HOW Cafe - Blogs

HOW Cafe - Blogs http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php en Sun, 20 May 2012 10:15:17 GMT vBulletin 180 http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/images/mystyles/cafeblue/misc/rss.jpg HOW Cafe - Blogs http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php The Meaning of Life http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=363 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:19:52 GMT There once was a man, who traveled the land, seeking the Meaning of Life. He traveled far and... There once was a man, who traveled the land, seeking the Meaning of Life.

He traveled far and wide, and in due time, found himself at the End of the Earth.

At the End of the Earth he found a mighty tree, stretched out far over the abyss, with many broken branches.

It bore no fruit nor leaves, for this tree was the Tree of Death.

The man climbed the mighty tree and went as far as he could, when the branch did break and he plunged over the edge.

And as he fell, he came to know the Meaning of Life.

The moral : Waste not your precious time seeking that which you already have. ]]> Powerhouse http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=363 C99Sale Formerly Club99 http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=362 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:38:25 GMT I started this blog in the hopes that some of our Club99 group will join us once again for our... I started this blog in the hopes that some of our Club99 group will join us once again for our monthly events.

Due to the search problems with Club99, we have changed to C99Sale. C99Sale is what you put in the title of your listings, just the same as we used to do with Club99. The search results will remove any of those Club99 items that showed up that weren't part of our group.

If you have any questions, please contact me at SellClub99*yahoo.com ]]> mswiser http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=362 A Story of Faith http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=361 Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:28:21 GMT Shaking a snowflake from her nose, she shivered against the arctic blast, as the wind swept... Shaking a snowflake from her nose, she shivered against the arctic blast, as the wind swept flurries of snow across the weathered, wooden planks of the old train depot.

Glancing around the corner from her hiding spot, she saw the lone oil lantern, left to light the way for any last minute travelers, swinging in the breeze. Even the old station master, doubtful that there would be any passengers destined for the tiny town on the late train, had already gone home on this night.

Scared, cold, starving, and alone, she looked up into the night sky and knew that tonight would have to be the night. She could not wait any longer. Fear had stayed her many long days and nights, weakening her. She knew that she could be not much longer for this world, and that this could be the last night of her young life.

A sound carried upon the wind caught her ears, and she stared hopefully down the twin iron rails that led into the night.

Eventually a flicker of light appeared in the distance; the lantern on the front of the old steam engine that pulled the late train. The black coal smoke streaming from the stack blended invisibly in the dark night air as the engine struggled to make the station at this distant outpost.

She hunkered down in the shadows, as the train pulled up to the depot, with a squeal of brakes and a great blast of steam.

“Please! Please! Please! Please!” she thought. “I need someone! Please, let it be tonight!”

The train conductor stepped onto the platform and yelled, “Promise Junction! Anyone for Promise Junction?” He stood there for a moment and looked up and down the length of the train. Seeing no one getting off, he waved the engineer to continue on, and stepped back onto the train steps.

She lowered her head in defeat. It was over. Tears began to freeze, sealing her eyelids shut, when suddenly she heard a woman’s voice, “Just a moment! We are getting off!”

A tall woman in a long, brown coat, leading a little girl by the hand, stepped off of the train. The little girl, in a yellow dress covered by a puffy, white jacket, looked around in boredom, as the woman turned to get the luggage off the steps.

Daring, hopeful, she stepped into view.

The little girls eyes lit up and she pulled out of her mothers grasp.

“Brandi!” her mother called, as the girl ran across the platform, straight at her.

The little girl gleefully grabbed her up and ran back across the platform.

“Mother! Look what I found! Can I keep her? Please! Please!” the little girl exclaimed breathlessly.

The mother turned and looked down into her daughters arms, and saw a thin, tiny kitten, shivering against her coat.

Patience worn thin by a long and arduous trip, she rolled her eyes and turned her head skyward, preparing to go into a lengthy explanation as to why she could not have a kitten. Just then, she noticed a clearing in the night sky, as stars by the thousands were revealed from behind the clouds. One star, particularly brighter than the others, caught her eye. And then she began to remember a story about another baby, far away, and long ago, yet on this very night, that also had no place to stay.

“I’ll care for her, and feed her, and everything!” the girl declared. “You won’t even know she is there!”

The mother looked down into the wide, hopeful eyes of her child, and then into the same wide, hopeful eyes of the kitten, and knew that on this night there could only be one answer.

“What will you name her?” the mother asked.

The girl squealed as she quickly held the kitten out at arms length and gave it a critical look.

