Johnny Dear's Farewell Weekend

This is the last month for me cutting the front of our subdivision til Spring. I'll miss that check once a month but won't miss the cutting. First off I have to pick up all the trash people carelessly toss out their car windows into the ditches on either side of our street. Today I filled an entire kitchen bag with cups, bottles, cans and believe it or not an empty Styrofoam raw chicken tray like chicken comes in from the grocery store. I can't stand litterbugs. How hard is it to wait until you stop or get home to throw something away?

As usual I was in my grass cutting gear.

This is a pic Massey took when I was tromping through the cemetery where my parents are buried.  Ratty shorts, coolest  top I can find and my trusty flip flops. When it's a bazillion degrees outside I just wear my bathing suit top with shorts. Sometimes it pays to have itty bitty ta ta's.

After I picked up all  the trash I cut both sides. Then like the good Samaritan I am, go back out into the street and blow all the clippings back onto the grass. That's the easy part. On both sides of our street are ditches with tons of huge exposed rock. After I broke my second mower blade decided to weed eat them instead of riding. A weed eater only weighs a few pounds but when you don't even weigh a hundred and are five foot four after about fifteen minutes it feels like you are slinging around a fifty pound piece of equipment. It kills my shoulder but there is nothing more pleasing than finishing up and admiring your handiwork. I'll have to admit, I do a bang up job.

I was working under pressure. I had to be at work by four and had promised Barb I would go by our new favorite BBQ place and pick her up some sandwiches. She's the eating-est thin woman I've ever met. She told me last night at work before I left, "I want three sandwiches and some Brunswick stew." I told her last time I went and Massey was with me she wanted one of their loaded potatoes...a baked potato split in two filled with pulled pork, sour cream and cheddar cheese. Barb added "Get me one of those too."

Last weekend when exhausted after work and my table sat for over a hour after paying, another server offered to clean the table for me and sweep so I could leave. She refused to take any money  from me so told her I would pay her back with homemade toll house cookies. I bought the stuff to make them with on Monday but was just too tired to make them when I got home from work. She worked tonight so before I went to  the front of the subdivision to cut, left out two sticks of butter to soften and planned on being through with the front by one, make cookies til two and be on the road to the BBQ place by two thirty.

I only had time to bake two pans but have the rest of the dough in the fridge for tomorrow. At least I had her twenty four cookies. Jumped in the shower and left only fifteen minutes later than anticipated.

You know me, had to stop for gas and put water in my radiator. I got smart and called in my order to the BBQ place. I've been going there the past few weeks after waiting on the owners one night at work. I called work to tell Len, Barb's husband not to eat because I was bringing him a sandwich  too. The server who answered the phone said to bring him one as well. I ended up ordering seven sandwiches, a loaded potato and a pint of stew.

I got to work ten minutes late but fortunately we were slow and they didn't need me. I walked in with  the two huge bags of food and another cook said "I wish I had known you were going there, you  could have brought me one."

Guess I'll just start buying in bulk and selling sandwiches to other employees at a slightly inflated price to compensate for gas.

Drank four cups of coffee and started another shift after scarfing down a yummy BBQ sandwich.

I'm running on fumes.  My last day off was late August and my next  day off is Thanksgiving. I feel like a Latino who can't be kicked out of  the country.

When I checked out tonight, Barb asked how much she owed me for the food? I told her eighteen bucks. She gave me ten and a twenty  five dollar bottle of Chianti which I am drinking right now.

So what I work seven days...at least I am working. There are people who would kill to have my work schedule and unfortunately some who work to avoid it..  I am loved and cared for by  my restaurant employers and have three other days to sometimes rest and read between moving out some mattresses and furniture. I give both jobs my all and that's all you need  to be successful.


Success is defined by Webster as "The achievement of something desired, planned or attempted."

I desire, sometimes ill plan but always attempt.

We aren't rich, aren't poor but simply living hand to mouth and we are happy.

Here's the zinger. Webster's also defines happy as "Enjoying, showing or marked by pleasure, satisfaction or joy."

My life hits all the marks. I am successful and I am happy.

