May 23, 2007
"The Tomato Hornworm"
My Mom raised tomatoes every year.
She told us kids that the "tomato worm" would kill
us with one bite. I spent my entire childhood being afraid of a harmless worm.
I don't know if she just didn't want us around the tomatoes or if she really believed
that it was a dangerous insect.
Click the link to see the worm.
http://www.tulsamastergardeners.org/plant_pathology/webs/tomatohornworm.html
You can see why my Mom may have assumed it was dangerous.
Children have enough real things to be afraid of.
Don't scare them deliberately to keep them in line.
Instead, teach them what to do in any situation.
Kesti16© 2007
May 24, 2007
"NEVER ARGUE ABOUT MONEY!"
My parents figured out this formula over 40 years ago.
Here it is, you lucky person, You!
You need three accounts
Household Account--- this account must be respected as if it were an entity.
You never take from this account ANY money that it isn't designated to pay.
This account is for House payments, Car Payments, Utility bills,
Children's allowances and their clothing allowance, Property taxes, College savings, Groceries, Retirement
savings, Life insurance, Home and car insurance, balances left on charge cards.
When balances on Charge cards are paid, No more charge cards allowed.
When you are figuring what you will need per year, figure high on
things like utilities and food. Never go over your food allowance.
The rest of the money that you have, is split equally between
Husband and Wife Accounts.
With this money, you are obligated to pay for car repair, eating out,
gasoline and gifts (agreed upon) purchased for relatives.
(each paying half)
The other money you decide to spend is all yours with no
allowed comments from your spouse, no matter how you spend it.
No matter who earns the most income does not matter.
It is split equally after the household account is taken care of.
Future purchases of autos, must be agreed upon or the household will
not pay for them.
These rules may not be broken.
If you and your husband decide to buy a mutually shared item
with your own money, you may each pay half.
If one party says No, you have the option to pay
for it yourself, but not be upset about your spouse's refusal.
This method has been proven and those who have tried it say it
is the best idea in the world.
Most marriages break up over arguing about money.
This distribution will make each party much more responsible and
they will learn to absolutely love and respect the household account
because it sets them free!!
If the household account should get into trouble, which it hasn't done
for anyone so far, it is up to both of you to donate what is needed
equally from your accounts.
In just a year since we have been using this method, our
Household account has increased by $2,000 above what is needed.
I think it is because we cancelled our repair insurance on appliances
and let that money build up, as well as overestimating utilities and food.
We feel that the high cost of repair insurance could be used to just
buy a new appliance instead.
Success to all who see the value of this method
and try it!
Kesti16© 2007
May 25, 2007
"SMOKING DOES HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT!"
(As soon as you get Cancer from it)
Kesti16© 2007
"You Need more Papers!"
A few years ago I was in line at the court house to get
my Driver's license renewed. In the next line there was such
a backlog of people they had about 30 chairs set out in the room and people
had numbers for their turn.
I think it was people applying for social security or maybe citizenship.
The clerk at the window was a middle aged, tight lipped man
with a very angry look on his face, and a disposition to match.
One after another I heard him coldly tell people they needed additional
papers and to return when they had them.
Just as I had received my renewal,
a number was called and I saw two foreign looking men stand up, then bend down
to pick up a huge old trunk. I heard one of them worriedly say,
"I hope we have all of the papers this time"
Oh My God, I burst out laughing. I could just see them
presenting that trunk to the little tight lipped man.
The men with the trunk looked at me, then they, seeing the humor
started to laugh.
Everyone had heard it as it was quiet when they had made the comment.
Soon the whole place was laughing.
I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes and I still tried
to hurry out before I saw the expression on the face of
that clerk when he saw the trunk.
I would never have been able to stop laughing.
I would have died....lol.
Kesti16© 2007
May 26, 2007
What Lesson Did you Learn?
Many times when things happen and you don't know why,
there is only one question that may help.
Ask yourself
What did I learn from this?
Usually I can think of one or sometimes I will
think of a sarcastic answer to alleviate some frustration.
We are here to learn lessons.
Some aren't pleasant or easy.
Don't hold your frustration inside.
If you can't "suck it up" with comfort,
Get a good tennis racket and whap your bed
until you don't have the strength to whap it one more time.
Works for me.
What did I learn from this?
I learned that your arm can really hurt from overuse for several days.
Kesti16© 2007
Make a List!
I am thankful for:
breath
sight
sensations
hearing
scents
love
Children
Mothers
Dads
kindness
fun
Laughter
Men
strength
health
GOD
trees
Birds
Dogs
Water
Sun
Breezes
kisses
sleep
Books
Rhubarb bread
dancing
paper
Pens
Computers
flowers
toads
Photos
chocolate
driving
And
Not necessarily in that order.
:)
Oh...one more thing....
Does it get any better than this?
