Pet Peeves - SSS June

Happy Friday y'all!! It's my birthday month and tomorrow is my actual birthday. However, what I plan on discussing is my TOP 5 pet peeves. Sadly, I have a longer list, but here are the top 5.

Pet Peeves... in no particular order

1. When someone says "oh wow, you looks SO good today" which means what? I look like crap on other days? Or do they mean, wow so glad you decided to do something with yourself instead of looking homeless. (LOL seriously though folks)

2. People who ride my ass in traffic, pass me, cut in front of me AND then brake, ONLY to give a signal AS they are turning!!! THAT really gets my dander up let me tell you.

3. Trashy folks. I mean people who throw trash on the side of the roads, on the beach, in parking lots and in their yard for it to blow into mine. Lazy that's what it is and a lack of care and concern for laws and others.

4. Lazy parents, people who do not care for their kids but get upset if you try to "help".

5. Animal cruelty or any time of cruelty for that matter. DO NOT be mean to your child, elder, spouse, or pet with me around because I might go all Twanda on y'all.

Others...

buying a bag of chips and getting 2/3 air

paying for air

birds crapping on my freshly washed car

the cat puking on the carpet RIGHT after it has been shampooed

Okay, I'll stop because this could go on for a while.

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week 8 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado                    https://www.BakingInATornado.com

Wandering Web Designer             https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog

The Bergham Chronicles               https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com/ 

Bookworm in the Kitchen                https://www.bookwormkitchen.com/  

Never Ever Give Up Hope                https://batteredhope.blogspot.com   

Part-time Working Hockey Mom       https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/

Climaxed                                        https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com      

Your “Secret Subject” is:

What are your top five pet peeves and what do you do when you are up against them? 

It was submitted by: https://batteredhope.blogspot.com 

Growing Up - SSS- May

Your “Secret Subject” is:

When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up? Did it come true?

It was submitted by: https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog

It has been a while but I have talked about this before, on more than one occasion. I do believe it was on my other blog Spatulas On Parade.

More than once I think. Here and here. Similar post HERE

So since I feel I've covered this subject, sorry Rena, I'm going to do a new take on it. My kids dreams. My oldest had no plans. None. Nothing. But a few years after graduation he decided he wanted to be a law enforcement officer. He began college and after his second semester his then gf was having a baby and he needed to work "now" so he quit. He has done all sorts of jobs since then but recently he became a fire fighter and is loving it. He has a real passion and drive to be the best. I'm proud of him, and 32 is not too late.
My middle son dreamed of being a musician. He was with a band, played all the local pubs, and even was signed, toured and then they quit. The road is not glamorous or fun, it's hard and they decided it wasn't worth it to them. He recently started a new job and is dong really well.
My youngest was going to UTI to become a NASCAR mechanic and two weeks before time to start he told us he changed his mind and was joining the military. It has been 7 years and he loves it. Currently he is an instructor at his tech school. He loves it and is advancing quickly.
I'm proud of them all. They are all different and have taken tangled twisted roads to get where they are but they are all doing well, have not quit and have found their careers, at least for now.

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week 9 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado                        https://www.BakingInATornado.com

Wandering Web Designer                 https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog

Cognitive Script                               https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com   

The Bergham Chronicles                   https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com/  

Never Ever Give Up Hope                  https://batteredhope.blogspot.com 

Bookworm in the Kitchen                   https://www.bookwormkitchen.com/   

Part-time Working Hockey Mom          https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/

Climaxed                                   https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com  

Oh To My Surprise - April SSS

I had just settled down and gotten all cozy in bed when I heard a banging noise. Must be the wind I thought. So I rolled over. Again with the banging, it kept getting louder and louder. Reaching over for my phone, because I was comfortable, I texted my husband. He was downstairs working on a project. Hearing his phone vibrate I realized it was plugged in on  the nightstand. Well dang it. I'd have to get up and go ask him to see what the noise was.

Getting up and donning my slippers and robe I head down the hall. BANG BANG BANG and a moaning sound. Oh dear lord what is that??? I panicked and called 911.

Hello, this is 911, what is your emergency?

I keep hearing a loud banging noise in my house and now I hear moaning! PLEASE I can't find my husband, send someone over!!! NOW!

Operator: ma'am, you say your husband is missing?

