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8/30/2006 I received this email today and thought it was a good one for smiles (and to bring back a few memories for some of us as well) Black and White
(Under age 40? You probably won't understand.) You could hardly see for all the snow, Spread the rabbit ears as far as they go. Pull a chair up to the TV set, "Good Night, David. Good Night, Chet." Depending on the channel you tuned, You got Rob and Laura - or Ward and June. It felt so good. It felt so right. Life looked better in black and white. I Love Lucy, The Real McCoys,
Dennis the Menace, the Cleaver boys,
Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Superman, Jimmy and Lois Lane. Father Knows Best, Patty Duke, Rin Tin Tin and Lassie too, Donna Reed on Thursday night! -- Life looked better in black and white. I want to go back to black and white. Everything always turned out right. Simple people, simple lives. Good guys always won the fights. Now nothing is the way it seems, In living color on the TV screen. Too many murders, too many fights, I want to go back to black and white. In God they trusted, alone in bed, they slept, A promise made was a promise kept. They never cussed or broke their vows. They'd never make the network now. But if I could, I'd rather be In a TV town in '53. It felt so good. It felt so right. Life looked better in black and white. I'd trade all the channels on the satellite, If I could just turn back the clock tonight To when everybody knew wrong from right. Life was better in black and white! Another Goody For The Oldtimers My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning. My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter AND I used to eat it raw sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting ecoli. Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then. The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system. We all took gym, not PE... and risked permanent injury with a pair of high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now.. Flunking gym was not an option...even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be much harder than gym. Speaking of school , we all sang the national anthem, and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention. We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything. I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself. I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations. Oh yeah... and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed! We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent bottle of Mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting like iodine did) and then we got our butt spanked. Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat. We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either because if we did, we got our butt spanked there and then we got butt spanked again when we got home. I recall Donny Reynolds from next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front stoop, just before he fell off. Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house. Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof. It was a neighborhood run amuck. To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a dysfunctional family How could we possibly have known that? We needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes? We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! How did we ever survive? LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA, AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T- SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING 8/27/2006 It is raining cats and dogs out there!Once again I have let things go an entire week... ah well. Life has been really busy so it could not be helped. Just a couple of highlights once again. Last night John and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to O'Charley's for dinner, as we had the delightful company of Frank, Karina and Keegan. The food was delicious, but it took a back seat to the evening, as the thing I was happiest with was the company. It is always wonderful when we are with them. The students are back full force at the university where I work, so parking is back to a premium. I have no problems as I just head straight off to the shuttle lot! Most people are still trying other methods - street parking at the 2-hour spaces (they have to run out every hour and 45 minutes to search for a new space or get a hefty fine), park on the nearby lot of the artist guild (there are now signs posted there as well prohibiting university parking, so the same fines apply), or just driving around for up to 45 minutes to see if anyone will pull out of their spot... I would just rather do the shuttle and not be hassled by it all. Sooner or later they will learn. Karina and I are headed to a bridal shower this afternoon for one of her dear friends. Quite a few of them are getting married this year! A couple have had or are going to have babies as well. Very busy year for showers and events. We were to go berry picking this morning - yes we are still trying to do that - but the downpour has continued since very late last night. I suppose we will be postponing until next year as it just does not seem to fit in at all for us this year. Ah well! We will most likely get the apple picking in though. The peach picking is closed for the year as well, but I did get some fabulous ones when Cindy and the boys went. Thanks again Cindy and boys!!!! My sister JoAnn's birthday is today. Happy Birthday JoAnn! She is 59, but does not look it.  