March 26, 2009 - Msg 71302:
One of my favorite Barney lines is when he stands up for Andy on the witness stand: "You couldn't ask for a better friend than Andy Taylor."

MDC

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71303:
Wow, I swept romeena right under the porch!
Sorry Ro, you had a great post in 71301.

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71304:


March 26, 2009 - Msg 71305:
Barney: Andy, this ain't good! This thing's got outta' control! You better call it off!"
Andy: "I can't call it off!"
Barney: "Well you better phone the men or the President or somebody and tell 'em to stop that truck!"
Andy: "They can't stop the truck. It already left. ...Somewhere between here and
Denver there's seven million dollars headed for Mayberry ...and you and me
and Gomer and Laura Lee Hobbs -WE'RE gonna be here to receive it!"


March 26, 2009 - Msg 71306: Really nice post, Romeena...I wish it hadn't ended so soon. Please feel free to share your ideas about "all things Mayberry" anytime you like.

MDC, I have no idea where the "fish" came from...I guess the same place Romeena's "Prichard" came from...

Do any of you have the DVD set that contains all the TAGS seasons? I have seasons 1-4 and that's all, I think. I never seem to be able to find anything else. I guess I need to look at the pickle store.

Boo

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71307: I mean Weaver's Department Store.

By the way, here is some trivia that you may or may not know. Did ya'll know that Andy Griffith's real-life wife at that time is in an episode of TAGS? She plays one of the choir members in the episode when Gomer is asked to sing Santa Lucia. Her name is "Sharon" and she has one line.."I'm sorry, Mr. Masters". Did any of you know that already? I read it in the FAQ's section of this website.

Boo

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71308: Thanks for the dancing bird, Mavis!! (BIG SMILE)

Boo

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71309: I thought ya'll would like that dancin bird. While I was watching it, our little parrot JoJo was bouncing around his cage just yakking away! Looks like Ray Charles has a whole new fan base~birds! Here's the link for the porchsters whose email address I don't have. Enjoy.
http://www.maniacworld.com/bird-loves-ray-charles.html
*Mavis

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71310: Dan's older brother Jim Seals was the Seals in 'Seals and Croft'.

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71311:
Howdy porch family.....Some good ole Mayberry talk today.

Boo....I had read that somewhere about Andy's real-life wife in the episode. Their were several other interesting facts that I read also but can't recall them. (By the way...thanks for your kind comments)

Ro....I really enjoyed your take on Mayberry. Very well put for a true TAGS lover.

I pretty much like all the B&W episodes. Of course I like some better than others. But honestly, the in-color one's are not my favorite. Some of them are fine but would rather have the B&W any day.

I know this has nothing to do with TAGS, but what kind of virus protection do you all use? I use AVG but I understand they are going to make some big changes so I was just courious what you all used.

Spot.....you working tonight brother? Hope the rain gets out of Ga before I head that way Saturday.

Well gang I'm gonna get ready for bed. You all sleep good. Prayers for all the porch family. Aren't you glad He is never too busy to hear our prayers? Thank you LORD!
-REV.


March 26, 2009 - Msg 71312: Thanks for the kind words, Boo. I just try to remember that when a certain character is annoying or off-putting or endearing or whatever, then the actor has done their job, and the writers have done theirs as well. Oh, and yes - you can get all the DVDs at Weaver's. Good place to shop!!

Mavis, that bird is adorable. Thanks so much for sharing that. He really has the beat - right on time!

Well, I think I'm going to go to bed early for a change. I'm usually up past midnight, but I think I need a long night's sleep. I need to get rested up, because things are going to start moving fast here soon, in preparation for my granddaughter's wedding, and I still have three shifts to work next week. I'm hoping to wangle a cancellation for Saturday night, April 4. I could just take it as PTO time - I have 130 hours banked - but would rather take it as unpaid time if I can, and save the PTO for another time. So far, I'm only using 12 hours of PTO for the whole two weeks surrounding the wedding, just with creative scheduling.

Be blessed, everyone. --Romeena

March 26, 2009 - Msg 71313: Oh, I absolutely agree, REV. I prefer the B&W eps too - I guess we all do. I think Andy Griffith himself preferred them. I don't believe it's any one thing, but rather a combination. First of all, some things are just better in B&W. Look at "It's a Wonderful Life". The colorized version just isn't as appealing as the B&W original. Then with TAGS, there was a gradual shift in all areas. Andy's demeanor changed, he became more sophisticated. Opie grew up, and that couldn't be helped, but a teenager just doesn't have the appeal that little six-year-old Opie had. Barney left, and that eliminated Thelma Lou. Floyd left, and while I like Emmett, I still miss Floyd in those eps. It would have been fun to have them both. In the last season, Ken Berry came in as Sam Jones, and there was a strong feeling that the show was changing focus, shifting to Jones. Sure enough, Mayberry RFD followed the demise of TAGS. It was a good show, but Mayberry just wasn't the same.

