I have been very lax in getting pictures of the No. 1 grandson, Lucas Rey Miller, on this here blog! So...here he is, the "Solemn Ole Judge", with his " ummm...I just woke up" face!
Friday, August 28, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Grandma Riggs' Car
I remember when Mom bought this car. I don't know the year but it was from an individual on Minnesota Street, just north of 1st Street. Not that it matters but if that person had just of known how much wear we would get out of it...
Mom drove the car until she passed away and we had to decide what to do with it. The funeral was about two weeks before Tabitha was leaving for college at Ozark Bible Institute in Neosho. She was driving a hand-me-down from Mom and Dad...an older model, white Ford Taurus with a hare-lipped left rear fender. Our families sat down and talked it over and decided...that since Ryan Riggs had just started driving, he would get the Taurus and Tabitha would take Grandma Riggs' Car.
Tabitha drove it back and forth to college for three years and it never missed a lick! It even went through a couple of ice storms! After Tabitha married, it stayed in Neosho for awhile, was parked at our house for awhile and even made a couple of trips to northern Indiana! When Tab and Anson moved to West Plains, they drove it for awhile and when it was no longer needed, it just sat lonely and forlorn. A few days ago, a fellow from the El Charro restaurant, stopped to talk to Anson about buying the car. Anson washed the little car up, put in a new battery (free replacement!), named the man a price and it was SOLD! Tabitha said she had a few tears in her eyes when he drove the car away!
One story about the car...
Tabitha soloed home, about a month or so after she started college. We had a family reunion and then we were going to Branson, Missouri for a day. We left her car at Ozark, Missouri and after we were done at Branson, we were going to pick up the car, lead her through Springfield to I-44, and then...Bon Voyage! We cut it a little too close...It was 7:45...dark...a little over an hours drive to Neosho...and Tabitha had to be to the dorm by 9 P.M.! We took off from Ozark, flew down the James River Expressway and finally made it to I-44. I was talking to Tabitha on the cell phone and told her "We'll get you onto 44 and then we will exit off at Bois D'Arc and you just keep going." The plan worked to perfection...we exited off, she passed by us honking and when we got to the stop sign at the overpass, we watched her tail lights disappear into the dark....
OK folks...I'm not ashamed to admit it...we sat there and just bawled for a couple of minutes! After we got our composure, we pulled on across the overpass and headed east toward home. But we didn't make it very far! We pulled over at the McDonald's at Kansas Expressway (about ten miles east) and waited for her call to tell us she had made it. When she pulled into the dorm parking lot, she had about two minutes to spare!
Not to be philosophical, but it seems there was more to this adventure than what we realized. It was like those tail lights, disappearing into the darkness, was when we truly gave our daughter over to God's will and into His protection. We have had hard partings since and I know there are some in the future. However, I have said many times..."When you dedicate them to the Lord, you can't just holler "calf-rope" when God decides to use them beyond your zone of comfort......."
Monday, July 6, 2015
Egg-splosion!
Sometimes, you should just listen to your wife.
Not too long after Tami and I were married, we came home from church one evening and I began searching the refrigerator for a snack. I finally scrounged up a hard-boiled egg (HBE) and thought I had hit the jackpot. However, the HBE was cold and I figured it would be much better warmed up. This is just the thing that microwave ovens were made for...right?
As I put it on a saucer and started to pop it in the microblaster, Tami stated, with a superior air, "Ray, you're not supposed to put eggs in the microwave." I replied (with a superior air) "That is only raw eggs, in the shell." I proceeded to explain about the yolk being inside the airtight shell and steam pressure building up inside the shell and the explosion that would ensue if you zapped a raw egg. "This cannot happen to an HBE because there is no shell and no liquid" (also said with a superior and knowledgeable air.)
I popped the HBE in the micro, blasted it for a minute or so, popped it out and set the saucer with the HBE on the table. Tami was already sitting at the table eating her cheerios and I sat down to chow down on my HBE. It was just sitting there on the plate...but there was a faint noise...a gentle sssssssssssssssssss... Now that doesn't sound too ominous does it? So...using my second digit (right index finger), I poked down on the HBE.
Have you ever been so totally shocked you couldn't move or scream or....???? With a KA-WHOOM!!! the HBE totally disintegrated on my plate! My finger was still in mid-air over the now-nonexistent HBE. There was HBE on the walls, on the ceiling, on the stove, on the refrigerator, in Tami's hair, it burnt little spots on her face and Yes...there was egg on my face!
And then...silence...We just sat there looking at each other for a few seconds and then both of us just burst out laughing! We cleaned up the mess, I got me some cheerio's and sat down to eat again, with a new appreciation for my new wife and her "superior" culinary knowledge!
