Cort shakes

Cloe (if you read TJ's blog) is now in her terrible two's and repeating everything said to her in a two-year-old way. She is like a little mocking bird, which she will repeat if you call her one (see.)

She says all kinds of things in her own way, and as TJ says, sometimes when she does learn to say it correctly, it isn't really an improvement.

One of the recent things she tried to repeat and got it all mixed up was 'short cakes.' TJ called her short cakes and Cloe promptly repeated, "Cort Shakes."

When she was much younger, (if one could ever be much younger then two) she would get aggrevated and we would distract her by talking to her. She would dutifully listen and try to talk back. As she has gotten older (Gasp .. two) she has gotten better about the proper repeating. She still say "bass tootin" instead of 'Rasputin.'

Once, when she was aggrevated while we were going to church, she got stuck on saying 'mommy.' I said, 'Rasputin,' and she tried to repeat it. It became the last resort (or first laugh) when we were driving. I know that one day, she will be in kindergarten talking about Rasputin. I can't wait for that call from a worried kindergarten teacher.

Until then , "bass tooin cort shakes."

other site

New Bible Study posted at Won-By-One

my favorite holiday

Independence Day is my favorite holiday.

We went out for a fireworks display in a field. The fireworks were fabulous. There was family, food, and fun .. and rain. But that was okay. The rain did not dampen my spirit for the holiday. I celebrated my freedom by doing what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it, where I wanted to do it, and how i wanted to do it.

Today, I heard someone had said something about how our freedoms were really earned during WW II. Now, I am not going to dispute the importance of WW II. However, our freedom was won way back in the Revolutionary War. It was then that this great nation was formed and fought for its fledgling freedom. Wars since have protected that freedom. There is little difference between gaining something and keeping it when a battle is involved. The speaker then went on to expound about our religious freedoms and how he cherished them. Then he said something about other religions in a less than flattering sense.

Some people just don't understand freedom.

Years ago, when I was younger and a comic book reader, I read in a Captain America comic, Steve Rogers (CA) said, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it."

This is how freedom works. If I seek to take away your freedom in some area, I must yield my freedom in that area as well. My right to proclaim my religion comes at the cost of allowing others whom I may or may not disagree with, to proclaim theirs as well.

You cannot both hide behind civil liberty and deny it at the same time. Your right to disagree with me is standing on the foundation of my right to disagree with you.

Many want to proclaim freedom, their brand of freedom.

Freedom isn't freedom until you offer it to someone else without reservation. Freedom for one is tyranny for all.

Feel free to disagree.

huh ?

One-One was a race horse.

One-Two was one too.

One-One won one race.

One-Two won one too.

good Tuesday

Tonight was a good night.

Tonight was church. The service was good. The teaching was good. However, it was what happened after that was so rich. The church officers had a meeting following the service, so most of the people hung around until after it was over. There was great fellowship. There was personal sharing. There was rich in depth conversation. It was a blessing to me.

Blessings can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

Blame it on Patrice

Patrice over at Blessings Amid Chaos posted a wonderful poem she wrote about her boys. It got me thinking (Danger danger) and this popped out of my head.

That little boy I miss the most

He was always in mischief it seemed

His best efforts to behave oft met with defeat

His path was easy to discern

Just follow the broken or messed up places

Toys were usually left anywhere the interest left

His day was a meandering progress

That brought him each day to a dream filled sleep

That little boy I miss the most

He wasn’t plagued by self doubt

He knew he could do

Whatever came to his mind to do

Those things he knew

He knew them without question

No wall was too tall

No valley was too wide

No task was too daunting

He faced each day as an unfolding adventure

That little boy I miss the most

There were scraped knees and skinned elbows

There were bloody noses and black eyes

There were falls and tumbles

But, there were conquered mountains

There were crossed rivers

There were spanned valleys

There were hands raised in victories

And new challenges eagerly anticipated

Just over the next hill or around the next bend

For that little boy I miss the most

You may wonder what happened to that little boy

That I would miss him so much

Time passed

Toys gave way to girls and cars

Grade school gave way to high school and college

Adventure gave way to jobs and a career

Boyhood gave way to manhood

Being a kid gave way to being a parent

And then, even a grandparent

Simple choices gave way to complicated decisions

The walls got taller, the valleys wider, and the rivers deeper

Still, every now and then, that little boy comes out to play

In my heart he runs and jumps

He tumbles and dives

He kicks up leaves and swings on vines

He knows what he knows unquestionably

He does what he does without fear

Until it is time for him to return home once more

That little boy I miss the most

Until next time

Ron Simpson Jr.

June 25, 2009

summer ?

It seemed that Winter was not going to relinquish her grasp on us. She fought valiantly. The cold weather held on. It stayed cold and snowy for a long long time. People cried and bemoaned the weather.

Then, when winter did slightly relinquish her grasp on the temperature, the rains came. The cold retreated but the wind and rain moved in. Day after day the rain held on. There was talk about an ark. People cried and bemoaned the rain.

Finally, in the last day or so, the rains moved out (or so I thought) and the heat rushed in like an avenging army. It turned sweltering. Summer arrived with a vengeance. Temperatures ballooned into the 90's and 100's. (Just as I was starting the part about the rains leaving, it began thundering here.)

However, as the heat finally arrived, (lights flickering here .. might lose power) people cried and bemoaned the heat.

I am not sure where everyone has been, but usually, there is a period of cold (we call it winter) followed by milder wetter weather, (we call it Spring) and then the heat arrives and fans and A/C's begin to overwork (we call it Summer.) It has happened this was for a long time.

Some of you must be new to the planet.

