It was truly HELLISH, it really was....

Do ya all know about SPANX? If you do, you are shaking your head, saying "oh dear, you poor thing" but if you're not familiar with Spanx, girlfriends, let me enlighten you. They are truly, TRULY, the most torteous item of fat girdling spandex that you will EVER try to put on your body. For real they are. They are high waisted, mid-thigh length panties that you somehow try to squeeze your body into in an attempt to look less lumpy. That's pretty much it in a nutshell.

I've been reading about SPANX for some time now, celebrities are crazy about them, my friend Barb swears by them, my daughter-in-law, Lindsay, loves them. I tried them on, well actually I just took them out of the package and shuddered at the size of them this spring while on a trip to Nashville. Tonia tried them on, and she was shrieking in the dressing room that there was no way she was going to wear them (smart daughter-in-law of mine) and I just totally said fuggedabout it...

Well time passes, desperation sets in and last week while I was in Lexington at Chico's, I plopped down the $35 for a pair of SPANX, in a size 1... Lindsay said that it was going to be fine, that after you put them on 2 or 3 times they stretch to fit you. Right, Dilly, sure they do....

So I'm back home, getting ready to go out for dinner in a new pair of jeans a size smaller than I've been wearing 'cause all my wacky dieting efforts are finally paying off, and I'm thinking that the Spanx might just be what I need because my new jeans are not exactly loose, so I take them out of the wrapper, having flashbacks from last spring , but determined that I was going to put the damned things on. Now let me explain that when you unfold them, they look like they might possibly fit on one thigh they are so narrow. Actually they look like they might possibly fit a preteen anorexic body. Lindsay told me to just be patient, to put them on slowly and that it would be fine.

Well, she might be able to pull them on her cute little body, but OMG, let me tell you it was positively HELL trying to get them on my middle aged, donut ravaged body. I pulled and I tugged and I yanked, and I only had them up to the middle of my thighs. By this time I was breaking out in a sweat, but I had to keep going, so I dusted myself with baby powder and up they went. Inch by inch, standing on one leg, then the other, pulling and yanking until FINALLY, FINALLY I get them to my waist.

Whew, I had to take a rest before I attempted to pull them all the way up under my boobs. I'm seriously perspiring by now, sitting under the ceiling fan with it on high in an attempt to cool off a bit before I finished packing myself into them. I called Linds on the phone to tell her that I at least had them to my waist, and she's assuring me that they will stretch out. All I can think is why didn't I get them in a size 2, why did I have to believe the stupid sizing charts anyway. What do they know...

So I'm sitting on the side of the bed, positively gasping for air, because my stomach is absolutely squeezed so badly that I can barely breathe, and by now all the fat has pushed itself up all the way up to my chin cause it had to go somewhere and I'm thinking there is no way in HELL that these things are going to be comfortable. I'm sitting there waiting for them to stretch like Lindsay said they would, and I have to leave the house in fifteen minutes.

So I yank on my jeans, yeah I guess I look a bit smoother, no actually I really look like a stuffed snausage packed in it's casing, and now I'm leaving in ten minutes. I CAN'T STAND IT, I CAN'T DO THIS, I'm thinking, what if I go out and they burst at the seams. Will all the fat just explode in my jeans???? So slowly, painfully, I pull them off, thank goodness it's easier going down than it was going up. I breathe a huge sigh of relief, the fat is gone from my chin now, settling back down into my middle aged midsection where it belongs. I throw the SPANX in a drawer, thinking maybe if I lose another 20 lbs. I MIGHT be able to wear them...

Silly old broad, whatever was I thinking anyway..... You don't believe me? Well, you just go out and buy yourself a pair and see how they work out for you.... I'm not kidding, these things are just seriously WRONG!!!!

My first day of school...

The year was 1955, Tennessee Ernie Ford had a hit record, Sixteen Tons, as did The Platters, You've Got the Magic Touch, and me, I was five years old, and ready for first grade.

Money was really hard to come by, and I remember my Great Aunt Annie and Uncle Rex coming to visit and buying me school shoes at Marlin's Department Store. They were little brown rounded toe t-straps with perforations in the top and I wore them with white socks with lacy tops. Egads, how do I remember THAT when I can't even remember what I had for dinner tonight??? Mother had made me a brown plaid dress, with a full short skirt, and I had sausage curls and ribbons in my hair, and of course I was beyond excited to be such a big girl and getting to go to first grade. There was no kindergarden in those days and our grade school, Booth Memorial, was being built and not finished yet, so for a few weeks, until we were able to move to the new building, school for me was in the Home Ec Building at the high school.

