Dear Mr man from the toll free number who called my house at freakin' few minutes after eight on a Saturday morning....

You suck big time!

You woke me on the ONE and only morning that I can sleep in being as I am a working person during the week.

I was off in dreamland in a REALLY good dream when you woke me.

Did I mention that....you SUCK!

You are annoying and, while I know that you have to make a living too, you can call me LATER in the day, at which time I will be awake and be able to read the caller ID and IGNORE your stupid call because I don't want to talk to you in the first place.

I don't care what you are selling, I don't want it.

I don't care if I have won the lottery.

You make me cranky and I don't LIKE being cranky.

That. Is. All.

Bev

That rolling primer is one dang tough job!  I'm worn out and I only got the dining room done.  Heaven help me I've got a LOT more to go.  But not tonight!  Heaven help me on other counts too...

That's all I'm sayin.

Bev

As we speak, I, along with Jasmine and Piper, am pretty much "locked" in my bedroom.  Actually, hubby has nailed up a piece of wood paneling covering my doorway.  He and my son-in-law are putting the texturing on the walls.  Once THAT is done and they are dry, we will spray a couple coats of primer on them.  Then we will be spraying a couple coats of new paint on all of them.  Then we are ready Freddy to get the show on the road.

My dishwashers are in (I will have two drawer-type ones - one on either side of my sink), the tile for the back-splash is in, the island has been built, and we have had our wood flooring for forEVER!  To say that we are getting close to winding this project up and having a real live working kitchen again, is an understatement.  My SIL has been awarded a BIG contract on a building remodel in downtown big city and so he HAS to get our kitchen finished.  It was casually mentioned last week when he was over taking measurements that perhaps the china cabinet could wait.  Needless to say I voiced MY opinion that NO, we need this ALL done.  I gave away my china cabinet and have no place for my pretties.  So, hopefully, that will get done too.

Once the kitchen is done and all my kitchen stuff is out of our first bedroom and in its proper place, I will be spackling walls, painting and then I will be putting my mother-in-law's former bedroom suit in there and fixing it up for an actual GUEST room.  I am ready to ROLL on that project and know JUST what I want to do.

So, WOOOOOOFREAKINGHOOOO peeps!!  I am doing the happy dance in anticipation of the new kitchen.  I will be posting pictures so ya'll can see.  AND I know that you all are going to be going "it's about freakin' time this is done so now she can post about something ELSE!"  I know that this has to have been boring for you all and I hope to be on to other things!

I guess I am gonna pop in a movie till I can come out of my room.

Ya'll take care now and I send you all great big hugs!

Bev

Thursday evening, hubby and I attended the Trace Adkins concert in Tulsa.  I had seen Trace before, almost five years ago. My bestie and another friend and I all have June birthdays and we had gone to Nashville to celebrate our fiftieth birthdays.  While there, we went to Opryland and there were three "headliners" for the show we saw.  They were relatively new and up and coming artists at the time.  The three were: Sara Evans, Dierks Bentley and...Trace Adkins.  I liked Trace from the get-go.  He is a BIG man with a commanding presence and his voice.  Well, that deep deep voice was just something to listen to folks.  So.  Fast forward to last fall.  Hubby and I saw that he was coming for a concert and since hubby likes him as well, we got tickets.  Unfortunately, Trace canceled the originally scheduled concert.  Thursday night was the rescheduled show.  I think that by rescheduling, they may  have lost some of the concert goers.  I was quite surprised that the upper half of the arena was curtained off.  The remainder of the arena was full with an enthusiastic, if somewhat eclectic crowd.  Sheesh!!  Hubby and I are people watchers of the first order.  We can have a good time just watching people.  I never fail to be amused by...well, by people.

When we found our seats, which were pretty good seats close to, and just up from the stage, there was a couple already seated in the chairs right next to ours.  This was an ODD couple for sure.  Mr. looked to be in his late twenties, maybe early thirties.  Missy, looked to be about fourteen.  This girl was TINY and exotic looking.  She was all curled up in her chair, sitting with her knees to her chest.  Call me nostalgic and OLD, but it's been a LOOOONNNNGGG time since I have been able to sit that way.  Heavens, I don't think I could even GET my knees to my chest, much less sit for MOST of an evening like that!  At one point, I thought she was gonna crawl into her boyfriend's lap.  Anywho, he seemed to be quite smitten with her and was very attentive and amused by her.

