The Contest

Today's Saying

You know horses are smarter than people. You never heard of a horse going broke betting on people. ~Will Rogers

My new-old contest is up and running. I ran it first when I was blogging in Crystal Falls before we moved to Neenah.
I thought it was pretty simple and easy to understand.
As usual I was wrong.
I have Melli wandering around wondering if she can get more than one chance a day. The answer is no!

Rule 1:- Every day you leave a comment you get one and only one entry for that day.
But the entries in the bucket grow as you comment from day to day increasing your chances.

That beings me to Gattina . She thinks I put one name into the toilet and flush it..
So here is a picture of the bucket they go into next to my desk.
The names are on pieces of paper like this.

Every morning when Betty gets up she draws one name.
If your name is drawn two days in a row you win what is in the treasure chest.
You can see what that is by clicking on the treasure chest in the left margin.

That brings us to Cherie who noticed that I hate the book I’m giving away.
She is right I do.
If you also dislike the author and you win I will substitute a different pre-read book for it.
One that I like.

So let me recap. Every day Betty will draw a name from the bucket shown above.
If that name matches the one drawn the day before that person wins the treasure chest.
Otherwise the drawn name becomes the one to be matched tomorrow

I really hope you are a luckier bunch than I had last time.
Since I add at least three new priceless objects to the treasure chest every week it begins to get heavy.
Last time it took seven weeks and cost me a fortune to ship.

But then when Betty gets up it could be won today.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

None of the group that is waiting for the great battle has been sleeping well. They have had bad dreams and nightmares. They really wish the battle would happen soon.
Herman is worried about Pastor Joan so he had a bed put in the room that used to be the Intern office back when Last Lutheran had an intern. The old desk has been pushed into a corner. The bed has a clean sheets and a comfortable pillow. If Pastor Joan goes into labor at the church there is now somewhere for her to have the baby rather than on a table in the fellowship hall or a desk in her office.
Tommy UK is beginning to wonder if the man in black is coming. He expected him to be here by this time. They would certainly feel better if he was ready to meet the aliens with them.
When will they come? That question is being asked over and over even as they plan in detail what they intend to do.
Today Tommy UK stayed home from school. He persuade his mother to tell the school he was sick with flue like symptoms. He couldn't concentrate in school in any case.

And the name Betty drew yesterday is Mama Zen. If she draws it again today Mama Zen gets what is in the treasure chest.
We will announce the drawing right after it occurs.

Betty has arrived in the office and drawn a name.
Sorry Mama Zen it wasn't yours.

The person whose name was drawn and who will receive what is in the treasure chest if it is drawn again tomorrow is

Melli

Stop over to her blog and wish her luck.

Best Award Ever

Today's Saying

Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.
Jesse Owens

Anywhere you go on the internet these days you run into internet awards.
They are everywhere.
The same award repeated over and over and over again.
They are cute.
They are funny.
They are creative.
They are meaningless.
If everybody has the same award they are certainly not special.
I could fight the trend but I have decided not to .
Instead I have decided to create and bestow ( inflict) one of my own.
If you can’t beat them join them. Here is my contribution:
It comes with the usual rules.
1. Pass it on to at least one other blog but the more the better.
2. Never ever tell anybody who gave it to you. ( Link backs not allowed)
3. Make a nice acceptance speech.

Examples of acceptable acceptance speeches:

AS deserving as I am of this award I can not believe that they finally woke up and gave it to me. I have always striven to uphold the high ideals this award represents. You did well in selecting me.

Using Quilly’s Words:

Given the paucity of mellifluous isangelous blogs, how could you obstrigillate the awarding of this opprobrious award to this blog. I accept with great pleasure.

As a Raven’s Mini Challenge:

This blog, having roughly no bowling monsters in the closet from Pennsylvania on its menu for the day, is proud to accept this award.

As a flash 55 poem:
I am so very happy
I could thank my pappy
And a bunch of others
Like my silly younger brothers
But I shan't and can't
Though I shall not rant
I am responsible just me
I hope this you see
So I grab this award
It strikes the right chord
My faith has been restored.

As a six word Saturday
Enough already! Give me the award.

