The South's Gonna Rise Again?

         

                 

I found this rather amusing today on AOL.  Hey Ya'll, is Southern Drawl Spreading?  And what exactly is spreading?  I mean anyone from the south will tell you, we all speak differently.  It may all sound Southern, but it's different.  Ranges from Scarlet to twang.  And even the same accent sounds different depending on the octave of the voice uttering it.  On my Daddy, the accent was smooth and mellow.  Would melt butter on a winter's day.  On me, well....it could get to be nerve wrecking.  And we can all pour it on when we want to...or ease it up.  And is it the accent spreading, or the vernacular, the actual words and phrases we Southerners are known for?  Or a combination?

I remember being in San Francisco when I was about 15 for a summer vacation.  People would gather around just to listen to me talk!!  Strangers!  Mostly men.  I've never had a desire to loose my accent.  To change my cadence.  To adopt another culture's vernacular.  Even when years later in phone conversations, uppity Yankees (now you aren't all that way....but they seem to recruit them for the telephone) tried to start talking down to me as soon as they heard my voice.  I'm proud of my accent.  Proud of the vernaculars I have mastered.  Why just in my marriage I had to learn the whole oilfield lingo thing of pumpers, horsesheads, pushers, fishers, etc.  And I have absorbed the brand that is part and parcel for Caneyhead; battrey instead of battery, I hope you do it for I'll help you, and the ever popular among young men:  yes'er dl'babe.  Strictly translated: Yes, sir, doll babe and signifying that he certainly intends to do it or agrees wholeheartedly.

I don't care.  Copy, mimic, adopt all you want.  Have fun and enjoy yourself.  Just remember, it's the walk that makes the man (woman) not the talk.  So be very careful what parts and portions you use until you are sure you have the gonads to back it up.  If not, it could land you in a whole heap of trouble.  (And if you are clueless as to what gonads are don't even bother trying.)

   

                    

Remember the cowboy craze that swept the nation right after Urban Cowboy (where they mispronounced Spurger...Travolta said "spur-jer".  Anyone north of IH-10 can tell you it should be "spur-grrr".)?  There are still "real ones" and "pretend ones".  Or like Barbara Mandrel's song about being country when country wasn't cool.  "We took a lot of kidding, cause we never did fit in, now look at every body trying to be what we were then." 

Tags: drawl, twang, lingo, accent

Why Not to Stand When the Bus is Moving

If you stand up when the bus is moving the bus driver mite push the braks and you mite go flying out the window or you could go flying and hert somebody else.  The bus driver mite reck and you could hit the window and brake it.  If you brake it, you could fall down and land on the glass.  If you land on the glass, you could get cut up.  You mite not get hert, but you could get in truble.  If you get in truble you mite get a spankan or more.  "I gess that would be getting hert."  You mite get kicked off the bus.

                                                                     

Tags: essay, bus safety, mites

Anne's School Days Gifs 

Can I Get an Amen?!?!

Sharing with you all the email I have sent to my daughter's principals and to the supervisor over the buses at our school district.

 

To all concerned,

 

Today, I came home from work to find that my daughter had been put off the bus for three days.  The paper she had said that she had been standing while the bus is moving.  I spoke with her about it, she said yes, she had stood by the window for the air.  I told her how she has to be seated all the time, whether she is hot or not, whether others are up or not.

 

I fully support the bus drivers and think it is a crying shame we have stripped them of almost all authority.  It is a job you could not pay me enough to do. 

 

But I have plenty of issue with Namewithheld I.S.D. and the ridiculous way rules, rule above all common sense.  What am I talking about?  A child being put off a bus before the parent even knows there is a problem or has a chance to correct the problem.  That is wrong.  You have ample ability to contact me.  You have my work number, you have my home number, you have my email address and I am almost always at the bus stop with my daughter. 

 

My other issue in this type of "punishment" is that it does absolutely nothing to the child.  It punishes parents and families.  My family is struggling to survive.  My husband has been unable to work since January of this year.  My son just started a new job that has him leaving the house at 5:50 am each day.  I am trying desperately to get all the hours I can at my job.  That means I have to leave before your campus is open to receive students in the morning and I'd haveto leave work early to pick her up from campus.

 

I see no reason to punish my family like that.  If you want to give Hannah corporal punishment and put her back on the bus, fine.  If you do not agree to that, then Hannah will be home those three days and you can loose money instead of me!!!!!!!!

 

I regret that this school district leaves me no other choice.  I can remember when common sense ruled and staff worked with parents and they came down together on miss behaving children.  I know Mr. Nash remembers that era.  I was at Namewithheld High School under him.  And I know that Mr. Barclay remembers that era as well, for I have known him since I was a teenager working at Namewithheld Auto Company.

 

One more time, just in case looking it up is too hard for you: 

 

My home phone:  xxx-xxxx

My work phone:  xxx-xxxx

My email address:  bhbner2him@aol.com

 

Sincerely,

Barbara Lastname

 

Now, can I get an AMEN?!?!