During an intermission between acts, I looked and here came the "hippie" couple.  He was a sight to see with long gray/blonde hair flowing down his back, ratty blue jeans and plaid flannel shirt.  But what was a sight to see was the lady.  She was pretty short, had on the tightest white, low necked shirt and blue jeans, and she had the BIGGEST set of store bought boobies I have ever EVER seen.  I am almost 55 years old folks and I have seen a lot.  But, I've never witnessed anything quite like her.  I looked at hubby and observed that if she's ever on a plane that goes down in water, she has an automatic set of flotation devices!!  She appeared as if she might fall face forward at any moment from the imbalance of those huge melons on her chest.  Now, my question to you peeps is, WHY in the world would any woman DO that to herself?  Do people like that really think it makes them more attractive?  Do they not realize how CARTOONISH they look??  I just don't get it and probably never will.  To say that Mr. Hippie was, indeed, attentive to this woman would be an understatement.

Just in front of us was a Native American (Indian) couple and their son.  The man was classic with the very beautiful skin color, the long sleek black hair and the sharp cheeks and nose.  I caught several looks at this man in profile with the stage lights behind him and his face was reminiscent of any of the Native Americans painted and sculpted in  western art we see in museums in our state. 

There was a group of three (young) teenage boys who were seated in the row below us and a ways to our left.  These boys were not dressed in country get up (i.e. cowboy boots, western jeans, etc.).  They were in jeans, t-shirts and ball caps.  I noticed that they STOOD for most of Trace's part of the show.  They weren't being obnoxious or anything, they just stood quietly watching and holding up their hands giving the "No. 1" sign.

Speaking of holding your hands up.  There was the drunken lady sitting one row in front of us and a few seats to our left.  She didn't even bother coming to be seated with her man while the opening acts played.  Nope.  She musta been out in the foyer drinking her several of those TALL (like two feet tall) frozen margaritas that they sell.  To say that she was tooted would be an understatement.  But she wasn't an obnoxious drunk.  She was a MELLOW drunk.  She ALSO stood for the entirety of Trace's set.  And she held up ONE arm (the right one) and pointed at the stage and waved it around in time to the music, swaying back and forth and singing along.  She never sat.  She never put her arm down.  She never quit swaying gently to and fro.  And she never quit singing.  She was a wonder to behold and I am SURE that she didn't bother the lady beHIND her who couldn't see a ding durn thing!  Nope.  I am sure she didn't.

And finally, there were the "screamers" who were seated behind us.  They were there with an elderly lady in a wheel chair who, and I am NOT kidding here, had HOT PINK streaks painted in her hair.  Since they were right behind us, I could hear their conversations.  There would be a hair raising, ear splitting scream, and then I'd hear "I can scream louder, like, I really can!"  And then there'd be another scream.  And, yes, it's hard to believe, but the scream WAS louder.  Who woulda thunk it!  So I spent quite a bit of the evening holding my hands over my ears from time to time when Miss "I can scream louder" had to show her stuff.  I didn't want to go home with a busted ear drum.  No sirree.

So, that is a snap shot of my observations of the people around us.  There were really elderly, middle aged, teen aged, barely walking and every other aged persons there.  I enjoyed the concert but enjoyed the people watching as well.  I never cease to be amazed by people!  "OOooooeee shut my mouth, slap your grandma" it was a good time!!

Ya'll have a wondermous weekend!!

Hugs!

Bev

P. S. - Now don't ya'll go slappin' no grandmas!  That's just part of one of the songs Trace sang.  You know the one.  The one that the video for it made his momma have to change churches to one where the people didn't know who she was and who her son was.

P.S.S.  Ladies.  If you are attending a concert at which you will be in CLOSE proximity to hundreds and hundreds of people...PLEASE do not douse yourself with half that bottle of "Eau de Pepe Le Pew" cologne YOU love so much.  I promise you....I PROMISE you, you will not smell as nice as you THINK you do.  You just WON'T!!  I'm just sayin'.....

I am over being mad for the moment.  I got my last name off here so for now, no harm, no foul.  I will stick around for now until MSN pisses me off again I guess.  I am looking at Blogger because so many of my friends have gone over there.  Who knows, maybe I'll have TWO blogs.  Yeah.  Right.  I do SO well at keeping up with this one.  NOT!!

I hope everyone has a good day today.  I know, I know.  This is a commercial holiday forced upon us.  We shouldn't need to have just ONE day set aside to tell those we love that we do, in fact, love them.  We should tell them every day.  Better yet, we should SHOW our love by our actions every day.  Do we all manage to do that?  I would wager that most of us don't.  I know that I love hubby MORE than words could ever express.  Do I feel like I show that every day with him?   Not so much.  And I should, because he's a wonderful man.  My life is SO much better and SO much richer because of him.   As I have said before, I am well and truly blessed.  I am blessed because hubby loves me in spite of my "blonde moments" that drive him buggy nuts.  He loves me in spite of my faults and imperfections, and let me tell ya, I have plenty of those.  He loves me in spite of my "senior moments" and  my "not so perfect moments."  If you are reading this dear hubby, just know that I love you EVERY day, ALL day, and even though I might not be perfect at showing that, and even though I know I sometimes get on your VERY last nerve, I am thankful for you.  I am well and truly blessed for sure.

