This Just In - - -

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All you Diva Dad fans better get busy voting here because someone just threw in 21 votes for Loser-Dork Dad!!!!!!!

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Sunday Favorites - Let's Do McDonalds Again

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I get sooooo excited about our bloggy Sunday reruns!!! Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting Sunday Favorites.

Friday the Thirteenth Anecdote
(First posted October 13, 2006)

Hope this makes you smile, spit, or snort - - - -

I decided to indulge in one final pedicure of the season on this my precious day off from school. It was 12:30 p.m. when I finished, so I decided to swing into the drive-through at Micky-D's for some cheap lunch.

There was a long line of cars, but I didn't care - - - - I had "free" time to spare today, so I got in the shorter of the two lines and waited. Eventually it was my turn to talk to the machine and place my order.


A chipper young male voice told me it would be $2.60 and to please pull around.

I was rather puzzled. I had ordered three items from the dollar menu, so how in the world could my price only be two dollars and sixty cents???? (True, I had not double checked the PRICES on the dollar menu - - - - but isn't the POINT of a dollar menu that everything on it is $1????) He MUST have forgotten to add one of my items.

When I got up to the "pay" window - - - where I was talking to actual live people (two girls this time) - - - I asked if they had my order correct. Yes, they listed off everything I had ordered. So I asked them how my bill was under three dollars when I had ordered three items from the dollar menu.

They said, "He put you down for a senior drink."

OK - - - - so, let's get this straight. While I am MORE than happy to pay less for my drink on a SENIOR discount - - - - just HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??? "Chipperyoungmalevoice" did NOT ask me if I was a SENIOR.

Was there a security camera there so that "chipperyoungmalevoice" could see me while I could not see him???? And if that is the case - - - - do I actually LOOK like a senior???? I'm fairly sure he did not mean a SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, and I don't think they get discounts anyway!!!

And, if he COULD NOT SEE ME - - - - as I could not see him - - - - does that mean I SOUND like an elderly person??????

Grant you, I will admit freely ABOUT MYSELF that I am getting older - - - older than dirt. BUT, this is the first time in my life (other than generic letters inviting me to join the AARP which they send out routinely to anyone whose birthdate is pre 1990) that I have ever been CONFUSED for a SENIOR.

What did I do?????

Kept my mouth shut (believe it or not), PAID the $2.60 and drove away to enjoy my cheeseburger, fries, and drink.

However - - - perhaps it was not I who had the biggest "Senior" moment in this little scenario. When I opened my cheeseburger, though the tag stuck to the outside of the wrapper proclaimed in large letters "NO KETCHUP" - - - which WAS the way I ordered it - - - - - the burger on the inside was POSITIVELY SWIMMING in the nasty red gunk. Maybe it is THEY who need the glasses and/or hearing aid, not me.

At least I can remember from the time of ordering to the time of serving that I said "NO KETCHUP!!"

;-)

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Father of the Year Award

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If you've already been here, please scroll down and read the NEW and VERY IMPORTANT information in RED at the bottom of this post.

Remember - - - you may vote as many times as you wish.

You may change your vote each time you vote.

YES pets may vote too.

In honor of Father's Day, which is just around the corner, I am hosting a "Father of the Year" competition right here on this little ole blog.

It's my competition, so I get to make up the rules.

The rules are:

1) There will be only two contestants, previously selected for their glowing fatherly attributes. (Sorry if your dad doesn't appear here - - - you'll just have to have your OWN contest.)

2) You may vote in the comments using the name under each photo.

3) You may vote as many times as you like.

4) You may appeal to friends and family members to vote and they too may vote as many times as they like.

5) May the most unconscious dad win.

"Diva Dad"

This is my own hubby, Big Fisherman (AKA Ole) (AKA Greg), and the father of my children. He sleeps through nearly all family gatherings, and is unconscious enough to be draped in his favorite pink boa and tierra without so much as batting an eye lash. Vote for him if you think he's "falling off the charts."

"Loser-Dork Dad"

(Read the SIGNS people, I'm not making this up nor making a judgment call!!!)

This is Leigh's hubby, "Big Daddy." (I got Leigh's permission to do this, though Big Daddy may feel strongly against it, I don't know, nor do I care.) Big Daddy ALSO sleeps through family affairs, and soundly enough to be annotated. Vote for him if you think he's "noteworthy." (Oh yes, pun very much intended.)

