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20077. Ms. No - 9/1/2006 6:32:58 PM Damn, power outage and I lost the post I was constructing. Let's try this again!
What you all really want to hear is about the trip to Arkansas!
We started off from my folks' place on a Thursday morning fortified with sausage bread and coffee. Judith and Keoni arrived in the Jag and we piled in and off we went with planned stops for liquor and handbags in Texarkansas.
Texarkansas is about halfway to the Malarky's and straddles the state line between Texas and Arkansas. They have a main drag called State Line and on one side of it you can buy and consume alcohol and on the other if you even think of imbibing the demon likker they will douse you in it and set you afire......okay, it isn't quite that extreme, but nearly so. BTW it's the Texas side that's dry.
Our first endeavor was on the wrong side of the line but we made a U-turn and crossed over to the land of libations after trying to buy mixer in a grocery store. The clerk who was helping us really, really wanted to sell us some Triple Sex and wasn't really deterred when I informed her that it was triple SEC and had nothing to do with fornication unless you mix it with a LOT of tequila.
At least now I know I won't end my days alone unless I want to. I can always go back to Texarkanas and pick up a lesbian lifestyle with the Kroger clerk if I get desperate. She was disappointed to find that we weren't going to be partying in Texarkansas but were moving our little road show on down the highway.
We did find the liquor store and Judith picked up an admirer in chaps and leather vest. He was giving her the eye and looking as if he was ready to put her on the bag of his Hog and ride away into the sunset. He was going to have to fight the cowboy for her though and Keoni and I managed to make purchases and get back to her in time to avoid bloodshed or protestations of undying devotion.
Next stop Handbag Heaven (I can't recall the name of the place but it started with a B) Aisles and aisles of cute bags, costume jewelry, scarves, hats and accessories. Keoni's favorite item was the TV den they had set up with a comfy chair and a big screen television. Excellent marketing stategy --- if they men can watch football (or golf as the case may be) while the women shop then everyone is happy and content for hours.
20078. Ms. No - 9/1/2006 7:09:55 PM Back on the road I was lamenting the fact that what I'd really wanted while I was in Texas was a good old thunderstorm. We never get weather in LA and I was counting on Texas to deliver. Little did I know Texas and Arkansas were in the middle of about a month of drought prior to my arrival. Somebody must've been listening, though because the storm hit just as we were turning off the highway to the Malarky's place. Thunder and lightening and the whole nine yards.
It was perfect timing --- had it hit sooner it would've been hell to drive in. As it was we were briefly dampened on our way into the house and then tucked up dry and cozy with munchies and a warm welcome in short order.
A bit of visiting and a lot of snoozling from Maisie who is about the cutest dog I've ever encountered and then the women were off to Hot Springs for dinner and karaoke. We tried to get Bob and Keoni to come but they were having none of it.
Arky took us to a German restaurant in Hot Springs where we met up with Mose and her fiance and Mose's best friend. The food was very good although we passed on Mose's usual favorite appetizer when Judith explained to her that the translation of the German name equates to "horse." Whether they were serving authentic equine or not Mose wasn't taking any chances. This was just as well since the dinner portions were enormous. Judith and I each ordered and split ours between us -- a traditional meatloaf which was delicious and some kind of chicken that had a white sauce and mushrooms. It was all perfectly delicious.
After dinner we wandered down to Lucky's expecting it to be nearly deserted on a Thursday night but lo and behold it was full of a teachers' convention and we only just barely managed to get a table. We nearly aquired another cowbowy -- this one young dumb and full of...well, you know. But we sent him on his way with his inflatable date in handcuffs. (seriously, he had a naked blow up doll in handcuffs apparently as his consolation prize from a batchelor party)
Arky and I brought the crowd to full tilt with a Beatles rock block and Mose tore it up with an amazing rendition of GnR's Sweet Child O' Mine. Her friend catered to the country lovers with You Never Even Call Me By My Name and then Arky closed us out with Stupify which proved that she was waaaay cooler than the other teachers in the room. A seven foot tall Japanese lady asked me "What is that she's singing? Is it alternative rock?" Arky kicked major ass! The Mote Band is well and truly on its way.
