There are no leprechauns in Travelers Rest. I’m serious. I searched this tiny town last night for one silly T-shirt that I could wear to work today and remind everyone that the Irish rule. Nothing! Nothing at CVS, nothing at Eckerd, nothing at Family Dollar or Dollar General. No cutsie earrings with green dancing leprechauns, no rainbows with pots of gold. Now there was plenty of green, don’t get me wrong. There was green grass (and purple and blue and pink) for the easter baskets. Now I ask you, WHO grows purple grass? There were plenty of live plants too. I’d have a tough time at work with ivy covering me from head to toe, though. After getting quite frustrated with my shopping failure, I settled on a boring green T-shirt from WalMart. (At least I won’t get pinched all day) I’m not sure it’s enough. I think I’ll stop by Bilo and buy shamrock shaped cookies covered in green sprinkles and super glue them to my boring green T-shirt. I bet they have leprechuans in Easley! Happy St. Pat’s Day to you all!

I’ve read that is totally acceptable to make small talk regarding the weather. This was written by an expert in the field. Not in weather, but in small talk and other pieces of useless information. It was Ms Manners in a newspaper column.

So, the weather here was strange over the last few days. After 3 weeks of our coldest weather this year (the low was in the teens…with a 0 wind chill…and only for a day), Sunday afternoon was 81 degrees! What’s with that!?

Then, on Monday a violent storm front came through (washed away most of the grass reseeding and lawn work that everyone was doing — us suburanites do that…we work on lawns and things pertaining to beautifying our .1862 acres). Then last night (Tuesday night) it was down to 23 degrees again).

I was glad to get natural gas as a heat source when we purchased this home almost a year ago. That was before Katrina. My first monthly gas bill this year was $375. So, we didn’t actually use our two gas fireplaces after that, or allow the heat much over 67…unless we had company over…which we didn’t – because we still haven’t furnishe the downstairs of our house yet. That’s another blog in itself.

So, I’m ready for spring! turn off the heater…let my wallet recover…open the windows! But, 3 days later close them – cause it’s too darn hot! Turn on the AC and the ceiling fans…and pay the inflated electricity bill.

Global warming is a bummer.

Mom and Dad did indeed come down for a visit last weekend, while Greg’s sons were playing at All-State (something Greg himself never got to do. I, of course, did).

I immediately put Dad to work and we stapled my television to the wall. We also managed to hang three sets of mini blinds, cook raw hamburger (well, it started out frozen and ended up raw), visit Jenny and eat Greek food.

My friend Dave Willard died last week, so Jenny and I drove up to G’ville for his memorial service on Friday. I had an unofficial wake for him here last night with a couple of my camping buddies from the UFFP.

They are currently dead to the world on my couches. Guess the thought of sleeping in my guestroom was too much for them. I have no idea what they did all night – I went to bed at 11:00.

Miss Cynthia – I’ve put in for the first two weeks of July and the week around Christmas this year. That work for you? I think you said you’d be at Ahmic starting on the 7th. If that’s correct, I’ll probably join you on the 7th or 8th and stay until the following Thursday or Friday. And if Chez Tall is open on Christmas week, I’ll see you then too!

This is, naturally, assuming that I still have a job in July and December. If not, I’ll be living in your garage.

For the intrepid travelers among you, the Georgia Brass Band will be playing at the NABBA championships in Louisville on March 31 and April 1. Someplace called Indiana University South or something. I’m hoping to make the trip. From what I’ve heard, the band has gotten incredibly good since I quit it. I’m thinking about rejoining it in the not-too-distant future and bringing it back down to my level.

My current winning streak on Playstation NCAA football is approaching 200 games.

And I was in All-State.

I can’t believe I actually got to where I could post a note on this prestigious (sp?) blog page. After getting precise instructions from Greg (or as precise as Greg ever gets) I still amnaged to get lost a couple of times, but hey, here I am for better of worse.
Got back a short while ago from a visit with Tom. Hadn’t been down there in quite a while and was impressed with his handiwork. The cruiser ran well, found that the air conditioning works (it was 82 degrees on the way home) and got over 24 MPG on the trip. Makes me feel a little better. By the way, in the past two months I’ve washed the new car 2 times. In the past ten years I think I’ve washed the van 3 times.

I woke up in another deep sweat. The director kept reading the list of those who made All-State, and I was not on it…again. Then, he read the name of my sons, and I realized that I needed to share with the world…. I NEVER MADE ALL-STATE BAND!!!

And now, my family is teasing me about it!

I feel so small.

All-State concert tomorrow…I will be, once again, only listening.

I want the DVD package of Larry’s sermon, and perhaps, edited in, the special music could be the guys from the artistic showcases,,,I think that would sell!

Larry, I couldn’t even THINK about preaching a sermon, I can’t imagine trying to give others insights on how to live their lives as Ihave a daily struggle to live mine the way I think it should be…how do you do it? Once again, my big brother sets a very high bar…when is your next scheduled sermon? I might want to come visit the church!

By the way, I never made All-State.

Dad makes it in with only a minimum of curse words.

My husband’s home…..yippppppeeeeeeeeeeeee:):):):)!!!!!! Lis

Wow, I was gone a couple of days and everything has fallen apart!
1. Greg’s pulley is shot
2. His evidently recurring nightmare of not making All-state (twice mentioned on here) is kicking in again.
3. Dianne is tiring out on running up the hills
4. Tom is a pawn in the corporate shuffle
5. Kirby died (thought that was a vaccuum cleaner…but, caught the real message quickly)

Nothing too bad happened over here. Well, I had to do the sermon sunday – this is always a humiliating experience but, I’ve grown to embrace the shame.

Tonight I went to an “artist showcase” (gag). Someone in our church is an artist wannabe and they showcase their rare gifts to humanity by sending out press releases, inviting “industry” people and other movers and shakers to their free performance. Then, they serve cheese and grapes and sparkling water…turn up the sound system and scream. No one from the industry shows up…just family and friends so that the room won’t be empty. The artist get’s the proverbial “15 minutes of fame” (depending on how long the spent eating cheese)…a few musicians got a check for backing up the artist, the facility got paid by the artist, and I got a head ache. I love the music business….

I need a air conditioner compressor for my van with the large dent that goes from the front to the back of the car.

The title has stamped all over it “S A L V A G E”

It is valued at $500.00.

And the compressor will cost…with labor…almost a thousand.

All I need is the PULLY that helps keep the belt on.

“Sorry, sir. We don’t have just a pully, that won’t work anyhow. You need a new air conditioning unit. $1000.00, please”

I gotta find a used air conditioner, or I will be hot, and then I will NEED it!

Anyone want a beat up van that is very hot, but starts all the time? It just might blow up in a week.

At least that won’t be boring….

The SWU tour ends tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting home.

Hi, Cy.

I liked Kirby.

Puckett for the unwashed heathens among you. He was 45. Had a stroke last weekend and never recovered.

He was the little fat thing who smiled all the time, spent 99% of his life being a great guy, and the other 1% beating the Braves in the 7th game of the world series.

Even had a billboard put up for him that said, “Nice guys finish in the hall of fame.”

He did that, actually. 2nd youngest player (behind Lou Gherig) to be inducted.

Now he’s dead.

Guess I shouldn’t bitch too much about the reformation of AT&T. 😉