And now with a drum roll and the blast of a virtual trumpet I award this award to the following:

Thom

Becca-Beccas Back Yard

JennyMac-Lets Have a Cocktail

Liz-Mommy’s Little Corner

Slacker-Chic

Thom was picked because I know he just loves to give these away. The other four were picked by a random generator from a list of visitors that commented on my blog in the last month. For such an award a random generator seemed the best way to go. But if you feel slighted say so in a comment and I will officially award it to you. Far be it from me to slight anybody.

Good blogging and may you receive many awards.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

Eino called his friend at Homeland Security and told him that there was an indication that Pigeon Falls was going to be attacked by an alien invasion force. His friend just laughed and asked what Eino had been drinking. There will be no help coming from there.
And where in the world is the man in black. Will he arrive in time ?
It looks like our little group is on their own.
Where is that alien force? Why hasn't it come?
As if things weren't complicated enough it is almost time for Pastor Joan to have her baby. The group is trying to get her to go and stay with friends in Iron Mountain until the baby comes but she absolutely refuses to leave them. She says she is Pastor of Last Lutheran which alone can give sanctuary when the battle comes. She has an obligation to be here. Besides if the battle comes and they lose, the entire world will follow and Iron Mountain will not be a place of escape. Herman is afraid she will have the baby in the midst of the battle and they may not be able to get her some help.
She answered that by pointing out several of the women who should be at the church have midwife training. And if everything goes right the Nurse Practicioner may be there as well.

And the name Betty drew is Mama Zen
If she is drawn again tomorrow she wins what is in the treasure chest.
Good luck.

Have added these little finger puppets to treasure chest.

A Contest

Today's Saying

Luck never gives; it only lends. ~Swedish Proverb

In the words of the almost immortal Yoggi Bara "It is deja vous, all over again.",
Today I dig way back into the history of this blog to run again a comment contest.
I still have the same pail I put the names in last time to draw them out.
This is a contest that requires very little skill.
You don’t have to guess how many jelly beans in the bottle.
All you have to do is leave a comment.
The quality of the comment will have no impact on the outcome though it may effect my disposition.
For each day that you leave a comment I will put your name on a slip of paper and drop it in the pail.
Tomorrow I will draw and announce one name and then put the paper back in the pail.
We will add tomorrow’s comments to the pail.
The next day Betty will draw one name.
If it is the same name that person wins what is in the treasure chest.
If it isn’t the newly drawn name becomes the name to match the next day.
This will continue until we give away the treasure.
The more days on which you comment the more chances you have.
Simple but effective.
We will add to the treasure chest new priceless things as we go along.
Starting Tomorrow you will see this symbol in the left hand column.
If you click on it it will show you what is in the treasure chest.


We are starting with this wonderful, priceless, pre-read, hardcover book.
Good Luck.
Good commenting.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

It iis a quiet Monday morning in Pigeon Falls. Tommy UK and Tammy are getting ready to go to school but both think they should stay home. The alien attack could come at any time. Wonder if it comes when they are at school out of the community. The consolidated High School is fifteen miles from Pigeon Falls. But Tommy can't say to the Principal I'm waiting for an alien invasion you'll have to excuse me until the big battle is over.
People are telling mrs Trumble they are hearing strange noises in Danelson's big barn. She has responded that the twon is thinking of buying it so it is being cleaned but how long can they keep the creatures in the barn hidden?
The man in black has not been see and the group is not at all sure he will show up for the battle but Tommy UK is sure. He says that you can rely on the Man in Black's showing up.
The tension is building and building and the group has reached a point where win or lose they would like to have the battle over with.
They have no idea of how many aliens or the extent of their firepower. There is no way to find that out.