“Faith”, the girl decided. “I think we should call her Faith.”

The mother got down on her knees and brought the girl, with the kitten between them, into a hug. “I think that is a perfect name”, the mother whispered.

And Faith, nestled between the two kind and loving souls, knew that at long last she had a home, and a good life ahead. ]]> Powerhouse http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=361 Hep Shares http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=360 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:14:22 GMT Soon as I can find fun stuff to share. :-D[FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="3"][/SIZE][/FONT] ]]> Hep http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=360 On being a dithering aggrandizing noodge... http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=359 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:41:44 GMT perspicuous ~ The business proposal was perspicuous and easy to comprehend. It's lucidity made those evaluating it fully understand the intents and purposes of its creators.

magnify ~ She magnified her abilities in such a way that she managed to get a job far beyond her capabilities and which left her looking incompetent to say the very least.

recondite ~ Martha sought to create a perspicuous draft however her intents were so recondite that it magnified her inability to communicate effectively.

cereal ~ Wheaties cereal may call itself "the breakfast of champions" but in my opinion oatmeal deserves that title because it provides a hearty meal that burns slowly and allows the athlete to train for prolonged periods of time.

penurious ~ Millicent was vastly wealthy and yet she led a penurious lifestyle that led others to believe she was poverty stricken and therefore they did favors for her, paying bills and providing her with gifts that they could ill afford while she was laughing at them behind their backs.

losel ~ My ex-husband while holding a position of authority in the community is naught but a losel who has created an aura of respectability about himself while bamboozeling those around him.

contribute ~ Many people have contributed heavily to their 401K plans because they have been warned to not depend on Social Security to support them in their retirement years, however with the recent recession and the relative instability of the stock market they have seen their portfolios drastically reduced in value. Time will only tell if they will recoup their losses.

mountebank ~ My ex-husband in addition to being a losel is also a mountebank who has taken advantage of elderly patients and virtually left them penniless in the name of providing quality care when in fact, he was performing needless tests and procedures.

suspense ~ The suspense and tension must be wearing upon you but there will be an end to your worry, a resolution will arrive, it may not be the one you are hoping for but it will bring a termination to your current state of anxiety.

billet ~ During the efforts to clean up after Hurricane Irene National Guard soldiers were billeted in local churches while they aided the communities in their recovery.

garden
fugue
coronary
prius
sluggish
accord
defalcate
placemat
somnolence
inure
organizer
adjure
ravel
micawber
betide
behoove
necrology
callow
dog and pony show
dauphin
desultory
whack
accolade
beastial
gazette
diktat
microphone
captious
supercilious
cornfield
windshield
tautology
rodent
reconnoiter
bolster
mammoth
pristine
undulating
pickle
checker
exchequer
stapler
downy
frowsty
firmament
headstone
helix
napkin
quarry
tropical
humidity
laughable
concentrate
dither
paperback
laundry
whiten
refill
cigar
quiver
tea set
aggrandize
bin
noodge
cellar
shamus ]]> ardeeann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=359 I Wish I Had Written This! http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=358 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:57:39 GMT eBay Patents 10-Click Checkout... eBay Patents 10-Click Checkout :

Be sure to click on the link for the whole article. It's a fine bit of dry wit. Here's a taste that I edited for language:

Quote:

The newly-patented buying system guides users through an intuitive, step-by-step process of clicking “Buy It Now”, entering your password, logging in because they signed you out again, getting upsold stuff you don’t want, continuing to your original destination, accepting the default quantity of 1 (otherwise known as “It”), committing to buy, clicking "Pay Now", entering a different password than your first one, clicking "Log In" again, declining to borrow money from eBay’s usury department, reviewing the purchase details since by now you’ve completely forgotten what the heck you were buying, and finally confirming the payment already.

]]> IndyPendent http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=358 The Search For The Perfect Box http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=357 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:49:50 GMT Selling "one of's" - items that the seller only has one of creates a unique situation that sellers who buy new stock in bulk don't have to face: finding a box.

It's a quest that never seems to end, but I'm fortunate in that my local grocer has no problem with me raiding the empty boxes in the carts in the aisles, which makes it easy to keep pretty good supply of small and medium sizes in a big ugly pile in my basement. Of course, if they sit there longer than a week or two, a cat will find a way to get hair stuck under the tape holding it together, creating yet another pre-shipping chore.

