Tales From the Burning Prairie

Thanks to Christina I have to tell seven lies about myself. Lying is something I have written about before, because it is something that nearly everyone does at one time or another. People have different motivations for lying, from sparing others’ feelings to wanting to be more than they are to just being natural-born liars. Before I get to the meme, I’m going to examine some the Liars and Truth-tellers I have known.

One Liar was B.C., he either lied about everything or had a life so outlandish as to be beyond belief. He told so many fantastical stories that it was impossible to discern if even a kernel of truth got in edge-wise. I will not recount his stories, to protect what has to be the delicate sensibilities of such a sad sack. I will say this, he put Munchausen to shame.

Another Liar, G., was a different type of Liar, she told her stories so many times that they became a sort of truth to her. Certainly the stories of her childhood were real, like the time her brothers pushed a cow up a flight of stairs into the doctor’s office on Halloween. I also have no doubt that she really did ruin her new hat in the storm cellar one dark, dangerous Oklahoma night or that an old, country teacher swatted her so hard it broke the buttons on the back of her dress. But, she was given to making odd statements about being descended from hanging judges and Comanche chiefs. And once, after she sideswiped a parked car, she managed to convince herself it was the other driver’s fault and the “accident” went against his insurance rather than hers. Neither one of these Liars told their lies, or their truths, to hurt anyone. There are many types of Liars and I will take almost any of them over self-righteous Truth-tellers any day.

One such Truth-teller was J., a young woman I had the misfortune of working alongside for, I don’t know how long, but it seemed like Forever. She never let pass an opportunity to say an unkind word. Where any reasonable person would tell a white lie, or find something nice to say, or simply say nothing at all, she made vicious, cutting remarks. When anyone would express hurt or disbelief at her naked cruelty, she would bray, “Well, it’s the truth!” As if the unvarnished truth had to told at all times. Even if she wasn’t asked, her shrill, abrasive voice could be heard over everything else, cutting everyone down to her size. There have been plenty of times when I had to bite down on an initial meanness of spirit. I think that most people have had the same experience, but like me, choose to be kind instead of brutal. I would prefer not to lie, but if my choice is lying or cruelty, I’ll take lying.

Now to the meme itself. Did you see what Christina did? She built on her first fabrication for the others. If you could somehow be induced to believe the first lie, the rest just seem to fall into place. Following in her footsteps, I present 7 Lies About Me:

1. I am tall.
2. Not only am I tall, I am skinny.
3. Not only am I tall and skinny, I am graceful.
4. Not only am I tall, skinny, and graceful, I am devastatingly beautiful.
5. In fact, I am a world renowned Supermodel.
6. And a movie star.
7. And I’m only 23.

When I figure out who to victimize next, I’ll let you know.

A brand new year is starting soon, here’s to hoping it’s better than the old one. I could lament the stupid, rotten, unfortunate things that have happened in 2007, but what’s the point. The turning of the new year, each and every year, gives us a chance for a clean slate, a fresh start every 12 months. We should all take advantage of it and leave behind the worries and failings of the last year. That can be hard sometimes. So many of us here will be dealing with the after-affects of 2007 well into 2008, but I think I can view it as just tying up some loose ends.

I have two resolutions to share right now: I resolve to have my new blog up by New Year’s day and I’d like to figure out how to make this writing thingy bring in a few bucks. If you’d like to read the rest of my resolutions, you’ll have to wait until the new blog launches. Anybody else have any resolutions, hopes, or dreams for the New Year?

Hi Family and Friends,

I’m doing things a little differently this year. This year has brought some changes: Monkey is now in Pre-K, half-days, five days a week. He is really enjoying it, although he has picked up the annoying phrase “Butt-head”, could’ve lived without that one. Pumpkin turned 2, boy did she ever turn 2. Her new favorite phrase is “I don’t want to!” It’s like living with a tiny, incontinent teenager. Hubby is still at the same place and I am still going to school. This was a tough semester and I’m glad it’s over.

December has been interesting to say the least. The ice storm got us, just like everybody else. Luckily, we had lights and heat through most of it, but we did lose our trees. My last final (or would that be my final final) was canceled due to the storm, not that I’m complaining mind you. And we found out yesterday, the storm dealt us a harsher blow than we thought. Some massive branches fell off our Silver Maple and damaged our water line leading to the house, we will be fixing that during the days leading up to and following Christmas.

And my washing machine sprung a leak.

Hey, but other than that we’re doing great! We are warm and healthy and still have internet access. When life and other real things happen to you, it shifts your focus to those things that are truly important. We are not stressing out about Christmas, and plan to celebrate quietly at home.

And from all of us here at The House of the Burning Prairie- Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Joyeux Noël, Mele Kalikimaka, Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad y prospero Año Nuevo, Good Yule, Seasons Greetings, and Happy Holidays one and all!

These are pictures of what has happened to us. We are extraordinarily lucky, we lost trees but The House of the Burning Prairie is still all in one messy piece. Houses across the street are still without power so we strung an extension cord to a neighbor’s home so she could finally plug in a space heater. My side of the family also has their electric restored, but not so for my in-laws. They came over for a hot meal tonight and will do the same tomorrow. More nasty stuff is in the forecast. Keep a good thought for us, friends, this might not be over for us yet.

DSC00894, originally uploaded by burningprairie.

That branch hit the window while we were in that room with the kids.

DSC00886, originally uploaded by burningprairie.

All that debris, the Silver Maple. Stupid ice storm.

DSC00906, originally uploaded by burningprairie.

The pile of branches came from the tree on the left. Have you ever seen a pine tree snapped in half like a matchstick?

DSC00902, originally uploaded by burningprairie.

This tree took out my fence and Monkey’s swing set. And my phone line and the neighbor’s phone line and my DSL. Stupid tree.

DSC00889, originally uploaded by burningprairie.

This used to be a beautiful Silver Maple.

As some of you may know, I love our Oklahoma weather and write about it frequently. All day Sunday and now continuing on into impossibly early Monday morning, we have been subjected to quite the nasty strain of weather. A winter storm seems to be camping out in our skies, taking its time, sitting to stay a spell. We woke Sunday morning to freezing rain and grumpy children, who we decided to take out in it. Intrepid travelers all, we made our way to the store less than a mile from our house and proceeded to stock up on lunch meat, toilet paper, and Dr. Pepper. All the necessities of life. Later, after a fool-hardy trip to the drug store, we all settled in to wait out this weather.

Well, we’re still waiting. The freezing rain continues to fall, enveloping the power lines, tree branches and fallen leaves in a coat of ice. Many lost power earlier in the day, but we have not, yet. Hopefully we won’t. What we have lost are trees or large parts of them. The pear tree out front is gone, a large portion blocking our driveway. Our maple lost two huge branches, or will anyway when the ice finishes pulling them off the tree. There is a mystery branch laying in our back yard, too dark to tell from whence it came.

We are not alone. Every time we step outside to see what new, nasty surprise waits for us, we hear the popping and cracking from trees all over the neighborhood. Some of those trees are pulling down the power lines in their death throes. The transformers make quite a different pop and crack, edged with a metallic tang.  This is a terrible night and I will be much more prepared the next time Mother Nature deals us a rotten hand.

I need to post this now, just in case.