Where Is It At?

Did you say this all your life?

I remember as a kid being corrected for saying "Where Is It At"!!  And, the person who did this, was a teacher and said "behind the at".  I absolutely didn't have any idea what this person meant as the reason sure wasn't explained to me.

As I went through life I asked several persons, including an old professor, to show me the grammar rule on this but, the rule is non-existent....even with no rule, it's still grammatically wrong to say "Where Is It At".  It's convention without a rule or so I'm told.  "Where" denotes the place so "at" is redundant. 

 Dang it.  I like the way "Where is is at" sounds......so maybe I'll continue to ask that question whether or not it's wrong....because it surely can't be the only thing I'm saying grammatically wrong.  And do I care????  Heck no!  There isn't an English teacher who is handing out grades and I don't plan on entering any grammar contest.....I'm just going to be me, myself and I.......(and that's wrong too).  HA HA HA

I hate it when you run across someone who is so proper and well versed in the English language that this person grades anything that comes across their vision.  And with red pen too......Who cares??!!  I'm an American and I use slang......big time slang......a true American.  Just be glad I'm not from the hills of West Virginia.  If I had been from there I might have lived in a shack and not have had good book learning and  I might have been a member of a fighting clan.....but I would have still been an American.....with freedom of speech and able to say anything grammatically wrong that I want to say.  So there!

Old Tyme Greenview

1965 -  After 18 months under a cooperative ministry, the St. John's Church of Christ and the United Presbyterian Church of Greenview voted to merge.

1965 -  Natural gas became a reality the week of August 6.  Marie Madison was fatally injured in a car-train crash on September 11 and her husband Webb who was critically  injured died September 22.

1965 -  The Board of Directors of the newly organized Greenview Community Bank were elected.  They were Russ Hinrichs, Chairman of the Board; Elmer Cramer, President; Arthur Deverman and Conrad Noll, vice presidents; Richard Rush, cashier; and John Dirks, Dale EDwards, Donald Riley and Bob Tice.  The bank opened for business on October 2 in the old First State Bank building.

1965 -  Mrs. Jess Wilson retired from the faculty of the Greenview School after teaching for 29 years.

1965 -  Harold Deverman received serious injuries when a tractor which he was driving flipped backward, while he was trying to pull a loaded truck from the mud.  He was pinned underneath the tractor.

1966 -  Ted Miller retired as the manager of the FS station located on the east edge of Greenview effective January 1.  He had managed the station for 13 years.  Floyd Dennis assumed the management of the station that same day.

1966 -  Greenview area was hit by a storm which did untold damage tot he crops, trees, and buildings.  The storm came on June 8 and was accompanied by large hailstones, wind and a downpour of rain.

1967 -  The Greenview Community Center, a recently completed modern shelter int he village Park, was dedicated at an all-day celebration on Labor Day, September 4.  This 44 x 62 green bu8ilding replaced the old bandstand which was razed by fire on July 24.

1967 -  Fire destroyed the Reiser Elevator feed mill at Greenview early the morning of October 3.  The blaze had made good headway when firemen reached the scene.  Fire-fighting units from Mason City and Athens were called to prevent an out-of-control disaster.

Thought For The Day

Be a good listener. 

Your ears will never get you in trouble.

--Frank Tyger

If I was my boss......I would fire me.....plain and simple.

I am overbearing according to some.

My talents for writing suck even though I continue to do it.....trailer park humor as some call it.

I can't find the end of a stick by myself.

If there is something going on, I'm there, so I guess that makes me a nosy rosy.

I love to smell the roses, but I want to do it all day long instead of just looking at them sitting on my desk.

I'm always wanting more money.

These are all valid reasons for getting rid of me.  So as the boss of me, I'm firing me.  As Donald Trump would say:  You're fired!  Then I would cry and sob and ride away into the sunset in a black car (for mourning I guess).  Good!  Now I don't have to answer to anyone.....I'm my own self.   Unemployed, but happy!