I guess it's like the Bible says - "To every thing, there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the Heaven." TAGS just ran its course. I wish it could have lasted longer, but I'm grateful we had it as long as we did. 'Night, folks! --Romeena

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71314: Mornin' Y'all.Don't know why I'm up so early,except that the mattress and my bones were having a conflict! Oh,the joys of pushing 50! Anytime I drive the possum mobile any distance,(like I did yesterday) I get stove up in my back the next day. But,things could be worse,so I'll hush.
I didn't know "Sharon" was Andy's real life wife. Ron Howard's mom is in a choir scene as well. It's one of those color eps- the one where Aunt Bee wants choir robes,I think. She's the one with the short blonde hair,kind of round face,when the ladies are singing a hymn.And Ron's daddy was in a few eps- he was the governor's driver in the "Barney & the Governor" ep.
Yes, (MSG 71310) Dan Seals was the brother of Seals from Seals & Croft. You might remember him from that duet he did with Marie Osmond- "Meet Me In Montana."
Since I'm up early,guess I'll make breakfast- Corn flakes for everyone!!
*******************
possum under a rock

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71315: Corn flakes?....uh, where's SPOT?... ;)

You're eight, Romeena, TAGS couldn't stay the same forever but at least we have "immortalized" the show on DVD and reruns! I think people will be watching TAGS forever...it never seems to lose it's appeal because even our kids love to watch it.

I know what you mean, Possum, it seems like if I sleep too long my back and sides start to ache and I have to get up. I noticed that the last time I was sick. I wanted to stay in bed more but just couldn't. My poor dad has been sleeping in his recliner for years because of arthritis in his back. Can you imagine not being able to sleep in your own bed? Must be tough.

I didn't know that Opie's mom was in an episode. I knew I had seen his dad in a couple and Leon is his little brother, right?

Well, better get moving. Busy day today.

Boo

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71316: possum my bones and my mattress have them conflicts every night! Wonder what causes that? (Asa I dont' wanta hear nothing about no spring chickens, neither!) I have been feeling a little off the last couple of days, almost like I'm trying to come down with something, my chest and head are so congested. Thank goodness it's Friday and I have the next 2 days off. Spot those pictures came through just fine, ya'll got some great shots of the track! Well, gotta get some coffee down my neck to try and wake up before my day starts. possum can I have some nanners with my corn flakes?
*Mavis

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71317: Hey Boo you must have yer slippers on like I did yesterday, sneakin up on folks. And yep, little Leon with the peanut butter sammiches is Opie's real life brother. I always think of him in "Gentle Ben" when I see him on any show. And you oughta be nice to possum she comes out from under her rock, offers us corn flakes and you go hollerin for Spot you'll hurt her feelins and Rafe will come along and have to poke at her with a poinkety stick to get her back out. Just eat yer corn flakes and be nice. ;)
*Mavis

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71318: Morning all. It's Friday! Yabba dabba doo!

Well I'm loving all this TAGS talk. It's been nice, real nice.

Possum, I didn't know Ron's Mom was in an episode. I'll have to look for that. I imagine y'all probably knew that most of the Howard family (other than Ron) was in Apollo 13. But Ron directed it so he had a hand in it. Ron's Mom played the part of Jim Lovell's Mom in the movie. Ron's Dad played the part of the Minister that was comfroting the family when the crew was going through re-entry. And Ron's brother (Leon) played one of the engineer's there at Mission Control. He's the little bald headed feller called Cy that tells Gene (the head dude there at Mission Control) that from where he sit's, the Command Module is dying.

Possum, I love you comment about your bones and your bed having a conflict. Perfect description of life at 50. HA! Guess it beats the alternative though.

And Mavis, that was a cute video. I thought that birds head was gonna snap off. Mercy sakes, such flexability. And I laughed at you earlier comment about being a summer/fall body. Very good.

Boo, sure do hope Bruce get's the procedure done that will help him. Poor feller. You guy's are in my prayers.

MDC, what kind of exercizing they got you doing? I start PT on Monday. I am a runner, and am thinking that my problem is a muscle imbalance. Although I stretch out often, runners are notorious for tight ham strings and weak quads. I guess I am dating myself using the term "gym clothes". But hey, what the heck. I'll just slip on my KEDS and go do my JacK Lalane exercizes. LOL
I saw him just the other day on an infomercial. He has his own juicer out now he was selling. Looks pretty good for being in his 90's.

Well, howdy to anyone I missed. Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.

Asa

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71319: Get up-Get up...leys go eat....whos got some money?....SPOT

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71320: thats "lets"...mercy..

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71321: if thats a word...

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71322: Well, it is if you put in the apostrophe that makes it proper contraction of "let us". (heehee) --Romeena

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71323: Speaking of apostrophes (and I just did) that's a very badly misused little critter. It really only has a couple of legitimate uses. One is in a contraction, where it usually is taking the place of a vowel and sometimes a vowel and consonant. In the above case, it replaces the "u" in "us". In "can't", it replaces an "n" and an "o" in "can not".