I hope everyone has a blessed day and weekend!  I appreciate the friendship and support of each one of you!!

Hugs!

Bev

As has happened to EVERYONE on spaces, I have been "outed" as you can plainly see.  When I started this blog, for reasons I do not want to go into, I decided NOT to use my real life name.  It was not in my comfort zone since I was new to blogging.  I do this for myself and did not start this blog for family and friends.  Only hubby and my bestie know about my blog.  Thanks to the sucky people at Windows live, if you private message anyone you HAVE TO use your name.  It IMMEDIATELY replaces ALL your settings.  I am pissed to say the least.  There are a number of you who knew my real life identity.  But not many of you.  Well, now ya'll know.  I have made many friends here and I don't mind my friends knowing who I am.  BUT for the occasional anonymous blog walkers out there (and MOST of the people who visit my site I can't even tell where they came from and THAT's another peeve) I don't particularly care to have them know who I am.  So, I am thinking about closing this site down, just as Kat did hers.

There isn't even anyone that I know to complain to.  But if anyone from spaces happens by here.  YOU SUCK BIG TIME!!  I should have been entitled to remain private if I chose to do so as long as I was doing nothing harmful to other bloggers.  Outside of my bad grammar from time to time, I don't think I have done much harm.   SO, I am pondering the next move.  I am a lot more comfortable on here than I used to be. That said, I only wish for my regular blog friends to know who I am.

If I move and you would like me to send you a link, let me know.  In the meantime, I'm sitting here p'o'd as all get out and pondering my next move.

Beverly

P.S. I just mentioned the situation to my hubby and his vote is to close down this site.

Whew!  Has the last couple of days been fun or WHAT??  As most of you who watch the national news know, we have had us some really FUN weather here in Oklahoma (NOT!!).  One thing about working where I do is that no matter WHAT the weather or HOW bad the roads, they expect you to be at work.  Yesterday I went in and even though the weather grew worse and worse through the day, I stayed.  A little before 4 my boss called and said they had closed our other office and perhaps I should head home.  I finished what I was working on and tried (the operative word here) to head home.  Mind you, I only live 3 miles from my office.  Anyone want to hazard a guess as to how long it took me to get those 3 miles??  Anyone??  Well let me tell you.  It took over an hour to go three miles.  There are twin bridges leading into my town.  They are the ONLY crossing across our river unless you go MANY miles to other towns and snake your way back in.  So, I had to go across said bridges.  There had been a 12 car pile-up on said bridges about an hour before.  But when I finally made it onto the bridges, there was no sign of a wreck.  People were just crawling because of the weather.  Fun times, people, fun times!!

Oh, and the fun times continued today.  I went in to the office yet again and it continued to sleet all day.  I was one of only three idiots who went into work in our building today.  And the sleet continued on and continued on.  I worked all day.  The trip home this evening was even MORE fun than the one yesterday.  The sleet was deep.  I drive a car which is small and sits low to the ground.   I tried to turn onto the side street which leads to my home and......got stuck.  Luckily, I was able to back up then pull forward and repeat the process until I got moving again.  I must say that my little car just doesn't do well in this stuff.  Hubby is driving my truck which has four-wheel drive.  So no problems there.

I have a call in to the boss.  If he doesn't pick me up (in his brand new four wheel drive) I am going to be keeping myself home tomorrow!!  I don't fancy myself WALKING in this stuff due to a stuck car.

Well, now that I have sufficiently complained (and I know there are people who are in MUCH worse shape), I am finished.  Thanks for letting me vent. 

It is NOW time to sign off here and watch my new favorite man on TV.  I need my *Simon Baker* fix.  He is THE prettiest man since Robert Redford, at least as far as I am concerned.  That is ONE beautiful man.  And, he can act too!!  So, I am off  for my *Mentalist* fix.

Hugs to you all!

BBB

I am back here in my bedroom plunking on my laptop while my son-in-law and hubby are in the kitchen....putting up cabinets.  Woooooohooooo!!  Can  you color me EXCITED??  We still have a LONG ways to go to be finished, but just to be making some REAL progress is so exciting to me.  SIL still hasn't built my island cabinetry or the custom hood cabinetry for over the cooktop, but he knows we are getting down to the nitty gritty and HOPEFULLY he wants to keep a certain mother-in-law (namely MOI!!) happy.  Thus, my hope is that he will get after it so we can get this DONE!!  The lady who is doing our tile back-splash is supposed to be finishing them up this week.  She was supposed to have them to us this last weekend, but didn't make it.  We happened to see her Saturday night at our kids' house and she apologized for not having it done.

