Doctor Who & College Football begins................

But before I get to that.  SHS has played two (non-divisional) games (against very good teams) and lost both by almost identical scores of 29-8 (to Noxubee County) and 24-8 (to Madison Central).   What I find interesting is that Starkville (in both) scored with a safety and touchdown with a missed extra point.  Oh well, I do anticipate a victory this week. Go Jackets!
Now, this is game week for MSU, and they are heavily favored against Jackson State.  So heavily favored that most services that publish point spreads aren't giving odds.  Of the few I found that do, State is favored by 35-plus points. Go Dawgs!
College football actually kicks off Thursday night and on ESPN (6 PM central) South Carolina visits Vandy. I'll probably watch a little of this before switching (@ 6:30) to the Texas A&M at Louisiana Tech game.  Texas A&M is a SEC newcomer this year and MSU plays them on November 3rd (we don't play USC or Vandy this year).  Before the smorgasboard of games to choose from on Saturday (beginning at 8 AM with Navy/NotreDame playing in Dublin, Ireland) there are a couple on Friday night.  I'll probably go with watching the N.C. State at Tennessee game (since we play UT on Oct.13th), flipping over to keep up with the Boise St./Michigan St. game and keeping a radio handy to keep up with SHS.  Now - normally I would be thinking about mowing this weekend, but will a heavy chance of rain Thursday, Friday & Saturday (thanks to Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf) - I don't think so.  And here - I have to also give a tip of the hat to my sweetie - DKW- for indulging my football addiction!  (THANKS BABY!!!)
On the non-football front - the new season of Doctor Who starts Saturday night with "Asylum of the Daleks".  I'm a little aggravated that this is an abbreviated 5 week start - with more episodes around the first of the year.  I'm really looking forward the the September 8th episode though.  I think the title is pretty descriptive - "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship".  I can only imagine what my oldest and her son (in Jackson) will have to say while watching this one.  So Cool!

Everyone have a great day!

August 7th! Wow hard to believe its already one week into August.  The NFL preseason has already started and in 10 days (Aug.17th), Starkville High will start its season and after an unexpected trip to the 5A championship game last season (which unfortunately we lost), SHS goes into this season as the odds-on favorite to take home the title.  Most of our starters are returning and our QB is one of the "Dandy Dozen" (top 12 players in the state), and has already committed to MSU - next year.  SO! - come on Football!  Can't wait.
With that, I'm gonna take a trip back and share my "BIG" football memory.  I was not a big guy in high school, but I love the sport and went out for the team.  My freshman year I was the 3rd-string nose guard on the freshman team.  At that time (1969),none of the freshmen were  allowed to play with the varsity (10th-12th) team until the 9th grade (6 game) schedule was completed.  And then only at the coach's invitation. Going into our last game I think I had been in a total of 10-12 plays.  Our last game was with West Point High and with 6 minutes to go in the game we were up 60-0.  The coach looked at me and said "W*** ! Get in there and finish up!"  I was ecstatic.  I was literally the next-to-last player to enter the game.  Just a few play later, the guys on either side of me (As nose-guard I was over the WP center) went out - one with cramps and one with an injury.  The coach had to put the starters back in and for freshmen, these guys were huge.  Both over 6'3" and 250 pounds.  So now - let me set up the moment. West Point (for the most point) was also playing their subs.  They had the ball on their own 25 yard line and there was now less than two minutes left in the game. The QB takes a slightly bobbled snap and tries to turn, with the intent to hand off to his running back.  As he is turning, the hulks on both sides of me bust through the line and hit the QB at the same time.  The ball squirts into the air just as I finally beat the center and get into the backfield.  I snag the ball and cover the last 15 yards into the end zone before anyone on the West Point team realized what had happened.  I crossed the goal line, ball raised in the year, screaming like crazy before I got mugged and nearly crushed by the rest of our defense.  But I didn't care - I scored a touchdown.  It didn't matter that we missed the extra point and the final was 66-0. I scored!.  And by a strange twist of fate, the only pic in our paper (with the game wrap-up) was me crossing the goal with the ball in the air.  "The headline with the pic was "Rare touchdown for a lineman".  But that was it - my moment of glory!   I'm forever after in my alma mater's record book.  GO JACKETS!
Everyone have a great day!

Smile!!! Its Funny!

Ok - this is not original.  A friend sent this to me and I thought I would copy it here and share.  Eveyone Enjoy!

As You Slide Down the Banister of Life Towards 2013 -- Remember:


1. Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart have written an impressive new book. It's called .... 'Ministers Do More Than Lay People'

2. Transvestite: A guy who likes to eat, drink and be Mary.

3. The difference between the Pope and your boss, the Pope only expects you to kiss his ring.

4. My mind works like lightning, one brilliant Flash and it is gone.  (This really strikes close to home.)

5. The only time the world beats a path toYour door is if you're in the bathroom.

6. I hate sex in the movies. Tried it once. The seat folded up, the drink spilled and that ice, well, it really chilled the mood.

7. It used to be only death and taxes, Now, of course, there's shipping and handling, too.

8. A husband is someone who, after taking the trash out, gives the impression that he just cleaned the whole house.

9. My next house will have no kitchen - just vending machines and a large trash can.

10. Definition of a teenager? God's punishment ... for enjoying sex.

Thought for the day: Be who you are and say what you feel ... because those that matter... don't mind ... and those that mind ...don't matter!

And As You Slide Down that Banister of Life You Should Pray That All The Splinters Are Pointed The Other Way...

Everyone have a great day!

Sci Fi OVERLOAD!!! YEAH!!

