I hope everyone reading this has had a good Christmas. I figure you are probably wrapped up (pun partially intended) in Christmas Eve activities, so Christmas day has probably passed. I am sitting here typing, because we have finished baking all the pies and cookies, veggie trays are chilling in the fridge, cheese logs and jello salads are just waiting to disappear, and everything has been wrapped, ribboned, placed under the tree ( and I should add), thoroughly inspected, shaken, measured, and re-placed.
SO, first things first!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Now, on to some memories. As I was sitting, watching the Christmas Devotional from Salt Lake, I had two treats. First, President Uchtdorf talking about the Christmas traditions of his homeland in Germany. I have shared these traditions with many students, and enjoyed the simple customs myself, so it was fun to hear them recounted. Then when President Eyring spoke, the memories of home came flooding back. I have lots of great memories of our homespun Christmas Nativity pageant, and I guess I was naive to think that only a few families in the Church ever did that.
I can't recall the first memory of our pageant. I just know that it has always been a part of my own Christmas memories. Every Christmas Eve, the family would gather for our big feast. As a kid, I thought this was the coolest thing! We didn't have a big fancy meal (by other people's standards). We had a huge spread of our favorite snack crackers, jello salads, nuts, veggie platters and dip, chips, cookies, homemade cheese logs, etc. We also have our favorite Christmas "wassail", ours being the orange juice based version. (especially good when slurped hot through a broken candy-cane. try this at home, just be patient, it takes a few seconds to get anything past the peppermint)
I don't recall if Mom was pregnant with Janet, Cindy or Kathy when this tradition started, but she was not feeling up to a big meal, and decided that snacks and jello salads were something that she could tackle with the help of the oldest kids. It was such a hit, that it has become our Christmas Eve traditional meal. I'm sure it changed a bit over the years, but ours is still very close to those boyhood meals.
After the big meal, the kids would basically disappear into the bedrooms to prepare for our important part of the Chritstmas celebration. We would hand out roles for the Nativity pageant, which would take place in the front room for our devoted audience of Dad, Mom and Grandma Buckley. I don't remember what part I was given the year I fussed so much about wanting to be one of the "wise-guys". It was probably a shepherd or even a sheep. Costumes were not elaborate, but I must have thought the Jello-mold crowns were pretty cool. We had shepherds in towels and bathrobes (until the year Mom and Dad went to Israel one summer, then they were authentic headwear), wise men (and girls) wore fancier fabrics from Mom's sewing stash, and copper jello-molds, or stainless steel bowls for crowns. Angels were draped in white and garnished with tinsel and garlands. Joseph and Mary were robed simply in old soft blankets, and a doll usually filled the role of Christchild.
We would have our narrator (doubled as the Angel of the Lord, usually) read out of Luke chapter 2. The narration was sprinkled with appropriately placed Christmas hymns, and some more secular (although still appropriate) christmas songs, sung by Dad and Mom's own little (but growing) choir of "angels". We added key parts of the story as outlined in Matthew ch. 1, and always included key events taking place in this hemisphere, as given in 3 Nephi ch. 1.
I remember doing the nativity twice the year Tyler and Garret were born, so that each of them could be the Christchild. Tyler and Garrett just got home from missions! Michelle and I played the roles of Mary and Joseph with Justin as the baby Jesus when he was 4 weeks old. (can you believe he is 19 and getting ready to go on a mission??)
It was a beautiful way to remember the real reason we celebrate this season, and it gave me a great appreciation of the humble beginnings of our Savior's life. I have always felt that my family traditions have helped establish a firm foundation in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can only hope that I pass these same tradtions on to my own children, and maybe, through sharing, others may come to a better relationship with their Savior as well.
May you all have a truly blessed Christmas season, and a joyous and prosperous 2009!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Update on Snow!, and misc.
I have to say, I may have painted an inaccurate picture of snow in Arkansas. I hope no one thought that our weather is like that more often than not. Or that we shut down at the first sign of white stuff.
I think the issue of snow days is really that we are not used to this stuff. Those of us who live, or have lived in colder and wetter climates.......(.okay, colder, Arkansas is technically a rain-forest region, based on avg. annual rainfall), have seen snow and ice that would bring Arkansas to a screaming and painful halt. I have driven through snow that is deep enough to create "door angel wings", even on the freeway. Those in the North-east have seen ice and sleet that I can only imagine.
The major difference in shutting down a state is our preparation or lack thereof. We only see one or two bad storms a year, and sometimes they are not so bad. So we do not devote much of our energy or money to preparing for such an event. We devote more energy to flooding issues, or preparing for tornadoes. These are the weather events that we face. If people in NY had a tornado, Arkansans would laugh at how bad people freaked out. Here, we are the butt of any jokes related to school closures for a mere inch of snow or sleet.
