Signs of the times,

Is this too political?  I think it's funny, no matter one's leaning toward the Dem or Repub parties.  And strictly speaking, it's true.

Red sky at morning......

For some reason, the theme from Gone With The Wind kept running through my head as I drove to work this morning.  This is a pecan grove near where we attend church.  I expected to see a girl with a picture hat secured with an emerald green ribbon and gowned in swirling skirts - dart across the lawn towards the big house on the hill.

My New Friend




Meet my new Pandigital Novel tablet. -  It came from Big Lots - purchased on Black Friday this year.   It has introduced me to new novelist friends such as Sarah Rosett, Georgette Heyer and Carl Hiassen (I'm reading Basket Case right now, thank you Carl....) and made the Jack Reacher books so accessible that the latest of that series is next!  I have the tablet in a protective case that I found online and ordered, using  Pandigital Novel's Wireless to get to the Internet.  All-in-all, I'm most  pleased to have gotten up before daylight on Black Friday and wish to give a huge thanks to Elder Daughter and her son, N. T. for going into the cold dark night to stand in line to get a ticket from the store employee so she could make this purchase while her younger son and I waited in the warm snug van.   If I'd had the tablet that morning, I would have had something to read while waiting for the Big Lot sale to begin, now wouldn't I!!







Huh?

This is one of our  restaurants.  They sell good Chinese food.  They  have a fine Chinese name. 
That sign advertising T-shirt sales has the restaurant name on it. 
Really? 
Yes, that really is the name. 

Is it just me....or.......

Rolling, On Baya Drive



If you want to go to Heaven & walk the streets of gold.  You have to learn the new password. 

Roll Tide Roll.
(Click to enlarge)



Ramblings

This is a rare traffic jam in our small town.  It started right at the end of the driveway where I come out of work.  You can tell I hadn't completed the turn into the roadway before cars had stopped.   I hate when this happens.


 

This is an un-traffic jam in our small town.  I would rather drive in this kind of traffic any day.



These flowers were planted from bulbs given us by a cousin.  They come up year after year and I enjoy  seeing them, like old friends in the early Summertime.  They remind me of Charles Vining whenever I see them waving in the breeze.

This is a group collecting donations from passers-by at the local big box store.  The group advertises as an animal rescue and requests donations both here and on the radio.  I have heard some pretty ratty rumors about how they treat their animals and the condition of their facility.  I wonder how they can afford to advertise over the airwaves.   I would much rather see flowers waving in  the breeze than see some child waving a bucket and a sign outside a place where I buy groceries.

Further Deponent Sayeth Not. 

One, two, three - - blast off?

No, I'm not talking about the delayed launch of the space shuttle.  Although it has been put back until the end of the week due to a switch  box in the engine compartment.  It needs replacing - so the launch is not happening tomorrow (Monday) and I am glad to see that NASA is still concentrating on safety in the fleet.  It's down to two, now. 

My Blast Off refers to the other night when I was supposed to be sleeping soundly.  My sleep was broken by my two eyes popping open at about 3AM.  Now,  I don't brag about having an alarm clock in my head that wakens me for a preset event.  Apparently, I do have one.  Who knew! 

Tommy's mother used to be able to pull off that handy little trick.  She would think about what time she wanted to wake up and then she would just be awake at that time.  No alarm clock needed.

My own sister has the talent. 

But I have never thought I had such a useful ability.  I had been thinking about the Royal Wedding for most of the afternoon on Thursday and when I got home, I checked the TV Cable menu and found the schedule had coverage starting at 4:00 A. M. Friday morning.  So, I set the tuner to switch to Fox Channel for that time. 

I had meant to set my alarm for then, as well but I somehow fell asleep on the couch in the living room before I could manage to wend my way to the bedroom.  The TV will not come on when I schedule an event.  The tuner will switch to the show I want to watch but nothing else will happen.  I slept peacefully away.  After midnight, I was still  on the couch.  One in the morning - still sleeping...two o'clock, still sleeping. 

Three in the morning, my eyes popped open.  Wha - what am I doing in here;  And why am I awake?  And if it is early in the morning, what will I find if I turn on the telly?  Ah-hah!  The pre-wedding stuff was already on Fox.  Soooo..... we just sat on the couch and watched the wedding unfold until after the vows were said.  That would be the Royal We.  T. was still asleep in the bedroom.

I wasn't alone, however.  The paper today said that twenty-three million people watched the wedding  all over the world.  (I guess that doesn't include the crowds lining the sidewalks in London.) 

