A valentine for my brother's ex girl friend.

I knew this person. 


No, not Mcphee.

My brother's ex girl friend.  I just found out tonight that she'd died.

Had things gone differently, she'd have been my sister in law.  The way she left this planet was much different than when I first met her. I remember seeing her mother and step father at a cafeteria in Montgomery, Alabama.  I was with my mother, dad, and son. We'd met for lunch and was on our way out when we heard someone call our name. It was her mom.

My brother and her daughter had broken it off. She married someone There was that cordial chill in which you observe the politeness called for but everyone knows that things aren't good.  My brother was still in college. One of the smaller diamonds on my mom's left hand had been her original engagement diamond.  It was years  before my mom got the others. A lot hours on the job. My mom just didn't understand why someone would ask her son, who had no job, for such a large stone.  To be fair it was probably my brother's fault. My folks were footing the bill for his college, his car, his apartment, basically his existence. He had a lot more college left. If he got any ring at all it would have to have come from my mother. He was so oblivious to all this that he didn't tell his girlfriend that the only thing he could give would be a cigar paper ring. He  assumed that they'd pay for the ring too. He let her think that my parents would foot the bill like they did for every other thing in his life.  My mom would accept a lot of thing but not  when it came to money and her "baby".  So she started quietly breaking them up. Started saying that my brother's girlfriend only wanted him for money he didn't have. By the time my brother asked her to spend the weekend with us in Louisiana?  I think that it was done. She wasn't my brother's girlfriend any more.

We stood there in the restaurant while her mother told us about her daughter.  She had cancer and they had to cut off her leg. Her husband was so good to her.. He took care of her during the stuff you face with cancer. All the time, I could see her jaw working. I didn't know the rest until tonight.


I'm glad that she ended the relationship with my brother.  I was happy when I first heard it but really happy when I read how her life ended.  All the things that she did?  She wouldn't have done them had she married my brother. He wouldn't have taken as good of care of her. He's such a type A person he'd have made the time they would have been married  a real pain. She'd have been miserable and sick.  She had family who would love and support her. With my brother and mother? No.

I feel bad for my brother.  I don't know how he feels about this or if he even knows she's died. I do know that his wife looks just like the old girl friend.  When  I asked him about it he had a fit. I haven't had a decent conversation with him since then. Deep down inside, I hit a nerve.


RIP madam, I can't imagine it was easy raising a family while your were dying but you did.
Good for you. It's my brother's loss.  I'm so glad that you didn't have to deal with him, my mom, and cancer too.

.

To be or not to be...

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Dear World,

 

 

 

Many, many, many, many years ago,  I met someone who took my breath away. This was long ago before the Internet let folks date people who they'd never been in the same room with.  This was the age of pen pals. It was all very kismet.  I was away from home for the first time (school). We met almost by divine accident.  We wrote about our homes and our lives.

 

 

 

We were friends.

 

 

We were so far away from each other that it just seemed impossible that there would be anything but friendship between us.

 

 

 

After all this time I wonder what happened to him.

 

 

Did he marry?

 

 

Did he have kids?

 

 

Is he happy?

 

 

 

So much could have happened to him.

 

 

So much has happened to me.

 

 

 

I'm sitting here with less than a month before VD and I'm wondering this.

 

 

I have an idea of how to contact him but I'm wondering if this is a good idea.

 

 

I need an unbiased opinion.

 

 

So I'm asking for help.

 

 

I know that you don't know me but maybe that's better.

 

 

 

Should I try to find him? 

 

 

Or?

 

 

Should I go outside and hug the dogs and buy that pair of shoes I've been looking at?

 

 

 

I've been listening to Hunter Hayes.

 

 

Lol

 

 

#IWantCrazy

 

 

but not nuts.

 

 

.

 

 



Now this is a VD to aspire to.

....

 

 

 

 

Life is complicated.


Blog  stupid...











.


.


.

. 



It's already been a looooonnnnggg week.

.

 

 

.





Thought long and hard about it.


I'm not getting sucked into other people's crazy.


No drahhhma here.

I'm out of here and into the sunshine.


Or a nap.


Hope that you have a great day.




.



.






.












.

 



note from author

Folks, I'm really and truly tired.  It's cold this morning so the pups and chickens are sleeping in. I'm going to get some sleep as well. Part of it is lack of sleep for the last week. With the unusual weather, Pup and I have been wrangling animals so that they won't turn into Pup-sicles.  Last night I listened for sounds of trees falling and pups uncomfortable.  As I lay there, I also ran through what happened yesterday.  I was so tired and so sad about it all. 


It's going to be sunny and warm this afternoon. Think I'll get a nap now and then go out to play with the dogs later. Not lazy. I just need to sleep and so do the pups.


I could use a hug. This is really a disappointing development. 

AuthorAnn


In other good news, this isn't a pain day. Just lack of sleep over an extended time period.

Boy am I looking forward to the spring..

.





.
.. 

Lucy in the world without the diamonds...

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been thinking about yesterday....






 

This is a GENERAL post and not in anyway directed at the nice person who publishes books. Just reminding myself that if someone shoots me a bird? That's their problem not mine.

All together.


"...I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
    Get along with the voices inside of my head
    You're trying to save me, stop holding your breath
    And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy

    Well that's not fair..."

No more being the Emotional Dipsty Dumpster for other people.
No more angry at situations that other folks have no problem with regardless if it hurts me.

I'm good.

