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Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

10:30pm EST

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJean maybesnow?!

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

"All the resources we need are in the mind.” Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States of America.

I am the Captain of my ship.
God is my co-pilot.
Often I sail stormy seas,
Am flung onto rocky shores.

What's on your mind today?

Signature for use by anyone nominated for a Quill Award in 2020

Signature for nominees of the 2019 Quill Awards

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Kåre เลียม Enga

Nov 12, 2024 at 2:07am
In response to "Crazy Talk"

I'm too focused on my trip. Reservations and aisle seats on the plane. Buttttt... I did find my other pair of shoes.

1 Like

Cubby

Nov 11, 2024 at 10:51pm
In response to "Crazy Talk"

I've been trying to distract myself, too, by watching feel-good holiday movies on Netflix. It's all a bit scary!

2 Like

AnotherDreamer

Nov 10, 2024 at 2:46pm
In response to "So much Drama..."

I acknowledge the fact that you need to consider your health and sanity. Is there a backup plan for the people who you were servicing and who will no longer get service? Can some other local charity be notified and asked to step in temporarily? Will another organization replace the one that is left high and dry. I am just wondering about the clients. No judgement here.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Nov 10, 2024 at 2:14pm
In response to "So much Drama..."

Meals on Wheels is a great program. My neighbor is on it (they deliver up three flights of stairs). Yes, the food is fine... but she needs visitors... as do many on the program.

I only have 10 dazed days to avoid the drama at God's Waiting Room. I may do take out and greet friends as I come and go.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Nov 3, 2024 at 2:36pm
In response to "Update"

I don't celebrate Halloween. I don't do parties and the American version is silly imho. Samhain is different. I don't mind real witches and ghosts (hope to meet a ghost someday... but not too soon). If goblins existed I'd probably chat with them.

I did go to the Day of the Dead and the parade. Took photos and video. Honoring/remembering the dead is okay imho.

Odd how events "work" or don't. Call me crazy but... the churches have been there a looooong time. How could one NOT know. Same with you and Halloween... they don't know you by now?

I don't join groups because I can't deal with the drama.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Oct 28, 2024 at 1:33pm
In response to "Ducks in a row"

Yep. The only cure to falling is not falling in the first place.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Oct 19, 2024 at 4:14pm
In response to "Catching Up"

It helps to have the time and focus to do Octoprep or Nano. This year I have neither. No excuses and I shouldn't feel guilty. I did sign up for "13" but we'll see... so much depends...

...on the white rain on the black chickens...

We did have snow on the mountains. Today is gloomy.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Oct 4, 2024 at 4:16pm
In response to "Equinox Storm"

Our Senior Center goes through cycles of drama. Right now the kitchen is fine. Today's meal was good.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Oct 4, 2024 at 4:13pm
In response to "Chico"

We have various hot springs in our area but busses don't go there.

Will you have fish for dinner or is it catch and release?

I decided to not do Octo-Prep. I have an idea and I started a folder to keep my chapters. That seems to work best for me. I have a basic timeline and theme. I'll just start in one place and go from there (literally, like in my IRL travels) to the next stop and the next lesson my character (me) has to learn. Since the conflict is "discovery" instead of an action-driven arch... I should be fine as long as they logically flow from one to another.

I'll have to return to Thailand and spend time in each location.

QueenNormaJean maybesnow?!

Sep 12, 2024 at 11:20pm
In response to "School Drama"

Fear is contagious. Fear spreads just like wildfire, one spark from a fearful person and the whole town is crazed.

Drama is preferred these days. Who can get the most views on their page, who can garner the most interesting story to present to the world. Truth is irrelevant it seems. Just the drama is important.

You do assume correctly that the school handled it better, in my opinion. They threw the flame resistant blanket over the problem and extinguished the fire. For now. Until the next crisis. Which will be when all these crazed parents withdraw their students and claim they are now 'homeschooling' them. I see this happening - people threatened to do this.

And don't get me started on the whole homeschooling trend. Some parents do a good job. Great. But others don't and kids suffer. There is no real policing in Montana for homeschoolers. Sad but true.

October 28, 2024 at 1:21pm

#1079064

Ducks in a row

It's the last week of the OctoPrep Challenge and things are heating up for the writers. So far, 15 have finished the challenge. A number have missed their deadline of 72 hours, but can still compete as runner-ups.

I remember when I did the challenge and the push to get all 'my ducks in a row' so to speak this last week. If I remember right, we were going on a trip that coincided with the last day of the challenge. So the pressure was on to get the assignments posted, and everything finished by the deadline.

