Jack and I did make a flea market run this morning. We did find a few good stuffs. Beckie met us at Wholesale for lunch and there were nachos.
Beckie and a friend travelled to Charleston for a wedding. I'm sure that they are having a big time even as I type these words. Since Beckie is out of town, Jack and I screened a few movies that would not be of interest to her: Videodrome and Man Bites Dog. Jack and I had dinner at Arby's. He left shortly thereafter for an evening of whatnot with his boys. Otter, Lucky and I are enjoying The Golf Channel's coverage of the Nationwide Tour Event.
Jack - here's a link to that thing we were talking about. Also, everything really should taste like bacon.
july
July 27, 2009 ~ Monday
Jack was too tired to make the flea market run with me Saturday morning but he did join me later for a visit to B&N for another go at the big sale. We had lunch at Wholesale afterwards. They were out of nachos. How can a bar (Wholesale pretends to be a resaturant and during the day it sort of is kind of restaurantish) be out of nachos? A patron at a nearby table was outraged at this news. He offered to make a quick run to the grocery store or Sam's Club and pick up some chips so that we could all have our nachos. This was not a viable solution so we went without nachos.
Beckie and I attended the Saturday afternoon wedding of a young lady who attends our church and who we have, for the last year or so, helped support in her campus ministry in New York. There was a reception afterwards with a live band and cold beer and excellent food. Beckie did not make me stay too long and I got home in time to catch most of the Braves' game.
Yesterday after early church, Jack and I screened a few of my Criterion Collection acquisitions: Ace in the Hole, Vampyr and The Third Man. There was an intermission (nap) between the second and third features and I was ready to watch another but Jack had enough and wanted to hang out with friends. Also, Jack did not want me to watch any more movies while he wasn't with me. So, I enjoyed watching some special features from assorted movies. Criterion doesn't scrimp when it comes to special features.
DON'T FORGET TO LISTEN TO XM CHANNEL 12 (OUTLAW COUNTRY) TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT AT 9:00 PM EACH NIGHT.
July 25, 2009 ~ Saturday
July 24, 2009 ~ Friday
Jack returned from the beach yesterday afternoon. One of his friends had access to a condo for a few days and invited Jack to join him. They enjoyed lounging on the beach and seeing some of the local sights. Jack attended a concert Wednesday night at the House of Blues. The featured act was moe. They are, apparently, a jam band so they jammed.
This has been (for those of us who work) a long week and we are ready to enjoy the weekend.
July 20, 2009 ~ Monday
I attended early church with Beckie and Jack. The sermon rambled and wandered and had little to do with either the lessons or the Gospel. The search for a new pastor continues with no end in sight.
After church, Jack and I made a bonus flea market run and had lunch. Beckie was tied up at the church donating blood so she couldn't join us. We decided to eat at The Lamplighter since we hadn't been there in quite a while and since it's Beckie's least favorite place to eat (it is very musty and smokey smelling and your clothes reek after eating there).
Beckie and I attended a late afternoon social affair for a couple who are getting married next week. There was fried chicken and beer. Unfortunately, the beer was Milwaukee's Best Light. The fried chicken was pretty good.
July 19, 2009 ~ Sunday
Clarke had a Friday night Rehearsal Party and a Saturday wedding in town so he spent Friday night with us. He spent all day yesterday in the library studying for the Bar Exam so he did not visit the flea markets with Jack and me. He also did not have lunch at Wholesale with us. Beckie did not have lunch with us either but she did eat with friends at a nearby table. The wedding Clarke attended featured the very same band that will entertain at his wedding. We await his full report.
Jack and his friend Melanie made dinner for us last night and it was excellent. They made everything from scratch (including the pasta) so it was a lengthy process. Bravo! Encore!
July 18, 2009 ~ Saturday
I have been looking forward to Clarke's wedding but I am now super excited since I found out that The Coppertones (a six-piece dynamo based in Charleston SC) will be playing at the reception. I suggested The Immigrant Song for their first dance.
July 15, 2009 ~ Tuesday
Happy Birthday Cynthia!
Great News! Barnes & Noble is having a 50% Off Sale on all Criterion Collection dvd's. Jack, Tripp and I visited our local B&N last night and purchased several discs. Sale lasts until August 3. I will probably make another trip or 2 before it's over.
