Story Tellin n Recipe Sharin Time!!

I'm always amazed at the little things that jog my memory. This morning I was going through my usual thursday ritual of gathering garbage for the trash man, when I spotted THIS wonderful creature!! A Cicada in the process of shedding its exoskeleton. Since we installed the cat doors..... our silly cats have been bringing them in on a daily basis. This creates a much more shocking incident when I step on one of them instead of their usual gifts of dead mice or pens. For some reason they don't feel the need to kill the Cicada, so when I get to it.... it just goes off terrified like. This one might actually survive if he moves very slowly once he's done shedding. Some of you have heard this story, but if not, you have to promise not to rib Steve TOO much about it. Four years ago, was the year of the 17 yr Cicadas. Remember how many there were and how loud they were? Well it was also the same time our grandson was born and of course we went downcounty to be there. We had left at 2am and in a hurry because babies don't wait. On our way home however, we stopped in DC at Craig and Richards. We were tired and in serious need of showers. Well, rested and showered we ordered from a little chinese place around the corner and I offered to go pick it up. The two blocks I had to walk was like maneuvering a minefield, and the mines were Cicadas. Now, I got the food.... actually it was two bags of food and one bag of condiments etc.... On the way back I don't know what overcame me, but I just chuckled when I thought how funny it would be since the Cicadas were everywhere and even in the news, that should one be in the condiment bag it would make for a funny moment. Oh Dear God...... LOLOLOL.... I set the bags on the dining room table. I got my food out and a fork and sat on the sofa to watch the show... LOLOL..... I'm laughing my butt off now just remembering the screams!!! Now Steve and Craig and Richard are FAR from being big ole girls.... but add one unhappy cicada to a bag of duck sauce and just watch!!! Steve reached in first.... I'm not sure what it was that he was fishing for, but when that bug fluttered and hit his hand he pulled it out and flung it back so hard he smacked his own ass. Not to mention the SCREAM.... this sent Craig into a frenzy and running for the door. Poor Richard was up in the corner trying to climb through the window. None of them knew what the hell was happening. All steve could say was BUG ... ROACH... CLAWS... pointing to the bag the whole time. By now they've all realized it was ME. I'm on the floor crying, because it hurts to laugh anymore!!!! LOLOLOL. OH CHRIST>!!! I pulled the poor little Cicada out of the bag and promptly disposed of him. I don't really remember the rest of the day, because that much laughing makes me light-headed!! :) All I can recall was Craig saying I was WRONG.... Richard just kept Glaring at me and Steve said something about some bad experience he had in a cafeteria being relived. They all agreed that I should be made suffer!!! LOLOL. Anyhow, it's funny how little things can bring back such happy memories... LOL!! When we were kids we used to spend hours with a stick knocking Cicada sheds off the trees so we could wear them on our shirts. We didn't call them Cicadas though, we called them Che-ches.... not sure why... maybe it had something to do with the noise they made. On a different note.... our pear tree is loaded again this year. Apparently it was warm enough for bees when it blossomed. Last year it was so cold when the tree bloomed it didn't get pollinated and had about 4 pears. I can't wait to try my Gluten Free recipe for a Pear Tart!!! Cicadas and pears... a weird combination on a blahg. I guess they both come with good memories and warm fuzzies. Down county was full of that. Growing up we harvested every imaginable fruit. Pears were the one thing we were told to eat and eat all of them. The first pear preserves I remember eating at home were the ones I made. Not sure why they got left out... maybe it was just too much for my Mom. After canning the entire garden maybe pear preserves was a decadent delicacy and just not necessary. It's no problem for me to can a dozen jars or more. I love me some pears!! I hear tell Cicadas are good eatin too!!

Soft-Shelled Cicadas Ingredients: 1 cup Worcestershire sauce 60 freshly emerged 17 year cicadas 4 eggs, beaten 3 cups flour Salt and pepper to season flour 1 cup corn oil or slightly salted butter Directions: Marinate cicadas, alive in a sealed container, in Worcestershire sauce for several hours.* Dip them, in beaten egg, roll them in the seasoned flour and then gently saute them until they are golden brown. Yield: 4 main dish servings *this step may be skipped and you may go directly to the egg step instead.

