kind of sorry for myself this holiday season. I really shouldn't be because I've been through a lot worse in the past few years and I'm sure I can make it through this in the same way ... one step at a time and focusing on the future, whatever that may bring.

I really, really, really hate feeling sorry for myself. It's not one bit productive. I decided to take a cup of Christmas cheer and get through the holidays. Maybe that's why I'm feeling so maudlin. I don't like feeling vulnerable and I don't like feeling weak. I really, really shouldn't have had a cup of kindness this evening. Maybe I wouldn't be spilling my guts on the internet if I hadn't.

I only want to be happy and I only want my family to be happy. Is that too much to ask, I ask you? Seriously, I only want us all to be together and happy this holiday season. I'd settle for us all being happy. 

When you're feeling down face it with a frown. No, no! That's not it. 

Turn that frown upside down and face it with a grin. 

Yeah, yeah. That's it.

AS ALWAY

PIO

Meeting Alice

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!

Welcome to the world, little Alice! Isn't she incredible? She is my beautiful granddaughter. I told you I had a surprise. Now don't laugh but I think she looks like me. Just kidding. She's much, much better looking than me. Wouldn't you agree? 

We've been pretty busy this month, as you can imagine, jumping through hoops and taking care of business.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful, blessed December and get to spend plenty of time with your family and loved ones.

She's a little fighter. That's for sure.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Schylar, Katie, Scout, Amanda, Kiersten, Tony, Denise, Todd, Carmen, Andy, Noody, and Carole

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Diane and Larry

RIP
Albert T. Silvers, Edwadene McAllister, Delbert Callahan

REMEMBER

Be Nice To One Another
It's Christmas

AS ALWAYS
PIO

I'm a Caregiver

Here it is half past November and I'm falling down on the job again but I've been busy, with an excuse. Mama and Mary are sick and I have to fetch and carry for them. 

Last night Mama called me and told me she couldn't get Mary to bed. I went up there to help.

I had to call in reinforcements to help get Mary to bed. She was dead weight. She had a fever and wasn't able to walk. It scared the crap out of me so I stayed all night and I could hear Mary muttering to herself in her sleep. Today she woke up and didn't remember a thing. I don't know if we'd dosed her too much for the flu or her fever made her delirious. I only know I don't want that to happen again.

I am the 'caregiver'. I took a stupid Facebook quiz and that's what it said. I thought, "How the hell did a test know that?" I'm not a big huggy, feely kind of gal and I'm not suited for the job. In fact, I'm clueless.

For example, I took the oxygen hose in the sunroom for Mama and forgot to turn it on. She said she'd been checking her oxygen for a while and it never got out of the 80's until she figured out it wasn't turned on. Way to go, dummy! I told you I was clueless.

I hope everybody recuperates before Thanksgiving. 

I was making my dinner list when Mama called. I've decided to make a ham and turkey. We're having dinner here this year. I don't know who all will show up but I plan on making my favorite things.

Mama taught me how to make potato salad and deviled eggs years ago and everybody seems to love them. I also make some pretty good dressing. Mama usually makes giblet gravy with turkey drippings, if I ask her to.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I think I love it because of the endless supply of food and family camaraderie. 

Unlike years past, Thanksgiving is just a reminder that there is one less seat at the table again this year. Now when I see Black Friday advertisements it makes me sad. Daddy died on Black Friday but he did spend one last bittersweet Thanksgiving with us all that year.

November is a sad month but it's also a happy month. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. I can hardly wait.

BIG SURPRISE COMING SOON

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Samantha, Dawn, and Larry

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
~Mama and Daddy~

RIP
Albert Silver, Charlie McAllister, Edwadene McAllister, 
Delbert Callahan, Crick Marshall, Frances Causby, 
and Roy Burchfield

REMEMBER

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

AS ALWAYS

PIO

PBS 11-15-15 Sunday  8:10 PM EST

Buddy Killed Birdie

I've had a lovebird for a couple of years. Daddy caught it outside of his house on his air conditioning unit. I didn't want Mama to give it away when it got to be too much trouble to take care of so I brought him home with me. Scout and I were able to feed it by hand. 