Kesti16© 2007
"The Last Question"
Is War
Mans response to death?
(that surly thing that makes
no sense to mortals)
Is it like the small boy
Who screams at thunder
to prove he's not afraid?
A "Death isn't scary
So let's do it up big?!"
Attitude?
And what of Mothers
The givers ...the bearers of life.
Reluctant to feed
Their just grown babes
Into its ugly jaws
Yet stand beside their men
Hand over heart
Pledging
The world into oblivion?
Kesti16© 1995
'Double Dose'
I've thought it over
I can't get it right
I want you beside me
Here...NOW...tonight.
Hold me close
And take me back
Take me back to when
I believed your every single word...
Lie to me again!
Kesti16© 1990
May 27, 2007
"Ghost Stories"
This story has been passed down the generations
from our ancestors in Sweden. Back then, with no
TV or Radio, on Saturday nights many relatives got
together and told "Ghost Stories"
This night about 20 had gathered at a big rural home.
Each one had their own favorite stories to tell.
With only one candle burning they sat in a circle
in the big living room and took turns.
It was Nels's turn.
He had the scariest stories of all.
He was telling one about the dead who would come to you
in the night, they would knock,
to let you know that you would be next to die.
Just then, there was a pounding
under their feet. OMG, everyone shouted out,
clung together...saying, "What was that"?
There would be silence for a moment, then more
pounding of the floor beneath them.
This house had no basement. Just a crawl space under it.
Everyone was accounted for.
The noise kept happening.
Nels decided to go outside and see what was happening.
(I'll bet he was just as afraid)
With his lantern lit, he began checking around the base of
the house. Finally he saw that the small wooden door
that kept wild animals out, was open.
He shined the lantern in the opening and a baby
goat looked out at him.
hahahahahaha
He had somehow gotten out of the barn and had
crawled under the house, probably hearing them talking,
got scared, once underneath, and was running around bumping his
head on the floor boards.
Poor little guy.
The ghost stories continued with no more sound effects.
:)
Kesti16© 2007
"Super Mouse"
My sister Es had this experience at her home in the country.
One night she woke up and had to go to the
bathroom to "tinkle".
When she was finished, she was ready to wipe, when she heard
a sound like she was still going. So she waited. The sound
continued. After enough waiting she wiped, got up and
looked in the toilet. A mouse was swimming in the water
as fast as he could. YIKES. She flushed. The mouse
swam against the swirling water. She flushed again.
The mouse swam harder. After the unsuccessful
third flush, she got her goldfish net and scooped him into
a box and threw the mouse, the net, and box out the back door.
For a year, she looked before she sat.
LOL
(I think the fates were getting even-see next story)
Kesti16© 2007
"Someone's Coming"
My sister Es and my sister La, (nicknames of course) drove
to New Orleans. They had fun laughing and talking as they
took turns driving.
La had to "tinkle" so she told Es to pull over.
It was dark. No cars were coming as it was very late.
The only thing La could find to go in squatting in the
back seat was an ashtray.
She told Es to keep watch and tell her if anyone
was coming.
Es waited until she was in "full stream" and said,
"Hurry, someone's coming!"
La tried to stop, spilled the ash tray
pulled up her panties and jumped out of the car.
No one was coming.
Es was laughing so hard that she nearly wet her pants.
La didn't think it was funny.
If you knew La, you would think it was funny too.
She was a very proper, prissy, uptight young girl.
Es was a hell raiser.
Now, they are both grown up and they both think it is funny.
Kesti16© 2007
"A Cow Slipped?"
That reminded me of another story from that trip.
Es was driving during the day and La was looking out
the window. La noticed some yellow flowers and
said. "Isn't that a cowslip?"
Es hit the brakes and veered to the side of the road.
She had thought she heard something about
a cow slipping into a ditch.
(hahaha, no, neither of them drank or did drugs)
(My Mom would have beat them)
By the time they got the story straight between them
and continued down the road, they were both
laughing hysterically.
For a long time we used the word "cowslip"
as a private joke in the family.
Kesti16© 2007
May 28, 2007
"Tragedy Strikes our Family"
My sister Es and her husband Ray had five children.
One day when Ray's sister and her husband
were visiting, Ray decided to do some
work on the farm. He got out his tank and his acetylene torch
to do some cutting. His Six year old son was watching him.
All of a sudden Ray yanked at the hose after the torch was lit
as he needed a little more hose to reach what he was doing.
The hose came off of the tank and a big noise was heard.
The hose was like a giant fire snake flipping around the tank.
Ray was on fire and so was their son.
Es and the others ran out of the house. She ran to her screaming
son and with her hands patted the flames out as she rolled him in the
grass.
Her husband's sister and her husband tried to help Ray. Suddenly
Ray, jumped to his feet and went running towards
the house. As the air hit his smoking clothing, he became
a human torch. His clothing and
body parts fell as he ran. Es picked up her son
and ran after him. Ray fell before he got inside.
she grabbed towels and beat out the flames.
