Notes From The War Room - 2023

Auburn, We Have a Problem

We have a problem on The Plains.  We have a team with the talent to play with Georgia and Alabama but get destroyed by LSU and New Mexico State.

Maryland is Good!  They lost to OSU and Penn State but played Michigan close at the end of the season.  They beat Nebraska, Rutgers, Indiana, and Michigan State.  Tonight should have been no surprise, but it was to the team, the coaches, and many Auburn fans.

Given everything I have seen this year, the problem is a lack of Pride.  We in the service call it Esprit de Corps.  A First Sergeant once told me that he could destroy my confidence, motivation, and enthusiasm but that he could never take away my Unit Pride.

Coach Freeze must teach and instill pride in his players - The Pride of an Auburn Tiger.  In this mercenary NIL/Portal environment, teaching school pride will be a tough challenge.

War damn Eagle! All In!  Dye Hard!  I believe in Auburn and Love It.

After The Game, Saturday, 30 December 2023

Free Simona

Since 2014, Simona Halep has been my tennis player.

I don't usually watch tennis; that's Kady's thing.  I began looking for someone to follow so I could share the long months of back-to-back tennis tournaments with her.  In a photo from the WTA Singapore Open was an adorable little girl in a blue floral dress.

Great Legs!

I asked Kady, "Who is THIS cute little number?"

John, Seriously? That's Simona Halep, the World #2.

I have watched her since that day.  She helped me become a tennis fan.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has suspended her for four years for doping.  She says she didn't.  I believe her.

She has an appeal with the Court of Arbitration in Sports set for 7-9 February.  I hope they fix this errant and abhorrent punishment, which will end the career of one of the best athletes and most beloved people on the planet.

I'm boycotting all tennis until they sort this out.

Saturday, 30 December 2023

A Case for Shrimp and GRITS

Once again, I tried Shrimp and Grits made by a chef who either had forgotten or never knew how grits are supposed to taste.

Perhaps Maryland is too far above the Mason-Dixon Line.

Grits are ground Corn, boiled with a little salt, and, when served, should look like oatmeal.  Some folks (not me) like them with a little butter.  Grits should be white or slightly yellow.

Shrimp-and-Grits is a Thing because the two foods go together, like Ham and Eggs,  Peanut Butter and Jelly.  Cook your shrimp how you want, do your Chef Thing, but serve them with traditional Grits.

I should have known I was making a mistake.  This restaurant's S&G was called Shrimp and Gouda Grits.  The shrimp were delicious, jumbo, and plentiful.  Their sauce, which our waitress suggested I have on the side, was also tasty.  Their "grits" were a sticky Gouda paste, decent, but not Grits.

Grits!  Leave them alone!  Add Shrimp.  Enjoy.  You're Welcome!

OH, Yeah!  Please take off the tails and dice up the shrimp so we don't have to eat a dish that should be eaten with a spoon with our fingers.  Thanks!

Saturday, 24 December 2023

A Woodlawn Legend Dies

Former Woodlawn High and Jacksonville State head football coach, Bill Burgess, died Wednesday, 13 December at the Age of 82.

He was a fine man.  How was he only 12 years older than me?  When I was 18, he was only 30.  He seemed "really old" back then.

A New Swiftie

When Taylor first hit the country stations in 2006, I thought, "This is not Country, but the little girl has talent.  She could make great music when she grows up a little."

Kady and I watched Taylor Swift's Eras Tour today.  She's grown up.  I enjoyed the show and the songs.  For a guy who cut his teeth on the music of the 1960s and 1970s, that is a big statement.

What's funniest about a seventy-year-old man enjoying her show is that I was disappointed she didn't sing "Tim McGraw."

Watch it.  It's less than $20 for a three-hour show.

Wednesday, 13 December 2023

Take your Camera . . . Everywhere . . . Every Time!

I want to begin taking photos of interesting people and send them the images.  I've printed some business cards to give them my website and email address.  If they tell me no, I'll understand.  The world is dangerous.  The business cards are so they can check me out to see that I'm legitimate.  Permission is the key.  I'll shoot adults only and no ladies out alone.

