Thank ! You ! Jenny at Mama Drama. After you tagged me with this ABC MeMe, I have categorized every waking moment of my life since then with a letter of the alphabet. My research took me to Stephanie who was the culprit who tagged you. So ... Thank ! You ! Too ! Stephanie.
It is my understanding that the directions are to relate each letter of the alphabet (thank goodness there are only 26) with something that pertains to my blog or about MeMe. It didn't say anything about writing a poem, which I found that Min at Mama Drama also felt compelled to do.
In keeping with the general theme here at The Asylum, I have chosen to just ramble with randomness, provide links here and there, and sprinkle in some pictures along the way.
A is for: A Story of How All This Began
B is for: Being Bald (Many October posts were about Breast Cancer Awareness.)
C is for: Cruella...
D is for: Daisy Dog... (A sweet little Blue-Heeler who plays with Junior, now.)
E is for: Elmo: ... and Elmo, Again:...
F is for: Family and Friends ... (Ladybug Julie in her OSU garb pictured on the Family and Friends link)
G is for: Girlfriends...
H is for: Hurry Home Ben, our son-in-law stationed in Iraq (and for Harrison)...
I is for: Icicles in Colorado...
J is for: Junior...
K is for: Kathy...another MeMe and another MeMe
L is for: Lurking my Blog with Bubba...
M is for: Moon...
N is for: Notes left for theHansMan...(click it to read his Notes back to me.)
O is for: OU Sooners, West
P is for: Pilots...
Q is for: Quail that live at my house
R is for: Refrigerator with a pictorial story of its own and a Hanstory ...
S is for: SwampDrainer: aka: theHansMan...pronounced theHawnsMawn...
T is for: Tailhook.
U is for: UP a Tree Without a Paddle...
V is for: Valhalla. The reason I was on ABC News and the "Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
W is for: "Whose horses are these...could they be Ree's?" ( a short little ditty of a poem)
X is for: Xylophone...an instrument I can't play but this 3 year-old can.
Y is for: You fill in the blank ________________ with questions or comments.
Z is for: Zorba the Greek... a story I have always liked.
"I remembered one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree, just as a butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited a while, but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to warm it. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the miracle began to happen before my eyes, faster than life. The case opened, the butterfly started slowly crawling out and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled; the wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it, I tried to help it with my breath. In vain.
It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unflolding of the wings should be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear, all crumple, before its time. It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand.
That little body is, I do believe, the greatest weight I have on my conscience. For I realize today that it is a mortal sin to violate the great laws of nature. We should not hurry, we should not be impatient, but we should confidently obey the eternal rhythm."
---Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
ABC's for life:
Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Dream
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love truly
Master something
Nurture hope
Open your mind
Pack lightly
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Touch hearts
Understand
Value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause.
An ABC idea from my days in the classroom:
This is a little book that can be used to record memories. It is especially useful for children when traveling or just as a "journaling technique." List names of people, places, events, phone numbers, restaurants, draw illustrations, etc. in ABC order. Different trips can be dated and color-coded, and the book can be used many times. Makes a great reference book for later.
Or, a sheet of lined paper with the ABC's listed down the pages works just fine. These pages can be titled, dated and kept in a 3-ring notebook. "Kids" like the idea of jotting down words or phrases instead of complete sentences. This teaches "note-taking" techniques with the use of key words.
Whew ! ...Oops ! I forgot ! Stephanie, in her comment, reminded me of this one:
T is for: Testicle Sorority of which I am a member at Mama Drama.
wonderful post swampy.
I loved every letter of it.
Now I know my ABC's... next time won't you sing with me...
Yes!
Posted by: Pamela | January 18, 2007 at 12:48 AM
You outdid yourself on this one, Swampy!!
And not even one mention of a testicle!! Whee!!
Posted by: Stephanie | January 18, 2007 at 03:18 AM
What a fun post, I love seeing all the pictures again and the little tip about note taking was awesome, I will have to try that with my son.
Posted by: skydancer069 | January 18, 2007 at 05:40 AM
You. rock.
Seriously, I want to be your best friend, Cruella. Please tell me that wasn't Halloween. Tell me you just decided to dress up as a villain for the day.
Posted by: Jenny | January 18, 2007 at 05:54 AM
Hey no fair! Nobody said anything about philosophical wisdoms or learning tools! This is great! I love it all--now get some sleep. I know how hard you worked.
Classic, classic, classic post.
Posted by: min | January 18, 2007 at 05:57 AM
I read this post backwards as a sobriety test.
Posted by: Mist 1 | January 18, 2007 at 06:24 AM
PAMELA: Yes, I'll sing with you. *swampMitch wanders off aimslessly humming"
STEPAHNIE: Duly Noted...and Revised ! Thank You. How could I forget such an important honor that was bestowed upon me?
SKYDANCER069: My girls are grown, and gone, with kids of their own...and we still do this when we're together.
JENNY: Nope, that wasn't Halloween. That was one of the "funnest" days of my life. I stayed in character for about 15 hours and loved every minute of it. Think I'll do it again real soon. And yes, you can be Cruella's best friend...we'll attend Testicle Sorority Meetings together.
MIN: Thanks for the visit. Yes, it was a lot of work, but I had fun with it. Also, haven't you noticed? I make up my own rules!
*Y-A-W-N* I'm going back to bed now.
Posted by: swampy | January 18, 2007 at 06:25 AM
MIST1: Actually, I composed the post backwards. I knew from the beginning what my -Z- would be, so I started from there. Well, I did meander around quite a bit, too.
So, are you sober?
Posted by: swampy | January 18, 2007 at 06:27 AM
Holy patoots Swampy. I got plumb wored out readin' all dem big words. Shor was nice of ye ta do all dat fur yur friends. ;)
Posted by: Brian | January 18, 2007 at 08:40 AM
What a wonderful post! I enjoyed it immensely.
