ALL MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.
by Savannah Guy
SAVANNAH, GA – It will be no surprise to denizens who are familiar with my typical posts and perspectives, I’ll look not to his stats, but try to add a little different perspective on Javy the catcher, batter and mentor. I watched almost every game that he played in while he donned the Braves cap.
My general impression of Javy remains clear even after not seeing him play for five years. Images of his plate work, both standing with bat and crouched with mitt, are forever etched in mind. Foggy perhaps, but there.
I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on any of this. Correct me and add to my knowledge and you’ve handed me a gold coin.
So, Javier Lopez is rejoining the Braves franchise with a minor league free-agent contract and an invite to spring training. Will this be a Javy Lopez redux? Not a chance. Many moons have passed and, such as in life, you cannot leave, change and return to the home you left. The team has changed. Management has changed, Javy has changed and for that matter, the world has changed. He’s older and wiser, yet he’ll return to the team or not – based on his own health, capability and competitive circumstances which may have nothing to do with his skills, his history with the team or his charm to many fans.
So, I’ll begin with the hope and assumption that Braves management are keenly aware of all the pertinent details of the capabilities of Mr. Lopez. I’ll also assume they possess the strategic intelligence to know where this likely small piece fits into the potential roster of 2008.
All in all, the Javy contract opportunity is a move that, whether successful in spring or not, is well worth taking. If his spring performance were equal to or less than younger players (like Pena, Miller, Sammons) he would surely be dismissed. If he has an apparent sustainable resurgence in hitting, tests healthy and demonstrates a mentoring attitude, he could be quite a positive player and veteran influence in the clubhouse.
If those things happen, he’d be a bargain and a helpful addition to the roster. My hope is the latter option prevails. A nice story that would be: coming home to a place he’s never been, as it were.
Whether we hold out hopes for a storybook dream for a dramatic return of the sort that will land Javy at Turner Field as a serious backup catcher, off-bench option and pinch-hitter or just a spring washout can be discussed until the cows come home. But I’ll venture that this move by the Braves to invite Javy to spring training with a $750k contract is a sound and affordable move. Basically, we have something useful to gain with very little to lose by this move.
Crouching tiger or hidden dragon?
What about Javy’s ability as a backup catcher? Javy’s defensive skills have and will no doubt continue to come into question, yet I believe he was a very competent and pretty darn good catcher. I never considered Javy “bad” defensively as some do. Not at all. At times he was good to very good and he did carry a cannon on that shoulder of his. Seems the slew of leg/knee injuries took away much of his crouching capability and lessened his overall mobility (remember those calf-cushion thingy’s?). Injuries could have accounted for many of his passed balls and misplays. Still, a good catch.
Ok, here’s the “hit avoidance”. There was one thing that always really bothered me with Javy’s defense, pre and post injury: Javy seemed to have a fear or natural inclination to avoid taking hits at home plate. He would go out of his way…up the first base line, to stay out of collisions and harms way. That cost the Braves runs on more than a few occasions. Remember the many times an opposing runner slid around the plate to avoid Javy’s missed swipe tag attempt?
I’m not talking about macho, bruiser, not-afraid-to-play, rumble and butt-heads-at-the-plate-at-all-costs, but there are times when a catcher has to know when and how to block a run from scoring or take one for the team.
Greg Olson had finesse. He was not a large or hefty man, but he took hits when he needed to. I was at the game when he took the big hit that knocked him for a loop, broke his ankle and essentially ended his playing career. Bad example – never mind.
Charlie O’Brien took hits and he was a superb defensive catcher. Johnny Estrada was not afraid to block the plate and take a hit. That is, until he got nailed by Darin Erstad, if I remember correctly. It was a brutal, head on, hockey type hit. Estrada never really seemed to recover from that concussion and injury…or maybe he just became gun shy.
Brian McCann seems to be able to block the plate also. He’s been run over a few times and has an ankle injury to show for it, yet he seems able to chin-up, man-up and take a hit when he needs to. At the same time, he isn’t foolish about standing on the plate when he’s sure to get unnecessarily hammered either. Brian just needs to know the difference between the 1-Hop and a passed ball.
Anyway, Javy never really conquered that quick decision making technique. Maybe it was the Achilles heel of his defense. That and the hammy’s and the knee.
Taking hits comes with the territory with a few positions. The two bases that require a tough mentality and fearless, stand-your-ground approach are home plate and second base. As I’ve pointed out before, Kelly Johnson is not a natural second baseman in that regard. He will drop the ball or miss the bag to avoid a hit. I still think Kelly would be better suited for first base somewhere. Could be an Olerud. Anyway, The Lemmer was a great example of a tough, stand your ground, own your bag second baseman. That caught up with him with a body block by Derrick Bell pretty much ended his career. Lemke called it a clean hit but I never considered it such. Seemed like blatant kneecapping to me.
