The Day The Pigeon Went Bizirk...It Was Just Another Day At Work

When I typed the post title I was humming the chorus to Ray Stevens' "Mississippi Squirrel" song.
If ya'll don't know this song...well...I feel sad for ya :(

If that's the case and you've never heard it then click on this link-

http://music.yahoo.com/ray-stevens/videos/view/mississippi-squirrel-revival--2147722
 or if it's been awhile and you'd like to listen to it again, then by all means!

Okay, so the title obviously gives it away...somewhat....but it did get your attention, right? :)

I have a fear of large birds...

RUN...Run away tiny man!!!

Okay, so maybe that's not real...doesn't matter if it was...Actually that's not true...I would NEVER go outside...EVER!
If you just got a sick feelin to the pit of yer stomach when you saw that pic then you have an idea of what kinda FREAK'N OUT I do if a large bird gets near me......like say...a goose!  Now I know...you're think'n what does a pigeon have to do with large birds??? Wait for it...

I work in the same building I did 10 years ago but at that time I worked on the top floor. Now I'm in the basement- with no windows! Yes, this is a small town. Under 3,000 people. So when I say "top floor" don't get too excited! The building was built in 1930-something and it has a basement, main floor and 2nd floor- yes...that's the top!
Anyhoo....
I worked in a clerical position in an office with three other ladies. One of which I had became good friend with. Let's call her "K"...:)
She was always composed and very professional. She has four kids and I always loved to hear her stories from home (it's nice to know you're not the only one with crazy kid stories:)

Anyway, like I said, the building was built in the early thirties and the windows do not have screens, nor is the building very efficient when it comes to heating and cooling. Nothing has changed in 10 yrs!
On really nice days we would open our window to catch a breeze.

One afternoon we were all busy at work, typing away....on typewriters....yeah, people still actually use them! Point being, we were busy, when all of a sudden....I hear a loud, but muffled sort of drumming sound coming from behind me- (all of our desks were positioned with our backs to the window) so bout the time it took my brain to identify the sound as wings, I saw it!
THE BIGGEST PIGEON I'VE EVER SEEN!!!

Okay, either that thing was on steriods!, or I REALLY under-estimated a pigeons size!
Of course I had only seen them on the tops of the buildings.
So.... now I'm seeing a pigeon up close...Okay.......they..are..HUGE!!!, and the wing span has also definitely been under-estimated!

We were all screaming at the site of this large flapping Sky Beast!!.......okay.........ME and "K" are screaming...the other two were acting normal. They, apparently, did not have the good sense to know when you should FREAK-OUT!!!-  this...was that time!!!
While the other two ladies quietly missed out on this opportunity, K and I were freak'n out enough for both of them....and maybe a few others.....
Did I tell you that our desks were exactly alike in size and shape?, and that K's desk was on the opposite side of the room??? Keep that in mind.

So, this massive bird is flying around the room hovering just above our heads, and the anxiety level is FULL THROTTLE!, or I thought it was....  Then, all of a sudden one of the other girls springs to action, running to the front of the office and SHUTS...THE...DOOR!!!!...... Nooooooo!!!!!!!!
Immediately K and I are screaming " Don't trap it IN here!!!!! Open it back up! Open it!!!"
We were answered with " We don't want it to get out into the hallway"........
YES!........yes we DO! was what I was think'n but hey, I'm selfish that way ;)

While we were screaming to not shut the door- simultaneously I had begun to slide off my chair attempting to get under my desk but before I could manage that K came running, hunkering-down, with hands covering her head and pushed me under my desk and crawled under it with me!!!!....????...now, remember that I told you her desk was the same size????And....across the room???  She panicked, OBVIOUSLY.
I was thinking "GET YOUR OWN DESK WOMAN!!".

It all happened so fast! During our scramble to squish ourselves under my desk- which...may I say...is NOT made for proper cover in case of over-head attacks- the dang bird just flies back out the window! UUGGGHHH!!! Right behind it, without miss'n a beat, one of the other girls shut the window as it flew out! Hallelujah!!!!!

Yes, relieved...but now fully committed under the desk! Time to pry yourself out and act like a grown-up...ahahahaha...
"WOW!!!", I said dusting the dirt off my clothes..."That was INSANE!!"
I looked at K who was now hysterically laughing- as was everyone else.
She apologized over and over for shoving me under my own desk. "I really don't know what I was thinking!" she said.

"I do!" I said..."You were just as scared of that stupid bird as I was!, and I think you were trying to get under my desk before I did to sacrifice me!!!"  Hahahahaaa, oh my gosh! we laughed so hard! We laughed the rest of the day!
But, we kept one eye on that window after that!

The Culprit.

SuzyQ

TRUE FRIENDS WILL...

Last Monday- the 24th, I was asked to to guest post for Ducky over at BATCRAP CRAZY as part of the Friends You Love Blog-hop.

If you haven't already checked her blog out then you should pop by now and have a lil look-see :)

She's funnier than a three-legged dog on roller skates- ON ICE!!!

Peaked yer interest? Then click on BATCRAP CRAZY!! Oh, and...Warning!...you will LOL! so don't let yer boss catch ya!!!

