one day at a time

tiara

Recent court case makes me wonder about something. For sixteen years I was made to get up at a certain hour seven days a week. I was forced to learn how to cook meals, do laundry, and clean house. I knew the only proper response to anything my parents said was “yes ma’am” and “yes sir.”

I was grounded if I didn’t get all A’s in school, because school was my job After graduation from high school I found a paying job and for another three years went to work five (or six) days a week, no laying out because it was raining or because the day was too pretty, or because I didn’t feel like getting up.

I was taught how to fix a flat and change the oil in the car.

I learned that not everybody wins, and sometimes not everybody plays, but even if you’re sitting on the sidelines you still yell for your team.

I was in Church three times a week whether I liked it or not.

There was no question, as long as I lived under my Dad’s roof, I would abide by his rules. Mom was the deciding factor on the type of clothes I wore, the way they looked when I wore them, and makeup better be acceptable to her standards.

I learned the hard way that if I did something bad punishment would be swift and appropriate.

I learned I didn’t always get it my way. No tantrums allowed. And don’t roll your eyes at me young lady. You can wear a tiara when you can afford to buy your own.

I watched them vote, and as soon as I was old enough I registered and have voted in every election since, even if I had to walk to the polls to do it. I learned to give blood. I learned to visit the sick. I learned to pay my tithes, even if it wasn’t convenient, pay my bills in full and on time, save some, and then how to live on what was left

Yep, I was an abused child.

invocation

The rabbit has given up on us. Not sure where she went, but haven’t seen her in days. Well, let me put that another way; kitty has not alerted me to the presence of a critter in the back yard for quite some time now, so am assuming she’s gone on to wetter/healthier climes. It’s so dry here that the grasshoppers are gone, nothing left for them to eat. The weeds were blissful after the hour-long shower we got last week, but now even they’re looking past puny. A weekly hour with the soaker hose on the foundation has only a minimal effect. Last night at the Ovilla city council meeting, the invocation beseeched God for wisdom for our elected officials, health for our families, and safety for our troops. But the biggest “yes, Lord,” came when he prayed for rain.

good, bad, ugly

We are well into west nile season here in North Texas. Several deaths reported. Cities spraying nightly and every news cast reminding folks about getting rid of standing water in the yard. Hmmm. Considering we’re also in drought mode, makes me wonder how water of any kind could be standing anywhere after an hour of this heat.

But the good news is Off has come out with a personal protection device with battery operated fan that clips onto your belt and reportedly keeps the mosquitoes away. The bad news is it doesn’t work. The ugly truth is how much it costs, considering it not only does not live up to the hype but as far as I’m concerned does absolutely nothing other than get in the way when I’m mowing the yard. Don’t waste your time looking for it nor your money buying it.

Well, ok, it may be that my metabolism isn’t what they envisioned when they developed the formula, and it might very well be an excellent choice for others, but for me, it just doesn’t work. What I have to show for the experiment are two clip ons that have been relegated to the recycle bin and several recent purchases of calamine and other assorted itch aids. Which in itself is a whole 'nother subject.

What does work for me as a repellant? Dryer sheets. Yep. And so way affordable. I pin one of them on my waistband before I go out to work in the yard and am simply amazed at how well it protects. Who’d a thunkit?

Not sure who told me about using them in this manner, but as soon as I remember you can bet they’re going to get a big huge “LIKE” on their wall.