His burnt flesh was blackened.
She pulled off his smoking shoes.
Somehow all of them got Ray and her son into the car.
She had to drive thirty miles to the hospital.
As she drove, she could hear Ray trying to tell her something.
She finally understood. He said to be sure and mail his Life
insurance premium in as it would be overdue soon.
It was on the dresser ready to be mailed, he said.
Es kept her head as she tore down the road to the hospital.
He never lost consciousness.
The smell of burnt flesh filled the car.
They both were immediately admitted into emergency.
Ray was burned over 90% of his body.
Their son was badly burned on both legs.
Ray lived a tortuous ten days before he died.
They would slowly dip his entire body into a vat of
something that was supposed to help sterilize the burns.
When they did that, you could
hear him scream throughout the entire floor.
My sister La came to help Es. Es had third degree burns on both
palms from beating out the fire. La had to help her when
she went to the bathroom. She couldn't dress or undress herself.
They both sat at Ray's bedside for three days. He begged Es
to pull the plug on the oxygen that was keeping him alive.
She couldn't do it.
He begged and begged her.
After three days Es and La had to rest and take showers.
They were both so beat, that they called a cab.
By that time, Ray and their son had been transferred
to a much bigger hospital in the nearby city where they had
better facilities.
They would go to Es's city home to rest and change.
When they got into the cab, they knew it was a mistake.
The driver was really weird. He began driving like a maniac
singing, laughing, and pointing at cars
as he zoomed in and out of
traffic. He was saying Whoopeeee!
They both felt like they were in the "Twilight zone"
La decided they both had to get out of the cab. She saw a
bar ahead, so she said, "Drop us off at that bar."
The cab driver obliged. They paid him and went into the bar.
It was in a seedy part of town but they were glad to be
out of that cab.
The bar was open but no customers were there.
They each ordered a 7up.
They sat in a booth near the back and had just taken a deep
breath when the bar door opened.
A young guy stuck his head inside.
They could hear his friend outside ask..."Are there any chicks
in there?"
The guy replied, "No...Just two old bags in a booth!"
Then the guys left.
My two sisters, who are beautiful, looked at each other
and saw the bedraggled look they both wore and it was
the last straw. The worry and tension since the accident
came out in gales of laughter that they couldn't stop
for nearly fifteen minutes.
They called another cab, went home, showered and slept
for the first time in days.
They both stayed with Ray until, mercifully he died.
I went to help Es with the children the night before
the funeral.
(My Mom had been caring for them and she needed a break)
A big storm came up out of no where.
Everyone was so sad. Now with the wind whipping madly
around, Es lost it.
She said, "I think God is angry with me" and began sobbing
uncontrollably.
The children looked scared.
I said, "No, No, Don't even think like that... Let's go down the
basement so we can't hear the wind."
We all went down.
Just as we sat down around a big table
that she kept in the center room, there was a tremendous crash.
A huge one hundred year old tree next to the house
had fallen right on the house. It went right through the bedrooms
in the upper story and the
branches reached into the kitchen and dining room below.
I kept calm. I don't know how, as I didn't
feel a bit calm inside.
I told everyone that things would be okay.
We all got through the night
and the funeral the following day.
Two days after the funeral her son had
Staph infection in his legs and even tho
he had contracted it in the hospital, they refused to treat him,
They told her to take him back home.
Es had had it.
She marched into the office of those in charge
and TOLD them they were going to take him back in.
One look in her eyes and
they decided not to argue.
The insurance check got there in time
and the big policy provided enough money to help rear the children
without Es having to go to work.
She hasn't remarried.
Kesti16© 2007
The above happened on a memorial day.
Now I am posting it on anohter memorial day..
It wasn't planned that way...How strange.
Kesti writes is continued on the following link!
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/KestiWritesSeven.html
See all of my stories on page one:
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/KestiWrites.html
Page Two
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/KestiWrites2.html
Page Three
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/Stories3Kesti.html
Page Four
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/Stories4Kesti.html
Page Five
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/StoriesKesti5.html
Page Six
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/StoriesKesti6.html
Page Seven
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/KestiWritesSeven.html
To return to Home Page
Click on link below:
To return to my second site Click link above.
This Page was created on May23, 2007
Check out my Popcorn Flour Recipes
plus easily revise your recipes to low calorie and eat healthy for life!
http://kesti16.com/Tressba/EatsAndTreats.html
Attention!
I have had over ONE MILLION visitors to this, My AOL Site in the last nine years.
The counter kept reverting back to zero, but I kept my own records each week.
I have now attached my two sites together under one counter starting at 2000.
This is March 15, 2007.
I hope I will not have any more trouble with counters.
Sincerely, Kesti
