College

I drove, alone, my ’01 Chevy Tahoe containing all of my college freshman daughter’s belongings some 350 miles on Tuesday to her new home and then back, last night. I had 5 hours, both ways, to be alone in my rig thinking about what my eldest child was about to begin. A friend used the term “bittersweet,” and I think that best describes the experience. To keep the fact that she was moving on with her life, it was the little stuff that kept me best occupied.

I passed by sign after sign advertising the Adult Novelty Store on the horizon. I wondered just how novel could one of their products be? I mean, there really isn’t that much to work with, is there? And, it bugs me that they use the word novelty, as I can remember “Frozen Novelties” being offered at the old baseball stadium growing up. And, if the folks at the Adult Novelty Store would use their wits, they could easily offer frozen treats with only adding 1 more word…..Frozen and Adult Novelty Store. I mean, add a cooler, for God’s sake and some Push Up Sticks and a Klondike Bar!

I passed an exit for New Boston. I wondered, “What did they do with the Old Boston?”

Don Meredith Museum in Mount Vernon, Texas. (Note to self; add on “To Do” list, Don Meredith Museum).

The Audie Murphy Museum in Greenville, Texas…….as far as actors go, he was one hell of a soldier. Speaking of Greenville, not too long ago their town motto was “Home of the blackest dirt and whitest people.” Other than Mary’s of Puddin’ Hill’s (home of the world famous fruit cake—see, they even admit that there is only one and it is shipped all over the place being re-gifted time and time again), I got no reason to stop.

Passed the home of J-B Weld, "The Finest Cold Weld in the World." I bought some of that crap, more than once (not sure, it’s in the aisle of the check out at Home Depot), most likely as a true impulse purchase. Every time that I ever tried to use it, the tube was hard as a brick batt. The crap was useless. I am going to take those hard-assed tubes with me the next time I go south and west and throw them out the damned window into their front yard!

I learned 2 things, as far as fast-food is concerned…….splurge for the sirloin burger at Jack in the Box. It is the BOMB! And, they don’t start cooking until you’ve ordered!!! And, the DQ in Hooks, Texas is a must-top, too. They rock! Got a Belt Buster and an order of tots.

I was amazed at how many barbeque joints I passed. All of them claiming to be the “World’s Best” or “Best in Texas.” Ramage Farms right at the exit off of I-30 West made that claim. Big old place with “Texas Souvenirs” and jams and jellies……but, according to folks at the dorm, it REALLY might be the best in Texas! (Note to self: add on “To Do” list, Ramage Farms Barbeque).

I suppose every squatter back in their day named every little spring, creek, or drainage ditch after themselves.
Bob Field Creek.
Dick Lawrence Bayou
Bob Cooper Lake
Lindy Lilly Silver Lake

Living in Little Rock, we are squarely in the middle of 2 worlds when it comes to barbeque. Pork rules to the East in Memphis and beef in Texas. So, I was clearly confused as I got closer and closer to Rockwall, Texas with all of the signage for Soul Man Barbeque. Not crazy about the name, because it wasn’t Bubba’s or Smokey somebody…..but, Soul Man? Finally, as I topped the hill and could see the Big D in the distance, there it was. A pink building with a pig wearing sunglasses, Soul Man Barbeque. Idiot. He’s completely lost the Jewish crowd in Rockwall.

Honked at a couple of bovines. The only one to acknowledge me was a long horn that turned and glanced. I’m bettin’ he’s from New York or something like that. He knows a good horn when he both sees or hears one!

I saw a bunch of signs for “Boarding Pets.” I was always under the impression that room-and-board was exactly what the first part says, room, and that board meant the food given you by the landlord. So, aren’t these places that advertise “boarding of pets” actually more rooming them? Geez, the questions, THE QUESTIONS!

I am amazed at the nimrods who insist on driving in the left hand lane of the freeway in spite of traveling at a rate 10 miles under the speed limit. Are they stupid, rebellious, ignorant, clueless…what?!?! Not to speak of the moron that hangs on your left rear bumper, not passing, not slowing, but keeping you from coming over as you near the ass end of one of those huge, over-loaded big rigs!!!!