Oh, well, in California they also do earthquake drills.
NOW TO SHARE A FUNNEIR THOUGHT!!
We had a great day at school today (Dec. 19), preparing to go home for the Christmas Holidays. As more and more students we called over the intercom, I noticed that the office staff started referring to the "new office". We have been renovating the school this year. More accurately, we have been renovating part of the old building. Last year we opened a new campus, but have worked and taught around construction. The construction is nearly over.
Something about the new office reminded me of some funny language mistakes I have heard, seen and made over the years. The Office has a sliding door, and talking about it with other teachers reminded me of my time in Switzerland.
:) When my missionary companion was transferred from my first area, he went to Germany, and the best way from our location was to take a ferry across the Bodensee (Lake Constance for us Anglos). We went together, because my new companion was coming on that ferry from another location. While riding the ferry back across the lake, one of the younger missionaries wanted to go inside. He stepped up to the door and pushed, and pushed, to no avail. Trying to stay "cool", he started to pull. And pull, and pull. Apparently finding this amusing, a small kid, probably 6-7 walked over, pointed to a sign and read outloud, "schieben"while SLIDING the door open for our flustered friend. :)
:) Another time, while working our way through a farming community, my companion and I had decided to work our language skills by including some weather-related comment in each conversation we started. It was my turn, and the old farmer that opened the door was very pleasant and patient. I introduced myself, and stating that I had come all the way from America to share an important message, I mentioned how much I liked the country, its beautiful mountains, the friendly people, and how green and lovely everything was. It was a pretty morning, with light clouds and a hanging fog that just seems to grip[ the trees, but in the sunlight is very stiking. People in Arkansas should be able to picture this. we have these mornings quite often.
I commented about the beautiful "mist" hanging in the trees, and immediately knew I had said something wrong. My comp started snickering, and the old farmer broke into a huge grin, and then they both started laughing as the man took me by the shoulders, walked me over to the corner of the farmhouse, and pointing down the side to the barn and the huge manure pile said (translated) "that right there, that's "mist"! :)
:) A later memory has to do with temperature. I was training a new missionary, and we had been invited to the Bishop's house for dinner. For those unfamiliar, Bishop is the title for the leader of our church congregations called wards. In other circles he would be called minister, priest, rabbi, etc.
Anyway, the Bishop had 3 children as I recall. 2 teenage daughters, and a preteen son. To set this up, I have to comment that the daughters were both rather good looking. I was talking with the Dad, and my comp was talking with the kids while mom finished putting things in bowls to bring out to the table. It was a warm day near the end of summer. All I remember is hearing my comp finish something with "ich bin sehr heiss".
The reaction was slow-motion and hilarious. Dad and I paused, then had to fight back the smiles. The daughters were turning a shade of beet-red and looking shocked. Brother was sucking air in like someone had punched him. Mom, who had come in the room at just the wrong moment, stopped in shock, dropped a plate of rolls, and looked like she was trying to decide whether or not to breathe.
The joke is that in German saying "Es ist mir warm" means (I'm in need of a cool breeze). "Ich bin heiss" translates essentially as (I'm really hot, ready to go, feeling frisky, etc.).
The two girls took a few weeks before they would really talk to my comp again. Mom never was quite as friendly as she had been. :)
I think the issue of snow days is really that we are not used to this stuff. Those of us who live, or have lived in colder and wetter climates.......(.okay, colder, Arkansas is technically a rain-forest region, based on avg. annual rainfall), have seen snow and ice that would bring Arkansas to a screaming and painful halt. I have driven through snow that is deep enough to create "door angel wings", even on the freeway. Those in the North-east have seen ice and sleet that I can only imagine.
The major difference in shutting down a state is our preparation or lack thereof. We only see one or two bad storms a year, and sometimes they are not so bad. So we do not devote much of our energy or money to preparing for such an event. We devote more energy to flooding issues, or preparing for tornadoes. These are the weather events that we face. If people in NY had a tornado, Arkansans would laugh at how bad people freaked out. Here, we are the butt of any jokes related to school closures for a mere inch of snow or sleet.
Oh, well, in California they also do earthquake drills.
NOW TO SHARE A FUNNEIR THOUGHT!!
We had a great day at school today (Dec. 19), preparing to go home for the Christmas Holidays. As more and more students we called over the intercom, I noticed that the office staff started referring to the "new office". We have been renovating the school this year. More accurately, we have been renovating part of the old building. Last year we opened a new campus, but have worked and taught around construction. The construction is nearly over.
Something about the new office reminded me of some funny language mistakes I have heard, seen and made over the years. The Office has a sliding door, and talking about it with other teachers reminded me of my time in Switzerland.
