Tuesday, August 10, 2010

STUPIDITY!!!

OMG!!!

I can hardly write these words~I'm still shaking my head at the stupidity of ....of.....of.....complacency.

Here's the story:

The other day I found a funny looking tool in the yard. I gave it to Ron. He determined it fell from the cable company's cables.

So, today, we have an appointment for them to come and put it back. I just got a call from a representitive of the cable company to confirm the appointed hours between which the repair guys will come.

First thing, she got the reason screwed up. She thought it was for bad reception (I wonder if that was an automatic--or just her being lazy---thing for her to ask). After I told her no, she asked me to please wait a minute, then "oh...I see....to replace a fallen cable." I knew it was useless to try to explain to the poor girl the real reason, so I just agreed.

Then......she asked me to verify the full address and phone number on the account, "....for security purposes..." I gave her my address.

Then......I said, "You just called me, so you have my phone number."

"Yes, but we still need it for security purposes."

"Well, doesn't the address I just gave you match the phone number YOU just called?"

"Yes, but I still need you to confirm for security purposes."

(Her droning tone of voice never changed, by the way).

I shook my head and told her the phone number THAT SHE JUST CALLED, so the poor dear would know it was ME she was actually talking to.

She told me to please have someone over the age of 18 here during the appointed hours when the reparimen got there and to have a nice day.

Come to think of it, she never asked my name................

So much for security.

From Out Of My Mind,
Pambo

Friday, July 2, 2010

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IF THIS GUY IS A MARINE

Got an email today from a person claiming to be a Marine overseas that found a barrel full of money, but can't get it out of the country without my personal help....

bullshit!

First of all; a true Marine has HONOR. And Honor dictates that you do your best to find the rightful owner of your discovery. If you can't, then you turn it in and go on about your business. If the rightful owner is eventually found and wishes to reward the finder, then so be it.

To do anything else is thievery.

Second of all; a true Marine is taught to OVERCOME AND ADAPT. So, if there is no Honor in that particular Marine (yeah, even the Marines get a bad, honorless one occasionally), then surely he's smart enough to figure out how to get the so-called barrel full of money out of the country all by himself. Besides, one with no honor would be selfish enough and not want to tell anyone of his find, let alone a perfect stranger who he's emailed. (How the hell did he get my email addy anyway?!)

Third of all; a true Marine would probably get in all kinds of trouble (whether he has Honor or not), by pulling a stunt like this guy was trying to pull. I'm not sure, but there are probably rules prohibiting the removal of certain items (like a barrel full of money).

Why would someone hide their money in a barrel and why would another someone even think to look inside a barrel?

Finally; c'mon folks.....are there really people out there that are that stupid to answer this clown? I know there are stupid people in the world~but jeez~with all the hype about identity theft floating around, are there still folks stupid enough to answer emails like this and give the sender personal information? (I don't know what this guy wanted to know, I deleted the email).

From Out of Pambo's Mind,
Pambo

Thursday, June 17, 2010

ARE WE RAISING A NATION OF SLOBS?

I watched Grease the other day, and West Side Story, last month.

I was struck by how the so-called punks, (bad boys) in the movie were so neatly dressed. The clothes they wore FIT, their hair was combed, and they took pride in their appearance.

Okay...they are movies. But, my husband grew up in those years, and was even considered a punk. His clothes fit, and he wore his hair in a DA style. (For those too young to know, that's Duck's Ass ~ check John T's hair in Grease).

Every generation has "bad boys." But, come on.....do they have to be such slobs?

Pants dragging the ground (the pant legs, not the crotch), shirts way too big, pants crotch hanging to the knees, (NO ONE wants to see your underwear, young man!) are all disgusting.

Once again, the fashion industry has messed up.

We had to hang out at a car dealership for an hour or so one afternoon, while our car was serviced. We were in the showroom and were approached by a young salesman. I'm sure he thought he was dressed nicely. In my eyes, he looked like a slob.

Sure, he had on dress slacks and a button down shirt. But, the slacks were a size too big, way too long (the front of the hem was bunched up on his shoes, the back so long, he walked on it occasionally). The shirt hung on him like a tent.