Worry about that later! SEND SOMEONE NOW I think someone is breaking in my house!
All the while, the banging continued, the moaning and I swear I heard my name.
After giving my address and promising to stay upstairs, yeah like i'm going down there, I waited.
Where was Bruce anyway? OH NO what if he encountered the burglar and was hurt!! OH NO my mind was frantic and I saw the lights flashing through the curtains.
Oh yes! The cops are here. So glad. I peeked out the curtains, of course, now all the neighbors are gathering outside. How embarrassing.
It took hours, well, actually more like 15 minutes and there stood my husband. Soaking wet, shivering and from the look on his face mad as hell.
There was an officer right behind him. "Ma'am, are you Mrs. Jenson?" 
Yes I am.
"And is this your husband?"
Yes it is.
The officer laughed, okay folks, have a nice evening. He turned to walk away and I hear rolls of laughter, there must be a dozen cops in my hallway.
WAIT! What is going on? I yelled.
The cop, trying to keep a straight face, said "Ma'am, the moaning was your husband you was about frozen outside in his shorts. The sprinkler was on and it is 20 degrees out side. The banging was him, he was locked outside. Without his phone and keys." more laughter.
I was so embarrassed.
OMG how had I forgotten, he took the trashcans to the curb. I didn't realize he was locked out, AND the sprinklers came on. Oh good grief. I know the neighbors will have a field day.
Sheepishly I got off the end of the bed, grabbed a towel and handed it to my husband.
I'm sorry?!
He looked at me. Walked into the bathroom and slammed the door.
 THAT is how I woke up. The slamming of a door. I about jumped clean off the bed.BRUCE? I yelled.
From the bathroom I hear, "wait a minute".
When he came out and just looked at me. "What?" I said.
Really? That's all you have to say? "what?" all innocent like? he was clearly miffed.
Bruce, please, what is wrong. I was asleep and had the weirdest dream.
Please tell me all about it, he said in a very sarcastic tone.
I began telling him and he starts laughing.
I said, "wait, why are you laughing? Aren't you mad that in my dream I locked you out, sort of?"
No. I'm laughing because you were moaning and saying "officer please come now"!
OH MY WORD... where did his mind go?

Thanks Karen for the prompt. 

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week 10 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado                           https://www.BakingInATornado.com

Never Ever Give Up Hope             https://batteredhope.blogspot.com

Wandering Web Designer              https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/my-dream-car-one-that-runs-secret-subject-swap

Cognitive Script                           https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com   

The Bergham Chronicles               https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com/

The Crazy Mama Llama                  https://www.thecrazymamallama.com/

Climaxed                                      https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com/        

Southern Belle Charm                    https://www.southernbellecharm.com  

Bookworm in the Kitchen                 https://www.bookwormkitchen.com/ 

Stacy Sews and Schools                   https://stacysewsandschools.blogspot.com/  

You are home alone and just went to bed.  Suddenly you hear loud bangs coming from inside your home. You call the police and they investigate. When they finally knock on your bedroom door, they are laughing at you. When they show you what it is you are so embarrassed.

It was submitted by: https://www.bookwormkitchen.com/

From Rabbits to Squirrels - Feb 2019 SSS

You're back! Oh how wonderful, grab a chair, a cup of tea/coffee and prop up those tootsies. Today is Secret Subject Swap. This week 8 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Now we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

I hope you enjoy and please be sure to stop by the others, the links are below.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  

Baking In A Tornado                           https://www.BakingInATornado.com

Never Ever Give Up Hope             https://batteredhope.blogspot.com

Wandering Web Designer              https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog

Cognitive Script                           https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com

Southern Belle Charm                 https://www.southernbellecharm.com   

The Bergham Chronicles               https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com/

Climaxed                                         https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com   

Part-time Working Hockey Mom        https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch      

Ted was outside yelling like a fool. What in the hell is he yelling at now? thought Sue. She walked closer to the window and cracked it open.

"You stupid little rodent! I have told you over and over that THIS is the bird food! YOUR food is over there!" he was pointing wildly at a corn cob tied to a limb. The squirrel was none to impressed with this behavior. He cocked his head from one side to the other, then sprang forward, grabbed a mouthful of bird feed and he was off and running.

Ted was running too! "YOU damned fuzzy tailed little mongrel, if I get my hands on you... his voice trailed off. There in the path going into the trees behind his house, was IT. That dadgum rabbit!! OMG he thought Sue had killed that thing. He looked over his shoulder toward the house, shoot, she was standing at the window watching him. Probably thought he had lost his mind.

Sue leaned closer, what was he looking at? Wait...no, oh it better not be! THAT RABBIT?!

Running out the back door, down the steps and picking up speed she crossed the lawn in two seconds flat. The rabbit, ears up, turned and disappeared in to the bushes.

"WHERE IS HE, WHERE IS HE?!" Sue was screaming.

Ted looked at her and said "who" in a timid voice.

"WHAT?!!! DID YOU ASK ME WHO? TED you know damned well who. That filthy varmint, that son of a...." she stopped, she saw her neighbors peering over the fence. Oh crap.

"Hey Ted, Sue, everything okay over there?" asked Bob the old nosy retired neighbor that moved in last year.