:) When my missionary companion was transferred from my first area, he went to Germany, and the best way from our location was to take a ferry across the Bodensee (Lake Constance for us Anglos). We went together, because my new companion was coming on that ferry from another location. While riding the ferry back across the lake, one of the younger missionaries wanted to go inside. He stepped up to the door and pushed, and pushed, to no avail. Trying to stay "cool", he started to pull. And pull, and pull. Apparently finding this amusing, a small kid, probably 6-7 walked over, pointed to a sign and read outloud, "schieben"while SLIDING the door open for our flustered friend. :)
:) Another time, while working our way through a farming community, my companion and I had decided to work our language skills by including some weather-related comment in each conversation we started. It was my turn, and the old farmer that opened the door was very pleasant and patient. I introduced myself, and stating that I had come all the way from America to share an important message, I mentioned how much I liked the country, its beautiful mountains, the friendly people, and how green and lovely everything was. It was a pretty morning, with light clouds and a hanging fog that just seems to grip[ the trees, but in the sunlight is very stiking. People in Arkansas should be able to picture this. we have these mornings quite often.
I commented about the beautiful "mist" hanging in the trees, and immediately knew I had said something wrong. My comp started snickering, and the old farmer broke into a huge grin, and then they both started laughing as the man took me by the shoulders, walked me over to the corner of the farmhouse, and pointing down the side to the barn and the huge manure pile said (translated) "that right there, that's "mist"! :)
:) A later memory has to do with temperature. I was training a new missionary, and we had been invited to the Bishop's house for dinner. For those unfamiliar, Bishop is the title for the leader of our church congregations called wards. In other circles he would be called minister, priest, rabbi, etc.
Anyway, the Bishop had 3 children as I recall. 2 teenage daughters, and a preteen son. To set this up, I have to comment that the daughters were both rather good looking. I was talking with the Dad, and my comp was talking with the kids while mom finished putting things in bowls to bring out to the table. It was a warm day near the end of summer. All I remember is hearing my comp finish something with "ich bin sehr heiss".
The reaction was slow-motion and hilarious. Dad and I paused, then had to fight back the smiles. The daughters were turning a shade of beet-red and looking shocked. Brother was sucking air in like someone had punched him. Mom, who had come in the room at just the wrong moment, stopped in shock, dropped a plate of rolls, and looked like she was trying to decide whether or not to breathe.
The joke is that in German saying "Es ist mir warm" means (I'm in need of a cool breeze). "Ich bin heiss" translates essentially as (I'm really hot, ready to go, feeling frisky, etc.).
The two girls took a few weeks before they would really talk to my comp again. Mom never was quite as friendly as she had been. :)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Snow Days!! (Arkansas style)
This topic is a cause for celebration from many a school age child! That magical announcement that comes, sometimes quickly, sometimes way too slowly. That 'moment of truth', when the ever-powerful, and annoyingly slow "they" (that is, the school district administrators) announce what all of the rest of us see as the inevitable.
"They" have announced that, due to the weather, school will be:
..dismissed early today, bus routes will be reduced to 'inclement weather policy'
...cancelled for tomorrow (or whatever)
...2 hour delayed start
Or Whatever!! we have all been watching the weather! We KNOW what is coming, and that it would be 'dangerous', 'irresponsible', or maybe just highly annoying for them to NOT cancel school. As my own children and my students are adding in their own minds......"especially on a day we were all going to be taking tests:)"
Yes, there is cause for some celebration! For some, it is the timing. Could it be more perfect? School cancelled on the day before semester tests begin, knowing that if a student has earned exemption from those tests, this counts as the first day of Christmas break! (yes! I called it CHRISTMAS break!! Not sorry, not following the PC line.)
For others, it is the first significant winter weather, and that in and of itself is important. My own children look forward to the first snow with great anticipation. I myself don't enjoy snowfall for the same reasons as my kids, but I enjoy the quiet whisper of falling snow. The softly whistling wind (hopefully), and the calming glow that happens as every stray bit of light is reflected in a million softly falling flakes. KNowing that the only reason anyone would expect me to go out is to take care of those essential farm systems and checks that keep our farm running. Otherwise, I can sit and read a book, or work online, or read e-mail, or just "veg" in front of a movie.
I like playing in REAL snow for short periods, but I enjoy the "snowbound" life even better. A big mug of hot chocolate, maybe baking some cookies, even playing video games with the kids. Or the soup! Yes, I said "the soup"!!