Welcome to Earth, third rock from the sun.

the attack

In our upstairs bathroom, there is a rack that works in conjunction with the toilet. It has three selves that set above the toilet and the sides go down to the floor. There are various sized baskets on these shelves and other bathroom accoutrement's.

A few moments ago. I go to the bathroom to pee. I position myself properly in front of the bowl. I lean in to assure there is no drippage accidents. In my peripheral vision I see movement at the top of my head and feel something touch my hair. I look up and am looking into the eyes of a snake that had just struck at my head.

I was taken back for a moment until I recognized Ava, our ball python. Now, Ava does not have free run of the house. She is generally in a 55 gallon tank in the boys room. She has, apparently escaped and for some unknown reason, made her way to the basket at head level on the shelf above the toilet.

She is nervous. She didn't actually strike me. she struck at me in a manner of defense as my head came quickly closer to her and her hiding place. She did not act with any malice. I called TJ, who was amazed that she was in the basket. We got a towel and took her out of the basket and put her back in her enclosure without further incident.

I just wonder what kind of life it is when a snake in your shampoo basket, while not common, is not altogether unheard of and does not cause nay undue alarm.

Just another day in the neighborhood.

Brannen

My Grand Niece, Brannen

Home

We made it home late this afternoon. It was a great trip.

We went to the Dayton Ohio area. We stayed in Beavercreek. We went up on Saturday. Saturday night, we had dessert with Gina and Victor Vera. Victor is pastor of the AX church. AX stands for Apostolics of Xenia. Gina is a gospel singer and songwriter. She is quite fantastic. They just finished the second phase of their new church building project. Sunday night was the dedication service.

Sunday morning, we went to church in Dayton. Pastor Horst Krauss from Ausberg Germany was preaching. We have been talking via email, facebook, and phone for the last couple months. He is on his deputation/fundraising through parts of the United States. It was great to meet him. He preached an outstanding message.

Sunday evening was at the AX church. We saw old friends that we hadn't seen for years. Gina, I have known for probably more than 30 years. I met Victor before he and Gina began dating. It was a joy to see them. Last time I saw them was Dad's funeral. Rev. JH Osborne preached the dedication service. He preached an outstanding sermon.

Monday morning, we had breakfast with Pastor Robert Smith, another old and dear friend. We enjoyed it. I was catching up. Tammy was meeting he and his wife for the first time. The food was good. The fellowship was better.

Then came the drive home. We made the 3 hour drive in just under 4 hours. We stopped several time for TJ to rest.

All in all, it was a great trip.

wowser

Has it been a week or more since I posted ??

I have been fighting the cold thing and not been up to posting much, as I have not been doing much. This thing, with it's coughing at night and not sleeping well keeps ya tired.

I did get out this morning to take TJ to local yard sales. She is the thrift store and yard sale queen. If she cannot get out to them she starts going through withdrawal. No one wants to see that or be around it.

School ended for the summer for Kyle. He is excited. He has a trip up coming with the band. they are going to Kings Island Amusement Park. TJ says it isn't fair. She would be allowed to go as a chaperon, but she can't ride because of her back. She just discovered her love of roller coasters just before she started having major back problems. Now, she is relegated to standing or sitting on the sideline, watching.

Mom is coming home from Germany this week. Next Sunday, I plan to go to Dayton, Ohio to meet Brother Krauss, the missionary in Germany. Mom attended his services while she was there. He is in the US visiting churches for sponsorship. We have been trading emails and talking on Facebook, so we have made plans to meet when he is here in the states. As a curiosity, I checked on prices to fly to Germany. I was shocked to find round trip prices under $500.

well, the sun is out, finally, today. It has been overcast and rainy for weeks now, it seems. I am going to try to enjoy more of the sun. Perhaps I will go out shooting. (photos)

Have a good weekend all.

family night finally

We finally got it together for a family night. It is rather difficult at times with so many things being done by so many of us. Tonight, it came together.

We had pizza and pasta from Pizza Hut. We had some old school games. We played Loaded Questions and Password. Chella was downstairs watching Bones while we finished eating. When we called her upstairs, Tj had coordinated a surprise. Once she was fully into the sitting room, adjoining our bedroom, she was attacked by three manics bearing cans of silly string. She had her own can and the war was on. There was string everywhere. It was a blast.

Then we cleaned up and settled down to play the games. We played until about 10 PM. We had fun. we laughed. We laughed. Then, we laughed some more. It was a great night.

if you say, "Cloe, smile."

Memorial

Freedom

It has been well said that freedom is never free. It is easy sometimes, born into freedom, to consider it a birthright. We might lose sight of the price, being so far from it. I have never fought on any foreign shore. I have never spilled my blood defending this glorious nation. Far removed from the smoke of the battlefield, it is easy to lose the cries of freedoms battle.

The sound of freedom is not the big brass band. That is the celebration of freedom. The roar of the crowd is not the sound of freedom. That is the triumph of freedom. Summer dogs and burgers are not the taste of freedom. Sparklers and fireworks are not the fire of freedom. They are just the glitter.

The sound of freedom is the last gasp of a soldier. It is the soft sob of a mother clutching the folded flag. The taste of freedom is the acrid mix of gunpowder and blood. The fires of freedom burn in the hearts of men and women, not in the burning metal rods we wave. The band, the roar, the dogs and burgers, the sparklers and the fireworks, are all good if we don't lose sight of the price of freedom.

Sometime in the middle of your reverie, take time to remember. Take time see the flash of freedom. Take time to taste the coppery taste of freedom. Take time to hear the gasp and sob of real freedom. Find a way to feel free.

Ron

the plague

I have the plague. I am sniffling, sneezing, wheezing and dripping. This morning I got a nosebleed. I liked to never got it to stop. I have had it on a milder level for the better part of the week. I haven't done much this week.

