Rumors

Who hasn't been the victim of a rumor?
I think the time in my life when I was the most talked
about was the years after the death of my husband,
when I lived in Colorado and owned the radio stations
in that small town. The unknown, made worse only
by those that knew a little, plus the firing of employees,
set the stage for many rumors in the small western
town.

I can't tell you how many times I sold the stations,
how many times they were foreclosed upon, how
many times I was declaring bankruptcy, or how
many times I was leaving town. In the end the
stations were not foreclosed upon (they were sold
for what was owed on them and nothing scarred
or blemised my credit).

Families are good at rumors as well, to make up
for what you're not telling them. A family member
from my family was quoted telling someone that
I was 'losing it' before (and that's probably not
far off - ha), and goodness knows what all I haven't
heard about. My family in laws had this rumor
they actually believed; that my husband had had
a vasectomy in the navy and couldn't have children
(this was actually started by his ex who wanted kids
but couldn't get pregnant so God forbid she should
blame herself for something). I can only imagine
their shock when I became pregnant.

And rumors come from either jealous people, or nosy
people you're not telling enough to. And don't forget
the people that have absolutely no life, but it's
been my experience they fall into one of the other
catagories as well (jealous, nosy, family, pissed off
ex employee, etc.).

In my radio station days, the rumors were so far
off base all I had to do was wait a few months
to prove them wrong. I did date this one guy
for a short while (remember the guy I dated who
stood to inherit a fortune but I wasn't sure what
he did for a living?) and I suspected him of
fueling some of the rumors, so here's what I
did to him - one day I gave him a slanted version
of the truth to something. Then a few other people
I gave a different slanted version of the story
to. Then I waited to see which story came back
to me as a rumor. That confirmed the guy
I was dating was indeed spreading the untruths.
Confronting him of course he denied it, but
I had all the proof I needed. I tend to do
that sometimes, be a little sneaky :)

Rumors can be both funny as crap and annoying
as all get out.

There is one story I have about how a rumor
got totally out of control, thankfully I wasn't
involved. Well, I sorta was but not really.
Back to the radio stations...A rumor got out
that a uhm, less than reputable 'lady' in the
town had called the radio station talk line
to say she had AIDS and named names of
all the guys she had slept with. Remember,
this was only a rumor, it never happened.
I never in a million years thought what
happened after that would happen....
Apparently she had slept with an awful lot
of guys, mostly married men from what I
gathered. This rumor spread like wildfire.
The station was besieged with phone calls
from worried men asking if this was true.
We denied that it happened, which was the
truth. I have no clue whether she really
had AIDS or not. Doctors started calling
asking if this was true. One doctor
demanded we go on the air with a
retraction...that's when I finally got involved.
I asked her how could we go on the air
with a retraction to something that never
happened?? I was asked about this issue
and tricked into giving an interview for
a local newspaper... it made the front page.
We were totally stymied that a rumor had
gotten this far out of control. I'm not sure
how many months it took for that one to
die down. I do know (from fielding phone
calls) that there were some worried married
men.

I take everything I hear with a grain of salt,
and I totally forget most of it within an hour.
That's why I'm not good on the gossiping front.
I've had people call me on the phone going on and
on about other people and I keep interrupting
asking, "WHO?" "Who is that?" "Am I supposed
to know them?" I don't do it on purpose, I really
have no clue, and it takes the fun out of it for them.
I think I'm this way because of the radio years,
and because I was the victim of such malicious
gossip for years. Mind you most of it came from
people I didn't know, but I was in the public eye
so I was game. As I told the newspaper in a letter
to the Editor before - thank you for thinking enough
about us to start a rumor!

It is annoying at times, it is funny as crap at times
(especially later), but it is also a compliment. If
they didn't envy you or were not mesmerized in
some sort of way by you, they wouldn't think
enough about you to start a rumor. As long as
there is a market for anything there will be
a product, rumors included! I must admit I
don't always ignore. Usually I quietly and
discreetly investigate to get proof. Then I go
after the source with a blaze of fury. Other times
I do ignore, it just depends on the rumor and
the source.

Summer resolutions

I resolve this summer:
*Not to worry about the housecleaning, just clean
it when it needs it.
*To watch as little tv as possible, this includes everything.
*To go to the 'swimming hole' more often.
*To keep up with my fruit (especially strawberries)
consumption.
*To relax and enjoy life.

My kid :)

Today was the last day of school for
the summer. So technically it's a
mom's saddest day of the year :)
Going through his schoolwork, I
came across something he wrote that
made me proud. It was in some sort
or reading journal. This is what he
wrote:

"No, I have never felt like running
away like Vinnie. I love my parents.
They have never hit me. They also
rarely yell at me. They are too good to
me. I never even think of running away
from them. If I ran away from
them it would break their hearts.
And, I just can't let that happen. They
have never done anything to make
me feel like running away. That is
why I have never felt like running away
from my home and my family."

