Mother-Daughter Art Team Featured in Batesville Exhibit

By Julie M. Fidler
The work of mother and daughter artists, Sheila Cantrell and Allison Cantrell, is featured in an exhibit at University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville through May 9, according to Marcia Wallace, speech, theater and visual art instructor. The show is on the campus in the Roy Row Sr., and Imogene Row Johns Library and Academic Building.

The exhibit includes examples of the duo’s graphite and colored pencil sketches. Mom, Sheila Cantrell, said it comes naturally for daughter, Allison Cantrell, to display her work right next to hers. Sheila was introduced to drawing through a community art class in her home town of Pine Bluff when Allison, now 24, was a few months old.

“By age three, Allison was emulating me, spending hour after hour of ‘playtime’ by drawing as well,” said Mrs. Cantrell.

While Mrs. Cantrell’s drawings are intricate likenesses of nature, still life and more, Allison’s are “renderings of the cowboy culture -- the West as it was and still stands today.” The two live in Batesville.

Sheila Cantrell’s work has been included in Drawing, an American Artist Magazine publication. One of her recent colored pencil drawings will be featured in the upcoming June 2011 issue of The Artist’s Magazine.

“I was a finalist in The Artist’s Magazine’s 2010 competition,” she wrote in her blog on www.sheilacantrell.com. “A small handful of finalists are selected to be featured in the magazine’s Competition Spotlight throughout the year. My colored pencil drawing, Red Pears at Play, was chosen to be in the June 2011 issue of the magazine.”

Mrs. Cantrell’s work was selected for inclusion in a SmithKramer traveling exhibition, The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century from 2008-11. One of her colored pencil drawings was awarded an Honorable Mention at last year’s Delta Exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center. She received the Best of Drawing Award at the International Guild of Realism’s fourth annual exhibition in Naples, Fla.

She is represented by Greg Thompson Fine Art in North Little Rock and M.A. Doran Gallery in Tulsa, Ark. She is a member of the International Guild of Realism and the Colored Pencil Society of America.

On her web site, www.allisoncantrell.com, Allison writes, “I am primarily a self-taught artist, though I have been greatly helped by my mother over the years. Not only did I inherit my talent from her, but I also owe her for so many years of artistic guidance and motherly patience.”

Allison Cantrell’s work has been in exhibitions including the American Academy of Equine Art in Lexington, Ky.; the annual art show at the Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco; and the Bosque Conservatory Classic exhibit in Clifton, Texas. There, she won second place in the drawing category.

In 2010, Allison was awarded the Clyde Heron Award for the most historically accurate piece at the American Plains Artists’ annual juried exhibit in Lincoln, Neb. Horses in Art and Art of the West magazines published her work. She is represented by 83 Spring Street Gallery in Eureka Springs.

Sheila Cantrell’s upcoming shows include the National Contemporary Realism show at M.A. Doran Gallery in Tulsa in May. Also in May, her colored pencil drawing, “Cherries, Grapes, and Plums,” will be in the Annual Members Exhibition of the National Association of Women Artists at the Sylvia Wald/Po Kim Gallery in New York City.

In June, her graphite work, “No Fun Being a Single Pear,” will be in the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community’s Eighth Annual Juried Art Exhibition in Harrisonburg, VA.

The show at UACCB is free and open to the public during regular campus hours.

84-year-old Batesville man publishes Civil War book on 'Net

By Julie M. Fidler
An 84-year-old Batesville man is having a go at publishing his Civil War book in a modern way.

Freeman Mobley originally self-published “Making Sense of the Civil War in Batesville -- Jacksonport and Northeast Arkansas” through local printing companies. A comprehensive account of activities, skirmishes and battles fought in the region, the book was years in the making.

With the help of his family, Mobley is selling his book through his own internet site and, it will soon be available on-demand through Amazon.com. Mobley’s son, Mark Mobley, established the web site www.civilwarhalftruths.com to showcase the book. Through the site, readers can order a copy or read an excerpt from the book, now re-titled “Civil War! A Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Northeast Arkansas, 1861-1874.”