Home again and off to bed to be awakened by the smell of Keoni's famous biscuits and gravy in the morning. Ah, bliss! The women took off again to get a tour of the area and a visit to Arky's school. I feel that if those in favor of closing down rural schools could only just see what we saw they'd change their minds. The school was charming but also clearly the bedrock of the local community. Not only where Arky teaches but also in a couple of the smaller towns. The population of the school is larger than that of the town and it clearly brings the outlying communities together. The obvious pride that the students take in their school and the importance of the school to the area should erase any question of whether or not rural schools are necessary.
We stopped for lunch at a place called "Mom's" where they make a fine Rueben on marbled rye and then we were off to town to the grocery store for provisions for the gathering the next day. We made a trip by Ary's folks' house to see their back yard which is like a little oasis and then back to the homestead to settle in for the duration.
Guests started arriving early -- Ronnie?, crap I can't believe I can't remember his name --- anyway, he brought a brisket that was so tender you didn't need a knife to cut it. A neighbor brought peas from his garden and we had cornbread and mashed potatoes. We managed to save some for later arrivals -- but just barely.
Friends and neighbors, dogs and guitars and Todd whose ship has sailed but hasn't sunk yet. Good conversation, a little singing along and a round or two of One Duck. A good time was had by all late into the night.
Breakfast was a Keoni and Ronnie double feature with biscuits and gravy and Ronnie's breakfast casserole (I'm sure that's not his name, more and more so every time I type it) and then it was time to pack up the Jag and head back to Texas.
Now, I know that perhaps it seems like bad luck that we had any car trouble at all, but I think we had amazingly good luck. When we started to have trouble with our tire, we pretty quickly found a garage right off the highway on a SUNDAY of all things and they rotated us in short order for a good price. A little further down the line when we started to have trouble again, the universe smiled again and we found yet another place open and able to put on the spare without too much waiting or effort.
We made it back to my folks' in good time and said our goodbyes and then I was off to the airport and back to LA to begin the process of moving to Sacramento.
A wonderful trip and one I hope to make again next year! 20079. arkymalarky - 9/1/2006 10:43:47 PM WOW!! What a wonderful post! I got to revisit a great time all over again!
And congrats on school! Sounds like things are rolling right along. I had no idea you'd be two weeks into it already!
And yep, it's Ronnie. I'm looking forward to a repeat of a fantastic gathering next year! 20080. Ms. No - 9/1/2006 11:35:56 PM There were four lower division classes needed for my English specialization so I figured I'd take them at the community college for cheap rather than at the University. Also, I couldn't have gotten into the Uni in time for this semester --- it's actually time to apply for next semester there already.
Only two of the classes I need are offered each semester though so I'm easing back in with a light load which is just as well. I'm taking American Lit - Discovery to the Civil War and a World Lit - Ancient to Early Modern.
I thought the AmLit was going to be a struggle since the bulk of it is spent reading Puritain works, but the way in which the professor is approaching it all is very engaging so I'm having a great time even when we do have to read things like "A Model of Christian Charity". We had a great time with the poems of Anne Bradstreet.
World Lit so far has been Gilgamesh, some passages from the Old Testament and now The Odyssey. I've read a lot of the material we'll be covering in this class --- including the Bahgavad Gita and some of the Hindu Vedas. Oedipus Rex, The Inferno, The Canterbury Tales and then we finish up with Hamlet. We'll also be reading some Japanese and Chinese writings and an epic poem out of Africa and a Navaho creation story.