Was thinking on the ride home that it's good not to give another human being the power to feel that they know best about your life and not you. Especially NOT good to give that power to people who are almost complete strangers. If someone shoots me a bird because they're having a bad day?

That's their problem.

I'm good with where I'm going.


Thanks for the advice. If it works? I'll take it but if not please don't be hurt.  It's just advice not a ball and chain.

Hope the weather person is wrong and that it's warmer than the prediction.


Busy.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know, today was a pretty good day.

So was yesterday.






.





.

 

 

 

 

 

What a great song for the animals at the animal shelter.

 

 

 

If you are thinking of finding a furry, hoofed, winged, or reptilian friend?

 

 

There are some really lovely animals at the shelter who'd love a home.



.

True story.


There was a dog sitting on the side of the road.

A very nice person saw this pup.

When she went that way again the pup was still there.


So, nice person that she is, she decided to give the pup some dog treats.

She did this.

And then the next day did it again.

Every day she did this.

I'm pretty sure that this is the only thing that pup had to eat.

Now the pup has a home.

A place to be.

Hopefully they'll never have to think,

"Everybody has someone but me."


No complaining about Valentine's Day.


But I do have to go.

The pups are barking.

They need a hug.


So do I.



.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

.

 

"...


No news?  Is still good news.


Means that there's still a chance.


There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to make a choice.  They must wash the laundry

 

 

or?

 

 

 

Walk around naked.

 

 

 

It's time for me to wash clothes, dishes, and walk the dogs.

 

 

It did rain today but I got many things done.

 

 

Same needs to be for tomorrow, the next day and all the days until I get my important things done.

 

 

Until then?

 

I hope that all the Gentle Readers have sunshine filled days or at the very least sunshine in your heart.

 

 

I'm terrible at waiting.

 

 

So it's a good idea to keep busy.

 

No matter if I get the writing gig or not, I'll have a clean closet and happy dogs.

 

 

There will be something to show for my week.

 

 

Happy days!

 

 

..."



.

After a week of rain, rain, cold, frightfully cold, busted pipes cold, warmer with rain?

Today was indeed beautiful.

Tomorrow more rain.

But then I had to clean the kitchen and wash clothes so it's all good.



It is a beautiful day.

A gift.


Now to the business of being blog....


 Blog  stupid...


.

Dear Internet blog lurkers who I don't know and who don't post.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romper stomper bomper boo

Tell me who the heck RU?

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

"OOOOHHHH look!!! Russia's back.  Hi and hello global neighbor!  Just like all the other times that you lurked....

 

 

Who are you?

 

Sign.

 

 

I will not make fun of another countries President.

 

I will not make fun of another countries President.

I will not make fun of another countries President.

I will not make fun of another countries President.

 

(Actually I wasn't making fun and it is my understanding that the Putin was happy to have them published on the Internet. Just saying. But ...)

 

 

I will not make fun of another countries President.

I will not make fun of another countries President.

I will not make fun of another countries President.

 

 

 

I kind of wish you were the KBG of something monitoring my blog.

 

Just think of all the view numbers I could get for just Blogging stupid... .

 

 

:)...

 

ya dah ya dah yadah..

 

 

 

Dogs are barking.

 

Gotta go putin' a pair of pants and oil up the chest hairs.

 

Might be the KBG (snerk) .

 

:P

 

 

/

 

 

 



The VD epidemic....

It's started already.

VD  The campaign to get someone to send another someone presents because they're special.

In years past, I've dug a virtual hole and stayed there until February 15th.

The Valentine's Day Hidey Hole.

Not this year.

Do I have a new  beau who's gonna' buy me stuff?

Nope.


I'm just going to embrace the notion of celebrating the fact that the florist industry needs the cash and radio station djs need reasons to act stupid.

To begin?

OMW. Writers? Sharpen your pencils AND win a prize...

A blast from the past.

"...On the cold nights by the fire, her grandfather would sleep in his chair. Most nights he'd snore but then on  those other rare nights he'd wake like waking from the dead and say to no one in particular, "Hoist the sails."

Those were the nights of stories. Her mother swore that he made them up until one morning they found the chest. Who could have believed what was there. Gold coins, letters with drawing done by her mother,  and a map with promises of more.

And a key.

..."

Stories From the Gold Coast/Nights in Havana

compilation of short stories with promises of adventure by C Anne Ford



,

Hugs.

Writer Anne

.

.

To the hackers who've messed with or tried to mess with this blog...

Really?

Lol. I've spent the last 3 out of four nights in cold as heck weather out in the car with the new dog.  He can't come inside and I can't leave him outside in this weather.  So we sit out in the car turning the heater on when it's too cold and then off when it warms up. I just came inside to use the bathroom and get something to drink. This is the last thing I'm doing before I go back outside. He's such a good dog and he's had such a hard time. Before we could get him to trust us, there were some cold nights. One morning he had ice on his back. I don't know what happened to him before he came here but it doesn't matter. What's important to me is how we treat him.

So outside I go.

The other dogs are inside. The chickens are in their enclosure with the heat light.

I'm telling you this so that you know that the stupidity that you might try is your stupid. I'm too busy to get upset. You see I've got to keep the animals and people warm. They're the ones who show up in my life not you or the so called folks who are soooooo interested in my life but haven't a clue of who I am or even my name.

I'm sorry that I missed working at the lake on Saturday and the church on Monday and later today. I'll be able to start back on Wednesday. I know that they'll understand why I wasn't there.