At my house, winter weather is our favorite time to put on a big pot of soup. And I mean BIG! Michelle and I use one of those 5 gallon soup pots, and I like to go at least 1/2 to 3/4 full when I cook soup. I guess I could say (should anyone be surprised?) that our house favorite is chicken dumplings. Yes, we have access to chicken. Our big pot usually fills up with about 12-15 big spuds, a package of carrots, several onions, whatever celery we have in the house, spices, etc., and 3-5 lbs. of diced chicken. And as anyone in our family would tell you. The best thing about a big pot of dumplings is that there is more for later, and it just gets better each time you add to it and reheat it.
Speaking of which, it is time to eat, and a big bowl of chicken dumplings is sounding really good!!
"They" have announced that, due to the weather, school will be:
..dismissed early today, bus routes will be reduced to 'inclement weather policy'
...cancelled for tomorrow (or whatever)
...2 hour delayed start
Or Whatever!! we have all been watching the weather! We KNOW what is coming, and that it would be 'dangerous', 'irresponsible', or maybe just highly annoying for them to NOT cancel school. As my own children and my students are adding in their own minds......"especially on a day we were all going to be taking tests:)"
Yes, there is cause for some celebration! For some, it is the timing. Could it be more perfect? School cancelled on the day before semester tests begin, knowing that if a student has earned exemption from those tests, this counts as the first day of Christmas break! (yes! I called it CHRISTMAS break!! Not sorry, not following the PC line.)
For others, it is the first significant winter weather, and that in and of itself is important. My own children look forward to the first snow with great anticipation. I myself don't enjoy snowfall for the same reasons as my kids, but I enjoy the quiet whisper of falling snow. The softly whistling wind (hopefully), and the calming glow that happens as every stray bit of light is reflected in a million softly falling flakes. KNowing that the only reason anyone would expect me to go out is to take care of those essential farm systems and checks that keep our farm running. Otherwise, I can sit and read a book, or work online, or read e-mail, or just "veg" in front of a movie.
Well, I said this was SNOW DAY ARKANSAS STYLE! The anticipation is there, the joy in missing school happens, but some of the other stuff.....well, let's just say that softly falling snow is less common. The stuff around here that is more likely to cause school closures and those at- home-times is sleet or ice. Pretty in its way, but more accurately described as pretty treacherous. It falls fast and hard (stings like crazy on bare necks and ears when walking outdoors to handle farm chores, so bundle up.), and takes very little time to cover things in a "blanket" of tiny little ice balls. Once accumulated, driving is iffy at best. Cars that have had time to sit, usually require a hefty tug-o-war just to get doors open, and windshields, window-wipers and mirrors are useless if you don't have 1. A good scraper, 2. some decent chemical de-icer, and/or 3. a really good defrost sytem in your car.
Roads or driveways that are sloped can become impassible very quickly. Imagine the effect of tiny ball-bearings made of ice. One year, Bob and I couldn't get to our job at Skil because the sleet had coated our driveway to a point that nothing short of tanktreads would make it up his driveway. ( to illustrate, we walked to all our farm houses, but had to drive screws through the soles of our boots to have enough traction to even do that.) strap on Ice spikes for shoes are not readily available in most of the stores I've looked in.
I like playing in REAL snow for short periods, but I enjoy the "snowbound" life even better. A big mug of hot chocolate, maybe baking some cookies, even playing video games with the kids. Or the soup! Yes, I said "the soup"!!
At my house, winter weather is our favorite time to put on a big pot of soup. And I mean BIG! Michelle and I use one of those 5 gallon soup pots, and I like to go at least 1/2 to 3/4 full when I cook soup. I guess I could say (should anyone be surprised?) that our house favorite is chicken dumplings. Yes, we have access to chicken. Our big pot usually fills up with about 12-15 big spuds, a package of carrots, several onions, whatever celery we have in the house, spices, etc., and 3-5 lbs. of diced chicken. And as anyone in our family would tell you. The best thing about a big pot of dumplings is that there is more for later, and it just gets better each time you add to it and reheat it.
Speaking of which, it is time to eat, and a big bowl of chicken dumplings is sounding really good!!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
On a more serious note!
This has been a hard week for us! One of the men in our Branch (that's what we call a small congregation in our Church) had a massive heart attack the Sunday before Thanksgiving. His situation has led to some deep and reflective thinking.
Without giving too much detail, I do want to share some of the main ideas that he and I have talked about this past week. By the way, I should say that it is good that we have talked. The day I heard of his plight, he was already on the respirator and drugged pretty heavily before I had time to get to the hospital. That is one of the disadvantages of living so many miles from the places where we do things. I like living out here in the middle of the woods, and I can even say that I find satisfaction in the farming work. But sometimes, driving 30-65 miles to take care of either school or church events gets a bit troublesome. Especially when work is 60 miles one direction, and church is about 30 miles the opposite direction from our house.
