One of My Favorite Quotes

Rest is not idleness,

and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day,

listening to the murmur of water,

or watching the clouds float across the sky,

is by no means a waste of time.

unknown

My days of summer vacation are waning.

Am I blue?
Yes, I'm blue.

Fish, Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid.

Summer envelopes us.  The heat is most unbearable.  The air conditioning is our haven.  But Saturday we ventured out and attended a Fishing Derby at our city lake.  It was sponsored by a local business and was a fishing derby for kids.

I'm not much of a fisherwoman, nor is J-Dub a fisherman.  But Ashlynn is calm when she has a fishing pole in her hand.  She shows much patience fishing.

We gathered up a couple of poles, a bucket, and a few creme sodas and joined about 200 other families to attempt to catch a few catfish or perch. 

Boy were we lucky!!!

We found a semi-shady spot with a very small window for casting.  So inevitably, we had a fishing line in the trees quite often.

Jason baited the hook with a big, fat, juicy worm that looked plumb delicious, even to me.  And inevitably, it got stolen at least a half dozen times.

We sat.

And sat.

And sat.

The temperatue rose.

And rose.

And rose.

And rose.

Patience grew thin.

And thinner.

And thinner......Oh, you get the idea.

Then, finally......

a tug......

a pull.....

Oh, it's a big 'un!!!

Reel it in!

What in the world???

Oh, just another fishing rod.  It's at least a 36 incher. 

Moss covered pole, what luck!!

What a catch!!

So we sat some more, and the heat rose some more.

Even the ducks searched out shade.

Then another tug, a pull,

Get to your feet!

Reel it in!!

Don't let it get away!!

Poor turtle.

And Poor J-Dub, he hates how turtles stink. 

How lucky!!

The clouds floated across the sky.

Fluffy puffs of cotton drifted on us from the cottonwood growing nearby.

We begged the wind to blow and it refused.

The catfish hid.

But anyway, the day was good.

Fisherfolk

By

Robert Service.

 I like to look at fishermen

And often times I wish
One would be lucky now and then
And catch a little fish.
I watch them statuesquely stand,
And at the water look;
But if they pull their float to land
It's just to bait a hook.

 I ponder the psychology
That roots them in their place;
And wonder at the calm I see
In ever angler's face.
There is such patience in their eyes,
Beside the river's brink;
And waiting for a bite or rise
I do not think they think.


Or else they are just gentle men,
Who love--they know not why,
Green grace of trees or water when
It wimples to the sky . . .
Sweet simple souls! As vain I watch
My heart to you is kind:
Most precious prize of all you catch,
--Just Peace of Mind.

Five Question Friday

This is a fun little thing from My Little Life's Blog at fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com
 I thought I'd participate today. 


1. What were your school colors?


My school colors were and are (since I'm still in my home town) green and gold.  Football season here in this Texas town is a sea of green and gold on Friday's.....lots of spirit.   But the elementary school colors where I work are blue and white.


2. What's the best compliment you ever received?

The best compliment came from my wonderful cousin Susan who told me she has realized how unimportant material possessions and acquiring stuff really is, and that she learned that from me.  That made me so happy.  Stuff is just stuff, and it's not ever going to matter after this life.  We shouldn't focus on it.  I hope at my funeral, someone says I didn't care about "stuff".





3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?

I like to think I buy the good stuff.  Kleenex Cottonelle is my preferred brand, Charmin my husband's.  Once, when a little short on cash, I bought a generic brand.  J-Dub went out and bought Charmin and said he wasn't about to use that John Wayne toilet paper.
Whatever that means.......




4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?
No, and no.  And would rather not.




5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?

This is a hard one.  I'd like to believe that I could live without most everything material.  I'm really attached to my computer in my day to day life. However, I'd hate to not have a Bible, (if I was left after the rapture or something) that would be tragic to me.  And then there's books.  I love books.  Maybe I'll just say my library card!  That way I could get on the computer there, read the Bible, and check out books.

The Life of a Roadie

So begins my life as a roadie.
Chapter 1.


J-Dub had his first drumming gig in the big town of Lefors, Texas yesterday evening.
So we borrowed a trailer, packed up the drum set, and headed down the road about 12 miles to a dot on the map.

We've hit the big time now, baby!!
I've always considered myself to be a small town girl, but soon discovered differently.
This little playing gig was to celebrate the town getting high speed internet, and pert near the whole town came out. 
This town is the kind with no stoplights and where dogs roam the streets at their own free will.  But like most small towns, it had some of the nicest, most accomodating folk around.

