Family Sayings

I'm sure all of you have a family member that maybe you didn't know so well, or you were too young to remember; but the stories about them linger on. I have one such cousin. He was older than my mother & passed away when I was young. He was a corker to say the least. All the stories that are told about him are said with rounds of laughter. He always wore a smile & loved to aggravate his mother. Therefore he was often chased by his mother with a broom, much to the enjoyment of all the witnesses. (Yes, she would even chase him with a broom when there was company in the house.)

I know we all have certain quotes or sayings that are passed down through our families. There is a certain saying that I have always enjoyed from my cousin. It makes me giggle every time that I think about it. My cousin loved to socialize & wasn't deterred if he was short on cash. He would say, with a smile of course, that he needed to borrow some money because he was "financially embarrassed".

Now, you have a phrase to use the next time you don't have quite enough for that Starbuck's latte. You are financially embarrassed. I have been financially embarrassed a few times myself. Come to think of it that's what I should have told the clerk at Wal-Mart when my card was declined.

Now, please share with me your family quotes, sayings, phrases, or jokes. Thanks.

Something to Think About

It's strange how some things don't sound odd until after you've said them. For example, I just said to Riley: "Pick up your pick-ax out of the living room floor before someone stumps their toe on it." It made me stop & ponder. How many other boys enjoy using a pick-ax? Are there many? Dawn, is that something Tyler would enjoy playing with? Just something to think about.

Something else I've been thinking about - the donut business. I was just telling my Aunt we should open a donut shop. She didn't think I would get up at 3AM to make 'em. I whole-heartedly agreed. I'm thinking more of noonish. All the donut places that I know close by 11:00AM. I'm thinking you would have all the afternoon business & wouldn't have to get up 5 hours before everyone else. Diva's daughter was craving donuts right after church. So, there's one customer already. Dawn, I'm sorry to be posting about donuts. I don't want to contribute to blogger booty, but I really think I'm onto something here! :)

What's the good word?

I'm sorry I haven't been posting or commenting, but I'm a little off. I can't really say, "I'm sick". I can't say that it's all allergies either. Wednesday when I came home from work, I was just zapped & had an achey feeling, upset stomach, congestion starting, & a tickle in my throat. I got in bed instead of going to church. I fully expected to wake up to a major illness. I haven't been completely down, but I still don't feel right. There is congestion in my head & it makes me a little off. Know what I mean? Also the medication helps with the congestion, but makes my "off" feeling worse.
I have all my notes waiting on me for my "Orange" masterpiece. (I haven't forgotten, Diva) When I try to comment on everyone else's post, it doesn't seen to come out right. This is making me sound like a walking zombie, huh? That's not true. That's why I'm saying just a little "off". I hope to be back on my A-game soon. In the meantime, I'll be lurking here & reading. So, entertain me. :)

Everybody wants to be me.

Ok, so I am the victim of fraud. No, I'm not talking about Santa Claus. Someone is actually using my name, my address, and worst of all my debit card! The tricks on them. I can't wait until they start getting notices from debt collectors. Seriously though, I have been on the phone the biggest part of the day trying to resolve this. My first tip-off, my card was declined at Wal-Mart. How embarrassing is that? I asked one of the more helpful customer service reps I talked with today if the crook gave an email address when they charged on my card? She laughed & said that they did, but because of privacy laws, she couldn't give it to me. Oh well, as long as I'm being protected from fraud...

Make Haste!

My latest poem was conceived today, concocted from need, borne of exasperation...

Make Haste!

Make haste, make haste!
Graciously step aside, practice forbearance.
Do my needs not exceed your own?
Don your patience & tighten your resolve.
I have laid possession & will not relinquish it!
Though my dominion here be fleeting,
It will reign until my departure.
My successor is a clamorous groaner.
Is the sight of a closed door so loathsome?
What greater torture could be bestowed?
I have never heard of death from biding one's time.
Although, admittedly, I have entertained the idea myself.
Thusly lives the household with one bathroom.

The Riley Line Farewell

Well, this is good-bye to "The Riley Line". Riley said something today that had Colt & me rollin'. After we started laughing. Riley said, "Is that a 'Riley Line'?" I felt like a stage mother should feel! : ( LOL. So, to NOT run the risk of exploiting my beautiful, unaffected son's humorous take on life; I'm going to stop blogging it. I will continue to discreetly take notes when I can & hopefully share it with him & his wife one day, a long time from now, when he can appreciate it. I will also share random Riley-ness with you guys too. Let me give you a final line...

Riley: If I marry a wife named Sal, what will her name be?
Mom: Sally Ellis
Riley: No, SAL.
Mom: Oh, I'm sorry, SAL Ellis.
Riley: (confused) Why's that?
Mom: What do you mean? Did you think that you would get her name?
Riley: No, I thought the preacher made up a new name for ya.

The Riley Line

Mom: Riley, where are your dirty socks?
Riley: I put them in the hanky.
Mom: The hanky?
Riley: Yeah, that's what I call it.

