Sammie on the left, and Patti on the right, started getting a little nervous 2 days before we left.
Our first day is in the books and we did okay. We finished packing the RV, loaded up the 3 dogs and a cat, hooked up the Jeep and boogied. We drove 315 miles, which was a good distance considering we didn’t leave until after 10:00.
In the RV..They’re pretty relaxed now.
We stopped at an RV park in Snyder, Texas. This is not a pretty place. However, there is a water tower close by so I’ll snap a picture when it starts getting light out this morning. It sure won’t be a scenic one like all of you have been sending me. Here are two pics I snapped yesterday. I don’t think it’s going to work to take them out the window of the motor home.
It’s not true that all water towers look alike. Some are beautiful and some are ugly. These are ugly.
The animals and Kip soon fell into the routine that worked well for us last year. I am having to relearn everything. There are a lot of things to do when setting up at night and we each have assigned tasks. In the morning, we put our little house back in order and hit the road again.
It’s 400 miles from Snyder to Santa Fe, NM. I don’t know if we’ll make it all the way today. We plan to spend 2 nights and see the sights we missed when we were there last year.
You can’t see it in this photo, but Kip is setting up a plant watering system he found online last year. It has little tenacles (on timers) that you poke down in the dirt. It will water your plants as often and as much as you want while you’re gone The water is in a bucket sitting in the sink. We use one system for 3 plants. It worked great when we were gone for six weeks last fall.
You might recognize the golden retriever in the picture. We call her Cyndie, but some call her Pearl.
This plant is a hoya vine. Kip’s Grandmother brought the original plant from Germany many years ago. Most of our family and some friends have vines grown from slips off this one. We brought this plant with us when we moved to Texas from Colorado in 1986. It was the only plant that didn’t freeze in the moving van. It gets beautiful, fragrant flowers on it at different times during the year.
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Last night in the dark, this looked like a water towerLlamas we saw while walking the dogs this morning
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LESSON OF THE DAY: Must improve water tower recognition. Practice relearned skills such as turning on the TV.
It’s Monday morning at the Brick House. (Isn’t it always?) Next Pres Murdo Girl is in the Oblong office. She is waiting for her crack up reporter to get there. It seems everyone likes to hang out in the employee lounge, because it doesn’t have a phone. They’ve all figured out they can eat, drink and gossip at their leisure and without interruption. Murdo Girl makes a mental note to put a phone in the break room as soon as she can free up some funds. Murdo Girl makes a mental note to check on the crown sales. They practically had to tear those crowns off the contestants, but hey! A deal’s a deal. They all knew the crowns were to be sold, with the proceeds going to support the Brick House. Murdo Girl’s thoughts are interrupted. Yram has arrived and Lav is with her.
Murdo Girl: Thank you for coming Yram. Why are you here Lav?
Lav: Well since I found out I’m the designated survivor, I’ve made everything that goes on around here my business. You could turn sickly Next Pres and be unable to handle stuff. That would be a real game changer, now wouldn’t it? We sure wouldn’t want this place to identify with a false narrative.
Murdo Girl: A false what? Lav..do you even know what you’re talking about? I’ve got to talk to Yram. You can listen if you want to.
Yram: Sighing..What is it Next Pres? Are you going to fire me?
Murdo Girl: Not yet Yram. I’m going to give you another chance. I have lined up a really important interview for you, but I’ve got to get you off house arrest first, and get all those restraining orders lifted. In order to do that, you have to cop a plea. I made a deal with the devil.
Lav: Sitting on the edge of her seat…It’s Barney isn’t it MG? Barney is the devil.
Murdo Girl: Yes… Yram, you have to spend two nights locked up in the Jones County Jail. Yram’s eyes look funny. Her breathing is shallow. She is visibly shaken.
Lav: Ooh Next Pres, she doesn’t look so good. I gotta go. I’m not good with this kind of thing. Wait..It looks like she might be coming around.
