Oh, Tony.  What a story.  Poor you!  But persistent you!!!  I'm so glad to hear you all survived (except the Marlboros, may they rest in peace).  LOL  Too much!!!  I'm sure I have friends who have had their trucks stuck in a river, even in metroNJ, but they can't quite tell the story the way a Frozen Okie can.

Ann, we did not own a rowboat, we had to borrow one.  I was small, so it wasn't a big deal.  Most of the floods my parents could get by wearing hipboots and they dragged me along in a small boat, but the big one of '84 evacuated us all by some kind stranger's bigger boat. 

Yes, I'm in the middle between the city and the sticks. LOL  It's a perfect balance!  Although our neighborhood seems like the country, we are still 5 minutes from literally everything (even the midtown direct). And yes, we have tons of animals!  We have a family of groundhogs and a family of rabbits that live with us, deer pass through about weekly, and every year about this time the wild turkeys start passing through-it's so awesome to watch the babies grow up from fuzzy little nothings to these huge prehistoric looking giants.  We've had two bears in the 7 years we've lived in this house-both babies, which utterly freaks me out, since we never did see the mama.  Eeek!

I'm traveling to IL this weekend, to meet up with friends from all over the country (WI, MN, CA, AK, IN...) I'll be thinking of you all as we chuckle over each other's accents and phrases!  Too bad our girlfriend who is a Canadian living in MI won't be there-she's worth a million dollars in laughs when she "busts oat with a y'all."

Hey Anne  Marie,

I was reading a post in a different thread this morning (and I can't for the life of me, remember where it was) but you mentioned you have family still on Long Island in Mineola and Massapequa.  I grew up in Massapequa all my life, but now live in Farmingdale.  So, you must have been to "All American", the best fast food restuarant run by 2 brothers, who slice the potatoes and make their own french fries.  Best fries on earth.  Also, Brian Kilmeade from Fox and Friends on Fox Cable grew up in Massapequa and still lives there with his family.

Anyway, I want to wish you, and all the Mom's on this site a "HAPPY MOTHER's DAY".  Below is a quote from Henry Word Beecher--

"WHEN GOD THOUGHT OF MOTHER, HE MUST HAVE LAUGHED WITH SATISFACTION AND FRAMED IT QUICKLY SO RICH, SO DEEP, SO DIVINE, SO FULL OF SOUL, POWER AND BEAUTY, WAS THE CONCEPTION"

Mimi

Hello Anne Marie

thanks for your wishes.......I am back from the States since Thursday........I really had a great time there. Everybody was so nice and friendly......amazing. Wish we had more nice people like you guys over here in Germany........I wanna go back to the States so bad. Yes I am very happy that I am able to support our troops out of Germany,although its quite difficult to send the requestes things as we dont have them over here. I made quite a few good friends through AnySoldier...........

Greetz from Germany,

Diana

Hello Diana....

Glad you had a nice visit here in the states.  I have a question for you and hopefully by putting it here it might help others who are overseas.....or even know of people overseas who want to support the troops.   Well, my question is how to you post things???? I was recently in London and was trying to send post cards and the clerk was VERY    VERY  confused with all the abbreviations and I just decided to send them when I got back to South Carolina.   I ask cause I know my sis (who lives in London) would like to write some notes/letters.    Is there something I shouldn't put on the address.........do I need to put the country????    Please help me with this and in helping me..........we might get some friends of friends of friends (you know what i mean to also join in supporting.  

Thanks........

Love and peace.........Anne Marie

Hello Anne Marie,

well to answer your question........I mail my things ( postcards, letters etc) through the German postal service. Its not a big deal over here.......depends on the postal clerk some do make a big deal out of it.

Well I write the address down the way my contact gave it to me.........if its a APO /FPO     AE address I have to pay the same postage like I would pay for mail sumthing within Germany........if its a APO/FPO   AP address I have to pay postage like I have to pay for sending things to the US. You dont have to put a country on...just write the address down like ur contact told u. I dont know how they handle this in England as I can only speak for Germany. I did had a lot of probs with our postalclerk in the beginning,but now she finally found out how easy it is........after I gave her some lil presents.....lol Hope I could help you a lil bit........