I still remember that day vividly, and most importantly, I remember that Donna Jones had her hair cut in a short bob, and the top of it was pulled to the side and anchored with a wide, white bow and she had this BIG lollipop, and she gave us all a lick. Oh, I thought she was just beautiful, and she had a RED lollipop, too.

Of course my Mother was mortified to think that I had licked that sucker, along with all the other first graders, but I was SO impressed. I'm sure I had butterflies, and in later years, I always tossed my cookies the first day of school, as did Ryan, and as still does Ang's Sam, but I can't remember that happening that day.

I didn't ride the bus, oh no, Mother wouldn't let me ride on that nasty old bus, she drove me to school. Overprotective??? Just a bit... a trait, I unfortunately inherited with my own children, and that even filters down to this day to the M&M's. Yeah, I won't let poor Maggie Moo play outside because I'm afraid a hawk will get her. And I'm always afraid the Munchkin will get heat stroke when she's outside, so I stand at the front door screeching like a banshee for them both to come back inside.

It was SUCH a big deal to be old enough to go to school, Daddy had already taught me to read, I knew my numbers, could write my name, but I was really bad at coloring, I had a devil of a time staying in the lines.

I also remember that room having lots of desks in it, and an upright piano and big fans to keep us cool. Hmmmm, must have been a hot fall in 1955... We had to carry our lunch, too, because there was no cafeteria in the high school. I would love to remember what Mother packed for me. We didn't eat a lot of peanut butter in those days, and knowing her, she probably got up and fried chicken for me since it was always my favorite thing.

Good memories, my early childhood. Life was so simple, then...

Why am I so tired?

Probably because we took a flying trip to Lexington for a couple of days to visit Ryan and Lindsay, shopped til we dropped, came home yesterday evening, showered and went to Deerhead for dinner. Then up early this morning, running errands, grocery shopping, yadayadayada - I'm too old for all this hubub, girlfriends...

And I might add we came home to mid 80 degree temps with low humidity. I actually took a ride on Milly this morning with my sweatshirt on. It was a wonderful thing...

Hubby is working, and my goal in life this weekend is to make authentic Cuban black beans, using a recipe from my friend Janet's no-good Cuban ex-husband, who she says made wonderful beans. And you all know how much I do adore any kind of the musical fruit...

We ate not Cuban but Cajun food in Lexington, and it was so good, and I'm thinking I should be able to make authentic ethnic food at home. I know what my problem is, I'm not brave enough with the spices. It's all about those darned spices, and sauces, especially hot sauces which I happen to adore. I had one Thursday night called, and appropriately so, "No Tears In Heaven." Wow, now that cleared the sinuses and had me gulping water. I would have loved to given some of this to Uncle Rich (my buddy V's hubby) as he also shares my love of all things so flaming hot that it must surely char our throats as we swallow it.

And that's it from Heavensville. Life is good, kids are fine, John and Tonia are home now from their vacation in Spain. V and Rich are visiting her family in Michigan. I just got pix from Barb, she's back from her Alaskan cruise. Ang is going away for a couple of days, Marti has had a "guy" visiting this past week, and now her cousin is coming. Jeez, everybody has wanderlust.

Me, I'm all about this low-cal pumpkin pie and stews and those darned beans this weekend.... I'll update you on how it's all working out.

In fact, check out the following recipe I found on a Cuban site online. It's not the recipe I'm using, but I'm intrigued by the fact that you cook the beans and discard the liquid you cooked them in. Check this out. Looks pretty good..

Good Cuban Black Beans and Rice, known on the island as Moros y Christianos, is actually two recipes cooked separately and combined into this hearty one dish meal as it is served. This recipe serves one helping to 3 to 4 persons. We often recommend preparation of a double recipe.