For all of us in the US who are dealing with the cold?  This to will pass.

We're going to be okay.


This aint nothin'






Going back outside to hug the pup.


PS Hey. Craig Ferguson is coming to Atlanta, Georgia in February.

Thanks.

.

No I don't protest too much. I honestly don't like this person. I don't want to be on his radar.

He is and in my opinion always will be a jerk.

I don't think or wonder about his life at all.





PS.


 Was really looking forward to working out at the lake. Finally things are moving along and there will be a boat ramp to use this spring.  Then?  I got the email that SB will be coming to work too.

I'm not looking forward to this.

I plan to work hard and fast and avoid him like I would avoid a plague.

He's a jerk.  I rarely honestly dislike people but this person I can never hear of and be happy.

So Santa or Mr. Blueberry?  If you have something for him to do every Saturday for the next two months? Something to do in another state? I would honestly be happy.


 I promise to work hard and have fun. This isn't a live lesson about working around people who you don't like. He's better off doing anything other than being at that lake.


.

.



Happy New Year.

Thank the Lord above, there was a sale at the shoe store and I bought not one but two pairs of rubber boots. After weeks of wet cold feet? My toes are tapping.  Also, I now own an orange sweat shirt that will let folks know that I'm a dear not a deer, a pair of red shoes to wear around the house, a scarf to keep me warm, and socks.  I am very happy about all this.

You will never believe what happened last night.

I missed the midnight.

Yesterday  (after writing on the blog) , I spent the afternoon moving dog kennels, cleaning dog kennels, moving chick yard, moving chickens, exercising dogs, working with Stray Dog (who now has a real name and not the Stray Dog name), and then getting the dinner...  by 9pm?  I was just too tired and decided to take a nap. A nap that went through midnight and until 7:30am this morning.

Pup stayed up to watch the NYC celebration and then went to sleep.

For the first time in years, there was no ringing of the chime at midnight, there wasn't any recitation of the Preamble nor the First Amendment, no Auld Lang Sine,  or lighting of a candle.

If anyone came to my gate? Only the porch light was on.

I was asleep.

This was good because today was spent running errands and exercising Stray Dog. We did eat traditionally (black eyed peas, collards, rice, etc.) but there was also pizza. Then was the washing of the clothes.  It's warmed up from the freezing rain but it's still gloomy. The weather report is that it will clear tomorrow but will start raining. I just got the email that Saturday is a work party.

That doesn't include the extra time that will be spent working with stray dog. Domi is furious. She keeps her eyes glued to the window when I'm working with the new guest.  I'm giving her extra attention but I'm not sure if it's helping. J has taken to his dog bed in despair. Sometimes- I think that I live with drahhmah queens instead of pups.

I needed the rest.

Not the day that I'd planned but not too bad either.

Oh and guess what?

I found the list, The list that I wrote many many years ago!!!  I had a few things that I'd forgot and a few more to cross of the list.

LOL.

Again, Happy New Year.

Author Anne

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.

Happy New Year.

Hope that all the readers here have a safe evening and that they get to spend it with the people who they love.

There's a tradition in Scotland. Something about the first visitor you have in the New Year.

Tonight, very much like Christmas at midnight, I'll stand on my stoop and read the Preamble and the First Amendment.  I'll say a thank you that I'm American. I'll give thanks that I have the freedom to choose to believe or not to believe without the government's intervention.

Then I'll sing


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne* ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Then like the idiot I am, I'll look at the gate and hope for company.

Go inside when none shows up and go to bed.

I'll remember to be thankful that I have a healthy Pup, a place for him, myself, and the pups. I'll be thankful that this year I have access to the water. As nice as this place is, I am still very much a water baby.

 I'll be thankful for the good that's come this year and bring it with me into the new.

Be safe.


Happy New Year.

What I hope for Pup?. I hope that he finds someone who'll love him "...forever and ever... Amen"

I wouldn't mind having this myself.



.

My dad told me the story about a man and his son. 

The son was working at a boat yard. Everyday at lunch, the dad would bring them both something to eat. They'd go down to the dock, eat lunch, and talk.  He did this everyday his son was at work. Then Dad told me how the son came to work at that boat yard. The son had gotten in trouble at his previous job. It had to do with money. The Dad got him a job at the boat yard.  The boat yard was a family business. The owners were friends and had a big family. They just took the son and his father in as one more of their own.

And everyday the Dad went to see his son.  He couldn't always change the past, but he could keep him company in the present.

I always think on that whenever I see Pup. I think of God and of family and how lucky a person is to have a Father's love.

I think of this song too.




I don't understand my Mom so much. I try to but I don't. I think that she loves me. I think that she has a reason for why she does what she does.

I tell myself that I'm lucky to have a family at all and then I count my blessings.

I remind myself that "I'm strong."

And I tell myself how lucky I am to have Pup, a roof over my head, something good to do with my time, and that I have a church family to take me in.

My Mom, my Dad, Pup, WB, I'm -- we're still alive.

There's still time.

.



.

I love my Dad a lot. Thanks to him, I have this feeling that there are mountains to climb. I can climb them. For most of my life, my Mom told me that the reason why he never hugged my neck was his mother's fault. She was distant. They just weren't hugging people. I had to accept that and be glad for the relationship that I did have. The same story she told my son. So we believe it. That was until my brother married and he had kids. There Pup and I were watching my Dad hug my brother's neck, my sister in law's neck, and my brother's kid's neck. But Pup and I? There was that perfunctory hug and that was it. Stoic.