Tens of millions would be grateful to walk in my flip flops.

Heading to bed  to resume my horizontal position. Waking up again tomorrow, now today and kicking butt again .

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. The more YOU love the more you will BE loved.

Til next  time, a much wiser COTTON

Overloaded at Work...

Okay, so I don't have a desk job but if I did this is the way my desk would have looked tonight.

Had a good morning, slept til ten... watched the news and caught an episode of "Full Throttle Saloon" featuring my high school friend's son who is a wounded warrior. He was featured on the episode. I've never been a huge Harley fan although I have a very nice women's Harley jacket I bought from a friend in 1982 after he split up with his girlfriend. (Thank the Lord she was tiny) It's my favorite jacket and is soft, worn and fits like a glove.
After watching the FTS episode, it made Toddlers & Tiaras look like a VBS talent show.

 The difference was Todd is a 21 year old man who lost three limbs to an IED and for him to have half naked women all around him was a heck of a lot less than he is due but probably a lot of fun for him!

Then Massey and I headed over to the booming town of Griffin to the Sock Shoppe and replaced my husband's disgusting briefs (Thank  the Lord he hasn't been in a car accident) and picked up socks, tights for me to wear to work, tee shirts to upgrade Zach's daily uniform and even dress socks that my color blind husband could match. It's a mill store and the prices are ridiculously low. Maybe some items are slightly flawed...but that fits right in with our family theme!

We left and stopped once back in our own county to give the lil' bidness some $$ too. We ate at the Redneck Gourmet. One of Zach's friends works there...a cute little girl who if I could, would pay to be my future daughter in law. The food was great, the fries were right up there with The Varsity's (a big compliment from a girl from the Atlanta area) and it was nice to get a belly full before having to head into work.

Got to work (with Massey in tow, she was busing tables) and the bottom fell out.  I walked in thirty minutes early and ran into a couple who wanted me to wait on them. My manager said I could wait on them so I clocked in and took off running. I had another table of five that had made a reservation requesting me as their server at seven and got slam banged right up til then with tables. (not that I'm complaining...just setting up the story) At the Sock Shoppe I bought  new tights for work and knowing it was going to be cold tonight bought some sock tights that are thicker. As it got busy I felt like I was wearing long johns.

In the meantime I had three other tables go down and then a party of four... two couples in their sixties. As I half ran to the table to get their order one of the men asked "It's really chilly in here can you  turn the air down?'  In hindsight maybe I should have re thought my response but like the talker I am said "Are you out of your mind? I'm a fifty year old woman, I'd lift my arms up to show you my sweat stains but instead I'll just  tell you I haven't been chilly in over a year and I don't even think I've peaked yet. Did you  bring a sweater with you?"

The look I got was what I would call mid way between shocked and mystified. The women were amused, the men not so much. I doted on  the men after that and promised I would have the air adjusted. (not)
It was only one hour of chaos but seemed like an eternity as sweat poured down my back and I hustled from  table to table to table.

It's crazy waiting tables. When it all hits at once...you gotta go with it... at least it's "Hitting."
I got lucky and wowed the chilly folks and it settled down  to a rhythm I could deal with.

I love my job...the thing that I hate is when people say it isn't a REAL job. Well I've been doing it for over thirty years. I have raised three kids by doing it, saved my family by doing it and actually like doing it.

There are a lot of people working jobs they hate but have a degree for. I have my PHD in BS, put it to work every day and come home with a paycheck every night. The better job I do the better I am compensated. It may vary but if I am consistent...it all averages out to my advantage.

A year ago I couldn't even pay attention much less my bills. With help from many and the ability to work day after day after day, I spent the day with my girl picking up bargains...had lunch and helped support another local restaurant, went into work and had my butt kicked but came out the door with a Verizon payment, gas money  and a bank deposit.

Life is good..life is HOT. Growing old as a woman seems to have more set backs than growing old as a man...but then again I don't have to scratch myself constantly or worry about the "Boys."

I tend to worry  more about the boys I am raising, their sister and the ceiling in the kitchen that looks like it is falling through...the leak in the master bath  and on and on and on.