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If I Ruled The World

My Dream World

Just like Tony Bennett's song "If I ruled the world", in my world,  every day would be the first day of spring, because I hate winter so badly.  I really am a candidate to move to a warm climate but the man of the house just won't budge.

Of course in my ruling of the world, everyone would have a maid and a butler at government expense.  This way none us common folk would have to do housework, lawn mowing, etc.  Even the maid and the butler would have a maid and a butler.

Teachers would make as much money as a lawyer.  The teacher teaches our kids to do right and not lie and the lawyer does the opposite.....and charges up the ying yang to boot....so let's increase those teacher salaries.

Chocolate would have only 25 calories in each candy bar!  Need I say more about chocolate???!!

Those plastic cases which are used to fully encase things to keep people from stealing, would have to be made from something which can be penetrated easily.. make the plastic so something other than a pick ax can be used to open the dang plastic casing.

And when it comes to the media, the media would have to sign a statement each time they made a post or a statement on television.....the statement would swear that every piece of information was true and straight to the point with absolutely no exaggeration, no political bias content and would assure the reader that they aren't competing for the Tabloid of the year article.

I'm sure I could list about a million changes I would make, but in order to get on with my life of leisure and prepare for my maid and butler, I better get the house cleaned.

Notice
In today's issue of the State Journal-Register, there is a wonderful article about George Baugher and his days in the army with Elvis Presley.


http://www.sj-r.com/bakke/x392616738/Dave-Bakke-Elvis-Army-buddy-came-home-to-Greenview

Springfield Pictures

Building the Lincoln Library 1901

Holiday Inn East....Dirksen Parkway/31st Street

Springfield Fire Equipment.....late 1800's or early 1900's

Springfield Fire Equipment - unknown date

Thought For The Day

Good manners will open doors that

the best education cannot.

--Clarence Thomas

In these days of high cost everything, how in the world does a person live on the cheap???

It used to be a joke to answer this question about living cheap, with eat "Tube Steak"...but who can afford bologna now days!!  When you go to the store, the old bologna we used to know where we could get a hunk at West Foods for a dime or a quarter is no more....the butcher won't even pick up the bologna roll for that cost.

So what should I get in order to live more cheaply???  For one thing, do not count on beef being in your diet plans because I recently saw an article that the price of beef is going up.....meaning lots higher!!!

First of all start out eating lots of pasta.....pasta this and pasta that.....red sauce, white sauce, pasta with chilli, pasta with oil and garlic (no shrimp of course), pasta with margarine, pasta bare!  But of course we will all weigh about 40 more pounds than when we started this "on the cheap" diet. 

The next day instead of pasta, have rice.  Rice with chicken broth, rice with beef broth, rice with cinnamon and a bit of milk and sugar, rice with tomato sauce  and spices, and rice plain.  The Asian people survive on rice so why can't I??!!

Secondly, eat more soups and make some good old cornbread to eat with it (bread is the staff of life)......the good thing is once the level of the soup goes down, add another potato or two and a couple of more carrots and a couple more cups of water and a handful of leftover rice or pasta.....instantly, you have created more soup for your cheap diet.  Even on a hot summer day when it's 88 degrees out, eat your soup and chomp on your cornbread and sweat out that weight you want to lose.

And now comes cheap desserts.  One word....jello!  Jello with nothing.  Jello with a half of a banana.  Orange jello one day and Strawberry the next day.  Variety is the spice of life.

Now you have a makings of a cheaper way to live.  Do not overeat and become fat as a little pig on this high calorie pasta and rice.  You will now have more jingle in your pocket and more fat on your belly....what did you expect.....to be slim and trim on a pauper's diet????

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R U Serious

Some things just can't be taken serious.

Life itself sometimes is just a comedy of errors.  On any one day, someone might cut you off in traffic.  You might get 4 telemarketer calls in a row and you're even on the Do Not Call List.  Then maybe the toilet stopped up and then you dropped and broke a plate.  Things happen!  But don't take them too seriously or you will flip out.

