Almost a week to the day

First, thank you to everyone who left a comment last Sunday. It had been the end of a bad week for me and your comments helped cheer me up. Y'all reminded me that some things are temporary and no matter what, time really does heal. If nothing else, we move on. A bit stronger, a bit less sad.

NOW, I'm sitting in the breakfast room between kitchen duties while the MITM makes yet another one of his wonderful meals! Today it's chicken and sausage gumbo and I am ready. Of course, it will be a few hours before it's time to eat, but it already smells so delicious in here! Yesterday, he made a sweet potato pie, sweetpeas. I swear, but I am glad we deal with anxiety in different ways because the eating is hot damn good when he's anxious! (I know, I am horrible, right?) I just mope and sigh, but I do find comfort in all the gorgeous meals. (Not to toot my own horn (such an archaic phrase), but I am an excellent scullery maid!)

Anyway, it's Saturday, there are a few things to do around here that have been neglected, so....

Later Skaters

*I'll post some pictures later!*

Unrelated to food, but why not:

Big Boy Chaos 

Big Girl Matrix asleep in her clubhouse with Tommy, the dog

Sunday

It's been a James Taylor weekend for me. There's been some Tom Petty, too. Some Miles, some Coltrane, a bit of New Orleans second line.

Usually, it all helps.

I don't know anymore.

Saturday, but not in the park

ever have a saturday that just falls flat?

yeah, we're ordering a pizza.

don't judge









but if you do, well, that's OK, too.
it may be a bad saturday, but i can be magnanimous.






(you know i'm really laughing out loud right now at myself.)

Don't mention this to anyone...

So, sometimes, I wear an eye mask to bed BECAUSE as I told you the other day, it can be BRIGHT in our bedroom in the morning.

WELL, this particular morning, I forgot to remove it before I got out of bed.

You can guess the rest.

Who knew I was so close to the edge of the damn bed?

Right?

So why share this with all y'all? Well, I had to tell somebody and who better than all y'all?

*waiting while y'all wipe up the coffee/or drink of choice that has been sprayed on monitors, chins, etc*

And besides, we all really could use a big ole laugh right now!

I'm cool with that.

The things I find comfort in

Yesterday, it was Lipton onion soup dip and potato chips.

There was something about mixing the sour cream and onion soup mix into a bowl, then dipping a crispy thin chip in, loading it up and popping it into my mouth that made everything else disappear.

This song.



Sleep.

The comfort of my bed in the afternoon. Falling asleep to the sounds of the MITM in the kitchen, far enough away to not intrude, but close enough so I knew I wasn't alone. Hearing the rumblings of the impending storm, again far enough away not to intrude, but close enough to slowly darken the sky. An eyemask is also an important part of an afternoon nap, especially when there's an uncovered palladium  window in the room! All of the pillows make the perfect nest, I mean, they are down filled! Blissful, no longer troubled dreams.

Dinner.

The MITM knows me far better than I know myself sometimes. He decided early on in the day that he was going to be in charge of meals. There was wine, cheese, appetizers and calamari! Anyone who knows that silence during a meal doesn't mean there's nothing left to say, it simply means that the food, the meal deserves, no demands, complete and total attention! We sat together in absolute joy filled silence and, for me, complete grace.

*****

Watching the storms forming and then moving across the Atlantic has caused anxiety, but for those who've been in the eye of the storms, they've suffered far more than I can imagine. Whatever I've experienced has been minor, so I'm not complaining, but to move on I must admit that anxiety and fear have been a very large part of the last few weeks!  We, like many transplants to the south, wondered for a moment why are we still here, what is keeping us here. The answer comes almost immediately after asking the question: the water retreats, the sky is blue again, the smell of the ocean, the marsh, the knowledge that there will be fresh shrimp "over to Dubberly's" and our neighbors sweet voices calling out. 

Then you know, then I know, why we stay. This place can heal you in a way you aren't even aware of. It wraps you in the denseness of the magnolia trees growing everywhere. The tendrils of the jasmine support you even as you prop them up. This place grows your spirit, even when hate surfaces around you that voice is small compared to the glorious voices that lift your heart, your soul when you have reached rockbottom. This place reminds you that you don't fight nature, you move with it. 

