I Have A Nose For Good Food...
Being a contrarian, instead of taking the interstate route that involved the shortest distance between Knoxtown (my new name for our suburb of Knoxville--not quite the main city, not quite Farragut, but Lovell is too hard to explain to people) and Charlotte, we ventured northeast on I-40 and I-81 before turning back to the southeast toward our final Saturday destination.
After a few brief hours in the car, I could hardly believe it when we arrived at the local Holiday Inn in Johnson City Tennessee and found the Peerless Restaurant, founded nearby in 1938, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR ABODE FOR THE EVENING.
We unloaded our luggage and the sea chests and lockers belonging to our little Missy the Turbo Pup into the room, delivered fresh water and food after allowing her to make a much needed "pit stop" on the lawn of the puppy friendly hotel, then wandered across the street for dinner.
Great place, all in all, with pictures of Bob Hope and Tennessee Ernie Ford in the foyer and a waiter that had grown up first eating at the old location and now working as an adult in the new 1990 vintage building.
Other than that, the best news thus far is that there is another Peerless restaurant just down the street from our house in Knoxtown!
...needless to say we can hardly wait to get back home next week.
Friday, May 23, 2008
1800 Blog Postings
Mind Racing...Head Spinning...
Actually ladies and gentlemen, this represents essay number 1801 since things got started in my little sector of the Bloggosphere back about 45 months ago.
I really wish I had more to say these days, even if it were profanity laced partisan BS, but instead I'm spending my time being something I haven't spent much time doing in years...
I'M PRODUCTIVE ( as opposed to re-productive?)
Any way...
If daytime engineering projects and evening marketing plan development weren't enough, now I'm facing a Memorial Day weekend trip across the mountains to Charlotte, North Carolina to witness the daughter of a couple of college friends get married Saturday afternoon.
As I just recalled, Curtis was born the day after her parents, Bill and Beth, rode out a tornado in my little S-10 Blazer with my wife of the day and myself up on Windy Hill Road in Marietta, GA on our way to dinner in early 1984 (?).
The wind howled, the little SUV shook, and after having to come to a complete stop in the five lane road because of the green sky and zero visibility, when the wind died down and the rain ceased we were astonished to find a mobile office trailer from an adjacent shopping center construction site blown down an embankment and shattered to pieces in the roadway just ahead of us.
Twenty five yards could have possibly made the difference between a blank page and you're ability to read these words this morning; and there might not be a beautiful young bride and beaming parents adjacent to the altar this weekend had providence and the hand of God not stopped us at that point in the roadway that evening.
Who says I'm not one lucky son of a gun in spite of my best efforts to the contrary?
Actually ladies and gentlemen, this represents essay number 1801 since things got started in my little sector of the Bloggosphere back about 45 months ago.
I really wish I had more to say these days, even if it were profanity laced partisan BS, but instead I'm spending my time being something I haven't spent much time doing in years...
I'M PRODUCTIVE ( as opposed to re-productive?)
Any way...
If daytime engineering projects and evening marketing plan development weren't enough, now I'm facing a Memorial Day weekend trip across the mountains to Charlotte, North Carolina to witness the daughter of a couple of college friends get married Saturday afternoon.
As I just recalled, Curtis was born the day after her parents, Bill and Beth, rode out a tornado in my little S-10 Blazer with my wife of the day and myself up on Windy Hill Road in Marietta, GA on our way to dinner in early 1984 (?).
The wind howled, the little SUV shook, and after having to come to a complete stop in the five lane road because of the green sky and zero visibility, when the wind died down and the rain ceased we were astonished to find a mobile office trailer from an adjacent shopping center construction site blown down an embankment and shattered to pieces in the roadway just ahead of us.
Twenty five yards could have possibly made the difference between a blank page and you're ability to read these words this morning; and there might not be a beautiful young bride and beaming parents adjacent to the altar this weekend had providence and the hand of God not stopped us at that point in the roadway that evening.
Who says I'm not one lucky son of a gun in spite of my best efforts to the contrary?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Quote O' The Day
And Some Political Commentary...
Fellow writer and personal Idol Samuel Clemmons is attributed to saying (or writing) these words:
"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."
"When angry count four; when very angry, swear."
Likewise, I say that enjoying the misfortune or suffering of those you disagree with philosophically is similar in a fashion to cursing and swearing.
Thus my silence to date here on this blog regarding Senator Ted Kennedy's recent medical problems.
Needless to say that I don't personally like the baby brother of President JFK (although I've never met the man and he's never done anything to me outside of passing some ridiculous legislation since coming into office in 1962.)
It's just that simple...
I think that he's done some bad things in his life and been cut slack socially and legally because of his position in society.
Then again, who am I to comment on the pressures and pitfalls brought upon a young (or middle aged or old) man residing in the social and political position which Senator Ted has occupied for the past 76 years?
I've learned as a mature adult that it takes a better, more intelligent Man or Woman to state your case and express your position when under pressure or distress without using profanity, and I also believe that we elevate the level and meaning of the ongoing political dialogue by wishing Senator Kennedy the best as a human being while at the same time disagreeing with some of the things he's done in the past and any leftist leanings he may continue to force upon us from his bully Senate pulpit in the future.
Thus my silence, but in breaking it I offer my best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery to Massachusetts' elder statesman.
Fellow writer and personal Idol Samuel Clemmons is attributed to saying (or writing) these words:
"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."
"When angry count four; when very angry, swear."
Likewise, I say that enjoying the misfortune or suffering of those you disagree with philosophically is similar in a fashion to cursing and swearing.
Thus my silence to date here on this blog regarding Senator Ted Kennedy's recent medical problems.