17th Sunday

Today's Saying

40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. Mark 9:40-41

In many liturgical churches today is celebrated as the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and the Gospel is Mark 9:38-50.
It begins with the disciples acting like little children. They have seen somebody, not of the group, healing in the name of Jesus and they resent it . They tell Jesus they will put a stop to it. They sound like children that need to be first and don’t want anybody else in the game. They have the franchise on following Jesus.
Jesus, in effect, says nonsense. If someone is not against Him then he is for Him. They can not cast out demons in his name without coming to believe in Him.
The poor disciples have trouble accepting this so Jesus hits them verbally as hard as he can. He warns them not to become stumbling blocks to those who believe. He does this with very strong images of cutting off a foot, a hand, or plucking out an eye, none of which were meant to be taken literally. In the context of the text and with the ending of the warning they are a call to have peace among those claiming the name of Christ.
The Church did not listen well either. Over the centuries it put to death people who named the name of Jesus but didn’t fit into the organization. It called them heretics. The blemish on Church history would be so much less if the leaders had cut off their own arm or leg or plucked out their own eye instead of burning fellow believers at the stake. They should have listened to Jesus.
The Reformation went from one exclusive church to many exclusive churches but though each claimed to hear the real words of Jesus they , like the disciples long ago felt they were the only ones that had the truth.
But the churches have grown up some at least officially. They see one another as fellow believers and that is a good thing.
But individually many still act like the disciples.
If you dare to worship Jesus in a manner different from theirs they see you as unsaved or as demonic.
All of us to one degree or another do some of that.
I see rich TV evangelists and I get upset.
I see Church leaders who pay no attention to Scripture and I get upset.
But I keep hearing the voice of Jesus saying “ If they are not against me they are for me”.
I really am trying to listen.
I really am.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

It is Sunday and even though the special blankets are ready in the basement life at Last Lutheran goes on. Pastor Joan is getting ready to preach. Here is part of that sermon:
When I was a kid my brother used to play ball with the boys on the corner lot. It was just a nice friendly neighborhood game except for one little thing. There was only one bat and one ball and it belonged to some kid named Joseph who lived down the block. One day my brother’s group was short one player and since I was something of a tomboy he asked me to fill in. This greatly upset Joseph who “ Didn’t want no dang girls in his game”. My brother pushed to let me play and then Joseph literally took his ball and bat and went home. He wanted us to know he was in charge and he made the rules.
Along time ago the disciples wanted to treat the faith that way. If you didn’t play by their rules and on their team you couldn’t play. Jesus tried really hard to correct that attitude.
But us humans being what we are it was carried on by the Church. It was follow Jesus by our rules or God would send you to hell and the Church might even help you on the way by burning you at the stake.
Then along came us Lutherans and one might have expected a different attitude, bad expectation. We announced either believe like a Lutheran or go to hell. Play by our rules or you can’t play.
Today the Churches are trying to listen to Jesus. They are trying to see the Christ in each denomination. They are trying to let everybody that wants to play be in the game.
But it isn’t easy.
Some have trouble accepting the fact that gays can follow Jesus.
Some have trouble believing that couples “ living in sin” can believe in Jesus.
Some have trouble believing that people who don’t go to church can love Jesus.
And I could go on.
We have lots of reasons to keep people out of the game.
We know what we think the Church should be like and they can shape up or ship out.
But then like the disciples we run into the one in charge.
The Church after all is His.
He wants us to love one another.
He wants us to know that if someone is not against Him they are for Him.
He wants us to listen.

Six Words

Today's Saying

I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer. ~Jim Carrey

My scooter my door to world.


(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

It is Saturday and time to look back on another week in Pigeon Falls. Despite all the planning and plotting concerning the coming aliens life went on pretty much as normal in Pigeon Falls.
Monday- Grandma Moose hung up her washing and did the spit thing with the bouncing heads. She is really getting to like them and the spit has just done wonders for her arthritis.
Tuesday- Bonnie McGregor's daughter came to stay for a week so that Bonnie and her husband could take a mini vacation away from the twins. The family paid for the parents to stay at the Ramada Inn in Marquette and just rest with a pool.
Wednesday- A hungry bear got one of Jon Bergall's cows. First time that has happened since he started farming there. The DNR came and live trapped the bear and moved it far away from the farm.
Thursday-Jack announced he might be closing his Sauna for good this winter and moving to Florida.The news was more disturbing than the possible alien invasion.
Friday- Tommy TW told Nancy, his wife, that when he finishes his current novel he is going to write one about a poltergeist in a coffee shop. Nancy told him nobody would read it as it is too unbelievable.

