"It's not easy...being....greeeeeeeeeen...."

And now some (in her opinion) "sick and twisted thoughts" from our sister....

Could Soylent Green Become Reality?

It is the year 2008. I have recently been watching TV commercials and the news very closely. Up until now, I’ve never heard about soy anything except in vegetarian burgers. Now, I see it all the time ... soy milk ... soy protein bars ... soy margarine ... soy, soy, soy. Oh, soy is so good for you, soy will help with hot flashes, soy will make you healthy. Where was all this talk when we were children? When even our parents were children? I’ve heard it mentioned as a natural food for cows and livestock ... but for people? Nope.

Fast forward to the year 2022 in the greatest film ever made starring Charlton Heston. You know the one. The world’s population is out of control ... people are sleeping in the hallways of tenements with the owner sitting at the top of the landing with a rifle to keep his paying tenants safe in their apartments. To even afford this slight luxury ... or to live in an apartment with “furniture” (live in fun girls) you had to make the big money with a capital M. To make this money you were either part of a corporation or a hired thug. The prestige of this big M gave you the wherewithal to purchase meat, fruit, vegetables and preserves. Mmmm ... yummy!

If you’re one of the little people, you’re living off red, yellow and green wafers supplied by an enigmatic, omnipotent corporation. The name of the wafers were Soylent Red, Yellow and Green. What were they? With the worldwide food shortages we can only assume the following:

Soylent Red might have been made with tomatoes? Sounds logical. You’re trying to feed a multitude of people for as little as possible and who doesn’t like a good tomato? Unless, like now, you’re tomatoes are on the list for salmonella.

Soylent Yellow ... this one is so easy folks. Corn, of course. It might not digest well, just like the real thing, but it has bulk and is filling. Easy to make ... maybe still that little corny aftertaste. Hmmm.

Then there’s Soylent Green. And remember Tuesday is Soylent Green day! What’s that you say? Where could they possibly get anything green? In the movie they give you an idea that Soylent Green is made from plankton from the Ocean and that there’s plenty to go around. Mayor Rick Meehan of Ocean City, MD is now running a commercial that the Ocean will dry up in about a billion years and to book your vacation soon before it happens. Is this a man of vision, or what?

But I digress ... never mind that you find out there are government sanctioned euthanasia stations all over the place. You can spend your final days on this earth taking a drink of something that strangely looks like red kool-aid (sounds familiar doesn’t it?). Then you can listen to music and watch movies of how the world used to look ... and peacefully croak. Now flash back to the part where there’s a riot in the streets and those big trash trucks with shovels come in and break it up. Where do you think those people went? Did you think they hauled them off to jail ... or dropped them off someplace else and let them live out their lives in peace and harmony?

Did no one else see where this was heading? Look at the name of the movie again if you didn’t. Charlton Heston put it best when he screamed, “Soylent Green is people!”

So, my friends, there you have it. SOY! From the prophetic mind of a writer who might just have had a little look see into the future. (Channeling Mr. Rogers) Can you say, “Moo?” I knew that you could.

Carolyn E. Armstrong 6/13/08 copyright

"Up ahead...there's Texaco..."

Not really about Texaco but I couldn't think of any songs about gas. *LOL* This pic ran in the News and Eagle...the owners haven't taken it down...they just change the price for the regular unleaded when it needs to be changed.

"Let's talk about sex, Baby......"

"Sex and the City" actually! *L* We went to see it last night and it was everything it was supposed to be. Which, in a word, is Fabulous. The settings, the fashion, the hair, the shoes, the purses - it was all either fabulous or fabulously awful...which is what "Sex and the City" has ALWAYS been about. *G* I've watched it off and on over the years but always enjoyed it for one reason or another. Now Laura and I are thinking we need to rent each season and watch it through - we enjoyed it that much. And we've also decided that we want to see "Mamma Mia!" when it makes it to Enid. A total "chick flick" and, at least from the previews we saw, looks like it will be a lot of fun. And I want to see "Wall-E" - looks like Pixar could have another "Cars" on their hands and I absolutely LOVED the pop culture references in "Cars". It's Route 66 and Toto-ly retro...what's not to love???? *LOL*

