Yesterday's Memories

Our NEW Vintage Collectibles Shoppe is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Well, I've finally done it. Our large selection of vintage collectibles have been orphans now for quite awhile, as we closed our eBay store some time ago, and I had not found the time to put them online in our own catalog. I've been too busy working on our Plush Animal Shoppe Catalog. But I'm glad I took the time to work on the vintage items, since I really enjoy showing off all the old things we've collected over the years.

I've made a small dent in our inventory the last few days as I worked to fill our own Dirty Butter Estates Vintage Collectibles Shoppe Catalog. I've started with the Porcelain, Pottery, and Glass items, so now a small number of our items are online.

We give s/h discounts for multiple purchases, and we do welcome International buyers. Please contact us to get a price for International s/h, or the combined s/h charge for multiple purchases.

If we make an error in estimating the s/h charge for an item we do make partial refunds of s/h fees via PayPal or credit toward a future purchase. Light unbreakable items will ship in bubble envelopes, while breakable items will ship via Parcel Post or Priority Mail in boxes. We do ship internationally to countries that PayPal allows. We accept Money Orders and credit or debit card payments through PayPal. You do not have to join PayPal to pay for an item using them.

So, how about the attractive plate I've shown here? This plate is one of 5 in a set of commemorative plates depicting various buildings on the campus of Harding University in Arkansas. The black transfer ware designs are very detailed, and my photography doesn't do them justice.

I hope you enjoy looking through our treasures and reading all about them, and maybe you'll even find something that you just can't live without!!!

Sacred Harp Shaped Notes Convention

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:33:00 +0000

For our second year we spent an enjoyable day at the local convention of Sacred Harps singers. There were several hundred singers, plus several more hundred people who were there just to listen. They provide loaner hymn books, so we tried to follow along as best we could while they called number after number and sang on and on. They started singing about 9AM or so, took one morning and one afternoon break, and stopped for lunch, but the rest of the time until about 3PM they were singing their hearts out.

This is a music tradition that has been preserved in the Deep South for the last 200 plus years. It has found new life as people all over the United States, and even in other parts of the world, have taken up the singing of these ancient Christian hymns. It's based on 4 shaped notes: fa is a triangle; sol is an oval; la is a rectangle; and mi is a diamond. The whole octave goes like this - fa sol la fa sol la mi fa, unlike music notation most people are used to that goes do, re, mi,etc.

It's a little hard to explain just how powerfully some of these hymns hit me. I could feel tears welling up, as I was taken to a level of praise of God that I rarely feel from music. Now I'm not saying I like all the hymns, but my hubby and I both enjoyed ourselves immensely! It made for a wonderful Date Day.

We bought a cd set that is supposed to teach the rudiments of Sacred Harp music, so maybe by the time next year's convention comes around we'll be able to sing along more than our weak attempts this year. Yes, both of us made efforts to sing with quite a few of the hymns - pitiful, but still better than we did last year.

One thing's for sure, those of us who were not participating in the convention didn't have to worry about our voices "ruining" the sound of the singers. If there's a one word description for this style of music ... it's LOUD! We get there early so we can sit on the back pew of the church, and it still reverberates in the ears. I don't know how their voices can sustain such a long day of singing at that volume, but they do.

Our first introduction to this ancient singing was from the movie Cold Mountain. There were several Sacred Harp hymns in the sound track, if you have it. One is sung by a group in Alabama, where we live. I prefer the slower, more majestic tunes, but a lot of them are very lively.

If you'd like to learn more about this ole time singing style, the Wikipedia entry on Sacred Harp music is excellent.

Interesting Vintage Collectible HO Train Set up for Auction Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:36:00 +0000

I received this email from John, who has a unique item going up for auction at Stout Auctions in PA. It sounds so unusual and interesting that I thought I would share it with you.

A toy train set with cross appeal will be going on the auction block in June. It is a limited edition item, never offered for sale to the public. It is new in box, and still has the original shipping shrink wrap around the box. The certificate of authenticity states the above, and further explains that it was offered as a premium to salesmen for selling parts and accessories.

It is the Zenith Video Express, and all the cars have the Zenith Radio and Television logo, and I know one box car has " Chromacolor " on the side.

