Relaxation

This photo was taken last month. I was visiting my "north" friends (previous co-workers). This friend has had this little camper on the lake for maybe more than 15 years. She was going to sell it once but I am so glad she did not. It is a beautiful spot by the lake.

Across the way there is their big shelter house. The president of the board of this campsite had a son getting married. The wedding party arrived in big decked out golf carts. The photo is dark, but you can see them a little bit parked on the lakeside of the big white tent.

This day was hot. The weather today won't reach above 65º Fahrenheit in my neck of the woods. I have an outdoor genealogy picnic to attend. My jacket is clean and ready.

I have made my calico beans that a lot of my family enjoys. Here is a similar recipe to what I use for my calico beans.  I am running behind or I would look up my recipe and post it. Gotta go!

Survived

Survived another family reunion. This time with extended family members is so special to us, but alas - not everybody feels that way. Our attendance was so low this year we doubt we will have it again next year. Or, we need to change the format to a much less activity-based event.

Our first year we had over 150 attend, this year - maybe 38. It was our fourth one and the heat was so intense I believe some of us suffered a mild heat stroke. So many were dizzy and we just sat around limp. Not to mention the body odor. It was a good idea to choose burgundy color shirts for our matching tee shirts but not healthy. The heat was intense and with a dark, thick tee shirt on - well, you can imagine. Some of my family members refuse to wear them and opt for spaghetti straps and what not for a cooler outcome.

I certainly will have to do something next year. I have expressed my desire for an air conditioned building and having it inside. That seems to be the major reason for absenteeism. The blessed heat.

The party on the patio at the motel was rather tame, also. Just a few who wanted to burn the candle at both ends, and the staff finally moved them into the lobby because of motel visitors complaining. I had gone to bed long ago. I do not party any more. Especially since I am on this medication. I asked to try the bud light lime a rita. It was so delicious and I only drank 6 oz. but it knocked me on my butt. (Medicine intensified, I am sure). I am not one to follow the rules, but when I felt woozy - I stopped cold. I don't push it too much. (Any longer).

We had two siblings that could not make it this year. The first time all 8 of us have not been to the reunion. Well, the first reunion sister 1954 could not make it. Not because she did not want to, though. Most of us find it difficult to understand why they would not want to come to the reunion but you have to let stuff like this go and let people be. Their "excuse" was that they had to work but we all knew about the reunion months in advance. The actual date, anyway. And the ones who could not make it got days off just prior to the reunion and another one - they are going to the ocean in a week or two. So it isn't like they CAN'T get time off. They just decided not to. We held the reunion on a Saturday this year to make it easier for folks who have to travel and get back to work on a Monday. That backfired. All the ones who requested that option, did not show anyway. Claiming they had to work. What is up with that?

Whoops. I am not letting it go, am I?  My daughter showed up and the ones that did show - we had a fantastic time. When the heat was so bad, we got out the water balloons and the mister (sprays water). I find it nice that we have coolers full of water bottles in the same amount as soda. I did not drink one soda, all water. I crave a soda once in a while - but drink water all day.

The food was fantastic - a lot less to choose from - but there is still plenty to go around. Desserts were almost non existent this time. Some cookies, pies and nut bread and that was it. I made calico beans. Once I heard my nephew was bringing a generator (my sister told me he was bringing it for me so that I can have a fan on me) I grabbed the chance to make my beans. The generator would run fans and a crock pot or two on low. I am just grinning to think that he would bring that for me. I love that boy (he will always be my little boy to me) so much! Even though he and his mama are very close and I am so happy they are. For all the hell they have gone through with each other they are so very, very close. It just makes my heart burst.

I find it strange to hear stories about other families that do not step in and take a child if their sibling is having trouble or problems in their life. My sister has been in and out of prison and I had no problem taking her daughter into my home.  Her son was old enough to be on his own. When she moved back home in the early 80's I was working a daylight job. She was tending bar at night. I watched her little boy every night and cared for him. This is family. Her children are my children. That is how I feel. My sisters ALL feel the same way.

Anyway, reunions are a special time for me. I grumble about them. I grumble about the heat. I grumble about the work. I grumble about the money - not so much because to me, complaining about money is vulgar. If you want a wonderful time - sometimes it costs a lot of money. But (to me) you cannot put a price on family and love.

Last, but not least - headache update. Although I did not have a migraine, I had a very bad headache through out the week-end. I attribute that to sleeping (or NOT sleeping) in a motel, the heat and the upset in the schedule. And driving long distance. If I were still on my migraine medication, I certainly would have taken one. Although the pain I felt was not a classic migraine, it was bad enough to warrant a migraine pill. The migraine pill would have knocked it out of the park. Alas, I did not and just kept taking Advil which was not touching it. Many more of my relatives were suffering, too.

