Pam Brennan: Santa came to town -- in a black SUV - Life - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

Pam Brennan: Santa came to town -- in a black SUV  - Life - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

Good Deed Alerts - damnpamn's Blog - Blogster

Good Deed Alerts - damnpamn's Blog - Blogster

My Married Life

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My Night Out Against Crime Began With My Keys Being Stolen

...they were stolen because of my forgetfulness. Which is beside the point but at least the considerate (but stupid) thief left my truck key and my apartment key.
I went downstairs to buy a pepsi and eat my leftover chinese for breakfast. I went on outside to enjoy said breakfast before the heat of the day made it impossible to go outside. As I was enjoying my morning and watching the other residents come and go, Vera came out and asked if I had perhaps lost my keys.   I knew the second she asked that of course I had, so I jumped up and thanked her and retrieved my keys and sat back down to enjoy my morning once more.  Grateful the whole time that no one had stolen my keys.
I went to go back into the building and when I went to swipe my fob...no fob!  Some sun of a beetch had stolen my fob right off my keyring and I couldn't get back into the building.  Fortunately somebody must have seen me fumbling around and buzzed me in.  (there is a camera in the lobby and we can watch people come and go on camera....fun stuff actually.
Then I realized that I couldn't get on the elevator for another 20 minutes because as an added security feature in our building between 8 pm and 8 am you have to come to the lobby to let someone come up to your apartment so you have to swipe the same fob to get the elevator to work as you do to get the front lobby door to open.
So I decided to go into the television room and watch a little tv and wait for the elevator to unlock itself.  That's when I discovered my thief had also stolen the key to the tv room as well as to the laundry room and the public restroom!  Now I was really on fire because I didn't know if the thief had stolen the laundry room key or my apartment key which actually look identical on the keyring.
Once I gained access to the elevator I found out I had my apartment key.  So once again I was relieved that at least I could get into my apartment and they had not stolen my truck.  Talk about a pisser, I can just imagine sitting there enjoying my breakfast and watching my own truck drive right past me.
What the idiot thief also didn't realize that I had left my keys lying on the table in the Lobby in full view of the camera.  They had removed the fob and the laundry room key and politely left my apartment key and truck key on the table all in full view of the camera.  Also the fob can be tracked and they can tell who is using it once I report it missing...Ed also can deactivate it but only after he uses it to catch the perpetrator.
Then last night our building was having a get together to observe National Night Out Against Crime.  We were supposed to have some of those 6 foot long subs from Subway.  Wouldn't you just know that right before Ed got there to pick them up some "young, black, female" told them she was there from Lee Terrace and STOLE OUR SUBS!
It's all comical in it's irony!

My 50th. Birthday Card

S Superman, Poseidon of the Sea

Life with her was like a Disney movie (part 1)

I named her that because every day was like a Disney movie with her.

She was a black lab mix and the neighbors got her when she was around 6 weeks old. They promptly tied her to the fence and forgot about her. My other neighbors wanted to call the pound but I begged them not to. I told them I would find her a home because the pound would just kill her. They probably had 20 more just like her.

The neighbors fed and watered her. She struggled to get out of the hot sun by crawling under an abandoned car at the end of the six foot chain that was much too short for her. I couldn't find her a home. Then Daddy died. The last thing I did when I was moving was to go over and unhook her from her chain and load her into my van. I took her to my 35 acres that I was going to turn into a dog farm.

Of course she adored me. I gave her freedom and love. It didn't take long to learn that the 35 acres was not big enough to hold her. Even though she had free run she was tearing up everything in sight. She was bringing me neighbors possessions that I had no way of knowing who they belonged to or even of finding out where they came from.

Every day when I went to work she would follow me. The first half mile was a dirt road and then I had to cross a creek (no bridge). Then the road turned to pavement. At this point I would speed up and run off and leave her and she would turn and go back home - or roam the hills as the mood suited her.