I did do this drawing recently. It is Dad. The lower right is him at 19 years old and in the US Air Force. The upper left is his 50th year wedding anniversary. I still miss him so.

Plumbing, Germany, Carpet, and TJ

Yes, it has been 5 days.

It has been a busy few days for me. There has been errands, and family, and driving, and drawing. Mom called me Sunday morning to let me know her brother-in-law (my uncle) Joe had passed away in Germany. I had to make arrangements for international calling on her cell phone as she was flying out on Monday. She was planning a trip to Germany in July. This moved her plans drastically.

I was in Church Sunday morning/afternoon in Flemingsburg (home church) which is 33 miles one way. When I got home, I had enough time to sit down and then drive to be in church with Mom in Lexington (42 miles one way.) So, it was a busy Sunday. While I was driving and churching (I am sure this should be a word. Active church going must be churching,) TJ and Kyle pulled up the carpet in the downstairs foyer. It is hardwood floors underneath. We will be sanding, varnishing, and shellacking. We intend to also remove the carpeting from Kyles room. there will be more sanding, varnishing and shellacking there.

Thursday, I dropped of the necessary metal for the welding shop to make my meter key. It was done on Friday. I now can turn of my water whenever I need to do so. I have several pending plumbing jobs to do. This gives me much more flexibility in doing them. We plan on replacing the stand alone pedestal sink in the bathroom. I am not sure if it came with the house when it was built about 100 years ago or not. However, it is old. It might be worth something once it is removed and cleaned up well.

We are also working on coming up with a workable plan to rework the bathtub faucets without having to put out the $1500 to $1700 estimates to replace it. I got some great ideas form the guy the runs the plumbing shop in Winchester when I was there looking for replacement parts (which seem not to exist.) We are looking to incorporate a shower of some sort into the deal.

About mom: She arrived safe and sound in Munich. She met Brother Horst Krauss, a missionary in Germany, at the airport. We have been in contact with him for some time. I spoke to him yesterday on the phone to let him know about mom's change of plans. He had intended to see her while she was in Germany in July. He had to be at the airport to meet a friend about the time mom was arriving. I spoke to mom after her arrival. She made contact at the airport.

TJ is still overdoing it routinely. However, she is recovering more quickly. trips still wear her out, but a shorter rest is required after each one. I will accept this as a good sign.

wowser

Close Call.

I was driving on the interstate this morning driving to Lexington. A Nissan Xterra passed me at one point. I had my cruise set on 80mph, so he was going 85mph or better. About a minute after he passed me, I came upon the Xterra on it's hood against the median wall divider. I pulled over immediately and back up to see if there was anything I could do. Several others stopped as well. As I was backing up, the drivers door opened and the man driving crawled out. There was not a scratch on him.



He was passing on the three lane highway when someone cut over in front of him, cutting him off. He locked up the brakes and flipped. The cut man kept on going as the Xterra flipped in his rear view mirror. Tadpole. One of the guys that stopped told us what happened as it happened right in front of him. He is in the light blue jeans in the pic.

After making sure he was okay, I left to go on to town to run my errands. On my way back, about 2 hours later, the wreckers were just starting to try to get the Extera up.

Someone was watching out for that guy.

And for me.

small town minus / small town plus

I lived in big towns most of my life. Lexington population was nearly 650, 000. It is the second largest city in Kentucky and the 66th largest city in the United States. It ranks 10th in college education with 39.5% of the residents having at least a Bachelors Degree. I was born there some 51 years ago and lived there for about 45 of my 51 years. Anything and everything, wanted or otherwise, can be found there and at anytime, day or night.

Just over 2 years ago, TJ and I moved out of that sprawling, traffic infested, 24 hour-a-day city and to a small town called Mt Sterling. Our sprawling population is 5,876 according to the 2000 census. It is a small town. The old adage about rolling the streets up at 8 o'clock is nearly true here. We live inside the city. We are just about 3 blocks from the courthouse. It is 0.27 miles from our house to the main intersection of downtown. It is 0.25 miles from my house to the police station. It is 0.15 miles from my house to the water company, which brings me to my point.

Last night, around 11:15, I went to fill up a water bottle to put in the mini-fridge beside the bed. I noticed the floor was wet, but Chella had just taken a bath and I thought she had been a little messy and had not cleaned up after herself. However, this seemed to be more than it should be. Further investigation revealed that the connection of the waterline to the faucet was leaking. This presented a problem which would lead to other problems.

Problem #1: There is no water shut off at the sink. There is no water shut off anywhere in the house. The only water shut off is the main shut off at the street at the water meter. In spite of my best efforts, that shut off would not budge.

Problem #2: It was the upstairs bathroom. The water would leak through the floor, ruining the floor in the bathroom, through the ceiling below, ruining the ceiling, and on to the hardwood floors in the dining room, ruining them.

I called a guy I knew that was a plumber and had done work for me in the past. He said he could come by in the morning and turn off the water for me. WHAT ? In the morning ?? Hello ! Water leaking NOW !

I called the water company. They have no emergency number. If it is a water main break, you can call the water treatment facility, but anything short a a water main, and you are on your own. "Hello, insurance company, I need to report some water damage."

I went to the internet. I found three plumbing outfits listed for this town. I called number one. his response: "I cant come out there now at this time of night (it was now about 11:45.)" I called number two. It was a residence of a plumber and I got their recording. the recording included all kinds of helpful information, including cell phone numbers of every family member, but no way to get hold of anyone to turn off my water.

I gave TJ a number to call while I was trying another number. She woke up an older lady who woke up her husband, who agreed to come to turn the water off. He came within 30 minutes and turned our water off.

Here are the small town minuses:

NOTHING is available 24 hours a day.