Anyway, our friend was in no condition to talk when I got there. He had so many tubes in him, he was hard to recognize, and obviously, talking was out of the question for him. He opened his eyes when I spoke, but it was unsure if he really knew what was going on, or if he recognized me.
The next time I came back, he seemed more responsive, but still tubed up, and no talking. I feel like he knew what was going on, though, because he started to get teary-eyed when I said I needed to leave. He shook his head ever so slightly, so I just couldn't leave. The prognosis was not good, and they were just trying to stabilize him enough to transfer to a hospital in Little Rock, but the staff didn't think he would reach a point where transfer would be possible.
Two agonizing days later, the family decided to take him off the respirator, and leave the rest in our Heavenly Father's hands. I made a point to go visit him as soon as I could. He had been off the machines for about 6 hours by the time I got to the hospital, so he was talking just a bit. Breathing was his major activity. He was still not doing well, and as we visited, I realized how well he understood his situation. He said if he made it through the night, he would probably make it for at least a few days more.
The next words out of his mouth, however, are a tribute to his dedication and sense of duty. He has a responsibility of making our weekly bulletins for church. He has been doing this for many years, as it is one of few things his overall health (and that of his wife) would allow. He brings a wonderful spirit to our meetings even on the weeks he is not present, by the thoughts and scriptures he shares in the bulletin.
After commenting on how important the morning would be for his outlook, he asked me to have sister H come to see him the next morning (strong faith, huh?), so that he could explain to her where all of his materials and copies were for the next 3 weeks bulletins. That's dedication!
They finally got him stable enough to transfer to the specialist in LR on Monday, but by Thursday, they had sent him back to Batesville. Surgery was just not in the picture, and there was no good reason to keep him in LR. He and his wife are now situated in a nursing care facility.
When I visited with them today, we talked for some time about the things in life that bring real joy. We spoke also about the importance of keeping an open line of communication with God. My friend "L" knows that he is living on borrowed time, but then again, aren't we all? If we put our relationship with our family and our Heavenly Father in proper order, reaching the end of this life doesn't have to be a scary thing. We commented on the simple truth stated in a country song my daughter likes. "everybody wants to go to Heaven, but noboby wants to go now!"
Our friend 'L" may stick around for a awhile, yet, but when his time comes, he has his priorities in place. He only wants to go knowing that he hasn't left anything undone here that Heavenly Father wants him to do, and he asked again today that someone be called to take over on the bulletins in the event that he is no longer able. Still wanting to make sure that his responsibility is managed. :)
It is comforting to know that death is only a temporary goodbye, not a permanent, that is eternal, change.
Without giving too much detail, I do want to share some of the main ideas that he and I have talked about this past week. By the way, I should say that it is good that we have talked. The day I heard of his plight, he was already on the respirator and drugged pretty heavily before I had time to get to the hospital. That is one of the disadvantages of living so many miles from the places where we do things. I like living out here in the middle of the woods, and I can even say that I find satisfaction in the farming work. But sometimes, driving 30-65 miles to take care of either school or church events gets a bit troublesome. Especially when work is 60 miles one direction, and church is about 30 miles the opposite direction from our house.
Anyway, our friend was in no condition to talk when I got there. He had so many tubes in him, he was hard to recognize, and obviously, talking was out of the question for him. He opened his eyes when I spoke, but it was unsure if he really knew what was going on, or if he recognized me.
The next time I came back, he seemed more responsive, but still tubed up, and no talking. I feel like he knew what was going on, though, because he started to get teary-eyed when I said I needed to leave. He shook his head ever so slightly, so I just couldn't leave. The prognosis was not good, and they were just trying to stabilize him enough to transfer to a hospital in Little Rock, but the staff didn't think he would reach a point where transfer would be possible.
Two agonizing days later, the family decided to take him off the respirator, and leave the rest in our Heavenly Father's hands. I made a point to go visit him as soon as I could. He had been off the machines for about 6 hours by the time I got to the hospital, so he was talking just a bit. Breathing was his major activity. He was still not doing well, and as we visited, I realized how well he understood his situation. He said if he made it through the night, he would probably make it for at least a few days more.
The next words out of his mouth, however, are a tribute to his dedication and sense of duty. He has a responsibility of making our weekly bulletins for church. He has been doing this for many years, as it is one of few things his overall health (and that of his wife) would allow. He brings a wonderful spirit to our meetings even on the weeks he is not present, by the thoughts and scriptures he shares in the bulletin.
After commenting on how important the morning would be for his outlook, he asked me to have sister H come to see him the next morning (strong faith, huh?), so that he could explain to her where all of his materials and copies were for the next 3 weeks bulletins. That's dedication!
They finally got him stable enough to transfer to the specialist in LR on Monday, but by Thursday, they had sent him back to Batesville. Surgery was just not in the picture, and there was no good reason to keep him in LR. He and his wife are now situated in a nursing care facility.
