HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GARY!...

HELLO MATES!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DICK! AND MANY MANY MORE!

WELL HERE WE ARE THE DAY BEFORE SPRING AND ITS 85 DEGREES

OUTSIDE. I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED SPRING! THE

POLLEN COUNT IS 8000+ (I NEVER FIGURED THAT PART OUT).

DIDN'T WE HAVE POLLEN GROWING UP? I DON'T RECALL ALL THE

NOISE ABOUT THE POLLEN COUNT WHEN WE WERE KIDS HAVING

TO WORK IN THE FIELDS! SO--- IT'S 8000, (8000 WHAT?). JUST

MEANS THE BEE'S WANT NEED TO WORK AS HARD.

ANYWAY, IT'S BASEBALL TIME! NO MORE HAVING TO WATCH BASKETBALL

PLAYERS "CARRY THE BALL". OR DOUBLE DRIBBLE I MEAN COME ON

THAT'S NOT BASKETBALL THEY ARE PLAYING. I MEAN WHAT IS THIS

DANNY?! YOU THE EXPERT. SHEAD SOME LIGHT ON THIS.

BASEBALL IS GREAT! THEY CAN'T DOUBLE DRIBBLE THE BASEBALL. IF

THEY DO THEY HAVE TO SET DOWN. THEY CAN'T CARRY THE BALL IF

THEY DO THEY HAVE TO SET DOWN. IF YOU "SHOW-BOAT" YOU HAVE

TO SET DOWN! YOU KNOW WHAT--- I LIKE BASEBALL!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK MATES!

LATER

03/19/12 01:19 PM

#2661

Greetings and salutations one and all and a very Happy Monday. And a special Happy Birthday to Dick! I pray this day will be filled with much joyous celebrating. Well not much going on around the Classic City except the "yellowing" of the city. Jim, I don't remember much about pollen count when we were younger and I don't remember my nose hurting and having problems breathing either. I usually take a little walk at lunch each day but had to cut it short today due to that 8000+ pollen count. Fortunately we have had a few passing showers to wash the air. No we are not "downsizing", just right sizing. We will be a little further from one daughter, a little closer to one and about the same from the third. Gas Prices!!! A few years ago when they went up, everyone, especially those running for office, blamed it on the President. Now its somebody else's fault. Somebody's gotta be wrong!!! If A = B and B = C, then A has to = C!!!! Just for giggles, I pulled up historical gas pricing data. Take it for what its worth. I noticed in today's obituaries that Bonnie Paradise's father passed away this weekend. My sympathy goes our to her and her family. I hope you all have a very blessed week. Later.

Historical Gas Prices

03/19/12 03:55 PM

#2662

Greetings, Mates!...

Jim's "Baseball vs Basketball" comments brought to mind a date I had back in my days of youth (bear with me here, and forgive me if I've told this story before). In my more liberal days after high school and "before Liz", I was attracted to this young woman in my office on my first job for the City of Atlanta, and I asked her out. Wanting to impress her as much as possible, I took her out to dinner at a very nice (and expensive) Atlanta restaurant, "The Pleasant Peasant". I remember I ordered some kind of fish and was unpleasantly surprised when it arrived on my plate with its head still attached. :-( Very shy and self conscious anyway, I felt like the fish was watching me during the entire meal. But the dinner was only a prelude to worse things to come. Wanting to be cool, I had purchased two tickets to the Fox Theater to see a live performance by one of the premiere comics of the day... George Carlin. I'm sure most of you are familiar with him, may he rest in peace. As I said, I was not as conservative in those days (the mid 70's) and Carlin was at the height of his popularity. He was a very funny man based on what I had seen of him on network television. One of my favorite skits was the one Carlin did on "Baseball vs Football". If you'd like to check it out... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmXacL0Uny0 The problem was, his Fox Theater performance was a LIVE show, not subject to broadcast censorship. I was not at all prepared for the obscenity-laced routine and crude humor that was apparently Carlin's normal fare in live stand up shows. And it included Carlin's famous "7 words you can't say on TV"... yes, he included all seven. I was thoroughly embarrassed, and was just happy that the theater was so dark that my date could not see how red my face was. Needless to say, I did not even get to "first base" with my date... I struck out! And that was our first and last date... an expensive one in terms of both money and my integrity. Live and learn.