There is a reason they roll up the streets. It is because everyone goes to bed at 8:30.

On call service simply means the phone rings at the house. If we are asleep, we are asleep.

Here is the small town plus:

He didn't charge me to come out at midnight to turn of my water in an emergency.

I talked to him about installing a shut off inside the house. There waterline passes through the basement, so there is access. He said his son could do that. He gave me his sons name and number and told me that if they did the work, he could just add the service call to that bill.

The shutoff addition I can do myself now that the water is off. With the shut off installed I can fix a few other problems as well. However, if I do the shut off myself, I will still call the son to settle up with our Sunday night midnight call.

the crash

My computer crashed ..

Let me clarify .. the computer I mostly use crashed. There is still the laptop and the computer downstairs. However, the one in my sitting room at my desk crashed. I was on it. It was working fine. I had some difficulty opening a web site. The computer told me my Internet connection was severed (I paraphrase.) I checked my network settings and it seemed that the receiver was not allowing Internet signal to get to the web. There was a signal from the router, but it was stopping at my PC. I restarted as this usually clears up any momentary glitch.

Then, when my Windows Explorer (the system that runs your windows) tried to come up, it said it was missing a file and restart. Then it said it was missing a file and would restart. Then it said it was missing a file and would restart. You get the picture, I am sure.

The PC suggested turning the computer completely off and starting again. Then it said it was missing a file and would restart. Then it said it was missing a file and would restart. UGH !

So, I did a System Recovery. I could not do a System Restore as the computer needed to open Windows Explorer to get to the place where I could tell it to do so. I copied my programs onto DVD's (4 of them.) I stayed up until 3:30 AM making the Recovery Disks. I started the Recovery part and went to bed.

Eventually, I got the computer up and running. Then I had to update all my Virus Protection, and my players, and my Internet explorer, and my wireless driver, and all my other drivers.

I still have much to do, but, I can get online and blog so I can slow down. I can Facebook and Twitter (which I could do from my phone which as WiFi.)

How is your Mother's Day weekend going ?

disappointed

My life is all about the disappointment. I was at the grocery shopping with TJ a couple days ago, when I spotted some store made banana pudding. It said it right there on the label. Banana Pudding. It was the size of two moderate serving or one large serving. I bought it. When I finally got to the best part of banana pudding, (the eating part) I was sorely disappointed. In the clear container I could see the vanilla wafers on the bottom. I could see the pale yellow pudding. I guess i should have explored the ingredients more closely. Here is how to make Banana Pudding:

Ingredients:

• 1 large pkg instant vanilla pudding, (6 ounces)
• 2 1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk, (14 ounces)
• 1 container whipped topping, (16 ounces)
• sliced bananas
• vanilla wafer cookies

Preparation:

Mix pudding and milk; add condensed milk. Blend well; fold in half the whipped topping.

Alternate layers of pudding, bananas and vanilla wafers; top with remaining whipped topping and a few banana slices.

Refrigerate overnight before serving.

The stores idea of Banana Pudding: Vanilla wafers and Banana flavored Pudding.

Not vanilla pudding !

No bananas !

I just don't know what the world is coming to when we shortcut the banana pudding!

sick and tired

hoopty

TJ got her hoopty.

She couldn't drive her Camaro because of her back. So we sold it. She couldn't drive the Cadillac because the transmission went out. She drives her Crown Victoria but it is more car than she wants. She drives the Trailblazer, but, again, the same thing, it is too big. She feels like she has to fight with them to keep them under control.

Yesterday, we went to Richmond and bought her a little hoopty, as she calls it. We got her a '97 Ford Escort 5-speed. It is small but not a sub-compact. It is a 4 door. It isn't white (she hates white cars .. the Camaro was white, the Caddy is white, the Crown Vic is white.) She drove it home yesterday (about 45 miles) and it didn't wear her out. She is very happy with her little hoopty.

While we were in the process, we needed a notary to notarize the transfer of title. The guy from whom we bought the car called a notary he knew. It turned out the notary he knew was TJ's cousin. She knew he was a notary, but couldnt find his number. It was old home reunion. We met at his car lot and his son was there. It was a good visit.

I will post pics of the hoopty eventaully. It will look better under the sun. It has been hard to find some sunshine the last few days around here.

Kindred

Kindred

His caring hands very gently worked,
Endless strands of interwoven thread,
Creating a cloth of beauty to behold;

Taking only a moment of His eternity,
He surveys the work of His hands,
A blanket covering time new and old;

With great loving kindness,
He begins to tear this magnificent tapestry,
Into small tattered souls;

Each possessing it’s own beauty,
Fiercely independent even,
but feeling the want of the whole;

With deliberate intent,
He sets about scattering,
Covering the earth with the common thread;

“Let them feel the need,
Let them search through the land,
For the cloths, born of the kindred;”

With joy and sorrow,
We travel through this land,
So rich and so vast;

We touch lightly together,
Sensing the Tapestry,
Threads of our past;

Wandering scraps of cloth,
Always seeking and pursuing,
Weathered and worn;

Living a lifetime together,
Finding and loving those,
From the tapestry torn;

Throughout the journey of friendship,
Our life becomes quite the patchwork,
Discovering common threads;

Flowing behind as we walk,
A stunning legacy of deeds,
Sewn with experience’s threads;

A lifetime of finding and losing,
Of holding and letting go,
Of soul companions and Kindreds;

And the Master,
weaving still,
Smiles.

Ron Simpson, Jr.

stalk much ?