All this to say, my heart was broken and it has healed. 

There will be sadness again, 

I know, 

but I'm prepared and 

3 out of 4 ain't bad.

September 12th, 2017

For all our pals who aren't on that other social media site, the MITM and I are safe here on The Plantation! We were without power for 12 hours which considering the damage to the islands near our little town is phenomenal! Our landline was down for a couple of hours, but again, nothing compared to other areas nearby and absolutely NOTHING compared to Florida and the Caribbean. 

We are fortunate. We suffered no major damage. The MITM and I were able to clean up the yard debris without any issues. 

FYI: garage door visible on the left is our neighbor's house. Our main garage door is slightly visible behind the bushes and the side garage door is by the fence and bins.

Our neighbor across the street had a tree come down in his backyard narrowly missing his bedroom by 8 INCHES!! That was the closest call on our block and everyone is grateful no one sustained serious damage or injury around here.

The MITM and I are grateful and humbled by all of you and your concern for us. Thank you and we love all y'all!!

xoxoxo

Thursday or the days before Irma

Darling friends!

The MITM and I are prepared to leave if needed. There is a mandatory evacuation that will begin this Saturday. I will keep in touch as often as I can, until then we love all y'all!

Remember, hope
and her krewe up in SC, too! We're all having to deal with Miss Irma this time!

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

A big Thank You to Mr Matrix for the new mug! He knows I love "Midsomer Murders" and DCI Barnaby!

Sunday in the house with DVDs

Today I watched the final episode of "Inspector Morse" (for the hundredth time I'm sure) and my reaction was the same as always, immense sadness. I know it was just a tv series, but I remember a phone call from one of the krewe, talking about the finale and how much we loved the series. I guess watching "The Remorseful Day" has more meaning, for me, than just the end of a favorite series.

Shared memories.

And then, a couple of years later John Thaw died. We spoke that day, too. A man neither of us knew, but a respect for his talent and our

...shared memory.


I don't know what it is, the end of summer? Hurricane season? The horror we're experiencing here and the world? The futility of it all?

And in the end?

It's death.


where the hell did summer go?

The Eclipse!

It rained here, so I watched the entire thing from West Coast to East Coast on TV and my MAC.

I DID make a pinhole camera because I was prepared!

Some happy news for the end of this week!

BBC and BGM started kindergarten this week!

I don't have a pic of The Kid yet because she's in high school and goes back next week! (plus, I have to make sure it's OK with her to post one and that the Cap't and Stretch send me one!)

The MITM and The Doc are doing well in deepestdarkestcoastalafrica, the Dancing Lady, Cap't Chaos, Stretch, Mr Matrix and Super Nana are alive and well and still out in Lalaland!

My mantra for this past week has been, "Stay safe, stay positive, and breathe"

We'll all get thorough this, my darlings! xoxox

Just a thought...

BUT,

it's really a good idea, no, let me be more emphatic with this statement:


DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER, WATCH THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF MOVIE WHEN ALONE:


1. thrillers where killers hide behind walls or in attics

or

2. movies that you have a feeling might make you cry.

wait, there's a corollary to that last type of movie:

or

2a. movies that will make you cry.




i'll leave you to guess what brought me to this revelation!


(metaphorically speaking, of course, not literally. this isn't a contest.)

The day before

Y'all know this drill.

The day before the MITM leaves for deepestdarkestafrica it gets a bit busy around here, but for some reason this trip BECAUSE we know it's for a much, much, MUCH shorter time we're on a more relaxed schedule.

He's having lunch as I sit here and he is very much in "chill mode" so, I'm not frantic...



yet.

When she was 1 and now she's 5!

Happy Birthday, BabyGirlMatrix!!

First Birthday

and now she's 5! (pictured with her dog, Tommy Lasorda)

A Saturday birthday party for a birthday on Tuesday!

