Still a Night Owl...But a Wise One

Had to close at  work tonight, didn't get off til  after eleven and made my daily run to the grocery store on the way home. I've been finding a lot of great looking recipes on Facebook lately and have expanded my dinner options. Today I made a yummy pasta shrimp salad for lunch before I went into work and made a pot of Turnip Green soup when I got home tonight for tomorrow.

 The shrimp salad was good but next  time will add a few of my own ingredients to it. I think sun dried tomatoes would be a good addition or roasted red peppers.

 It was pretty slow tonight at work...stupid college football games killed us but I hung in there til the end and walked out with a decent paycheck. I was hanging out at  the bar with the owner and the bartender waiting on my last table to leave. I was telling them about visiting Frances yesterday in the hospice and thought about something that made me chuckle and told my boss and the bartender about it.

Yesterday when my sister and I went to pick  up  the dry erase boards for Frances, we stopped at a drive in a friend of mine from high school told me about. They have awesome burgers and hot dogs. Griffin is a little country town about twenty five minutes away from where I live. It's biggest claim to fame is that Atlanta Motor Speedway is right up the road but it's still small town America.

Cindy had never eaten there so I suggested we go. Every person besides us who came in they all knew by name. Cindy asked what she should order and I suggested a slaw dog but told her the burgers were good too. We decided to each get a burger, share a slaw dog and get one order of fries and one order of rings. Number one we sounded like idiots when we ordered,  we had the entire "What should we order" talk right in front of the woman taking our order. She was a really friendly black woman...we liked her immediately. When we stepped up  to the counter my sister asked how she was doing and the woman replied "I'm doing marvelous, and yourself?"

She wasn't  "Okay" or "I'm alright" she was "I'm doing marvelous." We bungled our way through the ordering process wearing her out but she smiled through the entire order and we went to find a place to sit. Being a server I didn't want to take up a big table for the two of us but ALL the tables were big so we settled on one way off to the side. We sat across from each other and chatted while they cooked our food. When the food came out my sister said if we were sharing we should sit by each other so I moved around to her side of the table.  We were sitting there in small town America when I looked over at my sister, who's hair is just as short as mine and said I bet they are all commenting to each other "Look at those two old lesbians having them some lunch." That's all it took...I grabbed the ball and ran with Cindy close behind me.

She was out of tea and since I was on the outside of the table in the now getting crowded diner told her I would get it. She said she would get it but I said "I'll get it for you, baby, I'll be right back" Not to be one upped, when I returned, put her tea on the table and sat back down , she turned to me...gave me a kiss on the lips  and said "Thanks sweetie."

Okay, so we're bad...real bad.

Let me state here and now if you are reading my blog for the first time; my sister and I are of the same mind set. We have many gay friends, relatives and realize what a difficult plight they endure, but think it is totally ridiculous.  To bash gays is like bashing someone with freckles...it's simply who you  are and how God made you and if He thought it was okay, who are we to challenge or question it?

So us two ole fake lesbians held hands as we walked out of the burger joint. What makes this really crazy is that I kiss my sister on  the lips all the time anyway. I hold her hand (even though when Zach  was little said "You look so young Aunt Cin, but your hands look really old") and I am not gay.

People need to get  off their high horse. People need to live and let live. People need to concentrate on the important stuff and besides all that... who someone else loves is none of your business.

Til next  time...COTTON

"The Fun Girls" to the Hundreth Power

Have you ever seen the episode of the Andy Griffith Show, "The Fun Girls?" Well I met some girls who make them look like "The Church Lady" from the  SNL skit.

My sister took a road trip with us this past weekend for a 36 hour visit to the beach. Dear friends of ours had a beach wedding and invited all their friends down to join them. They rented a house on the beach  for a week which sleeps twenty  two and over thirty showed up and squeezed in.

We got a late start Friday then ran into a horrible accident around Montgomery which put us behind another hour. We rolled in shortly after dark. Our friend had sent us a text with the front door code number so we could let ourselves in. Heck, there wasn't even a need to give us the house number,  we  could hear  them all before we even got out of  the car.

