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joann414

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  1. joann414

    What?

    By joann414,

    In the early 70's, my family moved to Mississippi from Louisiana. I was enrolled into a military school to begin my high school years. At 14 and being a female it was quite terrifying. My first day to attend classes, I was as lost as a student during his first day on a college campus. The school I was going too also had boarding students and their dorms. It was a new world to me.
     
    I'll never forget the first break of my first day. I sat on a bench alone pretending to be absorbed in a book. Someone plopped down beside me and said, "Hi, I'm Sandra Faye, but everyone calls me Sandi." That was the beginning of the first true friendship I ever had. We spent nights with each other during the week, all our weekends together and weeks on end during the summers between our high school years. We had our first drink together, double dated on our first date and she taught me how to smoke a cigarette.
     
    My family moved back to Louisiana the end of the summer before my senior year. It didn't affect our friendship in the least. I still came back to Mississippi at least one weekend out of every month. We kept in contact almost daily. Even when I went away to college in North Louisiana, we still kept in touch. She was already working in a NAPA auto store. When I turned 20, I moved back to Mississippi and moved in with her. We both worked in the parts store for a year before I met my first husband and moved out from her house. My first husband and I visited with them a lot since we lived within 20 miles of her and her boyfriend, later to be jusband. My marriage only lasted 13 months..
     
    I was her Maid of Honor in her wedding and played the piano at her sister's wedding. I even spent two Christmases with her family instead of my own because they were like a second family to me. My parents would come to their house on Christmas Day to see me. When I met my second husband, which is who I'm married to now, once again, we were apart. She and her husband moved about an hour away. We both had baby girls and kept in contact on a daily basis.
     
    After three years of marriage, Jimmy and I separated for about six months. My daughter and I moved in with Sandi and her daughter. (She was separated from her husband also.) We were like extended family. When my husband and I worked out our differences, I moved back home and she and I kept in contact but since we both now worked time consuming jobs, we had less contact. But every year, on my birthday she called early in the morning. She never missed one. We'd meet for lunch every once in awhile when one of us was in the other's home town at the time.
     
    Her dad died a couple of years ago and I attended the funeral. She and I found time to visit and it was as if we'd never been apart. She was the sister I chose for myself.
     
    I could write a book here and not even tell a third of our history together. Sadness, happiness, mischief, but friendship beyond all friendship.
     
    Sandi died of a massive heart attack yesterday. Her younger sister made sure that I got word of her death this morning. I'm shocked and heartbroken by the news. The part of me that was connected to her is shaken beyond repair at this moment. Hoping that writing this would give my heart a much needed breath of relief, I'm finding it even heavier and I know it'll stay that way for days to come. Her friendship is one that'll never be replaced. To me she'll always be that sweet little red-headed teen that plopped down beside me on that bench that day when I felt so alone and offered me the gift of her friendship.
     
    Rest in peace my friend. An angel has been added to the heavens.
  2. joann414

    Absence and Life

    By joann414,

    First of all, hope all of you are doing great and life is going well for you. I miss being here everyday. It's my enjoyment. But, life took a sudden turn and I've had to focus on day to day real life, supporting family. I know I don't need to explain most of it, but I just wanted all of you to know that GA is still my happy place although I've not had a lot of time to spend here lately.
     
    Still, no promises for tomorrow, but hopefully I can soon direct more of my time to GA and my duties here. If I said I could do that now, I'd be lying. i wouldn't want to give any of my writer's anything but my total attention, and I haven't reached that spot yet. I'm going to be back soon and i hope I can give as much as I've received from GA. Thanks for the kind words and concern.
     
    Hugs to all of you.
     
    Jo ann
  3. joann414

    I'm in the Dog House Now

    By joann414,

    Yeah, I've managed to make my way back to the disciplinary house of idiots. I'm almost embarassed to say. I broke two rules that go unsaid at my house. Don't pour oil or grease in the garbage, and don't bother my stuff! Nuff said.
     
    I fried catfish filets Tuesday evening for dinner. I never re-use oil. My hubby always takes it out because he says I don't take it far enough away to keep the pets out of it. So, he was busy that evening and I thought, "The garbage guys run tomorrow. He'll never know if I pour it in the trash." So, I poured it in the trash, put the bathroom trash bags on top and was done. NOPE! Not quite.
     
    The next morning, he gets up, gets dressed and he and our dog take the trash out. 'safe so far' Not for long though. He comes back in the house and screams. "Jo Ann, you put oil in the trash. Come see what the hell you did." Yeah, I effed up. Big Time. There was a trail of oil from the trashcan to the the utility room, out the back door and all the way across the deck. Not good. He cleaned the deck and sprayed it with ant spray while I cleaned up the mess in the house. Not the end of the journey. The oil stained the treated lumber on the deck. I sprayed it, mopped it, no luck. It still has a dark trail. Every morning now, he's a bitch from hell. When I get out of the truck at work, he asks, "Do you think you can get inside your office without effin up?" No fun. But, he's known this from day one. I'm not perfect but I'm a perfect f''k up. LOL
     
    It's really not funny. He is a stickler for cleanliness, so everyday, I spray it again, mop it and hope for the best.
     
    The kicker? I accidentally sprayed gun oil on his jeans to get the stain out. He now has a pair of Wranglers that are useless. He shouldn't have put his spray can of gun oil in the utility room. It's the same color of my 'spot remover'. So yeah, I get to sleep with KC for a few nights. "Move over Muppet." LOL
  4. joann414

    Just Life

    By joann414,

    You know? I guess I should feel fortunate to have an interesting and progressive life. We had a disgruntled employee threaten to burn the plant down this week. We went on lock down. The local law enforcement visited us many times, and I actually had a pistol in my cradenza. So yeah, life goes on. Ok, so far.
     
