Early Oct. 2012

Oct. 2, 2012

I think today is the first time I have been full since I have been here.  A strange and AWESOME  feeling.  We had breakfast for dinner, which has always been a favorite of mine.  I did some horse trading and got an extra tray.  So I had six pancakes, 2 ice cream scoops of peanut butter, 2 helping of fried potatoes, 2 helpings of baked apples, & 2 milks.  This guy is going to sleep with a big smile on his face!

Oct. 4, 2012

Just a good day today.  Not a lot to talk about, just thankful for family and friends.

It’s amazing how many different ways there are to spruce up a ramen noodle soup.  I’m sure I’ll show you one day, but I’m also sure I won’t help you eat it.  I imagine I’ll be burnt out.

Oct. 6, 2012

Today marks 1/12^th of my time being gone.  8 months has gone by fairly quickly.  I’m sure as you all read these blog postings you’ve noticed that maybe some of my priorities are changing.  I’ve noticed it.  I’m trying to be more thankful for things, as well as not place so much hope and thought into material things.  I’m sure my thoughts may become cyclical.  I haven’t thought about golf in quite a while, but still love it.  I have a list of stories to tell, off the wall stuff that I’ll get to one day.  But recently I’ve just kinda held off.  I try to write enough to keep current.  Don’t lose interest if one day isn’t funny.  Some days are better than others I guess.  I love you all.  Thanks for taking the time to think of me today.  

Oct. 9, 2012

Just an FYI, if I do happen to get out early, today means I’ve done 1/10^th of it.  Here’s hoping.

Today I’ve written 9 letters.  I know it’s about time right.  Sorry, I only write when I have something to say.  I’m blessed to get so much mail.  Sometimes it can get overwhelming to reply to.  I’m getting pretty good at writing faster though.  Practice makes better.  My handwriting will never be perfect.

Today’s tune comes from season 2 of The Sing-off.  Street Corner Symphony’s “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is awesome (and available on I Tunes). LOL.

Oct. 11, 2012

It’s a great day to be alive says Travis Tritt.  Today, I agree.  It’s strange how the mind can take you to so many different places.  Dark & evil.  Funny memories.  Happy thoughts.  I’m sure you’ve experienced all of those today.  I have.  But a lot more happy thoughts lately…. And that’s good.

Oct. 14, 2012

Laney Robin is 9 today.  I sure do miss seeing her tumbling around everywhere.  She’ll be nearly grown before I see her again, but I hope she’ll remember her Dub.  I miss her & think about all of them daily.

End of Sept. 2012

September 20, 2012

Found out today that one of the guys in here that I’ve gotten to be friends with is moving.  He’s going to be closer to his home & be at an annex which means more freedoms & a better job.  Good for him, not so great for me.  But I wish him well.

September 21, 2012

Daddy’s birthday today.  I sent him a letter to wish him a good one, but I’m not ashamed to say on here that I love him.  And I miss him.  And I wish I was there with him.  Happy Birthday to my favorite “Daddy” in the world.

Sept. 22, 2012

Just completed my first week of work in quite a while.  Think I’ll sit back, watch some football, play some cards, and if I feel froggy, have a ramen noodle soup.  Let the weekend begin.

Sept. 23, 2012

“Freshmen” by the Verve Pipe.  Pretty good tune.  Brings back the memories.

I have finished my pursuit of math “squares” relationships.  I won’t include it on here just yet, but you can be certain that it will make it one day.  It’s going to take me awhile to figure out how to translate it from thought into quality reading.  I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat.

Sept. 26, 2012

Well, she’s here!  Regan Lee Cole was born today.  Everyone is doing well so I’m told.  I’m sure Miss Makenlee will have to adjust, but I hear she already want to play.  Bless them all.