Yram: Okay Murdo Girl…I’ll take one for the team. I’ll do what you have asked of me. I guess I was destined for martyrdom, or is it designed for martyrdom? You’re the designated survivor Lav. I guess I’m the lone survivor.
Murdo Girl: You won’t be going by yourself. Jerry is going with you. Barney said if I gave him Yram and one other member of my team, he would lift the Brick House arrest on everybody. Besides, Yram has to write letters to all the people who have restraining orders against her. That will take the better part of the two days she’ll be in jail. Jerry can help her.
Lav: Good idea Next Pres. Jerry has very good penmanship. He can even write that real pretty calligraphy. Mr. Palmer, Mr. Thune, Mr. Applebee, Mrs. Peters, and all those people from Gun Barrel will be impressed.
Yram: When do I have to turn myself in Murdo Girl? I can’t believe I’m going to spend time in the slammer. Yup..just like all those famous reporters who refused to give the names of their sources. I might just be the biggest hero this town has ever seen. I won’t say a word about whatever this is all about. I don’t care what they do to me. What do you think they’ll do to me MG?
Lav: Well Yram, I’m not an expert on this or anything, but I’ve talked to people and if they don’t get anything out of you by depriving you of sleep and food, they might hypnotize you.
Murdo Girl: Just go get your toothbrush Yram and I’ll have Braveheart drive you and Jerry over to the jailhouse in the Jeep. Any Questions?
Yram: Um Murdo Girl..What really great interview did you get me?
Murdo Girl: Lav, will you send Pico, DM, A I, Treason, TC, Carol the singer, and Sherri the Photographic Drawer, Bart, Smart, Barnella, no not Barnella..Oh, never mind, I’ll just go to the break room.
I have two favors to ask of you Murdo Girl readers. The first is a request from Judy Dykstra Brown. If you aren’t already following her blog, you should. I’m trying to learn from her. She is compiling a list of words people dislike intensely and should not be a part of the English language. I gave her amazing. I think it is an amazingly overused word. You can post a comment on facebook, or on the blog. You can also post it on Judy’s blog, Lifelessons. http://judydykstrabrown.com/
For my second request, I wrote a poem, and for a special treat, I have included another poem I received from a good friend.
As all of you know by now, The Espressofest, which was held yesterday at the Haug Land Field, is over and done with. It was billed as a Brick House fundraiser. The good news is, nobody has to count money. The bad news is, The Haug Land sign that was secured above the West goal post has to come down. Whoever ordered the sign put an extra H in Haug. It was spelled Haugh, which is incorrect. Personally, if someone hadn’t pointed it out to me, I never would have noticed it. Mr. Haugland, however did and proceeded to draw attention to the little gaff. Secondly, the football coach didn’t like the sign on the goal post. He said it would be in the line of vision of the kicker and mess with his concentration. It will go back up on the concession stand when we get one. The funds from the sale of the crowns from the Crown Contest should cover most of it. How much can a little concession stand cost?
That brings us to the Crown Contest. As promised, we are publishing the results. If you think the report was hastily put together, you could be right. Sherri had to draw as fast as her little pencils would go, and I have no idea who wrote the copy. I guess it was Treason. I know there are no interviews of the winner, because Yram had to leave early. It all worked out anyway, because I hear the winner can’t talk.
The following was reported to The Murdo Coyote Newspaper:
Below is a random sample of some of the would be Queens modeling their crowns
On the left is Sherri the Photographic Drawer. She even drew her own photograph, which can’t be easy. Sherri is such a dedicated drawer. She even made sure she had all the colors needed to exactly depict each entrant wearing their entry.
In the middle is Kim, who requested her last name not be published. Nevertheless, her red and gold crown is really beautiful and versatile. It fits her hairstyle perfectly, and it will add beauty to any outfit. Except maybe orange. I wouldn’t wear orange if I were you. Thank you Kim.
