We all seem pretty busy just now so I'm posting this to keep us on the board.

Childrens notes to God.

Dear God:

I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool.

Thank you for the baby brother, but I think you got confused because what I prayed for was a puppy.

I want to be just like my daddy when I grow up, but not with so much hair all over.

We read that Thomas Edison made light, but in Sunday School they said you did it, so I bet he stole your idea.

Did you really mean "Do unto others as they do unto you?". Because if you did, I'm going to get my brother good.

Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?

You don't have to worry about me. I always look both ways.

If you watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show you my new shoes.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), July 18, 2004

Answers

BUMP

-- Carol (c@oz.com), July 18, 2004.

Little guys dont always get it rite but ther ignorance o the stuff that vapor locks grownups can be rite on target. My faverit is the one about the death of a famly pet. Tryin ta minimize the impac, mom splains that Fluffy has gone ta be with God in heaven. Thuh kid looks puzzld and when mom lets up, she finely ast what you think God wood want with a dead cat. J says the kids geology is probly bettern some preachers he nose. I dont no zacly what preachers no bout rocks, cept maybe Rock o Ages, but it remines me of a geologest joke frum the oilfiel. I thaink I better not tell that un here.

-- Redneck (Redneck@smort.kids), July 22, 2004.

LOL, Carol. Thanks for the chuckle.

I don't know where some of our FRLians have gone to but we haven't seen some of them post in a very long time. I haven't seen a post from Gayla or Robert since before Lon went galavanting around on Holiday, and that was early June I think.

Hopefully, they'll return to us soon! In the meantime Helen and Tricia are still stopping by, and Redneck and Lon too. And uh, well, yep I guess you could count me also. And you! (Geez it's gettin to feel kinda crowded all of a sudden. . .

poopie.

-- (sonofdust@where's.everybody?), July 22, 2004.

Two's company dahling ... three or more is a party!

-- helen (and@the.mule.makes.ten), July 23, 2004.

Thanks Carol, for keeping FRL going. I haven't been blessed with time to participate of late, but want all of you to know you are in my thoughts.

Things are complicated here, but I am trying to simplify them, in the best way I am able.

Know that you are all in my heart, prayers, and I am send love in your direction.

Much love,

B

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), July 24, 2004.

Hi all. I'm s'posed to be working flat out just now as it's end of fin. year, but I couldn't resist stopping by to say how nice it is to see you all popping in and out again.

Hiya Aunt Bee. Just wanted to make sure you haven't missed seeing the continuation of Lon's story as it doesn't come up on the opening page now. It's so good. I don't know your circumstances, but I hope things improve for you. You've been missed.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), July 25, 2004.

Seems like busy is going around lately :-)

I promised a haiku a while back, so here it is:

.

Mountain lake sparkles:

Diamonds set in tourmaline

Nestled in emerald.

.

Clear sky days beckon

Call for celebrations now

Summer warmth is here!

.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.ent), August 11, 2004.

That was lovely Tricia. I don't believe I've heard of "tourmaline" before. What a great word.

Hubby and I are in the midst of planning a weeks holiday in tropical Queensland so hopefully we'll have some clear skies and sunshine. I think it will be the first time we've ever had a whole week away on our own. My desk is covered with pictures of beaches and palm trees, but it all seems a bit beyond belief just yet.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), August 12, 2004.

I hope you have a great time, Carol!!

Tourmaline is a translucent blue-green stone that sometimes has an almost fuschia edging. The blue-green colour of it is the closest gem match I've seen for the colour of our mountain lakes. I could have said turquoise, but it's an opaque stone and the lakes are definitely translucent. Except for the glacier lake that had so much dust run-off in it that it was an opaque grey. I've learned over the years to admire without touching, though. That water is COLD!!!!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), August 12, 2004.

Carol, going north to a warmer clime--that just seems so wrong somehow! It's been normal hot and sticky around here until the last day or so. The Gulf Coast is in the throes of a "cold" front at present. It's what's pushing those two little hurricanes over to Florida instead of allowing them to come ashore hereabouts. But it also chilled our air some, mostly by removing the humidity. There was a nice little north breeze this morning and the sky was clear early (the front blew the normal haze away) with a sharp-edged crescent moon and bright "morning star" up and to the right. Almost imagined my neck beginning to swell a little. I looked for my old buddy Orion, but the other stars were already gone in the brightening morning.

