Around Montgomery Today

It's so wonderful having satellite radio. I can keep up with the world during the day. I consider my satelite radio indispensible!

At Talladega

I went to Talladega today for my first ever NASCAR race.

It was a treat. The race was exciting. There were several awesome wrecks, most especially that of Carl Edwards on the last lap. His car got airborn and spun up into the fence by the fans (some were hurt and taken to the hospital). It is probably the best and wildest wreck I have ever seen. I love that he hopped out of his car aftwerwards - which was shredded - and sprinted to the finish line.

A friend and I went to the race, and our seats were at the start/finish line. We were not too far from that last lap wreck. We had a pretty nice view of the track, although it was difficult to see the other end. However, there is a screen showing the race at all times, and it does not take long for the cars to get back around the track where you can see them again.

Every driver has their own stand selling merchandise. The track was packed with fans. It was often slow moving through the crowd. There were lots of different foods, much more than the usual hotdogs and peanuts that are at other sporting events. However, we packed our own food - they allow you to bring in coolers - so I stuck with what I brought.

The cars are not as loud as I anticipated. Certainly, though, their power is strong. The stands rumbled as they zoomed by.

It is easy to see that Dale Jr. is the crowd favorite. Every time he went for the lead, they cheered. I do not especially support any particular driver, but I often cheered several times just to join the spirit of the race.

It was a great experience at Talladega today! I am happy I went!

It's Been Hot but. . .

We've had the hottest days of the year so far this weekend, but it has not seemed that hot to me. My car thermometer has reached 90, yet I have not sweated. The pollen count seems to have abated, and the Shelby County countryside is in its full, green glory. Spring marches on.

The Big Red Cadillac at Cracker Barrel

As a keen student of the World of Cracker Barrel, I am always on the lookout for new developments at my local Pelham Cracker Barrel. I was not disappointed yesterday.

I get out of my old run-down automobile and as soon as I do, I see a big red El Dorado parked in the first handicapped spot in front of the door. That thing looks as big as a tank. It’s well-polished, flashy--- sticks out in the CB parking lot where I am not used to seeing such fancy cars.

I walk by it heading for the door, thinking I might reach out and touch it---the closest I might ever come to such a fine vehicle. But quickly I come close to having a HA as this huge white dog lunges at me from the backseat. The window is cracked. All I can see is a big white blob and barred white teeth at the crack of the window, teeth that would apparently like to tear into me. Scares me to death I’m telling you!

Just then three senior citizens walk out of the front door and onto the porch---a portly man and two portly women.

The man looks at me standing by his car and says, “Hey—looks like you’ve met Milly! Don’t worry. She won’t hurt you.” (But don’t open that car door I’m thinking!)

“Nice car,” I manage to stutter-say.

“We like it. Something to get around in,” the man says and laughs loudly, waving his toothpick like a baton. Sure, retired people, I think, with lots of money, a little Caddy to get them around Pelham. It’s just that A BIG RED CADDY SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE AT A CRACKER BARREL. Don’t you think?

The two ladies are gabbing, waving their toothpicks also. I think it’s disgusting. I don’t mind toothpicks, but I gag seeing people slobberingly waving them between words.

“Milly there rides with us,” the man continues. “She wouldn’t hurt a fly, but she does know how to scare people.” He laughs loudly again. It occurs to me that he might now be laughing at ME, but I don’t say anything.

The three get into the big red Cadillac as I proceed into the restaurant. I hear one of the ladies say, “My chicken was over-cooked.” My guess is that they probably didn’t leave a tip. You think? You drive a big red Cadillac into Cracker Barrel and you probably complain about everything. I should have looked to see if they actually had a handicapped sticker on their car. I doubt it. The Pelham PD would probably never ticket that automobile, and the owners know it.

Gout

I've been fighting an attack of gout the last two days in my right big toe area. One thing I can tell you: it ain't no fun!

A NOTE FROM MOYNA

Today is my father's birthday. He is celebrating his 91st birthday. I just want to give him a big shout out!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POP!!!

Though he doesn't read this blog, I still wanted everyone to know today is a special one for him. He still gets around, drives, and his mind is as sharp as ever. Fred and I hope we will be as well off as he is if/when we reach that age....

MAY HE HAVE MANY MORE BIRTHDAYS.

The Weather

The truth is that I do not pay much attention to the weather unless there is a warning out. It is only in recent years that I have paid much attention to warnings: only since I have loved ones and property to think about. Otherwise, the weather is what is is day-to-day, constantly changing in the spring in the South. Seldom do I have something outdoors planned that the weather would affect. However, I can say that the pollen has been especially bad this year. Now there is a real inconvenience, but I am not complaining.

MOYNA'S MUMBLINGS (5)

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT - both last Sunday night and again this Sunday afternoon into the night. Last Sunday I only had about an hour of sleep. The wind was horrendous and I was up half the night praying our roof would not blow off. Luckily, the only "damage" we had was the top of our carriage-style lantern blowing away. Fred found it in the bushes and was able to put it back on.