Yes, I know the post office gives out free boxes, and I do love them! But, and there's always a but, it seems there's a teeny bit Murphy's Law included with them. Many times, the item I need to ship is just a hair too big to fit into the box I want to use, so I have to go find my own, or use a bigger box, which requires packing material, which weighs heavier, which costs more....sigh,

And speaking of Priority boxes, it bugs me that their "shoebox" size doesn't close right. When I tape the end flaps, there's a gap that leaves tape exposed, meaning whatever I have in the box sticks to the tape. Usually I put another piece of tape on the inside of one end, and the packing slip on the other. If something has to be stuck, then let it be the paper, and not the item!

I've seen a real shift in the eBay community and their box solutions over the years. 10 years ago, people openly scoffed at the idea of small sellers buying boxes. Forums frequently had people pop in to ask, "Where do you get boxes?" and the answer was almost always something that equated to "dumpster diving!" People who sold enough to afford the luxury of buying boxes usually did so with the disclaimer that they had finally "broken down" due to time constraints, and the rest of us found that to be impressive indeed.

Now though, comments about "bottom feeders who ship in used boxes" seem to elicit a harsh empathy in the big eBay forums - a dramatic shift from the early days, when the the yard sale sellers ruled the site.

Me? I'll probably never sell enough identical items to justify purchasing my boxes, and I'm quite happy to embrace my status as what seems to be one of the last old style, bottom feeding eBay sellers who is too cheap to buy boxes.

And you know what? That's the way I think eBay should be done. ]]> IndyPendent http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=357 My Blog At The How Cafe http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=356 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:00:09 GMT Well, if this is like my other forays into blogging, this will soon be abandoned. But it won't happen if I don't at least start it, so here is my plan.

I want to tell tales about selling on-line. I primarily sell on eBay, so that's undoubtedly where most of my material originate from.

I also sell on Amazon and Etsy, so expect stories from there too.

I've listed stuff on Bonanza, but never had any buyers...so we'll see about that.

I have even sold a few things on iOffer.com, but I haven't gone back to that venue since returning to selling on-line.

That's where I am, and that's what this is. Or at least, that's what this is going to be. I hope that you'll read it, and maybe even enjoy it! ]]> IndyPendent http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=356 Ersatz Gris-gris http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=355 Mon, 16 May 2011 11:55:12 GMT anomia ~ Helen's anomia was becoming more pronounced as her cognitive impairment took over more of her life. She was having difficulty with simple conversations and it frustrated her to no end.

subtilize ~ Rachel sought to subtilize her life as she fancied that she had a shot at marrying the duke. She had been a bit rough around the edges but she knew she could shine like the brightest diamond if she just to the pains to refine her behavior and demeanor.

shirty ~ James had a shirty personality, some people described him with other less polite words but the bottom line was that his behavior was making him a pariah in his circle of friends, co-workers and acquaintances.

pariah ~ Sarah was a social pariah because she was sexually promiscuous at work and did not take any pains to cover up that fact. She did not care who she slept with or who knew about it.

pantywaist ~ Ralph was an absolute pantywaist when it came to dealing with his rather abrupt and abrasive wife. He had no skills for dealing with her shirty behaviors.

gordian ~ The whole situation was like a Gordian knot with relatives quarreling over ridiculous issues, the son didn't want his sister around when, of course, she should be around and be available to comfort their mother. The problem was intricate in its complexity.

bumf ~ Archaic laws which clutter the legal system are nothing more that bumf which creates unnecessary work for those trying to provide justice for the masses.

dénouement ~ The novel was of some interest but the moment of dénouement was weak at best. The author did lots of work in his plotting and scheming but lost his vision as the climax approached.

highfalutin ~ The secretary was full of highfalutin dialogue not realizing that her efforts to appear more than she was cheapened her image with the department heads.

taradiddle ~ Randolph was full of taradiddle not caring that he could be caught in his web of needless lies, for example it could easily be proven that he had not attended Yale nor had he been an elite Navy Seal.

bailiwick ~ I am not a good writer, my bailiwick is writing so poorly that it is interesting in its lack of quality. Sometimes my flash fiction is absolutely awful and that itself makes it surprisingly readable.

aegis ~ Rick Perry, the governor of Texas was once under the aegis of Karl Rove who is now trying to thwart Perry's presidential ambitions. We may all have to live with the monster Rove created as president if something doesn't trip up his candidacy. I hope that a huge stumbling block occurs but fear that it won't and that we will have another inept Texan as president.

ersatz ~ Postum is ersatz coffee but has a smooth, mellow taste that can exceed the original that it sought to copy.

gris-gris ~ The Voudoun Queen gave gris-gris to the seeker who needed her help and intervention. Now her enemies would pay for their assault upon her being. No woman should be molested and the perpetrators allowed to walk away scot-free. ]]> ardeeann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=355 Mothering Sean by Ardee Eichelmann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=354 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:51:46 GMT I was a young mother of 20 trying to cope with a colicky baby while suffering from severe... I was a young mother of 20 trying to cope with a colicky baby while suffering from severe postpartum depression. At the time I didn't know I had postpartum depression, I just knew that my baby cried most of the time and when he was crying it seemed like I was crying too. We cried together and never seemed to really sleep. We just spent our time crying together in total despair. He from a tummy ache and me from a pain in my psyche that just would not budge.

