I just have to give a big ol' shout-out to a couple of local writers. First is poet Jonathan Bolick, whose book, "Diamonds From Coal" I purchased last month. Loved it! I will order his latest soon. To read some of Jonathan's work go to: www.boloworks.com . I found out about Jonathan from my friend Gina. It's kind of funny how I recently told Gina that I like to write poetry, but I don't like reading poetry, (yes I am an oddball) but I sure enjoyed Jonathan's work.
Last, but not least, is Carolyn Steele Agosta. I work with Carolyn's sister Jacki, who directed me to her website: www.carolynagosta.com . When you go to Carolyn's site click on , "Links to published stories" which is on the left. That will bring up many great short stories, but the one I want you to read first is, "Another Weekend With Suzie".
I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't think they were wonderful....so, check 'em out!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Kick-Ass Computer, Sprouts And Deals
Well, here I sit (grinnin' like a possum) at my new, kick-ass computer! Which, by the way, happens to have 160 gigs of hard drive, 2 gigs ram, a CD burner and a four-fifty-four with a four-on-the-floor! The Computer Guru really out did himself and got back in my good graces. (looks like his name may reappear in my will) I could hardly wait to get home from work to hook this baby up. The laws of nature and my own bad karma prohibit me from ever having things go as planned. So, I had to make a trip to Wal-Mart to buy a new mouse, but that's ok I'm still grinnin'.
I'm so pleased with myself, because I started two different batches of sprouts yesterday. (green pea and soy) Those are new to me. The only thing I've done before were lentil sprouts. Now there's some fine eatin'. Sprouts are really good for you and here's the best part.....they're super cheap to make!
Speaking of cheap, (by the way "Cheap" is my middle name) I went to the grocery store yesterday with some coupons and hit pay dirt. Sugar was on sale for 99 cents, had a 30 cent coupon which was doubled. HOLY CRAP....four pounds of sugar for 39 cents! Oops...I peed myself a little. When I came to the French's mustard and realized that I could get a 14 oz. bottle for 20 cents, I could barely conceal my excitement! Then came the best part...they actually had to pay ME to take a 12 oz. bottle of French's spicy brown off their hands! YIPPIE-FRICKIN'-I-O! I was lovin' life!
In case you didn't notice, I'm in a much better mood than I was when I put up my last post and you may be wondering if I had to tell anyone to go to Hell. I did not, but there were a few close calls. The mental illness is on the back burner for now, but it's still simmering.
I'm so pleased with myself, because I started two different batches of sprouts yesterday. (green pea and soy) Those are new to me. The only thing I've done before were lentil sprouts. Now there's some fine eatin'. Sprouts are really good for you and here's the best part.....they're super cheap to make!
Speaking of cheap, (by the way "Cheap" is my middle name) I went to the grocery store yesterday with some coupons and hit pay dirt. Sugar was on sale for 99 cents, had a 30 cent coupon which was doubled. HOLY CRAP....four pounds of sugar for 39 cents! Oops...I peed myself a little. When I came to the French's mustard and realized that I could get a 14 oz. bottle for 20 cents, I could barely conceal my excitement! Then came the best part...they actually had to pay ME to take a 12 oz. bottle of French's spicy brown off their hands! YIPPIE-FRICKIN'-I-O! I was lovin' life!
In case you didn't notice, I'm in a much better mood than I was when I put up my last post and you may be wondering if I had to tell anyone to go to Hell. I did not, but there were a few close calls. The mental illness is on the back burner for now, but it's still simmering.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
In A Bad Place
Have you ever been mad at the world and not quite sure why? That's where I am right now, but in a way I know why. In a nutshell....taxes and people who don't understand how income tax works. Anyway, that's what got the ball rolling and at the moment I can think of several people who have irritated me in the past few weeks, who I would just like to tell to go to Hell! Hopefully, that won't happen at work tomorrow, but there's always that possibility. Actually, there are some, who haven't even pissed me off yet, but I picture them doing just that and I picture myself....telling them to go to Hell. Oh, yes! I can feel the mental illness welling up in my throat!
