The "H"

Mother Nature has certainly messed with us this week. The weather has been absolutely wonderful. It makes it hard to go back to work after lunch with the temps in the 80s.

I drove by the high school during lunch on Wednesday and it struck me odd that there were no students lingering around the "H". For those of you who attended JHS you know exactly what I'm talking about. We whiled away the majority of our lunch break at the "H". Freshmen tended to hang out around the "J" but I don't recall anybody hanging around the "S". Guess I was just too busy at the "H".

I was a country kid so I ate lunch at the cafeteria well into my sophomore year. Mama would let me eat at The Little Store once in a while where $1.50 bought a burrito, a soda and a package of Fun Dip. Remember those? Red sugar powder in one pouch and purple in the other one. And a funky looking white dip stick that you used as a spoon. Can you say "sugar overload"? Never leaving campus ensured a good butt-parking spot on the "H". The best spot was where you could sit and lean against the pecan tree.

I have fond memories of hanging out with my friends and fellow classmates as we waited for the 5th period bell to signal our return to class. "Hazing" wasn't a big deal during my tenure at JHS. But every once in a while we would be entertained by an upper classman excercising the right to pick on an under classman. I can't remember who it was but one poor freshman had to push a penny with his nose along the sidewalk. It wasn't in us to be cruel so the pranks were relatively harmless. I think the majority of pranks took place during the athletic class. Dodgeball was the worst game of all when the upper classmen ganged up on a freshman or sophomore. It was survival of the fittest!

I don't think I've seen anything akin to our "J", "H" and "S" at any other school. It was sad to see the concrete benches empty when I drove by the school. But it was nice to go down memory lane if only for a few minutes.

Can't quite put my finger on it....

I hope waking up and thinking it is Friday and it is only Thursday doesn't set the tone for the day. I've been feeling out of sorts for a couple of months but the symptons have become more prominent in the past week. I'm not in a foul mood but I am defensive, irritable and the feelings are on the shirt sleeve. NOT.GOOD.

I tend to be a "giver". Always have been. HOWEVER, I've wanted to be selfish lately. Don't get me wrong --- I try my best to be thankful for everything that everybody does for me. On the flip side, if I have to prompt a "thank you" or "you are appreciated" out of someone, screw it. I just went through that a couple of weeks ago. I used to not be this way. Maybe I'm changing -- good change or bad change? I don't know. It's like I am waiting for the meltdown to begin. Call it menopause or call it just being a bitch --- I believe either word is descriptive enough.

I'm probably not a lot of fun to be around during this transition. And whether or not I'll come out of this smelling like a rose remains to be seen. And I'm not real sure I want to apologize for it. I've been apologizing all of my life for shit that usually wasn't even my fault. (See, there's that defense mechanism working.) The anxiety attack I had at 1:41am on Wednesday hasn't helped matters. I would've called 911 had I not known what was happening to me.

I believe the best option is to relocate to a deserted island until this (whatever "this" is) blows over. Sigh, reality check. I will deal with it the way I always deal with stuff. Take a deep breath, exhale and say, "Bring it on!"

Politics - yuk!

There's a new sheriff in town. Little Town has been buzzing since the resignation of the last sheriff. Nothing like politics to stir up a community.

So I'm jamming to "Photograph" by Def Leppard and working on a title run for an unplatted subdivision in a neighboring county. I'd like to be an ostrich and just stick my head in the ground when it comes to politics. But I reckon that is part of the reason why our nation is as screwed up as it currently is. Too many people with their heads in the sand....or maybe up their butts.

I should've been born 150 years ago when the policy was if they are guilty, hang 'em. And what happened to the barter system? You know, I'll trade you two blankets, a jug of moonshine and a tin of sugar for a dozen eggs and a goat. Wishful thinking - I can wish in one hand and $H%* in the other and see which hand fills up quicker.

It's time to head to the river, breathe some fresh air and be thankful for what I have and not worry about what I don't have. This plan always works better when accompanied by some cold beer and a good book. And I will NOT let the thought of politics ruin the moment for me.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day circa 1971. A week or so before Valentine's Day, the teacher told our class to bring a shoebox from home to be decorated for Valentine's Day. The object was to decorate your shoebox with red, pink and white construction paper. We would very carefully cut out hearts and glue them to the box. Sometimes it was just easier to draw the hearts on the box than cut them out of the paper. Forget "safety scissors", we had the really, really sharp ones that could draw blood if you weren't careful. And there's always the kid who ate more paste than applied it to the paper and shoebox. I think he did that just to gross out the rest of us. The teacher would cut a slot in the lid of the shoebox. This was so your fellow classmates could put Valentines in your "mailbox" on the day of the party.