When you are having a "too" serious moment ..... think of something funny.  Or think of a word that you can relate to something else in your mind.....an example of one I like to use is "Algorithm".  If you are a mathematician, you know that it concerns calculation procedures.....but in my "sick" mind, "algorithm" is former Vice President Al Gore doing the Macarena dance.  And when I think this, my thoughts are less serious and my whole being is laughing my fool head off.

Another example I use is the word hyperbole.....in my mind I see a kitchen bowl with arms, hands and legs and feet running around waving it's arms and jumping up and down like a hyper person.  See this is another word to see in your mind when it might be wise to back off being so serious.

So when someone asks you "U R Serious", say I'm serious as a heart attack but I don't let it get to me.....I think of Al Gore doing the Macarena instead or the wild hyper bowl.

Things About Old Tyme Greenview

The town officials always oiled the roads on the hottest day of the year.

Gerald McKee always sat in the park on the park bench or on the steps of the Marbold Bank.  He blew spit bubbles all day long.

Bimmy Meehan ran the pool hall and there were lots of girls who went in there....although it was really a smokey place.  I learned to play pool there.

Whit Stone had penny candy and you could get a brown penny candy size bag and fill it half way full for 3 cents.

You could sneak into the locker plant building on a hot day and cool off.

On May Day (May 1st) we stole early May flowers from townsfolk's yards and put them in paper cones made from wallpaper and took them to the old people in town.

On a really hot day it was cooler to go to the cemetery and sit under the trees....there was always a cool breeze coming across the cemetery.

When an airplane came over the town, everyone came outside to watch it fly over.

When you went out on a date, you dressed up.  And, when you went to a funeral, men always wore a suit and women had on their best Sunday dress.  And, you always took a casserole or other food item to the family when someone died.

The deliverymen, like the milkman or the dry cleaner man, were all like members of the family.

Families went to visit other family members and you also went to your neighbor's house to visit and have a cuppa coffee.

Men went to Emma's Corner Cafe every morning for their coffee and sat at the back table with Emma.  Emma always ate her ice cream in a coffee cup.

Greenview was just Greenview....and we took pride in our town.

Thought For The Day

Genius is one percent inspiration

and 99 percent perspiration.

--Thomas Alva Edison

People often ask me why I blog.  I typically can come up with a pretty good excuse (I mean reason).  Then, after I give an answer, I typically think that was a dumb answer....and surely there are many more and better reasons why I blog.

So I recently sat down and came up with a list about why I blog .... here it is:

a.  I'm on the learning curve and want to share with people how to lean into that curve and benefit from it.  (dumb answer).

b.  tons of people always comment on my posts so I'm really connecting and getting people to comment (dumb answer).

c.  I blog so I can tell lies and get away with it (not so much a dumb answer).

d.  to exercise my mind (smart answer).

e.  to hide beneath my Superman cape like Clark Kent and Superman did (pretty stupid answer).

f.  to make money (did I miss something....where's the money??).

g.  I'm vain and really want to show my smarts (OMG the answers are getting worse).

h.  I have fun doing it (now that's better)

i.  I blog so my retired and otherwise friends who have time on their hands have something to read (by jove I think you've got it...that's it!!!)

Now we all know why I blog....some might be  little fibbers....but who cares....I'm still blogging so that's all that counts!!

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How To Address Dignitaries

If I were able to meet the......

It's long been said that you need to meet and greet a dignitary in a very polite way, using common courtesy, and by all means, use your manners that your mama taught you many years ago.

This means for example.....if you were to happen to have the chance to meet the current 2012 president.....do not....and I mean doooo not.....go up to him and say "Hi Bro"! And, even though he may be someone's Bro (and he may not even know it), he isn't yours (but you may have a bro and not know it...some do).  This "Hi Bro" greeting just won't do.  He is our president and should be addressed as Mr. President, even if you don't like him.