Hope you all had a nice weekend. I watched some Braves Spring Training Baseball on TV (they won 2 games!). I feel for those of you who suffer with the allergies. I am blessed that the pollen doesn't bother me, but I was very much bothered by a VIRUS on my laptop computer this weekend. My Norton Anti-Virus failed me. YUK!... That virus cost me 150 bucks and a lot of inconvenience!

Enjoy your week, mates! Hope Dick is having a great birthday!

03/20/12 02:35 AM

#2663

Kathy Carter (Campbell)

Don, you should get AVG for you r computer. I think it is much better than Norton. You may find a coupon or refund on the internet for it and possibly get it free. I have not looked at the Office max< Office depot or Staples sale ads as of late cuse I have not needed anything. I do a lot of printing and got a great dealon a new printer at christmas and fantastic toner refill from 123 inkjets.com.

My 2 sisters are really into baseball also, but not me. Hope all you fans enjoy the season.

03/20/12 12:34 PM

#2664

Greetings and salutations one and all and HAPPY SPRING! As I was surfing this A.M. I came across the photos linked below. They are of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C. They brought back a lot of memories of a simpler time and events that my kids and grandkids will never get to experience. I was a school bus safety patrolman in the sixth grade. Our "reward" for serving in that capacity, besides getting to wear that really cool looking cross-chest belt, was to get to go to Washington and march in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. We assembled at the train depot in Athens late one evening and boarded the Silver Comet for our journey. I remember not getting much sleep that night as I stared out the window at the black night as the train rumbled northward. Periodically we would "meet" another train and I would strain to make out some detail as it flashed by. At one point we went slowly past a cemetery and I was sure I saw a ghost. We arrived in D.C. early the next morning and was met by a couple of tour buses that took us to our hotel. We got to tour all the sights and had our picture made on the Capital steps with Congressman Stephens. (I discovered a few years back while working in Superior Court Judge Lawton Stephens' office that he is the son of Congressman Stephens.) The big day came and we formed our ranks and "marched" in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. On one of our bus trips I got to sit right behind the driver and I don't remember what brought up the subject but someone asked about interesting people that had ridden his bus. Seems the NY Yankees had been in town a few days before and he got to haul them around. He pointed out that Yogi Berra sat right where I was sitting. Now, Kathy, I'm not a big baseball fan either, like Don, Jim and Connie anyway, but way back then, I was - and the Yankees was MY team. Well that's my rambling for today. I hope you all have a very blessed day. Later.

Cherry Blossoms

03/23/12 08:29 AM

#2665

GOOD MORNING MATES!

THIS MORNING I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS THE KEY POINT

OF THE DEVOTION MY BROTHER JOHNNY SENT TO ME THIS

MORNING. THE MESSAGE IS SHORT AND SIMPLE--- HE WROTE,

AN OLE PREACHER ONCE SAID 'GOD TOOK OUR SINS AND HE

THREW THEM INTO THE DEPTH OF THE SEA. THEN HE HUNG UP

A 'NO FISHIN' SIGN FOR THE DEVIL TO SEE'. --- NUFF SAID.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND MATES!!!