It's also used to denote possession (Mary's purse), but is often misused behind an "s" that is meant to make a word plural rather than possessive. "The cat's ran away" is incorrect. "The cat's toy is lost" is correct. The first is simply plural, but with the apostrophe, it makes me want to ask what, belonging to the cat, ran away? The 's form should always be followed by a noun, never a verb. Sorry - I don't know why I'm all school-marmish this morning, but I see signs everywhere with misplaced 's, and it just grates on my nerves. There's a restaurant here in town that used to have a sign on a restroom door that read "Ladie's". Argh! That one breaks about three rules! Also, our unit manager at work is forever having notices posted on our bulletin boards, with 's used incorrectly. I know, she doesn't type them up, the unit clerk does, but our manager obviously either doesn't proofread them, or doesn't know the difference. With a master's degree, I think she should.

These are easy mistakes to make, though. We start writing, and the apostrophe just slips in there. A very common one, and I've done it myself many times, is "it's" vs "its". "It's" is a contraction of "it is", and "its" is possessive. "It's fun to watch a cat wash its face" is correct. "Its" looks a little odd, but is correct. Possessive pronouns never have an apostrophe. You wouldn't write "the man lost hi's hat". No one does that because it looks weird, but "her's" and "their's" looks okay, so it is seen often, yet is not correct.

OK, class dismissed. Sorry! --Romeena

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71324: Your right, Romeena. That stuff get's to me to. Irregardess, somebody had to say something. And in my judgement, you're explanation was the CATS.

I'll see ya.
Rafe Hollister


March 27, 2009 - Msg 71325:
RO- "The cat's ran away" could be used if one is
using "cat's" as a contraction for "cat has," but then the perfect conjunctive form of "run" would have to be used with the helping verb "has"..."The cat's rUn away" in place of "The cat has run away."
Of course, if it was past unreal conditional,
one could say "If the cat had run away, it would have been due to a squirt of water from Romeena!" haha Just funnin' with ya!
But I agree 100%! When I see those unnecessary apostrophe(')s, I cringe also.
Prof MDC


March 27, 2009 - Msg 71326:
If you want to test your verb knowledge (and who doesn't), check out:
http://www.verb2verbe.com/test.aspx
It aint quite as fun as Andy's history lesson about the shot heard clear around the world; but, on the other hand, you don't have to listen to Earnest T Bass talk about that possum under a rock neither! ha
MDC

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71327: Ok,well,at least MAVIS likes my corn flakes.And she gets bananas with hers,so there! Pfft!(Blowing a raspberry at all of you who dissed my cornflakes)Ha! And look at spot,hollering "Who's got money?" just dying to eat anything but my cornflakes. A double raspberry to you Spotty! Pfft! pfftt! Ha! See when I offer to COOK for y'all (except Mavis) again!
And as for you,MDC,what's with that remark about not listening to Ernest T. talk about a possum under a rock? You get one too- pfft! Ha!
Can y'all tell I still haven't gotten the "stove" outta my bones? I'm one ornery possum when I'm stove up! But,I still love ya all!
*******************
possum under a rock

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71328: I feel like running away with that cat! Hee Hee

possum again

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71329: Romeena I was a math person...never English...thanks..:)hey possum, MDC,Tom,Rev,hazel,auh20,NN,Asa,ky,Mavis,Boo,CHUCK?!..and all..rain here so im gona retreat to my dry barn to do some light wiring...Lunch?..Maude?..local Lucy?...well im gona whup up some grilled cheese...get one yall....SPOT

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71330:
OK, I'm gonna change the subject for a moment because I think this is too important to not mention: B.O.s Youth Corps quietly passed in the House the other day attached to another bill.
It would require MANDATORY youth service, complete with uniforms, as determined by the government, to be part of a "civilian national security force." It would still have to be taken up by the Senate. I won't say anymore here on the porch, but if you Google "Obama Youth Corps," you will get an eyeful!
Possum- you don't want to be jabbed at with a stick, do you? ha
Rev- thanks for all you do and for your prayers.
Lucy- good to see you on the porch. Take care of that baby.
ASA- I lay on my back with knees bent and arms to the side, then raise the but-tock up and back down. Also, in same position, pull knees to face, and pull face toward knees. Always a crowd pleaser! ha oooowwww!
Prayers,
MDC

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71331:
"Don't be wearin' my hat Ange."

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71332:
ANDY: What's going on?
BARNEY: Floyd used tonic on my hair and I didn't ask for it, so I'm not going to pay
him the quarter!
FLOYD: He DID ask for it, he ALWAYS gets tonic.
BARNEY: But I didn't ask for it THIS TIME! I didn't ask for it by name, did I?
FLOYD: So what!
ANDY: Give 'em the quarter.


March 27, 2009 - Msg 71333:
MDC-The Liberals in Germany during the 30's had such a group, called Jugend von Hitler (HJ), Hitler Youth. Zig Heil!!

auh2o

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71334:
"Nip it in the bud!"

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71335:
Goober: Keep your shirt on Gilly.
The way you treat this car, you're lucky it runs at all!

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71336: Afternoon, all. Rafe, you are hilarious! Subtle and sneaky and hilarious. The rest of you are just plain old hilarious.

