Diane Harris (Moore)

Gail Gabriel (Wilbanks)

Hi everyone, just stopped by to say hello and see what everyone is up to.  First I want to wish Connie a Happy Birthday, hope your day is very special.  Your trip to Blue Ridge sounds like lots of fun with the train ride and tubing.  Also early birthday wishes to all the other August babies, Don, PeeWee, Vicki and Junior.  I will be celebrating my 60th at Lake Oconee.  My younger son is coming home from San Diego for a visit and we have rented a house on Lake Oconee (thanks to Diane for planting that idea in my head).  I am so excited to have both my sons and my daughter-in-law with Marv and me for a few days of boating, fishing, eating, and just enjoying being together.  To quote Judy, "life is good".

Jim, sounds like a beautiful wedding is in the works at your house.  Your daughter is a lucky girl to have such a great dad.  Gary, hope your beautiful daughters and their families are doing well.  I did not see your youngest daughter come to the polls to vote ( I am a poll worker).  Elaine (Charles's wife) and I always enjoy oohing and aahing over your grandson and I believe you said they have a new baby.  I did see Jesse Allen with his darling grandaughter and Charles and Glen also made an appearance.  The pay is not good, but I do enjoy seeing my friends and neighbors. 

Don, hope Liz is doing well.  I hate that the Braves lost yesterday and today, but I still think they are good enough to go all the way to the World Series.  I hope so anyway. 

Diane, glad you and Dick had a great visit in GA with your family.  Kathy, hope you and Rabun enjoyed visiting relatives and friends in this area. 

Y'all take care and enjoy the rest of the summer.  Fall will be here before we know it.  Love and hugs to everyone.

Jimmy Willis

HELLO MATES!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNIE!!! MAY YOU HAVE MANY MANY MORE!

HAVE A GREAT DAY MATES! GOT TO RUN.

LATER

Diane Harris (Moore)

Donald Chandler

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONNIE!... my fellow "Catfish".  Sounds like you are having a wonderful time with your family up in the mountains.  ENJOY!!!.  I would mention your age, but I am just a few days behind you myself... so I will just send 60 hugs and blessings your way!

Liz and I attended our Sunday School Class Annual Picnic yesterday afternoon.  Good food and fellowship, but very, very hot!!!... even under the shelter of a picnic pavillion.

Great to hear from you again, Gail!  I hope you have a great time on your upcoming 60th birthday celebration with your family.  You mentioned Liz... she had to postpone her knee surgery because of an ongoing bladder infection and continued problems with chronic kidney disease.  She has switched doctors and is going to Emory Clinic now for treatment.  We are optimistic that they are going to help get her straightened out.  We had a trip to Louisville planned for next week, but have postponed it for now.  We have a trip to Texas planned for early October, so we are praying that Liz will be ok by then.

And, Gail... you mentioned the Braves.  I know you are a Braves fan too.  The last nine game road trip was rough... they went from 7 games in front to 2.5 games in front... but they are still in FIRST place.  And they are coming home, and will have a LOT of home games in August.  I think they will be fine... just need to get the bats going again.

Have a great week my friends.

Reporting live from Marietta... this is Don... a proud "August Baby" and "Catfish" 

Gary Grice

Happy Birthday Connie!   Hope you have a wonderful day, week, month, year!  Appears to be quite a crowd of August birthdays.  Looks like there must have been quite a snow fall in December 1949 wherever the partents of this "august" group was residing.  That situation started me to thinking and we all know where that'll get ya!  We constantly are reminded of what was going the year we were born, but what was influencing our parents when we were conceived?  What gave them confidence in the future to bring a baby into this world?  With that in mind, here's the world your parents faced in 1949.  Later.

Harry Truman is president and Alben W. Barkley is vice president of the United States

Jimmy Willis

GARY THAT WAS NEAT! BUT YOU FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT

THING. WE WERE BORN!!! WHERE DO YOU GET ALL THIS STUFF!!!

LATER

JIM

Donald Chandler

COMMENTS ON 1949...

Polaroid camera for $89.95?...  Expensive booger.

New York Yankees... BOO!!!

What is "SPO-DEE-O-DEE"?

Whatever happened to good ole Stick McGhee and His Buddies?