Friday Fourteen-1

Today's Saying

Neurosis is no worse than a bad cold; you ache all over, and it's made you a mess, but you won't die from it.

~Mignon McLaughlin

Click HERE to get to my 55s

What you are about to read leans on the truth and bends it ever so little . But in the process every Friday you will catch a glimpse of me.

1. Large flocks of Geese were in the field behind our house last week. I hate geese ( stems from my childhood)
2. Kids flew kites in the field behind our house this week. I love kites. ( Stems from my kids childhood)
3. Some Congresswoman used a scooter like mine to show that Medicare money was being wasted. I dislike mouthy politicians . ( My mother was frightened by one before I was born)
4. A new season of NCIS has started. I like Gibbs. ( Stems from all the detective shows I listened to as a kid)
5. The Guiding Light , a soap opera, came to an end last week. I feel bad but didn’t watch it. ( Stems from my mother listening to it on the radio when I was a kid)
6. Fell asleep twice yesterday during the Young and the Restless ( Stems from old age and lazy brain cells.)
7. Noted poor dragon's wing is still off . ( Stems from procrastination and lack of proper glue)
8. Discovered we were trying to charge camera battery in the wrong recharger, ( Stems from inherent stupidity about electrical things)
9. Refinanced our mortgage from 7.11% to 4.8 % ( Stems from deep desire to save $2000 a year)
10. Got back to reading and finished one detective novel. ( Stems from guilt at money spent on unread books– wish it was from deep desire to read)
11. Am really enjoying doing business with our new bank.( Stems from everybody there remembering who I am and at least acting like they are glad to see me)
12. Continued slow process of closing down our Credit Union accounts. ( Stems from nobody there knowing or caring who we are and the manager lies)
13. Realized that poetry was sneaking in under my mental block . ( Stems from experience with three great blogs going head to head with bad childhood experiences)
14. Have fallen in love with Piggly Wiggily ( Stems from low priced Porter House steaks and cut watermellon)

Boy after that I don’t need to see a shrink. But you might.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

One would expect Mrs. Trumble to be worried. She is, after all, part of that small group of people who knows the full extent of the alien menace and the nature of the rag tag defenders. She should at least look somewhat sad but instead people are commenting on the fact that she has never seemed so happy.
It could be the visits from Tommy UK every day, after school , have reassured her that they can win. Tommy UK also seems happier and almost as if he was in a hurry for the battle to begin.
The man in black has not shown up yet but then in the past he has never shown up until Tommy UK really needed him. So that is not much of a surprise.
Tammy , Herman, Calab, and Pastor Joan also seem to look less worried.
It could be that they have done all they can.
The special blankets are piled on a table at the Last Lutheran. Tammy, Calab, and Herman have rehearsed what they are going to do when the time comes. Everybody knows what is expected of them. Pastor Joan and Herman have been doing a lot of praying.
The question of trusting or not trusting the man in black has been left open. At the moment it looks like they have to trust him.
The rag tag bunch will be waiting in the barn and if everything goes right Herman, Tommy UK, and the man in black will face the aliens on a main street cleared of people. The small group in the barn will be their surprise weapon such as it is.

Sharing Friends

Today's Saying

A poem begins with a lump in the throat. ~Robert Frost

It is time to share with you another of my favorite blogs.

SWEET POETRY

Those of you who are regular readers of this blog in all its parts know that I am no poet.
Those of you who read my poem a day in April are sure I’m not a poet.
But every day I go to this blog and read a poem.
Is it good poetry? I don’t know. I have no way to judge. It could be.
Is it great poetry ? I don’t know. I have no way to judge. It could be.
But I do know this.
I like it.
She writes with feeling from the heart.,
Sometimes the feeling is very sad.
Sometimes very happy.
But it is always genuine.
Even when I feel her premise is wrong I still enjoy the poem. It pushes me to think. That has to be good.
So go and give her a read.
You could enjoy it as well.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

The group held another meeting after school last night. After much discussion bordering on arguing they decided that if and when there is another attack they will have blankets at the Church covered with that special spider web. Calab and Herman will take and throw the blanket over a group of people on the street breaking the alien control. Then they will walk them still protected by the blanket into Last Lutheran and Sanctuary. As rapidly as possible the men in the group and some ladies will be given special hats and blankets and sent out to bring in more. They will in this way get as many off the street as possible before the battle begins.
As far as the man in black is concerned Tommy UK insisted that they trust him and assume that though the heads are on their side they got the story of the man in black wrong.
Late last night both Tommy UK and Tammy left their homes. Tammy returned at 4:00 in the morning and Tommy UK didn't come home at all.
When the first person came to the town hall looking for Mrs. Trumble she came out of the storage room and it looked like she had been crying.

