One-sided Conversation

ONE-SIDED CONVERSATION

“Uh, huh, yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“No, I haven’t seen it yet – really? Oh, I can’t wait!”

“No, uh, uh! No way I’m going if that heifer’s going to be there.”

“Because …”

“No, because she drives me crazy.”

“It’s not funny, Linda. No, I think that red dye job has soaked into her brain and rotted the gray matter!”

“It’s true – no, I think she’s very intelligent.”

“Yes, she is – she has to be smart to be able to down that job at the law office.

“Well, let me finish – I said she’s smart, but she just doesn’t have any common sense.”

“Haha – no, seriously, I don’t think she has enough sense to come in out of the rain.”

“Well, true … she probably would melt in the rain.”

“Oh, you are so bad! No, you are, you’re evil!”

“Yeah, I know – but how could someone smart enough to be a paralegal actually think it’s okay to be dating 3 different guys at the same time?”

“Well, she’s got more energy than me, that’s for sure.”

“Well, what’s going to happen when she goes into the Old Bull Tavern with Bill and she finds Joe Bob at the bar?”

“Yeah, that’s what I mean – the fur will fly!”

“Or, maybe she’ll be eating with Kenny at the Food Affair and Bill walks in with his buddies.”

“No, I don’t care who she dates, I just think it’s wrong for her to sneak behind their backs. Those guys need to know they’re in competition with each other.”

“Oh, I know, that’s why I don’t want to go if she’s there. I can’t stand to her complaining about her love triangle – or I guess it would be a love square since there are four of them.”

“No, I can’t stand to hear one more story. No, I’ll go with you, but if she’s there I’m leaving. Oh, Linda, I’ve gotta go – that hubby on the other line. Talk at ya later. Bye!”

Wayback Wednesday - Dark Shadows Episodes 26-30

Now everyone knows David tried to kill his father, so what is a Collins supposed to do? Like everything else, it will be sweep under the rug and added to the burden of mysteries in Collinwood.

Episode: 26 Original Air Date:  August 1, 1966

Timeline: 1967

Narrator: Alexandra Moltke

Writer: Art Wallace / Director: Lela Swift

Victoria asks David why he attempted to murder Roger and shows him the bleeder valve. The little sociopath attacks her and she locks it in a drawer. She tricks him into leaving her room. Roger confronts the Sheriff; Victoria and David wait each other out on opposite sides of Victoria's door. Roger continues to confront the Sheriff and implies that the Sheriff is afraid of the now-rich Burke. He also implies he'll use the Collins influence to take Carter's job. Roger wants a search of Burke's room; Carter says only a psycho would keep the bleeder valve; David tries to run outside, telling Elizabeth "he has to get away." He also accuses Victoria of trying to hurt him. David says that Victoria is going to make up stories about him and even says that Victoria will try to blame him for Roger's accident. David is ejected from the room and tells Victoria Elizabeth won't believe her. Carter has obtained his Search Warrant but hasn't finished his sandwich. Roger attempts to join Carter on the search, and that's where Jonas finally draws the line. David attempts to eavesdrop on Victoria and Elizabeth's conversation, where she recounts the last few minutes of the previous episode. Victoria tells her that she didn't try to hurt David, he tried to hurt her. Victoria tells Elizabeth she was afraid of David. Elizabeth says Burke caused the accident, and doesn't believe Victoria’s story of finding the bleeder valve.

Episode: 27 Original Air Date: August 2, 1966

Timeline: 1967

Narrator: Alexandra Moltke

Writer: Art Wallace / Director: Lela Swift

Carolyn's glad that the 9-year-old Monster has gone into hiding. Victoria flat out says David attempted to commit murder. Carolyn recounts her experience with Burke and puts two and two together. Victoria outlines the evidence and states that the Monster and the bleeder valve are now missing. She states that the walls of Collinwood should be padded, not paneled. They begin a search. Burke meets Mr. Bronson in Bangor because he doesn't want Bronson near Collinsport. Bronson is apparently going to act as some sort of cover operative for Burke and gives him the financial records from the past 5 years for the Collins Family. Carolyn heads toward her room; Victoria hears something scurrying about in the West Wing and recounts an earlier experience (14). Turns out Elizabeth was in the West Wing. Elizabeth interrogates Victoria and explains away the earlier mysterious encounter. Turns out there are at least two keys that could have opened the drawer. Carolyn finds David's magazines with a well-worn page on disassembling brake cylinders. Burke wants more shadow games from Bronson. Elizabeth can't convince Roger to come find David, who's been missing for 45 minutes. Carolyn talks with Elizabeth and storms off. Burke learns that his hotel room has been searched and a small boy attempted to sneak into his room.

