Open Mic for November:

We had planned a slam for last night forgetting we were only two days away from thanksgiving, so of course, people would be off doing things with family and travelling. Instead Meghan hosted an open mic for us and we all had a great time. This will be Meghan's last time with us as her husband returns from Korea on
Dec. 7 and on the 12th or 13th they leave for Florida! We will certainly miss her! She brought much needed life into our meetings. So, these will be the last open mic pics that include Meghan. Thanks for joining us, sharing your life and your poetry, and for the great job you did last night.

And yes, we did have a very special guest last night. Mr. Jack Wrecker who generally greets the line dancers, was unemployed last night, so sat in for the poetry session. What? Hope? Did you think I meant you? Aw, you're always special!

A 40 year obsession:

My husband has been obsessed with Pamela Franklin for over 40 years. I first saw her in The Prime of Miss Jean Brody and became quite enchanted by her myself. That was supposed to be Maggie Smith's big film, but this little twerp, Pamela Franklin, stole the show.

So, over the years we have watched many Pamela Franklin movies and Keith has collected memorabelia. If you asked him who he would like to meet the answer would be, Pamela Franklin. He has the occassional dream in which she appears, but last nights dream was the best.

He and I were at a party or some event and someone asked him who he would like to meet and he said....Pamela Franklin. The person said, well wait a minute. Then he said I was signaling for him to come outside to a patio because I had someone he wanted to meet. When he went out I called over the person and when he saw it was Pamela Franklin he immediately fainted! When he told me that I laughed and laughed. Wouldn't it figure that is probably what would really happen if he ever did get to meet her. Poor Keith!

Driving Lessons vs Life Lessons

While my dad was not the perfect father he did teach me one thing well and that was how to drive. Anyone he has taught says he is the best teacher and everyone who rides with me comments on my great driving skills. My husband even says I am the better driver between the two of us. What I’ve come to realize is that the driving lessons were also life lessons. The same things he taught me to avoid accidents while driving were also the same things that would help avoid disasters in life. Did I heed them all? Of course not! But here is my interpretation of the driving lessons.

Driving: If the person in front of you puts n their breaks then you apply yours also! Keep a safe distance to avoid a collision.

Life: In a relationship – friendship, love, etc – if the other person puts on the breaks and either slows it down or breaks it off it’s time to put on your own breaks to avoid a broken heart. You can’t force a relationship to move forward anymore than you can force the vehicle in front to move on without damaging one or both.

Driving: Turn in your own lane. Don’t swerve to the next.

Life: You can stay on your own path without disrupting that of another. Each person has their own path and it’s not anyone else’s right to interfere.

Driving: Look before you back up.

Life: Watch your own back because no one else is going to.

Driving: Watch for and obey the traffic signs. Stop means stop, not slow down and coast through.

Life: People don’t always say what they mean, so to keep from getting blindsided watch for signs and heed them.

Driving: Use your signals and use them correctly. If you are going to turn right put on your right turn signal.

Life: Don’t give mixed signals. Be upright and honest to avoid confusion and hurt feelings.

Driving: Implied stops – when entering or exiting a parking lot or even your own driveway, just because there is no stop sign, doesn’t mean you don’t have to stop. These are implied stops. Use common sense.

Life: You don’t always know what coming so keep your eyes open and pay attention to what’s going on around you. Use common sense.

Driving: In a parking lot treat every parking space as if it is occupied. Don’t try to take a short cut by cutting through. Treat the parking lot as if you were the road and stay in the correct lanes.

Life: Taking short cuts may get you somewhere faster, get a project done faster, but it won’t be the best you could do and it may end up in disaster. Do things right the first time.

It's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown

For those who want to know what the great pumpkin really looks like and how the story ends go here.

Steal this!

Since my husband fractured his left foot, I've been driving him to and from work in my little Ford Escort. Yesterday he looked out and didn't see it in it's usual spot and asked, "where's your car?" Unfortunately it's still there, I told him. "I left it unlocked, keys in the ignition, and put a big sign on the back that read 'Steal Me" and someone did....they stole the sign and left the car!"

Now I'm not saying my car could use some body work...a good paint job would do wonders...but I haven't washed it since moving here because I'm afraid the dirt is the only thing holding it together. The amazing part is the engine is prime! When a mechanic looks under my hood...the cars hood! they are amazed at the great condition and comment that I must take very good care of it. I do...except for washing it. The heat has taken some of the paint off and it is splotchy so I really think a good paint job would take care of it. But, then I wouldn't be able to pick it out from all the other little cars in the parking lots! I guess the dirt and the splotchy spots will remain....for now!

Squashed

To say my husband and I have some some punny conversations is an understatement. We had one the other day I felt deserved to be memorialized here. To explain he often calls me Zucchini so I have started calling him Butternut - two different squashes that aren't as boring as the age old pumpkin most often used...

Me: (calling from my cell phone to let him know I was in the parking lot at the school to pick him up) "There's a Zucchinni out here waiting for a Butternut."
Him: (Laughing) okay, I'll be right out. Oh, I did delete that email you sent me so you'll have to resend it."
Me: "Hrmph! I'm squashed!"

Okay, can we groan in unison.....

Then on the way home we were discussing me maybe needing a new battery for my car and I said I hate to go to car places because they talk down to me. He replied, "But you're so short just about everyone has to talk down to you."

No, I did not hit him, but only because I was driving.

Have a safe weekend and remember to fall back...at least turn your clocks back an hour.