Now to the meet and greet for the Queen......she is a darling.....a bit old and grey and getting a bit forgetful probably, but do not.....and I mean dooo not, by any means, forget your manners when greeting this old Matriarch.  She might be small and frail but I bet her henchmen could give a h*ll of a punch to someone who is discourteous to their Queenie.  No I'm not saying you should address her as "Queenie"....I was just sayin.....  You should address the as "your majesty" (and don't say it so loud the dogs will bark) and bow your head slightly and curtsy if you are a woman....and bow from the waist if you are a man (and don't touch your toes which bowing either).  The old lady might be getting a bit older but she sure is rich as heck and has the power to put you away for a long time if you don't treat her right.

On to the next level of dignitary...if you can call them that.....the local legislators.  Oh my god......how in the world do you greet someone who has just taken your last remaining dollar by putting through a new tax increase.  Not only that, these same legislators, just increased the cost of your license plates, made it so you can't even pass out in the back seat drunk without putting on your seat belt and, it looks like they intend to make sure you will have to start paying your employer each payday because there isn't enough money in your paycheck to make deductions for all of the  federal taxes, state taxes, local taxes, taxes for taxes, social security, medicare premium, medicaid premium, health insurance and every other dang thing they want you to pay from your check.....even before you see your check.   So there.....be sure to sign a savings account deduction for your employer so the amount you now owe him each week (instead of you getting a paycheck) will come from your savings account (that you don't have because of these wonderful legislators we have.)  

 Oh yes, back to how to meet and greet the legislators.  "Hey you jackrabbit, son of a sea biscuit, how the he!! do you think I can stand here with a smile on my face and greet you with manners and etiquette.....you stupid ________!"

Now that's how it's done in my book of etiquette.

A Month In Abe Lincoln's Life - continued The month of February 1859.

February 14 -   Lincoln collects $1,000 as part payment of claim on which he brouht suit in U.S. Circuit Court, Ambos v. James Barret & Co., filed December 9, 1858.  On back of copy of several promissory notes he writes "Received, Feby 14, 1859, on the within one thousand dollars, for which a receipt was this day given J. A. Barrett by Lincoln & Herndon.  Lincoln buys bottle of Castor oil at his drug store and Robert gets 11 pounds of sugar at Smith's.

February 15 -  Lincoln pays $129 on his account with C. M. Smith, Springfield merchant who married Mrs. Lincoln's sister.  He deposits $60 in his bank account.

February 16 -   Lincoln credits payment of $50 on two promissory notes made by A. and J. Haines of Pekin which he holds.   Notes, probably legal fees, are for $200 each, and were due October 15, 1858 and January 1, 1859.  he deposits money at Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance co, Lincoln Estate Inventory, Marine Bank Ledger.  He writes two checks:  $10 to C. Loch bootmaker; $2.16 to P. A. Dorwin & Co, tinware and store merchants.

February 17 -  Robert takes home a set of knitting needles from Smith's store.

February 18 -  He buys cough syrup at his drug store.

February 19 -  Lincoln deposits $40 in his personal bank account (Marine Bank Ledger).

February 21 -  Lincoln delivers his"Discoveries and Inventions" lecture at Concert Hall.  "His theme....was handled in a masterly manner, and was appreciated by the handful gathered to hear him."

February 22 -  Lincoln deposits $625 at Marine and Fire Insurance Co. (Marine Bank Ledger).

February 24 -  Robert buys and charges sugar, tack, syrup and candles to A. Lincoln's account at Smith's general store.

February 26 -  Lincoln writes a  bill of complaint in Rockwell et al v. Dubois et al.

February 28 -  Lincoln is in Chicago.  Mrs. Lincoln writes a note to O. M. Hatch,, who intends to be in Chicago, asking him to tell Mr. Lincoln that Tad is ill, and doctor fears pneumonia.  She would be comforted if Lincoln would return.



(Note....this man sure goes to the bank a lot to deposit money.....must be getting paid frequently by his customers....and they sure buy a lot of sugar.  We will, at a later time, visit Mr. Lincoln's diaries for a different month and year.)


Thought For The Day

Men are what their mothers made them.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Many people wish they had a photogenic mind .... what is generally called a photogenic memory.  This would mean that you could always remember everything which happened from every minute of your life.  It's like having a camera in your mind to capture every minute on film.