Longevity

My Great-Aunt was released from the hospital today. We went for a visit & to check on her. This is sometimes funny because she doesn't always remember you. We really harrass Colt because more than once she has bragged & bragged about what a pretty girl he was!
Her name is Ima Mamie Omega. That is without her surname. Here's a sampling of some of the other first & middle names of her brothers & sisters: Floyd Otto (Uncle Curly), Alvie Gordon (Uncle Trig), Susie Marvel, & Pleasant Leon (my Grandpa). There were 12 children altogether & I just love the names my Great-Grandmother, Mattie, came up with. Mattie lived to be 104-years old. Most of her children have passed on.
My Aunt Ima is now 100-years old. She will turn 101 in July. Her "kid" sister Susie is 90. My Aunt Ima is a pistol. Her health has deteriorated only in the last few years, but she still tries to clean everything. Even in the hospital, she was telling the nurses that she needed to get up & "Help them clean up". My Aunt Susie is quite a lady too, not at all what I think 90-years old should look like.
I have been thinking about longevity. I was thinking about what is considered a "long" life. I have been told that my time here is considered short. This life is but a vapor. James 4:14 "Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." Psalm 144:4. What is this life compared to eternity? One-hundred years sounds like a long time.
My prayer today is that I fully comprehend the meaning of "You are a mist that appears for a little while & then vanishes." I want to live a life worthy of an eternal inheritance. I want to redeem the time here. I desire a greater understanding of these things.
Do I want to live to be 100? I'm not sure about that, but I am sure that I want to persevere.

The Riley Line

Colt is taking Spanish this year. There are a great amount of Spanish conversations in our household. They tend to be a little one-sided. : ) Colt & I were talking about the names of the luchadors in "Nacho Libre". This is a sampling of that conversation.

Colt: Yes, his name is "Silencio".
Mom: So, his name is actually "Silence"?
Colt: Yes, that's right.
Mom: What kind of name is that for a wrestler?! Silence?!
Riley: I know a guy named Silence.
Mom: Come on, Rye. You know someone named Silence?
Riley: Yeah, he goes to our church.
Mom: There is not anyone at church named Silence.
Riley: Yes, there is. I think he's a Fortney.
Mom: OHH! You mean SILAS!
Riley: Yeah, that's what I said.

The Riley Line

Riley: (yelling)"Mom! I need a towel."

Mom: "Use the one hanging up."

Riley: "This is the towel you used.

Mom: "Yeah."

Riley: "Well, it's filled with cooties."

Pause

Pause

Riley: "What are cooties anyway?"

What a day!

I had such a special birthday! My friends & family are something else. The birthday wishes started with my nephew calling me. What a sweetie. Of course, my Mom called. Riley made me an awesome birthday card & let me know that my present was at home. My cousin called at lunch asking about a certain restaurant. I thought it was going to be a birthday lunch. Not so, he just wanted my opinion. I harassed him about this later because he didn't remember it was my birthday. He tried to make it up to me with a Square Shooter (cinnamon sucker). Well, my coworker's wife outdid herself. She surprised me at work with a homemade birthday cake & her daughter (Lou's GNB1) made me a beautiful drawing. She definitely has the "art gene". GNB1 also picked a flower for me. So, now Riley is laughing because he knows these types of gestures make me cry. Yes, I had to choke back the tears. Next, my boss brings in a Grape Crush & candy assortment & a candle. What a guy! (Riley drank all my Grape Crush.) Next come gifts from my family. Colt & Rye got me the movie "Enchanted" & a sweet card. Riley made me another card, a butterfly. My Mom's card reads: "Your birthday is a reminder that life is not measured in years... Oops. Yes it is." She signed it "Mother Dearest". Mom got me some comfy, spring PJs & money for a me-spree. My brother brings in 2 pots of flowers, the movie "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium", AND a cherry tree!! Awesome, huh? Next I get a call from my neice. Now my aunt gives me the cutest skirt set. I get a birthday dinner of my choice too! I chose a steak from Chuckwagon, but they were overrun with about 25 bikers plus the regular crowd. So, I get a raincheck on that. When I get home, I have a text message rendition of "Happy Birthday" from a dear sister. Then, the show stopper, my present from Riley. I can't find my camera or you would definitely have a picture! It's a stick. Yes, a stick, about six inches long. He used a rock to make it smooth. I can't express how bright his eyes gleamed when he gave this to me or how excited he was telling me how he "made" it. What a treasure! Today at work, I show up to a beautiful arrangement of flowers & the sweetest card from my boss & his wife. They're trying to make me cry again. I picked up a birthday card in the mail today too. Can you believe this? What a day!

The Riley Line

Let me set the stage for the following conversation. Monday at work Riley finds out that I have to work Thursday on my birthday.

Riley: Mom, that's not fair.
Mom: Why not? Were you gonna take me to the movies or something?
Riley: Yeah, or maybe get you some more allergy pills.
Mom: (still wearing the look of confusion mixed with amusement)
Riley: Do we have to do school on your birthday?

Could I really make this kid do school on my birthday?! I mean, I have allergy pills to look forward to. Yes, he had to do school today. I can't wait to show you what he gave me! I plan to take pics & share my wonderful day with you.

The Riley Line

Riley: You know the problem with smoochin'?
Mom: What's that?
Riley: Your eyes are closed. You can't see if somethin' bad's gonna happen.

THE WORDS AFTER

The words before
Called down curses
Brought wrath
Separated
Choked with death
Truth came
Breathed new life
Reconciled
Imparted peace
Asked for blessings
The words after.

Ok, so this is the poem I wrote as a description for the title of my blog. I haven't figured out how to put it in poem form on the title. So, I will post it here & hopefully figure it out later. I hope you understand the idea.
I have enjoyed reading the blogs of my brothers & sisters. I wanted to join in hopes of sharing with you too. I am still figuring the whole blog thing out. I may have questions for you!