We met up at the Pirate's Cove, a little burger joint.

It was right next to the Court House.

They set up an awning for shade........

but the wind insisted on blowing and caused quite a commotion throughout..

There was a fiddle player, a bass player, a stand up bass player, a guitar player who remarked "Lemme git my gitar."  There was of course a handsome drummer, and then this instrument showed up as well.

A wash tub bass. I learn something new everyday.

The crowd gathered up.
Even a young girl with her bitch dog with teats nearly dragging the ground arrived.  The girl had a posse of kids carrying a passel of puppies for the mama dog, I guess in case they got hungry.

The music was delightful.  I attempted a few photos, but sat too far away from the band.  I didn't want security roughing me up, and I'd rather blend into the shadows anyway.  I did venture out to take some photos but I ended up sitting in a sticker patch and then standing in an ant bed, so I quickly made my way back to the safety of my chair by the pickup.

J-Dub played wonderfully.  The group had never rehearsed before and did a great job considering.  They played both dance hall music and gospel songs.  I tapped my toe and swatted flies and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I made a little video on my phone,  it's total crap and the best I can do.  See if you can hear the drums.



Remember the wind blows here.  It's not my fault!



I take full responsibility for not being able to tell how wonderful the drummer is due to my poor videography skills!




When it was over, we got free burgers out of the deal.
Then we packed up his gear and headed home to unpack it.
Weeee!

Befuddled Me

My sister and her 2 hoodlums have come to town for a visit. 
So we took our other hoodlum niece and went to see "Despicable Me" at the movies.  I think it just gave them more ideas to become the worst villians in the universe. 

Put these three girls together and they're vile.
On a good day.

We were walking to our car after the movie was over, and I was dragging up the rear of the group, moseying along, window shopping at Bealls.  When I got to the car, I climbed in the passenger seat, and pondered where the rest of the group had disappeared to, since I was the last of our party. 

I looked out the windshield and saw this man, woman, and boy huddled together staring back at me.

 I glanced around the vehicle and noticed unfamiliar cups in the cupholders, unfamiliar bags on the floorboards, unfamiliar everything. 

And in one gazillionith of a millisecond, I realized I was sitting in the wrong black Tahoe.

I saved the owners the humiliation of throwing me out of their car with my lightning quick ninja skills of bailing out and running away.

Three vehicles down, my sister and nieces sat in the "real" car, waiting. 
"Where have you been?" my sister asked after I climbed in panting.
"Sitting in the wrong car!" 

Boy, did we have a good laugh at my expense.

A grandmother's love

My niece Ashlynn went away for church camp for a week filled with fun, games, and God. 

After returning she told me some stories, one of which she said she won a cookie in chapel because she was dancing the most.  She said, "I am known for my moves."  So I asked her to show me some of them.  I must agree that she is known for her moves, kinda like Elaine on Seinfeld is known for hers.

Her camp counselor captured a picture of the group walking, and in Ashlynn's case dancing.

This camp trip was the first time she has ever left my mother (whom she lives with) for an extended period of time with anyone besides family.

I'm not real sure my mom, her Grand, missed her at all.  I couldn't tell by the facebook posts she wrote on her wall each day
 "I can't wait to see your precious face." 
 "I miss you sooooooooooooo much" 
 "I'm counting the hours until you come home"
 

Then the moment arrived.  Grand was the first one to arrive at the church to meet the bus.  The bus pulled into the parking lot with loud music blaring and children singing and shouting.

 

And Grand was on the move.

 
 

 Faunching at the bit to get her hands on her little girl

.

But there was singing and praying and last minute talking taking place on the bus.

Finally after seventeen or eighteen agonizing seconds, the doors swung open.

And out climbed our little camper. 

Eagerly waiting to run into the arms of her dear Grand whom she hadn't seen in a week.

But wait......

.....not yet

......what's this?

She needs to get in the church

She has to go pee.

In a bad way.

But then after the important matters have been taken care of, into her Grand's arms she falls.

Home at last.

Home at last.

Thank God Almighty she is home at last.

Birthday Cousins

Happy Birthday to my ten year old niece Hannah Elizabeth.  A girl possessing smarts, perception, athleticism, grace, charm, and the only red hair in the family.