I know that there are some times I'm glad I can't remember.....like when I was married to my ex.....and, when I used to get in trouble when I was a kid.  These are just too horrid to remember so I'm glad I don't have that photogenic memory.

But it's my opinion that when were are born, we all have photogenic memories......but.....and it's a big but......some just don't have the film!!! 

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Sometimes Feel Like The Lone Ranger

Well I guess I can't always be right!

Sometimes I think my feelings and ideas on how a particular subject or matter should be handled, are quite different than others.  It's during these times that I feel I'm the lone ranger.

The funny thing (probably the best too) is that I've learned to step back and let whomever has the other ideas (out of sync ideas as far as I'm concerned), go forward with their different ideas and see if they will hang themselves.  Guess what?????  They usually do!  There are so many people who think their ideas are the utmost, bestest and only ideas that can be considered.  HA HA HA.....and then these same people fall the hardest and the farthest when their ideas suck! 

The only thing wrong with this approach is that many times the target you are shooting for is long gone, over with, sold, disappeared from sight, and just no longer in the picture.  It's too bad because there might have been a way to work together, but the domineering, overbearing and poor idea person was in control of everything and the strings were tight.  They failed!  But they don't think they did ..... they typically blame the others because they didn't help.  Pleasssssssssssssse!  You know it was you the overbearing Jackrabbit (I always want to call this type something else believe me).

Oh well....I will continue to sit back and keep my good ideas to myself and use them to succeed as I have for many years.  The failure can continue to fail.....teehee.....

A Month In Abe Lincoln's Life
The following is a daily chronology in the life of Abe Lincoln and his family members.  This came from Lincoln's and other person's journals, entries, business ledgers and documented history in 1859.

February 1 -  Lincoln writes M. W. Delahay, now living in Kansas, that he expects to visit Council bluffs during the year.  He cannot tell just when, for he must keep a close watch on court business.

February 2 -  The Lincolns entertain.  Browning, in Springfield for court sessions, writes in his diary, cloudy, foggy, muddy, dismal day...at a large party at Lincoln's at night.

February 3 -  To Trumball Lincoln writes letter prompted by recent article hinting rivalry between them. "Any effort to put enmity between you and me, is as idle as the wind....I can not conceive it possible for me to be a rival of yours, or to take sides against you in favor of any rival.  Lincoln deposits $50.00 in Marine Bank.

February 4 -  Robert gets syrup, candies and candles at Smith's store.

February 5 -  In U.S. Circuit Court Lincoln files declaration in Ammidown v. Keyes, suite brought to collect not for $6,662.59.
Lincoln buys four pounds of starch at Corneau & Diller.

February 8 -   In Ammidown v. Keyes leave is granted Lincoln and Herdon, attorneys for plaintiff, to withdraw not on which suit is brought.  Lincoln writes $1.47 check to Sangamon County tax collector.  Robert pays $6 to Smith's store for three loads of wood.

February 9 -   Lincoln & Herndon take continuance when S. C. Davis & Co. v Mace is called in U. S. Circuit Court.

February 10 -  Lincoln pays $1.75 to John F. Baker, through his account at Smith's store, for load of wood.

February 11 -  Lincoln lectures on "Discoveries and Inventions".  Address, delivered in Congregational Church, is sponsored by Phi Alpha Society of Illinois College, which had elected Lincoln honorary member.  "Journal" says of Lincoln's address: "It was received with repeated and hearty bursts of applause."  After lecture Lincoln is guest of honor at tea party given by Dr. Owen M. Long at his home.


(Note:  The month of February will be continued in tomorrow's post on this blog.)

Thought For The Day

Life is what we make it,

always has been, always will be.

--Grandma Moses

Have you ever wondered what the heck the person is doing in the motel room next to you?  For years I've wished I had a hand drill so I could drill a peephole through the wall.

It seems I always get the people who do something like the following.  The morning typically starts like this and of course wakes me up:

Up and at 'em at 6 a.m.  The noisy shower starts and I start to hear what sound like farts....but I've always wondered if it's really feet making noise on the shower floor.  I've never smelled anything coming through the wall, but if I drilled a hole I might!