My husband was young too, going to school and working. He didn't know what to do with a crying wife and baby so he either stayed at school, worked extra hours or hid in his study. I know he was lost in this situation and I don't blame him for hiding, if I could have gotten away from myself I would have.

My beloved little son Sean was the light of my life. I loved him with all my heart. I rocked him, I sang to him, I wound up his swing a thousand times and yet we kept crying together. I wanted to be the perfect mother for him because to me he was the most perfect and beautiful baby I could imagine. In fact, I didn't know how something so precious could have come from within me. During the moments when there was no colic and the depression was not so bad we cooed and laughed back and forth at each other with great delight and enjoyment. He was my heart and I wanted everything to be thus and so in order for him to grow up and be the special man I knew that he could be. Yes, I was planning his future when he was three or four months old.

On the particular day in question we started the day pleasantly enough and then Sean's tummy ache began. He was howling in pain. As he yowled, I developed a migraine from the stress and anxiety. I was sobbing in physical and emotional pain. I did everything in my power to calm my little son but nothing helped. Finally after one last tummy and back massage I finally put him crying into his bed and left him there because I was beside myself with a sense of failure. I then went and crawled into my bed crying my hardest because I hurt and I couldn't be a good enough mother to my son.

Suddenly there was a loud knocking on the front door. I couldn't imagine who it could be but I tried to stop crying long enough to answer the door. To my utter surprise it was my father who had stopped by on his lunch hour to see my little son, his first grandchild.

Daddy was taken aback to see me crying so and to hear Sean screaming from his bed. He went in and picked up Sean who stopped crying immediately. I couldn't believe it. This child had been crying for hours and by simply picking him up my father had quieted his tears. I felt like a totally incompetent mother but then I realized, that my daddy had no expectations of himself or Sean. He just wanted to see his grandson and there was no stress between them. It gave me a new perspective on myself as a mother and despite my migraine I was able to understand the significance of this moment along with the change it would have on my mothering. I didn't have to try to be perfect. I didn't have to have a perfect relationship with my child. All I had to do was love him without expectations and we would be okay.

After my dad's visit my son stayed tear free and even had a little nap. It turned out to be a wonderful day.

There were still peaks and valleys in my experience as a mother but when I learned to set aside unrealistic expectations, of myself as a mother, from my daddy, I became a better mother to my son. :kiss: ]]> ardeeann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=354 <![CDATA[Cathe's Words...for later in the day!]]> http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=353 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:40:47 GMT *fruition ~ She finally saw the word prompts through to fruition. It took a great deal of time for... fruition ~ She finally saw the word prompts through to fruition. It took a great deal of time for her to tend to the job but at last she saw her work attended to.

deprivation ~ Riselle suffered significant deprivation as a child in the Congo. She was often hungry, cold and thirsty. Riselle could not believe the amazing life one could live in the United States even though she had to continue to work very hard for what she had.

earwig ~ The earwig was crawling on her shoulder. She picked it up with a tissue, crushed it and disposed of it. She wondered where the little beast had come from.

gloaming ~ The gloaming gathered round us as we finished walking the trail, I remarked to my companions that there was no color as beautiful as the sky at twilight.

tawdry ~ Her dress and shoes were tawdry. It was hard to believe that she had showed up for a job interview in such attire. It was quickly ascertained in the office that she certainly would not fit in the image that the company tried to portray.

Vitriol ~ Randall's voice was filled with vitriol as a dressed down his associate for allowing their client to become so distressed with their handling of his account that he took it elsewhere. ]]> ardeeann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=353 People are stupid... http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=352 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:37:15 GMT ... or sick - I'm not sure which, but it's in there somewhere.

For some inexplicable reason, completely beyond rationale, there seems to be a rather large and devout segment that insists that "The World Will End" on such-and-such a date.

It's like they WANT to die.

The latest date seems to be May 21st of this year. History is filled with such doom-sayers and NONE of them have ever come true.