Hubby has also taken out ALL of the NASTY paneling that was in the family room.  Behind it was unfinished sheetrock.  SIL assures us that we won't need to hang new.  There is a finish we can put on the existing sheetrock that won't be super expensive and will look nice.  I can't believe the difference in the family room just by taking down the paneling.  It is so much LIGHTER and seems more open and large.

I have a few pictures for you:

Notice how my weimie is trying to be "helpful"!!  I call it being in the WAY.  She thinks she is an integral part of ALL that goes on in our home.  I now have her back in my bedroom and let's just say that she is NOT a happy dog.  She is intermittently pawing the door and barking. 

Here are a few views of the family room sans paneling.  It looks pretty bad now, but won't for long.

You will note that there are beams running across the family room.  We will be removing the popcorn ceiling (yaaayyyy!) and painting those beams as well.

So, there you have it.  That's about all going on in BBB world except for work.  So far, everything on the health front is good.  Let's hope it STAYS that way!!  Hubby is repairing the treadmill and when he gets it done, I need to be hitting that thing.  Seriously.  I need it badly!!

I hope everyone has a happy hump day tomorrow!!  Take care!

Hugs!

BBB

Thursday, February 25, 1943:

Dear Mom & all:

Was really happy to get your letters.  Sure does make me homesick.  Of course I'm sorry I grumbled about you all not writing, but it sure seems like hell just waiting and waiting for letters.

They assigned us to the various technical schools this morning.  Forrest got airplane mechanics.   Gene got radio operation & repair, and Harold and I were put in armorers school.  The corporal interviewing me was swell.  He said all my test grades were high except for the radio test where I was a little low.  He said I was eligible for 4 schools but that the radio test knocked me off two.  The the two choices I chose the armorers school.  He also recommended that I be placed in clerical school if the armorers school was too full.  He also recommended that I apply for cadet training.

We took our typhoid shot yesterday.  It didn't hurt until bedtime & then it hurt so that I couldn't sleep on it (the left arm).

You won't need to send the outfits I asked for.  My razor set is ok and we don't shine our clodhoppers, we dubb them with saddlesoap.  ......I bought a pair of bathing sandals yesterday.  Cost 59 cents and are really swell.

Gene and I went to the classic music room yesterday evening.  Played "Rhapsody in Blue."  Which reminds me that I want you to buy Paul Whiteman's record of it.  Also get "Night & Day" and Artie Shaw's "Begin the Bequine."

Give everybody in the neighborhood my best wishes and keep yourself out of trouble.

Your loving son, Peegie

So, Uncle Peegie FINALLY got some letters.  I was happy to read that my own self.  I was feeling bad for him not getting letters.

Friday (February 27, 1943)

Dear Mom & all:

Just a few lines to let you know that in spite of aches, pains and all, that army air corps life is getting me down.

Got a letter from Mrs. Chandler yesterday and guess what.  Dale's here and I know where, having seen him & tonight (if I can float a loan) we'll have dinner at the service club.  He's in 404 Tech Sch Sqdn.  About 4 blocks from me.

Wednesday we took our first hike.  9 miles altogether.  I rather enjoyed it although we doubletimed most of the way back.  When we got back I was limp as a wet mop.

Today, so far, we have drilled with rifles, getting our first taste of the manual arms.  Its hard as hell to get, but I guess I'll get it eventually.

We received a gob of new recruits & they seem to be hurrying us through basic training so I guess I won't be here much longer.  Place is crowded now  so that when one exhales, the other has to inhale.

Tell Leon that I'll write as soon as my weary bones allow and tell Skipper hello for me.

As ever your loving son,  Peegie

I hope you all are still enjoying these letters.  I have SO loved reading them.

Ya'll have a great week!

BBB

Yes.  That slacker would be me.  I am sorry for not doing more blogging but to be honest, I am just so thankful to finally be feeling well again that I am playing catch up on a LOT of things. 

We had a wonderful Christmas around the BBB world.  We were able to be with our kids on Christmas eve and then go over to my sister's to see my Dad and the rest of the family on Christmas day.  I spent lots of money on gifts, watched a lot of movies on my puter, rested, shopped, ate, visited and just generally chilled.  All whilst feeling better than I have in MONTHS I tell ya!!   I didn't have to do ANY cooking since my kitchen is still not complete.  But we were able to have lots of home cooked food thanks to family and friends.  Two friends in particular, who are from our former church, have had us over twice.  We took the meat and they provided the side dishes.  What a BLESSING that was to be able to sit down to a nice meal with good friends.

I know the last few months have been difficult healthwise, but I am determined to get a handle on everything in 2009.  I am off to a good start so far.

