Giving Thanks

I am thankful for many things, my family, my extended family and my many friends. I am also thankful I live in a country where I can do all these things and worship my Lord. This year we did things a little different, we all met at David Ellison's brother's home. Brian and Shane have a wonderful home and is decorated in a Thomas Kincaid/Old Fashioned Christmas way.

The tree and fireplace were so picture perfect I could not resist taking a photo. I could write for the next hour on things we shared, the food we ate, and the football we watched. But it would take away from the perfect day we shared, and the many things we gave thanks for.

May God Bless You All.

This Year is Going Way Too Fast

This year is traveling way too fast, either that or I have not been dragging my feet like I used to.

Stacy and I recently went to the OG and were waited on by our daughters, Nichole and Mandy....wait, Mandy was on break, so she sat with us as Nichole did the running. (All the while with Mandy giving Nichole orders.)

I was going kayaking on Friday, but got side tracked early on, then Emma came to visit and I got even farther behind.

Emma complete with little piggy tails and a new friend.

Saturday morning I was greeted by ice.
And some more ice.

The L & O Train bridge in Stewart Co, Cumberland City TN.

The fishing around the bridge was excellent, I used a silver and black tube on a Carolina rig.

Around the corner, ya, more ice.
I could not keep my drinking water from freezing, adding more ice to the trip.
So while bundled in layers, one last shot, then it was out of the water and back to the house to thaw out.

Stacy greeted me with one of her usual comments, "I told you it was cold, you're crazy."

Different Day, Same Stuff

I am so tired of depending on others in my industry. I have 160 open hours as of today, these openings are in Nashville, Chattanooga and Johnson City.

Because of the distance between locations, recruiting and training are left to me. I hired enough people to cover all my openings, but half of those did not show up for work.

One quarter of those hired, when contacted liked the benefits of being unemployed. So, it's 1:36am and I have spent the last three hours covering the open shifts.

This job is going to kill me.

It's Been a Week to Reflect

I started out the week traveling, and got back to the house on Tuesday. Since then, I have celebrated another birthday. Office birthday cake, with donut frosting, M&M's and a card. The girls and the neighbor gave my favorite gift, can you spell COHIBA? Because of my travels and the girls schedule we are going to have a small get together tomorrow complete with my favorite dinner to celebrate my b'day.

I have never seen a crane sit on a house. I took this on my way home.

On my way back out later in the day, it was still sitting on the house. My Italian grandmother would have gone nuts, "biga bird ona da house isa nu gud."

Of course I had to go to the local Bass Pro at Opry Mills, cause it's there. I bought a bunch of stuff for fishing and my kayak. Now if the weather would just clear up. I don't mind the cold, or the rain with the cold, but my family thinks I am a loony tune when I go out in weather like this.
It never seems to amaze me the number of people who think they are too cool playing guitar hero in the store. This guy was so focused doing the head banging thing, he had no idea this kid was laughing at him and this guy was taking his photo. But that's how we should live life, not caring what others think. So Rock On, In Store Guitar Dude!

I reflect on the fact that I have a lot of acquaintances and that I am striving to make them all close life long friends. After losing a member of my Men's Fraternity this week, I will remember to love big, forgive quickly, laugh out loud, and just breath.

Good bye Rick Hurst.

Greetings From...................

In the next two days I will be in Knoxville, Loudon, Rockford, Johnson City, Cleveland and Chattanooga. Knoxville and Loudon were planned, the rest are a direct result of the ever changing job that I am in.

I always stay in places that have the best views, this is the pile of bricks outside my room at the Comfort Inn in Lenior City.

Before I left home, Stacy, Emma and I went to Ft. Campbell. We shopped at the PX and picked up four weeks worth of groceries at the commissary.

Because Emma loves to slobber on my electronics, I could not resist when I saw this toy at the PX. It's a "Babies first PDA." It makes makes all kinds of noice complete with blinking lights.

Emma could not get into the Santa Claus letter box, but she tried.

Back to Knoxville

I am headed back to Knoxville after church this morning. Stacy was suppose to go with me on this trip because she has Monday off. But, some corporate goober contacted me about meeting him in Knoxville Monday afternoon and then visiting all the sites under this portfolio. Now she is unable to go with me, I was looking forward to the time together.

I am going to take Stacy to brunch and enjoy what part of Sunday we have together.

I am thankful for my Sirius radio and I will at least get to hear the Titans and Da' Bears play.

Hope all had a great weekend and I pray for a good week for all.

Emma and Pop's Excellent Adventure Part Deux

I started out the day sending all my reports via email to my admin assistant and then heading to Starbucks for a Non-fat Venti Mocha and to read Friday's newspaper. That's where Lisa dropped Emma off for our excellent adventure.

We needed to go to Walmart for a few things and to look around for some stuff for my kayak trip in the morning. But like most trips to Wally World we got side tracked.

Emma wanted to check out the little golf stuff and get into the swing of things.
"Hey Pop a Black and Decker 18v drill motor!"