First, the Black Beans..... sorting, rinsing thoroughly, covering with fresh water, soaking overnight, draining, rinsing once again, covering with water again and cooking. Believe me, it is worth all of the effort.
Open a 1 pound package of dry black beans (2 cups)
Into a large pot, pour the beans. Look for and discard STONES and other non-bean things.
Under fresh running water, then rinse the beans thoroughly.
Drain the beans and cover the large pot with 6 to 8 cups of clean water.
Bring the pot of beans and water to a rolling boil, stirring frequently.
Reduce the heat and simmer the black beans in the large pot with the lid slightly open for 1½ hours until the beans are very tender.
Drain the cooked black beans (do not rinse again) and set aside, warm, in a covered bowl.
In the pot that you used to cook the beans, heat the olive oil.
Add the bacon, onion, garlic, celery and green pepper into the hot oil.
Cook, stirring constantly until onion is translucent.
Add chicken stock or broth until these ingredients are completely covered.
Add bay leaf, vinegar, tomato.
Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add in the drained beans.
Add in more chicken stock or broth until bean and seasoning mixture is covered.
Simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep covered.
Remove the bay leaf and discard it.

Part two. . . . . the Rice..... prepare your favorite white rice per the package instructions.

Finally. . . . . in large individual soup bowls, place a mound of the hot cooked white rice.
Ladle the piping hot black bean soup into the bowls over the rice.
Serve very hot with warm buttered Cuban bread and Tabasco sauce on the side as garnish.

I guess you all realize...

The pix in my header is of John and I when he was just three months old. I was twenty-two, and yes, that's my real hair color, and yep, it was really long when I took it out of those pigtails.

I look back at those pictures and think, was I ever really that young? Wasn't he the cutest little baby? Oh, what I wouldn't give to go back for just one day.... *sigh* I'm really nostalgic lately....

Just had to share....

This adorable little Yorkie's pix was on a Yorkie Talk Forum.

I just had to post this. Did you EVER see a cuter little dog than this? She's a tiny thing, people say she's about 4-5 months old.

Oh what a face. She reminds me a lot of Maggie.

Just makes my hormones go WILD!!!!!

Samo with a twist...

Hot, hot, hot, 98 right now, AND the air conditioner went on the fritz late yesterday. Talk about a bad mood....

The heat/ac man was coming to work on it this afternoon, I had to leave this morning, and I figured as soon as I left he would show up, so I put a note on the front door that said in part.

Air Conditioning Man, if you come while I'm gone, don't you DARE leave!!!! I'll be right back, house is unlocked, just go for it!!!!!

Well, he didn't come, of course, not til this afternoon, but it was a simple fix (supposedly) and it's now cooled down in here from 85 to 79. Whoeee, cold front.....

The M&M's just laid on the stone floor, no doubt wondering what was up. Poor babies, they were in their fur coats, no way for them to chill out, except for the ice water I kept replenishing for them.

I'm tellin' ya if this heat doesn't abate soon, I'm going to go stark raving mad, I'll probably be running naked in the street, and trust me, that's a site you don't want to see!!!!!!!!!!

I know EXACTLY how she feels....

Girlfriends, I think most of us can relate to this. And she still looks fantastic, in my opinion. And give her credit for not having succumbed duck lips and chinese eyes like so many actresses have.

~ Jan

In the new issue of Health magazine, SALLY FIELD admits she isn't thrilled with the way she looks.

"I think I look like dog poop," she says when asked about her secret to looking great at 60. "I'm not any different from a lot of American women who want to put a piece of black velvet over the mirror when they turn 50. The good news is that I'm healthy and I'm here."

In the issue hitting newsstands August 28, Sally talks about everything from suffering from osteoporosis to her workout regimen.

Another one of those peaceful things....

On my daily trek to Burdette Park to walk the track, I pass by The Monastery of St. Clare. An order of nuns live there, but it's very low key, you never see anyone out and about except for this one spry little nun.

I would judge her to be in her mid 60's, and she walks on the shoulder of the country road daily, accompanied by a gorgeous Yellow Lab. She is as trim as a girl, wearing her khaki shirtwaist and the required black headpiece, and she is just as brown as a biscuit. She always has the sweetest smile, and looks so happy and serene. It makes me feel good to just smile and wave at her as I pass by.

It's a wonderful thing, the countryside, even in this 90 degree weather. The Blue Heron on the lake was posing for me on one foot this morning, still as a statue, and the honkers and the quackers walked alongside for a bit.

The dry leaves are starting to fall on the track now, and they blow and rustle in the wind. It's an awesome thing, Mother Nature, even when she isn't cooperating the way we would like her to.

Well, would ya look at this

This little halter top from Sweeties has the same embroidery design as a pair of Ma's pillowcases. Now isn't that something... And they want $61 for this, ON SALE!!!!!

Well, I probably have those pillowcases in the attic, but my halter days are long gone, and somehow I can't see either one of my dilly's wearing this....