One day there was a snow storm. She followed me out as she always did, only when I got to the main road I couldn't speed up because it was too icy. She followed me for about two miles. I was afraid to stop because of the road conditions so I kept going. When I got home that night she wasn't there. It took two days for the weather to settle enough for me to go look for her. I went to the last spot I had seen her and there were two old men talking beside the road. I asked if they had seen her. "Sure have," they replied. "She's over across the creek."

I looked across the creek and it was too icy for me to drove over there so I got out of my van and I yelled, "DISNEY!" I heard a crashing, thundering noise coming down the hill behind me. Disney was barking like mad and racing through the brush like it wasn't even there to get to me. She was thrilled that I had found her and we went home and resumed her hectic life.

The next time it snowed I kept her in the house when I went to work. There are not words to describe the scene of destruction that I came home to. I opened the door and she was sitting in the middle of a pile of debris (formerly my beloved possessions) a foot high, looking at me as if to say, "welcome home." I was so upset I had to close the door. I put her outside and I didn't look back in that room for 3 days. I knew I would kill her if I did.

Life with her was like a Disney movie (part 2)

A few months later I had to move again. There was not a lot of property but I built a large pen out of my whole back yard. I actually witnessed my 17 year old nephew pick up a telephone pole during that process. A quite impressive show of strength - but I digress. The pen was for Disney and Max and Skye. Max and Skye were my white german shepherds. I had allowed Disney and Skye free run of the farm but Max could not be trusted to run loose. He did get along well with Disney and Skye though - they were his private harem.

One day I came home from work and as soon as I saw Disney in the pen I knew something was wrong. Apparently while I was gone there had been a fight and Max and Skye tore her up pretty badly. I brought Disney in and nursed her back to health. This took several weeks as she had some rather serious wounds. Fortunately she didn't have the strength to tear the house up and she rather enjoyed the company of my yorkie and my maltese and my chinese crested.

I couldn't put Disney back out with Max and Skye again and I couldn't leave her in the house so I built her a large dog house and I had to chain her to it. I let her loose to run as often as I could. Unfortunately this led to another problem. SHE KEPT EATING HER DOGHOUSES! Almost as fast as I could build a new one she would chew it up so I was constantly in the process of building new houses for her. One day a branch fell off a tree and I watched her devour it. Her appetite for destruction led to someone calling the pound on me. Me! I have rescued more dogs and animals than most people can comprehend and here was the local dog catcher knocking on my door, checking on Disney.

I took him out to see her and I explained the situation to him. He observed the doghouse that she was tied to. At this point obviously unfit for habitation. He was also happy to observe that I had another house over halfway finished for her to go to. (it had been about a week since I tied her to the first house) Unfortunately neither house was quite ready for her to live in. Then he asked me, "why do you think she keeps doing this?"

My reply was, "I don't know. I've asked her a thousand times. Why don't you ask her and see what she tells you." I pointed out that boredom was the most likely culprit and I told him her history. I told him if he really thought she was abused then to go ahead and take her because I was doing the best I could with her. I pointed out that he would probably have to kill her because nobody else on earth was going to take care of her like I did. He left her alone with my assurances that I would finish the doghouse immediately which was my intention anyway.

One thing I did learn in rebuilding all these houses is that she liked a window in the back of the house. If she had a window in the back and a door in the front she was able to see all around and the houses would last twice as long. (about a month) Go figure.

Then I got sick. I had to find all my animals homes. First my Uncle Jimmy took Disney. He gave her back after 2 weeks. She was tearing out the insulation and heating vents under his house. Then I gave her to Sis. Sis knew she was Disney's last hope. She couldn't tolerate her either but she found her a home up the head of a hollow with a family that had kids. The last I heard Disney was still there.

A dream come true

I got a phone call this morning and I am on a plane tonight. I am on my way to an all expense paid vacation to California to play in a Words with Friends tournament. It seems that certain individuals have become aware of my verbal prowess and they intend to make some cash while bankrolling my stay.

All I have to do is lounge around the pool and play Words to my hearts content.

I Missed the Boat Twice in my Lifetime

The first time I was in high school. I was in a gift shop in the Smokey Mountains and I was looking at some Gawd Awful Looking Dolls called Cabbage Patch Kids. They were pretty realistic looking for the 70's and I had never seen anything like them. They were complete with birth certificates.