Needless to say that I don't personally like the baby brother of President JFK (although I've never met the man and he's never done anything to me outside of passing some ridiculous legislation since coming into office in 1962.)
It's just that simple...
I think that he's done some bad things in his life and been cut slack socially and legally because of his position in society.
Then again, who am I to comment on the pressures and pitfalls brought upon a young (or middle aged or old) man residing in the social and political position which Senator Ted has occupied for the past 76 years?
I've learned as a mature adult that it takes a better, more intelligent Man or Woman to state your case and express your position when under pressure or distress without using profanity, and I also believe that we elevate the level and meaning of the ongoing political dialogue by wishing Senator Kennedy the best as a human being while at the same time disagreeing with some of the things he's done in the past and any leftist leanings he may continue to force upon us from his bully Senate pulpit in the future.
Thus my silence, but in breaking it I offer my best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery to Massachusetts' elder statesman.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
New Engineering Technology
Beam Me Up Scotty...
I can hardly wait to get back in front of my office computer tomorrow morning.
You see, if things go as planned not only will I be driving AutoCAD 2009, but I'll also have a copy of Bentley Systems' STAAD 2006 finite element software residing on my hard disk by around 7 AM.
Yeah...I know...I know...I know...
EVERYONE doesn't appreciate having $7,000 worth of new programs that don't play music videos or sell you used books or E-bay auction items.
Still, I'll be lucky enough to be sitting in front of one of the baddest engineering terminals in our building on a daily basis (one of only three seats with AutoCAD 2009) as my importance continues to increase and I demonstrate my value as a businessman and engineer.
As of Tuesday afternoon I have permission to charge hours to the Business Development account, and I'm writing a marketing plan to expand our industrial duct system business into new areas and include my steel and fiberglass stack experience in our offerings.
I swore that I was out of the stack business on a daily basis for good after things went south in 1999 with my old corporation, but I guess eight years of being a professional beach bum balmed my spirit and allowed the smoldering embers left from the old fires to re-ignite.
You can just call me an old softy...I guess...
I can hardly wait to get back in front of my office computer tomorrow morning.
You see, if things go as planned not only will I be driving AutoCAD 2009, but I'll also have a copy of Bentley Systems' STAAD 2006 finite element software residing on my hard disk by around 7 AM.
Yeah...I know...I know...I know...
EVERYONE doesn't appreciate having $7,000 worth of new programs that don't play music videos or sell you used books or E-bay auction items.
Still, I'll be lucky enough to be sitting in front of one of the baddest engineering terminals in our building on a daily basis (one of only three seats with AutoCAD 2009) as my importance continues to increase and I demonstrate my value as a businessman and engineer.
As of Tuesday afternoon I have permission to charge hours to the Business Development account, and I'm writing a marketing plan to expand our industrial duct system business into new areas and include my steel and fiberglass stack experience in our offerings.
I swore that I was out of the stack business on a daily basis for good after things went south in 1999 with my old corporation, but I guess eight years of being a professional beach bum balmed my spirit and allowed the smoldering embers left from the old fires to re-ignite.
You can just call me an old softy...I guess...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Say What?
You Actually Want This Man In Charge?
"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK," Obama said.
(Obama in Oregon last weekend...)
My Answer?
If I manage to pay for it with the money left over after government gets through stealing "their fair share of my income", then I'll keep my $#@&* house at 62 degrees in the summer and 82 degrees in the winter, eat Fillet Mignon three meals a day Sunday through Friday and Pizza with diamonds and Rubys on it Saturday, and leave my Suburban idling in the driveway 24/7 and I defy the morons in Washington to tell me to do otherwise.
All you socialist treehugging bastards need to start packing your bags and heading on out to Cuba before my Alzheimer's kicks in and I start buying a new scope and ammunition for my 30-06.
Dammit...
"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK," Obama said.
(Obama in Oregon last weekend...)
My Answer?
If I manage to pay for it with the money left over after government gets through stealing "their fair share of my income", then I'll keep my $#@&* house at 62 degrees in the summer and 82 degrees in the winter, eat Fillet Mignon three meals a day Sunday through Friday and Pizza with diamonds and Rubys on it Saturday, and leave my Suburban idling in the driveway 24/7 and I defy the morons in Washington to tell me to do otherwise.
All you socialist treehugging bastards need to start packing your bags and heading on out to Cuba before my Alzheimer's kicks in and I start buying a new scope and ammunition for my 30-06.
Dammit...
Monday, May 19, 2008
Back To The Grind
Livin' In Suburbia...
Just in case you didn't notice, I took yesterday off.
Not completely "off," I just did what I wanted to to all day, so instead of writing I took a nice nap, and then I went to Sherwin Williams to buy some paint and used it to attack the linen closet in the master bathroom.
When the dust settled, the three old wooden shelves were laying in the basement floor and in their place was four new pieces of vinyl coated wire shelving.
Other than that, I was basically useless and I feel a little guilty as a result. I hope I get over it soon...
Any way, it's time to go to work now...hope everyone has a lovely week doing whatever it is that you elect to spend your time doing.
Just in case you didn't notice, I took yesterday off.
Not completely "off," I just did what I wanted to to all day, so instead of writing I took a nice nap, and then I went to Sherwin Williams to buy some paint and used it to attack the linen closet in the master bathroom.
When the dust settled, the three old wooden shelves were laying in the basement floor and in their place was four new pieces of vinyl coated wire shelving.
Other than that, I was basically useless and I feel a little guilty as a result. I hope I get over it soon...
Any way, it's time to go to work now...hope everyone has a lovely week doing whatever it is that you elect to spend your time doing.
