Once upon a time, long ago, (yesterday), legend has it that three chiefs and three beautiful princesses, packed up their mobile teepees and caravanned across dangerous lands to a place called Albany, Texas, to see a thing called FANdangle. (The emphasis is on Fan.)

Before I tell you about the awesomeness and the pageantry of Fandangle, I’ll give you a little folklore, which means background info, on the three adventuresome trail blazing couples.

First, we have Chief Rain in the Face, who arrived at camp Ft. Griffin obviously hot under his headdress. It seems he washed his many horse-powered transportation right before beginning his journey, only to come upon a couple of miles of dirt road due to trail construction. If that wasn’t bad enough, he got behind a water-spraying covered wagon…hence the name, Rain in the Face, which  sounds more dignified than, Water and Dirt on the Horses.

The chief brought, She Who Must be Obeyed with him, mainly because she knows her way around a teepee and makes great seafood dishes. She is a retired code talker, which is code talk for teacher.

Chief Runs a Muck brought Princess Pass the Piece-pipe. Say that three times really fast. Her main job is to clean up the teepee after Chief Runs a Muck makes his favorite strawberry ice cream. She also helps with Buddy the canine who spends his days guarding the campsite and his nights tolerating Punkin and I can’t remember the other cat’s name, but it also starts with a P.

Last, we have Chief Eats a Lot with Princess Doesn’t have a Clue. Seriously, she doesn’t know the difference between a teepee and a wigwam. She spends her days scrounging around for food because Chief Eats a Lot...eats a lot.

Back to the Fandangle.

The three aforementioned couples had a fabulous time. We toured Ft. Griffin with Eric, who shared a wealth of information with us. The RV Park in Griffin State Park was great… (See the sunset below.)

We saw the Fandangle parade where we listened to the calliope, and watched as beautiful horses passed by. Some were pulling wagons or proudly carrying riders holding flags. Others were ridden by women wearing costumes of the times.

The Jailhouse Museum and the Courthouse are really something to see, and the shops downtown are fun to explore. The pharmacy complete with a full service soda fountain is an experience you won’t want to miss.

We attended Church services where we were treated to the sounds of a beautiful pipe organ, not to mention a thought provoking sermon. I could go on and on about the town of Albany and it’s family oriented community.

The Fandangle is an experience like none other. Give yourself the gift of seeing the magic of the performances of a few hundred Albany residents. The ages of the talented participants range from three months to ninety-eight.

(These beautiful Longhorns are featured in the show.)

The story the narrators and the music tells is steeped in history and laced with pride and love. Fandangle is always the last two week-ends in June so there are shows next Friday and Saturday evening. The outdoor setting is beautiful and the music is incredible. The many prop changes are totally seamless.

Thank you Pat and Jerry Davis for suggesting this might be a fun outing for our little group of RVers, and many thanks to Jeff and Gaye Davis. They made our trip even more special by giving us the rundown on all there was to do. I don’t think we missed much. Their family, including Nolan and Lori, has been a part of Fandangle for over a dozen years. We were all invited to their beautiful home for lunch. Chief Eats a Lot loved it!

I think it goes without saying the three chiefs and three princesses, along with thousands of others, are big fans of Fandangle.

There will be a help yourself self-help staff meeting at 1300 hours today

Where: The Whiteboard House…The 8th grade classroom

Why: Because I said so that’s why!..(just kidding, I’ve always wanted to say that.)…all staff members must come prepared to throw out some ideas for help yourself self-help classes that will help all the town’s people to help themselves. Any and all suggestions will be entertaining.

Next on the agenda will be a motivational speaker, followed by a Q and A session. After that, you can all help yourself to coffee and cookies.

THE 8TH GRADE CLASSROOM 1300 HOURS

Murdo Girl: Thanks Self-Help Staff for getting yourself here. I passed a couple of classmates on the stairs. They were resting. We can’t have people laying around on the stairs, so until we’re all able to make it up here without needing an oxygen mask, we will not be helping ourselves to cookies. That brings up another issue. We may have to cut out the coffee too. Keep in mind the little, and I mean little, bathrooms are all the way down all those stairs, and you will have to bring yourself all the way back up. Now are there any questions before we get started? Yes Jerry..