03/23/12 08:45 AM

#2666

O' Happy Days one and all. Here it is Friday already again. Why is it that the older we get, the faster time seems to pass? And why is it that we only get spots on our favorite clothes? For the last two mornings I've pulled out shirts to get dressed for work and had to change due to SPOTS! Good thing I won't be needing them much longer, but come on - they were some of my favorite shirts. Great line there Jim - no pun intended. Tebow to the Jets. Boortz said its the first time an NFL team ever sacrificed a virgin for a championship. Hannity recapped all Tebow's accomplishments - why did the Broncos get rid of him? I don't follow any sports closely enough to comment but I pray that the football world gets a burning bush moment and the Jets go undefeated, all the way through the Super Bowl! Been reading a lot about Sheriff Joe and what his investigators have discovered. Very interesting. Lord help our poor Republican candidates! Who needs a bunch of school kids trying to find their faults? They are doing a fine job of destroying each other without any outside help, thank you very much. Well I hope you all have a VERY BLESSED weedend. Later.

03/27/12 12:47 PM

#2667

It seems the last time I posted was Kathy's birthday on the 17th. I have gone back trhough all your posts since then, and though there are several things I want to comment on, I know I will never remember them all.

First, let me thank you on Dick's behalf for his birthday wishes. We spent his birthday in Rockford, IL with our 35 year old baby boy and his wife. It was probably one of the very best weekends we have had in a long time, and definitely the best birthday Dick has had in years.

The Echo that had the giant write up about Ross arrived last week, so we really enjoyed reading it. Congratulations, Ross and Pam, on all your successful business ventures. You represent the class of '68 well!

Connie, I know you loved your time with Eden last week. I can't think of a more appropriate name for a little granddaughter. So full of beauty and innocence. Just keep her away from serpents!

I don't keep up with sports like I should, but who doesn't know about Tebow?! Gary, I share your hope for him with the Jets. I heard a commentator say this morning that coming to NY will be his downfall, because it is "NYC, jaded and real". Maybe, just maybe, he can leave a mark for the better, but no athlete will be under more scrutiny or watched by so many in hopes of catching an anticipated fall from grace on video. Stay strong, Tebow.

Kathy, glad you had a good birthday. I know what you mean by downsizing. Our house isn't that big, but our yard is huge. All those cute llittle shrubs and flowers we planted years ago, are monsters now that demand attention to maintain their looks. I have given up on my looks, but keeping theirs up is killing us. Next move we make, if it's not to the nursing home, will be one that has a postage stamp size lawn. All I want is some pots for flowers. Can't give them up totally.

Gary, I enjoyed your memory of riding the Silver Comet to Washington, DC. I rode it with my mother when I was 5 to Trenton, NJ, to see my new little niece. It was a thill for me, and I didn't sleep either, afraid of missing something. I'd like to ask my fellow 7th grade safety patolers from Oglethorpe County if we got to do anything like that?? I think not. Linda Wheless Young, if I am forgetting, please remind me.

I do recall Cherry Blossom Festivas though, but not in DC, although I have visited there during their blloooming. I remember the one that y'all band people took with Mr. Frosch to Wilmington, NC. That was during the years that I had an on again - off again crush on Dick, and he on me. At the time my crush was ON him, and his was ON Nancy Tucker, who was and is one of my best friends. I will never forget watching that big greyhound bus in the school yard, as all the equipment and luggage was loaded. All you band folks were in shorts, and crazy hats, all ready for a long drive to the beaches of Wilmington. Nancy was beautiful and tanned, and had on whilte shorts and a madras shirt. My heart broke to see two of my favorite people climb on that bus, knowing I was left behind, and Dick would surely be smitten forever by my beautiful friend. Well, I still love them both, and always did, and things somehow worked out for me even though I never did look as good as Nancy did in white shorts.

I saw on Facebook that Edd Lowe's daddy, Mr. Joe, died 44 years ago today. Can you believe that? I remember that so well. He had spoken at school that morning at an assembly, and I had even introduced him. A few hours later, we got the news he had died. I remember him with such affection. Edd has carried on his best qualities.

I did not mean to make this so long, and I doubt if anyone will read its entirety. I just had time, and I think I am in one of my sentimental, funky moods, thinking of things that were and things I wish. All is well though, or at least well enough that I really should do nothing but give thanks. I hope each of you is well, whether you are in Watkinsville, Winterville, Sandy Cross, Marietta, Texas.....just where ever and who ever.