He continues:

I do have a personal stake in this and I will explain! My mother died on the first of February of this year, and was preceeded by my father 2 years prior. The train set was given to him, as he was a Field Engineer for Zenith. I did not want to sell it here in the boondocks of PA, so I sent it to Stout Auctions, since they specialize in train hobbyist auctions.

Unfortunately, I purchased a digital camera after sending it to Stout Auctions, so I have no picture. They do sell catalogs of upcoming auctions, but I know that you can personally contact them, and they would probably send you a picture. I will try to describe it the best my 53 year old memory can muster.

The set was manufactured exclusively for the Zenith Radio and Television Corporation by Bachmann. It is HO scale and contains the locomotive and four other cars laid sideways, in the original box through the clear plastic windows. The outer, cosmetic parts of the cars are some form of heavy duty plastic. The outer shrink wrap has never been touched, save for a small tear, and a slight indentation on one of the plastic windows just beneath. No damage to the car underneath! All of the colors on both the display box and train are as vivid as the day produced. It has never been in a high heat, or direct sunlight situation.

In closing, link/contact info is: www.stoutauctions.com, e mail Katy ( Really nice girl ) katy@stoutauctions.com, ph # 724.528.1500.

Sounds interesting, doesn't it??!!

Going to the Doctor Ain't What It Used to Be

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:37:00 +0000

I've been dealing with strep throat, laryngitis, and a hacking cough for several weeks now. The penicillin shot and oral antibiotics cleared up the strep, but nothing the doctor has prescribed has stopped this heavy mucus cough I've had. So, I called yesterday to see if they could prescribe a different cough syrup. Instead, they sent me off to get a chest X-ray, to rule out pneumonia, I guess. I don't have a fever any more, so pneumonia doesn't make sense to me, but maybe the X-ray does.

That's quite a different order to doing things than the way it used to be done. Used to be, if you went to the doctor with chest congestion, the very first thing the doctor would do would be to get an X-ray, not the last thing. That difference is definitely due to the cost of testing and the pressure to keep costs low for the doctor. Insurance companies push for less testing, too. So, the whole process of diagnosis has changed considerably over the years.

Our little rural town clinic had their own x-ray equipment, where this fancy clinic I go to now doesn't even do their own. They had to send me to lab in the same building to get blood drawn when they tested me for diabetes and down the road to a diagnostic center to have the x-ray done.

Other than looking in ears and mouth, feeling around a little on my neck, and taking a look at the localized inflammation I developed from the penicillin shot - this doctor didn't even touch me.

People nowadays don't have a more personal medical experience to compare to, so they don't know any better. But those of us with gray hair remember when....

Searching - INFORMATION Jewel Tea CREAM WOODEN CANISTER with BLACK HANDLES

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:26:00 +0000

I have had things on eBay in the past. My name is glassy-chic.

I am not looking for the piece, I have the piece. I am 71 years old, and it was my grandmother's. I have tried to search it, and I don't see anything like it. I don't even know what it is called, but I know that my grandmother had flour in it..

Thank you,

Shirley
If you can help Shirley with information about her antique wooden flower canister please Contact Us, including Post Code #031009-1 in your reply.

Need Help Finding JULY, 1982 Issue of COMPUTE! MAGAZINE

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Terry is searching for the July, 1982 issue of Compute! Magazine (Issue 26, Vol. 4, No. 7). He would like to purchase one or more copies (depending on the price) as it has an article written by his future father-in-law! If you have this magazine or know where he might locate it, please Contact Us.

I think it would help a lot if he could post his request on a computer collectibles forum, so if someone could suggest a place for him to post his request that would be great!

We Sold Daddy's Car Today

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:11:00 +0000

The fellow who bought Daddy's car was so excited to get it that I just know it went to the right person. I'm sure Daddy is pleased. If I think really hard I can almost see him smiling in my mind. He had such a dry sense of humor. There was definitely a reason why Mama called him Sunny Jim!! And I can honestly say I was glad to see him drive off, enjoying the car just as Daddy had all those years.

I'm keeping the web pages I made of the car for myself, so in a way I will always have the car, where it matters - in my heart.

Yes, Daddy always dated every major event in his life by remembering the car he had at the time, and now Daddy's last car has been passed along to start a new life with a new owner who will love and enjoy it, too.

Searching - INFORMATION about POSSIBLE JEWEL TEA COMPANY Premium TEA POT

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Joan writes:

I have a brown ceramic tea pot with , I think, pewter trim. I thought my grandmother got it as a premium from the Jewel Tea Co.