For those who would rather not go through the internet to get Mobley’s book, it is also available at area bookstores, museums and state parks. It can be found at various sites, including the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock, Old Independence Regional Museum and Paperchase Book Store in Batesville, Jacksonport State Park, Mammoth Spring State Park, The BATTLEFIELD Civil War Book Shoppe in Hot Springs and the Downtown Antique Mall Ozark Bookstore in West Plains, Mo.

The author said, “The kids talked me into a new cover and a better title.” The new cover features a graphic showing the “missing puzzle piece” that many Civil War buffs may not familiar with, he said.

“They (his children) pointed out to me, it’s more than just a Batesville-Jacksonport story. They said it really told the whole story of northeast Arkansas and a big part of Arkansas’ history during the war.”

The book took five years to compile and write.

“If Dad hadn’t printed and had it proofread before, it would’ve taken two or three years to go through and find the mistakes. Now, there really are no mistakes,” Mark Mobley said. “We’ve clarified everything.”

“Mark has the expertise with the computer,” said Mobley, “and they do everything through computers now-a-days.”

Within a month to six weeks, the book will be available for $19.95 through Amazon’s subsidiary, CreateSpace.com.

“They do the printing and publishing, and they sell it,” Mobley said. “It’s a really good deal for an independent writer in that they just print copies as they sell them, so you don’t have a big stack sitting there.”

“It goes to a wider audience now,” Mobley said. “I started out thinking I’d sell enough books in Batesville and Jacksonport to pay for it. I didn’t make any profit.”

“I’ve read in the field all my life,” he said. “It was a tremendous advantage having that background.”

Mobley said he’s been reading about the Civil War for as long as he can remember. He stumbled across a volume of government reports on the Trans-Mississippi Theater. The Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War was the major military and naval operations west of the Mississippi River.

“My basis was resource records of ‘the War of the Rebellion,’” Mobley said. “There are 186 volumes. In the 1880s, the federal government tried to gather all the initial official reports from the war at the time -- official army and navy reports. There’s a couple of volumes on the trans-Mississippi which included Arkansas.”

“I found these in a used book store when I was a teen-ager,” he said. “That’s when I got really enamored. These two volumes happened to be about Batesville. Lyon College has the entire collection, and I read from their collection. Now, I’ve got a disc with the whole thing on it.”

Batesville Mom’s Son Has Rare Genetic Disorder, Inspires Her to Become Nurse

By Julie M. Fidler
A Batesville mother’s life changed drastically eight years ago when her son was born with a rare genetic disorder. Paula and Leasul Long’s son, Landon, was diagnosed at birth with trisomy 4, a duplication of the fourth chromosome, affecting nearly every system in his body.

Landon was her inspiration for earning a nursing degree to help other families dealing with special needs children. The Longs were surprised, scared and confused when Landon was born at White County Medical Center in Searcy.

Right after he was born, Landon was flown to Arkansas Children’s Hospital where doctors in the genetics department saw something they hadn’t seen in 30 years in practice. The Longs were told their son’s disorder was the third documented in the United States, and that documentation came from London, England.

“It’s a rare chromosome disorder,” Long said. “It’s the duplication of the fourth chromosome. The genetics department did all the testing at Children’s while he was still in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit. They came back and said he was the third child anyone knew about having this.”

The couple were already parents of 16-year-old daughter, Alexa.

Before entering the registered nursing program at University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville in August 2010, Long worked for a non-profit organization. “I was only working part-time because, the rest of the time, I was taking care of my son,” she said.

Although Landon is physically 8, he has the cognitive ability of a 15- to 18-month-old.

“His cognition is delayed,” Long said. “His mobility is impaired; he is hearing impaired; he is sight impaired; he wears hearing devices called Baha’s (attached behind each ear with titanium studs). He doesn’t walk. He doesn’t sit up. He uses special walkers and his wheelchair to get around.”