    My funny this week was my homophobic supervisor that shares my office space. We have a door between us, but normally, it remains open. He hates gays although, I think I've said it before, he had a brother die of AIDS ten years ago, but refusing to acknowledge the fact. As far as he's concerned, it was pneumonia death at 38. I let him live in his fantasy world and live with himself because he basically disowned the brother. By the way, he is not my supervisor. I'm a supervisor also. Thankfully.
     
    NOw my funny for today. I watched Free Fall on Netflix at work today. For those of you that have not seen this movie, I't great. It's not exactly happily ever after, but it lets you think so. It's a gay movie. So, that being said, he walked in right before we got off today and asked, "What have you been doing?". I replied. "Actually, I watched a great movie on Netflix called Free Fall."
     
    He replied. "I saw that. I loved it."
     
    He's such a liar and I wanted to tell him, but I think at a later date when he runs his trap about gays I'll ask him about watching a gay movie. Am I mean? Nah, just mischievious.
     
    The only other thing I have to report is crazy. Hubby was out of town for a few days so I had to take care of the dogs. Jack Russell, Border Collie, Blue Heeler, and a Siberian Husky. Well of course, the Border Collie got loose which made the Siberian Husky jump the fence of his pen. The Blue Heeler immediately tried to intervene. The Border Collie and Husky started fighting and the Heeler joined. My little house dog which is part Jack Russell, part Chihuahua was barking from the deck. I ran for the water hose, turned it on and I popped the pvc pipe that the hose was attached to. It was a geyser and I was getting soaked. I started trying to stop the water and noticed the fighting had stopped. The damn dogs were sitting side by side watching me get soaked and trying to stop the damn spray since I didn't know how to cut the main valve off. I wanted to shoot them. The all sat docilely while I put their leash on and took them to their area. My house dog just looked at me like I was crazy.
     
    Hubby got home the next day and was impressed that I had capped it off. "nope" I'd called my brother thirty five miles away and he'd came down at nine o'clock at night and fixed it for me. I love my brother. LOL
     
    So, as you can see, I'm still me.
  5. joann414

    Vacation

    By joann414,

    So, finally back from vacation. Did I have a good time? Shrugs. Cozumel is a great place. I visited there several years ago when hubby and I did a cruise.
     
    Our resort was all inclusive. Drinks and eats free, lots of activities, etc. It was ok. Nothing wonderful, but clean, nice folks, and our room and view was to die for. We got up, sat on our balcony and watched the cruise ships dock every morning. The pool and pool bar was right below us. So, that was a plus.
     
    We met a lot of nice people and several of them flew with us from Atlanta. It was quite a group. I know this sounds like an older person bitching,but we got a wake up call that was very disappointing. A large American Coast Guard vessel docked, and the crew stayed a couple of days at our resort. A couple of the crew members were an embarassment to U.S. Military. They were ridiculous. The Captain of the vessel finally saw the antics going on and put a stop to them. Other members of the crew were totally embarassed. There was a lot of great young people in the crew. We talked to several of them.
     
    No internet access:( There was supposedly availability in the lobby. Nope. I went down there to buy a card and use their computers. No service. I had no phone service. I'd put a couple of hundred international mins. on my phone before I left. No use. By the third day, my best friend had a lot of texts on her phone. She finally got service when we went into Cozumel. It was our families frantic because they'd seen where a tropical storm was close to us. My hubby was frantic.
     
    When we got ready to board our flight home, I went throught two searches before I boarded in Cozumel. One of them even swabbed my hands and feet along with a wealthy man sitting beside me in the airport. We both did fine until I got home, and was missing many items from my luggage. They'd taken our luggage to another area to search it. I was furious. Of course, Delta can't do a damn thing, so I'm just out of my money.
     
    Got into Atlanta at 5 p.m. Monday afternoon. Had a six hour layover. That sucked. I made it home at Two in the morning and was at work by six. Still trying to catch up on my rest. I've taken work home with me everyday this week.
     
    So, all, if I've neglected my duties here , please forgive me. I'll try to be in full GA mode by Monday. I've missed the lot of you and all of your funny and helpful posts. Be good, and I really did miss each and everyone of my friends here, and to my writers I beta for, hope I can get back on track soon.
  6. joann414

    Chapters of Life

    By joann414,

    There's been several times as life moved along that I felt I could close a chapter and move along. One was my move from home, never to go back except to visit. That was the first closure I ever felt.
     
    I think the second chapter would be when I found out I was pregnant. Life definitely changes as you once knew it if you intend to be the kind of parent any child needs. So, I closed the chapter of not being responsible for anyone but myself. My husband has always taken care of himself and bent over backwards to take care of my daughter and me.
     
    The third chapter was much harder. My daughter left home and the plot of my life began to peak. I knew life was fixing to be a whole different ballgame. You still feel the responsibility and the need to help them, but they're not there everyday. Empty nest and all of that. You start all over getting to know your spouse. He's your best friend again, your only confident, and you filter your feelings back toward him on a daily basis without the worry of a child's progress in school, tuition, personal life and needs, etc. They're an adult just like you now. (most, anyway)
     
    Chapter four opened with my first grandson. It's still in progress and the best chapter yet. He's made my life and my husband's more interesting. We've learned things that we can't believe this young man taught us, never knowing the vast knowledge he was lending. lol. Yeh, a lot. In my heart, I hope this chapter of my life is still flourishing when the light of life leaves my eyes.
     
    Then, something happens to make you go back and realise that even the passing of your parents doesn't close a chapter of your life. You always think of your childhood and parental influence as a part of your life that never ends. You feed on those years, seeking answers to things to help you in raising your children and grandchildren. Then something happens that makes you feel that this chapter is fixing to ease closed, nothing but those memories left.
     