Life here in Roundup is rolling along. There is planning for a Christmas Stroll. Somehow I got elected to be the organizer for the venues. Mercy. That wouldn't be so bad if only the person in charge of the entire event would communicate with me. So I try not to overthink the entire scenario. I do what I think is prudent, take money, assign people to spaces. Then let the chips fall where they may. Sink or swim, organizer.

A dear friend of mine fell the other night. Now when you fall, and you are older, the problem is not the falling, the problem is 'why did you fall?'. She ended up breaking her leg. So pain meds were administered in the hospital. Her leg is in a splint, waiting for swelling to subside before casting. Standard procedure. But yesterday she stopped breathing for a spell. So they administered Narcan. (Narcan is for opiod overdoses.) Now she may be transferred to a hospital in Billings to figure out why she had such a strong reaction to pain medication.

So I had to tell a few other friends of the incident. Then I get pushback about who to tell for church. Well, for church, I am no longer the email communicator. That has been given to another church member since I stepped down from that task. He is not proactive with this little task. He won't email if you ask him to. He won't answer emails. Whatever.

Like I said, getting my ducks in a row.
mama duck and ducklings

Like • Comment • View 1 comment

October 19, 2024 at 12:06pm

#1078582

Catching Up

It's been a busy time here in Montana.

I am head cheerleader for the OctoPrep challenge again this year. There are three others I shepherd as we cajole, encourage, exhort the preppers for NaNoWriMo. It is always fun to read ideas, read chapters of new works and just generally give kudos and other prizes to those who stick with the process.

Beyond that, I still volunteer in town. There is a great deal of drama with the senior meal program. The lady in charge is new on the job, less than a year. She has managed to alienate most all the volunteers. The program is in jeopardy of being shut down by the state, if they don't get their act together. Food quality is bad, the people we deliver meals to are upset. The sponsoring agency for the senior kitchen is upset as well as now the state governing body. My hubby and I have told the volunteer organization that we will deliver meals til the end of October. Then we'll reevaluate our volunteer jobs and perhaps not do this any longer. Sad.

I did go to Billings earlier this week for 2 days. I participated in a focus group, stayed there for 2 nights. The group paid anyone who participated both days, and was on time, $700. Yippee! Of course, from that I had to pay for 2 nights in a hotel so I didn't have to drive home in the dark.

It was nice both nights, so I walked around downtown Billings. I had a quick burger while sitting outside the restaurant on their patio. I met someone who knew people in Roundup. It is said that Montana is just one long Main Street with cross streets along the way. Somehow everywhere you go, someone knows another person you know.

You tend to forget, when living in a small town, just how busy and exciting a big city can be. Of course, by the standards of the rest of the country, Billings is not that big a place. Only about 120,000. But it is growing. I think it is still the largest city in Montana. There were people out and about in all the restaurants and bars. People walking everywhere. I found a few new places to go for lunch when we go shopping for the day there.

Halfway through the month and as I stated, the OctoPrep challenge is doing well. We have had a few drop off the ranks, but
I know sometimes life gets in the way. The ideas you start with are not gelling as you thought they would, so you get discouraged and drop out. Time just gets in the way for many when you have to perform according to a schedule.

Having done this OctoPrep before I realize how challenging this whole process is. But it really helps you focus on your story, on your craft.

Didn't join this year? Perhaps in 2025 you'll take the plunge.

1 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

October 4, 2024 at 1:58pm

#1077755

Chico

It's a few days into OctoPrep and all seems to be working well. People are writing, people are posting, the cheerleaders are awarding GPs for exceptional behavior.

And I am out of town for a much needed break. It's our anniversary. We are at Chico Hot Springs. This place is great. If you ever get a chance to stay here, by all means do so.

https://www.chicohotsprings.com

Chico has been the place to go since 1900. Natural hot springs feed 2 pools with wonderful hot water. The pools are not treated with chemicals, and are drained every night and refilled each morning. The small one is about 104° and the large one about 93°. Last night with the temperature in the high 40s, it was nice as can be.

There is a nice lodge, cabins, even Conestoga wagons you can rent. The dining room serves excellent meals, but there is also a casual grill and a saloon. And you're not all that far from Yellowstone. Perfect place in the heart of the Paradise Valley. As I sit here it is sunny, bright blue skies and a nice breeze. The temperature today is about 60°. A beautiful fall day is upon us.

So while hubby is out fishing in the nearby Yellowstone River, I am enjoying some down time. No TV, no phone, no barking dogs next door. Just nature. Lovely.

2 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

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