STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

June 24, 2005  

We have two anniversaries today, Richard and Jacquie Sims and Nell and Louis Berry. Best wishes to both couples.

Now on to the good stuff..........

Animal awareness series endorsed by Shiloh and Hank our mascots; all stories must receive their approval.

Mother??™s Little Helper

Bob Shaw

    Aimee still likes to help Ronni pull weeds from the flower garden. She has a problem figuring out weeds from plants though. When Ronni pulls a hand full of weeds and throws them off to the side, Aimee runs to fetch them, and tries to dig a hole to transplant them. When that doesn??™t work, she tries to pull plants too. Usually the prettier ones. I guess they taste better.

    When it comes time to do the house work, Aimee is right there to do her fair share. She helps to pull on the sheets and blanket to get it just right, usually down to her floor level. More comfortable that way. And there??™s always rugs to be moved. If attitude was size, she??™d be a Saint Bernard. If it??™s too big or heavy, it gets barked at. She??™s learned that bare feet and toes, and little sharp teeth generally gets her picked up and loved??¦and it usually doesn??™t take very long.

    Ronni told me to watch out for a small playpen. Seems like it might be a noisy solution, but probably necessary. Ironing has become a fun thing. For her at least. She likes to pull on anything hanging down. Maybe she??™s trying to help pull the wrinkles out. When that didn??™t work out like she wanted it to, she went over to the laundry basket and pulled out a sock, dragged it over to the ironing board and barked. Ronni looked down and said, ???no Aimee, we don??™t iron the socks???. Aimee looked down at the sock, and looked back up like she was saying ???well, it??™s wrinkled???.

    Aimee??™s trying to figure out the treadmill. She wants to get on it with Ronni while she??™s taking her morning walk, but every time she stops to take a break, she tumbles off the end of the thing. Very confusing for a stubborn puppy. But if I know Aimee, she??™ll keep trying. Some folks call it stubborn. I kinda like to think of it as being determined. And if it??™s determination, she??™s got a truck load of it.

    It got kinda spooky this afternoon. We rented an action movie, and Aimee sat and watched most of it. She was OK with the good guys, but she??™d growl and bark at the bad guys. I told Ronni ???they were speaking some Chinese; maybe she knew what they were saying?????¦???Well, she IS a Chinese Shih Tzu???. Now Ronni??™s wondering about both of us.

Written by Bob Shaw CapeRabbit@semo.net

Today's Queue Stories
~**~**~**~

Lunch Money

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

There was many a year ago a saying. "What this country
needs is a good five cent cigar." I don't really
believe we need a cigar. I think we need to step back
and look at a big problem we are looking right in the
face. It is all around us.

Now I grew up in hard times. The years between 1930
and 1940. Rotten hard times for a lot of people. A lot
of people went to bed at night with very little to
eat. A lot was ill housed, a lot were ill clothed.

We have come a long ways. But you know what? We are
the so called richest nation on this earth. We can
feed the world. We are the cop to the world,. We run
with open pocket book all over the world. That is just
fine.

The what is.. simple.. we can do all of that. But we
have people in this land that don't have a quarter to
buy the kids lunch at a school. We have poor people
here that needs help. Does our government not have
eyes to see with? Or don't the big shots care to see?
Is it a case of I got mine, by hook or crook? Now you
get yours the best way you know how.

Now lets go back into history. I mean way back. I will
go back to that old book that we can't have in school.
The Holy Bible. If you got one look it up. In Genesis,
we read where one country had the wisdom to lay up so
much grain each year. While others did not. Came hard
times. No food in other counties. A man sent to that
land that had food. He had money, he could buy. Now
please note the word BUY. He sent his sons to BUY
food. A deal was made. His sons paid for the food and
went home.  They didn't get a hand out.  The people in
the land that had food took care of their own first.
Some one that was from another land could come and
buy. What is wrong with that picture? 

Well in the good old U.S. of A. We give the food to
other nations, but we have our own people in need of
food. Something sure as hell wrong some where. And I
think I know where to look. It is called something
smells in Foggie Bottom.  The sad thing is lots of times

the big shots in other lands get it, then in turn see to it the

ones in need does not.

I think it is called take care of Bigs,

Smalls will drag along someway or somehow. 

I have a old worn out book here. The name is "PLAIN
SPEAKING". wrote by a fellow name of Merle Miller. The
book is about a fellow name of Harry. I think you can
guess the rest of the name. On one cover I believe it
has a short write up by some one. In that part is a
line. "Any one who runs for dog catcher must read it
first."  I take it very few in our today government
has taken the time to read it. Oh well they may not
understand plain speaking any ways.

It is high time to take care of ours first, if we have
any left over sell it and get cash. No checks or
I.O.U.s

What got me to going on this is.. A lady told me today
about a little boy in school with no money for a
simple school lunch. The kind hearted lady seen to it
he got fed. She should have a job in Washington. She
has a heart. I don't know about those bums we elected
to those jobs.