I don't have a picture, but the tea pot stands about 6 1/2 inches tall. It has a rather ornate pewter spout, with attached lid and handle. It is chocolate brown with speckles in it. On the bottom it is stamped "Manning Quality Bowman, Meriden,Conn.08273".

I had another one, which was slightly large, probably about 7 1/2 inches tall. I took it to an antique shop on consignment, and it went out of business, and I never saw it again.

Any info would be appreciated.

If you can help Joan with more information about her teapot, please Contact Us or Comment below, using POST CODE #020209-1 in your comment.

Searching - Information about CHRISTINE VEASEY - Editor of PINS & NEEDLES - CROCHET EXPERT

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:50:00 +0000

I know nothing at all about crocheting, but hopefully someone will see this who can help Val.

I am trying to find information regarding Christine Veasey. I am a member of the Knitting & Crochet Guild and have tried to find information through their channels without success.

Christine Veasey was Editor for Pins & Needles for many years. It has now ceased trading. She also wrote for the Sunday Chronicle and the Sunday Graphic. Her "Model Home" at the Ideal Home Exhibition, was designed and executed for Women's Journal. She was an expert in the field of crochet and knitting, and I would like to find out about her life history.

Any help would be appreciated,

Val

Please Contact Us if you have information for Val.

Looking Back on 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:44:00 +0000

I was shocked when I saw how long it had been since I posted to this blog. I've never gone that long in all the time I've had it, so my apologies to any who have been checking to see if I'm still kickin'!!

I'm not exactly sure what happened this year, but somehow it just went by in a blur. I've tried to look back and remember how all this time passed, and yes, there are some extremely significant events, but for the most part it is just that - a blur. And a fast blur at that.

This was the year that I finally received a diagnosis for my movement disorder that led to taking medicines that truly helped me. That was momentous, and I feel truly blessed and can't sing God's praises enough for leading me to the right doctors at the right time to get the right diagnosis.

This was also the year that my dear hubby passed his 5 year mark cancer free and was dismissed by his Oncologist. Our blessings just can't be counted!!!!

2008 saw all the years of working slowly and methodically toward a viable online business come to fruition, which is very satisfying and still a whole lot of fun for us. We've been grateful for the opportunity to help so many people find their lost lovies and ones from their childhood. They bless us daily with the excitement in their thank you emails when we help them find what they have been desperately searching for.

We added 2 "outside" cats to our family this year, too. We bring them in every other night just so our inside cat can learn to be a cat, and so we can keep them used to staying close to home. They have all three given us untold times to laugh and enjoy them, each with their own distinct personalities.

It's been the year when one of our daughters and her hubby had financial difficulties of a major proportion, which has caused considerable stress all the way around. We are thankful that we are in good enough financial shape ourselves to be able to tide them over until this bad time passes.

2008 did not find me exercising as much as I should have been, but I have been doing better the last couple of months, and hopefully will continue to work at it. Particularly since the end of 2008 found me at my heaviest weight ever in my life, exercising is that much more necessary. Not a good thing, for sure, but maybe that scale will push me to do more than I think I can.

It's also been the year I started driving again, now that I am not on medication that made me fall asleep without any warning. I don't drive much, as I am out of practice, but it sure came in handy when hubby had cataract surgery this year. It's just one more way that I feel better about myself this year.

I'm racking my brain trying to think of anything else that went on this year, and nothing comes to mind. What I've listed represents the important events, but it's a shame all the day to day happenings have faded away so quickly.

Yesterday's memories are worth more than I am able to give them, and that's a shame. I pray that the medicines I am on now will not leave me in such a brain fog at the beginning of 2010!

Finding the GOOD STUFF at Estate Sales is Getting Harder

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:49:00 +0000

We've been going to yard sales and Estate Sales almost every Friday for several years now as part of our Date Day. And we always have a good time, just because we are together. Oh, we're together at home, too. But we are doing our own thing - me on the computer and hubby reading a newspaper or using his computer. Not exactly activities that lead to paying much attention to each other. That's what makes Fridays so special for us, as we carry on more conversation in that one day than we probably do all the rest of the days of the week combined. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but it sure feels that way sometimes.

But of late the sales have been much less unique. It seems like all the paper items that fascinate us so much - all the real junk - has been thrown out before we get there. Hubby has said more than once that the big bags of garbage at the curb are where most of the items we would be interested in probably are.