July 13, 2009 ~ Monday
We had a relaxing vacation at Folly Beach. Stayed in the same condos (on the beach) we've vacationed in for the last couple of years. There were a couple of new restaurants and we managed a few visits to the Beer Bar. We tried many new beers. I did not play golf but we did lay around the beach and/or pool. We visited downtown Charleston and some golf shops and used dvd/cd shops. Tripp spent some time with a friend who lives in Charleston. It was a good vacation but we are glad to be home.
Tripp took his kayak out yesterday and had big fun. He will be with us until Wednesday when he returns to his camp counselor job for a couple of weeks. Jack went to the beach for the day yesterday. He and his boys visited several attractions along the Grand Strand.
June 29, 2009 ~ Monday
We attended the early service yesterday morning. There was a guest minister and he was pretty good. The service itself has turned into some sort of hootenanny and has little to do with actual Lutheran Worship. We had lunch at Olive Garden.
Tripp is on assignment from Lutheridge this week and his assignment brings him to Florence. He and his fellow counselors swung by the house yesterday for a brief visit. They were nice kids (which is to be expected since they are church summer camp counselors) and it was a pleasure meeting them. We will see them again later this week when we take them out to dinner.
June 28, 2009 ~ Sunday
It was a very busy week at work and I am not looking forward to going back tomorrow.
Jack and I made a quick flea market run yesterday morning - weather was extra hot and very humid. We met Beckie at Wholesale for lunch. The crazy clean-up guy was not nearly finished cleaning the bar side so we ate on the restaurant side. Work is finally commencing on the new deck out front so maybe by Fall, we'll be eating out there.
June 22, 2009 ~ Monday
I did have a nice Father's Day. We had dinner at my favorite jinky little Chinese restaurant and watched some dvd's. No golf right now as we are currently considering our golf membership options. Even without golf, it is good to be the dad.
June 21, 2009 ~ Sunday
Happy Father's Day!
June 20, 2009 ~ Saturday
Jack and I made a trip to the Holy Land (Clemson University) for his Freshman Orientation Thursday and Friday. He is now fully oriented and registered and prepared to return in August as a college student. He spent Thursday night in the dorms and ate in the dining hall. I spent Wednesday and Thursday nights in the Ramada which is ready for remodeling. I had Thursday lunch in the President's Box overlooking Death Valley. It was a little better than the seats I has as a student.
Jack decided to sleep in this morning so Beckie visited the flea market with me. We found a few good stuffs and Beckie did some shopping at one of the Mexican Produce Marts. Beckie and I had early dinner at Shuler's Barbecue. Jack was screening High Fidelity with the Film Appreciation Society so he did not join us. Too bad since everything on the buffet was delicious - from the not too spicy pulled pork barbecue (vinegar based sauce) to the banana pudding.
June 11, 2009 ~ Thursday
Jack had a nice graduation ceremony. Luckily, he graduated early in the ceremony, so the crowd was still pretty calm. I have attended multiple graduations this year (College, Law School and High School) and it has been true for each of them that the further along you are into the ceremony, the rowdier the crowd gets. The crowd seems to get louder and more obnoxious as the ceremony progresses until the polite cheers have turned into a shouting match. There were even some boos at Jack's ceremony. Booing at a graduation? Why? Were you hoping some certain person wouldn't graduate? We had a luncheon after graduation and Jack got some more presents.
Beckie will be away tonight and tomorrow at another graduation. Jack will I will have a little more lad and dad time before he leaves to begin his attendance at the Clemson University of Highest Learning and Source of All Knowledge including How to Beat the Gamecocks in Football Just About Every Year. GO TIGERS!
June 10, 2009 ~ Wednesday
Happy Birthday Grandaddy!
June 1, 2009 ~ Monday
Tripp left last week for his Summer job. He'll be working at Lutheridge for a couple of months while he considers his long-term options. I miss him.
Another busy weekend. Johnny and his boys arrived around 2:00 Friday afternoon and we all went out to The Crossings for 18 holes. The course has taken a turn for the worse since we played there about a month ago. I am not in golf shape and started running out of gas somewhere around # 15. We had a 9:00 dinner reservation at the local FancyPants Eatery. The food was excellent. Unfortunately, we were seated in front of the musicians (who were not bad, just a little too loud) and we had the worst waiter in the world. OK, maybe not the worst in the world but he was definitely somewhere near the top of the list. I'm fairly certain that he has some sort of emotional problems and has a temperament not conducive to being a waiter.
Saturday morning I made an early flea market run and then we had breakfast at Clarke's fiance's parents' house with various family and friends. Later in the day, many of my family members gathered at The Circle Fountain for cheeseburgers and hot dogs. Jack spent Friday night at the lake with friends but he did make it back in time for Clarke's engagement party Saturday night. It was a lovely occasion with excellent food, cold beer and only a very few speeches.
