It is Sunday evening. Yesterday began in a hotel bed in Dunwoody, then progressed to a borrower's house in Martinez, Georgia, near Augusta. Afterward, I drove back to Dunwoody where I settled into watching football and making dressing. In the middle of the afternoon, I went upstairs and got on line to see what was going with W&L and Hampden Sydney. Georgia had alreay taken the measure of Idaho State and found them lacking. Fortunately, W&L's offense kept them in the lead. They had two runners with heavy totals and their quarterback was on. Apparently, the defense did a good job too, creating five turnovers in the first half to give them a big lead.
Now they have won the Conference Championship and will play in the NCAA playoffs. That is the second time in five years. That is great.
Cindy and I have developed colds or something and we are on Musenex and cough drops and it makes us wake up in the middle of the night, which keeps us sleepy throughout the day. Well, Dunwoody won and the Falcons won. Sports highs can take you only so far. There is always another week, another set of games. You can only expect so much.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Upstate New York
It did look and feel like Fall today. Actually, it looked and felt that why probably more than any other day we have had. Of course, Cindy said we weren't actually in Fall yet. I don't think that is right. It actually felt like the beginning of Winter, and I know we are far away from that. It will be December before we know it and we will be wondering where the year went. Perhaps some people are already thinking about that. What a cliche.
I saw a musician that I had never heard about today on a recording of the Jimmy Fallon show. He was strange and his dad worked for IBM like me. Maybe the children of IBMers suffer from a desire to be a bit strange. That sounded a bit too autobiographical. He was originally from Endicott, New York, where one of the main offices of IBM is located.
When I was a boy, I recognized a lot of the cities spreading north and west from New York City. For instance, the Petries on the Dick Van Dyke Show lived in New Rochelle, a small town which apparently was one of the original Huegenot communities in America. Then you have White Plains, Armonk and Endicott, which were offices of IBM. My dad had to go there often when he worked for IBM. I am surprised we never ended up there at one time or another.
Boy, I would have been a rebel up there. I probably would have got my butt kicked quite often. I would have either got tough or beaten up. All in all, it's probably better that I stayed in Georgia.
Well, Go Generals!
I saw a musician that I had never heard about today on a recording of the Jimmy Fallon show. He was strange and his dad worked for IBM like me. Maybe the children of IBMers suffer from a desire to be a bit strange. That sounded a bit too autobiographical. He was originally from Endicott, New York, where one of the main offices of IBM is located.
When I was a boy, I recognized a lot of the cities spreading north and west from New York City. For instance, the Petries on the Dick Van Dyke Show lived in New Rochelle, a small town which apparently was one of the original Huegenot communities in America. Then you have White Plains, Armonk and Endicott, which were offices of IBM. My dad had to go there often when he worked for IBM. I am surprised we never ended up there at one time or another.
Boy, I would have been a rebel up there. I probably would have got my butt kicked quite often. I would have either got tough or beaten up. All in all, it's probably better that I stayed in Georgia.
Well, Go Generals!
A cold morning
Fall fell heavily today. I drove into work and it was very cool and wet from the rain we had last night. I left the office to pick up the mail and noticed that the thermometer in the car read '48' which is awful cool for eleven in the morning in Central Georgia. As the morning felt the effects of a drizzle, it was even colder, or seemed so.
Now, I am waiting for a loan package so I can close something in McDonough this afternoon. Not too far away. But my car is in the shop getting tuned up and some minor matters handled. Meanwhile, I am driving Kate's car around town until I can swap them out in the morning. It has its problems, but apparently not as much as my car.
I am still thinking about the W&L vs. Hampden Sydney game on Saturday. I guess I will be thinking about it until Saturday is over.
Well, so far so good.
Now, I am waiting for a loan package so I can close something in McDonough this afternoon. Not too far away. But my car is in the shop getting tuned up and some minor matters handled. Meanwhile, I am driving Kate's car around town until I can swap them out in the morning. It has its problems, but apparently not as much as my car.
I am still thinking about the W&L vs. Hampden Sydney game on Saturday. I guess I will be thinking about it until Saturday is over.
Well, so far so good.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Time to remove the favorites
It was definitely Autumn today and when I left my car in the Walton County Courthouse parking lot, I began to wonder if I had not underdressed this morning. Fortunately, it had warmed up a bit by the time I hit Winder and Barrow County. By the time I hit Canton (Cherokee County) it was downright balmy.
Of course, the hits of my trip were the flock of wild turkeys I saw in the front yard of a single wide mobile home in Lumpkin County and the sign for the Kangaroo Conservation Facility in Dawson County. I told Kate about this and we are both nonplussed about the presence of kangaroos in Dawson County. We thought that perhaps the good citizens of Dawson County may have mistaken large oppossums for their cousins. Kate, in particular, thought that when mistaken for kangaroos, the oppossums might turn to the camera and put their forefinger to their lips as to stop any attempts to correct the confusion.
That is assuming that oppossums have lips.
By the end of the day, I was happy that I was back home. Usually, by the time I am headed back home and hit around the airport or North Clayton, my buttocks begin to cramp up and give me fits. I enjoy the travel, but I am glad I only do that once a month.
The Giants eliminated the Rangers last night and won the World Series. I am trying to be philosophical and think that that reflects well on the Braves who were just an out or two away from beating the Giants in the Division Series. Otherwise, I am still rather blase about the series.
It is definitely football season now, despite the presence of NBA basketball and NHL hockey. I cannot get my mind beyond the W&L game against Hampton Sydney on Saturday. I am shooting positive thoughts and vibes up toward Lexington. I would appreciate any thoughts and vibes that will be offered in that regard. When I was at W&L, the football crowns were shared between Hampton Sydney and Randolph Macon and there were no scraps for the rest of us in the conference. This is a good opportunity for a little parity to rear its beautiful head and shine kindly on my alma mater this weekend. Another trip to the NCAAs would be nice.