Love to my "way back" friends.

03/27/12 02:16 PM

#2668

Greetings and Salutations one and all and ...... ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Well that's the way it feels here in the Classic City today. A cool breeze a blowin'. I just finished Diane's novelett ... just kidding ... and it brought back so many memories. Yeah, the trip to Wilmington was great fun! And Dick, if the price is right, I won't tell everything that went on. Diane, one of the reasons we are hoping to move is the yard work. It will all be taken care of for us. Sherron will do some intensive plantings in pots I know but no more trimming trees, cutting lawns, etc. Our future home has a sunroom and we are already picking out plants. Diane prompted thoughts of, 'how did I get here?" Sometimes I feel like I just stumbled along and the Lord blessed my bumbling. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up. I did run across a picture of Don that can give us some insight into how he received his calling. I hope you all have a very blessed day. Later.

Draw bridge

03/27/12 03:50 PM

#2669

Gary...wish you could hear my giant laugh! (I mean how hard I laughed...I don't own a giant)

Whatever Dick bids, I will raise. Just as I always suspected.....

Love the picture of Don, the artist.

Congrats on the no up keep yard in your future. Good for Sherron and her flower pots! I am also into pots ( that's with an "s")

03/28/12 08:47 AM

#2670

GOOD MORNING MATES,

AN'T IT BEEN A GREAT BEAUTIFUL WEEK SO FAR! I LOVE THIS

TIME OF THE YEAR.

I WAS SO SORRY TO READ THAT YOU ARE IN THE 'POTS' Diane.

IT'S MOST LIKELY JUST ONE OF THOSE 24 HOUR "THINGS". I FINE

A GOOD DOSE OF PEPTO KNOCK S IT RIGHT OUT. AND GARY I'M

WITH YOU ABOUT ONE OF THOSE NO HASSLE YARDS. I THINK

IF YOU HAVE A BARE SPOT COVER IT WITH A TREE. THEN YOU

CAN PUT PINE STRAW AROUND THE REST OF THE AREA. FOOLS

UM ALL THE TIME.

WELL THAT'S NUFF HANDY HINTS FOR THE DAY. ENJOY THE

GREAT DAY AND GO PLAY GOLF!!! OR SOMETHING!!! :)

LATER

03/30/12 10:40 AM

#2671

Greetings and salutations one and all and HAPPY FRIDAY! I've almost made it through another week and counting the hours until my retirement. Until then I'll keep you posted on events here in the Classic City. But as usual - nothing is going on here in the Classic City. Just thought I would check in and impart some of my vast knowledge. (Okay, when you finish laughing ..... continue reading below.) I also want to wish Teresa a very Happy Birthday! May your day be filled with much joyous celebrating! I hope you all have a very blessed weekend. Later.

Aphorisms: A short, pointed word or phrase expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth….

ADULT: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.

BEAUTY PARLOR: A place where women curl up and dye.

CHICKENS: The only animals you eat before they are born and after they are dead.

COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

DUST: Mud with the juice squeezed out.

EGOTIST: Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.

HANDKERCHIEF: Cold Storage.

INFLATION: Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

MOSQUITO: An insect that makes you like flies better.

RAISIN: A grape with a sunburn.

SECRET: Something you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON: A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

TOOTHACHE: The pain that drives you to extraction.

TOMORROW: One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.

YAWN: An honest opinion openly expressed.

WRINKLES: Something other people have, Similar to my character lines.

03/31/12 11:32 AM

#2672

Our friends and family in the Bluegrass State are in heaven this week... Liz's "Old Kentucky Home" has two teams in the NCAA Basketball FINAL FOUR! Most "experts" are picking the KENTUCKY WILDCATS to win it all (and that's my favorite!). But most sports fans know that a more accurate prediction of winners and losers is the Sports Illustrated "cover jinx"! Any team on the magazine's cover has NO shot at winning. This week SI had three regional covers across the country... with Kentucky on one, Ohio State on one, and Kansas on one. Louisville was the only Final Four team not featured on a cover, so, based on that, the LOUISVILLE CARDINALS should win the National Championship. Maybe...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TERESA!

