Post Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Beth nearly set the house on fire.  She was making a squash caserole and was cooking the squash.  She turned on the wrong burner.  Next thing we knew smoke was coming from the pot holder that was on the stove top.  The boys even said it was to smokey.  Now Saturday and the smell is about gone but the house is a little colder from having windows and doors open in November.

Mom and Lynn are up to see the boys since we did not get done to Calvert.  It is good to have them up.  Lynn bought a new Dodge truck and Mom is giving him grief about it being a stick.  Not sure what we are going to do this afternoon but I know we will avoid campus.  Go Cats beat those Vols.

Short and sweet. Have a good Saturday

Black Friday

Ok I get the idea of shopping as fun and recreation.  I love to go look at cars on car lots knowing I am not going to buy anything, just to mess with the sales people.  I can walk around book stores, Best Buys, and flea markets with the best of them.  I also like getting a bargain on stuff I plan to purchase anyway.  I just do not understand Black Friday.

Why go out on the day after Thanksgiving to get "bargains" on items that the stores will have lots of in the next few weeks? And yes Wally world will have some great prices but only say 2 of those Flat Screen Cabbage patch Beenie widgets.  Are the odds of you getting one really worth the headaches and body aches of trying to get it?   I just do not understand.

But for those of you who do it (including my wife, mother, and mother in law as well as a couple of uncles) more power to you.  Best Buy opens at 5am and I am hoping for a lot of new electronics.

Just about done with Saturday work. It has been a productive morning. Got all my files finished and document in the computer. Busy week and so this Saturday was actually needed.

UK plays rider at 1 today. I hope they will figure out how to guard the 3 point shot but I doubt it. The Coach Cal said they were only working on Foul shooting and defense at practice yesterday. I hope it helps because they need it. Syracuse beat UNC last night. Mixed feelings about it but glad Caroline loses at any point.

Chris from Church called as leaving work.  He had an extra ticket for the UK Rider game.  It was great.  I got to see 2 games this week  in Rupp.  Thanks Chris.

Hope everyone has a great weekend

No real title this week just setting and thinking.  Beth and I went to the UK game monday.  It was close and John Wall hit the winning shot.  I am reminded watching this team why I do not like Coach Cal's teams.  They do not defend the perimiter well and they can not shot free throws.  I think they will win between 25 and 30 games and make the Elite 8 at least.  I just do not think they can get another championship if they can't find a way to get free points.  Demarcus Cousins is better than I thought he would be.  He has to play hard all the time but he does have the goods. 

I am still getting used to being 40.   Found out a high school classmate died this week.  He had a heart attack and was a diabetic, like I am.  I am praying for the family and just thinking hard about my age. 

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

40 this week

First blog of the week. I turned 40 yesterday. Thank you all for your wonderful wishes. I thought about doing a historical list about things that have happened over the last 40 years but just could not make myself do it. I did think a lot about things I have done and lived through and thought to write them down. So in no order or without reason some thoughts.

Man walked on the moon the first time before I was born and I was to young to remember the last time we did it. I hope we do it again. We have lost 2 space shuttles as well. I will never forget the first one. One of my teachers had been a finalist for the teacher in space program. She had us watching it on TV and she just froze. It was very devastating.

The Watergate break in and cover up happened during my life time. I wonder how much it has changed not only politics but the media as well. Woodward and Bernstain have brought us to the celebrity journalism of today. Can you say Al Capone's vault or Inside Edition? News should be just news. Do not try to entertain me.

UK has had 7 basketball coaches during the last 4 decades. One legend, two nice gentleman, two who should have never been hired, one who I can not stand, and one who the jury is out.  Decide for yourselfs which ones are which.

Can I claim Mantel as the greatest Yankee during that time since the 69 season ended before I was born? If not then its Don Mattingly even if he never won a Ring. For my Cardinals its even harder to decide. Gibson and Brock, Sutton, Ozzie? Albert now? Well my favorite would have to be Willie McGee. How can you win a batting title and still chase that crap in the dirt?

Now the tough one. UK starting 5 for my life time. Not the best players but the ones I would like to see again.   Roger Hardin at point. The man ran a great offense and could shoot foul shots. Speaking of foul shots, Kyle Macy as the 2. Could you imagine what he could have done with the 3 point line? Mashburn at the small foward. Kenny Walker at the 4. Rick Robey at center. Maybe not the most talent but they would be fun to watch.

Greatest game I have ever watched? High School basketball. Marshall Co vs Paducah Tilghman on Valentines Day 1985? Tilghman came into Marshall undefeated and left on the losing end of the St Valentines Massacre.

Well that is a lot of rambling. Everyone have a great weekend.

Frost this morning

Frost on the wind sheilds this morning. It was nice and brisk with a little wind. I love fall and the cooler temperatures. I know people love summer and "nice" weather but I hate the hot and humind days. Give me cool and dry or even a little cold anytime. Its like Mama Jo always said "You can always put on more clothes but there is only so much the law will let you take off". Beautiful blue skies and a crisp air makes my day.

Going to take a couple of days of vacation next week. Trying to burn it before I lose it at the end of the year. No real plans but just taking the time. Tried to talk Beth into going out of town but with Gman sick this week plans are on hold. He is back in school and doing fine. Just a bug of some sort. He was so pitiful but is now back to his hyper self. E wants to know when he gets to stay home and sleep in the living room. I hope he does not get sick and get to.

Still thinking and praying for all of the friends and family that have been touched with cancer this year. It just seems like there was a great deal of them. Or maybe with Facebook I just now hear about it more. The C word, as one of the surviors called it, is a real part of our lives that I just never wanted to think about. I know when I list people I will leave someone out but I am thinking about you all.

Maybe next time I will think about turning 40. Come up with a historic list of great things that have happened or something.

Beautiful fall day in eastern Ky. Blue sky nice breeze and high around 60. I love having real seasons. The trees are changing colors and the frost has helped my head. Seasons are good seasonal alergeries are not.

Gman is home from school running a fever. Beth took him to the doctors. Negative on the flu and strep so just a cold. Hopefully the fever will stay gone and he does not miss much school.

E gets to ride the bus to Boys and Girls club by hiself. I can't remember if this is the first time or not. Beth has not said anything and does not seem worried. Maybe because Gman is sick and she has not thought about it. Or it's not the first time and so she is ok with it. Man they are growing up so fast.

Been thinking of Mama Jo lately, or at least once a day still. She would be getting ready for her toy drive at church right now. She would have been getting toys all year long. Buying them at yard sells and storing them up. Start of November was when the toys would get brought out, sorted, and cleaned. She would go down her list from last year and checking on everyone. Her helpers would be called and confermined for this year. She really loved Christmas, even if Granddad could not have cared less if we had 1 present in the house.