And now for my ironically funny movie story from last night. Okay, so we went to the movies courtesy of Tim Webb (used to be the Willow Plant Manager for Advance) - he gave me the movie tickets in return for some research that I did for him last year. Side note: he gave me 6 tickets and we don't actually GO to the movies very often, as you can tell. Anyways, so we're at the movies on free tickets. "Sex" is playing in the smallest theater at Oakwood Mall - not surprising, it's not a new release and this IS Enid, America - there were a total of 14 people in the room. When we get there the theater is a bit messy...not totally trashed, just some drink cups in the holders, pop corn tub on the floor, some pop corn scattered around...like I said, messy but not trashed. Apparently they had forgotten to come in after the last showing and clean things up - so the Asst. Manager comes in, apologizes for the mess, and gives everyone there a ticket for a free movie - any movie, any time. There were only 7 of us in there at that time and we thought that was pretty cool and thanked him for the consideration. So we watch the previews and then the movie starts. It immediately goes 'off-frame' - you can see a wide black strip, everyone's heads, and it cuts them off right below the neck. There are 14 of us in the theater by now - one other lady and I go to tell the management that the film is off. They stop the film...get it reframed...and we're off again. Suddenly the dialog becomes very garbled and the frame jumps again. The other lady stands up and tells me, "I've got this one" and goes outside again. She comes back in as the film stops and the movie trivia screens pop back up again and says to the assemblage, "This is my fault everyone, I went and told them about the sound. I can't understand it through the garble." Everyone thanks her and we sit and read movie trivia for a few minutes. Next the Manager comes in, apologizes for the inconvenience, says they are resetting the projector and it will just be a minute. In the meantime he comes around and hands everyone a ticket for a free movie - any movie, any time - to make up for our screening problems. We all thanked him for the consideration. After he leaves the older lady sitting in the row in front of us looks at us and the people a couple seats down on our row (the original 7 from the first ticket give-away) and says, "Gee, I wonder what we can do to the movie next...this is getting profitable!" Her husband said, "Well....they just made bringing you to this movie worth it!" The people who came in later looked puzzled but we 'originals' roared. And the movie started back up and ran much better, although they never completely got the sound corrected - no indecipherable garble but a bit of static once in a great while, and a good time was had by all. So there you have it.....went to the movies for free...and got 2 free movies out of the trip! As they say....only in America! *ROTFL*

"And Windy has stormy eyes..."

And we've gotten both lately. I know this is Oklahoma - where the wind comes sweeping down the Plains - but give it a rest! It feels like we have 2 or 3 days of WIND...not wind, mind you...but WIND and then 2 days of storms. The winds are generally around 20-30 miles an hour, sometimes stronger, and when it rains, it RAINS. The other day we got about 4-5 inches in a 12 hour period. And that was just the latest in a long line we've had so far. The trees are bent in the wind's direction and the grass is pretty battered down. The farmers are crying...I know, farmers always cry about something...but this time they have reason. At least the wheat farmers do. They might get one or two good days to harvest then they have to wait another one or two to let everything dry out again. You walk outside and don't dare open your mouth most times because all you'll end up with is a mouthful of grit and dirt. Everything is dusty both inside and out - the house, the office, the people. Even the OK natives are saying they've had enough for now.

Okay...I'll stop whining and complaining now. *L* But speaking of OK natives...there was a piece on the radio the other day about how a transplanted Oklahoman knows they've really become a true Oklahoman and I'm rather proud to say that I've made it. *LOL* I can't recall everything they listed but I've definitely been within a mile of a big tornado (had two F5s pass closer than a mile on both sides of me when I lived in OKC), I've taken shelter in a small windowless room during a storm (different tornado), I've been a good Samaritan (stayed with a lady I worked with while waiting for her son when her car died), and I know by habit which station to turn to as soon as I hear the weather radio go off. I also know not to panic every Wednesday at noon when they test the sirens. Oh, and I've chosen a in-state college football team to root for....GO POKES!! *L* I reckon that makes me an Okie good enough.

It doesn't mean that I don't miss the water though. We have plenty of lakes and such but there's nothing like the ocean...and there never will be. And of course, I don't mean that big thing out west that has no personality. I'm talking about the grand old lady Atlantic. Now THERE'S personality and character! The storms out here can be awesome but still don't beat a good hearty Nor'Easter blowing in. Out here the storms eat wooden houses....back East they chew concrete and spit it back out! *G* And I guess that's enough waxing nostalgic about my ocean. *sigh*

Sadly, we lost two fish within a day of each other recently. One of our fruited tetras and one of our Sunburst wags passed away. I hope there isn't something going on in the tank. We have very nice fish at the moment and I'd like to keep them that way. It still leaves us with 3 fruities, 2 Sunbursts, 2 chefs, Deamon the angelfish, a few guppies, all 6 of the Glowfish, and Al...who is huge and sassy as ever. Richard swears Al is a girl because every time we clean the tank, Al redecorates. Doesn't matter where we put the plants and rocks, Al moves them to where ever he wants them to be. And for a big old carpy looking thing he sure is cute when he tucks himself across the bubble curtain stone and gets his spa treatment. *L* He's quite spoiled and quite happy to stay that way.