When I visited with them today, we talked for some time about the things in life that bring real joy. We spoke also about the importance of keeping an open line of communication with God. My friend "L" knows that he is living on borrowed time, but then again, aren't we all? If we put our relationship with our family and our Heavenly Father in proper order, reaching the end of this life doesn't have to be a scary thing. We commented on the simple truth stated in a country song my daughter likes. "everybody wants to go to Heaven, but noboby wants to go now!"
Our friend 'L" may stick around for a awhile, yet, but when his time comes, he has his priorities in place. He only wants to go knowing that he hasn't left anything undone here that Heavenly Father wants him to do, and he asked again today that someone be called to take over on the bulletins in the event that he is no longer able. Still wanting to make sure that his responsibility is managed. :)
It is comforting to know that death is only a temporary goodbye, not a permanent, that is eternal, change.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Blowing things up!
This post is a request from many curious teenage minds, but before I start, I have to offer 2 disclaimers.
1--These are my memories. This is the way I remember the events I am about to describe, as crazy as some may sound. If any of you reading have more specifics (like the fishy backyard thing from Magna), I encourage your input so that these stories may be as accurate as possible. These stories are embellished for entertainment effect, but I am trying not to add any embellishment to the actual events.
2--I do not encourage any of these activities. I recognize, even in the telling, that these represent some of the stupid things I did as a teenager, that could have landed me in legal trouble, if not the hospital (or morgue). I claim no responsibility, should any of my younger readers play stupid, and attempt any of these activities. (DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!)
I have to add a #3--Mom, Dad, sorry! I didn't think you "needed" to know about these as I was growing up, so I hope you simply enjoy them for the "entertainment". And please remember: Like the "Swiss Ice-hole" incident, I am still here to write this, and (hopefully) much the wiser for the experience.
Okay, that all said, here is the story of helping a friend blow up a truck.
One of my school friends, we'll call him "D" had an old beater truck. A chevy LUV. Some of you may even remember those. It was a piece of junk, and getting to a point where he just wanted to get rid of it. He couldn't sell it, and keeping it would have been impractical.
He decided to blow it up. I should comment, "D" was probably my most 'different' friend. Most of my group were pretty straight-laced. Our major prank of stealing a classroom (see one of my ealier posts) was really harmless, and about the most serious thing we ever did together. None of us got much into drinking, only one started smoking, and nearly all of us were active in our respective churches. We had reps of each of these following churches: Catholic, Baptist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, Episcopal, Methodist, and Jewish. "D", on the other hand, didn't go to church much, as far as I know. He dabbled in drugs, mostly stuff like pot, but he was still in tight with our group of friends.
Now, back to the explosion decision. "D" was a subscriber to the earlier versions of Newsletters aimed at pyromaniacs and "baby terrorists". ( the kind of kids who like to play with chemicals, and see what they can make blow up, burst into flames of different colors, create cool smoke, etc.). He had found a recipe for a concoction that would work like a time bomb. Certain easily available chemicals, injected into a pingpong ball would take about 2-3 minutes to achieve enough heat to both melt the ball and potentially create combustion.
So, the plan....Drive this beater out to the foothills around Breckenridge, or somewhere out between Comanche road and the mountains, find an empty field, and drop the ping-pong ball into the gas tank.
Well, several of us drove his truck and the "get away" cars out to a place behind some of the orange orchards, several miles outside of town. We were all just chatting and getting ready for the main event. "D" injected his chemicals into the ball, and had just dropped it into the gas tank opening, stopped short with a look of terror on his face, and said "oh sh--!!, I wasn't thinking, and I filled the gas tank on the way out here!! Run for it!!" :) :)
The fireball would have made Hollywood proud!
The drive back to town was very nerve-wracking, because we just knew the first emergency vehicle to pass us was going to know our involvement and chase us down. We managed to talk each other into driving calmly, as if nothing had happened. Good luck! The smoke plume was visible for several miles! About halfway back to town, sirens, flashing lights, pounding hearts! Whoosh! right past us!
Then came the second fire truck, followed closely by a sheriff's deputy. Whoosh! Whoosh!, still pounding hearts, and lots of anxious looks in the rearview mirrors. Somehow, we made it, and believe it or not, "D" had removed his license plates, and the fire must not have spread, because that is the last I know about that event. No phone calls, no police visits, just some great fireworks, and good heart exercise!! What a bunch of morons! But boy did we have some fun times!
ONE MORE TIME! DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!! (without parental supervision?) :)
1--These are my memories. This is the way I remember the events I am about to describe, as crazy as some may sound. If any of you reading have more specifics (like the fishy backyard thing from Magna), I encourage your input so that these stories may be as accurate as possible. These stories are embellished for entertainment effect, but I am trying not to add any embellishment to the actual events.
