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Saturday, May. 10, 2025

12:55pm EDT

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJean Mayflowers

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

A poem captured my attention the other day.

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget 
Falls drop by drop upon the heart, 
Until, in our own despair,
 Against our will,
 Comes wisdom 
Through the awful grace of God.

Aeschylus

What's on your mind today?

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Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

QueenNormaJean Mayflowers

a day ago
In response to "Dump it"

We could actually do the mulch thing and we talked about it. But we'd have to buy a chipper. Have to hire another person. Then have to bag and sell the product. Not happening.
We pay $50k a month for garbage disposal. We don't have a landfill. It's a transfer station. so all trash has to be hauled away.
NJ

1 Like

SandraLynn

May 8, 2025 at 10:54am
In response to "Dump it"

It sounds like the ol' rumour mill is not in danger of closing down any time soon. Too bad those particular wild fires could not burn all the debris refusing to cooperate.

Cubby

May 8, 2025 at 5:46am
In response to "Dump it"

People seem to have a lot more anger these days. I've noticed it the past few years. And perhaps it's just that they show it more in public more than they used to.

1 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

May 7, 2025 at 11:01pm
In response to "Dump it"

Maybe you should start writing screenplays and sell 'em to TV. This definitely sounds better than most of the stuff on the tube.

Here's an idea: get a giant mulcher for the dump and then give away (or sell) the mulch to residents to use on the gardens and the town & county to have for parks and stuff. They do that here so they can say they are green and not polluting or increasing the carbon in the air.

2 Like

Jeff

May 7, 2025 at 10:59pm
In response to "Dump it"

The Information Age has definitely accelerated people's ability to get outraged and air their grievances, that's for sure! I definitely miss the days where people would give one another the benefit of the doubt, and discuss their concerns rationally before getting offended and gossipy.

1 Like

THANKFUL SONALI 18 WDC Years!

May 5, 2025 at 2:27am
In response to "Big News"

Wow about the breakfast.
My friend hosted a big lunch yesterday, so it's a coincidence of sorts to read of another such event here in your blog!

Sigh about criminals who do horrible stuff. What must be happening in their heads, to make them be that way? Glad this one is off the streets.

Cubby

Apr 27, 2025 at 7:39am
In response to "Fire Day"

I should back-in more. I have--a few times--and loved getting into my car the next time and just pulling out.

I have a high respect for those volunteer firemen.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Apr 26, 2025 at 7:57pm
In response to "Fire Day"

Backing-in is common in Thailand. Don't know why folks here don't do it more... except... it takes a minute and everyone is rushed.

One clap of thunder and some rain here today.

1 Like

AmyJo-Spring's finally here!

Apr 26, 2025 at 7:01pm
In response to "Fire Day"

Must have been an interesting day. Sorry the jeep's reverse was acting up. Growing up in rural Michigan, my dad was a volunteer fireman, and there were times that our weekends were disrupted due to an alarm going off. Back then, we had a scanner and also CB's. (did I just "date" myself...LOL).

Hope you are doing well. Thanks for the blog news.

2 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

Apr 13, 2025 at 1:18pm
In response to "The News"

No one likes the truth when it's about something they should have done. I bet the mayor would be even more furious if the actual quote was published. By the way, are there minutes of council meetings that get published/posted for people to read?

Suggest whatever you ate last night that you don't again. At least it wasn't about cars being towed into your yard.

October 29, 2023 at 11:04am

#1058241

Post-Op News

Someone asked for an update on my surgery. Well, it's been a bit busy here with OctoPrep and all. But I am still here.

Surgery on my knee took less than 1/2 hour. The surgeon said he was amazed that I didn't complain more about pain. Seems the meniscus was in worse shape than expected. But the repair was done, and I recovered just fine in the recovery area. A nurse stood by me the entire time as I was given Fentanyl for pain. She watched my blood pressure and heart rate. I always run low in those two metrics, and Fentanyl is a dangerous but effective pain killer. Once everyone was satisfied with my post-op stats, they released me. I walked out on my own, well, that is with the arm of a nurse.

We stayed overnight in Billings, as hubby had an early AM appointment. The night was uneventful, no real horrible pain. In fact, there has never been any really bad pain. It hurts less than before. A good sign!

I've already done physical therapy and am scheduled for many more times there. I have restarted my walking around town. So far, about 1/2 mile with no pain. That's good, since walking really adds to my mental health. I've missed being able to walk without pain.

