December 2015

Today’s tune is Nirvana on the VH1 Unplugged album covering David Bowie’s “Man Who Sold the World.”  The whole album is good, but I like that song today.  And while I’m on music, I just want to say how glad I am that Pentatonics has become main stream.  They became a household name in my house when they won The Sing-Off a few years ago.  But I am glad to see an accapella group get some notoriety with a video and appearances on tv.  Pure talent! That’s all…. Okay, so once I get going, maybe it’s not that difficult.  I’ll try to keep the momentum going.   That’s all….  Love ya’ll.

November 2015

One toy/game we had as kids growing up was a checker set.  Ours was a round metal tin about the size of a large pizza that opened into two pieces.  On one side was printed a typical checker board.  On the other side was a Chinese checker board.  But here is what’s so strange; I don’t know anyone that knows how to play Chinese checkers.  I guess it’s just weird that we never learned or even attempted to learn!?  Just something I thought about.
It’s always important to keep some spare change in your car.  Yes, it’s good to have the right change if you’re in a drive thru and in a hurry, but don’t spend it all.  See, one time my dad & I were within pennies of washing dishes at Brooksie’s Barn.  And it was a Sunday lunch kinda day, it would have been a lot of dishes.  I don’t remember all the details, I know I was a teenager & was left at home or something (this was 20+ years ago) but I know between my father & myself & the change in the car, our friendly wait staff were unfortunately not left with a tip.  But we did not have to wash dishes!  So tip your servers people.  And keep change in the car.

October 2016

A good reason to own a Farmer’s Almanac is: you may show up somewhere at a bad time.  Like if your Grandparents have some new puppies, it might be useful to know that the “signs” say now is the proper time to dock their tails, then you could save yourself from getting recruited to help.  Pops, Rob, and me.  We were an assembly-line of holding, cutting, and powdering.  I was the powder man.  Not my fondest puppy memory ever.  Not by a mile.

Late July 2015

For all those counting, I am about 3 and a half years down and just past halfway home. I am so thankful to have people that love me and care for my will being. People who support me: I love you all and look forward to a long life of paying you back in some way. In here we dream. We dream of getting out. We dream of coming home. We dream of cars and houses. We dream of meals. We dream of fishing and golf. We dream of mountains and beaches. We dream of living life outside of these walls. And for some that will never happen. For some it will happen sooner than later. For many the world has changed and left us behind. I am so grateful to be on your radar so as to not be left behind. I know things have changed in the world I remember, but you all make me feel like I’m still a part of it. And I thank you.

No new recipe lately. Honestly I’m working on one. It’s gonna be part chocolate oatmeal cookie and part peanut butter /corn syrup and cornflake things my mom used to make. I’ll let you know. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be amazing. Later.

July 4th 2015

I recently told my mother a quote about swearing. You know, I live in an environment where there tends to be a general acceptance of all things profane. Right or wrong, most people that know me may have heard a bad word once or twice. I mean no disrespect and I would never give someone a lashing that didn’t deserve it, but admittedly I have always been fond of those words. The kind that when written “makes you squint” someone once said. Anyways, I found a Mark Twain quote that said “Let us swear while we may, for in Heaven it will not be allowed.” I guess I say “amen” to that! Another quote that got my attention is by Victor Hugo – “Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” It seems that I have a lot of quotes on my mind these days. I won’t share any more, but instead will give you all a homework assignment. If you’ve never read “The War Prayer” by Mark Twain, you should. It’s strange and thought provoking. It makes me think of the Old Testament battles and the empires, dynasties, and wars since then. I know our military personnel face difficult decisions every day and I’m thankful for all they do. But it is at a cost. A financial cost, a cost of lives, and the cost of their sanity when they return home. I know people in the military right now and I pray for them and their safety daily. We all should. Happy 4th everybody!

June 2015

The picture.  The beard.  First of all let me say that Mark was sitting here by himself when I walked in to visit.  I didn’t know who he was.  I’ve never seen him that thin as an adult. He also had the longest hair any of the 4 of us has ever had.  Except for my fabulous face shelf of course.  This picture was taken, albeit reluctantly by Makenlee (she must take after her other 2 uncles) on Valentine’s Day.  The beard has since undergone reformation.  It turned 3 on March 6 and finally got its first cut.  But I have lost my last picture ticket so it may be a while until I get another picture taken.  So, the anticipation builds!

May 2015

I have recently discovered a new way to guarantee your workout every single day.  I won’t say how I came up with it, some of you may know, but it doesn’t matter.  Anyways, about 3 weeks ago, I started doing 20 pushups every time I (not sure how to put this?)--- void.  Okay, every time that I pee.  It’s something that everyone does daily (and nightly).  But no matter when, 1:00 p.m. or 4:30 a.m. if I go then I drop and get 20.  Simple way to get 100 to 300 pushups in a day on top of any other exercise I may do.  If it’s something you want to try, just remember it doesn’t have to be pushups.  It can be any exercise.  And it doesn’t have to be 20.  Start with five or 10.  All my brothers should do 20 burpees, every time you take a leak.  Fun times.  Put the pee in burpee?  Whatever.  I think it is a brilliant idea.  

April 2015

 Well, there are changes under way here at WCFA, or I should say TDOC.  With Haslam’s newly appointed commissioner comes some changes. No more Honor Pods.  This typewriter isn’t equipped with emoticons.  (I think emoticons may have been invented in a post typewriter world), but if they were I would put a frowny face one here. :(  So no more work out equipment, no more ping pong, or no more ordering out food. Unfortunately there’s no more real incentive to “do right” (as Coach Po always said)  which is sad.  All it will do is make life easier for the gang members who want to cause problems, and harder for the people trying to stay out of the way……  This will be gradually phased in, so we will see in the coming months.

-What has happened lately is I, along with all the other library workers and the teacher’s aides and tutors have all been moved together into an “education” pod since we all work in the same area.  It’s to minimize and localize some of us who do tend to stay out of the way, so it has been a blessing.  I got in a cell with an older man who I work with and had kinda taken under my wing anyway just because he reminds me of all the funny old men who can’t hear and love to laugh that I have been around my whole life, at church and family functions and what not.

March 2015

Well, I guess today’s song would have to be “Ain’t It Funny How Time Slips Away” by Willie Nelson.  I have been made aware that it has been quite some time since I have blogged.  No real reason other than that I just haven’t been in the mood I suppose.  But back to the song, I have a few favorite versions.  One is on the Storytellers record.  One is his old original version.  And yes, one is an acoustic version (bootleg) by Dave Matthews.  And all are good and different and appropriate.  Enjoy.
--Speaking of music, I was very excited to catch the entire Physical Grafitti album on the radio a few weeks ago.  As I’ve said many times on here, Led Zeppelin is one of my all time favorite bands and to get to catch that was unexpected and put a smile on my face.  So “Houses of the Holy” and “Custard Pie” can be the songs of the day for you in days to come.  Get your blood pumping!!