I'm outta here, mates... gotta go draw a bridge.

04/02/12 08:49 AM

#2673

Greetings and salutations one and all and Happy Monday! I trust everyone had an enjoyable weekend and you are off to a great start for the week. We had a great weekend punctuated with work and playing with the grandkids. We also managed to squeeze in a ride - interrupted by a passing shower. Quite a week planned. I've got to rush off and schedule a bus tour. I hope you all have a very blessed week. Later.

Groups of Americans were traveling by tour bus through Holland. As they stopped at a cheese farm, a young guide led them through the process of cheese making, explaining that goat's milk was used. She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing.

'These,' she explained, 'are the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce.'

She then asked, 'What do you do in America with your old goats?'

A spry old gentleman answered, 'They send us on bus tours!'

04/03/12 12:02 AM

#2674

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GARY!...

Hope you have a great day!

And I wish you a HAPPY AND HEALTHY RETIREMENT too... After all those years of sitting on your "arse" at work, you now get to sit on your "arse" at home, or on a tour bus. I can just picture you and Sherron at home, and I can imagine a deep, philosophical conversation between you two that might go something like this...

04/03/12 09:02 AM

#2675

HELLO MATES!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY! AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY

MANY MORE.

THIS WEATHER HAS BEEN GREAT FOR JUST ABOUT

ANYTHING YOU WONT TO DO. IT'S GARDEN PLANTING

TIME. DO ANY OF YOU GUYS PLANT GARDENS ANYMORE?

WE TALK ABOUT HOW WARM IT IS, AND MOST TIMES NOW,

ALL WE DO IS CUT GRASS AND HUNT A SHADE TREE. WE

HAVE LOST AN AWFUL LOT OF OUR COUNTRY SKILLS GUYS.

IT'S REALLY A SHAME BUT I DON'T PLANT ANYTHING EXCEPT

FOR THE STRUGGLES OF KEEPING THE WEEDS OUT OF

THE BUSHES AROUND THE HOUSE OR KILL THE "FIRE

ANTS" THAT SEEM TO COME OUT OF NO WHERE EVERY YEAR.

I KNOW IT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN TO PLANT A GARDEN

BUT MAN IT'S SO MUCH WORK?

WELL GOOD--- I TALKED MYSELF OUT OF THAT ONE!

SO HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT WEEK. AND GARY

MAY HAP YOU CAN BORROW DIANE'S IDEA AND GET

SHARON TO TAKE YOU OUT TONITE. HAVE A GREAT

DAY MATES!!! I"M GOING OUT SIDE AND GET MY PLACE

IN THE SHADE READY!

LATER

04/03/12 09:18 AM

#2676

Gail Gabriel (Wilbanks)

Hi guys and gals, just checking in to wish our newest Social Security eligible classmate a Happy Birthday! Gary, hope you have a great day! Also best wishes for your retirement and new home. Lots of changes, but all good. Hope the rest of you are well and happy and enjoying this early summer. What will July be like?!!! Take care everyone!

04/03/12 09:43 AM

#2677

Connie Morgan (White)

have a happy, special birthday Gary!

04/03/12 04:28 PM

#2678

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GARY!!!!

I hope you have knocked off early for the day, in which case you have missed this message. It would have arrived sooner, but I have spent the last 30 minutes trying to figure out how to upload a photo onto this forum site! Grrr! I was scanning old shots the other day, and ran across one of you and Dick in April of '74 at Watson Mill. We were home from AZ, and had gone over for a cookout, and ran into you completely by accident. You and Dick would have been the ripe old age of 24, but I was still 23, and I was preggers with our first.

Anyway, we both hope your day is really special, and that you hear from family and friends far and near.

I best be going, but I send much April Love to all my buds out there.

