"Poor Folks That We Were"

I was standing over my chair folding laundry. Some of the laundry came from the dryer from the forgotten load of last week. I am forever forgetting that last load. I noticed hubby's shirts were wrinkled. DIL's comment on a questionarrie came to mind..Pet peeves..wrinkled clothes. I busted out laughing!

I then got to thinking about when I was a kid. Yes, we ran around in the wrinklest clothes you ever saw! There was teasing from fellow students, but I was yet to learn the solution to the problem. I'm not even sure we owned an iron. Anyway when I was a kid we went to the laundry mat. "Poor folks that we were" we had to go about this in a system. First there was the food stamps, you know the paper ones from way back. Momma would send each child into the store with one dollar, we had to get just one piece of penny candy (remember those) and bring back the change. The change then became the laundry money. Again, "Poor folks that we were" we didn't have a car. The solution to this problem was to always have a shopping cart from the local grocery store at the house. We would stuff as many clothes as we could (for our large family of 6) into pillowcases or lay out a sheet and fill it up and tie the ends together. Stuff all this into the shopping cart and push it about two miles to the laundry mat. Most of the time this was me pushing and demanding the rugrats (my three much smaller siblings) to hold hands, stay out of the road, stop running off, don't eat thaaaaat! Fun times (NOT)!

You must know though that this was a step up in our world. Going to the laundry mat was hitting the high times. It was a heck of a lot better than filling the bathtub up with soapy water dumping the laundry in and putting the smaller kids in to stomp on the clothes, repeat the process for rinsing, then bend over the tub and wringe everything out and hang it all out to dry. Chapped hands anyone! Especially hated when the freeze came overnight and your clothes were still on the line, frozen stiff! There was many a times when I would go to school in wet clothes. Sooo yeah, going to the laundry mat was a huge step up. Except for the embarrassment factor.

Back to the laundry mat...We get there. The process of doing laundry took hours, the kids would get bored, fuss, cry, tantums were common. Finally the laundry in the dryers come to a stop. Hopefully they are done, cuase money was scarce and I had to stuff as much as I could in them. Sometimes I even had to bring them home still damp. Well with the kids and the massive amounts of laundry and the time (and my patience) running out, I very rarely folded anything (I think I remember folding them three times). I would just stuff them back into the pillowcases, load everything up and we would walk the two miles back.

Now the reason we never had unwrinkled clothes is because those pillowcases full of clothes rarely ever got folded. Yeah, dad bellowed all the time for me to fold them, but seriously after the excursion I went through, that was the last thing I wanted to do. I did my duty even though I hated every minute of it, but I was done! Let someone else do it! (Gawd I was an awful child)

It's funny now that I think about it, in just a few short years later..Wrinkled clothes where in fashion! LOL! You know the long skirts that you purposely twisted to get that broomstick look. I was ahead of my time! LMAO!

Now I do fold my clothes fresh from the dryer, except for that forever forgotten last load. Thanks DIL for the laugh and memory!

Poem

The storm breaks
The cold sets in
The ashes fall
from the burning end
(Just something off the top of my head)

Oops, it wasn't supposed to publish, my bad!

New Glasses

So as you know I have been a little off lately with headaches and dizziness and I pretty much limited my computer activities to Facebook only. A quick on and right back off again. I did do some research into my symptoms and concluded it was a vision problem.

Well that figures since I haven't been wearing my glasses for some time cause I broke them for the third time in the same spot. The area is soo full of super glue that it wont even go together any more. Soo they have been sitting in the desk drawer for months. Occasionally I would try to wear them with one bow but that is a little difficult with them sitting on my face crooked!

I finally checked the books and figured a eye exam was possible, then I was reminded we had to get propane for the winter. While in my debate as to what would get done cause both wasn't possible, I was reminded that I would need my eye sight to light the pilot light! Yeah makes sense! The propane would just have to wait.

I went to the store and on the way home I went the back way, which came out right next to the convenience store. I quickly pulled in. I had quit going to convenience stores cause it was too easy to fall into the trap of scratch off tickets, the money guzzling wastes of paper. I had conquered that addiction two years ago and avoid the convenience stores like the plague. Well the back slider that I am, I went in and bought a $5 ticket and won $100. Woohoo! (No worries I won't be falling back into the trap) Now I have the money for both items!!

Yesterday was the big day, the eye exam. I was curious as to how much different my eyes are now compared to how they were 6 years ago, but apparently they don't keep the records of folks that don't come on a regular yearly basis. I have no clue what my script was back then. This time I was informed that my script called for bifocals, but the doc said they were optional at this point. Yikes! Seriously? When the heck did I get old enough for bifocals? Thankfully I learnt that the bifocal part would be a non script section in the lens, with the script in the upper portion.