Next is Pearl, wearing her signature crown that doubles as an ashtray. All she has to do is flick her ashes inside the headpiece which is made of ceramic. She can place her burning cig between the crown spikes, that also function as a cigarette holder. There is room for more than one, but Pearl says if she has too many friends smoking with her, the top of her head gets overheated. Thank you Pearl. I understand you’re new in town. Welcome.
It’s important for The Brick House, otherwise known as The Peoples House, to show we do not discriminate, which is why we forced, excuse me ha, invited Don to bring his somewhat plain, but overwhelming crown. Good luck Don. It’s truly hard to believe the things you can make out of a coffee can and a little spray paint.
A I is the middle crown bearer. I think she looks amazing in her crown that has to be one of a kind. A I pilots the Coyote Administration’s airplane, otherwise known as Air Force Minus One. Just look at her jewel covered earphones. Thank you A I. I think you’ve got a real crack at winning this thing. CAN YOU HEAR ME A I?
Karen is the one in the middle. She doesn’t want her last name in print either, but she’s a sister to Kim, so maybe that’ll help you identify her. She has a really unique crown made from feathers and gold. That head bling just might bring a bundle at the Crown sale.
Third is some little girl with her cardboard birthday crown. There’s always next year honey. Maybe if you give the judges a piece of cake…
Now we’re getting down to the dregs. Looks like Sherri either ran out of the colors she needed or she was just plain tired.
Tammy forgot her crown, but she’s a sweet kid, so we let her wear her cute little hat.
Two and Three are holdovers from days gone by. Some people just can’t let go of the past. It’s kind of sad.
Anyway, we do have a winner. She was a last minute entrant, because she was just recently born. Her name is Murdo Baby. (Just kidding.)
THE WINNER
Congratulations baby girl. There’s your prize cup. Maybe Mamma can figure out a way to make it a sippy cup. Be a good little girl and maybe someday all your dreams will come true. You can always run for Murdo Girl. She’s getting kind of long in the tooth, but if Queen E. can last through every Pres since Truman, so can I. I mean she.
It’s the day of the Espressofest and there’s good news and a teenie weenie little bit of bad news. Even though the Murdoites weren’t that crazy about espresso, they did seem to enjoy the Folgers dark brew with a touch of nondairy powdered creamer and sugar…lots and lots of sugar, which brings me to the bad news. Many of the town’s older folks experienced heart palpitations that drove them to distraction. I mean the Brewster Buster Booth ran out of cots an hour into the festivities. The caffeine overload and low blood sugar attacks were like forces of evil infiltrating what should have been a fun time for all.
Who are you calling old?
They had to air flight 2 people. Well, don’t catch me lying here. A I managed to put Air force minus one down on Haug Land and picked up the two attendees who were hyperventilating the most. She just circled the field a couple of times and set it back down. She didn’t have enough fuel to get to Pierre to the hospital and fly the Murdo Girl Banner around. The pressurised cockpit must have done the trick because the two de-planed and walked off under their own power.
Tell them to let go of the banner. It goes behind Air Force -1..Please do not let Lav fly the plane.
My name is Stewardess. What’s Yours?
The coffee cake walk started out good. Some folks managed to “walk it off,” but it would have helped if the winners hadn’t let the victory go to their heads along with the sugar and the caffeine. Some of the Murdo ladies worked hard on those coffee cakes. The idea was to walk in a circle until the music stopped. If you landed on a square that said, “Cake,” You won a cake. I fail to see why anyone would want to cheat, but nevertheless, when the song, “Na Na Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye” stopped, someone anticipated and stopped one Na short. A cake throwing fight broke out, and that was the end of that.
We didn’t get a plane ride. the whole thing was rigged
Meanwhile, The Brick House team has bigger problems. Yram decided to do one of her crack up interviews. Thank you Jerry for saving the day. Here’s what happened.
Yram: Jerry..come here. I need your help. I want to snag an interview with the field’s namesake, Mr. Haugland. I’ve spent my life in therapy because he impugned me during basketball practice..
