So this weekend was uneventful for me other than the odd phone call from Luke and making Jacks laugh on Saturday via the phone. It rained thanks to the tropical storm that scraped past us so I didn’t work too hard.
Yesterday I would work – a lot! And accomplished more than expected, so running down to the truck detail shop to pester Trace was in order for the day. It was late and thankfully it appeared to be cooling off somewhat. Trace was all mucked up from doing an interior of a bus they were modifying for some rock group.
He was smiling the whole time as insulation and particle wood blew around him. “Dude you really have been working out!” I screeched at him. I was jealous because I haven’t had time to use the Bow-flex in about 2 weeks or more. (I’m sure he and Jacks are going to be bigger than me!) The only thing bigger than his biceps and pecks was the smile.
I had to ask what was up with the grin…..
WARNING!! Newsflash!
He announced that he and Michele are looking for a place to move in together, I stood there in awe. The Preachers Son is going to live in sin! He told me that he proposed to her Sunday and she of course said yes. They weren’t going to move in until they were married, which is going to be very soon, if he could, it would be this afternoon. He is going to let Michelle do all the planning and arrangements (girl stuff) and he would just tag along with her.
If all goes well there will be an August wedding, I can’t wait to call Jacks and let him in on the 411… maybe I should let Trace… Nah!!
Trace was all in a flutter over it, he couldn’t believe she would say yes to him. – I can’t either —I’m joking.
After his first girlfriend dumped him in front of everyone and his mama, he was bitter. Then he met someone that he was crazy about, the very weekend he was to go visit her she sends him a “Dear John” e-mail, never to be heard from again. I didn’t think he would ever get over that one, possibly because he still wonders what he did wrong in that relationship. Amy insists she got preggers and didn’t want him to see. (Don’t ask me why, I think that’s just girl thoughts).
For the longest time he was bitter, would go out and drink every night and despised the opposite sex, which worried me for a while. He hated when Jacks would be interested in someone and try to break it up. Eventually he calmed down, put his life back into perspective and started singing. That’s how he met Michelle basically, she would go listen to him play, where ever it may have been.
He said today he wanted me to help with arrangements on apartment hunting for him. I said sure on that. I wonder how Julie feels about this. She and Michelle aren’t that close from what I gather, she doesn’t want to give up her big brother just yet. Of course Julie still foams at the mouth for Jacks…I say he will marry her some day.
So for the next couple of days and probably posts its going to be a smattering of Trace and his adventures in wedded bliss….
Tuesday, July 22
Friday, July 18
I’m ok are you?
Kids are insane; I got a crazy phone call from Luke yesterday about his son. I swear Kyle is Jackson made over.
Julie was entertaining a friend for the afternoon, walking them to the door as they were about to leave. They stood in the doorway saying their goodbyes; Kyle was standing beside Julie minding his own business twirling a child sized umbrella. Nothing wrong in that -- Until…
Julie looked down and noticed Kyle had somehow rammed the curved handle of the umbrella into his mouth and down his throat. He was just standing there in a daze as if he were a hooked fish. She panicked as the lady did as well trying to remove the stubborn umbrella. It didn’t want to budge out of his mouth “He just stood there” as she twisted it slightly and pulled it out.
She shook him slightly to get some reaction out of him. A few seconds later he began to gag and spit out blood. That’s when the major panicking started for the ladies. Julie scooped up Kyle, nearly forgetting Camen and raced to the hospital calling Luke on the phone in route. She tried her best to explain what Kyle had done but was distracted with the blood coming out of his mouth.
Running the majority of red lights, Luke made it to meet her in the emergency room. The doctors checked Kyle in right away. Luke said Kyle didn’t do anything, as if in a trance, he just sat there spitting out blood and gagging every once in a while. He didn’t cry he didn’t flail around just sat there quietly in pain.
This makes me think of the time Jacks was whacked in the head with a baseball bat. He lay on the ground not crying or rolling about as blood spewed from his head, sat in the emergency room as they stitched him up ready to go play again.
Not like Luke, who once jumped on PGs peach wagon barefoot and stuck a good 3 inch splinter of wood in his heel, he screamed like a little girl and threw a bigger fit when my Pops held him down to dig it out.
The doctor said Kyle was fine, very lucky but would be ok. The blood was coming from a cut under his tongue, his throat would be sore for a while. It didn’t appear to do any damage just to give him soft squishy foods for a little while. Julie just knew she ripped out something important like a vocal cord or lung.