BGM will be 5 tomorrow, so her birthday party was on Saturday! There was a bounce house, bubble machine AND 2 streamer cannons that shot out purple and pink streamers!! Captain Chaos and The Doc were in charge of those! As the Cap't said, what could possibly go wrong? but of course, nothing did! (super nana did tell me that after the cannons went off, the guys asked if there were more streamers to shoot off!)

Midweek madness

It's Wednesday, midway through a week that has been playing catch-up since last week and maybe I should just hit reboot.

The MITM will be on the move again and heading back to the westerly side of deepestdarkestafrica. After spending so much time here on the Plantation and traveling within these borders with only an occasional trip abroad, we're back into lengthy international travel mode again. It's work with a much longer commute than most, but dems da breaks for our international man of mystery.

********

At some point soon, there will be a guest blogger filling this page and until then, I'll just have to keep on sharing my thoughts and anecdotal files with all y'all. 

Content has been a bit wobbly here, I know, but so have my thoughts since, I don't know, maybe November 8th of last year. The antics and shenanigans coming out from our nations capital have left me more than a bit off kilter, shall we say. But, that seems to be a condition many are suffering from lately. (Sweet Mary Sunshine, but the stress is killing me) Normal, everyday occurrences, and some not so everyday, when heaped on to the wild ride our country is taking make tranquility and calmness almost unattainable for many people, but right now, ME!

so, whatchagonnadew?

Here:

and there's more:

BGM at The Huntington

I look at BBC and BGM (I think they might need some new blog names, since they really aren't babies anymore, but aren't really BIG yet.) and I have hope for the future.

xoxox

Another Friday and it's still FUBAR maybe

I woke up at 0700 and thought, "Well, OK, it's Friday. Cool!"

30 minutes later, it was "WTF?"

Yes, at the last minute the beyond belief Republican death health care bill was narrowly defeated, BUT, now we have to pray that we can finally get some sort of bi-partisan cooperation to honestly look at the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) and fix those elements that need fixing and move on to the other serious work that needs to be done to protect this country from the grifter-in-charge and his band of flunkies!

OK, maybe I'm dreaming or massively delusional, but in the immortal words of Judy Tenuta:

Friday

Just starting here, so the whole day is open to suggestions!

The MITM is working (here at home, not deepestdarkestafrica), so disinclined to be involved in any shenanigans which means I am on my own!

Chores or ???

I'll be updating later.

conversations today

MITM: (08:30) tomato soup?

Me:

MITM: I'm going to the store to pick-up a few things that we need. Do we have basil?

Me: There's a list on the spice cabinet door.

MITM: (looking at list and adding items to HIS list) Anything else?

Me: Get a baguette.

MITM: What pot should I use?

~4 hours later~

Me: That was delish! Glad you bought some white wine.

MITM: You know, we have just the right things to make whatever we want.

Me:

MITM: I think Captain Chaos will want the pots when we die.

Me: Well, Mr Matrix is starting to become a good cook now, so there might be some discussion.

MITM: There are enough that they'll be able to divide them up.

Me:

~3 hours later~

Me: You should have heard the conversation your father and I had earlier.

super nana: Let me guess, you talked about food, right?

Me: Well, yes, your father made a really delicious tomato soup (detailed explanation re: recipe and sides followed)... then we talked about who'd get all our cookware when we're gone.

super nana: You guys are starting to worry me. It's food and who's getting your stuff when you're dead! (she was laughing when she said this.)

Me: We're getting old and it makes us laugh!

super nana:



Moral of this conversation? We're weird, we enjoy cooking and eating, and WTF, it really does all make us laugh out loud!

In the Name of the Rose or watching/not watching a movie

In the Name of the Rose is a favorite movie around here. It was also a much loved read when it came out. Umberto Eco (1932-2016) was, and still is, a favorite author. This is part of a the larger background of my thoughts today.

Thinking of things and people from the past, some of whom are around, but not present, and others who are gone. This is also part of the background of this post today. I read a comment by our dear friend, Map, about drinking bourbon and that our pal, "JB, would be horrified." This led me to my own blogroll and surprise that it's been 3 years since Jimmy Bastard had shared a word with us. Looking at the other names that haven't posted in years was also, as we used to say a real bummer, but some are still around just in other forms (y'all know where they are).

