One of the great things about playing golf as a beginner is the word 'mulligan'.
If you have never played golf you would probably not know what the word mulligan means. A mulligan is just basically taking another shot when you mess one up.
Don't you just sometimes wish life was like golf? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to take another shot when you screw something up? Just line up and hit the ball again and hope for a better result because the last one was very bad.
Oh, if I could just take a mulligan right now. Actually, I need several mulligans.
If I could just go back and take a nay instead of a yeah with Maravilla Homes which was an extremely bad investment. If I could take a pass with a certain development in Fort Worth which I had a whole lot of money stolen. If I could take back some things I have said to the Cali Girl.
A big ole mulligan would be nice right about now.
It's not just the money that bothers me, even though honestly that is a big, fat nuisance. The big thing is the results from this just won't go away. The hits just keep coming and coming and they just won't stop.
Every time I turn around, some other negative result from the disasters which have overcome my life show up out of the blue. Just when you think the worst is behind you, something else comes up. Doesn't seem like this will go away until everything I have left is gone.
If life was golf, I would just take a mulligan and do everything over.
Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple and I am left to pick up the pieces. If only the pieces would stop getting knocked out of my hand every time I think I have them picked up already.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Omen
The Omen is a creepy movie that scared the crap out of me.
This blog is not about that creep show and I will never speak of that again.
When I was involved with karate years ago there was an old man that came to the class I was in. I'm not sure how he survived it but the old guy hung in there like a warrior.
We had to do a certain exercise while another person was required to hold your feet until you finished it.
Well, the old man always farted while he did his exercise. Always, and without exception he would pass gas and it was really close to the person holding his feet, obviously.
Even more obviously, nobody wanted to hold his feet.
I had to hold them a few times but my friends and I deceptively moved away when the time came allowing an unsuspecting new guy the privilege of holding his feet and smelling his glamorous poots.
After a few weeks of this, I started calling the old man 'the Omen' as a shorter version of 'the old man' and because his farts were pretty scary. My friends fell over laughing when they heard it and I still think it's funny to this day.
I feel bad that I don't even remember the man's name and that we just called him the Omen.
Every time I hear the title The Omen, I think of that man. But, also when somebody lets one go accidentally I think of him.
I am getting closer to the Omen that I would like to admit and some day I will also pass gas while some unsuspecting young person has to experience it.
I respected the old guy for putting himself through karate classes at his age and I am sure he has been gone for a long time.
I hope he knows I meant no harm by calling him the Omen and thought highly of him in spite of having to sniff against my will.
I hope someday when I am his age that I am half as game as he was.
I also hope that you enjoy the smell.
He ain't heavy II
As everyone knows by now, I currently have an MP3 player and take it with me nearly everywhere. I am now up to about 225 songs and climbing and will run out of room soon I am reasonably sure.
Today, I got to the portion of my playlist that had the song by the Hollies, 'He Aint Heavy' and it hit me pretty hard.
The thing that hit me hard is not being able to go back. Even if my brother Roger was still here, I could not go back and change things. The past is the past and you can't change that no matter what, but you can work on making things right if the person is still around.
Roger is not here and I can't make things right.
That hurts.
I was thinking of a couple of incidents while the song was going and I was overcome with grief. As I said, obviously you can't go back in time, but I wish I had been a better person and could have shut my damn mouth.
I wish I could have just walked away instead of letting things get out of hand. But, I didn't.
It's all water under the bridge now and all is forgiven, but a lot of things could have been avoided if I had only been a bigger person.
That makes me think of today. In current times, sometimes things happen around the house and I can feel myself going down that path that I don't want to go down.
When I feel a problem arising, I need to learn to walk away, to shut my damn mouth and just be the better person, to show kindness in the face of anger.
Roger is gone and I can't change anything with that. Wish I could.
But, what I can do is make things better with the people that are still here.
This blog is not so much about my brother, Roger, and how I would have liked to have carried him through hardship. But, how I wish with all my heart that I had been a better brother to him and a better brother to those that remain. It's a blog on how I would like to be a better friend to my partner the Cali Girl and to my kids and other family members.
None of you are really that heavy if I would just pick you up and start walking.
Today, I got to the portion of my playlist that had the song by the Hollies, 'He Aint Heavy' and it hit me pretty hard.