And my one year old nephew Maxx Shane.  A baby with eyes like blue marbles and happy go lucky heart.  I'm looking forward to watching you grow up.

Love you both,

Auntie

It's Almost Like a Hallmark Card, Almost.

My firecracker of a mama turns sixty some-odd years old today!  Sixty-seven to be precise.

She's still as beautiful as when she was 16. 

I'd prove it to you if I could, but she covers her face whenever she sees a camera pointing in her direction. 

What can I say about my mom? 

She loves dessert.

She hates her picture being taken.

Her toenails are red, always.

Her lips are pink, always.

Her family is the most important thing in her life.

She has made sacrifices and done without so that we could have what we thought we needed at the time.

She will only use blue ink.

She taught me never to go to the grocery store without make-up on because I never know who I'm going to run into.

She talks alot.  I mean ALOT.

She loves to sleep.

She hates rice, it reminds her of maggots.

She uses her cruise control in town.

She's a wee bit gullible, just a wee bit.

She's loud.

She sits at Christmas with only 2 or 3 presents, but finds joy in watching her children and grandchildren open 200 or  300 each.

She's extremely generous, but doesn't let anyone push her around.

She loves pink.
She hates brown.
She speaks her mind.
She works in bail bonds.
She keeps her lipstick in her bra.  It's shocking the first time she pulls it out in church, but after 3 decades I've become immune.

So in honor of her birthday, I wrote her a little song. 
Because like Loretta Lynn, I'm a dadgum songwriter. 
This is my public songwriting debut, but I had to steal the melody, because unlike Loretta Lynn, I really don't have an ounce of talent. 

So everyone sing along to the tune of Jolene by Dolly Parton!

Annie, Annie, Annie, Annie

We celebrate you on your special day.

Annie, Annie, Annie, Annie

Like Burger King, today, you can have it your way.

With toenails red and lips of pink,

I wouldn't ever want you to think,

that I don't love you mom, because I do.

So I wrote this little song to show,

how great you are and I hope you know,

the love you've shown to me means everything.

Your beauty's seen by everyone,

with a heart of gold and a flapping tongue.

With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

(I stole that line directly from the song...it fit nicely.)

Your kids are placed as number one,

A pedestal you've kept us on,

even when your praise we don't deserve.

You did without so we can have,

the things we thought would make us glad,

But things don't really matter, we know that now.

You love all people, jailbirds too.

They'd be locked up if it weren't for you.

The benefit of the doubt you give to all.

Your happiness is passed around,

from here to there all through the town,

wherever you go, your love goes with you too.

You are unique, you're one of a kind.

You aren't afraid to speak your mind,

You're sunshine on a rainy day, Mama.

Enjoy your cake and ice cream too,

and know that the thoughts of you,

are thoughts of love and adoration too.

Annie, Annie, Annie, Annie

We celebrate you on your special day.

Annie, Annie, Annie, Annie

Like Burger King, today, you can have it your way.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!

One Step in My Journey of Servant-hood.

I've been reading The Purpose Driven Life.  It is designed to be read in 40 days.  I think I've been reading it for 5 1/2 years.  I stashed it on the shelf when I didn't want to read what it had to say.  Didn't want to listen to truths I knew I needed to hear.  Then I grew some:  spiritually, emotionally, and don't forget quite a bit physically, (which has nothing to do with this, just had to point that out) and decided to pick it up again.  Maybe I didn't decide, maybe Someone else decided for me, but nevertheless, I pulled it off the shelf.  I had a bookmark in it, so I just started where I stopped.

This morning I read Day 34, and boy howdy did it ever speak to this un-servant of the Lord.  The section I'm reading now is about how we have been given unique qualities and that we are to use who we are and what we are made of to serve others.  Our lives shouldn't be stingy and selfish and only concerned with #1, rather should be used for fellow human "beans" out there. 

Day 34 is entitled Thinking Like A Servant.  My pencil underlined lots of thoughts in this chapter, practically the entire pages. 

Some thoughts that screamed at me from the pages of this book:

• True humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.

• Servants don't compare, criticize, or compete with other servants or ministries.  They're too busy doing the work God has given them.

What's my work God?  Or like Forrest Gump said, "What's my destiny Mama?"  Sometimes I feel like a mouse in a maze looking for the cheese, not knowing which way to turn. 

• Real servants don't complain of unfairness, don't have pity-parties, and don't resent those not serving.  They just trust God and keep serving.