As for what started me off on that grammar tirade, I don't know! Good grief! Spot, I'm glad one of us is good at math, because I'm surely not. Simple arithmetic, fine. Just don't talk to me about logarithms and x=y and all that stuff. Loses me completely!

As for the BO Youth Corps - scary, scary, scary!!! Talk about your slippery slopes.....
However, this should come as no surprise. The more the citizens are dependent upon the government, the more they can be controlled by the government. Socialism has been tried so many times, it has never worked, it never will work, and yet here we go, about to try it once more. Quite honestly, I think I'm about ready for Texas to declare herself free from the U.S., and return to independent Republic status. We can, you know. Maybe we should. That would bring that nose down out of the air in a hurry, I'll bet. Think of what all is here - the oil, the gas, the shipping ports, the aerospace industry, the military installations, two international airports, major technological industry, and a huge border with Mexico, which Texas would shut down in a heartbeat without U.S. restraint. We would no longer have to answer to the U.S. Supreme Court, and could function within a fair and logical legal system, instead of the convoluted nonsense we're mired in right now. And if anybody wants to argue about anything, we have the Texas National Guard and the Texas Rangers. Those ol' boys don't mess around. The old saying - "One riot, one Ranger" is right on the mark. Old sayings usually get to be old sayings because they're true.

Be blessed, all. --Romeena

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71337: Wow MDC. I hope you don't try them exercises with a full belly. You could have a real situation on your hands. :)Or as Rafe and Ro would say "you're hand's". LOL

Asa

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71338: LOL Romeena and Asa! I was beginning to wonder if anybody would "get it", and I'm glad you both

did. How many "mistakes" did you find? (I mean, BESIDES the unintentional misspelling -- I didn't mean to leave out

the "L" in that non-word.)

Romeena, keep your eyes peeled for a pic from me for you to post. It's a

doozey!

I'll see ya.
Rafe Hollister








S E C E D E


March 27, 2009 - Msg 71339:
"The yellow rose of Texas..."

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71340:
Have a great weekend all..YOUR in my prayers! (:
MDC

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71341: LOL MDC!! You sing lead, and I'll back you up on harmony and washboard.

Rafe


March 27, 2009 - Msg 71342: I can play the radio! --Romeena

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71343: Well hello yall..slow porch tonight...storms here in Ga ...I have got to get to bed gona go in at 6 to help out in the morning....hey possum,ky chack yer mail ok?...mav be sweet hun....im gone SPOT

March 27, 2009 - Msg 71344: You all pray for me, okay? I've got two grandsons, ages 6 and 8, here for the weekend. One is a teaser, likes to pick on the other one, and I can well understand why he enjoys it, because the little one whines and pitches a fit every time. He makes it well worth while. I'm tempted to tease him myself! Oh, it's a riot. Their parents (my son and Eloise's daughter) are spending the weekend in Austin, where they'll see the same Lipizzaner horse show that Eloise and I saw in Waco last Saturday. They needed a little getaway, and this will be perfect for them. Oh, and I've got ol' Bentley, their Wheaten terrier, as well. He and Toye Starr are having a ball. Starr didn't even want to quit playing long enough to eat. They're hilarious to watch as they play. Starr weighs just over 4 pounds, Bentley weighs about 45 pounds, and they play together just fine. He's very gentle with her at all times. She bosses him around, steals his toys, nips at his ears (when she can reach them) and generally makes a pest of herself. He just takes it all with good nature, and seems to enjoy it, actually. He's such a good boy.

I found six, Rafe, not counting the missing "l". Did I miss anything? Of course, I could have miscounted - I told you I'm no good at math!

I'm really sorry I got started on that topic, though. We all buzz through and type fast, not expecting anyone to be watching us like an English teacher. We all make mistakes, and it doesn't matter, as long as our friends understand us. I left out an "a" in 71322, the one that started all this, but I'll bet no one even noticed. You read the sentence for content, not detail. So, Spot, you feel free to continue to leave out apostrophes whenever you wish, and just don't ask me to figure up the bill when we eat at Cracker Barrel, because I'll never get it right.

Our beautiful springtime weather is gone. It's 38 degrees right now, cold north wind blowing and has been raining off and on. I hear the Texas panhandle is expecting blizzard conditions tonight! Most of the rest of you haven't even seen a glimpse of spring yet, so our little taste of it was a blessing, I guess.

So, with that in mind - Tom, how about a springtime poem? We could use one, to encourage us and remind us that it really is coming and will be here soon. Have you got one for us?

Be blessed, everyone. --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71345: Romeena, I liked your post about the ' s, I just learned in typing class this year, that you no longer put a comma between the city and state or the state and the zip code on an envelope or letter. The post office doesn't want it done that way. Did anybody else know that? I was still doing it the "old school " way and the computer program I was working in doing the typing kept marking it wrong. I asked the teacher why, and , he said it's not done that way anymore. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but, I think it looks much neater that way. Oh well, maybe it is just me. I didn't know any of the trivia about tags you all were talking about, I'll have to be on the lookout for all of that. I didn't know that Andy Griffeth had been married more than once, or did I misunderstand that?Well, gotta hit the hay, that's the same as hitting the ironing board, just not as adventurous sleeping, alot scratchier though! Prayers for all-ky girl

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71346: Boy, I am starting to feel kind of self conscious about my grammer! I make lots of mistakes and usually use way too many commas, but not apostrophes (I don't think anyway).