After Scout and Colt didn't live here any longer the bird got real attached to me. He would fly around and land in a window and watch me fix dinner or wash dishes. He was getting friendlier and friendlier. 

The other day I had to go some place and I forgot and left Buddy in the house with the bird. It was out of his cage. When I came home that evening it took a while before I realized my little buddy, the bird, wasn't around annoying me and seeking my attention like he would usually do. I started feeling anxious and looked for him. I even went outside and whistled for him, hoping he would hear me and come to me. I knew something was wrong.

I finally found my little bird lying in the floor behind a chair. He had a gash in his chest. 

I was crushed. 

That bird was the last tangible thing I had from my father. It was my last living connection. It really hurt knowing I had lost my little bird because I was in a hurry and didn't even think about putting Buddy outside that day. It was my own fault.

I sure will miss my little friend.

Bang, Bang

The Concealed Carry Fantasy
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/opinion/the-concealed-carry-fantasy.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0 

The epidemic of gun deaths has increased drastically in the past seven years thanks to fear mongering about gun regulation and confiscations. This has been going on partly because white racists love to stir the pot and say, "They're not taking my guns!" And they're thinking, "Hell, I'll buy more guns and stockpile them in case the government comes for my guns!" Dumbasses. 

People are reporting more accidental gun deaths and injuries from concealed carriers since the craze has spread across the country. Imagine that. Gun nuts scream every time there is an incident and double down on their irrational stance against stricter gun control. What's wrong with stricter gun control? Most shooters get their hands on a gun legally. The laws are too weak. The background checks are sporadic and incomplete and too many people get their hands on guns who should never have had them.

People who are afraid of more regulation enable dangerous people to get their hands on guns, oftentimes legally. They are unwitting patsies for the gun industry. They're reacting exactly the way gun manufactures want them to and buying more guns. Hallelujah! Praise Jesus and pass the ammunition. Now we'll all be drenched in innocent blood, our own.

Americans have become such wimps since 9-1-1. The Bush administration stoked fears and revenge in our hearts. He used that fear and misdirection to lead this country into a senseless war that wreaked havoc around the world. We will probably never disengage ourselves from the Middle East. 

We won't until we're willing to think outside the box and start investing in renewable energy in our own country, and I'm not talking about coal or oil. No more fracking! Water, wind, and solar are abundant and free in America. We should utilize them all. Plus, hemp would make a cheap and renewable fuel source. There are so many more options. We must break our dependence on oil if we ever want a cleaner planet. The war was all about oil.

During Bush's presidency, The White House put out "terror alerts" and emphasized the feeling of walking on eggshells in our own country during the Iraqi invasion. The alerts were sometimes linked to intelligence information that might, or might not, be reliable. 

After coming off the roller coaster ride of the Bush administration, we haven't been subjected to daily updates and forced to live under a cloud of fear about terrorist attacks but we have been inundated with fear tactics coming from the same circles about a certain, black President, who shall remain nameless for the moment. 

Gun violence is increasing in this country and nobody can possibly feel safe when you hear about mass shootings constantly and when we hear about unarmed men being gunned down in the streets by cops. Violence and guns, or fear of guns, go hand in hand.

The whole game is rigged. Do you want to know who is behind the rigging? I'll give you a clue. Think military-industial-complex. Are you getting it? The gun manufactures are the ones who are profiting from American gun mania and they're also the ones who are financing our politicians who support them. IT'S A PROFIT THING!

The government is not going to come for your guns. That is a lie. 

They're playing you, people. Wake up!

11 Essential Facts
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/shooting-in-oregon-11-essential-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-america/ 

The real tragedy is allowing gun lobbyists and gun manufacturers to destroy our country with propaganda and lies to deceive us into buying into their fantasy. They're making a fortune and they don't care who dies. Do you?

AS ALWAYS

PIO

PBS 10-25-15 Monday 6:29 PM EDT

OCTOBER

I think I'm going to rename my blog "the once-a-month" blog. It's becoming hit or miss here lately.

Last weekend we had company and I forgot to watch the goat. Our friends, Jason and Hanna, came to visit. Their little boy and his buddy went outside to play in the backyard. 