Out Without Fear

Against our better judgement we agreed to go with our friends Chuck and Brandon to this years Gay Pride in Harrisburg PA. Not that we have anything against Harrisburg.... it just happens to be in PA and well ..... not our favorite state. Saturday morning came way too early... we got up, got ready, pulled all the windows and doors off the jeep, snatched JR out of bed and off we went. Unfortunately Brandon wouldn't be joining us because his dad was undergoing Gall Bladder surgery the same day, so it would just be Chuck. We stopped off in Greencastle, picked up Chuck and continued north. JR had asked me earlier, while we were getting gas, if this guy Chuck was a little guy or a big guy.... I asked what he meant big or little and he said little like ME or big like you and Doc. I told him big like Doc. He seemed ok with it, but something was on his mind. Anyhow, Chuck turned out to be a big hit with JR. By the time we got to Harrisburg.... they were best buds and JR insisted on taking chucks hand instead of mine when we got out of the Jeep. Now, I had only glanced at a map before we left so I really didn't know exactly how to get there. I knew if I took the first exit across the Susquehana River we wouldn't be too far from where we needed to end up. We took that exit..... a few traffic detours later we were in a line of rainbow covered vehicles complete with shrieking girls of both genders. I KNEW we were there when around this one bend in the road stood some Simple Christian Woman in her prairie dress and hair sock wearing a sign about her neck that said... "This way to Hell -> " complete with an arrow. We laughed and thanked her for the directions as we passed. I never heard a single word from her mouth and that's probably because her husband doesn't allow her to speak. He was standing further away from the traffic, on the sidewalk where it was safer, screaming obscenities at the passing cars. His ensemble was complete with bible and poster that read, "Repent Toward God". What I want to know is why did she have to stand in the hot sun right beside the road while HE got to stand in the shade, behind the safe guard rail? Was she really THAT simple? Was he really THAT dominant over her? Go Figure!! It doesn't really matter... they were both across the street from about 25 port o jons. Their type of behavior doesn't even shock me anymore. It's really just a pity that they allow religion to make them so mean. Their entire life of hatred is based on a belief system that has not one factual event to back it up. Get a spine people.... learn how to stand strong without your god and I might one day stop and listen to your dribble. So we park, for free, and were only like 3 minutes from the gate into the park... WOOHOO!!!! Then we pass this moron. Chuck was walking with JR holding his hand and "stupid-shit" says to them... "I hope your son doesn't turn out like you" . I almost popped him. Spew all the garbage you want at me because I'm so jaded nothing you could say or do would ever really bother me, but direct your piece of shit mouth to my grandson and you're mine. No lawman can help you after that. So, in the spirit of gay happiness, I simply informed him that he was MY GRANDSON and he was fucking EXACTLY like me. Then the little hatemonger started screaming all this pedophile crap like some sort of looped recording. Who prepares these dumb asses for their protests? I really need to get a video together.

"Just $19.95 and you too can become a hate filled christian. Learn the latest statistics and know exactly what to say to provoke even the most jaded of homosexuals."

I could probably retire before the idiots realized who they were buying the video from. Hmmmm?? I took his picture because one day when he wins the Darwin Award I'll be able to say I knew him when....... Most of our day was spent walking. I'm sure the river park is beautiful, but today it was littered with vendor tents and a couple thousand Pride participants. We ate some food, we ate some good ice cream, we ran into some old friends.... now when I say old... it' doesn't necessarily mean we've know them a long time!!! There was eye candy and there were eye sores. Overall the entire day never really got to any kind of party pitch. I guess it was more about being Gay in public for most of them. Out without Fear.... no need to look over your shoulder for a bat or a gun coming at you. I'm glad Chuck asked us to go. We did have a fun time and although I'm sure JR will only remember bits and pieces of the day, at least he's been exposed to another aspect of our culture. This is something I never got to do with my own three kids. Unfortunately Fathers Day was DC's Gay Pride and my Ex wife always felt it necessary to keep my children from me on that day. Steve never said anything, but here you can see the look on his face while watching the protest outside the gate. My opinion is this.... I'd rather them spew it out than keep it inside. It's the quiet haters that are the most dangerous. Fooling the world into seeing them as pious responsible community leaders, only to be hoisted into positions of power. These are the ones we need destroyed. Fortunately for us, give them enough rope and they inevitably do it themselves, but usually after so much damage has already taken place. This world through the eyes of a child is a bright wondrous world. We try to teach them right from wrong, and the older they get the more conflict they'll have with that. At least we can try to protect them from hatred. They can make their own decisions when they get old enough. Teach them to believe what they want, but that it's not OK to hate or to judge. Gay Pride, Harrisburg PA, 2008!! Will we choose to remember it for all the food and the marching band from DC and the free pencils and the colorfully dressed drag queens????? Or will we forever question why we didn't kick some stupid christian butt. JR didn't know who those protesters were or that they were even protesting. I'm sure he thought they were part of the event and he was right. They were a part of it. Without the acknowledgement we couldn't be as empowered as we were. Actually that's not true. We don't need them to know we have the right to celebrate. When are the straight people going to have their pride day?? Enough about Gay anything..... This is the first time we've been to a Gay event in years and I remember now why we stopped going. Too much drama!! Now it's the end of another week with JR. His mom n dad are here for him and he'll be going back home. As much fun as it is having him here, it still turns my routine around a little. Now I need to concentrate on getting my self back into summer mode. There are projects that need completing and projects that need starting. Next weekend we actually have NO COMPANY for the first time in awhile. Don't get me wrong.... we love the company we've had....... for the past two months, and I'm not sure what we'll do next weekend, but I guarantee you one thing... it'll be quiet.