Jerry: Why don’t we just help ourselves to the first grade room? It’s close to the entrance which is good for me, cause I live right across the street, and the little, little bathrooms are close too. I don’t have to count beans anymore do I? Talk about helping yourselves to stuff, we had a lot of beans go missing at the last place I worked.

Murdo Girl: No you won’t have to count beans. Have you got a self-help class idea we can help ourselves to?

Jerry: Well yes I do. I’m going to teach people to self help themselves to overcome mosquitoes and fleas. I’m going to call it…Jerry’s Mosquito and Fleato…  nomore. It’s a dream come true for me. I’ve always hated bugs of any kind.

 

Pico: I don’t know Jerry, it sounds kind of seasonal to me.

DM: Now Pico, you might should worry about your own help yourself self- help class. It won’t be easy with initials like P.I.C.O.

Pico: Jerry’s not the only one with a dream. I will be teaching Private Investigator COdependency classes.

TC: You’re going to teach people how to spy on themselves to discover codependency issues? Sounds like fun! Where do I sign up? I’m tired of town crying alone. Do I have to wear cheese on my head?

Treason: I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. May I be excused to use the little, little girl’s room?

Murdo Girl: Help yourself Treason. We will adjourn for a 15 minute recess after-which we will reconvene in the convenient first grade room. Good idea Jerry. Do I have a volunteer to ring the self-help bell?

Well it appears the plan for a Whiteboard House full of help yourself self-help classes is moving right along. When the bell rings, we’ll listen to the surprise motivational speaker.

MG: As soon as Coach Applefloor arrives to give his motivational speech intended to fire us up and inspire us to help the whole town self-help themselves, we will continue. What is it Lav?

Lav: I saw Coach Applefloor at recess. He helped himself to a little tether ball contest. That tether ball pole is for real short kids. The Coach has to stoop way down to hit the ball. He’s ahead 3-2 though.

 

 

Murdo Girl: What? Who is he playing?

Lav: Yram Sicnarf ..and she’s whining and complaining.

DM: Oh great!! Sounds like she’s still trying to convince everybody she’s athletic. Another restraining order.. coming up!! Pico..Are you going to have a Dick Tracy decoder ring? I can be a self-help Detective… Detective Man!!!

 

      Kids: We don’t have to go to school anymore?  Queen E: I’m just resting on the stairs

 

 

In case you haven’t heard, we got bumped down to the old grade school building. We call it The Whiteboard House. We have loads of do it yourself self help classes you can attend for a very reasonable fee. How does $0.00 sound to you? We won’t be able to offer these high quality classes for nothing for very long, so do your helpless self a favor and sign up before the cost becomes prohibitive.

The following do it yourself self help classes are currently available at the Whiteboard House

Lav is teaching: Life beyond the red convertible…This is a mental health issue many like Lav struggle with. Just when you think you’ve got it under control, a red convertible passes you, and you run after it like a dog. It can literally take seven years off your life. This class is for those without money who need help. If you’ve got money, then just buy yourself a red convertible. How’s that for a DIY solution. If you’re not flush enough, then take the class. You simply cannot avoid red convertibles the rest of your life. In the meantime, DO NOT VISIT THE PIONEER AUTO MUSEUM.

Sherri, the photographic drawer is teaching: DIY mug shots…You can draw your own mug or someone else’s. Sherri is a real what you call…rule follower. She makes even the most dangerous criminals sign a waiver before she draws their photographic mug. Anyway, you might learn something..I don’t really know. Bring a number 2 pencil and a box of freezer wrap. You’ll need that to mark the feet and inches of the perps you draw…and masking tape..you’ll need that to tape your chart up.

Queen E is teaching: Those who can’t do teach...It’s all about saving money. I know there is no charge for our DIY classes, but time is money right? She goes on and on and on about how to save your money…Just never have any with you …it’s as simple as that. A picture is worth a thousand DIY classes.

 

We have so much more to offer, but I have just been informed that The Murdo Coyote Newspaper has cut us off for this week. I guess they don’t know that ads for our zero cost DIY help yourself classes are PSA’s. Oh well, we at the Whiteboard House pick our battles. When we start charging, we will offer buy one and get another for a penny. Watch for our advertisements.

Our clinically proven motto is: If you point a finger at someself, there are 3 or 4 more pointing back at your DIY.

The local HyVee…I don’t think it matters what day it is.

 

I wonder what these guys are doing. Let’s listen in.

