1958 OLYMPIAN - Signings

The first pages of the OLYMPIAN were blank and so were the last few pages. I suppose that was all in the plan to have your buddies sign your year book and say something memorable or significant. What deep thoughts would you expect from a teenager's mind in 1958 before color TV?

I forgot until I scanned the 1957 OLYMPIAN that there were no signings on any of the blank pages of the 1957 yearbook. Was I too shy to ask people afraid they would say no? Maybe. I don't remember.

But the Spring of 1958 is when I became a Rat Skat and I suddenly graduated from being a reclusive creep to a social butterfly. Look at these pages, a lot of people known as "popular" signed them. Is that cliquey or what?

Click on each page to read it better.

This Day in History: ♫OooooOOOOOOoooo♪

The above ♫OooooooOOOOOOooo♪ is me doing two imitations at once, Howlin’ Wolf and Janis Joplin.

On this date in history, in 1910, Howlin’ Wolf (Chester Arthur Burnett) was born. He was born in White Station, Mississippi, and became a blues musician strumming a guitar and blowing a harmonica. In the movie CADILLAC RECORDS he was portrayed as a musician with high ethics. According to Google he was an imposing 6’6” tall. He died on his birth date in 1976. He is on several of our ESSENTIAL BLUES CDs that we bought at the HOUSE OF BLUES. It is enjoyable to listen to him.



On this date in history , in 1988, Louis L’Amour, western writer died. I never read anything by him but heard a lot about him. The other day in a used book store while piddling around I saw a whole row of books by L’Amour and picked one up and read the first page. I was hooked by the writing style. I almost added that to our purchases, then decided, naw, I have enough reading on my plate already, and regretfully put it down. Another time, Louis!

On this date in 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt was a busy man. He was the first president to visit a foreign country during wartime. The on-line almanac that I refer to did not say which country. I know when a president visits a country during hostel areas they sometimes keeps it a secret until he is back safely in our country. Maybe it is the same this time – only they just forgot to lift the secret ban.

Also on the same date, 1943, wherever Roosevelt was he signed the Withholding Tax bill into law.

And millions of people across the United States said and are still saying:

“What Me Pay Taxes?”


On this date in 1966, Janis Joplin gave her 1st live concert (Avalon Ballroom in SF). Ironically, this morning on Willow and my walk I listened to Janis’s CD FAREWELL SONG, which is a live concert recording. It’s a small world!

1958 OLYMPIAN - Front Cover

As you know it has been a few days since I finished off showing the last pages of the 1957 OLYMPIAN. I have mix feelings when I should start on the 1958 OLYMPIAN.

The reason I have mixed feelings is that I just bought a new computer. It hasn't arrived yet. I hope with my sons help I will be on it Father's Day.

However, it will have Windows 07 installed on it. I hear (and read)that some people had a hard time adjusting to Windows 07 and some still haven't. They say it is difficult to learn.

So, with me, that hardly anything on the computer is what I call "User Friendly" I might ave a big learning curve to contend with - or it might even be a Learning U-Turn. I may find myself in a bind and don't know what to do.

That is what I am afraid might happen... the 1958 OLYMPIAN might go smoothly, as before, until Father's Day, then I hit a snag and we may have a few days of off-line trying to figure out what I did wrong.

Hopefully, that won't happen.

Lets enjoy the moment anyway.

35 MPH

As you know, there is a loose group of us GOBAG that have weekly irregular attended get together every Tuesday, late afternoon. To feast and giggle.

Have you ever thought how we got there? Do you think we walked? No. Do you think we flew airplanes or helicopters? I don't think so. Did we ride bikes? Nope.

I would almost bet the farm that we all arrived by a motorized vehicle, either car or truck.

Which brings to mind yesterday evening. I got behind Jackie Gaskin driving his 1924 What-ever-mobile to the GOBAG get together. His passenger was Paul Roper.

Jackie's top speed was 35 mph. You should have seen the line of cars behind me!

If you are trying to recognize the background we were on Scufflgrit Road driving from Sandy Plains, and of course the road automatically became Allgood Road which took us up to all the traffic in front of the traffic light at Allgood and the 4-Lane.

Oooga!