Jerry: I thought you spent your whole life in therapy because of Mr. Thune, Mrs. Peters, and the Coach. Wasn’t that Murdo Girl who was in therapy? I thought you were from Texas. What does impugned mean?
Can I quit?This is my cup of tea
Yram: Don’t you ever read the dictionary Jerry? It means to cast doubt upon. He cast doubt upon my athletic prowess and everyone looked at me differently after that. I mean Murdo Girl must have felt that way. I identify with her a lot.
Jerry: Really? What does prowess mean Yram?
Yram: Oh for goodness sake Jerry. It means skill, expertise, mastery, aptitude, dexterity and stuff like that. Now come on, I see the object of our stealth (which means surreptitiousness, which means sneakiness), standing under the goal post that bares his name..Perfecto!!
Jerry: Perfecto! Finally a word I can understand. Who is that other guy standing next to him?
Yram: I don’t know, but I’m sure my leading questions will reveal his identity. (Yram yells and whistles.) “MR. HAUGLAND! WHEOWHIT!!”My name is Yram Sicnarf and I’m a crack up reporter from Gun Barrel City, TX. Our motto is “We Shoot Straight!” Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?
Mr. Haugland: Never mind the questions, do you know who put this sign up on the goal post?
Yram: Assuming he is pleased with the recognition Murdo has given him by the Haugh Land Field Declaration Proclamation, Yram smiles and nods.
Mr. Haugland: I’m offended, very offended, and nobody likes to offend me, because they know I don’t take offensiveness well.. unless it’s coaching the offense during a girl’s basketball game. You might shoot straight Miss, although you look more like the air ball type to me.. You spelled my name wrong..There is an H in that sign. It doesn’t belong there. Are you sure you weren’t on my team? I just had a flashback..Yes you had a 1 on your uniform.
He said I was in his space..Geez
Yram: She’s not me. I mean I’m not me. I’m just someone I identify with.
Jerry: I had nothing to do with it Mr. Haugland. I’m not a girl and I don’t even like girl’s basketball. It’s lame, really lame!
Mr. Haugland: Well kid, at least you spelled my name correctly. Now if you will excuse me, I’m going over to crown the winner of the crown competition.
Yram: To the guy still standing there..Wow! He was brutal! I noticed you’ve been standing under this goal post for a few days now. Who are you and why are you here?
Man under the Goal Post: I’m a past Murdo football player. I’m here to tend my goal. I’m goaltending. Oh wait..that’s basketball. Darn..I’m going to watch the crown contest with Mr. Haug Land. See ya!
Jerry: That guy’s a dead ringer for DM.
Is there going to be fireworks?
Yram: Geez..Murdo Girl is going to be upset with a capital U..It will take all the money we made today to put up a new sign.
Jerry: I think that is stupendous with a capital S. I won’t have to count the money. I get tired of counting bean money, tax money, and Espressofest money. I miss the old days when I just had to walk around with a bank bag. I never did have any money in there, but everybody thought I was doing a great job.
Yram: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Jerry. What does stupendous mean? I don’t remember reading about it in the dictionary. Never mind. I’ll come with you to the crown contest.
The whole Coyote team was at the crown contest. It was the absolute highlight of the Espressofest. The display of crowns was spectacular! Everyone was so excited when the judges handed the envelope to Murdo Girl. At last the winner would be announced.
The Judges of the Crown Contest
They Hit
Murdo Girl: Smiles as she opens the envelope. Her smile turns into a frown. People gather closer and closer..What? It appears the envelope doesn’t contain the long awaited results..Murdo Girl hands it to Yram. What does it say, she asks?
Yram: It’s another restraining order..I can’t go within 500 ft. of Mr. Haugland with just 1 capital H… or his sign.
Well that just took the wind out of everybody’s sales. The luster left. The excitement faded like the setting sun.