Writing a check

I still have a NM driver's license.
Oops. Been meaning to change it.
Meant to a couple of weeks ago, but
didn't have the correct paperwork
to show proof of residency. Never
have a problem writing a check
in town as no one seems to care
about where my license is from, except
a yearly problem with this local
supermarket.

Almost one year ago one lady gave me
a fit at the store with my out of
state license. "Oh honey you can't
write a check. You need to go
down to the license bureau right
away and get a Missouri license."
Excuse me? How much do you make
working here? Anyway, a friend is
the night manager at the store, so
he made a copy of my license and put
it in a book with approval for my
checks. After that when I wrote a
check, I just told them it was in the
book - and no one ever looked nor
questioned it.

Until yesterday. Writing a check,
I told the girl I was in 'the book'.
"What book?" she asked. "Uhm,
I think the book in the pay check
drawer." She pulled out a binder
and went through the 'book'. I
was not in there. Well oops.
She called the manager and told
me "Doesn't matter if you're in there
anyway, still need approval." Okay :)

The manager came up and at first
told me I couldn't cash a third party
check. Hello? WHAT third party
check? "Oh". I told him a copy of
my license was supposed to be in
'the book' with approval. He said,
"Not a copy of your license, you mean
copies of your payroll stubs."

Well I don't get paychecks, so I highly
doubt that's what I meant. But I
didn't think it was the proper time
to tell him I didn't have a job.
He approved the check without
a problem.

What I did and did not do this long weekend

What I did - Lots of housework on Sunday.
See previous post.
Lots of eating.
Weeding in the garden.
Naps.
Emailed with some current and old friends.

What I did not do - I did not partake
of any alcoholic beverages whatsoever.
I did not turn on the tv nor watch anything
all weekend (What the young un had
on doesn't count).

Kicking butt and taking names!

Oh man did I get a lot accomplished today!
Up at 7am. Did chores. Then cleaned house and vacuumed.
Also washed clothes, bedding and dog blankets. Changed
the swimming pool water for my old dogger. Pulled
winter clothes out of cardboard boxes, packed them in
storage bins, and put those away in the shed. Made
potato salad and deviled eggs (for tomorrow). Walked
doggers. Bagged and burned trash. Now I'm waiting
on the little elves to come in and do the dishes. Pooped
out! Tomorrow I'm sitting on my a$$ all day, maybe
with a beer in hand! Also did some thinking of people -
Bobby Murcer being one. Need to answer a few
nice emails after dishes.

Electronic Cigarettes

Incredibly interesting.

A few months ago I learned about electronic

cigarettes. Popular in other countries, made

in China, these cigarettes are slowly making

their way to the United States. Because

of all the cigarette bans and the high cost

of cigarettes, coupled with the hoopla about

the dangers of secondhand

smoke (don't get me started) and the high cost

of health care which is the smokers' faults, these

electronic cigarettes seemed like the answer to

everyone's complaints! NO secondhand smoke

whatsoever, the 'smoker' puffs and

inhales some water vapor and nicotine,

exhales a little water vapor. NO smell,

no harmful chemicals, no addiction, nothing.

Some are disposable, some come with a little

rechargeable battery, all of of various sizes

and have refillable cartridges.

Isn't that the main complaint of the non

smoking liberals? That second hand smoke

is going to kill them (we don't

want to talk about air pollution, car exhaust, all of the

chemicals in processed foods and drinks, or all of the pills

doctors prescribe like candy)? This solves the problem.

All of us smokers who are to blame for driving up the

cost of health care? No more excuses, now health care

costs can plummet!

Except for one thing.

The FDA is against these electronic cigarettes. They are

working to ban them coming into the U.S., and they have

confiscated several shipments of them coming in since

March. Their excuse is that they are worried about youth

experimenting more with tobacco with these electronic

cigarettes in the U.S.

Oh okay. That explains everything.

Researching these a few months ago, I learned that it

is not feasible for me to use them anyway. The cost

of an electronic cigarette is much higher than what I

am paying for the real thing here in Missouri (an

electronic ciggy would cost me about five bucks a

pack versus about a buck eighty for the real thing).

But in other states I thought they would be popular,

states with bans and high taxes on smoking related

products. I knew at the time though that this

electronic cigarette thing would be met with

resistance by both the Government and by the

people.

The Government - why would they want to lose

all that money they are getting on cigarette taxes?

Health care - do you honestly feel insurance will

plummet if everyone stopped smoking? It's an

excuse. Second hand smoke - don't get me

started, remember? Let me just say that all of

the studies on secondhand smoke are paid for

by....well, don't get me started.

But the non smokers will never accept this either.

Not all non smokers, SOME non smokers. Why?

Because it LOOKS like smoking.

Yes somehow we survived many many years

with people smoking everywhere, even around

children and even while pregnant. Just like

we survived without car seats for our little

ones, lead based paint, and a half pound of

bacon for breakfast every morning.