Killing Chipmunks & Eating Spicy Chicken

I was working in the back yard near the underneath part of the deck the other day when I noticed Willow at the very back of the yard looking at me. In fact, she was studying me intently. It was over 100 feet away – I thought dogs were nearsighted.
She started running at full force. I wonder if she was going to jump up and lick me in the face or playfully nibble at my arms or what. In a split second I found out: She ran right past me under the deck and grabbed a chipmunk in her mouth. In all of a second or two she grabbed the little fellow and then let him go and watch him take off running. Before he got two feet away she quickly reach down and grabbed him with her teeth and gave the cute little creature a snap of the spine.

Then she put it down and studied it a minute; then picked it back up and carried it out in the yard to play with, I suppose, sort of like a limp doll.

I walked over and took it from her.! Gad, I hate dealing with little dead animals!

Willow is sweet and lovable pet. She always licks you or playfully lightly chew on your hand, or nudge you for a pet, or sometimes just sit beside you and lean against you knowing touching bodies is a good way to be on someone’s good side.

She must read what I read about that is the best way for waiters and waitresses to get a boost in their tip income in to make body contact with the tipper of the dining party. You can lightly pat them on the back or lean against the person to explain the menu or something like that.

That sweet lovable thing is also a skilled expedient killer. I’m thinking of farming her out to Murder, Inc.

It upsets my elderly neighbor when Willow kills a chipmunk. I don’t like it either, usually, I end up having to clean it all up. But other than that, I hate to see a little sweet innocent* animal killed. It just doesn't seem right.

But, who am I to tell my dog to ignore the laws of nature?

*Note -Just in case the situation comes up, rats and snakes are not little sweet innocent animals.



Yesterday was the day Chic-Fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich hit the market for selling.

Before it was available to buy at the Chic-Fil-A stores they had a rather complex introduction. You would make reservations to come into a store and get one free. You had to go by your reservation time to pick it up. By the time I tried making a reservation all the stores near me were booked up.

However, my son Rocky evidently did some smooth talking and got one anyway. How does he do it? Always.

By using this sort of build up of reservations to get your sandwich appears to have built up the desire from “I would like to try it” to “I GOTTA HAVE ONE!”

We arrived at a Chic-Fil-A store about 11:15, before the time, we thought, the lunch crowd would hit. The place was crowded with lines going every which way. After studying the situation, we figure you go up to the counter and place your order and pay for it, and then go get in line and wait for them to call out what you ordered.

Or at least I think that was the way it was suppose to go. But it looked like one of the long lines was a line with people ordering and paying, just like we did at another cash register with no line. ??? Oh well.

I can see there could be a problem. I think the cash register receipt should have a number on it so they could call out the number.

What they did was call out what was on the tray. Like in our case, a spicy sandwich and a regular Chick-Fil-A sandwich. And after that they may call out they have two spicy and an order of waffles fries. It seems to be that it would be highly possible that more than one party ordered the exact same thing – then, do we get to see a fight?

I thought the Chick-Fil-A Spicy sandwich was delicious. After you take your first bite you can see a cross section of the inside. Underneath the deep-fried batter you can see a thin red/orange line of the spice. It was just right. It was not dull and not too flaming spicy. It reminded me of Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich, only better.

I can’t wait to start pestering them for spicy chicken and biscuits in the morning.

This Day in History, June the 7th

On this day in history, June 7, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was renominated for President of the United State by the Republican Party.

Above is a picture Abe at a photo opportunity visiting a Union Civil War camp.

Through modern technology and teaching the computer how to read body language and facial expression it is now possible to read thoughts of those in photographs. Here is what the digital mind has determined Abe was thinking in this photo:

"How long is Matthew Brady going to take on this picture? And why do they have their right hands across their chest and underneath their clothing? My arms are so long I could could do the same pose with my right hand in my fly...yuk yuk!"

1860 Census of Robert C. Tyson

Here is the 1860 Census of my great-great grandparents Robert Cabel Tyson (1821-1864) and Sarah Moody (1815-1896) and their family. The head of the census form states that is for Cherokee County, Georgia, the Cross Road District. The lived near the crossing of Bells Ferry Road and what is now Hwy 92. I think then the name of Hwy 92 was the Alabama Road.

If you want to see the details of the information the 1860 census had to offer you need to click on it to enlarge it.

One of the children listed is my great grandfather Obediah H. Tyson.

The oldest child listed is Nancy A. Tyson. Nancy would marry James Ephrah Kuykendall. They are my wife Anna's great-great grandparents. That makes us 3rd cousins, once removed.

