Busy Week

Yeah...kind of busy...maybe not so much for me, but for some of the people that I care about and try to keep track of what's happening with them. In this past week, three people that I'm close to have had surgery. One in Wichita, one in Manhattan, and one in Topeka (I think).

Patsy, the "uber Christmas maven" as her friend Greg calls her, had surgery Tuesday morning. You can follow along on her blog. She's had very good news, but still has some serious healing to do. She's a great gal and I just have this feeling that God was somewhat overwhelmed at all the prayers that came rushing up to Him. He probably thought, "Wow..I don't have time to deal with ALL this...I better let her be in good health!" Thus, last night's "BENIGN" news!!

My cousin Shon's husband, Charley had his knee replacement surgery that same morning, and with it came better news than we originally thought. They were planning on a lot of tendon repair/replacement work, but it turned out to not be necessary. So hopefully he'll be "up and kickin'" before too long.

Shon's sister, Becky (another cousin, of course) has been spending time with her daughter who is recuperating from some surgery she had last Friday. There's an absolutely hilarious story here but I can't tell it. Suffice it to say it concerns a sports water bottle and a post-surgery incident.

So..a big 'HURRY AND GET WELL" to Patsy and Charley and Melissa!!!! We want to see all of you back doing what each of you do best!

Stay healthy!!

Antiquated or Regionalized or Just "Folksy"?

Recently Richard Shank wrote a column for the Hutchinson News entitled From whence those old expressions come. Some of them he mentioned are:
A man that was so down and out, he was probably just walking around to save funeral expenses.
Someone talked so much that the only time he stopped speaking was to cut off a sentence and start a new one.
Or that someone was so excitable that he resembled a cat on a hot tin roof.
And we all remember when someone was just knee high to a grasshopper.
No one ever accused him of being honest.
He doesn't know whether to wind his watch or go to town and eat dinner (not quite how I heard it, but his version is less graphic than mine perhaps).
Few things that he didn't know were yet to be written.
More solutions than there are problems.
Hotter than the hubs of hell or colder than a well-digger in the Klondike (again...a little different than how I heard it..colder than a well-digger's "patootie").
Someone could be so tight they squeaked.
Gone to the dogs originated in the 15th century when food unfit for human consumption was thrown to the hounds.
Be green with envy.
Hat in hand was a reference to early day beggars.
Keep up with the Joneses.
Dime a dozen.
I find it amazing how many expressions people use and don't really think about what they are saying or to whom they're saying it. As I'm sure most all parents, and definitely all grandparents, know, "we" don't understand "their" language. Well...it works both ways. Here's a few examples (try these on your 'youngins' and ask for their interpretation of what you just said):
What if somebody doesn't "cotton" to you.
Or if they're running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
And if your back teeth are floatin'. (Had a 20-something ask me "Do you have any ibuprofen?")
One day in the dentist's office I commented that it "smells like a singed chicken." He laughed and said he doubted that his assistant knew what that meant!
Jerk up your girdle was one of my dad's favorites. It meant to hurry up and let's go!
Packing a kid. I think this one's more regional: My sister (Missouri/Arkansas) says it means pregnant. I interpret it as kid being carried on one hip.
Just shot my wad was one of my mom's favorites...it meant she'd spent all her money! Meant something totally different even in MY generation!
And then from a slightly different viewpoint: A friend of mine, Patsy who writes a blog had one entitled Sentences that Have Not Been Uttered Previously, where she stated that "Friends and I have an ongoing discussion about 'sentences that have not been uttered previously.' Our latest favorite is, 'If you're not going to sell it, it doesn't matter what it's worth. You might as well glue it to your jackalope.' I (Patsy) am the proud speaker in this case, referring to Greg wanting to glue some toy goggles from GI Joe on Ace Jackalope before the cruise."
Our family, and I'm sure probably yours too, also had some strange expressions that no one but an "insider" would understand. One I remember quite well was "Them your chickens?" It meant your mind wandered and you didn't complete your sentence or thought. Came from a situation in one of my parents' childhood when a neighboring child was standing on a box reciting poetry and saw some chickens in the yard, stopped in mid-poem, and said, "Them your chickens?"
My ex-husband always referenced time as "since Bully was a calf." Once a family friend watched my ex selling motorcycles and later told my dad that "he could sell ice to Eskimos."
Two other favorites of my dad were "wilder than a peach orchard boar" and "worthless as teats on a boar hog". (To me, those usually referred to my sister and to her dates respectively. 'Course later it might have been used on me and I just didn't hear it.)
In a bar in Missouri one night, I had a guy ask me if I knew what "Ignorsha" was. Turns out it's when you're trying to get someone's attention and he Ignorsha. (You can probably figure out how that conversation ended!)
Had enough yet? Well...how 'bout one for the road? When it's really, really cold in the Yukon, the sled dogs are brought into the house and allowed to sleep in the bed with the people to help conserve heat. Depending upon how cold it is determines the number of dogs brought in. If it's really cold, that's what they call a "Three Dog Night"!!!! (sorry...I just couldn't resist.)
And for some of those who moaned about that last one...and only two readers will know what this means: AT LEAST NO ONE EVER CONVINCED ME THAT I WAS INVISIBLE!!!!!
If you can think of some that you think should be mentioned, please email me with them at b_robinson@cox.net and I'll add them to the list! Thanks!