For your blog surfing enjoyment, I am posting a few pictures.

First, here is a picture of my little Piper who actually has HAIR again!!  She was cute with no hair, but is cuter WITH hair.  I will have to look back through my pics and see if I can find her hairless pics and post one.  Here she is as of a few moments ago:

AND......I am just about to go nuts with happiness because we are THIS close to being ready to put in cabinets.  I don't even have a hole in the floor anymore!!  Woofreakinghoo!!  The new waterlines are run, the new electric lines are run, the new gas lines are run and hubby is putting up NEW sheetrock as we speak.  Here are some pics of my kitchen as it is now.

Here is where my new ISLAND will be (and where the big HOLE used to be):

This is the main wall in the kitchen where my cooktop, oven and cabinetry will go.

And here is a sample of the tile we will be using for our back-splash to the countertops and on the island.  I think it's gonna ROCK!

I love the small glass tiles and can't wait to get it in.

Well, for now, that is all I got.  Again, I apologize for being such a slacker.  I have been reading everyone else's blogs.

I still LOVE ya'll!  Hugs!

BBB

I am sorry I haven't written more on this series.  The holidays have just kept me too busy.

I hope everyone had a very blessed holiday.  I know we did!

So, on with the series.

February 21, 1943:

Dear Mom and all:

Here it is Sunday and I haven't got any thing to do except write you.  I don't know whether you all miss me or not, but I really miss you all.  It seems so gloomy here because I haven't heard from anyone.  It's just slave, slave slave here, but I love it.

Oh yes.  I'm eligible for cadet or officers training because I made 133 on my general classification test and only needed to make 100 for cadet and 110 for Officers candidate school.

The food tastes a little better now.  At first it was terrible but since I've become used to it, it's all right.  They really give you a lot of it too.  Almost too much.

I heard that they have a place to take photos here on the post.  If it's true, I may have some made.  Oh yes.  When and if you send me any money, use money orders......

Gotta close now and go over to the PX and get an indelible pencil to use in marking my clothes.  It seems that there are some thieves here and so we have to mark them with our last initial and last four numbers of serial number....

Give each one a piece of my love and keep a great big share for yourself and above all "Keep that chin up and face it with all your courage."

Love as ever from your son in the service,  Peegie

I guess the above letter indicates that my Grandma, as with most moms of service men, was having a hard time thinking of her son going to war.  And, as with most GI's, they try to encourage their family members.

February 22, 1943:

Dear Mom:

Why don't you write?  I haven't heard from you or anyone and it certainly makes me feel bad.  No mail for me, but everyone else from <hometown> has received at least one and some 4 or 5 letters.  So much for the sermon, now for the latest news.

We went to the show yesterday and later to the post service clubhouse.  Had a swell time.  We had fried chicken yesterday.  It was only fair compared to yours.    Note:  my Grandma made the BEST fried chicken in the world...so I know what he meant.

We took several tests today which will determine what school we'll attend.  It'll just be my luck to have to stay in this hell-hole place.  I believe I passed them all but on one I just barely did.

A bunch of new men just came in, but that's nothing new here.  Some have come from <hometown>.  I've met several old friends since I got here.

I heard a nine year old boy play the trumpet and boy was he good.  He could imitate all the big time trumpet blowers.  Then a small girl sang acapella blues songs in a surprisingly low voice.  Pretty good program.

Remember to write and send those hangers and Keep me happy.

Love as ever, Peegie

I loved when I read the part "Had a swell time".  What a glimpse into the vernacular of the day.  I also thought it was interesting to read about the entertainment Peegie enjoyed.

Wednesday, 1943 (letter is postmarked Feb. 24, 1943)

Dear Mother and all:

Outside of a few pains here and there,  I'm getting along swell.  I say pains because part of my squadron GI'd (mopped) 5 barracks and then marched back double time to chow....

This is my sixth day here and as yet I haven't had a letter from anyone.  If people don't write me, I ain't going to write them.  Yesterday one boy got 4 letters.  Sure gives you a funny feeling not to get any mail at mail call.

How's my dog??  If you don't keep him until I get back I'll murder you.  I really miss him.  Sure wish I could have him with me but it is prohibited.

How are all the neighbors?  Fine I hope.  Give 'em my regards.  Oh yes.  I haven't seen a decent paper since I got here.  Why don't you mail me a Phoenix every day?  Nothing in the paper line here except the Fort Worth Times. 

Also, hurry up with those hangers.  My clothes are getting mussed up in those barracks bags.  Take 'em from my old "civies" if necessary.  Say did you ever receive my clothes from Ft. Sill?  I just wondered.  One boy said his didn't get home for 6 weeks.