Smile... you're on Candid Camera!

Life expectancy... 68 years???!!!  Yikes!

Should have bought my house before I was born... what a deal!

Whatever happened to Grady the Cow?

That Danny Kaye always did look like a troublemaker.

Gary Grice

Jim, I guess I have too much time on my hands and a VERY inquiring mind.  Gosh! What did happen to Grady the Cow?  Well, here's the rest of the story, according to Wikipedia.   Later.

On February 22, 1949, Bill and Alyne Mach's six-year-old Hereford cow, Grady, gave birth to a stillborn calf in a small shed next to a silo. Since she was having trouble with the birth, Mach called a veterinarian, D.L. Crump, to help. Dr. Crump tied Grady to a post so she would hold still. When he was finished taking care of her, she was untied. She then whirled around and started chasing Bill, who jumped on a pile of cottonseed sacks to escape.

The only light in the shed was from the small opening to the silo. Grady dove for the light in the opening. Mach and Dr. Crump looked toward the silo opening and saw a few red hairs clinging to the edge of the heavy steel silo door, which was only 17 inches wide and 25 inches high. Grady was in the silo. They couldn't tear down the silo as it was too valuable and the opening could not be made wider because it was encased in steel.

Bill Mach asked for help through his local newspaper, and the response was overwhelming. People all over the United States offered solutions to the problem. Phone calls, telegrams and letters all flowed in; curious people started showing up in cars and even planes. Grady was featured in Life, TIME and newspapers all over the country.

One person suggested tunneling under the silo. Another suggested bringing an attractive bull to the opening to lure her out. An Air Force officer said he knew of a helicopter that would lift 1,200 pounds but it was in San Marcos, Texas. Three days after Grady's leap, Bill Mach got a call from Ralph Partridge, the farming editor of The Denver Post, who told Mach he was coming to Yukon to get Grady out of the silo.

Partridge supervised while a ramp was built from the floor of the silo to the door. The door edges were coated with axle grease. Grady was then outfitted with two heavy halters coated with axle grease. Dr. Crumb gave her tranquilizers to make her relax. While men outside the silo pulled on ropes attached to her halters, Partridge and J.O. Dicky Jr., a Yukon vocational agriculture teacher, pushed. Grady slid through the door with only a couple of scratches along her back.

Grady went on to become a mother several times, and she was such a tourist attraction that Mach put up a sign on Route 66 noting her home. He kept Grady in a special pen by the road.

Grady the cow died in July 1961 and the old silo was torn down in 2001 to make way for a regional hospital.

Two children's books have been written describing and illustrating the story of Grady the Cow. 

Gary Grice

More for inquiring minds.  Later.

"Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee" was written and originally recorded by the R&B guitarist Sticks McGhee, who adapted it from a chant he learned at Army boot camp. He first recorded it in 1947, but the song became a hit when McGhee signed with Atlantic Records and recorded it again in 1949. McGhee died in The Bronx on August 15, 1961 of lung cancer, at the age of forty-four.

Donald Chandler

Gary… thanks for the update on Grady the Cow.  I could hardly sleep last night wondering what happened to her.  It’s a great story.  May she rest in peace.  Can you imagine if they had 24-hour cable TV news back then how they would have handled that story!  It would have been udder madness!  By the way… I googled “SPO-DEE-O-DEE” and... sorry I asked.  I understand it is a “nonsense” phrase used commercially as a substitute for a very vulgar term that Stick McGhee used in his live shows. 

And speaking of stories and TV… I was reminded of a couple of stories myself yesterday, triggered by a news report.  Do any of you remember the “Sing Along With Mitch” TV show back in the 60’s?  I saw a news report yesterday that Mitch Miller died at the ripe old age of 99.  Now you don’t feel so old, do you?  Some folks give him the credit (or the blame) as the “father of Karaoke”.  It all takes me on another trip down memory lane.  Back in the 80’s, one of my clients was the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  I designed a logo for them that they used for many years and designed a lot of brochures and newsletters for them too.  I remember that they produced a huge neon sign version of my logo that they used on stage for some of their outdoor concerts.  They would often have special guests and celebrities perform with the Symphony.  Liz and I are not huge classical music fans, but I remember that we attended an Atlanta Symphony Concert one night in 1983 when they were doing a special Tchaikovsky Pops Concert.  To our surprise, right in the middle of the concert they brought out a special guest conductor… Mitch Miller.  He was already in his 70’s even then.  And sure enough, he led the whole audience in a little “Sing Along with Mitch”.  It was a lot of fun.  May he also rest in peace.

