Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 23 Oct 06 - 08:49 PM Hi Jerry, so glad you are back,you are very much in our thoughts. tried to keep the coffee hot but we had a difficalt weekend, my ex husband and father of my two children died this morning, I spent the weekend with my daughter and new grand daughter as she was advised not to travel to be with her father by her doctor, while my son was with his father and today had to make all the arangements.I am so proud of my two children, in very emotional times they have been amazing, keeping step mother's feelings at the forefront, looking after my ex mother in law who is 97 and is deverstated by the loss of her son, but I am so aware that they have lost their father. We are blessed that Billy has been in their lives for 25 years as the most wonderful stepdad and friend,he has understood their loss of a father and my loss of memories of happy times when I met their father and we had those two beautiful children. Thank you for this table, please keep the coffee hot! Wendy |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Oct 06 - 08:22 PM Welcome home, Jerry. I know that the unfolding of your recent experience will continue for many weeks. Enjoy those flashes of memory and feeling as they arrive, and as they go along with you into your life as you live it. ~Susan |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 23 Oct 06 - 08:17 PM Man! This thread is becoming my personal blog... maybe it's time to let it slip away into the ether. I went to my first writing class today. I missed last week's class (the first) because I was in Wisconsin for my Mother's funeral. What an interesting collection of people in the class. There's a woman who is doing the geneology of her family: I asked her if she was just doing a family tree, or whether she was doing memoirs. Nope: she's doing a family tree... maybe toss in an anecdote though. There's another woman who is doing a memoir but is not using the real names of anyone in her family, and wants to write like Danielle Steele. Then there's a young man who wants to write an action novel. The other young man isn't sure yet, what he wants to write. The stuff he wrote in the first class and passed around to us was all about how he survived a serious accident, because he is such a party animal, and a sex machine. And he dares anyone to say he's not a man. And then there's me. As strange as the others, I guess. This should be interesting. Maybe we could collaborate on a joint project. Anyone else around? Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 22 Oct 06 - 10:33 PM Feels good being home. I've enjoyed reading the messages posted during my absence. Now I have a lot of catching up to do... NOMAD is coming up, right around the corner. Anyone from the table going there? I don't think so, but it sure would be nice to see some of you. Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 21 Oct 06 - 09:55 PM Got back tonight and am tired. Mom was cremated, so they didn't have the burial until yesterday afternoon. This morning I woke up and was lying in bed when this came to me: Love Is not Like A Bicycle Love is not like a bicycle You can't sit on it and ride it It is not of the physical world Love may be expressed through words But words are not love Actions speak louder than words But actions are not love Love is not limited by time or space Love is omnipresent Love is God, as God is love In loving, we touch divinity On friday, October 13th, Mom died But her love didn't die Neither did our love for her True love never dies Catch you all tomorrow... I'm doing pretty good... had a very hard, but beautiful week. Thanks for keeping the pot on.. Still Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Elmer Fudd Date: 20 Oct 06 - 12:24 AM Chocolate chip--yum, My favorite too. I'm hitting the road for a week or so as well, but can I pack up a few more of those cookies and a thermos of Joe for the car? Elmer, with cookie crumbs on my chin |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 19 Oct 06 - 11:11 PM Wow--I lovvvvvve freshly baked soft warm chocolate chip cookies!!!!! Haven't had any for quite a while--til now. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Tootler Date: 19 Oct 06 - 10:46 AM Thanks for the coffee, but I shall have to go. We're off to Belfast in the morning for a wedding on Saturday and will be away until next Thursday. I'm looking forward to a few days break. I'm sure you will all be here when I get back, so I will see you then. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: GUEST, Ebbie Date: 18 Oct 06 - 05:50 PM Yum, Wendy. My turn next time. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 18 Oct 06 - 05:43 PM Hi Elmer, your coffee is just as good, however you are right we are all thinking about, and missing, Jerry and Ruth. Just sitting in the corner and thinking of friends and family no longer here, a good place to sit quietly and reflect, thanks Jerry, this kitchen table is such a good peaceful place,just made chocolate chip cookies...help yourselves! Wendy |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Elmer Fudd Date: 17 Oct 06 - 08:50 PM The coffee doesn't taste quite as good without Jerry around. However, here's a post in the interest of keeping the table set and the pot going for when he gets back. He's going to need some java, or maybe some chicken soup. Lacking anything much in the way of original thinking--or any kind of thinking--at the end of a long day, here are a few quotes about jazz that struck a chord: Jazz music is an intensified feeling of nonchalance. -- Fancoise Sagan Don't play what's there, play what's not there. -- Miles Davis We kept reading about rockets and jets and radar, and you can't play 4/4 music in times like that. -- Max Roach, about bebop |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Col K Date: 17 Oct 06 - 06:33 PM Just sitting here and thinking of friends who are no longer here, knowing that they will be all together now, possibly even thinking of us. We all have family and friends who are no longer with us in body but I am sure that they are all somewhere in our minds.They can inspire us all if we care to let them. I give thanks for all my friends both alive and dead, they all help me in many ways and all have had some part in making me what I am today. All the Best Colin |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 17 Oct 06 - 11:22 AM Keeping the coffee on while you are away, Jerry, you and Ruth are in our thoughts. Thank you for the CD it arrived yesterday and I really enjoyed listening to it. Wendy |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 15 Oct 06 - 04:35 PM I agree with you, Rap. On the other hand, every time I hear of a 'good one', it reassures me that there are a lot more of them around than I feared. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Rapparee Date: 15 Oct 06 - 03:09 PM Can I sit in the corner, sip, and whimper? Too many good folks passing away these days, too many awful ones still around. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 15 Oct 06 - 02:23 PM I picture us sitting here, lost in our own thoughts but here nonetheless. rising to put on a fresh pot... |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 13 Oct 06 - 10:28 PM Did anyone take note of what Raptor said, over on Mum Esther's thread? He said that his mother is dying of cance of the throat. Raptor lost his wife - last year, was it? - and he must be having a hard time of it. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 13 Oct 06 - 09:36 PM Hey, Joe: Nice to see you drop by. I'm just sitting here doing bills before we leave in the morning so we have heat and electricity when we get back. I still have to finish packing and do a few other things, and we'll be getting up around 2:30 to head off to the airport. Feeling very peaceful over here. Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Oct 06 - 09:16 PM Well, I guess I'll just sit here at the table for a spell and think about Jerry and wish him well. -Joe- |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 13 Oct 06 - 08:42 PM Jerry-- Your music and your concern are the best gifts she could hope for from a son--and I'm sure she felt that way. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 13 Oct 06 - 12:14 AM {{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}} |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Rapparee Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:59 PM Vaya con Dios, Jerry. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:23 PM Thanks all: My Mother and I may be a thousand miles away, but we are together at the same time, and always will be. I am so pleased that I've been writing family memoirs these last few weeks and sharing them with my Mother. She can't see well enough to read, but she has an angel as her best friend, who has read to her every night. Yesterday, she was listening to the recent CD I did and sent to her. I'm glad that it got there in time for her to hear it. There are a few songs in there that I was sure that she'd enjoy. As always, songs speak for me. And words to songs I wrote long ago come back as fresh as if they just came to me: "And when my race here on earth is done And all of my trials are through May you praise me for a job well done May I abide in you When I'm weary, Lord, give me rest When I'm lost, show me the way Cleanse my body, and my soul Grant me another day A couple of days would be greatly appreciated. But not essential. or.. "Some spend their lives in a search for power Ignoring treasures time can't devour All that I ask in my final hour May my heart find rest in Thee And in the darkness, give me the eyes of faith In my sorrow, send down your healing grace And on my journey, may my path be straight May my heart find rest in thee" Life is preparation, and out of kindness and love, we have been prepared. and "He will show comfort to those who mourn" Thanks for your comforting concern. Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:05 PM If you don't get there "in time", Jerry, you'll probably meet her on the way. The best of happy thoughts to both of you. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Elmer Fudd Date: 12 Oct 06 - 08:32 PM Thoughts and prayers with you and your family, Jerry. Traveling mercies. Elmer |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Carly Date: 12 Oct 06 - 07:47 PM I'll be thinking of you and your family this weekend, Jerry. I do so hope that you have a chance to be with your mom before she leaves. Carly |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Tootler Date: 12 Oct 06 - 07:20 PM I wish you a good trip Jerry. I reckon it's one of those journeys you have to make but wish you didn't. I hope you are able to get there in time to see your mother one last time. On other matters. I gave my wife the Gee's bend link; she recognised some of the quilts as there had been an article on the Gee's Bend quilters in one of the quilt magazines over here. Here in North East England, there is also a distinctive local tradition. Quilts were often made out of a single piece of material - "whole cloth quilts", or of strips of material sewn together "strippy quilts". In either case they were quilted with a series of traditional designs and patterns which are very much regional in style - often known as Durham quilts. There was a similar tradition in South Wales but the patterns were different. In Durham quilts the patterns are very flowing where the Welsh quilt patterns were more geometric. We have a strippy quilt made by my wife on our bed at the moment, it consists of alternate strips of purple and white materials and the strips are quilted with a series of feathers and whorls. I had a picture of a small wholecloth quilt my wife made but I think it is on a CD somewhere. By the way, I thought a saw a rabbit eating a carrot disappearing round the corner. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 12 Oct 06 - 06:21 PM "Packing up, getting ready to go" That's what Ruth and I will be doing tomorrow morning. We're both too drained to start tonight. We're packing up to go out to Wisconsin, because my Mother is sitting on the curb, waiting for Jesus. Everyone there says that she is slipping fast. We just pray that she can hang on until we get out there, because she asked my sisters to tell me that she wanted to see me one last time. We're leaving Saturday morning, the first flight we could get, practically speaking. I'll have to count on you folks to keep the pot on while we're gone, and remember us during these difficult times. And Wendy: I mailed the CD to you today.. Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Elmer Fudd Date: 12 Oct 06 - 04:24 PM Oh, dem wabbits. And if you go chasing rabbits And you know you're going to fall Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar Has given you the call Call Alice When she was just small. Gillian Welch does a GREAT cover of "White Rabbit," by the way. She brought down a house full of old hippies last winter with it. After a standing ovation, she remarked in a dry voice, "That ain't no hillbilly song." The thread is drifting, drifting...more caffeine, tout de suite! Waiter, waiter, percolater! Elmer |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 12 Oct 06 - 11:15 AM I dunno, Elmer: Maybe you could take care of the Energizer bunny. Steal the little buggers batteries. Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Rapparee Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:09 AM They just restarted the ferry over to Gee's Bend, and there are Gee's Bend quilt stamps on sale at the post office. My wife has seen the Gee's Bend quilt exhibit a couple of times and has met some of the quilters. If you haven't seen the exhibit, DO SO!!! |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Elmer Fudd Date: 12 Oct 06 - 01:20 AM Where is that wascally wabbit?????? I'm gonna nab him at 1300, just you wait! Good to hear there's some good news on the horizon, Tootler. Gotta take it where you find it. I had the opportunity to visit Amish country in Ohio several times, mostly around Winesberg, Berlin and Charm. The Quilter's Collective in Berlin (pronounced BERlin) had some bee-you-tee-full quilts. The area has gotten quite commercial and rather kitschy of late, though. The Gee's Bend quilts are special because they were made out of necessity. The women couldn't afford blankets, and they made quilts out of scraps because they couldn't afford new cloth to make traditionally patterned quilts with matching fabric. The abstract designs are intuitive. They are quite amazing works of art. In the film you can hear the women singing gospels as they work, so there is music woven into them as well. Elmer |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 11 Oct 06 - 09:02 PM I think that I need to put on a fresh pot of coffee. Nice to see so many folks stopping by. I've been busy in the music section with two threads going up there... one of 60's music in the Village and Berkely and the other on the dissapearing American. This thread has nothing to do with "country of origin". And like the Energizer Bunny, it keeps going, and going. Alright, The Energizer Bunny is a battery-operated bunny who beats a drum and has become somewhat of an advertising icon over here. Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: GUEST, Ebbie Date: 11 Oct 06 - 07:55 PM This month's Smithsonaian Magazine has a pictorial article on Gee's Bend quilts and their creators. Striking. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Tootler Date: 11 Oct 06 - 07:20 PM Jerry & Elmer, Thanks for your kind remarks. I consider myself lucky. My cancer was diagnosed early and the surgeon was able to completely remove it. It had not spread through the bowel wall and I have been pronounced clear. Apart from having to be careful to avoid putting to much strain on my abdominal muscles, I am recovered and feeling better than I have for some years. We did have some good news today. My wife has had her application to retire early on health grounds approved, so she formally retires at the end of the month. Although she only has seven months before she can retire normally, it is a relief as she will not be under any pressure to return to work and she should also get a small enhancement of her pension. I looked at the Gee's bend quilt website, they are certainly distinctive in style. I have a feeling I have seen them before so maybe my wife is aware of them. Anyway, I have let her know the link so she can look for herself. Two years ago we went to my Nephew's wedding in Detroit and while we were there visited the Amish Region in Ohio. We enjoyed ourselves there and came home with three Amish made quilts. One bed size for us and two wall hangings for our daughters. They are beautifully made, the workmanship is superb. Enough rabbitting on for now as it is after midnight and time for bed. Talking of rabbits, someone has a message for Elmer Fudd - "Er... What's up doc?" |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 11 Oct 06 - 11:45 AM Please put the coffee on, having a really bad day,started badly with our credit card terminal freezing up. everyone pays on plastic so we had to trust all the morning clients to promise to come back and pay tomorrow, that had me running late.... hard to do Aromatherapy in a calm manner when you know the next client is waiting outside the door and getting wound up! Then we had a huge thunderstorm,all the lights in the salon flickering on and off! Pouring rain, new roof leaks( thats another saga for another day I hate flat roofs) The manager is on holiday and now I find out she is not treating the junior staff very well, so that will be a bad day when she comes back, I hate confrontation! Good news my last client of the day is sleeping peacefully after her treatment, you are making me coffee, I have kicked my shoes off, Billy is on his way to pick me up and we are having supper at our best friends house, and tomorrow is another day! And Scarlett Mae is beautiful, how I love being a new grandmother! Count my blessings Wendy |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Elmer Fudd Date: 10 Oct 06 - 08:44 PM Hello Tootler, I'm sorry you can't make the trip. What a woild. Does your wife know about the Gee's Bend quilters? I recently saw a show of their work in a museum, plus a film about them made by Jane Fonda's daughter, Vanessa Vadim. The quilts are quite unusual, with strong abstract patterns. There are now U.S. postage stamps depicting some of the quilts. The quiltmakers are getting a lot of attention. However, now that they are actually making some money, the women are giving a lot of it to charities. Gee's Bend Quilts Elmer |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:41 PM I'm so sorry to hear that, Tootler: Sorry more than anything that you and your wife have suffered through such serious health problems. My oldest sister is just back from five weeks in the hospital, having a colostomy. For her, it was a major achievement when she could get up the stairs in her house. Those of us who are blessed with good health should give thanks several times a day. I do. The first time that I took Ruth out, we didn't get a chocolate milk shake. We went to vist the sick. It's something that has been a central part of our lives these last ten years, and will remain that until we need someone to come and visit us. I'm doing a program at a Health Care Center tomorrow morning, and Ruth is a wonderful part of that, just because she is so sincerely caring. May you both have a complete healing. If you ever make it over here, Connecticut isn't all that far from Amish country (in U.S. distances, anyway.) Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Tootler Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:27 PM Had a disappointment today. We had planned to visit the US and had put down our names for a quilters trip to Amish Country in Pennsylvania (my wife is a quilter). We enquired about travel insurance before finally booking and were quoted £1600GB (about $2700US) because of our health problems. I had surgery for bowel cancer earlier this year and my wife has chronic kidney failure. The odd thing was I was considered the greater risk even though I have been pronounced clear and my wife's kidneys could finally give up at any time meaning she would have to go on dialysis. We decided reluctantly, at that price, (more than the cost of the trip for one of us) we would not go, though we are not ruling it out eventually. We will just have to see how things work out over the next few years. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Tootler Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:15 PM A classic one in some of our inner cities used to be along the lines of; If I catch you stepping into the road in front of a bus, I'll kill you! |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 10 Oct 06 - 12:13 PM 's long as were on this, two of my favorite sayings are in regard to punishing someone. A friend for mine from Oklahoma used to say "What they need is a sound thrashing about the head and ears." That is such a weird statement that I won't even try to break it down, but I knew exactly what he meant. When I got in trouble as a kid, my Father would say to me "If your Mother catches you, she's going to put the wood on you." I can't imagine my Mother ever "putting the wood" on me, but I got the message, anyway. That's what communication is all about, idn't it? Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 10 Oct 06 - 11:40 AM lol I love the walking with a squint. |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Elmer Fudd Date: 09 Oct 06 - 04:56 PM If people don't want to come out to the ball park, nobody's going to stop them. -- Yogi Berra (of course) |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 09 Oct 06 - 02:48 PM This reminds me of coversations with my cousins this summer when we all met up at Sidmouth, we were talking about phrases my grandfather and uncle used to say, the funniest were" see that man? He walks with a squint" and "well look at him, he walks a bit upright" |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 09 Oct 06 - 02:45 PM Or from someone who worked at the Museum where I was Director, reacting to a letter of complaint about him :"He didn't even have the guts to sign it: it was unanimous." Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 09 Oct 06 - 02:30 PM From Georgia welfare office; "I have given birth to 3 children in this envelope. As you can see, 2 are illiterate." |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Rapparee Date: 08 Oct 06 - 11:52 PM If we didn't think God was only semi-omniscient we wouldn't do most of the things we do. I am taking up arms against the death of the comparative. "Let me make that more clear" instead of "Let me make that clearer." It's like "at this point in time" -- fer gawd's sake, if you're gonna use THAT phrase at least also use "at this point in space". Talk about the sound of fingernails on a blackboard! |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 08 Oct 06 - 06:28 PM Another absolute word : Omniscient, meaning all-knowing. I had a humorous conversation a few years ago with a friend of mine who was a Lutheran Minister. Dennis made the comment, "God doesn't know what you're going to do," and I said, "Whoa! I thought thatGod is Omniscient!" Dennis, said, "He is," and I countered, "But you say I could pull the wool over God's eyes. I though he was all-knowing. You're saying he sure knows a lot, but he doesn't know that I'm going to do next?" Dennis stuck to his guns, even though he knew he wasn't making any sense. In his eyes, God is semi-Omniscient, I guess. Jerry |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 08 Oct 06 - 10:17 AM Oh yeah, I feel exactly the same about very unique, Elmer. Jerry Elmer |
Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 08 Oct 06 - 08:50 AM The phrase is "Like a felt tip pen on an eraseable presentation panel" now. I'm partial to "seein's as how," myself. Jerry |
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