It's time to bring blogging back, I think!

I'm glad that there are still so many of our blogging family that pop up on the sidebar/blog roll (ok, thanks to all my pals across the pond, every time I write that I giggle! and y'all know why) with new posts and photos and in the case of Mark, Tales From the Plastic Bin! Members of my own krewe have stopped blogging, but since we're kin, I pretty much know what's happening most of the time.

The other day, I sent a note on the twitter to an old pal, Istvanski, just to make sure he was OK and of course, he is. So many of the people I met when I first started blogging have moved on, some to that other social media site, and others have just disappeared. So, some we still see, and others we hope might still pop up in Blogville! But, the saddest part is finding that old friends have slipped away never to return. In the 10 years since I began blogging, we've lost many friends. Most recently, White Rabbit know to us as Andrew Keogh, a barrister, a writer, a friend. He, like the others, will be missed.

The up side to that other social media site is that we can keep in contact far more easily and far more immediately!  We share good times/bad times that used to be limited to a local phone call or a letter with pals in places many of us might never get a chance to visit, on a daily, sometimes hourly opportunity!

Absolutely fantastic and crazy, mad fun!

I'm starting to ramble.

Back to the movies.

Blog on, sweetpeas! xoxo

On a happy note, here's a video!

For Mr. IDV, Part 2 because Mr. Mago mentioned it!

Jefferson Airplane, one of my favorite groups, also did a version of Wooden Ships!

For Mr. IDV

This is the version of "Wooden Ships" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, we were talking about,  IDV! I forgot how much younger than me you are, sweetpea! ;) 

Net Neutrality!

If you came here earlier and saw a link and nothing else, that was my fault. 

Today is a protest in support of Net Neutrality here in the states. Here are a two links:

the verge

nbc news

There is a move via the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) to roll back regulations that require that all data and all users of the internet be treated without restriction,  or the institution of a two tier system. For non-tech geeks like me, that means sites will be slower loading, subject to censorship by providers and a very different look for what amounts to a utility like water, electricity, gas, etc. 

This is the type of subtle creep that can and will affect all of us, not only here, but around the world.

As much as I want to believe this is a kind and good place, it is becoming darker and darker.

Here are the videos that were SUPPOSED to upload yesterday!

Baby Boy Chaos (BBC) is 5 and will be 6 in February!!  

Baby Girl Matrix (BGM) is going to be 5 in August!!

For Sister Hope!

sunday in the park

pizza and the baseball player

4th of July

father and son skateboarding

Tuesday, July 4th, 2017

From our friend, Daphne Wayne-Bough!

150 years ago today...

Oh, Canada!

Happy 150th!!

almost the end...

...of JUNE!

Where does the time go? (she said ever so rhetorically)

In just a matter of days, we here in the USofA will celebrate our independence from Britain. Of course, many of us are wishing we could declare independence from the monstrosity known as "45" here. (OK, I know I wish we could. I'll not speak for anyone else.) This year, I have not planned any celebrations or festivities. Nor will I be attending the annual fireworks display down by the river or anywhere else in my little town. It just seems far too strange to be celebrating when we are watching the dissolution of everything that has represented democracy (or the Republic for the pedants in the audience) not only here, but for the world wide audience for whom we had once been a model.

We were watching a documentary the other day about the restoration of World War II fighter planes. Near the end of the film, when many of the planes were flown for the first time since their decommissioning, the few remaining original pilots spoke eloquently (some even reduced to tears) of their flights and those who never returned. It dawned on me that these men fought to rid the world of nazism and fascism and here we are watching the rise of these hated -isms again right here on our own shores. I no longer think that saying this or thinking this is being overly dramatic or paranoid or pessimistic.

There's a far better post about this and I hope you'll give skippy-san a read. I will always be grateful to e@l for the link to the far east cynic!




(I think I'll feel better tomorrow.)

Today, the 5th of June!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MITM!!