THEY (the Government, the FDA, and the

tobacco industry, as well as some other

non smoking liberals) will find a way to

ban this product from coming over here,

UNLESS they find a way to get their cut

of the money. It is NEVER about your

health or safety, the bottom line is

about money! Cha-ching!!

Bobby Murcer

This is totally weird.

Well first off I used to be a huge Bobby Murcer fan.

I knew and still know tons about him. I followed

him during his career with the Chicago Cubs -

and a little bit when he got traded to the Yanks.

I know this might make me a candidate for

the funny farm, but every May 20th I remember

it's Bobby Murcer's birthday. I did

on Wednesday. Tonite just for fun I thought I'd

google him to see what he's up to, and oh I found

out....he died last July from

a brain tumor. Apparently it was all over the

national news, but I had heard nothing about it.

Sad to me as he was my childhood idol.

I miss

While I love learning new culture and am receptive

to change, I sometimes miss the Sangre de Cristos,

the cowboys, and the black bear. I also miss the

genuine sincerity and integrity of most of the

people. I miss the openness and baby blue skies

and fresh air (when the wind isn't blowing).

I miss the cold, yes cold summer nights (in

the mountains).

What I don't miss - I do not miss the wind, the

lack of moisture, the dust blowing everywhere. I

don't miss the lack of vegitation. I do not miss

the general attitude of the majority of the people.

I do not miss the difficulty in growing a garden

or the higher cost of living and taxes and of doing

business. And I don't care if I ever see another

cactus again! Or a yucca plant, rattlesnake

and mountain lion.

Keep smiling, keep shining

I read a blog regularly from a young woman who
was recently widowed. She has two young children.
She talks about some of the dear friends who come
through for her. I can relate.

As mentioned before, I was widowed at the age of
24 after living only one year in southern Colorado.
I was left with a business and a HUGE debt load.
The people there were wonderful, some of the
best people on earth. I will always remember those
that supported me and helped me during those
trying years. The thing with me is, I won't ask for
help or tell someone what I want. So the only way
to actually do anything for me is to just go ahead and
take charge. But this is touchy as I'm picky and set
in my ways. A person must earn my respect before
I let them take charge of anything in my life.
These people did the RIGHT things, and
I owe them so much!

Hap - mentioned in an earlier post.

Dr. F - She bent over backwards for me. She scheduled
appointments bi monthly with made up reasons. We
spent many days just talking...not about anything
in particular, just talking. It was a wonderful break
in my day, my health stayed up to par, and my stress
level was down.

K - A wonderful strong woman who owns her own
funeral home. K would just show up around noonish
at least once a week and tell me to get in the car
for lunch. If I was busy doing something she would plop
herself down and put herself to work answering phones,
typing copy, whatever needed done. We had many
a lunch over mexican food discussing the various
methods of embalming people :) K had the best
jokes in the world (she said people grieve in strange
ways) and the cutest kids in the world (until I had
my own). She often told people that we were sisters.

L - This person would call me up to 4 times a day -
every morning around 8, about noon, around 4,
then in the evening.

The best employees in the world - Wow we had fun
at times. We knew when to work and we knew when
to play. We threw a frisbee around out back where
the tower is, we would go out drinking or throwing
darts, we'd eat dinner together, we'd talk. I can't
say enough about the support I had from the crew
I had then, wonderful people! I've kept in contact
with a few of them.

These are just a few of the reasons I made the decision
to stay in Colorado (instead of moving back to
Indiana). Paths cross our life every single day, and
we must make choices. We either live with the results
of those choices or we backtrack and try to get
to that crossed path again. I have never been afraid
of the unknown or of change and I love learning new
cultures and also new experiences.

Slices of Life pt. 4

Buying booze while pregnant - I was pretty pregnant when
one evening in NM we were going to have friends over
for dinner. One of the guests drank a certain brand
of scotch, which we were out of. So on my way to
town I was asked if I would stop at the corner store and
pick up a bottle of this scotch. I went in, grabbed the
bottle, then got in line to pay. A few minutes later I
could feel icy glares and hear whispering. I looked at
the line behind me and it was full of older people, all
casting me the evil eye for being pregnant and going
on a drinking binge! At first I was laughing (on the
inside), then I was concerned that the checkout
person may not let me have it. But no worries, he
knew I wasn't an alkie.