Episode: 28 Original Air Date: August 3, 1966

Timeline: 1967

Narrator: Alexandra Moltke

Writer: Art Wallace / Director: Lela Swift

Burke confronts the Sheriff. Maggie gives David a dessert. Burke is furious, the Sheriff is smug. David learns how to make a dessert and Maggie asks him about his attempted burglary. A peeved Roger shows up and leaves after David vanishes. Maggie asks Roger about Sam. Roger tells Burke he's sending him back to prison. Burke learns Sam and Roger were strangers until Burke came back to town. The last time they'd spoken was 10 years ago. Carter tells Roger that Burke is clean and legal, but had the Collins family investigated two weeks before he arrived. David had been hiding in the phone booth.

Episode: 29 Original Air Date: August 4, 1966

Timeline: 1967

Narrator: Alexandra Moltke

Writer: Art Wallace / Director: John Sedwick

Elizabeth idiotically blames Vicki for David's predicament. David shows up at Burke's hotel room. David plants the bleeder valve. Burke tells David that he, Laura, and Roger were friends before Roger married Laura. David tells Burke he's not what he had expected based on Roger's horror stories. Burke declares friendship with David. Carolyn, Victoria's confidante, scolds Elizabeth. Carolyn says she's dreamed of killing her father, who left Elizabeth before Carolyn was born. Elizabeth admits she doesn't think Victoria did it. Maggie calls about David. Elizabeth dispatches Carolyn with the car to search. David and Burke talk about Roger's hatred and fathers in general. David wishes his father were like Burke. Roger used to fight with his wife about Burke. David goes to wash up and Burke finds the bleeder valve.

Episode: 30 Original Air Date: August 5, 1966

Timeline: 1967

Narrator: Alexandra Moltke

Writer: Art Wallace / Director: John Sedwick

Victoria sees a cloaked and ephemeral figure. Roger has arrived but is completely lacking interest in David's whereabouts. Roger names David and Burke as the two people who dislike him most. Victoria spills the beans about David's murder attempt. Roger disbelieves her. David looks for the bleeder valve in Burke's couch, but he can't find it. Burke takes him back to Collinwood. Burke arrives with David, says he found David wandering about 15 minutes ago.

Roger takes his son into the next room and tells him that he knows about the bleeder valve. David tries to blame the whole thing on Victoria. Roger doesn't believe him and flatly tells him so. Meanwhile, Burke advises Victoria to leave again, just as Roger asks Victoria to repeat her accusations to David.

Burke watches as Roger and Victoria confront David. Burke produces the bleeder valve.

*All photos are copyright of Dan Curtis Productions, ABC Productions, and Dark Shadows Wiki.

Mrs. Greenhands - Unusual gardening ideas

During this time of year, especially this year with its mild temperatures, many thoughts turn to garden. Now is the time to start planning what your garden will be for the coming growing season. 

You are probably receiving all types ofgardening and seed catalogs in the meal and your visions are full of all the gardening possibilities.

This year, maybe think more about container gardening. Container gardening gives you some advantages over regular gardening:

1. Contains warm sooner than the ground soil, so you are able to plant some crops sooner.
2. You can place containers where you like them in the garden.
3. Containers are easier to water and maintain than regular garden bed.

There are many things that can be used as a container for gardening: wheelbarrows, old buckets, and old cooking pots, anything that will hold soil can potentially be used to garden with.

One of my favorite items to use in gardening is used tires – either car or tractor tires. They can be used for all types of gardening, or as compost heaps. Place them in the garden, fill with good garden soil and presto, you have an instant garden.

This year I found the pictured flower garden and I have plans to make this for my coming gardens. It is basically several car tires painted different colors and stacked in varying order. When the tires are in the shape you want them, fill with garden soil and plant. Instant beauty and an easy way to have color all through the growing season.

Monday Musings - My life according to Heart

(Drawing by my daughter, Marie Huffman)

This is a meme I did on Facebook a while back, but I never posted it here. It was so much fun to do, you may want to pass it on to your friends.

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 15 people you like and include me. You can’t use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It’s a lot harder than you think! Repost as “my life according to (band name).”