Are not ANY of them getting a clue yet?

It isn't going to happen because it is not in the plans - okay?

God did not create us with an expiration date - any more than we would create our own children with such a drop dead date.

Yet Loons by the bag-full eagerly line up to take what they hope is the last train out of town.

FOOLS! Every one of them. What malarkey is this? A rush to die.

When their date comes and goes and Life goes on, I hope they will come to understand the truth - THIS is Eden. The universe IS our garden. It is our heritage and our inheritance. It is up to us to mature and rise to roam across the garden and appreciate what our Creator has made for us.

God is not out to kill us - any more than these idiots would kill their own children.

Do they really think so little of God? Why the rush to reach The End? Enjoy the trip.

And keep your leg off my side of the seat. ]]> Powerhouse http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=352 Vengeful Hobnobbing! http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=351 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:19:55 GMT reticent ~ at times I am reticent to speak out because really I don't want to deal with a lot of trauma and drama. It seems that all too often people cannot engage in civilized discourse but rather attack the person making a comment rather than defending their own position. I really don't see the need to do this.

tetchy ~ You could say that I have become more than a little tetchy and touchy in my old age. Where I once had more tolerance for the peccadilloes of others I now find myself becoming irritable and at times even nasty when people cannot behave in a civilized manner. It does bring out the worst in me even if I do not utter a word. I can think some pretty tacky thoughts.

primrose path ~ I have been led down the primrose path more than once. I tend to be naive and trusting. This has led me to be thrust in the middle of situations that are most untoward and unhappy.

expostulate ~ because of my tendency to expostulate to the disadvantage and discomfort of all around me I am reticent to engage in less than civilized discourse lest I ejaculate some comments that would lead others to feel affronted and put on the defensive.

dyspeptic ~ Hubert had a rather dyspeptic personality, bless his heart, he just couldn't get past his own irritability and discomfort to be concerned about the feelings and needs of others.

helot ~ The helot was the working class in ancient Sparta not slaves and yet, not fully citizens either. We are seeing such an underclass develop here in the United States where the people involved DO have full rights as citizens and yet because of their personal circumstances they are not able to take full advantage of them. It is an ugly situation which is only getting worse as the rich get richer and the middle class collapses into an underclass that has little and begins to aspire to even less. It is the beginning of he siren's song for our civilization.

mincemeat ~ The mincemeat pie added a touch of old fashioned Americana to the otherwise modernized Thanksgiving dinner with its Stove Top Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole and Sweet Potatoes topped with Marshmallows. It had come a long way over the century and the dishes were less than authentic to those of Thanksgiving meals past, although a haunch of venison might be even more authentic than the mince pie was.

kvetch ~ Marge could kvetch with the best of them, there wasn't anything that she couldn't find fault with or pick apart as she discussed it with anyone who was unfortunate enough to be caught up in a conversation with her. Marge was never satisfied and seemed to be a bitter old bag.

impugn ~ Although she did not see eye to eye with her daughter about the life she had chosen as a social worker rather than going to law school, she could not impugn her character and willingness to work hard no matter how unpleasant the task might be.

training ~ I was training to be a teacher but life derailed me and instead I became a social worker. I don't know which path has the greater capacity to cause burnout but I do know that as a social worker I was worn down beyond the level of a nub.

libation ~ my libation of choice is vodka...it makes a pleasant offering to the gods of work and pleasure as well as a damned good drink when added to a little tomato juice and seasoning. The Bloody Mary should have deity status all on its own and I will probably go to hell for being a heretic and saying so.

calf ~ The calf frolicked among the wildflowers and prairie grasses, enjoying the warm sunshine and the gentle breezes that caressed it as it pranced and played.

feminism ~ Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. We need REAL feminism that offers women choices and alternatives to come back to the forefront as we see misogyny all around us and women's rights are being challenged daily by misogynist males who see women as nothing more than chattel. It is time for women to rise from their complacency and retake the civil rights that are theirs and not allow misogynistic men to undermine us in our personal integrity.

spattering ~ There was much spattering of grease as the bacon fried making a mess on the old stove top. There was even more sputtering when a certain cook was advised to clean up their mess.

terror ~ Terror means different things to different people. Some people think primarily of night terrors and the fears that plague them in the dark, while others think of terrorist plots made by those who feel they have the right to destroy lives and property because they disagree with policies, laws and actions.

plunging ~ He felt himself plunging into the abandoned mine shaft in the Nevada desert. A misstep while exploring had left him many feet below the surface with broken bones and an inability to do anything to help himself escape.