The thing that hit me hard is not being able to go back. Even if my brother Roger was still here, I could not go back and change things. The past is the past and you can't change that no matter what, but you can work on making things right if the person is still around.
Roger is not here and I can't make things right.
That hurts.
I was thinking of a couple of incidents while the song was going and I was overcome with grief. As I said, obviously you can't go back in time, but I wish I had been a better person and could have shut my damn mouth.
I wish I could have just walked away instead of letting things get out of hand. But, I didn't.
It's all water under the bridge now and all is forgiven, but a lot of things could have been avoided if I had only been a bigger person.
That makes me think of today. In current times, sometimes things happen around the house and I can feel myself going down that path that I don't want to go down.
When I feel a problem arising, I need to learn to walk away, to shut my damn mouth and just be the better person, to show kindness in the face of anger.
Roger is gone and I can't change anything with that. Wish I could.
But, what I can do is make things better with the people that are still here.
This blog is not so much about my brother, Roger, and how I would have liked to have carried him through hardship. But, how I wish with all my heart that I had been a better brother to him and a better brother to those that remain. It's a blog on how I would like to be a better friend to my partner the Cali Girl and to my kids and other family members.
None of you are really that heavy if I would just pick you up and start walking.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Why I love Winter
I watch the weather channel every morning when I get up. It's become a habit and I know all the people on the weather channel by name by now.
I may be a little weird, but I am not stalking the weather channel people, I promise.
This week the weather channel is having a series called 'I love winter'.
They don't ask me but I want to tell them why I love winter, too.
I live in Texas.
It's freaking hot here, sometimes brutally so and I don't like heat. I'm not going to go into all the reasons I don't like heat but there are many.
In Texas, winters are mild. It can get cold at times, but most of the time it is rather warm. But, its not 100 degrees.
Biggest reason I love winter is it's not 100 degrees.
Weather is interesting in the winter time. Like I already wrote, it can be cold or it can be warm but there is a wide range of temps with a possibility of snow or other differing weather. In the summer, you have hot then you have hotter.
Three days ago here, it was 80 degrees, then the next day it was 38 for a high. Then, it was coldish again yesterday and today there is a possibility of rain with freezing rain possible tomorrow.
That's interesting to me. Summer sameness is boring.
I may be a little weird, but I am not stalking the weather channel people, I promise.
This week the weather channel is having a series called 'I love winter'.
They don't ask me but I want to tell them why I love winter, too.
I live in Texas.
It's freaking hot here, sometimes brutally so and I don't like heat. I'm not going to go into all the reasons I don't like heat but there are many.
In Texas, winters are mild. It can get cold at times, but most of the time it is rather warm. But, its not 100 degrees.
Biggest reason I love winter is it's not 100 degrees.
Weather is interesting in the winter time. Like I already wrote, it can be cold or it can be warm but there is a wide range of temps with a possibility of snow or other differing weather. In the summer, you have hot then you have hotter.
Three days ago here, it was 80 degrees, then the next day it was 38 for a high. Then, it was coldish again yesterday and today there is a possibility of rain with freezing rain possible tomorrow.
That's interesting to me. Summer sameness is boring.
You'll thank people like me when you go to Cancun, but fat people don't need to have their shirts off. I am a fat person, so I don't need to go to a beach and take my shirt off. So, I like clothes. A jacket is cool and I like long sleeved shirts. I can only wear those in the winter and thus, another reason I love winter.
Believe me the next time you are at the beach and there's a fat person walking around you'll wish more folks were like me.
Another thing that I love about winter is a fire in my fireplace. Nothing is quite as relaxing and comforting as a nice, blazing fire in your fireplace.
Lucky me, I now have a fireplace and I currently have a fire going because it's 30 degrees outside.
I love that about winter. Wish there were more cold nights in Texas.
People often think I am a nut, but I'd like to live up north. Or, at least somewhere that actually has a real winter. I love snow. I haven't had to shovel it so I haven't seen the negative side of it.
But, as I watch the weather channel every morning I look at what's happening in the regions of the USA that has interesting weather I long to be a part of it.
I don't have an interest in Florida or Texas or anywhere that is the same old same old day after day.