His hair was neat, though. And he was a very nice, personable young man. But my first impression made me think he didn't really care about his appearance, so why would he care about selling me a car?

My daughters will tell me, "that's the way it is, mom, get over it!"
That doesn't make it right, dears! Slobby looks are not pleasant to see. You girls all dress in clothes that fit! Even my little rebel daughter---your "rebel" clothes fit (she wears black combat boots with almost every outfit!).
The two that have husbands, their clothes fit; no slobs in either family. And to the one who isn't married, but has two sons, she doesn't let her kids wear clothes that are too big.

So see........that's NOT the way it is.

First impressions DO matter and first impressions are based on HOW YOU LOOK!

Stop buying the big slobby clothes. I'd love to see the bad boys dressing like the punks from the fifties and sixties again. At least they'd get more respect!

From Out of Pambo's Mind,
Pambo
PS I picked on the girls in a previous blog.

ARE WE RAISING A NATION OF SLUTS?

What the hell is the fashion industry thinking?

I have a five year old granddaughter. Her mother told me that she bought her some shorts, brought them home and had Ani try them on. They were so short, her butt showed when she bent over, and her panties showed in her crotch when she sat down. Needless to say, they were returned to the store.

These too-skimpy clothes are appalling!

Little girls and teen girls wear skimpy clothes that show their butt-crack, too much belly (any is too much), butt cheeks, and chest.

The sad part is, they think it's okay! Apparently, so do their parents, which is the really sad part.

Another sad part is that in this generation of overweight kids---most of those girls look horrible in the skimpy clothes.

Come on people....ARE YOU FRIGGIN BLIND?

Can't you say NO! to those that promote Sluttiness in our girls?

I use the term SLUT not so loosely, either. I mean it! Look around you. Grade school girls wearing make-up. Make-up! Once in awhile for playing dress-up or to have a "make-over" night with Mom is acceptable and fun. But, everyday and to school???????

It just ain't right.

Good for Ani's mom for returning those too short shorts. The rest of the nation's moms who DON'T return the slutty clothes, but just sigh and accept them, because 'it's the fashion now', are simply cowards.

If more of us said NO, then things would change. Appearance does matter.

From Out of Pambo's Mind,
Pambo
PS I'm gonna pick on the boys in a blog to follow this one.........

Saturday, May 15, 2010

NEW IRON!!!!!!

I am sooooooo excited! I got a new iron the other day. (See blog "Mundane Chores")
My iron started leaking water from the spout into which you pour the water. I figured that it wasn't very safe to have water leaking all over an electrical appliance, so had to get a new one (oh darn!).

In the meantime, I borrowed one from my friend, who is allergic to ironing, yet has two irons....hmmmmm. Anyway, it was a cordless one. It was also a mindless one. I did not like it. I could only iron for a few seconds before the iron began to cool. In order for it to get hot again, I had to put it back in its base to re-charge and heat. Suddenly, ironing became mundane and no fun.

I needed to get to Walmart or Walgreen's or somewhere quick to get a new one before I went insane.

If you've read up on me, you know I don't drive because of a genetic eye disease that has rendered me legally blind. I have to rely on my friends or husband to take me somewhere further than I'm willing to walk.

I had a lunch planned with one of those wonderful friends the next day and had planned on asking her to take me to find an iron. In the middle of the night, I had an epiphany! It's very difficult for me to iron black, dark blue and other dark colors because of my eye disease. I thought...."I wonder if there's an iron with a light on the front?"

I was so intrigued by the idea, I got up right then (2am) and googled it. After several searches (I won't bore you with the goofy things that came up when I put in the search bar; "Iron with a light")~~I finally found one. It's made by Conair and cost only 40 bucks!

Sooooooo, Amazon showed "out of stock indefintley". Conair didn't even show the stock number. So now I was depressed--my spirits needed ironing--haha.

I found Conair's phone number, called them and the lady told me they had them in stock (No, she didn't know why the website didn't show it) and placed my order.

Ironing is such a pleasure again. I leave the clothes in the dryer too long on purpose, just so I'll have lots of wrinkles to iron--with a light!

From Out of Pambo's Mind
Pambo
PS NO! I'm not OCD....