I lied to the cops - Eeek! Living in Colorado by myself,
one night I was in the living room and heard someone
trying to open the back door. OMG! I went into the
bathroom to get a better view from that window, and
heard whistling. I thought it sounded like an employee
I had recently fired. I called the cops and told them
someone was trying to get into my back door, and
who I thought it was. I no sooner got off the phone
when I went into the kitchen to peek out the window.
I saw the guy walking away. He was drunk as a
skunk, and he was my neighbor, an elected city official.
He walked towards the alley, then crossed over to his
property and went inside his house. At first I was
'Oh my God!' Then I was....
Uh oh. He just had the wrong house.
What to do??
Within a couple of more minutes here came about
uhm, six police cars. On the street in front, down
the alley behind, everywhere. All with their lights
flashing. One lady cop that I knew came to the
door. I immediately told her it was not the person
who I thought it was (and it bought me some time
to decide what to tell them). Then another cop
came to the door and asked me which way he
went.
Uh oh.
I said down the alley. "Then how come we didn't
see him then?" Whoops. I really really really
didn't want to get my elected city official neighbor
in trouble with night shift city cops. "I don't know."
After searching awhile they left. I sensed doubt
though. It was about two years later when I
finally told the police chief who actually had
tried to get in my house that night, and that he
was drunk and just had the wrong house is all.
The police chief told me they knew ~insert name~
was a drunk.
My conscience was clear.

I drank pina coladas in a bar while pregnant -
We had this place we loved to go to in Pueblo.
We used to go into the lounge when I was pregnant
and I'd order a virgin pina colada. Occasionally
it got me some icy cold stares but I told the
bartender not to say anything, no one is owed
an explanation. In today's world they'd probably
go home and blog about it!

More on gossiping

I'm not big on gossiping. Oh I do it sometimes,
especially when I get on a rant about something
or someone:) But only to trusted people who I
know won't go back and say, "Do you know
what Molly said?" Those people I classify as
troublemakers.

After we moved to our log house in New Mexico,
I was invited to a Welcome party for me by the
older couple who lived behind us. At the party
were plenty of people, food, etc. One lady asked
me how I liked my house. "Oh I like it I said,
but we absolutely just love the land." "Land?
I didn't know any land came with the house."
Then several women discussed how they didn't
know any land was sold with our house. WTH?
THEN someone started discussing another
house that recently sold down the road. No one
knew the price it sold for, and one decided she
would just go to the courthouse and find out
how much it sold for. PULEEZE! Anyway this
continued on and on about people I really
didn't know very well. About 5ish I realized
I needed to get home. But no one was leaving
the party thrown in my honor. I stood up,
went to the bathroom, other subtle hints.
Nope, no one was leaving. Suddenly it dawned
on me - whoever left first was fair game for the
gossip so no one wanted to leave!! Once I realized
that I thanked them, excused myself, and left.

In a small town most gossip that is said about
you comes back to you eventually. There wasn't
too much about us, but one person in particular
felt the need to butt into our business. One time
she made the comment to one of our neighbor's
that I only was with my husband because of the
money. Once that got back to me I asked my
husband where all the money was - ha! The
other comment she made to my husband -
he went in there with our young'un who had
a binky in his mouth. She made a comment
about that. My husband came unglued -
telling her to never tell him how to raise
his kid and to mind her own f'ing business.
Both she and the person he was with had
their mouths open by the time my husband
was done with her. As far as I know he
never walked into her business again.

Can't recall being the target for much other
gossip in our New Mexico town. I'm sure
there was some, but not much if I don't
remember any. There was a saying I once
heard when I lived in Colorado that pretty
much also applied to NM. The saying was,
"We can screw each other but don't screw
with us as a whole." Gossiping sort of fits
in these lines as well.

So it slays me when someone feels the need
to gossip about me...I am NOT talking about
anyone in the town I live in now! It just
takes me by surprise because it is a rare
occasion to hear me say anything bad
about anyone I know.

I'm sick today, feel like dog poo. Going to
go enjoy a cup of coffee with my significant
other.

It's a set up

AARGH!
That hottie contest - a total setup. They re-entered
the jerk as a wildcard. WTH? Is NOTHING real
and genuine anymore? WHAT A STINKIN CROCK.
And it should have ended by now. WHAT PHONIES!

Congratulations Ron!

Our friend Ron Schmeits was elected president of

the National Rifle Association yesterday. I've

known Ron personally as a friend for over 20

years. My husband and I were both friends

with Ron before we ever met each other. Spent

Thanksgivings at his house, baby sat his dog Lacey,

enjoyed many a dinner together, and even worked

for him for a time. Oh and I once took a shower

at his house - haha! What happened was the

motor went out on our furnace the coldest night

of the year, and we froze pipes and thus no water.

Ron was at work but told me where the key was

to go in and take a shower, which I did and it

was wonderful at the time - hot water! I hope

I thanked him for that! Anyway Ron and his

wife Ann are very generous each year to our

young un and we are most appreciative. We

are very proud of Ron and wish him the best

as the new NRA President!