My Life According to HEART

Pick your Artist:
HEART (Ann and Nancy Wilson)

Are you a male or female:
"There's the Girl"

Describe yourself:
"My Crazy Head"

How do you feel:
"Crazy On You"

Describe where you currently live:
"Up On Cherry Blossom Road"

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
"Back to Avalon"

Your favorite form of transportation:
"Silver Wheels"

Your best friend is:
"Wild Child"

You and your best friends are:
"Bad Animals"

What’s the weather like:
"I Need the Rain"

Favorite time of day:
"Strange Night"

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
"Kick It Out"

What is life to you:
"The Oldest Story in the World"

Your last relationship:
"Heartless" or "If Looks Could Kill"

Current Relationship:
"This Man is Mine"

Your fear:
"Voodoo Doll"

What is the best advice you have to give:
"Tell It Like It Is"

Thought for the Day:
"I Want Your World to Turn" (just for me)

How I would like to die:
"Rockin' Heaven Down"

My soul’s present condition:
"I've Got the Music in Me"

My motto:
"All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You"

Happy Birthday, Elvis

To commemorate Elvis Presley's birthday today, I am reposting an article I posted as a Super Seventies in memory of my Momma.

The “King of Rock and Roll’s” died on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. Since he was my mother's favorite singer, I thought it was worthwhile to post about him today.

Elvis began his career in Memphis, Tennessee in 1954 when Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, wanted to bring “rockabilly” music to a  wider audition. Rockabilly was a mixture of country, rhythm and blues with an upbeat tempo. In 1955, RCA Victor bought out Elvis’ contract in a deal made by Colonel Tom Parker, who would go on to manage Elvis’ career for over 20 years.

Elvis’ first RCA single, “Heartbreak Hotel”, was released in January 1956 and was a number one hit. He soon became the face of rock and roll, appearing in a series of network television appearances and more chart-topping records. He made his first movie, “Love Me Tender” was released in November 1956.

In 1958, Elvis was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. The Army was not prepared for the onslaught of people descending upon Elvis as he stepped off the bus at the Army base. He was soon sent to Fort Hood, Texas to begin his basic training. In August, Elvis received word his mother had been diagnosed with hepatitis, and he was granted an emergency leave to visit her. She died on August 14 from heart failure – she was only 46 years old. Elvis took her passing very hard because he had always been close to his mother.

In October 1958, Elvis joined the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany. It was here that he first met 14-year old Priscilla Beaulieu. After a seven and a half year romance, they finally married.

Elvis returned to the United States in March, 1960, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant. Once back in Memphis, Elvis jumped right into the recording studio. Sessions in March and April produced two of his best-selling singles, the ballads “It’s Now or Never” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

From 1960 to 1967, Colonel Parker pushed Elvis more in the direction of movie making than producing albums. “G.I. Blues” was the first movie Elvis made after leaving the Army and the soundtrack album went to number one. Of Elvis’ movies in the 1960s, 15 were accompanied by bestselling soundtrack albums.

Elvis’ only child, Lisa Marie, was born in February, 1968. This was during a period of his life when he was very depressed and unhappy with his career. Singles released between January 1967 and May 1968 never made it past 40 on the top chart lists and his album “Speedway” never made it past number 82.

Elvis and his young wife were having increasing martial problems and eventually separated in February, 1972. In January 1973, Elvis performed the groundbreaking TV special, Aloha From Hawaii. This special was the first global concert satellite broadcast, reaching approximately 1.5 billion viewers live and on tape delay. His elaborate concert costumers were so elaborate, that Kentucky author Bobbie Ann Mason is quoted as saying, “At the end of the show, when he spreads out his American Eagle cape, with the full stretched wings of the eagle studded on the back, he becomes a god figure.” The accompanying double album was released the next month and went straight to number one, eventually selling over 5 million copies in the United States.

After his divorce, Elvis became heavily dependent on barbiturates, resulting in several hospital admissions. He began missing concerts and many times when he did appear on stage, he was incoherent and kept his performances short.

Elvis was scheduled to fly out of Memphis on the evening of August 16, 1977, to start another tour, but that afternoon he was discovered unresponsive on his bathroom floor. All attempts to revive him failed, and he was officially pronounced dead at 3:30 pm at Baptist Memorial Hospital. President Jimmy Carter issued a statement that credited Presley with having "permanently changed the face of American popular culture".

During his recording career, Elvis made a total of 20 number one albums and 37 number one singles. As my Momma’s favorite singer, she loved collecting anything that had to do with Elvis, from dolls to figurines to plates.

This Super 70s is dedicated to you, Momma.

The great blizzard of 1978

The Great Blizzard of 1978

We've all heard stories of blizzards and snowstorms from our parents and grandparents, tales of epic snows and the struggles each one brought.
Of course, I have a few stories of my own, but nothing compares to my grandparent's epic storms of legend.