As I make an argument for fortitude and willingness to take a hit, I’ve just listed two examples of that style of play ending two careers. Those are the exceptions and those are the bad breaks. Second base and home plate are tough positions to play. Some take hits and last, some don’t.
Perhaps Javy has conquered that fear of physical confrontation of the violent kind and hopefully Kelly will too, but Bench and Berra, Lemke and Biggio they are not. Kelly has time. Not so much for Javy.
Will Javy see in Kelly the same predilection to avoid hits and help him? Will Javy see in Brian the habit of pan caking pitches in the dirt, passed balls and not jumping quickly with agility at wild pitches? That would be truly cathartic for Javy and helpful to Kelly and Brian.
Here’s hoping McCann is practicing with pitches in the dirt, slimming down and muscling up a bit.
Here’s hoping Kelly is taking hard grounders to his right and turning double plays with runners sliding in.
Here’s here’s hoping Kelly and Brain don’t see the “hit” plays I recounted here.
Jere’s joping Javy jas jappy jolidays….
Savannah Guy
TEXT EFFECTS
Blog email: bravesandstuff@hotmail.com
another prize winning post on the bravesandstuff blog! thank you, savannah! only one small note . . . when remembering greg olson block the plate, do not remember the ken caminiti crusher, remember instead when dan gladden stood olson up on his head in game 1 of the 1991 world series and olson held the ball for an out! oh, the humanity! what a tough catcher! cover of sports illustrated if this journalist recalls correctly.
now, stuff . . .
a big box just arrived for jimmy smith for christmas. and it is from frank! that’s right. frank! what could frank be sending this journalist for christmas? the package is bigger than a canned ham should be and it is probably too thin to be a cheese sampler (these are typical gifts for journalists). what could it be?
and why is frank sending jimmy smith a gift? christmas spirit? or is frank seeking to curry favor with this journalist? does frank think that this journalist might be persuaded, or disuaded, or marinated by the mere acceptance of a gift? well, frank had best re-think that. jimmy smith abides by strict journalistic ethics and would never sit on a story or hold back on something that might be embarrassing to the organization merely because of a gift given to this journalist by someone with whom this journalist must interface day to day. certainly, that could never happen with this journalist.
and jimmy smith is a bit uncomfortable with the first name business of calling frank, “frank”. homeboy upstairs did not wish to be called “john” by this journalist. and this journalist would hesitate to call homeboy upstairs “john” because that is too familiar if jimmy smith and homeboy are to maintain a professional relationship. so, journalist is going to return this gift right away to this new homeboy and remove any suggestion of impropriety.
“what? what, baby seal?” a new mac? really? journalist is in need of a new computer. “what? a macbook pro? a macbook pro 17″ 2.4 GHz? oh, the humanity! thank you, frank!”
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thank you, carolina lady. the editing must have worked because this blog is experienceing no lkasfiodsufiouywqeefhsdh’lkvhlsf’hsalhksjgjsdf;lsdafjpsdjflskdjvdksljflkdsjfdsl’jfl;dsf;lsdajfl;dsjf;dslfjk;ldsfjkpouf90u900923-03kask
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As always, a professional post by the esteemed Savannah Guy. And nary a lyric to go with it…… 🙂
Having the opportunity to see Javy play for Baltimore, I could not say he was not worth the price when he first arrived. He did however break down and became less of the type of impact player you paid $6 million per year to.
Still, despite injuries, he remained a homerun threat. He just had the misfortune of being in a zoo like environment in Baltimore. His brief stint with Boston could not have come at a worse time for him as he continued to try to play through injuries. He played well in his try out for Colorado last year but economics and his refusal to play as a back up limited his options to the point he ended up sitting out for a year.
Perhaps the year off has done him good. A chance to see that maybe he is not yet ready to “hang them up”. I have watched Javy from the time he first appeared in Richmond in the early ’90s. He was one of the “Great Eight” along with Chipper and Mike Kelly to move on and help the big club.
There are a couple of things Javy has going for him providing he can reclaim his timing. First, he is a clutch hitter, the kind of hitter like Chipper that you don’t mind having up in a big time situation. The second is he can play a pretty good first base. No, he is not a gold glover but he will not embarrass you with his defense in that position.
The fact that he is working on making himself better tells me he is serious about making a comeback. he has stated publicly on several occasions that Atlanta is the only team he would consider taking a backup catcher’s role. He has said that money is not an issue with him and it was not about the size of the salary but he felt he still had plenty to offer.
While none of us have seen him play for a year, I can say his potential is greater than any other possible backup mentioned. I can hardly wait for spring training this year, Javy would not be your typical back up catcher for sure. A right handed power hitter off the bench who can catch will be a plus.
