It's the little things.....

I'm at work.  I'm sitting here reading blogs on my lunch hour.  As I get to my dessert (yummy vanilla yogurt), I'm reminded of the thing I've been doing all month.  I bring my lunch a lot.  I usually always eat yogurt.  And since the middle of last month, the brand of yogurt I buy has been donating to "Cups of Hope".  If you are unfamiliar, it is one of many organizations/movements/etc. that are against breast cancer.  This company is donating $.10 for each code you enter into this website toward breast cancer research.  I think it's a small but effective thing I can do.  I am a man, and thus would not suffer this terrible thing, but I am married.  I am a son.  I am a brother and uncle.  Each woman in my life means the world to me.  And while I know a dime isn't much, it IS something I can do to maybe help them not suffer this terrible thing.

Lame? Maybe.  Do I care if you think that I am for doing it?  No.

I sometimes think that it's the little things that this world is missing.  Some call it politeness.  Some call it the dreaded "political correctness".  Although those who (in my opinion) use the term "Political Correctness" every time are really saying that because it just ticks them off that they have to be polite but that's another issue.

And just for the record.  I know I'm no saint.  I know that I don't always do a small thing that could help me.  But at least I honestly do try.  If I miss one, it wasn't due to me saying something like: "All I have to do is flip this switch and it would help that person see, but you know I just don't feel like it."

Well, maybe I did do that once or twice but I do try.  And while I know this dime a day isn't much in the greater struggle against breast cancer, if 1 million people do that small thing it becomes a large thing.


Come on people.  At least try to do the small things.  A lot of small things do a large amount of good.

Fun, Classic Cars, and Kettle Corn....

...Need I say more?  Really.

Last weekend was the yearly car-show down-town on the square.  Now, as you all know I'm more or a scooter guy, but wow.  There were some really impressive cars down there.  Several I liked, and then there was the wish-list wifey gave me of the ones she wants when we hit the Lucky-Lotto....

There were not only old cars and pick-up trucks, but even dump trucks from the 40's and 50's.  Now, I'm sure they were 'the Thing' at the time, but sadly with the "more,bigger,faster,now" society we have now, there are personal trucks on the road that are bigger than these things.  But what are you gonna do.

Of course, the three that stood out to me were:

First, the green 50's model Chevy truck which brings back fond memories of my childhood.  My Grandfather had a '52 that we used on the farm, and that truthfully I learned to drive in.  Granted, it was the scene from a movie where the kid is constantly moving up and down in the seat, alternating between seeing over the dash, and being able to reach the pedals.

Of course, this one was clean and shiny not sadly on it's last legs with faded paint, no hub-caps (please), and the smell of pigs (it was the feed truck after all).  I wonder if I started this one, all of the little pigs would go running to the feeding spot?

There were several both the wife and I were "OH THAT IS SO COOL!" over.  But here is one that I have always wanted.  A Nash Metropolitan.

I mean, come on.  How cool is that little car.  They were even made in Nashville, just down the road from here.  Check them out here.  I would probably go for the blue or green rather than the pink however....

Finally, what small-town antique car show would be complete without this:

That's right, it's Andy and Barney's famous police car from Mayberry.  From the signs, this is one of the actual cars used on the show .  Truth or not, still pretty cool.

There were several others that I either was A) two into looking at it to think about getting a picture, or B) just was stupid and forgot.  But there were so many there.  I have to say it was quite cool.  Can't wait until next year. 

I'm really fun being able to go do all of this fun stuff.  I had forgot what my small town had available.  I'm so happy that I got another chance to enjoy it.

Oh, and did I mention...   KETTLE CORN!!!!!

Yes, all packed up in Wifey's basket (I don't have one on the Stella) and ready for me to enjoy the yummy goodness.

How dare you use your religion for such a hideous thing. You should be ashamed.

To a local Franklin Business Owner.

I'm a firm believer in the 1st amendment and believe you have the right to say what you want.  But so do I.  And I believe when you use your laundromat sign to tell people to pray for the death of the current President you are over the line.  You are neither right to wish for a thing much less pray for it or tell others to tell for it.

You slyly use an innocuous verse of the Bible, knowing full well your true meaning is the next verse that says 'may his children be orphans, and his wife a widow'.  Yes, yes you will say that you don't mean that.  But why else pull that exact quote from the Bible not knowing the passages full meaning.  If you are the Christian you portray yourself to be, you probably read the whole passage.

And I don't care where you go to Church if your pastor tells you to pray for such a thing I openly question his Christianity and I would hope you would too.  Because he not preaching the Bible, he is preaching his personal politics.

I don't care what side of the fence you are on or if you are on the side of the current President or not.  It was not right for those on the left to do it when Bush was in office.  It is not right now.

 Praying for the death of another human being has NOTHING to do with Christianity.  If you were placed on a path of study by a minister that led you to believe that praying for the death of our nations leader then that minister has a special place in hell.  He is not only leading you astray, but is already so far down the path himself that I doubt he will dig himself out.