-- J (jsnider@hal-pc.org), August 12, 2004.

Thanks Tricia, I hope you enjoyed your recent holiday. From what I've seen on travel shows you have some stunning scenery in Canada. Have you ever been to Vancouver Island? It looks wonderful.

Hi J. I assume it's the same as Americans going to Florida in winter. The weather is warm, but not humid then (hopefully). It's a heck of a long way.

I think the moon looks it's finest when it is a crescent especially if Venus is close by. Poor old Orion is standing on his head down here, but he is always visible in the NW from my front lawn.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), August 13, 2004.

I'm not complaining, but I'm wearing a blanket to type at the computer ... in August? We're normally dying of the heat this time of year. The mule is already growing his winter hair, and the geese were flying south last weekend.

-- helen (mule@looks.blue), August 13, 2004.

Me too Helen! I've even had to dig out my winter flip-flops already. You know, the furry ones with bunny ears.

It's 30 degrees below normal here right now, and it's great for working outside. But, I keep wondering about the pay back. Either we'll freeze solid or have no winter at all. But for now, as J says, the fronts are at least keeping the hurricanes from coming this way.

-- Lon too lazy to write (lgal@exp.net), August 14, 2004.

Uh oh J. It looks like one of those huricanes wasn't so little. Our news reports are showing some dreadful devastation in Florida. I'm glad it missed you guys, but feel very sorry for the people in it's trail.

Helen if you get the urge to make soup you'll know summer is over. I hope you get some nicer weather before summer departs.

Lon do you have one of those hats with the furry ear-flaps as well as furry flip flops or would that be more Redneck's style?

-- Carol (c@oz.com), August 16, 2004.

Carol, you're right. I heard it was a category 4, After-the-fact, and that's mean enough to get your attention. Must have built up quickly. Pictures look like a rerun of those from the last bad one that walked across Florida, but I keep seeing the same pic's over and over, so the damage was probably more localized.

Redneck and I got to bouncing it around: How nervous? Nervous as a snowbird with a 'cane in the Gulf. Nervous as a lumberyard short of plywood in September. Nervous as a yacht owner with a short rope. Nervous as a homeowner with a new roof. Nervous as an insurance executive. Nervous as a pine tree. Nervous as an electric company lineman (also in September). Nervous as a billboard rental company. How happy? Happy as a life-jacket salesman. Happy as a welding supply outfit with too much dry ice. Happy as a bottled water delivery guy. Happy as a frog. Happy as a beachcomber in Austin.

-- J&R (J&R@tietheboattotheporch.rail), August 16, 2004.

Them wisconsin hats er hard ta find down here an can get you into fites in some joints fastern eatin french fries with a fork or makin a pass at the pretiest waitress. Makin passes at the other waitress is ok sept you mite wind up on a date with her. A guy i no from misheegun had one hats not dates i mean that he used to wear ever time it got cold enuff. I remember cause i saw it on im in 1983. Whyd you think id have one. Do they make a fishul dallas cowboys model. I do have some head socks in different colors for huntin an goin to church an such when me an J go north for deer, tho. Can you bleve J makes me go to church on huntin trips. Theyr cool them head socks i mean you can fold em this way an that for toboggins (for yore noggins) or face masks or whatever. There kind o like them bela clahvahs i seen in army surplus stores only without no bill on em. Cold weather gears great ifn you got any cold weather to wear it in. J likes the looks of his missus in them go go boots thats kind of comin back but she wont by a pair anymore cause she says its dumb when its so hot where they live. Come crismus, maybe some of us cood throw together an get lon a new pair o them rabbit ear things. His old ones is kind o raggedy since jazzy an the cat take out there frusterations on em. They aint zackly flip flops in the ordnary sense tho. He kind o made em outa some slippers with a nife an some sof line an whats left o the rabbit ears is muddy on the end frum goin outside in em time to time.

-- Redneck (Recneck@camohat.man), August 16, 2004.

Thanks for the chuckle J. & Redneck. I hope I haven't caused offence. I guess I thought Redneck might wear one of those hats because that's the way I picture him, just as I have mental images of all the FRLians (real and imagined). Probably nothing like the real deal, but I'm happy with my pics. Unfortunately it is too late for me to change my impression of Redneck, climatically inaccurate as it might be.

