First Bite: City BBQ

Tuesday afternoon I cashed in another Taco Bell dollar taco deal. The bad thing is there’s no way on their app to request a particular pickup time.

Then I continued on Spaulding all the way to Roswell Road to cash in my 25 cent sandwich deal at City BBQ. On the way I downloaded the City BBQ app, just to make the ordering process easier. But that gave me an additional $5 off my first order, and the cashier finagled it so I got the BBQ sandwich, fries, and drink for a dollar. Good deal. I ate there at the restaurant. The various side dishes looked enticing, but $4 only bought you a small cup, so the fries was probably the best choice.  

Just outside the restaurant, police and an ambulance attended to a bad two car smashup in the left turn lane of northbound Roswell Road, preventing traffic from turning left onto westbound Abernathy Road, and backing up traffic trickling out of the shopping center. Instead I pulled out and headed east on Abernathy, then made a U turn back westward to East Cobb.

Crashed on the couch for the first time in a week. Ceil was at a dinner at her friend Nancy’s house. I watched the 1988 Lewis Grizzard episode of Designing Women. The former AJC sportswriter and columnist dominated the show. Then I caught up on the two newest episodes of Only Murders In the Building.

Wednesday: up early to lift weights at the gym. For the record, I counted 25 people working out.

Ceil and I both had our small groups Wednesday night. My leader Dan is just back from a days long hike to summit Mt Whitney, with our Sunday School teacher Brian. Whitney is the tallest US peak outside of Alaska, in southeastern California, south of Yosemite, west of Vegas. Dan shared some amazing stories from the trip.

Jeff Yearwood pastors FBC in Concord GA. He once said that he only preaches from Matthew. Mark, Luke, or John. He says there’s nothing wrong with the rest of the Bible, but that people don’t get enough of the gospels.  Last year the small groups in our Sunday School class that meet during the week studied Romans from early September to mid May. This year we are studying the book of Luke.

Last night our leader Dan had an object lesson for Luke 2:1 – he keeps an antique coin on his desk that dates back to the time of Christ’s birth, with the image of Caesar Augustus on it. This reminds Dan of how God can use earthly government rulers for His own purposes. A good reminder as we approach Election Day…regardless of who wins, God is in control.

A Cardinals fan was forced to throw away her MAGA cap before she was allowed entrance to the stadium. MAGA = “make America great again”. Is that offensive?  It’s the hat that Donald Trump wears. QUESTION: was it right that the usher refused to let her in to the football game wearing that cap? These days people wear caps out in public with cuss words and obscene symbols without any objections. Speaking of, explosives were just found at the site of tonight’s Trump campaign event in New York.

Are five teams of assassins hunting Trump? Three foreign, two domestic, according to a Department of Homeland Security whistleblower. One branch of the US government is literally waging war against another. This just keeps getting crazier and crazier.

A liberal group thinks one of the Presidential candidates is just pretending to take certain sides on issues in the campaign.

BREAKING NEWS: Tech is gonna lose to Louisville. No way they can win wearing blue pants. Jackets are 3-0 wearing white pants and 0-1 not wearing white pants. Seems like they’d have someone there to keep track of such things. Must I do everything ???!!!

Finished the week with “only“ 24 emails in my In Box, the lowest in a few weeks. Friday was a quiet day at work, but I still have like 8 big projects to do. With no overtime, I keep falling further and further behind.

The guys in the plant get all the cool toys.

Society Cookies

Monday night we attended a time of prayer at the Hall’s for friends Lee & Nancy, who leave next week to Spain, to offer hospitality to co-laborers taking a short break from their time overseas. They return on December 7th. Seventeen in attendance, including the Cho’s, Shawn, Daniel, Molly, and a rare appearance by the Watkins.

 

For the event Ceil baked cookies. As usual, she only used all natural ingredients. As usual, they didn’t taste quite as yummy as cookies loaded with sugar would taste. Flummoxed, Ceil baked a second batch of cookies to take instead.

 

Thing is, these women love to bring something to share at these get togethers – but the women almost never actually EAT the treats that are brought (sure enough, last night there was much more left over than was eaten). So the women would never know that the cookies didn’t taste good. Of course the guys are going to eat the cookies no matter how “bad” they taste. Disclosure: while the cookies may not have been the greatest tasting in the history of the world, still they were good. As us rednecks say: “they will eat”.

