Story Starting Over ... and Over and Over
- Thread starter Kathy in FL
- Start date
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
I love your characters. They are so real.
So to Susan, Shanna is unpaid staff she can dictate to without even a thank you? Not very gracious for an old family southern bell, especially after Shanna helped smoothed the waters with the meal they initially thought catered. Then she took over Susan's responsibilities for a few day while Susan was indisposed. It was a telling insight as to some of the extended family's view of her. It looks like Robert picked up on it too late to prevent further damage.
So to Susan, Shanna is unpaid staff she can dictate to without even a thank you? Not very gracious for an old family southern bell, especially after Shanna helped smoothed the waters with the meal they initially thought catered. Then she took over Susan's responsibilities for a few day while Susan was indisposed. It was a telling insight as to some of the extended family's view of her. It looks like Robert picked up on it too late to prevent further damage.
Dosadi
Brown Coat
Thank you Kathy. Mandatory MOAR and F5 LOL
ya know as I grow older i just refuse to do family drama. it kinda irritates mom n sisters et al but I just look at em and tell em how it is from my way of thinking then I either leave, or do what ever Mom wanted done and leave. Day or so later Mom will call me and ask if I"m mad and I just tell her nope, just not gonna play those games.
Susan frustrates me, when family kicks in to help ya don't treat em bad, and she treated shanna bad.
Ugh, Still need to see Clint and Shanna and that folder and stuff get resolved.
Wanting to see what I"m missing going on behind the scenes.
Thanks again, but i"M gonna be tapping F5 all day long.
Dosadi
ya know as I grow older i just refuse to do family drama. it kinda irritates mom n sisters et al but I just look at em and tell em how it is from my way of thinking then I either leave, or do what ever Mom wanted done and leave. Day or so later Mom will call me and ask if I"m mad and I just tell her nope, just not gonna play those games.
Susan frustrates me, when family kicks in to help ya don't treat em bad, and she treated shanna bad.
Ugh, Still need to see Clint and Shanna and that folder and stuff get resolved.
Wanting to see what I"m missing going on behind the scenes.
Thanks again, but i"M gonna be tapping F5 all day long.
Dosadi
beaglemama
Contributing Member
Susan probably sees Shanna as "the help", not family.
Kathy, I like your sig ;-)
Do I believe the fiction of weather forecasts? Only within limits.
In December 2017 you probably saw the national weather map with the bands of winter weather across the southeast US. We were under those bands and the area TV forecasts said "1/2 to 1 inch of snow on grassy surfaces" (parroting the National Weather Service). A TV meteorologist in Atlanta noted that one of the weather models predicted 8 inches and he laughed. At the same time, the Weather Channel's online hourly forecast for our area had snow coming down for hours, with wind chills at or below freezing. Which would you believe?
I went with the Weather Channel and got out the bits needed during a power outage.
1. LED light with magnetic base to stick to side of the over-the-stove microwave oven and have light to cook by - check.
2. Grill lighter to light the burners of the gas cooktop - check.
3. Is the battery bank for the solar generator fully charged? Check.
4. 12 gauge extension cord to connect the solar generator's inverter to the generator transfer switch - check.
5. Gasoline for the gasoline generators if power is out more than 8 hours - check.
Late Friday evening, we had 3" of snow. I wasn't concerned as we've had that much before and the most fragile trees in the 2+ miles between us and the electric co-op's substation came down previously. However, the Weather Channel's hourly forecast still had snow until daylight.
At 7:30 Saturday morning, we had 7" of snow. Other areas in the county had up to 12". Power was out in many areas but we were good until the cable TV, phone and internet went out at 8AM. Our power went out about 20 minutes later. I waited 30 minutes then powered up the solar generator and flipped the transfer switches for the fridge and some kitchen counter lights and outlets (need to charge the phones, the tablets and the laptop). The gas logs in the fireplace are totally battery operated - even the gas valve - so they became the primary source of heat and we closed off unused spaces. We notified family and friends that we were only reachable via cell phone then my wife read while I wrote then we fixed lunch and then we read and wrote some more.
