"Doctor Livilngston, I presume.?"

On this date, November the 10th

1871 Stanley met  Dr. David Livingston in Ujiji, Central Africa 

Which is a good example to watch what you say, no matter how simple of a statement it might be, you never know if it will withstand the test of time.

Even the complement, "I like that cap."  has been handed down.

Book Report: THE LIFE OF PI by Vann Martel

THE LIFE OF PI was a very good book and very different.  Pi is the self-inflicted nickname of the protagionist.  Pi's real name was Piscine Molitar Patel.  His cruel school mates nicked name him "Pissing Patel" which he hated.  Even his brother called him that.  And their teacher slipped one day and called him the same.  He decided to go by "Pi" instead.  I won't tell you how he got his co-students in India to change their mind-set.  You will have to read the book or see the movie which is coming out in a week.

The book has won all kinds of awards.  So, I thought this would be a good bandwagon to jump on.

Pi's family owned a zoo in India and with his detailed long descriptions of animals habits was very interesting, educational and entertaining. 

As a younster in the local town he had a facinaiton with all the religions represented and drop by the different places of worship to talk to the leaders.  He talked to a Rabbi, Priest, Muslim leader, and Hindu.  He saw the good in all religions and wanted to be part of all them, which caused some confusion with the religious leaders and his parents.  I think the result of his diversified religious learnings came into play later in the book.

His father got a good offer to move to Canada and operate a zoo there.  They sold some of their animals to other zoos and  some they shipped to the zoo they were going to.  The animals were on the same cargo ship as they went on.

The ship sunk in the Pacific.  Pi and a few animals were the only survivors.  Pi had to learn how to catch fish and eat them raw and share them with his animals aboard.  One by one each animal was eliminated by fighting among them.  Finally the only two passengers of the life boat were a huge tiger and Pi.  They kept a healthy distance from each other but grew to know each other and respect each other, but still feared each other - it was healthier that way.

Or did he share the boat with a huge tiger and other animals?  Or was it a figment of his imagination?  I think this is where religion came back into the picture.  He was the sole survival of the ship, no question about that. But it was the other details about the animals and a carnivious island which caused eye-brows to rise as he told his story.

I thought it was a good book and hard to put down.

Whitehead and the Little Spy Who Came in From the Cold

The second favor I did for Miss Whitehead : I remember it was a cold rainy day. She came to our class and told the teacher she wanted to see me and for me to bring my coat. "Oh-oh, what did I do this time?" I wondered.

She told me she wanted to know if I knew where the new Polish refugee kids lived. I said yes and she smiled and said she thought I would. I was about to tell her they lived on Atlanta Street, just around the corner from the other Polish Refugees on Goss Street. She interupted me and told me she needed to know if they moved or were still there. Both kids haven't been to school in two weeks. She said not to tell anybody this, what she was telling me was between her and me. We were buddies. She said her as a principal didn't need to know until officially told, but if they had gone, her as a person wanted to know. We understood each other. She sent me on my way.


I walked in the rain to the house, about 2/10ths of a mile away and knocked on the door. No one came to the door. I walked around the house looking for signs of life. No sounds, no lights, no nothing.



I walked back to the school and reported my findngs or no findings to Miss Whitehead, my co-conspiritor. She said she thought they might have moved during the night someplace but reminded me not to tell anybody.


I just did.

The Miss Whitehead Adventures continued -

One time during my grammar school career the principal Miss Whitehead and I became buddies, sort of  She chose me for some special tasks - or to put it another way she had me do her dirty work.

I do not remember if it was before or after the bat episode that she was my buddy.  If it was after, then it is understandable, she felt guilty for shouting at me.  Or maybe it was a "for old times sake" thing. Afterall, she taught my father and his siblings.

Or if it was before it was understandable she shouted at me - I let her down.

There were two instances I remember.

