Memories of Mammy - "Mammy Stories" and "Mammy Baths"

I had just finished my freshman year of college and moved up North to Denton, TX for the summer where I took a job working at an amazing summer camp for the handicapped. My sister Wendi was graduating high school that year, so I drove back for the graduation ceremony.

Mammy had driven herself down and located the family before we all became lost in the sea of silver bleachers at the stadium. As we were sitting there, several old friends and lots of parents/teachers we knew came along to say hello and see what I was doing in my one year away from the small town - That's when Mammy decided to put her two cents in:

Let me also preface this post by saying - Mammy makes up a lot of stories in her head and believes them. We still haven't determined whether it's better to be a "favorite grandchild" or a "not-so favorite," because the stories are pretty bad either way...

As for me, I've always been a "favorite." I think mainly because I look like my father and therefore, that side of the family, and used to "help" on the farm when I was a kid to get out of the house. So I get "good stories." For example, at Wendi's graduation, (I was 19, almost 20) Mammy told everyone that the hardest part of me leaving the area and going to college was that I couldn't just go over to Mammy's house whenever I wanted my "Mammy baths." Yes, "Mammy Baths!" She proceeded to tell everyone about how I always wanted to go over to Mammy's house for one of her baths and that I did a lot in high school after I got my driver's license....she further implied she personally bathed me! I was mortified - I recall staying at her house as a kid and taking my first shower instead of a bath when I was about 2nd grade because I was convinced she might try to drown us... It was scary trying to figure out how to work the shower, etc , and praying I didn't flood the bathroom, but I was more scared of her drowning me - that's how serious the fear was!
So this was all really funny since most everyone realized this was too outlandish to even believe. So this was a "good" story I got...because it was meant to be "special."

Separate occasion, but let me give you an example of a "not-so favorite" story. Wendi happens to be a "not-so favorite" for whatever reason my grandmother made up - I think because she looks more like my mom's side of the family... One of her stories goes a little like this: "Wendi nursed from my mother until she was 14 years old," therefore my grandmother called her "titty baby" when we were kids! Now, is this true? Most definitely not - my other little sister Jamie wouldn't share! And since she's about 2 1/2 years younger than Wendi, I am confident Wendi was weaned way before 14. And I would have been 15 when Wendi was weened - I think I'd remember that! Mammy did call her "titty baby" when Wendi was about 12 - I do remember that, but it was because Wendi wanted my mom to come pick us up from Mammy's and not stay the night - wouldn't any kid in their right mind? Besides, if she's telling people Wendi nursed until 14, you can imagine how old Wendi had to be when Mammy is telling the story - beyond the age of reason. But none-the-less, that is Wendi's "Mammy story" - and Wendi loves it (insert sarcasm here)!

I can't recall Jamie really having "a story"...but then again, she's in the middle of "the favorites" and the "not-so favorites." Mammy just gripes Jamie was too young when she got married, though Jamie was the same age my grandmother was when she got married - and she was married for over 50 years... My brothers: They just get blamed for anything she can't find in her house - "those boys must have stolen it!" Basically, their shared story is that they are thieves (which is unfounded - and I'm sure b/c they are both adopted)...then she finds it 2 minutes later... Ah memories...

My "TV Boyfriend" - RIP

I've never been one for TV/movie heroes, crushes, etc...but I've always said (at least the last 7 years or so) that if I had to have a "TV boyfriend," it would be Heath Ledger. Unfortunately, Heath passed away today at the age of 28.

Now I'm even "virtually" single... RIP, Heath.

The Great Deck of 2008

On the 6th day it was complete and on the 7th day, they rested...

Kris' parents came down from Anchorage and stayed about a week and half with us. It was great to see them. I guess the last time we saw them was this summer in Montana for Kris' sister's wedding. Hopefully, we'll make a trip up to Alaska this summer to visit them.

While they were here, they orchestrated this massive undertaking of an idea I have been toying with for a couple of years. Let me back up a bit to fill you in: I jokingly invited them to come down for Thanksgiving and help me build a deck. They seriously agreed, but stated they'd visit in January instead of November. So in late October, I hired a guy to help me rip out my window to the backyard and put in a french door, since the back door was actually on the side of the house (in the kitchen) and the backyard is huge for being in the city.
After this project was complete, there was about a 3ft drop to the ground, as you can see Shatze clearly illustrating - just begging for the deck!

I took some measurements and mapped out my minimum and max deck sizes (for pricing estimates). Kris' parents started drawing up some plans and then arrived in January. We got to work (mainly Kris' parents while we were at work) and knocked it out in 5.5 days! Here's some pics!