Can you imagine the terror of seeing your child with something impaled in them? What do you do? Would I know? It scares me to think that someday I’m going to have some hint like this happen to me while I tend to my own kids.
Its funny how we react to traumas, some panic, scream and cry, some get angry and throw fits, some sit and wait to be attended to. If you notice you react sudden problems that just as you do other obstacles in your life. You can either take them quietly and calm or scream and flail around.
Julie was entertaining a friend for the afternoon, walking them to the door as they were about to leave. They stood in the doorway saying their goodbyes; Kyle was standing beside Julie minding his own business twirling a child sized umbrella. Nothing wrong in that -- Until…
Julie looked down and noticed Kyle had somehow rammed the curved handle of the umbrella into his mouth and down his throat. He was just standing there in a daze as if he were a hooked fish. She panicked as the lady did as well trying to remove the stubborn umbrella. It didn’t want to budge out of his mouth “He just stood there” as she twisted it slightly and pulled it out.
She shook him slightly to get some reaction out of him. A few seconds later he began to gag and spit out blood. That’s when the major panicking started for the ladies. Julie scooped up Kyle, nearly forgetting Camen and raced to the hospital calling Luke on the phone in route. She tried her best to explain what Kyle had done but was distracted with the blood coming out of his mouth.
Running the majority of red lights, Luke made it to meet her in the emergency room. The doctors checked Kyle in right away. Luke said Kyle didn’t do anything, as if in a trance, he just sat there spitting out blood and gagging every once in a while. He didn’t cry he didn’t flail around just sat there quietly in pain.
This makes me think of the time Jacks was whacked in the head with a baseball bat. He lay on the ground not crying or rolling about as blood spewed from his head, sat in the emergency room as they stitched him up ready to go play again.
Not like Luke, who once jumped on PGs peach wagon barefoot and stuck a good 3 inch splinter of wood in his heel, he screamed like a little girl and threw a bigger fit when my Pops held him down to dig it out.
The doctor said Kyle was fine, very lucky but would be ok. The blood was coming from a cut under his tongue, his throat would be sore for a while. It didn’t appear to do any damage just to give him soft squishy foods for a little while. Julie just knew she ripped out something important like a vocal cord or lung.
Can you imagine the terror of seeing your child with something impaled in them? What do you do? Would I know? It scares me to think that someday I’m going to have some hint like this happen to me while I tend to my own kids.
Its funny how we react to traumas, some panic, scream and cry, some get angry and throw fits, some sit and wait to be attended to. If you notice you react sudden problems that just as you do other obstacles in your life. You can either take them quietly and calm or scream and flail around.
Monday, July 14
As we grow up…
First off, am I a grown up? Maybe so...
From a previous comment made on here and a few e-mails have pushed me into reflecting back. As I’ve said multiple times, we moved frequently growing up. Now this can put a snag in your social life or not, I chose to not let it. Being only slightly younger than Luke we could double team friendships, meaning people in his grade would eventually become mine and vise versa.
The leaving and moving away was always hard but after a few moves it became easier. Friendships are weird or can be at times, I’ve met some very interesting people at my young age, and God only knows what I will run into later on in life.
As we reached the end of our school days, each and every one of us was devoted to the other, swearing to keep in touch, laughing about what the future may hold. That, in reality, never happens, oh you say it will and you try for a while with the best intentions but eventually just like from year to year while you are in school, you run into different people, your interests change and you move on.
Even online friendships change, people move on, I think here there they are more intense with the dramas. A lot of people don’t care about the results that happen when you scream out your guts to someone, twist events into your favor, or try to manipulate others. When that happened for me – walking away was the best result.
I’ve also made some very good friends online and keep in touch with them regularly. I often get teased about my “long winded” e-mails, but they asked for it!
Trace and I used to have a chat group of people around our town on MSN. We started with five in the group, in one summer it eventually became over eighty. I finally left that bunch because of the gossiping and back stabbing that ran amuck. The copy and paste demons would come out late at night and start turmoil.
Then phase of virtual chat rooms came along like SIMs Online and Habbo. I would venture into those worlds on occasion to see what was going down. Of course as in real life, if you didn’t have items/money or your avatar wasn’t “hot” you never were noticed. I quickly lost interest in them, besides in those days Amy would be angry with me if I talked to someone else, another drama I didn’t need. (Online relationships has a whole different level)
Everything is smooth now; I converse with my brothers and Amy, reply to the many e-mails and comments sent to me via this blog, send Trace goofy items, rarely do I venture out to the virtual worlds. They always say you can never go back and I see why. The way you remember a place is never the same after you leave it a while. You look about and wonder exactly what it might have been to draw you to that place hour after hour. You’ve changed…I laugh at Lori now as she is going through similar problems in her internet adventures. She said she wanted to be popular on her site like “I” was on mine. When I think about it, I wasn’t the popular one but considered an ass – always speaking my mind. I told her about the traumas and dramas that come along with being “known” you are liked or hated. She seems eager to give it a try – brave soul.