One was the little house that kept the papers for the on-going paper drive.  She entrusted Van Calloway and I with the keys.  How it came about was she lived in a boarding house on Atlanta Street next door to the apartment building Van lived in.  Across the street was another apartment building that our schoolmate Donna LeVann lived in.  After school until almost dark in the winter months Van and I would hang out on top of a garage behind Donna's apartment house.  Why were we on top of the garage?  Because we figured she could see us better.  We showed off for her. We both had a crush on Donna.  We would do death defying tricks to impress her such as hang from the roof edge and drop or climb up and down a tree beside the little building and generally leap around like idiots showing off.  Donna never mentioned it.  She was probably inside doing her homework and reading.

One time we were on top of the garage doing whatever impressive (we thought) Miss Whitehead walked around the apartment building on the driveway.  She smiled and said, "I thought I would find you boys here."  She told us someone called her at home and told her somebody a couple of men, suspicious looking, were hanging out at the paper drive house.  Would we please go down and see what all that was about and she gave us the keys and told us to look inside the little house and made sure everything was ok.  We saw no strange looking men and the paper drive house looked fine.  Althogh we did go through it looking for some good magazines to read.  We went back to her room at her boarding house, her apartment led off the big front porch, and reported to her that everything was OK.  We reached out to hand her the keys.  She said for us to keep them in case she needed us to check again, which then we felt it was our duty  to check often, this was inside work, like secret police, not like the patrol traffic kids.

We felt complemented but looking back on it, she was probably thinking if the suspicious looking men were dangerous it would be a better world if we got shot or stabbed instead of her.

The 2nd Miss Whitehead caper will follow in a day or so.

Woodstock Bluegrass Jamboree, Nov 3, 2012

This  past Saturday night we went to the monthly Woodstock Bluegrass Jamboree held at the Woodstock Community Church. 

First the visiting band, Hickory Wind, played.  The band was led by Jerry and Helen Burke of Woodstock.  They had their granddaughter sing one song she complemented the already good group.  Helen was enjoyable to watch.  Most of the time she had a big smile on her face which said, "I am so happy to be here!  Really!"

Next the home band, so to speak, the Jot 'em Down Boys played.  And they are always good. 

Danny of the Jot'Em Boys and Jerry of the Hickory Wind had sort of a "Dueling Fiddlers" musical time.  Which was interesting.  Jerry treated his instrument like a fiddler and Danny treats his instrument like a violin.  At break, just before I overheard a person from Tennessee ask Jerry what was the differnece between a violin and a fiddler. 


This video is just bits and pieces.  I tried to make it so it would in general represent what went on that night but the first time I tried to send it to Youtube it was rejected because it was too long.  I cut about 2 or 3 songs, which equaled 5 minutes and it was accepted.

A Hopping Weekend

Old people don't hop.   So, maybe we didn't hop.  I suppose a fairly active weekend would best describe it.  Yep, that is what it was, a fairly active weekend.  That doesn't sound neary as exciting does it?

Saturday morning we went to the Great Frame Up near Roswell and left a picture to be framed.

On the way back home we detoured by Woodstock and took advantage of the Woodstock Chili Cookoff going on.  We each bought a green wristband which gave us unlimited chili tasting benefits.   We visited each booth and sampled a small cup of their chili.  There were 21 booths that had chili samples and I got my money's worth.  Anna dropped out after a few and told me to go on without her. 

Above was our first stop, to visit with our friends Joe and Christine Jenkins.  Joe said look for the American flag and the Big Chicken.  They were very busy making excellent chili.



Later that day we went back to Woodstock to a new park on tne banks Little River that I discovedred while surfing (on the Internet {Google Earth}, not on the river).

 Then we went to the Woodstock Bluegrass Jamboree at the Woodstock Community Church.  We knew to arrive early and buy a barbecue sandwich, all for a good cause- I know the sandwich was for a worthy cause - for me to eat a good pulled pork barbecue sandwich, that was my worthy cause.