There has been drama about an event in our town, the Christmas Stroll. Vendors can purchase spaces to hawk their wares. There are only 5 places that will take vendors. I am the treasurer for the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. A lady who was to coordinate the vendors suddenly backed out when I wouldn't budge on slipping her vendor forms in ahead of others. She'd been holding on to them for 2 weeks then suddenly wants me to insert them in the queue. I refused, telling her she'd have to get the entire Chamber to okay that decision. Then I would abide by whatever they chose. She chose to quit that responsibility. Ah, drama.

I've also been helping with OctoPrep. I'm the head cheerleader. We're down one person in that 'department', so things are a bit busier than last year. But writers are getting into position to finish soon.

Comment • View 3 comments

October 12, 2023 at 12:46pm

#1057240

Write On!

I woke to a cloudy wet day here in Roundup. The weather has definitely changed to late fall. Snow will be right around the corner. It is already snowing in the mountains west of us.

Today in the OctoPrep discussion forum Gift Points are flying around! I decided to give a little incentive to those who post on that forum, and give others a reason to pop in and add their 'two cents' to discussions. Too many have dropped out so far due to not paying attention to the time limits.

I did get a definite call from the surgery center about my surgery next week. The tentative time to check in at the outpatient center is noon. Egads. That means we probably won't get back home until 9 PM or so. Long day. And I have to be NPO from midnight before. Okay, NPO means 'nil per os" - Latin term. (Translated: Nil=nothing per=through os=orifice - in this case, mouth)

How many were lucky enough to have Latin in high school or college? You do know the Romance languages, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Italian have their bases in Latin? The language of Rome. Medical terms are often in Latin.

I took had two years of Latin in high school. Declensions, ick. But it served me well when I took my medical assisting course.

Knowledge is a beautiful thing. Never stop learning. As a writer, you never know where that knowledge will take you. Where it will pop up in your work.

Here's a fun link: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/latin-terms-and-abbreviations

Comment • View 2 comments

October 8, 2023 at 3:37pm

#1056998

October is Busy!

Mercy sakes - people are just dropping out of OctoPrep this year. So far 10 writers have missed that 72 hour deadline. Well darn. I hate to see that.

Life seems busy here in Roundup. The museum had 2 assessors visit the other day. They were checking our structures and our exhibits. So now we need to put their recommendations into practice. Umm, well, when you have a treasurer who has had her position for 45 years. Yes, you read that correctly, it's a bit difficult at times.

Also my church is having nightly seminars about the book of Daniel from the Bible. Interesting, although for most of us it is a refresher course. I love the story of Daniel and his friends. I cannot imagine getting plucked from your country, your family and friends, and deposited in another country. Then being told you have to learn the culture, the language and become advisors to the King.

Babylon at that time in history was a world power. Yes, I know China was also powerful as well. But Babylon was over the top in power and wealth. You can still see part of the Ishtar Gate in Berlin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon

Now I am off to a museum meeting to hear about the final report from the assessors. Should be interesting.

Comment • View 1 comment

October 3, 2023 at 9:47am

#1056652

Aggravation Abounds

Ever get so frustrated you could just scream? And cry. And curl up into that fetal position and wish you were dead. Yesterday I searched and searched for a piece of mail. And not just any little junk mail envelope. This was a check to an organization where I am treasurer. It wasn't a large amount. But still, it wasn't money that was mine.

We don't live in a big house. I searched every inch. Every horizontal surface was cleared and searched. Under and over everything. Nothing. Oh boy. Beside myself, I began to think of how I would tell the issuer of the check that I, the treasurer, had lost this. Incompetence, lack of focus, too much going on. You name it. Stupidity was in there as well.

I pleaded with God. I prayed for the check to be found. Then I got some peace. I gave up. I went to church, we did our radio show. I told the other participants my dilemma, without the entire details. I just told them it was a check I had lost. More prayer and supplication. We did our little radio show. Which is on Facebook. (Email me if you want the details.)

So when I came home, I thought of one more place I had not looked. And sure enough, there it was. Mixed in with another batch of paperwork I had processed for another group I manage. Thank you Lord.

Lesson learned, check is on the counter with the deposit slip attached. It will go to the bank today, first thing. No more fiddling with it.

We get so distracted. I know I do. OctoPrep, household duties. Church. Volunteering. I have a surgery coming up. I don't feel like doing anything else.

Hang in there, everyone. We're all in this battle together.
I'm cheering for you!

Queen NormaJean, Cheerleader for OctoPrep

need help?

Comment • View 1 comment

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