None of the above keep Landon from communicating. “We as caregivers know his grunts and his cries,” his mother said. “He is making a few more sounds, but he doesn’t speak. With his hearing, he is making slow progress.”

Long said her son’s prognosis as far as overall health is good. “They think he could live a fairly healthy life,” she said. “He’s susceptible to everything because of his immune system. He’ll always need one-on-one care. He’s never going to be independent.” She said Landon is making progress with mobility and he may eventually walk. He also has dysplasia of both hips.

Landon attends school at West Magnet where he is on the dance team. Sarah Humphrey is Landon’s “one-on-one.” She gets him where he needs to be at school.

“He’s a happy child,” Long said. “He’s very loving. He laughs and smiles a lot.”

Landon is unable to enjoy TV because of his impairments. His mother said he would rather interact with people or hold a little radio he can feel vibrate.

“He loves people,” she said. “He loves rolling and playing. He has chimes and things that make sound. He’s a very pleasant child.”

Long wasn’t a newcomer to the medical field when she signed on for nursing classes. She realized her passion for caring for others as a hospital teen volunteer. She was on the Bethesda Fire Department and earned her EMT (emergency medical technician) license by the time she was 19.

Marriage and her first child caused the nursing career to go on the back burner. Long studied early childhood and ran a day care center when Landon was born. “That’s how we have to think of our lives,” she said. “There’s pre-Landon and post-Landon.”

Landon’s had 20 surgeries at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and many stays didn’t include surgery. “We lived down there pretty much,” said Long. “I have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.”

“Being with him and being so involved made me realize how strong my passion was,” she said. “Numerous people would say, ‘You’ve missed your calling. Why aren’t you a nurse?’ I felt like the good Lord was telling me something. Finances and everything fell into place, and here I am.”

Long said she has a very close-knit group of caretakers that includes her husband, her daughter and her parents, Alvie and Fay Needham of Batesville. No one else would know what to do with her son, she said.

Long said she looks forward to moving into the new nursing building at UACCB this summer and graduating next December as a registered nurse.

“My ultimate goal is to work at Children’s,” she said. “It may take a little while to get there. I want to help other families like us who are scared or lost and have no idea of what’s going on. I just want to be able to be a comfort to them.”

Renaissance Days Could Serve as Time Warp

By Julie M. Fidler
BATESVILLE -- Travelers passing through town April 15 or 16 may find themselves thinking they’ve time-warped to the Middle Ages. The sixth annual Renaissance Days at University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville is scheduled for that weekend, and Lords, Ladies, Lads and Lasses have been known to gather from miles around to partake in the revelry.

According to the event’s organizer, Marla Bennett (or Lady Bennett), Renaissance Days grows every year. Area high schools participate, allowing students to have a fun “day off” and learn at the same time, she said. Bennett teaches English at UACCB and holds a master’s degree in 17th century British literature and Renaissance. This year’s theme is “Renaissance Rivalry.”

Friday’s events begin at 9 a.m. on the UACCB campus. The Southside High School Madrigal Choir will kick the event off with a concert.

The day will be filled with a variety of activities including: Medieval/Renaissance story-telling, music, dance and artistry; sword play, archery, vendors, displays, stockades, sonnets, skits, costume contest and a tug-of-war.

The first day of the festival is mainly aimed at local students and educators, Bennett said. “Teachers and students will see samples of period weaponry, music, weaving and heraldry and hear ‘mini’ presentations about Renaissance lifestyles and occupations,” she said.

A Battle of the Scholars will identify which “kingdom” (high school) will receive the Trophy of Knowledge. There will also be displays and vendors so those attending may buy souvenirs. All of the events are open to the public, and all activities are free.

UACCB’s Renaissance Club is in charge of Saturdays events to continue the Renaissance experience with an emphasis on community participation, Bennett said.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the Society for Creative Anachronism will continue to demonstrate Medieval culture. The SCA is an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe.

