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We're sitting here in the kitchen talking about what's happened in Alabama.

Pup came in to the kitchen and said, "Mom, I'd like to help those people but I'm not sure what I can do."  The news shows photos and videos of the areas affected. It's kind of difficult to process. In the parts that we could see and from the people we've talked to, there are people in dire need and those who are fine. Roads are closed. Power crews are working round the clock. Crews with tags from Kentucky, Virginia, and Texas are there. The National Guard is visible. As we passed we could hear a lady thanking them for being there to help.

You have to realize what it's like. You drive through country roads and it looks like any other beautiful spring day. Nothing is wrong.

Then you see the damage. It's as if a huge weedeater has come through and cut down trees and blown away houses.  Then you drive further and it's back to that beautiful spring day.

Some of the areas are remote and some are highly populated.  That's important to note because of the kind of rescue effort you're looking at.

I was telling Pup about this as we talked about what we could do. He wants to help. He wants to go to the areas hit and help people. I thought about this as we looked at the damage. To Pup sending a check to some address just doesn't seem as much help as actually going house to house with the rescue folks.

But the reality is sometimes that donation is the best thing you can do.


Pup and I are talking about this and all the time the words are going on in my heart -


"...loves the only house big enough for all the pain in the world..."

So here we sit in the kitchen wondering about what we could do....




Here's what we've heard and what we've seen and more than likely who we'll give donations to:

The Red Cross has stations with water. Volunteers are highly visible in areas that are rural and where water is needed. I'm guess that giving blood is important too.

It's my understanding that the Salvation Army in Tuscaloosa was either badly damaged or destroyed.  From the aftermath of Katrina, it's also my understanding that if you give to the local Salvation Army it will stay with the areas affected. We know that our closest one gives food and shelter when the hurricanes come. It stays local and isn't eaten up with overhead. 

Food banks in the state also keep the money local and give food at reduced prices to area charities. I also have been told that while they appreciate food donations they also can match money donations there by doubling the purchasing power. These charities include many churches who take in folks when they've evacuated from the Gulf Coast. I'm thinking that we'll donate to them too. The Food Bank especially helps folks. We hear from friends and co workers of all kinds of area charities who've benefited. I'm thinking that Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville areas may have the same.

And finally the Humane Society.

During the storms, pets get separated from their humans or worse their humans die. The local Humane Society take donations of money, supplies, and volunteers.


If you live in the states who have rescue crews and power crews in the states affected, I KNOW that folks appreciate their help.  I can tell you that their work is appreciated. The last time the power was out due to a hurricane, I was so happy to see the folks who'd come all the way from the Wisconsin/Minnesota area. Honestly they looked like angels. So if you hear of a local power crew or rescue crew or church who's come south, you can tell them that they are welcome. Thank them and their families for their time.

I'm not leaving out the other places in the US who've been hit with this Spring storms.  It's just that we know a bit more about the Alabama areas hit.  The organizations that people I know see helping.

Here's my advice to Pup.

Look at what people are doing.

Ask the people who you donate to how much stays in the area and what percent goes to national funds and overhead.

Give knowing that what you donate adds to that donated to others. Like the proverbial snowball it turns into enough to rebuild.


Prepare for the future.  This is a good time to see who's actually helping with weather or emergency issues in your own area. See who's really doing things and find out what training that you need to help them. We've talked to churches who organize donation efforts, folks who make emergency kits to be given out in affected areas, folks who take in people who've lost their homes. You might not have the training to help them now but you can prepare to help in the future. We talked to one rescue squad who said that you could help them by just being there to hug a person's neck and answer their questions.  They help all year long.

Volunteer.

Sometime you think that you don't have anything to give and then you find out what you have is most valuble of all.

The gift of your time and effort.



Think about what you can do?

And then go do it.

What will we do?



Stay tuned.





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http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/death_toll_from_toradno_outbre.html

Not a great day for the Deep South.




Roll Tide.



It's not corney if you lived here. The weather, no matter if it's on the coast or inland, plays such a part of our lives. From Camile to Katrina to the Spring of 2011. We tell time by the floods, hurricanes, and tonados of our lives.


.How do you prepare for the coming storm?