Good thing Tim married me. He works really hard (he does) but I am a tom boy and don't mind taking over. As long as he brings home that check, I'll do more than my fair share. Heck, he should get a medal for just staying married to ME!
breaks. I have changed my schedule to have a day off every week and sometimes more. It's been a long haul but it has been totally worth it.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's all about Karma...what goes around comes around. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Live life as if there is no tomorrow...because there isn't until it happens and if if does be grateful you've been given one more chance.

Til next time... COTTON

I Finally Struck Oil...Never Thought It Would Be Bad

I struck oil.
 Only bad thing is  it is the oil that was leaking out of my car.

I have been having car issues for a while now. My car was hesitating to start a couple of weeks ago and when I checked the oil...it was sizzling on the bottom of the stick. I dumped in three quarts and discovered my battery was going bad.

My brother in law bought me a re conditioned battery and the car started again. Only problem was when Massey and I were coming home from the store the "STOP" light came on and told me to cut engine off immediately. It's a freaky kind of message to get from a car and I had no choice but to keep driving...I mean , we HAD to get home. It was getting dark and beginning to rain, not to mention we had groceries in the back seat.

I parked it in the garage and hoped that after a good night's rest the car would feel better.

It didn't.

I knew that I was well overdue for an oil change. The last time I had my oil changed was when my 18 year old son changed it with help from the neighbor's son.

NEVER send a Man/Child to do a job that a woman can do with only spending 30 bucks and knowing it is done right even if it is by an idiot at the Quik Lube place. At least then I could blame THEM.

I got my nephew who is in his mid twenties to change my oil yesterday. The oil filter my son put on my car WAS for VW. Yes I drive a Passat, but the filter was for a VW truck. I don't even think they MAKE those anymore. It was the size of a coke can. The filter it required was the size of a large can of tomatoes (Yes I am a woman and this was my gauge for the size of the filter.)

My garage floor is covered with oil from the change. I have been dumping in oil to keep the car running...probably added too much and am just lucky that the car is still running at all.

I have LOTS of luck..it's just all BAD.

By the grace of God the car is still somehow running. It's running rough and I am sure there is some damage...but at least it is running.

My life has been a comedy of errors (that's the way I make myself think positively about it.)

I want to complain, I want to cry and I want to feel sorry for myself.

Then I think about my friend's son who is now a triple amputee at the age of 22 from stepping on an IED in Afghanistan. I think about the Chilean miners..almost 70 days almost a mile under the surface of the earth. I think about the young girl suffering from cancer that wore not only a hearing aide but a prosthetic leg and was discovered bit by bit with no help from the people entrusted with her care and well being. These are things for me to be worried about.

An oil leak and possible engine damage to my car ... I almost feel embarrassed to complain.

My life seems grim almost every day. But when I put it all into perspective and take in the big picture, I feel like the guy lying on the couch in the insurance commercial, just waiting for the drill Sargent to throw the box of tissues at me.

Sometimes I feel like I don't even deserve tissues.

I have started to feel "Mamy Pamy" again when I should just feel grateful that I am ALIVE.

Life knocks you down...again and again.

You can  give up or you can go on.

Til next time...COTTON

On the Right Track and Never Looking Back

Just got home from work. Slept in this morning after a ten hour double shift yesterday, got up and jumped on my "Johnny Dear" and cut my yard and my next door neighbor's. He still has a bum tire but with yet another Fix a Flat he made it through. Tomorrow I work a lunch shift and will go buy some new plugs and see if I can salvage the tire.