Greetz, Diana

Hey Diana,

Great to see you back from "holiday" to the States.  Glad you had a marvelous time.  Give someone a little freebie---it opens doors....lol....that's what I gave my Postal Lady....some AnySoldier Pens.....and we are now friends....

Mimi

Hey Mimi,

thanks for your warm welcome back......yeah I really enjoyed my " holidays".....nah that sounds stupid..lol vacation in the States. Honestly dont know who brought the word " holidays" up ..hehehe.....as I never heard any of my friends or fam use this instead of vacation......maybe because they all are Americans...silly me...

Well I will be back in the States in late August........so watch out for me.....

Greetz, Diana

Hey Diana,

I learned of "going on holiday" when a woman I worked with was from England and when she was going on vacation---she said she was "going on holiday".

When I was little, my Dad told us not to yell out "Hey"... as "hay is for horses".  But I love saying "Hey" instead of saying the appropriate hello or hi---don't know why, it's just me.

So long for now......Mimi

When I was little, my Dad told us not to yell out "Hey"... as "hay is for horses". 

LOL! That brings back memories for me!...I was always told that also... 

Well  we learned the same thing growing up too :)  And we all say Hey instead of whatever everyone else says to say hello - have a sibling answers the phone that way - not hello or 'yeah - just picks up the phone and says "Hey" .  :)    Ah yeah - childhood memories - brings a smile - Thanks for the grin!

Ann

How weird...I am from Oklahoma but haven't tried that tea, barely even heard of it.  Then again, I'm not really an avid tea drinker!

Question SPC Young:

Do you have any information on whether the use of the patriotic themes and red, white, & blue or U.S. flags & flag-type designs is discouraged in things for children or even for the soldiers to wear and use?  Thank you.

Hey all,

I thought I'd resurrect this thread so that all our "newbies" can get caught up on the thread that kept going forever.  The "To people from Oklahoma and Texas" dialect thread, and the thread where our own 'Okie Bull Riding' aka FrozenOkie, aka Tony, tells us how he actually drove his truck into the river.  Yes, and, as he is a man, and this is their mindset, he did drive it into the river as it was 30 years ago when he was 9' tall and bulletproof.   Men, don't ya just love um.  LOL.

Like Kristen always says you will "spit" your tea while catching up with the AS Junkies from all over the US and Europe, and our conversations about the good ole days.

Tony, I am so thrilled that your buddy, SPC Joni Walker, is home on her 18 day leave, and that you can spend some time together.

I know she has been in the sandbox for a very long time, but I just hope you don't take her joy riding into the river so she can see water again.  I am glad you put the picture of you and her into your avatar for now, so everyone can see just how proud you are of her.

Mimi

Hey Tony,

I hope you and Joni are having a "good ole time".  We haven't heard from you in awhile........just hope you didn't go down to the river.  I know you must be showing Joni the casinos, or maybe she just wants to golf........yes, a lot of people enjoy hitting a little white ball.

And Kristen,

I know you will also chime in here, and then everyone can "spit in their tea".  You ladies, Dee, Amy, and Bonnie seem to have had an excellent weekend of fun putting the Scrapbooks together for the Wounded........oh, and Happy Birthday

Hey y'all!

I used to work with a guy from OK who used to say "Gooooollll-llly" and we teased him no end.  Sounded a lot like Gomer Pyle (for those of you old enough to remember him).  I remember asking my colleague about the history of OK and he was pretty funny.  He said that OK got its start when people settled all around the outside of what is now the state and so somebody decided to call that place in the middle where there wasn't anybody, Oklahoma... 

Actually have a friend who used to live outside of OK and really enjoyed it.  But sorry...too many tornadoes for my comfort.  I'll take a good ol' California earthquake any day!

Y'all be good now, here?

Deb