I wonder how many of us felt like we had sand in our eyes at some point later in the day?

Signs of the times...

I have lately had a penchant for reading some of the church signs posted in our little community.  The one on the New Life church sign states, " An Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot "  They just changed it.  I smile every time I ride past.

The Church of God posted this little gem:  " The Church Is God's Gift To Man.....Assembly Required "

It stayed in my mind half the way home -- think about it.

Is there a book for these collected sayings?  A website where one can go and find a suitable post?  I should probably start carrying my camera along so I can snap a shot as I drive by.  Would that make a neat vacation?  Post a church sign a day, as we drive sedately through the countryside.    I'd need a pretty big camper.  Maybe a navigator?  Oh, here's the deal breaker - I'd need enough money to pay for gas.

I guess I'll content myself with the drive to work and home.  If I see any more signs that cause a smile, I'll bring them to you, here.

Warm Fuzzies

I follow several blogs - some that I have found from Ranger's list - others that I have visited on my own and been charmed by the content or touched by the writer's ability to create word pictures.  Some of my favorites are photographer's sites and they have lots of pictures along with a view of events in the life of the writer.  I have added another favorite to my growing list.  Pioneer Woman, whom I follow as do  lots of others I know, just closed out a photography contest where the subject was Horses.  Oh, my!  Can I just say that the subject matter was great and the contestants were so talented - I couldn't stay away and found myself checking back over and over.  I recall Ranger sketching horses when we were younger and I admired her ability to create the animal she so loved, on a flat sheet of paper.  I was always a bit intimidated by the real life thing.  Horses are so big.  I was so small.  How does one control such power. 

In 1961, when Mother took us on a trip out west with friends, we wound up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  We went horseback riding while there.  My horse was a paint mare named Dinah.  I was terrified of Dinah.  I suppose Dinah had walked the trail a thousand times and her only interest in going out with a rider on her back was to finish the trail and return to  the barn for her hay and  oats.  My only interest was to  finish the  trail ride in one piece and on the top side of the horse.  To that end, I spoke to Dinah almost the entire ride.  I whispered in her ears, telling her that - if she  wouldn't throw me  off her back and would just get me back to the barn in  good time, I wouldn't tell anyone how she terrified me.  She must have believed me.  We got back to the barn and I was able to dismount without my knees giving way.  Dinah was led away to her stall.  I was never so glad to see the back end of a horse as that day and haven't been on a horse since then.  I admire those who ride without fear.  I love to look at the beautiful beasts and have come so far as to pet and praise the two paint mares who reside in the field across from our house.  These girls belong to my child, Elder Daughter.  She, like Ranger has always had a love affair with horses.

To return to topic - sorry for the wandering mind - Pioneer Woman announced the winners of the contest and the prize went to Jennifer Warthan - of The Cotton Wife weblog and photographer of the most lovely shot of horses taken in the snow, in front of a great red barn.  One horse was standing at the fence and the other coming along around the barn.  I kept coming back to that picture and recommend you to take a look at it at PW's contest site. 

Jennifer also sells linen-stock cards featuring her photographic art on her website:  http://warthanfarmsphotography.zenfolio.com/fineart

I may just have to buy that shot that so won my heart and the Pioneer Woman's contest. 

Letter to the Gov.

Governor Rick Scott,
Tallahassee,Florida

Dear Governor Scott:

Re:  Daylight Savings Time.

I.  Want.  My.  Hour.  Back!
 Sincerely,

Ol' Doc

Stupor Bowl Sunday

It is finally Super Bowl Sunday.  After all the season, the playoffs and the build up to the big game we will sit down to see who wins tonight.  Green Bay or Pittsburgh.  I keep hearing this high pitched voice in my head that says "The Pack is back!" while laughing maniacally.  I don't know who will win.  The paper said Green Bay was favored by 2 points.  The game will be tight.  It could go either way and if the score is tied at the end of the 4th quarter, there are new rules that govern  overtime.  The team that wins the coin toss in overtime would have to score a touchdown to win.  No more does a field goal mean you win.  Get a field goal and the other team gets a try at making a touchdown.  Even some of the players haven't any idea what the rules say.  It should be interesting.  I just hope the commercials live up to their pre-game hype.  I saw the Doritos commerical and I must say it was kind of cute.  It stars a Pug. 