THIS JUST IN: Very important information to consider as you continue to vote: Loser-Dork Dad fell asleep sitting STRAIGHT UP in a computer chair - - - - now THAT has to count for SOMETHING!!!!

Hurry up and vote - - - voting will close when I say so, which will only be when I've milked this for all it's worth!!!

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Friday's Favorite Family Foto - A Rerun of Sorts

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This fun Friday Meme is sponsored by
Deborah over at Pictures, Pots, Pens.

Today I am reposting something I
Posted in March on the Thrifty Thursday Meme
Because it really fits better here,
And because I don't have anything
New ready to run at this moment.

This is my favorite
Portrait that was ever taken
Of any of my babies.

Notice, I did NOT say
This is my favorite child.
I have FOUR favorite children.

But this is the cutest
Portrait that was ever
Captured of any of them
When they were in their
Baby phase.

This is Kelly.
He is our oldest son
And is now 28.

The stories I could tell.
Oh I think I will
Share just a few:

When he was this size,
He loved to have
"pecial" time with his mommy.
That included stories
And songs - - - while the
Other children napped.

One day when he was
About three, I found him
Trying to sell the gravel
Out of our driveway
For 5 cents per rock.

I told him no one wanted
To buy our gravel.
He said,
"Uh huh, Mommy!"
And opened up his chubby
Little paw in which
Were three dirty nickels.

When he was in Grade School
He once took his little sister,
Korie, by the hand
Door to door telling people:
"Our grandma died
And we don't have any food
To eat."

I still had to LIVE
In that neighborhood after that!

He still to this day
Delights in picking on his mama.
One of the reasons I
Don't grocery shop
Is because he takes
Every opportunity to
Tear the labels off the
Canned goods on my
Pantry shelves.

OK - - - so that has nothing
To do with why I don't shop - - -

Now he's all grown up,
And is the manager of
A thriving Pizza Hut
In Fort Wayne.

One day he shall have a son of his own,
And his son will be
JUST LIKE HIM.

His little nephew, Mackinley,
Already is!!!

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That's All She Wrote!!

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This school year is OVER. I've given my last exam, averaged my last grade, straightened up my room for the last time, and locked my door.

The relief is palpable.

There were a few surprises today - - - the good kind, we've had plenty of the OTHER kind this year, but that's another story.

First, one of my seventh grade students, Austin, brought me a gift. He KNOWS his teacher. Just look what he gave me:


This bowl.

If you are new to my blog, you may not realize how I am about football, but if you RETURN here you'll soon know. I'm beyond CRAZY about it.

But this bowl wasn't all - - - it goes with this plate:


How cool is THIS!?! My very own gridiron!!!!!! Do you see where the bowl fits?

Just like this:

I tell ya, I was soooooo happy I was nearly jumping out of my skin. Austin was so proud of himself for getting it for me.


Now my only problem - - - what shall I eat out of it FIRST???? :-)


A few minutes later my room was invaded by these:


A large contingent of my 8th graders. They were very excited about having their picture taken with me. Go figure!

I was happy to oblige, even allowing them to put my hood up and striking the pose they requested.

Then I came home to a THIRD surprise.

As I pulled into the driveway, I saw a "new" bird (new to me, and we've been bird watchers for a LONG time) perched on a thin twig swaying in the breeze.


A little later he came right up close enough to the window that I could snap this picture. Isn't he a beauty? Tyrannus tyrannus, the Eastern Kingbird.

All in all it was quite a day!!!

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Wherein the Students are Happy But the Teachers are Down Right Giddy!!!

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It's THAT time again!!!! Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Coloradolady and Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.













In honor of the fact that TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL for this year, I'm sharing these old music class books.

But before I do that, let me just reassure you that we teachers are thrilled to the soles of our feet to be FREE, FREE AT LAST!!!! (Go ahead, sing with me!)

A while back at some family gathering or other, these little school books were up for grabs, so I GRABBED.

Because, people, I REMEMBER the day we used books like these several times a week at school. I don't think I ever had the chance to KEEP mine, they were turned in at the end of the school year just like any other book.

Evidently some students had to purchase their own music books. The two solid blue ones belonged to my uncle Chuck, my dad's brother-in-law. So, they're older than I am - - - by A LOT!!! Were he still living, Uncle Chuck would be past 90.