It is difficult for me to look around and see people whom I perceive aren't working as hard as I perceive myself to be.  Wowzers!  I need to just trust God and do what I need to do.

• It's not our job to evaluate the Master's other servants.

(Hanging head in shame)

• Servants willingly accept jobs that insecure people would consider beneath them.

• Only secure people can serve.  Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others.  They fear exposure of their weaknesses and hide beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions.

I worry too much about what others think.  When the only one's approval I need is Jesus.

• Servants enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry.  They "serve the Lord with gladness"  Why do they serve with gladness?  Because they love the Lord, they're grateful for his grace, they know serving is the hightest use of life, and they know God has promised a reward.

I admit I'm not a servant, and I'm conscious that I should be one.  I use excuses for my lack of service.   I think I'm too much of an introvert, not really a people person, don't have the talents, or need "me" time.  When I truly look inside myself, I realize that it really all boils down to stinginess and selfishness with my time.  I want to do what I want to do, not what others need me to do.   Let me tell you, it's not easy for me to admit these things.  But in order to get better, I must deal with it.  I'm going to work on this.  I pray that God will show me needs that I can help meet with others and will remove my selfish ways. 

Be blessed,
Angel

Of Dying

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length

she hangs like a cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.


Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!"



Gone where?



Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and spar

as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load

of living freight to her destined port.



Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,

"There, she is gone!" there are eyes watching her coming ,

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout,

"Here she comes!"-




**stolen from a post on Facebook.  Unsure of the author.

If you see my creative genius wandering aimlessly, point him in my direction PLEASE!!

I don't think it's a big secret that I want to be a famous writer and have my books made into movies and make oodles and gobs of money and never leave my house and be a mysterious author who won't do interviews. 

Then again, I don't think I've ever told anyone that. 
Oh well, the cat's out of the bag now.
Good authors never use cliches.  I know that, yet I just used one.  Which proves, I have a very, very, very long journey ahead of me.

I heard an excellent quote the other day.  It went like this:  "Fail often, in order to succeed sooner." 

I love it.  I fits my life of writing.
And it fits my life.

Last year, I began writing a book.  And I'm not going to tell you about it because I read once that if you tell people about your book, then it's "out there" floating in the world and the more you tell what it's about, the more you are putting it "out there", and eventually it is no longer inside you crying to get out and then you lose the desire to write it because it has completely seeped out of you and no longer exists as a story that needs to be told.

But I will tell you that it is filled with passion, murder, mayhem, love, romance, mystery, healing, horses, and perhaps a bit of comedy. 

All of that.
Sort of.

I read books quite a bit, however slowly, to see other's style of writing.  There is a particular author whom all women on the face of the earth seem to swoon over except me.  Nicholas Sparks.  I watched the Notebook and thought it was a great movie.  So I tried to read the book and I found it sappy and dull and never finished it.  I've noticed Dear John is a movie now, so I checked out the book from the library and began reading it.  I perservered through the first 20 pages. 

And then I discovered Nicholas Sparks has stolen my idea!!!! 

Not completely, but partially.

So now, I must continue to read Dear John to see how much of my idea he's stolen.  So far there has been no murder, mystery, mayhem or comedy.  Just a lot of love, romance, horses and passion.

But the point is, even though I have no idea how much Dear John overlaps my idea, and even though I haven't written but 17 pages of my own book, it discourages me to know that a book that just might have a similar idea of mine is already a best seller and a movie and that some other famous author is making oodles and gobs of money and it could've been me instead!!!! 

So what did I learn from this? 

 GET OFF OF FACEBOOK AND GO WRITE A FRIGGIN BOOK BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE WITH BETTER TIME MANAGEMENT WRITES IT FOR YOU!!!

Time is wasting. 
Gotta go!

I'd prefer to keep my eyeballs

Summer is in full swing here.  I am trying to keep to a normal life schedule and make it to bed before 11:00 p.m., and wake up before 8 a.m.  The longer into summer I get, the farther from this schedule I drift however. 

Summer means lazy days.  I pretty much do nothing and I only get half finished.  So I have to work on it again the next day.  Don't judge me.

I spend a lot of time outside in the backyard just sitting and listening.

Last summer, a weak baby cardinal who needed more time in the nest, hopped around my backyard for a week while it's momma and daddy squawked their encouragement to take to the skies.

This summer, a baby blue jay hung around for about a day.

It's wings weren't quite strong enough to fly.  It could flutter up a little ways, but needed a bit more practice.