A shoutout to my peeps!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
A great big thank you for those helping me with
that news hottie contest - We are still in round 3
but we brought one of my picks back from the dead,
despite the 'idiot' spending a couple of hours on his
computer voting him down! Let me recap:

Round 2 ended Saturday. A certain person, a news
person who has won it the past two years, lost on
Saturday. What happened was uhm, he was busy
Friday night and then little peeps went and spent hours
voting for his competition. He was up most of Friday
night getting himself back up over 50%. So he crashed
for a few hours and I was able to get him back down
in percentage again. Then he woke up and Twittered
to his followers - over 400 of them, to vote for him
ten times in a row Saturday morning. So I was on
there canceling out his votes, then suddenly they
ended the round and he lost - hahahahahahahaha!

NOW he wants his co-worker gone. He's jealous that
the co-worker is still in the running and he is not.
So it's back to battle of the computers! Talk about
a whiny brat. The thing he and his other workers
are forgetting is that amongst all the fighting and
jealousy with each other, there are viewers out
here who can manipulate the contest. It's all
perfectly legal and fair, we're just countering his
moves. So if we can PLEASE get round three over
I am formulating plans for the next two rounds.

ALSO!
I have some horribly big news concerning me and
my family, but I cannot make it 'public' as of yet.
Oh but I wanna!! LOL. Big changes coming up
eventually - probably a two year plan. It's AWESOME
news as far as I am concerned, but even if I
told you I cannot tell you why or it would pi$$
some people off - LOL! Stay tuned!

Hap

I have many dear friends that have passed away.
I was thinking about one of them tonite.
Hap.
Hap was a friend of my first husband. Hap owned
and ran a little-bit-of-everything store in Colorado -
he sold furniture, bicycles, hardware, school
supplies, candy, pictures, cleaning products, you
name it he had it! He looked like Art Carney,
complete with the hat and all :)

After my husband passed away and I returned to
Colorado, I had much wonderful support from
some of the greatest people I ever had the pleasure
of knowing. I remember them all to this day,
although I don't keep in contact with many of
them, and others have passed on.

Upon my return to Colorado, Hap would call me
early in the week and just ask me what time did
I want him to pick me up on Friday. "WHAT?"
Every Friday I was available, he'd pick me up.
We'd go out to dinner, sometimes on to drinking
and dancing. NEVER ONCE did he ever try to
hit on me or anything. We took turns paying
(my insistence) and we had a blast. He was
partial to chinese food, although he'd order steak and
drink coffee there :) On Mother's Day he insisted
on taking both me and my mother in law out
to dinner, as he said he missed his own mother
on that day. After I met my current significant
other, we all three still would go out sometimes,
thought not as often, my bad as my priorities
and schedule changed. And all three of us
enjoyed ourselves immensely! I really don't
remember how old Hap was, I know he looked
a bit older than his actual age.

Hap was brutally bludgeoned to death by
an employee's son early one morning while
he was getting ready to drive to Denver to
pick up goods. The son and his accomplice
were found guilty and are in prison for this
murder. This was all about money - the
$3,000 cash Hap had on him to buy the
goods. Hap would have given the boy the
money if he asked. It was a senseless
and brutal death. His store was closed and
never reopened under that name.

Happenings!

First off, this is too funny not to share. The
phone rang a few minutes ago and I was told
to turn on the tv. It took me a moment, but
the person on the tv had hair falling on his
forehead and then it was pointed out to me
to look at the back of his head - he combed
his hair backwards in the back to cover
up a big bald spot - omg we died laughing!

Here come more storms. Don't know if they
are supposed to be severe or not after the past
week. What they tell you and what happens
are two different things anyway. So I'll wait
for the thunder then listen for the sirens.
Am beginning to hate those sirens! Told Mr.
Lock an Load we were so much better off
when we first moved here and had no idea
what the sirens were for.

Found a nasty overgrown patch of poison
ivy the other day, didn't notice it from where
it was growing before. So I went in with my
Roundup and sprayed. Now I have a tiny spot
on the back of my ankle that I thought was
a bug bite or a blister but nope, it's poison
ivy. Oh well get out the alcohol...

My living room is a mess from the youngun
making 'the biggest fort ever' and my
breezeway is all torn up from the other
half adding a bathroom.

Friend in Vegas making plans to make sure
I gain ten pounds on my vacation there -
she is getting comp passes to a pretty nice
restaurant (lobster, crab legs, filet, appetizer,
dessert, salad, bottle of wine), and also
some fondue four course restaurant. I
might not fit on the plane to come home!
I love good food!

Garden doing fabulous and I haven't had to
water because of all the rain. Cucumbers
coming up today. Still haven't seen hide nor
hair of the watermelon, waiting on it to
make an appearance. So much caught up
outside now it'll turn hot as crap.

Storm shelters

We have a storm shelter here.
We don't use it to hide from storms.
The people that put it in put it waaaaaay
too far away from the house. I'm not
about to run out there in the pouring rain
and hail 20 times a year to sit in a dank
and dark place. But it's built right - it's
in the ground, faces the right way, has
a steel door, has a ventilation pipe and
also a drain that runs water through a
pipe downhill. When the remodel is
done here and the bedroom addition
finished, the storm shelter will be moved
so it's right on the other side of a door
off of the bedroom. It will be more like
a safe room, only it will still be underground,
have the ventilation and drainage, and
the steel door. The building is concrete.