The teacher sent a list home with us that listed each classmate's name. Mama took me to the store to purchase my Valentine cards. I don't remember too much about the actual Valentine cards other than they were very small and it was difficult for a first grader to write on the back of the cards. And it was taboo to give a card with the word LOVE on it to a guy that would take it the wrong way. So after carefully selecting which card to give which classmate, I set to work on personalizing each one of them. A fellow classmate told me years later that he kept the Valentine I gave to him simply because I wrote on the back: "TO FROBIN". I guess I got so involved in writing "TO" and "FROM" that I kept on going with my name after the "RO".

On the day of the party, each student took his or her turn and delivered Valentines to the appropriate mailboxs. And the magic moment came when we ate heart-shaped sugar cookies and drank Hawaiian Punch and opened our mailboxes. It came as no surprise when I received a card that stated "LOVE IS IN THE AIR, VALENTINE" and it was from the paste-eating kid.

Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Friday morning found me on the road heading to Waco. It has been a month since I've seen my little chick-a-dee. The weather was absolutely gorgeous yesterday!! After grabbing a bite to eat, Kris and I strolled around the BU campus. We found ourselves standing in front of the Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning Library.

WOW! Talk about stepping back in time. We were both overcome with awe and wonder as we meandered through the rooms that now house personal belongings from the Browning household. Books, books and more books! There is a tea basket with two cups and saucers, the tea/suger holder and the small pot used for boiling the water. Rings, hair pins, hair barettes and a snuff tin. (I had to explain that one to Kris.) One room was designed to replicate Elizabeth's salon. The woman had to be very, very petite because the chair she sat upon while at her desk would break under a normal person's weight. The legs are pencil thin!!

Kris showed me the "Great Hall" from the which the "Ball Room" was designed in the Walt Disney movie "Beauty and the Beast". Stained glass windows adorn every outer wall of the library. And I'm talking HUGE windows from ceiling to floor in the Great Hall. The domed ceiling looked like it was covered in velvet. There are some pieces of furniture throughout the library that I didn't recognize but hope that my mother can help identify based on my descriptions. I couldn't take any pictures because the sign was posted "NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY INSIDE THIS BUILDING". It was too dark inside to have bothered with the camera.

And although I don't consider myself to be sophisticated enough to fully appreciate museums, I do appreciate the time and effort it took to gather and preserve the items belonging to the Brownings. The majority of items were donated to BU from either descendents of the Brownings or people who had somehow acquired the items through the years.

I wasn't inspired to run out and read poetry but felt humbled after glimpsing a personal side of two of the better known authors in poetry history. What a different world they lived in. I can only imagine the circle of society they belonged to. And for the record, Elizabeth was six years older than Robert. And that is your trivia for the day.

Dentist

PRAISE THE LORD! My dentist has come out of retirement!!! I don't dare allow for the last time I went to the dentist. I am bracing myself for the lecture tomorrow because he was the last dentist to see me.

I.DO.NOT.ENJOY.GOING.TO.THE.DENTIST. But it is one of those health issues we need to tend to. And my dentist is very gentle when he cleans my teeth. I have been to other dentists and left feeling like half my gums had been ripped out. It felt like my teeth had been flossed with a piece of barbed wire.

So although I do not look forward to the actual cleansing of my teeth, I am happy that my favorite dentist will be the one tending to the job. Bless his heart.......

Insurance Update

When I contacted Mr. Elderly's insurance agent in Atlanta, GA, I was told that his policy had been cancelled in December, 2008. And that's how my Monday morning started.

After some Little Town sleuthing, I discovered that Mr. Elderly has insurance coverage with a local carrier instead of in Atlanta, GA. So things are beginning to look up. The adjuster contacted me this morning and will inspect my vehicle tomorrow. I am currently borrowing Sam's new pickup. Poor guy -- he can't catch a break with this new vehicle. Every time he turns around I seem to need to borrow it for some reason or another.

I was getting a little too relaxed with not buckling up while driving in town but I'm here to tell you that I'm back on track since I got bumped last Friday. The Corner Store is only five or six blocks from my house and I am notorious for not fastening my seatbelt going either direction. The store owner actually reminded me to buckle up before I drove off. Guess I owe her a huge "thank you" the next time I see her. Not that my accident was life threatening but I'd like to think that the seatbelt helped prevent any major injuries that could've happened otherwise.

Is it only Tuesday?!

Running the Stop Sign

Friday afternoon at the office was a tangled mess so at 4pm my boss said, "Let's call it a week and go home early today." No argument from me.

I be-bopped to the corner store to pick up a six-pack of Coors Light and was looking forward to a cold one later in the evening. As I eased through the intersection of Old US 377 South and 20th Street, an elderly gentleman to my right never saw his stop sign. As I looked over I could see him drinking from a travel mug. At the moment of contact, coffee went all over his windshield. And my six-pack of beer slammed into the floorboard.