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

What's With the Slobby-Scuffy Look?

I just don't get it.

This fad that's been around for a couple of years now of men and their scruffy faces. C'mon guys....it's really ugly and sloppy and makes you look like a slob. Not to mention, it's pretty creepy too.

Frankly, there are only about one percent of the whole population in the world that can carry it off and look good--meaning NOT like a slob. One of my sons-in-law is one of them. He's very handsome both ways. I'm not sure about the other son-in-law; I've seen him clean-shaven or with a real beard. He's also very handsome both ways.

I'm so disgusted when I see men on TV, either well known actors, or TV commercial guys who sport this creepy look. Most of the TV commercial guys are not that good looking anyway, and then to try to get by with the scruffy look~nuh-uh~it just doesn't work.

I saw a picture of Harrison Ford on the front of People a year or so ago. Now, Harrison Ford is a really handsome guy, and one that is aging quite well---but the scruffy look made him look icky and creepy. But there he was, with that cute little crooked smile on the front of the magazine, probably thinking he looked good. NOT! NOT! NOT!

I wonder what idiot decided to start this fad? A lazy man? A stupid woman? Someone on some really good narcotics?

It's probably the same idiot who thought low-rider pants and skinny jeans would look good on everyone. I think they forgot to pass out all the hallucinogenic drugs to go with these styles so we'd just think it looks good on everyone.

I'll be glad when "slob" goes OUT of fashion.

I think the style of the "hoodlums" of the sixties should come back. Even though those guys were considered outcasts, they were pressed and neat outcasts. The tight white t-shirts, the tapered leg, cuffed blue jeans...t-shirt tucked in and belted, of course...basically, the James Dean look. Now that's handsome! HOT even......

From Out of Pambos Mind
Pambo

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Mundane Chores

Mundane Chores

.
I love washing dishes in my sink with my own two hands. I love to iron, too.

Mundane to you? As a kid, I HATED doing those chores. As an adult, I realized that both of those chores are very theraputic.

Not to mention, no one bothers you! It's amazing how everyone can dissappear when it's time to do the dishes. I don't even own a dishwasher. There is a window over my sink, which I can observe the goings on in the neighborhood during the day.

We used to live in the country and I love watching the Martins (birds--not neighbors!) play while I did my dishes. Sometimes they'd get to pestering the squirrels so much, I'd laugh out loud at their antics. My husband wondered how washing dishes could be so funny!

When I take clothes from the dryer, I'm glad to see wrinkles. Weird, I know, but it's true.

Holding up a freshly pressed item, that I just ironed and is now smooth and wrinkle gives me a silly sense of satisfaction. I accomplished something in those few moments of steam-iron bliss. No one in my family ever left the house wearing wrinkled clothes.

I ask you all to try it: Those of you addicted to dishwashers; those of you that pull the clothes out of the dryer and shake them, ignoring any wrinkles that persist in remaing -- I DARE you
to wash your dishes and iron your clothes
Wait until you've had a bad day....you'll be amazed at the results.

From Out of Pambo's Mind
Pambo

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

My Trivial Poison Ivy.....So Inconsequential

Well, you think I'd know better....

I got into some poison ivy the other day, but didn't realize that's what it was. Well, somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered, but kept snipping at it anyway. No gloves, tank top and cut-offs were the outfit of the day...great for cutting poison ivy.

In my defense, I thought that poison ivy, 1) leaves were green, 2)grew in clusters, and 3) stayed on the ground.

What I cut back was 1) red leaves, 2) a single vine, and 3)twining up and around a tree trunk.

Yeah, it had "leaves of three" but so do other weeds!

Two days later, I broke out on my left eyelid, under my chin, behind my right ear and under my left boob. The day after that, those rashes were worse and new rashes formed on different areas on my legs, under my right boob, behind my right ear and my neck and the left side of my face!

Ohhhh boy! I took some benedryl two nights in a row to help me not itch and to sleep. While I didn't itch, I didn't sleep well, either. Plus I was groggy for a few hours the mornings after. I didn't take any last night, and I'm not groggy, but itchy! ACK!