I am reminded tonite of the time at the
radio stations when FEMA decided to
finance a storm shelter broadcast room.
I had nothing to do with it - the money
came from FEMA, tens of thousands of
dollars. The broadcasting room was
finished, the equipment in place and
hooked up. The idea was in the event
of an emergency, the radio station could
still broadcast from the safe room. BUT.
Two things happened. #1 is it had a
wooden door - oh yeah EXCELLENT idea
in the event of an emergency!! #2 was
they delivered a generator WAY TOO
BIG to ever go in the room designated for
it. This generator was close to a hundred
grand in cost! Taxpayer money at it's
best! I have no idea what happened, but
I was not going to waste anymore of
taxpayer money. I knew the shelter would
not withstand any sort of bomb or catastrophe,
I knew it was not up to par. So by
the time the generator was delivered I
refused it - told them to take it back.
No one believed that I was serious. And
I have no idea what FEMA did with it after
that time. I did know that it was time to
stop the insanity of wasting taxpayer money
on something that served no purpose
whatsoever! Who the genius was that put
all that together and sent me that stuff
I have no idea. Before the semi came back
to pick it up I had many ranchers stop and
say if I didn't want it they would take it
off my hands - LOL!

Weather

Wokay.

So yesterday they had been predicting nasty

storms for us. The NWS had us under a moderate

risk, as well as the entire state of Missouri, about

half of Oklahoma, and almost all of Illinois.

So in the garden I covered up the precious plants

I wanted to save with buckets. In the evening

you could see the squall line moving in - weatherman

stated that once it formed a big squall the big

threats were over. At ten pm weatherman stated

that a second line of storms formed, thus weakening

the nasty line, and the big threat was no more. It

was stated that the strongest wind gust recorded

was 30mph and very small hail reported. Ah. I

went to bed.

At 12:15 the storm sirens blaring in the town got

me up. I uttered a four letter word, put on the

slippers, and headed for a television. 5 counties

(including us) were under a tornado warning.

So.

As I sat there staring at an infomercial and waiting

for the warning to expire my mind wandered. I

decided I was getting mighty tired of these types

of storms and wanted to move. But I wanted to move

to an area where the weather was tamer. But where?

So my mind pondered - the upper midwest is out,

too many problems. New England, uhm, no. California

too liberal for my tastes. I have turned into a whiny

butt with cold weather and snow so that let a few

places out. Not into hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes,

rude people and high taxes so that nixes a few more

states. I finally decided before heading back

to bed around 2am that I needed an

uninhabited island somewhere. I will write that on

my Christmas list to Santa.

Plans

Woohoo been finalizing plans for my vacation in

September. At least two friends will be joining

me in Vegas, with 3 or 4 more possible.

One very dear friend who lives there has offered

to pick us up at the airport and take us to our

destination. Plenty of food and fun will

await! Still working on the July trip to

Indiana, have no idea if that will happen or not.

Storms on tap for tonite - nasty ones at that.

Will be covering up some plants that I'd like

to keep (with buckets and rocks) just in case.

Neighbor guy doesn't know where the property

line is so he mows part of our lawn

when he mows his - hmmm. Should I say

something or not? Hahahaha. I think I'll

just wait and see if he asks! :) Sonic Blast

for tonite's dinner, good for you :) Garden

doing well except for SOMETHING that steps

on a lettuce plant about once per night.

At the rate this is going I'll probably have

2 or 3 heads of lettuce from the garden is all.

Yesterday I was in a woodsy area here and

kept hearing the pitter patter of little

critters not far away. They didn't realize

I was there. Finally I said "Excuse me I

won't be here long." And saw the two

squirrels scamper off lickety split. They

were having a grand time playing in the woodsy

area until I informed them I was there.

Lost two people from my life over the weekend,

always sad when that happens. That's the news!

Ah spring

It's springtime and I'm caught up! GO me!!

Finished planting today - that's it except for the

pumpkin planting in June. Now to wait for

everything to come up, grow, and produce.

Troublemakers and gossiping

Wow.
I guess I have a bigger following on my blog
and didn't realize it. How flattering! I know
this because of some things posted and some
gossip going around with certain people.

I have stated it before - I am not a phony person.
Or at least I hope I am not. But I don't think
I am. I never mean to offend but when it
comes to issues that affect MY life and not
another's I don't have to share unless I want to share.
Because.
Well.
It's nobody's business but those that are involved.
You see, I figure it this way - I answer to me, my
husband, and to God. Nobody else.
But there are those that read things and learn
things about me they otherwise didn't know.
Here and with other things I have on the web.