Then, between 6:15 and 6:30, I hear the water pipes clanking so I assume the water is being turned on and off with morning routines such as brushing the teeth and shaving, etc.

At 6:30 promptly I hear something which sounds like something being thrown on the floor.  Is this exercising or hanky panky.....oh no....another shower is coming.  Sometime I do hear the shower again....sometimes the noisy throwing on the floor sounds go on and on for a while....so your guess is as good as mine.

At about 7:00 I hear a knock on the door next door and the familiar "Room Service".  So I know that I can cat nap for the next few minutes while the person is eating....unless their chompers are really noisy. 

At 7:15 I hear the phone ring next door......then silence for about 20 minutes.

My clock shows 7:50 when I hear the door of the next room slam.  Does this mean he/she is gone?  Or, just down to get a paper. 

Darn....no time to go back to sleep for me.....now it's time for me to get up and start my busy day so the person in the next room on the other side can hear me do all of the morning things I do.....what a life to stay in a motel....especially one with thin walls.

(note:  I really did this motel thing from day to day for years and years.....it sucked!)

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A Snake On The Make

Snake....Go Away!

Yesterday, after seeing a story about a 15 foot diamondback found in St. Augustine, I got to thinking about a couple of snakes I found in our backyard.

First of all, I'm scared to death of snakes....even when I used to find tiny little garden snakes in the kids pockets on wash day, I about went doo doo in my drawers.  So you can imagine when one day I went out back and right at the end of the deck steps was a huge black snake curled in a coil, looking at me with hungry beady eyes.  I know that black snakes like to travel in pairs so I was hesitant to take another step for fear of finding the mate of this audacious (HA HA) black snake which had adopted me as it's mother. 

I looked carefully before stepping....because I remember one other time at our cabin on the river when a big ole black snake went hunting hubby because the snake's mate had been killed.....yes that particular snake lay in wait on the top of the door casing just waiting for hubby to open the door.....hubby did and the snake fell to his feet!  Talk about scare tactics Mr. Snake!

I couldn't see any other snake in our yard,  so I ran and called a neighbor's kid who loved snakes....he removed it and all was right again.  Last I saw of that snake.  At one time we a small garden snake move in the yard.  He/she would follow us around when we were mowing.  We got to know this snake quite well, but it never did anything as it wasn't that kind of snake....but I wasn't that brave to ever meet and greet the darn thing.  I just looked at it.  When the grandkids would come to the house to play, the snake would come out to greet them and would follow the kids while they were playing.  During it's four or five year stay, the snake grew but followed the mower less and less....but we would just see it sunning itself.  Then one day, we noticed it wasn't around.  Later we found it in the yard....it must have followed the mower but, during a quick mower turn around, the snake wasn't able to avoid the blades.  Poor snake....I really had enjoyed getting to know this little fellow who had been our yard inhabitant for a long time (know it from a distance mind you).

But just a warning to other snakes out there....stay away because I still don't like snakes...and for any 15 footers which crawl up here....you will surely make me not only doo doo in my drawers,  I would probably grow wings and fly away! 


History of Menard County - From the "History of Menard and Mason County - 1879"