Beckie, Jack and I attended his Baccalaureate yesterday afternoon. We were told that it was one of the best attended in recent memory. Afterwards, Jack spent the rest of the afternoon with friends and attended a graduation party hosted by a few of his classmates.
may
May 25, 2009 ~ Monday
We spent our Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta. My cousin's older daughter got married yesterday afternoon and we were in attendance. It was an outdoor wedding (not too hot and only a sprinkle of rain) followed by dinner and an excellent open bar. Everyone had a big time including Granny who even danced a little.
While we were in Atlanta, we took in the Saturday night Braves vs. Blue Jays game. We had great seats which were, luckily, under cover since much of the game was played in a serious downpour. The only problem was that in a staduim which seats 50,000, the most obnoxious Blue Jays fan was seated behind me. Worked out OK since we won. Good game, eh?
Sunday before the wedding, all of the boys ate lunch at The Varsity. We did not make it downtown to the original location but the food at the Gwinnett branch was excellent. We grilled hot dogs and hamburgers at home this afternoon so as to be in full compliance with the Memorial Day Grilling Ordinance.
May 17, 2009 ~ Sunday
So, Tripp saved all of his graduation cash and his parents chipped in some more cash and he got the kayak of his dreams. He spent yesterday afternoon pedaling/paddling around some local waterways and found his new boat to be even more fun than he ever imagined. A few key necessities for today's aquatic excursion: cooloer with ice and drinks, power bars, wide brimmed hat, SUNSCREEN (ouch).
A friend from work got married yesterday and Beckie and I attended. The church was small and very full. The ceremony was lovely and lasted about half an hour. The food at the reception was excellent!
May 14, 2009 ~ Thursday
Tripp's girlfriend came for a visit yesterday. Beckie took them out to lunch and I took them out to dinner. She is very polite and charming and we enjoyed meeting her. We look forward to having her visit us again.
May 12, 2009 ~ Tuesday
Beckie had a nice Mother's day. She got some jewelry and other prizes and chose Redbone Alley for her MD Dinner. After dinner, she decided on nap-time. So we all snoozed for a while. After her siesta, she was ready for a movie, so we all went to the theater and watched Star Trek. The movie was excellent. What a great Mom! This was definitely better than the year she made us all waste time and movie money on Poseidon.
May 10, 2009 ~ Sunday
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
May 9, 2009 ~ Saturday
Beckie, Tripp, Granny, Pops and I drove to Columbia yesterday for Clarke's graduation. Jack couldn't skip school so he didn't make the trip. Graduation was in the out of doors and the weather was great. The sound system was sketchy so we missed much of the commencement address but (according to Clarke) the graduates could hear her. Everyone had a big time at the afterparty at Goatfeathers. Congratulations Clarke!
May 3, 2009 ~ Sunday
Tripp got home Wednesday and we went right back to Greenwood on Friday. We met Granny and Pops and we all went out to dinner. Yesterday morning we had breakfast at the hotel and drove over to Lander U for graduation. John and Clarke almost made it in time for graduation but got pulled for speeding in Ninety-Six and had to watch it on closed circuit. Congressman James Clyburn was the speaker and was excellent (10 minutes). Tripp marched across the stage and was given an impressive leather(ish) folder with a letter from the president of the university and a note promising to mail his diploma to him on the 20th. We all went out to eat at Tripp's favorite Greenwood restaurant. Tripp will leave in a few weeks for temporary assignment at Lutheridge.
May 1, 2009 ~ Friday
Happy Birthday Jay!
april
April 27, 2009 ~ Monday
We had a nice weekend. There was no golf but there was a trip to Greenwood. Jack and I visited the flea markets and had lunch at Wholesale Saturday. We sat outside on what used to be the deck but is now just a section of the parking lot blocked off with crime scene tape. In spite of our best efforts, we got Smelly Cat again. Don't know how the alfresco dining area is divided among the waitresses so we have no sure way to avoid her when we sit outside. Saturday was $2 burrito day at Moe's so Beckie and I stopped by for dinner. We just happened to run into Jack and several of his friends. We offered to pay for his food and he was happy to let us. We also offered him a seat at our table but he passed. He spent Saturday night with friends and came home around 8:00 Sunday morning so that he could ride to Greenwood with me to retrieve the bulk of Tripp's goods. Tripp was much more prepared for us than usual. Just about everything was already packed and ready to go. We loaded his gear and went to Huddle House for lunch. Jack and I stopped by Manifest and Papa Jazz in Columbia on the way home. We found a few good stuffs.