I didn't take my camera or business cards today.  I saw the cutest elderly couple in the whole world sitting on a bench overlooking the lake.  I did take my little Nikon S9100, but without the business cards, I had to photograph them at a distance.

It was a missed opportunity and one I won't make again.

What a Bobo!

Wednesday, 13 December 2023

Bird York - music you should try

Everyone who knows me knows about my love for the 1993 Fox series Key West, starring Jennifer Tilly, Fisher Stevens, Brian Thompson, Denise Crosby, Leland Crooke, Ivory Ocean, Kim Myers, Jennifer Barlow, Geno Silva, and TC Carson. It was a crazy Comedy/Drama that pushed boundaries with wacky but lovable characters.

Sadly, it only lasted for thirteen episodes but still has a cult following, and you can watch all of it on YouTube.

In the third episode, The Great Unknown, a mysterious young woman, played by Kathleen York, comes to the End of The World. Her character was an instant hit with me. "Let's put it on the table - I hunt, smoke, eat junk food, listen to Andrew Dice Clay, believe in nuclear power, and voted for Ronald Reagan. Still want to take me to bed?"

While on Amazon Music, I heard a song I liked. The artist looked familiar. A quick Google search told me that Bird York is the musical stage name of actress Kathleen York.

Sold! I gave her music a try, and I love it. It reminds me a little of Sarah McLachlan's stuff, though less pop and more soulful. I find myself listening to it all the time.

Friday, 8 December 2023

Coffee

KS and I have a new coffee spot, the First Free Coffee Bar.  It's open, quiet, friendly, and a large is called a . . . "Large."  It's a new place.  We've been there twice and liked it a lot.  The coffee is good, the atmosphere is friendly, and the open space is inviting.

I've had a Cappuccino and a Dark Roast Hot Brew.  Both were yummy.  Sadly, a few people on the web are complaining about the owner's politics.  How about we leave coffee out of the political arena?  Some have also complained that he built too close to The Daily Grind and Starbucks.  I get that and plan to go to the Daily Grind next week, but his business seems to be doing quite well.

We're on a hunt for the best coffee spot in Charlottesville.  Recommendations for our next stop are welcome.

I should print this photo for our next visit.  KS should be their Brand Model.  Then again, I don't want her to become a target for the political loonies.

Wednesday, 6 December 2023

A Note to Florida State

I see you, FSU, you're undefeated in a pretty good conference.  You beat two SEC Teams.

Right now, no one is sure how good you are.  Why was Alabama selected over you?  Strength of Schedule.  You had a chance to come to the SEC years ago, but you chose the ACC.  You made your bed . . .

Here is how you fix it - Beat Georgia.  Yeah.  Beat the hell out of Georgia.  Then you can show everyone what a badass team you are.

Good Luck.

Later Note: Georgia beat FSU 63 - 3.

Sunday, 3 December 2023

Kady's Tree

Each year Kady, my wife, decorates our tree. My job is to set the tree up, put on the lights, and get out of her way. There is magic about to happen and I never want to spoil that.

She collects ornaments, so we get a different-looking tree each year. They are always beautiful. When she did the seven and eight-foot trees, I'm guessing each held over one hundred pounds of breakable things. Her process took about three days.

I had to anchor the tree to the wall each year.

She gets this from her mom who kept a tree up year round. Sylvia had an entirely different style but decorated a beautiful tree.  Now, Kady's daughters are decorating beautiful trees in their styles.

This year, she offered up a lot of her ornaments to her daughters and gave away many to charity. We went through them piece by piece keeping only those to which we are emotionally tied. We switched to a small tree last year which made us happy. I had fewer lights to wrestle but still got a lovely tree. She didn't have to work as hard.

There have been years when we didn't put up a tree and those Christmases weren't the same. Our Tree is my signal to putter around the house singing or listening to holiday music and to begin watching the movies.

Kady's tree is up. I'm ready. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Y'all.

505 Advice on Mice

If you have mice, don't try to trap them to release in the wild; the little bastards are too smart.  Don't use sticky traps; those are cruel beyond measure.  Don't be taken in by their adorable appearance; they are just small rats out to take over your home so they can eat your stash of leftover Halloween candy. 