This year he's home and not away in some far off place!  It will be a quiet day because it's Monday and the weekend was not! I hope y'all will join me in wishing him a grand day and an exciting grand year!

reality bites

i just realized that i checked out a page on that other social media site because i hadn't seen that person in a few years. i don't know which made me sadder, the time that has elapsed or the fact that that is the only connection now.

reality bites hard.

today is...

a dollar waiting on a dime.

BUT, on the upside, we're both feeling a bit better, so that's a good thing.

Don't worry, we are OK and the future is bright.





it's just a bit dark right now.


UPDATE (because I'm tired of cleaning house):

interesting stats about who's looking at the blog:

United States	556
France	25
United Kingdom	17
Germany	14
Canada	11
Venezuela	7
Ireland	5
Russia	4
Portugal	2
Romania	2

So, who's in Venezuela? 

Four in Russia? That has to be a seriously random web crawl!

ack, i'm sick and so is the MITM

cold and flu season traveled from lalaland here to my sweet savannah and then, traveled up to our nation's capital and back  home with the MITM.

it will be a couple of days before our doc can see us,  so quick advice was drink plenty of liquids, get some rest, and eat lightly. (sweet mary sunshine, just the thought of eating makes me ill.) the MITM has decided that my self imposed fast is one, not healthy and two, not smart, so he is cooking simple dishes, but a hellva lot more than i did while he was away.

one thing has happened that is totally out of character for me: i seem to have lost my taste for coffee! who knew, right? MASSIVELY impossible, or so i thought...

aarrgghhhhh.

Happy Birthday to the Dancing Lady!!

During one of her Flamenco performances

I had to reuse a Dancing Lady pic because I don't have all my photos right now, but she's still dancing and still the most wonderful daughter-in-law around! So join us today in wishing her a wonderful birthday!

Also, since we haven't seen Maz in such a very long time, we'll let him start the singing!

Let the celebrations begin!! xoxo

HUZZAH!

Please join me in a big ole shout out to Mr Matrix!!!

He has kindly set me up with a used MacBook until I redeem myself after spilling a martini on my MacBook Pro can buy an iPad!!!

Three cheers!

Hip, Hip, Huzzah!!

Thank you, Mr. Matrix!

Still on the hunt

A lot has happened since I last posted, some good, some bad, some totally out of my hands! (That would be "45" and his pissant flock of jackasses in the White House.)

(How will we ever be able to apologize to the world for this monstrosity?)

But I digress.

On March 12th, The Doc celebrated his birthday (44, a very luck number) out in L.A. with the always lovely and charming Dancing Lady! I don't have access to a photo right now (sighing for my martini drenched MAC), but y'all know what he looks like, I think. Anyway, he's older and somehow I feel as if I'm getting younger every day!! (Perhaps it's dementia)

St. Patrick's Day was a 3 day celebration here in our little town. We didn't bother going downtown. These days, St. Patrick's is better celebrated from the comfort of my living room.

I'll check in again soon. I miss all y'all, but reading y'all's blogs on my iPhone is damned difficult!

xoxoxox

I found this poem

The weary one, orphan

of the masses, the self,

the crushed one, the one made of concrete,

the one without a country in crowded restaurants,

he who wanted to go far away, always farther away,

didn't know what to do there, whether he wanted

or didn't want to leave or remain on the island,

the hesitant one, the hybrid, entangled in himself,

had no place here: the straight-angled stone,

the infinite look of the granite prism,

the circular solitude all banished him:

he went somewhere else with his sorrows,

he returned to the agony of his native land,

to his indecisions, of winter and summer.

Pablo Neruda

Neruda is one of my favorite poets. Sadly, my Spanish is non-existent, so I've had to rely on translations and hope the translator has been kind and understanding of his words. I saved this poem a while back and today it just seems right to share.

********

As some of you may know from that other social media site I fried my MAC (yes, I spilled a Martini on it!) and have had to use the MITM's MAC when he hasn't needed it. According to our local Apple guys, I really only need an iPad based on how I used my MacBook Pro, so I am in saving my pennies mode. And will, accordingly, be a less than frequent blogger and commenter anywhere. I have to admit, I really don't use my iPhone correctly, so I'm learning just what a marvelous bit of technology it really is! 