This afternoon and still going on are tornado WARNINGS. That means all local TV stations are on keeping us abreast of where the storms are. Here where we live, it is now about 8 p.m. and the tornado warnings have been cancelled. We had been under a tornado warning since around 4 p.m. There were a lot of funnels spotted and a few down in the town just south of us - about 5 miles from where we live. Roads have been closed - even the interstate - due to downed trees. Some homes & buildings have lost shingles, but there doesn't appear to be any bldgs. that have structural damage. From looking at the TV, I believe we have one more storm that will come through a little later tonight. Hopefully, we won't have any really bad weather with it. One positive note with regards to this storm - our lawn has been well-watered!

Well, I never thought it would happen - and that's because I didn't want to do it, but I am now a member of Facebook. A couple of weeks ago, Fred signed me up and got me going with my own Facebook page. He had joined a couple of weeks before me and decided that I should also be on FB. I have already made contact with a few old friends from high school; that's been nice, but I can't guarantee how often I will participate. We'll see how it goes......

This post is short - not too much has been going on that's worth mentioning! I hope all of you have had a great weekend!!

'Til later......

April Weekend

Yesterday Freddy and I enjoyed A-Day at Auburn. I remember my first one in 1969. It's been 40 years! That first day we got the first glimpse of Sullivan and Beasley, two football players who led a revival of Auburn football.

This was Freddy's first trip back to Auburn since the Fall of 2007. We see the construction going on with the new basketball arena. It's going to be something. We see new on-campus housing. So huge!

The game is entertaining. Lots of offense. You can't help but like this offense. It's a spread, but a physical spread.

We even see the lowly-esteemed Fob James, former 2-time governor, in the stands. Fob was a star Auburn running back in the 50's.

We had a good time. Will this be the beginning of a new revival of Auburn football?

A Cool Day in Auburn

What a beautiful day to be walking around the Auburn campus. Let us enjoy the cool temperatures as long as we can. Let us postpone the humidity as long as possible. There is talk of the football game coming up Saturday. We are looking forward to it.

Weather Rocking & Rolling

That was quite a weather front that passed through Alabama last night. We are still here in Pelham, still in one piece.

Golf?

I actually watched much of the Master's today. Somehow I got sucked into the hoopla, and before I knew it I was glued.

It was rather thrilling. Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods made a charge but came up short. Kenny Perry had the tournament won, but bogeyed the final two holes to force a three person playoff. Angel Cabrera made a bad shot to open the playoff, but bad second shots by Perry and Chad Campbell gave him new life. Angel and Kenny tied, forcing a second playoff hole. Kenny made a couple bad shots, giving Angel the easy win.

I never knew golf could be interesting. I have heard that as a golfer it is exhilarating to walk to the eighteenth hole with the crowd in a clapping and cheering frenzy.

However, I doubt I'll ever give much attention to golf.

Easter 2009

We have enjoyed a quiet day in Pelham. It seems like not much is going on around town. We procure dinner from Red Lobster. Not many people are there. I was going to stop at the Vestavia Library, but, of course, it is closed. The sun was out for a time this afternoon, but now it's clouding up with more rain on the way. The only golf tournament I notice is the Masters. Someone I've never heard of is going to win it.

Saturday in Ensley

Under cloudy and cool skies, I meet Freddy's SLIS group briefly at Holy Family High School in Ensley where his group is working at their library. First time I've been in Ensley in a while! On the way back I stop at Shipley in Hoover to make sure they are open tomorrow. They are! From there on the way back to Pelham, I hear Fats Domino on the radio singing "Blueberry Hill." I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill. Has there ever been a greater lyric than that?!

The Dumb People at Cracker Barrel

Though I like Cracker Barrel, I have to admit that their employees are not the brightest candles in the room. What part of blackberry cobbler do they not understand? They came back with chocolate. There IS a difference.

Cold in Troy

It's so cold in Troy, Alabama, today. Welcome to spring in Alabama!

On the way home from Troy the temperature starts in the 50s and drops to the 40s. They are playing golf on the course in Calera that you can see from I-65. It is beyond me why anyone would be playing golf this afternoon.

The NCAA basketball championship is tonight. I picked the Tar Heels to win it all in my 64 bracket.

Between Rain Events?

It seems that the weather in Alabama during this time of year revolves around weather fronts passing thru and the lulls in-between. I think we are in a lull today on a gorgeous looking morning in Pelham. The sun is shining, it's cool outside, and therefore the day starts with great promise.

Friday

It was a lovely day in Shelby County, Alabama. Friday is my favorite day of the week if nothing bad is going on.

Quasi Luddite

I consider myself a quasi Luddite. Since I was not raised in the digital world, I like to think I know how to live properly in these technological times.First of all, I've decided to have at least one off-day per week: one day in which I do not look at a computer screen. At least one day a week I say STOP THE INTERNET: I WANT TO GET OFF! So far it's done me a lot of good. My focus is better. My disposition is better. My mood has stablized.I do not Twitter and will never Twitter.I recently joined Facebook and though I like it, I've discovered it's mostly the same people posting trivial stuff day after day. It gets tedious after a while. It is mostly superficial.I do not own an iPhone, an iPod, or a Blackberry nor do I ever intend to own any of these items. I believe I can be a happy and productive person without any of these electronic toys.The virtual world is not the real world. The real world is family, home, work with real people, and flesh and blood friends in my physical presence.So far I like the way I am living, properly balancing the virtual and what I call the real world.