You even think you feel justified in being against the Islamic faith because you think "That faith is just too violent".  Yet you put this out there for all of Franklin to see you hold the same ideas toward your own government.  That if they do not agree with me, they should be killed and his children orphaned, and his wife widowed.  Do you not justify being against a religion for being too violent by promoting violence toward your own government.

You may be totally justified in not liking the current leader.  We have had both extremes in our government over the past 200+ years. And thinking people can have valid, passionate reasons not to like whatever current President is in office.

But you can not justify, especially now, at this time, justifing asking the nation to pray for the death of the President.

You are wrong.
You are shameful.
And you are NOT Christian.

This isn't new, but it is a bit comical....

On May 14, 1994 I had the extreme good sense and pleasure to marry Wifey.  Not to mention luck, and good fortune to have been doing the right things that she would even WANT to marry me.

My wife and I have known each other FOREVER.  We even dated while we were in school.  But I'll admit it. Sometimes I have a raging stupidity streak and I broke up with her then.

Also you need know my parents and her parents had known each other for years and were already good friends.  So there was NEVER any of the "why are you dating that girl" questions.  I know all of you out there have been asked that.

I knew I had a good thing going one hot day while on vacation.  My Mom, Dad, little Sis and I were in Florida for a week shortly after Wifey (then Girlfriend) had started dating.  So Mom and little Sis were shopping at one OF MANY stores that day and Dad and I were out just watching people and chatting.  Then  "The serious face"...

You have seen it by your parents.  You are talking, all is great, you are laughing, then suddenly.....

"Mitch, I was wanting to talk to you about this (Wifey's Name) thing..."

Uh-oh...  What could this be....

"You know, your Mother and I REALLY like her..."

ZOINK

"...you know, I think I can even say we would be VERY HAPPY if you some day got married."

Needless to say, the conversation quickly went from serious, to weird, to 'WHEW!'.  This had been my plan all along, and I hadn't yet discussed it with him.  But let's just say it was pretty awesome for your Father to approve a decision you had made before he knew of your decision.

Anyway, back to the story.  We were married at the church where we had once upon a time met and both our parents still went to.  It was a great day.  Fun had by all, it was a beautiful wedding.

Then came the day....

The building fund had paid off, the new auditorium was to be built!  Plans were made, contractors were contracted.  The new auditorium was built to the front of the old auditorium (where we held our nuptials) was built.  And what happened to the old auditorium? And the alter where we were wed?

It's now the kitchen of the fellowship hall they turned the old auditorium into.

Now let me be clear, I write this NOT as a complaint.  NOT a 'how dare you'.  I just find it a little bit comical.  I know this means nothing nothing to the 'status' of our marriage.  We can only screw that up.  But come on, you have to admit it's a little funny.

The place where we said our vows is now ...

wait for it....

the kitchen.  

And in the spot I stood and took my vows?  Yes, a stove.  

We have several dear friends that have ALSO been married in that same spot.  Do they also find it comical?  Who knows.  I'm sure if we were all in the same room we could have a good laugh over it.  Of course, not that it's the fellowship hall, we  COULD SIT IN THAT EXACT ROOM and have a laugh over it.


I guess in another religion if the wife ever got that mad at me, she could take a picture of me and put it on the stove, turn on the burner and give me the hot foot.  Not that she would. I hope.

That little Silver Lining.....

My current job has what some term as an "Open Office".  Meaning ALL the desks other than the HR Manager and VP are out in one big room.  So I am out among everyone.  Granted it has its ups and downs.  But today a definite up...

The lady that sits next to me and I have become pretty good buddies (No dirty minds please, not that way.) and she keeps me rolling with laughter on some days.  We are in KY, and she is what we call "Country".  It's not the "Country" that is funny.  It's just some of the stuff she comes out with.

Anyway,  I had installed McAfee Site Advisor on her machine as she tends to not be too discerning with her Google Searches and it has led to a couple of mornings of cleaning up her machine.

So I get in this morning, and she says: "Hey, you know that McAfee thing you put on my computer??"


ME:"Yes, the Site Advisor?".

Her:  "Yeah, that thing. It definately works!!"

Me (in the "I know what I have to do now" tone):  "Why???"

Her:  "Because I was searching something this morning, and you know that little thing popped up and said I was on the wrong side of the tracks and get back to the right side of town."

Me: "So did you?" (hoping she didn't go to that site....)

Her:  "Yea-Ah!,  I did what you told me to do."

Me:  smile, internal laugh, stop just short of spewing coffee...

It's county fair time!!

If you live in a small town anywhere in the country, you are probably aware of the county-fair.  Not the big 'state-fairs' that are put on by a lot of big companies and state-governments.  I'm talking about the smaller county-fairs that are put on by hardworking folks who sign up to be on a board, put in long hours for no money, beg for sponsors, etc. all to bring a little enjoyment to the people who live in that area.

I will gladly admit to looking forward to the local fair every year.  Of course when I was a child, it was more for the cotton-candy, popcorn, and (seemingly) rickety rides brought in by a carnival and set up to the side of the main 'arena', and I will also admit to those things still having an appeal to me.  But these days it's more the food than the rides.  Wifey still gets a thrill over those 'twist-you-till-you-throw-up' rides however.