I thought about going to Wal Mart tonight after work to buy the plugs so I could do it before work but the thought of Wal Mart at 11:30 PM kinda made me feel queasy ...actually the thought of going to Wal Mart at ANY time makes me feel queasy. The day time crowd isn't all that great and the closer it gets to midnight the slimmer your chances of survival are. Some customers at Wal Mart tend to rub me the wrong way and I have had several confrontations that embarrassed my daughter beyond belief. Like the man smacking his four year kid in the head because he forgot to brush his teeth. I didn't hesitate to walk right over and ask if he'd like it if I smacked him around? I followed up with a verbal tirade about if he treated his kid like this out in public, what kind of treatment was this child getting behind the doors of his home. I finished up with a group of people staring at me, Massey slipping off to act like she wasn't with me and a couple of people actually backing me up. My next episode was with a woman screeching into an empty parking space that I had my blinker on for and calling me a "bitch" after she got out as I continued to sit in my car with my blinker on with my hands up in the air signaling "What gives?" The 'bitch' remark almost made my head explode and unfortunately Massey was with me once again...already running for another entrance to put as much distance between her and me as possible. I'll never forget, it was Easter Sunday and we were there to pick up an Easter basket for my brother in law who was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery. I passed the ole biddy several times while I was inside the store and every time said "I hope you have a GREAT Easter" or "Enjoy this beautiful day." Massey was mortified...my own mother often mortified me when I was a tween, so Massey was just catching up with my own experiences with my mother who was a LOT like me.

Anyhoo...decided I didn't want to face the nuts tonight and just went home.

Work was great tonight! I'm catching on so much that you'd think I worked there! I'm getting faster on the computer and learning something new every shift. One of the dinner specials tonight was"Spring Rack of Lamb." Herb marinated 1/2 rack of lamb grilled and served with tzatzil, couscous and goat cheese and asparagus wrapped in phyllo . It was the prettiest dish on a plate I have ever seen. The chefs at this place are truly incredible and the dinner specials are always amazing. Come try some "Salmon & Shrimp Cartoccio"...Fresh salmon and shrimp baked in parchment paper with capers, black olives, tomatoes, shallots, basil and linguine .

My last job was a 'cookie cutter' type restaurant...this place is some "GOOD Eatin' with a flair."

In the words of a song I learned at the age of five in Sunday School.."I'm on the right track and I'm never looking back."

Tim and I have come a long way...we have a long way to go, but now I know we are on the right track and our train is headed in the right direction.

Gotta work in the morning and fix my "Johnny" in the afternoon so I can finish the cutting at the subdivision entrance.

Life is good. Life is hard...but stick with it, persevere and it will all work out. God is good. God makes it hard, but persevere and HE will make it all work out.

Til next time...Persevering COTTON

One Day of Work and Another Day Off !!

After my last blog about my grass fire on my "John Dear" a friend sent me this picture of her father's mower after the same thing happened to him....except he had parked the mower under the back of their house and jumped on another mower to cut somewhere else. The mower caught the back of their house on fire and a passerby had to go tell them their house was on fire.

Needless to say I will hose off my mower after every cutting and keep my baby grass free.

Went to eat lunch at Mama Lucia's today with a regular from my old restaurant (which shall remain nameless to protect the ignorant) and a former co worker that is a dear friend of mine as well. We had a nice two hour lunch...Mozzarella Fritti for an appetizer....fresh mozzarella lightly breaded and sauteed in olive oil. Miss Donna and I each had Shrimp Scampi over Angel Hair pasta. She had cream of Tomato soup and I had a Caesar salad. My former co worker we'll call "Ole' Gert" had the Barbarella Salad...mixed greens with artichoke hearts, grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers and pecan encrusted goat cheese. I swear this place has some of the best food I have ever eaten and the portions are HUGE. I brought home half my scampi for Tim to eat when he got up and was stuffed.

When I got home it was time to get ready for work and was back at the store an hour later.

We have nightly specials that aren't on the menu and just to show you what a variety of things they have...here are a couple of them from tonight:

Maryland Crab Cakes: Jumbo lump blue crab cakes sauteed in olive oil and served with broccoli and roasted red bliss potatoes.

Parmesan Encrusted Talapia: fresh talapia topped with herbs and parmesan then baked with diced roma tomatoes, lobster broth and cream sherry. Served over spinach.

I have found a new home in this place and eating all this good food will back up to my fighting weight of 105lbs before I know it.

My first table was four men, total bill $166.00 They left me a $32.00 tip. BINGO !!

I never dread going to work anymore and it is nice to be somewhere you are wanted.

Tomorrow I have another day off. It has been YEARS since I had two days off in a week and I am enjoying it immensely.