A few days ago while shopping at the grocery, my cell phone rang. It was a call about some inquiries I have made concerning going back to college. I had applied online for a grant for parents going back to college. The lady who called me spoke first of the grant (like she was somehow connected.) Then she subtly inserted into the conversation that she was not really connected with the grant, but did have my information and wondered if I were still interested in attending college. I told her I was, instead of hanging up as I should have. She asked about contact info, in the way someone asked when they say, "are you still at such and such address," and "is your email address still such and such.com?" She asked if I would like some schools to contact me via postal mail and email. I said that was fine. I was more interested in getting my groceries paid and bagged. I got off the phone, took my groceries and went home.

I think the first call from one of the schools came in before I got out of the parking lot of the grocery.

Over the next 3 day, 2 colleges called me 27 times. I sent them emails (as they had each emailed me several times as well) asking them to stop contacting me. I explained in the emails that I had given permission to be contacted by mail or email, and not to have my cell phone ring every hour.

College #1 called me within the hour of sending the email. I told them to stop contacting me. The lady I spoke too apologized and told me she would take me off the call list. I had an email from them telling me how to contact them if I desired. End of story.

College #2 sent me an email from the guy that had been emailing me with a copy of his phone log showing he had only called me 5 time in 2 days. (He was apparently not the only one calling me from his college.) In the email, he said they would not contact me again and gave me numbers to contact them if I wished. End of story.

NO. College #2 then sent me a second email informing me that they were removing me from their contact list and would contact me no more. End of story.

NO. College #2 then sent me a third email telling me they would not contact me again and had put me on a DNC list. End of story.

MAYBE.

I will not teach my children to hate

I will not teach my children to hate

How do I teach my children?
Is it in the abundance of the words I say?
Can words turn their hearts,
When they are held in my actions sway;

What example have I fashioned,
Living in my day to day,
Every harsh or cruel word,
Molding hearts like pliant clay;

What acts of kindness,
Will influence their way,
To which memory will they turn
When passions begin to stray;

When attacks defy reason,
And retaliation seems the way,
Which lesson will stay them,
And let love rule the day;

Please, let me not teach them
A hardness of spirit or heart,
Please, let me show them
Where hatred doesn’t have a part;

Let my actions be tempered,
Make my words wrath turning,
Let me lead them in deed,
Now and forever learning;

A softness of heart,
Is not weakness implied,
It is just the shining out,
Of loves flame inside;

Which flickering flame,
I have sought carefully to tend,
Until brightly it burns,
In today’s fiercest wind;

I do not fear times ravage,
Nor put my trust in fate,
I face the future with pride,
I have not taught my children to hate

Ron Simpson, Jr.

A Poetry on Demand effort

Every now and then someone will ask for a poem about something that means a lot to them. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it does not work. Here is one such effort. You decide if it worked or not.

One Side

one vine planted itself there
unabated it grew
the wall was oblivious
but the vine never knew

the gardener watered
and tried to guide it's growth
the wall remained the same
unaware of both

the vine covered more
uninhibited by attentions lack
someday the wall will notice
someday the wall will give back

but the wall remained
as ever, just a wall
the vine covering one side
all in all

it had to happen
as time could not prevent
the wall was covered
the growth had to relent

the vine still held the wall
but growth was ever needed
and so the vine gave greater heed
to other walls that were seeded

so.. the vine grows
and freely gives it beauty all
and turns from time to time
to see the leaves on one side of that wall ..

Ron Simpson, Jr.

Weekend Update

It was a busy weekend.

Saturday, we drove about 90 miles (with many stops for TJ's back) to meet some old friends (Steve and Angela/Red) that have moved to Chicago. They were in Cincinnati to visit Red's parents and introduce their newly adopted son, Isaac, to family. They came on down to Dry Ridge KY and met with us and several other friends at Cracker Barrel. It was wonderful to see them and a pleasure to meet Isaac. (I drew his portrait and posted it on my flickr.)

Then we drove through Georgetown and visited with Chasity (middle daughter) and the grandkids, Ian and Abby. It was a good visit, albeit short as we had to get back to Mt Sterling to meet a buyer.

Then it was back home to meet a potential buyer. He was interested in TJ's baby (her 95 5-speed Camaro.) He came prepared. He brought money and a trailer to take it home. He liked what he saw and heard and bought it. TJ watched it drive out of the driveway with a tear trying to escape. She loved that car. Her back problems prevented her from driving it with the shifting and all.

We rested about an hour and then it was off to Lexington to Mom's house for a suprise 50th birthday party for one of my sisters. (I have 4 of them.) It was grand. We brought out old slides of the family. There were pictures of all of us growing up. I did remind my brother and sisters that those were the years when we were not choosing our own clothes. we spent about 3.5 hours in Lexington. We left witha loaf of Amish Cinnamon bread that mom fixed and some left over cake.

TJ decided that she is going on a diet on Monday (today) so we stopped in Winchester for some greasy hamburgers. (Rally's) Then we finally made it home.

Sunday was church in Flemingsburg, KY. It is our home church. It is a 35 mile drive each way. Service was good. I sang a solo. (Blessed Assurance .. an oldie) We came home, where TJ laid down to rest. The weekend caught up with her. Around 4, I went out and got pizza and wings. Shortly after eating, I laid down and promptly feel asleep. It seems the weekend finally caught up with me as well. I slept for several hours.

It was a good weekend.