Tags: school districts, school buses, rules, common sense, blogplugs

Something New

Outside today, hubby and the kids found something none of us had ever seen before.  Pete's sister came over, and a friend of his came over.  Neither of them had ever seen it either.  Now we are all well into our 40's.  Lived here all our lives.  This is strange!  Even later on, Papa Shot comes by.  He's at least 20 years older than any of us and he's never seen one either!

I come to look it up on the Internet.   Had the good fortune of finding Bea online.  She gave me the bead on where to go, where to look.  Thanks, Bea!

Here's a picture from Bubba's cell phone:                                               Those long horns on his head are actually red in color.  He looks very intimidating! 

But from the excellent link Bea gave me, we find it is simply a caterpillar for a large plain looking moth!  He is as big as my middle finger and we believe him to be about ready to cocoon.  So we have him held captive.

At the sight above, there is a chart like this:

As you can see, they are readily found lots of places, but not in East Texas!  The men outside theorize that this things relatives came in on the winds of hurricane Rita in 2005.  Lots of things are different here since then. 

Will be back to update the success or failure of our little experiment. 

 

                           

Tags: Pine-devil Moth, caterpillars

Another Round

So, I'm playing another round of the interview game.  This time my interviewer is Lisa from Adventures From Florida to Kentuckiana.  Now fair warning.  Her journal is private.  So if you want to visit, you'll need to send her an email and ask first, at randlprysock@aol.com.  

And for any who may not have seen this yet, here's the rules:

She came up with five questions to interview me, and I'm going to answer them here.

If you would like to be interviewed by me, here are the directions.

1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me"

2. I will respond by e-mailing you 5 questions.  I get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your journal with a post containing your answers to the questions.

4.  You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.

Okay... ready, set, interview!!!

1.  What is your favorite recipe?

 

How can I just pick one?!  Here's one of my all time favorites that requires nothing extra and is cheap.

 

Mock chicken fried steak

 

Take 1 1/2 pounds hamburger and divide into 6 patties.

Mix one egg and about 1/3 cup milk in flat bottomed bowl or pie pan.

Put flour in another.

Salt and pepper patties.  Flour, milk/egg mixture, flour.  Fry in about 1/2 inch grease at medium until golden brown.

Serve with cream gravy.  Cheaper than steak, more tender and more flavor!

 

Cream Gravy  (white sauce)

 

Melt 4 1/2 tablespoons butter or margarine in cast iron skillet or club aluminum pot.  Over medium low heat.

In coffee cup combine 5 tablespoons flour, one teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with a fork or whisk. 

Quickly mix into melted butter with fork or whisk. 

Add 2 cups milk.  (sweet milk, canned milk, water in any combination will work.)

Slowly bring to a low boil, stirring often. 

This is good with meat, biscuits. 

(Shit on a shingle.) or add browned ground sausage (cut back on the salt to 1/2 teaspoon) to serve over toast or biscuits.   (Eggs a la golden rod)  Add hard boiled, chopped up egg whites and serve over toast, with crumbled yellows sprinkled over the top.

 

                              

 

 

 

2.  Do you have any hobbies or an activity you love to do in your spare time and please share with us more about it?

 

Oh how boring I have become!  No real hobbies or interest I pursue these days.  Seems between work, home, hubby, children, journaling and my prayer group all my time is used up.

 

3.  If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you most want to go?

 

Very similar to another question I had.  But assuming I had to travel....I'd love to see the parts of Texas I have never seen.  The panhandle and the hill country.  I'd like to visit the Holy Land if I thought it was entirely safe.  And I've always been fascinated by Ireland, though I don't know if I actually have any Irish to me or not. 

 

4.  What is your proudest accomplishment in life?

 

Oh, wow.  Tough one.  By the world's standards I have not accomplished much.  Twenty-three years of marriage and to have raised a handsome son to adulthood without him addicted or in trouble with the law come to mind.  But, yet, they really aren't my accomplishments.  They belong to Christ.  But I'm everso thankful I got to participate in these things with Him!

 

5.  Name five things you'd like to do before the next ten years are over.

 

Let's get this in perspective.  In ten years I'll be 57.  Bubba will be 28, and Bug will be 18!  Lord help me. 

 

I want to be debt free.

I want to have a steady, growing retirement at hand.

I want to be able to do some different things with my family than I have done before.

I'd like to cultivate some good friendships with other women in real life/time.  People to go and do with.

I want to go on a honeymoon with my hubby.  We have never had one.

Tags: Interview Me, chicken fried steak, cream gravy

I'm Alright

So many of you know approximately where I live, and so many of you keep your eye trained on tropical storms and hurricanes.  I wanted to come and reassure you all that we are fine and all is well in the wake of Humberto. 