Grow up in the Deep South where the weather, good or bad, is something you roll with.


Tough place. Tough people.

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This morning I woke up and thought to myself, "Did I leave my keys outside? So I woke up ________ and told them, "I've gotta go outside and see if I left something." I'd had a dream about zombies getting married. It was pretty scarey and I didn't want to get attacked by anything weird. Hey it was 3 am and it was a really bad dream. ____________ rolled over and told me to. "...go back to sleep. Worry about it in the morning." So I got up, pulled on some clothers and proceeded to the front door.

That's where I saw my keys, Hanging there on the front door.

This morning _________ asked, "Did you find your keys on the front door?"

"Yep."


To me marriage is having someone who, when they see you in the middle of active labor and yelling like a banshee, can say, "You look like crap." and you can say, "Fu(k it. You look like shyte." and then start crying like a babie because they're there. It's gonna be okay."

The last thing you're thinking is, "Heir and a spare."


Sheesh.



Good thing about my life is that I can make up my own fairytales and I don't have to pay for the one in England. LOL



Didn't watch the royal nuptials. Was too - uhm - busy.

Doot doyah wah doot doyah wha doo doo -

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I'd like to go on record as saying thanks to God in Heaven for sparing us the horrible tornados this Spring. I am grateful.

I've walked along some sad roads in my life, but never was I alone.
He was always with me.

Hugs.

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It isn't a great day for the folks in the Deep South.

I believe that regardless of the religions that we do or don't subscribe too, there is a collective power in positive thought. Today we need it. If you would be so kind as to take a moment to send a kind thought to the folks who've been hit by the Spring tornado season, I know for a fact it would be appreciated.

Hugs and prayers to the folks in Alabama this morning.

Hugs to the people whose homes were distroyed and whose loved ones died or are missing.
Hugs to the folks whose homes and lives were spared.

Now comes the hard part of going forward.

Going to go see if my own family is okay. Talked to them yesterday but haven't heard anything today.

We have family and extended family in the areas hit. My immediate family should be okay but I'm not sure about WB's family or that of my inlaw family.  LOL I hate tornados.  Have been and have famly who've been in Huricane Camile and Hurricane Katrina. You have time to prepare and to leave but tornados just drop out of the sky. They're truly horrid.


Ann

..

Ann

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I have a great idea.

Why don't you go exploring through this blog. See that little box on the left? You can click on dates and it will take you all over this blog.

Try it.

If you'll spend tim doing that?

I'll spend time making my lettuce tables, weed eatting the flower beds, fix the chick's house, clean the dog kennels, and yes, go see my dad.

I won't be gone. Just take a minute and go see.

Dream dreams

"..just open your window and follow your memory upstream to the meadow on the mountain where we counted every star..."

More music. Paul Simon. Scroll down for current post.

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"...When I think back at all the crop I learned in high school, It's a wonder I can think at all. And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none. I can still read the writing on the wall..."


There's a theme here.

First?


Do you think that the royal couple will have those little disposable cameras for their guest to take...naw... but I do wonder who'll break ranks and take a cell phone photo for money...


Second?

Last night I dreamed that I had a tiny visit with someone from high school.

He was just as interesting as he'd been then, which was very.

Just as good looking, which was also very. Wouldn't mind seeing him again even if he is supposed to be happily ever after.


Third?


My life on record.

This is quite a life. Since I'm feeling all nostalgic and since the gremlins are messing with my computer to the point where it's just stupid?

This might be a good time to go back and read the parts of 12dots that you've not read before.





Hugs.

Ann

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This is the SECOND time I've had to write this because once again the Stupid Fairy has come to visit and delete.

Stupid.

Because I know (from the stats) that some of the people who read my blog probably don't speak English as their first language?

A note.

I speak Southern. Southern mixed with alittle Midwestern.

To complicate matters, the Southern that I speak, while it has it's roots in the land of Faulkner, isn't exactly his kind of Southern. He'd have recognized and understoon what I say, but he'd agree that it wasn't the Southern of Scarlett OHara nor was it the Southern or Big Daddy. The place that I come from is a mix of many cultures: French, Scot, English, German, and Spanish. Add to it the dialets of the Caribe indians and the folks from the African continent and you've got Southern. Depending on where you come from it could be English teacher Southern or it could be Country Southern.