It was a high school friend of mine getting married. She worked for the same airline my sister  worked for and had many friends in  common. Some of them played together on the company softball team, some were flight attendants or gate agents together and some just knew each other through high school or college acquaintances. Some knew each simply by being  "Guilty  by Association."

It was one crazy scene we walked into. My  friend had warned me it was gonna be a party and offered for Massey and me to stay at her own house a few miles away. I told her we'd be fine at the beach. Number one I didn't WANT to miss the party OR the beach and Number two, Massey's older brother cusses like a sailor. He always says "It's no big deal, it's just a word." I warned Massey to  ignore any bad language she might hear and remember her brother's just as bad.

Well, Massey learned a LOT of new words in less than fifteen seconds after we punched in  the door code and they all finally noticed us walk in. I noticed in under fifteen seconds  that my son's mouth wasn't so bad after all and wondered if we had mistakenly opened the door to "Fleet Week on the Gulf?"

There was one group of about twelve  seated around a huge dining room table with  a pile of money in the middle obviously drinking while they gambled. A few others were sitting at a smaller dining room table drinking. One had a microphone  belting out lyrics  to  the song currently playing and another ten were milling around the kitchen with  bowls of a delicious smelling shrimp creole dish served with rice. We immediately got in line for a bowl. Every person we  were introduced to didn't just smile and shake our hand but grabbed us with a welcoming, genuine tight (alcohol induced) hug.

We instantly felt at  home and my sister and I did our best  to  catch up on the alcohol consumption  with great success. Massey already knew a lot of them since she spent a month with my friends last summer .

A lot of them were married having left their husbands at  home like my sister and me. Some were single,  a few had dared to bring their husbands who just  simply shook their heads at all the craziness and some were with their partner. (Yes my friends who were getting married are "Gay" (which in my book means happy and carefree) and  every person in that house that night was EXTREMELY gay! They have been  together since 1982 and  worried if something happened to either of them they would have no legal rights as far as medical or  financial decisions  go.

Thanks to idiotic homophobic people and politicians, we got to go  to a big ole PAR TAY!

I haven't laughed that much in a long, long time. They all swore like sailors and laughed like hyenas and were totally infectious. Naturally  they all fell in love with Massey (the only sober person in the house) which pumped me with tremendous pride.

They had name tags on  all  the bedroom doors and we found ours and dumped our bags. It was a beautiful house and a beautiful night. I met two of the craziest sisters I have ever known.

My own sister warned me  they were four sisters, equally crazy but only two of  them were  there. I couldn't imagine being around all four at once. There may be some law against it...if there isn't  there should be. They are the happiest, funniest crazy girls I ever met. One of the sisters was sitting next  to me on  the couch and at  one point said "I gave up on trying to figure out who's gay"  to which I responded "Me too, I thought YOU were  til you started talking about your husband and little girl. At least you don't have MY haircut, I may as well give up." She said "You know, I just love people...I don't give a sh*t about gay or straight I care about good or bad."

Not too sure what  time we went to our assigned bedrooms but I slept like a rock. Every bedroom had queen sized beds and your own bathroom with a tub and shower.

We let Massey bunk in our room, not being assigned a room. My friends were gonna let her sleep on an air mattress on the floor in their master suite which was huge but I let Massey have my spot in  the bed and slept at  the foot of the bed in our room on  the air mattress. When  you're two sheets to  the wind an air mattress feels  just fine with one sheet on it.

Finally all the sailors crashed and the huge house quieted.

We woke the next  morning  and I heard my sister say from the bed above me (imitating the sailors  from the previous night) "I slept pretty effing good, how bout you?"

So  this is the crazy mob we stayed with. It was an  eclectic bunch of straight people, gay people, married people, single people; family, relatives and in laws. Five dogs (one dog changed outfits more than I did) an internet ordained minister, one teenaged kid who overlooked the potty mouth but won every one of their hearts and made more new friends than me.

All in all the weekend made me realize even more that I'm right in my perception of the whole debacle over  sexual orientation.

You're either a good person or a bad person...nothing else matters and if it does, God will hold you  accountable one day, not us.

