I'm A Patsy - Gotta Problem With That?

Friday, February 15, 2013


Got Lint?

Teri had a birthday recently, and I wanted to do something special. I knew Teri loved the lint that you take out of the dryer before you dry a load of wet clothes! I do too. I don't think there are too many people out there who feel the same. But I started collecting my lint two years ago. I never have much because I don't wash that much - not because I'm a dirty, smelly person but because I live alone, so not that much washing is required. But I kept putting it in a plastic zip bag and watched as it grew bigger. I finally decided there was enough to make a small pillow - not to sleep on but to put someplace or . . . I don't know what you'd do with it. 

I had some red material from an old tablecloth, so I cut it up in two circles and sewed them together except for a place where I could stuff the lint. I began stuffing, and my friend, Diane, brought me some she had saved for me. I used all of mine and needed some of hers, so I used it. Then I sewed up the hole by hand and pasted the letters on the pillow. I couldn't find a G for the Got part, so I used a C. Not good. I had to cut up a couple of letters to make the question mark. The whole process was exhausting as is everything, but I was finally through. But I noticed what looked like cat hairs pushing through the material. It was from where I had used Diane's lint! Turns out her lint had come from when she washed a blanket on which her cat always slept! So now I had a pillow with cat hairs! I mailed it to Teri, and she was very surprised! How could she not have been surprised, opening up a pillow with cat hairs sticking out of it! I think she likes it but I have no idea what she'll do with it. Maybe her cats will sleep on it - she has many cats! They can put their hairs on the outside.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013


Shut the Hell up!

Here's my little monkey getting ready to clash his cymbals at my tiny little cell phone. I had a crazy experience with phones last week and this is how it went. I was talking on one of my hand-held phones and I heard a "peep, peep, peep, peep" every few minutes. The person to whom I was speaking couldn't hear it. I finally changed to my other hand-held phone and still heard it. I began to think it was something wrong with the cradle where the phones rest. I even checked the batteries in the two phones and they were all connected right. I could hear it even when I wasn't on the phone! I knew I couldn't sleep with all that peeping as I sleep on the couch in the living room where the phones are. I called Radio Shack and they were no help. So I took one of the phones and put it in another room and covered it with a pillow! I still heard it. So I put the other phone under the pillow and that didn't work. Then I put both phones under the pillow and still heard the peeping! I ended up putting a big pillow covering the main phone area cradle. No luck.

I managed to sleep that night, and the next evening I went out to eat with friends. While we were sitting in the booth, I heard the peeping again! And my friends heard it. I thought maybe it was coming from my body - something telling me that something was wrong with me! But then I looked in my purse and found my cell phone with a message to the effect that I was stupid and should take care of business!! So I charged my phone when I got home and no more peeping. I never use my phone and never even turn it on unless I get stuck on the road and don't know how to start the car or stop it or something stupid like that. The mechanics at Tom Dwyer know me quite well. So now I'm trying to use my cell once in a while so that will never happen again. That was one strange experience!

Monday, February 11, 2013


Today on February 12, Teri's having a birthday!!

This picture is of Teri and me out to dinner. We very seldom get a picture of the two of us, and when we do I usually hate mine while Teri always looks great. But I thought this one was acceptable! Teri is the young pretty one.

My little girl is a year older today, and I can hardly believe how fast the years have gone. This also makes me older which is actually horrifying to think about! Teri is my first child, and I remember how I was like a mother lion when she was a newborn - or what I think they would be like. I didn't take her out of the house for 3 months unless doctor appointments, and I didn't let anyone get close to her if they had as much as a runny nose. When I did take her out, I had her wrapped in so many layers of clothes and coats, that when I unwrapped her, she was all sweaty! I'm surprised she survived me, but she came through with flying colors. I nursed her and would always go in a room by myself with her and sing her the same songs over and over again. It was sort of "our time." I would sing "Bye, Bye Blackbird" and "You Are My Sunshine."
There must have been more but I can't remember that far back right now! Those were my favorites. When I was in New Orleans several years ago, I went to Pat O'Brien's club and while drinking one of their famous hurricane drinks, I asked the piano player to play "Bye, Bye Blackbird." He said that was a great song and would sing me the dirty version a little later! Sadly, I had too much hurricane and never got to hear the other version. I was led away by friends!

Now Teri is all grown up and lives 3,000 miles away from me. I give her advice all the time like, "get your flu shot," "be careful in the subway," "don't stand too close to the edge in the subway," and on and on. It seems a lot of my advice concerns the subway system. I'm sure she listens to me and follows my advice.

I'm so proud of what she has accomplished on her own. She went clear across the country and made a success of her life and did it all by herself. I miss her terribly and wish she were closer, but the opportunities were where she settled. Our roles seem to be changing a little as she now gives me advice quite emphatically! But I think that's the way life works, isn't it?

I hope your birthday is a good one, Babe, and just know that I love you more than I can express.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TERI!!!