OK!  On a sadder note (for me anyway), "Eureka" ended its 5 season run on SyFy Network and did it in a way that I thought was thoughtful and appropriate.
Last night was the season premieres for "Alphas" and "Warehouse 13" and I continue to watch "Falling Skies".  BUT, I can't wait for the fall TV season to start - I have several returning favorites (Walking Dead, Dr. Who, Fringe, and more) and some new shows with Sci Fi premises look promising.  But the BIG news is that one of my fave cult TV shows in the 80's (which only lasted  4 seasons) from the BBC is getting at re-boot (ala Battlestar Galactica) by the BBC and should be here in the US in the fall.  Not to keep you in suspense - the show is "Blake's 7".  And in case you've never heard of it  - I've provided a link to the wiki listing.
And speaking of cult favorites - airing now in the UK and scheduled for BBC America in the fall - is a 10th season (of 10 episodes - with the original cast) of Red Dwarf.  WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!
Anyway - with all the Sci Fi coming and the rapidly approaching football season - my recliner will probably be getting a workout.
Everyone have a great day!

Catching Up

Its been a couple of weeks since I last blogged - but I have been busy.  We've had folks visiting us and I've been short handed at work.  So I'll try and catch up.
First - when I got up to come to work this morning there were a couple of deer in my front yard.  Hope I can see 'em in the fall.  They can be right tasty with mashed taters and corn!
My wife put some neat stuff  in her blog - and I'm just gonna provide a link so you can read if ya want to and not just repeat stuff.  I will say that the "Wolf Spider" (big as my hand) that she posted the pic of is not distant family.  :-) 
I have a short blurb in the current month's newsletter published by our Electric Power Association.  I've provided a link - but the current month won' be available online until next month.  Odd - I know.  Anyway if ya want to read it - its under the "Mississippi is...." section.
My youngest son (CNW) got good news.  He did well on the last Coast Guard  servicewide exam and will be promoted to E-7 (Chief) before the year is out.  This is great!  I put nearly 21 years in before I retired from the Coast Guard and was an E-6 when I did.  He's done it in around 9 years.  But most, if not all, of my kids are smarter than their old man.  (If ya don't believe me - just ask 'em!)  And - the grandkids......(massive eye roll)!
My oldest son (JWWII) will be leaving later this month to go to New Jersey with his family.  The missus will be working for the Newark school system.  She was placed there to meet part of the requirements for her doctorate.  But she will be coming back here briefly later this year to defend her dissertation.
My daughter (DMW) in Portland, OR, has been going back to college for a couple of years now (and after a bit of stressing) is happy to report she is still carrying a 4.0 grade average.  YOU GO GIRL!
As I was typing this morning I was carried back to my high school daze (errr... days) by the internet radio.  Immigrant Song (from Led Zeppelin III) played.  This song came out about the time I first started driving and I WORE OUT my 8-track of this album.
My oldest (MSB) is taking classes (online right now) - but is on course to graduate from East Mississippi C.C. in December.  YOU GO TOO!!
I think this kind of catches up the news.  I've got to mow this weekend though.  Its been two weeks since I last did and with the rain we had the last few days the grass has shot up higher than its been all year.    I've got an out-patient procedure next week (27th) and I'm pretty sure I won't be working outside any that weekend.  Its nothing serious - but it is necessary.  I'm in great health and want to continue that way.
Everyone have a great day!

So What?

I was reading today that according to "The Sporting News" (and others), Mississippi State has the weakest non-conference football schedule in the nation and could conceivably be 6-1 or 7-0 before going into the "meat" of their schedule.  I say "SO WHAT?!"  "I DON'T CARE!"   Not too awful long ago MSU's schedule was ranked the toughest in the nation and we struggled to a 5-6 season.  I said at that time - "Why aren't we playing winnable non-conference games?"  Well, changes in leadership (new A.D. and Coaches) and "voila" here we are.  Heck, I'm tickled pink! A 6-1 (or better) start would guarantee a post-season bowl.  I don't care if we have multiple blow-out games. And I'm sure if they were honest - other fans would say the same.  Go DOGS!

Here's our schedule:
2012 MSU Bulldog Football Schedule

Sept. 1 - Jackson St.- Starkville
Sept. 8 - Auburn - Starkville
Sept. 15 - Troy in Troy, AL
Sept. 22 - South Alabama - Starkville
Oct. 6 - Kentucky in Lexington, KY
Oct. 13 - Tennessee - Starkville
Oct. 20 - Middle TN St. -Starkville (Homecoming)
Oct. 27 - Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL
Nov. 3 - Texas A&M - Starkville (Snow Bowl Reunion)
Nov. 10 - LSU in Baton Rouge, LA
Nov. 17 - Arkansas - Starkville
Nov. 24 - Ole Miss in Oxford, MS

Only 3 weeks or so until the NFL training camps start (Eagles start 7/22).  Most teams start on the 27th or 28th.  The first pre-season game is the Hall of Fame game (in Canton) on August 5th between the Saints and Cardinals. Hard to believe football is so close with the triple digit heat outside.
Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and I (like 90% of  the nation) plan on grilling out for me, DKW and our Moms!  Don't worry on my cooking will be done outside (in the shade).  We will enjoy the eats inside with the AC.  (Triple digit heat - 'member?  We ain't crazy!)
Everyone have a great day

"Its a Weiner-ful Day!"

Ok!  I sure everyone know's by now about our Sophie!.  Our little Chi-Weenie dog that appears to be a full-blooded dachsund.  Anyway, DKW and I never, ever spoil her (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) - but who can turn down that face?

Any - hooo!  These are not pics of our girl, but they are funny and I thought I'd share.  The first one I had to use.  We've told each other many times that Sophie is a cat in a dog suit.

And this last one is for my oldest - who is down in our state capital area.  Enjoy!

Everyone have a great day!