You can't make this stuff up!!

OK.... so before I completely forget this story... I HAVE to share it. First a little back story to fill you in. We recently put cat doors in so that our six cats could explore and hopefully learn to use the yard.... or even a distant neighbors yard to poop in. OK ... even further back in time... we cast out one of our cats because she insisted on peeing on pillows and rugs and in the bathroom sink. So, we put a feeder up in the yard by the shed she hung out at. Well this attracted a bunch of strays. Before long we were not only feeding our 6 cats but 5 adult strays and 4 stray kittens. Steve's fear had become reality. Our six kitties had turned into 15, and he just knew I would adopt them all. Fortunately I was aware that this would be a problem, because we not only have annoying neighbors, but we have puppy and cat killing neighbors and a stray cat colony forming near them would be all the excuse they would need to start trapping and euthanizing or worse they could just resort to their old standard... poison. Now this isn't the story I have to tell, but it does explain some of the behavior. Last night I decided to go for a brief visit to my neighbors Tony and Donna. I left JR and Steve watching TV.... bellies full from some delicious baked fish and sweet corn on the cob. It was nice talking to adults for a change and not having a 4 yr old interrupting. Around 8:45 I said goodbye and headed home. From down the hill, our home looked so peaceful and almost shimmered with a golden glow from a few lit lamps. I walk in the back door and see Steve just staring wide eyed and JR almost hidden beneath a blanket. Then Steve starts this story. Apparently, JR thought it necessary to open the patio gate so that Dash our German Shepherd could go find me. Well Dash ran off.... somewhere. By the time Steve knew Dash was gone, he was really gone. Jr was exiled to the sofa and sat crying for fear Dash would get killed by a car or stolen, while Steve went looking for him. Nowhere to be found Steve returned home only to have Dash come running in moments later. I'm unsure of this next part, but what I got out of it, was this. They went upstairs for some reason... I believe it was to use the bathroom, when JR calmly points out the orange kitten to Steve. That would be the WILD orange kitten that's now fluffed up, hissing and ready to fight because it's trapped in a house where it doesn't belong. Steve sent JR into the bathroom and told him to close the door while he attempted to extract the cat..... Since the poor little kitten tried to shred his hand when he reached for it, Steve found a stick instead and chased the cat down the steps. Scared out of its mind the poor little kitty pooped alllllll the way down the steps and out the door with Steve right behind it. Before he could get back in to clean up the mess, Dash, who's not allowed upstairs, had already finished eating all the cat poop. So Steve gets JR from the bathroom and back to the couch they go. Now I'm hearing this story and it's almost unbelievable.... I was only gone for an hour maybe two. I tried really hard not to laugh, and I'm sure had I been the one looking for Dash or getting scratched up by a wild kitten I'd have been furious, but come on.... you can't make this stuff up! I really need to set up video cameras so one day I can win the big money! Of course, now I'm setting our live trap. I have to relocate 9 strays to a new neighborhood or better yet to a rescue where they'll make sure they can't reproduce. The worst part of the story is figuring out how to teach JR a lesson from this. It's the second time he's let Dash out and I can't seem to get it into his head how dangerous it is. Maybe I need to try convincing the OTHER end.

Wipe Out!!