Another not-so-happy thing - I think our rose bushes have aphids. Looks like a piranha went chewing on their leaves, the poor things. The yellow bush is leafless at the moment and the pink/white bush is fairly chewed up too. We put some stuff on them to take care of the bugs, any diseases, and to feed them. Just waiting to see if it works. Most of the other plants are doing well. Ruby seems to be dropping some of her leaves but I fertilized her the other day as well and I'll see how she does with it. We can't really plant anything else at the moment - anything small or young will get drowned before it can take hold right now. The tomatoes seem to be loving the storm-heat cycle though.

Well...I think my head is empty for the moment so I'll hush for now. Back again soon if I don't blow away or float away. *LOL*

"All gave some and some gave all..."

Words will never be enough......from the bottom of my heart....Thank You.

"All gave some and some gave all.
Some stood through for the red, white, and blue,
and some had to fall.
And if you ever think of me,
think of all your liberties, and recall,
Some gave all."



Arlington

"I never thought that this is where I'd settle down,
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men, for a job well done,
There's a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag and told my mom and dad, we're proud of your son

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones, I made it to Arlington

I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, "son this is what it cost to keep us free"
Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day I came in,
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

And every time I hear twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home to us

We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done,
We can rest in peace, 'cause we are the chosen ones,
We made it to Arlington,
Yea dust to dust, Don't cry for us,
We made it to Arlington."

"M is for the many things she gave me......"

Happy Mother's Day Nanny Buns!! Love you and miss you and sending HUGE hugs your way.... CATCH!!! *RBG*

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound..."

In my opinion it is one of the absolute coolest things ever! I just came from the Pioneer High School Sports Banquet - at the beginning of the banquet one of the Coaches said a brief prayer of thanks for the athletes, the families, the food, etc. At the very end of the banquet, after the seniors had received their letter blankets, the senior athletes led everyone in the Lord's Prayer to end the evening. The HS Principal announced that it would happen, the District Superintendent simply nodded his head as if to say "Of course", and no one batted an eye much less stood up in protest, gave a disapproving look, or even muttered a derogatory comment. These are not church fanatics nor are they religious zealots. These are working people - farmers, ranchers, teachers, military (active or retired), business people, etc. I'm quite sure, because I've heard many of them do it, that they take the Lord's name in vain on occasion - honestly I've heard some of them swear like sailors on leave! They aren't always "good Christians" - I've seen some of them be total jerkwads. There's a high rate of broken families around this area, and probably a higher rate of dysfunctional ones. But a prayer is said at the beginning of every sporting event and the start and end of every banquet. And if you don't care to join in, you don't have to...but don't tell them THEY can't do it...reaction will run the gamut from your being politely ignored to being the recipient of a few very "un-Christian" words to feeling like you've been smacked with a wall of ice. Rural schools and NASCAR - the last bastions of "religious freedom"! *LOL* And the last groups of people you EVER want to tell that they can't pray in public.

Last week was the Tri-State Music Festival in Enid and Saturday was the parade. The first thing you see in this parade is the color guard from Vance Air Force Base carrying the American Flag, the Oklahoma State Flag, and the Air Force Flag. Everyone...and I do mean EVERYONE stands until the flags have completely passed by. The gentlemen remove their hats and most everyone puts their hand over their heart. Our veterans proudly wear their caps and ribbons and salute. And parents bend over and make sure their children are standing too. A granddad not far from us stood a little one up, pointed at the American Flag, and said (quite kindly), "That's our flag.. you ALWAYS stand up for our flag." And then proceeded to teach his grandchild to applaud as she passed by.

These are just a few of the many reasons I love rural life...even though I'm not REALLY all that rural. Sometimes I miss being in a bigger city...and then I visit OKC and remember why I like Enid. Being back in Baltimore was exciting...at the risk of sounding like an advertisement or an old song, there's a pulse in a big city that just makes your whole body/soul/mind vibrate...and it's a great feeling. But there's also a comfort in knowing a good portion of the people in your city, by name if not any other way, and feeling safe and secure when you go out or go to sleep at night. Don't get me wrong...Enid has it's share of crime...and I still lock the doors and watch over my shoulder and hold my purse close. As they say, "You can take the girl out of the city but....etc." It's still a very peaceful feeling that I've come to enjoy.

And now I will step off my observational and opinion soapbox and go and listen to "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"! *ROTFLOL* Just kidding of course...my favorite song at the moment is Brad Paisley's "I'm Still A Guy"...that song is hilarious!!!!!!! Anyways...good night...God Bless (if you choose to let Him)...and a have a good tomorrow regardless.