Fall Flowers

Today's Saying

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens



It is September without a frost and I thought I would share with you our fall flowers.

They turned out pretty good.
Our great tomato experiment, shown here, turned out not so good

We got one useful tomato so far. The rest all had that brown stuff on the bottom.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

The piano tuner and his equipment arrived on the morning milk train along with a full contingent of ghost groupies. He was taken first to the town hall and then to the back room of the museum . They wanted him to hear the piano being played but they didn't want him to see that it was being played by a ghost. He was told that people had paid to sit in on the concert and so he would have to wait until it was over. He listened to the concert and remarked that whoever was playing was a master but even such a great player couldn't hide the fact that piano needed tuning.
When the concert was over and the ghost groupies had left then they ushered him and his equipment into the room. Under the agreement he was allowed to look at but not open the piano until he put the blindfold on. He sat down, played each key, opened his equipment case and put on the blindfold.
The lady in charge lifted the top of the piano for him so he could get to the strings and he started.
One hour later he finished. The piano was in perfect tune. They handed him his check. He commented that he felt like he was cheating since they had that expert there guiding him and even tuning some keys for him. He was alone in the room the entire time.

Monday's Jumbled Meme

Today's Saying

A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

1) Men go topless at the beach. Why not women?
I do think it is unfair and there should be a law making men wear tops on the beach.
2) Describe one of your bad habits?
I would be glad to but not right now. I intend to though. I promise I will . Let’s see aside from procrastinate …
3) Have you ever broken something intentionally?
Do people really do that?
4) Do you ever read poetry?
Every day. I read poem written by a nice lady name Dulce.

5) How do you go about making a sandcastle?
You need lots of sand, some water and then you hire the nearest creative kid to build you one.

6) Are you a tidy person?
No

7) How is the traffic where you live?
No cars or trucks driving through my house. Just foot traffic where I live.

8) Are you usually late, early or right on time?
I don’t drive any more so it is up to Betty or Pennie.
9) Which would you rather have: a high salary or job satisfaction?
I made that choice years ago and opted for job satisfaction. It was the right choice.
10) If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?
Eureka.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

Despite the threat hanging over the town life in Pigeon Falls goes on.
Mrs. Trumble has contacted the Piano Tuner in Milwaukee and offered him a hundred dollars over his usual fee if he can tune the museum piano blindfolded. He has agreed to come and try and should arrive on the milk train on Wednesday.
Yesterday ,after Church, Herman, Calab, Tammy, Tommy UK, and Mrs. Trumble met in the fellowship hall of Last Lutheran. They went over the driblet together and then they brainstormed.
A real argument broke out over the man in black. Tommy UK wanted to trust him but Mrs. Trumble was now having some doubts. Calab really trusts the bouncing head and if they say the man in black is not what he claims to be he believes them.
They went on to discuss how to get the people off the street and into the Sanctuary of the church. The aliens have to know that they will be reluctant to fight them if the fight could result in the destruction of all the people on the street.
They agreeded to meet again Monday night after school.

16th Sunday

Today's Saying

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems - not people, to focus your energies on answers - not excuses.