But, I must say - the similarities between you and my DH are amazing. He's an obsessive compulsive list maker, and he wants our refrigerator to look just like yours! He's not lysdexic, though. I guess the silimarities edn there. HA!
Posted by: Susan in va | January 18, 2007 at 12:31 PM
BRIAN: Holy patoots backatcha ! I injoyed doin' it fur me friends. Glad yew injoyed it. Come on back, ya heer?
SUSANinVA: I'll mail you the refrigerator...complete with the magnetic frames, minus the pics, of course. When do you want it to arrive? Two OCD list makers in the same room for any amount of time will drive everyone else bonkers. Especially if one is lysdexic. Eventually, those two will drive each other bonkers.
Posted by: swampy | January 18, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Nikos Kazantzakis is my all-time favorite writer. I heard somewhere (maybe my head) that he's regarded as one of the top three writers of human history.
Posted by: Matt | January 18, 2007 at 01:38 PM
Were you seriously on the Daily Show? Too funny. I hope you weren't interviewed when Colbert was on the show, he's kinda sneaky LOL! Great post. :O) I don't think I could have come with something for every letter.
Posted by: Mary (mert) | January 18, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Great!!!!
My questions are: So - did you break one of your newly done nails??? Did Jon Stewart actually interview you? Did you show him your broken nail? hee hee
Posted by: Karmyn R | January 18, 2007 at 02:01 PM
MATT: Kazantzaski (2/18-83-10/26/57 )was the most important and most translated Greek writer and philosopher of the 20th Century. I used his works in developing much of my curriculum.
MARY(MERT): Yup! I really was on The Daily Show. The interview was "The Last Resort" done by Rob Corddry. 11-05-04 He was a riot and probably sneakier than Colbert.
Posted by: swampy | January 18, 2007 at 02:08 PM
KARMYNR: We were posting at the same time. I made that statement during the interview with Judy Mueller with ABC News thinking that the cameras and mikes were off. It was an off-the-cuff remark. When it aired with Elizabeth Vargas, that was the part of the interview they used to close the clip. I almost croaked when I saw it because I had no idea they were filming when I made that statment. During one of the trainings with Rob Pincus at Valhalla, I did knock him through a wall that had to be replaced. Didn't even break a nail...except the one in the wall. That's the part of the clip that The Daily Show "people" picked up on...the dichotomy. Was intervied by Rob Corddry who, as I mentioned above, was so much fun.
Posted by: swampy | January 18, 2007 at 02:16 PM
KARMYNR: P.S. You are a pretty clever sleuth. I'm impressed that you found and read that.
Posted by: swampy | January 18, 2007 at 02:16 PM
Great post and so much fun to read!! I loved the quote from Zorba the Greek which, much to my dismay, I must admit I am totally unfamiliar with. A new book for my reading list!
Posted by: Songbird | January 18, 2007 at 08:07 PM
I guess H now stands for Horse condom.
Congrats!
Posted by: min | January 18, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Very Cool! You did a good job. Creative too.
Prayers for Ben's return and all our troops. May peace be soon.
Hans, what a guy. I would have read the note once, put some x's and o's on iy and gone to the bar. The guy is a saint!
I sing melodies of songs, any song, and use the alphabet, in order, and with the number of syllables for each letter, as the words to the song to see if it will end on "Z"
Now, top that!
Testicle Society? Hmmmmm.... I don't think I wanna know :-)
Posted by: spadoman | January 19, 2007 at 02:52 AM
So many good ideas here to steal. I love the butterfly story and a hint I need. I like the journal idea.
Posted by: Nessa | January 19, 2007 at 04:15 AM
SONGBIRD: Glad to know something on this post was 'helpful.' Enjoy his writings.
MIN: Thanks, but I think I disqualified myself with my "misandrist" comment. Was that a horse condom or a kangaroo condom? I can never tell the difference.
SPADONMAN: I hope you post a song sometime so we can sing along with you because I can't top that. Yeah, theHansMan is a part-time saint. Testicle Sorority? Something about them hanging from someone's ceiling. I won't name names, but her initials are M.I.N. And, a comment about a Testicle Festival at the Tumbleweed in Oklahoma complete with music. And, last but certainly not least, thanks for thinking about Ben.
NESSA: You don't have to steal them. Just use 'em and pass on the ideas to someone else.
Posted by: swampy | January 19, 2007 at 05:12 AM
Hi Swampy! I love your list, especially the notes to your hubby and his replies! Good stuff!!!!
Posted by: Weekends Off | January 19, 2007 at 06:34 AM
Have you told us about "V" before? Cause I sure don't remember that. Waaaayyyy too cool, Swamp-a-rella!
I was SURE you're "R" was going to be re-cycle...or Robin...because I'm a self-absorbed narcissist. (I haven't forgotten our "challenge", but I've been a bit ...distracted...lately...:) ).
Loved the way you handled this, I think your fridge is magnificent!
Posted by: Robin | January 19, 2007 at 08:28 AM
I loved the abcs of llife.. that was a nice list!! and do you know thats kinda funny but I keep a journal for my kids.. where i write ot them about funny things they did are what they are doing at what age...
Posted by: wolfbaby | January 19, 2007 at 07:52 PM
That was fantastic!!! I'm so glad the Pilots made an appearance again.
They are super cute.
Posted by: marnie | January 19, 2007 at 07:54 PM
WOW!!! You are so talented, This is a great and fun post, I am glad you stopped by my blog because I am so happy now reading yours, I will come very often, you have great things to share!!! Thanks!!!
Posted by: Pretty lady | January 23, 2007 at 08:40 AM