The Weekend

It’s Friday!
I hope you are ready for the weekend.

In case you want to see something interesting, here’s a few videos:

• The bulldog that surfs & rides a skate board
  
• Watch a wild eagle through this live video cam
  
• Learn about Welfare Vacations
  
  

The Boat is Ready
Doug and I had a good day yesterday working on my boat. It is now ready for a fishing trip. We’re going to keep our eye on the weather forecast and try to find a day around 65-70 degrees with a low forecast of rain, and no significant wind.

-_-_-_-

I wish for you a great weekend, and I hope it’s warm enough where you live so that you can get outside and enjoy the late days of winter that make us wish for an early spring.

I hope to be back here next week.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Half of the people in the world are below average.

~
New Theory About Calories!
Calories are the little devils that get into your
wardrobe at night and sew your clothes tighter...
Many closets are infested with them.

~~~

Quote of the Day

If a mistake is not a stepping stone, it is a mistake.
~Eli Siegel

~~~
Joke of the Day

This is amazing -- It's a simple mathematical exercise that can predict your favorite movie. It must have been created by a real genius. Don't know how it works, but it works every time! Be honest and don't look at the movie list below till you have done the math!

Ok, just humor me and do it!

Movie Quiz:

1. Pick a number from 1-9.
2. Multiply by 3.
3. Add 3.
4. Multiply by 3 again.
5. Now add the two digits of your answer together to find your predicted favorite movie in the list of 17 movies

Movie List:

1. Gone With the Wind
2. E.T.
3. Blazing Saddles
4. Star Wars
5. Forrest Gump
6. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
7. Jaws
8. Grease
9. The Obama Farewell Speech of 2013
10. Casablanca
11. Jurassic Park
12. Shrek
13. Pirates of the Caribbean
14. Titanic
15. Raiders of the Lost Ark
16. Home Alone
17. Mrs. Doubtfire

Now, ain't that something...?

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Getting Ready

For what?

Do you know what I’m getting ready for? Well, spring is springing, and in the spring I like to go fishing. So today I’m planning on cleaning up the boat and getting it loaded up. My good friend and fishing buddy Doug is coming over to help with getting the boat ready. We’re thinking that maybe we can go fishing next week if we can hit a good day. Last year we fished Douglas Lake on March 18.

Here’s Doug with some Douglas crappie we caught last year.

Here’s our TODO list for the boat:

1. Remove and store winter cover.
2. Clean boat seats.
3. Clean boat interior.
4. Install 2 batteries.
5. Check points that may need lubrication.
6. Load life jackets, first-aid kit, etc.
7. Put in the Porta-Potty.
8. Put rod holder in the boat.
9. Load fishing tackle for crappie fishing.
10. Load rods & reels for crappie fishing.
11. Check trailer tire pressure & inflate as needed.
12. Install summer boat cover.

Looks like a full days work. You’re welcome to come by and lend a hand.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I’m not voting FOR anyone this year.
Instead, I’ll be voting AGAINST someone.
Know what I mean?

~~~

Quote of the Day
A people that values its privileges
above its principles soon loses both. 
~Dwight D. Eisenhower

~~~
Joke of the Day

This is a mail box! A real mail box!

And this was found on a hot air hand dryer is a restaurant’s rest room. Someone had a good sense of humor, do you?

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Interesting History

Some Interesting Things Have Occurred in Tennessee
But I was unaware of this one until a few days ago when one of my high school class mates sent me a link to this video about the Battle of Athens. This battle was a rebellion led by World War II veterans against a corrupt & tyrannical local government in 1946. I thought it was worth the 13 minutes viewing time, and you might enjoy it better by watching in full screen.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I’ve been working on my fishing tackle this week. Yesterday I rigged up 12 of my crappie rods that we use for trolling, and the 6 rods/reels we use when fishing for lake trout. This warm weather gives me a burst of new energy. I hope you are enjoying these days also.

~~~

Quote of the Day
Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. 
You won't have time to make them all yourself.
~Alfred Sheinwold

~~~
Joke of the Day

This is the End of the Funny Tombstones:

John Penny's epitaph in the
Wimborne, England , cemetery:

Reader, if cash thou art in want of any,
Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.

==================================

In a cemetery in Hartscombe, England :

On the 22nd of June,
Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.

==================================

Anna Hopewell's grave in
Enosburg Falls, Vermont :

Here lies the body of our Anna,
Done to death by a banana.
It wasn't the fruit that laid her low,
But the skin of the thing that made her go.

==================================

On a grave from the 1880s in
Nantucket, Massachusetts :

Under the sod and under the trees,
Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.
He is not here, there's only the pod,
Pease shelled out and went to God.

==================================

In a cemetery in England :

Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so shall you be,
Remember this and follow me.

To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone:

To follow you I'll not consent,
Until I know which way you went.

 

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The Irony of the Thing

Ironic
My good friend, Mark, sent this to me the other day. I thought it was good. Good enough to post and good enough to remember.

The food stamp program, a US Government run program, announced it is pleased to be distributing the greatest amount of food stamps ever.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service, also part of the US Government, asks us to "please do not feed the animals" because the animals may grow dependent and not learn to take care of themselves.

