Author: Tammy

How to Decipher March’s Entrance!

We have all probably heard the old wives’ tale:  If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion or if in like a lion, then it will go out like a lamb.  Yet, here in Northeast Ohio, March has come in more like a lioamb or would it be a lamion.

March 1st and 2nd were rather non descript.  Not really a lion nor a lamb in terms of weather designation.  A little cool, some flurries, warm sun, then breezy cool air again.  That was just March 1st!

So, does that mean that all of March will be the same way?  Everyday is a roll of the dice as to what we will have.  Sometimes it matches the weather man’s prediction and sometimes not.

Those of us with sinus issues are having a wonderful time (cough-cough, insert sarcasm here!).  We walk around with headaches.  The weather stays the same a day or so and our headaches subside.  Then, the weather changes again, another headache comes.  Welcome to the land of ever changing weather and persistent headaches.  Yay Ohio!

My husband lovingly calls me during spring and fall,  “my own little barometer head.”  Which in my own warped mind, I have decided that it is a term of endearment.  Not in any way a sarcastic attempt to say,  “girl-you’re all messed up.”

As I sit here typing away, looking out the window, it has once again started to snow.  It’s the big flake, fluffy, pretty kind that doesn’t really stick to the ground.  THAT kind of snow I could handle a lot of.  However, as with most weather here, this won’t last long.  While we have light blue skies, a little gray cloud that moves over every now and then and drops some white fluff and a super high temperature of 28 degrees – have no fear my friends, tomorrow it is supposed to be sunny and 50 degrees!

I gotta go.  There’s a huge glass of water and a bottle of Motrin with my name written all over them!

…and that’s all I have to say about that.

Tammy

Why Can’t This Boy Understand Me?

Have you ever wondered why someone couldn’t understand you?  I mean, you both are speaking English.  Both of you were raised right here in the good ‘ol US of A.  So why is it that we just can’t always understand what the other person is trying to say.  I pondered this recently when I was visiting my mom in the nursing home.  We were recalling a funny story of visiting her family in Virginia.

My mom was raised in Southwest Virginia and I was fortunate enough to spend many of my summers visiting my Granny (my great grandmother) with my mom and grandma who both lived in Northeast Ohio after moving here in the early 1950’s.  During these wonderful summers, I found it easy to pick up how they spoke and never really gave it much thought that it would be considered a “different language” as I quickly spoke just like them!  For those of you who don’t know me, I can talk with quite speed.  Yet as I’ve grown older, I have learned to slow it down so people can understand me…sort of.  Not true when I was a youngster!  I could speed through a paragraph of story telling faster than you could say, “Pardon?”
So, imagine what it would be like to take my speed, add the southern “language”, bring me back to Ohio and place me in my school classes each fall!  Yes!  I got, “Excuse me, what did you say?” from many teachers, not to mention my classmates!”

So, with my being able to communicate with my Southern born and bred relatives with ease, it never occurred to me that my hubby or daughter would have a bit of a time especially when a couple of my cousins and I got together. When we talked, we could speed through a conversation faster than a tornado!  One particular story brought hilarious laughter, then tears to my mom and I again the other day when I was reminding my mom of it.

I had taken my mom, grandma, hubby and daughter “down home” to Virginia to see the family.  We had all been sharing stories of “remember when’s” and just talking a mile a minute.  At one point in the conversation, my mom’s cousin Jim, who is her age, was telling tales about “up the road in them thar hollers”.  He kept talking and talking until finally at one point my husband said, “What on earth are you talking about? What is a holler?”

There was a long pause.  All the relatives slowly looked at each other.  Then Jim finally looked back at my husband and said, “Boy, ain’t you never heard of a holler?”

“No, I have no idea what you are talking about,” said my husband.

“Well then, Tammy, let’s git in yer van and go show this boy, here, some hollers, ” Jim said.

And so we did.

My husband, daughter, cousin Jim and I all got into our van.  Jim gave directions as I drove up into the hills to show both hubby and daughter the hollers.  It was hilarious as Jim would give us all the “low-down” of what’s going on up in that holler or this holler.  For the most part, the hubby was following what he was saying, although, looking in the rearview mirror, on occasion, I could tell he didn’t catch the drift! Many words had too much twang in them or slang that poor hubby just couldn’t keep up!

As we were making our way back up the main highway heading back to my aunt’s house, Jim was explaining to us the terrible tragedy that had been happening to the local cattle.  This is the part of the holler tour that we still to this day make fun of my poor husband not “being able to understand the language!”

Jim:  “We been havin’ a turible time with the cattle round heya. Seems the ranchers can’t for the life of themselves catch all these cow-otees runnin’ rampant in them there herds over yonder.”

Hubby:  “Wow, what kind of cows are they, that they are running rampant?”

Jim:  “Huh, boy, whatchu mean what kinda cows are they?  Ain’t chu neva heard of a
cow-otee?  Boy, ain’t chu got you some cow-otees in O-Hi?”

Hubby:  “I don’t think so, what color are they?”