Because I am such a private person, some feel the
need to make gossip and trouble for me by
pointing out things to touchy and sensitive
people in my life to try to start trouble. That's
fine I guess, as the problem is with the touchy
and sensitive ones and not me. But why? Why
care what I do or what I say? I'm not
picking on or judging anyone for what they do,
and I would never do that. I don't shun anyone for
religious choices for example, or other
choices in life. Why cause trouble for me?
Because I'm happy? Content? Secure? Okay
with life and myself?? Tell me!

Causing trouble by telling things to moody people
in my life does nothing but put a wider barrier between
me and that person. Is that what is wanted?
Cuz if that's what is wanted, hey, go for it. It's no
sweat off my back.

There are those in life that are just plain miserable,
even with themselves. There are those that go
through life just looking for something to be pissed
about. And gossipers can smell that a mile away and
capitalize on it. Sure their life may not be the best,
but wasn't it their choice?

And does anyone think my life is absolutely perfect?
It's not. But I learned a long, long time ago that
with certain people there is just no pleasing no
matter what I did. So I don't try.

I'm just me. I'm just myself. Like it or lump it.
I don't lie very often, I am honest, upfront and
sincere about myself, I lead a decent and honest
and clean life. SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
I do know what the problem is - I don't think
like the gossipers, troublemakers, and the moody
ones, so therefore I'm fair game to gossip and
crap talk. GROW UP!

And why be such a chicken shit about it? Say it
to my face, or if you have an issue with me take it
up with me! Don't go whining about me to someone
else, that will accomplish nothing and just may one
day backfire!! Unlike many people, I will take the
issue on with you and hopefully we can work it
out - I will not lie about it or hide in silence.

And in the end I'm still going to be me. And that
person will always be that person. And life goes
on. It's not like our paths ever cross anyway.
Would that person rather I don't say a word?
If I thought that would bring happiness to certain
people that is exactly what I would do, but I
have news for this person - it will not. So do
us all a favor and just mind your own business,
okay?

It's funny too as there are several different people
who think my posts are about them. And in many
cases it is not - I find this very amusing that
there are so many paranoid people around!
And unfortunately the ones this post is meant
for will not figure it out.

Slices of Life pt. 3

I once had a date with a college dean - A dean at the
local college once called me up and asked me to go out
with him - first to hear his lecture
to the agricultural department at the college, then
out to dinner. My first thoughts were "Oh wonderful,
dinner with a friend!" This man was 30 years my
senior, and I had no idea he meant a date-date. So
he picks me up and we go to the lecture. I really
didn't pay that much attention to it, I was not
into farming and I sometimes sat through 3
lectures a day, so I knew how to drift off mentally.
But in the car driving to the restaurant, he wanted
me to critique his speech. Uh, duh, uhm.
I faked it as best I could ;-) Dinner was fantastic
and the conversation even better. After dinner
we went into the lounge to listen to music
and have a drink. During this time he told me
how he had been mesmerized with me 'since
that day I was at the station, you came
out of your office, the sunlight was hitting
your hair just right and....".
Oops.
Suddenly it dawned on me he meant more for
this evening than two friends having dinner.
So my first words were "Oh, the age
difference doesn't bother you?" He stammered
around a minute then asked how old I was. I told
him the truth (something like 25),
then asked HIM how old HE was. He replied
in a mumbled tone something about being
old enough to be my dad.
Shortly after that we left. It was a very quiet
drive back. I only saw him one time after that,
at a movie theater. He was there with his new
wife. He looked totally uncomfortable when
I said hello to him and asked him how he was.
Sadly, he passed away from cancer about a year
after that.


I fell off a horse at a racetrack - The town
we lived in in NM had horse racing. My
husband dabbled with racehorses and knew
the trainer well. I had a young horse at the time
they were using to pony the racehorses with
that summer and they kept him at the track.
One evening I went to the track and took the
horse out for a ride...we went out into
a big field and I was busy watching the sun
slip behind the Sangre de Cristos. My horse
had other ideas...it was feeding time at the
barn. Suddenly he bolted 180 degrees
and took off running for the barn. I did not :)
I landed in the field. Now, my horse always
had bright blue tack... a bright blue halter,
bridle, reins, saddle blanket, etc.
When my horse went running through the
barn area, ALL the trainers and stable boys
knew whose horse it was. I was told that
one said to the other, "I'll get Molly, you
get the horse." OMG embarrassing!! Moreso than that,
my elbow swelled up to the size of a softball and I was
sure I had broken it. Immediate ice packs brought
the swelling down by morning though, although that
fall did warrant a trip to the doctor.

OMG I'm getting old

There is a school dance Friday night.

I am the chauffer.