My immediate reaction was, "DAMN!" I utlilized my cell phone and asked the dispatcher to send a law officer to our location. Called Sam and then called the local Chevorlet House to send a wrecker for my vehicle. The elderly gentleman was a little rattled when we met outside our vehicles. He told me, "M'am, you never stopped." I told him, "No, sir, because YOU have the stop sign." I pointed out the sign to him and he mumbled, "Oh, no."

The law officer showed up and asked me what happened. "I was driving through the intersection and his vehicle hit my vehicle." The officer asked the elderly gentleman what happened. "I was drinking my coffee, looked up and she was in my way." Welcome to Little Town investigations. Insurance information was exchanged, blah, blah, blah. Mr. Elderly's pickup damage consisted of a busted headlight and a barely dented front bumper. Either he isn't from this area or he hasn't been here very long because his pickup does not sport a grill guard.

Initial assessment of my vehicle at the body shop is a damaged front passenger door, damaged passenger front quarter panel, bent control arm to the right front wheel, damaged wheel/rim, and possible bent frame. Oh and Mr. Elderly's insurance company is out of Atlanta, GA. I'll deal with all that crap on Monday. I am sporting some bumps and bruises and a little soreness but nothing worth crying about. And for the record: EVERY SINGLE BEER IN THE SIX PACK SURVIVED! Needless to say, I did consume a couple of them once I got settled at home.

Another Armadillo

Son of a bitch! I discovered new and improved trenches in my backyard today at lunch. I don't guess the armadillo guilty of the digging has heard about what happened to Anson. I suspect this armadillo is much larger because the holes are wider and deeper. Damn, damn, damn!

Let's just hope this one is stupid enough to show its ugly self in the light of day. Time to reload the .22 so I don't get caught off balance when the armadillo crosses my path. Stupid armadillos.

Back to Being Undecided

In visiting with Kris last night, she has decided to punt on the nursing major. She is back to "undecided" and has a meeting with an advisor this afternoon. I just go along with whatever degree Kris wants to work towards and hope that she'll be happy with the final outcome.

Most people will tell you that it's okay to be undecided the first year and maybe second year of college and just work on basic classes. HOWEVER, Kris took her basic college classes during high school (dual credit) and really needs to find her niche before spending more money on classes that will not be applied towards her degree. She will probably end up taking some summer classes to stay on track once she decides what major she is going to pursue.

Kris' health is getting back on track after a round of walking pneumonia and then the stomach flu. She is now working with elementary kids twice a week at a local middle school. The leadership program Kris is in requires a certain amount of community service hours so Kris elected an after-school program. The request from the middle school is that she attend one afternoon session a week. She volunteered for twice a week. The after-school program is set up for college kids to be mentors to kids who need tutoring or just someone to talk to. Kris is working with a group of 3rd grade girls on Mondays and a group of 4th grade girls on Thursdays. I don't know who looks forward more to the sessions --- Kris or the kids.

I look forward to our evening phone visit to hear what her advisor has suggested in the major/minor department. So long as Kris doesn't have to take any more Spanish courses she will be as happy as a pig in mud.

Laurrie

Yesterday I had the most delightful lunch with my friend, Laurrie. We giggled and whispered like two teenage girls for the better part of our lunch hour. Sharlotte was supposed to meet us but she had to make a trip to ASU to check on her chick-a-dee who was battling the stomach flu.

Laurrie and I shared the same neighborhood until my family moved to the ranch. I remember looking up to Laurrie throughout school. (She was ahead of me in school and probably thought of me as one of the "little kids".) And then we move on through life and come full circle. Bill, Laurrie and Bob's son, is the same age as Kris. Bill and Kris began kindergarten together and both graduated from JHS in 2008.

Laurrie is a workhorse. She doesn't mind rolling up her sleeves when it comes to getting the job done. We worked closely together during the kids' high school years. Fundraisers for the Prom and for Project Graduation were very time consuming. We pulled in another parent, Sharlotte (another one of my life-long friends), to help us stay organized. Other parents would contribute here and there but the three of us made things happen. And although it was work, I thoroughly enjoyed working with both ladies.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be friends with Laurrie. I enjoy spending time with her and our visits are always too short. I tend to show up at the warehouse either when 1) it is extremely busy or 2) Laurrie is holding the fort down by herself. But Laurrie always takes time to make time so we can share a laugh or two. Thank you, Laurrie, for being my friend! I look forward to many more years of lunches and laughs with you!

Studying is for the birds....