“Of course, there will also be many opportunities for community members to participate in games, view the displays and enjoy the vendors’ tents and booths,” according to Bennett.

UACCB’s drama class will perform Commedia dell'arte, comedy through the art of improvisation. “It’s exactly what grew into Saturday Night Live,” said Bennett. The creative writing club will share original sonnets, and the Renaissance Club will perform authentic dances.

Saturday’s events feature a lot of family friendly entertainment. “This is the third year we’ve asked Kittye Williams and the Salty Kiss back,” Bennett said. “She’s just a riot. It’s an  all-female pirate comedy troupe. They have a Renaissance Fair in Missouri, and they are hysterical. They do little reenactments of fairy tales in new, ingenious and funny ways.”

Other entertainers include: Melinda Lefevers, an Arkansas scholar who talks on castle life, teaches herbology and weaving, makes her own perfumes and soaps, sings, plays instruments and tells stories; and Trudy “Lady Amina” Francis, who gives Middle-Eastern workshops on weaving and dancing, among other things.

The campus is located at 2005 White Drive in north-east Batesville. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call Marla Bennett at 870-612-2038.

Criteria for Judging Whether it's a Good Pin-Up & in What Category Does Your Idol Fall?

Join the discussion!

I see it like this ... As for judging whether it's a good pin-up or not, it obviously depends on the subject matter.

For example, if it's a glossy, color, full-pager of Lance Kerwin, Willie Aames or Jimmy McNichol, it's automatically a bad pin-up and a waste of ink that should have probably been reserved for Donny Osmond, Leif Garrett or Erik Estrada. Toss those out, put them on the dartboard or, if you’re lucky, trade with a friend. They don’t even deserve to be categorized.

Other than that, criteria should include: the amount of clothing the subject is wearing; whether the hair is messed up or not (good for some and not for others); and whether or not the subject looks like he's aware you're going to be staring at him for at least an hour or two at a time. You’re the judge of that.

I propose three different fairly solid categorizations that should cover all teen idols (in particular, males).

“Fox:” He’s not particularly a big fellow. He may even be shorter than you, and most likely is. None-the-less, he’s cute, seems to have a great sense of humor and the hair is perfect. Examples include Ralph Macchio, Scott Baio, Michael J. Fox, etc.  He’d be great to hang around with, but more in a brother-like way or your friend at school who is probably gay.
“Hunk:” This is not a boy you’re looking at here. This is a grown man, complete with muscle mass. Your mom would definitely approve, but your dad certainly would not. He’s gotta be at least 20, maybe even 30. He might have hair on his chest and let you see it. You know this guy could teach you a thing or two. Examples include Brett Hudson, Erik Estrada, Richard Hatch, James Brolin, and possibly, Parker Stevenson, although the committee’s still out. Robert Redford doesn’t qualify. He’s just plain old.
“Pretty Boy:” This is the one who is prettier than you. If you walk through the mall with him, guys whistle, but not at you. You don’t admit to anyone other than your mother you have a secret “thing” for this guy. You tear out the pin-up, but you don’t dare hang it in your locker where others might see. Examples include Peter Frampton, Rick Springfield (the early days), Leif Garrett and Peter Barton. See also: Every single Bay City Roller (not limited to the original five).

I think that about sums it up. Please feel free to introduce your own proposals. That is all.

17:21 03/14/2011

The REAL Life of a '70s Teen -- New Diary Entries

Editor's Note: March 11 -- Today in history, according to my diaries. More recent diaries will be edited only by omission in order to, well, you know … have a little privacy, at least! All spelling and grammar have been left untouched. I learned along the way, don'tcha know?

Sunday, March 11, 1973

Watched "Curiosity Shop" listened to "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the haunted house." Went to lake view center museum, got sea horse.
Watched "There's no time for Love Charlie Brown" then the second half of "Walt Disney".
Read Nancy Drew. Went to bed.