People often think I am a nut, but I'd like to live up north. Or, at least somewhere that actually has a real winter. I love snow. I haven't had to shovel it so I haven't seen the negative side of it.
But, as I watch the weather channel every morning I look at what's happening in the regions of the USA that has interesting weather I long to be a part of it.
I don't have an interest in Florida or Texas or anywhere that is the same old same old day after day.
Maybe I am a freak, but I like colder than what Florida can give me. Hey, if you like it you can go down and live with those freaks. I'll pass.
However, as much as I like the northern climate, I am stuck in Texas and might as well make the best of it.
So, let's just say that I love winter because it's not freaking hot.
I'll at least take that for now.
So, let's just say that I love winter because it's not freaking hot.
I'll at least take that for now.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Someday Never Comes
Someday Never Comes is one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite all time bands, CCR.
I am reasonably sure this song is about a personal tragedy in the lead singer's life. His parents got divorced and the dad told him as he was going away that some day the son would understand. But, some day never came.
Then, history repeated itself when the lead singer also got divorced and he had to tell his own son to be a man and that some day he would understand. People really never do understand and some day never really comes.
My own life has been about some day. I have been a professional investor and investing is all about the future. I have always said some day things would be great and that all the work would pay off.
Now, it's not looking like some day will come.
I always had certain dates circled on the calender in my mind about when this event would happen or some other event would take place.
Then, things got messed up. Blame it on myself. Blame it on the economy. Blame it on whatever you like, but I am starting to wonder what if.......
Someday never comes.
I am reasonably sure this song is about a personal tragedy in the lead singer's life. His parents got divorced and the dad told him as he was going away that some day the son would understand. But, some day never came.
Then, history repeated itself when the lead singer also got divorced and he had to tell his own son to be a man and that some day he would understand. People really never do understand and some day never really comes.
My own life has been about some day. I have been a professional investor and investing is all about the future. I have always said some day things would be great and that all the work would pay off.
Now, it's not looking like some day will come.
I always had certain dates circled on the calender in my mind about when this event would happen or some other event would take place.
Then, things got messed up. Blame it on myself. Blame it on the economy. Blame it on whatever you like, but I am starting to wonder what if.......
Someday never comes.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Shane come back!!!!
The movie Shane is a classic, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. A stinking classic.
One of the great examples of the even greater Hollywood myths about the old West and gunfighters.
I wrote a paper about this movie in college and not only did I get an A on the paper, but the professor read my work in front of the entire class.
A proud moment, no doubt, but just writing about a movie I loved was fun.
This movie is about a rather well traveled gunslinger wanting to change his life. If a person doesn't care for westerns or the gunfighting subject, this movie is set right at the base of the Grand Teton mountain range in Wyoming and that's worth sitting through the drama in itself. A more beautiful setting would be hard to imagine.
It's a classic confrontation between the large cattle baron and the farmers trying to make lives for themselves in the old west.
Shane jumps on the side of the farmers and takes off his rather stylish gunfighting garb in exchange for farming clothes.
The cattle baron brings in a hired gunfighter played by Jack Palance in probably his best role ever.
The confrontation between Shane and the Jack Palance character was an all time great.
Possibly the greatest line in the entire movie happens when the movie is ending. The little boy chasing after Shane yelling for Shane to come back home is legendary.
When the boy tries to get Shane to remain a farmer at the end, Shane tells him (my own words) that a 'man can't change and he has to be what he is'.
Obviously, like most 50s Westerns, the good guy wins out in the end and all is well.
Shane wore his gunfighting outfit into the night and remained who he was meant to be.
Like Shane, I also tried to change. Didn't work out so well for me either.
Now, I am going to be what I am.
No sense in delaying.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Thou shalt surely cry
Sorry folks, the new movie Gran Torino was Clint Eastwood's gift to me personally and he's telling me thanks for a life time of support and impersonations.
Yeah, sure, you can go see the movie and enjoy it all you like but it's just for me. Sorry.
It's kind of a goodbye song.
I first started watching Eastwood back in the day when he played on Rawhide. Later, the Spaghetti westerns, and on to other westerns and the Dirty Harry characters. I've seen them all and seen a lot of them many, many times. I can quote entire scenes and was kind of known for that a few years back.