This brings to mind another “TV/logo” story… forgive me if I’ve told this before.  Back in the early 90’s, I was working away at the drawing board in my studio when the phone rang, and a fellow was on the line who introduced himself as part of the production staff for the “In the Heat of the Night” TV series.  Do any of you remember that show?  At first I thought it was a big joke, but it wasn’t.  For those who remember the show, it was filmed on location out in Covington, Georgia.  This fellow explained to me that they were looking for someone to design a logo that would go on the back of the jackets for the show’s production staff, and he wanted to know if I was interested in the job.  It took me about two seconds to say, “Yes, I’m interested.”  Apparently they just got my name out of the yellow pages where my listing promoted the fact that I designed logos.  Anyway, I made an appointment to go out to Covington and meet with them and discuss it.  I was very excited!  So the day of the appointment came and I drove to Covington to the address they gave me.  On the outside, this place looked like a very large, plain old warehouse… one of those big metal buildings.  When I went inside, I discovered that this was the production studio where they filmed most of the show’s interior scenes.  They had sets built for the police station offices and other scenes.  Studio lights and cameras were everywhere… a very busy place!  They took me on a tour and I got to see many of the shows stars there to film scenes… Carroll O’Conner, Alan Autry and a few others.  I remember that Carroll O’Conner was sitting off to himself between takes just a few feet away, and I wish I had had the nerve to go up and speak to him, but I didn’t.  He’s gone now too… to that big TV Studio in the sky… may he also rest in peace.  Anyway, the production people let me know what they were looking for with the logo, and I left and did a bunch of sketches and went back in about a week to show them my ideas.  They liked my work, but I never did see the finished jackets.  They told me to send a bill to MGM/United Artists Television Studios out in Hollywood.  They didn’t even ask me what my fee was.  I sent the bill and got a check in a few weeks.  It was a great experience, and I guess that is as close as I’ll ever come to show business.

Enough of my old stories for now.  I want to hear more of your stories.  Have a great day, mates.

Diane Harris (Moore)

Gary Grice

I renewed our Domain Name (www.ochs1968.com) this morning so we are covered for the next two years.  I'll pass the hat at our next gathering to help keep me out of debtor's prison.  Diane, - follow the bouncing ball - my thoughts exactly!  Or Stitch along with Mitch!  Can you imagine such a program existing today?  Don, you have the most interesting stories.  You should publish a book of your various close encounters!  Maybe we should have a contest at our next gathering of who has the MOST INTERESTING CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A CELEBRITY.  I think Diane's kiss by Richard Dawson would win as the CLOSEST CLOSE ENCOUNTER!  I'll bet there are a lot of other interesting stories out there just waiting to be told.  COME ON GANG - GIV'EM UP!!!  Later.

Jimmy Willis

Now what feebleminded person would name a "cow" GRADY!

That alone is enough to make you wonder about the stability

of that farmer!!! It was a good tale wasn't it! Like I said Gary,

you're just full of It and how you remember all this stuff is a

real gift! And always good to brighten a bad day--- thanks

dude!!!

Later guys and gals!  

Connie Morgan (White)

Thank you for the birthday wishes!!!!   I spent a few days in a "cabin"  in Blue Ridge with my children & grandchildren.  Got home today, and of course had to check out our site.  It was so good to hear from several of you!!!

Have fun with your family @ the lake Gail.  So glad you will have time together.       Gary, this site is just a wealth of information  (notice I didn't say valuable information-----------  just kidding - I love it!)   Don, you do have interesting stories!  I want to hear more.   Diane, give Ms. Tweet my best regards.   So glad she is able to go there for a visit.     Gary and Jim - we will "pass the hat" at our next gathering ---- for Gary's cost for keeping this site so many of us enjoy, and for Jim and his upcoming wedding!   We'll have to check with Ray to see if there was any $ left in the little reunion "treasury".  

