And Today Shall Be That Day

My G'ma Gertrude (my Daddy's Momma) passed away early this morning. My heart is broken. Although I could probably count the times I actually got to see her, I loved her dearly. I cherish the memories of traveling to West Virginia to visit my Grandma...climbing the rock and brick steps up the side of the steep driveway to her house on the hill...the smell of food cooking in the kitchen...playing on the hill outside...going to the store across the road for candy and bottles of Nehi...listening to the stories about my family...deciding where and with whom we were all going to sleep in the big house on the hill.

Grandma was a courageous, spirited woman with a lot of love to give. She was also a stubborn woman, so don't mess with G'ma or her family. She was a determined woman who knew what she wanted and did what she wanted, so even if you were lucky enough to BE her family, you STILL don't mess with G'ma.

As I got older, the trips became less frequent and more cherished. Almost 3 years ago, the whole family (or most of us) got together to celebrate Grandma's 90th birthday. It was a bittersweet time, because I knew it could very well be the last time I would see her.

I was lucky enough to go back this last October for what would be my last visit to see my Grandma. She's no longer in the house on the hill. She's been in a nursing care facility for the last 3 to 4 years. I've seen many, many facilities like this and very few good ones, but I have to say I was happy with my Grandma's "home". Although, she was confused at times, she was alert and still eating solid food (which is a huge thing to me). She was happy for the most part, although she got PO'd a couple of times in her confusion. She was receiving excellent care, which is probably due to the fact that my cousin, Beth is in charge of her care...and just like Grandma, don't mess with Beth.

I agree with my sister, who said, "I pride myself on the fact that I generationally came from this woman and I will carry something on that only came from her."

RIP Grandma. I love you and as yours and Grandpa's stone says,
"Someday We Shall Meet And Never Part."

Current Read...

Pamela Des Barres Website

Current Read

I actually started this book before and got sidetracked by Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. Now I'm back to it. I love reading about the 60s and 70s LA music scene!

Hidden Gem - Bonnie Bramlett

It has to be some kind of music history sin that this lady is not better known. Most people know her as Roseanne's co-worker, Bonnie Watkins. She sang on the show a couple of times. Embedding is disable, but you can watch it HERE.

Bonnie Bramlett goes way back. At age 14, she sang in clubs in East St. Louis. She was even in the late '60s, early '70s LA music scene (which of course is one of favorite things)with her husband Delaney, who himself, it seems should have been more well known. She has sang with the likes of Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, George Harrison, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, Gram Parsons and John Lennon. She co-wrote the song "Give Peace A Chance" with Leon Russell. There is way more about her than I could even put here. Google her! You can read more about her HERE. She still sings and has a beautiful voice. I like the older stuff better myself. THIS is also a good one and below is my favorite with Eric Clapton, Bobbie Whitlock and Dave Mason. I'll be searching Amazon for Delaney & Bonnie CDs.

Midnight Margaritas!

Updates

So, yeah, I've been slacking again...not that anybody reads this, but I'll do a quick update as far as my work status. I think I was back in Petticoat Junction, better known as Eldon, which I came to think of as creepy crack town. Anyway, that assignment was cancelled 2 weeks early, then I went to Rolla for what was supposed to be 8 weeks and it was also cancelled 2 weeks early. So, as of May 27th, I'm officially unemployed. I haven't really minded much. I wish I could stay unemployed, but it doesn't pay much. I'm trying to wait for the perfect job...haha yeah...ok well it doesn't have to be perfect. I would love to go to Cali for the summer, but Cali seems to be broke, so not many traveling jobs there right now. I'm officially licensed in Texas, but would prefer to wait until after the hot, humid, hurricane season to go there. Now if I have to spend my summer in MO, I at least want to be able to come home on the weekends...so, like I said...waiting for the somewhat perfect job.

I'll try to update on the rest of life, later...

My Stimulus Plan Benefit

So, somebody decided that rather than send us a check for $300 or $600 or whatever, that they would lower the tax rate or something and we would bring more money home weekly. Well, my checks are $9.71 more a week than before. Sounds lame, I know, but it is $42.07 a month or $504.92 a year. So, ok, I'll take it.

Reading...

I (AGAIN) abandoned the book I was reading, for another. I decided to read Junky by William Burroughs before Naked Lunch. He wrote it first, so I thought I would start there. I'm almost done and then I'll go back to Naked Lunch. Maybe it will make more sense.

Anyway, Junky was written...well, by a junkie. It's really interesting to read about late 40s, early 50s people who were druggies. I didn't even know there was such a drug problem back then.

Blog Slacker

I've been a blog slacker. I've been busy, lazy, uninspired, etc, etc. I'm coming out of it and have several things to blog about...

Naked Lunch - A Frozen Moment When Everyone Sees What Is On The End Of Every Fork. W.B.

This is the book I am currently reading. I actually started 2 other books and then I went on an internet book shopping spree and now have about 6 books to read.

Anyway, I think this one will be quite interesting...to me anyway. I like musician biographies and got into reading about the 60s LA music scene and the hippie scene, but then I slipped farther back into the beat generation...Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsburg...and the author of Naked Lunch, William Burroughs. This book was quite controversial and banned in some places in the USA and there was an obscenity trial about it. Apparently, the book is from notes written by Burroughs, that he doesn't remember writing, over a period of time when he was a junky. I've already learned a couple of expresssions that I like...the title for one...Naked Lunch...relating to nakedness of seeing, to be able to see clearly without any confusing disguises...and another one...Newspaper Spoon - refering to being presented or "spoonfed" news, information and facts, the way in which the media bends reality.

I'll update (maybe) when I get farther along in the book.