Oh, where have you been, Patty-girl, Patty-girl

Panama City Beach - Google images

 

               

 When Kid Billy and I used to drive to visit relatives in Florida, we made up this song, which delighted the youngster. “Oh, where have you been, Billy-boy, Billy-boy…Arkansas and Mississip, Alabam and Florida…” I thought of it driving home this past Sunday from Panama City Beach.
 

 Twenty-one stories high in a Wyndham building, we could see the sandy shore where gentle waves lapped incessantly. The small balcony barely held four seats and the round table. Straight down was the pool area.
 

I didn’t buy one book! In fact, only in the last up-scale place did I even touch one.I didn’t buy one shell. I have a gallon jardinière and a basket full from earlier visits to the panhandle. I didn’t buy one pear-motif piece, though some were gifts.
 

What did I buy? A blue, fish-shaped ginger grater—not to grate ginger, but to put on a stand and place on a shelf in my Blue Room-cum-office-cum Mom’s sunroom.
 

I bought a blue glass buoy replica wrapped in roping to hang from the pocket window in the same room. I bought a small blue-glass shell (oops, I did buy one piece shaped like a shell), and a 2-piece set of color drip candles for our New Year’s candle made many years ago in a wine bottle.
 

At Ritzy Rags, I bought a blue glass ring, a gold billfold and 2 serving spoons in my silverplate pattern. At a Catholic charity warehouse, I bought two small plant pots and a bunch of silk flowers “for my cemetery duties.”
 

We ate out several times—at the Saltwater Grill, described by Wyndham as a must-do activity. After an expensive repast, a perceived-by-one rude waitperson and a loud-mouthed man behind us, we discovered the asterisk beside the entry meant “date night” meaning “expensive.” However, the giant, wall-sized fish tank entertained us while we waited.
 

At Jimmy Buffet’s eatery, Margaritaville, fronting Pier Park, a sister and I shared a “volcano-shaped” plate of nachos. Others in our party of five ate fish, chicken and a cheeseburger. We shopped at ubiquitous boutiques along a couple of blocks of Pier Park. I’d have bought a shell-motif coffee mug, but the Chinese had made it non-microwaveable by inserting a metal ring at the base of the handle. The clerk hadn’t noticed, she said.
 

One night, we made arrangements with my son Gordon/wife Karen to each drive halfway between Pensacola and Panama City Beach and meet in Destin. Karen arranged the place and gave us directions. We ate at Acme’s Oyster Bar in Baytowne Wharf for a delightful but short visit. They would head down to Daytona for the car races later, and this was the only night we could get together.
 

Our last-night eat-out venue was Sweet Basil’s Bistro, an Italian food place. Several had lasagna; two of us had pizza; one, pasta Alfredo with Polish sausage and a meatball.
 

Other meals we took at “home” with food brought from Arkansas/Virginia.
 

Day activities besides shopping included the two “northern” women plus an Arkansas sister (not me) playing pickle ball twice, others of us walking the beach, sitting/reading on the beach, sitting on the balcony reading and napping (guess who?).
 

 

One day, two of us drove quite a ways west to the Eden Gardens state park and toured a mansion and grounds that included a 500- and 600-year-old Virginia live oak. We snacked on stuff we'd brought along, and each bought a camellia from their “nursery.”
 

Evening activities included watching the Olympics, playing cards, reading and scrapbooking (me).
 

 

All are now back in our respective homes unpacking, washing clothes.
 

And remembering.



Nothing about President Washington's wooden teeth

 

                Since this is the month of Lincoln and Washington's birthdays, plus Presidents' Day, I delved into two resources for unusual information about our first president.Arkansas Living's "trivia" feature and Eric Couch's Presidential Trivia provided the snippets that follow.

                George Washington was born at Pope's Creek Farm (now Wakefield), Westmoreland County, Virginia, February 22, 1732. He did not have a middle name. In school, his favorite subject was arithmetic.