Chris: Hey Mick..what time is it?

Mick: It’s five minutes later than the last time you asked me Chris.

Gordon: Hey Mick..Why wouldn’t you tell Chris what time it is?

Mick: Because, he needs to learn how to tell time.

Roy: Jeez Gordon, are you trying to start something?

Gordon: What?

Frank: Didn’t we just have this same conversation yesterday?

Tom: No, I think it was the day before.

Roy: Hmm..I must not have been here.

Gordon: Yes you were Roy. I remember that shirt.

Roy: Oh yeah, that’s right. I like this shirt.

Chris: Hey Mick..What time is it?

Mick: Chris, why do you need to know what time it is all the time?

Gordon: Can I tell him?

Mick: Tell him what?

Frank: It sure is.

Roy: It sure is what Frank?

Frank: It sure is the same conversation we had day before yesterday. Roy had the same shirt on, and Chris kept asking what time it was.

Tom: Then what happened Frank?

Frank: I think the waitress came over and asked us how long our wives said we had to be gone.

Chris: She sure did. She said it was 10:00 o’clock.

Mick: Oh good, we can go home now.

Guy from Philip: See ya all tomorrow?

Roy, Frank, Tom, Chris, and Gordon: Yup…God willing and the creek don’t rise. Don’t forget your coffee cup.

Mick: Tomorrow we’ll talk about Billy Francis. Remember him?

Frank: Nah, we had that conversation yesterday

**************************

Some of these guys went to school with my brother. The class of 62 had 23 graduates. There were 18 boys and 5 girls. All but one learned how to tell time.

 

 

 

Staying home and writing reruns..

Old People are Funny…by Mary Francis McNinch

Old people are funny. I’m glad I’m not there yet.

They forget to remember, but remember to forget.

Now what was I just saying? Oh yes, I’m not that old.

I’m always far too hot, when the old folks are too cold.

I admit I sometimes have a little trouble with my thinker.

I’m hoping I last longer than the bulb in my left blinker.

If my hair gets any thinner it will look like some old geezer’s.

Each day I pluck the long hairs from my chin with eyebrow tweezers.

The feet I used to run with are now busy growing bunions.

My acid reflux keeps me eating Tums instead of onions.

When I get my bags out to pack for a vacation,

my clothes go in the smallest and in the big bag…medication.

My friends and I agree the latest fashions don’t excite us,

but Katy bar the door if there’s a new cure for arthritis.

It saddens me that I can’t sing and dance much anymore.

My kids say, “Don’t worry mom you never could before.”

I guess it won’t be long now til I’m forced to face the truth.

I heard my Dentist say I’m getting longer in the tooth.

Even though most people call me ma’am instead of honey,

I’m not considered old yet cause I’m really not that funny.

*****************

P.S. When someday I am faced with things yet unforeseen,

I’ll hold my double chin up and remember I’m a queen.

Just one pretty flower

by Mary Francis McNinch

Put a flower on my grave. That’s all she asked of me.

Just one pretty flower that I’ll be sure to see.

She never had a chance they said. She won’t make it through the night.

She might have won some battles, but she’ll lose this final fight.

I tried to say I love you as I stood beside her bed.

She smiled her biggest smile, and this is what she said.

You know I’ll never leave you right? It’s really not that far.

Look through all the darkness. Give my name to one bright star.

“It never did make sense they’ll say. She had little ones to rear.”

“Nothing much that she could do.” I know that’s what you’ll hear.

 I said, what you did mattered, and she held my trembling hand.

She saw her Country struggle and she had to take a stand.

There are those who disagree. It’s their right to think that way.

They might not survive tomorrow, but they’ll live free today.

Tell the kids I love them. Show them my picture now and then.

Tell them where I’m going, but don’t tell them where I’ve been.

I hope the evil can be stopped and we keep our flag unfurled

I gave you all my love she said. My life I gave the world.

The last time she closed her eyes, I knew what she would see

Whatever love looks like ..to those who fought to keep us free.

Put a flower on my grave, that’s all she asked of me.

Just one pretty flower that I’ll be sure to see.

It seems to me that the negatives in our world are out to get the positives. I am not a scholar of such things, but you don’t (usually) have to hit me on the head with a board before I get it. How can anyone be right if no one is wrong? Sometimes it seems that everyone on this great earth wakes up frustrated and goes to bed angry. In the end, we all hang on to life as long as we can, because life is sweet, especially to those who know the end is much closer than the long ago beginning.