Our goat, Bonnie, was out back and we had a barrier to keep the goat off the carport. For some stupid reason, the goat decided to get on the back porch. Buddy thinks that's his back porch. He attacked the goat and tore her nose. By the time I realized what was happening I started hitting Buddy trying to make him let go of the goat's ear. Donny and Jason were there helping get Buddy off the goat. Blood was everywhere.

Hanna and Jason helped doctor the goat. I poured peroxide on the wound and Jason put some antibiotic on it. We left it uncovered.

Scout and Katie were able to come over the next day and clean and medicate the goat. Katie packed the tear with gauze and bandaged it with duct tape. Scout has been cleaning the wound and making sure she doesn't get an infection.

Buddy has been limping around ever since he attacked the goat. I don't know if the goat got him or if he got hurt while Jason was trying to pull him off of the goat. 

Jason's smart. He had to suffocate Buddy to make him let go. I never thought of that but I have heard that if you stick your finger up a dog's butt while it's attacking it will quit. Who the hell wouldn't? I'm glad they were here to help us.

It's always something around here.

* * *

My friend, Patricia, and I went to our class reunion. It was nice but a lot more low key than parties used to be.

When I took Patricia home we sat outside and talked for a while. Her dogs were chasing rabbits. We could see Luna, her wolf, bouncing after rabbits. Luna is huge. She is bigger than my old German Shepard named Rip used to be. Luna is beautiful.

Time seems to be speeding up and I'm not good at keeping up. Thanks for hanging in there with me and following me. Sometimes it seems like I'm too busy and too, dare I say it, happy to post anything. I'm afraid of jinxing it, whatever "it" is. 

I just want to take life easy and enjoy it from now on. I seriously doubt I'll get what I want though because like Al Bundy  from MARRIED, WITH CHILDREN said when someone said a killer was in the neighborhood and somebody might break in and kill him (or something like that), "Like I'd ever get anything I wanted!" Poor Al. Sometimes I understood him too well.

Have a happy and safe Halloween and don't sacrifice any goats or start any fights. 

OUCH!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Joann, Shannon, Alesha, Lon, Layla, Matt, Devan, Michelle, Kelly, 

Debbie, Chase, Barry, Diane, and Summer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Kelly and Troy
Piette and Paul
Brittany and Corbin

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

RIP

AS ALWAYS

PIO

PBS 10-12-2015 Monday 09:30 pm EDT

September Rant

I find it disconcerting when people take such glee in cutting funding for welfare or food stamps or some other program designed to help the poor and the needy. They take delight in pointing out the abuse and corruption of the system, outing people they see driving a fancy car or wearing flashy jewelry and using food stamps or receiving government assistance. They always want to abolish the programs and strip all the entitled recipients from the program. It's always ... blah, blah, blah... "I don't want MY taxes to go to lazy people!" but you never hear about the real problem. 

The real problem is corporate welfare. We pay corporate welfare out to employees who cannot sustain a living on minimum wage and part-time jobs working for conglomerates like Walmart. We blame everything on the scuzzy bum who rips off the government while blithely sitting by watching corporations and billionaires write our laws! It's disgusting and I think it's ignorant to rant about the little things while we're getting screwed in the meantime.

I've seen random pie charts and other information about government military spending and it looks like we are wasting billions of dollars that could be used in this GD country to rebuild our infrastructure. I've been bitching about that ever since the Minnesota bridge collapse in 2007 that killed 7 people. Anyway, I appreciate visual effects so I was able to find several charts with graphics about military spending. If you get as steamed as I do about these things, it would be worth a look at America's staggering military budget

I don't care how many mamma's you know who are 'hos, or how many crack-heads who are getting a free-ride. They are not the problem. The problem is corporate manipulation and corruption in our government. Our politicians are bought and paid for. I'm not discounting the greed and corruption on either side. It's just more obvious in the Republican party because they vote for war, vigorously defend the second amendment (the right to bear arms), while supporting the death penalty all while trying to block women's access to healthcare and trying to prevent abortions, and deny veterans benefits.

People haven't woken up and realized the Republicans have corporations hands so far up their butts that if you look real hard you might see it when they open their big fat mouths and spew their hate and disdain for the unwashed masses.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and announce who I believe is the best and only candidate at this time. I've always been fiercely democratic, ever since the time I was duped by Richard Nixon when he promised to get our troops out of Viet Nam. I think that was the most powerful campaign promise he made. The only problem with that was that it took too long to finally get out of Nam. After that, I looked at all politicians with a jaundiced eye. That's the last time I supported a Republican.