Your head sock sounds similar to our beanie which is a knitted hat often worn when fishing or by sports fans in team colours in winter.

I think a new pair of slippers would be the ideal Chrissy present for Lon seeing as it will be your winter then. That way Jazzy and the cat can have one each of the old pair for their presents. Modifying the new ones will give Lon something to do when he is lazing 'round the bayou having finished all his building work in time for Christmas. 8-}

-- Carol (c@oz.com), August 17, 2004.

NOOOOooooOOOOO!!! You don't unnerstan' - there are just some things that defy the laws of reason. When dealing with the affairs of the heart, one must tread gently upon the emotional flotsam which makes up the soul of the bayou denizen. The way a mother gator builds a nest which will incubate her brood, the way a redbird daddy will feed his fully fledged chick, even while risking his own life on the ground, the desperate struggle of mockingbirds to give courage and ambition to their young when starting to fly, the highway-crossing death-defying waddle of a red-ear turtle when mating season calls her to other ponds, and the undying love of a man for his old comfy bunny slippers; these are the warp and woof of life in the low country.

So, just you keep your flip-flop grabbing mitts offa mine! And yes, I got one of those earmuff caps. I like to wear it with the flaps stuck straight out like the wings of a B52. It gives me that suave, ace fighterpilot look.

-- Thems my slippers (andI@ain't.kiddin'!), August 17, 2004.

Okay, okay, settle down Lon. You can keep your bunny slippers. I just wonder if there is a Linus/Snoopy connection here?

I shall just have to re-adjust my mental image of you. Let's see, fighter pilot hat, bunny slippers and maybe I'll put you on the Harley with Helen riding pillion and the Mule in the sidecar. Yep, gotcha now. Might make a good front cover for your book, don't you think?

-- Carol (c@oz.com), August 18, 2004.

Warped life in thuh low country? Yew got that right!

-- Redneck (dontshoot@rabbitswithfeetin.em), August 20, 2004.

Definitely bent Redneck. I feel like I'm talking to a whole different person now seeing as Lon in wearing "your" hat. I have given you a well loved cowboy hat and a rifle, hope that's okay. Also hope you leave the rifle outside when J. takes you to church.

-- Carol (C@oz.com), August 21, 2004.

Im more of a camo gimme hat guy, mysef. An some o them baptist churches J takes me to, a guy aint dressed proper without his rifle tho its usualy best to stand it up agin the wall with everbody elses instead o tryin to take it inta a pew an skinnin the varnish off of the gun I mean not the pew. Down here we got sunday go to meetin shootin irons as well as clothes. Weze raised to think that it dont matter what kind of iron a fellers packin to church on sunday long as its clean or maybe that wuz shirts i forget. Anyway in Texas you gotta make some alowances. I think its pitiful the way some folks show off tho espeshully in them germin towns up in the hill country. Theys a bunch o show offs an bring such fancy stuff to church that its embarassin for a plain country boy. I dont think thats right. Nobody takes there guns to church league athaletic games tho. It ud just be too dangerus.

-- Redneck (Redneck@sheepgotteeth.too), August 25, 2004.

Redneck gets carried away sometimes, so you have to take what he says with a grain of salt. Texans are much more civilized and progressive than people give us credit for. Folks around here quit taking such hardware to church six or eight months ago. Most of 'em.

-- J (j@forthe.record), August 25, 2004.

You don't have to worry J. Redneck always makes me smile. He's a ray of sunshine in my winter sky.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), August 29, 2004.

Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there. (Imagine the shock they must get if they bump into you by mistake)

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times. (I just know you're gonna try anyway)

A duck's quack doesn't echo and no one knows why.

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump. (Probably a good thing)

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise. (Go Venus!!!)

It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow. (Okay give up on the paper and try this one)

No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH." (Okay poets, this one's for you)

-- Carol (door-person@oz.com), September 02, 2004.

Carol, where on earth did you find those bits of trivia and amusement?? LOL

It's lonely in here these days. I imagine that our other friends are busy off-line.