If the game goes into overtime, I could be asleep on the couch by the time it's over.  If this happens, someone please text message me so I will know the score.  We don't get a Monday paper and I'll have to wait until Tuesday to  find out who won. 

On the couch.....

I woke up Monday - which was a holiday and felt a little sore throat and some sinus pressure.  I rested a lot of the day.  Tuesday, I realized I couldn't go to work with symptoms that were making me feel so bad and then I started running a temperature.  The highest degree I reached was 101.5 on Wednesday night.  I called out of work for all days of the week, aiming for Friday when I had an appointment with my doctor.  I was supposed to have gone to the lab for a blood draw but just felt too bad to try that.  I made the doctor's office and waited to be called and shown to a room.  They have a television (wall mounted) in the waiting room but I didn't even feel like watching the news.  Finally the doctor was able to process me into the examining room and after a wait of a few minutes - He came in.  Asked  how I was doing and boy did I unload on him!  Feeling awful, terrible - can't stop coughing and fever and misery and moans and whines.  He questioned me on symptoms and listen to my chest.  He then told me I had Bronchitis and he gave me an antibiotic to take twice a day for ten days.  Cough pills to bring up the congestion.  Said to also take Mucinex to help.  I left his office with an appointment in 2 weeks (when I had better attend to the lab work)  and a handful of prescriptions. 

Four pills later, I developed another problem, related to the antibiotics.  I started taking Yoplait.  And continued to cough.  Which is a scary prospect when you have problems that need yogurt for relief of symptoms.  Time wears on.  Still coughing but the fever is gone.  So I'm making progress of a sort.  And I kind of favor the strawberry flavor yogurt. 

I will  probably call out Monday from work which will make an even five days of sick leave.  But you know, I refuse to walk those hallways where I may get the urge to cough, have to bend at the waist and then make a sound like a bugler sounding charge. 

Sometimes I wish we could telecommute.  I'll have so much work backed up that my job security will be assured for at least the next full week. 

I'm going to go take some yogurt and lie down for a short nap.

Sign of the times at Athens Baptist

Seen on the lighted sign in front of the church: 

Many people want to serve God.

Unfortunately, most of them want to serve in an advisory capacity.

Behind the Blogger

I rarely look at Blogger behind the scenes in  Dashboard, beyond posting new items and reading the blogs I'm following and am fondest of.  But, that being said - there is a tab on Dashboard called Blogs of Note.  I have started clicking on the tab and delving into what others are posting and blogging a bout.  There is an artist who works in graphite and his drawings are amazing.  There is a person who posts lots of pictures of cats.  The New Year post for that weblog consisted of cats wearing Happy New Year tiaras and other headgear and posing in lots of ways to suggest celebrating the incoming year.  The picture that won my heart was a cat wearing a kitty sized lampshade, complete with fringe. ( http://kittystampede.blogspot.com/ )

Tonight I found a blog I had to put in my blog list.  The lady seems to have lost a computer and a great deal of input crashed.  She has just started posting again and I was immediately impressed by her writing ability. She  put up a story about a play that had me from the first word. The weblog is called The View From This End.  The writer is from "across the pond" as the English say.  She had about 236 regular readers - not as many perhaps as Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman - or as Melanie Feehan - The Coupon Goddess.  I follow both those weblogs, thanks to seeing them on Ranger's page.  I even have them delivered to my Blackberry.   But The View From This End weblog put me in mind of sitting down with a good book on a rainy night.  I just knew I was going to enjoy it.  Take a look and see what you think.

2011

Rang in the new year after waking on the couch to the strains of Auld Lang Syne playing from the ball-drop in Times Square.  Quickly turned the television through several stations, hoping to find one that thought it was still a second or two before midnight.  Alas, all the talking-heads were pretty sure that it was a minute or two after and already into the new year. 

Still, tradition is a good thing, so  I will continue a personal one of long standing and will write in the new year on the date line in the rest of my checkbook before I toddle off to bed.

And I will wish friends and family a safe and very Happy New Year.

2011, 2011, 2011, 2011, 2011, 2011, 2011, 2011

Post Turkey Post. Or, Turkey Post Post. Or, Post Post Turkey. Whichever...

We travelled 600 total miles and stuffed ourselves, shopped 'til we dropped and went pier fishing on the coldest day of the year.  We  about went deaf during the televised Alabama/Auburn game which was playing loudly while we were dining at The Hangout.  We got to meet friends of our Alabama daughter that we knew from Facebook. 
We had ups and downs and brought home warm memories that linger in the heart.... hugs, kisses, sweet grandchildren and a surprise waiting when we returned home.  Thank you Susan, Sarah, Mikey, Nathan and Matthew for your love and decorating talents.  The lighted tree at Susan's and our front yard all decorated when we returned are but two highlights of our Thanksgiving visit and return home.

