Fillion Friday

Margie: Edna can tell you how I despise television commercials and I may even refuse to watch a show with too many of them. There's always an exception and this hot commercial is it. Trust old Margie, if I say it's hot then it's hot.

I really need to talk to Nathan Fillion. We could sit in our swing on the porch and watch Fireflies. Tell him to call me.

By the way, guess whose lovely, shapely legs they used in this commercial? Watch closely now.

Can you believe it's been two years?

Dear Readers,

Last month was the two-year anniversary of "Margie and Edna's Basement," and there have been over 500 posts since the blog got its start in March 2008! The ladies have surely had a lot to say on a variety of different topics, and they don't show signs of stopping any time soon.

We want to thank all of our readers, from those who were with us at the very beginning, to our more recent and most loyal readers (you know who you are). Margie and Edna have found an appreciative audience in you all, much to their delight, and the whole thing has been quite a learning experience. Today we'd like to share a few things that the ladies have learned over the last few years of blogging.

Edna: Blogging is hard to do. It's fun, but it's hard, especially if you want to publish something regularly like Margie and I do. It takes a lot of creativity and imagination, that's for sure.

Margie: Edna, why did you pinch me? I wasn't going to tell them that I've learned never to blog again with a bossy sister.

I'd like to say that I would not do a blog if it felt like work and this blog doesn't. I love trying to anticipate what our readers might enjoy. I'm their favorite anyway.

Edna: Margie, our readers will tell you that they have no favorite sister (although I know they're just being diplomatic and I'm really their favorite).

Speaking of being bossy, blogging on a regular basis takes a lot of planning and cooperation. You might not know it from our interactions, but Margie and I have learned a lot about negotiation and conflict resolution. Although I still say Margie could benefit from a few intensive anger management classes.

Margie: Edna thinks conflict resolution is sitting around pouting and negotiation is threatening me.

I've also learned a lot about anger. You stay calm by shutting your ears to ignorant dummies. Ring a bell, sister?

Planning is correct. Nobody wants to read a blog about nekkid men when it's winter time and the men all keep their clothes on.

Edna: Margie, I'm going to ignore those hateful and untrue words. But you've reminded me of something else I've learned: give the readers what they want and they'll keep coming back. And back and back and back...

Margie: Edna, I'll have to agree with that. They sure keep coming back to see you act a fool. Thanks folks.

Family Reunion Time

Margie: Edna, you know our family reunion is coming up in June. Remember how Daddy always told us that we had to go as long as we were breathing?

Well, you can go alone this year. Old Margie knows when it's time to quit.

Edna: Oh no you don't! I'm not going to face that bunch of piranhas alone! You'd best get yourself out of whatever funk you're in and come and face the music with me.

Margie: Sister, don't pretend that you don't recall how you embarrassed me last year. Right in front of Mama and Daddy's graves too.

That gentleman walked up and simply said he'd gone to school with you so he knew your age. Lordy, it was like waving a red flag at a bull. You rared back your purse and told him you'd knock him to Kingdom come if he told your age. You have no shame.

Edna: Margie, you must have been tippling again because that was surely not me you're remembering. That was Aunt Biddy, you idiot! So you can just quit your whining about me shaming you, because Lord knows it didn't happen the way you're telling it.

I thought for sure she was going to pull that man's hair out.

Margie: Hair? I've pulled my own out having to listen to all your squawking day and night.

Edna: I'm fine with agreeing to a 24-hour wall of silence if it will get you to stop filling my ear with half-truths. Agreed?

Margie: Make it 48.

All Dressed Up

Margie: Edna, look at these pictures I found of us when we were girls. Lawsy me, did Mama think we were twins? Remember how we hated it when she dressed us alike? That old material always made us itch too.

I remember that day when you told her you didn't want to dress like me. Daddy gave you the Evil Eye and that always shut your mouth. I miss Daddy.

Edna: Daddy may have given me the Evil Eye but Mama understood. She said she dressed us alike because of her cousin back East who imported clothing and would send her the children-sized dress samples for us girls. She told me that it was a sin to waste anything, even clothes we didn't like. And that we should be thankful we had nice clothes, because so many children had to do without.

It figures you wouldn't remember that part, the part where Mama reminded us to be humble.

Margie: Edna, why do you always try to make me feel bad? I was thankful for everything except you. You wouldn't know humble if it slapped you upside your ugly head.

Edna: Get away from me Margie, don't you dare slap me! I'm not so old yet that I can't take you in a fight. I swan, it's just like you to take a reasonable conversation and resort to violence. Looks like you didn't inherit Mama's peaceful side, either.

Margie: I'll slap you with this wet noodle any time I please then I'll pull that tacky wig off your flat head.

I'm going to Bailey's. You make my nerves knot up!

Happy Easter!

Love, Margie and Edna

World Autism Awareness Day

Edna: Margie, have I told you about my friend Mr. Mang? He has a wonderful son whose 14th birthday is today. (Happy Birthday, L'il Mang!) His son also happens to be autistic, which is something that impacts their whole family as they help him to navigate the world around him.

Today is World Autism Awareness Day and there are so many things people just don't know about autism. I wish everyone would take a minute out of their busy lives today to learn a fact or two. Like this one: Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys. Or this one: Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases.

Margie: Edna, I don't know a lot about it myself but I do believe in education. I have to agree with you that folks should try to learn a few facts about it.

I think we need to support more research too so we can know what causes it.

Edna: I think so too, Margie. Once our readers have picked themselves up off the floor from the shock of us agreeing with one another, I think they should head to the links below to learn more about autism and what's being done in terms of research and raising awareness and funds.

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"Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families."


"The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism was established by NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, in honor of their son, Doug, Jr. who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Doug and Laurie are fortunate to have the resources to provide their son with the educational opportunities, special equipment and tools necessary for Doug, Jr. to live a happy and rewarding life. They realize, however, that there are thousands of families of children with autism who struggle every day to pay for similar services. Their primary objective is to provide families with a place to turn when they are in need of support and autism resources."


"Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. Dr. Grandin didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. She tells her story of "groping her way from the far side of darkness" in her book Emergence: Labeled Autistic, a book which stunned the world because, until its publication, most professionals and parents assumed that an autism diagnosis was virtually a death sentence to achievement or productivity in life."


"The TreeHouse Trust is a London-based charity, established in 1997 to provide an educational Centre of Excellence for children with autism. It was set up by a group of parents (including author Nick Hornby) whose children had recently been diagnosed with autism."

Hoppin' down the bunny trail...with a tail full of buckshot

Margie: Edna, people are greedy and selfish and that's a fact. I sent Cousin T to find me some Cadbury eggs and do you think folks had the decency to leave a few on the shelves? No, they didn't. That's my favorite Easter candy too.

Edna: Copycat, you're just saying that because I said it was my favorite candy the other day. Maybe Cousin T just didn't look in the right places, because I had no problems stocking up.

I have a hankering for some of those malted milk candy eggs. I have a hard time eating them with the dentures, but they're just as tasty to suck on.

Margie: Suck on your thumb, big baby, and let me have that candy. Don't make me get my pistol to you.

Edna: Talk about all bark and no bite. What are you going to shoot me with, jelly beans?

Margie: I wouldn't waste a bean on you, dumb bunny. Try buckshot.