Day three.... wed. Did I mention in the previous post how JR was sleeping so peacefully in our bed... the big King Size Bed with the ultra thick mattress cover? Well, when I hear him at the top of the ladder... (that's the ladder we all have to climb to get out of our basement) I go to help him and discover his t-shirt and underpants are soaked. Apparently, because of his surprised look, he had dreamt about going TO the potty but instead just WENT potty. Which of course translates into, Gramps has A LOT of laundry to do now. I got the bed changed and washed and put back together... just another part of another day, but I could have lived without it. We had our breakfast, which btw went very well, got ready and headed out in the rain to the grocery store. It really is funny the things that come out of the mouths of children.... Apparently Ditches LIVE on the side of the road, and for some reason we had to pretend the WHOLE world was a ditch. I'm not really sure what was going on in HIS mind, but it made for some interesting reactions when I would turn right or left. We got our shopping done WAY too fast because the thrift store was still closed when we came out, so I called Mary, my godmother, to see if she was up for some company, and she was. She's also daycare for her and her husband Cliftons first grandchild, Colton, who's 2.5! JR and Colton got along great because Coltons toy shelf looked just like JR's..... tractors and trucks and more trucks and more tractors and books about trucks and tractors.... .and oh.... a ride on train. They were both in heaven and played for a couple hours, which gave us adults time to catch up and talk about grandbabies!! Our visit over and the rain still falling we said goodbye and headed back to the thrift store. The Op Shop Thrift Store in Charles Town is a great little store. Run by volunteers and most proceeds go to the Opera House. Most of their stuff is priced way less than goodwill and the employees aren't all bitter divorced man haters. We like the Op Shop. Today we managed to escape with only one small toy gun/radio like thing. I'll be happy if a new battery just turns it's light on..... it doesn't really have to make all its intended noise. Now it was lunch time so we went to Wendys. I can actually eat their salads and not worry too much about Gluten or vomiting. Lunch was fun, especially since our Wendys hosts geezer day... EVERYDAY. I thought when you got old... really old, that the picture got clearer. That little stuff wasn't suppose to bother you the way it did when you were younger and full of yourself. Go to Wendys in Charles Town for lunch..... these Golden Geezers haven't forgotten how to argue and one of them still has a good throwing arm. Apparently her husband (the guy who ordered/paid and walked the order to the table) got her order wrong. She started screaming at him in a FULL restaurant, that he got her the wrong sandwich. "I ordered a Quarter Pounder" she told him at full volume. Did she even know where she was? The Quarter Pounder is a McDonalds Sandwich. The poor fella told her as he was leaving to get her another sandwich to quiet down and the food fight began. She launched that sandwich right past his head and it hit the front door. At least half of the people in there laughed, but he didn't think it was funny, because he picked it up carried it back to the table and smashed it TO the table right in front if her. Then proceeded to sit down and eat his lunch.... telling her she could go get her OWN lunch preferably in another store. She calmed down and he eventually got her another sandwich, but damn.... take your pills lady!! Meanwhile, I'm sitting there thinking this is better than dinner theater, but how am I suppose to explain this bad behavior to JR. So, I told him our Wendys has actors that put on plays for the other guests and these actors were trying to show us how we should NEVER act in a restaurant. He believed me. We got out of there as soon as possible and headed home.... still raining it was. I'm not sure how to tell this next part, because it wasn't funny and part of it is lost from my memory. On the way down the first set of steps at the top of our hill, I slipped.... both feet completely out from under me... kicking JR into the weeds and mud.... smashing through the wooden tree we had as a railing and landing on my right arm and ribs. I actually got the wind knocked out of me and passed out. When I came too JR was crying and I couldn't remember how the railing got broke or falling for that matter. Immediately I got up to see what happened to JR and realized I couldn't breathe... I just kept panting because I felt as if I would pass out again from the pain in my back. Poor fella was covered in mud and leaves and wet and then I saw the blood, but where was it coming from...... MY ARM. I had scraped and cut my arm pretty bad on something... probably the railing when I broke it. Worse than that was the pain in my back. The steps I fell on are creosoted railroad timbers.

Not the worn old railroad ties you can get from Home Depot. These are the sharp edged black timbers they use on bridges. When I landed, I landed on my right side just above my kidney and below my ribs. This is what it looked like shortly after we got home. This morning it feels like there's something broken. Today will be a slow day. If these sharp pains continue I might just go see a doctor. It's OK if I'm sittin still but bending leaning standing just takes the breath right out of me. Not Good. At least I'm not coughing or peeing blood. Bruised pretty bad I am, but I've seen worse. As for JR. His only question at the top of the hill when all this happened.... "Gramps, Why did you kick me into the weeds and the mud?" He doesn't know how lucky he was that I didn't fall on HIM!!! I guess as soon as I can carry it up the hill.... I need to pressure wash those steps and clean the slippery slime away. I don't want anyone else to wipe out the way I did.