After taking the kids to school I am going to work in the yards(That's right Mrs. Walsh...private joke) and clean house. Mr. (slow)Lee and his wife are back in town so I can expect him to be leering at me over the bed of his truck once again. Zach pruned my Pear tree so I can cut underneath it now and the yards are looking good again. My Gladiolas, Irises and Lilies are all blooming and my Lenten roses are about to bloom. My Rose bush is loaded with buds and my little purple flowers (will have to ask Cin what they are) look ready to bloom as well.

It's kind of like my yard knows I am awake again and feel like I am blossoming so they are all joining me in a Spring time awakening.

I have started the task of writing Thank You notes to people that have helped us make it...I bought ten cards but should have listened to Massey and bought the 20 pack. It feels good to begin to pay it forward in some small way. It's nothing but a card but it is always nice to open something from the mailbox that doesn't require "immediate attention" or an amount due. Life seems to be blooming and booming for us and we are all incredibly grateful. This has not only been a life lesson for Tim and me but for my kids as well. They seem to understand now that money doesn't grow on trees and you need to count your blessings every day of your life.

Tim just left for work...BTW he LOVES his new job , feels like he has finally secured a job that he can move up in and make a career of.

Yes it is Spring time outside and it is Spring time in my heart and home.

Time to go snuggle with the pups in my bed while I write a few more Thank You notes. I tend to write a short story in each card...you should see how long it takes me to do Christmas cards!

Every one enjoy this beautiful Spring time...my favorite time of the year, especially THIS year !!

Til next time..."POPPIN' COTTON"

PS Have a hilarious story about work that I will post tomorrow...yeah, I'm "fittin' right in."

A Bittersweet Day

Attended the funeral of one of my parent's closest friends today. It was held at my childhood church.

It was more like Homecoming at the church.

People that I haven't seen in over thirty years, friends of my parents, former Sunday School teachers, elders and deacons and people that I went to church camp with in the seventies were all there.

It was a menagerie of my youth, a sweet reminder of how lucky I was when I was a kid...and why I will always consider East Point Christian my home.

Some of the elders and deacons looked exactly the same, leaving me to wonder if they looked old when I was a kid and just never changed.

To sit in the pew of a church that I was in EVERY Sunday morning and Sunday night...to gaze around and see dozens of people who have known me since I was enrolled in the "Cradle Roll" department (I still have my certificate from my first Sunday in church).

Not many kids these days have the chance at a childhood like I experienced, and my heart aches for their loss. To grow up learning morals, values and the importance of living your life the right way, seems to take a backseat these days...one of the great disappointments of having to grow up in this "cyber" world we live in today. Instead of learning "The Lord's Prayer" they are learning how to get to the next level on a video game or how to use "word" on their cell phone.

Instead of heading off on a weekend youth retreat, they are heading off to the mall or the movies.

When I was a kid, teens that didn't attend our church...or ANY church...begged to be able to join us on a weekend youth retreat with our group at Woodland Christian Camp.

We slept in the mess hall before the cabins were built, played "Capture the Flag" in a huge open field at 10:00 at night, built huge fires and sat singing and bonding...with only an occasional "talk" thrown in..but a talk that was on our level and often touched you in a way that was actually a MOVING experience.

We were all from different high schools , but were all on the same team when we were together on a weekend retreat or even sitting in a Sunday School class.

Our former minister's wife was at the funeral today and mentioned that there was no other youth group like ours...we were an eclectic and varied bunch, but shared an experience that I have never had since.

We came together...we were rich , poor or middle class..we were popular in school or not really standouts...we were athletes or wanna be's...we were bullies or easy targets...
but when we were together all the "labels" fell away.

As corny as it may sound...the old song we sang around those campfires phrased it perfectly..."It only takes a spark, to get a fire going...then soon all those around will warm up in it's glowing".

It was bittersweet to say good bye to a dear friend. It was sad to look around that sanctuary and see that I have let myself drift away from some of the most influential and inspirational people that a person could ever have come into their life.