Sept. 28, 2012

Okay, here is my dilemma/ opinion/observation/belief.  Food rarely tastes as good as it’s supposed to.  I can see a picture or a commercial and be completely sold on the idea of something.  But then I try it, and it’s never as good as I thought it should or would be.  A perfect example is almost all Italian food.  For most of my life I have claimed that Italian food is my favorite.  But rarely have it eaten it and been completely satisfied.  It’s always good, but hardly ever great.  The same goes for other food genres.  This may seem weird, or even sad, but it’s the truth.  I think it’s a big reason I have always enjoyed cooking so much.  Because the Olive Garden & Old Town Spaghetti Store never have quenched my taste buds.  Very good, but not great.  I want great, I seek great.  Just needed to get that off my chest.

Sept. 30, 2012

Today was a good day.  Talked to Mark earlier & got to hear all about what’s going on in Texas, and I talked to Rob & got caught up on his family.  I miss them all so much.  It’s good to hear their voices though & have a few minutes of normal conversion.  Love you guys.

Oct. 1, 2012

Animals Planet’s show Eating Giants is awesome.  And gross.  I can’t imagine how bad a dead hippo would smell on about the fourth day in the African sun.  But I can’t stop watching it. 

Today’s song is “Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John.  I really, really like it.  It’s not new, but it sounds really good.  Brings back good memories.

Oct. 3, 2012

Am I the only person who ever printed off a scoville scale (measure the heat in peppers) & gone to a Mexican grocery store to purchase chili powders?  Yea, I figured I was.  But, I’m not ashamed to admit it.  Small price to pay if you want to make some amazing chili.

Mid Sept.2012

September 14, 2012

Today, I got a job as Pod Librarian.  Looking forward to having something to do.  Thanks for all the prayers & concerns.

September 15, 2012

It is, in fact, not so great….. to be….. a Tennessee Vol. L

Had a very fine visit with Momma today.  It’s crazy that we have so much to discuss after so many years.  Really, good day. 

I have hand selected 10 of our finest books to be introduced to the pod.  A few Pattersons, Grishams, a Keillor, a Grizzard, a Bombeck.  They’ll never know what to expect.

September 17, 2012

Proverbs 27:7 talked to me today.  It’s all about appreciating what you have.  I lived a good life.  I had the job, the wife, the income, the family, the health…. It was all taken for granted.  Now I’ve been stripped pretty bare.  I regret that it took a tumble down the mountain for me to appreciate how high I had climbed.  I think the most important thing is that I still have the family.  And the health.  It just got me thinking and thought I would share.  Take a minute today & be thankful for where you are and what/who you have.  You never know when there might be a tumble ahead.

A year ago I was in Hilton Head for a computer conference.  I was able to sneak in some R & R while I was there, which for me meant playing several rounds of golf.  Nothing like getting up before the sun, grabbing a bite to eat, and being first one to hit the course.  I was very  fortunate to work with and for people I could call friends.  I have many, many good memories of Mill Masters & am glad I had the luxury of being their employee for 11 ½ years.

Mark & his wife, Janna, are days away from welcoming girl #2 into the world.  So happy for them.  And I very much look forward to meeting my niece one of these days.

Early September 2012

September 3, 2012

Mom, Dad, & Roy came for a visit today.  It’s always good to see Roy.  We sure had a lot of laughs the last few years. Living together, and then being neighbors.  I really enjoyed having him around.  I would have never guessed that out of all of us that he & I would have become the friendly roommates.  We didn’t see eye to eye as kids.  But I sure do miss him now.  And it’s always good to have him make me laugh & vice versa.

Sept. 5, 2012

Well, I have spent the last several days cheering for football teams to win that I don’t really follow, just trying to help, Georgia Tech for the Jeffords, NY Giants for Sanders, Vandy for Buford P. Tinkle, all for naught.  It looks as though I shouldn’t cheer for any team if you want them to win.  So consider me just a casual fan, who watches a lot of games.

Sept. 8, 2012

Learned a lot during my visit with Pops, Meenaw & Momma today.  Chitterlings are on their menu the next few days. Have to say I’m a little jealous.  It’s always good to see them It bring a smile to my face for days.  I got some ancestry info that I had been wondering about.  Lots of laughs, lots of love.