TJ's baby gone bye-bye

Face only a mother could love

deadly meme

65 Questions you’ve probably never been asked...you know the rules. Tag people to learn more about them.

1. First thing you wash in the shower? Hair
2. What color is your favorite hoodie? I only have one .. gray
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Definitely
4. Do you plan outfits? Men do not wear outfits .. Men wear suits .. Gay men wear outfits .. (Oh yeah .. no offense intended.
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? With my fingers ..
6. What’s the closest thing to you that's red? Pencils for drawing
7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having. Can’t remember my last or even next to last dream.
8. Did you meet anybody new today? Do the rude people at Wal-Mart count ?
9. What are you craving right now? Not a thing ..
10. Do you floss daily? Nope.
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? And potatoes ..
12. Are you emotional? Aren’t we all ?
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? As sure as I am that I was once a kid ..
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? Bite ..
15. Do you like your hair? Sure .. a silver mane
16. Do you like yourself? Some days I do ..
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? Depends .. Is he paying ?
18. What are you listening to right now? A Shar Pei snoring. ..
19. Are your parents strict? Strict enough ...
20. Would you go sky diving? .. sure
21. Do you like cottage cheese? Bleech.
22. Have you ever met a celebrity? Yes ..
23. Do you rent movies often? Sometimes more than other times ..
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? Besides my personality ??
25. How many countries have you visited? 2
26. Have you made a prank phone call? Moi ?!?! (Looking innocent).
27. Ever been on a train? Oh yeah
28. Brown or white eggs? Either ..
29.Do you have a cell-phone? Yeppers
30. Do you use chap stick? nope.
31. Do you own a gun? Yes .. I do
32. Can you use chop sticks? Yep
33. Who are you going to be with tonight? TJ and the kids
34. Are you too forgiving? Sometimes
35. Ever been in love? Yes yes yes
36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow? Spending time with me
37. Ever have cream puffs? Yep
38. Last time you cried? A couple days ago ..
39. What was the last question you asked? Is this a tick ?
40. Favorite time of the year? Winter
41. Do you have any tattoos? Nope .. never found anything I want to look at the rest of my life.
42. Are you sarcastic? Moi ?!?!?!
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? Yes
44. Ever walked into a wall? Yes ..
45. Favorite color? Purple or Green
46. Have you ever slapped someone? yeah
47. Is your hair curly? When it gets long enough
48. What was the last CD you bought? Renee Austin ‘right about love’
49. Do looks matter? Only liars say it doesn’t
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater? Yep
51. Is your phone bill sky high? No .. just skyscraper high
52. Do you like your life right now? It is good with room for improvement
53. Do you sleep with the TV on? nope
54. Can you handle the truth? sometimes
55. Do you have good vision? My vision get better the further away you get ..
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? I don’t actively hate anyone .. I do have more than a couple people I prefer not to encounter ..
57. How often do you talk on the phone? When necessary
58. The last person you held hands with? TJ
59. What are you wearing? Jeans, 3 button collared pull over
60.What is your favorite animal? Don’t have a fave ..
61. Where was your default picture taken at? I drew it
62. Can you hula hoop? Nope
63. Do you have a job? nope
64. What was the most recent thing you bought? 20 x 16 frame for a photo I took
65. Have you ever crawled through a window? Yep ..

meet Rosie

TJ has connived her way into another dog to run around the house. Here is Rosie. She is a cream Shar Pei. Dusty is intrigued. Lacey is indifferent.

My Choice

It was a lifetime ago
A year ago
A month ago
A week ago
A day ago
And this morning

When I awoke
And I faced my day of choices to be made
I chose to be your love

I chose to wear my blue shirt
And my black slacks
And I chose to be your lover

I chose the striped tie over the paisley
And the leather belt over the cloth
And I chose to hold you close to my heart ..

I chose eggs instead of cereal
Sausage instead of ham
Juice instead of coffee
And I chose to hold your image in my mind

Today as yesterday
I chose to love you

You wonder if I will love you forever

I will love you today
Today is all of the future I can see
Now
This moment
Loving you
Is all the future I can hold in my hand
So
Right now
In the midst of making choices
I am loving you
Forever.

Ron Simpson, Jr.

Tagged for 8 things

I was tagged by Patrice @ Blessings amid chaos.

This meme is all about 8's, so I am going going to do my best.

8 things I am looking forward to...
Going back to work eventually
Finally getting the plumbing fixed in the Bath so we can finish the ceiling in the dining room (Did I mention the movie 'Money Pit'?)
Completing the adoption process for K and C
Getting Thyroid regulated and Losing weight.
School being out.
Warm weather (I love winter, but enough is enough)
TJ's restored back health.
The birth of another grandson

8 things I did yesterday...
Went to Sunday Services
Went to church in the evening at a friends first service in a new work
Took my office chair apart to get it ready for welding repair
Ate Captain D's for supper on the drive home from service
Had a good hair day
Read my regular reads without the benefit of a chair
took over the laptop during the afternoon while TJ rested
Blogged, goes without saying

8 things I wish I could do...
Get rid of Arthur (Arthritis)
Manage my time better. (I'll agree, Patrice)
Save money better (wanna give me some to practice with ?)
Spend more time with siblings (too spread out and busy)
Think before I speak! (Amen)
Get on track with book #3 which is really book #1 unfinished
Finish finish finish
Stop my PROCRASTINATION!! It's a way of life for me. (My wife concurs)

8 shows I watch...
24
Life
Heroes
Fringe
CSI/NY
NCIS
CSI (the one in Vegas)
Bones

There are my 8's

What are yours?

The Poets

we are the word masters,
as we contort and cavort with them,
twist and shape them
we make them sing songs burdened with love
we bring them to the depths of the soul
and wring them dripping with the dew
we carry them from our hearts,
and from our bosoms,
and from our minds
we put them on paper with cadence and rhythm
we plait them for reason and rhyme
we pull every ounce of feeling out of them

and when it is done,
we throw them out to the children to be dragged through their day
we find them worn and wadded in the pockets of their lives
just scraps of what was in the beginning
and we tenderly hold these tattered remnants
for they are the vestiges of what we tried to say

when we have uttered our souls
and you have lived your lives
these are the ashes
sifted through by the next generation

these are the words,
and we,
we are their servants

we are the poets

Ron Simpson, Jr.