The whole thing reminded me of an old Lewis Grizzard comedy routine from when he guest starred as Julia & Suzanne’s half-brother Clayton Sugarbaker on the January 18, 1988 “Oh Brother” episode of Designing Women: “Why don’t society ladies have group sex? Too many thank you notes!”

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Normally I love to have a ton of extra cookies in the house to munch on. But after pigging out all weekend, I brought all the leftover cookies to work, to celebrate the Falcons comeback victory. They were a big hit with the guys. For sure I ate my share. Angie also brought cupcakes left over from her daughter’s birthday party.

On the way home from work Monday it crossed my mind that perhaps my tiredness and aches and pains from the weekend may be from a bout of the dreaded covid, since I’d been around so many people all weekend - instead of just all the long car rides and bad food and different beds and using muscles I don’t normally use. Couldn’t just be that. I can’t get covid because I took the vaccine, according to the President. I hadn’t been quite keeping up with my vitamin regimen as I should. When I got home I gulped down several vitamins, and today I’ll be sure to take the full compliment of supplements. Got home last night and was in bed before 10 pm, and slept all the way through until my alarm went off at 530 – a rarity for me.

Tuesday: up early to work out at the gym. The stretching helped my aching back. 

Looked for new home & auto insurance on line and gave them too much info, now my phone is ringing off the hook with spam calls. Smart, David.

First Bite: Maurice's BBQ

Sunday on the way home we stopped east of Columbia for lunch. We were going to split a Publix sub, but in a weak moment Ceil chose Maurice’s BBQ, a Columbia staple. I’d never been before. Mustard-based Carolina style BBQ. 

Ceil got BBQ chicken, slaw, and green beans. I got pulled pork, potato salad, and Carolina hash (remind me to pass on the hash next time). We also split an order of macaroni & cheese. Kinda old school, but still a pretty good meal. Ceil said it hit the spot.

On the way home we stopped at Dekalb Farmers Market. I was able to catch up on the news and emailed while I waited. And waited.

My beef: I was parked next to a big pickup truck, but pulled as far over away from the truck on the other side of the parking space, since I was parked in the last space of the row. The lady came out and loaded her groceries in the back seat, banging the back door against our car. Then she got in the front seat – and banged that door against our car as well. Then she sped off without saying sorry or anything.

Quiet Sunday evening at home. Watched some of the Braves / Dodgers. Braves haven’t won an ESPN Sunday night game all year. The entire pregame and game was an ESPN love fest for Ohtani and the Dodgers. I about threw up. Braves received little credit for shutting down the much-heralded LA lineup all weekend, until the 9th inning on Sunday night. Those long games that go on and on are so hard to watch. You are a bigger fan than me. Not sure when the last time I watched a game from start to finish, other than UGA or Clemson.

Today is national cheeseburger day. I grabbed a 50 cent double cheeseburger at McDonalds for lunch, and after work will get the junior bacon cheeseburger for a penny at Wendys. Checkers also has a free burger deal, but they’re too far away (and have too slow service). Bad Daddy’s has an $8 burger deal, which isn’t bad.

After two games, former UGA TE Brock Bowers is already setting records for the Raiders.

Met a guy who collected records. When he retired he opened a booth at a Flea Market to sell records, and he does more business than anyone else there. Sometimes people will just give him their old records for him to sell.

I might’ve told you how some companies call will go into a “death spiral”. They cut resources, which leads to decreasing sales, which leads to cutting more resources, etc. until they go out of business. You gotta spend money to make money.

CHARLIE HOUGH  [SABR Bio] was the first Hawaii native to receive a Hall of Fame vote. Hough was born in Honolulu 05-Jan-1948. On 21-Aug-1959, President Eisenhower signed the proclamation that admitted Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state. Hough received only 4 votes (8.%) in the HOF vote of 2000 and so has not appeared again on a HOF ballot. He was the first major league pitcher to throw a regular season pitch in Florida. Hough was the starting and winning pitcher in the Florida Marlins’ (Miami Marlins since 2012) first game on 05-Apr-1993, beating his old team, the Dodgers, 6-3.

DENISON: what I didn’t see in the news: the reporting of the assassination attempt in the news when the event happened. I was watching football at the time and don’t remember on-screen alerts, much less reporters breaking into the telecast. As our broken culture turns down the moral “lights,” we must not allow our spiritual eyes to become adjusted to the dark. We must not allow falsehood to become normalized in our minds and hearts. If we do, we will no longer respond to it biblically and redemptively.