There should be a good place to go when I'm in a bad place. (a bad place being the dark corners of my own mind) How about the doctors office, because my right knee is swelled up like a balloon? No. I guess not, because he would tell me to stay off from it for a few days. Bullshit! Does he have any clue how my life is?
On the "up" side....The Computer Guru has everything ordered for my new, kick-ass computer and I'm sooooo happy about that! I'm pretty sure that's the only saving grace that is keeping me from actually telling several people to go to Hell!
There should be a good place to go when I'm in a bad place. (a bad place being the dark corners of my own mind) How about the doctors office, because my right knee is swelled up like a balloon? No. I guess not, because he would tell me to stay off from it for a few days. Bullshit! Does he have any clue how my life is?
On the "up" side....The Computer Guru has everything ordered for my new, kick-ass computer and I'm sooooo happy about that! I'm pretty sure that's the only saving grace that is keeping me from actually telling several people to go to Hell!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wordless
His name was Paul, but I can't recall how I came to know his name. Maybe he wrote it on my order pad. Years after we met I learned his last name when I saw his picture in the paper. "Paul Whitesides", it said above his obituary. Sadness swept over me as I remembered many wordless conversations between Paul and myself. The only time actual words were involved was when one of us wrote something down on paper for the other one to read or when he pointed to whatever menu item he wanted.
Looking back on my conversations with Paul, I have to wonder just how ridiculous my awkward hand gestures must have seemed to him. I couldn't sign. Maybe he got the same feeling I get when I'm talking to someone who is just learning to speak English. He probably felt like I was butchering his native tongue.
Quite often I would flail my arms and pretend to be very irritated with him, which always produced a big grin. No telling what the other customers thought when I behaved that way.
Meeting Paul taught me that you don't need to verbalize to let people know that you like them and that you're genuinely happy to see them. Words are just words, sometimes empty and meaningless. Only our actions truly speak to other human beings, a language of their own.
Looking back on my conversations with Paul, I have to wonder just how ridiculous my awkward hand gestures must have seemed to him. I couldn't sign. Maybe he got the same feeling I get when I'm talking to someone who is just learning to speak English. He probably felt like I was butchering his native tongue.
Quite often I would flail my arms and pretend to be very irritated with him, which always produced a big grin. No telling what the other customers thought when I behaved that way.
Meeting Paul taught me that you don't need to verbalize to let people know that you like them and that you're genuinely happy to see them. Words are just words, sometimes empty and meaningless. Only our actions truly speak to other human beings, a language of their own.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Follow Your Mommy...Or Else!
Dear Son Computer Guru,
It pains me greatly that you seem unable to follow my blog, like your sister (AKA: Favorite Child) does. Yet you wonder why she is the favorite. Believe me when I tell you that this hurts me more than it hurts you... consider this formal notice of your removal from my will. Favorite Child should be very happy to know that instead of half of my estate, she now will get EVERYTHING! This brings her total inheritance to approximately $375.92. (before funeral expenses)
Should you decide to mend the error of your ways, and your little silhouette once again appears on my follower list, I may reinstate you as a beneficiary along with Favorite Child.
Sincerely Yours,
Mom
It pains me greatly that you seem unable to follow my blog, like your sister (AKA: Favorite Child) does. Yet you wonder why she is the favorite. Believe me when I tell you that this hurts me more than it hurts you... consider this formal notice of your removal from my will. Favorite Child should be very happy to know that instead of half of my estate, she now will get EVERYTHING! This brings her total inheritance to approximately $375.92. (before funeral expenses)
Should you decide to mend the error of your ways, and your little silhouette once again appears on my follower list, I may reinstate you as a beneficiary along with Favorite Child.
Sincerely Yours,
Mom
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
No "Me" Time!