There's been much less to rummage around through for most of this year. We still have a good time, but we're not finding as many treasures as we used to. That has led us to spending more and more time looking for the plush animals and soft dolls for our Dirty Butter Plush Animal Shoppe. At least we can still enjoy the hunt for those hard to find baby toys that people sell, not realizing how valuable they will be to a family who are desperate to replace some lost lovie.

We have kept a few of the treasured memories from our vintage finds. We have one 1800's autograph book of the lady's friends that is very interesting reading. They didn't just sign a name, but wrote short poems and notes to each other. And there's a lock of hair sewn into it. I used to take it to school and show it to my students and read a few of the entries to them.

I recently ran across a website where they sell an amazing number of old diaries, along with some handwritten letters from some famous people, and also some extremely old letters from everyday folks. If you are as fascinated by these windows into a time gone by you might enjoy looking at Tuscon Tiques Collectibles. I certainly enjoyed seeing all the interesting letters and diaries.

I can't imagine how they could have accumulated so many different hand written ephemera, but they have renewed my interest in this type of collecting and made me hope that we will again run across that perfect Estate Sale, where all the "good stuff" was not thrown away before they started the sale.

PRESIDENT ELECT Obama!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:44:00 +0000

He's going to be our President very soon, so it's time to refer to him that way. The reference to our Presidents as "MR." started with Nixon I think, as people lost trust in the man, and carried their feelings over to the OFFICE. Clinton certainly didn't help things in the area of deserving respect, but he was still our President.

The Office of President deserves our utmost respect, even if we do not like or agree with the man/woman or his/her policies or even private life. (Isn't it quite an improvement to have to refer to both genders?)

So it pains me to hear commentators and read in print that Obama is doing this or that, or even Mr. Obama. He is now our President-Elect. He earned that title with the majority of the Electoral Votes, and I just wish people would show the respect for the office and call him that.

It's the Economy, Stupid!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:58:00 +0000

"It's the ECONOMY, Stupid!"

That slogan worked to defeat President George Bush Sr. in his re-election bid. And it worked, although never spoken of with those terms, to defeat the Republicans this year.

Here's a little story to illustrate my point.

A fellow goes into a small store to buy some shirts. While he's browsing he hears the owner talking to someone at the cash register, telling him how terrible business has been and that he may have to close his store. The man looks at the shirt in his hand and decides maybe he better put it back. He might need that money for something else, if things are getting this bad. He leaves the store without making a purchase.

I honestly believe that a lot of the trouble we are in financially right now is directly caused by all the negative campaign talk the Democrats used to get Obama into office. We, as the American people, have talked ourselves into much of this slowdown and possibly recession. Yes, the credit card and mortgage businesses were ripe for a downfall, taking along the banks and institutions that invested heavily in their junk bonds. But the fall was as hard and as all inclusive as it was, because everyday people got scared and put the shirt back.

So, now that the election is over hopefully President Elect Obama can instill enough confidence in the American public to make them feel comfortable buying again. The Christmas buying season will be the test of any optimism or pessimism that permeates our country right now.

My advice? Don't charge presents that you can't afford, but be level headed and spend the money you would have normally if you can afford it. Stop talking negatively about the economy! Find something positive to say if at all possible. Encourage positive thinking and talking. We talked ourselves into this hole and we can go a long way toward getting out of the hole by talking ourselves out of it.

Don't stand at the counter bad mouthing the economy, and DON'T put the shirt back!!

Praying for President Elect Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:42:00 +0000

Excerpt from a New York Times article:

Mr. Obama, who watched Mr. McCain’s speech from his hotel room in Chicago, offered a hand to voters who had not supported him in this election, when he took the stage 15 minutes later. “To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn,” he said, “I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.”

It's over. It's finally over. You are probably like I am and relieved to have all those political ads and phone calls over with. A lot of people are celebrating over their candidate's victory, and a lot of folks are quietly resigned to their candidate's defeat, not just on the national level, but also in the local political arena as well. Now comes the really hard part ... to make all these sweeping changes work for the good of all Americans.

We have seen a sea change in American politics with this presidential election like no other in my memory. A change in the way the campaigns were financed and promoted. A change in the ethnic and gender groups that were represented on both National tickets. A change from the apathy and disinterest in politics and voting which seemed to be evident in years past to an excitement that sometimes bordered on mass hysteria.

