Go Away!

I know there are much more dire problems in the world and everything, but damnit, this is my blog and I wanna sound off so I don't explode one day.

I am so sick of all the solicitors ringing my doorbell for every single cause, product, service and vote you can imagine. There is hardly a day that goes by that we aren't besieged by some children hoofing it while Mom cruises the block along behind them while they try to collect for every ailment and affliction in Merck's Manual. Or the working guy who wants to get your lawn, paint, roof or gardening business. Or the political shifts that roll in and interrupt you during every single city, county, state, and national election. And let's don't forget the white shirted, skinny tied, bicyclists who want to know if you've been saved or not.

I could handle it fine if it was an occasional visitor. But it's the never-ending parade of them that has my blood boiling.

Nevermind that long ago I posted a sign that says:

Solicitors will be shot
Survivors will be prosecuted

And yes, I ripped it off from the rednecks, but nobody pays any attention to it.

I know better than to sweat the small stuff, but it feels good to sound off once in a while. =)

Good Morning!

A good time to read the morning paper online. And do some online shoe shopping! I'm looking for some summer-y flats. Hope you have a beautiful Sunday.

Introducing.... !

Skyler has decided on a boy's name. Right after she found out she was having a boy I said to her that now she only has one gender to decide on names for. She then told me, I've already decided, Mom, and you're probably not going to like it. But I don't have to like it, she does! But I happen to like it fine. Oh, the name? Oliver Phoenix.

She is very definitive about it, too. Before both my kids were born, I was still deciding on names right up to the last moment. At five months pregnant, she is all set with his name.

Baby's Moving

Hubby picked up some shrimp and a whole pineapple and we fixed a spinach salad to go with it. After dinner, Skyler's baby boy was moving a lot.

It was the first time I'd seen him move and it was sheer joy. (She is exactly 5 months pregnant today) My husband put his arm around me and we all three watched her belly make these little jabs and moves. One movement would remind one of putting a finger under a blanket and moving it around. Perhaps that was a foot. I'm already undone. I'm completely and utterly in love.

And it's a thrill that puts a continual smile on your face coupled with a sense of calm and peace. The peaceful feeling you might have after meditating is what I can compare impending grandmotherhood to. I've never in my life had a feeling like this that lasted for days and days and days. Ahhhhhhhhhh

Help Preserve Historic Sabine Hill

Family ties inspire effort to help preserve historic Sabine Hill

Lately, Harrison has been speaking out about his family's heritage, not because of pride but because he wants to preserve the family's oldest remaining home place, Sabine Hill.

The two-story Federal-style farmhouse is one of the first things a visitor coming from the west sees when approaching Elizabethton (Tennessee). The house has stood at its current location since it was built a few years after Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Taylor returned from the War of 1812.

Now, with the house and property in the hands of a developer, Harrison hopes that the house will be saved.

"I am disturbed by what is happening to our country," Harrison said as he sees more and more of the nation’s history destroyed for the sake of development."

"This house and so much of Elizabethton was a real seed bed for our nation's history. From King's Mountain to the Watauga settlements. You start naming wars and there has been a Taylor in every one of them."


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Right behind this house is the house I lived in from age 7 - 17 (and now own). There have been rumors for several years about razing it to the ground for developers to build on. Recently at a City Hall meeting, our neighbors in Golf Course Acres were able to strike down a developer's request to spot-zone the land (the house and 5 acres) for businesses and/or apartments. But he will be able to build the maximum amount of houses allowed. 15, I believe they said.

My childhood friend, Debbie, lived there along with her 5 brothers and Mother and Father. This was a working farm with chickens, pigs, cows, horses, bees. It was Debbie who taught me to ride horses. We rode her horse, Champ, all over the place, including alongside the golf course and we built jumps for him and carried supplies for our picnics on him. We also rode their pigs, drank milk straight from the cow teats and all other kinds of fun stuff you do on a farm as a small girl.

I definitely don't want to see this house go but the issue has always been money. We need money for restoration and nobody could raise it.

Menopause, The Musical

Menopause The Musical, a worldwide cult theatre hit celebrating memory loss, grey hair and chocolate binges, brought critics out in a hot flush when it hit London this week.

The show rewrites hits from the 1960s and 1970s to examine the perils of "the change of life" -- "My Guy" by Mary Wells is transformed into "My Thighs," while the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" becomes an ode to a sex aid.

Since its premiere in 2001, the musical, which shows the friendship between four women who meet while fighting over lingerie in a department store, has been seen by over eight and a half million people in nine countries.

Well, you've just got to laugh about it. Or rather, that's what I hear.... okay ... you can stop laughing now.!

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testing....

having so many problems trying to connect today on my EBC site so I hope this blog works.

Subject: Why Parents Drink

A Chuckle For You...