With the overnight low predicted to be well below freezing, around 6PM I got out a small gas generator to run the central heat long enough to warm the entire house which took care of warming the basement and all the pipes. While the generator ran, it was also cooling the freezer and recharging the battery bank in anticipation of using it overnight (remember that we had snow and clouds - no sun for the solar panels to do any charging that day). An hour or so after I put the generator back in the shed, commercial power was restored. Phone, internet and cable TV were out almost another day.
No emergency trip to get bread and milk. Or to get gas for the generator. Neither vehicle left the garage until the roads were mostly clear. Yes, I have chains for the truck. No, I didn't put them on. While I could travel in the snow if needed, I require a lot of convincing about what's a "need" ;-)
Do I believe the weather forecasts? Some of them.
Do I believe the fiction of weather forecasts? Only within limits.
In December 2017 you probably saw the national weather map with the bands of winter weather across the southeast US. We were under those bands and the area TV forecasts said "1/2 to 1 inch of snow on grassy surfaces" (parroting the National Weather Service). A TV meteorologist in Atlanta noted that one of the weather models predicted 8 inches and he laughed. At the same time, the Weather Channel's online hourly forecast for our area had snow coming down for hours, with wind chills at or below freezing. Which would you believe?
I went with the Weather Channel and got out the bits needed during a power outage.
1. LED light with magnetic base to stick to side of the over-the-stove microwave oven and have light to cook by - check.
2. Grill lighter to light the burners of the gas cooktop - check.
3. Is the battery bank for the solar generator fully charged? Check.
4. 12 gauge extension cord to connect the solar generator's inverter to the generator transfer switch - check.
5. Gasoline for the gasoline generators if power is out more than 8 hours - check.
Late Friday evening, we had 3" of snow. I wasn't concerned as we've had that much before and the most fragile trees in the 2+ miles between us and the electric co-op's substation came down previously. However, the Weather Channel's hourly forecast still had snow until daylight.
At 7:30 Saturday morning, we had 7" of snow. Other areas in the county had up to 12". Power was out in many areas but we were good until the cable TV, phone and internet went out at 8AM. Our power went out about 20 minutes later. I waited 30 minutes then powered up the solar generator and flipped the transfer switches for the fridge and some kitchen counter lights and outlets (need to charge the phones, the tablets and the laptop). The gas logs in the fireplace are totally battery operated - even the gas valve - so they became the primary source of heat and we closed off unused spaces. We notified family and friends that we were only reachable via cell phone then my wife read while I wrote then we fixed lunch and then we read and wrote some more.
With the overnight low predicted to be well below freezing, around 6PM I got out a small gas generator to run the central heat long enough to warm the entire house which took care of warming the basement and all the pipes. While the generator ran, it was also cooling the freezer and recharging the battery bank in anticipation of using it overnight (remember that we had snow and clouds - no sun for the solar panels to do any charging that day). An hour or so after I put the generator back in the shed, commercial power was restored. Phone, internet and cable TV were out almost another day.
No emergency trip to get bread and milk. Or to get gas for the generator. Neither vehicle left the garage until the roads were mostly clear. Yes, I have chains for the truck. No, I didn't put them on. While I could travel in the snow if needed, I require a lot of convincing about what's a "need" ;-)
Do I believe the weather forecasts? Some of them.
yeah that blew me away ... really exposed the truth about Susan's heart-a-tude. I hope she realizes it and at least apologizes............ in a REAL big way!
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
I think that it is an indicator that there is more wrong with Susan than we thought. The reason for her breakdown is not at all clear. She was fine and pretty much together when they all left for the hospital and when she first met Shanna, Susan was welcoming and inclusive. So something else is also going on.
F5... F5... F5... please...