Why did the pope’s statement not receive more attention? Because it aligned with the “tolerance” ethic our secularized society so fully embraces. His words were not counter-cultural; he would have drawn more scrutiny if he had restated the orthodox Christian doctrine that faith in Christ is essential for salvation. Jesus was very clear, stating of himself: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Suspect in apparent assassination attempt first hid for 12 hours (denisonforum.org)

A Cardinals fan was forced to throw away her MAGA cap before she was allowed entrance to the stadium.

A liberal group thinks one of the Presidential candidates is just pretending to take certain sides on issues in the campaign.

Dawgs Edge Cats. Cats Beat Noles

The UGA / KY game didn’t get over until after 1130 pm. I tried to keep up with the UGA@KY game during the wedding reception. Hard for any team to play well in every game. Good that they were able to squeak out a win. I hear the Wildcats were able to control the line of scrimmage. Not sure if they were saving some looks for Alabama, but right now it appears the Sept 28 game in Tuscaloosa will be even tougher for the Dawgs.

Memphis beat FSU 20-12 in Tallahassee, dropping the Noles to 0-3. The Tigers led 13-3 at the half and 20-9 after the third quarter. NIL millionaire FSU QB DJU went 16-30 through the air for 201 yards, one interception, and no TDs – dropping to 88th in the nation in total QB rating. I watch FSU like I watch NASCAR, to see the wrecks. The 0-3 Noles host Cal this coming Saturday night. The Bears come in to Tallahassee with a 3-0 record, having beaten Auburn, San Diego State, and UC Davis. Sounds like a tough test for FSU, who have yet to replace embattled QB DJU.

Big win by Georgia State last Saturday over Vanderbilt. Sunday morning my Aunt Corrine asked me how her Commodores had fared, and I had to give her the bad news. At least GT was able to handle the mighty Panthers. GSU has a bye this coming Saturday – as do both UGA and Alabama.

I was able to watch a decent amount of the Alabama / Wisconsin game. The Crimson Tide didn’t seem to have many problems, on the road.

Also watched some of the LSU / SC game. Gamecocks had two pick 6’s called back due to penalties. Jackie left at halftimeand made it for the wedding. Chuck stayed to the end.  Not sure when he got to the wedding, but I saw him at the  reception.   

Since I was having a busy Saturday it was hard for me to get information about Georgia Tech’s game, but they won big over VMI. Hopefully they can roll that momentum on to this next Saturday’s game at Louisville.

1200 NCState@Clemson

0330 GT@Louisville

0330 Miami of Ohio @ Notre Dame

0700 Cal@FSU

0730 Tennessee@Oklahoma

Nice win for the Falcons, despite all the cheering in the ESPN booth for the Eagles. Kinda like when ESPN televises the Braves / Dodgers. One more reason to watch the Manningcast. Not many recent Falcon QBs could’ve led that final TD drive. Nice to have Kirk Cousins pulling the strings. High-priced Eagle RB Saquon Barkley helped out by dropping a key pass that would’ve given Philadelphia a first & goal situation.

NCAA athletes are enriched and exploited in college football’s NIL era.

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After being fired from ESPN, David Pollack is living his best life.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ajc.com/sports/ken-sugiura/georgia-bulldogs-great-david-pollack-living-fruitfully-in-post-espn-life/JIGGIDOPOBHBZF2RQFDPYXZ4Z4/__;!!AE29DT8V!Vku2K0DVqsPmWMvHvcC9mU7cfdpQquqMXoL8aCIttwl9eyFNmhGi5Qm_E8VUtFCJJYol7dPwFMugYivR8aM$

Packers Sweepstakes

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Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez recently appeared on The Tonight Show (and the Emmys).

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Reminder: my City BBQ 25 cent sandwich offer expires at the end of the month.

Most Americans aren’t clear about their rights as spelled out in the first amendment to the US Constitution.

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Article: was ABC’s Linsey Davis’ Israel-Hamas War Debate Question appropriate?

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Article: some 25 “facts” that weren’t checked in the recent Presidential Debate. The biggest loser in the Trump-Harris debate | Fox News

The most eligible Hall of Fame candidate, from each state with no enshrine.

State         Player      State Pop  Rank Next Up*

Alaska......Curt Schilling...... 733406....49th...

Arizona.....Ian Kinsler........7431344....14th...Cody Bellinger

Hawaii......Charlie Hough...1435138....41st...Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Maine.......George Gore......1395722...43rd...

