The Smell of Pigskin is filtering in!

Hard to believe it (but I am SOOOOOOO glad) that full sized, full contact Amur'can football is right around the corner.  I mean, Canadian Football (game tonight) and Arena football are only a stopgap measure and serve to sharpen the appetite even more.
July 29th (in 4 days) season tickets for Starkville High go on sale.  I will be getting mine.  I've had the same seats since the current facility opened in 2000, and before that had season tickets in the old stadium from the time I retired from the U.S. Coast Guard (Semper Paratus!) in 1992.  SHS won last seasons Mississippi 5A State Championship, but won't be able to defend because this year they move back to 6A.  Mississippi evaluates and assigns schools (every 2 years) to 1A thru 6A based on student population at the school.  This helps keep competition close and the playing field fairly level.
Also on the 29th, the movie "Mississippi Gridiron Gold" will be making its 2 night world premiere across the state.  I'm sure that in the not-too-distant future, a DVD will be available.
Then, on August 4th (only 10 days from now) the NFL will kick off its pre-season with the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio.  The first HoF game was in 1963, so this year marks the 50th anniversary of the event.  It would be cool if Dr. Who was there too!  (If you don't get it - just move on - cause you Don't know me!)
The rest of the NFL pre-season will start in earnest on August 8th and the 2013 college season  won't be far behind.  (I'm bouncing on my seat and clapping like an id'jit - I'm so excited!)
'Til next time............

Memories - Important!

A little bit on the serious side this entry. 

Three years ago (June 11, 2010) I was in a very bad accident when an elderly gentleman turned his Caddy in front of my motorcycle.  (I know this because I saw the pictures and lots of family has told me about it.)  I have absolutely no memories of the day of the wreck or the 2 months afterwards.  From what family and friends have told me (and the pics I saw), its probably just as well - I was in a lot of pain.  Anyway, three years down the road I figured I was pretty well past it, except for lingering issues with my memory.
When it is work related, I apologize to my boss and then make notes on my desk calendar to remind me to do things so that I don't get embarrassed (yet again) for forgetting what should be routine/regularly done things.  At home, I apologize, but it bothers me even more then.  This is family and loved ones - I should be more attentive.  Everyone, myself included, gets frustrated.
So I've taken the step of making an appointment next week at Columbus (MS) Air Force Base Clinic to get a referral for a specialist.  Someone familiar with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and the resultant memory problems. (Cause I've come to realize that it is a problems and in 20 years  I don't want to be the old guy that forgets how to put his pants on - Its not a pretty sight!  Just ask the family that was around in the hospital after the wreck.)  Hopefully I can get a handle on it.  I don't want to end up like my grandmother (my father's mom) Arie, who didn't know any of her family during the last couple of years of her life.   Its sad, when those that love you most are almost relieved at your passing.  Not that they are bad people, they were just tired of seeing the sadness and frustration my grandmother experienced with the memory loss.
Memories are a big part of who we are and I, for one, want to hang on to that as long as possible.
Everyone Have A Great Day.

Happy 4th of July and more!

Thought I'd make a quick entry to wish everyone a happy Holiday!  Be safe if using fireworks!  Being a retired veteran myself, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all who are serving, or have served in the past, this great nation of ours.
DKW and I will be having our moms and a couple of friends over for lunch on the Fourth.  Nothing fancy, just grilling some burgers, dogs, and corn-on-the-cob. While I'm cooking outside, I'm pretty sure we will partake of the meal inside.  (Gotta love A.C.)
Just a quick salute to my MSU Diamond Dogs!  Unfortunately we didn't win the College World Series,  (Congrats to UCLA) but we were one of the final two teams to be playing college baseball this year.  I'll just cross my fingers and hope that we can get back.
Now, everyone that knows me, knows that I am a huge "Doctor Who" fan.  I was first hooked when I caught the show on PBS stations in the 70's, but now know quite a bit about the show and its history.  (I get questions from folks all the time when they want to know something about it.  Well, Matt Smith is leaving the iconic role at the end of this year and there is a lot of speculation out there as to who will fill his shoes.  Among others, I've heard Hugh Laurie (of "House") and Jamie Baber (of "Battle Star Galactica").  The pro is they are both British, but the con is that they are very well known outside the UK.  One name that was thrown out in passing, is my "Spot-on, Number One" choice to play the twelfth Doctor and kick off the next (hopefully) 50 years of the show.  He is young enough (to fit in with the last 2 or 3 Docs) and quirky enough to bring a fresh take to the role.  AND, dare I say it, I think he would be a great one to rival the fantastic Tom Baker's longevity in the role.  So, without further ado (drum roll please) - my choice to play the next doctor is . . . . . . . Andrew Lee Potts.  Now, for those of us who were fans of the BBC show "Primeval", we know Andrew.  But he's not "extremely" well known and I think he would be a great Doctor.  Anyway, just throwing it out there and I'll put a pic of him at the end of this entry so that you can see who I'm talking about. 
Everyone have a great day - and a Great Holiday.