What Happened?
What has happened in the last 50-60 years? It used to be that people wanted to better themselves and were willing to work hard to improve their lot in life. Now it seems that the majority of people want the government to take care of them.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
One of the best investments to make today might be to buy into a company that makes hand baskets. This country is going to need a lot of them if things don’t change.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Charm is a glow within a woman that casts a most becoming light on others.
~John Mason Brown

~~~
Joke of the Day

Funny Tombstones:

Harry Edsel Smith of Albany , New York :

Born 1903--Died 1942.
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the
car was on the way down. It was.

=============================

In a Thurmont, Maryland , cemetery:

Here lies an Atheist,
all dressed up
and no place to go.

=============================

On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in

East Dalhousie Cemetery, Nova Scotia:

Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102.
Only the good die young.

=============================

In a London , England cemetery:

Here lies Ann Mann, who lived an old maid
but died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767

=============================

 

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A Good Weekend

We Had Fun!
We had a wonderful weekend. Mandy and Alex came for a visit. They arrived on Friday night and stayed until Sunday afternoon.

They went with us to watch Zachary’s basketball game on Saturday even. His team, the Indian Springs Redskins were playing in the finals of the tournament for their 5th grade league. They won in an exciting game and were awarded with 2 trophies: One for the tournament championship and the other for the league championship. They were undefeated in their league games. The players also received individual medallions (See above picture.) Below is a picture of the team with their trophies.

We also took some pictures of Mandy and Alex before they left on Sunday afternoon. As you can see Mandy is showing her pregnancy and we are all excited about that little boy that is due in July, 2012.

It’s an exciting time for Grandmother and Granddaddy. It’s hard to believe that we are expecting a GREAT Grandson.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I’m thankful for family.
It means so much to love and be loved.

~~~

Quote of the Day

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.
~Charles Gordy

~~~
Joke of the Day

More Funny Tombstones:

In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery:

Anna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread,
And the Lord sent them manna.
Clark Wallace wanted a wife,
And the Devil sent him Anna.

===============================

In a Ruidoso, New Mexico, cemetery:

Here lies Johnny Yeast.
Pardon him for not rising.

===============================

In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania, cemetery:

Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake,
Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.

==============================

In a Silver City , Nevada , cemetery:

Here lays The Kid,
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger,
But slow on the draw.

================================

A lawyer's epitaph in England :

Sir John Strange.
Here lies an honest lawyer,
and that is Strange.

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A Baby Boy Is On The Way!

And I Will Be A Great Granddaddy!
We just heard a couple of days ago that Mandy and Alex’s baby (due in July) will be a boy. I’m getting excited and you just can’t imagine how exited Grandmother is!!!

We looking forward to having a weekend visit from Mandy and Alex beginning TODAY. We looking forward to seeing them and doing all that baby talk for the next few days. It will be lots of fun!

Did You Hear About the Sneeze?
I am sharing what I received from a dear friend:

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing .. and the traditional caps, they looked almost .. as grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.

This class would NOT PRAY during the commencements--not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation.

A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!! The student on stage.. simply looked at the audience and said,

"GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!" And he walked off stage...

The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

Note to Robin, One of My Readers
Robin wrote today about last Monday’s blog about the F’s. Robin wrote: “Love your blog but I must confess my problem --- no way can I find more than 3 Fs. Finished, Files and Scientific. Where are the other 3?”

Answer: The other 3 F's are in the little word "OF"... they occur 3 times. Don't feel bad most people miss the F's in "OF".

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS
OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.

~~~
Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I hope you have a wonderful and enjoyable weekend.
Remember your loved ones, smile at everyone, and don’t forget to pray.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Hospitality, n. 
The virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain persons who are not in need of food and lodging.
~Ambrose Bierce

~~~
Joke of the Day

The United States Border Patrol is asking everyone to keep on the lookout for a red 1951 Chevy.

They suspect this car is being used to smuggle illegal immigrants across the border from Mexico and into points along the U.S. border.

If you see the vehicle pictured below and have reason to believe that it is the suspect vehicle, you are urged to contact your local police department or the U.S. Border Patrol.

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Diverging Diamond Intersection

For Exit 407 on Interstate 40
This intersection is very busy and clogs up routinely with congestion. It is one of the key exits that from the interstate that will take you to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I read a couple of days ago that the Feds had approved a project to ease the traffic at this gateway. The solution is to install a “diverging diamond intersection.”

My first reaction was, “What in the world is that???” I learned too, that this idea has been used in Europe, and it works. Still, I was confused, as the words I read seemed confusing to describe such an intersection.

So I went to Google which took me to YouTube and I found a visualization of such an intersection. When you watch it below, think of the dark green highway as Interstate 40, and the road intersecting it as State Highway 66. (The big difference is that State Highway 66 goes over the interstate rather than under, as illustrated in the video.)

It looks like it will be a big project, and I hope it works.

The article I read gave no information on the timetable for the project.

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
There’s a Bass Pro Shop at exit 407 on Interstate 40. I hope the above project will make it easier for me to do my shopping for fishing tackle.

.

I also hope they fix those potholes on I81 south of Kingsport, Tenn. I’m tired of trying to dodge them when I make that trip.
(I have my PhD for sure… Pot Hole Dodger)

.

~~~

Quote of the Day
Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the
ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars
when you had hair.
~Sam Ewing
.

~~~
Joke of the Day

A Pastor goes to the dentist for a set of false teeth. The first Sunday after he gets his new teeth, he talks for only eight minutes. The second Sunday, he talks for only ten minutes. The following Sunday, he talks for 2 hours and 48 minutes.

The congregation had to mob him to get him down from the pulpit and they asked him what happened.

The Pastor explains the first Sunday his gums hurt so bad he couldn't talk for more than 8 minutes.

The second Sunday his gums hurt too much to talk for more than 10 minutes.

But, the third Sunday, he put his wife's teeth in by mistake and he couldn't shut up.

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