    My dad remarried after my mom died. He died three years later, leaving my stepmother a living estate. She died a couple of months back. Well, my childhood home sold last week. My siblings and I go to the lawyers office to sign the deed tomorrow. We've all moved away and have no desire to return to the small town we were raised in as children, especially me. I would've given the house away before i moved back there. They're all thrilled for the sale and of course the revenue. I've yet to feel thrilled about anything. I hate even going to the lawyer's office to sign, although it's about fifteen miles from the actual town the house is in. I want to go by tomorrow and just walk through the yard, see my dad's rose bushes once more, his fruit trees at the far end of the backyard, and just say a silent goodbye to a place I hated, but feel I need closure because my parents were wonderful, loving, nurturing parents and they supported me as long as they lived. they sat in that front yard together in the evenings, drinking coffee and spending their quiet time together. It's like I want to say goodbye to that part of life, the good parts.
     
    I guess after tomorrow, I'll know if the need I'm feeling will be met, and I can close that chapter, satisfied with my ending.
  7. joann414

    Knowing the Difference

    By joann414,

    Facebook has always been a pain to me. I only keep my account open because of family, nothing else. But, how do you know you're in a good place? I'll tell you.
     
    I find myself worrying about friends on here during the day, hoping they are ok. Did they get their job? Has their relationship gotten better? Are their health issues being resolved? Are they just ok? When you join a group of people, you keep an open mind, and an open heart. GA does that for me. It's not stress worrying about you all. It's just life. Hoping you are better, you got your roof fixed, your partner is over his fit, your health issues are better, but above all, you're able to communicate on GA again because you are ok.
     
    There's so much concern and support here. I wonder if Myr knew what he was creating when he introduced GA to all of us. He gave us a gift. We all have made friends, some learned to write, learned to communicate with others in a positive way, but above all, felt that we were a part of something that mattered and we mattered.
     
    You guys have made my life more that I can say. I love all of you. I miss you when you're not here. I worry for you when you are sick or having issues. I wish you the best.
     
    Society is a blimp on the radar compared to GA. Acceptance rules the world. We should be proud of us. If we can't beat it, we try to work our way through it together. I love the thought of getting through it together. Hugs all.
  8. joann414

    Everyday GA

    By joann414,

    First of all, thanx to all that gave me noms for the awards. Blew me away. So sweet.
     
    I was blown away when I read an entry from a member that had been a victim of a scam. She wasn't sure if she should have posted it here, but several came to her aid. Once again, kudos GA. You assist your members, regardless and give them priceless tips. It amazes me.
     
    I haven't blogged lately because my life has been total chaos, but it will even out. I'm confident of that.
     
    So much has happened here through the New Year, and I feel it has been a positive step. We have lots of new members and authors. The site is flourishing. I encourage you all to become a premium member. GA has so much to offer.
     
    Some things challenge me, but I get past it. One day, I'll get the whole picture to share with others, and it will all be positive as it is now. I'm so thankful for my friends and new family here.
     
    Hugs, Jo Ann
  9. joann414
    I've been under the weather for four or five days now. Hubby gets home today and grandson wants to go get Gatorade, hot pockets, etc. I put a sweat shirt on over my long sleeved tee shirt and yoga pants and head out.
    We are walking around in the small store, and I shout, softly, "Come on. We need to go."
    A guy look around the aisle, and says, "Are you talking to me?"
    I'm like, "NO, I was talking to my grandson Kyle. Sorry."
    "No worry, I'll go with you."
    WTF I'm 54 years old, feel like shit, and this thirty or forty year old upstart wants to go home with me? Not happening. I turned on him and said, "You know what? You need to move along. I don't feel good. My grandson and I are leaving, and you certainly don't need me to call my husband."
    He acted offended and said, "Well, I thought you were very pretty, and was just joking. no offense."
    He was probably right. I feel like crap and will snap in a heart beat. After checking out, I walked to the end of the line and apologized. Instead of being mean, he said,"Hun, I don't care how old you are, don't call for someone to come on. You'll get a lot of takers." Have to say. It made my day. I just murmured, "Thank you, and left.
    So, on bad days, everything is not bad. lol
  10. joann414

    Ray Price dead at 87

    By joann414,

    Many of you youngsters have no idea who Ray Price is. I used to wake up to him singing on Saturday mornings at my home. My Dad loved him. If you want to hear some wonderful and heartfelt music, Google Ray Price Greatest Hits. 'For the Good Times is wonderful, but I love so much of his music. I know this shows my age, but music like this should be remembered, and revered. May this iconic Country singer be remembered with respect and love.
  11. joann414

    Bully and a Black Eye

    By joann414,

    This is absolutely crazy. My eight year old grandson is sporting a black eye. "real black eye" His eye is almost swollen shut, and black puffiness below. He was defending the same little boy from a few weeks ago. The teachers told my daughter that they were looking into it. The little guy Kyle defended is very young and naïve. What is going on here? Kyle's teacher told my daughter that the bully hit the younger child and Kyle jumped up and punched the other boy in the face, resulting Kyle with a black eye. Someone open their damn eyes. This bully is prominent! He's known for harming other kids. Kyle is not hurt to the point of seeing a doctor, but he's wondering why the "bully" is not being punished. This "bully" is the one that calls him and the little guy he was punishing a "fag". Kyle is still furious. He told my daughter that the child's parents came to get the child from school, from the principle's office, and the dad patted this child on the back. Screw that! People are nuts.
     
    Of course now, we are to the, "don't be like them", phase. But, you can't discipline a child for taking up for another, even tho he gets in trouble. Where are the lines drawn? I'm fed up. Kyle is one of the most compassionate, respectful kids I know. Not because he is my grandson, but he has been raised to respect others. I'm not at a loss, but at a standstill here. I wonder what the damn school would think if "Nana" came and talked to them. Sheesh!
  12. joann414
    It's no secret that I am a Christmas idiot. When Halloween ends, I'm all about Christmas. I start planning to put up my tree, start my shopping, and plan my Thanksgiving Dinner so I can get it out of the way and concentrate on Christmas. This year it has been a nightmare!
     