One sore butt

It's Wednesday, July 23rd and if it, being my brain, hadn't completely left me before this week.... it's gone now. I swore up and down.... left and right that JR would be forced to bend to my rule within 2 days, so that the remainder of the week could be fun.

Well last night he had a run-in with a switch (fly swatter handle). He's 4 yrs old and that's the first time I did more than tap his bottom with my hand. I think it startled both of us, but I was tired of talking and he was determined to have his way. There wasn't anything funny about it, but I really should have gotten a picture of him eating and holding his stinging butt. Since it took almost two hours for him to eat his dinner, when he was done.... on went the pj's and he was sent directly to bed.... alone.

Well, it's only 6am and he's gotten his revenge..... I still can't feel my left arm.

Actually, it wasn't revenge at all.... sometime around 2am I hear this almost whispered... "gramps".... open my eyes to a 4 yr old standing by my bed and he asks me, "Can I sleep with you Gramps? I'm cold" So in he crawled and promptly fell asleep..... on my now numb arm.

Apparently my big bully show the evening before didn't change the fact that he's a sweetheart to his core. I guess I'm suffering some sort of internal conflict. I was raised to sit quiet and still and eat ALL my dinner, or suffer something more terrible than death. Of course we never ever figured out what that was exactly, but we weren't going to risk finding out.

JR had eaten his breakfast... eaten his lunch, but refused to eat his dinner. He kept using excuses that had been put in his head like... my tummy is full, It's hot, I don't like this, I'll eat two more bites and then I'm done. I DO NOT MAKE DEALS with a 4 yr old, and the rest of his world needs to stop doing it as well. I know why he didn't want to eat... he had been playing with his trains and wanted to continue. I'm not sure how long I have him this time.... 1 or 2 weeks, but I refuse to just let him get away with really bad behavior just because he's only here for such a short period of time. I guess there are those who fear he'll decide he doesn't like them if they correct him. I don't really care what he thinks right now. It's when he's 17 and about to beat up his mouthy girlfriend that I want him to remember that someone taught him right from wrong.

I don't want him to be sitting in jail and reflecting on what I told him. If I am to be honest, I must admit he comes from a long line of "breakin the law" genes..... on both sides. Good ole DownCounty... the series.... coming soon to a drive-in near you.

He's my first and who knows... he may be the last, grandson. I want him to know what the right thing to do IS, and not just learn to give empty apologies afterwards. He's already proficient at batting those eye lashes when he says how deeply sorry he is for hitting you, or for breaking the glass you told him not to touch, or hitting the cat you told him to leave alone.

I'm DONE listening to his apologies, because I know, if I continue to just listen, ultimately the one saying how sorry he is will be me. Either when he's in prison or worse, dead.

Now you might say I'm over-reacting, and I need to let a child be a child, but in my experience.... and I do have some, his type of behavior is not acceptable.

Right now, there's just a thin line between teaching him to sit still in his time-out chair and needing to dial 911 for assistance. I'd prefer not to call the Po Po.

It's funny just how smart and manipulative he is. Well, not funny, but it amuses me just the same, because he thinks he's out smarting ME...... the Master of Manipulation!!

He's obviously unaware that I'm the one who taught his mother, and I learned from the best..... a Catholic Mother.

I know our days could be filled with laughter and exciting trips and adventures, but life happens and he needs to learn to be patient. Not always, will he get to do what he wants when he wants to do it. Sometimes he'll have to go places and do things that are boring in order to appreciate something exciting when it comes along. After spending a week with my 3 nieces, I have to say this and I know Tina will have a choice comment or two, BUT.......

Emergency bathroom issues are so much easier to handle with boys!!!

Right now he's still asleep.... on my pillow, and I'm sure his little brain is dreaming up all kinds of things. I can't wait to see if one sore butt might equal one day of good behavior. I hope so.