This time we are having a peculiar race for president, to say the least. The top runner in the "clown car" is Donald Trump. He is not a politician. Let me repeat, he is not a politician. He's just a glorified personality who became famous for his bloviating bluster and nonsensical remarks. I really don't like the Donald. Can you tell? Anyway, he's blown Jeb Bush out of the water and only has Ben "I am Black" Carson, and Carlie "I destroyed HP" Fiorino as close contenders. Oh, will the wonder never cease on the right? They pull out a lot of millionaires and self-serving windbags every election cycle. I'm still waiting for a Bush uprising. The Koch brother's pet project, Scott Walker, just dropped out of the race along with Rich Perry who withdrew recently.

On the left it's been pretty quiet, at least according to the media. Hillary has kept her head down watching the clowns on the right, awaiting her time in the sun. So far on the left she really doesn't have any impressive competitors except for one lone socialist Jew named Bernie Sanders. 

We need some good old fashion debates with the democratic candidates so all of America can become familiar with the potential contenders. Everyone knows about Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and former first lady and wife of Bill Clinton. Her reputation precedes her and you either like her or hate her but either way you know about her. I know nearly nothing about Lincoln Chafee, Lawrence Lessig, Martin O'Malley, or Jim Webb. I haven't ever heard of Jill, Stein, a third party candidate.

I've lived long enough, it would be nice to see a woman president and if any candidate was qualified it would be Hillary Clinton, but if push comes to shove and the democrats get behind Bernie Sanders, I won't hesitate to vote for him. I adore him. He speaks from the heart and he isn't bought and paid for. He's not in the pocket of big business or OPEC. As far as I can tell, he's his own man and he has always supported the poor and middle class and the working men and women in his 30 years in government.

Bernie Sanders is the only one not waffling back and forth on the Keystone Pipeline and fracking. He believes every American should have single payer insurance and free education. That is an incredible dream, if you ask me. I never thought we would have ACA but Obama did it and now that he has laid the groundwork the right president can expand on that and improve it. But no president can make the kind of changes needed until we have congressmen and senators who are willing to work for the people and with the president to guarantee us all a better and brighter future.

I'm not asking you to vote for Bernie Sanders but I am asking you to research him and his ideas and see if his economic programs and social justice compare to your own. I am asking you to register to vote (you know who you are) and be sure to research and vote for the candidate that will do all they can in their power to create a society that doesn't exclude the needy and the infirm and works for your better good.

We're at a time in our lives when we have access to more information than ever before but we tend to cluster in groups of our peers and listen to the fear and misinformation shared among us. We think Big Government Is Bad and No Government Is Better. Wrong! Without government oversight we might all be eating asses and eardrums in our sausages. Without government oversight thieves will try to manipulate the system to assuage their own greed at the detriment of the masses. Anybody remember the Mad Cow scare? Have you ever wondered if it's getting in our food supply today? We don't have enough food  inspectors now. How bad will it get when there is no government oversight. Instead of cutting protective agencies, we should be expanding them. Any fool can see that.

I want my children and my grandchildren to live in a world with clean air and water and safe food, not GMO (genetically modified organisms) and earthquakes and polluted groundwater because of fracking.

I want my family to live in peace and not have to worry about terrorists and mass shootings in America. I want better for the future. Not crap. Not the shit the sharks on the right are shoveling.

I guess that's all I have to say about that right now. 

AS ALWAYS

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SEPTEMBER

It's fall around here, people. Summer's slipping away. I'm glad Donny and I got to take a vacation before the weather turned cooler. We took a road trip to Panama City Beach. Our friend, Joann, went with us. We shared a condominium on the twenty second floor. I had vertigo until I got used to looking down. It was worth it though because we had a spectacular view.

We haven't been on vacation for about ten years. It was perfect. The weather was warm but not scorching hot and there were a few tourists but not enough to overcrowd you.

We saw sea turtles swimming in a line near the shore one day and Joann swore there were whales in the ocean. Huge dark shadows floated underneath the water. We could see for miles. 

