Hello everyone.The last few days have been a whirlwind...From here to Birmingham on Saturday night....on to Tunica,Mississippi Sunday...Memphis,Tenneflippingsee on Monday.

A lot has changed in Tunica since my last trip there in 1996, a ladies only trip that was a blast. To begin with, there were only 3 casinos there at the time, and now about 7 or 8.

Late Sunday night, while sitting in front of a video poker machine, I had the honor of meeting a soldier that just returned from Iraq. He was there with his wife, celebrating a long overdue honeymoon.

An older gentleman who had been seated 3 stools down walked over to the soldier, patted him on the back, then announced to everyone within ear shot that this young man had just returned from serving our county in Iraq. A loud and wild round of applause broke out and the soldier blushed as he nodded his head and threw up his hand. His bride was in tears as chants of, "USA....USA....USA" rang out from the crowd.

The older gentleman then reached into his pocket, peeled off 2 or 3 100 dollar bills, pressed them into the stunned soldiers hand.

"Sir, I thank you but I really can't accept this." He said handing the money back.

The gentleman said to consider it a wedding present from one vet to another. Then turned and left.

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SCOB A NOB EXPLAINED

Okay, on the Friday Five there were 5 southern terms or phrases I have heard all my life that I asked you to explain.

SCOB A NOB....This is to make a fist with your hand and rub it back and forth quickly on someone's head. Tommy had a totally different explanation for it which I won't go into...but it has nothing to do with a fist.... (SECRET WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO GOT THIS CORRECT...SO DROP BY HER BLOG AND SCOB HER NOB.)

FAIR TO MIDDLIN'......Is what you say when someone asks how you are doing.(Everyone got this correct)

ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE....Is someone who is all show. (Everyone got this correct)

TIGHT AS TWO TICKS IN A PUPS EAR.....Means close.(Everyone got this correct)

THEY ATE SUPPER A'FORE SAYIN' GRACE....This means 2 people that had sex before getting married.....(NOBODY GOT THIS RIGHT)

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

Okay gang, listen up, for those that asked, and scolded me....here is MY recipe for the tomato (mater) soup in the post down below.

BELLE'S MOUTHWATERING MATER SOUP

1 15 OUNCE CAN OF TOMATO SAUCE

2 CANS OF WATER

2 CHICKEN BOULLION CUBES

1 BEEF BOULLION CUBE

DRIED PARSLEY (TO TASTE)

DRIED CHOPPED ONIONS (TO TASTE. I THOUGHT REAL ONIONS WOULD BE TOO STRONG)

DAB OF BUTTER (TO TASTE)

FRESH GROUND PEPPER (TO TASTE)

Empty can of tomato sauce into boiler, add 2 cans of water and rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil. Great served with a hunk of french garlic bread....

OPTIONS:

IF YOU WANT A SWEETER TASTE AND LESS TWANG...ADD SOME SUGAR (TO TASTE)

IF YOU WANT CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP.....ADD SOME MILK OR CREAM...WARNING...DO NOT ADD WHILE SOUP IS BOILING...BEST TO ADD RIGHT BEFORE SERVING..

IF YOU WANT TOMATO VEGTABLE SOUP...ADD A CAN OF MIXED OR YOUR FAVORITE VEGGIES.

THIS GETS EVEN BETTER THE NEXT DAY.

OKAY...YA'LL TRY THIS AND REPORT BACK.......

WE NOW RETURN TO THE FRIDAY FIVE, ALREADY IN PROGRESS

I had a very rough session with my therapist Tuesday, and, as often is the case, the following day finds me wanting to do nothing more than stay home in my little cocoon. Which is exactly what I did on Wednesday.

Around 11:00 AM, as Southern Humorist, the late Jerry Clower would say, "...a cravin' was flung on me..." A craving for tomato soup. A scan of the cabinets confirmed not one single can of Campbell's Tomato Soup.

Not wanting to get dressed, much less leave the house, I decided to have my usual, smoked turkey wrap. That didn't hit the spot...I wanted....I needed tomato soup.

Around 1:00PM, I looked once more in the cabinets....aha....a large can of tomato sauce.....Hummm....How hard could it be to transform this into tomato soup?

I emptied the can of tomato sauce into the pot, along with 2 cans of water, then started throwing in various spices I thought would transform tomato sauce into tomato soup. And....guess what....? IT DID....! It was so good I could have slapped myself....had just the right twang for my taste buds....It really hit the spot. In fact, it was so good, by dinner time, there wasn't any left. So...I made myself somemore.

Not one to be shy, or too proud to pat myself on the back...I'll put my flung together tomato soup up against Campbell's any day of the week! Anyone out there wanna go in the tomato soup biz with me...?

Another, "Atta Girl", for myself goes to a recent ebay sell....An item I paid .29 cents for at a thrift store, sold for a whopping, $13.80....!

This might seem like a lot of bragging...but, my Mother always said:

"Sometimes you have to blow your own horn and lead your own parade.".......(Even if it is about tomato soup)

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

I'm sure you have all had people say to you:

"You can call me anytime day or night."

I have heard that a lot. But, the truth is, out of all the people I know, there are only 2 that I feel comfortable enough to cash in the, "Call me anytime" chip.

Truth is, "Call me anytime", was something it took me years to work up to. I didn't want to bother others with my problems was the main thing....or was it....?

Since starting therapy, I have come to realize that wasn't why at all.

Not cashing in the, "call me anytime", chip, has caused much tension between me and Bev over the years. Not long ago, she found out through conversation about a recent mentally and emotionally trying time I was going through, and got upset that I didn't share it with her at the time.

There are just some people you feel comfortable reaching out to, knowing that they will throw you a life line. Sad to say, but, she isn't one of them.

Some relationships are built on sinking/shifting sand. They aren't reliable. Here one day, gone the next. Others, are rock solid, and you know without a shadow of a doubt, they will be there tomorrow, just like they were today.

This fall will mark 15 years of friendship with, "My rock". We may go for weeks or months without talking to one another....yet, we always know that the friendship is built on rock and not sand.

He has been there for me more times than I can count, either, by phone or in person. Since December as therapy, and life has gotten especially intense and emotionally wrenching, he has been not only my anchor to keep me grounded, but my sounding board when I just needed to rant and rave. He calls before a session to offer words of encouragement.

Never too busy, always takes and makes the time...He has been a friend in all kinds of weather. During one of the lowest times in my life, he took me in....watched over and took care of me.

In December, when my life and mind was in turmoil, when the SOS, I put out to others rang and rang without answer, once again, he was my anchor.

When others come and go at the drop of a hat, he hasn't.

When others forget that you even exist, he remembers.

When I need to know that someone is there...even over the phone, to do nothing more than listen to me cry...to hear that voice saying that everything will be alright....I always believe that it will.

Not that we haven't had our disagreements from time to time...we have. But, it goes back to the foundation...to a solid foundation based on mutual respect.

Right now, this friend, needs all the prayers, good thoughts and positive energy you can send his way.

PLEASE..before you go to sleep tonight, or as soon as you read this, say a prayer.

Later Ya'll...^Belle^