The time for speeches is now past, and now the real work begins for President Elect Obama and his close aides. I can only hope and pray that he does move toward the center from some of his campaign rhetoric and truly make an effort to consider the positions of those who opposed him in this election.

I am one of those who did not vote for Obama, but I respect him as our newly elected President and will lift him up in my prayers as he begins the process of change that he promoted. I pray that those changes will not be short sighted quick fixes that appeal to the crowds, but thoroughly examined positions that advance this great Democracy of ours.

Yes, a change has been voted for by the majority of the people. May that change be for the good of all Americans, regardless of economic standing, gender, race, religion, or any of the myriad ways that we differentiate ourselves. After all, We are the UNITED States of America!!!

Yard Sale Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:49:00 +0000

We're having a Yard Sale today to get rid of a bunch of our own clutter, plus try to sell the furniture and odd and ends from my parents' home.

Daddy's recliner is in the yard sale. We bought it for hubby's dad, Pop, and then moved it up to Daddy's house after Pop passed away. I don't know what it is about men and their recliners, but you would have thought we were evicting Daddy from the house when we made the switch to Pop's recliner!! But his old one swiveled, and that made it unsafe for him to try to get out of.

The chair looks great, is extremely sturdy, but two dear old men sat in it during the last years of their lives. I'll be glad to see it gone.

We donated a bunch of Mama and Daddy's things when I cleaned out their house as best I could. But there's something about putting them in a yard sale that seems downright disrespectful, you know? But it doesn't make sense to keep it all, and at least some of it was still unused - gifts that were appreciated but never touched, or thought too good for everyday use - just stored away. Kind of sad. Note to self - stop saving things and start USING them.

We've reduced the price on Daddy's 1969 Chevrolet Caprice, too, and hope to find a buyer before we have to store it in the garage for the winter.

We plan to have one more sale this Fall, and hopefully finish getting rid of all of their old things and a bunch of our stuff, too, and then if we still have a lot we will do another one in the Spring. What's left after that will have to be sent off to the thrift store for sure.

We've had these boxes stored in one of the bedrooms we keep our plush animals and dolls stored in, so getting these out of the house will make it easier to get to our inventory.

Sifting through someone's past like this brings back all kinds of memories, but I can't keep it all. I've been steely eyed and put out things that I really would have liked to keep, but just can't. I won't miss them once they are gone, but it was harder than I expected laying them out to sell. Such mixed feelings are very normal I suspect.

We've been to many hundreds of these kinds of sales, but having one is going to be a new experience for us. Here we are in our 60's, and this is the first yard sale we have ever had on our own. Gee, another milestone has passed. LOL!!

Remembering a REAL Recession

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:51:00 +0000

It takes living for awhile to get perspective on the recent wild swings of the Stock Market and the Economy. We had two young children and were living in a trailer when the Recession in the early 70's hit. We were a one income family, with few debts, but it was still a difficult time.

I remember that somewhere along in that time frame we tried to get a mortgage to build a new home on our lot, and although we qualified for the mortgage, we could not get the loan ... because mortgage money had literally dried up. Sound familiar? The big difference between now and then was that we were very good credit risks, but we still could not get financing.

God has a way of watching out for us when we really think He's turned his back on us. We were so disappointed in not getting that house, and now I am so glad we didn't. You see it was one of those split level kind where the front foyer has steps leading up or down to the living areas. I have a Movement Disorder. We would be forced to move out of our home if we were living in one that involved using steps every time you wanted to go just about anywhere in the house. But that's easy to see in hindsight, not so easy to accept at the time. And yes, some years later we did build on our lot, and we're still living in our Dirty Butter Estates on Hard Scrabble Hill.

But I digress. What I do remember very distinctly were a few Christmas shopping sprees where my credit was denied at the cash register, because I had charged over my limit. (Back then even going over a dollar was enough to have a purchase denied.) It was embarrassing, and it didn't happen very often, but it did happen.

When our older daughter started using her first credit card some years later we were mortified to find that if she went over her credit line the card companies would just up her limit, or gleefully charge over the limit fees. But they never stopped her from charging anything. And they never seemed to mind how many cards she applied for and got, either. It was like a bottomless well of credit, and she simply thought we were old fuddy duddies for even suggesting that this was not the way it should be.