Murdo Girl: Let’s all take a little coffee break before we announce the Crown Contest winner. TC..will you please Town Cry and roundup a ride back to the Brick House for Yram? Hopefully you’ll be able to find someone who doesn’t have a restraining order against her.
I’m Pearl. Sherri Photographic Drew my picture.
Look for the crown contest winners in The Murdo Coyote Sunday Edition
The town of Murdo is buzzing about the upcoming Espressofest. Actually, they’re buzzed because of all the jitter juice they’ve been consuming. You see, the main attraction at the event will be the “Espresso Brew Off” at Haug Land. It’s our High School football field, and it’s named after our former Superintendent, Mr. Haugland. It’s pretty nice out there now. They filled in the 3 ft. deep cracks in the ground, planted some grass, and put up a second goal post. It’s a good thing. Before, both teams had to run West and it caused a lot of confusion and strife.
Gotta kick it high Eddie or you’ll ruin the sign! Knock off that extra H
This is going to be the most fun ever, and that’s saying something for a Murdo Brick House event. We also needed a Brick House fundraiser. The tax money Lav and Treason earned at Sanderson’s Store is gone. Not only that, Lav and the gang got evicted from the rooms above the store. One of their poker games got busted while they were on Brick House arrest. They thought as long as they were in a house they were okay, but they were supposed to be at the Brick House. It’s a long story, but it seems another, more respectable family has moved in anyway, so there’s no going back.
One of the other main events will be the Crown Contest. Anyone can enter. You don’t even have to be royalty. The Queen has posted an “Order of Royalty” sign, which tells you just how royal you are, but that’s just FYI.
The Queen is judging the crown contest. She could be tough!
There are three judges including the Queen. They have been cautioned not to consider the value of the crown. 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 every time he goes by, but at least we know where to find him.
Otis is the Lawyer Gentril
Other events will be the coffee cake walk, and the bean eating contest. The latter was going to be followed by a chili cook off, but wiser heads prevailed. The amount of Beano and Tums we would have to buy to neutralize all the after effects, would put a big hole in the proceeds. If we didn’t provide the antacids, we fear there might be some big holes blown in “other things.” It’s one of those no win(d) situations.
Let’s head over to the Brick House to see how all the preparations are going.
DM: This was such a good idea! Does anyone know who came up with it? I think this is going to top the parade, the Inaugracorination, and all the other parties we’ve had. Who’s stupendous idea was this anyway? That person, whoever it is, must be brilliant! And it’s going to be at Haug Land! That’s my favorite place in the whole world. I love hanging out there.
Pico: Yes DM we know. We don’t have a clue who’s brainstorm it was, but it sure will be fun, fun, fun for everyone! It’s good to get away from the daily grind every once in a while.
Murdo Girl: The important thing is that we remain calm and look out for the safety of our team and the town. If you see someone who has consumed too much caffeine, please take them to the Brewster Buster stand. We don’t need another kidnapping or jail time. Where’s A I? I need her to fly a banner over the football field.
I’ve got to remember to take the banner down.
Treason, are you keeping track of the contestants for the Espresso Brew Off?
Treason: Sure am Next Pres. We’ve got five booths so far. We ran in to a cuppula snags though. No one knew what espresso was. I had to call six of my sisters before I found one who could tell me. It’s coffee that is so strong you can stand a spoon up in it. You also need a special machine that brews the stuff and makes foam. I haven’t been able to find one. We might have to go to Rapid City or Pierre.
Can I be the Barista too? Sherri drew this didn’t she?Charles is coming
Murdo Girl: That’s too much trouble. Let’s just tell everybody to bring the strongest coffee they can. I think Folgers makes a pretty dark brew. Go check at Super Value, and see if they’ll donate some of that powdered cream too.
Pico: Carol and I are really organized Murdo Girl. We got Herman Bork’s Band, and we also talked his sister Cynthia into bringing her karaoke machine. She’s got thousands of songs. She’s going to bring her sister Suzanne and..Wait for it!.. The High School Chorus. Here’s the words to the song they’re gonna sing. It comes from a Frank Sinatra song, There’s an awful lot of Coffeein Brazil. We changed the words some.