Tuesday, March 11, 1975

Hi. We're having a great big concert Thursday. All day Thurs. we get off school to practice! I can hardly wait!

Thursday, March 11, 1976

Hi. Mom & Dad wanted me to go to some kinda show at Lakeview. So I didn't want to go. They kept yellin' at me. So I decided to go. Went in & got on my nicest pair of blue jeans. So what do they say? "NO BLUE JEANS!" So here I am at home!

March 11, 1977

Stay all nite at Grandma's

Saturday, March 11, 1978

Stephen B., Andy K. on Sat. Night Live
KZ walkathon
Pick up Andy songbook
WHAT A CUTIE!! Went to Allied Agencies. Cut through line. Got in. Asked around and found Buster. Mom stayed in car with camera!! He was really good looking!!!! Very neatly dressed. He had a great complexion. Looked real young! Talked to him for a pretty long time! He also played my song for me! So sweet!
Staying all night with Grandma.
Buz was such a fox! He has crystal clear green eyes.

Sunday March 11, 1979

Today was kinda stinky. I didn't feel too talkative, so mom crabbed at me all day. She said I was being snobby. Even when I don't talk to her, it starts an argument. We went to Aunt Dot's & ate dinner. Steve & Co. were there. When I got home, I cruised the neighborhood. I watched t.v. I wrote Buster a mushy letter. I made greasy popcorn. I watched more t.v. Mom continued to crab at me. I watched more t.v. I talked on the phone to Stacey. I watched more t.v.

Tuesday March 11, 1980

High: 37    Low: 15
Hi Nick!
    I went to school. I lent my Am. Lit. teacher my S. King “Dead Zone” book & took the first 2 pages of the test I’ve been dreading. Next 2 pages tomarrow. In PE, Darcy & I caused some havoc. In 3rd hour SH, I waited for Legs to stop by cuz I wanted to ask him sumthin. Well, he did & I did. The pep assembly stunk. I came home. I ran in to the front room to check out the cablevision. It is fantastic! I can tell I’m gonna love this! I can get the temp & news at any time. I watched “Leave it to Beaver.” I’ll get to see him every day now! We ate supper. I fed Harold. God I write big! I’ll try & get small!! Stacey called & blabbed at me. Dad & I ran down to the Convenient. I listened to our whole game on the radio. It was so exciting & so close all the way I thought for sure we’d win. In overtime we lost by one basket 55-53. Aw man! I really did wanna see us win & play in the biggy! Well gonna go do history then sleep. G’night Nicole!
Love, Julie

Thursday March 11, 1982

Well, guess what! I got a letter of acceptance from Arkansas College! YAHOO! I’ll be going there for sure in September! I can’t wait! I’ll hear more from them later. Leroy and I went to Mt. View hospital to visit his sister, Mary. Tim came back w/us. We went to Leroy’s Ma’s. Came back here. I typed a letter for Kathy. Cecil, Kathy, Leroy, Tim, and I played Monopoly. We quit at 10. During the course of the game Leroy had 2 beers. As ya know, my ideal man doesn’t drink or smoke. Leroy does both. If it were to get out of hand, I’d quit seeing him. But I don’t think it will. He knows I don’t approve. But he’s almost 26 & can do what he pleases. The bracelet he gave me is starting to break. I told him tonight. We’ll get it fixed. Sometimes I’m scared of him cuz when I stop & think about it, he’s a man -- not a boy. Oh well, he’s treated me well thus far. I don’t want to lose him. Should get ACT test scores soon.

