Wednesday Hodgepodge - 28 September 2016
11. Have you ever been to and/or lived near the desert? What did you think ? -
Years ago, my growing up family traveled in the west of the United States. We traveled as far west as Arizona. We came into Texas through the west. All there was was desert as far as the eye could see. We were on a very lonely stretch of interstate and my mother had to pee very badly.
We found what Texans call a roadside park. This is really a picnic table or two under a covered shed with some trash barrels. They have no restroom.
My mom really had to go, so she decided that since the roadside park appeared to be basically deserted that she would just potty there. There was nothing to hide her from view. She tried to use the car to block her from view, just in case.
About the time she got started, a truck pulled in. When he saw her, he cut his lights. He turned them off too far and went all the way dark. Then, he must have realized he could not see, so he cut them back on, all the way bright.
My mom looked like a deer in the headlights. There was no cover to hide her from view. We kids got a laugh. My mom did not think it was funny at the time.
Palm Springs CA, Virgina City NE, Bend OR, Winslow AZ, Marfa TX, Grand Junction CO, Silver City NM, Moab UT, Taos NM, Yakima WA, Borrego Springs CA, Terlingua TX, and St. George UT, and Tubac AZ
Have you been to any of these? Would you like to visit a desert town? Which on the list would you most like to see?
To the best of my knowledge, I have never been to any of these. I would really probably enjoy visiting all of them IF we were riding in a class C camper. That way we could have our refrigerator and potty right there with us. We would not have to hunt for a clean potty everywhere we went.
We could park, walk back to the potty, and do our business. Then, we could get a refreshing beverage out of the refrigerator without having to ever leave the air conditioned vehicle. When you live in an area that gets to 112 degrees year round, you think about those things.
2. What's a plan or project you've deserted in the past year?
I really cannot think of one. I am continuing the only project I set for myself this year. That is working on the How to Manage Your Monkey course. SSShhh, don’t tell anyone, we are in the soft opening stage now.
3. Desert-dessert? Share two or three words you find yourself having to think twice about when it comes to spelling.
The biggest one that comes to mind is porch. I have always had a difficult time with that. I don’t know why. I also have a problem with miracle because I can’t seem to remember the vowels right for that one. Fortunately, we have spell check.
4. High and dry, like watching paint dry, dry run, dry as dust, not a dry eye in the house...which phrase can you relate to currently? Explain.
Recently we were in a drought. Just before that, we were having a flood. Now, we are getting a fair amount of rain. Therefore, High and Dry are far from accurate.
Like watching paint dry is probably a fair assessment some time. For us, our life is pretty much same-o same-o. There is nothing wrong with that. I prefer the same-o same-o to all the excitement and drama we have been through. Any week that does not involve using 911 is a good week. So far, so good, this week.
Like watching paint dry is probably a fair assessment some time. For us, our life is pretty much same-o same-o. There is nothing wrong with that. I prefer the same-o same-o to all the excitement and drama we have been through. Any week that does not involve using 911 is a good week. So far, so good, this week.
5. How often do you frequent the dry cleaners? Starch or no starch?
Never. We don’t buy clothing that requires dry cleaning. We just get the stuff off the rack and wash as needed.
Back when I was working as a security guard, back when I used a patrol dinosaur instead of these patrol dogs they have now, I had to get my uniform dry cleaned. Then, I asked for extra heavy starch in my shirts. It was required.
6. What's a food or beverage you enjoy that's named for a place?
We used to be able to get American Heritage Tea from the Charleston Tea Plantation. I haven’t seen that in years. I love South Carolina Barbeque. Texas barbeque is okay, but it is not the same.
Barbeque sauce should be ketchup-based and not use mustard. If you think that you barbeque steaks or hamburgers, then I've got no use for your idea of barbeque. Barbeque to a purist means slow roasting meat over a low wood fire (Pecan wood or mesquite). You baste it from time to time with a sauce you have prepared over several days in a crock pot.
Around here people take their barbeque very seriously. Many people have grills that cost more than their houses. Some of these people have grills that have a price tag of $500K plus.
Barbequing here is an event. You gather the family together around the grill and tell stories while keeping an eye on the fire to make sure it does not get too hot.
7. Do you need solitude?
Need, no. I can take it or leave it. As a child, I would often play by myself. This was preferred to playing with my sister, who, for a while, was the only other kid around. She was older and bigger than me and would beat me up quite often. When I had finally had enough and struck back, that is the time my mother would walk into the room and spank us.
Mom had this policy of spanking every child present to make sure she got the right one. If my sister told on me, she would not get spanked. If I told on my sister, we would both get spanked. It was very rare for my brother, who was younger than us, to ever get a spanking.
Often, when he would get in trouble, I would get spanked because I should have kept him out of trouble or I was old enough to know better. It was just easier to stay as far away from them as possible.
Now, Suzanne and I try to stay home as much as possible. This makes our lives more peaceful. We still have times of drama that other people lay on our doorstep, but not nearly as often as if we were still out in the world with retail and consulting.
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8. Insert your own random thought here.
We are thankful for another stroke-free week. I am still not out of the woods, but we are almost past the danger point.
How to Manage Your Monkey is coming along slowly. I hope to be ready for the November 3 roll out. We are already in the soft opening stage. Every Thursday we will have a new post and video available; some are already available.
A special thank you to each and every one of you who reads this blog. Thank you for visiting and commenting.
See you in the funny papers.
http://waffle-with-wendy.
http://lorisglassworks.
http://skyesofblue.blogspot.
http://tdorsaneo.blogspot.com/
http://cranberrymorning.
http://ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.
"How to manage your Monkey"...funny name...as in monkey on your back? I look forward to hearing more about this book.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Lori in Blue Ridge, GA
The monkey on your back is exactly what I was getting at. Right now, I am working on a series of videos and blog posts and, as it gets completed, intend to turn it into a book and perhaps a uDemy course. The course is free and hopefully ad supported at How to Manage Your Monkey. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
DeleteIt's a good thing that we've always liked the woods, then.
ReplyDeleteYou've been to some pretty cool places in your childhood. San Antonio is the farthest west that I've ever been and that was with you. My growing up family never left the South as a family. The farthest north and east that I ever went with them was to Norfolk, VA, and west was somewhere in Tennessee. The farthest south was Naples, Florida with my daddy. We didn't adventure out as far as your folks did, at least, not as a family. Daddy had lots of adventures while being a truck driver.
We had to keep traveling. No one liked us anywhere we went.
DeleteWish you could send some rain to California. Sorry about all the spanking you got. I'm not sure I know what is going on with you and having a possible stroke. I will have to look at some of your other posts.
ReplyDeleteWe would love to send you some rain. It would be great if the government built an irrigation system to take flood waters from one place, treat them, and send them to places that need water. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
DeleteThanks for pointing out that we did not get a follow button put on the new blog. It should be there for you now. Thanks for the prayers. Please stop by the new blog again.
ReplyDeleteNo offense, but your mom sounds mean.
ReplyDeleteI try to avoid dry cleaning, it is expensive and the chemicals are bad for you.
Mom had her moments. She was raised with the idea that children should be seen and not heard. She also believed that a good spanking every so often was good for a kid. She was raised that way.
DeleteWe don't dry clean because we no longer buy that kind of clothing. People around here go to church in shorts; it is too hot for suits and ties.