Luci’s Thoughts on Family

Family is not just that bunch of people who share your genes and holidays. They are not just the ones you go have dinner with; they are the ones you stay after with to help do the dishes, or come early to help clean. They are not just the ones you send a get well card or flowers; they are the ones you spend all day (and if needed  the night) in a hospital chair with, just because you don't want them to be there alone. (even though you know you won't really get any sleep and will feel terrible tomorrow.)

They are not just the ones you go fishing with; they are the ones you help fix their tractor so you can help them till their corn or mow their yard.  Maybe they can go fishing with you another time. They aren't just the ones you go to the movies with; they are the ones you move furniture with, just because their furniture needs moving, even if you moved it 6 months ago and you know your back will ache tomorrow.

They aren't just the ones you play corn hole or computer games with or build rockets or robots with; they are the ones you help build a building because their building needs to be built and you know how, or you are willing to learn and get blisters. They aren't just the ones you laugh with at the party; they are the ones you try to think of funny stories to tell when they are blue; the ones you cry with when you know a story just won't work. A smile comes to your face when you see them step into the room. An even bigger smile comes to your face when you see they are smiling. You can't be jealous or resentful of family, because you share in their success. You don't just feel sorry for family, you do what you can to make things better for them. Your life is better when theirs is better. They are not just the ones you hang out with; they are the ones you are willing to put yourself out for. The best thing about family is  -  you know they feel the same way about you.

Luci

Randy 60 Times

The Florida Gators Number One fan is turning 60 today.  I wonder what Sherry has planned for him.  Is there any chance he will be getting 60 roosters to go with Jeffery’s 50 hens?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RANDY

Happy Birthday to the Coupon Queen

Sherry called me several times this past week to ask if I could print some Rite-Aid coupons for her.  I hate not to help her if I can, so I went looking for the website where I could download them.  To make a long story short…

• after identifying, isolating and deleting two computer viruses,
  
• after spending thirty minutes filling out a survey that wanted to know all my personal information, as well as my buying habits,   
  
• After repeatedly clicking “No Thanks” to discount offers for Auto Insurance, a Platinum Credit Card, a Caribbean Cruise,  Magazine Subscriptions for only $7.00, an Amazing Teeth Whitening Secret and many others,

I was finally able to download an image of the coupon Sherry wanted.  Success at last!

I went to print out several copies and waited while my printer clicked and whirred, beeped and sputtered and finally spit out…  a blank page. After testing and troubleshooting and replacing an ink cartridge, I got a few printed.  I had them waiting for Sherry this Wednesday when she came by to drop Mom off  with me while she went ‘couponing’. 

When Sherry saw the coupons her eyes lit up and she let out a little squeal.  I don’t think she could have been happier if I had given her the keys to a new car.  A car would require insurance and gas and tires and oil changes and lots of other stuff that Sherry doesn’t want to be responsible for.  That’s a shame ‘cause buying her a new car might have been easier than printing those &@^# coupons.

I blame Lucille for much of this.  She is the one who gave Sherry so much positive feedback years ago with her famous poem, Here Comes Meaner.  Remember the verse…

“At cutting out coupons she is queen.
She doesn’t really care about making a scene.
Carts full of soap & deodorant are routine.
Mops and wet wipes are for special events,
They make especially good Christmas presents.
“Here comes Meaner,
With 25 bottles of Bathroom Cleaner.
Manager to the check out line.
The balance due has a minus sign.”

I blame Jeffery and Michelle too.  They are the biggest customers of the Meaner Mart.  They keep the inventory moving and fuel the demand for more coupons.  I know there may be a ‘Goodie Bag’ coming next Christmas but somehow I can’t help but feel like I’ve been WILK’ed by all my sisters.

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Oh, I got carried away, I nearly forgot what I wanted to say…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRY

 

Clyde

Friday’s Fun Foto #9

One more old photo from the Stalker’s first Florida Vacation.  This one appears to be at the entrance to Silver Springs.

Another Anniversary of Amber’s Arrival

(Pardon the alliteration, I can’t help it.  It’s a bad habit I know, I just can’t seem to stop myself.)

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It’s turning into a big week for StalkerClan birthdays.  Amber is the one celebrating today.  Maybe Grandma Jeff will watch the kids so Jevon can take Amber out for a big night on the town.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER

De-Friended on Facebook

I have been de-friended on Facebook.  I can’t believe it!  I’m devastated!