This morning. No headache at all. I have taken this Monday off from work (recovery day!) and will releax, wash clothes and enjoy my daughter and her beau's company. The laughter is rocking the Peruby household once again. Quiet time is over. And... the dogs come back today. Ugh!

Back in time

Been away for a few days visiting relatives (dead and alive) in West Virginia. We had wonderful weather and wonderful visits. 

One cousin had her grandchildren visiting. One very amicable (and chatty) first grade boy captured my curiosity. We chatted back and forth. I asked him some questions about what he dressed up for at Halloween, he answered.

I told him what I did when I went to work and his sweet and innocent six-year-old reply?

"Women work?"

My sisters and I cracked up at that one.

Winding down

Slade in the good ole' summertime

I still have a hard time imagining who would let this magnificent canine go. It "appears" as if he were just let loose or dropped off. He is pure muscle. Although I can't afford the really "good" stuff right now, the cheaper food has not affected him (or the others) much at all. Side note - his ribs do not show at all, now. This picture must have been taken shortly after he was returned to us. You should see him in the snow! And, you will - if I ever find my battery charger. Time to get my daughter's camera out again. Sigh. Same old, same old.

This year has brought a car (new to her) for my daughter. She started college. She worked her first "real" job. Even though it was only seasonal and probably cost me more to buy her the red and black clothes necessary for working there than she made the entire time she was there. [grin].

It brought our household two new (cutest ever) puppies that grew into little black monsters, Cheech and Chong. The boxer entered our lives, left and re-entered - now looks to be a permanent fixture. That's okay. Cat population remained the same. The fish? I don't know - you get one, you lose one. I'll let my daughter keep track of them.

I got a new (used) car. My Civic is in auto heaven probably tormenting the deer that took it out.

No new babies or marriages in the family this year, but we will have a new one in the spring for Nephew (May) 1978 and his wife. This one will make them 3 sons. YAY! Nephew 1985 did acquire an "insta-family" when he began dating a woman with 3 children. So the family did grow a bit. She never had the closeness in a family that we enjoy, so she is making the most of it by coming to every get together that she can and bringing as many of her children as she can, all of which I think are adorable. (Even the one that everyone says is a little monster - I think he is a doll. But then I only see him for an hour here and there).

Everyone became a year older, but perhaps not wiser. Sister 1954 is now in a rehab program and out of prison. We expect her release in either April or June. Fingers and toes crossed that this is her very last lock up. Big sigh. Life is passing by, let's hope she gets to live it with us and not in some reformatory.

We had our first annual (father's side) family reunion in WV. Turned out to be a huge success and we cannot wait to begin planning next year's event.

Nephew (June) 1978 started a new job that he found on the Internet. Nephew 1987 is home for the holidays from his schooling in Dominica. (Not Dominican Republic, they are separate I have come to find out).

All in all a rather quiet year for our family. Not bad at all. Marching on to see what 2010 will bring with our back straight, our chin up, eyes looking forward and one foot firmly on the ground.

Ransom

I clocknapped this clock today

This morning one sister and I had a training session on how to re-hydrate and conserve old paper documentation. The society we joined has started the difficult task of preserving county documents from the 1800's to 1917. Interesting stuff.

She and I travel over an hour to get to the county where we grew up. On the way back she and I both had to use the bathroom. We have another sister who lives about half way. She was working and her family was not home when we stopped to use her facilities. Being the rascals that we are (or being the rascal that I am) I stole her kitchen clock right off her wall.

When I got home I took a picture of it (said I had broken it's leg to show I was serious) - it isn't really broken. I then e-mailed it to her and demanded a million dollars to be sent to me by Black Friday.

Of course I will return it when I see her on Thanksgiving, but that is 12 days without her kitchen clock. Do you think she will be angry with me? LOL!

I hope not. It's all fun.

A bitten dorsal fin

This is another shot from my nephew's collection. I am not posting my own because I am on a new computer. Well, new to the household. I am setting up a spare PC to use in case mine fails. It was purchased in 2003 and Dell will not issue a warranty for it anymore. Yes, I purchase the extended warranty on my computers. Yes, I work on computers. I know what can happen and I know that I don't want that much down time when the hardware fails.

So, on this new computer I have Internet access, but no personal pictures. But, check out the dorsal fins on that shark. I asked my nephew about it and he said he hadn't noticed. Since he posted 92 photos from Sea World, he was probably just clicking and uploading. He said he would look at the photo and get back to me.