As finances as they are I opted out of getting them. I kinda wish I hadn't but oh well I had to do what I had to do. The doc said all I would have to do is remove my glasses when I was reading or something was right in front of me, but definitely need them for driving or anything some distance away. The problem already has risen from not having them. To crochet in my lap and try to look up at the tv occasionally is not working. With my glasses the tv looks great, but with them crocheting looks weird.

Looks like I'm going to have to work on saving some more so I can go ahead and get them. Sigh. I had turned grey, produced a colony of wrinkles and gone snaggle-toothed, so why not just go all the way and add on some bifocals. How many more steps till I am officially considered "falling apart"? LOL!!

Taking some time for the Special Olympics.

So your probably wondering what happened, where have I been, what have I been up too?

What happened...Well first I got sick but was still trying to stay with it. The lingering dizziness and fatigue that is still here, but has eased up a little, have really taken its toll on me body and mind. If you feel neglected, you should see my house! Hubby has done the dishes for me many times since this thing set in. Bless his heart!

Where have I been...Well I'm embarrassed to say I have been right here, hiding in the cloud of a mindless woman. Okay that was stretching the truth, but it was like that at first. I guess you could say I detached myself from blogger, not literally but mentally. I know it's not fair to yall for me to be soo neglectful, it wasn't intentional,, it just evolved it to a blah. Matter of a fact all my Internet experiences of late have been a blah. Does that mean I am done with blogging? No, it just means it's a little slow around here in this old brain of mine. Maybe I will slow down for now, hubby has been very happy to have lots of my attention and it's been good for me too.

What have I been up to?...Crocheting! Yeah it is finally in the temps of crocheting weather. It is a passion that definitely interferes with blog reading or creating, very difficult to crochet and blog at the same time, well at least for me it is.

My perfect model
I finished up some unfinished projects and went looking for yarn on ebay, when I couldn't find what color I was looking for I went to the Red Heart site. My world changed for that one decision. Up at the top of their site is a "Follow us on Facebook" button. I did that! Then I learnt of the Special Olympics Scarf Project. The details are here, just in case your interested as much as I am. I even got my bf to get busy with some scarfs and trying to talk the old man at our local craft store to put up flyers.

My current work with the Special Olympics colors
It's funny..last year I pretty much skipped crocheting season and this year I can barely put it down. I am having a lot of fun, knowing some of my work is for such a good cause doesn't hurt.

The scarf I sold
Oh and I posted my finished work on the Read Heart Yarn Facebook page and sold my first scarf! I guess you could say that motivates me even more to get the most out of this season as I can. I also signed myself up for the next available knitting classes here in my local town, that should be interesting.

Hope yall wont miss me too much, but I'll still be around just not as often. Okay soo back to work I go!

Writer's Workshop: Favorite Actors from my Childhood, Plus One I Adore!

I chose writing prompt #1..What actors from childhood do you think about?

When I was a kid my favorite actors were:

First and forever there was Michael Landon:
Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza
Pa-Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie(I soo wanted him to be my daddy)
Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven
Then there was Lorne Greene:
Ben Cartwright in Bonanza
Adama in Battlestar Galactica
And of course there was Victor French:
Isaiah Edwards in Little House on the Prairie
Mark Gordon in Highway to Heaven
I can't forget Parker Stevenson:
Frank Hardy in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
Craig Pomeroy in Baywatch
Now we get to the man that makes me catch my breathe everytime I hear him speak. The most amazing Sam Elliot:
Gar in Mask
Wade Garrett in Roadhouse
I'm thinking..Wild Bill Hickcock in Buffalo Girls
Virgil Earp in Tombstone
Just to name a few, cause there are soo many more movies he was in that where great.
Ohhhh yeeeaaahhhhhhh!!!!
Excuse me...Brain overload

Hope that was fun for yall!

Waking the Hubby

I sit in my chair with the foot rest up. I have a dog inbetween my calves, another along side my thigh and another at my hip. They are all under the blanket we use to cover ouselves, then I have a cat on my chest and another up on the headrest grooming my hair.

It is almost time for the alarm to go off for hubby to get his day started. As soon as he is up, I get to go to bed. Which is a good thing since I have been fighting sleep for about an hour already. I wish I could trust him to get up on his own.

Beep, beep, beep...

Dear! It's time to get up!

Beep, beep, beep...

Dear! You need to get up!

Beep, beep, beep...

Dear! Are you going to get that?!