Occasionally I see an old name on my e-mail list and think “Hey, I should send them a shout out” I begin to type -- ready to click the send button, instead close out the whole mail without sending it. Do I really want to start up another conversation with this person? There must have been a good reason we lost communication -- I guess at times its best to let sleeping dogs’ lay.
From a previous comment made on here and a few e-mails have pushed me into reflecting back. As I’ve said multiple times, we moved frequently growing up. Now this can put a snag in your social life or not, I chose to not let it. Being only slightly younger than Luke we could double team friendships, meaning people in his grade would eventually become mine and vise versa.
The leaving and moving away was always hard but after a few moves it became easier. Friendships are weird or can be at times, I’ve met some very interesting people at my young age, and God only knows what I will run into later on in life.
As we reached the end of our school days, each and every one of us was devoted to the other, swearing to keep in touch, laughing about what the future may hold. That, in reality, never happens, oh you say it will and you try for a while with the best intentions but eventually just like from year to year while you are in school, you run into different people, your interests change and you move on.
Even online friendships change, people move on, I think here there they are more intense with the dramas. A lot of people don’t care about the results that happen when you scream out your guts to someone, twist events into your favor, or try to manipulate others. When that happened for me – walking away was the best result.
I’ve also made some very good friends online and keep in touch with them regularly. I often get teased about my “long winded” e-mails, but they asked for it!
Trace and I used to have a chat group of people around our town on MSN. We started with five in the group, in one summer it eventually became over eighty. I finally left that bunch because of the gossiping and back stabbing that ran amuck. The copy and paste demons would come out late at night and start turmoil.
Then phase of virtual chat rooms came along like SIMs Online and Habbo. I would venture into those worlds on occasion to see what was going down. Of course as in real life, if you didn’t have items/money or your avatar wasn’t “hot” you never were noticed. I quickly lost interest in them, besides in those days Amy would be angry with me if I talked to someone else, another drama I didn’t need. (Online relationships has a whole different level)
Everything is smooth now; I converse with my brothers and Amy, reply to the many e-mails and comments sent to me via this blog, send Trace goofy items, rarely do I venture out to the virtual worlds. They always say you can never go back and I see why. The way you remember a place is never the same after you leave it a while. You look about and wonder exactly what it might have been to draw you to that place hour after hour. You’ve changed…I laugh at Lori now as she is going through similar problems in her internet adventures. She said she wanted to be popular on her site like “I” was on mine. When I think about it, I wasn’t the popular one but considered an ass – always speaking my mind. I told her about the traumas and dramas that come along with being “known” you are liked or hated. She seems eager to give it a try – brave soul.
Occasionally I see an old name on my e-mail list and think “Hey, I should send them a shout out” I begin to type -- ready to click the send button, instead close out the whole mail without sending it. Do I really want to start up another conversation with this person? There must have been a good reason we lost communication -- I guess at times its best to let sleeping dogs’ lay.
Thursday, July 10
Part 3 the boring long posts are done
I made it home late the other night, I was going to stop in one last time and visit Jackson but decided I’ve invaded his “time” enough already. Luke made the run home north and I turned south.
Once again alone and lost in my thoughts as I traveled down the highways “Oh, an ice cream shop!” as I weave down the road.
I made it in record time, unpacked and showered and fell right into bed. The next day I knew would be extremely busy going back to work and it was.
I’m a goal seeker or planner when it comes to do projects, making lists and reviewing my options from every angle. I’ve been known to bore people to tears about my projects, going over them again and again.
Plan number one: Start the house, possibly the fact that the subdivision was slow to build in the area of my lot held me back. The roads are cut now and I have a cute little sidewalk running in front of my yard. A little more grading of the soil then its time to dig out and do the driveway and foundation, there are no more excuses. I love the house my family lives in, it’s large and airy and beach access. Most of all it’s a home, we traveled a lot as I grew up and never had the chance to make my room feel like home. The minute we settled in, it was time to pack up and move on to another state. It felt like we were under the witness protection plan.