The Dirty Harry scene where he is eating a hot dog while walking down the street and shooting bad guys is possibly my all time favorite movie scene. The "I know what you are thinking" dialogue I have had memorized for decades.
Eastwood is the man. Always has been.
I felt very sad when Paul Newman died. Along with Steve McQueen, Newman was possibly the coolest guy that ever lived.
But, I didn't actually cry.
I will cry when Clint Eastwood dies.
Speaking of crying, I don't remember Eastwood crying in any movie he ever starred in up until Gran Torino. I could be missing something and could have forgotten some scene in which he shed a tear, but I don't think so.
In this movie he actually cried. I covered well, but I kind of teared up with him. Sssshhhhh!!!! Don't tell anyone I cried and I wouldn't tell you if you asked me to my face, but I did.
And, I will cry when Clint Eastwood dies.
Sorry, but he's been a hero for me for most of my life.
Gran Torino was his saying goodbye to me and I want to thank him for a lifetime of great movies and sorry, Clint, if I didn't get some of those impersonations down just perfect.
You deserved the best.
Yeah, sure, you can go see the movie and enjoy it all you like but it's just for me. Sorry.
It's kind of a goodbye song.
I first started watching Eastwood back in the day when he played on Rawhide. Later, the Spaghetti westerns, and on to other westerns and the Dirty Harry characters. I've seen them all and seen a lot of them many, many times. I can quote entire scenes and was kind of known for that a few years back.
The Dirty Harry scene where he is eating a hot dog while walking down the street and shooting bad guys is possibly my all time favorite movie scene. The "I know what you are thinking" dialogue I have had memorized for decades.
Eastwood is the man. Always has been.
I felt very sad when Paul Newman died. Along with Steve McQueen, Newman was possibly the coolest guy that ever lived.
But, I didn't actually cry.
I will cry when Clint Eastwood dies.
Speaking of crying, I don't remember Eastwood crying in any movie he ever starred in up until Gran Torino. I could be missing something and could have forgotten some scene in which he shed a tear, but I don't think so.
In this movie he actually cried. I covered well, but I kind of teared up with him. Sssshhhhh!!!! Don't tell anyone I cried and I wouldn't tell you if you asked me to my face, but I did.
And, I will cry when Clint Eastwood dies.
Sorry, but he's been a hero for me for most of my life.
Gran Torino was his saying goodbye to me and I want to thank him for a lifetime of great movies and sorry, Clint, if I didn't get some of those impersonations down just perfect.
You deserved the best.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Bloody Sunday
The Aspen does not really like this song, but it's one of my all time favs. Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2 is still going to be on the list of my all time favorites in spite of Aspen's opinion. :)
Hell, the drumbeat in itself is more than enough to interest me in this song.
But, to me, it's way deeper than drums or guitars or even the remarkable Bono. It's about repression and fighting back. It's about getting control over your own life back from the people that have dominated you.
I can relate to that.
I am not Irish. Actually, I have no idea what I am other than Heinz 57, but I have always felt connected to the Irish people. Maybe because I was also born on the wrong side of the tracks in the worldly scheme of things. Or, because I always feel something for the underdogs.
Either way, I have always had a fascination for all things Irish or Scottish.
Sunday Bloody Sunday is about an incident that happened in 1972 in Derry, Ireland. English soldiers fired upon unarmed Irish protesters, killing at least 13. This song is honoring those victims.
It honors them well. There's no going back and changing things and we can't bring those people back, but this song does not let their memories die.
This song even makes me think of Bobby Sands who felt so strongly about the cause that he gave his life for it. There's just something about feeling that strongly about something that catches my attention.
I don't feel that strongly about much of anything and in fact am really confused right now about what I think about anything that matters in life.
Today is Sunday. I am not going to go out and give my life today for something I feel is important, but my heart goes out to some of those that were willing to do that.
Imagine Bono singing these words to those fantastic notes:
I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes and make it go away
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how longCause tonight
We can be as one tonight
Broken bottles under children's feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody SundaySunday, bloody Sunday
And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long
Cause tonight
We can be as oneTonight, tonight
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Oh, wipe your bloodshot eyes
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die
Hell, the drumbeat in itself is more than enough to interest me in this song.
But, to me, it's way deeper than drums or guitars or even the remarkable Bono. It's about repression and fighting back. It's about getting control over your own life back from the people that have dominated you.