Sept. 10, 2012

“These Eyes” by The Guess Who, made even funnier by Michael Cera/Evan in the movie Superbad.  Good song….and hilarious.

Sept. 12, 2012

I had an idea last night.  Everybody, at least I do, loves homemade pizza.  But it can be a little work.  Well, here is a semi-homemade way to have it that is easier and possibly cheaper.  Rather than buying the dough & sauce, go to Little Caesars & get one of their Hot-N-Ready cheese pizzas.  You can cook up your Italian Sausage or ground beef and put it on top with more cheese, pop it in about a 300* oven until the cheese melts. Gotta be tasty.  I think some spinach, mushrooms & onions or maybe sausage, pepperoni & peppers. Or bacon, ground beef, onion & pickles.  Be creative, make up your own, just make sure you cook raw meats first before adding them.   I’m just jealous that I can’t participate in trying it out.  Let me know how it goes. 

 Sept. 13, 2012

The Great Outdoors was on a few days ago and ever since, Wilson Pickett’s “Land of 1,000 Dances” has been stuck in my head.  Catchy tune, I suppose and a classic movie.  Would be a good one to watch on a cold, rainy day.  The song is featured at the end as Dan Akroid(?) dances.  Classic all the way around.

Sept. 14, 2012

I’m addicted to Sudoku, and I’m pretty awesome at it. 

Me and my buddies sit around with the grocery ads from the Independent and “wish”.  It’s pretty sad….. and funny.  Do you get the feeling my life revolved around food?  What gives it away?

End of August 2012

August 30, 2012

I am ssoooo glad that football season is upon us.  Anything to make the time go by.  Go Vols & Titans!!

August 31, 2012

Got to talk to my 99 year old Grandaddy tonight, among others.  Hate to miss the RumiKube, the food, & the fellowship.  I’ll be there in spirit.

Speaking of the reunion, a few years ago Rob talked me into riding bikes from his house to the reunion.  That meant we were to ride from North Jackson to Pinson Mounds, a mere 19 or 22 miles, can’t remember exactly other than it felt like a million.  I was obviously reluctant at first.  Let’s just say I wasn’t at my fighting weight.  Too many hours at the bar, too few hours at the gym, and even with volleyball & softball being part of my regular schedule, I was not in peak condition.  Not to mention the fact that I hadn’t been on a bicycle in about 20 years, aside from the occasional recumbent bike ride at the gym which included conditioned air & a television.  But Rob was persistent, and he talked me into it. It was going to be simple.  We were going to borrow his neighbor’s bike & hit the road early, in order to be at Pinson Mounds in time for breakfast.  The neighbor’s bike was un-ridable, flat tires with no spare tubes.  No problem right, Rob has two bikes!  Wrong! 2 bikes yes, problem was one was a mountain bike, one was a road bike.  And they had clip in pedals.  For those of you who don’t know, clip in pedals are very useful because they allow the rider to utilize the strength of the entire leg, you push the pedals down but by being clipped in you can also pull the pedals back up as they come around.  Great idea for any seasoned rider.  Terrible idea / death trap for an amateur rider who may wish to bail off of the bike after a sudden stop rather than just falling over, feet glued to the pedals and nothing to stop your fall but a slew of profanity. Fortunately he had some standard pedals, but they only fit the mountain bike.  There’s nothing fundamentally different between the bikes other than one is set up to glide smoothly on pavement & the other to crash & bang over rocks,  hills, & mud.  Needless to say, I ended up with the mountain bike with the standard pedals.  I also ended up with an extremely sore backside.  To quote my buddy, McCaskill, “I felt like I got punched in the taint by a dump truck!”  It was bad.  Sore legs.  Sore back.  Sore everything.  And I wish I could do it again tomorrow.

UT begins the season with a win & “they look great.”  Is that déjà vu of so many seasons past? We shall see.