Plan number two: The greenhouse improvements, meaning a smallish expansion and “Oh boy” the café, this will make my Mom and Bee very happy. They have been pushing for this for a while now; of course maybe this will come in the latter part of the season. Off to the city, for permits and the inspection department, for whatnots to get that part of the list of projects rolling.
Plan number three: School, I’ve been pushing myself way too hard trying to get school underway. In one particular reason is to have Amy with me, in doing so it’s pushing me to the limits. We have a mutual understanding to wait, she has a good job lined up and her brother and sister still need some sort of guidance. I really don’t prefer either one of them following her down here and would presume she wouldn’t either, due to the fact within ten minutes of their arrival they would hate me.I have a few other minor projects down the pike but they can hold off a while. Jackson informed me that one project he and I ventured into is not to be now, however I really didn’t get to work with his latest one. Maybe I will start one of my own and see how it goes.
Once again alone and lost in my thoughts as I traveled down the highways “Oh, an ice cream shop!” as I weave down the road.
I made it in record time, unpacked and showered and fell right into bed. The next day I knew would be extremely busy going back to work and it was.
I’m a goal seeker or planner when it comes to do projects, making lists and reviewing my options from every angle. I’ve been known to bore people to tears about my projects, going over them again and again.
Plan number one: Start the house, possibly the fact that the subdivision was slow to build in the area of my lot held me back. The roads are cut now and I have a cute little sidewalk running in front of my yard. A little more grading of the soil then its time to dig out and do the driveway and foundation, there are no more excuses. I love the house my family lives in, it’s large and airy and beach access. Most of all it’s a home, we traveled a lot as I grew up and never had the chance to make my room feel like home. The minute we settled in, it was time to pack up and move on to another state. It felt like we were under the witness protection plan.
Plan number two: The greenhouse improvements, meaning a smallish expansion and “Oh boy” the café, this will make my Mom and Bee very happy. They have been pushing for this for a while now; of course maybe this will come in the latter part of the season. Off to the city, for permits and the inspection department, for whatnots to get that part of the list of projects rolling.
Plan number three: School, I’ve been pushing myself way too hard trying to get school underway. In one particular reason is to have Amy with me, in doing so it’s pushing me to the limits. We have a mutual understanding to wait, she has a good job lined up and her brother and sister still need some sort of guidance. I really don’t prefer either one of them following her down here and would presume she wouldn’t either, due to the fact within ten minutes of their arrival they would hate me.I have a few other minor projects down the pike but they can hold off a while. Jackson informed me that one project he and I ventured into is not to be now, however I really didn’t get to work with his latest one. Maybe I will start one of my own and see how it goes.
Monday, July 7
A smallish trip part 2…
We made it to Jacks in ample time to stop for a late lunch/dinner and shower, this time we werent so lucky on the storm dodging, just as I was sure there wouldn’t be more rain a cloud would pop up and drench us. That’s part of bike riding, enduring the elements of nature, happily there wasn’t any hail.
Along the trip you would see a car wreck here or there, I remember seeing one fellow biker blow past us doing way over the speed limit, only to catch up with him later being carried on to an ambulance. When I see things like that my stomach lurches in knowing of the horror of going through a bike accident. I’ve never had one but Luke has, falling asleep on a bike, he was fortunate enough to lay the bike down as it skidded along the asphalt and lay on top until it stopped. The only harm that came to him was some nasty burns from the hot bike and his boots ripped off. Jacks used to dirt bike a lot and lost control of his and rammed into a tree stump, I had the good fortune to see him plow into it, not to mention the mid air crash he and Trace had.
We made it to Jacks in record time; the guy at the gate, in Jacks community looked us up and down as if we were fugitives. I gave him a peace sign as we traveled in so he had the full effect.
Luke and I wanted to eat and shower and relax a bit before we ran on down the road. Jacks condo was cool and quiet which about put me to sleep. He showed us around for a while and some of the projects he’s been working on. Luke wanted to see the school but I had no interest in checking a campus out. Later on Luke and Jacks sat on the deck for a while as I snoozed and talked. They don’t talk as much as they used to, I could tell they had a nice heart to heart when I walked out and saw Jacks red eyes. I’m sure issues with my Pops are still troubling him and he really doesn’t have anyone to discuss them with that knows the whole situation.
We said our goodbyes and off to Memphis to spend the night there. Beale Street is a happening place, I love staying at the Peabody Hotel. Now that we had dropped off the “young in” we could enter bars and enjoy a few drinks. We checked in the hotel just in time for the marching of the ducks. A huge ceremony they like to do every morning and evening. They parade the ducks down from the rooftop in a elevator, out into the lobby along a red carpet to the center fountain. Then in the evening back up to their sky roof room.
