Been Away - Stuff to pass.

Shaddow & Sophie - 2011

Okay.  I was arguing with myself the other day about why I was even trying to keep up with a blog when there were so few folks that seemed to even care to read it.  Well, the main point I came up with is that I do it for myself.  It keeps my mind active and at this time in my life (I'll be 60 in 2 months) I need to do that.  It also gives me an outlet just to vent and maybe post observations on life.  So - here goes.
Christmas season has come and gone, and I was able to see 3 (of my 5) children.  We are having a big family "to-do" planned in July, and did not expect the ones spread far across the country to make it home during the holidays this year.  So, that was okay.
It did not pass without life-altering events though.  A couple shook me badly, which was one reason I actually thought I would give up the writing.
My mother-in-law, Sharon, had been struggling with heart problems for a few months and finally succumbed on December 5th.  While not totally unexpected, it still shook DKW and I.  The timing of it was doubly so for me, as my first wife, Sue, passed away on December 3rd in 2005.  DKW and I are both, at times, struggling with the sense of loss. 
Then, on top of that - on January 21st, I had to put down Shaddow, DKW's 13 1/2 year old Lab-mix (which she had from a puppy).  I had gotten home around 6 P.M. (after an afternoon taking my mother to appointments) and found Shaddow on our front deck.  She was struggling to move but unable to get her rear legs to respond.  Also from observing her face, she seemed in extreme pain and had a bit of droopy paralysis.  I knew, from past dealings with other dogs of my own that she had likely had a stroke.  It was time.  I let DKW know and she sat with Shaddow on the deck as I took care of preparations.  Once done, I tearfully said my own goodbyes (she had been in my life nearly 6 years) and did what was necessary.  She no longer suffers, but I still miss the sweetest dog I've ever known and frequently catch myself looking for her.  You will be with me as long as I live Sweet Girl!
You are missed! !

Too Funny to Pass Up.

If you know me - you know why I think this is hilarious.

If you don't know me - then why the #*@% are you reading my blog?

Stairway to Heaven

I find this strangely appropriate for Sharon's Memory

This past Friday (Dec. 5th), DKW came to my work just after lunch to let me know that her mother had passed away that morning. (That being news best given in person.)  I will admit that after I assured her I was okay (and she had left with her dad) it hit me kind of hard, coming almost 9 years to-the-day since my first wife died unexpectedly.  So a lot of emotions resurfaced - hard.  It was a rough weekend for all of us, but we are all trying to move on and take care of things in accordance with her wishes.

When I left work Friday, an instrumental version of "Stairway to Heaven" (by local artist, Stephanie Jackson) was playing on my car's CD player.  It felt appropriate, and I even had it repeat on the way home.

I will probably wait until after the holidays before I post again.  Everyone have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year!

Turkey Day Approacheth!

I'm not going to go all maudlin and weepy listing all the things I am thankful for, cause there are tons - and I would end up forgetting someone or something.  If you are important to me - you already know this.  I try to make a point of it all during the year - not just at holidays.  But - that said - "Family" - yeah you - "I love you and appreciate you".  Enjoy your holiday - wherever you're located.
Well, after losing to Alabama (25-20), MSU made a statement with a 51-0 trouncing of Vanderbilt.  The Dogs are still in the mix for the College football championship, but there chances took a hit when "That School Up North" lost big time (30-0) to Arkansas.  It would have made the "Egg Bowl" at more attractive game to the selection committee, but not so much now that TSUN has 3 losses.  But MSU needs to take care of business and continue the beat-down of the battered Rebs.  Then they just have to hope their 11-1 resume is attractive enough to the selection committee.  Of course it wouldn't hurt if Bama lost to Auburn ("War - DAMN -EAGLE!) or the Gators put a "chomp-chomp" on Florida State.  So - yeah - hunting Saturday morning  & football - noon-ish on.  The "Egg Bowl" is a 2:30 start on CBS.
Friday, the Starkville High Yellowjackets will be playing in round 3 of the Mississippi 6A championship.  The game will be here in Starkville against the South Panola Tigers.  Both teams are ranked #1 in their regions and both were at home last week. Since both are undefeated, the game is at Starkville since they are the highest ranked team (#1 in Miss. & #2 in the nation - according to Maxpreps.com.)  The winner will be the Miss. North 6A champion and will play the South 6A champion in the State Championship game - which is being held this year (for the first time) in Mississippi State's football stadium.  So SHS would have played every playoff game at home this year.  GO JACKETS! ! !
That's about all I have for now.  I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving.
Everyone have a great Holiday!