The other two were evidently passed down amongst my cousins. These obviously belonged to my cousin, whom I affectionately call Albert Elmer, (another story - - - another post) and he apparently had to share them with:

His little sister, Ruthie. Ruthie is my age - - - we're just young little things. ;-)

I don't know how THEY used these books at school, but I remember in northern Wisconsin we used to have a radio program called "Let's Sing." It came on several times a week and the teacher tuned it in and we - - - - - you guessed it - - - - we SANG.

I'm still singin' - - - - this time it's "School's Out for the Summer!"

Aside: Hubby had to tell me whose song that was, if you'd have asked me I'd have said I didn't care for Alice Cooper - - - but I guess I DO LIKE THIS ONE!!!!

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The 7 X 7 Award, AKA: An Award With No Name - - -

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At least I can't find name for it. Just my kind of an award. :-)

It comes to me from Lynn at "It's a July Thing" , who said some very nice things about those to whom she gave it.

To receive it I need to share seven things about myself and then pass it on to seven folk, who in turn should share their seven things in a post on THEIR BLOGS.

Seven Keetha Things:

1) I smile a lot
2) I have hair in between my toe knuckles.
3) I need to use deodorant - - - so I do!
4) According to my students, I was born before the beginning of time.
5) According to my father, I USED to be little.
6) I HATE phone calls, making and taking them.
7) I am a procrastinator of the nth degree - - - especially about things I hate like paying bills and making phone calls.

Now, I was truly in need of an award icon for my sidebar list. If YOU are reading this, and are also in need of such an icon, then I pass it along to YOU, and I only hope there are seven of you!!!

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She's a Lurker, Folks!!!

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Sunday when I posted our 34th Anniversary photo extravaganza (here) I didn't show any of my lovely '70's bridesmaids' dresses, nor my lovely 70's bridesmaids for that matter - - - mostly because I didn't HAVE any good pictures of either.

My one-and-only sibling-sister left one of her RARE comments (she's a lurker, folks - - - I'm the talker) on that post saying she still HAD her dress hanging in her closet. Furthermore, she said it had been her FAVORITE bridesmaid dress of all the weddings she was in so she kept it.

Now, perhaps those of you who like to COLLECT things don't find that surprising. I, on the other hand, knowing my sister, NEARLY LOST MY TEETH!!!! You see, my sister is NOT a hoarder - - - - she is a minimalist keeper of the nth degree. Why, when her children got new Christmas or Birthday toys they had to GUARD them or they'd be gone in the next available trash. Oh I do jest - - - but just barely.

Anyway, when my eldest, Keri, saw the comment she begged her Aunt Pam to PUT THE DRESS ON (yah, this is 2009 and the dress was from 1975, which if you're having math challenges was 34 years ago) and have her picture taken in it so we could all see the dress again. Keri further said, "I KNOW you can still wear it, Aunt Pam."

I KNEW as soon as I saw the request that it was ENTIRELY POSSIBLE as my sister, besides being a lurker and a nonhoarder, is probably even thinner and fitter now than she was back in the 1975 day. (I'm not, and that's all I'll say about that.)

It was only a few minutes later that these arrived in my e-mail inbox having been texted to Keri who e-mailed them on to me:

Lovely Sister Pam
In her circa 1975 Bridesmaid Dress
From my circa 1975 Wedding.

Mom made this dress too,
Just for all you seamstresses who were wondering.
I KNOW you were wondering.

Since mom passed away in August,
That makes HAVING this dress even more special.

Same dress, different light, this one is closer to the actual color.

And THIS picture brings up another aspect of my sister that I've just been WAITING to blog about.

Do you see what she is DOING? She is the:

"Texting Queen."

You can text,
You can type,
Having the time of your life!
See that girl?
Watch that screen - - -
Typin' the Texting Queen!!!!
(I did this to Abba's lyrics)

Like I said - - - I talk. Talkers don't text.

:-)

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I Remember Their Sacrifice

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And today I commemorate their memory with some scenes from our nation's capitol.

I dedicate this post to my childhood friend, Lee Peters, who gave his life in Viet Nam in service to our country. Lee, I will never forget you nor your sacrifice for our freedom.

I know full well that our freedom is not free.