Changing too a sweet voice Sue replied "Oh sorry Bob just some rodent issues, a wild rabbit that has been wreaking havoc for a while now. Nothing to worry about." She turned and headed toward the house.

Bob and Mary looked at each other, shrugged and head back to their deck chairs. Just as they sat down, they heard those fools neighbors again.

"I'm not yelling at you I'm yelling at the birds, telling them to peck the crap out of that squirrel next time he shows his beady little face here around the feeder again." Ted was yelling but was bringing his voice down as he saw Sue getting red faced, he knew he needed to calm down. These damned animals were making them both crazy.

Sue was already inside, stirring her coffee when she heard a scratching sound. She turned slowly and Jasper was looking right into the eyes of that squirrel who was NOW sitting on the counter eating one of her walnuts!

AARRGGHH she screamed and the squirrel jumped out the window, Jasper nearly catching him by the tail was now howling at the door to get out.

Bob and Mary sitting outside enjoying a sunny afternoon Tom Collins was again interrupted by those fools next door. Sighing they got up and went inside.

Are you wondering what rabbit? Here you can find two other short stories featuring the rabbit, Jasper and the fools next door.

https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com/2019/01/jasper-jan-2019-sss.html

https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-return-of-rabbitjan-2019-uyw.html

Your “Secret Subject” is:

You hear your neighbor having a loud, aggressive verbal fight with a squirrel that steals from all the neighborhood bird feeders. Tell us a story about the dialogue from the neighbor's perspective or tell us one from yours.

It was submitted by: https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com  THANK YOU Jenniy

Jasper ... Jan 2019 SSS

Hi and welcome to Cognitive Script a place where my thoughts and ideas become short stories, poems and rambling writings. Each Friday you will find a post where I am participating with other bloggers, writing challenges and creative writing posts of sorts. Today's post is the first of 2019. I hope you enjoy it and will continue to stop by each Friday as each week is something different. There will also be poetry post every second Wednesday of the month.

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week 6 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

Jumping Jackrabbit! Ted exclaimed as he looked out the kitchen window. Sue was sipping her coffee and scrolling through Facebook, her reply was an uninterested "uh hmm" and another sip.

"Seriously! Sue, come over here and LOOK!!" Ted's voice was a good 3 decibels higher than normal and it was grating on Sue's last nerve on this early Monday morning.

She stood, slowly walked toward the kitchen and window and "WHAT THE HE..." trailed off as little Joaquin entered the room rubbing sleepy eyes.

Sue caught herself just in time but didn't take her eyes off what she saw outside. Jasper had himself a rabbit and not just any rabbit, this things must be mutant because it was huge. Poor ol' Jasper their 11 year old beagle was giving it a run for it's money. Jasper would snatch that thing up, whip it around, shake it good and hard, and drop it. Which he shouldn't have done, because that rabbit looked like a kangaroo. He'd sit back on his hind legs and kick the tar out of ol' Jasper.

Joaquin walked over and tugged on Sue's robe, "UP Mommy" and she obliged. He followed the eyes of his parents and saw the sight.

"MOMMY MOMMY BUNNY!" he yelled as he bounced in her arms.

"Yes honey, mommy sees the bunny. Now Ted shouldn't you call animal control or turn the hose on that... thing?" Sue was concerned for ol' Jasper.

Ted shook his head. "I'm not going out there."

Oh of course you're not you big worthless chicken she thought. She handed him the boy and walked to the back door without hesitation.

She jerked open the door and yelled "JASPER, drop that mangy old thing and get over here!" The dog paid her no attention, but the rabbit did. I swear she thought, that thing is looking straight at me with fire it his eyes, maybe I should go back in. No, she walked over to the hose, picked it up, walked to the faucet and turn the knob. The hose sprang to life as it filled with water, she turned and took aim.

She stood firm, held the hose like a rifle and yelled "READY AIM FIRE!" and BLAST she was knocking that rabbit all over the yard with water. The dog yelped and ran out of the line of fire.

Sue could hear her little boy yelling inside "GET'EM MOMMY!" and Ted laughing. Oh yeah laugh you coward but I'm out here protecting my dog and yard. She was not in the mood for this today.

Finally the rabbit was out of the line of fire, and the first thing he did was JUMP straight up on the trampoline and over the fence.

WHAT THE????

He was gone, but was it for good? Would they see this menace again? Only time will tell.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado                           https://www.BakingInATornado.com

Climaxed                                   https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com

Cognitive Script                           https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com

Southern Belle Charm                 https://www.southernbellecharm.com

The Bergham Chronicles               https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com/

 Part-time Working Hockey Mom        https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch     

Your “Secret Subject” is: Jumping jackrabbit . . . and go!

