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

More

Another blast

Sunday 10

1. Getting tired of Words with Friends.

2. Hope the kitty has a happy home with Sam. I need an OLD, LAZY cat.

3. I need a shower.

4. Hope the Preacher is better today. He is going to have to cut back somewhere. He needs to listen to the "rest on the Sabbath" thing. Nobody can keep up the pace he keeps.

5. Batman shooter was a nut. I can think of plenty of ways to kill that many people with no gun though....and just as fast. (don't worry, I won't but I have always wondered why terrorists organize instead of just "doing" the job)

6. In a strange way I have peace in my life since my mom disowned me again. I am so used to it that it doesn't matter. She has never figured out that "disowning" and "disinheiriting" do not get her what she wants. All it gets her is alone.

7. I hope it isn't too hot today.

8. I am tired of thinking up 10 thoughts.

9. Should I swim...probably not. I finally realized that the skin problem I have every year is pool related.

10. Will I see Eddie? I wish he weren't on my mind so much. I think he wishes the same thing but we kind of can't help it.