Our Capitol

"Father, please fill the hearts and minds of
our nation's law-makers with
Your presence and wisdom - - -"

Washington Monument

"Thank you for our Founding Fathers
who looked to you for guidance
in building this great nation of ours - - -"

Viet Nam Memorial

"Please bless the families and friends
of those who paid the ultimate price
for our freedom - - -"

World War II Memorial

"May we never forget their sacrifice - - -"

"And may we be ready to give - - -"

"That which You ask of us - - -"

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

"When you call us into Your service, Lord."

Four of my students
Placing a memorial wreath at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

"For we know that it is only by serving You - - -"

Arlington National Cemetery

"With our complete selves - - -"

"That we will ever be truly free.
Amen."

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Makin' Our OWN History - - -

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34 years ago last night, this is how soon-to-be hubby and I appeared at our wedding rehearsal and dinner, because this is how we rolled - - - pure class. You can't tell from this picture, but we were wearing the quintessential bell bottom blue jeans, 'cause it WAS 1975 Y'ALL. And my hair cut - - - that was called a gypsy shag.


This is hubby-to-be moments before the ceremony deeply contemplating whether or not he was willing to be joined to me for an interminably long time - - - or cleaning the shoe polish off his fingers, I'll let you decide which. (For all you young whipper snappers, shoe polish was a product that came in a jar or can which one rubbed on one's scuffed up shoes, let it dry, and then buffed them to a glossy shine.)

And just what was I doing at that moment????


Why, running through the reception area moving everything on the tables 1/4 inch to make sure it was placed JUST so, of course!!!!!

And those things in my hair? Uh yah, pretty sure those were called CURLERS, those predated hot rollers. We had to SLEEP in those things, and they were made out of hard plastic!!!!! Not a lot of rest in those days, but it was all worth it to be beautiful. Or not.

Little side note for all you "retro" fans: THESE pictures are TRUE "real people" seventies shots. I say that because once a few years ago at school during homecoming we had a 70's day. My students (all knowing little children that they are) informed me I wasn't dressed like the 70's. HELLO - - - I only went to high school, college, got married, and had one child IN THE 70'S, I THINK I know how we dressed - - - and THESE PICTURES ARE IT. Notice the lovely maxi dress my cousin is sporting in this picture.

And here we are the just pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Greg F. Broyles with our parents.

Perhaps this is a good time to tell you that while MY side of the family went through the service with GREAT BIG "whew-we-finally-pawned-her-off" grins on their faces, hubby's family sobbed like babies through the whole thing - - - hubby included, only he said his eyes were just sweatin'.

And like all newly wed couples we believed life would be a fairy tale of happily ever after. Praise God that's all we knew, 'cause if we knew the truth of the WORK that was going to be involved, perhaps we would have been unable to smile, I don't know.

And even though my mom was severly crippled with rheumatoid arthritis for all the memories of my life, she still made my wedding dress. I made the veil. Yes I did. I sewed every bit of that lace around it by my little own hand.

But please don't get any ideas - - - I didn't like sewing then (just did it for the "thing" of being able to say I did) and HATE it today, so I'm not going to be joining any quilting or sewing blogs in the near future.

We kept it simple. I carried a few rosebuds on top of the same little white Bible that my mom carried in her wedding years before. Oh, but I did NOT throw the Bible out with the bouquet to the single ladies in the crowd. I still have it someplace, I think.


And we had wedding cake, though we did not freeze the top for a later anniversary as we had heard HORROR stories about how dry and terrible it could be a whole year later. No sirree bob, we ate that top right on our honeymoon when it was still quite moist and tasty.


And hubby enjoyed a little extra icing when no one was looking. He still does that every chance he gets to this very day.

So, what exciting things did we do today to celebrate these 34 years of wedded bliss?? Why, we went to church, ate out at Applebees afterwards, hubby watched some fishing shows and took a nap, and I blogged and went to two graduation open houses. It was a great day!

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Today in History - - -

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Coming Later
Please Stay Tuned - - -

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Sunday Rerun - Sonic Commercial

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I get sooooo excited about our bloggy Sunday reruns!!! Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting Sunday Favorites.

Being an undeniable Blogaddict, I loved this old Sonic commercial. They "get" what we bloggers know, namely that a blog without readers and commenters is null and void.

Sonic Man's Blog
First posted October 9, 2006

(photo from a Sonic commercial)

Blogging hit the "big time" - - - it's gotten into a commercial!!!!