At the reunion motel we will have plenty of devices with Internet access. Most of the younger crew's cell phones are equipped with all the bells and whistles. Service may be tricky in the hills, though. My daughter is taking her new laptop. She gets bored easily at these gatherings. Still, it is great because I am the type of person who has to know "right now!" and she looks stuff up for me in a flash.

When somebody is talking about a movie and they say "Who was that guy who played so-and-so?" I run and look it up. The other day my sister sent me an e-mail asking me "What was the name of that movie where the skinny girl dies in the end?" What?! I laughed and replied exactly that: "What?!" I mean, can she give me a little more information? I guess we were talking about a certain movie one day, but I'll be darned if I can think of what she means. This morning I woke up and thought "Passengers" with Jane Hathaway. Maybe that is the one she is thinking of. If you have not seen it yet, I don't want to spoil it - but she does NOT die at the "end" of the movie.

I'll be seeing her today and riding in the car with her to WV so I can find out if that is the one she is thinking of. Speaking of movies, I watched "The Life of David Gale" from my Netflix choices. Not my favorite movie, but it was a mystery.

I have to go and roll my cheese balls into the chopped walnuts, now. About everything else is done and ready to roll. Ah, I need to put my name on my lawn chairs. We were laughing because we told folks not to put just "insert our last name here" on their stuff because ALL of us just about have the same last name! LOL!

Update on the pooches: they are growing like a weed. Their legs are double the length as when we first brought them home. No more pot bellies, especially Chong. He is getting lean and lank. I have to remember to take my camera outside to take a small video of him running. Cheech still does the little hop and run (he is a bit bow legged) but Chong runs full tilt. His ears are flat back against his head and he is off and running like a rocket. We are pretty sure they are rat terriers, now. Check out the picture at this site of the 5-week old pup. Ours look(ed) exactly like that shortly after we obtained them. Adorable.

It's that little green car again, Pa

I think I may have passed this buggy 4 times today.

I believe it was the same family. I passed them once while going to the school. Then I passed them when I went back and towards another school. I needed to check back at the first school and I passed them again, then when I went to drive back to my office, I saw them yet again. I figured I would see them, so I had my camera ready.

This was over a three hour period. It was very hot today. In the closets it felt like it was a hundred degrees. The sweat was rolling down the back of my neck. My only solace was my little car and the air conditioner.

I did have success today, though. Got the elementary buildings connected.

I've mentioned before that we are planning our first family reunion in August. My sister sent me an address of a cousin. I went to add their email address into my contact list. They use "we.serve.the.lord" and I accidentally typed in "we.serve.the.lard". I started laughing and I could not stop. I had tears running down my face. I think I have found my new email address.

I watched "Gran Torino" over the week-end. I had read a book on the Hmong people about a year ago. I don't think I liked the movie or it's message very much. Did he change in the end? Did he stop being prejudiced? He is eating dinner at his neighbor's house and he calls them "fish heads?" Really? I thought it was a little out of character for him to warm up to the family like he did. And calling the black gang "spooks?" and using "gooks" and what was with the slang term "slopes?" Was it a cocaine reference or was it a reference to their slanted eyes? Was he trying to be an Archie Bunker type? I get it in the end. How he handled the situation so that it turned out better for everyone he cared for. But, seriously. Christopher Carley really creeps me out.

Two things I did really like about the movie. I had a '73 Gran Torino (his was a '72) and PBR. That beer ruled in the mid-70's!

You've got mail

Seen in a mailbox

Two sisters and I went to WV to begin planning a reunion this past week-end. I suppose if my sister didn't smoke we would never have seen the five baby birds nested inside a mailbox. The door was left open all the time (of course). The mommy bird did not show while we took pictures. I would have removed the door completely for fear that some ornery kid would come along and close it. This nest was outside of a flower shop. I suppose they check on it from time to time.

We laughed a lot while visiting relatives. Old memories and old sayings. We got the ball rolling on this first annual reunion on my father's side. My Mom was born in the same vicinity but she was (almost) an only child. Her half brother didn't come along until she was ten and she never met him until they were in their fifties.

The hardest part will be no electricity in the shelter house. The grills were in pretty bad shape but after talking to one cousin he knew who to talk to and will have new ones there by August.

There were 8 children in my father's family. One did not have any children. But, one had fourteen. I am thinking about 35 children from this original 8. No one remains of the original 8, but you can imagine the children and grandchildren. They are scattered all over. Some in New York, some in Maryland, some in Virginia and some in Ohio. It will be interesting to see how many show up. Our family will have a definite 20 show (maybe more). We know of 20 that confirmed while on our recent visit. Outside of that is any body's guess.

