What I'm thinkin' about, sittin' here in French Lique...

I have a diversity of interests... things I like to do, stuff I like to read, art I like to create... Maybe that is why I cannot read only one book at a time. I get through about 1-1/2 books per week and usually read tons of articles, magazines and blogs. I like feeding my mind... maybe? Perhaps more likely, I think something is going to happen that I won't know about.

Those of you that know me well, know that I thrive on what I like to call "factoids". To me, "factoids" are useless pieces of information normally used on game shows; information that is basically useless for any real purpose other than answering the "final Jeopardy question", which I more often than not, answer correctly. Richard and I often get the TV turned on in the evening just in time to catch the last 15 minutes of my favorite game show, Jeopardy. When the final Jeopardy "answer" is posted and answered (which is always posed as a question)... Richard looks at me in awe... and me... I just shrug and say... "factoids".

Today's "answer" was "The year, in the 20th Century, when Alfred Eisenstaedt took a famous photo of an anonymous man, who it is now known, is probably George Mendonsa." (They didn't show the picture until after the question aka answer was revealed). Rolling my eyes up toward the ceiling, I paused and thought for a few moments (I won't share my thinking process here, lest you become the king or queen of "factoids" yourself), then answered... "What is 1945?" (I'm always careful to form my "answer" into a "question"). Richard said, once the correct answer, "1945", was revealed... "how, out of the entire 20th Century, did you come up with that photo and that year?" The truth, I wasn't thinking of that photo, I was thinking of the end of WW2, and that was where my mind had gone... "factoids"...

I'm an investment advisor... Today the market dropped a record 777... you'd think my mind would be on other things... perhaps this is how I keep my sanity in this crazy career I've chosen... and there ya have it... another factoid... "09/29/2008 market drops a record 777"... bet that will a Jeopardy question next season!

Now, if, like me, you feel the need to do some more research on that famous photograph... well, I found a great little article here by Tom Huntington in America in WWII... Factoids are important here in French Lique... http://www.americainwwii.com/stories/kissers.htm

DRATS has a blog....

My blog-pal Dratsab Tnagorra, affectionately known to us that blog with him as DRATS, has finally decided to do a blog of his own! DRATS claims to be a right hand man to this fellow... but, I have read a post or two that beckons otherwise. I'm thrilled to be able to have my "guilty pleasure", following DRATS vomitings of wordom... and so will you.

http://dratsprerogative.blogspot.com/

10-17-2008 update:

"Sorry, the blog at dratsprerogative.blogspot.com has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs."

Hell... that didn't last long did it! Devil musta got him...

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

I had read a review of this book back in July, but never bought it. Got home early from work today, turned on Oprah and there she was,

announcing her lastest pick for Oprah's Book Club. Oprah's picks are usually pretty good, and I add them to my list of books I want to read. I went back and read the review again, went to the online book sellers, but found it cheaper (still brand new) on Ebay. I buy most of my books on Ebay, save money, read more! Anyway, I should get my new book on Tuesday. So I'll read Edgar Sawtelle, and I'll let you know how it is. I hope it's as good as another of my Oprah Picks favorites... The Road...

By the way - this is David Wroblewski's first book; it took him 10 years to write.

Richard completes a project!

This is the before....

Now those of you that don't know Richard, might not understand why this is such a momentous occasion in French Lique... so I will explain. Richard is my wonderful and sweet husband. He is a mechanic by trade having worked at the same company for nearly 35 years. He has but one single flaw... yes girls.... just one. He is the KING of procrastination. Richard is a perfectionist, and as happens with many perfectionist, if he cannot do something absolutely perfectly, he will not do it at all. His perfectionism often takes form in incomplete projects. We have a 1965 Corvair sitting in his shop... and two junkers for parts behind the shop... restoration... incomplete. We have a 1960-something Farmall Tractor sitting in the shop, parts everywhere.... restoration... incomplete. Now this is not to say that these projects will never be completed, but for the past 5-years.... well... nuff said.

And this is the After...

So when Richard came into the house this morning to invite me outside to the shop.... well, I was in a state of disbelief. There in the shop driveway sat his newly restored Allis-Chalmers combo mower/tiller/disc tractor... PROJECT... COMPLETE. Here are a couple of pics so that you may understand what it takes to be a true perfectionist... and why, here in French Lique, when Richard completes a project the whole town cheers!

Here's to you my darling husband for a job PERFECTLY DONE! There's always so much to shout about here in French Lique.

not much goin' on in French Lique...

It's hot in South Texas this time of year, so folks have a tendency to stay in where it's cool and piddle around...
piddle.... a southern term meaning to kill time, do very little... ie... i'm just gonna piddle around a bit...

other endearing southern terms....
fixin'ta..... about to, will do shortly, thinking about doing this... ie... i'm fixin'ta go to the store
moan'back... you are invited to return for another visit... ie... ya'll come moan'back when ya can
shugah... a natural sweetner often derived from cane... ie.. would ya'll like a little shugah with that tea? or can also be an endearing term... ie... come here shugah and give mawmaw a kiss...

I'm fixin'ta make some sweet tea, so ya'll come moan'back shugah, and we'll piddle around on the front porch.... oh and welcome back to French Lique...