This pleased me……saw very few McCain or Obama campaign stickers. But, when I did, it was more than one on the back of a Hyundai.

Chevy Tahoes are to die for. My ’01 clicked over 148,000 miles on the trip and I passed 100 to 1 more than passed me. Even saw the speedometer push 95 as I tried to escape the nimrods and morons as I tried to pull away from the Dallas traffic in Rockwall.

My youngest daughter gave me her old iPod and I loaded it with songs off of my own CD’s. I love iTunes, but have yet to pay for, nor download, a single song. After listening, I note the following:
The song I played the loudest: Sympathy for the Devil.
Goofiest lyrics: Waiting on the World to Change.
Band that had me moving the most in my seat: J Geils (NO band tops their ability to get you hopping).
Oddest Lyrics: Any song written and performed by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan….hands down.
Singer we don’t listen to enough: Jonny Lang
He ain’t God musician: But, Eric Clapton has to be the closest thing to it. Holds up to anyone, anytime.
Best post-Beatles breakup song by an ex-Beatle: Venus and Mars/Rock Show (Beatle-esque beginning and funky lyrics, then rocking out!)
The Best Current Rock Band: Train, without a doubt. Great music, cool enough lyrics. Rock on.

Well, I’m done.

Fun times at lunch.

I haven't been posting, lately, and thought I might just start writing some short stories. Well, lo and behold, before I could start, I got the funniest email from one of my best friends that works on campus at our local medical school. With his permission, I am posting his short story about his lunch-time experience, today, August 15, 2008........

I was standing in line when one of the new Disney Host people you see around campus came up in line behind me to place his order. Now grant you I had been in line for 4 to 5 minutes when, let’s call him ‘Andy’ came up. Let me go ahead and clarify that Andy has Downs Syndrome. So he proceeded to cut in front of 4 other people behind me. Now I would’ve gladly let him in front of me, but he stayed behind me, and I laughed a little any way as I paid, and was told I was #61. That would of course place Andy at #62.

I stood out in the hall to greet others as they were going to fill their arteries and large bowel with the nasty excuse of food in the main cafeteria. Andy waited patiently leaning against the chip rack. As each new order was finished and placed on the chilled glass deli counter, and before the number could be called, Andy would break toward the counter, only to be disappointed when another number was called, 56……57……58…… and so forth. You could tell his patience was growing thin, while even Sholanda was working her fingers to the bone cranking out deli delights faster than a Lucky Dog Stand in New Orleans at 10:00 during Mardi Gras. Sholanda placed another order on the chilled counter and said, “Andy, your order is ready”, 3 places earlier than what was standing and waiting. We all smiled and thought, “Good for Andy!” His order was just two pieces of ham laid side by side, with a slice of American cheese on each piece.

He picked up his order, turned to go eat his Deli Delicacy for which he had been waiting, and as he passed, looked at me and stated, “That took fucking 5 minutes to get."

That is the best way ever to end a week. Thank you Andy.

The Race Card

Again, the race card has been played. Mr. Obama pointing out his (partial) race during a speech in Missori, explaining how he looks different than the other presidents on all "those dollar bills (Umm, Mr. Obama, there is only 1 president's face on all dollar bills. Umm, just Washington's face, if memory serves). If he thinks it is to his advantage that he looks different that George Washington, or any other president, on any paper money, shame on him and to everyone who considers voting for him just because he's different. For God's sake, we've been admonished for years from doing anything against anyone that looks different than we do. Now, he uses it to his advantage? Why not vote for a cripple? Why not vote for a blind candidate? He'd be different. Why not an albino? Why not the fattest, baldest, palest woman with a wart at the tip of her nose? If his angle is, "vote for me because I'm different," how about you haven't spent even 200 hours on the Senate floor working...that's different enough, isn't it? Hell, if that's what make someone a good candidate, vote for me! I haven't spent a single hour on the senate floor. I have all my hair....I look different than George Washington, too!