When I was young, the other thing that I really liked was that my Dad was in a group called  "The Young Farmers".  This group ruled the last two nights of the fair.  Two full nights of tractor pulls.  When I was young, the first night was for the local folks who wanted to pull their personal tractors.  There were a LOT more little farms then, and several farmers wanting to come and join in on the local competition.  Then the second night, the big hot-rods came out.  These things were big, strong, and LOUD!

In high school, and being the son of a Farmer of course I was in FFA, as were many of my friends.  The summer would find us planning out our weekends so that we could catch all the local ones around the area.  I don't know if was due to us liking seeing things we used daily with this much power, or what but we were ALWAYS there.

Now, all of that said this weekend was the annual Franklin-Simpson County Fair.  A full week of rides, contests, and corn-dogs (Mmmmm corn-dogs).

Remembering the final two days of the fair being so much fun as a child, I looked-forward to going to the tractor-pull at the end of the week.  This year, the last two nights were in stead not only a tractor-pull, but also a demolition derby!

I have to say  I was looking forward to the weekend all week. Friday night was the tractor pull.  Since Wifey isn't that big of a tractor-pull fan (yes I married a girl from town), I went alone.  No big deal, I found me a prime spot and current wait to enjoy the sites.

At this pull, there were two different types of tractors.  Super-Stock and Modified.   I am personally a little more fond of the Super-Stock because they look more like what I used to drive on my fathers farm.

I really like how you know exactly when they are taking the weight of the sled.  In the pics above, you can see them going down the track.  On the left, you see one one in mid-pull.  On the right (sorry for the blur) you can see one starting.  Notice the exhaust. When these tractors are revving up to pull the smoke is a grayish-white.  But when they actually start pulling you can immediately see the smoke turn to a coal-black.  Yes, it's not an efficient way of doing it.  Yes, it's not the most eco-friendly thing on the planet.  Whatever, to me it's way cool.

The other type of tractor that was there were the modifieds.  These tractors are from one to I've seen as many as 6 engines on a frame all hooked to one rear-end.  Normally these are the large 'hot-rod' engines like you see in dragsters.  But other types of engines are used too.  One very unique application are turbine engines.

These engines are the engines that you would normally see powering a turbo-prop airplane engine, or a helicopter rotor.

OK, I could go on for hours on this, but I've still not gotten to the next night!  The demolition derby!  Saturday night both wifey and I went out for this event.  This event it simple.  People enter cars that have had all glass removed, reinforced with some (minimal) safety cages, and hit them into each other trying to destroy the other guys car.  The last person with a running vehicle wins.  I mean come on, what fun!

Last nights, event however came with something I've never seen.  "Lawn-Mower-Demolition-Derby".  Crazy.  The best part was the guy that was sitting behind saying, in about the most country accent available "This S#@! is about as Redneck as hell!".  I laughed, I yelled, I laughed more.  There was so much action going on I missed stuff.  We both had so much fun we are looking for others near by.  

OH, and we even got to see a live version of C.O.P.S when two in the crown were put in hand-cuffs and led away by Franklin's Finest.  For the two nights, I was out less than $50.  I mean come on, you rarely get that much entertainment for your money.


So, if anyone in the area reading this blog is on the Franklin-Simpson, Ky fair board.  Well done, and thanks for a great weekend.

Woo-Hoo, the Library!!

Some of you may or may not know, but I'm a reader.  I. LOVE. TO. READ.  So after weeks of reading everything I had here at the house that was 'on my list', AND after several suggestions by wifey to check it out, I head down to the Goodnight Memorial Library here in town. 

Now, I haven't been to this library in years.  YEARS.  All my previous memories were of the massive card catalog on the bottom floor.  I even remember having a class on how to use it.  I thought I was so cool being able to just jot up to those cool little drawers and research what I wanted, then just walk right there.  Yeah, I guess I was a geek back then too.

Well, of course technology has made it's way to my little home-town library too.  I'm sure it's been there for years.  I haven't researched it yet (I'm sure it's somewhere on the link above), but I believe it was sometime around 2000.  The reason I say that is because all of the books I've checked out so far have mid to late 1999 as the last date stamped in that little 'check-out-card-holder-thingie' in the front cover.  No, I don't know the real name for it but you all know what I'm talking about.

I must say it's nice to have the technology there.  Searching for a book is so much easier with a quick database search provided by the in-house database.  And I also like knowing if a book is there or not when I go to look for it, not just that they have it. 

I've even done an "ILL", (Intra-Library-Loan) for those of you not up on the current library lingo.  I will admit that I too didn't know this until 5 minutes after I had done it and while we were in the car driving away wifey started talking about me doing the 'ILL' and I was like 'Wha???', then she explained it.  What can I say I'm sometimes not the 'sharpest knife'.

Anyway, it's nice to know we have this great resource here in town.  I'm sure I'll be using it A LOT.