The scene: Husband and wife sitting in their car enjoying strawberry cheesecake milkshakes from Sonic. Here's my "rough" translation of what happens next - - -

Husband says: "I think I'll write all about this on my blog so my readers will know to try one."

Wife says: "What readers? The only person who reads your blog is your mom"

Husband replies: "No, I think she told her neighbor"

Wife: "Oh, so now you have TWO readers?"

I LOVE IT!!!!! (No, not the shakes - - - - the fact that blogging is in a commercial)

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To Follow or Not to Follow - - -

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That is the question.

(Twitter Follow-me icon)
(No, I DON'T twitter, just used their icon
because I FOUND it on Google Image)

How do you decide which blogs to follow and which to leave as random ships passed in the night? I've been asking myself that question for a while now. My follow list is already at 98, even with a modicum of selectivity on my part, and when does my list get too long to actually, you know, FOLLOW????

Well, here are a few of the criteria I've been using in my own selection process:

1) Friends in real life. If I already have a connection with you, and then I find you have a blog, that will probably be a trump card that will keep me following you even if you miss the mark on all my other criteria.

2) Personality. Something in your random blog post that I happened across jumped out and claimed my attention because it was so full of your fun and eclectic personality. Could I be any more clear!?! LOL

3) Humor. If you make me LOL, and especially if you make me LOL TWICE in the same post - - - I'm yours. Let's face it, life is really full of rather humorless things - - - I don't really need that in my blogaddiction hobby. Life is full of causes - - - some good, some not so much. I don't want THAT in my blogaddiction either. So - - - if you are fun, witty, and FUNNY - - - - you have me at hello.

4) Pictures. I'll admit it. If I open a blog, and it's a loooooonnnnnnnnggggggg column of just words - - - I'm moving on without reading. Once I get to know you, I'll stick around for some long prose - - - but that won't "grab" me to come in out of cyberspace. (I say this as I'm posting a loooooonnnnnnnggggggg very verbose post - - - go figure.) If the words are broken up into some interesting format - - - bullets, poem form, color added - - - that helps. What can I say - - - I think we ALL have very visual sides to our learning curves.

5) Comments. If you come to my blog and leave comments, I'm going to yours to check it out. (So be sure your comment name is linked to your blog or your profile.) When I get to your blog, all my other criteria kick in. If you continue to come to my blog and leave comments, especially if through your comments we start to build a friendship - - - then I'm also going to follow you. What can I say - - - for me the BESTEST thing about blogging is community.


6) Frequency of posting. Once I start following you, if you post with some amount of frequency, I will start to feel a connection with you - - - I will begin to "know" you and I'm yours. Periodically I go through my follow list and if you have posted so infrequently that I don't even know who you are by your blog title, I'll be honest, I'm probably deleting you from my list.

How do YOU decide whom to follow?

How do YOU know when your blog follow list is toooooo long to actually follow? OH - - - but I guess THAT should be the topic of ANOTHER post!!!

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Moe's is Open!!!

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Driving home from school today I saw a large, temporary sign beside the bypass that made me want to slam on my brakes and cause a tremendous traffic jam.

I managed to resist that urge, but did go around a couple of blocks (which involved weaving through a mobile home sales lot, cutting through a strip mall parking area, and driving right through a bank drive-up lane - - - but that's another story for another post)

And what sign could possibly have had this great effect on me???? (Is that the right effect, or should it be an affect - - - I can't keep those straight.)

The large yellow sign said: "Moe's Open"

Now, I had eaten for the first time (on the way down), and also the second time (on the way back) in a Moe's in the Atlanta airport on our last trip to Florida. Someone commented on this very blog that Moe's was coming to Marion, but I knew neither when nor where.

Thus, my quick detour around the block (sort of) to come back and check it out.

Tonight after our Baccalaureate service, my friend Diane and I stopped in to do more than just check it out. The "more" included eating.


I don't think I'm the only one who is excited to have Moe's in Marion. . .


We had to wait in a Wal-Mart-esque line to order our food - - - but that's OK, we saw people we knew waiting right there with us.


We carried our tray of food to the sidewalk dining area. (That's fancy talk for a picnic table.) (What silly photographer left her little pink camera case right there to ruin this shot, and then did NOT EVEN have the sense to edit it OUT of the picture?????)

The food did NOT disappoint!!!


Goooood stuff - - - sodium and all.

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