It was a great  trip. It was a short trip but was certainly "A TRIP." Couldn't think of a better way  to spend a Mother's Day weekend; with my sister,  my  daughter  and forty good people. Even the caterer's servers from  the reception went home, changed clothes  after they got off and came back to join our party. They said it was the most fun wedding  they had ever worked.

What's really proverbial icing on the wedding cake is  at  the same  time on  the beach several hundred yards away another couple was getting married on  the beach as well. A man and a woman. They had to pay  a huge fee to have their wedding ceremony on the beach. My friends  didn't have to pay a dime because their marriage isn't  recognized in the state of Florida.

They took care of  that legality back in October in a private ceremony in New Hampshire, just the two of them. This weekend was just  about celebrating  the victory...two good people becoming one good family.

Congrats to my dear friends and  thank you  for an absolutely wonderful weekend.

Til next  time...COTTON

I Like Days Like This

It's eleven PM and I just got home from work...and we closed at  9:30. It's a good tired though. I got a ton of things done today. It was my only day off this week so I made the most of it. I took Massey to school  this morning so I could use her car. Came home and took a little nap with the pups and then Zach took us to Mother's Kitchen for lunch.

I guess I napped too long, she was out of collard greens and black eyed peas but asked if we would wait for her to fry us fresh chicken breasts. I also had mac and cheese and baby limas along with her wonderful cornbread. Best fried chicken I ever had! I clean my plate every  time we go. Zach had her daughter's sweet potato pie for dessert. (two slices)

Eating there with all  those wonderful folks not only fills your stomach but is good for the soul. Guess that's why they call it "Soul Food." I felt so good I didn't even mind stopping by Wal Mart on  the way home, a trip I usually dread.

It was a beautiful sunny day and  wanted to let the dogs stay out back for few hours but had a lot of things to do and couldn't keep  my eye on Little Houdini (Ziggy  the escape artist) so I bought a thirty foot cable run with an anchor you screw into the ground. We bought an extra twenty feet of cable so he can run all over the back yard but can't get within ten feet of the back fence he so easily clears when the whim strikes him. It's usually a bird, deer or squirrel he spots over the fence and with one extremely graceful leap he is up,  over and after it!

Zach messed around with my sick little Beemer the other day and got it to start so since we had Massey's car , crossed our fingers and he drove it to the doctor's office (AKA) as my mechanic, Dr. Mike. I told the doctor to just give it a check up. Start with an oil change and tune up  and only fix the crucial things. I can live with a car that has worn out shocks, a bad bearing in the rear wheel, no radio, one window that won't roll up and a rear end that needs to be replaced. That's all just window dressing if you  ask me!

We came home and low and behold, Ziggy was still in the back yard ! I also got to pick  up a shift from a server who had a test to study  for. (that's why I like working with college kids)

While on the way  to work my sister called  to see if I was working tonight because her high school friend and college room mate wanted to bring her mom in for her birthday. I've known her since I was a little kid. Once she got out of college  was actually the basketball coach and our cheer leading sponsor at  my high school. She now lives in Washington State and  haven't seen her in decades.

 She used to go on vacation with our family to Florida when she and my sister were in high school together. I was around ten years old and very annoying. They used to pay me a quarter to just  shut up. I made a lot of money on those trips for skee ball at the amusement park! It was when I was in my phase of speaking a language no one understood but me. I would randomly say very raipdly "Peri scooply ma dio  candito" and act like it meant something. Everyone pretty much ignored me, but being ten thought I sounded cool . We were eating in a restaurant at  the beach one day when a thunderstorm hit. A huge bolt of cloud to ground lightning made  the power go out, scared the poop out of all of us  and out of my mouth immediately shot "Pala screamo exoduso!!" For once I got a laugh.

Tonight she came into to eat with us at  the restaurant with her partner, her sister and her mom. (who looks fantastic to be in her eighties) Her mom is the quintessential southern woman. When my sister and Dotti were in high school (Dotti played on the basketball team) her mom would say "Dotti has a Bye -skit -ball game tonight, are y'all going?"  Her mom looked beautiful tonight, still has a sharp mind , good wit and it was a delight waiting on them.