I know you are going to say, "so what, there were millions of Cabbage Patch Kids sold." The difference is that the ones I saw were the ORIGINAL CABBAGE PATCH KIDS that Mattel bought the patent from. One month later the Mattel dolls hit the shelves and dolly history was made. The value of the original dolls shot up from between $50 to $100 to thousands of dollars each.

The next time I missed the boat I lived in Florida. I was looking in one of those weekend entertainment papers for local entertainment in the area. I saw an ad for a band called "Hootie and the Blowfish." I thought to myself, "who would want to go see a band called Hootie and the Blowfish."

ONE WEEK LATER THEY WERE THE BIGGEST HIT IN AMERICA

Oh, and did I mention that when I was in high school I threw away my entire Cincinnati Reds baseball card collection. Complete with Johnny Bench and Pete Rose Rookie Cards.

Standing up for what's right

Back in the 90's I was at a family reunion. My cousins,Sarah and Jane, and I decided to take advantage of the horseback riding at the park. We drove to the stables and got out to inquire about rates. We were told there was a tour coming in and someone would take us right out.

We walked around the barn which was well kept and looked at the horses in the corral. Everything was fine. I guess I should mention that I was a professional greyhound trainer and my cousin, Jane was a professional horse trainer. (hunting and dressage).

A guide rode in with several people behind him. The horses were obviously tired but seemed to be fine. I wondered why they didn't just get fresh horses from the corral but I didn't think too much about it. Then a very pregnant girl came out of the barn and told us which horse to ride. She went to get the first horse and he started to act up. He was obviously tired and hot and didn't want to be fooled with. She took her fist and punched him full in the face.

I was in shock! I couldn't believe what I had just seen. Then the horse started to act up more. She started punching him more. It took about 10 seconds for me to get my voice and I yelled at her to stop. She looked at me and told me that I didn't know anything about horses and she had to let him know who was boss. I protested and so did my cousins.

She would not listen and continued to rough handle the horse. Finally I told her to stop. I told her if she wasn't pregnant that I would be doing to her exactly what she was doing to the horse.! We walked off and tried to report her to management but they defended her. Once again telling us we knew nothing about horses.

That is when my cousin, Jane, told them she was a professional horse trainer and I was a professional greyhound trainer. They thought we were lying but to give our complaint some teeth we demanded a refund and got one.

I wish there was more we could have done but it was obvious it was a family thing and nothing was going to be done. I do know there have been no horses at the stable for years now.

Wonder Why?

Today is my day for brutal honesty with myself

I have been planning a trip to Florida. I wanted to just jump in my truck and go. It is not going to happen. My truck is mostly packed but I am so tired that I would be an idiot to take off on such a trip. Of course there are those that would say I am an idiot anyway.

But is was a goal and I thought with the proper planning I could make it. Looks like I was wrong. I am going to leave my truck packed. It won't hurt a thing. If I feel better tomorrow I have it in the far reaches of my mind to still go. But I know the trip will suck all my energy well before I get there and then I will have to have a couple of days (at least) recuperation. Then I have to get back again.

It's always good to have a goal and I keep trying to do my best every day. I will keep trying. I think that perhaps my best is within 20 miles or so of my house.

I even went to my oxygen place and they gave me 4 tanks of oxygen to take so I could breathe it every step of the way. They also have a Florida office for me to contact if I have a problem with my O2 machine or my bipap.

So you see, I have been making sure I am properly prepared. My recent courtroom fiasco (which worked out in my favor, mind you) and the drain on me from the power failure and helping my mom after her surgery should stand out as my most recent failures.

But I keep trying and I will continue to try because that is what people do.

When you were a kid did you jump in a phone booth and come out as SUPERMAN!

I was an Olympic Champion....

...in my own backyard.

We would get Olympic fever EVERY year instead of every 4 years. All of us (Pam Billy, Rhonda, Rusty, Sissy) would start to train for the upcoming Olympics every summer. We were sure we would be gold medalists in the decathlon because we held our own mini decathlons in the backyard.