I am going to continue to mention the Generals every day until Sunday.
Of course, the hits of my trip were the flock of wild turkeys I saw in the front yard of a single wide mobile home in Lumpkin County and the sign for the Kangaroo Conservation Facility in Dawson County. I told Kate about this and we are both nonplussed about the presence of kangaroos in Dawson County. We thought that perhaps the good citizens of Dawson County may have mistaken large oppossums for their cousins. Kate, in particular, thought that when mistaken for kangaroos, the oppossums might turn to the camera and put their forefinger to their lips as to stop any attempts to correct the confusion.
That is assuming that oppossums have lips.
By the end of the day, I was happy that I was back home. Usually, by the time I am headed back home and hit around the airport or North Clayton, my buttocks begin to cramp up and give me fits. I enjoy the travel, but I am glad I only do that once a month.
The Giants eliminated the Rangers last night and won the World Series. I am trying to be philosophical and think that that reflects well on the Braves who were just an out or two away from beating the Giants in the Division Series. Otherwise, I am still rather blase about the series.
It is definitely football season now, despite the presence of NBA basketball and NHL hockey. I cannot get my mind beyond the W&L game against Hampton Sydney on Saturday. I am shooting positive thoughts and vibes up toward Lexington. I would appreciate any thoughts and vibes that will be offered in that regard. When I was at W&L, the football crowns were shared between Hampton Sydney and Randolph Macon and there were no scraps for the rest of us in the conference. This is a good opportunity for a little parity to rear its beautiful head and shine kindly on my alma mater this weekend. Another trip to the NCAAs would be nice.
I am going to continue to mention the Generals every day until Sunday.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Punch Brothers: W&L Fight Song
I like any version of my alma mater's fight song. This was performed recently by Punch Brothers at the Lime Kiln Theater outside Lexington, Virginia. I love it. This is still the best fight song, if only because it is the only one which is a Dixie Land Jazz song. There are some great versions of the song. This is only one of them. I include this for the week leading up to the Washington and Lee v. Hampden Sydney on Saturday, November 6th. We can only hope that the Generals will do it to the Tigers on Saturday in Lexington. Perhaps, then, we can celebrate with as many versions of the W&L Swing as I can find on the internet, on record, cd or otherwise.
Let's go Generals. Ring Tum Phi Stickeri Bum. We're the boys from Lexington!!!!
Punch Brothers - Rye Whiskey
This is my favorite song from The Punch Brothers, a band which combines traditional music with more modern songs. This song is perhaps an homage to the original Rye Whiskey, which is an Irish song which was borrowed by southerners after the Civil War. I like this version. It is funny and uses tempo and surprise to make an interesting song. Enjoy.
November
Today November rears its hoary head and gives us Georgians cool, sweater weather in the morning and evening and a warm day in the middle. This is my favorite weather and one of the reasons I enjoy this state as much as I do. Sure, I can't go to the beach in late November, and everything turns grey and brown by the time this month is ready to end, but that's alright. I enjoy that type of weather from time to time.
Meanwhile, I am reminded of a few years ago when Kate was attending Presbyterian College and Cindy and I drove up to Clinton, via Greenville, and were heading back to Griffin and decided to drive through Commerce and Athens and Madison and Monticello and Jackson to get back home.
It was late afternoon in November. It was the time of year when the the leaves have left the trees and a lot of late afternoon light shows through the branches of the trees. Of course, the evergreens are still prevalent. Little cedars growing on the old fencerows. And as we drove down 441 from Commerce toward Athens, we could see the afternoon colors showing through the trees.
The heater was providing warmth in the car and there was little traffic on the old Federal highway. I found that it provided a peace of mind that is tangible but almost incomprehensible. Incomprehensible because there really wasn't a cause for the feelings of peace and satisfaction, other than the mere beauty of the light fading through the trees.
I truly enjoyed the ride. Later, when we made it to Madison, you could see the amazing old homes in Madison, ante-bellum, victorian, and the lights from the businesses that were still open. It was delightful.
Later, when we made it to Monticello, I stopped and drove through the drive through at Dairy Queen and bought some cold, sweet treats for Cindy and myself. We drove in the darkness toward Jackson and home with the child-like delight of memories, complete sensual sweetness and peace of the early nightfall.
It made the lights of home that much more delightful.
Meanwhile, I am reminded of a few years ago when Kate was attending Presbyterian College and Cindy and I drove up to Clinton, via Greenville, and were heading back to Griffin and decided to drive through Commerce and Athens and Madison and Monticello and Jackson to get back home.
It was late afternoon in November. It was the time of year when the the leaves have left the trees and a lot of late afternoon light shows through the branches of the trees. Of course, the evergreens are still prevalent. Little cedars growing on the old fencerows. And as we drove down 441 from Commerce toward Athens, we could see the afternoon colors showing through the trees.
The heater was providing warmth in the car and there was little traffic on the old Federal highway. I found that it provided a peace of mind that is tangible but almost incomprehensible. Incomprehensible because there really wasn't a cause for the feelings of peace and satisfaction, other than the mere beauty of the light fading through the trees.
I truly enjoyed the ride. Later, when we made it to Madison, you could see the amazing old homes in Madison, ante-bellum, victorian, and the lights from the businesses that were still open. It was delightful.
Later, when we made it to Monticello, I stopped and drove through the drive through at Dairy Queen and bought some cold, sweet treats for Cindy and myself. We drove in the darkness toward Jackson and home with the child-like delight of memories, complete sensual sweetness and peace of the early nightfall.
It made the lights of home that much more delightful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)