There’s an awful lot of Coffee in Murdo Town
You date a girl and find out later She smells just like a percolator Her perfume was made in a Murdo coffee still And dunking doesn’t take a lot of skill, skill, skill!
And when your ham and eggs need savor Coffee ketchup gives ’em flavor Coffee pickles way outsell the dill hands down
We put coffee in the coffee in Murdo town, town, town.
No tea, no tomato juice You’ll see no potato juice
The planters by White River all say “No, no, no!”
Don’t ever gulp your coffee. Drink it slow.
You’ll add to the local color Serving coffee with a crueller And if you ever tire of grinding beans, beans, beans Super Value has a bean changing machine.
FOR MORE BUZZ, read part 2, Too Many H’s🐷🐷🐷it’s a 3 snorter
Murdo sure looks different without very many people in it. It’s unbelievable that so many went to find so few. I’m thinking everybody just wanted to vacation in the hills. They all said, “Well if so and so is going, then I’m going.” The only people left behind are Barney, Barnella, Thelma Lou, and of course, Yram. She couldn’t go because of all the people who have restraining orders against her. Making sure she wasn’t closer than 500 ft. of them would have been a logistical nightmare. The Buffalo Bar is open, but that’s about it. I almost forgot. The bodyguards stayed behind to guard The Brick House. Let’s go on over there and see what’s happening. Looks like Bart, Smart, and Braveheart are making the rounds. Barnella and Yram are in the break room, and what?? Lav and Jerry are there too!
Lav: What are you doing here Barnella? I thought you’d be over at the Harold Thune Auditorium for the pancake supper. Isn’t it a Barney and Barnella birthday bash?
Barnella: They cancelled it when everybody left town. They gave us a $15.00 Starbucks gift certificate. Do you know what a Starbucks is?
Lav: Sure do.. It’s French for “Beans on every Corner.” I’m not sure what a gift certificate is. It sounds complicated. Why wouldn’t they just give you 3..$5’s, or a $10 and a $5, or if you and Barney have to split it, they could give you each $7.50. That would be a whole lot simpler.
Jerry: Yup Lav, if anybody would know about simple, it would be you. Why didn’t you go with everyone to find the Queen and Sherri?
Lav: Because I’m the Designated Survivor. If Next Pres Murdo Girl gets mowed down by Falling Rock, I will be Next Next Pres. Why didn’t you go Jerry? Even a bean counter needs a break. I guess now that Super Value has a machine that counts beans and spits out quarters, you’re not really what you call “Essential Personnel” anymore are you? Hey! When the guys get done making the rounds, do you all want to play some poker?
Barnella: Not me..I’m broke. What I need is a job. Oh great..Here comes Yram. I wonder where she’s been? There aren’t too many places she can go anymore.
Yram walks in looking haggard, sad, and defeated.
Yram: Boy do I feel haggard, sad, and defeated. I have never been so bummed out. I wanted to go to the Nemo cabin so bad..I love that place. Now it’s just a hideout for Queen captors. What is becoming of this world anyway? I don’t know what to do. I can’t even go back to Gun Barrel City.
Jerry: Why can’t you go back to GBC, Yram?
Yram: Too many restraining orders. It would be a logistical nightmare. Hey, I’m hungry. Would one of you go over to the pancake supper and bring me back some pancake’s? I need some comfort food.
Lav: No can do Yram. They cancelled it because everyone left town. We’re all hungry. Hey! is there still some tax money left? We could grab a handful and go eat a steak at the Buffalo Bar. A steak and a baked potato.
Yram: And a salad! A steak, baked potato and a salad!
Lav: With Ranch Dressing! A steak, baked potato..