I logged into Facebook this morning and browsed around for a few minutes.  It occurred to me, after a bit, that I hadn’t seen anything from Crystal recently.  I thought to myself, “I’ll go check her wall to see what is going on in her world.”

I clicked on the link to show my ‘friends list’ and scrolled down it looking for Crystal.  She wasn’t there.  I clicked on the link again and made sure it was showing ‘All Friends’, not just ‘Recent Friends’ or ‘Friends I Actually Like’ or something like that.   I scrolled through the list again, still no Crystal.  All I can figure is… she has de-friended me!

What have I done to deserve this?  Did I go too far with that story about Robbie’s sand-castle swamp and the Tennessee fans?  Was it the Hen Tale for her birthday?  Why would she do this to me?

I’m really going to miss seeing all the pictures Crystal posted to her account.  No more ‘Cason’s First Baseball Practice’ or ‘Cason’s First Game’.  No more pictures of all the Ratliff and McInnis families, especially the kids.  This really hurts!  It hurts worse than the Ski-Biscuit ride.  No, wait a minute,  that’s not right, it doesn’t hurt that bad.  It’s a different kind of hurt, in a different place, but not that bad.

I’m really having a hard time dealing with this rejection.  I wonder, is there a support group for people de-friended on Facebook?  Where do they meet?  Do they have a Facebook page?  Gosh, I hope they don’t use Twitter.

Clyde

A Message from Emerson

We interrupt the usual nonsense and nostalgia here on the StalkerClan for a special message from Emerson…

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Veronica is spending her birthday nursing Erik back to full strength following his surgery last week.  Having Erik standing beside her, straight and tall and pain free, might be the best birthday present she gets this year.  But then again, she gets Emerson every day and that’s pretty hard to beat.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERONICA

Friday’s Fun Foto #8

Here is another of the photos from the Stalker’s first vacation to Florida:

I’m pretty sure that is Vance on the left.  The rock star standing in the doorway is either Jim Morrison or one of the Bee Gees, I think.

Clyde

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE

Michelle had her 20th wedding anniversary this year. I remember after the wedding we all came home and I asked Shawn whose boy is he.

He must have said, "Maw's."

I said, "Shawn? Maw gave her baby away!"

Mother said, "I did not give my baby away!"

I said, "Well, what did you do today if you didn't give her away."

Mother said, "Now, I did not give her away in the manner you said I did."

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE

Sherry

Blair’s Vacation Highlight

Randy, Jeffery, Cameron and Emily will each have their own favorite memories of the vacation to Kentucky this year.  Who knows what they will be?  I have a pretty good idea that I know what Blair’s favorite memory will be already though… he learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels on this trip to Kentucky.

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I guess you could say he learned by accident.  You see, his cousin Cameron accidentally broke the training wheels off  Blair’s bicycle.  If he was going to ride, it had to be on two wheels.

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Blair has already learned to push the bike to a running start and jump on to get going.  I think he is working on doing wheelies next.

 

Considering he is only four years old it is really something to see how well he rides.  I think at four I was still learning to ride my first tricycle.

Clyde

On Strike

That’s right, I’m staging a strike, a one man strike. It’s kinda like a Sit Down Strike but I call my version the Sittin’ Around, Lyin’ Around Strike.

Why am I on strike? I'm all out of stories, that's why. The few stories I've received in recent weeks are all gone now. I need stories. I can’t just keep posting my brand of silly stuff. I need cute stories about the grandkids. I need funny family stories. I need more memories from our childhood. Heck, a HenTale would make me happy.

So, until I receive some stories, all you'll see when you log onto the StalkerClan is this image of me, sittin’ around in my underwear, eating soup beans with my toes. Hey, don’t laugh, it’s not that easy. Have you ever had to dig a hot soup bean out of your belly button? Without squishing it? If you squish it you can’t wipe the lint off and eat it. About the only thing I hate more than wasting a good soup bean is... not having any stories for the StalkerClan.

SEND ME SOME STORIES!

“We shall overcome, we shall…” No wait, that’s from the Civil Rights Movement. What’s a good union strike song? I better go to YouTube and do some searching.

Clyde

Friday’s Fun Foto #7

Here is another of the photos Luci discovered last week.