What about this one Ro? Do you use an apostrophe in the word "ya'll"? Since it's not a real word, not sure if the apostrophe rules apply. hehe What would be the corrert way to write this sentence?: "Hey ya'll, did ya'll know ya'll's cat ran away again because ya'll made it wash its face?"....(with a smile as big as Texas). Believe it or not, I think I have actually heard that sentence before. I just hope I have never said it.

Hope you survive the weekend with the boys, Romeena!

I am pooped. We had our annual youth fundraiser tonight and it is alot of work, but fun. We did the dinner theatre thing again and everyone enjoyed it. We served prime rib and had entertainment and a silent and live auction.

Think I will turn in for a good night's (is that apostrophe allowable?) sleep.

Boo

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71347: Um, Boo, it's actually spelled G-R-A-M-M-A-R... (I'M KIDDING! I'M KIDDING! PLEASE DON'T BE MAD!!!)

I'm somewhat of a perfectionist myself when it comes to the spoken or written word, but I learned a long time ago that in a public posting venue such as this, you have all kinds of personalities that are coming together and "communing" for lack of a better word, and don't expect (or really want) to be taught how to speak/type. In this case, I believe some teaching moments (like grammar and spelling) are best left to the classroom or the family room.

I know Romeena to be a completely genuine, caring and special person, and she never meant any harm in posting her diatribe on the use of apostrophes. It's just the "mother" in her that wants to see her "children" do well in the world, and who wants nothing more than to help smooth the way for all of us if she can. And all I can say to her in that regard is, "Knock it off, MOM." :-)

I'll see ya.
Rafe Hollister


March 28, 2009 - Msg 71348: Boo, you are too funny! I do hope you're kidding about feeling self-conscious. After I wrote that big old dissertation, I thought it might have that effect on someone, but it was too late. Once posted, you can't call it back. So, I hope we can just have fun with it. None of us are exempt, and we can make a game of it.

Since you asked, yes, there is an apostrophe in the Texas version of "you all", but it goes before, not after the "a". As in other contractions, the apostrophe stands in place of other letters, usually vowels. Thus, "you all" becomes "y'all". That's my version, and could very well be wrong. Anybody else want to weigh in? Rafe? MDC? Anybody?

Now here's another one that puzzles me. Since an apostrophe before an "s" denotes possession, not plural, why do we write "the 70's", meaning the decade of the nineteen-seventies. We do the same with temperature - the temperature right now is in the 30's. Shouldn't it be 30s? Following the rule that an apostrophe before a final "s" denotes possession, that would be correct, but it looks funny. So, I find myself writing it one way one time, and the other way another time.

Oh, in the "Dallas Morning News" the other day, I noted a sentence that stated "It was her the gunman had come after." They weren't quoting anyone, it was the reporter's own statement. Hmmm. It was her - Her was it. That's what my old English teacher would have pointed out to me. You know, back there when I was taking English classes. My old English teacher would have used that to teach me to say "It was she" rather than "It was her". Still sounds a bit stiff to say "It was she", but it sure sounds silly to say "Her was it". Also, the sentence was ended with the preposition "after". My old English teacher wouldn't have liked that, either. I suppose she would have written "It was she after whom the gunman had come." Good grief!

Now, here's another question for you Anglophiles - in those sentences just above - where should the "." go - inside or outside the quotation marks, when those marks fall at the end of a sentence, but the quotation is not the whole sentence? I'm seriously asking, because I'm really not sure.

Be blessed, all.--Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71349: Oh, hey there, Rafe. Kind words - kindly meant, kindly taken. You are absolutely right - in a venue such as this, one doesn't expect perfection, and no one is grading, thank goodness. Actually, I prefer to see a more relaxed style most of the time, because the strictly proper form can really be annoying. See the sentence in my post above, referring to the gunman. I think I'd smack anybody who actually said something like that to me, and would probably quit reading a novel that was written in that style. When I read Shakespeare's works, I never know whether to admire the beauty, laugh at the heavy, contrived sentences, or just toss the whole thing aside.

While I agree that this forum should be free and easy, and anything goes with regard to spelling and grammar, I do have concerns for the future of our language. Texting is not going to help any, either. It seems that schools are not paying too much attention to language these days - the focus is all on technology. I know nurses, and for that matter, physicians as well, who haven't the foggiest idea how to spell simple words, who cannot construct a written sentence, and yet have a string of letters after their name that would make that hard to believe. I read their charting, and sometimes it's hard to believe. When a PhD doesn't know that "i comes before e, except after c, (and e before n in chicken) etc." - well, you see what I mean.

Anyway, 'nuff said on that subject. If I upset anyone, I surely didn't mean to. Actually, I really was thinking we could have some fun with it, like see how many misplaced apostrophes we can spot as we go about our day. I saw one in a TV ad just today, and you'll see them on billboards, in magazine ads, just everywhere.