The sunset picture was taken by our Alabama Daughter, from her  balcony.  It is on its way to my cell phone and just stopped by so y'all could admire the photographer's skill.  

Tis the Season, almost!

This time last year I had been looking at all the websites, like Woot.com and eBay - hoping to save a bit of the long green on my Christmas shopping.  This year the Black Friday ads have been popping up in my phone for a month, at least!  There are some good deals, if you're in the market for televisions and other electronics.  I'm not in that market and I'm hoping nobody else in the immediate gift giving range is, either.  With the economy in such bad shape, I've got a feeling the retail stores aren't going to have such a banner year as they hope. 

I want coupons and sales that cut prices to the bare bones. 

I can't shop though, until I take myself into the bank and renew that little piece of plastic we use at the ATM and most other points of sale.  When did cool cash disappear?  I haven't seen the inside of my checkbook in such a long time.  Groceries?  Swipe that card.  Clothing and shoes?  Swipe, swipe.  If I don't take a minute to see my banker, the likelihood is that we'll be spending Thanksgiving day with our daughter in Alabama and using the checkbook exclusively to pay our way. 

We have plans to do the Black Friday Shopping while we're out there.  We will be using some of our traditional family moves.  You know, wake up and squint at the clock.  Say in a disbelieving voice, "Are we really  going shopping at this time of the morning?"  Wait for the voice of reason to say, "Of course not, Mama, go back to sleep."

 And the voice of  reason will have taken the morning off!  My sweet daughter in Alabama will insist that I rouse myself and hurriedly dress so we can get to the sale before all the good stuff is gone.  Which I will do, with mutterings and gnashing of  teeth.  Possibly there will be bumping of knees, in  the dark. 

Returning home to her apartment, shopping completed - I'm sure we will feel virtuous and pleased with the savings we have amassed.  I'm sure as well that I will  forget that I have driven 300-plus miles to stand in the cold and dark with a couple of hundred fellow bargain hunters.  At that point in time, however - my idea of a swell Christmas  gift will probably be a couple of Tylenol and an hour off my feet.  I really need to update my card.  Tomorrow.

Took me two days!

I saw it on Amazon and preordered it. 

It came. 

I dropped all else and just read and read. 

This was so good and was well enjoyed as Father Tim and Cynthia Kav'na visit Ireland with new characters to interact with. Jan Karon calls this book her "dark haired child".  One hopes she will keep writing and writing.   We love the folks from Mitford!  We also love a good cry, along the way.

Bittersweet

Today's date is one I usually mark quietly.  Mother was born 10/10/10.  At least that's the date she always celebrated as having been born.  Then, when she thought she was about to turn 65, she contacted Social Security to find out how to document her age; not having a birth certificate.  They offered the information on the types of proof they would accept, one being pages from a family Bible.  Mom knew who had her family's Bible.  She contacted the cousin and was able to get a  photocopy of the page where her birth date was recorded.  She sent it off to the Social Security folks who came back with the indisputable fact that the date had been written over and what had been Oct. 10, 1910 looked more like Oct. 10, 1908.  She didn't care which date was used, as long as she was still able to draw her benefits.  Until she died, she continued to celebrate the year as 1910. 

Today, she would have turned 100 years.

Just a game?

Football season is upon us.  It is also along-side us, overhead, under foot and blocking the way to the ladies room at work.  You cannot get away from it.  Fans on all sides discussing their team - either the real one or the fantasy one, filling in statistics and reliving the weekend slaughter or gigantic win, depending on which team one favors.  I work with a bunch of Gator fans.  We won't be mentioning the name Alabama or the words Crimson,  Roll or Tide in the same sentence on Monday.  They know I root for the U of M when they play.  Few know I'm a Tide fan.  Gotta be!  Mom being raised around Lanette and that area in 'Bama - right across the border from La Grange in Georgia.  She took me to a game when I was younger.  In the old Orange Bowl.  On a cold night.  The stands were filled with red clad visitors  and rumbled with the chant, Roll Tide - accompanied by the arm roll.  I get chills just recalling the awesome feeling. 

Sorry, guys but when you're moaning about the loss of game on Monday... I will be smiling inside.  Oh, yes.