There is a child

There it is
In that devilish smile
The taste of the mischievous
Just past the wrinkled brow
Under the dark aged eyes
A sparkle
A twink

Chasing butterflies and climbing trees
Inside a body long past forgiving such pleasures
One which creaks and cracks at the thought of movement
But even still
Beneath the age
There it is again
Flittering in the sunlight
A child that has never grown out of the simple joys

Other children can hear it
As the child calls to them
From behind the tree of responsibility
It matters not whether the place of hiding
Is middle aged and swamped with tasks
Or elderly and saddled with the fatigue
Of a lifetime of living

Somewhere
Inside
There is that child
Running and playing
Skipping stones
Laughing at nothing
Sharing the secrets of the world
Without fear

The Moon is cheese
There is Santa Claus
You really can fly
And love lasts
Forever

There it is
That child within
Believe

Ron Simpson, Jr.

Folded Dreams

Folded Dreams

Light of years, you stood time and again
Watching the stars that shimmered in the night
You oft wondered about their blinking
As if, the night were winking
Perhaps someone up there noticed
The little girl with the biggest dreams

Abruptly, reality would fly
On wings of blackest night
Spread across the evening sky
Hiding the glitter of the night
Hiding the big dreamer
From eyes that watched and winked

Reluctantly, the dreams were folded
Delicately but deliberately
Folded on lines well practiced
The dreams were returned
To the place where they lived
Somewhere between the mind and the heart

Each night you waited
Darkness would drown the fire
Quiet would overtake the sharp words
From that secret place they would come
Never contented to stay hidden long
Folded dreams

Hurriedly out of one situation
Changing rooms but not realities
Real still wore the blackest wings
Hidden often from the stars
Some dreams rose to actuality
While others stayed behind

Late, but soon enough
Desperation became strength
Strength became resolve
Resolve became reality
And the dark winged tormenter
Was pierced by a thousand stars

The little girl inside
Stands and looks at the shimmering stars
Wondering about their blinking
As if, the night is winking
Someone up there is noticing
The little girl with the biggest dreams

Ron Simpson, Jr.
November 14, 2004

once more out of the bed

So .. I was watching TV laying in the comfort of the waterbed, when I got out and stepped onto a soaked carpet. Now, this is never a good thing, but when you have a waterbed, it is reason to move quickly. Within minutes the sheets were stripped and the search began. The liner was filled with water when the mattress was laying in it. when we pulled the mtaress down at the head, we found no leak. A siphon hose was inserted and the siphoning began. The search continued. TJ was looking on the left side of the bed as I looked on the right. I looked over to her side and while she was holding the mattress away from the frame, I saw the small fountian.

She held her finger on the leak, while I made the mad dash to Wal-Mart for a pool repair kit (because you can never find yours when you need it.) Kyle came up to help Tj with hole holding. I found the pool vinyl repair kit and off I went to the house. A few cuts and trims, a sparing application of glue, and a quick switch (finger and patch) and we were a go. The patch holds. Of course, it does require 24 hours to cure completely, so, we are out of the bed for the night.

Fortunately, there are beds available for us to use.

That regular bed replacement is getting more appealing.

We will see.

Spring & Easter

Riding a moped

Around here we have a joke about riding a moped. It goes like this: You might ride a moped, but you wouldn't want any of your friends to see you do it. Therefore, anything that you enjoy that you wouldn't want noised abroad becomes a 'riding the moped' thing.

TJ likes some Adam Sandler movies. Liking Adam Sandler is a 'riding the moped' thing. If you are a juvenile immature teenager, it is okay to like Adam, but if you are a mature XX year old mom of 4, liking Adam is something you wouldn't brag about.

TJ reminded me of this a few nights ago while we were flipping through the channels and came across a movie with Pauly Shore called "Son-in-law." she said it was a moped movie.

We all have them; harmless little things we like that have no real justification. We don't know why we like them. We can't explain it. We just like them. However, we aren't going to tell everyone else.

Think about it. What are your moped things?

PC

OK .. who else is fed up with political correctness?

I was reading the news and came across an article where Madamme Tussand's Wax Museum is dissing the Republican first ladies by not having any wax figures of them on display. It unveiled a new wax figure recently, Michelle Obama. It also has a figure of Hillary Clinton, and two of Jackie Kennedy. Blatant political snubbery going in here. Of course, the museum says that the figures displayed are based on the requests of visitors to the museum.

Heaven forbid that a business make a decision based on what their paying customers want.

We should make these business equalize their business between those that pay and those that don't. McDonald's should have to sell Whoppers and Burger King should have to sell Big Mac's. GM must make Fords and Ford must make GM's.

Business is based on finding what customers want and giving that to them. Can you see a business prospering any other way? Isn't it time for businesses to have the right to sell what their customers want?

Should I have to write about things I do not wish to blog about in order to be fair to those that like other things?

I think not.

It is very simple. If you do not like what Madamme Tussands is doing, don't go to the museum. There, you have now registered your vote.

snow snow snow

It wasn't as much at my house or on my car, and it didn't last long, but we did have snow on the car this morning, and it continues to spit snow. As I was out and about this morning gathering waterbed repair supplies (replacing the base supports) I passed this car in a parking lot. It has snow on the roof, the trunk, and the bumper. Someone around here (Montgomery county tags) got much more snow than we did.

hindsight .. so perfect

Looking back, I would have made different decisions. I guess we could all say that.

