Month: November 2016

Past, present & plans: 11-22-16

/ Jim McDonald / Leave a comment

Past, present & plans 11-22-16

 

Past

 

Living in Hughesville on the farm was not something I wanted. Hughesville was alright, but farming wasn’t. Before we moved to the farm we lived in a Lanham subdivision and we hardly ever had any serious chores. The only one that I can remember was dusting the whatnots and the shelves they sat on. I’m sure there were more, but none comes to mind.

 

The chores and the amount of them were much different on the farm. It seemed dad had some sort of device to let him know when George and I were home from school, other than the clock. After school we would walk in the door and take a left toward the stairs. Most days we wouldn’t make it two steps up the stairs before the phone rang. I would answer it and dad would give us a list of that evenings chores.

 

The list was much longer than the daylight we had, but I’m sure dad knew that.

 

Present

 

Someone is interested in the houseboat, so that means the purchase of the lot I’ve been eyeing might be closer than ever. After thinking about it though, I would rather make this change in the spring. However, if I waited till then, the chance of someone else getting the lot is greater.

 

Plans

 

The diet seems to be working in a number of different ways. So far I’ve lost fifteen pounds in twenty two days and my energy level has risen to heights I didn’t expect. Those gifts are minor compared to the lowering of my blood sugar, it’s between 90 and 110, which is excellent.

 

If I am able to continue this diet until I hit my goal weight of 195 pounds, my type two diabetes will be under control, without the use of drugs. The metformin doesn’t seem to be working like it did in the beginning anyway.

Guest blog: God’s Masterpiece by Gwyn Dooley

/ Jim McDonald / 4 Comments
God’s Masterpiece
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Gwyn Dooley

The Lord, our God is the Father
Creator of Heaven and earth
He made you in His image
More than sparrows are you worth
Let no one tell you otherwise
Or make you feel ashamed
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Colonial Beach, VA

You are wonderfully crafted
God, the Father knows your frame
A perfect earthen vessel
Complete in every way
For God is the Master Potter
Who molds and shapes the clay
When first He began to build you
He had a great plan in mind
A glorious purpose and destiny
While yet in the womb, He designed
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Looking at Maryland from Virginia

He made you like no other
There is no one like you on earth
For you alone can complete the task
That was set before you at birth!
                           By: Gwyn Dooley

Your three words, my little story: Camellia’s words

/ Jim McDonald / 9 Comments

Your three words, my little story
Camellia’s words: coffee, monoecious & evergreen

 

Sitting under her EVERGREENS, while enjoying her COFFEE is one of her favorite times of the day. Especially knowing she planted every tree, bush and flower in her yard. Actually thirty years ago she laid every roll of turf too.

 

When the house at the of Summer Street went up for sale, it didn’t take Camellia a day and a half to make her move. She knocked on the seller’s door and when they answered she said, “I’ve been waiting on this day for years. Here’s my bid.” The only thing she didn’t like about their landscape, was the lack MONOECIOUS plants. She prided the work in her yard and it’s diversity of fona.

 

She’s had her eyes on the cute little cottage ever since it was built ten tears ago. As much as she loves her kids, she has dreamed of the day when she could move out of her huge beautiful home and into a much smaller house. If she bought the smaller bungalow, it would be some time before calling it home.

Your three words, my little story: Rosemarie’s words

/ Jim McDonald / 9 Comments

Your three words, my little story
Rosemarie’s words: murderous, roses & letter

 

Rosemarie was pleasantly surprised, when she opened the door and saw a bundle of ROSES flowing out of a beautiful vase. The yellow, red and rare black roses were sitting on the middle of her desk, begging to be inhaled. She loudly asked Linda, “Who are these from?”

 

Linda said, “I have no idea, they were there when I delivered your mail, your Honor.”

 

“Someone was in my office? And we don’t know who? That’s a little unnerving.”

 

“Yes mam it is.”

 

As she looked closer at the vase, she noticed a small tube in the water. She grabbed some paper towels to wrap them around the thorny stems and slowly pulled the roses out. She then plucked the cylinder away from the flowers and noticed a rolled up piece of paper in it.

 

It was a message in a bottle, “How romantic,” she thought. She opened the tube and pulled the LETTER out, expecting and anxious to read a love sonnet. She unrolled the paper to reveal not a love letter, but a crude riddle resembling the ones left at the scene by the alleged MURDEROUS defendant on trial today. “Linda call Roy!”

 

When Roy, the bailiff, came in, he said, “Don’t touch anything your Honor. Let me call the Sheriff’s office and get forensics over here.”

 

She thought, “What a disappointment.”

 

Linda asked, “Do you want to cancel court?”

 

“No! That’s exactly what he wants. Roy, get someone to take care of this, so you can get him out of lock-up and let’s prepare for the day.”

Random thoughts: Waldorf Famous

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Random thoughts: Waldorf Famous

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Waldorf, MD.

Have I told you that I am famous here in Waldorf; not real famous just somewhat, maybe just a little, well not really famous at all. Let me explain. 😃

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A sign, then me and my best friend Raymond.

Let’s take a happy dance down memory lane first, just for a moment. Raymond and I have been friends since the Thomas Stone High School days, long time ago, and I was a perfectly good student till I met him. All my report cards up till then held straight A’s, I also never skipped school or got in trouble of any sort, until I fell under his tutelage. My life went down hill after I met him, but to be perfectly candied it has been an exciting life. Seriously though, I’m just messin with my buddy.

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First McDonald’s in Waldorf, MD

Here’s a little background into my achievement. We were in the eleventh grade, when “McDonald’s” and it’s golden arches came to our school. The business invited qualified students to apply at the soon to be new store in Waldorf, MD.

Raymond, his brother buddy, our friend Billy, several others and myself signed up to work there. Before we could work at our new store, we were trained at another one in a nearby town.

We had many escapades at the Waldorf store; I met my first wife there, did my first drug there and there is where I drank my first beer. Quite a few other adventures, that should not be repeated, for fear of imprisonment, embarrassment or surely laughter.

My best of all experiences there, was I had the honor of flipping the very first Big Mac. I should be known as the world renowned Waldorf flipper. After all it is my town.

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Later in the eighties, before I got sober, my son and I snuck down onto the “RFK Stadium” football field. Being drunk as I was, it didn’t surprise my family when I accidentally tripped one of my favorite receivers, Ricky Sanders. It was on the news that night and also shown on TV during the game. Thankfully I was dressed in all my Redskin garb, but I still felt disgraced as all eyes were on me. My son, Jamie, even turned away and left me standing all by myself.

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Washington Redskin receiver Ricky Sanders

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This picture is a few years later, after I got sober. I was able to make my amends to him. My mom, Ricky Sanders and me. About 1992 or so.

Finally more current, I ran into a friend of mine at La Plata Starbucks the other day, that owns the best eatery in La Plata, Marie’s. I chatted with him for a minute without sitting down and he was interested when I mentioned that I’m on the Atkins diet. Since I can’t eat my favorite dish, Morning Breakfast, he reminded me of a nice grilled fish plate. After we talked more he said, “Let me run some numbers and I will add a dish of bacon and call it, Jim’s Special.” The particulars were not set at that time, but it will probably be ten pieces of bacon at a good price. WOW, is that cool or what?

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Are you salivating now?

These are some of my achievements, but the most important ones, are the birth and lives of my two sons, Jamie and Billy. By the way, fifteen pounds down since October 31st, my scale is applauding the weight of 259.

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Billy and Jamie in 2006 at Dulles airport