    Thanksgiving was at my house, so I assembled my tree, left it in the porch house until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I had about twenty folks for Thanksgiving Dinner, and out of the five women over twenty there, my thirty year old daughter and I were the only two fully mobile. My sister-in-law had to undergo colon surgery two weeks before Thanksgiving, and my sister had just got out of rehabilitation because of a knee replacement. That's two down, and a seventy-five year old Aunt that can hardly breathe, let alone putter around in the kitchen to help me. I refused to let my daughter stay inside and help me because her fiancé was there with her. So, that left, me and me. Needless to say by the time the first ones arrived by 10 a.m. that morning, and the last ones left after 9 p.m. that night, I felt like someone had wound a key up in my back, and it didn't unwind. After cleaning up, I crawled in bed, and got up at 5 a.m. the next morning to go to work. My hubby had taken off to be with the grandson.
     
    My boss informed me that I'd be working with my hubby the first week of December so my "stand in" could get a refresher course for when I was going to be off a few days around Christmas. Not only do the two of us work at the same place, we travel back and forth together unless there is something going on that we both need to take our vehicles.
     
    The first morning I am with him in his office, I spill a diet coke on his desk, all over Purchase Orders, Invoices, etc. You would've thought I'd burned down his office and the maintenance shop that it is built above. I'm sure all of his guys that worked for him heard us screaming at each other. After we got his desk cleaned, he left. I buzzed our boss on the intercom and told him what had happened. He knew I just wanted to get out of there. His response was, "Don't spill anything else."
     
    "Well hell," I thought. So for the next five days, if I didn't have to leave the plant to go do things for the hubby, we were constantly bickering. We got in on Wednesday, I got my Christmas tree into the house and asked him to get my decorations down out of the porch house. (I'm not allowed to dig around in there. He says I make a mess of how he has things arranged.) He told me he didn't have time that he'd do it the next day. So, the next evening, after another, "Go to hell", "I hate you", "You're a bastard", day at work, I asked him to get them out again. He forgot. He came in later, ate dinner, showered, and went to bed to watch television. I walked to the bedroom door and snidely said, "Thanks for getting the decorations out for me."
     
    "If you don't hush about it, I won't get them at all. I'm tired." He didn't even look at me, but at the television as he spoke.
     
    "Good enough," I thought. I went back into the living room, quietly took the tree apart, and took it out in front of the fence in the front yard by the trash cans and left it there. "garbage truck ran the next day." I quietly slipped back into the house.
     
    An hour or so later, he came out of the bedroom, walked into the living room and asked, "What did you do with the tree?"
     
    "Threw it away." I didn't look at him as I spoke.
     
    "Why did you throw it away? Somebody could've used it." He looked furious.
     
    I was even angrier. "Whadda you mean someone else could've used it? Why don't I just use it to stick it up your a--?"
     
    He went and got it from beside the road out of more concern of what people would think, and I refused to let him put it back in the house. Watching him go in the porch house to put it up, I closed the door of the porch house and padlocked it from the outside, and went in the house. He started banging on the door. I knew he wouldn't kick the door down because he would never destroy something he worked for. He just doesn't believe in it. After about an hour, and knowing it was getting colder, I went and unlocked the door. He was calmly sitting there drinking a beer, (we keep two refrigerators out there and our freezers) while looking at an old Playboy magazine he'd found in a box. Well, that went over like a ton of bricks. I stomped back into the house, got a shower and went to sleep in the guest room. I heard him come in later, fix the coffee pot, and lock the doors.
     
    The next morning I got up earlier than normal with full intentions of leaving him to go to work alone in a separate vehicle. He'd beat me to it. He was up and gone. So, I took my time, and barely made it to his office by seven a.m. He didn't even look up when I came in, but said, "I'll buy you a real tree and help you put it up this weekend."
     
    "I've decided not to do a tree. I'm going to decorate the hearth, and put all the gifts around it. That way, we'll have more room when everyone comes the weekend before Christmas. Anyway, we won't be here for Christmas Eve and Christmas DAy. We'll be at the kids. They can take all the presents back with them the weekend before."
     
    "Are you sure? I'll take you to the tree farm and let you get a real one. I know you'd rather have one." He was very contrite and genuine.
     
    "It will be less for me to do. I'll do a little more to the hearth, add lights to my garland, and it should be fine."
     
    So, after a week of "holy hell", I decided not to do a tree, and so glad I did. My hearth is not finished, but must look great because when Kyle saw it, he says, "Nana, that's awesome!" Then after a minute he said, "Where's the tree?"
     
    I then explained how after everyone left the weekend before Christmas that he would be taking all the gifts back to his house to put under his tree. "fist pump" "Yeah," he said excitedly.
     
    So, after all the bickering, fighting, cursing, and finally coming to an understanding, Kyle opened my eyes once more to the real meaning of Christmas. The smile on a child's face.
  13. joann414

    Not in This Lifetime

    By joann414,

    So, I just found out my grandson is being bullied. My daughter's roommate said some of his neighbors were calling him a faggot. No, not happening. My hubby went ballistic, and I am livid. Kyle is kinda passive because he's been told not to fight.
    My hubby just told him the next time this airhead called him a faggot or fairy to knock the hell out of him. "not because of the names, but the principle"
     
    Kyle is so sweet, and very protective of friends. He took up for a boy at school the other day that when older boys called him a "queer", so now he is tagged a faggot. He is actually handling it very well. The thought of being called a faggot doesn't bother him. It's the assholes harassing the other boy.
     
    So, this little boy is eight, and he's getting a taste of the real world. I'm just glad that Jimmy and I have always been pretty tough minded when it comes to crappy people.
     
    Kyle is just confused as to why these kids are doing it. I explained the whole deal, and he was even more angry. He looked at me and asked "Aren't we supposed to be nice to everyone?" I assured him that he was right, and he was ok with it. I just hope the ones handing out the grief will get what they deserve. They are ten and twelve year olds.
     