Sammy55
Veteran Member
:sb: 
no1yuno
Contributing Member
Opening the story entitled "Starting Over........and Over' ------ peaking with just one eye open as the page opens. Hoping that, even against the odds, Kathy would have had time to post a new chapter or six. But no, not this time Once again my hopes are dashed!!! Oh well, maybe in the morning I will awaken to a pleasant surprise. Turning, with my head down and and a sad look of longing at the posts, I head for the door of this story. Maybe tomorrow I tell myself............maybe tomorrow. Please and thank you, Miss Kathy. MOAR, please.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Shanna was a life line dropped into the middle of a family hurricane. Evidently Susan thought that help was going to continue after the storm had passed and was put out when it didn't. Susan also appears surprised Shanna's first allegiance was to Carra not her or her family.
The maid costume may have fixed Shanna's "place" as help in Susan's mind. A person's "place" can have significant connotations in a world view based in a stratified culture. Kathy paints a vivid picture of the layers of cultural stratification with words. You have a definite Downton Abbey vibe going here Mother Hen.
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Hermantribe
Veteran Member
Very well said!
Sportsman
Veteran Member
It's been three days. People are getting desperate for their story fix. I hear rumours that a posse is being formed to impress upon Kathy that our reading pleasure addiction is more important than keeping her business going, feeding her family, pulling weeds, helping her family, harvesting her garden, and other seemingly more practical pursuits like her own health. People are starting to worry about Shanna.
With no story again today, I had to actually go outside and throw fish food at the catfish, watch the humming birds hover, and trim fruit trees today.
We need story!
With no story again today, I had to actually go outside and throw fish food at the catfish, watch the humming birds hover, and trim fruit trees today.
We need story!
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
If that posse wants a chapter it had better be ready and willing and able to help Kathy keep: "her business going, feeding her family, pulling weeds, helping her family, harvesting her garden, and other seemingly more practical pursuits like her own health."
I appreciate your addiction but you all are beginning to sound like the entitlement crowd. Please remember to be thankful that Kathy graces us with a gift of her efforts, time and talents.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Dosadi I'm sure you would. If I lived closer I'd love to bring her over a nice big pot of ham 'n bean soup, just to say thank you for giving us something to look forward to.
Sammy55
Veteran Member
I totally agree with Rabbit. I've been biting my tongue since OGM's posting.
We ALL love Kathy's postings and greatly appreciate her writing. All of our postings are for fun and to bring smiles to Kathy. I consider it a HIGH praise when people are constantly hitting F5, waiting for the next chapter. I'm a writer, too, and would love to see these kinds of comments on a thread of mine if I had a story posted.
No lectures needed. That effectively kills the fun and the camaraderie.
I'm still hitting F5, Kathy! I know your life is busy and filled to the brim. Just letting you know I appreciate your writing and that I'm greatly looking forward to reading MOAR!!
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Apologies for the lecture. It's just that I get the feeling Kathy's story writing is a release for her creativity. She has a lot of responsibilities and like the rest of us age is probably not making taking care of them any easier. My fear is Kathy will feel so pressured to write that it takes the fun out of it so that she (Please no, no, no!) takes another hiatus.
Sorry if I went over the line.
Kathy I do appreciate your writing and the time, effort, research and piece of yourself that goes into each story.
Sorry if I went over the line.
Kathy I do appreciate your writing and the time, effort, research and piece of yourself that goes into each story.
Hey all. I’ve tried posting multiple times but my internet connection down here in the Caribbean is really awful. Will try again later today and then tomorrow. If I don’t get anything up then it will be Sunday. The hurricanes last September (2017) really did a number on all of the islands. Spent a little time in San Juan and had the best connection thus far but my location has made everything but basic texting and phone calling iffy.
Sorry for the delay. And hoping this goes through.
Sorry for the delay. And hoping this goes through.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Good to hear everything's okay.