Setting pier blocks and pavers - and the daunting task of leveling them b/c the ground sure wasn't level.Deciding how many levels b/c the ground wasn't level enough for the original plans.Terry starting the top level to the door. Threshold plus step included...Starting the deck top - composite redwood. (Cheaper than cedar in Oklahoma! Really!)

Friday afternoon - Terry finished the final 4 boards and sawed off the ends. Shatze was very curious where her grass went. Finished! - The deck crew, Jan 13-18, 2008!

To the Parents of Amber...

Let me start by saying this is more of a rant than anything...

Let me begin:
A couple of days ago I received ANOTHER student loan offer addressed "To the Parents of Amber..." This offer bothers me for a number of reasons:

1. I am not a child; I'm a 27 year-old adult.
2. I have already finished college...twice...where did you get my info recently?
3. My parents didn't pay for my college - nor did they fill out my student loan paperwork...
4. I own this house! My name is on the deed and taxes - do your research!

But sending this "To the Parents of Amber..." doesn't make me want to use your company - it's rather insulting - even if I was in college. I would still be an adult and could check my own mail and fill out my own paperwork - or you could at least really send it to my parents... What a horrible marketing idea...

Christmas Eve Games at Mammy's

For all of you whom HAVE NOT heard my "Mammy stories," this will be the first of an epic story with chapters to be added about every holiday season... For those of you who HAVE heard some of the stories or if you are one of the true "Mammy Followers" who ask me for regular updates - this blog post's for you.

Christmas Eve 2007:
Let me preface this by saying "Mammy" is my father's mother and I was "fortunate" enough to miss the 2006 T-giving and Christmas Eve adventures by being on the Georgia coast for 5 months for job training. So it had been two full years since I had truly had a "Mammy Adventure," which wasn't long enough to my best friend Kris, who accompanied me for T-giving 2005 and I again drug along for Christmas Eve 2007...

Where to begin? Well, things were weird as usual and started to get really boring as we realized everyone brought spinach dip and crackers/chips to the "finger foods only" event. (We don't let Mammy cook anymore - this idea will be continued in a later blog to catch you up on Mammy stories...) This brings me to part one of this story:

Part 1: Show me the garage!
So I decide to go check out the garage and see if there are any new great stories to be had. And of course, there were. First we noticed the huge rat trap in a box of potatoes, set with a shelled pecan... I don't know, but we about peed our pants at the sight of it!

Then Kris, one of my cousins, and I decided to play a quick game called, "Find the oldest pull date." Within two minutes, my cousin had won with a bottle of Hickory BBQ sauce with "New flavor: Mesquite" pull dated 1987. Winner! I have attached a picture of MY find - there were four so I took one home as proof for all of you who have scoffed at my Mammy stories over the years! Marshmallow Creme, two different shades of color, and pull dated May 17, 1992. Enjoy. These were just in the front cabinets - we didn't even get to the back...

Then I snuck Kris out to the back garage to show her the home canning projects Mammy made that are now home science projects... More rat traps baited with shelled pecans, except these pecans were twisty-tied to the trap and the trap itself was tied to the nearest stationary item with rope...peed my pants again - and then scared Kris with the science projects in the back. (sorry, in the rush, we forgot the camera).

Shortly after we snuck back into the house, Mammy made the announcement that if we don't like our gifts we can exchange with each other this year. Why don't we just exchange them at the store you ask? Because they were all purchased in 1960-1970 and stored in the famous attic... So this brings me to part two of the story:

Part 2: My gift from Mammy
I got a ridiculous robe with 'almost' matching slippers, a pair of flip-flops Mammy only wore "a time or two" and decided she didn't like them, a small sewing kit, 2 aprons from the 60's with brown and orange flowers, 2 bags of rosemary spices that looked similar to pot, and a traveling clothes line with little clips that could easily be roach clips for my rosemary... so you can see how the rest of the evening went with me, Kris, my family and the jokes that ensued about my pot and roach clips from Mammy - and how much this little gift really explained... If only I had had some Zig Zags...

I've Arrived...

So I finally created a "blog" - it's my first. Often I have thought to myself, "Self, this would be really funny to blog about - too bad you haven't created a blog yet - you better get on that - put it on your list of things to do...later." And so later has arrived during my time off for the holidays...and because it was snowing again today.

So I look forward to blogging with the best of them and keeping you all abreast of my many blog worthy moments - I hope you all will enjoy what is to come.