Back in 2005, I was employed by a local insurance business. One of the requirements was to secure an Insurance Representative license. First things first, a co-worker and I signed up for the wrong test. We inadvertently signed up for a P & C Insurance Agent test which is a couple of steps above an IR license. You have to score a 70 or better to pass. I made a 68 on the first attempt. Needless to say, I passed the test the second time. It wasn't until after we received our licenses in the mail that we realized we took the wrong test. Not that it was wrong....it just wasn't what our employer wanted us to do.

The license is good for two years and within that two years you have to secure 30 hours of continuing education to keep the license. I am no longer in the personal and commerical insurance business but I need to keep the license "just in case" the economy shifts again and I'm looking for a new job. And I worked/studied too damn hard to pass the test to begin with. My current license expires in April, 2009. So I signed up for 30 hours of online-studying. The good news is that I can go along at my own pace and I have to correctly answer five questions at the end of each lesson in order to advance to the next lesson. And so on and so forth. The bad news is that I've put myself into a time crunch to get the 30 hours completed and reported to the Texas Department of Insurance before April 29, 2009. Two and half months may sound like a long time but not in my world.

As tempting as it may sound, I don't think it would be a good idea to consume alcohol while trying to complete the online courses.....

Trip to the Vet

It was time for Daisy Duke and Simba to get their annual checkups with the vet. I use a small animal doctor in a neighboring town which just happens to one of Little Town's biggest rivals in district sports. (Especially football!)

Coaxing my cats into the carriers is no easy chore. I waited until early Monday morning to set out the carriers by the front door. The Gray Cat was the first to notice the carriers. His memory is more clear about the function of the carriers than Daisy and Simba because he's had more trips to the vet. Simba sniffed and went on eat his groceries. Same with Daisy. I wasn't thinking about the cats getting car sick or I would've waited on feeding them.

I utilized the element of surprise on both cats. Simba was slumbering in his usual spot on my rocking chair. I scooped him up and got him stuffed in a carrier before he really knew what was going on. Daisy was taking her morning nap on Kris' bed and I attempted the same tactic with her. She came to her senses and locked her back feet down as I was trying to keep from getting scratched. An extra push and shove and I had her locked in her carrier. And then the crying began. Simba doesn't make much noise but he was letting me know just how unhappy he was. Daisy yowls all the time but her bitching was tenfold as soon as I latched the carrier door.

It is a 45 minute drive one-way to the vet clinic. I managed to fit both carriers in the passenger seat so we could all see each other. Simba settled down after the first 15 miles. Daisy cried until I got her inside the clinic. Both cats continued to glare at me through the little peep holes of the carriers. Both cats received a clean bill of health for the most part. Simba weighs 12 pounds and Daisy is a petit 10 pounds. (yeah, my cats are fluffy like me.) Daisy has a slight heart murmer but nothing to be alarmed about. It's amazing how a complete stranger can handle the cats with such ease. They both went right back into their carriers with nary a hiss or bitching comment.

Loaded them back up and headed to Little Town. Daisy cried for another 10 minutes and finally settled down. Simba ended up taking a siesta until I stopped at the light by the stockyards. Both began yowling again just a few minutes from the house. I released Simba to his backyard kingdom. Inside the house, Daisy raced out of her carrier and under my bed. Gray Cat met us at the door with a look that said, "Sooo glad to see you but soooo glad I wasn't crammed into one of those little hell boxes."

Neither cat got car sick nor did they much enjoy listening to the Blue Collar Comedy channel. Simba was waiting for me at the end of the day for his supper. Daisy emerged from under my bed and gave me that "I hate you" look. Simba ended up staying inside all night which is unusual until I realized that he was having a reaction to the shots. He's fine this morning and I believe I have been forgiven for being such an evil caretaker of the felines. Little does Gray Cat realize that it will be his turn to see Dr. Dave in a couple of months. And loading his fluffy ass in the cat carrier will be a challenge.

Super Bowl? Not.

No. I did not watch the Super Bowl football game. I enjoy high school football and will even watch a few minutes of college football but pro ball doesn't interest me at all. Overall I'd rather watch something else or read a good book.

My neighbors on the hill had a Super Bowl Party. The guests started arriving right after church. I could smell the food on the grill and hear folks laughing and overall having a darn good time hours before the game actually began.

The last Super Bowl party I remember going to was back when the Denver Broncos played somebody. I was in the sixth or seventh grade and was put in charge of watching all the little kids while the adults commenced to eat, drink and be merry. I vaguely remember t-shirts being handed out that said something about "Orange Crush".

Grandmom enjoys watching football. That is the only reason she bought a satellite dish that is the size of a small country. She would put the television on mute during the games because she couldn't stand to listen to the commentators. John Madden, in particular.

Most of us have four seasons in our lives: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. For those of you who are sports freaks, you have football season, basketball season, baseball season and so on and so forth. If you want to win at Sports Trivia, don't ask me to be your partner.