Among the early pioneers, everything was plain, simple and in conformity
with the strictest economy. This was not only true of their dwellings, furni-
ture and provisions, but also of their clothing. In a very early day, the men
usually wore pants and hunting-shirts of buckskin, and caps of coon or fox
skin, while both sexes clothed their feet in moccasins. Cotton goods were then
extremely hard to get, because, in the first place, of the distance such goods
were to be conveyed by private means, and, secondly, because the manufacture
in this country was very limited, the greater part being manufactured in Europe.
As a consequence, the pioneers of the West found this one of the hardest
demands to meet. Many were the expedients devised by them, especially by
the frugal and economical dames ; for, ever since the wonderful expedient of
preparing an entire wardrobe from fig-leaves, devised quite a number of years
in the past, woman has been very gifted in laying plans and adopting expedi-
ents in the matter of clothing. But, unfortunately for her skill and industry,
the country afforded nothing, the first few years of its occupancy, that could be
turned to any account in this direction. If cotton had been planted on their first
arrival, it would have amounted to but little, because neither the soil nor climate
were favorable to its growth, and the seasons were so short that it could hardly
be planted early enough to mature in quantities sufficient to justify its cultiva-
tion. It was almost useless, in an early day, to take sheep into the frontier
settlements, on account of the vast numbers of prairie and black and gray
wolves, which would destroy an entire flock in a single night. Hence the people had no choice save that between adopting expedients and appearing in
nature's light and airy garb." So, after the first year or two, the people
began to sow crops of flax or hemp, and this the women spun and wove by
hand into a coarse but substantial and pleasant linen. Of this, underwear was
made, dresses for the ladies, towels, table-cloths, etc. But. you may inquire,
what did they do till a crop of this could be raised, rotted and made into cloth.
In reply it may be stated that the clothing taken with them to the new country
was made to do an immense service.


Even after flax was raised in sufficient quantities, and sheep had been
introduced in considerable numbers, still it was an arduous task to spin and
weave the cloth for the entire wearing apparel of a family. Had the fashions
prevailed then that have in a later day, the women would have given up
in despair. But, instead of eight or ten widths of cloth being put in a dress
skirt in order to cover a balloon-frame of crinoline, two or three widths were
considered amply sufficient for the fullest dress. On a certain occasion, under
magis-
trate, charged with having leaped over a little brook on her way to church on
Sabbath ; and this was an offense for which she was liable to pay a severe fine.
The mother of the young lady came into court and made oath that the skirts of
the prisoner's dress were so narrow that she was obliged to leap the brook, or step
into the water. Upon this testimony she was released. Doubtless there was as
great economy practiced by our ancestors as by the staid old Puritans in godly
Connecticut ; but it was more necessity than piety that dictated the limited
amount of material in their clothing. Our modern young gentlemen, who have
dressed in the very best ever since they could remember, would be surprised at
the scanty outfit of the boys of that time. The summer wear of the boys up to
ten and twelve years of age was simple and very free from any effort at display,
as it consisted of but one article, that being a long, coarse overshirt. With this
indispensable article they explored the forests, traversed the prairies, thought
about the girls, and built as many castles in the air as the boys of more favored
times. In winter, they were supplied with buck-skin or tow pants, moccasins
or raw hide shoes, and coats of jeans after sheep began to be raised among the
settlers. In winter, when the deer-skin pantaloons had, by any accident, become
wet, and dried again, it is affirmed that they could be heard to rattle a distance
of forty yards as the wearer walked in them. This scarcity of clothing people
had no choice save that between adopting expedients and appearing in
nature's light and airy garb." So, after the first year or two, the people
began to sow crops of flax or hemp, and this the women spun and wove by
hand into a coarse but substantial and pleasant linen. Of this, underwear was
made, dresses for the ladies, towels, table-cloths, etc. But. you may inquire,
what did they do till a crop of this could be raised, rotted and made into cloth.
In reply it may be stated that the clothing taken with them to the new country
was made to do an immense service. But even wild nature was often appealed
to for aid. In an early day, vast fields of wild nettles grew here, often stand-
ing on the ground thicker than a field of wheat, and not infrequently attaining
a height of three and four feet. This produced a most excellent lint, that was
susceptible both of being woven and bleached. Thousands of yards of linen
were made from these nettles by the pioneer settlers in Illinois. The year after
James Meadows settled in Sugar Grove, his wife spun and wove no less than
thirty yards of this nettle linen. It was strong, serviceable, and bleached to
almost a snowy whiteness. 


(Note:  The James Meadows who is referenced, was the stepfather to Charles Montgomery, who was the person who owned the land where Greenview now stands.  He is my ancestor.)

Thought For The Day

We don't stop playing because we grow old;

we grow old because we stop playing.

--George Bernard Shaw

If a person places an advertisement in a paper, the wording must be carefully scrutinized before you place it so you say what you really mean.  And some might be a bit too weird to post....so carefully think it over before placing.