You simply cannot get away from the race issue in this country.

About a week ago, I was bored and turned on the television and landed on ABC's The Mole. The contestants were asked to pick who they trusted amongst their other fellow contestants. In an individual conversation with the female doctor, who is black, she clearly stated her choice as being the only remaining black, a man, because they were of the same race and "he's my brother." Seriously? Is the only reason blacks trust any other individual is that they, too, are black? Ridiculous. I refuse to believe that. I refuse to believe that about any rational, intelligent being.

But, if the polls are correct, that, in fact, must be true. A recent poll showed that whites in America were almost equally split between McCain and Obama. But, blacks overwhelmingly, by almost 90%, support Obama. That more than likely shows that blacks support Obama
only because he is black. Again, ridiculous.

I wonder if Jeffrey Dahmer's white neigbors in Milwaukee ever chose Jeffrey to be their trusted neighbor only because of his color? Forget about the part where he was eating their kids. "He's white, I trust him." Bullshit.

If you cast your vote based soley on a candidate's race or creed, then you are no less the bigot than the man who hates others based simply on his race or creed (see the KKK) and you should never cast a vote for anyone. Period. End of today's story.

What are the chances?

What are the chances that the first person to view my blog and post a comment would help me get my point across? "Heather," I guess, tried to engage me in some kind of discourse by calling me gay. Was that to rile? To be cruel?

Anyone reading this should be a little pissed off that "Heather" called me gay. What if I am? Does it matter? Of course, she makes sure that she qualifies her question by saying, "Not that there's anything wrong with that." Then why say it? But why stop there? Why not call me a communist, nazi or muslim terrorist? Better yet, why not a gook, spic, chink, dago, wop, polock, kike, hymie, redneck, nigger, honkey or yankee? I could be anyone, everyone.

The point of my first blog was why are we intent in this country to always point out "what" we are versus "who" we are? Ever notice when the news media describes a suspect they will always say a "black male," but rarely say a "white male?" If we are going to point it out for one ethnic group, it should be pointed out for all. If they don't say "black male," are we to assume they mean a "white male?" Doesn't make sense and doesn't seem fair, does it?

We are never going to get along in this country unless we begin accepting everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, nationality or religion and JUST BE. "Heather" shows the common ignorance of most folks by trying to label me as being "gay" and attempting to offend me. You offend me "Heather," all right, but not by calling me "gay," but by calling me anything. To you and everyone that reads this, I am just a blogger sharing my opinion.

Day 1

I come from a long line of bitchers, ranters and ravers. Whether it was an aunt named Inez or an uncle called Buck, they knew how to bitch, gripe and just generally chew ass. It's not something I do often, but it's in me and I have found a forum to let me express it...or, at least, I hope I have.

As most folks, I have been overwhelmed by the presidential election. Please let it end, soon. I am underwhelmed by who we have to choose from and wish like the devil we could really have another party with a viable candidate. Mr. McCain seems like a fine man and he seems to speak his mind. My only real issue is his age. A one-term president? Probably. As for Mr. Obama, I wish he would embrace his "whiteness," just once. His mother was his real parent, yet he only talks about being the son of an African. It reminds me of Hallie Berry's acceptance speech at the Academy Awards. All she could talk about was being the first African-American woman to win an Oscar, but the camera kept showing her mother who was as white as any woman I had ever seen! Why choose one color over the other? Why point out any color? Why not just "be?"

I try hard not to see anyone's color, unless they point it out to me. It usually goes down hill from there. Like the dude who points out that he is a "christian," you can bet your ass he is going to rob you blind or try to screw you to the wall at every single turn. If you are what you say you are, there is no need to point it out...we'll all see it in your walk.

So, Mr. Obama, just be Mr. Obama. Tell us about your life, but acknowledge your mother and your grandparents, just plain-ol' WASPs. As for your father, fuck him. He left you. He doesn't deserve you.