This is the PITS! I have no time to blog right now...and haven't for a week straight. We're extending our barn, adding one stall and a covered outside area. As usual we're trying to make chicken salad out of....well lets just say...something less desirable than chicken breast. That's how we roll here at the Half-Assed Acres Ranch. Then again, that's how we built our rather large two stall existing barn for less that $3000.00.
Don't give up on me. Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day.
Don't give up on me. Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Snow Day!!!
In this part of the south our snows are few and far between. So, I was looking forward, with child-like anticipation, to last nights "winter blast." (that's what they keep calling it on the news, but being from Michigan I don't consider 4 to 6 inches of snow a winter blast) There was no point in setting the alarm for my normal 4:30 AM, because I knew (at the very least) we would be on a two hour delay.
Six 0'clock came and I rolled out of bed to turn on the news. There it was at the bottom of the screen, no school for students or staff, but that's still a gray area for us "Central Office" employees. We're normally expected to work even when teachers and other school personal have the day off due to inclement weather. At this point I'm not sure whether I should get ready for work or blow it off and build a snowman, which is what I really want to do.
When it got to be 7:00 and there was no recorded call from our superintendent, I was thinking I should just get ready for work, but the idea of a snowman in my front yard beckoned. What a dilemma. Work. Snowman. Work. Snowman. Then I had the bright idea of checking the phone for messages just in case T.H. had turned off the phone when I fell asleep on the couch last night. BINGO! There were two messages. First was one from Dr. M. in which he said that the central office would be closed today. Second message was sweet friend Renee telling me to stay home. Renee has somehow inherited the job of looking out for me and I'd like to know what she did to deserve that job. (must have been something pretty awful)
Snowman, here I come! After gathering up proper snowman attire, partially consisting of a red cowboy hat, red bandanna, red mittens and large blue buttons for eyes, (Who can resist a blue-eyed cowboy?) I headed to the barn to feed horses. On the way back to the house I reached my glove-clad hands down and scooped up some of that wonderful snowman material. WOE IS ME!!! Major disappointment! Too cold to pack! For a moment I contemplated doing what I used to do as a child, which was throwing myself to the ground in a temper tantrum, kicking and screaming. I somehow managed to squelch that urge.
At the moment I'm sitting here at the computer, behaving like an adult, anxiously waiting for the sun to warm the snow enough to become snowman friendly. However, if that does not happen, I can only hope that my neighbors are not watching when the temper tantrum occurs.
Six 0'clock came and I rolled out of bed to turn on the news. There it was at the bottom of the screen, no school for students or staff, but that's still a gray area for us "Central Office" employees. We're normally expected to work even when teachers and other school personal have the day off due to inclement weather. At this point I'm not sure whether I should get ready for work or blow it off and build a snowman, which is what I really want to do.
When it got to be 7:00 and there was no recorded call from our superintendent, I was thinking I should just get ready for work, but the idea of a snowman in my front yard beckoned. What a dilemma. Work. Snowman. Work. Snowman. Then I had the bright idea of checking the phone for messages just in case T.H. had turned off the phone when I fell asleep on the couch last night. BINGO! There were two messages. First was one from Dr. M. in which he said that the central office would be closed today. Second message was sweet friend Renee telling me to stay home. Renee has somehow inherited the job of looking out for me and I'd like to know what she did to deserve that job. (must have been something pretty awful)
Snowman, here I come! After gathering up proper snowman attire, partially consisting of a red cowboy hat, red bandanna, red mittens and large blue buttons for eyes, (Who can resist a blue-eyed cowboy?) I headed to the barn to feed horses. On the way back to the house I reached my glove-clad hands down and scooped up some of that wonderful snowman material. WOE IS ME!!! Major disappointment! Too cold to pack! For a moment I contemplated doing what I used to do as a child, which was throwing myself to the ground in a temper tantrum, kicking and screaming. I somehow managed to squelch that urge.
At the moment I'm sitting here at the computer, behaving like an adult, anxiously waiting for the sun to warm the snow enough to become snowman friendly. However, if that does not happen, I can only hope that my neighbors are not watching when the temper tantrum occurs.
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