STINK

detstink@gmail.com http://themanwhowalksalonewalksfaster.blogspot.com/
I am here to let readers who are interested that a fellow blogger has published a book of poetry and prose. I just received mine in the mail today. He has captured the essence of Detroit so wonderfully and through the eyes of a survivor. It is brutally honest and beautiful. So I am sharing the info in case any bloggers would like to purchase a copy. It is reasonably price at $9 and I mailed my money and received my book in 4 days. His writings are intimate. I shall treasure this book as I have been reading his blog for many moons now and consider this man a friend of mine. So here is all the info...Good reading awaits. Thank you Walking Man for making my day today. Your book is now on a shelf with my other bound treasures.

History...

Tonight as I ease my aching feet, I thought you might appreciate some history lessons. Here goes:

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor"
But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot...........they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:


Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell . .. . brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs (thick straw) piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip an d fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus,someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer...

And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring !

My time to shine...

I have been reading alot of people's blogs who are involved with Al-Anon. I have a very difficult mother. Bitter, 65, and friendless. I am learning that some of the principles in AA I can use to apply to my situation. When someone reaches 65 they are set in their ways. They are not going to change. The way I respond to her is what must change. She literally makes my chest tight. So for Lou, Subdural Flow Blogger, thank you for sharing the principles of Al-Anon. My mother has serious mental health issues and she is aging. I do what I can, but now, when it starts to interfere with my own personal happiness, I stop. She is capable and able to make the necessary phone calls to SSI, doctors etc. I told her she is retired and that is now her job. To make sure her money continues to come in. For the last year I have been on phones for hours straightening out her messes. Just like you do a drug addict. I will no longer do that. I am 42 years old and am trying to find my way in this world after a huge loss. I don't need an additional burden. The place I am contemplating taking would enable us to live totally independent of one another. I would have a basement apt. with my son. She would be renting a room on the third floor. No more sharing a fridge, cooking etc. I know this sounds cold to some, but my mother has always been very emotionally abusive in a passive aggressive type way. When that doesn't work she screams. I will no longer participate in the bullshit. I learned that other people can make you sick. I want to be healthy. I need to heal. I am still coping with a tremendous loss as is my son. He needs someone to lean on and guide him. I can't do that if I am unhappy and emotionally stressed. Life can end in the blink of an eye. I want to thrive, not just survive. i want my youngest son to do the same. It is time to "DO ME". Peace!!!

How much do you love your dog?

That's right. This first cup of coffee tastes wonderful and I am loving it. Today I just have a question. This is for dog lovers, as I am one. What prompted this pending ? is on Saturday night me and two of the girls I work with went out to the local Waffle House (where else?) for some coffee and gossip after our shift. I always bring a box of steak bones and scraps for my dog Auggie. So does the other girl for her dog. We get to the Waffle House and as we walk in we see this black lab, barely able to recognize him as a lab. He was starving. He was soaking wet from the rain. He was wagging his tail. Kathy ran to her truck and got her black box of steak out and this dog was in doggie nirvana. I know people are having hard economic times. The local humane society here has a 27 day waiting list to pick up animals and than if a home isn't found within a week, they are euthanized. This dog was dropped off at the only busy intersection in this little town. He demolished all 3lbs of Filet Mignon, Ribeyes and fat. It broke my heart. It costs me about $12 a month to buy one huge bag of kibble at Wal-Mart to feed my dog. This dog has been with me for two years. He was rescued from a shooting gallery. He waits for me to come home, barks fiercely if anyone comes near our remote home. He licks my wounds, sometimes literally. His fur holds all of my tears. I love my dog. Here is my question. If you were forced to downsize due to finances and things got very hard, would you be able to drop your dog off on the side of the road and drive away? To me, dogs are the most amazing, loyal pets you will ever own. Dogs work as aids with the elderly and disabled. Dogs take bullets for the police. They love you back with all that a canine can. So if anyone who reads my little writings is a dog lover or just has an opinion please respond. This dog dumping is happening more and more. What's next? Your kids? (Ok, that was dramatic, but my dog is rather like one of my children and is actually better behaved and doesn't talk back and ask to use my bank card) Have a great day.

A Baltimore Love Thing

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If you ever wondered what it is like to be a heroin addict, even if you hate rap music, 50 Cent summed it spot on in this song. It is called A Baltimore Love Thing. So since I just found out through fellow blogger Lou that September is National Recovery Month, I thought I would do an early addiction post. These lyrics speak the pain and the TRUTH.

[Intro- 50 Cent]
She loves me, she loves me not
Yeah she loves me not

[Verse 1- 50 Cent]
The fiends need me, I ain't around it, bones ache
Detox, rehab, cold sweat, watch 'em shake
I'm not that genie in a bottle, I'm in a bag
Take one hit, I slide off to the land of the H man
When we first met, I thought you'd never doubt me
Now you tryna leave me, you'll never live without me
Girl, I'm missin' you, come and see me soon
Tie your arm up, put that lighter under that spoon
Now put that needle to ya arm princess, stick it in
Relapse you back bitch, don't ever try that again
All that shit I did for you, I made you feel good
We have a love thing, you treatin' this like its just a fling
What we have is more sacred than a vow or a ring
You broke my heart, you dirty bitch I won't forget what you did
If you give birth, I'll already be in love with your kids
Listen, I don't give a damn if your ass start smokin'
But we have a bond and its not to be broken

[Hook x2- 50 cent]
We got a love thing, girl you try to leave me
But you need me, can't you see you're addicted to me
We got a love thing, I can take you higher girl
Fuckin' with me, you can be all you can be