**********

Today, like many of my fellow Americans, I am saddened by the actions of "45" (I respect the Office of the President, but not the current occupant, so I will refer to him by his number) and yet, I am not surprised that the man who showed us who he was during the campaign, has followed through with his most despicable campaign promises. He has chosen to use the tools of the con man, the grifter to diminish our country: distract, deceive, divide. I look at the actions being taken in the name of our country and I know that "45" has given voice and action to white supremacists. How many times will we, as a people, have to hear of crimes against Muslims, Jews, Hispanics, Asians, LGBTQ prefaced by "Trump is president now and you need to get out/leave/go back from where you came" before we say ENOUGH? How many women have to stand up, march, rise their fists and voices against the backward and demeaning misogyny of those men who profess to be our political representatives? (Yes, there are women who are supportive of Republican ideology, but their actions are for another post) Tonight it seems that on Monday, Democrats in Congress will demand action. They are a minority, but they have a voice and, it seems, some Republican support and a shared distaste for the anti-American, anti-democratic, anti-human rhetoric being spewed by the current inhabitants of the White House. We shall see.

I am angry, but as Captain Chaos said to me the other day, "...and still I rise...I rise...I rise." 

I began this with poetry and I shall end it with poetry.

o

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise. 

Maya Angelou

This week

I'm not the first, nor will I be the last to acknowledge the fact that this past Monday we, as a country, celebrated the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and that on Friday, January 20th, we will, as a country, witness the inauguration of his polar opposite as the 45th President of the United States of America.

It is beyond my comprehension that by our unfortunate luck 77 thousand people in a few counties, managed to give the man who will govern our country and be our representative to the world community, the highest office in our country. He did not win the popular vote. The Electoral College did not fulfill its mandate to protect the country from the election of a demagogue, but that's just the way I, along with a few million other Americans, see it. (The article from "The Atlantic" I linked to is a good explanation of the process.)

I don't know what may or may not happen on Friday, other than there will be a transfer of power via the inauguration, and quite a few demonstrations, not only on Friday, but for many days to come, in D.C. and across the country.

I think that I've been sort of floundering since November 8th. Too many people that I know here in my little town have decided that now that their candidate has won they MUST announce their support for him and his agenda. I say this not because they don't have the right to support the candidate of their choice, but because they waited UNTIL he won to make their support public. (I made no bones about my support for Clinton. Did I agree with everything she said? Not always and I was vocal about that, too. Was she my first choice, no, but once she received the nomination, I said "I stand with HER.") For me, the fact that people I know, people I have to interact with in "real time" face to face are comfortable with a man who stands in direct opposition to everything I care about, everything that I AM, are the very same people who want ME, and anyone else who thinks as I do, to "get over it" and "give him a chance" hurts me in ways I can't articulate.

(OK, I can, but that entails a shit ton of swearing! Sorry, Michele, but sometimes, it is FUCKING difficult to go high.)

On that other social media site I posted how I felt:

I am an American and as an American, it is my right and my duty to stand up, speak up, and say NO to anti-democratic, anti-Constitutional, anti-American lies and half-truths. I will NOT calm down. I will NOT be polite. I will NOT be quiet. If this is what you expect of me, WALK AWAY RIGHT NOW because we have nothing, except for possibly our nationality, in common!

As the MITM said when I told him, right before I hit post, "Sometimes we all need an Amen Corner!" Many of you reading this, said "Amen" (metaphorically speaking of course) there, so I know I am not alone and I am not defined by those who disagree with me.

But trust me on this one key thing, I will not roll over just to make life easy for them!

I wrote 2 different drafts and then found out that someone said it so much better

"We have to be the people we want to be – otherwise there is no point. And it's hard, being that person. No doubt. But the things in life most worthwhile usually are.
 If you lay claim to the moral high ground, then you have to hold the moral high ground.
 So, in 2017, let us resolve to be the people we want to be.
Let us stand together against the fall of night.
And let us always remember history is on our side if only we have the fortitude to see it through."

