November Sunset in SENM

While You Are Shopping ...

Ready, set, Shop! Black Friday - called so because today puts most stores in the black for the year. If you are not a retail person, that means profit. My mother had a women's retail clothing store for most of my teenage and adult years. She worked about 350 days a year and every day of the holiday season. She retired in 1994 at the age of 79 and passed away in 1996. She loved every moment for it. That store was her pride and joy. And Pre-Christmas was her favorite but busiest time. Christmas eve was always her busiest day.

I worked for her as a teenager - my first job was wrapping Christmas presents, a service that was provided for free. Summers during college and on and off before I started teaching I worked in the dress store. There used to be hundreds of these small locally owned stores in small towns across New Mexico and Texas. The salesmen came to us, traveling with their racks of clothes stuffed in their Cadillacs or even motor home showrooms. This was before Walmart. I would venture most of these stores are closed now. It was a different era.

But I learned the meaning of work, and the joy of loving what you do from working in her store. It wasn't my thing. I couldn't work that hard - or spend that much time and effort on my appearance. She was a natural - loved it, loved the fashion industry. She loved being a woman in business. She loved the clothes and the jewelry. She had a good eye and good taste. She was tough and she had class. Locals tell me all the time how much they miss her store. Me too.

Thanks Mom!

Turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, baked corn, ambrosia fruit salad, cranberry relish, deviled eggs, relish tray with pickled okra, dinner rolls, pumpkin and pecan pie with whipped cream, sweet tea, and a Texas Chardonney wine.

It was the best turkey ever, really. The dressing was pretty damn good, too. Most everything done "from scratch." First time in a while I didn't either burn the rolls or forget to put them in until dinner was on the table. Remembered to put the giblets on the stove when I put the turkey in the oven this time. So the gravy was perfect. Didn't have to get out a receipe book or call anyone. Had three different people call me for advice.

It is a shame that by the time you get good at this, your kids are grown and no one is impressed. Or that by the time you get good at it - your Mom is no longer around to see it. My Mom was great at holiday dinners; she was the Queen of Thanksgiving. She taught me well. I hope my kids look back and remember me the way I remember her. Thanks Mom!

It's done. The turkey is boned, the leftovers stashed, and the kitchen is straight. Eldest Son took "to go" dinners for him and his boss. The oil patch doesn't shut down for Thanksgiving. The Spare and his girlfriend got here late, ate and ran. Granny popped in and out between other dinners and took hers to go.

Peace and quiet. Full and content. Thankful.

I'm Back!

I'm didn't know anyone cared, but thanks Bill. I had grown kids living with me. Now I don't. Finally! It was semi-tramatic, but is now really enjoyable. I have been enjoying the peace and quiet. And clearing a path through my house. The dust bunnies were becoming vicious. Eldest Son has a good job and his own apartment. The Spare has a new girlfriend. So, this might or might not be permenent. I'm sure The Spare will return eventually.

I have a backlog of topics to cover. Not living in a big city, I didn't realize that persons attending NFL games were allowing themselves to be searched - like at the airport - to get into the stadium to watch a football game. That is every stadium except for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the assistance from the ACLU, Civics teacher Gordon Johnston filed a law suit seeking a injunction to end the pat down. NFL officials say it is for the protection of the fans. Johnston says it violates the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution. A Florida judge issued an injunction stopping the pat down procedure on October 28. Way to go, Gordon!

It was the worst of times....

It's not writer's block. It is the feeling that the things that are happening in our country are so over whelming that writing about them would lessen their impact. Americans have their own gulag. What can I possible say that will not trivialize the wrongness of this. The whole Cheny thing. George Bush seems to be a figurehead in the true sense of the word.

There is a sadness that I cannot seem to get past. I am going to quit writing about politics. I'm going to only write about local events and interesting discoveries. I enjoy writing too much to let it disturb me like this. Most people hear enough of political commentary anyway.

My new interest is chickens. I want to have a few hens in my back yard. I wonder if I can get away with it in town. Some say yes and some say no. I think if I don't keep a rooster I might can swing it. Don't like roosters anyway. (see previous post) Anyone have any suggestions?

