I Ain't Down, Yet!

     It is unbelievably hazy, outside.  The weather can't seem to decide whether to rain, shine or roll over an' die.  To mention the humidity is basically to almost admit defeat, myself.  However, since I don't easily give up, I can still peek through an' realize the sun is tryin' it's best to work it's way through the many barriers that would, otherwise, keep it from doin' it's job.

     I haven't quite re-established my new schedule, since finally acquiring my new... NEW computer.  I am back, though, an' I WILL get my groove on.  Don't give up on me 'cause I'll keep tryin' to get back to what I enjoy... blogging an' visiting with you all.

     Now, 'bout that hot, hazy, humid weather I mentioned ~ ~ ~ I LOVE me some beautiful days like today!

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Doin' the Two-Step 'Un-Dance'

     If you are in the same category with me you may recall the days when you thought of a project an' set out to accomplish it... successfully.  Lately, I've noticed that it only takes two steps to save time.  Here's how it goes:

     Preparation:  grow old.
     Step One:  Think of a project.  P'rhaps you jus' wanna' mail a letter.
     Step Two:  Take two steps an' your project is effectively forgotten.  The time you save is now available so you can think of a new project.

     If I were younger I might remember to finish my various tasks.  I have heard it said that, after a while, a person goes into a second childhood.  That is not quite correct.  Actually, a person starts doin' the 'Two-Step Un-Dance' before the second childhood phase kicks in.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

I'm HOME!!! I'm finally an' really HOME!

     How have you been?  It's been so long since I last visited with you that I can't help wondering if you've forgotten what I look like.  Or sound like.  If you'll recall from our last visit I had finally received my new computer.  At last word, I was trying to figure out all the ins an' outs an' what-fors about making it respond as I felt it should.  Finally, I talked with my techie-dude an' the consensus was that I should return what essentially turned out to be not such a great deal, after all.  I could go into a long, drawn-out story an' tell you all the nasties, the bads an' the uglies, but it wouldn't really do either of us any good to travel down that road, would it?  Instead, lemme' jus' say I am glad to finally have acquired a new... an' working computer.  It makes all the difference in the world to touch a key an' have it respond as it's s'posed to.

     I wanna' apologize to those of you whom I was writing to an' the correspondences jus' stopped all of a sudden.  I really had no control an' I do hope you can unnerstan' an' forgive.  I've thought about you all so much.  Boy!  One thing I have learned is that, having had a computer before, life without that kinda' access leaves a whole lot to the imagination.  Unfortunately, everything has suffered, as a result.  Well, not quite everything.  I did have an extended visit from summa' my kids an' I was able to spend some great times with them.  Remind me to tell you 'bout the awesome new vehicle my good hubby-buddy bought me.  For now, I'm gonna' try an' catch up on alla' the 'puter-related stuff I've been missing out on.  I am SO! happy to be back online!!!  An' I surely hope that's you I see peeking around the door to see if I'm home 'cause I have missed you all soooooo much.  Welcome back to my house.

      An' 'til the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Yaya Can't Blog ! ! !

     Yaya comes sneaking in, dragging her new computer behind her.  She wonders if anyone will notice her return, embarrassed that it has been so long since she last posted on her blog.  She turns to make sure that her new computer is still following.  There have been waaaaaaay too many pro'lems with computers, of late, so she isn't taking any chances that this one might get away.  Yaya checks the chain and lock that hold the 'puter onto the Little Red Wagon; still secure.  After placing the long-awaited 'puter on her desk, Yaya settles in to begin blogging.

     ::Tap.  Tap.  Tap.  Tap-tappity, tap::

     ::Undo::

     ::Tappity-tap.  Tap. Tap::

     ::Undo::

     Yaya looks long an' hard at her new toy an' wonders if this new computer was ever taught anything 'bout blogging.  It seems apparent that either there was no training in the 'puter factory or, she has been away from Bloggy World for far too long an' may have forgotten all that she thought she knew 'bout posting on her blog.

     In a last-ditch effort, Yaya puts her arm up in the air an' waves an excited an' friendly greeting, on the off-chance that summa' her blogging friends might notice she has returned.  Yaya hopes they all know how much she has missed being here.

     She sends a silent wish for everyone to Keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

PS ~ I haven't been able to figure out how to post pictures, yet.  Sorry.