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to "Dad." With the Worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it's not only the passion...Dad she's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it. Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love,

Your Son John

PS. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than that report card that's in my center desk drawer.

It's a BOY!

First Hummers

Mother saw our first hummingbird this morning around 8:00. It came back an hour later! Guess I need to put more feeders out for them this weekend, just in case he brings his friends next time.

Feeling Fine, I Tell You

All day yesterday Mother would make mention of me not feeling well. When she'd see me she'd say, "How are you feeling?" "Any better?" And before bed she said, "I hope you feel better tomorrow". But I was fine. I hadn't said anything about feeling bad or sick or anything like that. Perhaps she heard something wrong that I'd said.

After a couple of these yesterday I was still scratching my head but didn't want to point out that there was nothing wrong with me because it embarasses her when she gets something wrong in her elderly age so I played along, hoping it would soon be over.

This morning she asks, "Feeling better today?"

I lie and say, "Oh, yes. Much better today. Nothing wrong with me."

I think it's all played out, sweet Mommy.

Bop What?

I learned something new today. I think I know what a "Boppy" is.

Do you know what it is?

Easter Decorations

Looking for fun Easter wallpaper, screensavers, themes, any of that good stuff. This one, Easter Whimsy, got lost when the last pc crashed. And now I can't locate it anyplace. I just happened to have this small graphic saved.

Are you using a nice Spring or Easter screensaver? Let me know in the comments or by email. Special love goes to anyone who can find this particular one. I had called it Easter Whimsy, but I think that's MY name for it, not the official one. Thanks, lovies!

Genders, Due Dates

**Sweet Daughter got a due date today of September 10. We won't know the sex until the ultrasound at the next visit.

This ultrasound is able to see the brains and kidneys and everything I'm told. They sure have progressed over the years. We already saw the little sweetie on bedside ultrasound when it was just 13 weeks old. Did I tell you about that? The arms and legs were moving all around and it looked like it (I sure do dislike saying "it") was trying to do that old crazy macarena dance.

We heard the baby's little heartbeat again today. Swish, swish, swish, there's nothing else like that sound and it makes my heart sing each time I hear it.


Will your baby be a boy or a girl? This ancient chart is supposed to predict your child's gender, based upon your age and the month of conception!

More about the chart
The chart was supposedly discovered in a tomb and is rumored to be over seven centuries old. (The original is said to be on display at the Beijing Institute of Science in China.) How accurate is it? Reports vary -- so don't repaint the nursery based on the results -- but it's still fun to see what is predicted for you! To make it easier to read, we have separated the chart into two. You should also base your age on your lunar age. Lunar months are about 29 days long.

I didn't try to calculate the lunar months on anyone, but I checked out the results for my birth and my sisters birth and my two kid's births and they all came out gender correct! Not sure what to make of that.

Boy Or Girl?

I'm taking sweet daughter to her monthly pregnancy appointment tomorrow. She's now 17 weeks, 2 days, so they should be able to determine the sex tomorrow (finally). Last month, they couldn't tell and in between appts she was to go have another ultrasound on a new machine but missed the appointment when she couldn't find the building. Hopefully we'll all know boy or girl tomorrow. She's such a dear girl. A very young dear girl. In a perfect world she'd have her partner by her side to go through this all with her. But she has tons of good friends that are over the moon for her and are already gifting the baby right and left.

I just read on Shirl's site tonight that Kathryn is pregnant. What a wonderful surprise for her and her husband especially since they're been trying for some time.

Sure is the yin and yang of pregnancy. One teenage girl, unmarried and having a baby by surprise. One lady with a loving partner (husband) already established in their careers and they've put everything into having their upcoming child.

Both babies are already surrounded by love. Both are surrounded by love.

Deputies Put "Toe" and "Tow" Together

Toe left at crime scene leads to arrest in Elizabethton

April 3, 2007

ELIZABETHTON (AP) -- Deputies in Elizabethton say the crime involved a toe and a Towmotor forklift and a tow truck was used to help solve it.

The mystery began with discovery of a Towmotor forklift overturned in the middle of a road. Wedged under it were a pair of shoes and socks.

About the same time last week, Sycamore Shoals hospital called the sheriff, saying an emergency room patient's story didn't make sense.

Claude White was telling doctors he had been walking down the street when someone ran over his feet and tore off one of his toes.

But White's wife told a deputy she had dropped her husband off to drink with friends on the same road where the forklift was found.

A tow truck was called to upright the Towmotor.

Deputies found a toe in one of the shoes under it.

White was arrested for theft.

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This is from the city where my Mother lives.

Wrong Number

Mother answered the telephone yesterday and the caller asked her if she had a checkbook. She was startled and answered numbly, "Yes". He then asked her to go get her checkbook.

Mother hung up the phone.

She came and told me about it and I reported it to the phone company. Taking advantage of the elderly is just about as low as it gets.