Well, anyway -- I'm tired. My apologies to one and all, don't mean to come across as picky, but I guess I am. Just don't pay any attention to me. It don't make no nevermind no how. --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71350: Oh, ky girl, I just read up a little further and saw your question. I had not heard about that, but now that you mention it, I have noticed it being done that way in mail that comes to me. So, guess I have irritated the postal service, because I still put the punctuation in. I'll have to go into all my mailing list addresses and change them now, I suppose, so when I print an envelope it will be done to the USPS's satisfaction. Drat!

Be blessed, dear. --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71351: Further? Farther? Tomato? Tomahto? Let's call the whole thing off! --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71352: Morning gang...ham and egg bisquits this mroning..Bad Storms headed this way late morning..im here at work on OT...they say its gona get bad..in Alabama right now...back in just a bit...prayers....SPOT

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71353: Y'all is not a real word??
I think I'm gonna cry.
*******************
possum under a rock

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71354: Ro,since you've already got two grandkids with you,you won't mind if I send Laci over,will you? It'll be fun.Take last night,for instance- she didn't go to sleep until around midnight,then was up & raring to go at 5AM.Oh,you'll have a swell time! What do you say?
one tired possum

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71355: Oh,hey Spot! Did you know Y'ALL is not a real word? Say it ain't so! Hee Hee
Spot,if Ro won't take Laci,how about I send her over to Georgia? She'll stay awake (believe me!) and help ya keep those lights on!
possum again

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71356: possum now don't go gettin all upset, us born and bred southerners know that y'all is indeed a word! We all growed up sayin it cause all our parents and grandparents said it. Like all the times my dear grandmother would yell out the door "y'all best not be headin out yonder to bother them chickens!" followed by, "if ya do, I'm gonna wear you out!" Now, my Granny could swing a mean switch so don't y'all know, we weren't about to bother no chickens! Leastways not so's she could tell it. heehee Romeena I didn't know there was gonna be a test! ;) I'm like you, posting to the porch and places like this, my blog and emails to friends I normally don't follow all the things I learned in English Comp class (one of my favorite classes) but when writing something to one of my legislators or something like that, I do try to look like I'm not a complete idiot. Let me tell you, my grandmother and my mother didn't have much in the way of education, Mom had to drop out of school after just 3 days as a freshman to take care of my grandmother and her younger siblings. She would write things just as they sounded to her. I would try to help her without sounding like I was being critical. I miss those notes and things like that now. While she was living, it used to drive me crazy. I remember one day at the the pet shop, she had left us a note saying she was going back to the house and back to bed because, as she wrote it "my lags are killin me, I thank I need to lay back down fer a while"
Anyway, looks like I better stop before I write a book. Later taters, (is tater a word?) heehee
*Mavis

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71357: Oh and let me say I just love seeing Rafe posting again! I missed you around here! I'm so glad you're back! And possum do you have any chickens anywhere near you. That same dear grandmother of mine that could swing that mean switch, told me one time that when we were little and underfoot all the time, she would send us out and tell us "If y'all can make them chickens run up that hill backards, they'll lay a egg at the top" We fell for it everytime! Kept us busy for hours and I guess Granny could get her kitchen work done. The joys of growing up on a farm. I could always picture her looking out the window laughing her behind off at us chasing those chickens up that hill. Reckon that would work on Miss Laci. ;)
*Mavis
Paw! Paw! Somethings wrong with Beau! (that's the only chicken quote I can remember right now)

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71358: Good morning, porch! Uh, Possum, you're sweet to offer Laci as a companion for my grandsons, but I think I'll pass. Things were a little hectic around here last night, too. At one time, there were five of us in that kingsize bed - two boys, two dogs, and I. I was on one outer edge, the 6 year old started out in the middle and the 8 year old on the other edge. Somehow, during the night they switched places, probably on one of many potty trips. Bentley, all 45 pounds of dead weight of him, lay across the foot of the bed, very effectively pinning my feet down so I couldn't have gotten up if the last trump had sounded. Starr, of course, just wandered around all over the bed, kissing first one face and then another, just enough to provoke a loud "Starr, quit it!" from the chosen boy. Incidentally, those Tempur-pedic mattresses, which do not transfer motion, DO when occupied by a 62 lb six year old who is half jackrabbit and half windmill. I'm just grateful it isn't a waterbed, I'd have needed dramamine.