I can relate to that.
I am not Irish. Actually, I have no idea what I am other than Heinz 57, but I have always felt connected to the Irish people. Maybe because I was also born on the wrong side of the tracks in the worldly scheme of things. Or, because I always feel something for the underdogs.
Either way, I have always had a fascination for all things Irish or Scottish.
Sunday Bloody Sunday is about an incident that happened in 1972 in Derry, Ireland. English soldiers fired upon unarmed Irish protesters, killing at least 13. This song is honoring those victims.
It honors them well. There's no going back and changing things and we can't bring those people back, but this song does not let their memories die.
This song even makes me think of Bobby Sands who felt so strongly about the cause that he gave his life for it. There's just something about feeling that strongly about something that catches my attention.
I don't feel that strongly about much of anything and in fact am really confused right now about what I think about anything that matters in life.
Today is Sunday. I am not going to go out and give my life today for something I feel is important, but my heart goes out to some of those that were willing to do that.
Imagine Bono singing these words to those fantastic notes:
I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes and make it go away
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how longCause tonight
We can be as one tonight
Broken bottles under children's feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody SundaySunday, bloody Sunday
And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long
Cause tonight
We can be as oneTonight, tonight
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Oh, wipe your bloodshot eyes
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday
And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The 2012 Problem
The Pre-Columbian Mayan calender ends on Dec 21, 2012
This blog is about my fears of the world ending before I do something.
When I was a kid there was a book called 1984 by George Orwell. Obviously, I never read the book but from my view point it was about the end of times. I found out later that the subject of this book was quite a bit different than what I thought it was.
Hey, I was a school kid and not that interested in fiction.
But, regardless of my thinking at the time in my life, it kind of represented the end of the world. Not so much the end of the world but the beginning of end times.
Again, very obviously, the world didn't end in 1984. But, I grew up thinking the end of the world might come before I had a chance to do the things I wanted to do. To face God is one of the biggest fears I have to this day. I hope he is merciful towards me.
If God isn't merciful, I am in some deep dog poo.
This blog is about my fears of the world ending before I do something.
When I was a kid there was a book called 1984 by George Orwell. Obviously, I never read the book but from my view point it was about the end of times. I found out later that the subject of this book was quite a bit different than what I thought it was.
Hey, I was a school kid and not that interested in fiction.
But, regardless of my thinking at the time in my life, it kind of represented the end of the world. Not so much the end of the world but the beginning of end times.
Again, very obviously, the world didn't end in 1984. But, I grew up thinking the end of the world might come before I had a chance to do the things I wanted to do. To face God is one of the biggest fears I have to this day. I hope he is merciful towards me.
If God isn't merciful, I am in some deep dog poo.
There are other instances in my lifetime when people thought the end times were upon us. One of the more amusing ones now is the year 2000. I remember people going around collecting goods that they could use in case there was no electrical power or no place to buy groceries. A lot of people thought the end was coming when the clock struck 12 on December 31st of 1999. I remember thinking it silly, but one eye was watching the clock just in case.
Obviously, the world didn't end.
Still, End Times are a big thing in my life and I don't believe the world will end on December 21, 2012.
But, I have to admit that one eye will be on the calender just in case.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Golf is life
Yes, I realize that golf is only a game but in some ways it is like life.First of all, it takes a lot of work to get better at it. You can't just roll through life and expect good things to always happen, same with golf. You have to practice at it.
Sometimes when you are golfing you make a major screw up and end up in the sand trap or in the woods. Same with life.
You often screw things up regardless of how hard you try. It's how you react to the screw ups that make you a good person or a good golfer.
I am not a good golfer, and it's up in the air whether I am a good person in life but one thing I do know is that if you just hang in there and don't get flustered you can crawl out of that hole or bad spot you get into and come out ahead. Just look at Tiger Woods, he hits some bad shots, too, it's just that he doesn't get frustrated with them and comes back and hits a spectacular shot. A lot of it is mental, just like when bad things come our way if we can just not get frustrated we can come back strong.
Also, I have played some difficult courses. Today, I played an easy course and I loved it. Playing the hard courses in my early days of golfing made this easy course seem like a cake walk.
