Weekly Tidbits

Just need to ramble a little, so some of this may not make sense.

•The high school I attended during my younger days is closing and being torn down. They have combined two schools (Clay County and Lineville High) and now we only have one big school (Central High School of Clay County) for the county. I am glad I don't live there now because there is so much drama about the cheerleaders and the school being torn down.
There is a big racial thing going on because there are no African American cheerleaders on the varsity squad. I believe (like a lot of people do) that the positions should be earned not given simply because of race. There is an exception in the rules for males. I think males (black or white) need to be on cheer squads for stunts. Just ask a cheer coach.
Another thing I hear people talking about is the fact the school is being torn down, or at least some of it is. I do hate to see it being torn down and something else put in its place. I have many good memories there and will carry them with me. Yes, they could make it a historical site like they have other schools in the county. The building is old with mold, mildew and asbestos in it. It would take more $ and time to clean it and get it up to code. I mean do you really think the school will last forever? Cherish the memories you have of the old school and be proud for the ones who get a nice, new, clean school to make memories in. It is time for a change and people hate change!

•It's summer time! I love the summer months - watermelon, grilling, swimming, being outside. I would love to go to the beach and just relax. I wonder if Bear would like the beach? Maybe we should just start with camping and see if he likes that. Speaking of watermelon. I have one at home that I can't wait to eat. Five o'clock needs to hurry up!

•Speaking of Bear. He has not killed any critters lately. He mostly sleeps and keeps the squirrels out of the yard. His poor tarp is in need of replacement. We brought him in the house a couple of days ago and gave him a much needed bath. He just was not in his normal place, so he was restless.

•Did you know they make duct tape that is about a foot wide? I didn't!

•Facebook is getting old to me. Every time I check it, it is the same stuff that I complain about. Who went where, where they are, what music they are listening to, quotes they like, what they are having for supper or what they did have for supper. I mean geeezzzz....do you not have a life other than Facebook? Is your life that boring that you would think we care what you had for supper? Put stuff on there that is important - kids pictures, updates on your family, jokes.

•I love My Coke Reward points. Getting magazines in the mail makes me feel important. HA!

•Redbox is awesome with their free codes once a month. I just watched The Vow.

•For some strange reason I am curious about the Hatfield and McCoy families. There has been a special on tv the last couple of nights about them. It is a three part special.

•I have started reading The Hunger Game books. The first one is titled, The Hunger Games; second is Catching Fire and last book is Mockingjay. Never would I have thought I would enjoy them, but I have.

I am sure I could ramble some more but my mind is only thinking about the watermelon that is at home

Have you seen Duck Dynasty?

Oh my, this is one of the funniest show I have seen in a long time. If you have not watched it, (and I highly recommend you do) it is on A&E. The show follows the Robertson family, who live in West Monroe, Louisiana. They have made their living making and selling duck calls.

No, they don't look like your normal millionaires. Which I think is one reason they are so likable. They are just down to earth folks! Some of the sayings of Si (who is Willie's Uncle) are just straight forward, no beating around the bush talk. I am not going to ramble on about the show. Just go and watch it yourself. You will be glad! And if you don't laugh, then you just don't have ANY sense of humor.

A Sad Day In The Swamp

Chris and I have been watching Swamp People since it has been on television. It follows a couple of men and women in southern Louisiana catching alligators in the swamps. It is a very unique show and something that I never really knew existed.
There are two brothers, Mitchell and Glenn Guist, who live off the land by hunting and fishing for everything that could be found in the swamp. You never saw them hunting alligators, mostly gar fish, squirrels and crawfish. Shoes were something you hardly saw them with. I have had some great laughs and a somewhat small understanding of what it would be like to live off the land. Though I  don't believe I would last too long. They were living a simple life, one in which they only knew. 
With that said I am sad to report that Mitchell has passed away. He will be truly missed.

Mitchell Guist, Swamp People

TV shows from the past

I know we have all said that they don't make television shows like they use to, at least I have! I remember some of my favorite shows like ALF, Gilligans Island, The Golden Girls, The Brady Bunch, I Love Lucy. I really could list a lot more, but that would just bore you!

I have recently noticed that they are showing old episodes of The Golden Girls. Now, I watched the show but not like ALF or Gilligan's Island. Those two I could tell you something about every episode.

So here is my take on ALF and Gilligan's Island. First let me start off with Gilligan's Island.

Gilligan's Island:
Let me just say this...Now I understand it was just a television show and they were never really stuck on an island, but it had me fooled when I was younger. I loved everything Gilligan did, he was so clumsy! The way they built their huts was awesome...and the coconut pies that Mary Ann fixed looked amazing. Never did I wonder how she baked them. Of all the people that they came into contact with, never did one of them say..."Oh we have been looking for you!" Nor did they go back to civilization and say they had found them and sent boats. It was tried once, but never found the right island. I often wondered how they took baths and never looked skinny. They wore the same clothes and they never looked bad. But anyway....enough of the stuff I didn't understand. Let me tell some of my favorite moments of the show.
•When Gilligan was a radio. Every time he opened his mouth you could hear a radio.
•When the Head Hunters were on the island.
•When Gilligan found seeds that allows him to read minds.
•When Ginger gets to do her Broadway show and Mrs. Howell thinks it should be her. Jealousy!
•When a frog helps them locate water.
I really could go on!

ALF:
Which stands for Alien Life Form!
Love, love, love ALF! Even  had an ALF doll when I was younger.
ALF had some of the funniest sayings. Such as..."If I had a straw and napkin I would so fill you full of spit balls!"  Besides chasing the cat, "Lucky" he keeps the family on their toes. You know, when I was younger I never tried to figure out what or who ALF was. Now I know! One of my favorite episodes was when he had the ant farm and they all died. He buried each one and gave them a name. Another favorite is when he drives the sports car for the first time. I love the Christmas episode where they go looking for a Christmas tree.
There was also an ALF episode where he lands on Gilligan's Island.

Thanks to Hulu I can watch old show of ALF. Guess I need to see if I can find Gilligan's Island.

1940 Census & Dirt Track

Things have been quite busy for me lately. I have decided to help index the 1940 census that was released April 2nd. It is called the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project. Anyone can do it and it is not hard to learn.

It took me a couple of days to decide that I wanted to do it, mainly because I wasn't real sure about the downloading and how much room it would take up on the computer. I asked Chris and he said it would be fine. So now I am addicted to indexing. I can't wait to get home everyday and start indexing. I have even let some of my television shows go. I believe I am up to about 1,000 people indexed.
One of the main reasons I started it was to help my father in his venture to find his birth mother and brother. I figured if I started indexing it would help get the State of Alabama done faster. As of now there are a couple of states that you can search by name. The other states that are in the process of being indexed, you can only search for addresses. Once you have an address, you then can look for names. We do have a couple of addresses for his mother, but I have not been able to find her name. Plus there were only 100+ thousands of people in Birmingham in 1940.

This past Friday night I went to the Talladega Short Track. I have an aunt who dates a guy that races dirt track. It was the first time I had ever been there and I was quite shocked! Dirt is everywhere (never wear white), the fences look like they need repair, more fences need to be added and the cars are sideways when they come around the corner. Plus it is loud! I know it sounds like I am complaining....but I really am not. I had such a good time. I was able to see the pits, see where the drivers get ready and watch them line up. It really is different than the NASCAR races that I have been to. I really liked dirt track better because I can see around the whole track and watch each driver and their moves. Plus they don't race many laps, so I don't get board. I can't wait to go back!