I don't think that there's a translator for it.

So if you read this you'll either have to find someone who speaks Southern to translate or learn Southern.

It's for this reason that I do not like for people to translate what I've written. I also do not llike folks to edit behind me. The misspelled words and the grammer errors are for the most part on purpose.

If you don't know how to speak the language you'll miss the nuances.

All you'll have is "...angry raisens..."


If you're interested I'll post the link to a funny book that kind of explains in the comments.




First lesson?
Sweet Tea...

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Computer, the blog or both are acting weird. Gonna take a break. Have things to do out in the world.

Ciao.

Ann

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I had two really interesting conversations yesterday.

They were both about home and they relate to the next couple of posts.

The first one was at the hardware store out where the building matterials are stored. I asked the guy how his weekend was and he told me about it. He had all his kids and grandkids and extended family come visit. He was the person who BBQed for everyone. Said by the afternoon he was tuckered out and took a nap. When I asked him if he had anyone who could do it for him and he said no. Inspite of saying how tired he got, I don't think that he'd change much.

I walked inside the store to pay for my purchase and there was another fella and I got to talking to him too. He's young. Misses his family. I hugged his neck and told him to hang in there but I don't think he'll be happy til he's home.



The first time I heard this song, I cried.

Home is funny isn't it.

I'm thinking that it's important for all of us to have some place to sit and visit. Doesn't really matter if it's a kitchen table, a couple of chairs under the treees, a park bench, or the front stoop. Doesn't matter what culture. Desert sands or the swamps of Louisiana it's good if there's some place to be.

The places that I remember most from being a kid involved conversations and visiting. WB told me last night that he heard about a big fire in line at the dollar store and how it took 10 minutes to tell about it. He started to tell me about how the conversation veered back and forth between the details of the fire and the rest of the days events. Made me smile when he said it. For alittle bit (when I didn't feel like I had a place or when it was hot and I was grimey from cleaning the kennels) my favorite place was standing in line at the Dollar General and listening to the conversations. For a bit, just a bit, I could close my eyes and remember what it was like to sit at my MawMaw's house or at WB's house and talk about stuff. We talk alot here. You can learn alot from the experience. I've heard stories of hoboing from my PawPaw and about moonshine and dancing in the caves at WB's house. You hear about family that you know or have never seen.

Yeah, everybody needs some place to sit and talk. Tell the stories that take forever to tell. A place that the kids can run wild with the dogs and the cousins and then flop down and listen to stories about people.

Feels like home.

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This is a very southern thing. If you drive out into the country )or even the city) you'll see pretty much the same thing: a table, chairs, maybe a BBQ grill. Mostly they'll be under the shade. Long before we moved here we used to drive around looking and I'd see thoses places. For a long time I've had in my head what it would look like.

So guess what?

One of the things we did this weekend was to get the tables and chairs for under the pecan trees.



List?

Folding chairs
Foottub for ice
Last of the jars bottles for the lemonaid. Everyone's got one.
A big ole fan cause I read in Mother Earth News that a fan will cause the mosquitos not to fly.
Side tables to set the drinks and glasses on.
White, blue, and green mini Christmas tree lights.
BBQ grill.
Candles. The votive kind.

And a roll of wire.

The last item was important. For quite a while I've been saving spagetti sauce bottles. Finally had the wire to hang them with So up in the crepe myrtle trees are these bottles to be filled with alittle sand. Just alittle and then those votives from the dollar store.



It's getting hot. At the end of the day, we've now got our little spot for being outside. I'm putting all my flower pots there. Same for the lettuce tables. It's so nice I'm thinking of hanging the bird's cage out there too.

Really good place for company.

The dogs run around and we sit an visit. It's still kind of a jumble but it was fun. When we go out to the river the chairs and the tables fold up so that they can come with us. Can't wait to sit out there on the end of the dock or maybe over on the island. It's free cause there's a public dock.

