Small Stuff

Old Neighborhood:
Mrs. Bear mentioned that her grandmother as well as Annette Davis’ (another friend of ours from RR) grandmother lived in the same neighborhood as my mom’s old house. It is an old neighborhood with the houses probably built before WWII. The streets in that neighborhood are named after presidents - Monroe, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Fillmore, Buchanan, Grant, Hayes, Taft, and Garfield – all old obscure presidents. Does that tell you how old the neighborhood is? Just kidding! But it does make you wonder why the town chose those presidents. Notice that there is no Lincoln. In fact, in the South you rarely see streets or schools named Lincoln, and yet, they named one Grant. Go figure!


Storm:
We had quite a thunderstorm last night around 9 PM. It started off as rain and grew to thunder, lightning, and hail. Jesse has class on Wed. nights and drove home in the middle of the storm. As a typical worried mother, I was watching for her. When she pulled in, I was ready to open the door so she could run into the house. The dogs were ready too; they all ran into the house. It was a chore to get them out. We needed the rain, so I’m not complaining, well, maybe about the dogs. Toby was already in bed and left me to drag the dogs out.


Arguement:
I have to ‘fess up again. Toby and I have been fighting over something silly. While we were in Scotland, his boss drove us around Aberdeen showing us the city and giving all sorts of interesting commentary. He said something about a whiskey festival and lots of Germans showing up for the festival because they like a more earthy, strong taste in their food and drink. Then he said something about the Scots using "beets" to make some whiskeys or did he say "peat"? That was the word that started the fight between Toby and me. With his strong Scottish brogue and our loss of hearing, it is a wonder we understood anything he said. I thought he said "beets". Why would they make whiskey out of "peat" for Pete’s sake? Toby said I was crazy, and that the Scots use peat to make their whiskey, and "beets" did not make sense at all. "Beets" makes more sense than "peat" if you ask me. The fight raged on. After googling "beet whiskey", it turns out that there is such a thing, but not in Scotland. The Scots use peat fires to heat their brew, and it gives it a special taste. Gosh I hate it when I’m wrong. I think I will mix/match his socks again.


Cousin Jim News:
Here is the latest on my Marine cousin, Major Jim Lively. He recently received a Bronze Star at a ceremony in DC. He is pictured with his lovely wife, Ariel; Brig. Gen. Regner, who presented the award; and Congressman Vic Snyder, who Jim is currently working for on the Hill.