Priceless

I posted earlier about Tina and her girls visit to Harpers Ferry, but I purposely left out a very important part of that week. Steve was finishing a book binding project the day they arrived and it captured their attention, so he decided he'd help each of them make a book of their own. They chose their paper and the project began. Sewing the signatures was a little tricky, but they did great!! Now if any of you have ever made a book, you know it's more than a one day process...... ....especially during the gluing part. I could probably watch all day and still not remember the whole process. A 6 yr old with a tub of paste and a brush made me a little nervous, but Steve seemed confident. I'm not sure if that was because of his lack of experience with a 6 yr old or perhaps he sensed something I didn't. Again, they both did terrific jobs on all the stages of gluing. There was really only room for one of them at a time at the table, so the other got to take a break. While McKenna sewed and pasted and pasted and folded..... Jadyn sat with her ice cream and a book. Nobody new at this stage what exactly the books would be used for, but a few ideas had been tossed around and it sounded like they might become....... ..... vacation journals. Sometime around day two of the process, I took them to Mal-Wart and we picked out stickers and stars and decals and those little corner tabs for photos. We couldn't find any satisfactory paper for the book covers so it was decided they would use fabric. Now anyone knows there isn't a shortage of that in my house. They each picked out their favorite. Mckenna chose some that Steve had brought back from Japan, while Jadyn chose some leftover curtain material. I knew I saved that fabric for some reason!! I never thought it would cover a book one day. And of course while Jadyn glued and embossed and folded and glued and embossed....... McKenna went outside to teach Dash how to be better behaved. Did he have her fooled.... LOL..... .... he already knew all the tricks she thought she was teaching him, but he would do anything for an endless supply of puppy treats!!! Embossing and gluing and folding and clamping all complete, the two girls proudly displayed their new books. Now it was up to me to photoshop and print pics of their daily activities here, so they could cut them out and use them in their Journals. Two proud little girls and they have every right to be. They listened and learned very well. Hopefully they'll remember the hard work it takes to make a book and it'll help them appreciate a time honored trade. None of us know just what kind of an impact our participation in a childs daily activity can have. Of course we remember the people that took time to explain things to us during our own childhood, so why not repay that? Repay it by repeating it. They may have been just books, and it cost us pennies to help the girls make them, but the smiles that came with those books...... were priceless.

Something of the Past

Wow, what a summer we're having!!! There's an old saying that fish and family smell the same after 3 days, but I have to disagree. That might be true for some families, but not mine!! We had a visit from my niece Tina and her two daughters McKenna and Jadyn. A week with three women in the house.... hmmmm.... how were we going to deal with this?? It turns out they're all actually tomboys so with the exception of a few shrilly screams from time to time.... it wasn't scary at all!! Not having been around them during their early years, I really had no clue how well or badly behaved they might be, but I soon learned Tina carried some sort of invisible whip with her that those two girls were VERY aware of. So, like all good Uncles... I made it my mission to not only help them avoid said whip, but to actually GET AWAY with things that might have actually put that whip into action.

I could sit a week and still not be able to recall all the things we did. It seemed like some days we just vegged in the coolness of the air-conditioning, and other days we stayed out all day. Several times the girls helped with meal preparation.... this one time they helped pick... clean and tasted the Chocolate Basil. NOT a big hit with either of them. Poor Jadyn couldn't speak for fear of swallowing what she had already chewed, meanwhile McKenna was spitting hers in the trash. It may not have tasted good fresh, but there were no complaints about the roasted chicken it helped season.

One particularly hot afternoon we went to the river. Now there's an ongoing debate over which river has the least amount of sewage treatment facilities, but I've noticed there are fewer dead fish floating in the Shenandoah, so that's the one we went to. McKenna kept asking when we could go to water they could swim in. I guess, since I DO NOT swim, I had taken for granted that kids would enjoy splashing around in water that was only waist deep and pretty much drown proof. In no time at all they figured out that "rapids" meant "natural water slides"!! We followed the river all the way to the 340 bridge and back again. Collected rocks and bits of pottery and for some reason.... pieces of broken glass.

