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Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2024

9:04pm EDT

Members: 899

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

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.

"All the resources we need are in the mind.” Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States of America.

Another quote I find interesting: "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Albert Einstein

What's on your mind today?

Signature for use by anyone nominated for a Quill Award in 2020

Signature for nominees of the 2019 Quill Awards

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Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Elycia Lee ☮

Apr 11, 2024 at 5:36am
In response to "Test Resuils"

EMG sounds horrible. Get well soon. Hope this phase in life would pass and that you would have that quiet period that you yearn for.

1 Like

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 11, 2024 at 3:30am
In response to "Test Resuils"

Wow! You do have a lot going on, but I'm glad you're trying to make the best decisions you can for yourself.

I had an EMG once. Yeah, not a pleasant experience and mine yielded no new info, so that was even worse -- it was all for nothing.

I hope things improve soon! Take care of yourself!

1 Like

Kåre Enga in Udon Thani

Apr 7, 2024 at 11:09am
In response to "News from Roundup "

Is the EMG like acupuncture? I have neuropathy (self-diagnosed) in both feet. When I get back I want some advice from a doctor. I don't know whether an EMG would work but my ability to flex my toes and foot may be a starting point.

Pan wants to see snow. But... this isn't the proper season! Why he didn't mention this in December or January... Snow is fickle. Remember the Great Lakes? Can you imagine a walk with big flakes, through a foot or two of fresh fall, slugging through slush, negotiating ice, below zero and sparkling crystals, a blizzard!

I may be back in early May. If I lived anywhere near Roundup we could go somewhere for coffee. That's what I really miss in my life.

Aennaytte: Free & Wild in GoT

Feb 28, 2024 at 9:32am
In response to "Free for works for me"

Clark Gable was sure swoon worthy.

Kåre Enga in Udon Thani

Feb 28, 2024 at 12:12am
In response to "Free for works for me"

Free works for me... but I avoid Amazon. I use youtube for my Thai shows.

These old movies will 100 years old when you are in your 90s!

R.E. Pete

Feb 27, 2024 at 11:22pm
In response to "Free for works for me"

You should check out Errol Flynn in Captain Blood

Elycia Lee ☮

Feb 23, 2024 at 11:15am
In response to "Leap Year"

Congrats!

Wordsmitty ✍️

Feb 8, 2024 at 11:27pm
In response to "Update"

I second Kåre Enga in Udon Thani on warmth to the hand. I was told after initially using cold to stop swelling, then heat helps the tissues. Then again, I didn't break anything last year, just pulled something that would pinch a nerve and give a knife stabbing pain. Of course I use the old saying from a doctor when a patient said it hurts when he does this. "Don't do that."

Once winter leaves, things will perk up. Congrats on the publications. I'll keep watching for the NYT to pick one up with your byline.

1 Like

Kåre Enga in Udon Thani

Feb 8, 2024 at 10:00pm
In response to "Update"

Having more than one issue makes it much harder. Which to do first, which is most important, which will just have to wait, which needs to be let go of.

I was fortunate that my elbow never gave me much pain, didn't constrict my movements, and slowly heals after weeks.

I have neuropathy and circulation problems, especially in my feet. Rubbing does help some. Soaking in hot water is heavenly.

Kåre Enga in Udon Thani

Jan 31, 2024 at 3:34am
In response to "Don't Do It!!!!!"

Frozen fog outside... the dry air inside... everything's bothering me... I'm between time zones too. Even my anxiety floats around barely attached to reality.

At least you have some good news and a mystery. Wonder if those two events could be woven into a fictional story set in a small town where the seasons change daily... hmmm...

November 28, 2022 at 12:01pm

#1041102

After Thanksgiving

I woke this morning to find this Blog mentioned in the Blogging Bliss Newsletter "November 2022 Blogging Bliss Newsletter One Hundred Nineteen"

- thanks Wordsmitty ✍️!! Lots of good Blogs to peruse in that newsletter. Give it a read.

So what did everyone do for Thanksgiving? We went to Big Timber. It's a nice, small town about 2 hours from here, where there is always a good wind blowing. In Big Timber, there is the Grand Hotel. It's been there since 1890. They do a wonderful buffet for the holiday. We stayed two nights in a decent hotel room, had a great meal, then made our way home after doing some shopping in Billings on Friday. But since we did food shopping, we avoided all the crazies at the malls and other retail stores.

Now the push is on for Christmas. Egads. Doesn't everyone have enough stuff? We never send Christmas presents anymore. That stopped when we stopped working. All I do now is Christmas cards.

We have a Christmas Stroll here in town. As treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, I get the applications for vendors. So there is a bit of jockeying for the best location for booths. Everyone wants to be in the best location to sell their little trinkets. Goodness.

Everyone in the Northern reaches of this great land, stay warm! Winter is upon us. I am waiting for a thaw. I still have some potatoes in the ground, safe and secure under their blanket of snow. I need to get them inside. Perhaps soon.