I "flip" through blogs and read any that catch my eye. I just read on from a woman who had breast cancer and thought she's beat it. She's waiting on results to see.

Here I am whining about hot flashes (see a previous blog) and poison ivy. Neither of which is life threatening, devastating or even worrisome. My daughter's brother-in-law (in his late 20's) just had a brain tumor removed (for the second time) and will start chemo and radiation treatments soon. Again....here I am whining about trivial things happening to me.

The lady blogger and the young man really put my teensy little problems into perspective. They also remind me to not wait to tell people I love that I love them. To tell a stranger that "you look pretty in that color" or "hey! great hat!" Or to just smile at a sourpuss and hopefully brighten his day.

So, to all of you that read this and know me and love me....I LOVE YOU!

Now, you go tell your loved ones you love them...and smile at a sourpuss today!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Playing in the Dirt!

I'm tellin' y'all right here, right now........
Playing in the dirt is extremely theraputic! I've been a little blue the last few days.

Lack of sleep will do that to you, lack of sleep from INFERNO FLASHES do it too.

Thank goodness it's spring! Gardening time!

I've been out playing in the dirt all afternoon. I love the smell of dirt. I love plunging my hands into the freshly tilled powdery earth to plant my vegetables. I don't care if my fingernails have a black line in them, my cuticles stained dirt, or even if a nail or two breaks.

As I raked, hoed and planted,I sang along with the array of Golden Oldies on my iPod. I even danced.

I'm over fifty....I don't care if I look and/or sound silly. It's my yard, I can do as I wish while playing in my dirt!

Now, with sore muscles, I'm happy again. No more blues.

Just dirty fingernails, a little sunburn and the anticipation of fresh yummy vegetables.

Go play in your dirt!

From Out of My Mind,
Pambo



Wednesday, April 14, 2010

A Very Cruel, Cruel Joke

Hot Flashes........
I'm having one now. My particular brand of Hot Flashes are INFERNO Flashes.

In my younger days, it was rare for me to have sweat rolling off of me when I'd get hot doing whatever. I'd look at folks who, when they broke a sweat, would have sweat rolling and pouring off of them in buckets and feel sorry for them. I thought that looked so uncomfortable. I was grateful that I wasn't that kind of sweat-er.

Joke's on me......I don't even have to be doing anything to sweat like that now. I can even be sleeping soundly and sweat like that now. Within seconds, I can be dripping wet with sweat.
It is soooooo much fun, I'm tellin ya!

NOT! NOT! NOT!

I had a hysterectomy a little over a year ago. I immediately went into full blown menopause, with a vengance. Mood swings....( I can handle those, been handling them for years now), weight gain (yuk!) and Inferno Flashes.

I haven't had a good night's sleep since then. (Thank Goodness I'm not working anymore, I really don't know how I'd manage). I sleep for an hour or two (I get excited when I look at the clock and I see that I've had more than two hours sleep-rare, but it happens). I'm awakened by my very wet, very slick, very disgusting body that is sweating like a pig. Gross.

It's not funny and it's not fair. It's depressing. Really depressing. I cry about it. I cuss about it. I've cussed anyone and anything I can think of that would be responsible for putting women in this state of being.

God. Mother Nature. The Fates. Karma. Fairy Godmothers. Men. Whoever. Whatever.

There are times when I wish I wasn't a woman.

Then I shudder at the thought of being a man.....I really and truly do not want any soft, meaty, mushy things dangling between my legs. Although, it would be nice to be able to stand up and pee!

I just get so GD frustated at these F$%$^ING Inferno Flashes. I cry and cuss and cry and cuss.

Then I laugh. Sometimes hysterically ~ what else can I do?

I laugh because I know why it is the female of the human species that endure all the pain and frustration and depression of what we endure.

Boobs. Menestration. Huge uncomfortable child-carrying bellies. Agonizing childbirth. Nursing babies causing sore boobs. Many more years of menestration and the pains/problems that go along with it. Finally menopause and all of its problems.

Men were not emotionally and mentally built to be able to handle any of the above.

OMG! Can you imagine ANY man (even the gay ones) handling any ONE of the things on that list? Now THAT'S funny!