If you are still trying to figure out whose fault it was that you were traumatized when you were twelve, how can you enjoy life when you are 40 or 50 or 60? I see inspirational quotes, I hear beautiful music, and I feel alive. I turn on the news, look at the date of birth on my driver’s license, feel a new ache or pain, and I am fearful.

I’m not afraid of death. I’m afraid I won’t live long enough. There is a difference. There is a phrase that captures the essence of life. Without hope, there is nothing. I will add that without love, there is no hope. Love of nature, family, animals, flowers, God, other people, art, poetry, the seasons, reading, work, movies, history, and a million other things foster hope to those who look at it that way. No matter how oppressed we are, given the chance, inclination, and the support of another, I believe we can find hope and maybe even joy. Have you noticed I haven’t mentioned money at all.

It’s not easy to fight through pain and fear. I have succumbed to both more than once. I have used too much energy fighting the wrong battles, winning the wrong wars, and pointing my finger at the wrong people… but guess what?

I’m just like everybody else I know. We all have our crosses to bear. There will always be someone better off than I am, and there will always be those that suffer far more than I do.

I choose to have fun!!

I love this water tower. It was submitted by Nancy Authier. She embellished it, but it is a real photo of a real WT. I have chosen it to be the  Beastertown water tower. Beastertown is another children’s book I am writing about the Beasterhop, who as most of you know, is a rabbit that rides on a bicycle. I am not going to blog the story this time, and I haven’t written it all yet, but I am having a ton of fun taking the photos for it. You know most of this already don’t you?

I am also editing Connie’s story for a book, and writing Dakota’s story, The Whiteboard House, showcasing my Water Tower Collection, and other things on the blog. In between all of these things, I sometimes throw in a load of laundry or say hi to Kip. I have some wonderful friends who pretend to understand me. Pat is especially good at that. I work a couple of days a week, but I can’t really count that because the lady I help out has become a good friend too. (I think you also know all of that.) Oh, and once in a while I go to Goodwill.

We get to go on RV trips, and really enjoy the friendship of some fun fellow RVer’s. When the stars are all aligned, we get to see a few of our 8 grand kids and 3 great grand kids, who are sometimes attached to our four kids and their husbands and wives. We also have 3 doggies and a cat who love us. The dogs mostly like Kip, but the cat likes me the best. Be careful what you wish for.

I can look at the photos I have accumulated in the last 2 years and feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams. I love people and animals that I have never met. Old friends have become new again, and I have come to really appreciate Murdo, the place where I grew up. I have been touched by so many, and my life has become so rich and fulfilled.

Yet…I still get sad, depressed, disappointed, unreasonable, irritated, tired, stubborn, and all those other stupid things.

How much do I know, and when did I know it? Don’t ask me, I’m too busy to answer a dumb question like that.

I was so disappointed yesterday. After walking with my friend Barbara, I stopped at GW to see what was newly old. My eyes went straight to a ceramic pig. She was a bank, I think. Anyway, she was purple and she was wearing a little tutu….And..a shiny crown.

I took my remarkable find to the check-out counter where the clerk looked all over my purple pig for a sticker with the price on it. She couldn’t find one. She said the rule is…if there is no price tag, they can’t sell the item until the next day when someone prices it. I know why they do this. People take price tags off things hoping they can get a better deal. That might work at the Church garage sale, but it is a punishable offense at the GW store.

So they said….

I started to write a poem in my head about Empress the purple pig. I got so attatched to her that I actually decided to stop by and visit her after work. I would take a picture of her…yes! That was a great idea! I could show how I saved her from crashing to the floor in some little kids room and breaking to smithereens.

On Wednesday, I would buy her. (At this point, I was willing to pay any price..within reason.) I would take Empress home and introduce her to all of my Beasterhops and dolls and show her my crowns. But that didn’t happen.

“We sold her about 15 minutes ago,” a different clerk said. “What??” I gasped. “Don’t you know the rules around here?” I frightened her, I think, but I had to leave anyway so she wouldn’t see me cry.

I thought it might help if I wrote a different poem about Empress.

“Then can we Pleeeze get back to Dakota’s story?”

“Yes Soo’-TAH..Good boy.”