Too funny for words...

Long ago summers...

I was just talking to Hooterville the other day and she said her mom did this very same thing. I was telling her that when I was a little girl, as soon as Mother would get home from work in the summer, she would take off her shirt, and go around the house in her bra and skirt, trying to keep cool. Her Mom did the same thing, too.

So here I sit, in my bra and capris, home from the grocery in this once again stifling heat. Just what you wanted to know, right?

Today is LC's birthday, and I'm going to make him meatloaf, roasted potatoes and carrots, corn on the cob, bibb lettuce salad and a pineapple upside down cake. His very faves... He's working til 8, so it will be a late dinner.

Actually feels pretty good to come home and take off my shirt.

NO - NO - NO, I just can't do this, I can't turn into my Mother, not yet... I'm off to the shower and then into a tshirt..

Let me tell ya' I'm feeling MUCH better....

After I blogged about my park experience this morning, I showered, dressed, put on LOTS of eye makeup trying to make myself feel less ancient and went out to run errands.

I was in Office Depot looking at their Nano cases, and this 20 something clerk actually FLIRTED with me. OMG, THANK YOU JEBUS!!!!!!!!

He was pretty nerdy, and he was probably bored to tears in that store, but at least he didn't act like I was a GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmmmm, I wonder how I'm going to get people to yell "Hey Nana Sugar" instead of "Hey Granny" when the time comes and I actually AM a Grandma????? Maybe I'll get a bumper sticker, yeah a bumper sticker that says "Honk for Nana Sugar" - that should do it!!!!!!!!

Well I just blew a gasket this morning, as Ma used to say.....

Okay, I'm still in a mood. Don't believe me, just ask Marti? OMG, I ranted last night to her for half an hour. But this morning something else happened and I'm justfied in being upset, I really am...

Okay, I'm off to Burdette this morning to walk, even though it's trying to drizzle and as humid as the Amazon Rain Forest. And I'm in SUCH a good mood because sweet hubby took care of my little "problem." My little problem being my new MP3 player that I loved the idea of but HATED the unit. Why??? It sounded great, it was small, it was red, but it was just CRAP. The firmware was not user friendly and the LCD screen was grainy and so faint that you couldn't see which albums you were highlighting when you were outside. And every time I turned the darned thing on, this ugly little Alligator came up on the screen. It was a Sansa, from San Disk, apparently that is their logo, but it was just butt ugly. Just put me in a bad mood looking at that little varmit everytime I turned it on. It sounded really good, but what good was the sound when you couldn't even manuever the menu or see the screen...

So anyway, I was fuming about it yesterday and hubby said, "just take it back and get what you want, I've still got the packaging." So I jumped right on that, but couldn't find the darned receipt. Finally, I looked up my online bank statement, found that I had purchased it on July 16th, and Circuit City has a 30 day return policy, so I call them up and they tell me I don't need a receipt cause they can look it up in their computer.

So I took it back and now I have a snazzy green iPod Nano that I simply ADORE, and the menu is clear, easy to read and manuever, and there is NO alligator.... So what happened to put me in a bad mood when I'm on my way to walk with my new toy....

WELL, I'm pulling in the park, and there is this shortcut that's reallly the exit, but everybody cuts thru there cause it's faster and there is never any traffic. So I zip thru there like I normally do, and there is this 20 something year old sitting on a tractor getting ready to spray, probably for alligators, and he yells out "You're going the wrong way, GRANDMA." OMG, he called me GRANDMA. Well, why not, I'm old as dirt now, and i sit really low in my car, I probably did look just like his grandma, especially with no makeup on, well I did have on lip gloss...

OH, DID I SEE RED, I'm telling ya, I was livid. SO I SLAM ON MY BRAKES, GET OUT OF THE CAR AND STOMP OVER TO THIS NEANDATHAL, who in the meantime is now talking to one of the other workers. I started screeching at him, saying that even though I WAS going the wrong way that he was rude to me and that there was no excuse for him yelling at me. He looked right at me, and said "I'm so sorry, you're absolutely right, I shouldn't have done that, I didn't think you could hear me." Well, apparently he did have some kind of upbringing, because he at least apologized, so I just smiled and said, "Apology accepted, you have yourself a really nice day." Then I hotfooted it back to my car and drove over to the track.

Holy crap, girlfriends, am I turning into Maxine in my senior years???? Whatever is wrong with me??? I think I'm really getting too ballsy for my own good.. But he shoudn't have said that!!!!