    I smell shitty parents.
  14. joann414

    My Journey

    By joann414,

    Day by day, I watch and learn on GA. There's a lot of goodness, uncertainty, sadness, and much, much talent.
    When I took on being Louis's co-help in the Editor/Beta program, I was very paranoid. I didn't really know if I was the one to do it, but I wanted to. Period.
     
    I've been rewarded time and time again for doing it, but I was presented a challenge that actually scared me, but I went with my heart, was honest, and was rewarded over and over.
     
    I responded to a young author's request for a beta. They wanted suggestions, etc. I read their post for their story, and was scared to say much. I decided to be honest. Sharing what knowledge I had, and what I'd learned here on GA, I gave them my honest opinion and suggestions. Now, to the scary part.
     
    THERE WASN"T ONE.
     
    This author stepped forward, thanked me for all suggestions, had found some of our help forums for writers, and was so excited. Made everything I do here worthwhile. They thanked me excitedly, said they knew their work was rough, but so excited that I thought they had a good plot, characters, etc.
     
    If you read this, you know who you are, and you make my time on GA a treasure. Thank you!
  15. joann414

    All is Not Fun

    By joann414,

    My little four legged buddy, Gypsy Rose, and my kitty, Ms. Kate sat on the deck this afternoon, loving the coolness and rustling of the leaves.
     
    I chatted happily with my best bud on the phone, listening for the hubby. "I sit outside on the deck when he is working on deer stands, working on the dozer, etc., in case something goes wrong. He leaves his phone because of no service in the back. If something happens, he shoots three shots with his pistol." So, that being said, someone beeped in, and I thought it was my brother. I told my friend that I'd call her back. I called my brother, and he said it wasn't him. I looked at the number, and realized it was one of the older guys that hunts here. Wonderful guy. I call him, explain that Jimmy is not here, and that is why he didn't answer his phone. He explains that he was calling me on purpose.
     
    He proceeded to tell me that there was a manhunt going on in our area. The guy had murdered another man, and kidnapped a girl. He said there was 20 or more troopers within five miles of my house, and roadblocks everywhere. Then, he asked me what I was doing. "I'm sitting on the deck with the kids." "animals" His response was go inside, lock the doors and keep your pistol close. I did.
     
    Jimmy comes home twenty minutes or so later, knocks on the back door, and asks, "What are you doing inside?"
     
    I explained to him. He locks me in, and leaves, trying to find what is going on. Yeah, it's really going on. I was supposed to go somewhere tomorrow after work, but he asks me to wait until another weekend, and this guy is caught.
     
    Yeah, guys, for once, I was scared. Really scared, and Jimmy was scared for me. When Jimmy got back, he text the guy, and thanked him for calling me, and told me not to go anywhere without him until the guy is caught. Spooky as hell, but I'm ok as far as tonight. Jimmy is here, and my worst fear is the two of us walking out to the truck in the darkness in the morning for work. Of course, he'll have his pistol, but it's definitely a wake up call. Things are not always not what they seem. peaceful and quiet is not always that.
     
    Wish this could have been a blonde moment post guys, but you never know what life brings. Be careful, and stay aware. Lots of crazies out there.
  16. joann414

    Really? "embarassed"

    By joann414,

    So. All of you know that I should have been born a blonde. But, as I get older, it is becoming more obvious. My antics are almost unbelievable, but true. "unfortunately"
     
    Hubby is in awe of how I am still me, even at this age. He thought I would grow out of it, and learn from experience. Nope, I'm still me evidently.
     
    "back at the farm" A couple of weeks ago, hubby was over at the lake, filling the fish feeders, cutting the dam, etc. I decided to try to help him with the outside chores, and clean up in the back. I built a fire in the fire pit, and burned things that needed to be burned, limbs, leaves, pine cones, etc. I walked all over the back yard and gathered up all that shouldn't have been there. "Great fire by the way"
     
    Hubby comes home, sees the fire, and my clean up job, and is so proud of me. He put the four wheeler in the shed, and then starts to back one of the trailers down into the back. "Where's my blocks for the trailer?"
     
    "What are you talking about?' I was clueless.
     
    " I had treated timbers to hold my trailers ."
     
    "Hmm." I felt a little guilty. "Those wooden things that were in the center there?"
     
    "That's what I'm smelling, Jo Ann. You burned my treated timbers that I put my trailers on."
     
    "oops"
     
    The Next Week
     
    I was going to spend the weekend with my best friend when I got off from work on Saturday. It was raining and dreary. When I hit the interstate, blue lights. Damn road block. I slowed down, seeing all the cars they had pulled over. Obviously, an insurance check. In Mississippi, that means, many are on the side of the road. I'm like, "Damn, road block."
    Thankfully, the two troopers pull off, and I know it's over. I keep going, but the cars on the side keep pulling in front of me. I'm like. "Screw this," and kept going, forcing the cars to quit pulling in front of me. Called the hubby, and told him the story.
     
    His response. "Jo Ann, what are the cars on the other side of the interstate doing?"
     
    "Stopped"
     
    Hubby "Honey, you are in a funeral procession. Whatever you do, don't pass."
     
    Damn, and again. I think I am a true blonde.
  17. joann414
    The EMT grabbed his bag, and ran briskly up the drive.
    He hoped this time he wasn't too late, and all were still alive.
     
    Before he could reach to knock on the door, it was opened by a man.
    He looked shocked, shattered, in a trance like state, blood on both his hands.
     
    The EMT motioned for his partner to take care of the broken guy.
    He continued into the house emitting a sad and fearful sigh.
     
    Sobbing sounds led him down the hall to an open bedroom door.
    There lay in a puddle of blood, a young man on the floor.
     
    The mother cried heaving sobs, both hands resting on her son's chest.
    She kissed the pale cheek one last time, and then softly, she confessed.
     