We had a Point system and everything. I think it was 1st - 10
2nd. - 8
3rd. - 6
4th - 4 ... etc.
Everybody that participated got at least one point and everyday there would be other kids in the neighborhood participating. Everybody had their strong points so it almost evened out in a way because we showed no mercy to the little ones. We couldn't. Once we started "do overs" we would be "do overing" all day long. So we didn't do "do overs" unless a parent would show up to protest and then as soon as they left it was "no do overs" again.

My strong points were wiffleball homeruns and the marathon. Our marathons were who ever ran the longest won.
Billy was the bike riding champ.
Rhonda and Rusty would duke it out for the free throw championships.
Rusty won the weightlifting automatically. Having the event was just a formality.
Sissy was a champ at crossing the bars. Only the big boys could beat her and sometimes not even then.

I remember on day we were having a high jumping event. We judged it by how high you could touch. We forgot that we were bigger and Rhonda and Sis were much shorter than the rest of us. One day we declared Rusty and winner and Wimpy was there. He started laughing. He pointed out that Rusty was taller and only jumped a couple of inches off the ground to touch the highest. Poor Sis was half his height and could almost touch as high as he did. So Wimpy declared Sis the winner which was actually fair. I think we stopped doing the high jump after that because we realized we couldn't accurately judge it and we did try to be fair.

We did have a long jump though to see who could jump the farthest. We had 100 yard dashes (or however long the yard was). We had Basketball and Wiffleball. There was the long jump and the bicycle marathon. The bar cross on the gymset as well as our version of the parallel bars (which were hooked on to the end of the gymset.

It was great fun and it would take all day to host our events and if we happened to finish we would take a break and have a monopoly game.

I went to renew my driver's license today

They wouldn't give it to me.

I had: 1, my current license
2. my birth certificate which I had sent from (out of state) and unfortunately some goofball stamped it and signed it but didn't imprint the seal on it so the DMV wouldn't accept it.
3. My marriage certificate
4. my Divorce papers
5. My medicare card which until today I thought was my social security card but apparently it is not even though my social security number is on it.
6. my voter's registration card
7. my West Virginia Housing ID card which is certified by the State of West Virginia...including fingerprints.
8. I also had my motor vehicle registration as well as the disability placard which is registered by the state of WV.

I got all those documents just by presenting my driver's license which is not expired and they still won't let me renew my license unless I get another birth certificate from the same people who sent me the other one.

Birthday Blog 2012

The day started out great. I was still up at midnight playing words with friends. I had a 113 point word right off the bat and a couple of wins. Birthday wishes started pouring in.

Yesterday my nephew called me out of the blue. He came over and joined Eddie and I at a Power Baseball game where we won 14 to 2. He treated me to hot wings and Eddie bought me some onion rings. I only eat onion rings once a year but they looked so good I couldn't resist.

Eddie and I finished up watching season 4 of True Blood. Can't wait to see season 5. I couldn't believe Sookie went back to pussy Bill!!!!

I polished off my night with more words and I will be leaving for Florida on Friday if everything goes as planned.

Happy 50 years on the earth to me. I beat the spread by 1 year so far.

What Great Olympians Do You Remember?

I remember watching Olga Korbut and the entire Russian team for that matter. I may not remember their names but I can still see their faces.

I watched Mark Spitz get all 7 medals

I remember Bruce Jenner and Dwight Stones.

I remember Vasily Alexiev (sp) Russian Weightlifter

I watched Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Spinx get the gold

I watched Florence Griffith Joyner and Carl Lewis slay everybody on the track

I watched Nadia get her 10's.

I also saw Bart Conner and Kurt Thomas rule the Men's Gymnastics. Kurt Thomas invented the Thomas Flair...the first time I saw someone have a move named after them.

I watched Greg Louganis dive to perfection and did my best (always falling short) to dive just like him.

I watched Abibi Bekela (sp) win the marathon barefooted.

so many more that I just can't think of right now. I lived for the Olympics and we would go out and start training every 4 years. Sometimes it would last for months!