Examples of some ads that really appeared in newspapers.  Some of these might raise an eyebrow:

1.    Braille dictionary for sale.  Must see to appreciate.

2.    For sale, hope chest, brand new, half off, long story. 

3.    Tired of working for $9.75 per hour?  We offer profit sharing and flexible hours.  Starting pay: $7 - $9.00.

4.   Three year old teacher needed for pre-school.  Experience preferred.

5.    Joining nudist colony.  Must sell washer and dryer $300.

6.    Full sized mattress.  20 year warranty.  Slight Urine smell.

7.   Found:  Dirty White Dog.  Looks like a rat.  Better be a reward.

And on and on the ads go.  Where they stop no one knows.  I just know some of these are weird!

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Geezer or An Old Geezer

Are you put out to pasture when you get old?

Sometimes it seems like no one wants to deal with seniors!  You probably would have a heck of a time finding a job unless you wanted to be a Walmart greeter...at an average salary of $14,000 per year....and when you divide the standard 2080 work hours per year comes to something around $6.75 per hour.  Just what I would want to do the rest of my life...standing at a door with either hot as hades summer heat or cold as hades winter cold coming in the door each time a person comes in.....and I would need to stand on my poor old legs and affix a permanent smile on my face, even when a nasty person comes up to me to complain.  No sireeeeee I would rather do without at home than be a Walmart greeter.

Next comes the waitress at the restaurant who conveniently asks you if you want a dish of prunes with your meal!  And then in the next breath she says (relative the to senior discount)....you are over age 65 aren't you??  Oh come on pleaaaaaaaaaaaase......!!  I have answered no I am only age 39, I've had a hard life....you should see the faces of these inconsiderate waitresses when I say something like this.....priceless!

Of course there's always the friend you haven't seen in 20 years and they say "you haven't changed in 20 years."  For crying out loud, I hope I didn't look this bad 20 years ago!!!!  What a nice (?) thing for the friend to say....I just have to think of something I can always come back with to say to friends like this.

But the thing that sticks in my craw are the people who ask...."Do you remember".....of course I remember....maybe not as well as a person age 20 but, I bet I remember how many drinks I had at the last senior party I went to....do you remember how many cocktails you had when you were out partying the last time?

So I guess it's inevitable, we babyboomers as we are so called, are going to be put further and further into the back part of the pasture as we grow older.  It might be ok if we like dry grass and wire fences.

Old Tyme Stuff

Do you remember this stuff from the 50's and 60's

Fins on cars....like the 57 chevy, the pink Cadillacs with huge fins.

Wilt chamberlain playing ball.

77 Sunset Strip

The Russians might bomb us.

The Hula Hoop.

The PoGo Stick.

Silly Putty.

The Nash Metropolitan.

Ed Sullivan.

Martin Luther King speeches and the entire Civil Rights hullabaloo.

Lassie with Jeff.

The first man walking on the moon.

The Beatles, The Monkees, Elvis Presley, ,The Rolling Stones.

Bobby Darin, Jan and Dean, The Beachboys, Sandra Dee.

Mad Magazine.

Winston Churchill and Khrushchev in the news.

Black and White Television with tubes.

Transistor radios...everyone had one to carry around.

Though For The Day

Why isn't there a special name

for the tops of your feet?

--Lily Tomlin



Appliances come with warranties but in these days how good are they?? It used to be really great when you saw that an item had a lifetime or a 25 year warranty......that might have meant the item would still be working when we were long gone.  But, now I wonder if the company who issued the dang warranty will even be in existence. 

So what the heck good is a lifetime or 25 year warranty....worth the paper it's written on maybe...if even that.  Of course some items only last as long as it takes to open the box, plug it in and use it one time.  And when you look at the fine print on the box it says "Made in USA" by union workers.  What????  Whatever happened to the long lasting products Made in China...I have some things that say Made In China and I've had them for 30 years.  No disrespect to our union workers as I'm sure it's the quality of materials bought by the company .... but......

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