Southern Porch Extension

[Laurie]

shop

Hi Arpy.

[Joanney]

I wrote a long post the other day, but lost it and didn't have time to retype it as I was on the way out the door. My boys are on Fall Retreat, coming home today. Every year about this time, Minnesota has what they call MEA (Minnesota Education Association) weekend and all of the schools in Minnesota have Thursday and Friday off, and many also have off Wednesday. This is MEA weekend and our church sends the 7-12 graders on a retreat in Northern Minnesota. They left about 5:45 on Wednesday and are scheduled to be home between 4 and 5 this afternoon. That means that their regular Sunday night River (9-12 youth group) will not meet tonight.

I have not gotten as much done with them gone as I planned, but my before and after school job works longer hours on days without school. I was home ill on Wednesday, but went to the Corn Maze with the kids on Thursday. Our group did not actually go through the maze, but we played in the corn pit (where I got buried except my head by the kids), went to the petting zoo, and watched a wildlife show. On Friday, I was scheduled after they got back from their field trip to Mill City, a museum of an old flour mill in downtown Minneapolis.

shop --> stop

[Verna]

atop---
Hi Arpy

Lovely weather here--hope it's making it all the way to Minnesota!

Joanney, You don't get many minutes to just rest and take care of Joanney, do you. May God grant you all the strength you need for all you have to do.

Hey Edy and Don--looks like the rest of our porch pals are taking their Sunday naps!

[Edy]

atop ---> atom

Another beautiful autumn day in Minnesota, today!

[Joanney]

Edy stole my word. I'll have to come up with another as I type.

My boys are home from their retreat. Simon has a page on Facebook where he has been posting poetry that he writes. He wrote three while on retreat and posted two of them on his page. This one really touched me.

Refined

The Fire grows hotter
And the Pain rises
To an unbearable level
But the pain is nothing
I am refined in the fire
I have been purified by pain
Nothing is left but a broken soul
The LORD is my goal
I have nothing else
Nothing else matters.

Eloi, my salvation,
Take this mess I call my soul
Throw it in the furnace
And let me burn out
Let me be refined
Refined in the fire



Okay, now for a new word. ?????

[Edy]

What beautiful poetry, Joanney! Your DNA must have made a strong impression on your son!

Yep, coming up with another word from "atom" will be a real challenge. I think I went through the entire alphabet, trying to think what could come next. If atom is a show stopper, you may have to start another brand new word, Joanney.

[Green Leaves]

If I understand the rules correctly, how about "tomb"?

[Edy]

Desperate times call for desperate measures, dear GreenLeaves! I think you did the only word possible, even though it called for rearranged letters. "Atom" sure looked like the end of the line for that string of words.

Okay, new word is "tomb" - change one letter to make a new word.

[ready2go]

Are any of you planning to watch the final presidential debate tonight? Well, I will be watching. In fact, I took a 1 1/2 hour nap this morning just so I would be awake and alert for the grand shout fest.

After they are introduced, and when they walk out "on-stage" to shake hands and meet face to face, they always take a moment or two to say something to each other... both talking at the same time.

Have you ever wondered what is being said? Here are some possibilities:

"Look, you dork, I'm going to eat your lunch in front of a hundred million people."

"Eat lunch? You'll be so messed up after I'm through with you that you'll need to eat through a different orifice."

"Yeah, right...when pigs fly."

"Hey! So nice to see you again! How are the wife and kids?"

"I bought a ticket for you on the next freight train headed out of town. You're gonna need it."

Or, maybe both are saying...

"Have a nice day! Thanks, and you too!"



Don

[Green Leaves]

Then I guess "moat" wouldn't have worked either.

[Laurie]

tomb - comb

I will be watching the debate tonight. I've seen all of them. I, too, wonder what they say to each other when they first greet each other.

[Joanney]

comb -->come

I have had one of those afternoons where I wonder if the details of the consequences the divorce will EVER be completed. I went to get tabs for my van today, taking in the receipt for the duplicate title I ordered a year ago and never received so that I could transfer the van to my name per the divorce decree. I was informed that the reason the duplicate title did not arrive was that I cannot order it, only Paul can because I am not on title. I cannot even get new tabs without him since he is the only one on title. Last year I did it at the courthouse, today I tried at the License Bureau office. I will try again at the courthouse tomorrow and talk to a supervisor if I get the same answer. I was so mad I was almost in tears when I walked out. Worse yet, I snapped at my kids when I got home.

[Laurie]

come - home

Joanney, sorry to hear about the fiasco with the van. You sure don't need hassles like that.

[ready2go]

More thoughts about the debates:

We know the technology exists to add things to a TV image that are not actually there. It would be cool if that technology were applied to the debates.

For example...

Suppose that whenever a candidate spoke an "untruth" during his response, smoke and flames could be added to the liar's pant legs for all of America to see. That would provide a whole new application for the "Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!" phrase.

The candidate with the least number of flame events would be declared the winner.

Oh, the candidate's nose could grow longer with each lie, but smoke and flames would be more dramatic.

I approve this message.

Don

[ready2go]

home --> dome

Don