The rule of the river when anyone's down there with me is..... Don't go near the grass.... that's where the snakes are! If you can swim.... you can go wherever the hell you want to, if not... then stay between me and the shore...... because you won't see me in water that will drown you. If you slip on a slimy rock....go with it....because I carry NO ONE back home. Overall we had a great time at the river. The girls discovered just how cold our outside shower is when we got home. I told them they couldn't go in all covered in river slime.... and they believed me!!! Tina of course gave me that "I have the whip" look and promptly went inside to shower and change. Probably our most exhausting day involved a 3 hour hike to Md Heights. This is the mountain across the Potomac River which sits directly in front of our house. They had been admiring it for several days, so I figured they'd enjoy conquering it. I was right!! We packed up water and sandwiches and some ice. The ice was for many reasons. Injuries, cooling down, and if not needed for either of those reasons.... then as it melted we could drink it. We went up the back way which is steeper, but gets you there faster. We hung out on the cliffs for awhile, but the girls were eager to keep hiking, so up up up we went. Actually there's only a little more up from where we were before we arrived at the fire road that leads back down down down. It's a nice hike because its mostly shaded and that early in the day.... we only passed 3 other humans. The following day we only hiked as far as Jefferson Rock and the graveyard. We started out at the church ruins...... got to Jefferson Rock, and realized that no matter how hard we pushed, it wasn't going anywhere. There were many opportunities for sisterly moments this week, and believe me I've got them all in pictures. Some were funny, some were sweet, some were scary, but they were all moments I'm glad I got to share. I just hope this isn't their last visit and I sincerely hope this is just the beginning of generations of visits. Saturday, the last day of their visit, was spent at the flea market..... ugghhhhh.... HOT HOT HOT!! On Friday however, we were treated to a free lunch at the Quarter Master Tavern, by our neighbor Donna who owns the restaurant. Thanks Donna!!!! Afterwards we headed out the back door of the restaurant to take a little walk through town and ended up at the Old Time Photo Shop. I really need to get out more often, because I didn't even know it was there. Well, the cost is something you need to be prepared for, but I have to tell you.... it's worth it. Not only is Paula (the owner) one of the nicest shop keepers in town, she's an excellent photographer. She knows what she's doing with a camera. Tina, McKenna and Jadyn picked through all the dresses before finding the perfect ones, and after being accessorized, posed for an incredible picture. Talking with Paula, I found out she could use some help with advertising, so I offered to make her a page on our website. In turn, she gave Tina her framed photo at no cost. How nice!! I'm not sure how I can possibly repay the joy that photo has brought, but I'll try!! So it only took a week and Harpers Ferry turned one Big and two little, tomboys into well mannered, posture perfect, southern ladies. Just imagine what it could do to the rest of down county!!! The week came to an end.... Sunday morning with luggage piled outside I sadly trudged up the hill to bring the van around, only to find it with a dead battery. After only a slight delay we got them loaded..... hugs all around..... and waived our goodbyes. Memories can be and are created everyday, but add the necessary family ingredient and that memory becomes timeless. When a warm yet faded memory becomes this moment, you'll know it's smell, it's taste, the sounds that bring a smile to your face. Those lazy hazy days of summer.... I thought they were something of the past, but they're not.

When my brain hurts

You know, Ive been chastised recently for not posting. Apparently there's been some really cool shit happening in my life and I'm just sittin back enjoying it and not sharing. Well I have a confession.... I'm not the superhero people thought I was. I obviously still suffer from some sort of genetically inbred inability to deal with stress and when it gets too bad, it makes my brain hurt. I can preach the sermon, but I can't sit still in the pew and listen to my own advice. After weeks of family visits added to local crazy crap and the occasional toilet leaking into my kitchen, emergency..... my brain is incapable of writing anything worth reading, so here I am ranting. I believe that to bitch without a solution only makes you part of the problem, so I promise by the end of my verbal assault on whatever it is thats got my brain constipated, I'll see the light or at least see them coming down my street. Before I could even begin writing I had to turn off ABBA. For some reason I thought they might create a soothing melodious background, but "Fernando" is just not doing it. The only thing "in the air" around here are Dashs farts. I really shouldn't have any issues. I'm living the life basically. I've got a GREAT partner, a GREAT home, and um..... well..... my attempt at world domination failed, but locally I have them all thinking I'm insane, so at least they'll leave me alone!! July 9th 2007 my sister Patsy died. The anniversary of that tragic day has just passed. I HATE how as a society we feel the need to put so much freaking emphasis on remembering all the terrible things that happen. I guess the part of my sisters death that makes it so hard was the suddenness of it. There wasn't an autopsy so we really don't know how or why she died. Some country-ass doctor just decided because she was obese and diabetic and on meds that he could assume why and how she died and the ones that had taken "POSSESSED CONTROL" of the situation went with his diagnosis. I don't guess it really matters. She's gone and for the last year she's visited many times and given us many signs as to her presence. I've enjoyed having her here from time to time. The possessed ones who decided to ruin my last memories of my sister have to live with themselves and I DO NOT have to live with them. Her passing, as well as the anniversary of it, was still hard and although I tried to pretend it didn't bother me, I couldn't help but think about her every day. One of my favorite nieces was here for a visit and reading through our guest book came across this entry.....