Beale Street has lots of entertainment, sort of like a mini New Orleans, my favorite is the bar with the interconnected pianos. Maybe because I loved playing jazz on my piano while growing up. We met an older couple that was staying in the hotel as well, who offered us a carriage ride back. The only price we had to pay was to dance with the lady a few times because her husbands’ knees were failing him. We needed it, after all the alcohol we inhaled. I laughed at Luke and told him that Julie will love this story when we get back home. He gasped.
The next day, very late we drove around Memphis and did the tourist things—Graceland, Sun records, eating BBQ then down to Tunica for a bit of gambling for the night. Gambling on a Sunday, my G would die if she knew. Sams Town is the place we usually stay and walked right in. We called in to check on everyone and they were good. Mom gave us a minor disturbing story about PG.
Seems as if he decided to take his Sunday bath and was mad because he couldn’t lather up on his chest and underarms, he called out to G asking what the problem was with the soap. G walked in with him in the shower with his T-shirt still on. I tried to make light of it and say that at least he had a clean T-shirt too. Tomorrow will be the return trip and that’s it.
Along the trip you would see a car wreck here or there, I remember seeing one fellow biker blow past us doing way over the speed limit, only to catch up with him later being carried on to an ambulance. When I see things like that my stomach lurches in knowing of the horror of going through a bike accident. I’ve never had one but Luke has, falling asleep on a bike, he was fortunate enough to lay the bike down as it skidded along the asphalt and lay on top until it stopped. The only harm that came to him was some nasty burns from the hot bike and his boots ripped off. Jacks used to dirt bike a lot and lost control of his and rammed into a tree stump, I had the good fortune to see him plow into it, not to mention the mid air crash he and Trace had.
We made it to Jacks in record time; the guy at the gate, in Jacks community looked us up and down as if we were fugitives. I gave him a peace sign as we traveled in so he had the full effect.
Luke and I wanted to eat and shower and relax a bit before we ran on down the road. Jacks condo was cool and quiet which about put me to sleep. He showed us around for a while and some of the projects he’s been working on. Luke wanted to see the school but I had no interest in checking a campus out. Later on Luke and Jacks sat on the deck for a while as I snoozed and talked. They don’t talk as much as they used to, I could tell they had a nice heart to heart when I walked out and saw Jacks red eyes. I’m sure issues with my Pops are still troubling him and he really doesn’t have anyone to discuss them with that knows the whole situation.
We said our goodbyes and off to Memphis to spend the night there. Beale Street is a happening place, I love staying at the Peabody Hotel. Now that we had dropped off the “young in” we could enter bars and enjoy a few drinks. We checked in the hotel just in time for the marching of the ducks. A huge ceremony they like to do every morning and evening. They parade the ducks down from the rooftop in a elevator, out into the lobby along a red carpet to the center fountain. Then in the evening back up to their sky roof room.
Beale Street has lots of entertainment, sort of like a mini New Orleans, my favorite is the bar with the interconnected pianos. Maybe because I loved playing jazz on my piano while growing up. We met an older couple that was staying in the hotel as well, who offered us a carriage ride back. The only price we had to pay was to dance with the lady a few times because her husbands’ knees were failing him. We needed it, after all the alcohol we inhaled. I laughed at Luke and told him that Julie will love this story when we get back home. He gasped.
The next day, very late we drove around Memphis and did the tourist things—Graceland, Sun records, eating BBQ then down to Tunica for a bit of gambling for the night. Gambling on a Sunday, my G would die if she knew. Sams Town is the place we usually stay and walked right in. We called in to check on everyone and they were good. Mom gave us a minor disturbing story about PG.
Seems as if he decided to take his Sunday bath and was mad because he couldn’t lather up on his chest and underarms, he called out to G asking what the problem was with the soap. G walked in with him in the shower with his T-shirt still on. I tried to make light of it and say that at least he had a clean T-shirt too. Tomorrow will be the return trip and that’s it.
Saturday, July 5
A smallish trip…
This is part one….
So after my little check up on the office, I blasted off to Atlanta to make it there before dark. When you ride long distances, it’s the best time to think, or at least for me; planning building the house, and work, where my life is going, all that good stuff.