They have a swell day room here.  Coke machines, telephones to use, magazines, papers, books, places to write letters (I'm writing this one in the day room now); it is also much quieter than the barracks where the CQ harrangues you for one thing or another.

Eugene and I went to the show yesterday evening at eight.  We saw "Keeper of the Flame" with Tracy and Hepburn.  It was really good.  We plan to see "Reville with Beverly" Friday or whenever we can get free from evening lectures.

We do a lot of marching here.  I can keep in step, do about face, left face, right face, and all the rest except for the flanks movements.  I know how to do them, but never quite get them right.

Take good care of yourselves and above load the mail trains with mail (I expect at least one a day from you).

Lovingly, your son, Peegie

I would LOVE to see if I could get my hands on those movies that Uncle Peegie mentioned just to be able to watch them and enjoy them like he did.  I love Tracy and Hepburn anyway and probably have seen the movie he mentions of theirs, but would like to watch it again with "new eyes" with Peegie in mind.

Hugs to you all and I hope you enjoy these letters.

BBB

Peegie's earliest letters were sent from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, the reception center where he was inducted into basic training.

2/13/1943:

Dear Mother and family:

I sure wish you could see me in my uniform and GI haircut.  Got my duffel and barracks bag and had to carry it all of two blocks and was that bag heavy, especially when you are wearing long woolens and carrying an overcoat and your civies.  We took three shots today and boy did they make my arms sore?  I'll say!!!!!!!

.....When I get to my permanent station, I'll need a sewing kit, a shoe shine kit and a few bucks.  Also I want my razor sent.

    Gotta close for now,  Love to all,  Peegie

2/15/1943:

Dear Mother and family:

Nothing much  new here.  Just took some tests today......Also signed up for $10,000 of insurance which will pay you $53 a month for life in case I'm knocked off.

I guess I'm the champion letter writer of the reception center.  This is # nine in 3 days and I've still more to write.

Yesterday a bunch were caught gambling by a sarge.  He took their names and said he'd give'm 5 days of KP and when he got out of sight tore up the list and laughed long and loud.

     Love to all and my regards to all friends,    Peegie

2/18/1943:

Dear Mother and all:

Haven't heard from you at all.  Not a single word.  Got orders to ship out tomorrow for God only knows where.....

Worked in the records office today.  Made out Service Record Books in the morning and filed them in the afternoon.  It was a pretty easy job.

Don't write until you hear from me at my permanent post.

Love to all, Peegie

By the next letter Peegie had been shipped to Sheppard Field, Texas.

Dear Mom and all:

Surprise.  I'm in the AIRCORPS now here at Sheppard Field, Texas.  Got here yesterday and took a physical, got some bedding, made my bed up and slept like a log.....

You can write me now and by all means please send me some coat hangers because I sure can use them.  You can't get any here.

Haven't heard from anyone at all.  Have got to write letters in the evening after Retreat.  Tonite we GI the barracks and that means I must hurry and close.

Tell everyone hello and to write as it sure is lonesome here.

Love to all,  Peegie

It seems that perhaps communications from new soldiers don't change much over the years.  The longing for news from home, for basic needs of toiletries and such, are common to most soldiers' letters, I would imagine.

So those are the letters for this little post.  I hope you enjoyed the beginnings of a glimpse into the life of Uncle Peegie, the WWII soldier.

I hope everyone is having a great week! 

Hugs!

BBB

Like most young men in the early 1940's, my uncle entered into the service of our great country to support the war effort.  For purposes of this series, we shall call my uncle "Peegie", his nickname.  The series of letters begin soon after Peegie's induction into the military in February of 1943.   They continue through all of his training and up until the time he shipped to active duty.  The final letters he wrote were received by my Grandmother in May of 1944.  As I have read the letters, I found it interesting to read about his training, his off duty hours and activities, gifts he purchased, movies he went to see, music which was popular at the time, and even meals he had.  As with most GI's, Peegie expressed many times his loneliness, his desire to get lots of letters, his love for his family and friends.  These are recurrent themes in his letters.

I've been thinking a lot about these letters since I found them.  Here's the thing.  I know that in this electronic age, we can instantly communicate with anyone, pretty much anywhere in the world.  We are lovers of getting things instantly, the very minute we want them.  There is a lot to be said for that.  And really, but for this ability to communicate with people all over the world, I would never have gotten to know ANY of you.  But the thing about these letters is.....they are something TANGIBLE that I can hold in my hands that were a part of my Uncle Peegie.  I can only imagine how wonderful it felt for my Grandmother to be able to get these letters, read them, touch them and hold them in her hands, KNOWING that Uncle Peegie had written them.  That he had TOUCHED them.  And my Uncle could not have known when he wrote these letters back in 1943-44 that in the year of 2008, they would be held in MY hands.  That they would be cherished and bring ALL sorts of thoughts and feelings to me.  These letters of my uncle's are my tangible treasure.  I am touching the very papers he touched, that my Grandmother touched, and that, knowing my Grandmother, probably everyone in the family and all her friends touched as she passed them around so everyone could read Peegie's words.  Even though we can communicate instantly today and that's a marvel in itself, I wonder if today's e-mail communications can evoke such strong feelings of connection.  Perhaps they do.  I can only speak to these letters and how they have made me feel.