Here's the link to my guest post TRUE FRIENDS WILL

OR...if yer too lazy for all this "click'n"...*sigh*...you can just read it here...

TRUE FRIENDS WILL!

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….tell you- “it’s okay, don’t cry, you can stay by me all day and we’ll be BEST FRIENDS!...on the 1^st day of Kindergarten. 34 years later we still are!

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….talk you up to that cute guy you really like!, and if he says not interested she tells him what he missing and tells you that he “turned out to be a real jerk!”

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….talk you up to that cute guy you really like and if he says he IS interested she explains all the ways she will perform BODILY HARM upon him should he ever so much as make you cry!!

TRUE FRIENDS WILL…. say yes to being constantly set up with COMPLETE opposites, just to be able to double-date with you….Even after one overly-rambunctious young man wrestles her to the ground for a kiss and she unwillingly finds out he wears fish-net bikini underwear!!! Almost a deal breaker!...but not for TRUE FRIENDS!

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….get Strep-Throat with you while her parents are out of town just so you can suffer together, even though you spend the entire time trying not to look at each other because you KNOW you’ll laugh and laughing causes EXCRUTIATING PAIN!!!!!!!!

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….stay with you in every class on the first day of high school EVEN IF she’s perty sure she broke her foot that morning- tripping UP the stairs in the gym…that is…until you finally have a class you’re both NOT signed up for and she uses her free time to escape to the school nurse then catches up to you next class sport’n CRUTCHES!!!....WOW! Your foot really IS broke!....I TOLD YOU!!!!!!!

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….be your Maid-of-Honor…and you will be hers!

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….drive 4 hours to see her best friend after they have discovered their baby has Leukemia.. True friends will also be there at 2 in the morning when she calls to tell you that he’s gone after only being here for a month and a half…and listen for as long as she needs you to…..

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….be there to cry with her when she tells you they just discovered she has MS.

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….find out on the way to the hospital for her very serious surgery that your Dad has just passed away and now cannot come to your side, but when she wakes up, her husband by her side, her first words are to ask about you…

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….get together and tell “old” stories on each other and laugh for hours.

TRUE FRIENDS WILL….call you up after going months-or years in some cases-without seeing you and it’s like you haven’t missed a day!

I have many friends despite the tragedies that befall my everyday life, and I guess that’s a good thing cuz ya know those are the REAL friends- that, or they need your personal follies to maintain that their life IS actually normal…..hmmm…Oh well, they are true friends and I love ‘em!

I am so very thankful for ALL my TRUE FRIENDS- old or new. My life is better for just knowing them!

Sad days come no matter the sunshine

Last week turned out to be very sad for our family. 

That Monday my niece, on my husbands side, gave birth to a beautiful little 3lb angel. 

She was here for 4 hours and 45 minutes before going home to Heaven.

Saturday they held a grave-side service. My husbands brother, the grandpa, who is also a minister, conducted the service.

 I don't know how he did it, it was truly gut-wrenching to hear the sadness in his voice as he spoke of his first grand-child.

There was a crowd there the size of which I have never seen for grave-side only services, all to show love and support for the young parents and to say good-bye to this little angel.

I am so thankful that my husbands parents were able to hold their first great-grandchild in those few hours she was here.

My heart breaks for all of them.

Please keep them in your prayers.

I hadn't felt up to posting one of  my usually comical posts, mainly out of respect for the sad situation, that and I had been really sick to-boot most of last week.

I thought I'd at least post something that will give you a minute or two of escape from whatever kind of bad day you may be having- or in case you just need a mini break from that office cubical...

Even though Saturday was such a sad day emotionally, it didn't stop the weather from being nice. 

After getting home we wanted to spend time with our boys so we decided to go for another walk. 

This time we went to a place across the road from us that some of my family owns. My Dad used to rent it for the cattle to graze in, but down in the middle of the woods is a little hollar with a neat "cave-like" rock scooped out in the bottom where the water flows. You can stand at the top edge and  look over. Usually, very scary, but a tree had fallen across and blocked the once frightening drop-off to the huge rocks below.

Here are the pics.

ps: the sun was setting and the foggy mist from the bottoms was rising, plus I used the camera in my phone since my Canon had a low battery so I am sorry if some of the pics seem too blurry.

I hoped you enjoyed the pictures. 

Go home, relax and enjoy your family...

SuzyQ

Hills, Hollars and Polk Salad

This is why I love this place so much...

It's rugged but so beautiful at the same time...

It is an amazing view, and even though I've lived here all my life it doesn't stop me from appreciating the awesomeness that is the Ozarks!

The Ozark Mountains have been described as- it's not the height of the mountain, it's the depth of the valley. A lovely and true statement! The only thing is, we don't call them "valleys" here, we call them hollars (pronounced hall-ers) or some say hollow, holla and bottoms.

And while that stunning view of the hollar at our house looks inviting...If you DON'T like CLIMBING- don't hike down to the bottom cause even Jillian Michaels would be WHEEZING after the practically STRAIGHT UP-HILL CLIMB it takes to haul yer butt back outta there!!!