Terminology is different there. We chuckled at our one cousin. While calling relatives close by his call waiting kept beeping. He was trying to answer it. He was not successful. (I usually never am, either). He said "The kids say to press the tic-tac-toe button."

Wild, wonderful

West Virginia

Some family and I are headed south this week-end. Back to our roots in wild, wonderful West Virginia. We are planning a family reunion on my father's side in August. We are heading down to check out the shelter area and make plans.

The above photo is the cemetery where my father is buried. We don't think he was ever really happy in Ohio. When my parents and others moved to Ohio in the 40's some only stayed a few years, then returned. My Mom refused. She had no family left in the hills of West Virginia.

All 8 of my Mom's children were born in Ohio. I have maybe one aunt (by marriage) that remains in the mountain state. The rest are cousins. Lots of cousins. I may get to see just how many this year.

When we were kids (it took us two cars) we would visit every summer. It was great. We explored all over town. They had RR tracks and a train that went through the little town, directly across from my Aunt's house. I can still remember the train whistle blowing at night and the clickety clack of the cars running along the tracks. It was very mysterious and exciting for me.

They had an old, working hand pump in the back yard. We found it fascinating down there. They had bees and we would bring back honey. And my Aunt made jelly and always gave me a little jar of apple jelly - it was my favorite. We would have to be careful. If we said we liked anything, she was wrapping it up and giving it to us. I am so glad I didn't say anything about the glass cake holder. That would have been a little too much for a ten year old.

Her house was well lived in. It was just full of furniture and stuff that would be there from year to year. We would return and everything would be in exactly the same place and my Aunt would be sitting in her rocking chair in the enclosed sun porch where we would all gather around and talk. Next to that dreadful gas heater. Between the long car ride (none of my sisters and brothers ever wanted to ride in the same car as me, because I was the one who got car sick) and the smell of that gas heater, I was always ready for the outside excursions.

The house was full of old stuff. Calendars from the 50's and so much glass. Two things I didn't care for was the smell of natural gas and the spittoons. Mostly it was a big empty Maxwell House coffee can. My Mom always told us kids, "Do not get between folks and the coffee can." Yuck.

I think the coffee cans are long gone. The houses we visit now are more modern. The hospitality is the same. The pictures are nostalgic. I wonder if they have pictures of me and my siblings from the 60's and wonder who we are. I know I do when I go through the old family album. I will copy the old black & white photos and paste them onto a big poster board for the reunion and maybe I'll finally get to meet some of those kids I have looked at all of these years.

Details

While attending a meeting for the Genealogy Society a few months back, one presenter suggested that we do not forget to scan the backs of our old family photographs. I liked this idea as it captures some of my Mom's handwriting. In the example above this is how she wrote in 1954.

We have ice here in the valley today. All schools are closed.

Tree and tacky and a rock star

The tree is finally up. It is done being my garage air freshener. It is a monster. If I had to do over again, I would trim the scraggly branches off the bottom and cut it off more at the stump. It was a chore to get it up and in the stand, so this will do. It will be rough getting the lights on all the way at the top. It tickles the ceiling. I was gone all day yesterday, but my daughter was home. I was hoping she would decorate it, but she cleaned instead. That is okay by me. I must dig out the lights and decorations today. This is the tree part.

Now, for the tacky. I am still shaking my head. Never in my 48 years. My sister (1944) couldn't believe the tackiness either. She and I went to a luncheon yesterday. Out of town. We had sent in our reservation weeks ago. We paid $12.50 at the door. We sat with a group of folks my sister went to school with. The lunch group totaled 40 in all.

Most of the folks here are my sister's age. I started to go with her to the meetings because it has to do with genealogy and to help with the technical parts of the workshops. Digital photography for example.

One couple came from the north, just to meet up with my sister and a few of her school mates. They had not seen one another in 46 years since graduation. This is where the rock star part comes in, and I will get back to that.

Our table was the last to get up and get into the food line. There were about nine people behind me in line when I looked at the food. 3 chicken breasts left and one steak floating in gravy. Hmmm. The two folks ahead of me passed the meat up. I did also. I was getting my salad when the president of the group found out the meat ran out.

Get this.

She put her chicken back into the pan. She said "I didn't touch it. You can trust me." She then gathered chickens and steaks from folks who had not "touched" theirs yet. Prior to the meal, the group was instructed that they could take one chicken and one steak each . I guess they took that to mean it was required to take one of each, I don't know.

Is that just unreal?