I Went to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996

It was a last minute trip. I unexpectedly finigled a weekend off from work so I took off after night turnout for Georgia. I drove all night and I timed my arrival in Atlanta perfectly. I had no idea where I was going but I knew the men's marathon was the first thing in the morning so I stopped at a rest area just outside of Atlanta. I bought a newspaper and plastered on the front page was the marathon route.

I didn't even have to drive out of my way. I drove straight to the a street that was just off the exit ramp and parked. I was only about 20 blocks from the Olympic arena. It was 8 am and time for the race to start. I knew the runners wouldn't make it to where I was for a little over an hour. I walked a couple of block and happened to look over at a street that was several blocks over and they had barricades along it so I decided to walk over and see what was happening.

I got there just as the first runners were leaving the stadium and running by. I cheered with the crowd until they all ran by. Then I started back toward the street where I was parked. I found a bar that was open and they had a full crowd watching big screen tv's following the marathon and they were serving breakfast and beer for all. I hung out at the bar until it was time for the runners to come by on their way to the stadium.

I cheered the runners on to victory until most of them went by and then I went back to my car and started back for good ole WV. I still had a day and I decided that I was too close to the Mississippi River not to go check it out.

That's what I did. The weird part is that I got lost alongside the Mississippi river than I have just about anywhere I have ever gone. It didn't make sense because I knew I was driving alongside it, I just couldn't see it because of the levy. I almost ran out of gas before I found a gas station and I found a spot where I dipped my toes in the Mississippi River and came back home.

My brother and his wife wanted me to go with them to the Olympic games but I knew I wouldn't be able to stay as long as they were staying. They saw the Women's Gold Medal Basketball game which the US won. My brother said he paid scalpers $600.00 a ticket and he would have bought me one if I had been with them. (He would have had to because I would NEVER pay that much for ANY ticket. My niece and nephew would have pressured him into buying me one even if he didn't want to..haha)

Memorial to 29 Dead Miners Dedicated

The Upper Big Branch Memorial was dedicated Friday. It looks very special. I can't wait to visit and pay my respects.

WHOOP WHOOP!!

1. JUST GOT WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE

2. FIRE ALARM GOING OFF IN BUILDING - STUCK DOWNSTAIRS UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHUTS IT OFF

3. GOING TO FLORIDA NEXT WEEK WITH EDDIE - WONDER IF WE WILL KILL EACH OTHER BEFORE WE EVER GET THERE

5. JUST GOT 2ND. DISC OF TRUE BLOOD SEASON 4 AND FOUND OUT THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO WATCH BOTH SIDES OF THE FIRST ONE

6. MUST BE A GOOD FIRE THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY AREN'T LETTING US UPSTAIRS EVEN THOUGH THEY TURNED THE ALARM OFF

7. STUCK SITTING HERE NEXT TO THE DRUNK, THIEF IN 802 UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR IS ISSUED.

8. HOPE MY NEPHEW COMES OVER TONIGHT AGAIN

9. JUST FINISHED WATCHING BREAKING DAWN PART 1 - IT SUCKED BIG TIME - NONE OF THE MOVIES HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS THE BOOKS

10. TGIF

My Granny's Recipe for Apple Stack Cake

My Granny's Recipe for Apple Stack Cake

Jan 10, '10 9:16 AM for everyone

My Granny's Recipe for Apple Stack Cake

Jul 23, '09 10:43 AM for everyone

I found my granny's recipe for apple stack cake. She used to make this cake for us and we would have to wait until after Sunday dinner before we could eat it. (pure torture for a kid) Usually she would make it on Friday or Saturday because it only gets better when it sits! The only difference between this recipe and hers is that she liked to use applebutter or Whitehouse applesauce between the layers. She also said you had to bake each layer in an iron skillet. To make it extra special she would warm it up and slather butter on it! Delectable!

4 cups dried apples
2 2/3 cups water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups white sugar
5/8 cup buttermilk
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 teaspoons ground ginger
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dried apple slices for garnish

Directions
1 In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups of dried apples and water. Bring to a boil, and let simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes, or until apples are very soft. Mash the apples slightly, and stir in the sugar. Set aside to cool.