[Verse 2- 50 Cent]
Baby you know, on the low your sister be eyein' me
I'm good lookin', so you know, sure she be tryin' me
I heard she bisexual, she fuck with that girl
But boy, oh boy, fuckin' wit me is a whole 'nother world
After that first night, she fall in love, then chased a feelin'
I hung out with Marvin when he wrote "Sexual Healing"
Kurt Cobain even good friends, Ozzy Ozbourne too
I be with rock stars, see you lucky I'm fuckin' with you
I chill with Frankie Lyeman and Jimmy Hendrix crew
See this is new to you, but to me this ain't new
I live a lavished life, listen if the mood is right
Me, you, and your sister can do the do tonight
I never steer you wrong, you're hyper I make ya calm
I be the incentive and reason for you to move forward
Let's make a date, promise me you'll come and see me
Even if it means you have to sell ya mama's TV
I love you, love me back, no one said lovin' me'd be easy

[Hook x2- 50 cent]
We got a love thing, girl you try to leave me
But you need me, can't you see you're addicted to me
We got a love thing, I can take you higher girl
Fuckin' with me, you can be all you can be

[Verse 3- 50 Cent]
I love you, I got you barefooted on glass, chasin' a dove
That monkey on your back, symbolizes my love
Your friends talk bad about me bitch, you sit there and listen to 'em
Over and over you hurt me, my love is unconditional
They talk to you when you up, you down they got nothin' to say
But when you call, I'll come runnin', I'll always take the pain away
They set you up, to let you down, they crowned you prom queen
Fiddle about me behind your back, they call you a fuckin' fiend
Can we just be alone, so I can kiss and hug you
Push me inside you, no other man can loves you like I do
Call me daddy, I'll make you feel good, I mean real good
I found pleasure in pleasin' you, like a real man should
It was written long before, it was carved in a tree
Forever me and you baby we were meant to be
There's more to life than laughter, what brought us together was fate
And we'll be hand in hand, when you walk through those pearly gates
And to see to that, I'ma do whatever it takes

[Hook x2- 50 cent]
We got a love thing, girl you try to leave me
But you need me, can't you see you're addicted to me
We got a love thing, I can take you higher girl
Fuckin' with me, you can be all you can be

R.E.H.A.B. - A3

The strangest little things can keep you on track. When I get depressed I listen to this song. It's about rehab, and basically about perserving even when the light doesn't shine. So this morning I felt the need for some positive re-enforcement and this song took me to where I needed to be.


sometimes the light don't shine
sometimes the light don't shine
sometimes the light don't shine
what?
sometimes the light don't shine
what?
rehabilitated

some say the only way to ease the pain is gettin' down to pray
I'm with no guru, no teacher for me
I got no faith in no fantasy
one too many, went flyin' too long
so many mornings already gone wrong, baby
been so long and I've been feelin so bad
deep down in a dark, dark, dark cave

sometimes the light don't shine
that's the time we gotta open our eyes, yeah
sometimes the light don't shine

rehabilitated

sometimes the light don't shine
that's the time we gotta open our eyes, yeah
sometimes the light don't shine
you and me baby gonna get

rehabilitated

well ah, hey, I went down to N.A.
business was a bouncin' like back in the day
hypocrites hidin' habits all over town
pop stars gushin' bout the faith they've found
left me so cold, I walked out in the rain
waitin' early for that midnight train
been so long, I've been feeling so bad
I'm gonna blow away the blues tonight
'cause'a

sometimes the light don't shine
that's the time we gotta open our eyes, yeah
sometimes the light don't shine
you and me baby gonna get rehabilitated

sometimes the light don't shine
that's the time we gotta open our eyes, yeah
sometimes the light don't shine
you and me baby gonna get rehabilitated

R is for the recovery you're going to make in my sumptious retreat in the hills
E is for how I'm gonna enable you to cure all of your ills
H is for the hurtin' heartache I'm going to help you lose
A: assessment successful
B: good bye b-blues

sometimes the light don't shine
what?
rehabilitated
sometimes the light don't shine
rehabilitated
sometimes the light don't shine
rehabilitated
sometimes the light don't shine

sing it now

sometimes the light don't shine
that's the time we gotta open our eyes, yeah
sometimes the light don't shine
you and me baby gonna get rehabilitated

sometimes the light don't shine
that's the time we gotta open our eyes, yeah
sometimes the light don't shine
you and me baby gonna get rehabilitated

sometimes the light don't shine
everybody say
sometimes the light don't shine
everybody say
sometimes the light don't shine
everybody say
sometimes the light don't shine
you and me gonna get rehabilitated

you ever have a frustrated liver??
I know another guy who had a frustrated liver??
one morn, he's asleep
an just gets right up out and just went and
ran along the road .../.

Just keep on perservering...

I love you, my son.

You are the love of my life.
Big blue eyes, dirty blond hair and sometimes dirty clothes that I wash.
You have seen the good, bad and ugly.
You have also witnessed the beautiful thing called unconditional love.
That is what I have for you.
Who makes the best iced tea and macaroni and cheese?
That's right, me.
You said, "It just tastes like mom".
I get it.
I wasn't perfect.
Still working my way through this life, now minus one.
Give me a break, please.
If I had a cape, I would stop a moving train for you or a speeding bullet.
Sadly, I don't own a cape, just a waitress apron and sturdy work shoes.
I am hurting too.
We show our pain very differently.
Same goes for how we show our love.
The love is there, forever and always.
Give me a chance. Let me get you where you need to be.
Let me be your mother and love you.
I cherish you hugs good night and when you tell me your are proud of me.
I am fighting the good fight kiddo, that's all I know how to do.
We shall heal together- in our own ways, at our own pace.
I love you with everything that another human can fathom.
Give me a chance, please.
My heart is still broken and tender, I am just not "tuff" like you.
Your tears are private.
Mine flow at the drop of dime.
I love you.