Our Sunday morning rush .. er .. routine is that we leave home to go to church and pick Cloe up on the way. Non-regular readers, Cloe is our 21 month old granddaughter. She is one of six grandkids. She lives closest to us. She is Sierra's daughter. Again, regular readers will know that Sierra and Cloe lived with us for about 8 months until recently. (TJ says, as she passed by reading over my shoulder .. "None of our readers are regular. Just reading us makes them irregular.) Cloe always goes to church with us on Sunday. It is a good routine for a child to learn. We generally call Sierra when we get up and tell her to have Cloe ready. This rarely happens. Picking her up puts us behind schedule. We mostly make it to church on time, but without pre-service fellowship time.

We had this great idea. Here is where the hindsight comes in. We would keep Cloe on Saturday night. That way she would be up with us already, and we could get her dressed and out the door on time. Great plan or so we thought. We now know that neither of us are ready to slip back into parenting on any kind of full time basis, especially for a bright toddler like Cloe. She had us up until late, playing in our bed. Then, when She was settled and sleeping, I was going to get up and go to the restroom. We have a king size waterbed. So, I, in an effort to reduce any movement, used the sideboard to get up, rather than push on the mattress as I usually do. The sideboard broke loose from the foot and head boards. The mattress survived.

Now, it is after midnight, Cloe is awake again, and I am trying to screw the bed back together. It was useless at that point. There was much more work involved in fixing the bed than just a few screws and good night. TJ and Cloe stayed in the bed. I went to daughters room (she was spending night with a friend) and slept in her bed. I didn't sleep well. TJ didn't sleep well. She froze all night because I wasn't there to keep her warm. Cloe kicked her all night.

Hindsight says:

Do not offer to watch toddler granddaughter overnight until she is around 12 years old.

I know the bed incident wasnt Cloe's fault. It was just a crowning moment to an already otherwise busy night.

Today, after church, we broke down the bed, removed the water, and decided how we needed to proceed. It involves replacing some wood on the foundation and sturdying up some places. Perhaps it will involve scrapping a waterbed and buying a conventional bed. The Doctor already told TJ we need a FIRM bed for her back. He said a waveless mattress was fine if we wanted to keep the waterbed. We are exploring both options.

Daughter is spending night with a friend again, so her bed is available for us tonight. She told us we were not allowed to do the sex thing in her bed. If she isn't allowed, we aren't allowed. I don't know about all that, now.

so funny .. had to share

The administration of this blog hopes that no-one finds the previous clip offensive. If this is not the case, the administration advises those finding it offensive to offer your opinion. Opinions may be left by clicking the red "X" in the upper right.

Fools follow up and the eyes of a 5-year-old

Some asked for a follow up on the Aprils Fools gag I pulled on the boy. I finally woke him around 9AM. We were going to visit Chris. He opens his bedroom door, and there it is, a new barrier. He poked it. It didn't go away. He called out.

"Hey?!?!"

Silence.

"Uh, can I get out of my room please?"

Snickering.

The funniest part was the reaction of our 2-year-old boxer, Dusty. He was jumping at the plastic. He could see Kyle. He just couldn't get to him. Finally, he jumped up on it and cut it with his toenails. Then Kyle used his sword to cut his way out. He said if it had been earlier, he would have walked right into it.

Now .. the eyes of a 5-year-old. We went to visit my middle daughter and her hubby and kids. Ian is 5 and Abby is 2. They love "Big Papaw". They gave me some static stick stickers. We had to go out right then to put them on the windows of Papaw's truck (yes, Debbie, the big red one.) While they were in my truck they went exploring. Now, the truck is a Chevy Trailblazer Extended. There was plenty to explore. One of the things Ian found in the truck was my camera. He asked and was given permission to take pictures. Here are some of those pictures from the yes of a 5-year-old.

Of course, he had to do a self portrait.

Then he had to get a shot of his sexy Mamaw.
There also had to be a shot of Big Papaw.
And a shot of his escaping little sister.
And a shot of the light at the top of the drivers side door, of course.

The day for fools

Happy April Fools Day?

I am not sure what is the right greeting for the day. So, here is wishing you a happy day.

I had a great plan for our 13 yr old for the day. I was going to set all the clocks in the house up 3 hours and get him up at 4AM to get ready for school. I would let him go through the whole routine, get dressed, do his hair, eat his breakfast, let out the dog, and wait for the bus. Then, I would ask him why he was up waiting for a bus that wasn't coming for 3 more hours. Gotcha. However, I realized it was Spring Break for them this week. There was no school in session. While he is a little groggy in the mornings, I think he would remember no school. Back to the drawing board.

It is just after 6 AM and I have finished part 1 of what I hope to make a day of pranking, back and forth. I got up at 5AM and put heat shrink window insulation on his door opening. When he sleepily gets up to go to the first of the morning bathroom trip, he will not see the new barrier. When you shrink it down, it becomes transparent. He is a sound sleeper so he didn't even rouse while I stood at his door with the hair dryer for 30 minutes. I can't wait to see his reaction.

My middle daughter called me yesterday to see if I had any ideas for a gag for her mom/my ex. They have done the 'I'm pregnant" gag before, so it was out. She was going to go to where K works and act as though her and hubby were splitting up. I told her that might not be good as K might let loose some 'I always knew he was like that," or "I never liked him anyway," statements that would have to be dealt with later when the gag was revealed. Some stones are better left unturned.

I came up with a bogus job offer in Arkansas or some other southern state that needed a response very soon. Her hubby is in school for some medical thing and is going for his RN eventually. I told her to make up a town and hospital in one of the southern states that offered C a job and needed him to start as soon as possible. K would have about 3 or so days left to visit the grandkids and then they would be gone for 3 to 6 months. They liked the idea and were going to work on it. I am eagerly anticipating the news of how it went.

What are your gags? Or what did you fall for?