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Javy has played a total of 2 innings of 1B in his professional career. No wonder he hasn’t won a gold glove!
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ssiscribe, you are one lucky devil to have seen the Braves win their one and only WS!!!(Well, only one in the ATL) I started to follow the braves back in the 80’s when they really sucked(Was more Cubbie fan since they didn’t always end up in last place! 😉 ) I damn near cried watching Smoltz pitch his heart out only to lose to the snarky twins. Then we lost to the Blue Jays and that b*****d Jack Morris again(Who should be in the HOF now that I look back) But, after the strike year, I kinda lost interest for awhile(in 1994 Matt Williams looked like a legit threat to break Maris’ record, Tony Gwynn was flirting with .400, etc) after the “lost” season of the strike.
Between the strike the year before, and working nights at Borders bookstores, I didn’t see or hear much of that series, so naturally, that was the one we won!!!! 😦 Oh well, I knew we would win another one in a year or two.12+ years later…..good thing I didn’t hold my breath!!!
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Man, even Savannah Guy can write a very good blog!!! 😉
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OK. we’re gonna need another blog in a couple of days. Need a volunteer to write the lead.
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I didn’t eat tuna for lunch, and as it turns out, the Falcons won’t be having Tuna, either.
Parcells backs out.
Another brick in the wall for the most woebegone franchise in American professional sports.
–30–
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Yep, the Tuna spit the hook and may become a Dolphin.
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Scribe-Yeah, typical for Parcells to pull that trick. He did the same thing to the Bucs in Tampa Bay-twice. He is the reason that they ended up paying four draft choices to sign Gruden away from the Raiders (resulting in a Super Bowl they would have won WITH Dungy and three years of sub par performances because of npo new blood)-he backed out after the Bucs let Tony Dungy go to make room for him. He isn’t all that, anyway. The Falcons need much more than a Coach to become competitive yet again (if, in fact, they ever were to begin with).
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Hey, can I get a high paying job as a meteorologist???? I have no experience in weather forecasting….but, does it really matter??? I saw the forecast in the early am that there was going to be light rain off and on most of the day here in Atlanta, and was only going to be 50 degrees. Well, it hasn’t rained here(South of Atlanta) since the sun came up, and it’s 65 degrees according to my outside thermometer!!!!
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I volunteer……Carolina Lady! 😉
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Scribee-The Falcons are indeed, woebegone, but I believe the Bucs still hold the record for lowest winning percentage of all professional teams-at least they did before the Dungy era. They lost the first 26 games of their existence-were 0-10 their second year after failing to win a single game their first. They then had fourteen consecutive losing seasons in the 80’s and 90’s-several of which were 2-14 campaigns. I know-I was doing portraits for many of the aforementioned woebegone players. We couldn’t even win with Steve Young or Vinnie Testeverde-with Ray Perkins or Sam Wyche coaching.
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That’s what I love about a blog, instant fact checkers 8)
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Parcells just seems like a jerk anyways. He treats reporters like dog poop he just stepped in….I imagine if someone was hit and knocked out, he’d slap him in the face to wake him up, then ball him out for screwing up the play….Hey, how about that guy who signs a contract then skips out on it soon afterwards? Didn’t he just sign with some college team?
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just a test. Probably won’t work, but just wanted to try….
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Isn’t it something that in an area know for football, ie SEC and Florida with the ACC and formerly Big East, there should be such a woeful collection of pro teams for so many years.
Is Arthur Blanks the Peter Angelos of the NFL? It is starting to look like Jerry Glanville might have been the best Atlanta Falcon coach of all time…. Sad 😦
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T’was a sad day in Washington when Jack Kent Cooke died and they sold the Redskins to a fantasy league owner…
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Terrific! Thanks, Berigan!! We’ll look forward to your blog lead! A couple of days, write about what you want, baseball preferably! 🙂
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mrgil, that correction came off a little “smarter” than I meant… no offense intended. I don’t see Javy as a first baseman, though. Saw what happened when the Braves tried Saltalamacchia over there last year – and he’s much younger and more agile than Javy.
I hope Javy has something left in the tank. May the best player win the job, as far as I’m concerned. He’d no doubt be a good influence in the clubhouse, if he can carry his weight on the field.
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Javy is pretty agile, I have seen him take practice at first while in Baltimore. Really thought he had played more at first base. We shall see.
If the Braves could turn Kelly Johnson into a 2nd baseman, I am sure they can spiff up Javy.
Of course now he has access to the facilities at Turner Field I would think if he wants to use them.
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Uh-oh!!! I was volunteering you Ma’am!!! Sometimes I am too clever for my own good! 😦
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Berigan, 🙂 Day after tomorrow will be fine. Just email it to me and I’ll post it for you! Have a good day!