It's the same thing in life. Hard events can make you appreciate the good times.
Today, I shot a birdie and then hit 3 pars in a row. Please, if you are reading this and you are a good golfer, don't laugh at me. But, for me, that is an outstanding outing.
People often play golf to escape life, but there is no mistaking the similarities.
Yeah, I know that's only a few similarities but if I thought a few minutes I could easily come up with more so get off my butt. :)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Sometimes
Sometimes I feel like life has passed me by
Sometimes I feel like who gives a rat's ass
Sometimes I feel I am invisible
Sometimes I feel like life sucks and then you die
Sometimes I want to roundhouse some people
But, sometimes I want to jump up in the air and shout
But, sometimes I want to dance like nobody feels is possible
But, sometimes I feel like doing something I have never done
But, sometimes I want to put on a cape and explore the world
But, sometimes I feel like listening to BB King and write on my blog
It's those but sometimes' that keep a fella like me going
It's those but sometimes' that make life worthwhile
It's those but sometimes' that make me feel at least partly visible
It's those but sometimes' that make the sky so beautiful
It's those but sometimes that make me smile
I'd like every day to be but sometimes.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Southern USA
A few days ago we completed a drive from the desert to Greenville, South Carolina and we had a great time.
Just getting in and out of Texas is an ordeal and I think we'll probably fly next time, but I did enjoy seeing some new things or some places I haven't seen in years.
I've been to Arkansas in the last ten years so I I know a little about the state. The western part of the state is pretty nice, although the people pretty much suck in general so I would just as soon just fly over next time.
The eastern part of the state is pretty ugly and drab and nothing much to speak of.
Tennessee is on a different level. Loved Memphis from what I saw of it and want to go back desperately. I didn't see much of the rest of the city but the downtown area is great even if they don't know how to cook ribs.
I want to go back and hit one of the blues joints and hang out and tilt one back. Would be awesome if BB King, my new favorite musician, would actually be at his restaurant and playing music. That would make anyone's trip.
I liked the Mississippi being right by the downtown area and the battleground right by the bridge crossing the river.
I am not all that big on Elvis, so I'll pass on Graceland but I always wondered why a rich guy like Elvis would live in Memphis and now I think I know.
Nashville is pretty incredible, too, and I already blogged on it. We need to take some time and see both Nashville and Memphis again for a few days.
The eastern part of the state is simply beautiful. From rolling hills to majestic mountains, it has a lot of things that appeal to me. I didn't get to see enough of Knoxville and sometime I would like to take in a Tennessee Vol football game.
The area is incredible and just north of the Smoky Mountains which is a place I would like to spend a lot of time at in the future.
Tennessee is much like I remembered and the rocky crags with springs all over the place running down the side of the mountains are right at the top of my favorite things in nature.
I love the state and need to see a whole lot more of it and especially the eastern section.
North Carolina rules. I think this is one of my favorite states in the USA.
The Appalachians aren't huge mountains by world standards, but they are very beautiful and I love spending time there. Some of the mountain folks are a little strange and are missing something somewhere, but they in no way take away from the beauty.
We didn't spend a lot of time here but what we saw was incredible. This was my fourth trip to North Carolina and I love it every time I go.
I could see myself living in this state and I particularly like the Ashville area. But, anywhere in the western section of the state is breathtakingly beautiful.
I've been to South Carolina three times, but twice it's been to Greenville. I have to admit, I kind of like that area. It's right on the edge of the Appalachians and from a lot of points in the city you can see the mountains pretty clearly. The trees there and the climate make it an attractive area and of course I like some of the residents there.
I am not all that sure about the rest of the state, but I do like the upstate area.
I do need to see the coastline again. I was there as a kid but don't remember all that much.
Northern Georgia is beautiful and Atlanta is another place that we need to spend more time in. The city itself was attractive and needs further inspection. We were in a rush and just saw scenery from the highway but I liked what I saw.
In Georgia, I want to see some of the northern part of the state. This is another place that we traveled through as a kid and I have seen it but need to see more.
The surprise of the trip for me was Alabama. Now, I am not going to replace North Carolina or Tennessee with Alabama but from what I saw of it the state was very nice.
Talladega National Forest and the mountains in that part of the state was very scenic and enjoyable. I don't like Nascar at all, but the Talladega Motor speedway was pretty impressive.