Empress

I’m Empress the dancing pig. My agent thought he had me a gig.

But when it never did pan out, my owner kicked my pig can out.

She took me to the GW store…My price tag fell on the floor.

I fear no one will know my worth? My tutu barely fits my girth.

A real strange  nice person wanted me. She said her heart was filled with glee!

Cause no one knew how much I cost. Another chance for me, was lost.

Couldn’t they just take a guess? Then I could be a great success!!

The stranger said not to worry, for tomorrow she would hurry.

She said, “I’ll come and buy you honey, shine your crown, and give you money

to fill your empty hole inside. You’ll wear that purple crown with pride!

She said she’d take me off this shelf and teach me to self help myself.

Well… that glorious life was not to be. Another person purchased me.

She didn’t give me a chance to show her how this pig can dance.

She took me to a real nice store. Will I stay here forever more?

She gave me a close inspection. She wanted me for her collection.

It seems I’m worth thousands more, than the price she paid at the Goodwill store.

The above story is true..I found this pig picture on the internet.. Empress was purple. This one goes well with my Francis Plumbing and Heating ceramic commode.

This is a rerun, but the message hasn’t changed. Gus is still living in California. He sees Billy almost every Saturday, and spends the holidays with my family or Billy’s. He even played Santa Claus for our Grandkids last Christmas.

We have been able to get out to California more often since Kip retired, and we travel more now in the RV. We are all very thankful you came into our lives Gus. Happy Birthday on 5/30.

I decided to do something a little different for today’s Murdo Girl, because my thoughts are on a very special person in my life, and he’s turning 85 in a couple of days.

Many of you Murdoites know Gus Gustafson. He and Mom had been married 38 years when she passed away on December 30, 2008. He had never been married before Mom, but he certainly knew how to be a great husband, second-Dad, and Grandpa.

Gus was such a great Santa Claus last Christmas Eve at our Daughter Heidi’s home. The little kids were very excited. After he changed clothes later, he walked through the kitchen and our Granddaughter Skyler said, “Are you Gus?” He said… uh..yes.” He thought, “oh no, she knows.” She said, “Santa has got some presents for you. When he called your name, he told us to put them in a pile.”

******************

Mom was definitely one of a kind. I’ll copy her phrase here. Truer words were never spoken, but life with her was never dull. Billy and I will be eternally grateful for the love and caring spirit Gus unfailingly demonstrated in all the years he shared his life with Loretta. If patience is a virtue, then he is the most virtuous person I know. Please understand, he would never say this about himself.

Mom and Gus did some traveling during the months the motel was closed for the winter. On one of their trips a shaggy dog found them. Some local kids said they knew his name was Trouble, but his owners were no longer around. Trouble didn’t have tags and seemed to be in need of humans, so Mom and Gus invited him to be their permanent companion.

It was a two-day trip back to Murdo, so they stayed in a motel that first night. When they got up the next morning, Mom opened the door of the motel room and let Trouble out. Gus expressed some concern. Maybe their new friend wouldn’t find his way back. Mom said, “Any dog that doesn’t know how to get back to its owners is good for nothing anyway.” Trouble knew a good deal when he saw it, and was back in time, ready to occupy his new place in the front seat of the car with Gus. Mom liked to sit in the back anyway, so she could lay down and rest when she wanted to.

Trouble enjoyed life at the motel. He learned to recognize Aunt Elna’s car, because he loved the leftovers she brought him. In fact, when he saw her car coming, he would run and get his pan to greet her. In his excitement, he would jump up on the driver’s side with the pan in his mouth and bang it on her window. Fearful he would scratch her car door, she started driving by and throwing the food out the window. That was just fine with Trouble. He had it in a flash.

I looked everywhere for the picture of my son Mason, who was about 3, and Trouble. Mom loved the picture, because of the story behind it. Mason is playing with Trouble and holding a toy sheep. The sheep was part of a set of farm animals that belonged to David Edwards, who lived across the street. David’s parents owned the Graham Motor Lodge. Mom occasionally  took Mason over to play with David, and it appeared that Mason had purloined the sheep. Mom said she didn’t realize what had happened until one day David’s Mom Cynthia, mentioned that David knew all the animal sounds…except the sheep.

It was almost as much fun to holler, “Here Trouble,” as it was to call for Berferd, plus we could always say, “Here comes Trouble!” In later years, if Mom wasn’t feeling well, Trouble would instinctively know, and didn’t leave her side until he could see she felt better.