I made it in time for dinner at Luke’s; the kids were all hyped up jumping around “Unta Mart!” Julie was busy packing for her church retreat with her Mom and the two little ones. Some people didn’t get why Luke decided to leave his family on the 4th but Julie really wanted to go to the Ladies/Youth Group Meeting and Luke really wanted to go on a bike ride. It worked out perfectly. I showered, ate and then played with the kiddies a while and then off to my bed in Kyle’s room. He liked the idea of having me as a room mate, peeping his head over his bed boards every so often to make sure I was still there.
I woke to a giraffe spying down on me, from a mural Jacks painted as a gift. Rolled out of the bed and slothed into the living room, on the couch snoozed Jacks. Julie motioned for me to be quiet “He’s been here maybe a good 30 minutes” I wanted to wake him. He looked tired and weak and somewhat thinner, hell the last time I saw him he was cracking over 220 pounds I bet he’s not over 170 now.
We loaded Julie and the kids up for their trip, then ourselves after a huge breakfast. Our first stop was Dahlonega to pan for some gold (This was a dare) but it was still funny to do. There we met some giggly girls, I guess traveling in a group, staring at Jacks as he looked about, he was oblivious to their attention attempts. We entered the mine and the giggles echoed, Luke, Mr. Paranoid knew the walls would cave in from the high pitched squeals.
Then on to Helen, a nice little alpine village, just to get out and walk about. I of course had to eat the local flavors; they have so much food and cooked it outside for everyone to smell. The town is made to be Bavarian style, with piped in music over the whole village. What’s really cool is there are as many bars there as shops -- no we didn’t stop in all of them. When we were younger our parents would take us there as a half way stop, in visiting some aunts that lived in Virginia. We always did the lazy river ride, so this time, in watching the other families float down brought me fond old memories.
We had planned on spending the night in Knoxville; Luke called and made reservations, a few weeks in advance. I wanted to get there in time to see the fireworks display. We goofed around in town a while longer and then drove on through a national forest. Winding curves and cool shades made the trip enjoyable.
Welcome Centers are always nice places to stop, in which we did at the Georgia/Tennessee state line. The majority of the time the sky was beautiful and from the storms nearby the breezes were good, so you didn’t melt in your seat. I was eager to get into the Smokies and see what changes have been made; also I own 40 acres up there and needed to check up on some developments near. There is a steep, curvy mountain road they close off in the summer just for bikers to do a time test going up or down. As you drive along you see tire tread marks and bits and pieces of bikes. The majority of bike parts are in the trees, where the rider lost control and flew off the mountain into the trees.
The ride to Knoxville was uneventful unless you count for the stop we made because of a rain cloud. Passing others on their bikes as they made their way up or down the highway, checking out who had the coolest ride.
We rolled into town and found our hotel, asked the desk clerk where the fireworks might be and head out for dinner. We all three ate like we normally do; the waitress would walk by and shake her head over the mounds of plates on the table. We sat and laughed and munched the whole time. The show was fantastic; the best on the water by far. This is something I want to take my children to see, Knoxville is diverse with museums and the zoo and so much history to learn there. We tromped into the hotel room and planned the route for the next day; it didn’t take long to drift off to sleep. The next day was a riverboat ride/lunch while riding up and down the Tennessee River. Then on to Jacks…..
So after my little check up on the office, I blasted off to Atlanta to make it there before dark. When you ride long distances, it’s the best time to think, or at least for me; planning building the house, and work, where my life is going, all that good stuff.
I made it in time for dinner at Luke’s; the kids were all hyped up jumping around “Unta Mart!” Julie was busy packing for her church retreat with her Mom and the two little ones. Some people didn’t get why Luke decided to leave his family on the 4th but Julie really wanted to go to the Ladies/Youth Group Meeting and Luke really wanted to go on a bike ride. It worked out perfectly. I showered, ate and then played with the kiddies a while and then off to my bed in Kyle’s room. He liked the idea of having me as a room mate, peeping his head over his bed boards every so often to make sure I was still there.
I woke to a giraffe spying down on me, from a mural Jacks painted as a gift. Rolled out of the bed and slothed into the living room, on the couch snoozed Jacks. Julie motioned for me to be quiet “He’s been here maybe a good 30 minutes” I wanted to wake him. He looked tired and weak and somewhat thinner, hell the last time I saw him he was cracking over 220 pounds I bet he’s not over 170 now.
We loaded Julie and the kids up for their trip, then ourselves after a huge breakfast. Our first stop was Dahlonega to pan for some gold (This was a dare) but it was still funny to do. There we met some giggly girls, I guess traveling in a group, staring at Jacks as he looked about, he was oblivious to their attention attempts. We entered the mine and the giggles echoed, Luke, Mr. Paranoid knew the walls would cave in from the high pitched squeals.