Thought for today

Your jealousy is not my problem

There is a song by Queen that starts out,
"I've paid my dues, time after time...."
And that is probably a true statement of many
of us. We have all gone through some rough
periods, myself included. You know it's during
those rough times that one tends to find out
who their true friends are...who stood by you,
who offered support, and who hid in the corner.
And one doesn't forget.
By the same token, when something good happens,
your true friends will be happy for you. I don't
think I'm a bragger by any stretch of the imagination.
Yes I've had some great times. But also, I'm happy
with the very simple things in life, where as many
people are not. I also get excited at something
good happening or that is going to happen, and
I like to share those things with the people in my
life.

If your life is not as great as you'd like or you
are in a situation that prevents you from enjoying
the same things as I do, is that a valid reason for
jealousy? Aren't we all responsible for our own
lives and choices? Only YOU can change your life,
I cannot and no one else can either.

I define people two ways - the whiners - those that
whine about all the bad things that have happened
or are happening in their life, and the winners - those
that are upbeat about their current life and don't
complain about their previous hard times. Yes
we all whine from time to time, that is normal. But
for some it is an absolute way of life. If life is that
bad then change it! Don't waste precious energy
being jealous of what others have that you do not.
No one else chose your life but you.

Everyone makes mistakes and everyone makes poor
choices at times, but to spend your time whining
about it is an absolute waste of time. AND you must
learn something from those mistakes and poor choices
or it was totally in vain.

You know I hear a lot about forgive, forgive, forgive.
This is a good time to mention this....I am a big
believer in forgiving someone, ONLY IF the person
asks for forgiveness. Otherwise I don't care who they
are if they've hurt you why forgive? Only to be hurt
again? We all make mistakes but owning up to those
mistakes and trying to make it right takes real balls and
class. Pretending nothing happened or lying about it
is the way of a coward.

Bible belt fun

I just love living in the Bible Belt sometimes (NOT).
So a state senator traveled to Iowa to marry her
(same sex) lover. Because of this area, it of course
if big headlines on the news. That plus the news has
no real news but that is another story. Then all
on both sides get all riled up, and nasty words start
flying. This happens again and again and again with
stories that are not that big of a deal. For instance,
anything Planned Parenthood does or supports is always
a story for the media. I'm sorry but I wish we had a
Planned Parenthood here (the bible thumpers keep them
out as they think all PP does is abortions). PP is a
very good place to get low cost medical testing and
checkups. Most PP's do NOT do abortions! When
will it be time to shut the hell up and leave the judging
to God? I keep my mouth shut as I did move to this
area, but if it weren't for the media some issues would
just take care of themselves. My beef is not just with
the local media. National media capitalize on debatable
issues as well, and like to keep the pot stirred up. After
all, if we are busy fighting with each other, we probably
are not paying any attention to what they are doing in
Washington, are we? WAKE UP!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I've researched many many recipes for this stuff online.
This is how I made it last week, and I just love it! Clothes
are left soft and fluffy, and CLEAN and bright! This is
for powdered homemade laundry detergent.

3 bars of soap
*I let my soap dry out for about a week
*Moisturizing soap not recommended

3 cups washing SODA
*NOT baking soda

3 cups Borax

3/4 c. Oxyclean

Grate bar soap very well (food processor) and mix
all up. Use 1 T. for a regular load with soft water, 2 T.
for a heavily soiled or full load with soft water, 3 T. to
4 T. for hard water. For best results, use vinegar in the
final rinse water instead of fabric softener.

EXCELLENT!

Viva Las Vegas!

So for awhile now I've been planning a trip for me.
I wanted to go back to NM this year. I haven't been
back since we moved here to the Ozarks. Immediate
family had other ideas, they wanted me in Indiana
for a party. I didn't know that when I planned my last
trip to Indiana and was planning my NM trip.
Anyway.
Mr. Lock an Load and I were just talking about this.
I'm not looking forward to the Indiana trip if we go
(NO offense to my family)...reason is I'm just not
comfortable with the upper midwest and the people,
etc. But plans are in place and if they work out,
fine, a quick trip to Indiana it is. If they don't work
out I have nothing to feel guilty about.

But the trip to NM is a problem. I didn't count on
the layovers with Amtrak, the flight stuff, etc. It's
just a too hard of a drive for me. Not just the miles
but the layout of the roads, etc. Anyway, instead
I am working towards a get-away to Las Vegas in
the fall. Going to start giving my friends out that
way the heads up so we can get together!! I've
been wanting to go back there for so long anyway!
I'm going to push for a full week there, so I have time
to have some fun! Will try to pick a great all inclusive
hotel so if I don't want to leave I don't have to.
Something to plan and look forward to! Actually
I'd love to return to Lake Tahoe, but I'm not going to
drive up there after landing in Reno, plus I wouldn't
get to hang out with friends there, so Vegas it is.

Mine That Bird wins Derby!

OMG how cool is that? A horse costing less than

ten grand and from Sunland winning the Derby!!

And that trainer - he's all New Mexico! Just looking

at him without knowing I could tell where he was

from - just too cool! Go Mine That Bird - smoke

'em in the Preakness too!