The "rat-race" sounds particularly apt to me these days - I feel like I'm on an exercise wheel and that the faster I run the more things blur, but when I stop, I haven't gotten anywhere. And now our leaves are turning yellow and there are frost warnings out. Summer has gone and I don't know how or where it went. I remember long summer days when I was a child, being bored when it rained and eventually even when it was sunny. I was one of those weird kids who looked forward to the start of school - summer vacation was great, just a bit too long. I'd love to have a too long vacation now!

Well, better get off to bed. Tomorrow I have friends to visit, a basement to clean out and a deck to finish ripping out. I'll be dropping by to visit friends here again, soon.

-- Tricia (jayels@telusplanet.net), September 06, 2004.

Carol, i wunth rymes with month new a fella could ryme motht anything, but he thpit on you when rethitin it tho the teacher had him rite it out an never called on him in clath much.

Hey T the C. We been gettin cold down here too. Got down to 60 the other nite. Glad i didn hafta work outside or i mita got hypofermya an had ta been saved by sharin body heet with some byootiful indian girl that come acrost me out on the plains or somethin. Wha. Huh? Uh sorry guess ize daydreamin. What was the subjec agin? Anyway lookin forward to more hike yous when you come around to it. Good luck with the deck, an if you have any questions you can ask lon the deck guy. His faingers aughta be plum pincher shaped from grippin deck nails by now. Or maybe he uses one o them newfangled air operated deals. Ill hafta ask next time im over there. Never can tell when youl need ta borra somethin an so you got to keep up with hoos got what you no.

-- Redneck (Redneck@rymin.fool), September 06, 2004.

Hi Tricia. Isn't it funny how summer seemed to stretch out for eternity when you were a child and now the seasons just fly by. I loved summer holidays. They were days of freedom. No shoes, no classrooms, every day was an adventure. Sigh. Watch out for splinters on that decking.

I wonder why it's called decking, always makes me think of a ship?

Lol Redneck thankyou. I'll be sure to keep it in mind.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), September 07, 2004.

Hey, Carol, that was a great post. Thanks! My 'puter broke and has finally been fixed so I can get on the net again.

Rob, who is trying to lick his elbow and wondering why we're still cloaked.

-- (sonofdust@still.cloaked?), September 07, 2004.

Rob,

I sent Helen an email about 2 weeks ago, asking that she remove some of my writings, expecially if we decloak again. I sent the "Listener" to a literary agent, and I don't know how they will react if it is on the net. I have not heard back from her, so I don't know if she got it or not, or if she is just busy nowadays.

Please, whoever holds the keys now, email me before you decloak the site. (Whatever happened to Kritter, anyhow? And Gayla, and the hilltop folks, and.....????)

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), September 08, 2004.

Hey Rob. Glad you're back. Broken 'puters are the pits aren't they? I've given up (okay almost given up) trying to lick my elbow, but am not convinced about the paper folding. I can get A4 to six folds so there's this stubborn bit in my brain that says "if the paper were bigger maybe...." That's the same bit of brain that's causing me to dislocate my shoulder to get my elbow close enough. I bet that bloke from the band KISS could do it.

Best of luck with the literary agent Lon. What an exciting, albeit nerve wracking time it must be for you. Many good wishes coming your way.

-- Carol (stubborn@old girl.com), September 08, 2004.

ACK!!! Lon! I won't decloak us ... hang on dear ... checking email ...

-- embarrassed helen (out@to.lunch.all.summer), September 09, 2004.

Just popped in to say "seeya" as we head off in the morning for our week's holiday in the sun. I can't quite imagine that it's sunny anywhere just now, but here's hoping. Take care all.

-- Carol (c@tropical island.com), September 10, 2004.

Carol, watch for herricanes. And the himmicanes.

-- helen (a@beach.in.the.country.sounds.nice), September 10, 2004.

Have a wonderful time Carol!

Rob, glad you got your puter fixed.

Lon, I'm still here... I didn't have the password for a long time, but finally got it. I hope your story gets published!

So much has happened in my personal life lately, it's been tough to post (or even read) as much as I'd like to.

I even resigned as a mod at Mutter's.

I still love this place... it brings me comfort.

Hugs to you all!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 10, 2004.

Gayla, glad you made it back! That password is kinda disgusting, isn't it? Drop me an email when you get the chance.

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), September 10, 2004.

Lon...?

Lon...?

I did what you told me to do. Ok? Is it still ok??