 I introduced them to the owners and my boss, Len bought the mom a free huge slice of his triple chocolate layer cake for her birthday. I was telling them all how he made everything in house, from the stocks he cooks with to the crepes, salad dressings, pasta and desserts. I told them he makes all my kid's birthday cakes too.

It was a wonderful experience. (at least for me) They asked me what Len (the owner) could NOT do to which I replied  "Anything right, according to his wife."
Ba-da- BOOM!!
I think I heard a cymbal crash  too!

I've been friends with Dotti through  social networking the past few years but haven't seen her in person in quite a while. She's a beautiful person and while waiting on her tonight realized how much she looks like my sister.

Her own family struggled with the fact she was gay which disappointed me, but delights me to know they have finally realized blood is thicker than sexual orientation. So it creeps some people out. Heck, it  still creeps me out to  think about my parents 'doing it'  and they were straight.

 Unless you are a perve, relationships are meant to be personal...that's why they call it a relationship. Webster's defines it as "Connection or association."

Meeting Roby was great too,! I've been friends with her for a couple of years on social networking  and they both read my blog.

Here's the thing. I 'm NOT gay although I could play one on TV. As I like to say..."It's just a hair cut."

Live and let live . Judge not, lest you be judged and above all...simply love each other. It's not rocket science, it's called humanity and acceptance.

Til next  time...COTTON

WOW Is All I Can Say

I picked up a post off a relatives wall tonight on Face book.

 I have a lot of gay friends and  gay relatives as well. I don't have them because I am a Liberal...I have them because they are people that I love.

I think  most people who object to homosexuality have never met and loved a person for WHO they are and not for who they think THEY should be.
  Who would ever CHOOSE to be an outcast of society , banned in some religions and balked by millions?

I have a cousin who is gay. I have a BFF who is gay. I know probably twenty other people who are gay that I consider dear and close friends.

Do you think they woke up one day and thought "It would be really hip to say I am gay...I hear that is all the rage now."

Labels are so quickly put upon people. I have short hair and have had many people think  I am gay. Yes I am.

I am happy and carefree...regardless of the fact that we have been broke for over two years. When we first moved in our brand new house fifteen years ago ...the boy next door told my then four year old Zach that Gay meant "Sick love between two boys." Zach came hone and asked me what "Gay" meant and I told him "Happy and carefree." (And to stay away from the neighbors)

Who in their right mind would choose a life style that is bashed and beaten every step of the way?

People are born Gay just like I  was born straight..Heck Tim probably wishes I could switch teams..
Not gonna happen (sorry Tim)

WHAT is wrong with This World??

The day is "NO gay for a day".

What are people thinking? Do you really think that people choose to be gay?

Do you really think that people would choose a lifestyle that would condemn them and leave them open for torment for the rest of their lives?


Do you really think that they chose this venue, this direction and this choice of life?

If you do, you are so misunderstood and so misdirected that it would take me a few million years to get my point across.

I have a cousin that is gay, my sister's college room mate is gay and I have several friends that are gay.

It is a genetic, born into thing that happens...just like being a red neck just like being a racist, just like being a right wing closed minded Christian.

So you think that you are a Christian...

I feel compelled to tell all of my readers and my friends that I have a gay cousin who has risen to considerable heights in the art world and he is a cousin that I am proud to not only claim, but take my hat off to for being the person that he was destined to be and the cousin that I will always admire.

It is not a life that you choose, but a destiny that you are headed for.

Who is above us to judge, except THE LORD himself? And you know what he would say?

He would say "I love you as yourself, and if you love me...welcome to my kingdom".

To my right wing friends, loosen up and look at the world in the society of today.

I have gay relatives and gay friends...it doesn't mean that I am going to hell nor are they.

We are a varied group, we are a melting pot of society... We are AMERICA...and we stand as one and will live as one...at least by MY standards.


Just a sore point with me that I had to get off my little chest.

God will bless every person...He doesn't pick or choose...WHY SHOULD YOU??