I taped bits and pieces of the bluegrass show, which will soon follow on another blog.

Sunday evening we went to Austell.  First we went to Sweetwater Inn BBQ Restaurant.  We took five or six steps inside the establishment and the nicotine in the air gagged us.  We had to leave, so we never got to taste their pitt-cooked bbq.

Then we went to a tattoo shop which was having an art show of Kennesaw  University students.  Adam's girlfriend had about 8 great modern unique photography on display on the wall.  She is an art major and is very good in all types of art.  I am humbled by my measley photos after seeing her stuff.

And that wrapped up the weekend!

HUMBUG Magazine #1 the first pages

Cover

Remember, click on images to make'em bigger and better.

Inside Cover

"The End of the World is Coming!" is a headline that will most likley get your attention.  This is the first part of the first issue of HUMBUG.  HUMBUG was a MAD-like publication in the 1950s.  Why shouldn't it be MAD-like, it was created by the same gang of idiots that created MAD.  The magazine was owned and operated by Harvey Kurtzman, Bill Elder, and others with a MAD influence.  Strangely, Jack Davis was a contributor but not a owner.  They all left MAD because of a power struggle and Hugh Hefner, publisher of PLAYBOY, sat them up with TRUMP Magazine, which was an expensive slick version of MAD and it lasted only two issues.  Then the creators themselves created HUMBUG, which proved that you need left and right brained people to run a business and make a profit.  It lasted 11 issues.

Remember, Tonlight Before Bedtime, Fall Backwards

The Brick stirred Up Memories

The Waterman Street School brick that Walker Gaines gave me Thursday triggered some memories.

I remember in the 7th Grade one school night I was playing in the front yard after dark.  A streetlight was in front of our house.  I begin to notice a bat would  fly quickly under the light.  I sat down and studied the situation.  I finally figured out the bat would swoop under the light when a moth or someother bug attracted by the light would be near. 

Then I experimented.  I threw up a rock and the bat materialized and charged at it but it fell to the pull of gravity before the bat could reach it.  I tried again and again, each time getting lower and each time the bat would swing in lower.

I had a plan.  Cars passed now and then.  I wanted a car to hit the bat.  I knew this was risky.  The rock could hit the car instead of the bat.  As the car approached I would have to shoot the rock low and hopefully it should shoot past the oncoming car before actuallyu approached the "X" spot and the bat should be right behind the rock chasing it and wham!   I practiced my throw and watched the cars that sped down the street now and then. 

I made my move.  A car was speeding down the road and when it was about 15 to 20 feet  before the "X" spot I threw the little rock.  The stupid bat, as planned, fell line right behind it, and SPLOT!!!  The car missed the rock and hit the bat.  Was I a genius or what?

I went over and studied the bat.  It looked dead.  I put it in a netted orange sack, put it under a box and got ready for bed.

The next morning I carried the bat in the net to school with me.  I don't think I told my parents.

I wanted to show it to my teacher Mrs. King.  Mrs. King was very nice and flirty with me so I naturally liked her.  I wanted to impress her with the bat I caught.

The bell had not rang yet.  A cluster of us were standing in the hall just outside our 7th grade classroom.  I showed off the bat in the netted sack and was running my mouth about probably how I killed it when a girl classmate said, "Look!"

I looked down and the dead bat was prying itself loose from the bag by making one of the net holes bigger.  Then it was airborn.

Oh shit!

In a matter of minutes the bat was flying up and down the hall with hordes of kids running crying and screaming.  Cliff the janitor was chasing it and swinging a broom.

Miss Whitehead, the principal, came up to me, red faced and shaking, said, "Eddie Hunter what were you thinking?  Don't you have any sense?"    The look on her face looked to be complete hatred or fear, I wasn't sure which - after all, there was a bat flying rampant overhead.

I thought that old bat (pardon the pun) came close to having a breakdown I think.
I don't remember the fate of the bat.