When dad finally emerged from being sick, I went to see him. He was still pretty out of it. It was before the therapy so his speech was slurred.  Out of the blue he hugged my neck and said, "I love you."  I was beside myself.  Later I would tell someone about that hug. Then I'd tell them that my brother needed my dad. That when he hugged my neck, I finally would be enough because I knew. I was tough and I was okay. The person I told this to looked down at the floor. She didn't say anything she just looked at me. "It's okay." I'm telling her. I'm strong like my father raise me to be.

"I'm strong."

Those are words that I've told myself over and over. When Mom lied. When my son died. When I was pretty sure that WB really didn't want me around? When we didn't have a church?  I told myself I was strong.

But everytime I said it, I little voice said, "That's not fair."

When WB used to stand me up and I forgave because after all that's the kind of relationships I would get?  I wonder. What if my my Mother had told me that my Dad didn't hug me because of his Mom but that didn't mean he couldn't hug me.  She did that for my brother, his wife, and his kids. But Pup and I? For some reason other folks would have to be our Dad and grandfather.

My son? He hugs people's neck and cares about them. When he has a daughter, he'll worry over her and she'll have a clue of what a healthy relationship looks like.

I made sure he knew how.

Hugs,

Author Anne.

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.

.

I predict

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Ah New Year's Eve.

If you've read this blog for any amount of time (or if you just happened to luck out and find it), you know how much I dis like Valentine's Day. This should have been viewed with a bit of quizzical curiosity.  One of the jobs that I liked the most was when I used to deliver singing telegrams dressed as Cupid. If you worked at it you might could find a photo of me dressed up in my work clothes. One of the columnists who worked for the local paper wrote about me and my business. The photo the paper took was excellent. There I was with bow and arrow with white satin wings and red tights.

The article talked about the life changes that led to my "life path".  


So what does that have to do with New Year's Eve?


New Years can be more than a gigantic party or a sit at home pity party. It is for a lot of people a time of reflection.  For many it's when you look back at your life and possibly say, "What the fcuk?"  and then promise yourself you'll change. For others, it's a time look back at the good and the bad of the previous year and decide what to bring to the new year and what to leave behind. And let's face it. The night can be an excuse to get down and get drunk. A great big excuse to act badly and then forget it. Kind of like Vegas.

A long time ago, I found myself at my parent's house sitting in bed with a bottle of wine and the radio. It wasn't my best day and I was feeling VERY sorry for myself. Then with great luck, diving inspiration and "Karma" said, "Why are you looking back and feeling sorry for yourself. You're too young. Write a list of all the thing that you've always wanted to do and then do it."

So I did.

I still have the list.

I'd have to go find it but if my memory is correct, the only three things that I haven't done on that list are:  see the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, learn to speak French, and celebrate NewYears in Times Square. Most of the things I did along time ago when I had the freedom to do so.  Some of the things that I've done have taken a long time (I'm looking at you sailboat). When Pup was growing up, there were things on that list that wasn't possible. I had responsibilities. New Years Eve and Thanksgiving only happen once a year. I did get the French books though.

I'd like to write here that I'll finally finish that list this year. It would be nice to write that this is the year that I'll learn French and book the hotel room for New Years and that Macy's parade. I'd like to  write that. Unfortunately the last 24 hours makes that look dicey.

If I had to predict what will happen in 2014, it would be something a bit less celebratory.

Last night, after telling myself and my parents all kinds of pretty stories about my relationship with WB, he told one of his own. I thought that it might have been the stress of work or the beer. Sometimes when it's been too much, we all say things that we wish we could put back in our mouths.  This morning it was still there and it wasn't the beer talking. He said the same thing only this time he was sober.

There's a lot that I've stopped doing in my life in order to be responsible. I've twisted my life and put the list I'd love to do away in the name of Responsibility.  Here in the twilight of winter, I see that day when I sat in the chair in the living room and said, "I don't want to continue this..." 

The difference is that I've learned how to come back to life...



List of things that I'm bring with me into the New Year.

1 Pup
2 The pups including the new dog
3 My church
4 volunteering at the church
5 (hopefully) volunteering at the animal shelter (I'm pretty good with dogs)
6 the sailboat
7 writing
8 hopefully a better relationship with my parents Lol last time when I sat in that chair and thought, "No more"? I went to my parents and asked if I could come visit. Life was tricky at the time. Mom always said that if I needed them I could come home. There I was in the den with Mom, Dad, Me and WB. WB was telling Mom he was okay if I came to visit them. She said no and sent me back. This weekend I told them and myself pretty stories about how everything was great. How lucky was I.
Guess that's one of the fiction stories I'm so great at telling. So as much as I hope that my parents and I will be great in 2014? She was so happy to have me somewhere else on Sunday that I'm guessing not. "Your family is with that church were you live."  No, Mom. My family? Is you and Dad and WB and my brother who you said was too busy to eat a Sunday meal with us. She's been pushing me away for my entire life and saying that it was my fault. It's not. Thing is that these people are my parents. They're supposed to be grown ups. They're the ones who were supposed to have been there.
Number 8? Before they die? I hope that I have a relationship where I'm sure that my parents actually want me around.
9 that list from a long time ago with other things added
10traveling. Part of my list was to travel I did.
11a phone call to one of the people on my previous list
12myself now. the one who would have been telling herself that it was all her fault. It's not.
13mycamera to record it
14my blogs to write about it
15the little flicker of life that was there that night on New Years. The little voice that said, "You can feel sorry for yourself or you can take control of your life and do something positive.
16My sanity and self worth and that other voice that says, "Toxic people aren't good for you. Go find the happy ones, the kind ones, and hope that they'll let you in."