I booked it out of the line and muttered to myself "I am NOT taking food off of other people's plate." I was shaking my head in disbelief. I sat down and ate my vegetarian lunch. The rest of the meal consisted of salad, green beans, noodles, corn pudding and a roll. My sister was so wrapped up into talking with her friends she was totally unaware of what went on around her. She had passed the meat up also. I told her on the drive home what had transpired.

She was in complete shock. They took food off of people's plates and put it back? I nodded. She had been talking to the people in line with her and was oblivious.

Never in my life have I witnessed such vulgarity at a luncheon. The proper thing to do would have been to give a refund to the folks at my table and apologize. This is the society where I won a membership for a year. The next meeting is in March. I have until then to get over this and decide if I want to continue to meet with this group. It is over a 50 mile drive for me to attend. It has to do with the genealogy from the county I grew up in. I don't know. I was doing it for my sister and to get more involved in things that interest me. I'll have to think about it.

I have six lunch/dinner functions to attend this month for the holidays. I am certainly not going to miss one piece of chicken. It is a story to tell and laugh about at future functions, so I guess it makes for good fodder. That will make it all worthwhile.

Now, back to the rock star. The fellow that my sister went to school with is a Presbyterian preacher. The entire family is musical. One of his two sons is a member of the rock music group Isis. I didn't know this until the drive home. I am not familiar with the group but I have heard of them.

Lost (almost) Children

There were 8 children in my family. Here are 4 of them.

1. 1942
2. 1944
3. 1949
4. 1953
5. 1954
6. 1956
7. 1957
8. 1960

I am number 8. Above are 2, 3, 4 and 5.

I went to a workshop yesterday. It was with Sister 1944. It was in the county where I had grown up. She had spent a lot of her life growing up in that county also. It was a Genealogy workshop. There was a speaker who had written a book about a Children's home from this county. Lost Children. Sister 1944 said that we were almost placed in this home. She didn't specify what year, and I plan to get back to working with her on this project and asking her questions about this fact.

At the time this photo was taken, I was not born yet. Sister 1956 was in the photo, but she was in the lap of a neighbor, so I cropped it out.

The book is about finding the children who lived in this home and how their life was and is as a result of it. I have the book but have not read it yet. The speaker had asked one lady if he could put her story in his book. She declined. She passed away this Spring and he was now able to tell her story to the group.

Her father had died and her Mother was unable to care for her. She was placed in this home. The Mother said she would come back for her. Years went by. The girl wrote to her Mother, pleading with her to write back to her. The girl received nothing. The Mother died and the girl would visit her grave and crying in anger, curse her Mother. She would cry "I loved you! Didn't you love me?"

Years passed. A decade or so ago, this girl went to look at her records. The director of the home handed over her files. There were piles of letters from her Mother, unopened. She broke down and cried. Her Mother had written to her after all. Why didn't she get the letters? Who was responsible for this complete act of mental cruelty?

She quietly stood up and told the director, "I have to go to the graveyard. I have to go and apologize."

As a side story, the writer spoke of an Interstate that was planned in the late 50's. The home was in the way, so it was to be torn down and moved to another location. The record shows that there was a certain dollar amount provided for this section of highway. It included monies for a cloverleaf. This was a rural area. No cloverleaf was placed there. The money was given to the county for this cloverleaf. What happened to the money? Did dirty politicians make off with it? One has to wonder.

At the workshop I won a prize. A year's free membership to the society. Will I attend the meetings? Will I become involved? Only time will tell. It does interest me. The answers will all be determined by how my experience goes when I attend the meetings. I plan to give it a fair shot. The drive is about 60 miles one way. Let's see what this society is about. My daughter will be 18 in the spring. I need to get involved in a few projects. I had plans to take an electrician class, a water color class and I was looking into some other things. I may as well give this opportunity a go, since it sort of fell in my lap.

Melancholy Monday

Party lights from the fiesta. It was loud and colorful, but this Monday morning I am melancholy. I can't use Firefox this morning for one thing, and that has me ticked off.

I ordered the turbo boost for my Internet and it worked okay for a couple of days,but then the cable guy came to fix my television cable and since then my turbo seems to have turned into no-go. Ah, I will call them again.

I don't have much to say about the fiesta other than the fact that I wasn't drinking and I should have left a lot sooner than I did. But, I insisted on helping to clean up and I got a drink poured on me and then I had to leave or somebody was going to end up in the fire and it wasn't going to be me. Guaranteed.

I did sit with my eldest brother for over an hour going over genealogy stuff. He has researched so much on our family history. It is amazing. I have the program that he uses and I need to get an update of the latest file from him that contains all the names.

Yuck! Why do I have to insert html for line breaks while using Explorer? That's tedious. I am off for a glorious Monday, I can tell.