2--I do not encourage any of these activities. I recognize, even in the telling, that these represent some of the stupid things I did as a teenager, that could have landed me in legal trouble, if not the hospital (or morgue). I claim no responsibility, should any of my younger readers play stupid, and attempt any of these activities. (DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!)
I have to add a #3--Mom, Dad, sorry! I didn't think you "needed" to know about these as I was growing up, so I hope you simply enjoy them for the "entertainment". And please remember: Like the "Swiss Ice-hole" incident, I am still here to write this, and (hopefully) much the wiser for the experience.
Okay, that all said, here is the story of helping a friend blow up a truck.
One of my school friends, we'll call him "D" had an old beater truck. A chevy LUV. Some of you may even remember those. It was a piece of junk, and getting to a point where he just wanted to get rid of it. He couldn't sell it, and keeping it would have been impractical.
He decided to blow it up. I should comment, "D" was probably my most 'different' friend. Most of my group were pretty straight-laced. Our major prank of stealing a classroom (see one of my ealier posts) was really harmless, and about the most serious thing we ever did together. None of us got much into drinking, only one started smoking, and nearly all of us were active in our respective churches. We had reps of each of these following churches: Catholic, Baptist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, Episcopal, Methodist, and Jewish. "D", on the other hand, didn't go to church much, as far as I know. He dabbled in drugs, mostly stuff like pot, but he was still in tight with our group of friends.
Now, back to the explosion decision. "D" was a subscriber to the earlier versions of Newsletters aimed at pyromaniacs and "baby terrorists". ( the kind of kids who like to play with chemicals, and see what they can make blow up, burst into flames of different colors, create cool smoke, etc.). He had found a recipe for a concoction that would work like a time bomb. Certain easily available chemicals, injected into a pingpong ball would take about 2-3 minutes to achieve enough heat to both melt the ball and potentially create combustion.
So, the plan....Drive this beater out to the foothills around Breckenridge, or somewhere out between Comanche road and the mountains, find an empty field, and drop the ping-pong ball into the gas tank.
Well, several of us drove his truck and the "get away" cars out to a place behind some of the orange orchards, several miles outside of town. We were all just chatting and getting ready for the main event. "D" injected his chemicals into the ball, and had just dropped it into the gas tank opening, stopped short with a look of terror on his face, and said "oh sh--!!, I wasn't thinking, and I filled the gas tank on the way out here!! Run for it!!" :) :)
The fireball would have made Hollywood proud!
The drive back to town was very nerve-wracking, because we just knew the first emergency vehicle to pass us was going to know our involvement and chase us down. We managed to talk each other into driving calmly, as if nothing had happened. Good luck! The smoke plume was visible for several miles! About halfway back to town, sirens, flashing lights, pounding hearts! Whoosh! right past us!
Then came the second fire truck, followed closely by a sheriff's deputy. Whoosh! Whoosh!, still pounding hearts, and lots of anxious looks in the rearview mirrors. Somehow, we made it, and believe it or not, "D" had removed his license plates, and the fire must not have spread, because that is the last I know about that event. No phone calls, no police visits, just some great fireworks, and good heart exercise!! What a bunch of morons! But boy did we have some fun times!
ONE MORE TIME! DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!! (without parental supervision?) :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Thanksgiving from Arkansas
I have been enjoying reading my family's posts about Thanksgiving, and thought I would add my voice. There are some great memories of wonderful feasts in Bakersfield rattling around in my brain. I remember how much we anticipated Wednesday afternoon, for the bell to ring so that school was out. Yes, I also lived "way back in the day" when Thanksgiving break consisted of Thursday and Friday. We may have "experimented" with a Wed./Thur./Fri. break my Junior or senior year in high school, but I would have to get some input from siblings on that memory. I can't remember ever thinking a week was normal for this vacation.
I guess it may not be "normal" still. My own children have been getting the wed-fri version of vacation at Concord, but my school district in Conway likes to take the whole week. They usually try to make it "productive", by offering professional development for the staff. We have days known as "flex" days that can be earned at an earlier time, and used to allow the whole week off. This year, I wanted to make sure I cover my required 60 hours of PD early in the year, so I opted to take the hours of instruction.
So Monday and Tuesday were pretty much spent. Good presentations, though. I am thankful that I didn't feel the need to grade tests to keep awake.
Wednesday, we get to start our preparations for the big feast. We have tried to keep up some of our family traditions by having dinner with family here. Bob and Phyllis usually invite over Bob's sister Robbie, and we have a dinner with the 10 of us.