There's more to this list.

From what I can tell WB's misery is of his own making. I wouldn't be surprised if he left.

As for 2014 and why I DON'T like Valentine's Day?

What does it have to do with New Years?

Because for a long time I've put that person. The one who loved her job. The one who got to make people happy? Has been locked in the box of Responsibility. Every New Year's day I let people put me there and then say terrible things about how lacking in this and that I was. I let them tell me that I was a fcuk up. Over and over and over.... 
I'm happy to say I'm not.
I'm happy.

:)

.

Lawdy ya'll. It's happened again.  Dear Person from Russia Who is Reading My Blog.


. I am NOT making fun of the head of a country.
  I am NOT making fun of the head of a country
  I am NOT making fun of the head of a country.\
  I am NOT making fun of the head of a country...

Heck

I will not make fun of the head of another country...


I am however not blind.

I said it before and I'll say it again.  V Putin is a hunk.



.I will not make fun of the head of another country...


http://12dotsandablot.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-will-not-make-fun-of-head-of-another.html


sigh

.

One way or the other.
Stray dog is definitely going to find his place "to be"

This is thanks to some really incredible people with very, very kind hearts.

I am so thankful to have met these people.

They have such kindness..


They've give their time to help others.

Such an optimistic thing to do.


Good people to know.



PS. Today, I got to make and eat lunch with my Mom, Dad, WB, and Pup. This coming week I get to bring order to chaos and spend time with Stray Dog and Pup. I'm really looking forward to it.

Happy rest of 2013.
Happy 2014

.

.

 

 

 

 

Golly, golly.

To say that the next couple of day will be busy is an understatement.


This past week has been about the pup. I don't mind because it was important. Now that he's (a bit more) settled, because today we spent with my folks, and because everything else was put on the back burner?  There are things to do.

Things like cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the kennels, exercising the pups, and washing the clothes that didn't get washed over the last couple of days. Honestly, I feel so much better about pup (and because I always feel much better with clean kennel, kitchens, and closets), I'm actually looking forward to sorting things in the house. Pups will help me with the pups. That will move things along. I'm also not going to have to cook for the next two days.  Have the shopping done for the New Years day meal so I'm not going to have to stop everything to go to the grocery.  The place that I'm volunteering at isn't open this week.

 Only thing to do now is concentrate on bringing order to chaos.

Whistle while you work...


By the by our menu for New Years day is kind of old school southern.




Baked ham

Black eyed peas

Collard Greens

Sweet Potatoes

Turnip roots

Cornbread Dressing

Fruit salad

Green Salad with Ranch Dressing

Cranberry sauce

Sweet honey mustard

Sweet Gherkins

Olives

Green onions

Martin's hot vegetable relish

Biscuits

Sweet Tea

Key Lime Pie

I know that this sounds like a lot of food for three people but it's not. 


A little of everything a lot of some.

Lots of collards

A little of the cornbread dressing

AND?

Enough for left overs.


Since we didn't cook for Thanksgiving or Christmas, I'm looking forward to New Years.

Happy New Year.


From

WB, Pup, me, and all the dogs here at Casa 12dots.








 



 

 

 

 

.



Dear God,


I need your help.

Please help me to find an excellent home for Stray Dog.


He's trying so hard to find a place to be. 

I understand that.

I can't keep him unless it's okay with WB.

They have very good points.

I just don't know how to do this.

Please help.

I need a sign of some kind so that I know he'll have a home.

Please.

Love,

Author Ann

PS.

Maybe you could change WB's mind.

We have a yard for him and a very good vet.

He trust me, God.

I don't want to break that trust.


Please.

.

.

Peace on Earth from somewhere in the American South.  Love WB, Pup, and me, AuthorAnn








PS.  Yesterday (and last week too) I found out that there are places and things that I do that give me the joy in my heart.  I am grateful to the people who allowed me into their world.  They have the best hugs.  From them I got the most wonderful of gifts:

Hope, Hugs, and Love.

I have people who know me now.  When I see them they say hello. Their kind hearts are like the porch lights left on for the traveler in the night.

And

They said that I can come back.

Last week I worked so hard that I couldn't even feel my feet. BUT  at the end of the week and the  beginning of this one, I was so happy. My heart was light as a feather.

I'm going back when the new year starts.

And the best news?


I'm eating Christmas dinner with my mom, my dad, Pup, WB, WB's mom, and maybe even my brother and his family.
We're going to cook and eat together.

Sunday I ate with my church family.

Friday?  I ate with my new friends.

I have seen true Christian kindness. 

Not the fake tv kind but the very human kind.

Next year? Me, the person who is infamous about her lousy cooking?

I'm going to learn how to feed people.

I can't tell you how happy that makes me..


Lol the only Southern Comfort in my life?

This kind





Hugs.. .





Now before anyone starts making ASSumptions about me and my being Southern.

You might want to know something about me.

I didn't volunteer there out of some cynical plan to be hip.

The church I volunteered at is historic for many reasons.

The people who I met there didn't take me in because of our sameness.