Then on to Helen, a nice little alpine village, just to get out and walk about. I of course had to eat the local flavors; they have so much food and cooked it outside for everyone to smell. The town is made to be Bavarian style, with piped in music over the whole village. What’s really cool is there are as many bars there as shops -- no we didn’t stop in all of them. When we were younger our parents would take us there as a half way stop, in visiting some aunts that lived in Virginia. We always did the lazy river ride, so this time, in watching the other families float down brought me fond old memories.
We had planned on spending the night in Knoxville; Luke called and made reservations, a few weeks in advance. I wanted to get there in time to see the fireworks display. We goofed around in town a while longer and then drove on through a national forest. Winding curves and cool shades made the trip enjoyable.
Welcome Centers are always nice places to stop, in which we did at the Georgia/Tennessee state line. The majority of the time the sky was beautiful and from the storms nearby the breezes were good, so you didn’t melt in your seat. I was eager to get into the Smokies and see what changes have been made; also I own 40 acres up there and needed to check up on some developments near. There is a steep, curvy mountain road they close off in the summer just for bikers to do a time test going up or down. As you drive along you see tire tread marks and bits and pieces of bikes. The majority of bike parts are in the trees, where the rider lost control and flew off the mountain into the trees.
The ride to Knoxville was uneventful unless you count for the stop we made because of a rain cloud. Passing others on their bikes as they made their way up or down the highway, checking out who had the coolest ride.
We rolled into town and found our hotel, asked the desk clerk where the fireworks might be and head out for dinner. We all three ate like we normally do; the waitress would walk by and shake her head over the mounds of plates on the table. We sat and laughed and munched the whole time. The show was fantastic; the best on the water by far. This is something I want to take my children to see, Knoxville is diverse with museums and the zoo and so much history to learn there. We tromped into the hotel room and planned the route for the next day; it didn’t take long to drift off to sleep. The next day was a riverboat ride/lunch while riding up and down the Tennessee River. Then on to Jacks…..
Thursday, July 3
Holicraze!
Woke this morning to the smell of wood burning on a pit, heat and humidity and the ocean air, later will be the sweeter smells of BBQ and other fixings. In the last few nights before drifting off to sleep hearing distant – not so distant- cracks of the early signs of fireworks, summer is in full start. Trace is in his element when it comes to fireworks, probably buying as much as his truck could hold. He and Michelle plan on camping out on the island point all night shooting fireworks and whatever comes with shooting fireworks.
Packed my bags and made sure to have the essentials: money, debit card, cell, cell charger and sunglasses. That’s all that is needed, really I packed a few more items but it’s nice to travel light on bike rides.
We plan on having a grad run of it this year, going into the mountains of Georgia, over to the Smokies of Tennessee a small run into Alabama then over to Mississippi I shouldn’t make it home until Tuesday. I’ve been looking forward to it since – yesterday afternoon -- would have been last Wednesday but due to circumstances beyond my control that was not to be. I plan on making sure to keep a good journal of this trip, I have a feeling this may be the last one for us.
However, yesterday morning I gave Jacks a call to make sure the problem he text me about earlier was working out for him. He rumbled a “yeah and thanks” and we spoke and worked our own problems out. I hate to argue with my brothers, I am a fighter by nature; I don’t take shit from anyone, my temper is short and my patience even shorter when it comes to controversy. It’s either a “Yes” or “No” in life to me, no room for “Maybes”.
He text me later to say he would be joining us on Friday morning for the beginning of the ride then a call. Listening close you could hear a slight sadness in his voice but a want to be with us as well. I know it’s hard to tear yourself away from the ones you love, but it’s a part of life and only makes coming home better. So this morning I set out, only stopping in the office for a brief check of everything and out the door I go to Atlanta.
If you plan to be out and about this year, drive carefully, watch out for bikers and keep your fingers away from the lit fireworks! Have a happy holiday.....
(Thanks Jess)
Packed my bags and made sure to have the essentials: money, debit card, cell, cell charger and sunglasses. That’s all that is needed, really I packed a few more items but it’s nice to travel light on bike rides.
We plan on having a grad run of it this year, going into the mountains of Georgia, over to the Smokies of Tennessee a small run into Alabama then over to Mississippi I shouldn’t make it home until Tuesday. I’ve been looking forward to it since – yesterday afternoon -- would have been last Wednesday but due to circumstances beyond my control that was not to be. I plan on making sure to keep a good journal of this trip, I have a feeling this may be the last one for us.