She's older and wiser now, but has had some life threatening health problems that have her and her husband watching their money very closely now, after lots of health care expenses ran their bills up again. At least this time it's not from the free spending days of her twenties.

So, some people say we are in a recession, and some are even saying we are in the beginnings of another Great Depression. But hubby and I have seen the Savings and Loan implosion from the 70's, the long lines at gas pumps when we were only allowed to even try to get fuel on certain days of the week, interest rates on home mortgages up in the teens, and we've seen the Health South, Enron, dot com bust, and plenty of other scary events in our adult years. And now the current economic "crisis". This situation seems to be a natural consequence of way too casual a view that far too many people, and companies, have had for way too long about the risk of incurring large debts.

I hear and see on TV so much fear about the current problems, and I'm not saying they are not real problems, but what I am trying to say is that we Americans have dealt with bad economies and scary financial times before, and we have gone on to thrive and prosper. We have been burned before by poor choices, and learned from our mistakes, and been better people because of it.

I hope people will look at history, find some perspective on today's news, and breathe a little easier. I know my hubby and I do.

I LIKE IKE! - A Look Back on Presidential Elections

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:29:00 +0000

I remember vividly the first Presidential Election that I was interested in ... Eisenhower's! We were in about 8th grade I guess, so the teacher had us at the exact right age to really teach a lot about the US government through this event.

The conventions were on black and white TV all day long back then, with lots of interesting on the floor battles for this and that, and usually long drawn out votes for candidates before one was eventually picked. The excitement level was throbbing all over the place.

I remember Adlai Stevenson's famous shoe with the hole in it, not just from photos that have been preserved, but from the actual event. It was a glorious exciting time to be involved for the first time in this huge complex overwhelming process.

We made speeches for our candidates and had a mock vote, and I was so excited when my candidate won! I still have a campaign button with I LIKE IKE on it somewhere tucked away in a drawer.

I look at elections with a jaded eye today. Oh I'm sure there was lots going on back then that was uncivil and really nasty, but it just seems like politicians have lost something over the years. I'm losing the sense that they are truly trying to help people, and get the impression, regardless of what they say, that they are in it for the power and to further their own party's ambitions. It's been a long time since I have heard someone in office called a Statesman ..... because they're NOT.

I'm not going to get into the Obama/McCain campaigns of the moment, as I really don't think that's what this post is about. I just feel a yearning for the "good old days" where the impression I had (maybe a naive one) was that people argued heatedly, debated, spoke, planned, and ultimately worked through that process for the good of the country.

LEST WE FORGET - One Life - NORMA KHAN

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:45:00 +0000

This is a repost of my attempt to remember one of those who died on September 11th. I have chosen to repost it each September 11th.

I intentionally did not name her 13 year old son in the original memorial, because I am particularly cautious about children and the internet. But he's 20 years old now, and I wanted to see if I could find out how he's doing. So far I have not found anything specific, but I did find this 2001 article:

As reported in The News last week, Norma Khan, manager of member services for the Plumb-ing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association (PHCC), was on board American Airlines Flight 77, which was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on September 11.

She left behind a 13-year-old son, Imran. At its annual conference, PHCC decided to establish a scholarship fund for Imran Khan.

We have no doubt of our industry’s continuing generosity.

# To contribute to the Imran Khan Fund, send checks to the PHCC Educational Foundation, 180 S. Washington St., Falls Church, VA 22046. Please make checks out to the PHCC Educational Foundation Scholar-ship Fund, with a notation that the donation is for the Imran Khan Fund.

So I'm hoping that means this young man is in college somewhere.

Norma Khan was on American Airlines, flight 77, on her way home to Reston, Virginia, on September 11, 2001, when that plane was hijacked and aimed at the Pentagon. She was 45 years old. She had worked as an organizer for fundraiser programs for non-profit organizations, and had been heavily involved in the Reston Multicultural Festival, held each September in Reston. She was a single parent with a 13 year old son, Imran.

Several people have left memorial comments on various 9/11 sites, praising Norma as a warm, loving woman who cared about people. She was a good mother to her son. There is no way that I can properly pay tribute to this lady that I did not know, but the many lives she touched during her lifetime are a living tribute to her that will last forever.

If you'd like to read more tributes written by bloggers to honor the 2,996 people who died tragically on 9/11, you'll find the whole list here.