LARRY MILLER

Have you noticed this post on this blog before? It has been posted several times. Everyday when I had a new post this one slides down more out of view. When it slides off the page it is time to repost. Hi!


Have you ever faced a life-threatening illness for which there is no treatment or cure? Have you ever become overwhelmed by the costs of your illness? Have you ever had to rely on your family and friends to make a life-saving difference on your behalf? Larry faced these conditions all at once. Larry was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, Emphysema, and Pulmonary Hypertension. There are no treatments for these diseases and there was no hope for him without a lung transplant.


Larry was evaluated and approved for a bi-lateral lung transplant at Emory University Hospital in April. On May 14th Larry received the call from Emory saying they had lungs for him. His transplant was performed on the 15th with excellent results. Due to the generosity of the donor’s family, he received a very healthy set of young lungs (to use the surgeon’s words).


Larry is recovering exceedingly well and was released to go home on the 31st of May. He is gaining strength each day by following his drug regimen very carefully and by following a vigorous program of Pulmonary Rehabilitation.



His recovery is great news, but with it comes enormous annual costs for post-transplant treatments and medications. I have known Larry and been his friend since the 5th grade (1953) so I offered to head up his fundraising committee. We are working to help Larry raise money to cover some of these costs. Fortunately, Larry qualified for a matched account in the Georgia Transplant Foundation’s (GTF) Fundraising Program, GTF will match every dollar we raise up to a maximum of $10,000, and then they will hold the money and administer the distribution for Larry’s medication expenses. You are receiving this letter because your name was found in Larry & Milly’s address book under the heading Friends & Family. We need Your Support to reach the $10,000 Goal! Please consider making a donation to help us raise the funds Larry will need to buy post-transplant medications which will support the maintenance of his transplant.


How to Donate Checks/money orders should be made payable to Georgia Transplant Foundation with Larry’s name in the memo section of your check. Please mail checks/money orders to Georgia Transplant Foundation, Attention: Transplant Fundraising Program, 500 Sugar Mill Road, Suite 107-A, Atlanta GA 30350. An envelope is enclosed for your convenience. Thank you for supporting this life-saving campaign. The Georgia Transplant Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial, educational, and emotional assistance to Georgia’s transplant community, is assisting us in our fundraising efforts.

If you have questions or want further verification, please see the Georgia Transplant Foundation website at www.gatransplant.org or email TFP@gatransplant.org. If you have already made a donation, please accept our thanks.



Sincerely,

Paul Roper

Committee Chairman

Now, This is a Brick

This brick came off Waterman Street Grammar School, collected after the landmark historical school was bulldozed away.

The picture above of the Waterman Street School brick was taken on our carport with a brick-lined backdrop.  The WS brick looks slightly bigger than the carport bricks.  I guess the statement, "They don't build things like they used to."  will always be a true statement.

If I remember correctly the school building was built in 1888.  Which means this brick is at least 124 years old.
My daddy and his eight siblings went to Waterman Street, and a generation later my two siblings and I went there.

Miss Whitehead taught my father, his sister, and seven brothers, so later when I showed up, I think Miss Whitehead. then principal, probably considered retirement.  She earned her pay my seven year tenure with her, to say the least.

I have plenty of memorable memories there during my formative years, some good and some not so good. 

Yesterday my friend Walker Gaines gave me the brick.  Walker went through Waterman street together.  Walker used to live across the street from the school.  But in time moved on, getting married to Darlene in the process.  Apparently his father and mother stayed there, because when the school was demolished Walter's father was there to pick up a few bricks.

Walker and I met at the Varsity and had lunch.  It was a pleasant lunch.  We had a one- on- one conversation, mostly playing the "whatever happened to bla bla game".  Recalling people that used to be in your life is always fun and educational - and good excercise for the brain.  It was two hours well spent. The hotdogs and onion rings were pretty good too.

Welcome to November 2012!