    They wouldn't leave my boy alone, just because he was gay.
    He suffered cruelty and ridicule each and every day
     
    At seventeen, he had to live with beatings and being the outcast and such.
    I just hope he knew deep in his heart, his family loved him very much.
     
    The EMT took the mother's shaking hands and led her out into the hall.
    He took his cell phone from his case and made the dreaded call.
     
    Sirens were heard, and red lights flashed, adding to the heaviness of the air.
    The EMT knew the ambulance and police would very soon be there.
     
    A handsome teen ran by the EMT, falling to his knees upon the floor.
    He lay his head on the dead youth's chest, and tears began to pour.
     
    The EMT left the room and went to wait outside.
    He wanted to give the youth time with his boyfriend before the ambulance arrived.
     
    The time came for the EMT to lead the officers to the deceased.
    He was hoping the young man had enough time with his dead lover to make his peace.
     
    As they walked through the door the young man had his hands underneath the body, trying to lift it from the floor.
    The EMT and police officers felt the young man's grief down to their own soul's core.
     
    The EMT touched the young mans arm and told him to wait for help from the others.
    Looking at the EMT with tear-filled eyes, he said huskily, "He ain't heavy, he's my brother."
     
     
    A/N This kept going through my mind on the way to work today. I've been down for the last three or four days, and I guess it was niggling at my mind, wanting out.
  18. joann414
    I try not to post sad things, but this is weighing so heavily on my heart. Many of you that keep up with my status, chat with me, etc., know that I travel a lot with my best friend, and go to her house a lot to spend the weekend, and vice versa. She lives about forty miles away.
     
    Her son has been a problem child since he was 15 or so. He's now 19. got his GED, and started Junior College yesterday. She was so proud, and so hoped that he was getting on the right track with his life. He has acute asthma, and it's been acting up severely for the last few weeks. She made him go to the doctor last week, so he'd be healthy to start school. The doctor called him yesterday morning and said his chest x-rays were back, and that he needed a CT scan of his lungs. They'd found a nodule on one of his lungs. She picked him up from school yesterday to go for the the scan. Around 9 o'clock this morning she called me in tears, devastated. Her baby boy has lung cancer. They set up a meeting with a surgeon this afternoon. They advised her to withdraw him from school because he's facing surgery and chemo no matter what. She's scared to death of what she's going to hear this afternoon.
     
    This beautiful lady has been my best friend for the last 15 years. She went through all the woes with me when I was raising my daughter,(who is 30 now), and I've tried to keep her strong when things got rough with her son. They're our only children. Needless to say, I feel positively helpless. When I heard her anguish this morning, it was like a family member reaching out to me. My heart broke for her. She's been married four times, three of them failing because they didn't want to put up with her child. They were jealous of him. So, she has more or less raised him alone. Her family was no help, even when she asked them to help with him when he was young. She always told me she wished her family was like mine. She doesn't realize it, but she's my family. My oldest brother treats her like a sister, and my grandson loves her more than his aunts. But none of us replace her only child that's fixing to fight the battle of his life.
     
    So, I gues what I'm saying is I hope I have the strength to say and do the right things for her at the right time. She's always been such a strong person, but now her resolve has weakened with this horrible sickness attacking her baby.
     
    Hugs all, and though we may all not be wealthy financially, if you're healthy, it's worth much more.
    Keep my friend, Diane, and her son Daniel, in you thoughts and prayers, please. She's a good person, and I love her very much.
  19. joann414
    So, I mentioned a little while ago about learning that there is a right way and a wrong way to water a garden. Wellllllll, I'm still confused evidently or just plain stupid. My brother called me yesterday before I left work and asked me if I minded watering the garden for him. (garden is at my place) I said sure, no problem. After all, my hubby has very plainly explained to me last time how to do it properly. When I get home, I let my doggie out, and we go out to do my good deed of the day. I stop and turn the faucet on where the hose is connected and head to the garden to position the hose at the end of the first row to let is slowly water between the rows. My brother had attached another hose to the green hose that was already there. I figured it was so it would reach farther across the garden. Then, I saw that the end of the hose is all the way across three rows. I was like, "Why in the hell did he string it up and down all the rows just to water that one row. I find the end of the hose, and to my frustration, the water is not coming out the end. So, I go back to the other side of the garden to see if there is a kink in the green hose coming from the faucet. Nope, everything is find. So, I decided to drag the hose to the end of the first row, and then figure it out. I go back across the garden, pick up the end of the hose, and realise it is leaking all over me. It looks like pin holes where water is streaming from. I am like, "No damn wonder it's not coming out the end, it has holes all in it. .I carefully walked the hose up and down the rows, being careful not to lay it on the plants, and the leaking water is steadily soaking me. Finally getting the end of the hose over to the first two rows, when I lay it down to go to disconnect the black hose, and just use the green hose, my cell phone rings. It's laying in dry grass at the other end of the garden. As I walk toward my phone, I notice that all the dirt underneath where the black hose is laying is wet, and of course, when I get to my phone , it is wet.
     
    "Did you make it home ok?" That's my hubby ,worried because I was pulling his sixteen foot trailer behind my truck. Didn't trust my driving with his trailer.
    "Yes, I'm at home and in the x/*/**`ng garden. The damn black hose has holes all in it. I had to pull it up and down every row without hitting the plants, and now it won't run. I am fixing to unhook it from the green hose and just use the green hose if you'll let me off this damn phone."
     
    "Jo Ann, all you had to do was turn on the water. The black hose is a soaker hose, and it is supposed to have holes in it. The reason it doesn't run out the other end is because it is capped off." Hubby is exasperated, but laughing.
     