1 Like • Comment

November 16, 2022 at 10:05pm

#1040737

Zoomed Out

It's been an interesting week so far. I've suffered sat through four Zoom meetings so far. There are two more coming. Gees Louise. As much as we are grateful for technology, I sure would much rather be in a real meeting with real people, not faces on a screen.

We got some snow, it's still lingering. We may get some more tonight, or tomorrow, or next week, or next year. Does anyone really know the weather? I look at my barometer. If it dives below 29.00, and then the wind gets to blowing, I know there is a storm coming.

So I'm gearing up for Thanksgiving this year. We're going to Big Timber, about a 2 hour drive from here. They have an old hotel with a restaurant there, The Grand. Every year, except for a few, they put on a big Thanksgiving buffet. Oh my, what wonderful food. We get a room for a few nights. Have a nice meal I don't have to cook. Perhaps we'll hike a bit in the mountains around there. It depends on hubby's knee. He had surgery about a month ago.

And it depends on the wind. They sometimes can get wind gusts up to 70 MPH. I know someone in church who grew up there. He remembers winds of 100 MPH.

So we'll enjoy the food and peace. And the rattling windows in the old hotel.

2 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

November 8, 2022 at 2:41pm

#1040414

The First Snow

First of the season - snow that is. So we got about 2 inches of snow last night. Nice, light fluffy snow. And cold. The high today will be about 20°. But then it is November and it has been cold and snowy many weeks before this in the past. We welcome the snow, the cold? Grumble and complain. We are in Montana so why do we?

So many disappointments today. The artist to work on the never-ending remodel cancelled, again. The tires for the car never made it on the truck for delivery to the garage. Maybe tomorrow. I went to work on a computer at the thrift store where I volunteer. I couldn't accomplish what I went there for. Arrggh. I went to another shop to deliver paperwork for a charity event coming up. Asked a simple question, got a curt reply when a simple polite answer would've sufficed.

My afternoon may be spent playing games on the computer. Or reading. Perhaps reading would be the better choice.

I am reading 'The Sentence' by Louise Erdrich. So many ways that title is going. Such a good read, as are all her books.

And so the long dark winter is starting. I still have potatoes to dig. But now under their blanket of snow, they'll be snug for a few more days.

4 Like • Comment • View 4 comments

November 5, 2022 at 1:43pm

#1040298

Good Grief - What a Wind!

Good grief! We just had a wind gust that shook the house. Now that is a strong wind!

A cold front is making its way into Montana, and a wind always comes with a weather change. 60 MPH winds are forecast for today. The barometer is now at 28.97. And if you know anything about barometric pressure, the lower it goes, the more it indicates a change is in the offing.

But it is November, and I know that the warm sunny weather we've been having cannot last forever. We pray for rain or snow. Moisture of any kind is welcome when you are in a drought.

Speaking of droughts, I pray everyone is doing well with their NaNoWriMo projects. I don't want to know that all the energy expended in the OctoPrep Challenge drained anyone. May you have enough left to finish your novel this month.

Hang on to your hats, it's going to be a windy day!

3 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

October 31, 2022 at 2:15pm

#1040054

Quill Nomination!

I just received a note that this BLOG is nominated for a Quills award. Well, thank you to whomever nominated my ruminations and wanderings.

I am humbled and truly honored.

Right now the OctoPrep Challenge is in its last day. What a month it has been! A large group of writers undertook the challenge of preparing for the big job of NaNoWriMo in November.

I have done this challenge a few times. Truly it is a great way to get your novel up to speed.

Now for the second year, I am a cheerleader. This year, head cheerleader is the position I gladly took on. We exhort, cajole, encourage, even bribe just a bit. Anything to get people to finish, to strive just a little harder to work on their story.

I'm having a ton of fun. It's been a great month. So far, 27 writers have won, and 2 have become runners-up.

Good luck to all still writing, they still have a few hours.

1 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

October 19, 2022 at 12:20am

#1039399

Back in Montana

Now back in Montana and I am so glad. Glad to be back home. Glad to be back with my hubby. Even glad to be back in my messed up house.

The time spent with my mother was spent feeding her, giving her medication, reading, and doing computer work. And rambling around a huge condo. For heaven's sake, why do you need 4 living rooms? I mean really.

But I did hear a lot of stories about family, stories I never heard before. Some may come to life as fiction. I have to mull over the details for awhile.

I was anxious on the connecting flight from Columbus, OH to Dallas. I made it with 3 minutes to spare. That was cutting it way too close.

But now I am back to reality. Back to prayer meetings, Bible studies, digging in my garden, laundry and meal planning, and trying to figure out how to clean my house when stuff is in the way.

I found a nice thought a while back. It is worth sharing.

4 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

October 10, 2022 at 6:17pm

#1039029

Time in Ohio

I am in Ohio for ten days. My sister and her husband have gone to Florida for a vacation, leaving me to watch our mother for awhile. I used to live here in Mt. Vernon, Ohio for a good junk of my life. It's interesting to return and see the town again.