It was submitted by: https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com 

Kitty Purrs -SSS

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week 8 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

I'm sure the title has you curious...kitty purrs. Ah, kitty purrs. I love it when my big ol' love bug Beau crawls in my lap and his motor gets to running. I can feel bad, be sick as a dog, mad or just having a blah day but when he nudges me for petting and gets his purr box in gear I can't help but smile. Sometimes it has been through tears but smiling nonetheless. He can always make me feel better. Beau is my sunshine and has seen me through some dark days.

Oh don't get me wrong, there are other things that make me smile and brighten my day. My little grand daughter's laughter, the kitties chasing a fly, watching the hummingbirds at the feeder by my office window, a text from a friend. The list is long and I'm very grateful for each and every one.

There are days where I feel blue. Not always sure of the reason, but I can hop on YouTube and search for babies laughing, silly kitty or puppy videos, or scroll through the DAB group and see all the request for prayer and remember just how blessed I am. These things help the blues to leave or at least lessen.

Taking a walk outside in the sunshine, turning on some dance music and jumping around the living room. These things can chase away the blues and help brighten my day.

How about you? What brightens your day?

Here are a few things around my home that make me smile...besides my husband, son and kitties.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado                           https://www.BakingInATornado.com

The Lieber Family Blog                        https://thelieberfamily.com

The Bergham Chronicles                      https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com  

The Blogging 911                            https://theblogging911.com/blog    

Cognitive Script                               https://cognitivescript.blogspot.com/

Never Ever Give Up Hope                 https://batteredhope.blogspot.com

Climaxed                                        https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com   

Part-Time Working Hockey Mom        https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/       

Your “Secret Subject” is:

What are some of the small things that can brighten up a day for you?

It was submitted by: https://Bakinginatornado.com      

Holiday Traditions: Keep or Toss out: SSS

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week 9 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

Holiday Traditions...keep them or toss them? Well, I think that too many things from the past are being tossed and traditions is one of them. I grew up with traditions from my mom's family. Every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas were the same every year, like clock work. My family was not spontaneous or adventurous maybe that's why I am.
Some things I continued with my kids. Like stockings at Christmas. My boys are grown with children of their own and each year at 31, 27 and 25 they will ask "you're doing stockings, right Mom?". Another tradition is putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. We didn't go to "black Friday sales" because back then the stores were closed.
We have ham for Easter, turkey for Thanksgiving and both for Christmas. Why? Because that's how I grew up. I have done it differently but it felt weird.
We opened our Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve at my house and my stocking the next morning along with whatever Santa brought. I did not do Santa with my kids. We would then load up the car with food and gifts and head to my grandparents farm. Everyone would gather and we'd eat, have dessert, clean the kitchen, put away the food and THEN and only then would grandmama let us open presents. It was so hard waiting! AND we would each get a gift and one by one open them, hold them up and model them if it was clothes before we could move on. As a kid that was the worst. LOL
We went to church on Easter and hid eggs that afternoon. That never made sense to me, what did eggs have to do with a bunny and what did a bunny have to do with the resurrection of Christ.
So there are somethings I continued with my family and some I did not. I honestly think that traditions keep families close and if the tradition was started and the meaning passed on it provides a root/history of the family.
I hope my kids continue with some of the traditions we started for them. One I know they enjoyed was if a present came in the mail before your birthday or Christmas you could open it then and not wait. They always enjoyed that!
Another tradition we had was that on your birthday you got to pick the food for the day. Not just one meal, but the day. No matter what. We could eat your favorite foods all day and go out at night or I'd fix their requested meal along with dessert. Definitely a favorite tradition.
Each year the boys would get some clothes and a movie or CD for their birthday along with a requested item. Now that they are grown the request are for food or money. LOL boys, right?!
Most of our traditions center around Christmas and birthdays but growing up my mom tried to make each and every holiday special. She has always sent out cards and still does, for every holiday along with a cake and candy for the kids. She has also always decorated for every holiday. That was her tradition because my grandmother never did. I did the same when the kids were growing up and this year I feel the need to return to that tradition but I'm not sure why. Maybe nostalgia? 
Anyway, that's my take. I'll keep my traditions, create a few and maybe switch it up from time to to time but definitely keeping them.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado                           https://www.BakingInATornado.com

The Lieber Family Blog                        http://thelieberfamily.com

The Bergham Chronicles                      https://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com  

The Blogging 911                             http://theblogging911.com/blog    

Never Ever Give Up Hope                  https://batteredhope.blogspot.com 

Part Time Working Hockey Mom         https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/

Sparkly Poetic Weirdo                       https://sparklyjenn.blogspot.com/

Climaxed                                         https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com

Your “Secret Subject” is: What holiday traditions do you maintain with your family that you had as a child?  What will you never, ever do now? 

It was submitted by: https://batteredhope.blogspot.com