Even when my heath was perty good I still had to take breaks on the way out!

Nowadays I don't think they qualify as "breaks" but more of an "unlimited amount of re-booting the system pauses" :) Which sometimes may or may not lead to me say'n "Go Get The TRUCK!!!"....Hey, ya gotta know yer limits!

Still, I like torture(not really) and I have a short memory span(yes), which means ever-so-often I decide to venture down in the bottom. I LOVE being outside and I grew up play'n in the spring below our house so I just can't resist the temptation to go down to the springs below where I live now to check it out.

The plants, the wildlife, the water, and the rocks!....Oh yeah I am a ROCK HOUND! Everywhere I go I am checking out rocks. I have bags and buckets of them all over my house to prove it.

I look for arrowheads, fossils and just anything cool looking.

The Ozarks has lots of unique plants and Booger County actually has a large variety of plant species. Tons of flowers and herbs! 

Someone gave me a "Wildflowers of Missouri" book and now I'm always trying to identify what type of plant I'm looking at....usually failing miserably, but I try.....

The Old-Timers relied on native plants for food and medicine. These traditions are dying out as our family members age. Lord knows I wish I had asked more questions and learned more from my great-grandmother.

I have a comical old lady voice I like to use on my kids by repeating stuff grandma use to say- the boys love it! One of my favorites is "We need to put a poultice on that"- like if you have a wound or bite- apparently they were good fer all sorts of stuff! Poultice (pronounced, poll-tiss) by the way is leaves and stalks of plants or herbs smashed and beaten to smithereens then the conglommeration was slapped on yer ail'ns (whatever is hurting ya)

Well, one thing Grandma always did that I LOVED to help with was go'n to pick Polk! They say it tastes like Spinach....I didn't say I ate it!.... I said I liked to pick it!

She used it to make Polk Salad (pronounced, poke-salat) Sounds healthy??? IT'S NOT! It's boiled and drained then stir-fried with hot bacon grease poured over it :) Yum, yum right?

You uppity city fellers pay high dollar to get the "organic" and "free-range" foods. Like Water-Cress for instance. We just go down to the spring and pick some :) As for "free-range"??? that term reminds me of the hippie or old-timey people who let their animals run around their yard instead of keep'n them behind the fence- where they belong! Who wants to dodge cow-pies in yer front yard!??? That's just not civilized!!!

So...that's what thoughts I had as I sat here this beautiful evening. Grateful for such good memories. Blessed to live in such a wonderful place.

I love the Ozarks and I love Booger County!

SuzyQ

**Late Addition**

As "Murphy's Law" would have it....the next morning my husband got up and said "Lets all go for a walk in the woods!"....As much as my mind was like "YEAH"...my body was like "NOOOooooo"   But, I went because I love the woods and I love seeing my boys discover new things.

We didn't even go halfway down the hollar and when I made it back to the top- I said, (huffing and puffing)..."Go... get..... the truck!"
Anyway, here's the pic's I took on our morning hike. Enjoy :)

My crew minus Mr Thomas who was hunting that morning with his Grandpa.  We are headed to the woods on the other side of the hay field.

Mr Riley! Yes, he dressed himself...it was a little cool but it warmed up. That's his  BB gun- he thought we might need it...:)

A deer scrape Ty found at the edge of the field under an oak tree.

A buck rub that is almost as tall as Mr Riley....the guys were excited!  We seen several fresh ones that day.

Here's the path the deer were taking. After looking at the picture you can really see the path clearer than actually in person...neat!

One of the varmit holes I found. Looks like an old one.

Snake Root.
Used by settlers and native Indians for various illness.  This plant is poisonous in the right amounts and has been the culprit of "milk sickness" in cattle who have eaten it.

Mr Riley on the old rock pile.
These old rock piles are everywhere around here. They are from farmers clearing the fields for crops and animals and are found near the edge of fields, usually just inside the tree-line of the surrounding woods not suited for clearing due to the steep slopes.

We've actually had city folk swear there are people buried under the rock piles they find on their place...which, of course we find REALLY FUNNY!!! But...it is Booger County...so, ya know, once in a while...that may be true??? Who knows?...:)

I thought the roots of this little tree growing around this rock was pretty cool.
The hillbilly version of those "inspirational" posters that hang in offices- like the one with the little kitten that says "Hang in There!"

Mr Riley inside the hollow tree....notice the coat is now tied around his waist :)

For the lazy hunter....

This was automatically viewed as a challenge!

There he goes.....

Made it!......now, how to get down.......

Another varmit hole.

Mr Riley found a rock he thought I'd want. Pretty cool!

Our destination....a favorite hunting spot!

Ty giving My Riley hunt'n tips while my husband watches...I don't think he wanted to climb up there :)

View from below the rock.

My husband found a hole we never noticed before on the other side of the rock!

It looks pretty cool....there were rocks covering it to hide it.....hmmmmm????

Ringo (our Jack Russell puppy) was a chicken dog and would NOT go in....smelling was enough....

Headed back....this is half way up of our "halfway down" trip.....whew!...feel'n the burn! Actually, I'm on FIRE and having a "break"... :)
Someone go get the TRUCK!!!!