"No baby girl, Pops got one of those in the garage."

Emma promised to be careful and not shoot her eye out, but she was disappointed when I would not let her practice her second amendment rights.

(Besides Nana and your mom would hang me up by my thumbs as would almost all the other mothers I know.)

We had to get her favorite for lunch since mommy forgot to pack it. Apples and chicken, in the same container. Yum....

Then we went home and played on the floor and got slobber all over Pop's electronics. Then Emma got fed her apples and chicken and got put down for a nap. Pop fell back into his recliner for a few minutes, remembering when Nichole, Mandy and Lisa were all babies, admiring all those who provide to little ones everyday.

Then we were back up and in the car to pick Nana up for lunch at some Mexican place, because that's all Nana eats.

Take a bite Nana!

I changed my mind, it's all mine.

After lunch we went to fairgrounds park and walked around for a while.

Emma loves to swing, and the strong breeze was taking her breath away. We walked around the benches and played in the dirt.
Emma and Pop had a grand adventure!

Then I told her is was time to go home and meet mommy, she did not like the idea.

See below.

Good Preventive Maintenance

I have been telling my daughters that good preventive maintenance will get you far. My Ford ZX2 just went over 225,000 miles on this trip to Johnson City in Northeast Tennessee. I spent about 10k for this car when I bought it new in 2002 with 13 miles on it. The following is a list of maintenance I have preformed to keep this bad boy on the road.

Three sets of tires.

Two complete sets of brakes.

Two alternators.

One serpentine belt.

One clutch assembly.

One set of front wheel bearings.

Two complete headlight bulb changes.

Left side rear tail light

One battery replacement.

Two radiator flushes.

And what I consider the most important, 56 oil changes.

I expect to get at least another 100,000 out of it before I have to replace it.

244,999

225,000.

(Do not try to take photos when you are driving. These photos were taken by a trained professional, do not attempt taking photos in your own car while driving.)

Of course all those miles take me to places I love to visit besides work. Like the Pro Bass Shop at exit 407 on I-40 outside Knoxville. Yes, for those who keep track, I called David Morey. He was at work, and yes I rubbed it in. (Keep David and his family in your prayers, health concerns for this older brother.)

Lots of great stuff in here.

Waterfalls, tons of fishing and kayak stuff.

Some of the colors between Knoxville and Johnson City, the leaves are just past their peak.

Love those around you. Reach out to a close friend, and then reach out to someone who is not. Cross the street to extend a hand to a stranger, and comfort those you know are hurting.

Above all, serve and love one another and do not be restricted by church walls.

Preventive maintenance is not just about cars or homes, it's about relationships. If you work on maintaining them, they can last for a long time.

Community Group Game Night

Our community group met for game and pizza night last evening. The ladies laid down the law and proceeded to do just what they said they would do. They kicked our butts in game night. You can bet we will have a rematch!
Melisa has to draw, "Test Tube Baby," she did an excellent job. We saw that after we did not get it, it was clear after time expired.

Sheri and the girls were more than serious about taking the guys out. They would draw stick figures and somehow with super lady powers would get what it was, within seconds! The guys did OK, but we could have a photo and we still would have missed what it was.

Jennifer wants to, "Pump you up!"

Shannon's shirt matches her "hands," she and I had a little boxing match, she won, I can't hit girls.

Brenda and Chad showed up with their game faces on!

This community group is a true blessing, if you are not involved in a group setting with other Christian brothers and sisters, you are missing a true part of fellowship.

Another Full Day

Saturday started out with breakfast with David Graham at Shoney's on Wilma Rudolph Blvd., good food, better company. After leaving David, I went home and got on the bike and took off for Chattanooga to check on a few things.

After completing what I had to do, I thought I would visit Rock City since every barn in Tennessee says to do just that, "Visit Rock City." Here's a secret, Rock City is in Georgia. After getting sticker shock at the $26.00 price to just get in and take a photo, I took this one instead. So I sat outside and had a Venti, non-fat mocha, skinny. For those of you who go to Starbucks, you know what that is.

I love chili dogs, most times they they hate me back, but I eat them just the same. This was dinner in Manchester TN, better than most chili dogs. My biggest chili dog disappointment? Hardee's, nothing like the commercial.

Please keep my daughter, Mandy in prayer today, she and her fiance, Dave hit a deer last night. They are both fine, but Mandy had to witness the deer suffering, she called me to come out and shoot it. By the time I got there the deer had expired.

My freezer is now full for the winter.

(I'm kidding, just kidding you aminal lovers!)

Emma, Nana and Pop

Friday while working from home, Stacy was keeping an eye on Emma as Lisa was at APSU. I taught Emma to stand up a clap for Pop.

Once we tried to share with Lisa, Emma forgot how to clap and how to stand.Lisa only had half a day at school so we met at Poncho Villa across from gate 4 and had lunch.
Pop also taught Emma how to blow your straw wrapper at the waitress.

The chips were awesome and both Emma and Pop managed to make a mess of themselves.