STUFF - Why Bigger is not Better.

3500 - 5000 square foot houses spaced ten foot apart, no yard. Rows and Rows of theses huge new houses. I have traveled to the city to see other peoples' stuff. What in heaven's name is wrong with those people? What are they thinking? Why would anyone want to live like that?

Three car garages and cars parked outside are common, too much stuff in the garages. All the houses are new and maybe not just alike, but very similar. The people in the houses have lots of stuff. They probably have a TV in every room, stereos, game players, computers, and more stuff. Like as not, it takes both parents working to pay the mortgage.

I just do not see the point. This is a juvenile attitude -- my toys (stuff) are better than your toys (stuff). Or even worse - the guy who dies with the most stuff wins. Yeah, but he is still dead. And someone else has to deal with the stuff left behind.

Maybe this is just overreaction to moving into my parents' house. I had to move my stuff on top of their stuff, and now I have way too much stuff. And if I had a bigger house, I would have more room for more stuff. I can see why people do not want to move; it is just too much trouble. And the more stuff you have, the more trouble it is. And worse yet -- my stuff, it is good stuff, the kind of stuff you can't really throw away.

My parents had been married 59 years when my mother passed away. In that time they had acquired lots of stuff. My mother liked to entertain and in the 50s and 60s that meant china and crystal. Entertaining meant sterling silver trays and flatware - fancy stuff. She had (I have) stemmed glasses, and sherbert glasses, linen napkins and tablecloths - delicate stuff. There are crystal toothpick holders, silver place cards, mint dishes, butter dishes, salt cellars, and I could go on and on. There are 12 silver goblets (shiney stuff) used exactly once -- on their 25th anniversary. Mother had crystal flower vases in all sizes, tiny individual silver salt and pepper shakers, and a, for Pete's Sake, silver candelabra. Who was coming over, Liberace? What do I do with all this stuff?

This Weekend in Carlsbad, NM

Sorry so late - computer problems. Have a great weekend everyone I will be out to town and off line. Take care.

Friday
NMSU-C films series continues. Tonights film Miller's Crossing. 7 p.m. NMSU - C Room 153

Archaeology Fair in Artesia. This is way cool! Noon to 4 today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Park - Exhibits and demonstrations - wool dying, firing pottery with cow dung, throw a spear using an atl-atl, food, venders, lots to see and do and your kids will love it. I promise.

Bulldog Balloon Rally - Hot Air Balloons will lift off from Central Park. Be there early

Dance at the Senior Center on N. Mesa in Carlsbad 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. music by Hearts on Fire.

Saturday

Taco sale at the Hillcrest Church of God 234 N. 6th beginning at 10 a.m.

Girl Scout Troop 12 will host a yard and burrito sale from 8 a.m. to noon at 409 S. Alameda. All proceeds go to help the girls purchase uniforms. Buy some burritos.

Habitat for Humanity Building Blitz - 2702 Prospect St Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to whenever - FMI call 234-9658

Men's Breakfast - Fox and Walnut Church of God - Saturday 8 a.m. FMI call 885-1455

Living Desert Zoo Gardens and State Park is having a Mars party. Visitors may look at Mars through the large telescope 6 - 8 p.m. Saturday. Mars will not be this close again until 2018. FMI call 887-5516

Sunday

Carlsbad Arts and Humanity Alliance plans to present the Lone Star Brass Quintet at 3 p.m. Sunday at P.R. Levya auditorium.

An Eighth Grade Education

Could any of us have passed the eight grade in 1895?
This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, KS, USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

EIGHTH-GRADE FINAL EXAM
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no Modifications.
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of lie, lay and run.
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
7. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 ct's/bushel, deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per meter?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U. S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U. S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Tri graph, sub vocals, diphthong, cognate letters, lingual's?
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'U'.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America.
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Also notice that the exam took five hours to complete. Gives the saying "she/he only had an eighth-grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it? I didn't even understand some of the questions, let alone know the answers!!!! I later did some investigation and found that even though this is a actual test - the superintendent who wrote it was criticized for making the test too hard at the time.

Fall flowers