I'm sure some of you are wondering why we were all in one bed. Frankly, so was I, along about daybreak. It's my own fault. This house was designed so that one could exit the living area, enter a hall, pass two bedrooms, turn left, pass a bathroom and another bedroom and at the end of that hall is a door into the master bedroom. Pass through there, exit into the office/playroom, pass through and exit back into the living area through another door - just a big square. It was great, because we had quick and easy access to the kids' bedrooms, and could hear them if there was a problem. Well, a few years ago, being alone here now, I decided to have a door put across that hallway about eight feet from my bedroom door, which effectively made a very large storage closet. My bedroom door still exists, so I could actually open both doors and still be able to pass through the closet to the other bedrooms, except I've now got it piled with stuff, mostly remnants from cleaning out my parents' home - things I don't need, can't use, but can't bear to part with. Anybody else been there? If someone else was so inclined in the future, the door and jambs that were put in the hallway could be removed and the wall repaired, and you'd never know it had been a closet. Now - all that to say this. With that end of the hall closed off, it's a long old trek from my room around to the bedroom the boys would be sleeping in, and if they called me I couldn't hear them. At six and eight, this shouldn't be a problem, but we grannies are funny about things like that. If they were my own kids, I'd probably never give it a second thought, but I just don't want anything happening on my watch. So, tonight I think we'll have a "camp out", and let the boys make a tent on the floor of the office, just outside my bedroom door, which shall remain open. And Bentley can sleep with them!!

It got to 36 last night, not enough to freeze my plants, but I hope cold enough to slow them down a little so they won't be all bloomed out by the wedding on April 11. It's 39 right now, very windy, cloudy, looks like January out there! Brrrr!!

Be blessed, friends. --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71359: I'll cry with you, Possum, 'cuz I've been writing "y'all" wrong my whole life! (sniff...)

No, of course I am not really upset, just having fun with you Romeena. To answer your question about the "period", the proper use at the end of a sentence would be, "She made her cat wash its face, so it was she whome the gunman was after". That's what my college English teacher taught me, but of course, he was pretty strange and actually ended up moving to Austin to teach and UT and abducted some young woman and kept her as a s#x slave for years before someone found out. No joke, really happened.

Funny about your mom, Mavis! My mom was pretty ept with the English language, but HER mom was a different story. I'm not even sure she went to high school, or junior high for that matter. She was raised in a small mining town in West Virginia and said the funniest things.

Better finish my coffee...

Boo

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71360: Uh, I mean "whom"...

Boo

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71361: Hi All.
Nice day here, stop raining leat last night.
But sometime today it is going to git cold,

GIVE IT TO GOD IN PRAYER

When my burdens lie heavy upon me
And the load seems too much to bear,
The words that often come to mind-
Give it to God in peayer.
I think of yesterday's misdeeds
When no one seemed to be there,
I recall the words that gave comfort-
GIVE IT TO GOD IN PEAYER.
I ask our Father to guide me,
To ease all my worry and care.
In the silence I hear a voice-
GIVE IT TO GOD IN PEAYER.
I'll face tomorrow with hope
As life's lessons I gladly share.
It's never as dark as it seems
When you GIVE IT TO GOD IN PEAYER.
TOM.


March 28, 2009 - Msg 71362: Well now its like this "Yall" will just have to read between the lines on my post cuz yall know I cant spell worth a hoot!...hey Romeena,possum,Tom,Mavis,Boo and all...Asa where are you/..CHUCK?!...rain and flooding here in ga...we are ok so far...lunch will be homemade chicken and rice wraps....SPOT

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71363: Hey to the Porch.

--Jelsik

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71364: Hey to the Porch. Jelsik, you old bulkhead, how in the world are ya? It's good to see you, friend.

Romeena, I'm so glad you took my mild rebuke in the spirit it was given. That's me... kind behind the eyes. It was fun chasing the grammar rabbit around for awhile, but I guess it's best to let this one get away.

Please possum, don't you start crying, 'cause if you do I'm a goner. I've used the word y'all pretty much all my life, and nobody can tell me that it ain't no real word. It's just a contraction, like Romeena said, and is perfectly acceptible for use in normal speech unless you're Lt Cmdr Data, who is incapable of using contractions (fellow TREKKERS, back me up here).

Hey SPOT, I'm sorry I missed breakfast this morning, bud. Me and the missus got a little bit of a late start, so all I had was a couple of blueberry Pop-Tarts. Now I love my blueberry Pop-Tarts, but they don't compare to the ham and egg bisquits you served up this morning! *SLURP* Mouth-waterin'!

Hey to *Mavis! I enjoyed reading about your mother's and grandmother's sayings. Reminds me of my grandparents from years gone by. Such good memories.

One more thing on the subject of grammar and I'll drop it. Romeena and some others were naming their favorite oddities when it comes to the English language and how it's mangled by the media, and advertising, and such. I get a chuckle everytime I hear the song White Room by Cream on the radio. There's a line that goes, "You said no strings could secure you at the station." Everytime I hear that line I think, why would you WANT to be secured at the station by strings??? Of course, the correct phrasing of the line would be, "You said at the station no strings could secure you." But it doesn't flow in the song the same way, so what are you gonna do?

I'll see ya.
Rafe Hollister


March 28, 2009 - Msg 71365: Well, hey there, Jelsik. Good to see you! Looks like a few of our missing porchsters are coming home. Please don't be such a stranger.

Tom, Spot and Rafe, your pictures are now in the album. However, Spot, you have some explaining to do! When and how did you get the pictures of Thelma Lou? Did you tell us about it and I missed it? 'Splain, please! Anyhow, folks, visit Spot's album and Tom's album and the Vintage Porchsters album. Good stuff!