Bet he thinks twice before he does it again. Nah, he and that other guy probably had a big laugh at my expense, but at least I felt better... And that iPod is S-WEET!!!!!!!

A little trivia....

Remember back...

It's Halloween, and you are eight. Remember how exciting that was? What was your favorite candy you hoped to get?

Mine wasn't candy, I always wanted popcorn balls. But both Hooterville and I ADORED Valomilks, still do, and I loved any candy bar with nuts in it. Zero, Hollywood, Mars Bar, Reese Cups of course, and I LOVED LOVED LOVED Almond Joy. Sometimes you feel like a nut...

When I was eight I probably either dressed as a bum or as a high heeled lady. We weren't exactly costume savvy in the 50's in Enfield...

Did we carve a pumpkin??? Of course, we always did. Simple zigzags around, standard toothy smile. Worked for me...

Halloween parties? Yep, I remember going to the basement of Enfield Christian Church, walking thru the dark on bedsprings, being slapped in the face with a wet mop and feeling eyeballs (wet grapes) and brains (who knows what they were). Ugh, probably don't want to know. I also remember bobbing for apples and how Margaret Hardesty stuck her whole head in the water. I couldn't imagine why she would get her hair wet like that in front of people. Yeah, I was girly even as a preteen... She did get an apple though, I still remember her head coming out of the water with that apple in her mouth. haaaaaa

I seriously think the heat has fried my brain......... 100 again tomorrow, can't wait. Cooldown today, 95. Whoeeeeeee...

What happens when it goes hot???

People get downright nasty, that's what. I'm no exception, I've been in a really pissy cranky mood all week in Heavensville's unrelenting heat.

So instead of blogging about my favorite things, or some such stupid nonsense, your normally Miss Merry Sunshine is going to blog about the things that really frost my cake!!!!

Here are Jan's major bitches...

Guys who are outside with their shirts off (construction workers excluded). There is NOTHING worse than seeing some blubbery old geezer prancing around his yard naked to his waist. Totally disgusting...

Screaming kids in a restaurant or worse, in the library. When mine were little we yanked their little butt's outside when they started acting up.

And speaking of kids, everybody knows that it just drives me wild when mother's are at a restaurant and don't put a bib on their baby. Very seldom do you see bibs anymore, and the kid is always just dropping food all over a pricey little outfit. This is just WRONG...

Nutritional information that is misleading. I get so mad when I pick up a muffin for instance, and it says 120 calories, BUT if you look closely it says per serving and there is 2 servings in that friggin' little muffin. Whoever heard of a lousy muffin being 2 servings??? Are they kidding, a muffin is a BITE for pete's sake... Grrrrrr

When people tell me how "good" I get "around". Jeez Louise, people, I have no feet, it's not the end of the world, I just get up and walk. Nobody tells a fat lady that they are amazed that she can "get around" with all that fat. Gimme a break....

Those awful lights in a dressing room. Now why do stores do that? Why do they have the most unflattering lights known to man woman??? Don't they know that soft pink lights sell more clothes. And what about those hot dressing rooms? Like it's 125 sweltering degrees and who wants to sweat in a dressing room. Kick down the thermostat and you might sell more clothes. DUH.....

When you go do the doctor or the dentist and they tell you that their "procedure" might be a little "uncomfortable." UNCOMFORTABLE, HELL. their stupid "procedures" leave you with mind boggling, blinding uncontrollable pain. Easy for them to say....

People who make nasty little comments because I kiss my dogs. My dogs are my family, of course I kiss them. I also blow on their little bellies, dance them around the kitchen, and sing to them. So I'm a crazy old lady. SO WHAT!!!!!! Like I'm going to be kissing the people that are making those comments... I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snotty little salesclerks in pricey boutiques. Cmon people, you're making what, oh maybe $10 an hour... I'm SO in awe of you!!! Get real....

Waiters with an attitude, usually men. HELLO, am I going to give you a good tip when you are being an absolute asshole?????? And how much does your little job pay an hour without those tips???? Jeez, it's not rocket science........................

Oh, and women that are maybe a size six dripping wet, asking you if you think they look fat. FAT, AT SIZE SIX... OH-PUHLEEZ........

Well now that I'm all stirred up, I could continue this all afternoon, but I won't. I'm going to go take a shower now and go out into this wonderful 95 degree weather.