04/04/12 09:02 AM

#2679

Greetings and salutations one and all and Happy Wednesday! Thank you all for the birthday and anniversary wishes. As usual, we tried to cram too much into the day! I had my infusion appointment so it seemed like a good opportunity to spend the day together. We left home about mid-morning after I interrupted Sherron's efforts to make the house and yard perfect for a luncheon she is having today. We stopped in Jefferson for an early lunch and picked up info about the area from the Chamber of Commerce before traveling on to Gainesville. Got there about 1:00 and completed my infusion about 3:30. Got in a terrific storm as we left Gainesville enroute Helen. The weather had cleared enough by the time we got to Helen that we were able to enjoy dinner by the river and walk around town before heading home. On and off showers all the way back to Athens. Sherron had to buy some things for today so we stopped at Kroger - just as the sky opened up and the flood of Noah hit! We finally got home about 8:30 and I felt all of my 62 years. My weariness was compounded by thinking about my schedule for the next couple of weeks! Sherron has a luncheon with an aunt and cousin today - and then we have been invited to participate in a Passover Seder this evening. Tomorrow is the office luncheon for my retirement and Friday is the county reception. Saturday evening we are having a dinner for Sherron's mother's birthday and Sunday is our Easter Egg hunt for the grandkids. Then we can start packing! Hopefully closing next Thursday and then the move begins. Needless to say, my dance care is FULL! I will try to check in over but this will be my final post from here in Athens. I hope you all have a VERY BLESSED DAY AND WEEK to come. So, from here in the Classic City, this is Gary, signing off for the last time (from the Classic City). (Much) Later.

04/04/12 05:26 PM

#2680

Connie Morgan (White)

David Landers just called. He and Linda are driving to Ga. (from Texas) the end of this week. Will spend the w/e with Steve E., and then will be in the Oglethorpe Co. area from Monday, 4/9 til Monday 4/16.

Said they would like to see some folks. I will not be available the next w/e (13-15), but if any of you could get together anytime, I have his cell # if you don't have it.

If anyone can meet to eat in Athens or Crawford one night during the week, let me know. I could probably get to Crawford by 6:30 p.m. on Monday the 9th., Wed, the 11 or Thurs. the 12th.... A "new" restaurant has opened in Crawford that has hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken strips - or meeting in Athens is an option.

I hope something works out for them to get to see some classmates.

You all take care, and have a blessed Easter. Thank you Lord, He is risen!

04/05/12 08:38 AM

#2681

Connie, I hope everyone will read your info about when David Landers will be in the area from TX. Wish we could be there, but it's not possible right now. David, I hope some folks will be able to meet for a burger or something. It's a long way from TX. Travel safely!

04/05/12 10:47 AM

#2682

Good Morning, all you Social Security eligible youngsters...

Did any of you know Dr. Leila Denmark? I saw in the news where this AMAZING woman passed away Sunday in Athens at 114 years of age! (that's not a misprint). Dr. Denmark was a Pediatrician who just retired eleven years ago, in 2001... at age 103! She practiced her profession here in the Atlanta area before moving over to the Classic City. One of our senior friends at church tells us that Dr. Denmark was the pediatrician for her children here in Atlanta long, long ago. She was something special! If you want to read more about her, check this out... http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-04-02/leila-denmark-beloved-doctor-dies-114

And speaking of something special... It's OPENING DAY for the ATLANTA BRAVES!... one of my favorite days of the year! It's the first game of a 162-game season (plus playoffs and World Series). Baseball is back and all is right with the world. I feel like a kid again!... the same kid who collected baseball cards when I was 10 years old! In fact, I just might play hooky this afternoon and watch the game on TV. GO BRAVES! And add to that, the MASTERS Golf Tournament this weekend, and I will be in sports fan heaven.

And speaking of Heaven... may you all have a good GOOD FRIDAY, and an uplifting RESURRECTION SUNDAY! Have a safe and HAPPY EASTER with your friends and family. HE IS RISEN!

04/06/12 10:03 AM

#2683