Friday March 11, 1983

Wow have I been busy! Wed. I had lunch w/Paul at Sweden Creme. He drove. My car wouldn’t start. He tried to help me w/it but couldn’t. Called Dad. He & Ma came to school. Dad got it going. I drove the Chevette back in there to meet Darick for the movie. We went in his car. After the show he dropped me off. We had fun. I like him. I was gonna stay at Renee’s that night, but when I went there no one was awake so I came on home. I didn’t go to Bible class yesterday cuz I didn’t get my homework done. Did go to work. Instead of eating lunch, I did the Jane Fonda work out with Cheryl. Boy do I hurt now. In Basic TV Paul gave us back our projects. I got 10 out of 15 points. I was pissed, but I guess it’s fair. After Mass Comm. I went to a music store & back to chapel to set up audio for a lecture. I met up with Darick, Cheryl & Mona after driving thru the taco place. We got both projects done. They’re really funny. Today, Renee loaned me her camera for my photo project. Paul came in for a meeting. I asked him if he’d be able to let me in the darkroom tomorrow. I came home, then took my photo project between here & Mtn. View. I got my Mass Comm report done. I am really loaded down with the homework this week! It’s 10:30 & I just finished that report.

Monday, March 11, 1985

    Since I spent all yesterday playing Wizardry had to do homework this morn. At work at media centre, ran errands for Renee to Wal Fart & Byte Shop. Stopped at Booksellers to see if she had any books Stephen King wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. Had her order one called “Thinner.” Went to Quorum Court & went back to station to write up story. Had nice talk w/Jim. Drove Chris to Dairy Queen to get his car from his depressing little wife. I came on back to the apartment to study, and was purposely left out of some Kappa activity. They knew I was here, but didn’t invite me to come along. That kinda hurt my feelings even if I didn’t want to go. I’m not really thought of as part of the sorority any more I guess.
    Called John. He’ll be coming by Amtrak into Bloomington the Tuesday of Spring Break. Don’t know time yet, but he’s gonna call back tomorrow.

Friday March 11, 1988

    Today was mostly good. Bad part was Mr. P. said we may end up paying $634 in federal taxes. Can’t do it. Hopefully it won’t turn out that way. Roy was out in the afternoon so it was nice. Mark & I ate lunch at Bonanza. In the afternoon we went to Sears to order an air pump for the big mattress I got last summer. While there, the Sears boss gave Mark a job. He’ll be working there Tues. & Thursdays in the afternoons. We need that $. After work, I went to get my haircut. It turned out great. Mark even likes it. It’s all one length & straight. At last, a style for my straight hair! Went to Wal-Mart & put a summer outfit on layaway.
    Once home, ate, tidied & crocheted. I’m up too late. Oh -- they ruled out drugs & alcohol in Andy Gibb’s death & said it was some kind of heart virus.
    20/20 featured a section on babies.
    Lightning & thunder out. Almost spring.

Saturday March 11, 1989

    It was real sunny & warm all day. I got up early & started on the laundry & carried it back & forth hanging it out on the clothesline. By the time I woke Mark up in the afternoon, my ankles & feet were all swelled up. I made us some enchiladas & tried to take it easy.

Saturday March 11, 1995

    Mom & I went to Little Rock while Ella watched the boys. It was really enjoyable. I found a glove for $6.99 at that sporting goods store. Got a new pair of jeans & lots of books. Aunt Phyllis said we can stay there on spring break.

The REAL Life of a '70s Teen

Editor's note: I’ve been amazed over the last 16 years at the interest shown in my Web site, Stuck in the ’70s. In particular, people seem to enjoy my real-life, no lie, here’s-what-I-actually wrote diary.

I received my first diary at my first birthday party, at my house in Brookview -- a real live slumber party. The only guests I recall coming were Jennie Pickford and Paula Weigensberg (sp), both from Lake of the Woods, a neighborhood considered one step better than ours. I loved them both dearly. One of the presents was a diary. It came from my mom, of course. Mom always wrote things down. She had multiple calendars going. She came by it easily. The attic is full of Grandma Biddison’s diaries I have yet to read.

I realized on March 3, 1972, I would never be anything other than a writer.

The entries started out slow, then started to grow. (Apologies to Dr. Seuss … and a happy birthday, belated.) As the years went on, I spent more and more time in my room. Hours of  watching the little portable black and white TV I carried back and forth between the kitchen (where it sat atop the fridge so Dad could watch the news while we ate) and my room. I had select few friends, and the “others” just thought I was weird. Today, they’d call it bullying, and it’d be all over the news.

If I wasn’t staying up past my bedtime, with the earplug in (under the blanket), watching Richard Hatch (the REAL Richard Hatch) on “Streets of San Francisco” on CBS or Johnny Carson on NBC or “Mary Harper” or “Soap” on ABC, I was listening to the radio, writing in my diary and reading Tiger Beat or 16. It was something special when we got our “licenses” and could meet up at the mall.

So, here it is. You asked for it, you got it Toyota. The rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. I hope you enjoy it. And … I hope you let me know what you think in the comment section right here on Fidler Forum. My entries will depend on your feedback.

Remember: All spelling and grammar remain original, and what you see is actually what appears in my original diaries. No names have been changed, because, after all, who really is innocent? I’ll say “I’m sorry” right now if I hurt anyone’s feelings because I sure as heck know what that’s like. That’s right. You know who you are. Called me “Frog Dog” and “Sasquatch,” among many other colorful terms.

If we are on Facebook and/or Twitter together, I will be sure to “tag” you when your name comes up. I very much look forward to Friday, July 22, in Chilli! Go Grey Ghosts. “We party hearty and have lots of fun cuz we’re the class of ’81!” (’Cept I was never invited. Boo hoo.)

Thanks for sticking around. It’s fixin’ to get a lot better, man!

Julie M. Fidler
20:31 3.10.11
39 degrees on the porch, 72 in here

Saturday, March 10, 1973
Watched cartoons. had fun. Went to Conveinent. Bought sunflower seeds & bubble gum. Played with new basketball, lost Mike 3 out of 3 games.
Argued with Cathy finally talked her into staying all night. Watched Carol Burnett. Went to bed.

Tuesday, March 9, 1976

hi. Nothing happened today at all. You see this pic. This here is Jim Stafford. I've seen him in concert & on TV. I have all his records & everything. Ain't he cute. I really like him!

Wednesday, March 10, 1976
hi. tony O. was good.

Friday, March 10, 1978
Today was pretty neat!
Got 1 letter in the mail. There was the stinkiest assembly at school. Some college choir. It was gross!!!!!
Called Buz. Gonna meet him tomarrow. Should be grand. I’m kinda worried, though. What if he’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen in my life? The answer lies in the pages of tomarrow! (hey! That was pretty good!) Check out my horoscope & Wishing Well for today! Could they be talking about the meeting of “Julie of IVC” & “Buster Bradley of KZ-93”?
Put a note into Joe’s locker! It was a cute poem Stacey showed me!

Saturday March 10, 1979
hi:25, low: 7
Today was good enough. I got to solo all the way into Chilli & back. No problems at all. I did just great! Me, mom & Aunt Dot went shopping. I got a few things. Including this 10 color pen. I got one letter. The girl said she saw D&T on a show and Pooh has a perm! Oh brother! Can this be? Yuck! I didn't think he was that type! Ma & dad went to the Brem's. I decided to stay home. I'm watching Chips. Then I watched B.J. & the Bear. I found Gomez wandering around loose so, I put him in the garage. I did a gob of business math homework. I'll finish it tomarrow. We're gonna have one hell of a flood around the beginning of the week! Time for "De Plane." I'm gonna work on my rug a bit.