Not too long after Tami and I were married, we came home from church one evening and I began searching the refrigerator for a snack. I finally scrounged up a hard-boiled egg (HBE) and thought I had hit the jackpot. However, the HBE was cold and I figured it would be much better warmed up. This is just the thing that microwave ovens were made for...right?
As I put it on a saucer and started to pop it in the microblaster, Tami stated, with a superior air, "Ray, you're not supposed to put eggs in the microwave." I replied (with a superior air) "That is only raw eggs, in the shell." I proceeded to explain about the yolk being inside the airtight shell and steam pressure building up inside the shell and the explosion that would ensue if you zapped a raw egg. "This cannot happen to an HBE because there is no shell and no liquid" (also said with a superior and knowledgeable air.)
I popped the HBE in the micro, blasted it for a minute or so, popped it out and set the saucer with the HBE on the table. Tami was already sitting at the table eating her cheerios and I sat down to chow down on my HBE. It was just sitting there on the plate...but there was a faint noise...a gentle sssssssssssssssssss... Now that doesn't sound too ominous does it? So...using my second digit (right index finger), I poked down on the HBE.
Have you ever been so totally shocked you couldn't move or scream or....???? With a KA-WHOOM!!! the HBE totally disintegrated on my plate! My finger was still in mid-air over the now-nonexistent HBE. There was HBE on the walls, on the ceiling, on the stove, on the refrigerator, in Tami's hair, it burnt little spots on her face and Yes...there was egg on my face!
And then...silence...We just sat there looking at each other for a few seconds and then both of us just burst out laughing! We cleaned up the mess, I got me some cheerio's and sat down to eat again, with a new appreciation for my new wife and her "superior" culinary knowledge!
Friday, March 6, 2015
Oh My Laig!
Hank and Drover...what would our life have been like without Hank and Drover?...and Slim?...and Little Alfred?...and Wallace & Junior?...and Rip & Snort??? If you are not a diehard fan of "Hank the Cowdog", you have no idea what I'm talking about.
In the early 90's (the 1990's...), Mike and LaDona Blue were our pastors at Junction Hill Pentecostal Church. They traveled quite a bit and they loved to stop at Cracker Barrel. Back then, Cracker Barrel had a deal where you could "rent" audio books at one Cracker Barrel and return them at another one on down the road. They started renting "Hank the Cowdog" on cassette tape and came back home telling us the capers of the "Head of Ranch Security"! Well...we skedaddled on down to the library and rented some for Tabitha...and the rest (as they say) is history. Tabitha (and Mom & Dad) fell in love with the escapades of ole Hank and Drover!
John Erickson, who hails from Perryton, in the Texas Panhandle, wrote these series of books about a ranch dog named Hank and his trusty sidekick, a stub-tailed mutt named Drover. Mr. Erickson proceeded to read his books for audio books and do all of the characters' voices. Hank is the "Yogi Berra" of dogdom. He can mess up the simplest phrases and idioms! Drover is a scaredy cat and is perpetually excusing himself from any work or task by blaming his gimpy leg...hence the phrase "I would do thus and so but....OH MY LAIG!!" Other characters are introduced in the books such as "Pete the Barn Cat", the ranch hand "Slim", the owners of the ranch "High Loper" and "Sally May", the buzzards "Wallace" (Pa) and Junior (Son) and of course the coyotes "Rip" and "Snort"! Mr. Erickson is still writing "Hank" books so if you want to get "edgeakated" in the world of "Hankdom" just go to his site right HERE
The last part of January, we traveled to the Texas Panhandle, the the City of Perryton...to our Nephew's wedding. Bracy Bean and Briana Barton were married in Perryton and John Erickson even helped ole Brace propose! On the way there, I was privileged to pass through the "Mecca of Dogdom", Ochiltree County Texas! This is Hank's stomping grounds and is mentioned many times in his books.
The town of Darrouzett is also mentioned in the stories, although I think the spelling is different.
But the "Holy Ground" of "Dogdom" is a town called "Twitchell". This is where Hank invariably gets into trouble when he rides into town with Slim or High Loper. In the book, it is a full sized town with all kinds of businesses, but as you can see in the pictures below, it's just a wide spot in the road beside the railroad track! And it's spelled different! I know the suit is incongruous with the surroundings but you gotta get the picture when you have the chance!
So...all you "Hank" fans out there...be JEALOUS! I done been there and have the pictures to prove it!
In the early 90's (the 1990's...), Mike and LaDona Blue were our pastors at Junction Hill Pentecostal Church. They traveled quite a bit and they loved to stop at Cracker Barrel. Back then, Cracker Barrel had a deal where you could "rent" audio books at one Cracker Barrel and return them at another one on down the road. They started renting "Hank the Cowdog" on cassette tape and came back home telling us the capers of the "Head of Ranch Security"! Well...we skedaddled on down to the library and rented some for Tabitha...and the rest (as they say) is history. Tabitha (and Mom & Dad) fell in love with the escapades of ole Hank and Drover!
