* Update: Allow a minute or so for each YouTube Segment in this link to load, so that you can be sure to watch each one.

Unbelievable Talent Here! Scroll on down for each video. Allow yourself this enjoyment.

I read someplace on a blog that Hillary lied. Hmmmm...

In the history of our human race, I have never known anyone in my life who has never told a lie; even if the lie was one of those, "well I said it to keep trouble down" kind of lies. I am sure that Hillary Clinton is no different than all the rest of our human race. I cannot pin-point Hillary's lies down to the very detail of them; because, well, I am not looking to send the woman off to hell in a hand-basket.

I do believe Hillary may be feeling quite desperate as a woman running for office; and now, as a minority in the eyes of the media and others. She has worked her whole life toward her place in the white house as president of these United States of America. Wow. A woman sitting in the oval office! Who would have thought it could be possible? But, is it possible?

We have always had a man in the oval office behind the big desk, but never a woman. True, we have also never hired a black man for this high office. But, in my eyes, Mr. Obama certainly does not represent the fine black history that is threaded richly into the woven fabric of this country; as many would like to claim. It would be so cool to me, if he had worked all his life toward becoming president, and I'd learned all about him early on. It would be cool to me if he represented the black people I have known in my own life, and those hard-working black men who helped form this country by the sweat of their brows. That would be cool to me...but, he truely does not represent those people. He hasn't even gone to where some of those people exist. The streets of Chicago are not the only source of challenge for this country; and they are certainly not the most memorable streets in all of black history. Some of my very good black friends would be the first to say the same. They have said the same to me. The facts are the facts....

Oh, and the thing about Hillary lying? Uuum, Mr. Obama lies as well; either that or he doesn't know one European township from the next. And maybe when he was sitting with his former pastor for meals on many occasions, the discussion never came up about God damning America. Yeah, I'm sure that's it...Obama just never heard about those strong sermons his former pastor so often offered; the pastor who performed the wedding ceremony for Mr. Obama and his bride.... the same pastor who baptised Mr. Obama's baby daughters. Sure, that's it. Those sermons and that kind of mind set just never came up....sure.

On May 26th, in the year 1916, an angel was born to Rasmus and Sally Mahady, in their coal-mining camp home of Crumpler, WV.

She spelled her title "Nana" most of the time; though my cousins and I were quick to call her "Nanny" in all our southern glory. Somewhere along the way, I added "Potts".

You are no longer here with me my sweet; but your spirit is threaded through every fiber of my being. I remember your ways, your thoughts, your testimony of survival...I remember all that made you who you were while you were here with me; with our family.

I believe in you, and that you still live...because I know we never really die just because the heart stops beating within these temples we fill. We leave this place. Who am I to think that all there is, or ever will be of hope, is only what we see in our little here and now? I know better, and so I don't think such things at all. And though I don't know what it is that holds you, or just where it is you are now, I do know there is a somewhere.... beyond what this finite brain can comprehend. I am humbled enough through the living part to know this much, at least.

Happy Birthday, Angel Of Mine! I love you always...Your Tracy

She always leaned to watch for us,
Anxious if we were late,
In winter by the window,
In summer by the gate;

And though we mocked her tenderly,
Who had such foolish care,
The long way home would seem more safe
Because she waited there.

Her thoughts were all so full of us --
She never could forget!
And so I think that where she is
She must be watching yet...  (anonymous)

So glad to be home!

My experience in the little town of Brattleboro, Vermont was unique; and the foothills of Vermont were a different kind of lovely from these Blue Ridge mountains of home. There is no way to really define the way I feel about the differences, except to use the already used too often cliche', "there's no place like home."

The flight from Charlotte, NC. to Harford, CT. was most interesting. Of course since I hadn't been on a plane in 40 years, I was reacting to the whole thing like a kid in a toy store. Wish you had been there to share in the pure joy I was feeling as I sat glued to the window at take-off. You may have laughed at my excitement, but I was so thrilled that I wouldn't have cared.

A 75-year old gentleman was sitting next to me. He was talking. It didn't matter whether I would listen. He seemed to be reassuring himself as he gave a blow by blow description of each technical thing that was happening with the plane as we glided down the runway for take-off. At first I was okay with it; until he continued talking even after we were in the air...about the pressure in his ears, and things like that. I was kind; but feeling a little distraught and disappointed because I wanted so much to just sit there glued to my little window in silence. I made it through though; as I listened politely to this man who had served our country during the Korean war. He had been on many planes so it was not anything new for him...still, it seemed he really had to talk himself through the flight. I couldn't help but wonder about the many possibilities of things he had been through during the war...