Ain't No Friend of Mine!

This is Macy. Macy is a 3 month old Shih Tzu. Some friends brought her by this evening to show her to me and Schiz. Schiz wasn't interested...at all. Macy is, as most puppies are, a ball of energy. Extremely cute!!! When Schiz is unhappy, she drops her tail and it drags along behind her. That's how she was with Macy. Didn't bother Macy...she'd put her front paws on Schiz's tail and just slide along behind her. It was great fun...for Macy; not so much for Schiz. Probably 30 minutes and still no warm up. I've always said, and 100% believe, you couldn't MAKE Schiz bite or snap!!! But now...I'm not so sure. She loves big dogs (Golden Retrievers and Labs, no problem)...she loves dogs her size that are adults...but this is the 2nd puppy I've tried to introduce her to and she's just not interested...and doesn't act like she will be later either. How do you spell "SPOILED ROTTEN"!!!!

Bentley...happily ever after

I'm almost hesitant to write this today. It's a "very happy ending" story at this point, and I'd hate to somehow change that. I'll tell this story without names or addresses.

In about November 2007 (before the nasty ice storm we had here in December 2007), a friend of mine told me of a small dog that she kept seeing near her home. She lives several miles from town on a dirt road. She and I talked many times of going out and trying to catch this little fellow. It was a cold winter and he was very small. We feared he'd either freeze, starve, or the coyotes would get him. Anytime anyone tried to get near him however, he'd run off. After the big ice storm and so much cold weather, I think everyone figured he didn't make it. I'd thought of him several times and regretted that we didn't try harder....I was sure he was dead.

About four weeks ago my friend told me that the neighbor woman had put a little box-type bed on a back porch of a vacated mobile home. She'd gone out the night before, and without even a flashlight to look first, she ran her hand into the box....and there was the dog!!! All the neighbors had been leaving food and water out for him, trying to keep him alive and maybe catch him. But this woman WON! She called my friend and the very next day delivered him to her door. A trip to the vet provided a little more information. He's probably about 10 years old, probably at least part Yorkie, and losing his sight. His eyes are clouded, a fairly common problem for Yorkies. This little guy, now known as Bentley, has no idea (or maybe he does) how lucky he is. The people who have adopted him are absolutely the kindest, most dog-loving people in the world. Bentley lives inside, in the warm, sleeps on the bed with his new owners and another canine friend. He'll get all the medical attention he ever needs. And he will and does get all the love he's ever deserved. He's just the sweetest little guy you can imagine. He walks like he's afraid he may offend someone, but really seems to respond with love when you talk to him.

Back to why I'm hesitant to post this: if he was dumped by some cruel person they should never have him (or any animal) again. But, if he was lost from a caring home, they didn't look long enough!!! He was out there on his own...10-11 pounds of the sweetest little baby...cold..hungry...in danger of being eaten by coyotes...for over a year!!! Just know that he's got the best home he's EVER had...that's why no names, no location. Here's Bentley:

Welcome Home, Bentley!!!!

