Random Dozen, more randomness.

1. What was the last song you listened to?
“Sooner or later love is gonna get ya” Oh now it’s “Give me some lovin.” I got to hurry and finish this question. Ok I had to come back and add to this list because I know how much Lid loves this song: “Your eyes have a mist from the smoke from a distant fire.” That one’s for you Linda.

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything? I once bought a Chrysler New Yorker that was loaded. It was silver on the outside with blue leather seats. The dash was wood grained and it talked to you when something was wrong. This was before everyone else went to talking cars. The next day after buying the car, it didn’t start. After two days of troubleshooting the mechanics found out that the starter wasn’t fully plugged in. (two days to figure that out) Everything on that car quit working from time to time and there were times when we would be driving it that it would all of a sudden say; A door is ajar. I wanted to shoot that car. It left my wife stranded more than once and I ended up trading it in at a huge loss just to get rid of it.

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing) That would be my divorce. I struggled with it for so long fighting feelings of guilt and religious beliefs. But in the end I went through it. After listening to her lie with her hand on the Bible and seeing her put on an act that was deserving of an Academy Award, I knew I did the right thing. After the divorce was over and we were leaving the courtroom she came up to me with a smug grin on her face and said. “I fooled THAT judge” and I replied; “That’s not the judge you need to be concerned about. ” The last time I saw her was 20 years after the divorce and she was the same hateful person she always was. I asked her how she was doing and she gave me directions of where to go. I wanted to say "If I wanted to go THERE I would just follow you" but I just said Sorry you feel that way and let it go.

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon? I used to watch it every year but now I do the Turkey Day 5K run in Downtown Charleston. If there is any parade left when I get back home, I will watch it in between cooking.

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately. That would be Psalm 23; 4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention this blog is rated G? Hmmm let me think. I gotta keep this G rated. I do like a good soak in our tub with Calgon or some other bath oil. We have one of those old tubs with the feet on it. It’s not very manly, call me crazy but I enjoy it.

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to? The dressing!! I make the best in the world if I do say so myself. I cook the main part of the Thanksgiving dinner and my wife makes the pies because she makes the best pie crust in the world. She even makes the crust for my pecan pie which I make the filling for.

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book? “Go Dogs Go.” I can still see the photos from that book and recite many of the lines.




9. Do you collect anything? (Feel free to post a photo.) We collect Civil War artifacts. (Also known as the War of Northern aggression) We have lots of bottles, bullets, belt buckles, pipes and other things from the War of Northern Aggression. I will get photos for another post.

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper? If I have the time I go with wrapping paper and I prefer to get a gift that is wrapped. Last minute presents end up in a gift bag. We keep some handy just for such an occasion.

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day? When we were in grammar school we walked home in the afternoons. It was only a mile. I can remember leaving the school grounds with a large crowd of kids but as we went along, the crowd got thinner and thinner. We lived on the last paved road in town and there was only one dirt road past ours. For the last block, we walked alone. On some days my grandmother was there to watch us but some days we were at home alone until our parents got there.

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? Do you feel for the fish?? I hate seeing anything die so I put the bucket at a distance so I don’t have to watch it. Once they are dead, I am ok with it. The same goes for hunting or anything that was living for that matter. I can eat veggies but only if I don't see them picked. :)

13. What would be your solution to the political circus that is killing our country and keeping our service men and women in harms way? (I added this question for Veterans Day since I am a Veteran.) Make it a requirement that anyone who runs for any political office in America be a Veteran. No one should be allowed to make decisions for our military unless they have been in their shoes!!!

Thank a Veteran today, Some of them will die for you tomorrow.
Greg