However, yesterday morning I gave Jacks a call to make sure the problem he text me about earlier was working out for him. He rumbled a “yeah and thanks” and we spoke and worked our own problems out. I hate to argue with my brothers, I am a fighter by nature; I don’t take shit from anyone, my temper is short and my patience even shorter when it comes to controversy. It’s either a “Yes” or “No” in life to me, no room for “Maybes”.
He text me later to say he would be joining us on Friday morning for the beginning of the ride then a call. Listening close you could hear a slight sadness in his voice but a want to be with us as well. I know it’s hard to tear yourself away from the ones you love, but it’s a part of life and only makes coming home better. So this morning I set out, only stopping in the office for a brief check of everything and out the door I go to Atlanta.
If you plan to be out and about this year, drive carefully, watch out for bikers and keep your fingers away from the lit fireworks! Have a happy holiday.....
(Thanks Jess)
Wednesday, July 2
Getting better/Second chances/Plans…
Yesterday was a progressive day for me; sat in the office talking to Amy on the phone most of my morning. Which was nice only during the sporadic points did she try to push me into calling Jackson making nicey nice to him -- I didn’t. I did however write a book of an e-mail explaining some of my feelings and why I reacted so to Jessica, whether she read it or could understand my ramblings is anyone’s guess.
Then sat down and looked at my house plans that will be jabbed on the lot soon, making minor adjustments here and there. Spoke with and electrician seeing what problems might occur if I wanted special plugs on every wall and wiring on the inside. I made the wrong job plan and should have been an electrician. I really want a metal stamped roof, not the farm house style but they look like shingles only in metal sheets. The house is a contemporary rancher with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths; one big change was the kitchen -- making it larger. The majority of home time is spent there, ever have a party and where does everyone flock to? The kitchen!
We have this cool software that messes around with the topology of land, you put in the size specifications of the land and the elevations and “work” the lawn until it’s to your liking. Then you can make a 3D version of the lot and get what Lori calls “Lego’s” out and construct the house on it to scale. I snagged the Lego’s from my Pops office a while back. He uses them on his high end clients instead of drawings.
After the second marathon phone call from Amy that day I really needed to get out and look at some job sites and talk to a few prospective customers and give Bee a visit.
Stopped off to see Bee first, it was a good thing too, and she made my favorite cookies and had a whole dish full. We sat and talked and ate and moped with her, I wanted some pity. Not sure if it was the past week events or the reoccurring ones at home that have me in this rut. At times I feel I made a huge mistake and should have gone on to get my degree in writing and working for the paper in Atlanta. Planning to write that book and hopefully do some traveling and jot those experiences down as well. At any rate maybe the trip Luke and I have going might help me sort my feelings out. While I was visiting with Bee, Jackson text me asking a few questions on a whole different matter, I wasn’t really in the mood for a chat with him just yet, maybe today.
Then sat down and looked at my house plans that will be jabbed on the lot soon, making minor adjustments here and there. Spoke with and electrician seeing what problems might occur if I wanted special plugs on every wall and wiring on the inside. I made the wrong job plan and should have been an electrician. I really want a metal stamped roof, not the farm house style but they look like shingles only in metal sheets. The house is a contemporary rancher with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths; one big change was the kitchen -- making it larger. The majority of home time is spent there, ever have a party and where does everyone flock to? The kitchen!
We have this cool software that messes around with the topology of land, you put in the size specifications of the land and the elevations and “work” the lawn until it’s to your liking. Then you can make a 3D version of the lot and get what Lori calls “Lego’s” out and construct the house on it to scale. I snagged the Lego’s from my Pops office a while back. He uses them on his high end clients instead of drawings.
After the second marathon phone call from Amy that day I really needed to get out and look at some job sites and talk to a few prospective customers and give Bee a visit.
Stopped off to see Bee first, it was a good thing too, and she made my favorite cookies and had a whole dish full. We sat and talked and ate and moped with her, I wanted some pity. Not sure if it was the past week events or the reoccurring ones at home that have me in this rut. At times I feel I made a huge mistake and should have gone on to get my degree in writing and working for the paper in Atlanta. Planning to write that book and hopefully do some traveling and jot those experiences down as well. At any rate maybe the trip Luke and I have going might help me sort my feelings out. While I was visiting with Bee, Jackson text me asking a few questions on a whole different matter, I wasn’t really in the mood for a chat with him just yet, maybe today.
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