"May 10, 2002 Enjoyed my visit and stay in Harpers Ferry, WV. The sounds of the trains passing are so relaxing to me. I like the home with one exception. The stairs are a real killer. The young can handle mountain climbing to reach your front door, but not those of a few years. See you again soon!! As Always, Patsy"

That was my deceased sister. She had made it here to visit.... once, and in doing so she created a comfort zone for her spirit to visit again and again. I remember when we would call each other.... I would sit the phone in the window whenever a train passed through, because she wouldn't allow me to talk over the horn. She loved that train horn. Shortly after her death, I had my grandson here visiting and I wrote this poem for her.

So there you have it.... laid out, and I guess I do too. More and more these days those veins of mine are more exposed than ever. During moments.. days.... weeks of intensely stressful situations.... I either break down or shut down. Auto Pilot is not a good thing, because eventually I have to switch off of battery power and that's usually when it I realize I'm outta gas. Maybe I'll learn one day to just let it out when it needs to pour. Maybe?

Remembering Independence

This year I guess we could call ourselves lucky! Since the 4th of July.... Independence Day, fell on a Friday, it was celebrated nationwide on one of two weekends and in many places... just both weekends. JR (the grandson) had been visiting us the last week of June. .. what fun THAT was!!! We took him and his mom with us to a bonfire/cook-out on his last night here. There's nothing like good friends, good food, good liquor, a MASSIVE Bonfire, a few electrical storms and fireworks to make for a perfect day!! Like most 4 yr olds... JR took about 5 minutes to scope out who he would attach himself to and that was Kelley... our hostess with the mostest!! She got him sodas and cupcakes and although she couldn't tell WHERE her husband Chris was... she always knew exactly where JR was. Actually we had made a deal that we would keep an eye on Chris and she of course couldn't lose JR.... he seemed to be attached to her hip. The Bonfire was really huge. I watched most of it burn from the house and that was because of the mosquitoes and that I was having most excellent conversations that I didn't wish to end. At one point the bonfire had burned down so Steve and I wet down and hung out with the cows for awhile. It was a little tricky gettin there with all the cow patties laying about, but we managed..... and didn't spill our drinks..... seriously... we didn't spill our drinks.... :) Of course while we were down in the field.... the sky opened up... absolutely soaking us. During the storm, which seemed to last just a little too long for "scattered thundershowers", the sun tried to come out. It was awesome... forcing it's way through the clouds. It almost looked like the moon. Summer might be hot and lots of bugs, but the light we get this time of year is amazing. The night came to an end with the most spectacular show of fireworks the state of WV will allow on private property. Mostly sparklers and a few whistles and pops. I tried to get close so it would look bigger, but then a few of those sparks landed a little too close. I'm not sure why we need BIG fireworks to satisfy us. My feeling is we live in such a crappy society and ruled by such a hypocritical bunch of pompous liars and crooks, that we need need big and flashy as some sort of re-affirmation. That we really DO live in a free country and we really DO have equal rights and we really DO have the best government. WHAT THE HELL EVER. We can't even buy the fireworks we want to shoot off on our own property because some christian do-gooder wanted to protect Bubba from getting any more burns. We can't pick up our phones and have a private conversation because our useless piece of shit president doesn't have anymore respect for us than he does his dog. We're stuck living in a society of "No You Wont's". People that live their every day trying to impose their beliefs on us. People whose existence is solely to pass judgement on others. This country sucks right now, and the people running it are doing a GREAT job of running it...........INTO THE GROUND. I lit a few sparklers on the 4th, and they cracked and whistled and popped, but I'm saving the big ones for November. GO OBAMA!!!! I just wanted to add this in here, in case you ever were wondering what they looked like. We've had two of these babies so far... one on each side of our house. Copperheads. This fella was about 8 inches long and sassy. I found him on our front step.... on my way back UP the steps. Not sure how I missed him on the way down, but glad I did since I was barefoot. Usually copperheads come in numbers ranging anywhere from 9 - 14. They're born live and don't usually hang out in one place for too long. They're also mostly nocturnal during the hottest months. I guess we caught the two stupid ones. Natural selection is doing it's thing!!! I just want to say I hope all of you had the BEST 4th of July! Don't pay any attention to my ranting. I probably spent too much time in Mal-Wart this past week and am still suffering from it. What a collection of societal cast-aways. These just HAVE to be the people written about at the statue of Liberty. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Wal-Marts new Motto!! Especially since our Statue of Liberty was created by a FRENCH Sculptor.... go figure. I guess it would be more appropriate if he had been Chinese. Peace!