The people who I met there didn't take me in  because of our differences.

They didn't take me in because I was a Christian.

They wouldn't have kept me out because I wasn't.

They took me in because of their kindness.




We all hopefully will have some place where they'll take us in, even if it's in our imaginations.

The wellspring from where we come.

It could be anywhere in the world but it's the place that gives us a sense of belonging.

The family of mankind.



"...I have for years been looking for "home".
     Like a nomad I have roamed this Earth.
     No place for my feet to put roots.
     No place to lay my head to sleep
     No room in the inn..."


This week I had places to rest easy.

This week I felt agape.

It is the most wonderful thing.

Once you see happy like this?

You hope that everyone gets to see it.

Peace.


.
"There's just got to be some way for there to be one day of Peace for us here on Earth.  Some way for our children to know what that feels and sounds like."


Author Ann


.


.

Merry Christmas...    Merry Christmas...      Merry Christmas














.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Christmas !!! A heart warming story about wishing for wings....

 

 

 

 

Dear Gentle Readers.

 

 

 

Happy holidays.

 

 

 

For us it's 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas.

 

 

 

Hope that you and yours have a great end of 2013 and a Happy New Year.

 

 

 

 

I don't know if I'll be posting anything new  in the next two weeks.

 

 

 

If so it will be here.

 

 

Many new things to write about but at the moment I'm in the middle of them.

 

 

If I'm not here?

 

 

I'll try to tweet about it.

 

 

 

In the mean time, I'd love to here from you Gentle Readers.

 

 

 

Comments are surely welcome.


 

 

 



Warning! Warning!

one more and then I have to be out of here.


This is 12 dots (yada yada)....


Read the comments.

And definitely click the links

Just sayin'


.

 

 

 

Oh hunny, you're just too high maintenance for someone like me.

 

 

 

 

 

Live in the moment

then Blog stupid... .

 

 

:)



click me  Merry Christmas  !!!   click me

 

 

My mom will be so pleased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Got it all figured out??

 

 

 

 

 



Rule number 945 about (real) women...

 

 

 

 

"Any woman who feeds you cookies that make you fat is either pregnant,

wants to get pregnant, 

 

 

or lives in a candy house in the middle of a magical forrest.

 

 

Quick!

 

Check the cookie crumbs for  a pregnancy test."

 

 

 

click me  Merry Christmas  !!!   click me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

I had no idea

Lol the intro takes forever but my oh my at the guest list.


.

Dear Internet,   I have had a view from every continent except  Antarctica.  Since it's Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, I will try to lure people from Antarctica to visit my blog by posting a summer type song.

Here goes.

oh hey  and hello!  If you are the viewer from South Korea and are still here, would you chat with us?  My son loves video games.  Do you have a favorite game?  We really like Korean food.  There's a great tv show called the "Kimchee Chronicles"  it's a tv show about Korean food.  What's your favorite food?
   if you have trouble posting, you could tweet us?  @goatherderboy 

Hello Gentle Reader from South Korea.  Welcome!

Who are you?

.
Would you like to chat?

.

off the top of my head ...

patsycline
Loretta lynn
dolly parton
tammy wynette
june carter cash
Barbara mandrell
sara evans
martina McBride
Tanya tucker
leAnn Rimes
reba

the question

as quick as you can type them name at least 10 female country singers

easy

LeeAnnRimes RobThomas video Gasoline and Matches

 

 

 

 

Just the video alone is this worth a look.

But oh my the voice.

If you missed Ms Rime's performance tonight, you might want to go find it.

Before you do?


The video is very good.


. 



Dear Readers,

As you know 12dotsandablot is a fiction writer's blog. 

I have to write following because it's Christmas and my mom might be reading.


Dear Mom and Dad,

As you know, fiction writer's are born of practice.  If I were a musician, I might practice in a rehearsal hall.  I'd practice on the playing field, if I were football player. Writer's practice too.

This is my rehearsal hall.

Here I write all kinds of things and people (at least from the looks of the stats) read it. 

If I am to become a good writer, I will need to be able to write a believable character. Mom, you've read almost all of Sue Grafton's novels and John Grisham's.  You know that not all the characters are squeaky clean.  You would probably not even read through the E novel if they had been. You would think that they were boring.  I am sorry that I used the words "fuck you" on one of the earlier posts.

It was appropriate.

Will try to keep it clean while trying to learn to write novel that will pay for that cabin on the lake.

Happy, happy,

Love

Your daughter Ann

PS

Merry Christmas.

.

I do it every Christmas...

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas.




.

 

 



Worth a look.

Putting this here for later



http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/12/09/aurora_time_lapse_from_an_airplane_window.html

It's Christmas !!! A heart warming story about wishing for wings....

Welcome to the 2013 college football  bowl season.


.



now back to the future



http://12dotsandablot.blogspot.com.

oh no. she's feeling better???????aaaaaaaahhhnnnooo

At least I'm up, bathed, and dressed.


:) Clean hair is therapeutic!









And she ate.

Ginger cookies and dilute milk.

Yay!!!!

Good night love.



.

I was going to write about the words, "a good tool".  It was going to have graphics and be pithy. About how to some  "a good tool" is just that.  It's something that's useful. Like a favorite pen or screw driver.

 

 

Then I was going to write about how to others "a good tool" isn't very nice.  To others it's of the "wind them up and send them out" variety.

 

I was going to do this and send it to someone here.