STAND UP 2 CANCER

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:11:00 +0000

As I write this we're watching the television program pushing for a concerted effort of all Americans to fund the research necessary to fight and win the battle against Cancer. Both of us are watching it. Seems like such a simple thing, but five and a half years ago my wonderful hubby had a routine colonoscopy, and I heard those horrible words, "It's cancer." I remember that time, trying to call our children, trying to hold myself together, trying to let it sink in without drowning me.

He was one of the lucky ones whose cancer was caught very early. He lost a lot of his colon and his abdomen is held together with a mesh fabric, but he did not need chemo or radiation. And he's OK!! We are so blessed.

One in three of the people who read this post will have cancer in their lifetime. Are you the one?

Give what you can to fund research, get regular checkups, make life choices that will increase your odds of never hearing those horrible words - quit using tobacco products, protect your skin from UV rays, and maintain a consistently healthy diet high in fiber.

The Big C was such a death sentence in years past that people couldn't even bring themselves to say the word. That fear has a name now, and we can WIN the fight and find the cure!

I Hope the British Use Good Judgement!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:37:00 +0000

The Olympics are over and for the first time that I can remember I did not watch the closing ceremony with any real interest. It was on, but I was working on the computer and glancing up from time to time. Every time they showed people singing I couldn't help but wonder if those were the voices we were hearing or not. The incident with the little girls really soured me.

I was so tired of watching swimming and volley ball that I don't really feel like I saw the Olympics this time. I enjoy watching the track sports most of all and would love to have seen the Decathalon, plus we did not get to see the basketball games, either. Of course we are in the minority in this country, because we do not have cable or satellite TV. We couldn't even get it using our new HD cable box, because the one station that we can't pick up on HD is the one that carried the Olympics.

So I look forward to the British Olympics. I will be surprised if the British attempt any kind of an extravaganza on the scale the Chinese chose to present. Whatever England does, you can be sure it will not be at the expense of the rest of the country the way the Chinese outside of Beijing were shortchanged. There was even one report that outlying areas were low on drinking water because so much was being funneled to Beijing.

One of the "fluff pieces" we did see was about what has happened in Athens to all the Olympic venues, and it was very discouraging to see so many buildings and complexes in total ruin, covered with graffiti, and fenced off.

It's kind of like children's birthday parties. When our children were little we had a few playmates over for ice cream and cupcakes, lit the candles and made a wish, and that was about it. We didn't have to try to out do our children's friends' last birthday parties. Now I see youngsters being let off at the skating rink in a limo for their party. Oneupmanship can be a very self defeating upward spiral that eventually has a downward spiral. Makes me think of the song Is That All There IS?

So I enjoyed the Olympics, but was also saddened by them this year. Do it right in 2010, Great Britain. It's about the Olympians!!

CHILDREN ARE NOT PERFECT!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:55:00 +0000

Ok, I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics opening ceremony, as I always have. Some of the synchronized parts involving such huge numbers of Chinese was truly amazing, although at a few spots I did get a horrible flashback to the Berlin Olympics. Maybe I'm the only person who even thought about that, but such perfection in such large numbers of people makes it hard to understand a society where the individual is subordinate to the common good.

That's why I am so disappointed, no OUTRAGED, although frankly not surprised, to read this morning that the precious little girl, with the crystal clear voice, was NOT SINGING the Chinese National Anthem!!

It has been revealed that the child who REALLY sang was not considered cute enough ... that she did not portray the proper image of the Chinese people at what they considered to be the most important part of the ceremony ... when the Chinese flag was brought into the stadium.

So, all those perfectly performing thousands, acting with one mind .....

And then one little girl, singled out ... alone in the spotlight ... and IT WAS FAKE!!!!

Yes, I think China DID "portray the proper image of the Chinese people"!!!!

But the message that was sent to the inner core of YANG PEIYI, the little girl who REALLY sang?? I don't care how indoctrinated they are, that child is hurt. She may never say or do anything to show it, but there is a part of her self image that will never be the same!

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you know that I don't normally deviate from talking about my own childhood memories, but I just couldn't help myself this morning.

Remembering the March of Dimes ...

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:01:00 +0000

When I was a child polio was a horrible, terrible, fearful disease and no one knew how to keep from catching it!! It was 1949 when I started Elementary School, and I distinctly remember the little cards we all had that we saved our dimes in. Each half circle slot held a shiny dime, and when the card was full, we turned in our contribution to finding the cause and cure of this unspeakably menacing illness. I still remember how proud I was to participate in that grassroots campaign to eradicate polio.