2 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

3 In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and 1 1/4 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the buttermilk, baking soda, baking powder, salt and ginger. Mix in the flour about 1 cup at a time to form a stiff dough. Divide dough into 5 equal portions. Pat each portion of the dough into a 9 inch circle on greased cookie sheets.

4 Bake for 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are golden. Carefully remove layers to a cooling rack.

5 Stack the layers onto a serving plate, spreading about 3/4 cup of the apple filling between each layer. Spread the rest of the filling over the top layer, and arrange dried apple slices on top for garnish. Let stand overnight before serving.

Makes 1 - 9 inch round stack cake

CHARGES DISMISSED

I will try to blog this but my oxygen is low. Probably why the charges got dismissed.

I went to court today. it was supposed to be the last time. Eddie went with me and it's a good thing because my oxygen dropped and he had to go to the truck to get it.

I was fine when I went to court but it is a super hot day and even though we parked as close as possible the walk took a lot out of me.

I was sitting in the very crowded court room and I started feeling woozy. I knew the problem When there are a lot of peple in a room it sucks all the air out (what it feels like to me)

I sit there a couple of minutes trying to figure out if I could make it without getting my o2. finally I knew i couldn't wait anymore

i got up and went past the policeman into the little room on the side and he wanted to know what i was doing. I told him I had to call my friend to bring my oxygen. but of course it turned out that Eddie's phone messed up and i couldn't reach him .

they don't allow anybody in court that isn't in the case so he was waiting outside for me. The policeman wanted to call an ambulance and I told hinm I would be fine if I sat in the room quietly.

the next thing I know they called my name and the charges were dismissed. they said the policeman wasn't there but I know I saw him when I went in the courtroom

anyway, it's over.
I am home and I am breathing and taking it easy for the night.

oh yeah, when I went downstairs Eddie was waithing and he went to the truck and got my oxygen and I sat quietly breathing for about 15 minutes and then we walked to truch and I breath3ed some meor and then we came home.

I have to rest

DEFINITIVE proof of Global Warming

They Cancelled My 6 Year Old Cousin's "Make a Wish" Trip

It's official. They have cancelled his "make a wish" trip because he is too sick to go. They recently let him out of the hospital so that he could celebrate his birthday. He had a wonderful day, even thought the celebration was a couple of months late.

Please keep Trey and his family in your prayers. HIs family is fighting with all their might to find a cure for him.

He has a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/All4Trey
You can also contact the family at

Email	all.4.treyr@gmail.com
Website	http://www.all4trey.wordpress.com

to show your support. Thank You

When you were a kid did you...

...stand by the road and throw the international blow your horn sign to truckers? You know, the one where you reach above your head and pull the imaginary lever like the one they use to blow their horn. Then we would chortle with glee when they would respond.

...go out of your way to walk the rock wall beside the side walk instead of just walking on the sidewalk.

...make prank phone calls

...slide down the stairs on your rump or your belly

...collect pop bottles for candy money

...roll down the hill in the grass until you went so fast that you careened out of control

...run past the scary house because it was haunted

...play "curves" in the car (everybody leaning into the curve and of course crushing the person beside you as you did it)

...play follow the leader until your barefooted sister actually stepped in the pile of dog poop that only she didn't see for some reason

...stand at attention on the playground even if you couldn't see the flag while the whole school said the Pledge of Allegiance together.

...

A Day with My Nephew

My nephew surprised me with a visit last night. He spent the night and I was showered and everything before he woke up. He wanted to go to Shoney's breakfast bar this morning but I could see he really didn't want to get up so I made breakfast.

We hung out and he asked me if I wanted to go for ice cream. I didn't but I did want to get out of the house so I went outside with him. We were getting in my truck when he asked me if I was sure I didn't want him to drive. I looked over to see the "Blackbird". My brother left it to Arny for his 16th. birthday. I had not seen it in years. It is an original 1979 Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am.


He took the t-tops out and off we went. We had a nice little outing before he had to leave for work. It was a nice relaxing day.

round 4

Must have been my day to get wet