We think this is from the Stalker’s first trip to Florida.  A lot of memorable events occurred on that first Florida vacation, some have been documented on the StalkerClan and some apparently haven’t.  I will try to share a few of the stories that have been written as I post more of these pictures.  The following is a comment Michelle made to a story in June 2004 about a few of the happenings on that Stalker Family Vacation.

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Hooked on Florida
I remember fondly that first trip to Florida.  I think Jeff got married in April and we were on the road to Florida in May.  I told my friends I was going to Florida, the suntan state.  I was going to Disney World and how much fun I was going to have.
We got in the Hippy van (the one with the desert scene on the side) to head to the Florida line.  Well there were only two seats so Dad strapped in a swivel rocker in the middle for me or Mom to sit in.  So off we went. 
We went straight to a small little apartment that was not big enough to whip a cat in, and stayed one night.  Then, early the next morning before sunrise (Dad’s favorite travel time) we went to Lake Hewitt. 
Jeffery drove us and Mom was sitting in the middle in the swivel seat.  Jeffery rounded a curve and the strap broke on the seat, and Mom went flying backwards into the back of the van.  All we could see was legs and there was this horrible scream.  Mom had her hair rolled in brush curlers and when she fell she hit her head on the floor of the van.  Those brush curlers dug into her tender scalp.  Mom was traumatized! (Funniest part of the trip for me.)
When we arrived at Lake Hewitt we stayed there five days with no TV or radio or nothing;  just me, Mom, Dad and a fishing pole.  It was horrible!
But on the last day,  Dad caught THE BASS and was hooked!  He was so proud of that fish that he had it mounted and put it in the living room for all to see.  One day Mom cleaned the living room and put the trophy bass in the closet in his bedroom.  I will never forget what happened next.  He came in and didn’t see his bass.  He said, “ %$%$% where is my bass?”
Mom told him and he went, got the bass, put it back on the wall and said,"If there is not one  @@#$!#@  thing on the wall in this living room, that bass will be!"  And to this day that 27 year old bass is on the wall in the Stalker home.
Comment by Michelle

The Coffey Homestead

Most of the StalkerClan readers probably know by now that Shawn David and Jennifer Coffey have purchased a home in Paris, KY. Michelle visited this weekend and posted some pictures on her Facebook page. For those who are not on Facebook I am reposting a few of them here.

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The proud owners at the entrance to their new home…

Is that Dad over there at the corner of the porch? What is he doing? Oops, never mind.

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It looks like the front porch is plenty big enough to hold everyone…

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I’m jealous, it looks like they have a room reserved just for Jeffrey Hen…

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But the best thing about their new place may be the new, expanded, big box version of the Meaner Mart…

Congratulations Shawn and Jennifer! May your new home always be filled with love and laughter.

Clyde

Looney Family Reunion 2009

Uncle Willie sent me an email asking that I remind everyone the next Looney Family Reunion will be here soon. This is the gathering we have every other year for the descendants of Hub Looney and John Looney. Here are the particulars for this year’s gathering:

Date: September 26, 2009 Time: Noon Place: Fishtrap Dam

Patsy and Clint Belcher usually bring enough fish for every body. If everyone else brings a dish it should all come together.

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Here are some photos and observations from past reunions:

• Patsy Belcher serves as the master of ceremonies, or ringmaster, or whatever it is you call the loudest person at the gathering who orders everyone around.
  
• Bart mans the deep fryer, when Patsy tells him to, and the fish is always delicious.
  
• Uncle Willie always brings Aunt Carolyn so she can lead the gossip sessions. I think she likes to lead the gossip so she isn’t the subject of too much of it.
  
• We all mingle and socialize until Patsy yells out that it’s “Time to eat”. It’s best to be standing close to the food when that happens.
  
• I try to be there to make sure too much food doesn’t go to waste.

Seriously, we always have a great time, the food is fantastic, we see old friends and get a chance to catch up on the lives of cousins we may not have seen in years. Mark your calendar and try to be there this year. You won’t regret it.
Clyde

No More Genealogy

I’m quitting genealogy! I can’t do it any more.

I’m going to have to find a new hobby. It’s really a shame too, I found genealogy so interesting up until now. But I’m afraid to dig into it any farther.

I guess I need to explain.