Matt is now the mayor. He seems to be doing a good job. Things are booming here. Intel Corporation is relocating a factory down the road, with the benefit of bringing people wanting housing.

Mom sold the family home some years ago to live with my sister, then had a series of strokes, so she cannot live by herself. She has a pretty cushy place here in the lower level of a condo, looking out on a golf course. Better than any nursing home, that is for sure. My sister is a retired R.N., so this is a perfect place for mom.

We spend the days reading, doing a puzzle, but the big decision is what to eat for lunch. Then the rest of the day is taken up by me doing computer work and deciding what kind of ice cream to have.

I do have some nursing duties, eye drops and pills. But beyond that, I am just here to make sure my mother is safe and sound.

Soon my time will end and I will fly back to Montana. But each time, mom tears up and says "I don't know if I'll ever see you again." And as I did last time I was here, I will say, "I don't know, maybe you will. Good bye. I love you."

5 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

September 27, 2022 at 12:22am

#1038206

Strange Night

Tonight as I sat on my porch, I heard a strange noise. It came from the direction of the old school playground down the street. So I walked out to the sidewalk and stood, arms crossed over my chest.

Seems there was a group of teens over in the playground, fooling around. So i thought I'd just watch to make sure they didn't get too crazy. Because if they got too out of control, I'd call the police.

Well, I stood still for at least 10 minutes. The teens then saw me, started yelling at me, started waving to me. I didn't answer, just stood on the sidewalk, arms crossed. They continued to yell at me, continued to wave. Then suddenly they all stopped and walked up the street a bit, then gathered in a group and headed back in my direction.

I have to tell you, it was just a little scary. A group of unknowns coming at you, about six teens. But once they got to me, one girl said, "Why were you standing there watching us? You freaked us out."

Thinking fast, because I really meant them no harm. "I just wanted to be sure no one got hurt. Because if you got hurt, I would call for help. That playground isn't safe anymore. All the equipment needs replaced." True story. It's an old school, soon to be refurbished, but the playground needs repair.

I knew some of the teens since I work sometimes in the school cafeteria, and some of them I recognized from subbing on a bus route some years ago. Perhaps some of them recognized me as well, I don't know.

So I reassured them that I meant them no harm, just wanted them to be safe. Besides, it was getting dark.

A very weird situation that could have been even more strange if I had overreacted and yelled at them.

You never know when you will be in a strange event. And you never know what effect you may have on other people. I pray it was a positive one, even though they thought at first I was freaky.

Possibly someday I can use this for a story. Of course, it would have to be written to be far more scary, write it from the teens' POV. Now that would be fun.

2 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

September 19, 2022 at 9:55am

#1037873

We Wrapped it Up

Finally the big push is over and we had our play performance. 'Alibis' is another show under our belts for the Illustrious Musselshell Players. We made them laugh, and that was the goal. Never mind that sometimes people forgot their lines, the prompter helped them out.

This was the 19th performance for the players. I pray next year someone will step up and agree to direct. It would be a shame to not go on to at least #20.

This picture is the curtain call at one of the performances. I played a 'dotty chemist'. So I am the one in the white lab coat. As you can probably tell, this stage is miniscule, it is in an old elementary school in Musselshell, MT. The school now is used as a community center for the little hamlet, population of about 23. Most everyone lives outside the town and works at ranching or farming or commute to Roundup or Billings.

I just found out from Brandiwyn🎶

that I am to be the head cheerleader for OctoPrep. Well, thank you so much for the promotion! She assured me there would be a pay raise, a raise in the 401K contribution, and additional job perks.

I love cheering people on to finish writing in OctoPrep. I don't want anyone to not finish because the time got away from them, or they just forgot to finish an assignment.

So be looking for the cheer squad to help you stay on track this year!

4 Like • Comment

September 11, 2022 at 10:13pm

#1037626

Weather is Changing

I think the weather has changed. From highs in the 100's to highs in the 70's, we are in the transition from summer to autumn. We usually have a few weeks of nice weather, then BOOM, snow and cold arrive sometime early October.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a warm and smoky day. I guess the smoke is coming from fires in the west. Darn. I hate that. But we have been lucky so far this year. No big fires anywhere near Roundup. A few small ones that the local fire department puts out in a hurry. Good thing, since it is so dry, still.

Finally, after 2 cancellations I can get my hair cut tomorrow. Seems like a minor thing, I know. But when you have crazy curly hair such as mine, it just gets to be uncontrollable after a time. Reminds me of the time when all the salons were closed due to COVID. But this situation is different, in a way. The first appointment was scheduled for the day I got out of the hospital, in July. No way I was going to do a haircut that day. Then the next time, I had another appointment for another doctor. Another cancellation. So I guess third time is the charm.

I'm doing community theater again this year. This is a good one, a silly mystery play. We perform the end of this week. Puts me in the mood for my participation in the WDC 22nd Birthday Masquerade Party. Check that out if you want some silly mystery fun. "Wdc 22nd Birthday Masquerade Party"

1 Like • Comment

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