Home Again! YEAH!!!

After a week visiting with my friends in Wisconsin - I'm really glad to be back home in Mississippi. As Dorothy said to Toto - "There's no place like home."
The new season of Doctor Who kicks off Saturday (April 23rd). If you aren't familiar with the show (first- SHAME on YOU) then this site will catch you up on 47 years of the Doctor in six minutes.
Yesterday I was still off work and I drove my Mini Cooper into town to take care of a couple of errands. On my way to my office (to fill out my time sheet - so I'd get paid) I was stopped by a MSU Campus police officer. Turned out he was new on the job and wanted to know where I got my car because his wife wanted one. I was a little irked but went and did what I needed to do and an hour later was headed back home. On my way I was pulled over by a City (of Starkville) police officer - for the same reason. I actually lost my temper with him and he was a bit contrite and apologized profusely. (Also bought me a soda - since we were stopped at Sweet Pepper's Deli) *SIGH* I didn't know my Coop was so popular with law enforcement.
Got a call from my oldest that her son (who is 11 years old and bigger than I am) started spring football practice yesterday. He will be in the 7th grade next year and is really looking forward to the season. Heck! So am I. Go Jackets!
Everyone have a great Day!

My New Ride

Saw it and bought it yesterday. 2003 Mini Cooper. Drives very nice.Only has 65K miles. I hope to have it for many, many years. The "official" name of the body color is "Silk Green" w/white top (obviously). But to me that color will be "seafoam" green - which is what I first heard that shade of green called in the past. Gotta come up with a name for it though. So - suggestions? Nothing cutesy though.
Everyone have a great day!

Waxing Poetic

Well - I guess its that time of year for me to do it again. On Sunday (April 3rd) I will be 56 years old. In the grand scheme of things - not too old - but no spring chicken anymore either. Both my father (Fred) and his father (George) passed away when they were 56. They were both, however, heavy smokers from their pre-teen years and both passed away due to lung cancer. The good news is that I am not a smoker, I take after my mother's side of the family (who routinely have lived into their 90's) and I feel like I am probably in the best shape of my life. So I expect to be around for a while.

In the past 12 years, I have lost my father, two grandparents, and my first wife. Even with it being over a decade in one case, something will happen that will remind me of that person and even now I will miss them terribly. I know that one day, I too, will fade from this mortal plane. I just hope that I have made a positive difference in the lives I have touched and will be remembered fondly.

OK - No more morbidity. I'll looking forward to enjoying myself and I hope everyone else is too.

This is the 40th anniversary of my 16th birthday. In 1971 I turned 16 and my sweetie -DKW- turned 1 (*dirty old man*) HEY - WHO SAID THAT! :-).
Everyone have a great day!!!

Moving Mama & Home-Fried Chicken!

Well, this past weekend I took off work on Friday (3/25) so that I could move my Mama from the assisted living home she was residing back to her doublewide - where she will be residing with my sister and her husband. (At least for a while). I had rented a uHaul truck and hired a senior vet student to help me and about 5 hours later we had all of Mama's stuff moved. My sister & Mama spent most of the weekend getting stuff arranged. So now she is pretty much moved in to her half of the place. I paid for moving day with an achy, sore knee most of the weekend. It wouldn't have been so bad (I think) if it hadn't been cool and rainy Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday I got to keep the J-man for about 4 hours. My oldest son & wife brought 2-year old Jonas over to stay for a while. We had a good time even though most of the last hour there he spent sleeping in my lap. (He had fallen asleep while watching the Sprout (PBS-related) Network. He will be a heartbreaker when he's older! Believe You ME!

Friday night I had learned some *SHOCKING* news. Well - shocking to a southern boy! My sweetie had never had *home-fried chicken*. Now, she had had KFC and other restaurant-style fried chicken, but like I said - never had home-fried! So, as a southern boy who had home-fried chicken several times a month while growing up and at every family *event* (i.e. wedding, family reunion, death, any party) I took it upon myself to rectify this situation. So I home-fried chicken for Sunday lunch (and took a couple of pieces to Mama - since it was her recipe & she loves fried chicken) and DKW gave it two thumbs up. I had even fried her up a side of home-made onion rings - which she loved. She stated the obvious - that it was very different from KFC - but also added "it's much better"! (I had to sit down before my swelling head caused me to fall over.) But I was pleased. I had one piece myself and it was good. If you don't know - I don't eat fried food more than once or twice a year. It's just healthier that way.

Everyone Have a Great Day!

Skynyrd Still Rocks

This past Saturday night DKW & I used our *free* tickets and attended the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at the Golden Moon Casino in Philadelphia. Never mind the fact that I've been rocking to these guys since 1970 - they still put on a good show. The last song of the "regular" set was the mega-hit "Sweet Home Alabama" and the joint was rocking and everyone was dancing in the aisles. Of course they said their goodbyes and walked off - but nobody was leaving and everybody in the audience was making noise including many shouts of (the ultimate concert -song) "FREEBIRD". I have to admit yelling it out myself. Well, after 3-5 minutes they came back out and did a "FreeBird" encore that lasted more than ten minutes and everyone left happy. It was great fun & I actually broke even on the gambling I did - so it was a great "low-cost" night.

Everyone have a great day!

Bye Ole Truck!

Well, my truck is gone. The new owner drove it away a few minutes. It was a bittersweet feeling as it left. I liked my old truck but it was on the verge of being a money drain. Oh. Well - not my problem any more. I was very up front with the new owner about the possible future problems - but he still wanted it. The bill of sale was "As Is" so he has assumed any problems that manifest from this moment on.
Tomorrow DKW & I are going down to the casino at Philadelphia (MS). I was given 2 tickets to the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at 8 PM. We are going to enjoy the concert and I plan on doing a little gambling. Not a lot - I have a set amount I'm taking with me for it and if I lose that I'm done. I'm not going to be stupid about it.
Actually, besides tomorrow, we are going down to the casino on the 19th too. Rita Coolidge is in concert and I have tickets for that one too.
Ahh well. Everyone have a great day!

Mo' Thunder......

Well, I couldn't let it go. The music selected in my last entry I do love, but there are so many songs I left off that this would be Volume 2 (same rules - 14 songs - only one song per artist -plus can't repeat any from first volume). So here goes: (1) Bang Shang-A-Lang - The Archies, (2) Panama Red - New Riders of the Purple Sage, (3) Timothy - The Buoys, (4) I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family, (5) Karma Chameleon - Culture Club (6) Truckin'-Grateful Dead, (7)Iron Man - Black Sabbath, (8) Still of the Night - Whitesnake (9) Back in Black - AC/DC, (10) We're An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad, (11) Play My Game - The Donnas, (12)Devil Gate Drive - Suzi Quatro, (13) Tainted Love - Soft Cell and finally (14) Bat Out of Hell - Meatloaf. Again - many great songs left off. But I promise this is my last musical entry - At least for a long time. But an explanation is in order (I think) for number 11. It was the theme song for the A&E show "RollerGirls" which followed a Roller Derby league in Texas - It lasted 2 seasons and I liked it. But I realize a lot of folks may not have heard of it.
Sigh - I think I may be selling my truck. Had it in the shop to get the fuel system flushed, oil changed, tires rotated & balanced. They did that, but with further inspection. They suggested I at least replace the front brake pads (which will may it good for maybe a year) , but it will need some major brake/wheel work ($1K or more) before a year or so. So I think I'll cut my losses, get what I can, and let her go. But don't worry - I will let whoever buys it know about the upcoming needed work. Dang!

Everyone have a great day!