I took pictures, and as soon as I get settled into being home again, I will post some of them.

I arrived home yesterday at around 5pm. or so. The drive to and from Charlotte is 2 hours. It seems so ridiculous that I was actually on the road for this trip longer than I was in the air. Last week when we landed in Hartford, I still had to drive another hour and 30 minutes into Brattleboro. And of course, yesterday I made the same trip back into Hartford. My rental car for the week was a 2008 Mitsubishi Galant. Would not have one if you gave it to me! Hated that car for too many reasons to mention.

The flight back to Charlotte yesterday was much more peaceful than my flight into Hartford last week. My neighbor was quiet and the whole experience was quite serene. The flight attendants changed my seat before I got on the plane, because I was wheeled into the plane (the knees are all to hell, you know; and my carry-on weighed every bit of 40 lbs.) and they didn't want me to have to sit way in the back. However, when I left Charlotte last week, I did have a back end seat, and managed fine. Anyway, I made sure to tell them, "It's okay if you want to move me; but, just make sure I'm still sitting by a window." Don't worry dear; you'll still have your window seat." Aaaah...I was fine and dandy.

More about the historical Brattleboro, Vermont later...I'm playing with all my babies for now. But, I surely am grateful to be reconnected with the world of technology. I had no access to any computer all week. I began to shake and tremble from the whole thing!

Well, it's 10:20pm. and by now I had every intention of being sound asleep. Pfft. Fat chance of that for me!

I will drive 2 hours to the airport in the morning; leaving here by 7am., to check my bags and do the security thing by 9:30am. (I'm allowing an extra half hour there for stopping to pee or whatever) and then sit and have coffee until I board my plane at 11am. or so...

One of my huge wishes in life has always been to travel the New England states. I won't actually see much of Vermont; except for the little town of 12,000 people where I will reside for a week in a lovely historical hotel. Oh, and the town sits on a nuclear power plant. Wouldn't ya' know it? I am pretty certain that most of the folks in Vermont are rooting for our one and only Senator Obama; so, as soon as he makes it to the big desk, he'll get right on that one. Pfft.

My life of blogging for two years with all of you, has certainly been an enriching experience for me. I like telling you that ever so often. No, I am not thinking of anything morbid or ominous tonight. Not. At. All. I just want ya' to know, I look forward to being in touch when I return from yet another job training adventure in the great state of Vermont; as I probably will not have much time, and maybe no access to the internet. Not sure, but you can bet if I do, I will be in touch here sooner than Saturday evening when I shall arrive home again.

Peace out!

* Update: I read the words of Ms. Mikkelson (in my link) incorrectly when I initially published this article. Corrections made now...I really just wanted to share the poems, as I think of how very lucky I am these days...

Now, I have really bad days sometimes; as I'm certain you probably do as well. But just for a minute, can we imagine tending to some of the same everyday mental stressors we deal with, while still doing the major necessary chores in these ways? 

I know for a fact that my grandmother did scrub her children's clothing with a washboard, until her fingers would bleed; just as Lorretta's song tells us the way things were for the lives of people from the hollers. My grandfather worked the dark coal mines 34 years. It was very difficult work; and he made very little money to support his family. He used to bite into chunks of coal, whenever he would feel such pain he couldn't cope well, while at work in those mines. I honestly do not believe the people who lived through the years of the Great Depression have fond memories of their struggles to survive. They may tell the stories in that light, in order to satisfy the longing of those who wish to hear...

Most of the actual memories of those who would tell the stories, were more harsh than the stories they told; as Barbara Mikkelson expresses at the bottom of the page in the link.

Our lives are not nearly as difficult today...We can learn a lot from the wisdom and strength of those who have lived before us, and made their way to ripe old ages before they died; knowing that they had really lived their lives.

Hi guys! I was really excited when I received these cool videos of yesteryear from an old highschool friend.