Jerry: Quit it! Just Quit it! I’ll go see if I can find some funds. Be right back! If Smart, Bart, and Braveheart get back, tell them to stick around. They can give us all a ride out there in the Jeep.
Later that night… The bummed out bunch return to The Brick House. They have a police escort.
Lav:What does it mean to be under house arrest anyway? Barney didn’t exactly explain it too well.
Jerry: Look at the bright side. At least we don’t have to wear ankle bracelets like Bart, Smart, and Braveheart.
Yram: I’m starting to feel really claustrophobic. I think I’m going to hyperventilate. Does anyone have a paper bag I can breathe into? My career is over. How can I be a crack up reporter if I can’t go anywhere?
Lav: Now Yram, don’t overreact. Maybe you can just call people and invite them over. I’m sure there’s still a few people out there who’ll still talk to you.
Yram: Sometimes I wish you weren’t one of them Lav. This is all Barnella’s fault.
Lav: Now Yram don’t blame her. Who knew the Buffalo Bar wouldn’t take a Starbucks gift certificate? It’s Jerry’s fault for not remembering where he put the tax money.
Barnella has been sullen and quiet through all of this. She’s feeling bad because her twin brother Barney is mad at her for stiffing her bill at the Buffalo. She looks out the window and sees a bus pull up.
Barnella: Well, Pico, Sherri the Photographic Drawer, and a bunch of Murdoites are back. I don’t see Next Pres Murdo Girl or the Queen. TC, DM, and Carol aren’t with them either. Where’s A I? Where’s Treason??
Meanwhile back at the Nemo Cabin…
Murdo Girl: So do you want to play in the creek today, or cops and robbers in the Forrest?
The Queen: Look who’s coming up the road? Just in time for tea.
Murdo Girl: Oh no! Just what we don’t need. A Town Crier that cries all the time and Carol the singer.If I hear “I did it My Way” one more time, I’m going to hurt her!!
Habark, Habark.. So much for ditching everybodyI wonder why they dropped me off at …Haugh Land?
The whole town of Murdo is coming together in an effort to find the Queen. Her poor Royal Highness was abducted the night of the Inaugracorination Dance. The Town Crier was also taken, but they brought her back. We all think they got sick of hearing her cry all the time. The red convertible from the Pioneer Auto Museum is missing as well. We’re pretty sure, if we find the Queen, we’ll find the car. So far, there has been no word about the napper’s demands.
We join the Murdoites as they prepare to embark on their search. Yram Sicnarf is recording this moment in history by interviewing people as they pack up to head West. There is a strong belief that the Queen is with her captors at the Nemo cabin. (Please don’t say anything. We don’t want to give the nappers a heads up.)
We apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. Sherri, the Photographic Drawer went missing the same day they dropped TC off. It sure will be nice if all three are in the same place.
The Queen, The Quill, and The Car
I’m Yram Sicnarf, Crack Up Reporter from Gun Barrel City, TX where our motto is, “We shoot straight”
Woman on the street: My name is Pearl. I like your hair. Is the recorder on? Say, would you mind telling me where you get your hair tinted? I need a tint real bad.
Yram: Sorry Pearl. The lady who does my hair made me promise I wouldn’t give out her name. I like my hair too. Frizzy, yellow hair is so easy to take care of. Crowns are really in style around here, but I prefer a headband with a feather hanging down.
We’re the sixth grade class. We’re taking a field trip to Nemo to find the Queen. We had a car wash to raise money. We can’t wait to go to McDonald’s. Murdo doesn’t have a McDonald’s.
Yram sees Barney, Thelma Lou and Barnella
Yram: Are you all going West to look for the Queen?
Barney: Nope (sniff). I’m staying in Murdo to fight crime. Since your No Nip It In The Bud Next Pres is going, I’ll be a good soldier and keep this town safe from distasteful people. Besides, Barnella and I are having a birthday. The Lions Club is putting on a pancake supper over at the Harold Thune Auditorium tonight. Guess you couldn’t go anyway crack up. I heard there was a restraining order against you. Yup..No can go to the Auditorium or within 500 ft. of the Coach.