John Erickson, who hails from Perryton, in the Texas Panhandle, wrote these series of books about a ranch dog named Hank and his trusty sidekick, a stub-tailed mutt named Drover. Mr. Erickson proceeded to read his books for audio books and do all of the characters' voices. Hank is the "Yogi Berra" of dogdom. He can mess up the simplest phrases and idioms! Drover is a scaredy cat and is perpetually excusing himself from any work or task by blaming his gimpy leg...hence the phrase "I would do thus and so but....OH MY LAIG!!" Other characters are introduced in the books such as "Pete the Barn Cat", the ranch hand "Slim", the owners of the ranch "High Loper" and "Sally May", the buzzards "Wallace" (Pa) and Junior (Son) and of course the coyotes "Rip" and "Snort"! Mr. Erickson is still writing "Hank" books so if you want to get "edgeakated" in the world of "Hankdom" just go to his site right HERE
The last part of January, we traveled to the Texas Panhandle, the the City of Perryton...to our Nephew's wedding. Bracy Bean and Briana Barton were married in Perryton and John Erickson even helped ole Brace propose! On the way there, I was privileged to pass through the "Mecca of Dogdom", Ochiltree County Texas! This is Hank's stomping grounds and is mentioned many times in his books.
But the "Holy Ground" of "Dogdom" is a town called "Twitchell". This is where Hank invariably gets into trouble when he rides into town with Slim or High Loper. In the book, it is a full sized town with all kinds of businesses, but as you can see in the pictures below, it's just a wide spot in the road beside the railroad track! And it's spelled different! I know the suit is incongruous with the surroundings but you gotta get the picture when you have the chance!
Saturday, January 24, 2015
My Ornery Wife
A post on Facebook reminded Tami of an funny incident that happened years ago. I will relate it here on my blog so every one can have a good chuckle...at my expense...
Mom wanted her new outside thermometer put on an old bird-house post in her back yard...so...on a hot dry, summer day, I commenced with the project. First of all, this was no ordinary thermometer...it was the kind that the NASA astronauts can read from the Space Station. And as such...it required more that just hand tools to mount it to the post. There were no outside plugins so I plugged the extension cord in the house, ran it out the back door and across the yard to the post. I got Mom's electric drill and the attachments I needed. Mom was showing me how and where on the post she wanted the thermometer and I marked the spots for drilling. When I started drilling the holes, the drill worked real good for about five seconds...and then it just quit. I took it down, looked it over, shook it a little, squeezed the trigger and...it worked! Back to drilling and a few seconds later, it quit again. I took it down, Mom and I looked it over, I wiggled the cord, squeezed the trigger and wah-lah!...it worked! Back to drilling...same thing...this time I checked the drill cord to see if it was connected good...and it was...I wiggled the cord some more, tapped the drill on the post (this usually helps) and after all this...it starts working. Back to the drilling! Wouldn't you know it?...after a few seconds, it quit again! I was getting frustrated by this time because it was hot, I was sweating, this was supposed to be a ten-minute job and THE AGGERVATIN' DRILL WASN'T WORKING!!!
About this time, I just happened to glance back toward Mom's house...Did I mention that Tami was with me that day and... Mrs. "Don't Want To Get All Hot And Sweaty" stayed inside in the air conditioning?...where the extension cord was plugged in?......My glance back at the house revealed her at the kitchen window, laughing and giving me a "little kiddie" wave! The reason the drill wouldn't work?...she was unplugging the cottonpickin' cord!! OK...what could we do but laugh with her?! If the roles were reversed, I would have done the same thing!! Mom and I went inside, had a laugh with Tami...and a glass of iced tea...and went and put up the thermometer without any further "interruptions"!
Mom wanted her new outside thermometer put on an old bird-house post in her back yard...so...on a hot dry, summer day, I commenced with the project. First of all, this was no ordinary thermometer...it was the kind that the NASA astronauts can read from the Space Station. And as such...it required more that just hand tools to mount it to the post. There were no outside plugins so I plugged the extension cord in the house, ran it out the back door and across the yard to the post. I got Mom's electric drill and the attachments I needed. Mom was showing me how and where on the post she wanted the thermometer and I marked the spots for drilling. When I started drilling the holes, the drill worked real good for about five seconds...and then it just quit. I took it down, looked it over, shook it a little, squeezed the trigger and...it worked! Back to drilling and a few seconds later, it quit again. I took it down, Mom and I looked it over, I wiggled the cord, squeezed the trigger and wah-lah!...it worked! Back to drilling...same thing...this time I checked the drill cord to see if it was connected good...and it was...I wiggled the cord some more, tapped the drill on the post (this usually helps) and after all this...it starts working. Back to the drilling! Wouldn't you know it?...after a few seconds, it quit again! I was getting frustrated by this time because it was hot, I was sweating, this was supposed to be a ten-minute job and THE AGGERVATIN' DRILL WASN'T WORKING!!!