This town is Gary, WV. and it is one of the towns in the county that folks from back home call the lower end of the county where I grew up. I suppose that was because any place on Rt. 52, (which is a main route that runs south of Bluefield, WV.) and continuing on south without turning up and then backtracking into the hollers, was thought of as lower end. Those holler roads led up into other mountain roads which led into other counties; and we always referred to those as the upper end of McDowell County--heh. I think it's kind of funny because as you will see, there are potentially lots of lower and upper end roads all over the county! And even in the so-called lower end of McDowell County, there are plenty of connections into other counties there as well.

These are really some of the best postcard photographs I have seen from down home. which really brought back some great memories of my time growing up in the coalfields; though most of these photographs were taken before my time there.

I wanted to share them with you; my blogging buds. 

This one is a compilation of  places in the town of Northfork, WV. (in between the lower and upper ends of the county) where I attended senior highschool.

And this, is Welch, WV. ( also lower end) where our county courthouse and other offices were located. As you can see, the major hospitals that served the people of the county, were also located in Welch. The county offices are still in Welch today as far as I know. Steven's Clinic and Grace hopitals have long since closed their doors. The Welch hospital is still in operation for now. Part II of the photos of Welch are also something else! Many of the spots in all these photos are so familiar to me, because many of the old buildings and railroad crossings were still around long after I left home to go to college.

I'm not too proud to tell you that when I viewed all these treasured places, chills ran up my spine. It was a good life there when I was growing back in the 60s and 70s. Businesses were booming because all the mines were in operation, and most every family there had at least one, if not more members of the family who worked full time.

One of these days I will find some great photographs of some of the upper ends (in the hollers of the county of McDowell; such as the town of Crumpler, WV. where I lived and played as a child.

**Update in response to an article I just read here in the blogshere at 3:30pm: Yes, Hillary voted for the war in Iraq; as did others, when given the wrong information!! Yes, she forgave her husband, the father of her only child whom she so obviously loves; which took more guts for her to do, than for her to leave. It was nobody's business but her own! Not every woman handles her situation the same, and it's a low blow to kick a person for making the decision to stay, or to go, when a spouse has been unfaithful in marriage. It is simply nobody's damn business regarding the marital choices the Clintons made. Yes, she stood with her husband while he was in office!! As for the big oil companies, you have absolutely no idea who all has bitten from that apple! Prove to me that Hillary knew all things about the oil companies, and all about her brother's dealings. Better yet, prove to me that YOU know first-hand. And, prove to me that YOU know the content of her heart, and that she intended for her comment about hard-working white american people to be a racial slur, and I will be the first to tell you that you were right. You compared the woman to well-known racists because of the statement she made in her speech a few days ago. Is that all ya' got? Because that is just bull! You stated that other racists already know Obama is a black man before Hillary made mention of the hard-working white citizens of our country. My question to you is, are you aware that Mr. Obama is also a white man? WTF? Can we not regard hard-working white americans just as we speak of hard-working black americans, without being called racists? She was simply referring to the people who were listening to her. Let me remind you that one of the greatest black poets of our country has endorsed the woman in her candidacy.

The things you said is what I believe to be the kind of nit-picking that creates the racial divide in the first damned place. I would be interested to know how many black americans you have known or called friend...ya' gotta' live it to tell about it dude!

Disclaimer: I'm not in a great mood regarding the presidential campaign. Most of my ranting is geared toward the media for making themselves so transparent and obvious; to anyone with a brain who is watching and listening. 

Sam has built a fenced in area off our little back porch. We've put in a doggie door, so that my old puppy dogs will have the freedom to come in and out of the house as they please through the day, while Sam and I are at our respective places of employment. My beloved husband finished the project yesterday when he built the steps for Jesse and Bentley to walk down from the porch into their huge poop pen play area. This is a great relief for me; as I can no longer ask my 71 year old mother to accomodate me with the daily care of our animals whenever I have to be out of town or have really long work days. So far, our two poodles, and Mr. Pickle, (the cat our daughter abandoned and left with me) are quite perplexed by the whole new experience. The doggie door baffles them; especially baffled, are the dogs! It's funny as hell to bribe them to the door with a treat, only to have them stop and stare at the new outlet. I've been pushing their little asses on through for several days now....I leave for Vermont on Sunday--heh. We'll see.

Ah, politics! Well, I have no intention of spending my days glued to the news on politics any more! People either love Hillary Clinton, or they hate her. I am beginning to believe there is no in between. The race for the nomination between our two democratic candidates is so totally decided by all in the media. Never mind that the two ran an extremely tight race all along; as has been revealed by the never-ending poles.