 

Someone who's the first not the last.

 

So honest that he couldn't lie even if he kept his mouth shut.

 

Some how I think I have hurt his feelings.

 

I don't know how to apologize because it's a cultural thing.

 

. For the record?  I have nothing against people...

 

 

He's not going to understand.

 

He's just not.

 

 

Found this on Google. Sounds fun.


hope that your are having a good moment.


.

Merry Christmas...

"maybe we could all dance for real. I'm hoping that this Christmas I finally get my Christmas wish. I'm hoping that for one day we could all live in peace. That for one day we could be silent and hear the sounds of the heavens. Just for a minute or two. That way our children could know what that sounds like, no matter where we live in this world. It' only takes a minute to hug someone. Even a stranger if that's where you are. Just a minute to remember back to our primal beginnings inside of our mother's womb. It's the most basic, the first feeling we all have as sentient beings."  I hope. Please don't be mad at me. You don't even know who I am. .



Merry Christmas.


Back to the future   http://12dotsandablot.blogspot.com 


.

one more. from the middle of the night. just so you don't forget...

"A control freak?"



I'm human from a long line of humans.

We spend life times and life times trying to bring order to chaos.

What you call "controlling" is the force that's kept me alive.

It's how we've found fire and voice.

It's why we tell our stories and how we've come to the letters to sentences of words and letters.

Marks that had no meaning till collectively we decided what they meant.

The determination to be heard and understood by the future as well as the past.

It is in us from the moment that we are conceived to make something out of the very essence of life force.

That's not being a control freak.

That's being human.



It's the will to be free.


.

Because everyone needs a quote or two..

"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Fiction is the closest I'll ever come to telling the truth."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I love my dad, my son, and my dogs. Everybody else can cut bate for my line."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"My library book is over due. (Again.)"

 

 

 

 

 

above

 

c anne ford

 

12/9/2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

paraphrase

 

 

"He didn't die. He was flung into the cosmos. Back to where he came."

 

 

Lol

 

and one to alter ego Hannah Murphy

 

(Must be feeling better to be quoting Hannah)

 

 

"Having fun is the best revenge."

 

 

Gotta love Hannah

 

 

Lol, There's a can of Vegetarian Vegetable Soup in my future. Soup, ginger ale, and saltine crackers. A queen's banquet.

 

 

 

.Hugs.

 

.

 

 

 

 

 



A song I heard the Carter Family sing.

When I was little, my father took us to Jackson, Mississippi, to hear Johnny Cash sing. I'd heard  Johnny Cash sing,  but it wasn't until the concert,  that I heard the Carter Family.

I'm posting this to say thank you to my dad for insisting we go to hear them.

I'm also posting because of something I read about the resurrection of the new folk movement. The mentioned a lot of new groups who've originated from the Deep South.
I'm not so sure that these guys are the ones to do it. After hearing music from little churches here?
I think that the "new and improved" misses the mark.



At the end of the concert, Cash, June Carter Cash, and the Carter Family sang this song.

Dear The Lone Bellows,

I hope that you'll forgive the blunt nature of this post but honestly as one Southerner to another?

Go home and listen.

Go home to any little church in Georgia, Alabama, in the Mississippi Delta, or the mountains of the Carolinas, Kentucky, or Virginia.

Sit down, shut up, and listen.

There, if you are lucky, you'll hear the distant call.

The music that you're trying to connect with.

Then when you've found the well spring?

Take a deep, long drink from that well and forget every thing that you've heard.

It's a simple song that you 'll hear.

The emotion let loose to fly.

Even the technically correct fall short of it.

When you sit there and that moment happens. When you are all but sure that there's nothing left of you but breath and heart beat?  When a deep exhale, as it it's your last, is all you have left to say.

When you look into the eyes of someone you love desperate that it might be the last time.

Those are the lyrics and that is the melody of the old Southern Sound.

No axes to grind. Just breath to breathe.

"Get up." when your' feeling you can't.

I'm telling you this because I have hope that another voice can be added to the chorus. One to express the new, old sadness of loss. The shards of life that turn to laughter and the song of survival.


Good luck.

Kind regards,

c anne ford, mother, Southerner, writer.

December, 9, 2013

PS It's been a difficult couple of days. Lots of vomiting and diarrhea.  I hear this too will pass.

I'm just not what it's supposed to pass into.

.

When Circles Dream

When circles dream
They dream of you
They always do
Come back to you

The place they find
Is in your head
And if they're lucky
They're in your bed

A million life times
Circle round
A million dreams
They all come down
2U


c ford

11/20/2013

.


12dotsdisclaimer

This is 12dotsandablot.

A writer's blog.

Fact and fiction co exist here.

If you don't know which is which.

Please.

Do not ASSume.

Ask.


.

.

Live in the moment then Blog stupid... .













 

Good morning Boys and Girls.   How was your weekend?

.
Don't know about you?  But me?


I'm living out loud.


.

So there is no mistake. This isn't about my dad. Hugs dad. Thank you for the lunch invitation. It's the thought that counts.

...




 

Fuck you.



.

"The miracle is that some how, with no more than that determination in their gut, some how they find their way back home."



Merry Christmas


.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"...I wrote the sorrow away from my heart

The emotions coraled into a box of words

Put back into Pandora’s Box

Only this time Hope

Outside the box

Free

Falling up

As I move through the soft in slow motion

Soft word on the lips

My mind’s eye comforted

Writing in slow motion

My heart sings

Please don’t be angry with me

All unintentional

I have to write

You

Soft"
Author Ann

 

 

aka

 

 

C Ann Ford

21 October,2008 all rights reserved by the author

 

 

 

 

 

.