Birmingham was also much nicer than I perceived it to be and I even kind of liked Tuscaloosa.
The eastern part of Alabama was much nicer than I expected and made traveling through a pleasant experience.
Mississippi was pleasant enough. I expected the trees, but it was more hilly than I thought it would be. Woodall Mountain, at 806 feet in elevation, is the highest point in the state so the hills aren't big but anything other than flat land is nice for my aging eyes.
Meridian was a decent looking city but I doubt I ever spend much time there given the choice. Vicksburg is a high on my list of places to go back to. I have been there but I was young.
Louisiana is a dump. I don't know of anything I like about this state. The northern part of the state which we traveled through was the least scenic of any place we visited and I hope to avoid it in the future.
I know my good pal, Amy, loves New Orleans but I will pass. Sorry. Bourbon Street with it's stench of urine and stale alcohol is not for me.
I like the trees in this state and they play pretty good high school football, but that's about it.
Shreveport is fine if you are into gambling and I would be if I could count cards. Otherwise, I have given away enough money and I am not comfortable with the house always wins concept.
Sorry, that's just my opinion on the matter.
Overall, the Southern states were pretty impressive and enjoyable to travel through. Next time we visit Greenville, we would like to fly in and rent a car to see some local sights.
Just getting in and out of Texas is an ordeal and I think we'll probably fly next time, but I did enjoy seeing some new things or some places I haven't seen in years.
I've been to Arkansas in the last ten years so I I know a little about the state. The western part of the state is pretty nice, although the people pretty much suck in general so I would just as soon just fly over next time.
The eastern part of the state is pretty ugly and drab and nothing much to speak of.
Tennessee is on a different level. Loved Memphis from what I saw of it and want to go back desperately. I didn't see much of the rest of the city but the downtown area is great even if they don't know how to cook ribs.
I want to go back and hit one of the blues joints and hang out and tilt one back. Would be awesome if BB King, my new favorite musician, would actually be at his restaurant and playing music. That would make anyone's trip.
I liked the Mississippi being right by the downtown area and the battleground right by the bridge crossing the river.
I am not all that big on Elvis, so I'll pass on Graceland but I always wondered why a rich guy like Elvis would live in Memphis and now I think I know.
Nashville is pretty incredible, too, and I already blogged on it. We need to take some time and see both Nashville and Memphis again for a few days.
The eastern part of the state is simply beautiful. From rolling hills to majestic mountains, it has a lot of things that appeal to me. I didn't get to see enough of Knoxville and sometime I would like to take in a Tennessee Vol football game.
The area is incredible and just north of the Smoky Mountains which is a place I would like to spend a lot of time at in the future.
Tennessee is much like I remembered and the rocky crags with springs all over the place running down the side of the mountains are right at the top of my favorite things in nature.
I love the state and need to see a whole lot more of it and especially the eastern section.
North Carolina rules. I think this is one of my favorite states in the USA.
The Appalachians aren't huge mountains by world standards, but they are very beautiful and I love spending time there. Some of the mountain folks are a little strange and are missing something somewhere, but they in no way take away from the beauty.
We didn't spend a lot of time here but what we saw was incredible. This was my fourth trip to North Carolina and I love it every time I go.
I could see myself living in this state and I particularly like the Ashville area. But, anywhere in the western section of the state is breathtakingly beautiful.
I've been to South Carolina three times, but twice it's been to Greenville. I have to admit, I kind of like that area. It's right on the edge of the Appalachians and from a lot of points in the city you can see the mountains pretty clearly. The trees there and the climate make it an attractive area and of course I like some of the residents there.
I am not all that sure about the rest of the state, but I do like the upstate area.
I do need to see the coastline again. I was there as a kid but don't remember all that much.
Northern Georgia is beautiful and Atlanta is another place that we need to spend more time in. The city itself was attractive and needs further inspection. We were in a rush and just saw scenery from the highway but I liked what I saw.
In Georgia, I want to see some of the northern part of the state. This is another place that we traveled through as a kid and I have seen it but need to see more.
The surprise of the trip for me was Alabama. Now, I am not going to replace North Carolina or Tennessee with Alabama but from what I saw of it the state was very nice.