    Needless to say, I hung up, drug the damn hose back up and down the rows, water still running, and I am dripping wet by now. Doggie is sitting on her haunches looking at me like I am a nut case. When I finish arranging the hose back exactly like it was when I started, I stomp down the last row, and proceed to bust my butt in the mud. I wasn't a happy camper when hubby got there. He said nothing because he saw my muddy clothes and shoes on the deck. They told the story.
  20. joann414

    Silence Is Golden

    By joann414,

    So, I stayed silent through the whole deal happening in California. I held my breath for the best, and it came to be. Ok, so, my workplace is very iffy as far as gay issues. If we have any gay employees (besides my gay butt), no one knows about them.
     
    My boss walks in today and says, "Have you seen where they passed the bill in California for gays?". I was like, mmmm yeah, why?
     
    Response. "I don't understand why the American people try to block our own citizens from their rights. What difference does is make who you are married to and who you file your taxes with and if you receive the refund from our government. They are us, our citizens, Americans. I don't give a damn if they are gay or what. They deserve the support of our country. We let illegals across our borders, house them, give them jobs, and they are not even a part of us. I don't understand."
     
    Needless to say, my boss moved up the couple of notches he had left, because he has always been a great boss and friend.
     
    Why is our government denying our citizens their rights. It has nothing to do with who you love. It is an act of acceptance, survival, bringing our country together as a whole. America needs to get their feet off the desk and acknowledge everyone, and be a force of one, not a divided, racial, homophobic country that we are on the verge of becoming.
     
    I am so proud for each of you and your spouses, loved ones, partners. May you be the next to receive acceptance and rights that we all deserve.
  21. joann414

    Only Me

    By joann414,

    I can have drama when I don't want drama. Dang.
     
    When we got home from work today, hubby said he was going to weed eat, so I decided I would surprise him and water everything, and wash off the deck steps. As I was washing the steps, my dog, 'Gypsy', started barking like hell. I looked up to see two people getting out of a car. One of them had a small leather case, and the lady was just all smiles. Still holding the water hose, I walked toward them. They explained that they were Jehovah Witnesses,etc They come to our home about once every three months. My dog was not happy, and I was prepared to do what I always do. I just give them a little bit of money for the pamphlets, and they leave. I stood there as they got out of the car, and all of a sudden my feet were burning like hell. Fire ants!. I moved away from the deck so I would not leave a puddle there and started spraying my feet. Glancing at the ground, I saw a snake. Needless to say, everything went crazy. I threw the hose down, it kept spraying(the visitors), and started screaming for my dog. She ran toward me. Hubby ran around the house, pistol in hand expecting the snake, but when he saw the people, he aimed at them and told them to get the hell away from his property. They ran to their car like the devil was after them. The dog and I sat on the deck steps, breathing like hell, and the hubby was ready to shoot someone. He turned around and said, "What did they do?". Of course, I said nothing, and pointed at the small rattlesnake still laying in the gravel and it was probably laughing at the whole escapade. He just looked at me like, "you". Then he got the shovel, threw the snake over the fence and told me that that I would never be bothered with those guys again. True story guys. I just fall into shit without trying.
  22. joann414

    Wow!

    By joann414,

    When I came to GA a little over a year ago, I was clueless. I just searched ,"gay stories, gay authors". Yep, I found us. My first month was me scared to comment, trying to decide if I wanted to become a paying member, and in awe of the acceptance here.
     
    Then as some of you know from one of my other blogs, Nephy stepped forward when I went in chat and beckoned me in. She was so damn nice.
     
    I am not going to rehash all of that. This is to remind everyone that a great place to be results from give and take. I am not speaking just monetarily, but contributions of your talent. There is a LOT of talent here.
     
    When I was asked to join the WST, I was so happy. I wanted to contribute to something that had given me so much. It thrilled me that you all thought I was worthy of that.
     
    People here have overwhelmed me at times. They came forward, friended me, asked me to beta, asked to meet me, and above all, molded me into the person that I should have been long ago. My husband tells me all the time how different I am. I am just me, thanks to all of you.
     
    I am in awe of the youngsters here that have friended me and chatted, pm'd me, emailed me, etc. You are all awesome.
     
    So, one day, I hope someone at fifty something years old, at a crossroads in their life, never being honest to themselves or their partner steps into GA and becomes who I am. I am happy, honest, and not scared of being who I am.
     
    To all of you youngsters, I wish you well, hope, and the gift of being comfortable being who you are.
     
    To all of you that are as old as I am, aren't we lucky? We have a wonderful place to come and relax, be ourselves, and relive our lives in these awesome youngsters.
     
    I know I get sappy, but all of you do that to me sometimes.
  23. joann414

    My Mom

    By joann414,

    I know that I may bore many with this entry, but twenty five years ago my mom had a massive heart attack. She was the age that I am now. The doctors told us that if she made it through the summer, she would make the winter. She died August thirty-first of that year. She was the only girl of ten children. Today, only one of her siblings lives. They all died of heart failure.
    Yeah, it scares the hell out of me. My hubby is very supportive and day to day life makes me question my existence. I have four siblings, three of them have had heart issues. Not a good thing. Never take you mortality for granted!
    I sat with my mom for weeks in the hospital before she died. My daughter was a little over a year old and my husband insisted that I stay with her until she was two. The last time my mom entered the hospital was because she bent over and picked up one of her grandchildren. It was too much for her heart. But, she loved her babies so much. I am sure it never entered her mind that she was taxing her health. I know that I am very lucky to have the love that I have known. But, on days like
    today,I question my existence. Why am I here, as a healthy person, enjoying my grandson? Why? I am a middle aged person enjoying him. But, I am grateful for everyday.
    My siblings have all accepted my sexuality. The reason is because my Daddy would have accep0ted me. He was awesome. He loved everyone, regardless. I enjoy life daily and try to be what my Dad would want me to be. He was a great writer. I might have convinced him to post his memoirs of The Korean War. He would have made me proud.
    I know I am a lucky one guys. I wish you all love and acceptance like I had.
  24. joann414