Montana...Dave McNally....1132812...44th...Grant McCray

N. Dakota.Darrin Erstad...... 783926....48th...Matt Strahm

Nevada.....Barry Zito.........3194176.....33rd..Bryce Harper

Oregon.....Mickey Lolich...4233358.....27th..Adley Rutschman

Utah.........Bruce Hurst......3417734.....30th...Drew Thorpe

Wyoming..Dick Ellsworth.... 584057....50th...Brandon Nimmo

Like most people do on social media, the things I post here to my blog are mostly all positive things. I dare not share all the failures, lest people think I am normal or worse. Pretty dumb of me to share as much as I do. I am still the same cheap, deal-seeking loner I’ve always been, buying most of my wardrobe at thrift stores, golfing at the cheapest 9 hole course in metro Atlanta (on the senior season discount), attending Braves games when someone gifts me free tickets. I drive a ten year old car. Ceil’s car is 8 years old. I do most of my shopping at Dollar Tree, and eat off the fast food dollar menu. I may be living my best life, but it is most assuredly on the cheap. Don’t be fooled, we live paycheck to paycheck.   

More From the Weekend

On Saturday my niece Katherine (the bride) fell and sprained her ankle before her wedding. She was wearing high heels. Later in his speech, father of the bride Rusty (Ceil’s brother) spoke on how Katherine had broken her arm twice as a kid, and almost drowned twice before turning 13. In his speech Rusty said he didn’t want to leave anyone out of his thank yous, but singled out Ceil for her many hours of purchasing the flowers, bringing them from GA to SC, and spending all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday arranging them all.

Ceil (with help from Anna, my niece Jordan, and Ceil’s friend Ann) arranged flowers for all the table settings, all the bouquets for the eleven bridesmaids, five flower girls, and the mothers and grandmothers, the pins ons for the eleven groomsmen and fathers and grandfathers and three ring bearers – even a wreath for Katherine’s dog to wear to the wedding (Katherine’s mother entered with the dog on a leash). First time I’d seen a dog be part of a wedding ceremony (the wedding was outside). That was at least 38 arrangements for the wedding party, plus all the table arrangements. Ceil said she enjoyed the huge task, working with Anna, Jordan, and Ann.

Like W&MCs and A&C’s weddings, Joe & Katherine’s wedding was very God honoring. Many words that all couples need to hear. The couple wrote their own vows: Joe’s were very scriptural and serious, while Katherine lightened the mood a little with hers. Not only did the couple take communion during the wedding, but all wedding goers were invited to partake as well. First time I had ever seen that too, but I don't get out that much. Plenty of food at the reception, catered by Chipotle, the couple’s favorite. Little Shivonne and all the other kids had a blast out on the dance floor. One little boy danced with Shivvy, spinning her around almost too fast.

We were able to sleep late on Sunday morning (until 908 am). Packed up and drove over to the house, and helped clean up from the wedding for a couple of hours with Rusty Kelly Jordan Ted Phil Teresa Beau Victoria and Donna. As we were cleaning up, the last unmarried niece Victoria said that seeing what a great job we had all done putting together Katherine’s wedding, she was considering a similar Jefferson wedding – just racheting it up several levels, with jumbotrons like a Taylor Swift concert.

On the way out of town we visited with Lennie and Corrine. Matthew and Monsie stopped by the house to say goodbye, and then came down Lennie’s. M took Monsie out to see Barney’s marker out at Corrine’s pet cemetery. W&MC got an early start, as he had to work a ten hour shift starting at 4 pm. A&C had spent the night at the house, but had to hustle back to get Goose.

My back had been hurting all weekend from the unfamiliar beds, 18 holes of golf, all the bending over and helping set up and tear down the chairs, tables, flowers, etc – so I skipped the gym this morning. I do need to get back to doing the exercises from my physical therapy.

Started the day with 60 emails in my in box. Got it down to 33 so far.

DENISON: in Singapore the Pope declared, “All religions are a path to arrive at God. They are like different languages to arrive there”. This claim contradicts clear, historic Christian orthodoxy regarding the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ. Are Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield? (denisonforum.org)

MICKEY LOLICH [SABR Bio] had a cousin who had a sip of coffee with the White Sox, then two cups with the Indians. Lolich’s cousin Ron didn’t do quite as well as his cousin Mickey. Lolich was the last to pitch three complete game victories in a single World Series: games 2, 5, and  7 in the 1968 Fall Classic. He pitched for the Padres in 1978 & 1979. He was born right-handed, but once held the career record for strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher. A motorcycle fell on his 2-year-old left clavicle. Rehab strengthening was so good, he became a lefty in sports. A sports writer wrote of the 23-year-old Lolich, "He now eats, writes and bats right-handed, pitches left-handed and thinks sideways."