The Election Month

49 Years Ago Explosion on Halloween in Marietta

On Halloween night in 1963 in downtown Marietta Atherton Drug Store blew up.  Six were killed and 25 people were injured.

That moment changed the home towners way of life.  Atherton Drugstore soda fountain and grill was the informal social center of Marietta and then suddenly a poof and never more.

I was in the Navy in New Jersey at the time but I heard about it within a day. 

After I returned home after the Navy I stopped at a Sinclair Station in Smyrna, just south of Marietta to fill up and the attendant came out to put gas in, he was on crutches.  I recognized him as a high school buddy of mine, Smitty,  several years my junior.  He only had one foot.  He told me he lost the other foot in the Atherton exposion.

It wasn't the work of anybody evil or anything like that.  A leaky gas pipe was the cause.

If you want to read more about the explosion:
http://www3.gendisasters.com/georgia/1960/marietta,-ga-drug-store-explosion,-oct-1963

Life goes on.

'Tis The Season

"Trick or Treat!"

CIRCUS Ole'

I know, I know, that is not how you spell it.   It is Circus Olay.

Seriously folks, yesterday we went to see Cirque Du Soleil, the TOTEM presentation at Atlantic Station in Atlanta yesterday.

They put on quiet a show doing various juggling and acrobatic feats to the beat of fast music with a plenty of loud drum music.  While sitting in our seats I overheard two couples that are friends with each other talk about the other Cirque Du Soleils they have been to and the ones they knew about.  They have several in Las Vegas, Disney World, New York City and whatever else they said blended in.

They have many acts that blend from one to the other.  One act I was impressed with was 6 or 8 Asian females on high unicycles doing the darnest things with little metalic bowls.  Each had a stack and with their feet they would lob them to the another female's head, or "ring a head" so to speak.  It amazed me of their precise synchronization and not even looking at each other, now that is teamwork. 

There were no lions, tigers, elephants or any other kinds of animals, as you might expect a circus to have.  It was a series of scenes with a similar them:  Mankind.  First the creation and evolution of life and on to the diversity of it all.  And all of it to a fast musical beat.

Photograpy wasn't allowed.  These pictures I took as we walked outside of the tent.

Background:  14th and 15 Streets Area

Background:  Atantic Station; what used to be Atlantic Steel

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! MAD's PUZZLE PAGES! Wheee!

Remember the Puzzle Pages in your favorte comicbooks and Sunday Funnies?  Well, you could always count of MAD lampooning something that you held dear.  Art by Will Elder and it was probably written by editor Harvey Kurtzman.

ZOMBIE WALK IN MARIETTA TODAY!

Today is the Zombie Walk in Marietta.  Why a Zombie Walk?  Better still, why not a Zombie Walk?

I don't know if we will be able to attend to festivities or not.  But the above Hunter-made video is of last year's Zombie Walk, in case you don't get to see the one this year..... maybe you are buried in work (or dirt) and just can't get away.

On Top of Kennestone's Witcher Street Parking Deck

Kennesaw Mountain

Not long ago I had a doctor's appointment at the Witcher Street Medical Building and had to park near the top  of the parking deck.  I noticed looking out the side how beautiful the scenary was and made a mental note that next time bring my camera and park up on top.

The next time I forgot to bring my camera.

But yesterday I remembered.

Remember - Click on each image to make it bigger and amazing.

The New Cobb County Courthouse

Blackjack Mountain

Sweat Mountain

The Count Down Has Started

Yesterday Was October the 25th.  In other words, yesterday was two months from Christmas.  Today is one day less.  tick . . . tick . . . tick.

Today in History, Oct 25:

Little Orphan Annie newspaper comic strip

Not to be confused wilth....

Annie Fanny of PLAYBOY Magazine

1924 1st appearance of Little Orphan Annie comic strip on this date.



1962 Stevenson demands USSR amb Zorin answer regarding Cuban missile bases saying "I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over"  (read yesterday's post to see my part in this) on this date.