There were efforts to rescue him but the mine was too unstable and so he was left there in the dark to die and eventually become part of the abandoned mine shaft as his corpse rotted and disintegrated. His loved ones were aghast at the thought that he had been left to die and decay in the abandoned shaft that was now his grave. How he must have suffered as he died!

zigzag ~ Zigzag cigarette rolling papers were often a favorite among the crowd that rolled pot to smoke rather than just tobacco.

midlife crisis ~ When does one know to have a midlife crisis any longer when those in their late 60s and even early 70s are now referred to as middle aged. It has been said that 50 is the new 30 so are we all expecting to live to be 100 or more. Is 50 or so when we have our midlife crises or is it even later when we find ourselves in the new middle age of SIXTY! Oh I think not, but then I am not a sociologist making wild comments about the "new" middle age.

window ~ The window is where I watch life go by. I see the birds, squirrels and cats cavorting around the yard. I see the school children who are supposed to be studying at the library roaming the streets looking for something to happen. I see the flowers bloom and the little guy across the street carefully tend his yard thus and so. I enjoy my vicarious life at the window watching the world go by.

equity ~ I have to say that I am one of the lucky people with solid equity in my house and a home that grows in value based primarily on its location. The land is of potential commercial value and so my house is solid in its equity and as an asset.

dribble ~ Oh how the pollen does make my nose dribble. I am constantly dabbing it with a tissue making it sore in the process and yet I must retain some modicum of social respectability.

whiff ~ I caught a whiff of something unpleasant in the air, I blame the little dog but ample use of air freshener took care of the problem.

mismatched ~ My feet are often cold in the late fall, winter and early spring. My dryer is notorious, as are most dryers, for eating one sock out of a pair (why do washers never get blamed for this). Anyway, I wear mismatched socks with impunity at home where no one cares how I look, least of all me and I can continue to use these socks and not waste them despite the fact that they are thrown together willy nilly.

genteel ~ My meema was a genteel woman who understood the importance of good etiquette and the value of training children in manners and civilized behavior. She was always a lady to her very core.

dithering ~ I am becoming a dithering old fool as my faculties become looser and my grasp of the world becomes lessened. Who would have thought that at fifty three I would be so old and inept?

hobnobbing ~ I hope to soon be hobnobbing with other story tellers at the Tales from the South gatherings where story tellers ply their trade before an audience just waiting to be entertained by the tales ready to burst forth and be shared.

escort ~ My constant companion and escort is Miss Teffers. I can no longer see well enough to drive and so everywhere I go, Miss Teffers escorts me and transports me to run errands and attend to business.

blackmail ~ There are those who I would like to blackmail if it were not illegal. I could use the money and the stories I could tell if the funds were not paid forthwith would curdle the blood and bleach the hair of those who cared to listen. Shhh, I cannot let everyone know that I am aware of where the bodies are buried, my life could be endangered if everyone knew but I keep my eyes open and listen keenly. I know things that others should have kept only to themselves because secrets have a way of being leaked. Just ask old David Letterman, the lech!

epitaph ~ Someday my epitaph will be written in blood, my own I am sure for I know too much to be safe in this day and time when secrets can destroy a reputation and many political ambitions.

myriad ~ Myriad birds are outside my window singing this morning. They are celebrating the return of spring with happy songs and chirping.

blood ~ The president and congress have blood on their hands for every death and injury that occur among our troops. The troops are spread too thin without adequate support and equipment. We are hemorrhaging money and blood in a war that cannot be won and young men and women are dying without the tools of war that they need to spare their lives.

budge ~ We shall not budge from our position that the country needs to provide civil rights and liberties for all citizens with no barriers to freedoms enjoyed by any group. It is time to make sure that every person has the right to life, liberty and happiness.

laconic ~ Calvin Coolidge was a noted laconic president. Sometimes I think we could do with more politicians who actually talk less and do more. It would be a nice model to follow although I don't know how helpful comments like, "The business of America is business" would be in this day and age.

vengeful ~ There are too many vengeful politicians and pundits running off at the mouth in America today. They feel that they have the only answers that make sense and demonize their opponents.

dangerous ~ The political scene in America has become dangerous vis a vie the vengeful politicians who would threaten death to those who disagree with them. This is not a police state it is a free country, there are many who need to remember that.

target ~ President Obama is the target of many hate filled messages and diatribes. I personally do not think he is doing a good job but I don't know that ANYONE could do a good job as president in the present political climate.

