December 16, 2011
Christmas Is Coming!

Ready or not, Christmas is right around the corner. Another week of travel hustling Skuttle products to anyone who will listen; left Monday, spent quality time with Jackson at a truck stop outside Emporia, VA, then worked in MD, PA, NJ, back to MD and VA and home late last night. Not a bad week, now ready for the holidays.
Took Dink to the Christmas parade last Saturday. We set up on the railroad tracks across from the church, the parade lasted nearly an hour. It's fun to be near the beginning, the USMC band always starts by playing the Marine Hymn. I can't help but remember Gomer singing that with a bucket on his head..............this here's my favorite part. Anyway, I haven't had the opportunity to take either or my grandchildren to a parade yet, but I got a good idea of what that will be like last week. It was fun watching Dink point out things to everyone around, you know like "here comes a float" and "wonder who that is? Oh he's the mayor" "where is that band from? Oh there it says it on the banner"..........yeah, things like that. And fun for the nearby seven year old girl turned grandma-sitter as Dink begged for candy being thrown from the floats. Yep, good times; actually it was, wore her out for the day
At every parade I can't help but think about the Booker T. Washington band from years gone by. Might not be PC but it was a lot of fun watching that band. Seems like Rod Hoell got in a little trouble for imitating them when we were in junior high..................

After the parade I worked in the office most of Saturday, but had the television on and caught some of the Army-Navy game. As usual I couldn't tell you the score or much about the game but I always try to catch that. Not too interested in sports these days, I'm in jazz and felt berets...........sorry, lost my train of thought there...........great to see those young people on the field and in the stands. Great game
Saw this in MD, all for you Jackson. Great motto for a bar

And this from outside Portsmouth OH, but then again much of the world is thankfully outside Portsmouth OH. Nothing makes me want to eat OH BBQ (if there is such a thing) like looking at a pig's ass crack hanging out of a pair of blue jeans. Yes, the name is Southern Moon

Ever been fishing here? Ever been fishing with me? Then you probably have fished here, enjoy those speckled trout. And this is an actual photograph. If you know me you know I'm not smart enough to PhotoShop this. It's between Columbus and Portsmouth

Did you know that that NASA's Voyager 1 was launched in 1977 and is now leaving the solar system and entering the Milky Way? It is traveling at 11 miles per second and is nearly 12 BILLION miles from the sun. Among other things inside of Voyager is a gold plated copper phonograph record with greetings from Earth and photographs. Wonder if other living beings will be able to find an old stereo to play it? Blows my mind, but so do a lot of things lately. Such as Durham author Michael Peterson getting a new trial.............wonder if that murderous owl is still alive and can tell us whoooooooooooo really did it? Sorry, couldn't resist that, too easy.
And while I'm pondering deep thoughts does anyone know why New Jersey always smells like Right Guard deodorant? Guess that is funny, and I guess I meant for it to be, but seriously, why?
Home for a couple of weeks, should be a fun time with family. Who knows what other trouble we can get into? Next week I'll tell you about my pre-Christmas "procedure" but I promise without pictures. Stay tuned.............................