Friendships

Yesterday was spent with Patsy and "newer" friends, Greg and Cleta. Patsy has incredible Christmas decorations and one tree in particular is spectacular! I always seem to post links to Patsy's and Greg's sites..but it's because they're such extraordinarily interesting people. At any rate, we took down the BIG tree...BIG tree....over 15,000 lights according to the Hutchinson News...and I think even more than that because I personally used a roll of 150 plastic bags and then went to another roll for several more..putting a single strand of lights in each bag. Many, many boxes, three layers deep, were filled with ornaments. Patsy has some really beautiful ones, too! After lunch, which was in itself a lot of fun, we started dismantling the tree, and between Patsy, Greg, and I, and later joined by Cleta, we "got 'er done." Laughs..so many laughs! Both Greg and Patsy have very quick wits, and mix that and the fact that the three of us seem to run on the same channel sometimes...there were lots of really humorous moments. Not really any that I think I can post here, even though Greg seemed to think I should!! But, I really had a fun time!!! Let's leave it at that.


Once during the day, upon finding that one of Patsy's vinyl bags for the pieces of the big tree had blown away, I decided to come home to find a large vinyl bag that I thought I had. Turned out I couldn't find it...still can't. I've looked in the shed, in the garage, in the basement, in the anteroom cupboards, everywhere. I don't know what I've done with it. But this a.m. Schiz was outside padding around and I grabbed my camera and took some pix. Obviously yesterday when I came home and went out to the shed, I must have had some aluminum icicles on me. (The neighbor's dogs were barking so I had trouble getting her attention to get a very good shot. Use your imagination...see the icicle running from her face, over her ear and down?) Oh well, I'm truly easily amused!!!

But, all in all, I totally enjoyed spending the time helping Patsy get the tree away. She's preparing for some surgery soon and the less she has to do after that, the better. She'll need some time to recuperate. As my cousin says: when it comes to facing illness and the 'whys and how to's ', .... "you can't control the wind, you just have to adjust your sails"

UNITED States of AMERICA

I am writing this part of the blog several hours later than the body of it was written. I don't know why, but I questioned this, so I went to Snopes to check it out. Turns out that it is true...however, there's considerably more to the article than what I've printed here. I was going to copy and paste the Snope's version, but was unable to do that. (???) If you find this interesting, I hope you'll go to Snopes and read the entire article.


This may have been around for years, but I only saw it for the first time today...and it moves me. Check it out:

We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA . Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title 'C'ntarea Americii, (meaning 'Ode To America ') in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei 'The Daily Event' or 'News of the Day'

~An Ode to America ~

Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs.
On 9/ll, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand. After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: 'God Bless America !'

I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from h itting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people. How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.

What on earth can unite the Americans in such way? Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion... Only freedom can work such miracles.

Cornel Nistorescu

(This deserves to be passed around the internet forever.) It took a person on the outside - looking in - to see what we take for granted ! GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!

Battle of the Badges' Tee-shirt and Shepherd's Pie

Today started off with my friend Mary and I going to give blood. After reading all the instructions and doing all the finger poking and blood pressure testing and all, one is required to answer questions on a touch-screen. Among the many questions was one asking if I was taking any antibiotics. "Yes". After I completed the questionnaire, the technician came back to finish up. He started through the questions, and when he got to the antibiotics one there was a problem. Long story short: I was deferred. I'm taking a drug to supposedly stop the decay of bone beneath two teeth. I honestly don't know if it's an antibiotic, and I also don't know if there's an infection there. I just know I'm on 30 days of this "stuff" to stop the decay of bone. With four days of medication left to go, I was deferred. And yet, was told that I can give blood 24 hours after taking the last dose of it. Hmmmmm.



Meanwhile, Mary had nearly finished giving blood. She was ushered over to the eating area where we sat while she had a bowl of chili and some carrot sticks. Upon leaving, we were to vote for either the Fire Fighters or the Police (this blood drive is The Battle of the Badges), and pick up a free tee-shirt. Mary stopped to do so and I just stood back and waited. The ladies at the table said I should get a tee-shirt and I explained that I wasn't eligible as I was deferred. They insisted that I'd shown up and tried to give blood, and that I should take a tee-shirt. Very nice! So..I did.