enclave ~ The is a secret enclave of powerful men who have way too much power over business and politics in America. They should be monitored but they are not and they play the role of puppet master far too often where politics are concerned.

secrets ~ Secrets are the basis of any good conspiracy theory. I wish I could think of some good secrets that I could share in this space but then I would be accused of being more of a kook than I already am! ]]> ardeeann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=351 Cowabunga Californication! http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=350 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 07:11:11 GMT *ubiquitous ~ There is a ubiquitous feeling about Sarah Palin, she seems to be everywhere at once.... ubiquitous ~ There is a ubiquitous feeling about Sarah Palin, she seems to be everywhere at once. Does this mean that she is good at juggling many obligations at a time or just that she has an excellent PR person? Time will eventually tell, in the meantime, here's Sarah here, there and everywhere.

feeling ~ There was a feeling of dread that crawled up my spine as I listened to the sounds of footsteps coming up my driveway. It was one in the morning for heaven's sake and there was no reason for anyone to be approaching my house. Quietly I climbed out of my bed and was dialing the police when I heard a knock at my window, I was terrified wondering what was happening, then my son hollared, "Mom, wake up. My truck ran out of gas and I need you to take me to the "stab & grab" to go get some. I breathed a sigh of relief as I responded to him but I wanted to thump that boy upside his head.

topiary ~ The rosemary topiary was in the shape of a Christmas tree and it not only brightened up the table but the scent of rosemary wafting through the room seemed to cheer up the entire gathering of friends and family.

felicity ~ I enjoy great domestic felicity with my partner of fifteen years, Miss Teffers. We have had an interesting time during our years together, it has never been dull and all of the trials have bonded us ever tighter so that we are cheerful in our domestic partnership.

shotgun ~ Back in the 1980s when I helped out a friend with his towing business, I more than once literally rode shotgun when we would go to repo a vehicle. It was dangerous work at times but for this adrenaline junkie it was always an amazing experience to go through and then get to do again later in the week.

kibble ~ My little dog does not like to eat kibble. She literally demands pricey canned dog food and has gone on hunger strikes when she did not get the food that she has decided she prefers. Now when she has has her dish of canned food she will acquiesce to eat some of her kibbles and seems to enjoy it but she will not eat it as her regular meal. She will go without food rather than just eat chow.

bookcase ~ The bookcase was a finely carved piece of furniture that had been crafted by woodworkers from the Black Forest region of Germany. My grandparents had it made to match a mantle piece that had been imported from that region by my great grandparents. The beautiful oak glistened and shone when it was waxed and polished.

pineapple ~ The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality as is an open door. It is not unusual to see pineapple door knockers on homes throughout the South. Of course, since the screen door allows the door to be left open the door knocker is often superfluous especially in the early fall and late spring.

pelican ~ The pelican is the state bird of Louisiana. They are interesting to watch in the wild as they catch fish and store them in their copious pouch.

Buddha~ my granddaughter Jessbo has a charming little Buddha belly that I like to rub for luck and to show my love for her precious little self.

grandmother ~ My grandmother has been gone for 30 years, I still miss her and often think of something funny to tell her and pick up the phone to call her only to be reminded that she has passed and is no longer with us. It is only in recent years that I don't "try" to turn up her street to go visit her for a bit and see what she is up to.

wristwatch ~ I seem to wear out my leather wristbands on my Tigger watches with infuriating frequency. I do not know why they do not last very long. I am not "hard" on my belongings and yet the wristbands come apart all to often.

bowl ~ The quartz bowl sang beautifully after being struck with the mallet in a manner that tuned up the bowl and created a lovely melody that heightened the senses.

booze ~ Booze is rather popular in the South, heck Nascar was started by boys who had been running moonshine. At least that is how the legend goes. Our Southern roots run deep in many different ways.

scrumptious ~ The potato soup I made for dinner last night was scrumptious. I used potatoes, farmer's cheese, milk and seasonings to create a dish that was warming and filling.

internet ~ I suppose I could go back to living without the internet and in 2000 I thought I be living internet free by 2002 but that did not happen and now I don't know that I'd be willing to let go of my connection to the world wide web.

californication ~ I had heard of Californication in headlines on the the internet but had never really read about the show until I had this word in a writing list. Since the show is about a writer I became fascinated about the concept, read the entire Wikipedia entry and wished that I had cable so that I too could watch the show.