Yram: Careful Barney.. One of these days you’ll bite that one bullet you’ve got so hard it’s gonna blow your little pin head off. By the way. Did you know sista there has been holding illegal poker games above Sanderson’s Store? She’s not as innocent as she doesn’t look!
A little further down the road, Yram sees all kinds of school people walking up the street, and guess who’s with them? Coach!
Mr. Thune: Boy ..she turned around and hightailed it didn’t she? Maybe I should get one of those restraining orders. Let’s tell her that Gun Barrel City called and they want their straight shooter back.
All of Them: Hahahohohahahoho!!
Everyone else in town is packing up to go West.
Nemo cabin here we come!
family members at the Nemo cabin site
at the cabin: The Terry Sanderson Family, Tet, Grandpa, Wayne Jeff, Irma Elna, Jerry..FL Melitha, sister, Pearl, wife of Sandy
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Whoa!! Look at the search party!!
(The photos are not in order of importance..MG)
1) Methodist Church ladies, 2) Loretta, Ella, and Helen, 3) Church basements cooks, 4) Pat and Jenny. They’re all bringing food.
Mom, Ella and Helen
Treason, DM, Pico, Lav’s car, Lav..bottom Mrs. E, A I, Tammy, Karen, Kim
TC, Mason Jr. and Ethan, John Wayne, Bob, Don, 2nd row Karlyce (Kip’s sis), Mason, Mr. Deryk, Otis, Jerry
Uh Oh..The relatives! Are they coming? There won’t be enough room at the cabin! Maybe we can all stay at sweet cousin Sue’s house, and cousin Blake’s Martin Mason Hotel in Deadwood?
More family, friends, teachers, bodyguards? YIKES!
Aunt Elna Miller and Greg’s daughter Renee
More family and friends?. There’s Billy..Hi Billy!
Hundreds more have joined the effort to find the Queen. Most of them are planning a few side trips along the way to Nemo. They’re going to the Badlands, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, and so on and so forth.
We wanted to wear our Inaugracorination gowns one more time
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Yesterday was The Murdo Girl’s one year blog anniversary. It started out as a way to record an RV trip Kip and I took last fall. Additional daily blogs have included Bonnie Blue, Abby Ann, (both are doll stories), We Shall See what We Shall See, (an Easter story); followed by months of Murdo Girl stories about growing up in Murdo in the 60’s, Mrs. E. stories, misc. poems and current event stories, The Campaign, The Brick House stories, and The Connie stories.
Guess I’ve kept all the above, all of you, and myself pretty busy over the last year. So…I’m giving everyone a vacation. Without pay of course.
Three weeks from tomorrow, Kip and I are embarking on another RV adventure. I’ll write some short travel blogs and an occasional story along the way. I was reading over some of last years travelling tales, and they were pretty humorous at times.
For the next few weeks, I am going to blog Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each week. There will be a Connie story tomorrow. Fridays will be The Brick House stories, and Saturday and Sunday will be The Connie Story with a Mrs E or something else occasionally thrown in. I’ll do my best to make it interesting.
I can’t believe how much has happened since I posted that first Murdo Girl Story. The reunion was an unbelievable experience for cousin Val and me. I have made so many new friends (like Sherri). Some are Murdoites, (like the Penticoffs, Jerry,Teresa, and Carol), and some have never lived there. After 40 years, I have a renewed friendship with a classmate and his wife, (Eddie and Mari), and other’s around Murdo who have faithfully read it all! I have really enjoyed getting to know Judy Dykstra Brown, who is a master blogger. I have some special friends around here who are readers, and there are many readers I don’t know.There is a danger in listing just a few. I’ll think of someone really special later. You all know I look for your comments..no pressure Lindquist girls, Pat and Laura, aka TC.
Who could have imagined?
Demands? They will soon find out. Habark, Habark, Habark