~William Arthur Ward

In many of the liturgical churches today is celebrated as the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. The Gospel in the Common Lectionary is Mark 9:30-37.
All during the period after Pentecost the texts have been helping us to see something we sometimes forget. The disciples and others that we call Saints were humans with human failings. They were not the perfect servants of God.
We look at ourselves and think if we were more like the disciples we would be far better Christians.
We would understand more clearly what God wants of us.
We would rush to do the will of God.
We would understand everything in the Bible.
But we aren’t like them, we think, so we fail.
We just aren’t good enough.
We don’t pray enough.
If only we were like them.
Today we see, again we are like them or they are like us.
Jesus says some very hard words to them and like us they don’t understand.
But they don’t dare ask him because they ought to know.
Does that sound familiar.
Then the disciples argue over which one of them is the greatest.
Here they are following the Creator of the Universe and bickering over position in the Kingdom.
And these are the Saints.
And we are like them in that sometimes we think of ourselves as better than others and that God owes us for our good works.
Jesus then explains that you can’t aim at being great in heaven. To be great you have to put aside greatness and serve others. You need to help the poor, feed the hungry, visit the sick.
There is so much we can learn by watching the disciples.
Praise God for the learning.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

Despite all of the threats facing Pigeon Falls it is Sunday and Pastor Joan will preach, This is part of that sermon.:
Do you remember when only Lutherans were saved and everybody else went to Hell?
According to the leaders in those days we alone had the true Word and the true Sacraments.
Of course the Roman Catholics thought the same way and the Presbyterians.
The Baptists were sure none of us knew Jesus and we all needed to be saved.
Do you remember those days. They weren’t too long ago.
I’m glad they are over. We no longer have to save the saved in a world crying to meet Jesus.
We can be about the sharing of the good news.
In a sense the disciples had that same fight a long, long time ago when they argued over who would be greatest in heaven.
Jesus had to sit them down and say greatness is in the serving.
Well our churches have grown up and are doing a better job than before.
The question is– Have we?
We still like to see ourselves as better Christians than others.
Not by denomination, of course, but by performance.
Not by serving but by other performance.
We go to church more, give more, read the Bible more, and pray more than the one’s below us.
You know the one’s that don’t go to church except Christmas and Easter.
But the truth is if you were busy looking for ways to serve you would have no time to think of yourself as better.
You have good news go out there and share it.

My life in six words

Today's Saying

We can destroy ourselves by cynicism and disillusion, just as effectively as by bombs. ~Kenneth Clark

Dog is Smarter than I am

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

It is Saturday and time to look back on the week in Pigeon Falls.
Monday- All kinds of strange things happened. People missed fifteen minutes of a program they were watching, a number of people had water overflow and do small amounts of damage, two people were talking on the phone and just stopped without hanging up, some farm animals escaped from gates left open, and according to the cleaning crew at Last Lutheran people went and stood on the rod for fifteen minutes but non of them remembered it later. It was a strange day for Pigeon Falls.
Tuesday-Mrs. Pemberthy had a vision and it scared her half to death. She was looking out at the beautiful sky when these things appeared. Huge spaceships with strange markings circling Pigeon Falls. Strange creatures seemed to drop from the ships to the ground where everybody was just standing on the road. But it was just a vision and it ended. Though she is a Methodist she attends one of Herman's Bible classes and she told Herman about the vision.
Wednesday- Mrs. Trumble contacted a Milwaukee Piano Tuner to see if he could really tune a piano blindfolded. She is still waiting for an answer.
Thursday-Calab gave Tammy and several others new hats.
Friday- Tommy UK gets a new hat.

A Meme in Time

Today's Saying

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies. ~Rudolph Giuliani

Click HERE to get to my 55s

I picked this meme up over at Quilly's and she took it from Barbara’s.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Who was your first “best friend”?
Paul Larmour from the next neighborhood up. His mother and my mother were best friends as well.

What was your most memorable birthday as a child?
I was six and My Aunt Doris threw a party for me. I got mad at something and threw a glass of soda on my cousin. It was a disaster but I remember it.

Who was your first “crush”?
I don’t remember having a crush but I was in love with my first grade teacher , does that count.

Where was the best vacation your family took as a child?
They blend. Every summer the family drove to lower Michigan to visit relatives and it was a wonderful time spent with cousins and doing new things.

What was your favorite pastime as a child?
Bike riding in summer. Tobogganing in winter.

When did you learn to ride a two-wheel bike?
Very early.
What is your most traumatic memory as a child?
Thinking my dad shot himself when he had the sight on his rifle wrong and it knocked him out. I heard the shot and saw the blood running from his head.