By the time I moved to Gillette, Wyoming, Mom and Gus had sold the motel and purchased a travel trailer. They moved to the Crazy Woman campground in Gillette where Gus worked construction, and Mom had a job she loved at the Rock Pile Museum across the street. They soon befriended Charlie and Becky, who were from back East and also lived in the Crazy Woman Campground. One day Becky was out hosing down their parking area and a fellow camper sped by in his pickup. The dust and dirt flew. Becky was irritated, so she turned her hose on him. He had his driver’s side window open so he got doused pretty good.

Later that evening, Charlie was sitting in his favorite chair enjoying the daily newspaper, when the door to their motor home opened and some guy threw a bucket of water all over him. Imagine Charlie’s surprise.

Mom and Becky were quite a pair. They loved to shop with coupons. Mom was really excited about one of her coupons until the cashier told her it was expired. “But that’s my best one,”she said. It must have ruined their whole shopping experience.

I hope I have remembered a few of Gus’s favorite stories. He still talks about Trouble and what a good dog he was.

Eventually, Mom, Gus, and Trouble moved to Ontario, California. My brother Bill’s company managed the parking at the Ontario Airport, and they did some work counting the in and out traffic for him . One day Mom left the airport to go get some donuts and accidentally got on the freeway. She said she told God if he got her safely off that freeway, she would never drive again. I think she kept that promise.

Gus still lives in Ontario and manages the RV park where the travel trailer has been parked for many years. He facilitates Bible study classes at the local Salvation Army, and also helps them distribute food to those in need. He enjoys steak night at the American Legion and helps out with their functions.

Every Saturday that Bill is in town, he meets Gus at the Pomona Fairplex, where they have simulcast horse racing. They always say they hope to break even, because they sure could use the money.

Gus comes to Texas once a year for Christmas or Thanksgiving, and we try to go see him at least once during the year. He spends other holidays with Bill and his family who live in Los Angeles. Gus’s nephew Mark and his wife Marlene live in Rapid City, so he visits them and their kids and grandkids.

He’s always interested in hearing news of the Sanderson family and other friends in Murdo. Gus was very saddened to hear of Dwight Hurst’s passing.

Gus is a stand-up guy and we love him very much. We hope you’ll join us in wishing him a happy 85th birthday (5/30), and continued good health. He shares the day with my Sister-in-law Liz, (Happy Birthday Liz.) Bill always takes them to the restaurant of their choice to celebrate.

It’s Monday morning at the Brick Help Yourself House. Murdo Girl and Lav are in what used to be the high school superintendent’s office before it was the Oblong Office, before it was the HYSTERIA (Help Your Self To Evolutionary Real Interesting Aid) Office.

MG: Just listen to all that racket going on out there Lav. People must be lined up for blocks just waiting to sign up for our DIY self help classes. We are finally getting the big break we need. Soon the money will be pouring in. I would bet my last bean on it.

Lav: (Looking out the window) Umm MG, What does demolition mean? Is it kinda like when there’s a big heavy ball being lifted way up into the sky by a crane? It’s beautiful to see, but there are no people standing in line…

MG: What?? (Murdo Girl runs over to the window just as the wrecking ball hits the window of the Rose Garden Room, which was named after the White House Rose Garden, only on account of a short growing season, the city decided to put the roses inside. The flower fertilizer creates quite a stench, but the roses are beautiful.)

They’re trying to knock this place down!! I thought we had another week to come up with the money to get this place out of hock. Do they have no shame? This multi-use brick house used to be Murdo’s answer to the White House. What are they thinking?

Lav: Well MG..it’s a pretty sad day. A pretty sad ending to our Next Pres Reign. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty sad. Think I’ll go hang my crown up. Then I’m going to make like a tree and leave before this whole place comes crashing down around us.

Murdo Girl doesn’t hear a word of what Lav just said, but she is feeling pretty sad. She decides to go down to the employee lounge for one last cup of coffee. The lounge is downstairs, so it will be a little while before the wrecking ball can get to it.

When she gets to the employee lounge, she is very surprised that no one is sitting at the table drinking coffee. Maybe it’s because all of the chairs are gone.

The coffee pot is gone too. Thanks for the memories employee lounge.

