“So, when can you start?”

Words I waited nearly five months to hear.

I’d been working at temp jobs for the last three months, jobs with mental challenges somewhat below brain surgery. However, it was good to be out of the house, working; it was… Read full post »

It’s a new year by the calendar and in my time on OS. Yesterday was my first anniversary on Open Salon. Like some others, such as Brian B, I started with 25 Things… I have not been a prolific writer, only a prolific reader who at times writes comments prolifically.… Read full post »

I can’t stand to see the title of my previous post every time I open my blog, so I needed to get another post above it - right now! This title is accurate though; I am taking care of the business of being unemployed and getting employed again.

 … Read full post »

Monday, over ten years of employment came to an abrupt and shocking end when I was fired after a hard day of work.

Shocking. Even though I’ve thought for weeks that this may be coming, there was no way to be prepared.  I saw the changes in attitude… Read full post »

Day 60

This is day 60 without a cigarette. I didn’t know if it was ever going to be possible for me to quit smoking.  I’ve done it. I’ve really done it.

Starting to Quit

I started trying to quit smoking on the four… Read full post »

War machines. Other than for war they have no reason to be.  Fighter jets and Bombers. And yet I love to watch them, really not just watch, but to experience them. The magnificence of power, speed, agility and more than the sound, to feel the roar is absolutely thrilling to… Read full post »

It’s just “The Nelson” to me. I go two or three times a year and usually I treat myself to a visit on my birthday weekend.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year. The collections owned cover Antiquities through Modern and span… Read full post »

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?

          Billy R.

2. Who was your FIRST love and do you still talk with him/her? 

           Richard D – it was mostly one sided, me as a fresh… Read full post »

After reading the posts by pretend_farmer and Sandra Stephens about their fathers, a tiny light flickered on, that I could write about mine.

Rough hewn. Never acquired polish. He was born and raised in rural southern Missouri and would fit the real meaning of red-neck &nd… Read full post »

I am a private person. Very private. This is due to my nature, upbringing and experiences. I don’t even like talking about myself much. This isn’t false modesty or playing at being humble, I’m as interested in myself as anyone else; I’d just rather listen to others and to talk… Read full post »

It’s been nearly three weeks and it’s still a big presence in my mind.

Midnight - I was reading OS when I heard the sirens. It’s a quiet neighborhood on a dead end street, so I always have to gawk out the window if there’s a siren on… Read full post »

There are many reasons why people do genealogical research. For some, a prominent surname leads them to following that name back in time. Others hope to find someone famous (or infamous) in their family tree. An interest in history and connecting family to historic events is a… Read full post »

This is a continuation of the series of stories gleaned from newspaper microfilm. While reading newspaper microfilm looking for genealogical information I was caught up in the many compelling stories. The immediacy of them as “current events” gives a very different perspective than readin… Read full post »

 We were poor. Farm poor. It’s a different kind of poor than town or city poor. We grew much of what we ate, the house was provided, but there was just very little money.  The economy of scale necessary to make much money farming makes family farming a very hard go.… Read full post »

The time: 1900 -1910. The place: Coffey County, Kansas.  1900 population: 16,643. Coffey County was organized in 1859 (Kansas became a state in 1861./… Read full post »

I went to a one room school from 1^st through 8^th grade. I’m not quite as ancient as this might imply. I grew up in a behind-the-times farming community in Kansas. It was not an affluent area, not dirt-poor, but not rich enough to feel the pressure to be modern.… Read full post »

As I’ve written in the previous parts, while reading newspaper microfilm to look for genealogical information I found many interesting and compelling stories. The vividly written stories give a look into an earlier time and show the attitudes of the time.

The time: 1900 -1910. The plac… Read full post »

Once again:  While reading newspaper microfilm to look for genealogical information I found many interesting and compelling stories.

The time: 1900 -1910. The place: Coffey County, Kansas.  1900 population: 16,643. Coffey County was organized in 1859 (Kansas became a state in 1861.)… Read full post »

I decided to see if I could find any signs of Spring on my street. It's 60 degrees, but mostly the drab end of winter persists.

This is what I found in my yard.

Daffodil

 Crocus

 A bit of moss… Read full post »

Again:

The time: 1900 -1910. The place: Coffey County, Kansas.  1900 population: 16,643. Coffey County was organized in 1859 (Kansas became a state in 1861.) Coffey County was and is primarily agricultural (though now, it has a nuclear power plant).

When reading newspaper microfilm, l… Read full post »

Siberian Huskies in their favorite habitat - Snow.

 They love to run in it and snuffle in it and wear it.

Snow encrusted Kiska.

 And snow encrusted Sergei.

Sergei vocalizing...he always has something to say.… Read full post »

Again:

The time: 1900 -1910. The place: Coffey County, Kansas.  1900 population: 16,643. Coffey County was organized in 1859 (Kansas became a state in 1861.) Coffey County was and is primarily agricultural (though now, it has a nuclear power plant).

This is a continuation of the… Read full post »

For many years after I first saw Gone With the Wind in my early teens, it was my favorite movie. I even named my daughter after my favorite character, Melanie.

Some of what I loved was at the most shallow level, I loved the clothes. Beyond that I identified with… Read full post »

Again, I have stories gleaned from newspaper microfilm while searching for genealogical information.

As before:

The time: 1900 -1910. The place: Coffey County, Kansas.  1900 population: 16,643. Coffey County was organized in 1859 (Kansas became a state in 1861.) Coffey County was and… Read full post »

As I wrote in part one, I discovered fascinating stories while reading newspaper microfilm to find genealogical information.

Once again:

The time: 1900 -1910. The place: Coffey County, Kansas.  1900 population: 16,643. Coffey County was organized in 1859 (Kansas became a… Read full post »