To be continued.....

BBB

As I told you previously, while I have been sick, I sat and read through letters that were written to my Grandmother.  I did not realize that my Momma had these letters or I would have begged them from her a long time ago.  After reading them I have questions that will probably go unanswered.  To begin this series let me tell you a bit about my Grandmother.  She was a tall, slender, beautiful woman.  She was a very talented piano player, a marvelous cook and a wonderful mother.  My Grandmother was the mother of five children, two sons, and three daughters, the next youngest of them was my Momma.  Grandma was one of the only people I ever knew who tatted her own lace.  She also embroidered beautifully (and taught me how to do so).  When we were growing up, we always had pillow cases which had been embroidered by her that were edged in the handmade lace.  The other thing that she always made us every year at Christmas was a hand made flannel night gown.  Those also always had her special hand made lace edging the necks and sleeves. 

My Grandma and Grandpa lived through and raised a family during the great depression.  Times were difficult.  By the time I came along, my Grandpa had retired and they were living at one of our state parks in a trailer (along with a number of other retirees).  Most every weekend would find my parents loading us kids in the car and heading to their home to spend the weekend.  There was a wonderful playground just down the hill from their trailer.  There was a great lake for fishing and swimming.  There were marvelous fish fries that all the neighbors pitched in for.  All week, the retirees who lived there on the lake would fish.  On the weekends they fried up all the fish for the big fry.  Everyone brought side dishes and we ate till we about popped.  It was a wonderful, idyllic time in my young life.

My Grandpa passed away when I was 13 years old.  My Grandma was in her early 70's.  She grieved for a time, then went on with her life.  It was pretty disheartening for a young teenage girl (i.e. ME), when the Grandma has more boyfriends!!  Grandma dated many nice men.  Then, she met a very special man and she married him.  She was 74 at the time they married.  They were together until her death at age 90 in 1988.  Grandma and "J" had a true love and devotion to each other even though they had both been happily married before and lost their respective first spouses.  It was so heartwarming to watch them in their waning years.  They always had to be holding each other's hands.  Just touching.  It was the absolute sweetest thing to behold such a blessed love that late in life.

I will say now that the letters I read were written in 1943 and early 1944.  My Grandma was busy at that time with my Momma and my aunt (they were the youngest), who were still at home.  During the time these letters were written, my Momma met and married my Daddy and moved from my grandparents home and since my Daddy went off to war shortly after their marriage, my Momma lived with my Daddy's parents.  But that might be another story for another time.  I am just trying to give you the setting and background.  My Momma's two oldest siblings (a brother and a sister) were married and out on their own.  Her other brother was a handsome, strapping, young single man.  That young man is the author of the letters.

to be continued.....

BBB

What can I say?  My blog friends ALWAYS make me feel better, and some of you (cough, cough, Tricia, cough cough) make me laugh.  All of you made a great point that this is my blog, about my life.  Right now, my life is what it is, and that includes my health struggles.  I AM going to get better and enjoy this holiday.  I have my mind made up and I WILL do it!!

One of the things I did while I was laying in bed sick, was take the time to go through some very precious things I got when we went through my Momma's things.  What did I go through?  A huge packet of letters that were written to my grandmother (my Momma's mother).  I think that I am going to write a few posts about those letters and the man who wrote them.  I will be working on those and hopefully it is something you all will enjoy.

I'm not going to give you much info until I start the posts, but I will say this.  I wish I had known about those letters YEARS AGO.  They have left me with SO many questions.  And, sadly, almost ALL the people who could answer those questions are no longer with us.  I am going to be asking my Daddy what he may know about the letters and the man who wrote them.

Well, for now, I am going to rest a little bit.  I REALLY have to go back to work tomorrow.  I just cannot afford to take off any more time to be sick.  After my rest, I may start a little writing for here.

Thanks for giving me your perspectives on this blogging thing we do.  I have made some truly wonderful friends and I am MOST thankful for each of you.

Hugs to you all!

BBB

Yes friends.  I am struggling here.  I am so sad that several of my best blog buds are leaving spaces.  I know that Spaces has made many changes and not everyone is happy with them.  I will follow my friends on their new blogs because that is what friends do.