Millions of children and adults filled up those little cards, and The March of Dimes succeeded!! In 1955 Jonas Salk and his team found a way to vaccinate people to prevent this tragic disease.

Today's charities collect huge sums through telethons and receive large checks from corporations and foundations. But polio was defeated one dime at a time.

We do make a difference. Each of us makes choices in how to use our time and money that can help or harm humanity. I don't need to pray to God to open our eyes to what each one of us can do to help someone else. That is and always has been His Will. Rather, I pray that we would not blind ourselves by the fast paced, self centered lives we lead - that we each will have eyes that see and ears that hear.

Only God knows just what we could do if we all worked for the good of others!

CHANGES Going on HERE - Please Be Patient

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:11:00 +0000

I am in the process of changing the way all our blogs are handled by Blogger. This is uncharted territory for me, even though many people have long since made these same types of changes. At least I have found a very helpful person on the Blogger Help Board (not connected with Blogger), who has clear instructions on what to do.

It's one of those "things will have to get worse before they get better" sorts of situations, so don't be surprised if you can't find our Lost Toy Search Service, this Yesterday's Memories, or my Parkinson's blog (renamed to Day by Day with a Movement Disorder)off and on for the next week or so. Once all the domain changes have been made I will have to change lots of links and URLs to match the new me.

I might as well join the 21st Century, eh?

I will be glad when this whole process is a YESTERDAY's MEMORY!!!!

Memory Slowdown Equals Bulging Pockets????

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:35:00 +0000

I can't count how many times in the last few months I have thought of something that would make a great post on this blog. Things come up in conversation or I see something on TV, or I remember something about the way things used to be ... all good starting points. The only problem is, by the time I can get to a place where I could jot down my thoughts ... they're gone.

Senior Moments? Medicine side effects? Brain Fog? Hard to say, but I suspect a little of all three. I know it is true that older folks tend to have less short term memory, but remember things from a long time ago a whole lot better. Certainly there are plenty of medicines that affect mental sharpness. I know from personal experience that some meds dull the mind. And then there's always the possibility that the brain fog is another symptom of my medical situation itself.

Regardless of the cause of the problem, I still need to deal with it. There are lots of ways to keep those current thoughts from slipping away so easily. There's the low tech way of always having a small notepad and pen handy, to high tech solutions, such as sending yourself emails or text messages from your cell phone. And I'm sure there are other ways to capture these fleeting thoughts, too. But I guess what I need to do is start carrying a piece of paper and a small pen with me everywhere.

I haven't carried a purse in years, opting instead for always buying pants with deep pockets. Now that I use a cane when we go to Estate Sales and such on our Friday Date Days, I really don't need to start carrying a purse, anyway. It's just one more thing to juggle, and I need to be able to concentrate on my balance and not breaking something!!

So it sounds like it's bulging pockets for me, unless I go for the Fanny Pack look, eh? Whichever I choose is not much of a fashion statement, but sometimes you just do whatcha gotta do!!!

A Tank of Gas

noreply@blogger.com (Dirty Butter) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:36:00 +0000

My hubby tells stories of him pooling his change with his buddies on Friday and Saturday nights to put a dollar's worth of gas in his friend Johnny's old car, so they could drive around and hang out together. They would go to Sky Castle's and one of them would order a coke while they sat and talked, and when the waitress would be about to shoo them out, another one of them would order something. It was all like a scene out of Happy Days! That was way back in the 50's, before we met and started dating.

I was reminded of his stories when I saw this in the newspaper the other day:

When I was in high school in the 60's, I could fill up my car with $2 worth of gas. Interestingly, I couldn't afford a tank full of gas back then, either.

So, is gas really all that high even now? I'm not so sure. Our first apartment was $52.50 a month. Our first home cost us $101 a month, and it was all we could do to qualify for the payment. My first teaching job paid a whopping $265 a month, after paying for college to get it. When you put the prices of everything else from way back then in perspective with what those things cost today, gasoline probably is right about where it should be. Not that I like paying $4.00 a gallon, mind you. But considering how much money everything else costs, I think our reaction to gas prices may be more emotional than intellectual.

Any thoughts???