Trading On the Black Market

     Have you ever considered how the Black Market got started? It’s something that truly tickles the imagination. I’ve wondered. In fact, I’m curious about a good many things in life an’ when I’m curious I like to quell my fascination by researching until I’m satisfied that I know the why’s, wherefore’s an’ how’s come’s.

     Quite surprisingly the Black Market has been around a lot longer than you may have thought. In fact, it goes alla’ way back to knights an’ castles an’ the pirates of the time. Oh,yeah; we’ve always had pirates. At least, that’s my opinion.

     In the days of the Round Table an’ jousting they looked a little different than the image you might have grown to accept as normal Pirate attire; it’s true. For instance, I don’t believe your common scoundrel would have included an eye patch. In point of fact, all scoundrels don’t, even today, wear eye patches. But for the sake of argument let’s say those good ol’ boys from days of yore had decided to wear eye patches. Wanna’ know what they’d look like? Picture, if you can, a big burly guy in a tin suit with a target on his eye. Yup! That’s what I think the eye patch would act as; a target.

     See? The Black Market started alla’ way back in Medieval Times, when nomadic mercenaries wandered the countryside to sell their services to the highest bidder. Okay; maybe you think I’m using literary license by calling ‘em pirates. Then again, you may change your mind as you read on. As they traversed from town to town an’ castle to castle these men developed some very hard an’ strict lifestyles, fighting when necessary an’ winning in whatever ways they could. Naturally, there weren’t many servants traveling with ‘em (p’rhaps none?), so some jobs were left for later as more prudent choices were made. Such was the case with suits of armor. When there was a choice between hunting for food or polishing the armor, it was common practice to opt for the hunting, over polishing. As a result, armor often developed a blackish hue an’ these knights soon came to be known as Black Knights.

     Sometimes, these nomads would arrive where there was a festival taking place an’ would join in the fun. The locals were many times softened by their relatively easier lifestyles. When it was time for jousting matches the traveling knights could easily win the bout. The prize consisted of the winner being awarded the weapons an’ armor that belonged to the loser. There really was no good reason for a nomad knight to keep more than one set of armor, so immediately following the match, the knight in black armor would sell the owner his own armor back. The markets that followed jousting matches soon became known as Black Markets.

     Now, I ask you… does that not sound like piracy to you?

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

A Tidbit of Curious Enlightenment

     Well, that went well, din't it?  I believe I mentioned that I was gonna' try an' post on Sunday, Wednesday an' Friday, as my newly hoped-for schedule.  If I remember correctly, I said that last Thursday.  Unless you are seeing' somethin' here that I'm not, I promptly missed posting on Friday an' again, on Sunday.  So here I am on Tuesday... off-schedule... an' begging your forgiveness for breaking my own new rule.  Having messed up that schedule so thoroughly, I think it is time for another readjustment.  I do hope you will unnerstan' that I am gonna' hafta' plan for posting on my blog on Fridays an' Mondays.  Hopefully, I'll keep this schedule a little better than the last one.  Please stand by for a tidbit of curious enlightenment, following this very sincere apology.  Thank you all for visiting an' keeping me in your prayers.  I so appreciate each an' every one of you.

Armored and Ready for Battle?



     Despite his armor, the nine-banded armadillo has jousted with highway traffic… and lost… so many times that he’s earned the name Hillbilly Speed Bump.

     I hope you enjoyed this tidbit of curious enlightenment.  I surely like learning such interesting facts.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Am I Still Welcome Here?

     Hello, my friends.  I've been gone much longer than I ever thought I would be.  Illness an' computer Attitude have been constant companions, I'm afraid.  I was hoping to have a new computer, by now, but life has a way of taunting a person with such desires.  So, I'm still working on getting that long-awaited computer, but I am feeling a little better than I was.  After having some long-term an' very uncomfortable reactions of the Not Fun type, I'm at least down to where my discomfort is somethin' I can live with.  'Course, my good hubby-buddy might say otherwise... I think he's gettin' tired of all the whine without cheese.  haha

     Thank you all for stopping by an' lending your support.  Hopefully, I'm back to stay, although I'm beginning to realize that one is never truly in control.  My new goal is to post on Sunday, Wednesday an' Friday.  I'm so looking forward to bein' back.  Thank you all, again, for your kind thoughts an' loving concern.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya