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Sue "Raven" Smith and Chimney Top Rock
Sue "Raven" Smith
SANGEO ENTERPRISES
RRS Contributing Columnist
E-Mail Column Response: CLICK
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RAVEN'S QUEST ARCHIVE #1
THE RAVEN'S QUEST ARCHIVE OF PAST COLUMNS
CURRENT RAVEN'S QUEST          RAVEN'S QUEST ARCHIVE #2          RAVEN'S QUEST ARCHIVE #3
February 14th , 2005
VALENTINE KISS

Ahhh .... the Tongue. When asked to write this column, I pondered for days on what on earth could I write that
would be remotely interesting. Along with my struggle came an *email full of instruction and restrictions further blocking
my creative senses. The ending statement of these instructions was "write any story you would like except for one
on licking stamps." Ah hah! My topic search was ended! Licking stamps......what a great storyline! Expounding on that
concept has lead me to other thoughts of how for granted we take our tongues.

Ahhhh....the Tongue. Have we forgotten how very much the tongue participates in the act of mastication? Or how about
the ever so popular speech formulation? And I don't think I'll be breaking the rules if I mention the even more popular
"French Kiss." Definitely some tongue action there. Leads one to think of other semi-passionate endeavors that due to
innocence of potential readers, we will not delve into. Continuing on the discourse of uses of the tongue, who indeed
could enjoy the swirling cream of a vanilla ice cream cone from Dairy Queen without the use of the tongue. As I have
observed many a CSI episode (my favorite show), the tongue is also a dead give away of guilt. How often does one
"lick their lips" to moisten lips gone dry due to nervousness or guilt. Indeed, after we have "burnt" our tongue - how
pale the taste of gourmet food items to that on an unmarred tongue.

So, while we're being restricted to writing articles to things other than licking stamps because they have been replaced
by self-stick, think about your tongue. You'll never get "self-stick" food (although there are a few bread items that seem
to do that.) You'll never get self-stick conversation. And if you can do a self-stick "French Kiss" you need to be
in the movies! I'll buy a ticket!

Submitted humbly by Raven - The Voice of the Gorge ...

*Column Guidelines are presented at the bottom of the NEWS page.
 
February 1st , 2005
MARTHA vs MAXINE

From the depths of the Internet comes the Greatest Wisdom for the Ages.
Behold the Finest Female Minds of our Time ...
Martha Stewart, America's Great Organizer.
Maxine, America's Great Slob.
MARTHA'S WAY
MAXINE'S WAY
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom
of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom
of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably
lying on the couch with your feet up
eating it, anyway!
To keep potatoes from budding, place an
apple in the bag with the potatoes.
Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix, keep
it in the pantry for up to a year.
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking
pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and
there won't be any white mess on the
outside of the cake.
Go to the bakery! They'll even
decorate it for you.
If you accidentally oversalt a dish while it's still
cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb
the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up."
If you oversalt a dish while you are cooking,
that's too bad. Please recite with me the real
woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it
and I don't care how bad it tastes!"
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in
the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
Celery? Never heard of it!
Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust
before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not
include brushing egg whites so I don't.
Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half
and rub it on your forehead.
The throbbing will go away.
Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!
If you have a problem opening jars, try using
latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip
grip that makes opening jars easy.
Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can
open it for you.
Don't throw out all that leftover wine.
Freeze into ice cubes for future use in
casseroles and sauces.
Leftover wine???????????

HELLO !!!!!!!
January 13th, 2003
2003? ALREADY!

Egads! Zykes! Can it be 2003 already???? What happened to 2001 & 2002? What happened to the new century 2001?
What happened to "we're going to party like it's 1999?? LIFE HAPPENED, my friends. I used to wonder what my parents
meant when they told me that the older you get, the faster time goes by. I thought, "How can time go by faster for anyone.
It's the same 24 hours in a day and the same 7 days a week." But now I know. You blink your eye and a New Year dawns.
We say goodbye to loved ones and welcome newborn babes (only this time, they're your grandchildren or grandnieces and
nephews). It's definitely a time for emotional roller coasters. I even find that my taste in music has altered somewhat. Whoever
thought that I, Raven, would listen and actually enjoy country music??? And who would have thought that I'd be listening to
Christian Music? But it happens. People change and time runs short. So, let's get out of this melancholy reflection. As I have
said in previous presentations, treat all you meet with curtsey and respect (you never know when they will become your
bosses). Tell those you love that you do love them. Tell them often, daily, hourly, within minutes because you never know if
or when you will see them again. We live in uncertain times at best, but we also live in the best of times when gathered with
friends and family. We live in the best country in the world and have access to more "stuff" than anyone else. We can find
work when we need to, and have access to medical care. We can pray and worship whenever we like and to whomever
we like. We can travel and stay in nice accommodations. We can pick up the phone and communicate clearly (well most
of the time). We even carry around a little phone or beeper/pager so that people can reach us always. We drive vehicles
that cost more than many peoples houses, and most of us have a roof over our head and food in our belly (too much
food actually). So, whenever life gets you down... get over it (it is 'National Get Over It Month' by the way). Focus on
what you have, not what you lack and move on down the road in a positive direction.
Like me, Love me or Hate me
This is Raven - signing off
October 8th, 2002
HEY THERE

Just figured out some news and thought I'd get it to you asap. I won't be able to attend this year. I just got back from a
week at Canaan Valley (the conference that I always go to) and I'm exhausted. Also, my family has missed me terribly. but the
main reason is that Sarah cheers in her last ballgame of which I am the team mother. Also, Lois is coming for a visit so it is just not
working out that we can come down. I did write a little poem to let you all know that I will miss you and I'm going to try and cut and
paste a joke that you can tell around the fire. I really will miss you all this year. But things happen so better luck next time.
Love to all,
Sue Bear

RED RIVER AT NIGHT

Sitting around the campfire,
Watching the embers burn,
the talk and laughter of good friends,
for these things, my heart yearns.
Alas the realities of life
remove us from our goals
and friends around the fire pit
must remember the missing souls.
So raise a toast of cheer my friends
to those who could not be near,
and hopefully the realities of life
will bring them back - next year.
September 4th, 2002
HELLO THERE

Hello to all my friends and even those who don’t think they like me. I can live with that. It has been an extremely busy
summer and work continues to take a great deal of my time. The latest adventure for George and I was to attend his 20th high
school reunion this past Labor Day weekend. It was a great time renewing acquaintances of days gone by. As many of you know,
George and I attended the same High School and so I knew most of the folks attending his reunion… even though they were only
Freshmen when I was a Senior. It was still a good time.

So what is it exactly that drives us down this road to nostalgia, the walks down memory lane. Oft I have pondered this with
many of my friends, mostly Cindi Hanson Page, but with others as well. Is it the need to return to a time of innocence (I hardly
suspect that many of us were “innocent” during the paths we are returning to). Or is it a desire to recapture some of the “fun”
we had during our “wilder” days. I suspect that it is the latter. It’s often enjoyable, if not a little dangerous, to take those walks
down the path of memory when we were mainly only accountable to ourselves. We sought pleasures among our friends in
whatever fashion was available at the time. The danger comes when we continue to try and live in these days. When we turn our
backs on our current life realities and try to physically recapture what once was. Then we harm everyone, ourselves included. Cindi,
my friend, is recapturing memories in song verse and working with another former camper John “Moose” (although he prefers to be
called John now) Prater to provide the tune. I have to admit that what I’ve heard is very good. Maybe they’ll be famous one
day. There is one entitled “Twenty years later” that just gets you thinking about how fast time passes among other things.

For those of you still embroiled in school or early career and life adjustments, I offer you some words of wisdom. Enjoy
your life. Take time to make memories to recall during your more hectic times to come. Develop life long friends that stick with
you no matter if you speak with them daily or once every six months. These are your “true friends” and those that will matter
later on. The camping trip is one opportunity that you have to make friends and pretty good memories although not always good.
But I have found that letting go of the past negatives helps brighten the positives even more. For those of you like myself,
entangled in the business (that’s busy ness) of day-to-day work, running the kids hither and yon, time to rest (seldom), Church
work, etc. I also offer some words of wisdom. Take opportunities to visit with old friends, either via e-mail, phone, or whenever
possible, personal face-to-face contact. Dust off those memories occasionally and try to only remember the good in your friends.
Everyone has flaws (although I hesitate to admit it). If everyone were perfect, we’d puke. Once again the camping trip is a good
place to do that, although I doubt that I’ll be able to attend this year. Once again, life circumstances kick you in the butt. And
finally, tell those who mean a lot to you that you love them. Tell them often and tell them why. You never know when twenty
years later… they’ll not be around.
July 1st, 2002
MOVE IT SLACKERS!

"Well howdy partners, boy I tell you what I ain't never seen a bunch of lazy slackers like I did last year during
RED RIVER: MARATHON. All anybody wanted to do was lay around, eat, and sleep. Well that just ain't agona cut it around
me ................. this year I'm a bringin ma whip! I'm a gonna put the leather to anybody that stands in my way. My goal will be
"all work and no play". That will get the site to lookin purdy.

Goofing off days are over! I'm agonna let my whip do the talking for me when i get down thar. I want that site spic and
span, I want a hog roasting on the fire, and I want them clothes & dishes washed ASAP. Yes sir .................no more slacking.

The first person that crosses me I will make an example of .............after I whip em them we're gonna throw a rope over a
limb and hoastem up in the air. coverem with honey, then let the nighttime critters do their work. Next morning they'll be begging
me to letem work ............. that is if they can still talk.

In closing just remember, no body messes with Sue Smith and gets away with it ..........and if you don't like my column
just say so and I will hunt you down like the dog you are and make you pay for your misguided way of thinking."

Very Sincerely yours,
Sue RAVEN Smith
 

August 25th, 2001
FRIENDSHIP

It's been a busy month for me as I take on new responsibilities at work and attempt to keep contact with the people who
mean a lot to me, while making sure I don't neglect my family. It was great getting to see my friends (Craig, Belinda,
Jonathan, Christine, Jon Robertson, Greg) while I was in Hazard last time. But the sad thing is, there are so many others
that I didn't get to see. It makes one become somewhat reflective on the importance of friendship and the place it
should hold in one's life.

Let me say that I have been blessed with numerous friends over my lifetime. Some are low-maintenance, some are high, but in
my opinion, all are worth the cost. I have friends that are closer to me than my own siblings, and that know more about me than
any one else. But it also makes me think. What kind of a friend am I? Have I neglected friendships that should have been
kindled? Have I been too brutally honest within the bounds of friendship in my desire to help? Can I be trusted with secrets
shared? In answer to these I say, YES. I am human, I have become involved in my life to the point of excluding those individuals
who mean the world to me and yet know that the level of friendship we once shared will bring us back if needed. I have kept
friends that should have been deserted as well. I am a strong person, with strong values and I don't apologize for wanting
others to reach a certain level. I have been blessed with insight into human nature but tend to give the benefit of the
doubt. Because of my genuine concern for others, I do become like a "mother" in trying to mold folks to my values. Who
doesn't? And I won't apologize for this. As for trustworthiness, I am as trustworthy as they come. Have I let a "secret"
out? Yes, I have. But only when it seemed necessary for the health of the individual.

Why this subject? Why right now? I guess I'm just in this part of life that does a lot of sole searching. I wonder how
others perceive me. Can even my closest friends trust me? Do they? Am I condemnatory? It remains to be seen. I cannot
control another's perception. As Popeye said" I am what I am..." nothing more, nothing less.

That said - Don't neglect your friends or your family, you never know what the futures holds but as Michael W. Smith
says - Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them" and that great bug group (the Beatles) "all we need is love,
do do do do" so keep the warm fuzzies flowin and call someone you haven't talked to in awhile. Let them know you care.
And Cherish is the word, Cherish those friendships you currently have.
July 2nd, 2001
*****NEWSFLASH ---- RAVEN QUEST UPDATE ---- NEWSFLASH*****

Well, as I promised, the latest date breaking news direct from the front... the Red River site that is. We've got some
good news, some bad. The boys were able to hold site B, but alas marauders had intruded site A. The Good News with
that???? They are leaving tomorrow, July 3, 2001 and the site will be ours. The work crew is working hard cleaning off the
site while the intruders, aka encroachers, etc were gone hiking no doubt. At last contact, our boys were successful in
obtaining plenty of wood for the Grinch to burn up. Two truck loads full. By the sounds of things we're going to need
it. Nothing about "hot summer nights" down at the Gorge. The boys say make sure you bring a jacket and pants for
the cool night time breezes. "Paradise" is the word used to describe the current conditions.

As you know, paradise can be found "by the dashboard light" or maybe we should be "Rockin in Paradise". Whichever
you prefer, come enjoy the paradise of Red River 25 - See ya there.