Send us a text

A fella can learn a whole lot in the military service.  Really important stuff like: how to dress properly, fold your clothes, make your rack, be at your appointed place of duty at the appointed time.  Place "Attention to Details" above all else.  Work as a Team, and never lose sight of the mission of the command.  Follow "lawful" orders, and strive to be the very best you can be.
Well passing Personnel and Room Inspection has a great deal to do with all that stuff.  And while attending Combat Aircrew School at Naval Aircrew Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida in the summer of 1983 was a chapter in my navy career where I did indeed learn just what Jerry Daniels could take in the way of physical and mental stress.  Back in those days we didn't use the word "Stress."  We called it "gettin' your ass busted and rode."  
Long story short,.....hiding dirty skivvies was key to my and my classmates success.  God bless the US Navy, and all those who've endured NACCS and SERE.

Send us a text

Thanksgiving is many things to many people.  American has a long tradition, and many cultures celebrate Thanksgiving in a host of ways.  Traditions can become watered down and fade with time.  And our Thanksgiving in America is not immune to the fact.  

To fully understand and appreciate Thanksgiving, one would do well to study "world" history, and laid good attention to the history of North America and the timeline of where and how many gave thanks for blessings, favors, good weather, and bountiful harvests. 

Thanksgiving has indeed come a long way, and who knows where it will go?

As for me,.....everyday is Thanksgiving, and I truly thank God for every day, and every blessing.  For every good time and for all the bad times.  God is GREAT, and for that I give thanks.

Send us a text

Estate Sales can become addictive if a fella ain't careful.  Yes sir, before one knows it, they be done bought their fifth treadmill knowing full well they ain't never used the first one.  Indeed;  treadmills, weight sets, exercise bikes, and a Bow-Flex, they can all follow you home before you realize it.  
That said, a person can grab some really good buys on tools, and kitchen what-nots at a great price.
Be care though,...because it can become addictive.  Ask me how I know.

Send us a text

Sure is a lot of unrest today.  What would Tom Giles been saying?

Send us a text

Insurance and Lawyers are worthless until you need them.  And the Insurance Industry is the only entity that can openly discriminate based on statistical data, whether it be age, sex, life-style, race, etc., they can adjust and/or base the premium solely based upon predictable outcomes.
Why the hell has my premiums (auto) gone up again?  Damn 26.75% increase with zero explanation.
Something has got to change.

Send us a text

I regret not talking more to Mama and Daddy about our past.  The why's and why not's? How come, and when?  The details of our family past which are now spotted with blanks and gaps I'll never be able to fill in.
In our family past, there was a brief period of time when we lived in McRae Ga, and Daddy either owned or just operated the Cook's Superette.  It was here that I attended part of the 1st grade and all of the 2nd grade before we moved back to Butler Ga.
A lot happened in just a short period of time.  They killed our dog, I got a bad case of sand worms in my feet, got bit by a dog, learned to smoke, looked a girly books, played army on the roof of the house, set a few yards on fire, fell in love with goat meat, flipped a pop-up camper up on its end, and Daddy almost died from a brain tumor. 

Send us a text

Mama used to say: "if fifty youngons was playing, you're gonna be the one get hurt."  She was right most of the time, on account I took a lot of risk, as trial and error was a good classroom and a very effective way of learning.
Looking back now, I bet Mr. and Mrs. Brown felt bad.  Poor Mama got all banged up running up the sidewalk (for reasons she never could explain).  Daddy found out just how fast that Chevy Impala would go, and we met the infamous Doctor Dickie in Columbus Georgia.
Worse part was, I didn't get to hang (sleep-over) in a barn with my buddies, and missed out on the Girly Books and Cigarettes.  Best part was, Daddy administered the softest whooping I ever got.  Mr. Brown was right,..."don't put your hands near that belt."
Life if about learning.
I miss Mama and Daddy, and I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused them.

Send us a text

Growing up, we spent more time with school teachers than we did with our parents.  And the fact of the matter is:  Teachers are in the position to make an impression upon what is a "captive audience."  Believe me when I tell you, a many of teachers most certainly make an impression upon me.  The world needs more Dwight Harris' Jack McGlaun's, Everett Byrd's, Vicki Russell Yoe, Verna Griggs, Betty Allen's, Albert Obyant's, Georgia Woodall, Anna Gerald, Linda J. Green's, and Clarence Mathis'
Yes sir, school teachers can and do make life lasting impressions upon youth, and I'm sure all of us have our own stories and memories of when and how a school teacher impacted us.  Whether it be positive and negative, the impact can still be an influence for the good.

Send us a text

The 60's and 70's brought us many things.  Elvis, Tom Jones, long hair, platform shoes, bell-bottoms and some other really really bad fashion movements the nation has known.  But we sure as hell didn't wear our pants down past our ass-checks.
Food Service Industry was moving at a rapid pace, and the engineering advancements with flash-freezing and freeze drying open the gates to making time in the kitchen shorter with quicker food preparation efforts.
Yes sir, I will never forget the first and only time my family sat at the dinner table to feast upon our introduction to the modern TV Dinner.  No microwave mind you,... real old school, like in an oven.  Bob Daniels was not impressed.  Granted Robin and I were still in the "this is like the Jetson's" mode, but that wore off quickly.  
Quick don't mean good, and things like smashed potatoes, grits, oatmeal, orange juice, rice, puddings and cakes ought to be left alone and prepared to old fashion way.

Send us a text

I have  a laundry list of hobbies I've tried my hand at.  From building model cars and airplanes, to woodworking, to even getting my pilot's license.  Yep, I even went to get my HVAC Certification, and dabbled in troubleshooting and repairing Refrigerators, Freezers and home and automobile air conditioners.  Hell, I continue to make the effort of growing vegetables, and with God and good luck, I find a way to muster a bountiful mess of fresh veggies each year.  However, I've come to realize I feed a snoot full of damn insects who feast on my efforts. 
My newest hobby is Beekeeping.  Yes sir, I done took a hard right, and at this ripe age, I've decided to learn to keep bees, and harvest honey.  Well let me tell, it ain't nothing like I thought it was going to be.  No sir, it ain't just put a mess of bees in a hive and let nature take it's course, because if that were the case, they'd be dead in no time.  Beekeeping is a science of theories.  Yes, there are some absolutes, but honeybees being what I've come to realize are indeed without question, one of God's greatest creations.  Honeybees have the cards stacked against them from the get-go.  Everybody and their brother in the cruel world of nature is out to get them, yet they still thrive to survive.  
I enjoy learning new things, I find myself deeply fascinated by the complexity of the structure of the hive, and how they work for the purpose of one goal.  And in that goal, they will go to extreme measures to protect the hive, which means they can be spicy and damn right ill, whereby I get stung more times than I like.   I'm thinking of keeping chickens for my next hobby, cause I hear tell it that chickens don't sting.