Not unless you count the blizzard of 1978. I was 15 years old at the time of this storm, but I'll never forget that winter. We were out of school from Christmas break until Valentine's Day.

I remember the weathermen had predicted the approaching storm several days before it hit. My parents, like everyone else, had stocked up on food and supplies anticipating a few days of cabin fever. The National Weather Service categorized the storm “as a rare severe blizzard – the most severe grade of storm.” There were wind gusts up to 100 miles per hour and there were a couple of days when the wind chill was more than 30 degrees below zero. I don't know what the official snow totals were for Harrodsburg, but in our backyard we had 26 inches.

I remember the water lines froze and we didn't have water for days on end. This happened all over town, not just in the subdivision of Riverview where I lived. I remember Daddy hauling water from my grandparents farm in Bohon so we would have water to drink and cook with, as well as to flush the toilets. We also went to the laundromat in Danville to wash clothes because the ones in Harrodsburg didn't have water.

It's funny, I can remember the water lines being frozen, but I don't remember if the electricity was on or off. Our home had a gas furnace, so I guess that would have kept us warm. And I remember we had telephone service because I kept the phone lines hot talking to my boyfriend.

The first few days after the storm were fun because we could go sledding, make snow angels and have snowball fights. My younger brother and his friends made an igloo in the backyard and it was fun watching the building process. After the igloo was finished, they spent hours having the grandest snowball fights!

Although I was a tomboy growing up, I was a wimp about snow and cold weather. After the first few days, I was tired of the snow, so I spent most of my days indoors reading. At the time I owned the first 16 “Trixie Belden Mystery” books and I re-read the entire series twice during this extended vacation. But no matter how much I loved Trixie Belden, I was getting tired of reading the same books over and over again. With school closed I was not able to check books out of the library and the bookmobile was not able to travel to our subdivision. I did have "A Wrinkle in Time" checked out from school, but even Charles Wallace and the Tesseract were not enough to hold my boredom at bay.

And bored became an understatement! After the first week, I would wake early every weekday, only to be disappointed when the radio announced school was closed again. I was actually envious of the Harrodsburg students because they went back to school sooner than we did.

Needless to say, I was so excited to go back to school - to see my friends, to see my boyfriend, to get new books from the library, and ending the overpowering boredom of cabin fever. This will probably be the snowstorm story I tell my grandchildren, and I'm sure the tale will get exaggerated, just the way my grandsparents' and my parents' stories did. But one thing is for sure, I will always remember the beauty and power of the Blizzard of 1978.

Wayback Wednesday - Dark Shadow episode 21-25

We are still rehashing Roger's accident. Did Burke Devlin tamper with the bleeder valve? Was it truly an accident? Or did someone else try to kill Roger? Dah, dah, dah, dah - all will be revealed in episode 25.

Episode: 21  Original Air Date: 07-25-1966
Opening Voiceover: Alexandra Moltke
Timeline: 1966
Summary: Victoria is not sure that Burke is responsible for Roger's accident, and Carolyn doesn't want believe he is. Bill accuses Burke of trying to make good on a threat he made years ago to get even with the Collins'. Bill is also concerned that Burke might buy a cannery that would compete with the Collins. Elizabeth wants Carolyn to leave town to avoid any problems that Burke might cause. Victoria gets a letter from the foundling home and it brings up more questions about her past, which annoys Elizabeth. Burke calls someone from New York and tells him he that things are starting to happen, and he wants to be ready to move.

Episode 22  Original Air Date: 07-26-1966
Opening Voiceover: Alexandra Moltke
Timeline: 1966
Summary: Roger talks with Sam he says that they are the only two people who know what really happened 10 years ago. Sam goes home to find Burke there; Burke wants him to paint his portrait. Roger and Carolyn discuss Burke, Roger wants him to go back to prison, but Carolyn is not sure that Burke is guilty. Sam agrees to paint Burke's portrait.

Episode 23  Original Air Date: 07-27-1966
Opening Voiceover: Alexandra Moltke
Timeline: 1966
Summary: Constable Carter arrives to investigate the "accident". Everyone tells their stories about what they know or suspect. David is preoccupied with what would happen to someone who tried to commit murder. Victoria still doesn't think Burke is responsible. The constable wants to collect the wrench that Burke was seen holding before the accident. David knocks the wrench on the floor, then picks it up. The constable comments that he now knows how David's finger prints have gotten on the wrench.