I tried to get pictures of this little birdie, but SOMEONE had her beady little eyes on me every second.

I'm not mentioning any names, but just look up there.  There.  In that tree.  See her?  Yeah, that's the someone I'm talking about,  the one who hoped to put her beak in my eyeball.

Everytime I stepped out on my porch to try to get a picture.........

......I was nearly assaulted by this overprotective flying creature.  Pardon the blurry picture, but it's hard to take a picture when you're screaming and running scared.

I think there was a male bird present as well.

They hung around and ensured me they weren't happy, not one iota, with me nosing around their baby.

The swooped and sailed and flew and dove at me.  Squawking and squawking some more.

I flapped and swatted and cried for my mom.  Then ran in the house and watched from behind the window glass.

Finally, the little feathered fellow triumphed and took flight into distant skies.

The End.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend...........

..........inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx


I love books.
I have recently finished Eat, Pray, Love which totally changed my life. 
I had to buy a copy so I could re-read it and then read it again, mark in it, and dog ear it.

I'm currently reading The Time Traveler's Wife, and it's taking me a long time.  We just seem to be stuck in time. 

The Pioneer Woman posted a poll about favorite books.  Here is the list and the number of people who said that book was their favorite.  I've read quite a few of these.  My goal is to read the ones I haven't.  If I can stand it.  I'm not really sure I can stomach any more Harry Potters or Twilights.  And there is a couple that I have extreme little interest in reading.  This feat may take the rest of my life considering I am an extremely slow reader and I fall asleep after 6 minutes.  

 I've highlighted the ones I've read in green.

Title [Count}


To Kill a Mockingbird [2222]

The Bible [2017]

Pride and Prejudice [1508]

Gone with the Wind [1268]

Harry Potter (series) [1110]  I've only read the first four.

Anne of Green Gables [1009]

Little Women [916]

Redeeming Love [633]

Jane Eyre [598]

Twilight (series) [560] I've only read the first one.

Outlander (series) [477]

Little House on the Prairie (series) [454]

The Lord of the Rings (series) [376]

The Catcher in the Rye [363]

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn [349]

The Great Gatsby [334]

Where the Red Fern Grows [343]

Secret Garden [318]

The Stand [285]

Giving Tree [277]

East of Eden [275]

Poisonwood Bible [266]

The Notebook [258]

Charlotte’s Web [243]

Red Tent [218]

Time Traveler’s Wife [215]

Pillars of the Earth [203]

Wrinkle in Time [202]

A Prayer For Owen Meany [211]

Atlas Shrugged [193]

Count of Monte Cristo [190]

The Grapes of Wrath [183]

The Little Prince [173]

My Childhood [164]

Wuthering Heights [160]

The Hobbit [149]

Lonesome Dove [141]  I started this, I don't remember finishing, but I know the movie by heart so that should count for something.

Love You Forever [135]

Kite Runner [131]

Outsiders [129]

Rebecca [128]

Ender’s Game [128]

The Outsider [128]

Les Miserables [128]

Secret Life [127]

Goodnight Moon [122]

My Sister’s Keeper [119]

Secret Life of Bees [119]

Eat, Pray, Love [118]

Persuasion [117]

Any thoughts?
Which of these is your favorite, if any? 
Which one should I tackle first?


Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. ~Mark Twain


Happy Reading,
Angel

Look for God in the little things. You'll find Him.

I delivered Meals on Wheels today.  It's one of my absolute favorite things to do.  It really is.  No joshing.  It's not required community service or anything, it's completely voluntary.   Today they had meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, and green beans with some pineapple chunks for dessert.  It made a well rounded meal. 

I met an 88 year old man who sure did like my yellow car, especially the rack on top because it could haul lots of stuff, he said.  He tried to kiss me right on the lips, but I ducked my head in time and so we just put our foreheads together for a nice, awkward moment.  Now tell me, who wouldn't love this?

A few years back, it could've been five but it might've just been four, my niece Ashlynn and I delivered during the summer.  I thought it was important that she see and understand how fortunate we are and that we should help others.  We both loved it.   We had a regular route and went once a week.  Ash was about 6 or 7 years old and some of the elderly people really enjoyed her.  So of course, she enjoyed them.  They would offer her candy and cookies.  There was a little lady who'd let her pet her cat and one small tidy man would give her a dollar bill everytime.   His house quickly became her favorite. 