Even though over 30 years have passed...they all still love me...they all still hug me as if I was their own flesh and blood and they always fill my heart, as their arms wrap around me in a hug so tight that it makes 30 years drop away like it is nothing.

This wonderful man that has passed on to his reward, will be met at the Pearly Gates by not only both of my parents, but by half of the people that made my youth and my young adult life a tremendous thing not only to experience but to draw from , reflect on and be eternally grateful for.

I have suffered losses in my life, but the gains I have made from growing up in East Point Christian Church certainly make the losses more understandable and make me realize how lucky I am to have had such a great childhood, youth and send off to adulthood from what I consider "ICONS" and "HEROES" I was so fortunate to meet.

Heaven has one more "Angel" tonight...and I have one more reason to realize what it takes to become one.

Til next time...Cotton

I Have a NEW Home !!

Thank You Jesus! I found yet another site to accept my rambling writings.

After being banished (by my own accord) from my high school site on classmates...I was invited to join a site that has a moderator that can actually keep my cyber stalker in check.

I checked in after signing up and had two welcome messages!!

My high school had the best classmates site on the boards. Once I began to post and my cyber stalker took to the attack, it went downhill rapidly. She not only attacked me, but anyone who came to my defense.

It bordered on the line of insanity at times. I truly feel sorry that it was me and my happy typing fingers that caused the demise, but realize now...SHE IS A PSYCHO.

She called me a racist...for pete's sake...that in it's self is ludicrous.

This new site has the same ole folks....we all jumped ship about the same time and will pick up where we left off...remembering East Point for the great city it was to grow up in and Russell for the great school it was to attend.

I have pictures to post (Massey, help me ONE more time) and so many memories to share.

Hopefully I am leaving my cyber stalker in the dust....that is all she has left on classmates...except for the people that she has made up and posts under pseudonyms....If you think I am kidding I can assure you that I am NOT!

It is a great relief to me to be able to go back to what I do best...writing about my life, my past and my memories.

I swear if I do ONE thing in my life it will be having SOMETHING published.

It may end up to be in my obituary...but it WILL be published!


I responded time after time to her accusations only to go back and delete them before they got posted...I fear she may be more serious about her hate of me than I realize.

But I feel free now to post my trivial stories, spark recollections from others and hopefully entertain and enlighten.

A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. There is nothing I love more than pecking the keys and putting my thoughts out there....or have you noticed that?

Have to wind it up now because my girl has her BIG competition tomorrow at our home high school...have to have her there by 7AM to have her hair done...have to go buy a case of water bottles for the group...(Wouldn't you think that would be included in my $650.00 fee)??

I'll be back tomorrow night for another post and if Massey will help me I will upload the video I make at the competition....I'll try not to zoom in on her ALL the time!


Life is GOOD!

Recommended Reading....(besides my blog)

I am reading the most absolutely wonderful and enlightening book that I have read in YEARS! It is entitled "Eat, Pray, Love", by Elizabeth Gilbert. It has almost become a mantra to me.... a book that I felt I needed a highlighter pen to read it with. So MANY profound statements and observations about life... that I found myself constantly saying "I have GOT to remember that"!!! If you read ONE book this year, I recommend this one!! As a forty eight year old woman, wife and mother...this book has touched me and made me think about the entire scheme of life in an entirely different way. I am on the last part of the book(three parts) and I am intentionally slowing down because I already dread it being over with!! She writes and sounds a lot like me (that isn't the reason that I recommend it) and I feel such empathy for her , and the excellent way she figures EVERYTHING out. Should I ever make money and get all three of my kids out of the house...I will do the EXACT same thing she did and KNOW that I will reap rewards untold!! I feel like OPRAH pitching a "Book Club" selection (which this book probably was)...but caring for my limited and few readers...I felt compelled to share this amazing discovery with you. Pick up a copy and it will change your life... Life is a road we are ALL destined to travel...it is all about choosing the correct route...it may not be the easiest route to travel....but the one that will take you DIRECTLY to your destination and ultimately your life's total state of well being and sincere happiness. TRUST ME...I am being totally serious (and not even getting a kick back from the Author)!!! Till next time...COTTON