Get your mind straight - This is War!  It is time to get Mad Dog Mean

1. Find their entry points

2. Plug all holes with steel wool and top that off with caulk or filler

3. Set your mouse traps -  La Guillotine works best.  See image.  Load with chocolate

4. Wait

5. Listen for the click

6. Dispose of the mouse ( I use burial at sea )

7. Repeat

Don't listen to your friends who tell you you should deal with them humanely; these little Hannibal Lecter creatures will crawl over the body of their dead friend to eat the chocolate.  True Story.  They don't care!  Kill them quickly and be done with it.

Monday, 4 December 2023

War Eagle

Yeah, I'm an Auburn Fan.  I have been since I was a little guy, choosing Auburn over that other team, probably to piss off the other members of my family.  Middle Kid.

I call it, "Doing the hard right thing rather than the easy wrong."  Cheering for a team that always wins is easy.  It is always HARD to be an Auburn Fan but the last few years have been particularly tough.

We never know what team we'll get on Saturday - a team that plays Georgia and Alabama tough or one that loses a $1.8 million "get-right game," and embarrasses us all.

Auburn's athletic program is a big mess - only about 50% of the team are Alabamians.  What are the other half?  I'm going with Paid Mercenaries.  This is what NIL and the Transfer Portal have brought to NCAA Sports.

I'm not sure about this Freeze guy, either.   I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt because he inherited a shit show.   I see some brilliance from the coaching staff but we often get junk like the last play of the 2023 Alabama game.  What The Ever-loving FUCK was THAT?!?!

Would you like me to design a defense for that situation, Coach Freeze?  I can!

I still Believe in Auburn and Love It. All-In! War damn Eagle!

Playing Cards

Yeah, I know.  I suck at Cards.  

I've never been a card player, but I get caught up in games since my daughter married a Yankee.  I assume card games are all they have to do up North.

Every night, we play Wizards.  I "get" this game, but it's so fucking frustrating.  Some nights, I'll play brilliantly, but mostly I lose.  I hate losing at anything.

My problem is that I don't know what I'm doing differently between the nights when I blow everyone away and those when I am last.  There is a lot of chance in the game.  You can drive the game where you want if you have the right cards.  You must keep track of what cards have been played.  Your bidding is all about probabilities.

It is easier to bid zero and dump your cards, but you can't win the game that way.

When my plan is working, one of the others will trump a Trick or drop a Wizard.  This happens more often to me because everyone loves to pick on me.

That's IT!  Everyone is picking on me!

Or . . . I suck at cards.

Thanksgiving Week Coffee

I'm in Maryland and I decided to leave my Travel Keurig at home.  Big Mistake.

My daughter and son-in-law have a Nespresso.  I've tried Stormio, Odacio, and, this morning, Melozio - fancy Italian names for not-very-good coffee.  Yawn.

My son has pointed out that I am not a Coffee Snob.  Maybe Not.  However, I know what I like.  I prefer the ease of the Keurig and the taste of Lavazza but make French Press, Cuban, and a perfect Turkish Kahve.

I am a Coffee Aficionado.

I never drank coffee as a young soldier but while visiting a family in Istanbul, I drank my first cup of Turk Kahve.  It was wonderful.  It began my love affair with coffee.

Many of my favorite memories are built around coffee but not here in Maryland.  Not here.

Voting Day Chips

Yes, I voted.  I hope you did, too.  Kady and I walked down to our polling place, just before noon.  You might think that that is what I would write about today.  No.

Today, I would like to tell you about the best chips on the shelf - Late July.  If you haven't tried them, you must.  Let me highly suggest their Mexican Street Corn and Jalapeno & Lime chips.  Holy Cow, they are good!  And, only 140 calories for 12 chips.  Yes Please!  I'm going to try them all.  We get them at Kroger, Harris-Teeter, and Thrive Market.  Normally, I'm a big Doritos fan, but Late July kicks their ass.

Tuesday, 7 November 2023