Proud Veteran - Proud Coastie!

SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!

Busy Weekend - Starting Tonight! (Thursday)

Busy, Busy, BUSY!  Tonight the Starkville Area Arts Council, of which DKW is a board member, is having their Holiday Showcase Reception.  The works of several local artists will be featured and the "big reveal" of the winning poster that promotes  the 2015 Cotton District Arts Festival will highlight the evening.  As this is highly publicized local event, I "gussied up" a bit to attend.  I will be wearing (spoken in runway announcer's voice) "a black cotton dress shirt with silver pin stripes, set off with matching maroon bow tie and suspenders."  :-)  This night is all for my sweetie, cause for the rest of the weekend I'll  be footballin' it up!
Tomorrow morning I will be leaving from work and heading down to Clinton for the game between the Starkville High Yellowjackets (#1 in the state) and the Clinton High Arrows (#5 in the state & #2 in the same region as SHS).  The winner of this game will be the #1 seed from 6A-Region 2 when the playoffs start next Friday (Nov. 14th). Now, SHS is favored and is my "alma mater" but my grandson plays for Clinton.  "OH! What a dilemma." you might say.  But not really - When my grandson is in the game I will watch him earnestly and hope he stays healthy and does well - but I have been a SHS supporter since I was 5 years old  - that will never change.  If you ask my grandson, he will tell you that I told him early in the year that I hoped SHS and Clinton were both undefeated when they met on November 7th (tomorrow).  Well, Clinton has lost one game, but it was outside our region - so both teams are undefeated in region games.  I look forward to a good game.  I hope everyone comes out healthy.  BUT, GO JACKETS!  (This link is for a Clarion Ledger article about playoff scenarios.)

Saturday is homecoming for the MSU Bulldogs.  They will be hosting the UT-Martin Skyhawks and are favored by 45 points.  Should be able to play a lot of folks and rest the starters.  Which State needs to do as next week (11/15), the Dogs will travel to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama.  A win at Bama would go a long way towards folks finally realizing, "Hey M State really is a good team!"

Everyone have a great day!

It was a Beautiful Weekend

My #1 Mississippi State Bulldogs......  MAN! I love saying that. Soooooo.....

My #1 Mississippi State Bulldogs took care of business in their first game as the #1 team and left Kentucky still undefeated (7-0).  Now it was not easy, and State did not play their best game, but to accomplish great things you have to win even if you are not at your peak.  The Dogs are back at home this weekend and host 4-4 Arkansas.  The early line is MSU by 14.
What made the weekend doubly sweet is the fact that Ole Miss lost to LSU (who State beat 34-29) by a score of 10-7.  So now MSU is the ONLY team in the SEC without a loss.  Really hope they keep it up.

On the high school front, SHS defeated Jackson Murrah, 34-6 to go to 9-0 (5-0 in region) on the year.  SHS is ranked # 1 in Mississippi and #6 in the nation (according to Maxpreps.com).  Now, Warren Central High (out of the Vicksburg area) was also undefeated and in second place in our region.  This past Friday was their homecoming game.  Well, my grandson's team (the Clinton Arrows) held on at the end and a missed extra point gave Clinton a  14-13 victory.  So, now our region is very interesting.   Clinton is 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the region, so they move into second, behind Starkville and ahead of 8-1 (4-1 in region) Warren Central.  Starkville hosts Warren Central this Friday and finishes at Clinton on November 7th.  So, bottom line, SHS wins out ant they will be the #1 seed in the region.  Lose to WC and beat Clinton, tiebreakers have to be figured out.  Beat WC and the winner of SHS-Clinton will be the region's #1 seed.  All 3 (SHS, WC, Clinton) have clinched playoff spots.  The #1 & #2 seeds will play at home during the first week of playoffs (Nov.14th).  So - GO JACKETS!.

On a front unrelated to football - Debra and I will celebrate our 5th anniversary on Friday.  Man - how the time has flown.

Everyone have a great week!