I sure hope you are all doing well.  Know you are thought of often! 

Gary Grice

Happy Wednesday!  Let me start by correcting Jim.  Your appreciation for my memory is misplaced.   I often look in a mirror and wonder who that is outside my window.  I just hope I am posting for others with the same feable memory as me - that way I don't have to be concerned about repeating myself.  Connie as far as passing the hat, you can use a visor for me but we had better have a real "10 gallon hat" for Jim!  I enjoy searching the web for words of wisdom and wit and sharing them.  With that in mind, I think I have finally found the explaination for the "Stages of Life" as ordained by our creator.  Hope you all enjoy and have a blessed day.  Later.

God created the dog and said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone that comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of 20 years."

The dog said, "That's a long time to be barking. How about only 10 years and I'll give you back the other 10?" God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said, "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a 20-year life span."
 
The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for 20 years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back 10 like the dog did?" God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said, "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of 60 years."

The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for 60 years. How about 20 and I'll give back the other 40?" God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you 20 years."

But man said, "Only 20 years? Could you possibly give me my 20, the 40 the cow gave back, the 10 the monkey gave back, and the 10 the dog gave back? That makes 80, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So, that's why, for our first 20 years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next 40 years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next 10 years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last 10 years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
 

Donald Chandler

Good Morning, Mates!  And Happy Hump Day!

I have read the entire Book of Genesis and somehow I missed all those creation details… must be in the Book of Gary.

And, Gary... thanks for renewing our domain name and keeping up this website... you're a GOOD man! 

I’m glad to see that Connie had a great birthday weekend with her family. 

And I’m happy that some of you have enjoyed my “famous encounters” stories.  I agree with Gary… I want to hear YOUR stories too… “GIV’EM UP, GANG!”  By the way, Gary… I’m still waiting for that Roy Barnes story.  And I think you are right… Diane will definitely win the prize for the “closest close encounter” with the kiss from Richard Dawson.  Even my haircut from Wade Carpenter (Seventh Heaven) can’t beat that one.  Diane mentioned Lena Horne… that’s a great one!... “Stormy Weather”… a great classic song!  And I think Lena died just a few months ago if I remember correctly.  Give us more details, Diane!  I guess I have had quite a few interesting encounters through the years now that I think about it… especially through my work.  I have another logo story involving an encounter with President George H. W. Bush that I might share with you too sometimes, if I haven’t already.  I know I have shared many stories on here and in the User Forums, and I can’t remember which ones I’ve already shared.  I have had encounters through the years with Barbara Streisand, Art Garfunkel, Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett, Naomi Judd, Anne Murray, and Grandpa Jones to name a few.  I think that living here in Metro Atlanta has provided many opportunities that might not otherwise come my way.  Liz and I met Lash Larue and Sunset Carson at a Western Movie Memorabilia Show here in Atlanta and I took photos of Liz with each of them.  I love books and bookstores, and I have met a few folks at book signings too.  Being the sports fan that I am, especially a baseball fanatic, I have met a few sports celebrities that way.  Back in the late 80’s/early 90’s, I went to book signings here in Atlanta for Mickey Mantle (My Favorite Summer, 1956), Hank Aaron (I Had a Hammer), and Yogi Berra (Yogi: It Ain’t Over)... two Yankees and a Brave.   :-)  About five years ago, Vince Dooley had a new book out too and had a book signing at the Borders Bookstore right down the street here in East Cobb, two miles from our house.  A friend had given me a Georgia Bulldog mini-helmet that I had on the shelf in my office, and I took it to the book signing with me.  Vince signed his new book for me and graciously autographed the helmet too...  GO DAWGS!   

By the way… I see in the news that UGA is ranked NUMBER ONE!!!!... among “party schools” that is.  Have fun DAWG fans!