I remember sitting in my maternal grand parents back yard drinking Coke colas. I remember sitting at my folks house eating peaches. I remember sitting in the back yard of WB's folks eatting watermellon.
Now I can remember sitting in my own yard drinking homemade lemonade and eating BBQ.

Will need music.

Mercy.




.
Al Green



LOL All good children get a prezzy for sitting and listening


I have been looking for this song for ages.




Lot's of folks have covered it but I think she does it best.














My favorite version of this song



Okay I like this version too












Woman can sing.




Thank you WTIX, New Orleans, La. for existing.

Thank you every grown up, teenager, and my little transiter radio.


And this next part? :) Thanks to my dad.







(despite the video game)

and the songs I love to sing but never quite get the words right...







depite the commercial

and Joe Cocker's version




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honest to God, this was the only youtube for the song I could find that WASN'T a cover. Really. It has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COLIN FIRTH tribute.



Irony? All the other Youtubes were tributes to Van Morison.










I love Little Feat but Robert Palmer's cover is good too



I can guarantee that this has been on that dreaded "todo"list 4ever. This is just the first time I've found it on Pup and WB's 2do.

Finally.

Yay


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Work sheet "..and Roxy begat Duran..."... Skip this and scroll to next post. Thanks.

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Creepy but would make a good blog.



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So this is DuranDuran's daddy...




Robert Palmer, I am soooo disappointed --



And Huey?




Sheesh

I can forgive PowerStation



I can forgive this (fan of Leon Russell)



But to think all this led to this --



LOL And then there's Tom

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this is something that bothers me.

Why is it when a man get's to a "certain age" he can pop a Viagra, find a younger - much younger woman - and no one would have problems if they did this --





BUT

If it was turned around. If the woman was of "a certain age"?

She's thought of as alittle nuts.


LOL
It's rainy and I'm sitting here wondering what happens next...


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Question?

What happens to a woman's sexuality when she gets past 50?

Even if there are the well preserved women.
Even if there are the "plastic surgery princesses"?

What happens to you?

Do you leave the light on?


My biggest problem with growing older is in my head. It really is. So much of sex resides there. How you percieve - imagine - who you are in bed with someone else. I'm told that it has alot to do with decreasing hormones, but if I ask for hormone replacement to prolong my sex life? I'm told that it's bad for me.

If men can take Viagra? If it has the possibility of side effects? If it's still thought of okay? If in my head I'm still sexual but my body isn't keeping up?

How come I can't take the hormones?

Just wondering.


Happy Tuesday.


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There used to be a commercial for audio tape. It was for a company called Memorex.


The tag line was =

"Is it live? Or is it Memorex?"

Then a woman's voice would be and a glass would shatter.










I'm a big fan of the complicated, flawed but creative mind.



"...That's the sound of sunshine comin' down, down, down..."

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So how was your weekend???




Pretty good holiday.

Normally it's filled with fussing or "angsting" about what has to be done. There are usually lists involved.

Today I can tell you that there were no lists this weekend other than an "already  done" one. Did I get everything that I'd hoped to do done? No. I'd hoped to go to the river but didn't because we had things to do else where. It was okay because - well - what we did will free up time to work on the boat next weekend. So that's good.

What did we do?

Well -

We woke up every morning, said, "These are the things we need to do. What do we want to do?

How do we get closer to where we want to be?"

Then we did stuff.

Seriously? It was that simple.

Oh - oh and there was drama. A terrible fire. Not here but else where. But there was drama and some folks here were related to it by degrees.

Now then. This thing where you wake up and don't make detailed lists is kind of nice.  Open your eyes and ask yourself, "What do I need to get done? What can I do to day?" Then, when you're finished? You write it down. I like the "already done" list. It kind of makes a person feel good when you write it down. Instead of that horrible, gigantic mountain of things to do? You have this lovely list of things that you've done.

Accomplishment.

No dread just anticipation.

Lot's of things I'd like to accomplish today.

Saying hello here and on Twitter was one of them.

Listening to alittle music was another.



To do? Done

Nice sound.


Looks like another weather day. LOL  Have little time to finish up a project outside and then lots of time to write and wash clothes.

"Singing and dancing in the raaaaaiiiiiinnnnn..."


Hugs,

WriterAnn


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