West Texas Mama

I recognized about 20 BK (Before Kids) that there is simply no way for me to maintain a mental to-do list.  There were simply too many people who all were convinced they held an especially important place in the line of my myriad responsibilities and who were all too important to ignore wait their turn in line for my attention.  I was a "git'er done" girl, and BK that was ok because I was young and had indepletable energy levels. I managed these demands with a little notebook of to-do items which gave me great satisfaction from marking items from the list. Then I married and had kids.  Immediate AK (After Kids) I discovered that there was no longer time to keep my neat little notebook handy.  And the most demanding individuals I would ever answer to would be less than 60" tall and possibly smarter than me.  (Especially in their own minds.)  Orders ("requests") would be shouted to me through a closed door or window while I was backing the car out of the

Jake has become quite the 8 year old entrepreneur.  Or, possibly scam artist.  He received as a gift about a year ago a bookmark made from duct tape. Utterly fascinated and impressed with this gift, Jake begged me to buy him some decorative duct tape so that he could make his own bookmarks.  This proposal seemed harmless enough, so I got him a couple rolls. Not long ago, I found myself In sore need of a bookmark, so I turned to my highly creative son and asked him to make me one.  He says, "I guess I will make you one for free."  I responded, "I should certainly think so since I bought the tape!"   He proceeds to inform me that he needed a notebook so he could take orders.  It would appear he has developed quite a following.  He also informed me that he was charging his friends "$5 in pass tickets" (a reward system for students who may then purchase prizes from something called a "pass cabinet".) Part of me was proud of his capitalistic tendencie

Sometimes I am amazed at how many unique, individual conversations during my day can be so comically related.  The consistent theme for conversations today was :  TV Remotes El Hubbo's Precioussssssss I come home from work to be greeted by my beloved and my off-spring watching TV.  Number One Son tells his father, "I need a dollar to help my science teacher feed the bearded dragon lizard." El Hubbo says, "Is your science teacher going to help feed your pig?"  Jake says, "No!"  El Hubbo says, "Then you don't get a dollar to feed a mythical creature." Jake looks at him confused and says, "It's not a mythical creature, it's a small lizard?  A bearded dragon lizard."  El Hubbo says, "I don't care if it has a goatee!"  Jake says, "It DOES have a goatee!" El Hubbo responds with, "I don't care!"  Jake grabs the TV remote from his father and says, "Remember, I have power over

I know it's been kind of quiet in the West Texas Mama blog world.....things have been busy - playing nurse, work at the paying gig, getting kids ready for school, etc.  But, this weekend provided WTM with an experience that must be documented for posterity's sake. El Hubbo's skills with smoking briskets is becoming more historic with the passage of time.  A friend of ours from church asked us to help him "feed a few folks" for a dove hunt.  No big deal, a couple briskets, maybe some beans, potato salad.  "Something easy." "No problem!" we said.  And, in deed, in our optimism, we felt this would be simple.  Then, the numbers started growing.....and growing......and growing.   We would potentially be feeding 75 people.  This had turned from a small, backyard cookout to a major catering operation! In a sick, somewhat masochistic way, the planning of such a thing is something I love.  I break out the calculator, put the headings in my sprea

Tomorrow is the Big Day!  El Hubbo heads under the knife to replace the first of what we foresee will be many of his joints.  He does not seem to appreciate my non-stop rendition of Mack The Knife, however, he does appear to be looking forward to some sort of pain relief.  I think he's truly looking forward to the two hours of uninterrupted, drug-assisted sleep - which is probably more than he's gotten in the past two years. It has been touch-and-go with getting this done.  I almost declared it a no-go and told him he'd better cowgirl up when I got off the phone with the hospital's billing department.  They decided they would give me a "courtesy call" (at 9:30 p.m., mind you - I find nothing courteous about that time of the night).  In a far too chipper voice, the young lady, who shouted into the phone as I am sure she assumed I was 75+ and deaf (as most of her clientele and their spouses are), informed me that after insurance, etc, etc, I would be responsib

A recent conversation with a certain giggling girl-child has given me much laughter and cause to contemplate something that has been a natural and accepted behavior by many of my relatives.  In my musings, I have realized that this frequent activity is not something I have observed as common among my city friends, but does seem to be prevalent amongst my rural associates.  I think it is what we shall refer to as a "country custom". A custom, by all rights is acceptable to the participating population.  For example, the eating of bugs appears on the Discovery Channel as being something many in the Asian cultures accept as delicacies.  That's fine for them.  I prefer my bugs fricasseed in the bug zapper, personally.  Or smashed in a boot heel/cement sandwich. The country custom that some may find objectionable, but for which I draw much enjoyment is the goosing of various family derrieres.  That's right, I pinch hineys.  I remember my grandmother engaging in this fo

I know, WTM has been MIA for quite awhile.  What with moving, family stuff, etc., what little time not devoted to taking care of other things has been spent trying to sleep so that other things can be taken care of. But, I have a goody for you now. So, recently I went to Denver, CO, for a conference.  El Hubbo and two colleagues went with me.  We left on a Sunday afternoon, excited for what adventure lie ahead.  We had to fly United, which you can read a previous post to gather my feelings on that particular airline.  I think there must be a picture of me at every United Customer Service desk, as I arrived to check in to find they had given my perfect seat away, and I was reassigned......but that was minor compared to what would take place later in the trip. One of my colleagues informed me before boarding the flight that there was a conspiracy associated with the Denver International Airport.  Curiosity got the best of me, and sure enough I googled it.  And, sure enough, there is

Ok - so, I'm a little crazy busy and behind in attending to my writing duties.  BUT LUCKY YOU.......I have someone to step in while I am preoccupied with other things.....I'm typing it up exactly as it is written, so, ENJOY! Jake's November Journal 11-4-13 If I had one wish come true, it would be to be to never die.  Stay alive forever if a tank hit me it would not hurt because I can never die.  I would have time to do everything in the world.  But I would have to work now and then but otherwise I can do anything. 11-5-13 if I did not have the right to go to school I would have no dignity.  I would be a hobo.  i would go start a riot until I got to go to school.  I would take over the country.  I would do anything to go to school.  Kick the president out of the white house and then you'll be looking at the new president. 11-6-13 If I was botherd by a bully I would ignor him and go home.  I would tell my mom and dad that I was being bullied and surly they will