Wedding Photo Dump

Thursday night dinner at the Golden Nugget. Can you tell I didn't know a picture was being taken?

Anna got a spray tan.

Rusty pulled up with the back of his SUV full of alcohol. We took it all inside the house to chill with the flowers. 

Ceil remained bundled up to keep warm, with the AC cranked down to 64.

Katherine with her eleven bridesmaids, including Anna in yellow.

Rusty delivered another fine father of the bride speech, completely without notes.

Dic Dac, Steve Jackson, and Phil were looking at something.

Chase, Dic Dac, Debbie, and Chase and his girlfriend.

Friends since childhood: Dic Dac, Jackson, Rusty, Phil

Almost forgot to take a selfie with Phil. He took one on his phone as well.

Wednesday Thursday and Friday

Craziness as usual. Left work before 4 pm. Stopped by the bank and Wendy's. C had taken Winnie to the kennel. Figured out all the flowers Ceil had to take and our luggage wouldn't fit in our car. A&C had to drive up to get our luggage. We had to keep the flowers inside with air conditioning as long as possible. I took a 30 minute nap.

Didn't leave East Cobb until 730. GPS routed us through downtown traffic. More stress. On the ramp from 75 onto 20 there was a traffic cone in the middle of the road. Didn't want to swerve with all the flowers in the back, so I wound up hitting it.

A&C passed us near Thomson. Ceil didn't want me to drive fast. Lots of construction and trucks on the road. When we got off at Lugoff for the last 30 minutes of the trip I stopped for gas at a truck stop. Didn't want to run out in the middle of nowhere.

Pulled into Jefferson at 1245 am, then had to unload all the flowers. After 1 am before we got to bed.

Thursday: lots of wedding stuff in the house. Caleb pressure washed the front walk. Lots of preparation going on today. Wasn't sure where to set up my laptop. Workers set up the big tent.

Had Pizza Hut for lunch on Thursday. Had to pick up a salad for Ceil. 79 degrees outside but we have the AC cranked so the flowers wouldn't wilt.

The crowd ate at the Golden Nugget Thursday night.

MC got in around 1230 am Friday morning. The girls had slept on the drive over, so when they arrived they thought nap time was over. Couldn't get them back to sleep for another hour or two. Then they were waking up again when we picked up Will at 745 am to play golf.

Ben set the threesomes: the 3 dads me, Rusty, & Phil; then Will, Caleb, & Joe, and finally Ben, Ted, & Beau. Us oldsters went off first and played "fast". Neither Rusty nor Phil took much time to hit, and I tried to follow their lead.

Meanwhile the younger guys played more like it was Sunday at Augusta, taking several practice swings and such. For the first 11 holes I played over my head, before my game started to fall apart. Even had a par putt on a long par 5 hole. On the par 3 16th, Rusty hit it over the green. Phil hit it into the water. I stuck my tee shot onto the green - then 3 putted.

Above: see theblack pickup behind Caleb? He said he  almost hit it on his tee shot. Even though we rode in golf carts, those 18 holes wore me out yesterday. Used muscles I normally don't use. Then I wore these driving loafers that are hard to walk and stand in. 

After golf Caleb, Will, and I picked up lunch for our wives at Beth's Country Cooking. I passed on the fried food and ate BBQ chicken. I hung around the house all afternoon. Showered and dressed and lugged all our luggage out to our car parked on street.

Matthew and Monsie arrived just as the dinner started. The tables had been set up in the back yard. Around 430 a strong wind blew through, messing up the tables, but the weather cleared in time for the rehearsal. 

A food truck served fried fish, shrimp, chicken tenders, macaroni & cheese, etc. Lots of tributes after dinner. The groom Joe is a low key guy marrying into a family full of strong personalities, but so many people spoke highly of his strong faith and leadership skills.

Afterward we chatted and watched Shivonne and Millie play (above). Then around the corner to where we're stayed. At around and talked to Matthew and Monsie until 1130. 

Slept till 9 am on Saturday morning. Watched College GameDay.

Somehow last week I  made two blog posts instead  of one, so I get to skip a day to even things out.

Chick-fil-A you could get chicken tenders or nuggets or a wrap. But the milkshakes are good too. Excellent choice.