Well, that is all I have time for today, there is a boatload of other stuff going on in our lives, but I would not want to keep you here all day! Giggle. Have a fantastic day, enjoy whatever it is you have planned, and see you soon! 8/19/2006 Saturday - and a bit of St Louis triviaGosh, I am going to have to update more often... I have let this go almost a week again! Well, things have been busy so it could not be helped. Just a few highlights of the week! My next door neighbor Cindy and her boys and dad went peach picking on Monday at Eckerts (a local produce place with great orchards and berries). I ordered a box full of them, and have made preserves as well as keeping some for fresh eating. mmm they are the best ones I have eaten in about 7 years! Juicy and sweet, not mealy like some years. I am hoping to go tomorrow morning and pick some more myself so that I can freeze them for peach crisp and pies throughout the winter months. Nothing like it - canned and store-frozen just don't have the same flavor. I have tried some of the peaches from other spots that the store has, and they are not so great either. The unique weather patterns do make all the difference. Thanks Cindy and boys for getting me those peaches!!! On Wednesday son-in-law Frank and I went to the baseball game. (St Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds). Before the game we went to Hooters and enjoyed a shared pitcher of beer, some of their famous chicken wings, curly fries, and their new sandwich - the buffalo chicken. It was really delicious and Frank said it was the best he has eaten. I agreed. We had a relaxing hour there, and then on to the new Busch stadium which is about a 2 block walk from Hooters (which is also a new location for them). There was some guy handing out free programs outside of the stadium, and we are glad we took one (most people were avoiding it thinking it was some kind of gimmick, but they really were free!). Lots of info about both teams, a roster, scorecard, etc. Frank helped me with that scorecard as I had long forgotten how to enter them. We got to our seats - 22nd row from the field only a bit left of home plate - compliments of my work (thanks Fontbonne!) - and Frank was really delighted at how close we were. (me too!) We saw lots of foul balls that night but none came our way, darn it. Keegan would have loved getting a ball - Frank would have even more. There were some great homeruns as well, and Frank's home team, the Reds, won the game. There were lots of Reds fans there to cheer their team on as well as the usual packed house of Cards fans. Sold out game from what we heard, and the standing room only platforms were full. Some of those SRO fans were happy I am sure, as at least 10 fouls went into those platforms. Frank and I had a fantastic evening together, and I am looking forward to next year's tickets if I get lucky once more (there are only so many pairs given out and I have been lucky so far). I absolutely love going to the ball game with Frank! (Thanks for going with me Frank, you always make it even more fun!) Chris turns 3 today - Happy Birthday Chris! We are heading to their house for the party (3 - 7 pm) and I REALLY hope it does not rain... If everyone who is invited shows up, there will be 45 people crammed into 2 small rooms of a condo! They have the community pool reserved as well as setting up chairs on their patio and the next door neighbor's patio (both small spaces but attached to eachother so it makes it twice as big). About half of the people are kids, teens and young adults so they will most likely be in the pool. It should be fun, as long as the rain stays away from 3 - 7 pm. (It is predicted for some time today...) I hope to get some pics and will post them if I do. I hope you have had a great week, and that you are as happy and healthy as possible. Sending thoughts and prayers for Rosemary's mom and dad - her mom has terminal brain cancer and is now in the hospice stage. Best wishes to Sally who has adopted a rescue, a dalmation. She says her new dog is adapting well to her home. Her mom lives with her as well and the dog should be a blessing for her as she is home all day. They have another dog but he is getting up there in years. Best possible thoughts also go to Joan C whose mom is becoming affected by alzheimers and is also struggling with an abusive husband. Joan and her sis are trying to help their mom get away from the abusive relationship but it is difficult. Hang in there hun, you can do it. --------------- And now for some St Louis trivia... 8/13/2006 wow, sorry, it has been an entire week...We are doing okay, things have been hectic with lots to do. The heat is still upon us, and the official records state that it is the hottest summer in St Louis metro area history. I can agree with that!!!
It is a bit empty around here with Petie gone. Chris - the boy next door who walked her faithfully each day and loved her almost as much as we did - made a cement garden tile with little rocks, impressions of dog bones and a paw print, and "PETIE" spelled out in tiny blocks. It is so cool. I am going to put it on a stand for the winter, and then in spring I will put it in the garden near where she loved to lay in the sun. He also drew a picture of Petie, and I put that on the fridge. The vet sent a clay plaque with an impression of her paw print and her name - we got one for our cat Ariel as well, and I am going to put those on the same shelf as the tile until spring.