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I had pretty good luck when I first started researching our family tree. The Justice Family is pretty well documented on the Internet and in the Justice Genealogy book by R. A. Justice. I’ve found information on the Justice line going all the way back to William Justice who was born in 1625.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much information is available on the Looney Family. They were early pioneers in the Shenandoah Valley and explored, hunted and fought Indians with the likes of Daniel Boone. I’ve been able to trace our Looney lineage back to Robert Looney who was born about 1692 and came to America from the Isle of Mann.

I’ve had some success with Jennie’s family too. Her mother’s ancestors, the Adkins Family, were early arrivals in America also. I have found her family tree documented back to William V. Adkins who was born in 1689 in Virginia.

That’s three branches of the family tree I can trace back to the 1600’s. But wait, I need to get back to why I’m quitting genealogy.

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The most frustrating branch of my tree to find any information about is the Stalker Family. Wouldn’t you know, the name I will carry with me all of my life is the least documented of all. I can only find information as far back as great-grandfather George Stalker. I have found that his father’s name was John and he lived around High Point, NC, but I can find nothing else. This has been extremely frustrating, but that still isn’t why I’m giving up genealogy.

I’ve seen on the Internet that Stalker is supposed to be a Scottish name. There is even a Stalker Castle in Scotland, but I’m positive it was never owned by anyone named Stalker.

Getting to the point, finally, it is this connection to Scotland that has me ready to give up genealogy. You see, purely by accident, while browsing the Time Magazine website the other day, I ran across this picture…

Now that is just not right! That cannot be in MY blood! That is NOT in my DNA! Those cannot be my relatives! And on the very remote chance that they might be, I don’t want to know about it!

That’s why I’m quitting genealogy, right here and now.

Clyde

Baby Girl

I need to give a little background info for some of the newest members of the Clan.

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I was the baby, and I do mean baby, of the family until my little sister Michelle came along, when I was 10 years old. So at the very young age of 10, I lost all my ‘baby rights’.

• Dad worked the evening shift, so Mom would let me sleep with her. After Michelle I was thrown into bed with my very prissy sister Lucy. I was told she read in a book that your body would grow in the way you sleep. She insisted that I sleep as straight as a stick on my back. I could not sleep within two feet of her, or touch her. She insisted I wear socks due to the intense pain she might endure from an accidental toe nail encounter. She would not sing to me or tell me bear tales as Mom called them. The only stories she told were ones she read in a book that would scare me into giving in to her wants. She was a big disappointment compared to my MOM.

• When Michelle was born she was way too fragile. I was always in trouble for hurting her in some way. I was just wanting to play with her. One day Dad, who had been in the hospital for six weeks due to back surgery, walked in the door and I was trying to show him how Michelle could hold onto my fingers and walk. Michelle (wanting to get me in trouble and get Dad’s attention, I finally figured her out ) let go of my hands and fell in the floor. Dad got all upset! To this day I still have to hear that story at least twice each visit I have with him.

• Dad’s dinner bucket was always a thrill. He would leave us a treat inside. But then Luci taught Michelle how to open everything (Lulu opens everything.) As soon as she figured out Dad’s lunch box, it was all over. She ruled the house. No longer was I the baby girl. I was just plain old Jeff. The girl with the very short hair with a boys name. (I was ruined, ruined I say.)

• Now if I wanted any attention, I had to get it from other sources, my aunts or Mama Rachel. So off I went in pursuit of someone to baby me. One particular day, I went down to see our Aunt Virgie ( sweetest woman ever). I asked her if I could spend the night and she was trilled to have me. She called our neighbor, Mrs. Stapleton, and had her holler over to our house and ask Mom if I could spend the night. Off I went to get my clothes for staying over at Aunt Virgie’s house. On my way home I met Luci carrying a bag. I asked, “Where are you going?”

  She very smugly answered, “Aunt Virgie needs someone to spent the night with her, and Mom said I could.” At that very moment, I threw myself down in the dirt road and threw a tantrum. I was so upset! Luci paid no attention, just snickered and went on her way to take my night with Aunt Virgie.

These are just a few of the thing that happened to be after losing my ‘baby rights’.

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Friday’s Fun Foto #6

This is a feature I started several months ago that everyone seemed to enjoy.  I apologize, I haven’t posted one in quite a while. (But hey, having to go through all those pictures of Jeffrey eating isn’t very motivating.) 