Tom, thank you for the poem. Beautiful, as always, and probably especially appropriate for some on the porch these days. We know that some of us are in difficult times right now.

I know why God gives children to young people. Folks my age just couldn't take it, not for long. The six-year-old just came to me with his huge brown eyes brimming with tears, and asked if I would help him. Well, of course I would! Seems his beloved little truck was down behind a very heavy nightstand in my bedroom and he couldn't get it. I nearly broke my back pulling that huge heavy thing out, got a flashlight and -- no truck. I asked him why he thought it was back there. "I don't know." Had he even had the truck in that room? "No." Then once again, why did he think it was back there? "Well, I couldn't find it in the living room or the kitchen, so I thought maybe it was back there. It has to be someplace." Made perfect sense to him. Me, I'm flipping my lip and saying "blbblbbblbbb" a lot. Incidentally, the truck was on the breakfast bar, where he ate his cereal.

Now they're going out back to "check on the fish since it was so cold last night". Ha! I guess a poor excuse is better than none. They've been wanting to go out all morning, but it's been so cold I've kept them in. It's now 47, so out they go. They'll stay about two minutes, then will be back. I just pray they don't fall in the pond, because I'll really be grouchy if I have to go fish a wet and squalling kid out of that cold water.

Be blessed, all. --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71366: As for "y'all", well, I just couldn't talk if I couldn't say that. It goes right along with "fixin' to" and "over yonder", and "dreckly". My paternal grandmother had a third-grade education, and managed to rear eight children. My dad never finished high school (lacked one semester, had to go to work) but he built a very successful home construction business, all self-taught. My mom did finish high school, but no further education, yet she advanced rapidly in a sales organization and eventually managed the activities of a very large sales force, encompassing half the state. She used perfect grammar, was a flawless speller and wrote a very fine hand. She taught me to read when I was four, and encouraged it at all times. I'm so glad she did, because when you enjoy reading, you're never lonely, and you can visit wonderful places without ever leaving the house. I love to read, and since people who read a lot are usually pretty good spellers, I guess that explains a few things. Now my dad was very good at math, but unfortunately, none of that passed to me. I'm awful at it! Still, who cares? It takes us all, with our strengths and and weaknesses blending, to make things go.

Well, here come the fish-watchers. Guess I'll go make some hotdogs. Be blessed! --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71367:
Y'all are a bunch of NUTS!! haha
MDC

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71368:
Just a quick pass-thru today.
Ro- the correct way is 70s not 70's,
and in a contraction like "y'all" or "can't"
the apostrphe takes the place of the missing letter or letters as you stated earlier.
Prayers for the folk in Fargo!!,
MDC

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71369: Romeena I found the shot of Thelma Lou on the interned somewhere...but I do wish I had took it!..I have some more shotss I will get to you Tue.hey MDC,Rafe,Mavis and all....well got to run...Home Depot calls and I get off at 6...lets grill burgers tonight ok...SPOT

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71370: wow first time visiting this site... believe me it won't be the last! gonna go watch the episode with andys real wife in it now. gotta go get a bottle of pop first. bye ya all!!

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71371: Welcome, stranger. There's always one more rocker on this porch, so come on back whenever you can. Find yourself a Mayberry name, and be sure to sign when you visit. You'll find friends here. --Romeena

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71372: Glad you didn't put an apostrophe in "NUTS", MDC.

Poor Thelma Lou looks ancient, but I was glad to see a picture of her anyway. She looks "nice...real nice...".

Romeena, my dad didn't get to graduate either because he was drafted in his last semester of high school. It was when WW2 was in full swing and they took him as soon as he turned 18. He went back after the war and visited the principal who handed him his diploma at that time. As I am sure I have mentioned, Dad served (against his will ;) in an amphibian force in the Pacific, which means he drove one of those square boats that they filled up with Marines and the end drops down and forms a ramp. The marines then run off onto the beach in the middle of combat (scary). Dad remembers a guy on the ship with him who was a real chicken and would pull up to the beach and drop the ramp too soon because he just wanted to get out of there. When the marines would hesitate to get off in the water, the guy would point a gun at them and threaten to shoot if they didn't get out. Some of the Marines drowned because of all the equipment and clothes they were wearing. I think someone who witnessed this threatened to kill the guy driving the boat and so the behavior stopped. Can you imagine someone doing something like that? I guess the guy was probably very young. Dad said that all the guys on his ships were young, mostly 18 yr olds. The captains were even very young. I hope we never have to have the draft again.

Welcome to the porch, Msg. 71370! Don't be a stranger.

Boo

March 28, 2009 - Msg 71373: Just looked at the vintage porch pictures. Loved them! Rafe, your picture brought back some memories of my first car. What year was the picture taken? My first car was a white Delta 88 with black top and white leather interior! I can't remember what year it was but it had to be at least a 1970 model. I loved it because I could carry a bunch of kids in it and it had a great stereo and speakers (what else matters when you are in high school?).

SPOT was HOT...heehee.

Boo