But hey God! Mother Nature! The Fates! Karma! Fairy Godmothers! Whomever!......
It sure would've been nice to let them have one or two of those things! Why don't you give them cramps and Hot Flashes! That'd be fair.

Yeah, that'd be really fair. Next generation of males should evolve to have cramps and hot flashes. Give the females a break.

From Out Of Pambos Mind
Pambo (laughing and fanning herself.......)

Friday, April 9, 2010

Sprinkled With Angel Dust?

I've been couped up in the house all day, my choice, but still.........

I was low on milk and a couple of other items, so I decided to walk over to Aldi's and get some. The sunshine lifted my spirits, not that I was down, but spring in the midwest is always exceptionally beautiful and you can't help but get happier. Even though the temp wasn't as warm as last week, I still didn't have to drag out a coat. I was real comfy in jeans, tee shirt and hoodie.

I love Aldi's. I always save money there and their "special purchase" section always has some really cool stuff. Anyway, I digress....

I had just entered the store behind an older man. Briefly, I admired the color of the whiteness of his hair. He went on ahead, I started looking at stuff. As I took my cart to go to the next section, the man came to me with a sad/perplexed/I-don't-want-to-be-here look on his face. He asked me for help. He said his wife sent him to get some "powdered flour, or powdered sugar, or...I don't know!" I showed him the flour and told him it always comes in a powder form. Sugar, on the other hand, comes granulated (I pointed to the bag), or powdered (I went and got a bag and handed it to him).

That didn't help. I took my phone from my waistband and said, "call her." I dialed the number, he talked to her and hung up. "I need powdered sugar and walnuts."

I walked a few feet, found the walnuts, picked up a bag and handed that to him, too. The relief on his face was priceless! He rewarded me with a happy "thank-you" and big hug. He said he'd been mowing all day and had just got in and sat down, when his wife told him she needed him to go to Aldi's and get those items. Then he rushed off to pay and get the hell out of there!

Made me feel good to be of help.

I round the corner and have to wait for another older gentleman (also with pretty white hair), to find whatever he was looking for in the cooler above the milk. After realizing he wasn't finding it, I stepped up and asked him if he needed help. He told me he was looking for just regular creme (for coffee), not the flavored stuff.

I spied a box behind the one with the flavored stuff in it (leave it to the blind lady!), reached in and grabbed a bottle. It was exactly what he wanted. I didn't get a hug that time, but got a nice smile and thanks.

Made me feel good again. I wondered if I had been sprinkled with Angel Dust when I stepped out of the house.

I say this because I'll never forget the time an Angel helped me. It was several years ago. Just before Christmas. I had the flu~with all the fun symptoms; fever, chills, cough, sore throat, hoarsness, etc. I felt like crap, but still had to work. (The down-side of owning your own business). After work that day, I had to go to Walmart for groceries (this was before I discovered the wonderful world of Aldi's).

The weather was cold and gray and miserable. When I came out, my fever was worse, I was chilled to the bone and it had started to snow. I wheeled my cart to the car and unloaded it.

I am not one to just leave my empty cart in a parking spot. I looked for the closest cart "holder" to take it to. It was miles and miles away. I just stood there, snow blowing all over me, wind chilling me even more, holding my cart and cried. Through my tears, I said to the universe, "I really don't want to walk all the way over there and all the way back to my car." But started to anyway. I no sooner than took that first step, when a man came up beside me, took the cart from my hands and told me he'd take it. And off he went. I didn't even get a chance to thank him. I cried all the way home. Grateful to be in the warm car, but mostly grateful for that Angel of a person.

I have never forgotten that experience. The despair I felt and the kindness of that stranger. Whenever I can, I try to be an Angel for others.

I got to be one twice today.

From Out Of My Mind
PamBo



FREE: A Much Overused Word

I don't know about all of you, but I get so damn sick and tired of seeing and hearing the word FREE everywhere.

Is this culture so friggin gullible that we are taken in by that simple little four-letter word? Sad.

The dictionary defines FREE as: 1) not controlled, restricted, or regulated, 2)not affected by a particular thing, 3) costing nothing, 4) giving something readily... along with definitions about being a "free" people. But that's not my point in this blog.