Each summer I have had the best of intentions to deliver Meals on Wheels, but since my life motto is "Seize Tomorrow", I never did.  Until this summer.

Yesterday morning I was out walking.  I try to spend that 30 minutes in prayer.  It's a good, quiet time and I tend to focus more.  Just a couple houses from home, I thought of calling Meals on Wheels to sign up again.  But by the time I made it in the house, I had other thoughts bombarding me, the phone was ringing, and the devil distracted me. 

Later that day I was reading some of The Purpose Driven Life.  I was reading how we should be servants and serve others through our SHAPE.
S---spiritual gifts
H---heart
A---abilities
P---personality
E---experiences

During this reading, Meals on Wheels popped into my head again.  I don't have a lot of abilities, but I can drive, that's one.  I know this town like the back of my hand, that's another.  I have free time.  Plus, I enjoy it.  Later, I'll call them later, I told myself.   But that little nudging wouldn't let up.  So I went to the phone.  I told her my name and was wondering if they needed any delivery help this summer.  The lady on the other end said, "That's strange.  I pulled your card out just this morning." 

It's not really strange though is it?  Isn't it really God?  I mean, both times I was attempting to spend time with Him when I had the Meals on Wheels thoughts.  They weren't really my thoughts, but more His side of the conversation.

  Sometimes He speaks with a small, still voice.  And sometimes, I have to be still and tarry with Him a bit in order to listen.  He's always with me that I know for sure.   Sometimes I can see Him in the midst of my life, right there in the middle of everything,  but sometimes I only see His back as He is leaving a situation.  That's when I stand amazed and say, That was God.  But when I seek Him, He's there,  just waiting on me, as if I'm the most important person in the world.   I love Him so much. 

He makes my heart sing.

He makes everything
groovy.

Santa and the Carnival only Come Once a Year (Thank Goodness)

The annual carnival has arrived in my ordinarily sleepy town.  With it comes the sights, lights, smells, and funnel cake.  It's appealing from a distance.  The Ferris wheel turning, the high pitched shrieks, the smell of fried corndogs.  It beckons you, calls your name, casting a magical cotton candy trance over your entire body.  One giant step across the thick, black cables lying across the parking lot, and there is no turning back.  But be warned:  underneath the canopy of flashing colorful lights walking amongst us you'll find a smorgasborg of tattoos, facial piercings, colored hair, women in skimpy clothes shaking what they shouldn't, and fat men in their pajama bottoms.  The carnival is able to bring out a vast number of oddities from the human race.  Really the kind you only find on http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

It is quite a paradox to me why Hollywood never tells the truth.  Steel Magnolias has a wonderful Christmas carnival scene with a cast of clean people, Southern belles, fresh baked goodies, and carnies with teeth.

Not so much here.

Jason and I sat on a bench, ate carnival fare, were harrassed by the carnies pestering us to throw darts at their balloons for $5 a dart, and people-watched as Ashlynn ran amuck with other preteen girls giggling and gossipping.  Not unlike a lot of adult girls.

Occasionally we took a notion to walk around where we witnessed a grown man holding on to a large gray trashcan barfing.  A little boy tossed his cookies on my nephew's back as they were getting off  of The Storm.  His momma had to run across the street to the nearest Hastings and buy him a new shirt.

Fun times, folks, fun times.

On our 349th trip around the midway (can I call it that?) we walked upon 4 or 5 cops talking to a couple who were hanging on to each other for stability.  Then the man points to my husband, "Jason!  I know this guy.  Jason!"  The air reeked of alcohol, the couple stumbled around trying to stay upright.  The officer was talking into his little radio on his shoulder.  "Jason, will you give me a ride?  You'll give me a ride won't you?"  Of course my husband nods.  He knows this fella.  He knows what its like to be down on your luck, needing a helping hand.  "Talk to this officer, Jason."   We stood there with the cops and the drunks as the main cop talked into his shoulder.  Then the police said to take them home, and to make sure they don't get out again. I stayed at the carnival with Ashlynn and hoped that drunk lady didn't puke in my car while Jason delivered them safely home where they more than likely fell on the bed and watched the room spin.  Kind of like a super hero isn't he?  Keeping the streets safe, two drunks at a time.

 I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was naked and you clothed me,  I was drunk and you gave me a ride.

Uh, scratch that last part.

The carnival is appealing from a distance.  And if you do venture in, once you get home you might consider bathing in battery acid.