                George was only eleven when his father, Augustine Washington, died. George was one of nine presidents who didn't attend college.

At age 17, he secured a surveyor's assistant job helping lay out the town site in Alexandria, Virginia. At 19, while on his only foreign trip, George contracted smallpox on the island of Barbados.

At age 27, George, an Episcopalian, married Martha Dandridge Custis, also 27. The name of her plantation home was White House.

                The mule owes its popularity on the farm to George Washington. While researching farming methods, he determined that mules (the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse) were better for farming because they were stronger and had more endurance than a horse. In the 1770s, he began breeding mules at Mount Vernon.

                In 1782, as leader of the Continental Army, George Washington introduced the military decoration, Order of the Purple Heart. During this time, he became close friends with marquis de Lafayette, who eventually gave his general a Maltese jackass to help in the latter's mule business.

Washington served as president from 1789-1797. Our first president is the only one who did not live in the White House, which wasn't completed until after his death. He was 57 years old when he was sworn in as president for the first time. The oath of office was administered by Robert R. Livingston of New York, and ended with President Washington saying, "So help me God!" He appointed Thomas Jefferson secretary of state.

Though never paid for his work, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French engineer, was hired by President Washington to lay out the physical plan for a new capitol for the new nation.

 Because of the tardiness of some states in ratifying the Constitution, only eleven states officially comprised the USA at the time he was elected. In April, 1792, the president exercised his veto power for the first time in the nation's history.

                Washington's second inauguration was held March 4, 1793 in Federal Hall, Philadelphia. That inaugural speech was 133 words in length. The next year, he raised 15,000 troops to put down a rebellion by farmers in western Pennsylvania, known as The Whiskey Rebellion. The same year, he and the Congress authorized the creation of the United States Navy as a branch of the U.S. Defense Department.

                His 6,000-word Farewell Address was published in the Philadelphia newspaper, American Daily Advertiser, on September 19, 1796.

                On December 12, 1799, George Washington fell ill with a cold and sore throat. His condition worsened to the point that he had trouble breathing. He died two days later of what is now believed to be acute epiglottitis.

                In 1847, his likeness appeared on the first 10-cent stamp issued by the U.S. Post Office.

                Pat here: Like any researcher, I benefited the most. If you learned even one new fact, Yay!

From wanna-be to blogger--5 year anniversary

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                It’s Sunday night, February 9, 2014—a special date in several ways. According to my haiku calendar, in 2010 it was 20 degrees with snow on the ground. In 2011, it was snowing. Thirty-two degrees in 2013, and today, 29 degrees with snow still on the ground (until the afternoon). After the low, low temps of the past few weeks, today, it seemed actually warm.

                One more important (to me) event: Five years ago, I began blogging.

                In early February of 2008, I wrote a piece titled, “If I were a blogger . . .” At that time, I knew only two bloggers, both friends: former landlady Sally Dixon and Dennis Price, an Arkansan-turned-Texan. (He calls himself “the Texican.”) He kept at me, and when I finally set up a blog, he offered support by getting his friends to "comment."

                So far, though, I haven’t received any invitation from magazine editors to use any of my posts, like the literature on the advantages of blogging promised. Oh, I take that back, Gayle asked me to do a guest post on her blog, which I promised to do this month. But right now, she’s just a blogger like me. And a 90+-year-old writer from Missouri asked me to put the word out (on my blog) about her first novel coming out Tuesday, Water Under the Bridge, by Verna Simms.

                Now, five years later, many bloggers I know are out there in blogger-land, including most of the members of Central AR Writers.

Why blog? Jane, a blogger from Rector says, “Writing feeds me. It wasn't until I had the time that I began to write out of daily experiences, sharing what spoke to me. The response from readers encourages me to look deeper into each day.”

A blogger from Clinton: "Today marks the second anniversary of my blog, named "Freeda Baker Nichols, My True Sentence." As a poet and writer, I share poems and short fiction as well as photos. Blogging allows me to share my writings with people around the world. That's awesome! Their feedback encourages and brings me happiness. Although it's time consuming, my blog is worthwhile and keeps me writing."

                Here is another blogger, Christa. "Pat, I was a reluctant blogger. I had written the column for the paper since 2005 and when they started offering blogs I simply graduated to putting my column on the blog. Then I became excited about it and have 3 other blogs that I don't really update as often as I should."

Dot from Beebe writes, "I find blogging a good writing discipline for me, an appointment I need to keep. I also enjoy the instant gratification of finishing a project, no matter if small, and putting it out there. My blog (First Person Limited) is not designed to be an expert's view or opinion of anything; I like that freedom, too."

Gayle (aforementioned) says, "Blogging 1) keeps my mind on writing.  Knowing I need to keep a schedule keeps me on my toes and my attention on writing. 2) Perhaps the best thing is I am more aware of things around me, always wondering if they would be good subjects or how I could use them in a post.3) A nice side benefit is that I'm getting better at quick edits! ( and I'm craving to get better at photography, now, too... so I have my own photos to use)"

                Other friends have blogs, too, but I'll save their thoughts for another time.

 

Letters—sent and not sent

 

            Dear Heloise, I read your columns faithfully. I’ve gotten some good hints. What I need to know is the secret way to hold the can—and my mouth—when I go to open the lid with a new Continental brand electric can opener.

While making venison-based chili, I tried to open a can of regular chili, a can of tomatoes and a can of chili beans— to only the grinding sound of the machine. I tried more than several times, so I ended up using the hand-cranked opener. I just about unplugged the new-ish machine and tossed it out.

Later, making cheese dip, I thought I’d try it one more time. Lo and behold, it opened the Rotel tomatoes and the regular chili without a groan, grind or whine. Now, Heloise, tell me: is there a robot inside that decides when to work and when not to work?

Dear Linda, How do you like J. as bell director? I'm impressed that he counts so quietly. Last week, K. asked him to count out loud all the time, but others of us demurred. He agreed to call out a measure number now and then. I tried to get C. to come play bells, but she won't leave the Wed. nights' activities at her church. Wasn't Andrew a hoot last night? He was in his glory playing both his and Mark’s BIG bells!!  

Dear Sis, I gave blood after church and didn't get outta there till 1:10. Sorry, I wanted to hear you sing whatever it was you sang today. Maybe next time. The tech said I had great blood pressure (120/80) and a great iron count (14.5). If my pint will save 3 people, I'm glad to give it. The little boy in FL with the flesh-eating disease died, the tech said. But Kali seems to be responding, Thank-You-Lord.

Dear Gloria, Thanks for your letter wanting an autographed copy of A Journey of Choice. I will mail you one--hardback ($25), softback ($15), plus $2 mailing. Do I have your address?  Oh, and thanks!!! I'm always ready to sell a book. xoxo

            Dear Sandy, Thanks for your congratulations on my accepting the newly-vacated position of poetry editor for CALLIOPE. Isn't that what I asked for several years ago?  But only if she ditched him, or he ditched himself. Sounds like he's a prima donna. Thanks for your encouragement. C. said she preferred that I take it.  So I did!!!!  

            Dear Billy, Your debit card and an invoice from HSU for $302 came in the mail. Shall I send them on? Can you pay the invoice? I've already made two payments for this term, each over a thousand dollars. Let me know the answers--either by text or by email. Do you still have the PO Box at Henderson? 

            Dear Dot, Talya's dropping by Monday on her way to Helena; I've spent all morning on the computer working on restoring/updating my lost stuff. I could use the extra day at home prepping for fall/T. Since I've already given you your birthday gift, I'm OK with F.'s suggestion for the writers not to meet until November. UNLESS, you think we ought to meet face to face.        

                Dear Readers, these letters are across time from the present to the fairly recent past.  Only one was not sent. PL