Of course no one knew a that enumerating time in 1860, but Robert only had about four years left on this earth. Robert Cabel was not old when died. He was 42 years old. It so happens that in 1864 is the year when Sherman came through causing death and destruction. Robert died April 6, 1864. That was two months before Sherman came to Kennesw Mountain, between Marietta and Kennesaw. I think in April he was probably tugging southward the area of Chattanooga and Dalton.

I wonder how he died?

Here is a possibility: Within the past few years it has came to light that Sherman's Calvary Scouts had a skirmish on the edge of Tyson's Cemetery in the area.

Tyson Cemetery, at the time only had two residents: Robert Cabel Tyson's parents. Then Robert in April Robert joined them and later on his wife Sarah Moody. Those four are the only four marked graves in the cemetery, but there are a number of large stones that may be unidentified markers.

Who knows?

Dis Day was D Day Dat Will be Remembered

Stanly Hunter



Roy Petty


D Day, June 6, 1944, will be remembered** in history as the day the Allied Forces came crashing down on Third Reich* in France ending World War in Europe.

Two of my uncles landed on the beach of Normandy that day to do their part: My father's brother Stanly Hunter and my mother's brother Roy Petty.

The invasion was very high risk. Many men died. And all that lived/have had to relive that day of watching many of their friends cut down the rest of their lives.

I'm happy to say that both my uncles survived and lived to be old to be retired and old enough to see their grandchildren.

*The Nazi Party is a good example why no country should be controlled by one party. A one party system has full unquestionable power.

**It was also my mother's 26th birthday.

SUNDAY FUNNIES - 3D, Not ETERNITY

As you may, or may not, have noticed my SUNDAY FUNNIES follow a certain method when it comes to recycling the MAD comics. I slowly go in order.

I don't run a MAD story every week, but maybe ever 2nd or 3rd week, so they will be a rarity, sort of, so appreciated more. My last MAD story was about 3 Sundays ago. It was STARCHIE in MAD 12. So, this week I had planned to recycle the next story in #12, which is the takeoff of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.

As you can see there is a method is my MADness.

But wait! Bhob Stewart in his POTRZEBIE blog beat me to it. Not only did Bhob have the MAD story but he also told background details I was not aware of. That was his post on May 31, 2010. And for more, on June 2, 2010, he points out that Kurtzman made more references to the New Senator Hotel, whore house in Honolulu, than James Jones, the author of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Check out Bhob's blogs about it May 31, and June 2, 2010 by clicking here.

Now, with Bhob doing a much better job than I would have done anyway, I will skip to the next story in MAD #12, MAD MUMBLINGS (letter page) and 3 DIMENSIONS. The story was written by Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Wally Wood.

And away we go!

Disavowing BP

In about August of 1965 I went to work for Sinclair Refining Company in Atlanta. I worked there three years before going to work for the Atlanta Post Office.

I worked in the office of the Sinclair warehouse the whole time.

After I was there about two years British Petroleum (BP) bought out Sinclair. As you may have guessed, BP's central headquarters was in England.

One of the high ranking officers and major stock holder of BP sent his son Tim B. to America to work with us. He was there to learn from the ground up the Sinclair business so as BP slowly over the operations Tim would know what was going on.

Tim was a tall lean person that had a very gentle British accent. Although he was probably worth millions, you would never know it. He was a very humble He was very proud that his first cousin was British pop singer Ian Whitcomb.

Tim was about my age and we we got along great. Not only on the clock but after work sitting on a car hood having a beer at the Riverside Package Store. We also went bar hopping and partys. We also double dated. I was dating Anna and married her during this same time period. I think Anna may have fixed Tim up with a date or two.

When I jointed Sinclair I signed up for their payroll-deduction stock-option plan. The company would match every dollar I put into it, providing I kept it for a certain length of time, five years I think it was. BP observed the same policy.

When I got a job at the post office I gave my branch manager a letter of resignation informing him I was giving a two week notice. In the letter I closed it by saying, "I will continue to promote BP's good name". That was my way of not burning any bridges behind me.

Wait! I want to know - was that letter a valid contract? Can I back down on the "promote BP's good name" part? After breaking the rules and ruining a good portion of the planet which will have consequences on down the line for a long time, I don't want to support BP's good name. I may get out of it on a technicality - what good name?

I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, "Hmmmmm..rubbed elbows with one of the major stockhholders of BP and was a stockholder himself....hmmmm"

Wait! I cashed my stock in as soon as the waiting time was up to help pay down on a house, and I never heard from Tim B. after I resigned, and besides I have an alibi for April 20, 2010. Anna will swear that I mailed back to AT&T two cell-phones that day. They sent us 4 and we only needed 2. So, I couldn't have been in the Gulf of Mexico that day could I?