I had forgotten what an evil little brat David was in the earlier episodes. He was scary, but scary good!

Episode 24  Original Air Date: 07-28-1966
Opening Voiceover: Alexandra Moltke
Timeline: 1966
Summary: Constable Carter questions Burke about the accident. Maggie is concerned that her father is somehow caught up in the recent troubles. Joe talks with Carolyn about how he wants to get his own boat and go into business for himself. Burke tells his side of the story to Constable Carter, and he gets Carolyn to explain how it was her idea to go up to the house. Carolyn is mad at Burke because he used her. Burke tells Bronson that there might not be much time.

Episode 25   Original Air Date: 07-29-1966
Opening Voiceover: Alexandra Moltke
Timeline: 1966
Summary: David gets caught trying to steal Victoria's letter from the foundling home. Victoria tells Elizabeth that David is acting strange and she thinks he might have had something to do with the "accident". Roger wants to know why Elizabeth hired Victoria, she makes it clear that he better stick to the story or she'll kick him out of the house. David successfully steals Victoria's letter. Victoria searches for the letter and finds the missing bleeder valve in David's room.

*All photographs copyright Dan Curtis Productions, ABC Productions, and Dark Shadows Wiki

Mrs. Greenhands - Gardening journals

January is a great month for gardening – not digging in the soil or nurturing flowers, but in planning your new gardens with the use of gardening catalogs. At this time of year, gardening catalogs are arriving in mailboxes and email inboxes are full of gardening specials. It is so fulfilling to clip photos and information of new plants and flowers into your gardening notebook or journal.

In addition to including your dreams in a gardening journal, it is worthwhile to record current day to day information from your actual gardens. You can start by including the daily temperature ups and downs as well as the actual weather conditions. You will also want to note the emergence and blooming of each month’s flowers. It is fun to look back from year to year and see when the first crocus or snowdrops bloomed.

If you do not have a gardening notebook or journal, now is the time to start on and fill it with you wishes and expectations for the coming gardening season. Use your journal to plan new garden spaces or to expand current areas with new species of plants, flowers and vegetables. Gardening journals will keep all of your notes for years to come and will allow to you look at your gardening progression throughout the years.

When you have formed a habit of recording the day-to-day conditions of your garden – the plants, the challenges, what you hope for the future – you can start to add articles and research about a new plant you would love to own. As your journaling grows, you will wonder how you were ever able to garden properly without the use of your journals and notes.

Why not make it a gardening New Year’s resolution and start a gardening journal today. If you live in the Bluegrass Region, then you can record the snowfall we are having, as well as the high and low temperatures. When the newest gardening catalog arrives in the mail, plan out a new perennial border or a kitchen garden. Dream of plants to include in current gardens and work up an agenda of how you are going to meet your current gardening goals. Journals are a way of keeping you current in the gardening world and to keep you involved in gardening research.

Monday Musings - Cimmerian Shade

Cimmerian Shade
By Bobbi Rightmyer

At night ghosts of the past haunt my dreams calling for requital;
in the morning -
although they can't be seen -
they are always there, waiting ...

Violent clouds are not a stranger
where the wind howls in anguish and mourn for departed souls,
seeming to ask why are they dead.

Musty corridors in the manse of my mind,
lead me on a journey,
taking me to the dead world of the past.

Darkness perches all around
in seeming isolation from the world
as long shadows of fear reach out and try to touch.

Cimmerian shade has come,
forcing the hidden secrets of the past into the light.
Towers of darkness -
the symbols of mystery -
cloud the answers in adumbration.

The caliginosity stands as a dead reminder of the past
casting out eclipses into the night.
They will not die
when they reach out for another.

But the past has intruded
the darkness has filled my heart,
and icy fingers reaches out to other hearts
with a glow I cannot dispel.

Late is relative

Late is Relative
 

It is never too late to fall in love

Better late than never

A day late and a dollar short

You're only late if you have somewhere to go

It's never too late to start over

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date - Alice in Wonderland

Better never than late - George Bernard Shaw

You never know how soon will be too late - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Everything comes late for those who only wait - Elbert Hubbard

People never understand until it's too late - Thomas Merton

We get old too soon and wise too late - Benjamin Franklin

It is never to late to be what you might have been - George Eliot

How did it get so late so soon - Dr. Seuss

Tis not too late to seek a newer world - Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Stay out late, work is for people with jobs - Tom Petty

Tomorrow is nothing, today is too late - Marcus Aurelius

Life is like arriving late for a movie - Joseph Campbell