About this time, I just happened to glance back toward Mom's house...Did I mention that Tami was with me that day and... Mrs. "Don't Want To Get All Hot And Sweaty" stayed inside in the air conditioning?...where the extension cord was plugged in?......My glance back at the house revealed her at the kitchen window, laughing and giving me a "little kiddie" wave! The reason the drill wouldn't work?...she was unplugging the cottonpickin' cord!! OK...what could we do but laugh with her?! If the roles were reversed, I would have done the same thing!! Mom and I went inside, had a laugh with Tami...and a glass of iced tea...and went and put up the thermometer without any further "interruptions"!
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Brooklyn Pizza
Sometimes I find coolest places to eat. If you read online reviews and take a chance every now and then, you can have some unique dining experiences. I was working recently in Sturgeon, Missouri and had to spend the night in Kingdom City, near Fulton. I read the reviews of Brooklyn Pizza and decided to try it. It is on the northwest corner of courthouse square in Fulton and is relatively small.
There's nothing small about the pizza though! Their only pizza is a 16"! I ordered pepperoni, ham and black olives and it was scrumptious!
And then there was the live music...The band for the night was a Jazz band and since I am basically an eclectic music listener, I just sat back, munched pizza and enjoyed it!
Here is a couple of samples of the music. These dudes were really getting into it and I had a front row seat!
If you ever find yourself in Fulton, in the evening, wanting something different for dinner...Check this place out!
Here is a couple of samples of the music. These dudes were really getting into it and I had a front row seat!
If you ever find yourself in Fulton, in the evening, wanting something different for dinner...Check this place out!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Ever had the "Thumps"?
On Thursday night, Tami fixed spaghetti for supper and here's the deal. It has to be Ragu sauce with my Mom's secret additives (which includes brown sugar). It was absolutely delicious so...I ate three platefuls! This may or may not have been the reason for the weird dreams I had, but I do know it was responsible for my indigestion. When I sat up on the edge of the bed Friday morning, Tami woke up and asked the usual question "How are you this morning?" This reply just popped into my head..."I think I had the Spaghetti Thumps."
It was a great privilege to grow up in the Ozarks and have the family that I had. Every region and family has their own expressions, phrases, and idioms but I was especially blessed! For some time now, I have been collecting the phrases that my Mom and Dad used. When Dad had a minor discomfort, whether intestinal or otherwise, he would say "I guess I just have the Thumps."
You may not realize it but there is a medical condition called "Thumps". In 1831 it was first diagnosed by a veterinarian...in a horse. We call them hiccups but veterinarians call them "Thumps". I don't think hiccups was what my Dad was referring to.
If you look up the etymology and translations of the word "Thump", things get mighty interesting. It originated in the 1530's with the verb definition "to strike hard" and in the 1550's with the noun definition "a dull, heavy sound." In Danish the word is "Dunk", in Catalan - "Volta", in Hungarian -"Puffanas", in Icelandic - "Thump"... However, in the Swedish dialect the word is "dumpa"...hmmmmm. We may be on to something here!
These are the times I wish I could just call up my Dad and say "Why did you call it the Thumps??" All I know is this - I had the "Thumps" but all is well now since Tami just brought me a warm, homemade, slightly doughy, gingersnap cookie! The "Thumps" are gone!!!
It was a great privilege to grow up in the Ozarks and have the family that I had. Every region and family has their own expressions, phrases, and idioms but I was especially blessed! For some time now, I have been collecting the phrases that my Mom and Dad used. When Dad had a minor discomfort, whether intestinal or otherwise, he would say "I guess I just have the Thumps."
You may not realize it but there is a medical condition called "Thumps". In 1831 it was first diagnosed by a veterinarian...in a horse. We call them hiccups but veterinarians call them "Thumps". I don't think hiccups was what my Dad was referring to.
If you look up the etymology and translations of the word "Thump", things get mighty interesting. It originated in the 1530's with the verb definition "to strike hard" and in the 1550's with the noun definition "a dull, heavy sound." In Danish the word is "Dunk", in Catalan - "Volta", in Hungarian -"Puffanas", in Icelandic - "Thump"... However, in the Swedish dialect the word is "dumpa"...hmmmmm. We may be on to something here!
These are the times I wish I could just call up my Dad and say "Why did you call it the Thumps??" All I know is this - I had the "Thumps" but all is well now since Tami just brought me a warm, homemade, slightly doughy, gingersnap cookie! The "Thumps" are gone!!!
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