Beep, beep, beep...
Grumble. Arm comes out from the covers and groops the air. It finally moves and manages to turn it off. AND he falls back to sleep.

I grab the remote and put the tv on the news.
2 minutes..Dear! It's time to get up!
Grumble, but no movement.

3 more minutes..Dear!!!
Movement at last, but nope were not there yet.

I tap Peach on the butt and she jumps down. I throw back the covers and 3 pairs of eyes stare at me like I am crazy. I say..up, up, up, let me up. Two get down.

I go get his coffee and stand at the table, waiting.
Dear! Here's your coffee!

It roars like a bear that has been disturbed. He blindly groops the table, when he finds nothing, he tries to go back to sleep.

Deeeeaaaarrrr! Your coffee is going to get cold!

I'm up.
His mouth says it, but his body didn't hear it.

I reach down and take the covers away from him. If that doesn't work then I shake his body at the shoulder.

*Cough, cough, cough* *Hack, hack* His body moves to get to the spittoon and whalla he is finally up.

Good morning dear!

I wait for the 2nd cup of coffee to be made, then I throw back the covers again. Okay kids, it's time to go to bed! We all get up.

As I drag my tired body towards him for a kiss, I say:
Love you Dear. Have a nice day.
Love you too and if you say so! or Love you too and I'll try to!
No matter how many times he says it or different ways he says it, I still manage to smile and chuckle.

I force the dogs outside for one last reststop and then it is off to dreamland!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

Love yall and have a nice day!

Weekend with Hubby

Saturday I went to the flea market. I was really in the need for a personal shopping trip, even though it wasn't an extravagant trip (15$), it was alot of fun just browsing around for a little while. Then I went grocery shopping, which is always an exhausting ordeal. The store was packed with last minute shoppers for Halloween, I was just doing my weekly shopping. I came home content and tired. I saw hubby was already home and I was thinking I was finally going to get some help with carrying the groceries in. NOT! (normally he would)

This is the reason why:

Here is his story (after some henning from me about bring things home, but this time I was kidding cause this work bench he really needed):

He saw this man on the side of the road selling alot of things but mostly he saw that bench. On his way home he stopped to look it over. He asked the man how much. The man said he wants a 100, but he would let it go for 85. Hubby lets him know he only has 65, so if he was still around next weekend he would give him 80 for it. The man mulls it over and says he would hate to have to come back next weekend, so he will take that 65. Hubby spent all of his saved up pocket money, but personally I think he made a good deal. Anyway he was piddling with his new toy that came with a vise and a bench grinder with a light. Very happy hubby! BUT he had to work really hard to get the shed cleared out to put it in there. Soo he was happy, but tired.
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Saturday night we watched Scared Shreikless, yeah it was funny! Loved it when gingy was telling his story! I tried to stay up to watch Gremlins, but couldn't stay awake. I thought I was going to take a short hour nap, it turned into 5 hours! I know, I was just as surprised! I stayed up for 5 hours and then slept even four hours more. NINE hours of sleep! Blows my mind!
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Sunday morning I had soo much energy, must have been from all that sleep. I attacked the kitchen and started moving things and cleaning behind and under and a little reorganizing. Plus putting a roast on.

Hubby the channel flipper, was bouncing between the race and old scary movies. You know..Boris Karloff and Vincent Price, then suddenly it's Brian Vickers and Clint Boyer. I let him do his thing, well cause...both were good choices and I was watching both with him.

Suddenly out of nowhere (most likely brought on by a commercial) I say this:
Me: Soo, you think we will get any trick or treaters?

Hubby: Me!! (with his hand out)

Me: You’ll have to get dressed up in order to get any candy.

Hubby: What I’m not scary enough right now?!

Me: I‘m laughing and decide to share this with yall and as I walk by he says

Hubby: “Hey”

Me: Yeah

Hubby: “BOO!!!”
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Hubby later out of the blue says:

Trick or treat?

I get up and go in to look at him.

I say (Stupidly)..TRICK.

Hubby: Ohhhhh, you are sooo in for it now! Your gonna wish you had given me a treat!

I laugh and come back to the computer.

About 20 minutes later, while sitting here all engrossed in what I am researching...

BOOOOOO!!!! Right in my ear, with finger jabs to my sides!

#@%&!!! Scared the "you know what" out of me!

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I spent the rest of the day buying yarn on Ebay, finishing up the mess I made in the kitchen and watching Avatar with hubby (my second time, his first).
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Not a single trick or treater as I knew we wouldn't. We haven't seen one of those since the late eighties!
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A very nice weekend with the hubby. HAHAHAHAHA (insert evil laugh)