Talladega National Forest and the mountains in that part of the state was very scenic and enjoyable. I don't like Nascar at all, but the Talladega Motor speedway was pretty impressive.
Birmingham was also much nicer than I perceived it to be and I even kind of liked Tuscaloosa.
The eastern part of Alabama was much nicer than I expected and made traveling through a pleasant experience.
Mississippi was pleasant enough. I expected the trees, but it was more hilly than I thought it would be. Woodall Mountain, at 806 feet in elevation, is the highest point in the state so the hills aren't big but anything other than flat land is nice for my aging eyes.
Meridian was a decent looking city but I doubt I ever spend much time there given the choice. Vicksburg is a high on my list of places to go back to. I have been there but I was young.
Louisiana is a dump. I don't know of anything I like about this state. The northern part of the state which we traveled through was the least scenic of any place we visited and I hope to avoid it in the future.
I know my good pal, Amy, loves New Orleans but I will pass. Sorry. Bourbon Street with it's stench of urine and stale alcohol is not for me.
I like the trees in this state and they play pretty good high school football, but that's about it.
Shreveport is fine if you are into gambling and I would be if I could count cards. Otherwise, I have given away enough money and I am not comfortable with the house always wins concept.
Sorry, that's just my opinion on the matter.
Overall, the Southern states were pretty impressive and enjoyable to travel through. Next time we visit Greenville, we would like to fly in and rent a car to see some local sights.
It was never mentioned
They never talked about it. It happened not long after the birth of their first son, but the event was never mentioned again.
She never brought it up and he never asked. Not only did she not bring it up, she didn't say a lot and that lasted a lifetime.
The event was traumatic to say the least. The men came, they took her off and then she came back. Nobody knows exactly what happened and he was afraid to ask.
He never knew her again but he never left. Talking was just life details, nothing more and nothing less.
The son grew up and he left, never to come back. What was he to come home too? What real home had he ever had?
He just thought it was normal to be in a home where nobody talked and nobody really knew each other. So, the trend continued.
I don't think he ever married. Maybe that was a good thing. Just let this family die because it really wasn't a family at all.
What a tragedy.
The evil in men's hearts ruined a lot of people's lives and the effects never go away. But, it didn't have to completely end lives.
This is not a true story. I dreamed this last night and had some free time since it's New Year's Day, so I thought I would write down my thoughts.
Just a dream, but how many times has this type of thing happened and it completely ruined lives. The effects are long term and reach into so many other's lives that it is just sickening. I have experienced it myself and the details of that I will not go into at this time. She never wanted that to happen and I never wanted to get awakened in the night. Those events changed everyone's life and even if I could go back and change things not sure I would now because certain events in my life never would have happened, I never would have known certain people and other people would never have been born.
What I learned the most from the Cali Girl and from the Aspen is to communicate. I still have light years to go, but I am willing to work on things.
To work on things, you have to begin by mentioning.
She never brought it up and he never asked. Not only did she not bring it up, she didn't say a lot and that lasted a lifetime.
The event was traumatic to say the least. The men came, they took her off and then she came back. Nobody knows exactly what happened and he was afraid to ask.
He never knew her again but he never left. Talking was just life details, nothing more and nothing less.
The son grew up and he left, never to come back. What was he to come home too? What real home had he ever had?
He just thought it was normal to be in a home where nobody talked and nobody really knew each other. So, the trend continued.
I don't think he ever married. Maybe that was a good thing. Just let this family die because it really wasn't a family at all.
What a tragedy.
The evil in men's hearts ruined a lot of people's lives and the effects never go away. But, it didn't have to completely end lives.
This is not a true story. I dreamed this last night and had some free time since it's New Year's Day, so I thought I would write down my thoughts.
Just a dream, but how many times has this type of thing happened and it completely ruined lives. The effects are long term and reach into so many other's lives that it is just sickening. I have experienced it myself and the details of that I will not go into at this time. She never wanted that to happen and I never wanted to get awakened in the night. Those events changed everyone's life and even if I could go back and change things not sure I would now because certain events in my life never would have happened, I never would have known certain people and other people would never have been born.
What I learned the most from the Cali Girl and from the Aspen is to communicate. I still have light years to go, but I am willing to work on things.
To work on things, you have to begin by mentioning.
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