But hey, feel free to post any comments about what really bugs YOU. This is a lot more fun than doing ten questions about my favorite movie, tv show, yadayadayada...

OMG....

It's 103 right now in Heavensville, dunno what heat index is. I was out and about, it was so hot I thought I was just gonna roast. I was pulling off clothes as I came in the door.

Check out our 15 day forecast. I don't believe this....

Weatherman said yesterday it was hottest day, I'm sure today topped it. Leapin' lizards it is just HORRID!!!! No walking for me, no way am I gonna walk in this heat...

We aren't the only ones aging...

V sent me this link to a slide show about how celebs are aging. It's great - check it out HERE!

Could this be our next First Lady?

They say Fred Thompson's wife is keeping a low profile. Ummmmm, okay...

Nonono, I'm not getting political on you, well I am a Hillary fan, but we won't go into that one, it's not her I like, but Bill. **SHOCK** Sorry gang, I just happen to think he's totally charismatic, despite his many decadent trysts...

Anyhoo, I won't make a habit of this, just had no idea of what his wife looked like 'til I oogled Googled her.

Am I the only one???

Who can't open ANYTHING??? I can't open my newest summer find, that yummy Fuze Slenderize drink. I twist and turn the cap, rap on it with a knife handle and will it open, NO!!!!! Jars are impossible, but Ryan and Lindsay bought me an electric jar opener, which works great, but unfortunately hubby keeps taking it off the counter in the garage and putting it on a shelf.

And ya know those little foil thingies on the tops of bottles to seal them. They never come off. NEVER!!!! I end up poking them with a knife and then they squirt crooked and soak me.

Sometimes my Diet Coke tabs fall into the can. And wine??? OMG, forget that. I always have the cork swimming in the wine and have to strain the damned stuff...

But I do wonder why hubby never has these problems. EVER!!! He patiently takes what I'm trying to open and smoothly executes it. *sigh*

I think my problems with this started as a child. I remember being at the Queen's Grill in Carmi, eating my favorite cheeseburger basket, and at that time ketchup came in those little oblong pods with foil on top. Well, somehow I managed to squirt ketchup on the headliner of Mother's car. They say everything is rooted in childhood, and I can definitely pinpoint the beginning of this affliction.

I don't even TRY and put the M&M's flea meds on them, I would pour the whole dose in the wrong spot. There is just no answer for my problem, either. Even when I slow down, I still can't make things operate like they should..

I had a fiasco with my mascara wand last week that I won't even blog about.

And so here I sit, with this stupid virus, feeling pretty much, as Ang likes to say, like "dog shit." I'm sleeping my days away, but it's so darned hot I wouldn't be doing anything outside anyway. I walked 2/3 of a mile this morning, and was so weak I had to quit. And we have another week of this 95 degree + heat forecasted for Heavensville Hellville...

I'm outta here, gonna do SOMETHING, maybe I'll drown my sorrows in watermelon. Then I'll be up all night going potty...

Jan here, signing out, pretty much in a suxy mood...

Those were the days...

Remember when you were a kid and played out in the heat. I can remember riding my bike, the sweat just pouring down my face. I was dusty and dirty, but I just kept on going.

I walked this morning at 8am. Thought I was going to just lay down and die right there on the track. O-M-G it was hot and it wasn't even mid-morning. I need to run errands, I'm putting it off. I just don't handle hot at all now that I'm on the wrong side of fifty-five...

I guess I've gotten soft in my old age. I'm sitting here with the AC cranked, the ceiling fan whirring and I'm complaining...

I just need to step back and count my blessings. It was a hard life in the country in the 50's. I don't think we even had a fan when I was a little girl. I can remember visiting my aunt and uncle, and I was just awestruck by the round ottoman style fan in their living room. I thought it was the greatest thing.

Mother cooked a lot in her electric skillet on hot summer days. Probably to try and keep the house cooler. We drank huge amounts of iced tea and ate a lot of Blue Bell Bologna ($.59 cents a pound from Marlin's Department Store.) Oh that bologna was wonderful... Full of garlic, wrapped in white paper and tied with a string, eaten on white gummy bread smeared with Miracle Whip and slices of fresh tomatoes and onions. What a feast that was... See, it was all about food, even then...

*sigh* Blue Bell Bologna is long gone now, I guess I could get some Oscar Mayer Fat Free Bologna and eat it on high fiber bread... Jeez Louise, what the hell am I thinking??? It wouldn't be the same at all.