Live in the moment then Blog stupid... .




g'night

mmm.


.

lol


Welcome to Sunday.


I have to sleep a bit

but

in a minute or two

I'll wake

and

I'll think of you.


mmmm


"... I don't wanta' miss a single thing you do...


:)


It's not complicated.

It's like walking on grass coated with dew

but not leaving a foot step behind.


Easy


Sunday


.

.


.
.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Just read my stats

Oh Putin, you silly, handsome man, are U reading my blog?

Kissy, kissy.

If you Tweet me, I'll Tweet back.

Lurv,

Author Ann


PS Kind of makes up for missing the Day of Who because of the day of you know what.

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then it happened.

 

 Both Pup and WB get hit upside the head by the Intestinal Flu Bunny.

Bad Bunny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Sunday.


Day 2 of WB's big adventure.


AKA

Fall vacation.


oh crap

seriously.


.


. 



 

 

 

 

 

Tee Hee.

 

I woke up this morning and thought,


"Holy moly. Today is the 23rd of Novemeber.  WB is off all week.  Thanksgiving is coming. So is Chanukah, Black Friday shopping, and the first day of the Christmas holiday. 

I get to indulge in my love of decorations without the neighbors thinking I've lost it.

Most important?
After last years disaster of an IronBowl?
After our favorite Thanksgiving tradition burned to a crisp? 

This holiday is gonna be different."


THIS is my year! 

From now until January 2013?

Par-tay and festivities.

 

 

 &I'm gonna blog about it.

 

 

Get ready.


How about we start with a walk in the forrest with the two men I'd most like to get caught in a snow storm with.

 

 

 
mmmm.




 




.


 

Hello Gentle Readers !!

Today is the beginning of a very busy week here at Casa Dogs.



Gonna be a busy week.




.

It starts with the world celebration of that Time Traveling, all round great guy, Dr. Who.  Today and tomorrow is the Holiday Open House for one of THE BEST places to find a gift. Tomorrow is church. WB is gonna need the rest. Monday, we'll begin preparations for the American holiday, Thanksgiving.  We have lot's to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is celebrated on  Thursday.  It's also one of THE DAYs if you are a college football fan, The Turkey Day Classic.  There's a parade, a live broadcast of the festivities, parties and game day tailgating.  Friday is the biggest day of the year for sales, Black Friday. It starts at midnight. I've never gone through the process but I'm thinking I might go see and write real time about it. I'll also be buying out the chips and dips section.  Not only does this week have the Turkey Day Classic, but on Saturday there is that other college rivalry, the Iron Bowl.  This year will be the first where the "house divided" is gonna shine. After a whole week of cleaning, shopping, visiting, and togetherness. Saturday's game between rival teams (my side of the family are BIG Auburn fans and his side are BIG Alabama fans) is gonna be good.

With a SEC championship in the balance and Auburn's Georgia win? 

Lol this year, @ 2:30 cst,  the gloves are coming off.  I might even drink my semi annual beer with this year's BBQ. WB is resting up today. He's gonna need it.

Sunday? Well the final Sunday in WB's vacation begins the Christmas season.

After last year's fiasco and the new Auburn coaches success this year? It's gonna be a very different ball game.

Someone's team is going dooowwwwwwwwnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Happy holidays Santa Baby and my Chanukah Honey.

IT's gonna be a very good season. :)




.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn to the left.

 

Close your eyes.

 

 

Feel the breeze pick up.

 

 

Flutter.

 

 

 

Go to the forrest.

 

 

Close your eyes.

 

 

Feel the leaves move.

 

 

 

Breathe.

 

 

 

Sound.

 

 

Flows past you carried on that breeze.

 

 

Be still.

 

 

And fly.

 

 

c ford

11/20/13

 

 

Dear Person who uploaded two years work off my blog.

 

I don't write for you.

 

You are welcome to upload as long as you give me credit for my writing. Get your own voice. Otherwise where will your mouth be when I die?

 

You will have to find some other mouth to make your sounds.

 

 

Peace.

 

Please write your own story.

 

 

.



Fire Signals


"...In the water you can see the blue.  It's not the blue of clear. Water there is blue because it's so clear that the fragile light wave blue can be heard.  It's not that blue.  This is the blue glow of life.  Those little creature all there in the water drink in light and then at night they shine to the world the signal, 'I am alive.'  Like all the parts that together make a soul, there they float in the water.  The starlight dances with them.  On a full moon night, Bella Luna comes too.

On night watch, I sing to them. The sound of the sails and the wind sing the chorus. The constellations move past us as they dance. Frozen, in the Heavens, there in the water, their feet unbound.

Bella Luna.

She moves through the water and dances with the wind..."

c ford  11/20/13

Hmmm

Bella Luna?


Good name for a boat.  Better than the Selkies' Wife.  The Selkie  are like Cassiopeia. They're prisoners of their circumstance and someone else's greed.  But Bella Luna isn't.  Somewhere on Earth she dances with the sea. She moves. The sea moves.  The Earth moves.

And so too does my boat.

No woman on Earth will name my boat but me.

I'm thinking?

Bella Luna.

Humph.  I miss Newt. I'm thinking that Newt would appreciate this.




.

.