What age did you learn to swim?
Every relative had a camp and we spent a lot of summer days at the lakes so it had to be early. But I have no memory of it.
What smell automatically takes you back to your childhood?
Saffron buns baking.

What was your first pet?
Hessa my best friend , my protector, my Springer Spaniel. Always was waiting for me at the bus stop.

Who impacted your life as a child?
My maternal Grandmother and my paternal Grandfather.

What is the most exciting Christmas gift you received as a child?
I guess my Marx train.

Who was the neighborhood bully when you were growing up?
No neighborhood bully . My dog wouldn’t let anybody pick on me. But there was a school bus bully who shook me down for lunch money.

Who was your best friend as a teenager?
There was more than one, Michael Hillier, Lanse Roberts, Kenny Pentii, James Savolianen come to mnd. They all went on to become pastors.

What is the first car you can remember your family owning?
A Dodge Coupe with a rumble seat.

What was the first award you ever received?
My Detroit Free Press gold watch for debate.

What is the name of the first sports team you played on?
Me and sports. I’m the guy they always picked last.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

Herman explained to Tommy UK all that Calab had told him. Tommy really wanted to believe that what Calab said was true. If it was true then his father was still alive but trapped beyond time in a rift between worlds. Indeed it might have been his father who got Tammy and Tommy out of the rift they were in. If that was true he might be able to save his father.
On the other hand he had adventures with the man in black. He had shown up whenever Pigeon Falls needed help and had always been part of the solution. He had learned to trust him. Now he would have to forget all that and plot against him.
Further if Calab was telling the truth then Tommy UK had helped seal the opening through which help was coming for Pigeon Falls. The town's destruction would be his fault. It was worse than that as the destruction of all mankind would be his fault.
But he had to decide. If the man in black was evil then Tommy should try to reopen the doorway. If the man in black is good then Tommy should destroy the talking heads. He went back to reading the driblet.

Sharing Friends

Today's Saying

Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered - either by themselves or by others. ~Mark Twain

It is time to share with you another of my favorite blogs.

BEYOND THE BLOG

If you like deep philosophical thinking you could drown here.
If you want to take a hard look at English government you'll find it here.
If your interested in odd English things you'll find that here.
If you like short fiction including flash 55 and Quilly's words you'll find it here.
If you like short crisp poetry you'll find it here.

The problem is you'll find all of the above and a little more in a single post making it hard to comment. He just overwhelms you with thoughts.

Now he is cutting back to two posts a week but he is clearly worth a visit.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

Calab , with great reluctance, told Herman that the man in black was not a friend and not a Guardian. Instead he was part of the alien force that was coming. He had been sent ahead to do three things.
1. Get rid of the Guardian for this sector. The true man in black.
2. Prevent any other dimension from attacking Pigeon Falls.
3. Prevent any dimension from sending help by sealing off doorways.
The real Guardian he had trapped in a rift between worlds while convincing the Guardian Council he had been destroyed by demons.
The bouncing heads, woolly elephant like things, and the giant spider were part of a group coming to help defend Pigeon Falls not attack it. The man in black got Tommy UK to help seal the opening to prevent that help not save Pigeon Falls.
Herman knew that Calab believed what he was saying but was it true? Or had Calab been mislead by the bouncing heads? How could one tell?
Perhaps the driblet would help.

Screaming

Today's Saying

Democracy is a government where you can say what you think even if you don't think. ~Author Unknown

I really tried to get through the week without a rant.
I really did.
But today I couldn’t stop myself.

Obama says illegal aliens won’t be covered.
A Republican says he lies.
Which one is right?

Check the legislation.

Obama says it won’t affect your present health care.
The radical right says it will cause major disruptions.
Who is correct?

Check the legislation.

Obama says the health care bill will help with Doctor’s liability problems.
The right says it won’t help at all.
Who is correct?

Check the legislation.

Obama says my Medicare won’t be hurt by the health care plan.
The right says I am going to lose benefits and it will cost me more.
Who is correct?

Check the legislation.

Obama says that everybody will get the best health care under his plan.
The right says we will all end up with government run mediocre care.
Who is correct?