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all!  Good night for the Braves!  I thought the Mets might call for the Mercy Rule after the solo homer in the eighth.  If the Braves could save some of those runs for games when they really need them - like Tuesday night!  Oh well - a win is a win.  Don, I'm afraid my Roy Barnes story isn't as colorful or entertaining as your celebrity encounters, but here goes.  A couple of years ago the Department of Labor decided they needed a new building in Clarke County.  Funding for such facilities was seriously lacking.  While Uncle Roy was Governor, he managed to have a law passed that would solve this delima.  The law was quite complex and requires a unique understanding of its inner workings to be put into action.  No longer being the governor and having an intimate understanding of this law, his law firm has specialized in the application of this legal maneuver to fund a state building when no money is available.  I was serving as the Interim Director of Central Services and had to attend a meeting with the Mayor and Commissioners one evening when Uncle Roy came to pitch his proposal for a new DOL facility.  The politicians were all over him.  I thought at one point they might start breaking out palm branches and a donkey.  ALL other presenters stand in front of the horse shoe of tables where the Mayor, Commissioners and Manager sit.  Him, no!  He was invited to sit next to the Mayor for his presentation.  This law allows municipal/city/county governements to float a bond issue to fund a new facility that will in turn be leased back to the state agency.  Once the bonds are paided off, it is presumed that the state agency will continue to lease the facility, returning a profit to the municipality - but no guarantee.  In any event, they would eventually have a building bought and paid for.  While he was present all voices supported the proposal and praised him for his outstanding work.  Time and cooler heads finally prevailed and Athens-Clarke county didn't buy into his proposal.  I think Arcade did and now owns the DOL building on North Avenue.  What I witnessed was a lot of arrogance and saw the end result of manipulating laws to create personal wealth when one leaves office.  Sad.  Told you it was as good as yours!!!

We've had several visitors over the last few days that haven't been around for a while.  I hope they come back and leave their mark with a simple HI!

Sherron's Grandmother, who just turned 99, is in her final hours.  She spent most of yesterday with her and I went down for a few hours yesterday evening.  Her mind is still sharp but fading fast.  Its tough watching someone pass but she has lived a long and good life.  I would appreciate it if you would remember her family in your prayers over the next few days.  Later.

Connie Morgan (White)

Gary, you and Sherron and family are in my prayers!  

Everyone have a good week-end!

Diane Harris (Moore)

Gary Grice

Happy Friday!  You know what that means?  I get to work REAL HARD for the next two days!!  Not knowing if I'll be on this weekend, let me be the first to wish Don a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Hopefully the Braves will continue their winning ways and deliver you an outstanding series of wins - one down, three to go.  I constantly seek to improve my lot in life and frequently come across stories and situations that will not suit my chosen path but may be of value to someone else.  Jim, I came across this story that I feel might be applicable to you this weekend and hopefully well into the future.  Use this advice frequently and you should be able to fund a nice retirement.  I hope you all have a blessed weekend.  Later.

A golf pro dragged himself into the clubhouse looking as though he'd just escaped a tornado.

"What's wrong?" a woman asked.

"I just lost a game to Houlihan," the pro said.

"What? But Houlihan's the worst player I've ever seen. How could he have beaten you?"

"He tricked me," the pro said. "On the first tee, he asked for a handicap. I told him he could have 30, 40, 50 strokes - any handicap he wanted. He said, 'Just give me two gotchas.'"

"What's a gotcha?" asked the woman.

"That's what I wanted to know," the pro said. "Houlihan said, 'You'll see.' Then, as I was teeing off, just as I had my club poised, he screamed out 'Gotcha!'"

"I can guess what happened," the woman said.

"Sure," the pro said. "The scream threw me off, and I missed the ball completely."

"Understandable," the woman said. "But still, that's only one swing. How did he win the game?"

The pro answered, "You try swinging at a golf ball all day while waiting for that second 'gotcha!'"
 

Jimmy Willis

Wow! Almost missed it! I hope you have a very very Happy Birthday Don!

And may Liz let you play inside out of the heat this weekend! Have a

great one Don!

And I wish everyone else a happy safe weekend! GO SEE THE BRAVES!!!

LATER

Gary Grice

Sherron's grandmother passed away very peacefully this evening about 7:45.  Thank you for your prayers.  Later.

Diane Harris (Moore)

Connie Morgan (White)

Sincere sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Sherron and Gary.

Don, I hope you have had a great birthday today!!!!

and early Happy Birthday wishes PeeWee.   Sure would like to hear from you.  I know you are busy with grandchildren!

Love to all.