I have nothing to do with BP any more (I say, shifting my eyes back and forth).

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This finishes up the 1957 OLYMPIAN. I might skip several days before I start on the 1958 OLYMPIAN.

Bring in the Raw Clowns!

This morning when I woke up and went to the computer. This comment was waiting:

haha well told. MRI's are already a horrible experience. Anyway great writing, you're very funny. I'm on a hunt for entertaining blogs and this post was a nice introduction to yours


It is always a pleasure to get a complement. And to get one first thing in the morning? What a way to start a day!

I clicked on the sender's underlined name, or in this case, blog name, and swam upstream, so to speak.

The sender is Valerie Wangnet in Sydney, Australia. Her blog CULTURE SERVED RAW is very neat, eye appealing, and tastefully well planned. All the posts that I saw on her blog dealt with sex in interesting, ironic, or bizarre stories. I guess that is why it is called Culture in the Raw.

Click here to check it out yourself.

But now, that I know what I know about her through her blog, I am wondering when she said I am very funny, is she laughing with me or at me?

1957 OLYMPIAN - Advertisements 13

Wait! I'm Jumping Ahead of Myself!

This morning I was to have a MRI at 9:00. The paperwork told me to come at 8:30 to fill out the paperwork, submit insurance cards, etc.

We also got a handout map showing how to get around Tower Road at the hospital. They said Tower Road would be partially closed.

To allow for any route confusion or traffic snarled up because of the Tower Road partially closed I left one hour early, at 7:30. I drove straight there with no traffic or mapping problem at all. I was sitting in the parking lot at 7:50 and not due for 40 more minutes.

I sat in the truck and watch the traffic speed both ways down Tower Road. Nobody seemed to know they were suppose to be confused and having jam up traffic because of the confusion.

I went inside at 8:20. The technician hopped up and motion me back. I asked the receptionist should I fill out any paperwork. She said they have it all.

The MRI was 35 minutes. The buzzing noise sounded like what I would think being submerged underwater near machinery would sound like.

I thought about many things, made little plans, planned routes, planned blogs for certain dates, and suddenly, without warning the submerged sounding noise stopped. The technician said, "That's it!"

"Wait! I'm not through day dreaming?"

He told me to up to the receptionist area and have a seat and he would bring a disk up to me. I did. I sat down and waited.

I told the receptionist if I had made my appointment about two hours later I could go to Brandy's Hotdogs to eat. She said she loved Brandy's.

She added, "I remember when it was Betty's".

I said, "I remember when it was the Marble Inn." I had her there.

The technician came up front and gave me the CD disk to give to my doctor. I looked at my watch. It was 9:00. I was suppose to be starting my MRI now.

Quantum Leap?

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Today's Date In History - June the 2nd.

First, on this date in 1835, P.T. Barnum and his circus begin touring the United Sates.

P.T. Barnum is responsible for the quote "There is a sucker every minute." Every minute since he has been proven right. The man was a visionary.

________________________________



Secondly, On this date in 1924 U.S. Citizenship was granted to all American Indians. Because the Indians, as a group, were on this continent first, it seems it should be the other way around.

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The American Legion, Horace Orr Post, has become the new reincarnated Varners, except back then we came left Varner's about 12:30AM and the new reincarnated Varners, A.K.A. The American Legion, we leave usually before 7 P.M.


The the scale in the Schillings Hardware ad? It was as traditional with me every time I walked on the north side of the Square to step into Schillings and weigh myself on those scales as not stepping on cracks on the sidewalk.



Who is that old fart (on the left) dancing with that young girl? Oh, that is Billy "Down in the Boondocks" Joe. He was not an old fart when this picture was taken.

Memorial Day at the Marietta National Cemetery

This 23.2 acres property, about 2 blocks from the down Square, was donated by Henry Green Cole in 1866 to bury the Union Soldiers that were killed in nearby Civil War conflicts. The cemetery has been receiving military dead since.

The way the markers, in rows flow with natural curves and yet appear to be related to each other like dominoes. Knowing that all these people fought for us and now is just silently lying there under the green grass is heart felt.

The Boy Scouts and civic organizations placed the flags at each marker.

It is a nice place to go to pay your respects and get your patriotism rebooted.

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