Check the legislation.

Obama says the health care bill will save money.
The right says it will throw the country into ever deeper debt.
Who is correct?

Check the legislation.

Woops! Wait! There is no legislation yet.
What we have is Obama’s dream against the Conservative nightmare.
Until we have legislation both and neither are true.
But feel free to join in the screaming.
I have a headache.
I think I’ll give up the news for reruns of MASH.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

Yesterday Calab's bouncing heads brought him a hat. It contained what looked like giant spider webs . When he put it on the communication between the heads and his mind became much clearer. They assured him the hat would also protect him from the power that caused all the people to stand on the road. Then they told him that a great battle was coming that would begin with Pigeon Falls but if it was lost here the alien force would go on to take over the world. The future of mankind now depended on Pigeon Falls. They revealed other things to Calab as well which he had a hard time believing.
Calab then went to Last Lutheran and shared with Herman what he had discovered. Herman listened but had to wonder if the heads had mislead Calab. According to Calab when the battle came Pigeon Falls had Herman, Calab, three bouncing heads, three woolly elephant type creatures, one giant spider, one alien with a weapon, the dragons, Tommy UK and possibly the poltergeist on their side.
Herman asked " What about the man in black?"

Stir the Pot

Today's Saying

The story I am writing exists, written in absolutely perfect fashion, some place, in the air. All I must do is find it, and copy it. ~Jules Renard

Below are the really great pictures from which a thousand stories can flow.
They are next Tuesday's pictures for Portrait of Words.
The idea is to look at the pictures.
Choose four to six of them and write a story or a poem.
The official Portrait of Words sight is HERE.
But I hoped to get some other people writing so I'm trying to stir the pot a little.




Can't you just see a story or a poem there?

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

Herman, Pastor Joan, and Tommy UK are convinced they have seen the beginning of Petrovich's latest driblet. The other people in the Church cleaning crew are not at all sure of what they saw but they are very much afraid of what is coming.
The people who stood on the street and the highway for fifteen minutes seem unaffected by the event. They don't remember anything about it. Their life continues as it did before.
Old Mrs.Pemberthy was watching and old tear jerker on TV and can't understand how she missed the best part but she assumes she fell asleep in her chair. She does do that sometimes.
Tom Olson was watching a football game and can't understand how he missed two touchdowns. He is blaming the network.
The entire town of Pigeon falls and visitors seem to have no recollection of the vent.
Calab says that his friends the bouncing heads have been asking him why he stood on the road but he tells them he didn't. At least he doesn't think he did. They further point out that while he was on the road his mind was closed to them. They tried to contact him and couldn't. They promised him they would study what had happened and try to protect him in the future.

Bree

Today's Saying

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

Yesterday we drove to Green Bay to the Confirmation Service of my granddaughter Bree.
It seems like only yesterday I baptized her and now she was being Confirmed.

Here are pictures from that service.

It was a great service. Every Confirmand got to read their own faith statement.

Here is Bree reading hers.
Hers was different in that she related it to a song then did a power point presentation where the song was sung and the verses were cut in with pictures drom her life. She even had pictures from her Baptism. My glasses fogged.

Here is Bree with her Father, my son Peter and her Mother Lori.

Other than the fact I didn't bring along enough oxygen it was a wonderful day.

(Click on the Pigeon Falls Graphic for previous chapters.)

The strangest thing happened in Pigeon Falls yesterday. At 4:00 in the afternoon everybody left their houses or cottages, or places of business and stood for fifteen minutes in the middle of the road. That everybody except the cleaning crew at Last Lutheran and Tommy UK. They are the ones that noted what time it started and how long it lasted.
They just stood there. They looked like statues. they didn't say anything and they didn't do anything. When it was over they returned to what they were doing and nobody remembers even standing on the road.
Tommy UK says that part of him wanted to join his adoptive parents and sister on the road and part of him kept asking why. So he ended up just watching. After it was over his parents were sure they hadn't left the house, as was his sister.
Nancy who was seen from the Church standing on the road swears she never left the coffee shop, but she can't explain how a batch of saffron buns burned .
.