At some point we have to instruct the class with a partner and one of my classmates and I are really angling to do The Inferno. The professor wouldn't let us sign up yet, though so we'll have to wrestle with the rest of the class over what material gets parcelled out to whom next Wednesday. 20081. arkymalarky - 9/2/2006 1:14:42 AM Hey, that sounds great, especially the World Lit. Sounds like you have a good plan. I hope you two get to do what you want in the class. We're doing something similar in my American Novel class--selecting our 8th novel from a list, first come first served. I'm never early and I'm afraid I'll get stuck with something I don't like. I've read four of the other seven novels we're reading, but not the one we're starting with--Blithedale Romance. 20082. Ulgine Barrows - 9/2/2006 2:50:32 AM [i]19612. arkymalarky - 6/12/2006 2:41:58 PM
Ulgine, my assessment of the difference between dogs and cats: cats play with their prey before they kill it, and dogs play with it after--weeks after, if you let them.
My parents went out on their driveway one day to find that all that was left of one of their cat's bird victims was a pair of wings lying on the concrete.[/i]
Yeah, cats like to kill it a little bit, then kill it a little bit more. And then see if they can kill it til it doesn't move. 20083. judithathome - 9/2/2006 4:08:29 AM MsNo, I wholeheartedly agree with Arky...fabulous post!
The purse outlet is called B Jaxx.
And Todd...how could I ever forget Todd! ;-) 20084. Ulgine Barrows - 9/2/2006 5:06:24 AM Todd? Do tell. 20085. Ulgine Barrows - 9/2/2006 5:17:45 AM 19885 or maybe 19858
Is it too much to demand
I want a full house and a rock and roll band
Pens that won't run out of ink
And cool quiet and time to think
Shouldn't I have this
Passionate Kisses, MC Carpenter
And that website makes me sad I posted (or tried to post) her lyrics here. 20086. Ms. No - 9/2/2006 7:24:30 AM Ah, Todd, he was a charmer. That's the kind of boy I'd have gotten into trouble with in highschool...or college...or hell, probably even five years ago. ;-> 20087. Ulgine Barrows - 9/2/2006 7:50:24 AM And perhaps today?
Todd, Tom, Toby..... 20088. Ulgine Barrows - 9/2/2006 7:55:31 AM 19612. arkymalarky - 6/12/2006 2:41:58 PM
...........
My parents went out on their driveway one day to find that all that was left of one of their cat's bird victims was a pair of wings lying on the concrete.
Yeah, I had to kick bird parts around to mow the lawn today.
Mostly wings: they must not be so tasty. 20089. alistairConnor - 9/2/2006 12:28:53 PM well I'm not sorry I asked!
Looks like you've had one of those life-defining flashpoints... I think millions of us are likely to find ourselves in that position over the next few years : cast off from our established positions as the economy moves (or crumbles) under our feet. You've seized on it as an opportunity, where others would have been crushed by it... I think that this is very smart re-positioning, considering the economic storms ahead. "Get thee to the non-discretionary side of the economy!" is the general advice for anyone... let's hope the education system will be maintained.
So what sort of teaching are you aiming for? 20090. uzmakk - 9/2/2006 12:30:31 PM I commented long ago that the Western Moties seemed to be a more gregarious lot than their Eastern brethren. The evidence accumulates.
20091. alistairConnor - 9/2/2006 12:37:22 PM The only American moties I have met are New Yawkers. But that's just a matter of opportunity. 20092. wonkers2 - 9/2/2006 2:27:35 PM Anybody know where Magoseph is lately? 20093. arkymalarky - 9/2/2006 3:50:30 PM Judith posted that Mags wanted us to know she'd be gone for a few days, but didn't say why or for how long. 20094. wonkers2 - 9/2/2006 3:53:26 PM Tnks! 20095. arkymalarky - 9/2/2006 4:01:46 PM Ol' Todd. I'd about forgotten Todd before he showed up. He's something else. I didn't know what to make of him back when, and I still don't. He's always been a charmer, but if he dropped by much I'd have to start keeping better count of my silverware. 20096. judithathome - 9/2/2006 4:18:18 PM Just talked to Mags and she and Flexy are going to her older son's house to meet up with her younger son and his fiance who are visiting from Texas. Big doin's for the Labor Day weekend in the Oseph clan!
She said to say hello to everyone and that she will be back soon. I want to know all about her future daughter-in-law, myself.
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