Well I??™m a story teller, not a writer. Never learned the art of fancy English. I

happen to live in Nebraska, but I??™m still Missouri. Never married, all the Dollies I

ever took a second look at was too smart. Now at 74, just turned that other day, I

figure they all home safe. I love Doggies and Dollies in that order. Lost my two

true friends this year, that be Tinker and Poo. So I found me a new one. This

time a little girlie Peke. She is a normal female. Got a mouth, talks all the time.

She will never be a great writers of stories like Tinker and Poo. They have

about 50 stories on HWS. And now writing back from Rainbow Bridge.

I just try to write about people, places and things best I remember. Have something

over 250 stories on HWS. under three names.   

  ~**~**~

The story "A Mountain Spring by Joseph J. Mazzella

Bob Raines

This story  ???A Mountain Spring by Joseph J. Mazzella that I just

read brought back memories. Those memories are treasures today. Like
Joseph our running water in our house was a part of life that we lived
with.  We didn't know any difference.  On wash days all of us boys would
run down hill about 1\2 mile to a spring with three gallon buckets. We
carried a bucket in each hand.
We always had 55 gallon drums under the eves of our house to catch rain
water. During the dry spells we had to carry enough to fill the drums
with water. On our side yard we had a cast iron wash pot that was filled
with water for Momma to wash clothes using a rub board and soap to clean
them. They were processed through two galvanized tubs to rinse them.
After Momma put the clothes through the rinse cycle she placed them in
the dryer. We had about ten clothes lines stretched across the yard where
the clothes were pinned to the line for open air drying.
Momma always starched our shirts and pants then ironed them.
Those days are precious memories as I reflect back and think of the life
that our parents lived for us, seven boys and four girls. Our parents did
what they needed to do in order to keep us clean, clothed and fed. Daddy
walked as much as ten miles at times so he could catch a ride to work. It
was always a joy to see our Dad walking up the road to home. We took
delight in running to meet him each of us trying to be first to greet
him.
Daddy was a master carpenter and electrician so he was always able to
find work. Our parents left us precious memories. One statement that I
heard on several occasions that was made about Momma was "Margaret's kids
may wear patched clothes but they are always starched and ironed.
The worst thing that I know about my youthful days at home is the fact
that I was not aware of the full extent of the sacrifices that they made
for us in order to keep us clean, clothed and fed. I confess that I was
selfish and self centered.
Even worse is the fact that it took me fat too many years to confess to
our Heavenly Father my sin and to ask His Forgiveness. It took too many
years to confess to my Saviour and ask Him for the Gift of Salvation that
He so Freely Offered.

* Bob Raines lives just west of Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife of
thirty-eight years. He spends most of his time these days telling other
about his Saviour. He may be contacted by e-mail drbobraines1@juno.com

~**~**~

  Living With Bipolar Disorder

  By Richard D. Sims

 I  have done all my home work and this is what I came up with maybe some else

can get some good out of it too! What is bipolar disorder? The "ups" and "downs" of bipolar disorder may cause problems at home, at work or school, and in relationships. Most people experience changes in their moods and feelings as a part of everyday life. But for people with bipolar disorder ( also known as manic - depression ), these "ups" and "downs" are more dramatic. They may cause problems at home, at work or school, and in relationships.

The "ups" of bipolar disorder can include irritability, wanting less sleep, impulsive

behavior, talking and thinking faster than usual, or feeling hostile towards others.

The " downs" of bipolar disorder can include sadness, sleeping or eating a lot,

guilt feelings, or loss of interest in things that usually would seem fun or interesting.

How is bipolar disorder different from depression? The symptoms of depression can

certainly be part of bipolar disorder. But there is a lot more to it. What makes bipolar

disorder different from depression is that it has two main phases: a depressive phase

( bipolar depression ) and a manic phase ( bipolar  mania ). People with bipolar disorder have experienced both the depressive and manic phases of the illness at some point in their lives. People with depression have never experienced a manic episode.

What causes bipolar disorder? Doctors classify bipolar disorder as a mood disorder, or an illness that affects how mood is regulated by the brain. While no one really knows what causes bipolar disorder, scientists believe it is caused by chemicals in the brain that become unbalanced.. Its important to remember that bipolar disorder is an illness, just like heart disease or glaucoma. You didn't do anything to cause it, and you can't snap yourself out of it.

Who gets bipolar disorder? There's really no way to predict who will get bipolar disorder. But  people who do sometimes have other family members with mood disorders. They may have relatives with drinking problems, drug addictions, erratic careers, and troubled marriages.

Richard Sims
armaksman @yahoo.com

About Me:
I am Richard D. Sims of Arma, Kansas, I am
46 Years old. I was born and raised in
Granby, Mo. the oldest mining town in
southwest Mo.
I enjoy writing poems, short stories and
just being able to cheer up people!
My hobbies are 1/4 mile drag racing,
wood crafts and spending quality time with
my family, and serving our lord Father in
heaven.
Richard D. Sims:
armaksman @ yahoo. Com