We are headed out to dinner with my sister and her hubby. I hope to write more later. Until then - stay cool! 8/4/2006 Another week has almost gone by... plus updateIt has been another scorcher, but not as bad as prior weeks.
John was sick with a viral infection, and ended up staying home in bed for 2 days. Keegan also was sick with a viral infection - since the weekend during the family reunion. Poor little guy. I babysat on Monday evening and could see he was pretty miserable, but he was better than earlier at least. By then he had been taking the prescriptions. John also felt better after the meds were at work for awhile. I hope I don't get what they had. I am feeling pretty tired though...
We have a wedding to attend tonight, Sarah and Chris are getting married (Sarah is my Uncle Paul's youngest grand daughter). The reception is right after the service in the church fellowship hall, so we don't have to drive anywhere in between (at the price of gas - anywhere from $3.00 to $3.20 a gallon today - it is a good thing!) I got my gas this morning before it went up - $2.82. Whew! That is a big difference nowadays. I remember when gas was average 25 cents! It got down to 17 cents a gallon once during a price war. That was wild, even back then. Now it would be a total shock if it dropped below $2.50!
Tomorrow, we are doing something sad, but it must be done. Petie, our great dog, will be euthanized. She has developed an ulcering mast cell tumor above one eye and it will not stop slowly bleeding. When I cleaned it last night, even though I was trying to be gentle, she bared her teeth and rippled her gums. No growls, no biting, just a ripple and baring of teeth. It happened twice in a row, and I know she was in pain then, as she has NEVER bared her teeth even though the kids have climbed all over her forever. I made a promise that when it got to the point where she was in pain, I would not let her suffer but would allow her to be euthanized. It is time. I hate that, but she deserves to be treated with care and decency, as she is a fantastic dog and has been wonderful with everyone (even though we almost did not get to keep her as she is part American Staffordshire Bull Terrier). The insurance company made us sign a paper stating that if she ever bit anyone, even by accident, that she would be put down. Either that or we lost our policy - and insurance companies do not want to mess with anyone who has that breed of dog. Petie is the most gentle, loving, patient dog I have ever seen, and I have seen plenty. She put up with the ill manners and absolutely bold faced abuse from the cat, the wild playfullness of Karina and Frank's dogs when they were puppies, and the boys from babyhood on learning what not to pull on a dog - throughout the torture she never showed even one tooth. She will be greatly missed.
There is other stuff going on, mostly work related or mediocre, so it can wait until another time. Hugs and stay cool!
update (Saturday):
Petie slipped away quietly at the vet's this morning while we talked to her and petted her. It was one of the most difficult things to do. I have had to euthanize pets 3 times now, and it never gets easier - on the contrary, it is more difficult every time. Today will be hard to deal with now and then, as will tomorrow. Losing a pet after so many years is agonizing, since at least in our family they become as close as people - maybe even more as they don't judge you but give you unconditional love in their own way. She will be terribly missed. The 4 year old girl from next door came looking for Petie when we came home, as she had seen us leave with her. She was full of questions about where Petie was and when could she come over and play with her when Petie returned home again. It was all I could do to hold back the tears and try to answer her as best as I could and then get into the house. Her mom tried to explain to her about Petie this morning, but it is of course beyond a four year old's comprehension. Karina and Keegan went with John and I, I am so glad she was there. The vet agreed that it was the best thing for Petie, as the cancer had escalated and was beginning the final and rapid stage, when pain becomes unbearable. She had just begun that stage a few days ago, and she did not deserve to have to go through that. It is better that she is not suffering, but what an empty house this felt like walking in and not being happily greeted. Some people would say she was just a dog, but the animal lovers will totally understand the feelings we are experiencing at this time. |
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