googled ~ My cousin just wrote to me about an hour ago to advise me that my name comes up second with the word "Eichelmann" is entered in Google. How crazy is that, I come right after the vineyards and ahead of my Eichelmann relatives (or non-relatives) who are actually famous. I just post online a lot and have a Facebook account, this entitles me to be number two. C'mon Facebook when Eichelmann is googled I want to be number ONE. LOL!!!!

texted ~ for several years the only way my son has acknowledged me on holidays was to send me a text, "Happy Thanksgiving," "Merry Christmas," "Happy Birthday." This year at Christmas there was no text...my phone call and email went unanswered. It was a sad time but I am working on getting over it. At least I got to see my granddaughter for her birthday. That was a gift in and of itself.

stomped ~ Back on the subject of my son, that child has ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped the living daylights out of it so many times I don't know how I survive. I must be one tough old bird because being a parent is a mighty hard job.

cowabunga ~ Snoopy was on his surfboard ready to catch a wave, here it came, "Cowabunga," he exclaimed!

tsunami ~ When one talks of tsunamis they usually mean the tidal wave or surge but in my life the tsunami I think of is the tsunami of emotion that floods through me when issues swarm me all at once. I have a strong spirit and an unyielding will to live but sometimes the tsunami of feeling washes over me in such a way that I think I shall drown.

arid ~ The arid desert was filled with scrub and tumbleweeds. I wanted my son to let me stop the Jeep and catch a tumbleweed so I could take it home. I thought it would make a great souvenir of our trip across the country.

exemplary ~ PaperPusher is an exemplary example of how one can still make eBay work for you and create an income so that you can work on your own terms in your own way.

ziggurat ~ the ziggurat was in ruins and yet it inspired me to contemplate those who had once occupied this site to worship their goddesses and deities in their own way and their own time.

Ciao!

Whew! I finally got one list completed! Cowabunga! ]]> ardeeann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=350 The Picture Show... http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=349 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:48:50 GMT **It was a sultry summer day in 1970 when a boy from my school, Forest Heights Junior High called... It was a sultry summer day in 1970 when a boy from my school, Forest Heights Junior High called to see if I wanted to go to the picture show at the Center Theatre in downtown Little Rock. I was thirteen years old but my mom would let me go out with a boy if the parents did the transportation to and from the "date." It was arranged that my mama would take us to the picture show and that Cliff's mama would take us home.

I was excited as my mom and I drove to Cliff's house and picked him up. He was very gentlemanly in his introductions to my mother. I was pleased that this went so well. We then drove downtown to the Center Theatre where she dropped us off after making absolutely certain that Cliff's mama was planning to pick us up. The only reason my mother had not already talked to Mrs. Cook was that she was at work and could only receive limited calls. I was surprised that my mother, who was overprotective to say the least, had gone along with this spur of the moment plan.

As mama pulled away from the movie theatre, Cliff went to the window and bought our tickets. We then entered the theatre and Cliff suggested that we sit in the balcony. i knew darn good and well that nice girls did NOT sit in the balcony because such behavior led quickly to one being considered a slut and possibly ending up pregnant and sent away in disgrace. No sir, I told him we were NOT sitting in the balcony, that I was a nice girl with a reputation to uphold. The whole balcony discussion should have been a warning to both Cliff and I. Things were not going to go well.

We went and found seats in the theatre. Cliff wanted to sit toward the back and the side. I wanted to sit in the middle but he won this "battle." I figured at least we weren't in the balcony. The movie started before too long, this was in the days before there were multiple commercials before the feature presentation began. It was some kind of motorcycle movie and there was some quasi-sexual behavior on the screen, mostly implied as this movie was just rated, M but it was enough to make me feel uncomfortable. Then before I knew it Cliff had his arm around me. I could feel myself going stiff as a board. I was very uncomfortable about this. I tried to shake his arm off but instead of the intended effect all of the sudden Cliff's hand was on my small nubile breast. I was about to die right there on the spot. He then reached over and tried to french kiss me, it was all slobbery and gross. I was disgusted. I made the excuse that I had to go to the ladies room and I took my purse, dug out a dime and called my mama to come pick me up. I was not some cheap bimbo to be used for some sex charged boy's pleasure and entertainment.

Mama said I had done the right thing and that she was on her way to pick me up. As I hung up the phone, I started crying and went outside on the sidewalk to wait for her arrival. In the short period of time between entering and leaving the theatre I had gone from being an excited innocent somewhat naive child to being a potentially sexual being. I wasn't sure that I liked that at all and I wasn't ready for such a drastic change in my life.

Ciao!
]]> ardeeann http://www.thehowcafe.com/forum/blog.php?b=349