Tripp's last exam is Tuesday and he will be moving out of his dorm room for the last time Wednesday. His graduation is Saturday. Many of you have received invitations and we expect some good gift$ and whatnot. He will work at Lutheridge this Summer and continue his search for employment.
April 26, 2009 ~ Sunday
Note to Beckie and Jack: the Survivor page has been updated. Not looking so good for me. Someone had better get his money in the pot soon.
April 21, 2009 ~ Tuesday
I took Friday off from work since I had to work the previous (Good) Friday which was an office holiday. It worked out great since Friday was the day Uncle Johnny passed through on the way to his Golf Buddy Week at the beach. I broke out of my golf drought in a big way - we played 27 holes. I played pretty good golf but I have turned into a no puttin' SOB. I couldn't sink anything. But the rest of the game was not bad. Johnny and I picked up some steaks (Huge Cowboy Ribeyes) on the way home. Clarke and Jake joined us and we had a big time grilling steaks and watching the Braves get whacked while we ate. Jack was still at the beach and Tripp was at school so they did not get to enjoy the event. Beckie participated in the grilling and eating but skipped the baseball.
Saturday morning, all of us boys went for big breakfast at The Lamplighter followed by a trip to the flea market. Uncle Johnny left us at the flea market and headed for the beach. Jake and Clarke came back to the house and tried to decide if they wanted hang around and play a little golf. While they were discussing the merits of playing golf vs. going back to Columbia, Jack returned from the beach. He got to visit with Jake and Clarke briefly before they left for Columbia. Jack was tired from his week of beach fun so we just relaxed around the house. Sunday evening, Jack and I enjoyed a Woody Allen double feature: Shadows and Fog and Stardust Memories. We really need a copy of 8½.
April 20, 2009 ~ Monday
Happy Birthday Jaydyn and John!
April 19, 2009 ~ Sunday
Happy Birthday Macon!
April 12, 2009 ~ Sunday
Friday afternoon Tripp came home for a visit. We were so excited that we killed the fatted calf and had a feast. Actually, the NY Butcher Shoppe and their minions did the dirty work and we didn't actually have to kill anything. The fatted calf ended up being big cowboy ribeyes and they were excellent. As we were finishing our dinner, Lucky decided that Otter was sitting a little too close to me and my steak bone. She provoked an altercation and in the confusion that followed, the skin in the outside corner of her right eye was torn. Beckie called our vet and another vet and another vet and discovered that no vets around here have made any local provision for weekend emergencies. All answering services referred us to a 24-hour animal emergency clinic in Elgin (about an hour away). So, Beckie and I took Lucky to the emergency room. After waiting for about an hour and a half, the vet took a look and decided that she needed stitches. Lucky stayed overnight for her surgery and I called early Saturday morning to see how she was doing. She was fine, and yes I could come pick her up but isn't it kind of early in the morning to be rushing over to pick up a dog? No, it was not too early. Lucky is a very sensitive dog and did not need to stay in the hospital one minute longer than was necessary. She is home and recovering nicely. She does not like her lampshade collar which she has to wear through Wednesday.
Jack and I checked out the flea markets Saturday morning and had lunch with Beckie and Tripp at Wholesale. Not long after we got home after lunch, Jack left for Spring Break at the Beach. He and his friends are staying in a swank pad on the second row in Surfside. It is quite deluxe.
Once again, I came into possession of a few Masters passes. This time it was Sunday only. I got the passes so there was no doubt that I was going. I let Beckie decide if she wanted to go or if she would give her pass up. Since Tripp was unable to attend last time I got passes, she gave hers to Tripp (what a great mom!). He and I left about 5:00 this morning and arrived at Gate 10 shortly after 7:30. We bought Tripp some pricey swag from the Merchandise Mart and headed out. The last time I went, we entered from the front side and the view was incredible. This time we snuck in the back gate and the view was at least as impressive. We walked most of the course, visited the putting green, tried the practice range (too crowded) and ended up back at #6. We watched every group play through and Beckie saw us on TV. We hung around for a while after the last group played through and, at Tripp's request, took off a little earlier than last time. The drive out of Augusta was not nearly as intense as last time and Tripp managed to stay awake until we were across the river and back in South Carolina. Two necessary items to remember for next time: sunscreen and binoculars.
go tigers!
go braves!
go redwolves!
go knights!
go geocaching!
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