The earth really does curve when you can see the horizon but the most awesome optical illusion was looking at the sea and getting the impression that the water rose above the land and was as high at the balcony. I think I spent a large part of vacation imagining disasters. Jaws, tsunami, Cast Away. You get the drift.

The last time we went to Panama City the boys were little and we went during a hurricane. I didn't want to do like we did before and turn around and drive back home. Although the weather channels were predicting a storm we lucked out and it was partially cloudy but otherwise mostly clear weather. I thought vacation was perfect.

We went to Captain Jack's for an all you can eat seafood buffet one night. Joann hates seafood but she was a good sport and came with us. Donny and I scarfed down crab legs and shrimp until we nearly burst. Well, I did, anyway. I love crab legs but I wonder who looked at those ugly creatures and thought "Hey, I bet those would taste great steamed and dipped in garlic and butter." Thumbs up, to them. Joann dared me not to squirt her with crab juice. She didn't want to smell like a fish. She cracks me up.

When we came back home, Donny had an appointment to see one of his heart doctor's. They checked Donny's defibrillator and said he was doing great. I am so proud of Donny. He is amazing for a man who had a quadruple bypass. He deserved a vacation. Bless his heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Butch, Katy, Kim, Susan, Carol, Larry, Corbin, Gail, Melissa, Melody, Erin, Emily, Debbie, and Jesse

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Resaca Rose

RIP

Gary McNamer, Robert Burchfield, Jack Rat

REMEMBER
Labor Day, Rosh Hashanah, Autumn

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PBS 9-14-15 Monday 10:15 pm EDT

Wreck in Dug Gap

You may remember when Mamma's mailbox got squashed after Daddy passed away. Well, it happened again. What the heck is going on with people? The driver knocked down sixty feet of cedar fence and two mailboxes on Dug Gap Road.

It's always something!

I thought I'd post pictures of this wreck because I got some negative feedback from the last wreck I posted. I am an equal opportunity offender. 

I, personally, find it offensive when people wreck in front of our houses. I especially dislike when someone squashes our mailbox or destroys our property. Daddy put the cedar fence in front of his house. A distracted, pregnant woman ran over it and wiped it out. That is one more thing we have lost since my father died. 

I don't know about you but I have had a shitty couple of years and I am only now beginning to feel normal most of the time. I still break down sometimes and think about everything. It is so personal and such a mystery how a person reacts to grief. Sometimes people act brave and carry on. Sometimes it takes time, lots of time, to let go of the pain. We were like that when we lost my cousin. The whole family reeled from shock. Some people never got over the loss but time marches on and we eventually learned to deal with it. 

Right now I am thinking about all the tests the doctors put Daddy through which eventually led to his demise. He had a bad heart and was on blood thinners but started passing clots. Everything combined against him. The invasive exploratories exacerbated his condition and the doctors gave up.

I have my own pain and I am not the kind of person who wants to cause pain for others. I did not mean to disrespect the driver and I really didn't think I had the right to even mention she was a woman because I didn't want anyone to make a smart ass comment about women drivers. I didn't want to say anything about the person because I knew the wreck was bad and they were very, very lucky to be alive. Since I didn't see a soul around who looked like they knew the driver I didn't ask the firemen or Georgia Patrol for the driver's name. It wasn't any of my business. I only wanted to post a story on my blog about another wreck in Resaca. 

Thank God the lady is alive and obviously improving. Thank God she has loyal family and friends who support her and want to protect her. Don't be hating. Count your blessings because none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

 Peace

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updated
PBS 9-10-2015 11:50 pm edt

Road Trip

Donny and I took a road trip to Tellus Science Museum located in Cartersville, Georgia off I-75 this week. It was awesome. They have antique motorcycles, cars, and an authentic reproduction of the Wright brother's airplane. There were huge dinosaur exhibits and geodes of all colors and shapes that were absolutely stunning. You can go fossil hunting or pan for minerals. Children love it. 

Tellus is affiliated with the Smithsonian. If you ever get a chance to visit, you should go.

Thanks to Donny Strickland for the photos.

AS ALWAYS

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PBS 8-14-15 Friday 10:25 PM EDT