Read those definitions again, please. Anywhere in them do you read, WITH PURCHASE OF...., or, ONLY PAY SHIPPING AND HANDLING?

I didn't either.

But we see the word FREE all over the place. It's wrong, wrong wrong. NONE of what they are touting as FREE is free.

It would only be truly free if I walked into the place and the clerk hands me a hamburger, toothbrush, or whatever and I turn around and walk out. THAT would be free.

When we had our business, some customers would ask me for free stuff. I'd tell them that nothing is free. However, if they bought this and that, I'd give them a couple of those "at no extra charge!"

I realize that the phrase "at no extra charge" has many more letters in it than "free." But, come on, people, who cares? Is this simple word all part of the dumbing down of America plan?

If it is, I think it's working, unfortunately. You can fight back.....

The next time you have a coupon, or ad, or see a sign in a store that tells you something is FREE (with purchase of......), tell the clerk the correct way to say it. Tell the manager that whatever it is -- IS NOT FREE. And while you appreciate not having to pay for the extra cheeseburger, the correct way to state it on the coupon would have been; NO EXTRA CHARGE!

I'm done here. If you get it, great! If you don't....read it all again.

We need to FIGHT BACK of this incorrect word usage....

STOP LETTING THEM DUMB US DOWN!

I'm going to email all the fast food places I can think of who are one of the biggest culprits of this horrible practice. Maybe they'll reconsider, maybe they won't, but I'll do what I can......
WILL YOU?

From Out of Pambo's Mind
Pambo

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Are People Really THIS Stupid?

Okay, People.........
So, I'm sitting here working on editing my book. (FYI-I love to edit other people's writing, but get bored easily editing my own-especially on this fourth editing--ack!)

Anyway, I keep an eye on my Yahoo tab to watch if I get any emails~gives me a nice break from editing, especially if it's one that requires a reply.

In the last twenty minutes, I received three--yup--count 'em--three emails from American Bank, or something like that, claiming that someone has "gotten into my account without authorization". First of all, who the hell is American Bank? I don't even have an account with them. We use ONE bank, which is across the street from us, not to mention, we don't even do ANY banking on-line.

Do these idiot scammers think that people are really that stupid to open the link? To give them personal info? To whatever...?

Jeez.

I've received emails from THE FBI!!! (OMG!!!). I laughed the first time and deleted it. After the third time, I called the FBI office in Springfield, IL. An actual live human answered the phone. After recovering from that shock, I told her about the email. She told me it's not real and to just delete it. I rolled my eyes, (I'm sure she heard it over the phone), and got a little testy with her when I told her, "I KNOW it's fake. I just wanted to give YOU the info, so you could track them down!" hmph!

"Oh," she replied, "okay. We do know about it and are working on tracking them down. You just need to delete anymore you get." So I do.

But, fercrissakes! Who are these dipshits who send these emails out? The ones that tell me that there is fifty bazillion francs, pounds, sheckles, whatev's being held in a bank in whatever country applies. Just give us all your personal info, and we'll get all that money to you in a jiffy! Uh-Huh!

I can't believe that people are really that gullible. Are they?

Hmmmmmm............

From Out Of My Mind,
PamBo

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

If It Could Only Be This Easy

Like many Americans, we fly our American Flag on our front porch. I love to watch it billowing in the wind, as if it's saying to us, "Here I am. Just try to mess with me...."

We've had that flag for almost two years, and I noticed the edge of it was tattered. My husband asked me to take it down and wash it.

After unhooking it and gently sliding it from the pole, (never letting it touch the ground), I knew I had to repair it before washing it, or the raggedy ends would shred even more. This may sound silly to some of you, but just before I stuck the needle in to make the first repairing stitch, I aplogized to the inanimate flag. It's just a piece of material after all, that happens to be patterned after the symbol of our Great Country.

I was taught, however, that that particular piece of patterned material should always be treated with dignity and respect. So I did. After the first needle stick, I realized I'd been holding my breath, so let out a big sigh and continued my task.

First I repaired a white stripe. Then, a red stripe. Then I had to re-attach a white stripe to a red one. None of the blue was damaged.