Monday March 10, 1980
High: 45 Low:
Hi Nicole!
Today was a good day! Tomarrow’ll be better tho! Tell ya in a sec. 1st hour we reviewed for the big test we’re gonna have & I’m gonna flunk tomarrow. In PE we played a stupid game. In 3rd hour SH I read & got winked at by Mr. Childs. Hell stunk. Mr. Childs’ class was great. I love talking to that guy! We talked about all kinds of stuff today. I heard that in one of his classes he showed them the drawing of a runner I did for him & said “Julie Fidler drew this for me.” Once I got him talking I thought he’d never shut up! But he’s fun. In 6th hour Independent Living I learned about the other side of Legs. My (one of them) cooking partner goes to the Marina Motel a lot & it’s Wendy’s proverbial hang-out! Well, it seems that he’s quite a ladies man there & that he can charm the socks right off any broad who walks in the joint & apparently he does. Tony said that his marriages never stoped him, he’s a real swinger! In Tony’s words “You should’ve seen the fox he picked up there last week!” And Jill Reed, my other partner, says she saw his name on the sign up sheet for the Sweetheart Swing! There’s one thing that’s certain -- he’s one hell of a heart breaker! Now that I’ve wasted an entire page on Legs -- on with my day. In Indep Liv. We made bisquits. In 7th hour SH we played Uno, & I got 2 winks from Legs. I came home. Now the great news - we get our cable tv tomarrow! Hip-hip-hooray!! This will be gr-8! We ate supper. I forgot to bring my Amer. Lit. home to study so Pa drove me up to school & I got it. We came home. Cousin Gordon’s on a break from college & came by & talked. We watched a new show called “That’s Incredible.” I tried studying. Then Dad helped me try to figger out what the hell Legs is “TAWKING” about in that Study Sheet!

Wednesday March 10, 1982
Well, the photo place lost my pictures! She put a tracer on them. I’ll call back Sat. I didn’t see Leroy yesterday. Today I played raquetball w/out walls on the basketball court for a few hours. I did a little runing around w/Leroy tonight. He has a nervous problem that he was sick with yesterday. Poor guy. I’m gonna learn how to take the motor out of a car tomorrow. I want to play some more raquetball too. Weather is great!! Leroy wants me to sketch him. I like him a whole lot.

Sunday, March 10, 1985
Worked from 6 a.m. to noon

Thursday, March 10, 1988
Work didn’t go by quickly enough in the morn. Mom met me at lunch. We ate at Subway & she brought us a box & packing materials to mail in our non-functioning answering machine. I’m in the mood for a hair-do change - not short though. I made an appointment for tomorrow at 5 p.m. w/Dorothy & I plan to get a straight bob. Hope it works the way I want. Usually doesn’t. Mark brought in more info for Mr. P. on the taxes. We’ll probably have to pay a lot. Once off work, I packed up the Phone-Mate to be mailed. I also wrote to Carolyn & watched “Probe.”
Andy Gibb died today in London. They haven’t released the cause of death. He apparently complained of stomach pains, but was involved in drugs. Such a shame. He was 30. I was madly in love with him 10 & 11 years ago. It really bums me out. Part of my teen memories dead.

Friday, March 10, 1989
Mark had to work a 12 hour shift, so wasn’t able to get up & come to the doctor with me. It was a great visit though. I weighed in at 195. The baby’s heartbeat was 140. I told the nurse I thought Baby has dropped down & when the doctor checked, he said it sure has! He said the head is behind my pelvis! He also said that when the baby wedges in like that it usually means I’ll have it within 2 ½ weeks! He said it’ll be toward the end of the month!
When I got home I was so excited I wanted to wake Mark up & tell him, but I didn’t. So I called Mom, but she doesn’t seem to understand any of this or at least she doesn’t get excited.

Sun. March 10, 1991
I got up at 4:30 am, actually 3:30 am Arkansas time & John drove us to the airport. It was snowing. When we arrived in LR (sunny & warm) Rob was not at the airport, which came to me as no surprise. Luckily Anne had called & woke her up. I drove home as fast as I could with my car pulling itself all over the hiway. That night Mark & I went to Wal-Mart & I used some of my tax $ to buy a 26”, stereo color television. It’s great!

Friday, March 10, 1995
At lunch worked out on weights & walked a mile.
Got a copy of the final, unsigned property settlement. Drank a little too much in the evening.
Called (crush at the time) to ask him about a T-ball glove. He suggested a used sporting goods store by McCain mall. We talked just briefly around 9:30 p.m.