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Luci discovered some photos stuck in a box in Mom’s bedroom yesterday.  They seem to be from about the time Jeff and Randy got married.  This one, she thinks, is from Mom and Dad’s first trip to Florida:

 

I’ll try to post more of these in coming weeks.

I’m wondering, was it during this trip that Mom and Jeff went yard selling and Mom bought the plunger?  This would be a good place for people to record their memories of the people, events and places in these old photos. Just leave a comment.

Clyde

DADDY'S 1964 PAY

I remember back when I was almost ten. Dad bought me a bicycle and said he paid $54.95 for it. I was over at Maw's and we were talking about what Dad was getting paid. She said he gets $27 a shift. I figured that out to be $7020 a year or $585 a month.

I want you all to know that for the month of August I used 39 of those $5 off of a $25 purchase coupons, totaling $195. I added up my August spending, purchases I make with coupons totaled $727.73 and the purchases without coupons was $111.36 totaling $874.73. I saved a total of $589.25 with the use of 302 coupons including the 39 five dollar off coupons. Which as you know is more then Dad's 1964 pay.

I also saved $664 with the sales that included the coupons and $79.25 with the sales without the coupons. I send a total of $387.92 worth of rebates off and also $20 worth of gift cards. All of this adds up to $407.92! I will end being out a total of $466.81 when I get my rebate money.

I figured out I saved almost 80% on the overall. This doesn't include the $65.95 in sales tax. Which is more then what my bicycle cost in 1964. It also does include the $20 worth of restaurant coupons and today specials.

I would like for you all to know I got the September rebate book and it looks to me like this month isn't going to be as good. Well, look at the bright side, I will get some rest and have time to use up all of the stuff I purchased, which would have $2,207.23 if purchased regular without a credit card, or about $2,300.00 if you include the sales tax. I don't know what it would cost if charged to a credit card and you spent years paying it on it.

Sherry

My Reputation Has Been Besmirched

I feel I must respond to an evil, despicable and irresponsible accusation that has been made about me.  You all know how I have worked long and hard to establish a reputation for fair and accurate reporting here on the StalkerClan.  Jeffery, showing her total disregard for all my hard work,  in a comment yesterday suggested… ‘my brother sometimes doctors the pictures to make them more funny.’

Well, I cannot allow such an attack on my character to pass.  Honor demands I respond!   I can’t have people thinking I would stoop so low as to ‘doctor the pictures’ to get a few laughs.   I might,  on occasion, make a few minor cosmetic edits to a photo but I do not think that should, in any way, be considered ‘doctoring the pictures.’  Let me give you an example, here is a photo that appeared in a story back in July. 

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ORIGINAL PHOTO

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PHOTO AS IT APPEARED  ON THE STALKERCLAN

It is difficult to see the differences in the two photos but I did make two edits…

• I corrected the ‘red-eye’ in Jeff’s eyes and,
  
• I removed what appeared to be a mustard stain on her sleeve.  (She always was bad to wipe her mouth on her sleeve. )

Now I ask you, ladies and gentlemen of the StalkerClan jury, do these small insignificant edits, made to improve the appearance of the subject, amount to ‘doctoring the pictures?’  I don’t think so and  I hope you don’t either.  I will consider your continued viewing and support of the StalkerClan a vote in my favor.  I rest my case.

Clyde

Facebook Foto Flubs

I’ve tried recently to share some of the best photos that I find on Facebook.  There have been some really cute pics of the grandkids and great-grandkids.  I think it has been worth the trouble to get a Facebook account just to keep up with the photos that Crystal, Tiffany and Dawn post to their pages.

On the other hand, there are some downsides to this Facebook Foto business.  Here is an example.  This is from a photo album of Cason and Caitlyn’s birthday party that Crystal just posted:

I guess this is the price we have to pay to see the pictures of the cute grandkids.  Every now and then we’re going to be subjected to something like this.

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Now this isn’t Crystal’s fault, don’t blame her.  It can’t be helped!  If Jeffery is at the birthday party, or holiday dinner, or anyplace really were there is food, there is going to be a photo like this.  I’ve discovered through years of experience, it’s unavoidable.  Here are just a few examples from my file:

( Click on each photo to view full size. )

So, be very careful when you go looking at those Facebook photo albums, you just may find a Facebook Foto Flub.  And if you do, be sure to tell me about it so I can put it on the StalkerClan.

Clyde