An estimated 100,000 customers without electricity, down toward Beaumont, Pt. Arthur and Winnie, TX.  The sneaky storm turned into a hurricane around midnight and came in through High Island and Bolivar in the wee morning.  Could take up to three days to restore electricity to some.

We are approximately 33 miles N.E. of Beaumont.  We had no particularly high winds.  Rain, but nothing to be any real problem.  Our school buses ran and it's business as usual.

There is street flooding in the city.  And some downed trees.  Some reporting lost shingles on roofs. 

Basically Humberto was small and compact, and moved relatively fast through the area.  This made things better widespread, but for a few directly in the path it packed a waulup.

I am happy this is my regular day off from work.  I didn't have to drive in and deal with flooded off ramps.  It just crossed the Sabine River, into La. now.   

Tags: Humberto

Playing the Interview Me Game

Okay, so the game is called Interview Me and I found it at Deployment Journal.  

 

She came up with five questions to interview me, and I'm going to answer them here.

If you would like to be interviewed by me, here are the directions.

1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me"

2. I will respond by e-mailing you 5 questions.  I get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your journal with a post containing your answers to the questions.

4.  You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.

Okay... ready, set, interview!!!

From my new friend over at Deployment Journal: 

 

1. What are the makings of a true Southerner?

 

A true Southerner respects the Lord and Mama.  A true Southerner knows how to work hard.  They always have time to visit with a friend or meet someone new.  If you need it and they have it, it's yours.  A true Southerner loves children, animals and the land.  They want to get along with those who aren't, but if you don't understand them or like them it's no sweat off their back.

 

2. What do you like most about Texas? 

 

I like our diversity and our heritage.  I'm proud of the spirit that still lives in Texas.  Very hard to define or explain.  But when you live in Texas all your life, it's more than where you live.  It's part of you.

 

3. How do you feel about people who don't believe in the same faith as you do?

 

The answer to this depends on whether you mean a faith other than Christianity or just a different denomination of Christianity from mine. 

 

Those that believe in Christ Jesus and the Bible, but belong to a different denomination are simply my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Jesus established one church; man divided into denominations.  We'll all be neighbors in Heaven.

 

Those who believe in some God other than Jehovah of the Bible or some other way to Heaven than Jesus, I believe to be lost and in need of salvation.  I have no animosity toward them and in fact sincerely hope the Holy Spirit is able to persuade them the error of their belief that they, too, might be my brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

 

4. If you had a day truly to yourself, without any obligations or worries and unlimited funds - what would you do?

 

Most of the time simple pleasures appeal to me.  So I think a day to just relax and read a book or to watch good old movies on satellite.  Would love to get all three of my nieces and my sister over for a slumber party.  No men, no children.  Just us, good food, games, movies and fudge. 

 

5. What is the one simple thing that you know will always make you smile?

 

A hug and kiss from one of my children.

 

 

From Christy over at Christy's Thoughts

 

1. What's one thing that if you could go back and make different you would? 

 

Hard to choose.  Certainly over the years there have been chances I never took, people I hurt intentionally or unintentionally.  Opportunities passed up.  But the one thing I can think of that might of shaped my life and those around me the most for the better would of been if I'd truly lived my life for Christ from the time I accepted Him at age eleven as my savior.  So, I'd say I'd go back and seriously seek to make Him Lord of my life right after my salvation.

 

 2. What's your happiest childhood memory?

 

I had a very happy childhood in many ways.  So it is hard to pick just one.  The earliest clear recollection I have is when I was about 3 years old.  We are outside our home in Carthage, TX.  I'm eating homemade french fries, going around the crispy outside edges first.  I can still taste the salt.  Then Daddy and I are in the shade and San Augustine grass near the house and he is attempting to play leap frog with me; all 6 foot of him!  The shady grass is cool and I can hear laughter from Mama. 

 

3. If you could go anywhere, where would it be (money and time not being an issue)?

 

For many years Hawaii would have been my immediate answer.  But I've grown to become quite a home body.  So at this stage in life, I'd say I'd like to spend a couple of weeks in a well appointed cabin on a lake that is great for swimming and fishing with my family.  Somewhere with bike trails.  Hopefully with friends and relatives coming by to visit and keeping us up late at night playing 42. Somewhere with bike trails.

 

4. If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?

 

Well I could say someone sexy and handsome.  Or one of the great minds or a dear saint.  But I think I'd love to just kick back and relax with David Letterman.  I love his sense of humor.  And he seems to share some of my mental pauses. 

 

5. What's your favorite song of all time?

 

That's a real toss up.  I don't think I can give you just one....so here's two who's 45's I almost wore out over the years:  Brandy (You're a fine girl) by Looking Glass and Last Song by Edward Bear. 

 

Do you want to play?  Leave a comment saying interview me and I'll email you 5 questions.  Or send me 5 questions you'd like to see me answer. 

Texas graphic by .

Tags: Interview Me, Texas, Southerners, religion, childhood, travel