Jim Wright, a writer, essayist, retired military man, husband, father, son, and many other things that have caused me to subscribe to his blog, follow him on twitter and Facebook. (He also knows how to turn a very colorful phrase or two from his years as Navy man!) He is the author of the quote I've shared. 

It's really true about the 2 drafts that are sitting on my desktop. I remembered that only a few days ago, he had written the essay I wanted to write, so go check him out. I have some deleting to do.

Ok, so here, go over to Stonekettle Station read his resolutions for 2017. I don't think it even matters if you're not an American! His essay is about, as he said, being the people we want to be.

Happy New Year!

Flowers from Mr Matrix and super nana, phones calls from the Krewe, lots of FaceTime, cards from friends and family, homemade Amaro cheesecake, and Roll Tide Roll and the Clemson Tigers both won! Yeah, a good end of the year birthday!

Now, we have to focus on making 2017 the best we can or fucking die trying!

December 31, 1949

Yep, it's that time of year again!

No pics this morning, maybe later.

Keeping it simple this year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

December 25, 2016

to all y'all on this day,

whatever y'all are celebrating,

all the best from the plantation now and always!

we love all y'all.

10 years!

There seems to be a wave of nostalgia floating around Blogville these days and I am not immune to its call.

Today, November 28th, marks my 10th anniversary as a blogger!  It was only a line or 2 then, but it was the start. I'd been reading blogs, but didn't have one, so thanks to e@l and Indy (who seems to have quit Blogville) here we are!  Along the way the content of this place has evolved into something more than an embellished tale of life in a small southern city and become much closer to reality. 

Somewhere/somehow during the past 10 years wrong impressions caused distress that resulted in hurt feelings (mine), a flame attack on me and mine that almost caused me to walk away, but what kept me here was all of you! Every single name on my sidebar, those still blogging and those who've stopped, and sadly, those who've passed away, has shown me love and kindness that has stayed with me to this day. I hope to continue to share this corner of Blogville with y'all for many years to come!

(Yes, I know, many of us are spending more time on that other social media site, but this will always be home for me!)

So, here's to all of us, our stories, our adventures, but most of all our friendships!

I love all y'all! xoxoxo

Time for an old school blogger game!

It is called the “Game of Fours”, Mago tagged me. I'll leave it up to you to play along on YOUR blog! 

Remember, Four questions, four answers each.

1. What is your favorite food?
2. What are your favorite drinks?
3. Places you’ve been?
4. Names that you’re known by?

My answers

1. Favorite food
a. shrimp and anything/everything
b. soft shell crab
c. pasta with anything/everything
d. baked/steamed/mashed/garlic/stuffed potatoes (in any/every form)

2. Favorite drinks
a. Bourbon
b.Whisky
c. Champagne
d. Sweet tea

3. Place you've been
a. France
b. U.K.
c. K.S.A.
d. Netherlands

4. Names you're known by
a. Savannah
b. Honey
c. Ma Kettle
d. Mom

OK, there y'all go. Play along, or don't, that's up to you! But promise me a smile and a chuckle, and that's more than enough for me!

And because Mago included a great song by the Rolling Stones, I'm going to do the same!

Thursday, Novemember 24, 2016

It's Thanksgiving Day here in America.

Families and friends gather together to share in a traditional meal. Of course, those traditions can vary from family to family, friend to friend, but somewhere on most tables there will be a turkey as the centerpiece of the meal. But the food isn't really what it's all about. It's giving thanks for each other and the gifts we have been given.

At least, that's what it's supposed to be.

Today, our family will gather in a few different spots across this huge land, to share a meal, to bring comfort to each other, to laugh and to cry, but most of all, to be together.

This has been a tumultuous year (she said ever so understatedly) and many of us are still reeling at what has happened and what lies ahead. So, forgive me (or not, that's up to you) if I'm not shouting from the rooftops, Happy Thanksgiving, but as the poem said,

"Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out."

I'll see y'all on the other side.

last minute addition:

Here's to all who aren't at our table this year. We'll love you forever.