Jim:  (Looking at me very puzzled) “How do I know what color they are, I’m not chasin’ em, I guess they are the color all cow-otees are.  Boy, what’s wrong with you?…what color are they” he mumbles and looks at me with frustration.

Then I look in the rearview mirror as my poor hubby is looking into the fields we are passing.

I say:  “Whatcha looking for?”

Hubby:  “I guess a different looking cow over there in the field with the other cows.”

Jim: (now getting totally frustrated with my hubby) “Boy, what in tarnation are you talkin’ ’bout?  There ain’t no cow-otees in the field today, they come out at night an attack the cows.”

Hubby:  “Wait, what are you saying?  Say it slow.”

Jim:  “cooowww – oootteeeess, cow-otees.  Boy you deaf?  Tammy, why can’t this boy understand me? Ain’t ya’ll got cow-otees in O-Hi?”

Me:  “Yep.”

Hubby:  “I’m telling you, I’ve never heard of an animal called a cow-otee.  Is it as big as the regular cows?”

Jim:  “Ain’t no cow, boy, it’s a cow-otee! A cow-otee!  You git it?”

Have I ever admitted to you that I’m an ornery girl through and through?  Well, I am having an absolute blast watching this whole conversation that carried on for more than 20 minutes, I kid you not.  I did a great job not cracking up though.

Hubby:  “Tammy, do you know what he’s talking about?”

Me:  “Yep.”

Hubby:  “Will you puh – lease tell me what is a cow-otee?”

Me:  “Yep.”

Hubby:  “Well…”

Me: “It’s a coyote.”

At this point, Jim shakes his head and says, “YES!”

Hubby:  “Well Jim, why didn’t you just say coyote?”

Jim:  “Boy, I been sayin’ cow-otee the entire tyme we been talkin’!  You deaf?”

I guess it’s true that no matter where you go, you should always try to pay close attention to those you are speaking with, especially if you don’t speak the same language!  But, I have to admit, it is rather hilarious standing to the side watching others try to understand each other when they don’t!  Just too stinkin’ funny!

…and that’s all I have to say about that!

Tammy

Nope, I’m Not Dreaming, This Time!



As I sit here on vacation feeling the ocean breeze blow across my face, I close my eyes and lean my head back over the top of my short little beach chair.  The heat of the Caribbean sun warms my face so much that it nearly lulls me to sleep.  In the background, I can hear the waves lapping up at water’s edge and every once in a while they make it up to my feet.  The water is cool and crisp and feels ever so exhilarating and refreshing as it makes it’s way up and over my foot and up my ankle.  I feel as though I could sit here for ever as the sounds of the waves crashing up the shore then receding back into the ocean are rhythmic and lulling.  Sitting here today, there are no worries or burdens to ponder.  There are no phones, no televisions, or voices.  I have found a beach spot where I’m somewhat secluded, just me, my little beach chair and…



I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF BEACH TIME LAST WEEK!
NO, REALLY – I DID!

What a view!
That’s what I’m talking about!
Two girlfriend’s toes!
My two little friends, posing!
NOT my friend..boo!

 So, what do you do when friends call and say, “Hey, we have room at our villa in St. Thomas – c’mon down!”

You throw together swimsuits, snorkel gear, and – oh yeah – maybe a pair of undies or two – and get to the airport, that’s what you do!

Thanks to dear, longtime friends, we were able to leave dreary Ohio winter and sit oceanside for a spur of the moment relaxing vacation.  Nothing suits either hubby or I better than sitting at the shore’s edge and enjoying the ocean and everything with it.  The sun, surf and sand.  Ya just can’t get any better than the shores we were hanging on this week.

Though it was meant to be a great getaway with no thinking or working, I couldn’t help thinking of the wonder of God’s artistic creativity at or in the ocean.  Sitting calmly and watching each wave ride in to the shore over and over has an effect on me that I just can’t explain.  I’m amazed at the colors of the ocean as you look across the surface for as far as you can see.  Being in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean is neat as you can stand in water knee to thigh deep and look down to see the neatest colors, sizes and shapes of fish and sea creatures.  Sitting on a pretty empty beach, it allows you the opportunity to just sit and be quiet and ponder.  The verse that came to me sitting there was, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

We may not be able to be at the ocean each day, but we can still rest in the verse above.  There is definitely comfort knowing that no matter what may come our way, we need to trust that God is God.  For me, this may sometimes be easier said than done because I tend to get into God’s way more than I would like to admit!  Yet, I must be honest and admit that I can sometimes mess up something with all my “help” to God!

How about you?  Do you find yourself taking over circumstances that you might have done a little better had you taken the time to “be still and know God is God?”  Tell me what you think.

Since I can’t pop on down to the ocean every day, I think I will try to remember the photo in my mind when things get a little stressed.  Once I remember that photo, I will remind myself of the calmness and peace of being still.  Truthfully, being calm and peace-filled just tickles me pink!

…and that’s all I have to say about that!

Tammy