Standard fare for this part of the family, Turkey, ham, dressing, corn on the cob, greenbean casserole, lots of pies, sweet potato dishes, mashed potatoes and Benjamin's favorite dish of all: chicken/broccoli/cheese casserole. Of course my job is to bake a big batch of Mom's "sweet dough" rolls, which bake up so light and yummy.
But one difference that might seem unusual. WE LOVE DEEP-FRIED TURKEY!!! I enjoy a good roasted turkey like Mom's, (she really did figure out the secrets with that roaster pan), but here in the Mid-south we deep fry everything. (have you ever heard of deep-fried twinkies? deep-fried snickers? deep-fried coke?? ) Well, turkey fries up "real nice". And Bob has found some great marinades and injectibles like Jalepeno-butter and such. You might not believe how moist and succulent a butter-injected-deep-fried turkey comes out. And just think about that great fried skin with all that marinated flavor sealing in all that juicy goodness!!! Oh man, I just ate way too much of it 4 days ago, and I am getting hungry all over again. You really have to try this sometime!! (ps, don't stuff it!, roast another bird if you just have to have stuffing-in-bird, or roast a chicken, stuffed.)
And the desserts! Pies, Pies and more Pies!! This year, even Elizabeth got in on the action. Michelle baked some absolutely beautiful Pumpkin and apple pies, Phyllis created a wonderful Blueberry pie, as well as a cherry pie dessert, but Elizabeth and I still wanted cherry pie. Elizabeth had baked pies at school for a service club, so she created a beautiful lattice-topped cherry pie for our feast.
I am grateful for the many talented people in my life, and I am thankful that we live in a country where we can enjoy nature's bounty in such a wonderful way. It also makes me feel good that we, as a country can help so many other people in the world. I know many do not have what we have, but this country, because of the good people in it, has done so much good for so many in the world. They may not all like us, but I wonder how much they would "hate us" if we suddenly stopped all the generous support that we offer so many countries.
This is a great country, and we should be thankful for our heritage and our place in the world!
I guess it may not be "normal" still. My own children have been getting the wed-fri version of vacation at Concord, but my school district in Conway likes to take the whole week. They usually try to make it "productive", by offering professional development for the staff. We have days known as "flex" days that can be earned at an earlier time, and used to allow the whole week off. This year, I wanted to make sure I cover my required 60 hours of PD early in the year, so I opted to take the hours of instruction.
So Monday and Tuesday were pretty much spent. Good presentations, though. I am thankful that I didn't feel the need to grade tests to keep awake.
Wednesday, we get to start our preparations for the big feast. We have tried to keep up some of our family traditions by having dinner with family here. Bob and Phyllis usually invite over Bob's sister Robbie, and we have a dinner with the 10 of us.
Standard fare for this part of the family, Turkey, ham, dressing, corn on the cob, greenbean casserole, lots of pies, sweet potato dishes, mashed potatoes and Benjamin's favorite dish of all: chicken/broccoli/cheese casserole. Of course my job is to bake a big batch of Mom's "sweet dough" rolls, which bake up so light and yummy.
But one difference that might seem unusual. WE LOVE DEEP-FRIED TURKEY!!! I enjoy a good roasted turkey like Mom's, (she really did figure out the secrets with that roaster pan), but here in the Mid-south we deep fry everything. (have you ever heard of deep-fried twinkies? deep-fried snickers? deep-fried coke?? ) Well, turkey fries up "real nice". And Bob has found some great marinades and injectibles like Jalepeno-butter and such. You might not believe how moist and succulent a butter-injected-deep-fried turkey comes out. And just think about that great fried skin with all that marinated flavor sealing in all that juicy goodness!!! Oh man, I just ate way too much of it 4 days ago, and I am getting hungry all over again. You really have to try this sometime!! (ps, don't stuff it!, roast another bird if you just have to have stuffing-in-bird, or roast a chicken, stuffed.)
And the desserts! Pies, Pies and more Pies!! This year, even Elizabeth got in on the action. Michelle baked some absolutely beautiful Pumpkin and apple pies, Phyllis created a wonderful Blueberry pie, as well as a cherry pie dessert, but Elizabeth and I still wanted cherry pie. Elizabeth had baked pies at school for a service club, so she created a beautiful lattice-topped cherry pie for our feast.
I am grateful for the many talented people in my life, and I am thankful that we live in a country where we can enjoy nature's bounty in such a wonderful way. It also makes me feel good that we, as a country can help so many other people in the world. I know many do not have what we have, but this country, because of the good people in it, has done so much good for so many in the world. They may not all like us, but I wonder how much they would "hate us" if we suddenly stopped all the generous support that we offer so many countries.
This is a great country, and we should be thankful for our heritage and our place in the world!
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