I am struggling with MY blogging.  When I started the blog I wanted to give a real glimpse into the life of a fifty-something person.  I am realizing that here lately, the only thing I have had to blog about has been my health issues.  I read many many different blogs.  Each one brings something different.  Some are just hilariously funny.  I am NOT a funny person.  I am more the "straight man" type of person.  My blogging is not among those amusing works I read.  Some bloggers blog about their friends and co-workers.  I work by myself, and while I do spend time with some of my co-workers, I do not feel that it is fair for me to blog about my feelings and thoughts about my co-workers.  My thoughts about them are private and shared only with my hubby from time to time.  I am not the type of person to rant about them or tell amusing stories about their lives.  I just can't do that.

Many bloggers use their real names and tell pretty much everything about their lives.  I do not and don't know if I will ever be comfortable with very many people knowing who I really am.  There are a precious few of you with whom I have trusted that information. 

There are those who use their blogs to rant about their feelings on various subjects.  I have done a little of that here, but not a whole lot.

So, I am examining whether or not anyone is even interested in what I do write about.  I haven't blogged in a few days because I am sick, yet again, and I feel you all must be tired of hearing about it.  I know I am sure tired of it.  Bone weary of it actually.  I like to blog about happier things because I am a positive person.  It just hasn't been in the cards to write about fun happy things lately, and for that I apologize. 

I wonder if I should follow my blog buds to another forum or not.  Should I even continue my blog?  These are just questions running through my mind.

What say you?  Anyone have an opinion on this?

Thanks for hanging with me and being my friends!  I do so appreciate it!

Hugs!

BBB

I have the big screen all to myself tonight.  I am settling myself in for some good old Oklahoma bedlam football.  It is what most Oklahoman's live for!! 

I hope it's a good, hard fought game.  Not a runaway on either side.

Who will prevail?  Crimson and cream?  Or...Orange and black!

We shall see!

Gotta go!

BBB

Yep.  I finally broke down and went to the urgent care clinic up the street and that's what I got.  A nice shot in the butt and two prescriptions to boot.  You know you are not going to get good news when the doc is looking at your sinuses and goes, and I quote "Whoa!"  Anywho,  I headed to the pharmacy, got the scripts, several cans of chicken noodle soup and some crackers and I am in for the rest of the weekend.  On my only foray out yesterday, I went to Targay and bless their hearts, they had some older release movies on the cheap.  I bought four and have watched two.  It looks like I am on my way to being back to 100 percent.  The doc said the shot should take a day and a half to do it's magic.  Well, ain't it grand that JUST in time to go back to work from my MAHVELOUS week of vacation, I should be feeling better.  On the bright side, I already had the time scheduled off and didn't have to worry about work not getting done.  I always try to look at the positives ya know?  I am a glass half full kinda gal.

Hubby took the RV and went camping.  I figured that just because I didn't feel like going, that he should have to hang around here with my germs.  He just loves getting out and hanging around a great campfire.  It is a renewal for him, and given that this is such a busy time of year for him, I figured he needed to go do that.  We are staying in touch by phone.

I am doing a little laundry.  I needed fresh clean sheets and fresh clean clothes.  I just do a little and then rest.  Truthfully, there is not much I like more in life than being at home or with hubby.  So, even though there are things I probably COULD be doing, I am content to just cozy up here.  I have Piper to keep me company.  She's a pretty good little snuggle bug.

So, that's it for now.  I hope all of you got to hit the black Friday sales and picked up those bargains on Christmas gifts. 

Ya'll take care now!  Hugs!

BBB

I think hubby and I are going to survive.  Both of us are feeling much better.  I have been dousing everything around here with Lysol.  We've both had showers and are doing pretty good.

I am thankful for our family.  Even if I didn't get to be with them, I know they got together and had a good time.  I am glad that I got to be with my Daddy and enjoy some time with him before I got sick.

I am thankful for friends.  I got a call from a church friend who just wanted to check in on hubs and me and see how we were doing.  Another friend (who had been enlisted to take care of our outside dog if we went to Houston) showed up at our door just now with several plates loaded with food from her family's dinner.  Isn't that just the sweetest thing?? She's a brave person to even step in our door with all the germs floating around.  I did assure her we were trying to stamp those suckers out with the Lysol.  She didn't seem worried in the least.  That is a true friend and I am thankful for her.

I am thankful for Puffs Plus Lotion tissues.  Otherwise, I think my nose MIGHT have fallen off by now.  hehehe

Seriously, though, I am thankful that hubs and I have jobs, a nice (if somewhat chaotic) home, cars that run, food on the table and the ability to pay our bills. 

We have been truly blessed.  I am thankful for my blog friends.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

I hope everyone has had a blessed day!

BBB