Roseanne

Over his summer break my husband got into watching Roseanne. He loved it and would often comment that many things she did and said reminded him of me. I had to laugh because years ago when Roseanne first came on, my sister, Victoria said the same thing! Okay, I have to admit they're right. So if you want to know what I'm like go watch a few episodes of Roseanne. Especially when she's dealing with her husband and kids. She deals with life pretty much the same way I do. If you don't laugh you're going to cry so you may as well get as many laughs out of it as you can.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I don't know about you but I was brought up that when in the library we speak in hushed voices. No yelling, shouting, etc. Nothing that would disturb other readers. I like to go use the computers when at the library here. There are signs that state 'Turn cell phones off or to silent. Do not take calls in the library. Please take and make calls outside.' Or something to that effect.

So, the other day I'm quietly working away when the young man beside me gets a call on his cell! answers it! and starts having a loud conversation! The woman in charge came over and told him he would have to take the call outside. He hung up, but once she left quickly called back, bitched about not being able to talk in there, and ended the call.

Today I walk in and a young woman has a child with her. A very loud, screaming, crying three year old and she sat there, at the computer as the child screamed. She was asked to quiet the child down so signed on to a second computer and put the child there to play. Hmmmmm.... the child continued to scream. She was asked to take the child and quiet him down. She got a bit nasty and then sarcastically said, well, lady you're going to need a broom here anyway. As I got up to leave I saw why! The poor cleaning person was trying to vacuum up pieces of cheese curls off the floor, clean it off the computer and the surrounding area. This is property of the library and she was treating it as if it was a play toy for her child.

We are becoming more and more of a spoiled, self centered, me only society and it's not a good place to be. Whatever happened to the golden rule? To treating others and others property with respect? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! You're in the library!

Cat sitting

Every summer, for about 2 weeks, I cat sit for a friend of ours. One of the cats, Mosby, is one of our rescue cats that she adopted. The other cat, Fang, was already there when she adopted Mosby. It's been about 3 years now and Mosby took over as Alpha cat right off. She has claws and poor Fang has her front paws declawed. Both live in paradise! Cyndy has worked on this yard to make it a haven for cats and birds alike. Shrubbery, trees, plants and lots of shady hiding places.

Now, Cyndy, is a slightly built woman and as you all know I am a large woman. So, I can't sit in the lawn chair she uses when she feeds the cats and then pets and grooms them. They are used to climbing on her as she lays back in the chair. Today I took out a wooden chair and set up a plastic table beside me. This way, I figured, the cats could sit on my lap or the table. Well! Mosby was having none of this! I picked her up and sat her on my lap. She gave me this exasperated look as if saying, this is not right! and jumped down. With tail and nose high in the air she sauntered off for a more comfortable spot.

Fang on the other hand is a bit more amiable. When I picked her up and petted and groomed her she looked askance but was willing to give it a try. Eventually she moved over to the table and got so excited, as I petted her, she rolled right off the table! Of course, once on the ground, she pretended she had intentionally fallen off to get a drink. Once she had her drink, with all the dignity she could muster, she returned to the table, but this time decided to not be so feisty during the grooming. When I left she was sleeping soundly on the table. Wonder if she'll still be there when I return this evening. I'll have to get some pics of them.

Another goodbye

Herman was our neighbor and friend, when we lived in the apartment complex on Rast St. When we moved to this house his parents lived across from us, so we still saw him on a regular basis. Shortly after we moved here his girlfriend and our friend, Pam, died. About a year ago he got married and had a child. Seemed like his life was back on the mend and then this.....

Sumter man dies from wreck injuries


By JOE PERRY
Item Staff Writer
jperry@theitem.com

A 30-year-old Sumter man died at Tuomey Regional Medical Center early Friday night, about three hours after a single-car wreck in Lee County.

Herman Craig Voigt, whose last known address was 209 Lawrence St., died at 7:14 p.m. from injuries sustained in the wreck, authorities said.

South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson said Voigt was alone in a 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo traveling north on Casual Branch Road about 10 miles south of Bishopville when the wreck occurred.

Voigt, for an unknown reason, drove off the right side of the road, lost control, overcorrected to the left and struck an embankment, causing the car to overturn several times. The weather was clear and the speed limit in the area is 65 mph.

Voigt was not wearing a seatbelt and was fully ejected, Robinson said, and he was transported to Tuomey, where he died.

Toxicology tests are pending and the wreck is still under investigation.

Voigt leaves behind a wife and son. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Bob Thompson officiating.