If you see this it means that I did the click-and-paste thing by myself. So okay! I took notes, and used 'em....I don't have to bug someone for help now.

Slicks Hours
Monday thru Friday
5:50a.m.--7:10p.m. Trying to get out the door to work
8:00a.m.--3:00p.m. Work, or at least what looks like work
3:00p.m.--4:00p.m. Errands before T-Bird gets off from work
4:00p.m.--8:00p.m. Whatever I can squeeze in, plus supper
8:00p.m.--12:01a.m. Spending time with T-Bird, or whoever drops in
12:01a.m.--5:50a.m. Comatose

I make it up as I go on weekends---keepin' it simple.

Just thought that since all else has failed or been delayed I would sit here and post SOMETHING.
It's either been family troubles, or Blogger's Block. I had started one post about some of the things I had been seeing on the news, but started to foam at the mouth and did away with the entire rabid piece. I also have to share this computer with my youngest (who still lives at home). Once in a while my oldest--who has no computer at present, or the oldest daughter and her husband--who's computer has gone circuits-up. I don't mind. My husband offered me the use of his computer, which was awful sweet, but he converted his to a flight simulator. It is a pain in the tookus to use. But I appreciate the thought.
Youngest is in the process of teaching me to use notepad and cut-and-paste. Figured it would save old Mom stress and strain. I had to promise to listen this time, and do what she said when she said it, or this was the last time she would try to show me. Yes, she has tried to teach me this concept before. What she didn't count on was it shortening her life span from the trauma of teaching me something new. "You can't tear it up" is a crock of,well,......... junk. Haven't destroyed anything but I have confused the computer. I figure me and the p.c. are almost even now in THAT regard.
So. I have been working on a post in notepad and my daughter was supposed to show me how to do the cuttin' and pastin' part when I finished it. When her sister and niece showed up the little cur split for parts unknown.

I am abandoned. *sniff*

I might just try something on my own, see if I can teach myself. That'll show her. Leave Momma to her own devices and spend the evening straightening out the mess! *insert evil laugh here*

You should have seen the lesson involving the enter button. She refers to that one as the "enter-course". Ha-ha.

I am reminded of something Ex used to say: "Can't never could do nothin', 'cause couldn't wouldn't let it". That reminds me of something else I heard my ex-husband say: "We were just talking".

And that is a whole 'nother post.

My husband called me out onto the back porch Friday evening. Off to the south he pointed out a large flock of buzzards. Just circling. Kinda slow and lazy. Looking around, we spotted several more buzzards. Doing what buzzards do.
There were so many it looked creepy. I have had a close encounter with them, and while they are not my favorite among God's creation, I understand the role they play.
Then my beloved reminded me that the tours at Reed Bingham State Park near Adel have started. Black vultures and Turkey vultures gather in the south to ride out the winter and this state park is a favorite place for them. Not exactly the swallows returning to Capistrano, but we work with what we have! And we have buzzards, thousands of them, in fact, so...........



I cannot help but notice the "gathering" going on over Anna Nicole Smith's baby daughter. Four possible fathers and an estranged grandmother. Along with the media. Just circling.


Looking for easy pickins', you reckon?

Made it back to the Stream! At long last, SANITY! Was beginning to wonder if I would ever get back.

They put Daddy into the hospital for a short stay, for some sort of nasty virus. But he's back home now and mean as ever! A good thing! My oldest daughter was ill, but is much better now. And for two days I was in such a bad mood I could barely tolerate myself. When I feel that contrary, I just keep to myself. No sense puttin' it on other people.

Got some painful news at lunch today. The preacher at the church we used to attend has left the pulpit. He had been at that church for YEARS. I'm just shocked that he stepped down, and it does pain me. I haven't heard exactly WHY he decided to leave.
He and his wife are just small town, hard working, God fearing people. He is one of the finest preachers I have ever heard, a farmer, and my husband's supervisor. His wife is active in the church and teaches part time. They have two grown children and grand-babys.

Somehow, somewhere, someway, their son became addicted to meth. And I cannot understand why. He's smarter than that. Or so I thought. We've known him for years, too. He worked with my husband before becoming a firefighter. A good man. Fun to be around. Didn't have a bad word to say about anybody. Ever. He'd help you any way he could, just because it was the right thing to do.
Had my oldest daughter been a bit older.......well, he was the kind of man you hope for, for your daughter.

We started hearing rumors, but this is a small town, and people like to talk. Doesn't necessarily have to be the truth, just a good story will do. And you need to consider who's telling it. We gave him the benefit of the doubt.
He lost the job with the city (says it was due to a back problem, which he did have) and went back to work at the plant with his daddy and T-Bird. Then we saw the change in him. There was almost nothing like the man I described to you above. He was surly, always late for work and not keeping up his end of the load. And was hangin' out with folks you don't need to be around.
Then he got arrested. Not just for possession, but for manufacturing meth. That really pisses me off. Sorry for the language. Bad enough that he got strung out on it, but to MAKE IT to sell it or give it to another mother's child???
Do I think he would have sold it to my kids? After years of trust and friendship? You bet your Sweet Adeline I do. And I have a major problem with that. I feel that way because this is the second buddy to go down the toilet with methamphetamine. And his sorry ass was cookin' too. This stuff can change you. You will not be who you were.
Back to the father in this. An addicted son in a detention center is not where his troubles end. He is being sued for 1.5 million dollars. Yep. 1.5 million.
Before his arrest and before his folks knew he had a problem, Junior "borrowed" a farm trailer from Dad. While he was going down the road, it came off of the hitch and hit another car. Severe damage to the car and a cut on the driver's face. According to the law, Daddy is responsible because it was his trailer. And it should have been chained to a tree or something, and locked. His son had probably used that trailer a dozen times without incident. It took him over a week to find the trailer after he found out about the accident. And he was told it would be 900.00 just to get the trailer back. He told them they could keep it, and they turned it over to him for 100.00.
His father told T. that he has spent $26,000.00 on his son so far. Now this lawsuit. Giving up the church costs him 1800.00 a month. They may lose everything before this is over. And they are terrified for their son.

No need. The boy called his parent's the other night, happy as a clam! He has a lot to be happy about. He was up for 20 years in the federal pen. Plea bargained it down to 120 days in a detention facility, to be followed with 20 years probation. Says he's happy there and doing well, three good meals a day and a good bed to sleep in. Nice after a couple of weeks in the county jail.

I hope he's not worrying himself over where his mother and father will sleep after the lawsuit.