In summation: everyone that can should try to go give blood. It's truly pretty painless and you'll feel pretty good about it afterwards. Even though I was unable to give today, I'll go back in March and try again. All of the people who are working there are extremely pleasant and will do just about anything to make you comfortable. Try it...you'll like it!!!


Then later today I decided to try my hand at Shepherd's Pie. I don't think I've ever made one before and saw one on tv the other day, so thought I'd give it a shot. I bought way too many groceries at Christmas time, so needed to use some things up. I had potatoes and carrots that I needed to use. I used ground turkey, with celery, onions, red and green peppers, a little chili powder, salt, pepper, and little flour for the base. Topped that with mashed carrots, and topped that with mashed potatoes. Then sprinkled with shredded cheese. Baked for about 30 minutes and this is the end result. It's pretty good! A little "carrot-y"....luckily I like carrots. I'd probably use peas if I did it again..they're a little milder tasting to me. (By the way...this isn't really "a recipe", but if you decide to try it, you need to pre-cook the meat, potatoes, carrots, etc!)






I really need to eat more vegetables...maybe this way I could sneak them in without me knowing??? Not sure how that works...but, I'll probably forget they're in there by the time it's cooked for 30 minutes!!!




Talking about using ingredients up: next time you make potato soup, add a couple of big "globs" (cooking term) of red pepper hummus. WOW! It thickens the soup and really adds a great flavor...the garlic and the red pepper...ymmmmmmm!!!

And We're OFF!!!!

On the Tonight Show one evening, Jay Leno stated that if Obama can get us out of this mess we're in, he could smoke a bong in the White House and the American public wouldn't care. That may well be true. The majority of Americans are so hopeful and so depending on Barack Obama to be a miracle worker that it's going to make his job even more difficult. Hopefully, he'll be the perfect person to "make it happen". I feel he is. Straighten out the economy, get out of the war(s), and get our "stuff" together to become a strong and respected country again. He needs all of us to be behind him and support him. Repeat after me: YES WE CAN!

And, then on the other hand, George Bush has come out with his statement that he'd like to see his other son, Jeb, be president someday! Oh hell, no! No, No, No!!!! However, if Sarah Palin and Jeb Bush were to be on the same ticket....need I say more....CHUCKLE CHUCKLE!!!!

Truly I don't consider myself a very political person. I don't usually even watch the national news...it's depressing. I probably miss most political references due to my own ignorance. But this, to me, goes beyond politics. This is happening. This is today. This is our mess. Our lives that are being stirred and crushed and mauled beyond repair (hopefully not).

Let's all take a stand: Do away with the BIG criminals and their sleasy, slimy ways! Quit slapping wrists and saying "Shame, shame", and start sentencing these criminals to some serious time in some serious situations! A man who's confined to his multi-million dollar luxury home in NOT being penalized! Get serious! Put the crook behind bars with some of the people he screwed out of their money! And do it to every one of them...until no one does that again! Get the crime and corruption out..out of everything: business, politics, daily life!

This works on every level. The slimeball in Wichita that had 106 pitbulls in Oklahoma...he'd been involved in this very same type of crime several years ago. Evidently he got his wrists slapped, probably told he shouldn't own dogs again...didn't bother him. He was back at it again. Last I heard his 106 dogs will all have to be euthanized as they aren't capable of being rehabilitated. Each one should at least have the honor of one last meal: "Slimeball cooked in heavy gravy". Wanna bet whether he'll walk away scot free again...I'll bet he does!!! Gee..they're JUST dogs!!!

I'm going to quit ranting. Something got me started earlier today and I just haven't quite got over it yet. In closing: If I'm ever diagnosed with a fatal disease, there are a lot of a-holes that should probably start watching their backs! People who steal from the unknowing or helpless, those who choose to abuse children, spouses, and animals - they should be afraid. Be very afraid! That trips my "she's a nut job" button!!

Ok...well...you have a nice day now, ya hear?