There are people who have decided they do not want Hillary in the white house; and some of the reasoning I hear is, "I do not want Bill in the white house again." Why are people not willing to allow Hillary to have her own voice? Why do they not hear that most everything Mr. Obama speaks in regard to what is best for this country, is repetitive of what Hillary Clinton has spoken time and time again?

There are actually people who would call me a racist if I don't vote for Mr. Obama; the same as there are people who would say that the only reason I want to vote for Hillary Clinton, is that I am a middle-aged woman who wants to see another middle-aged woman in office. Neither statement could be further from the truth.

Every single cough or sneeze Hillary makes is dissected, while Obama keeps coming out of the dirt smelling like a rose. People tend to overlook him on every count. But, because Hillary has been in the white house with her husband, and her appeal happens to sit with middle-aged feminists, and blue collar workers of this country, some see her as out-dated; yesterday's news; not worthy of her womanhood, even! Discrimination at its finest!!

I shared the following thoughts with another blogger friend a few days ago: IF Mr. Obama is all he says he is when he speaks to us, then yes, he could possibly be another John F. Kennedy. That word IF, is the factor; is this not so? We NEED and are starving for a good president who will come in and deliver what he/she promised to deliver. We are starving for a commander and chief who will clean up the mess made by this administration, and others before...We love and want to hear fresh news, new blood, new hope. Well, pardon my pessimism; but there is too little that can be done in 4 or 8 years, by either candidate, that will change the course of our nation toward the positive any time soon. But, we NEED something, some change; so we look for a savior in the new and most arrogant man on campus! Pfft. Just this morning on MSNBC, Obama's campaign manager responded, "Well of course we will work with her", when asked "Would Mr. Obama be able to work with Hillary upon winning the nomination?"

My feeling is that Obama won't win this race in the general; and I cannot imagine tolerating McCain for the next 4 years. So, my choice is and has always been for Hillary. She is a woman with a mind of her own. Bill does not own her. She is a woman who KNOWS how to decipher what goes on in DC. She is a woman who believes that "It takes a village" to raise a child; and as well, to calm a country that is in dire need of calming! She is a woman of great faith; who exhibits a survivor's strength through the very worst of times in her personal life. She is one of the first people to come up with a universal health care policy for all free americans. I'd like to see her have an opportunity to carry through with the ideas she has worked for all these years.

Consider this article, and if you think about what you read, it shows Mr. Obama's concern for politics overrides his concern for the common people in this country. So don't tell me about the Clinton's political agendas over the years, and how Hillary has no compassion or concern for anything besides winning the game in politics. Don't tell me, unless you are willing to attach every other person who is or ever was involved in the political arena, to such a statement. I say this because there is not one, not one single person involved in politics, who has not compromised his/her ethics, and focused on their own agenda at some point; just as Mr. Obama will do in years to come.

This time last year, I was not this busy! At least, I cannot remember being this busy...

I'm in the midst of making all the planning arrangements for a trip to Vermont which is to take place on May 18th. I am going to Brattleboro for a week's worth of training to become a facilitator of Mary Ellen Copeland's Wellness Recovery Action Plan.

I've always wanted to travel all the New England states; so my little trip to Brattleboro, Vermont is a start at least...I need the break! If you read the whole link on Brattleboro, you'll see some pretty interesting facts; one, which I found to be very intriguing, was the January 2008 petition for the indictment of president Bush and vice president, Cheney...

Lots of stuff going on around here all at once. I can't elaborate on much at present because I need to grab a nap before I head back into town tonight to play "Deal Or No Deal" for our Relay for Life walk this weekend. Of course, it is a most certain fact that I cannot walk, as I did in years past. But, I will be participating in other affairs for the relay this year....

Gonna' get some shots in the knees again before the doctor actually schedules me for knee replacements. He knows my suffering. He also knows I won't suffer much longer before I start throwing things at him. Soooooo, I think he is resolved to doing the surgery for me...more on that later.

I want you guys to know, I have been reading your blogs to keep up with you. I would be lost if I couldn't check in with y'all all the time. However, I haven't taken time to comment the way I usually like to when I read. Doesn't mean I'm not there, and it doesn't mean I'm not delighted with some of the news you're sharing about your lives and your kids, and jobs and such. Peace out, my blogging buds!!! (((Hugs)))