    Couth

    By joann414,

    So, I was not going to tell this, but it is eating me alive. My brother is retired out of the military. He asked last weekend if he could bring his girlfriend to stay for the night. Of course, I said it was fine. They got to my home around three in the afternoon and we grilled and visited while my hubby cooked. They had probably been there about two hours and she started telling about someone that had been to her father's business and wanted to buy some of his offerings. The person wanted things a little different from what her father had built.(wood work). They agreed to pay an astronomical price for what they wanted. Then she said, "They were gay as the day is long." So, Jimmy(my hubby) looked at me as it to say "don't slap the shit out of her". I just looked at her and said, "What do you mean? What is "gay as the day is long?" She looked at me like I was an idiot and said. "You know. They are fags." Needless to say, my hubby signaled my brother to shut her mouth and then told me to come inside. I was livid. He said "Let it go. Kyle is out there. (grandson). I just looked at him but agreed. Two seconds later, Kyle came through the door and said, "Nana, did you hear what she said. She is wrong to talk about people isn't she?" I have to tell you. I hugged that little eight year old so tight. I did not say anything to the idiot outside because the one that matters understood. I have never been so glad that I held my temper. I am so proud of my daughter for instilling the right things in my grandson and love my grandson for being himself, as he was taught to be.
  25. joann414
    As some of you know I live off the beaten path meaning out in the country with no close neighbors. My husband has to travel infrequently and he has been out of town for the last couple of nights. It was actually the first time that I stayed two nights in the country alone without a volunteer to come and stay.
     
    We have been seeing coyotes on the dam of the lake which is down the hill, cross a bottom, up the hill, behind our house, Once you walk up the hill, your are probably ten steps from being at the lake. This time of year you can see all the way across the small hollow.
     
    Night before last while he was gone, the outside dogs starting barking and would not stop. Our jack russell is in a pen and the blue heeler is on a chain not far from her pen. They continued barking until my little house dog while is a part chihuahua/jack russell, thinks she is a german shepard started yapping and would not hush. So, hubby being gone, it scared the hell out of me. Then when our yard lit up like it was daylight, I knew something had tripped the motion sensor on the outside lights. Getting up and grabbing a pair of sweats, I made my little yapper shut up and opened the door into the mudroom and then walked to the backdoor. There was no need for me to turn on lights since my yard was lit up. I glanced out one of the windows on the backdoor and two coyotes were digging around the sides of our firepit in the backyard which is only about five yards from the center of the deck. Thankfully, the deck is about five foot off the ground. It's three a.m. in the morning, but not thinking I immediately called my husband who answered the phone in a panicked,"What's wrong?"
     
    "Two coyotes are by the firepit and the dogs won't stop barking."
     
    "Jo Ann, you scared the hell out of me. Get the pistol from under my pillow and walk out on the deck and shoot, but don't shoot at them because you might hit "Go Go." (the jack russell in the pen about ten yards behind the fire pit)
     
    "What if they run toward me?"
     
    "Don't get off the damn deck. Just walk a couple of steps out and shoot kind of up in the trees. They will probably run when you open the door anyway."
     
    I go into the bedroom to get his pistol from under his pillow. It is a 44 Ruger that I have not shot in years. I have a 9mm. Making sure my little dog is shut up in the bedroom, I head outside. The minute I step onto the deck, my dogs quit barking like they feel safe now.(yeah right. my knees are shaking) The smaller of the coyotes runs when I walk out and the other just turns and looks at me. I raise the pistol and fire, forgetting what a re-coil the pistol has. Needless to say, it took a small chunk out of the edge of the roof over our deck. But coyote ran for his life from this crazy woman with a pistol. Dogs go back in their houses, I go in, lock the door and call hubby back.
     
    He answers on the first ring. "Did you have to shoot to make them run?"
     
    "One ran when I walked out on the deck and the other one just looked at me."
     
    "Well did you shoot?"
     
    "Yes, I shot and he ran like hell then."
     
    "Do you think you hit it?"
     
    "Depends on what 'it' is."
     
    "Jo Ann! What did you hit? You did not hit one of the dogs did you?"
     
    "No, it hit the edge of the overhanging part of the roof on the deck."
     
    "How in the hell did you do that?"
     
    "I forgot how bad the re-coil was on your pistol. You should have told me to get my pistol." (not my fault)
     
    "Just go to bed and call me when you start to work in the morning if you haven't burned the house down or something by then."
     
    He calls me at work yesterday to tell me that he will not be in until today. So, another night alone with me, the dogs,and the coyotes.
     
    When I got home yesterday, I fed the dogs, took my little house dog for a walk and then fixed a drink and went out on the deck to relax for awhile. My little dog is out with me and she and the other dogs start barking. They are all looking toward the lake and I see what looks like an even bigger coyote on the damn walking toward the lake, but it looks like a big bird is trying to run him away. I immediately call my hubby. "I think there is a coyote on the damn, but it looks like a bird keeps flying at it."
     
    "Jo Ann, that is that pair of Canadian Geese that have had their nest there for the last few years. They probably have babies. Don't try to shoot in case it is a dog and not a coyote. I don't think they would be that close to the house in daylight."
     
    "I think it is a dog. It is a reddish brown and is headed across the little bridge behind the damn."
     
    "Well don't shoot someone's dog, and for that matter if the coyotes come up in the yard tonight, don't shoot again!"
     
    "Well, what am I supposed to do? I can't sleep with the dogs barking all night."
     
    "Just get a pan and a spoon, step out on the deck and beat on the pan. They will leave."
     
    "That is stupid. That sounds like something out of a friggin movie."
     
    "Jo Ann, living with you is like a watching a movie. You never know what you are going to say or do next. Why do you think I have stayed thirty years.?"
     
    He laughed and hung up. I thought about it for a minute, glanced up at the jagged edge of the roof above me and decided if the coyotes came back I better just beat on a pan.
     
    See, life is not so dull when you get older
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