Andrew Lee Potts - My choice for DW12.

Ranting- A Little

Ok - this is just me ramblin' on for a bit.  I don't know if its because I'm getting older or genetics or what.  But I feel like I'm cold nearly all day.  I work in a branch library where the temp is 65-70 most of the day.  I make complaints and somebody does something, but it never gets any better. I think that's one of the reasons I ache all the time at work.  It's okay when I'm home - our house is a bit warmer than work.  I mean, I do want my wife to be comfortable, and I can always grab the blanket off the back of my chair if I get cool.  (Which I do when I need it.)
The thing that a lot of folks don't understand, and what I get asked frequently, is how can you work in that heat?  (When I'm doing my yard work and such.)   The answer, to be honest, is I like it.  I always have water available to stay hydrated and I cover my shaved head so it doesn't burn.  When I'm outside mowing, its one of the times I am relatively pain free.  I enjoy the sunny days and the sense of accomplishment I have when I'm done.  I also tan fairly quickly and easily, so I don't worry about burning.  I understand folks will continue to worry about me as I get older, but I like to think that I have enough sense to take breaks when I need it.  In the last couple of years I have reduced the area that I mow from around 6 acres, to just under 3 acres.  I make sure that my mom, mom-in-law, and DKW & I have nice yards and a walking path between our homes, but that's it. 
Okay, I'll climb down off my soapbox now.  Everyone have a great day.



Not ME! Just a retro pic.
 



Funny Pic - Just sharing!

Thought this was funny! Just had to share. (P.S. - I will comment on MSU Baseball once the CWS is over.  Don't want to jinx them.   GO DAWGS!

O - MA - DAWGS ! ! ! ! Wahoo.

In a game that took two days to finish (thanks to torrential rains in Charlottesville, VA, on Sunday) Mississippi State took the second (and final) game of the Charlottesville Super-Regional.  But it was not easy.  There was a reason that UVA was the #6 National Seed.  But a final of 6-5 was enough and now state will play in the College World Series (in OMAHA, NE) on Saturday at 2:00 PM (Central) against the #3 National Seed - the Oregon State Beavers.  So GOOO DAWGGGS!  Lick the beavers! heh!

Been A While & DW News

Well, Its been over a month since I last posted, but I've not been idle.
In May I went to my granddaughter's dance recital down in Clinton, Miss.  It was very nice and DKW and I had a nice visit with my daughter and her family. 
I agonized most of the month because I couldn't mow my yards (in addition to my own I cut my mother's and my mother-in-law's) because it rained every few days and keep the ground so wet that I couldn't mow without bogging down and getting stuck.  I usually start mowing in the middle of April each year.  This year, I FINALLY mowed for the first time on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27th).  Sheeeeesh!  I was glad to get it done.  I hope I can mow this coming weekend, but rain is in the forecast - so I don't know.
I've finally started getting myself back into the habit of writing.  Obviously I've missed some blog time, but its because I'm actually working on what I hope will be one or more books.  I'm spending at least and hour a day doing this, so its takes a bit of time from other things.  I don't want to say what its about, but once I have 100 to 150 pages, I may ask some family members or friends to critique it for me.  So - stay tuned and I'll update periodically.
As I type this I'm watching/listening to MSU playing Central Arkansas in the Starkville Regional of the NCAA Baseball tournament.  State is currently up, but UCA has runners on first and third with no one out.  State wins tonight, they win the regional.  They lose, and same teams play tomorrow night for the regional championship.  Go Dogs!
Bit of news today from the BBC.  They announced with Matt Smith will be leaving Doctor Who at the end of the year. Literally!  When this year's DW Christmas Special airs Matt's Doctor will regenerate.  No word yet as to who will play the 12th incarnation of the Doctor.  I hope the BBC continues to chose well!
Everyone have a great day!