The day after...

I went to bed last night thinking that the tide would turn and HRC would receive the required Electoral votes to become our next president.

I went to bed last night with my phone charging on my nightstand so I could see the triumphant results as soon as I woke up.

I was wrong on both counts.

One of the first emails I read was a comment posted by our dear friend Mago:

"I said it first : All will be better under President Trump !
I just did not believe that America would follow suit. Most Americans seemingly can't do with sarcasm ..."

Today is not a finger pointing day for me (ok, maybe not in print, but mentally is another question).

Today is not a day for depression.

Today is a day for my own reconciliation  with the reality of life in America as we know it.

But I have to be honest with you because you are my people and we have spoken truth to each all these years,

I CANNOT FUCKING BELIEVE THIS IS FUCKING HAPPENING! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?

I believe in democracy. 

I respect the Office of the President.

I believe that we will survive the next four years.

I am NOT going anywhere.

In the immortal words of Cedric, the Entertainer...

"I wish a muthafucka would..."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUPER NANA!!!

This picture was taken this past week on one of those rare slightly cooler, but still sunny days, when super nana had an hour break from her supersecretifitellyouwellyouknowtherest gig!

TODAY, OCTOBER 23RD, is her birthday!!  

She almost forgot that it was this weekend. In that respect, she's just like the MITM because he never ever remembers his birthday either. (some funny stories there, but that's for another post)

What I can never remember is how old she is and I was there when she was born! The MITM thinks she's 31...

I hope y'all will join us in wishing super nana a very, very happy birthday no matter what the number is!!!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUPER NANA!!!

Matthew & Savannah

Realized that not everyone is on that other social media site and might wonder how I fared here on the plantation! I bugged out early Friday morning to higher ground. A neighbor who stayed rode around on her bike after the storm and shared pics of homes if you gave her your address. We were very fortunate to have no damage, just leaves, Spanish moss, and a small branches on the yard. Thanks for the concern and good wishes left on an earlier post. 

The MITM is in deepestdarkestafrica again, but will be back home soon and The Krewe is out on the west coast, so everyone was relieved when I sent this picture to them. I came home on Sunday and I've never been happier to be home.

Keep good thoughts for sister Hope up in the Carolinas. Their home got hit a lot harder than ours.

I love all y'all! xoxox

Post #Hermine (see what I did there?)

For those of you not on that other social media site my little town was in the path of Hurricane Hermine this past Friday. We were fortunate that all we experienced here were high winds and rain. There was considerable property damage in other parts of our town, but no fatalities as there were in Florida. We can only hope that the rest of the eastern seaboard is spared that loss as well.

The MITM is outside cleaning up the debris that feel during the storm which, luckily for us, was just leaves, small branches, and Spanish moss.  On our street all the guys are out doing the same thing. At some point, you half expect them all to gather in the middle of the street to 1. fire up  a grill and 2. start drinking beer!  

I'm just glad we took the 40' tall water oak that had been struck by lightning a few weeks ago (it was dead) because many of the trees that came down were the same variety! The good thing about the tree being taken down by professionals is that we'll be able to use some of the cut wood (logs? stumps? whatever they're called) to fashion stools and tables out of! Thank goodness for youtube because as many of you know, DIY ain't exactly my forté. (Hell, I just learned how to do that accent mark over the e!)  We shall see what happens. Right now, all of the wood is stacked (firewood) or standing and soaked from the rains. I've posted in our local social media site page that we have free firewood since we don't have a wood burning fireplace, but the 2 people that expressed interest didn't shown up.  The MITM is now thinking about looking into the possibility of converting our gas fireplace into a wood burning one. I'll leave that to him....

Our pal further up the coast, hope, was under/is under the same threat, so I'm hoping she's OK! We're still keeping an eye on the weather channel until Hermine spins out to sea!

************

The Kid has started her sophomore year of high school! Baby Boy Chaos and Baby Girl Matrix  both started pre-K this past week. BBC and BGM are now in "real school" and wear uniforms every day! There will be pictures! 

Stay safe and I'll be back soon with photos.

xoxox