As I sewed, I was reminded of what each color represented. Red for hardiness and courage and the blood that so many soldiers have spilled. White for purity and innocence and the courage of so many soldiers willing to fight for you and me. Blue for vigiliance, perserverance and justice that so many soldiers believe with heart-felt conviction. The stars come from Heaven-the goal so many soldiers strive for, should it be their time in battle. The thirteen stripes have two meanings; one, for the original thirteen colonies. The second; for rays of light from the sun.

With each repair I made, I thought, "If it could only be this easy to fix America's problems. The war, the economy, the foolish and idiotic childish separation of the two parties arguing in Congress. The greed of those in office, etc."

When I got it done as best I could, I stood at the washing maching, waiting for the tub to fill. Holding this tri-colored piece of material in my hands, I was reminded of the story behind our National Anthem:

Francis Scott Keyes sat with a newpaper reporter on a ship in a harbour watching a battle rage on. The British were firing on a fort where Old Glory flew high and proud. Word came to them that the British wanted that flag down! No matter what it took....get that flag down!
Through the bombs bursting in air, the rockets red glare, all through the day and night, the flag became damaged, tattered and shred. But it never came down.

Finally, the British gave up. When the battle was over, and the fort examined, the secret as to how that flag remained flying was revealed. People surrounded the base. If a bomb happened to hit them and killed them, others piled on top to keep that flag upright. I don't know how many gave their lives through that battle only to keep that flag flying, but many did.

What courage. What sacrifice.

With a lump in my throat, the washer ready to gently wash this great symbol, I put it in and closed the lid.

Now, clean, repaired and freshly pressed, the American Flag flys from our porch once again.

As I write this, I shake my head at the arrogance, stupidity, selfishness and greed of our so-called leaders. Why can't it be that simple - to just take a needle and thread to the tattered mess America has become? Why can't they see that we Americans would still pile ourselves around the flagpole to keep it standing and flying high and proud ~ WITHOUT being lied to and manipulated by them?

Really, it wouldn't be that difficult.

From Out of My Mind,
PamBo









Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Good old American Ingenuity....

Hello My Readers~

Today I saw a great example of good old American Ingenuity:

A man had rigged on the back of his bicycle, a platform on which to carry a simple, small lawn mower. He was wheeling that vehicle of his down the sidewalk like he was on a mission, dammit!
It made me laugh, not only for the contraption, but for his, "get out of my way, I've got a job to do" demeanor.

He was saying to anyone who watched (yeah, I know, I mixed senses--it was intentional): "Don't whine to me about not being able to make money. Nosirree, I've got this here lawn mower, and, dag-nabit, I intend to make some money mowing lawns. Deal with it!"

Good for him!

From Out Of My Mind-
PamBo

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Another Stupid Remark

We've all read the stupid things that people say and stupid answers they give to questions that travel the internet.

Well, I always thought that those stories were made up by some dude in an ivory tower somewhere with nothing better to do than make up stupid stuff and send it travelling all over the world.

Until the other day.....

This happened at Walmart. I was in the baby section looking at baby Cubs shirts for my daughter's first boy, due in July. I wanted a newborn size and couldn't find it. Then I thought that it would be fun to get her a maternity shirt that said something like, "Future Cubs Player Inside" or the like.

I looked around to find the maternity secion. I saw a middle-aged male Walmart employee standing there so I asked, "Where is the maternity section?"

He gave me a puzzled look for a second then said, "The ladies........?"

Now, I could be mean and stop right there...making you think that he was really that stupid, but to be fair, I'll finish the story:

I know I had the dumbest look on my face for a few seconds, while thinking, "no, I want the MENS maternity section, you idiot!"

In those few seconds, I watched a look of utter horror come over him. He dropped his face into his hands, burst out laughing and said, "I can't believe I just said that!"

We both got a big laugh out of it. I told him, "....ooohhhh, you know THIS story is going to go out over the internet as one of the stupidest things said..."

He was still laughing when he told me he didn't blame me for spreading it around. He then went over to a couple of his co-workers, (one a woman) and told them the story. You could hear their laughing practically all over the store.

I still get a good chuckle when I think about it. Spread this one around!
From Out of My Mind--
PamBo