MG: I guess I’ll go on down to the gym. Maybe I’ll run into one of the gang. Funny, it’s been years since the Coyotes played basketball in here, but it still smells like dirty socks and butch wax. I have a lot of great memories of Next Pres Pressers here. I remember the time TC and the Queen got kidnapped and the bad guys released TC during one of the pressers and the electricity went out just as they took her blindfold off. It was dark down here and she thought she was blind. There’s nothing worse than a blind Town Crier unless it’s a Photo bombing Queen.

 MG continues on her nostalgic tour of the Brick House, which is in the process of being destroyed by a wrecking ball.

MG: One of my fondest memories was of the Espressofest. That was DM’s brilliant idea. It would have been okay if the townspeople of Murdo hadn’t gone into caffeine overload.

EXCERPT of the Crown contest:

There are three judges including the Queen. They have been cautioned not to consider the value of the crowns. We don’t want to know. The Brick House gets to keep all the crowns as part of their take..I mean donations. It’s all “not for profit,” because we don’t want to have any tax troubles, which could keep the money tied up for years. This was the advice of our new Lawyer Gentril. That’s an Attorney General who can’t pass the bar. Ours turns into the Buffalo Bar every time he goes by, but at least we know where to find him.

The DM (Defense Monitor..He never can keep a secret), Bean Counter, (couldn’t find a bean if it was pasted on his forehead), The Gentril, and the Judge…(Queen E judged the Espressofest Crown contest. She was ruthless!)

**********************************************

MG: Well, I like nostalgia as much as the Next Pres, but I sort of feel like it’s time to move on. (A wrecking ball smashing against the side of your office tends to make you face reality.)

Murdo Girl makes her way to the back door…woops! There is no back door, so it’s off to the open space that used to be the front door. She is really feeling sad by this time. Not one shelf of her self help cabinet has stopped by to talk about old times.

Funny…They had seemed really interested in the new business model. Self help is the answer to every burning question I can think of except one…What’s next for the old Next Pres?

SURPRISE!!!!!

All of the staff and most of the townspeople, (well at least 3), were waiting on the front lawn. They were clapping. (clap, clap). Sherri the photographic drawer was drawing a photograph of the unbelievable scene! Carol the singer was belting out “Oh Here’s for Murdo Coyotes! A I was buzzing the building with her airplane, and you can bet Treason was right there with her.!!!!! DM, PICO, TC, and even the Queen were all there, and they were smiling from ear to ear!!! Wait..the 3 Murdoites turned out to be the body guards, Bart, Smart and Brave-heart. Too bad…they would have fit right in to the Self Help stuff. Speaking of someone who needs help…here comes Yram Sicnarf. All of her restraining orders must have been lifted.

Lav: (Comes running up to MG). Come on MG, she says. We’ve got to get to work!!

MG: Lav..This was all fun and games until the building got hurt, but you must get a hold of yourself and face reality. They are tearing this place apart brick by brick. There is no longer a The Brick House.

Photographic drawing by Sherri (copied from a photo taken by Dianna)

Lav Points to the sky…A I is flying low..and what’s this I see? A Banner? 

“Come to The Bored Help Your Self House, or just The Bored House for short..Which happens to be painted white.” 

MG: Huh??

Lav: We’re going to the REAL White House MG. Yup… We don’t even have to go to Washington DC. We’re going to set up shop at the old grade school right down the street, and it’s built from wood instead of brick! We even have a bored crown for you MG.

MG: You spell that b-o-a-r-d Lav!!

Lav: Pico is down there getting all the nuts and mints ready, and guess what else? Today is her birthday so we’re giving her a help yourself self help surprise party!

Everybody claps (clap clap), and cheers, (cheer cheer).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PICO!!!

You looked so lovely at the Inaugracorination…Here’s the description of your memorable eco-friendly gown.

Pico will look lovely in her gown of plant leaves. She even found some tomato earrings. If anyone craves a salad later, I’m sure she’ll oblige. The only downside to the gown is that it has to be watered every 20 minutes. There’s a sign-up sheet in the men’s room.

Pico: My official title is Person In Charge Of Brick House Functions, or Pico for short. Picobhf was too hard to spit out. I plan all the parties of which there have been many. Today all I had to do was put out a few nuts and mints and clean the bathrooms.

Happy Birthday Mari Jackson

from Your Brick House friends and readers.