-- helen (horrified@mule.wonders), September 10, 2004.

The forum is now open again, at the requests of Lon and Rob. Since school is back in, hopefully we'll be okay until Christmas break. If not, we'll be cloaked again, and likely stay that way.

-- Key Holder (Lurker@FRL.R.US), September 14, 2004.

Well that's a fine kettle of fish! Decloaking right as winter is upon us!

-- helen (naked@under.my.skimpy.outfit), September 18, 2004.

Every once in a while I get a yearning for the comaradarie that was once the domain of the non-psycho Y2K-ers....*sigh*

Seems we've all moved on.

Won't ever forget none of y'all.

-- Uncle Deedah (Unkeed_used to be my mailbox@yahoo.com), September 22, 2004.

Welcome home, Unk! We aren't as active here as we were. I've thought about starting a thread for us to update about where we are at - I just haven't done it yet. Life does get complex, and tends to happen all at once. Hope all's well with you - no hurricanes your way yet, I hope!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.ent), September 24, 2004.

Great to hear from you again, Unk! I thought maybe you'd been blown away or drownt by the storms down your way (you are still in Florida, huh?)

Anyhow, show your old self around here more often, why don'tcha? We still have a few of the regulars who read and post when we can. But, we still got Rob and Robert, so the "non-psycho" thing may not really fit.

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), September 24, 2004.

LOL. So now I'm a psycho huh?

HUH?

OK, well, I've been called many things here; like CheifTin, and FRLian Leader, and FRLian Fiction Writer and Robby Red Sox,... but never, until now , the label of 'psycho'!

Actually, it kinda fits. After all, who else wbut a psycho would have started this whole FRL thing anyways.

-- Hi Unk. (sonofpscyho@nut.ball), September 24, 2004.

(((Unk))) Don't move on, Unk.

-- helen (sad@always.sad), September 25, 2004.

Unk! Ya' give me the shivers, man, poppin' in like ya' did! Just last night I was trying to weed out some of my old bookmarks and came across your Breaking Up Is Hard To Do thread. . . dang that lump in my throat!

Don't you dare think you can get away with a drive-by posting!

We miss ya', friend. . . all of us.

-- Brooke (that's MRS. Hardliner to you ;-) (Happiness@Hill.top), September 27, 2004.

Congratulations, Brooke and HL!!

-- T the C (jales@teluspalnet.ent), September 28, 2004.

Still lurking after ALL these years.

aka, carrie

Hey Aunt Bee

-- consumer (unsure@hmm.right), October 05, 2004.

Hey Brooke, that HL is a lucky guy...course so am I. I lucked out and got me a good one (spouse) too.

Two HURRICANES in three weeks...sheesh! Three weeks later to the day, damned near to the hour, landing within a few miles of one another...direct hits on yer old Unk! Damn, and here I thought I was in the clear after hurricane numero uno. Hell, here I thought I was OK after missing Y2K! Heehee!

Y2K supplies came in real handy I must say. Yessiree!

The house made it through mostly okay, but an absolute shatload of work to do, as if I didn't have enough work to do anyhow. My tropical paradise is trashed, trashed I say.

Gotta tell ya, shoveling snow doan look so bad to right now. Nope. Shoveling snow doan look too bad at all.

-- Sir Uncle of the Deedah (Uncle_Deedah@Yahoo.com), October 05, 2004.

PS.

F.E.M.A. SUX

State Farm SUX

S.U.V.s Sux.....Sucks a lotta gasthat is...but oooh ya gotta love 'em when yer runnin away (they carry LOTS of stuff)

F.E.M.A. SUX!!!!

STATE FARM SUX!!!!

-- Deedah, Uncle Deedah (Uncle_deedah@yahoo.com), October 05, 2004.

UNK!! It's SO good to see ya'! I was really hoping you'd pop back in here and let us know how you fared during the hurricanes. . . Glad to know you and the missus are in one piece, but sorry to hear you've got a lot of work ahead of ya', and a big headache for clean up and dealing with the insurance company. IIRC, you did some hurricane fortification of Casa de Deedah, and hope that paid off for you.

Yes, State Farm sux. Big time.

The old man sends his best regards. :-)

-- Brooke (Hurricane-free@Hill.top), October 05, 2004.