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oh, the humiliation! spurned by the tuna. the job no one will take. this has happened before. always, the smiths turned to marion campbell. will arthur blank turn to chan gailey (good man done wrong by ga tech) or perhaps jim donnan? how low will arthur go? the falcons organization is woeful. woeful.
that was stuff, now baseball. remember this name. gorkys.
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I well remember that ‘attack’ by Erstad on Estrada. That was just plain brutal and Erstad lost my respect forever. There’s no reason or excuse for that kind of collision.
When I heard vague rumors of Braves interest in him, I sure hoped they were just wisps of smoke wafting by on a passing breeze.
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jimmy, that mac is yours ??? whoa!
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carolina lady, just as jimmy smith was about to accept that mac, journalist was asked to write a story about the new svelte chino cadahia. jimmy smith could not do it! well, jimmy smith handed that mac right back over to frank and that’s when frank pulled out the dell xps laptop computer with the core 2 duo extreme processor and blue ray.
“chino cadahia is a new man . . . “
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jimmy smith is not available to coach the atlanta falcons. there.
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Where’s Berigan?
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Well, this Lady was going to send a present to jimmy smith but UPS said there is a weight limit on their 747s, so I guess I will have to cancel the order. It is the thought that counts, right?
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Berigan is scared….and watching Nothing Sacred with Carole Lombard on Turner classic….
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Hm. Berigan should turn off the TV and be working on his lead for the blog. (Good movie, though.) 🙂
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a present, carolina lady? for jimmy smith? too heavy to ship by ups? hmmm… chino cadahia?
and carolina lady, is it okay if chop seal is named beat writer for this blog? not ready to be a journalist yet but can easily be a beat writer. what does carolina lady say? would mean a lot to baby seal.
and berigan is the next blog leader? hmmm… two days to work on it – should be pretty good.
and how about a huntin’ report?
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Baby Seal would be excellent as our beat writer. Best beat writer covering the Braves.
🙂
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professional name = chop seal
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That is his picture on the banner. I made it look as much like him as I could when making it.
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beat writer it is. short, though.
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Well, he won’t be the shortest one there. And he has manners.
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yes, very good manners and truthful at all times.
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Berigan, how many paragraphs do you have done now?
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Berigan?
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I think you scared him off, CL. 😉
Well, I am finally done with all the baking orders. Whew! What have I missed? I see Javy has entered the picture. Even if he’s got nothing left at least he can go out as a Brave. I have a soft spot for the homegrown guys (going back to when I got to see Chipper, Javy, Mike Kelly, etc. play in AA Greenville ). Useless trivia: Chipper started his pro career in my hometown. The Braves borrowed Pirate City for rookie league that year. If only I had known, I could’ve gotten a boatload of stuff signed by a future Hall of Famer.
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Hey, FBG! I know you must be loaded with orders at this time of the year! Salute!
Yeah, if we only knew how these guys were going to turn out, we’d sure do differently, wouldn’t we?! 🙂
Mike Kelly – I had forgotten about him.
I can’t help but hope that Javy does well and makes the team. Like you, I just want to see “our” boys succeed.
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It’s been crazy but it’ll pay for the Christmas presents. Now I can relax a bit & enjoy the season (except I know those last 4 presents are sitting in my room waiting to be wrapped. Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow).
CL, if I really knew how they would turn out, I’d be some team’s #1 scout.
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🙂 I hear you!
Found several interesting articles on mlb.com – one on James:
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071219&content_id=2333157&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Another one on Shilling calling out Clemons had some interesting points, as well.
So much has been going on here I haven’t had time to scout these other sites.
‘Bout time to turn in. The sun will be up way before I’m ready for it! 🙂
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Mayhay signs with the Royals. 2 years, $8million. Mercy!
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Been doing research for a possible blog lead, I must remember to stay on point and not try to read everything written the past 30 years… 🙂
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Hard to remember that most web surfers have the attention span of a woolly worm…
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we’ll try to hang with you, mrgil. Geez.
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Well, then there is the tsetses fly….
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Don’t worry CL, I have already thought of a title for my blog…………………………………………………………………….
.
Baseball rules!
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Actually, after just a few scant hours of writing, watching Futurama, listening to an Alvino Rey cd(You youngsters just look him up!) I have finished my Magnum opus. If you don’t see it in a few days, you know that the blogmeister was not impressed! 😉
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In my best Jerry Lewis voice…Hey lady!!! Carolina Lady!!! I thought I would see an email address to send my all spit shined and ready blog, but I don’t see it in the original email from wordpress or anywhere here! I feel like such an outsider! 😦 I don’t know the secret handshake either…..I assume you have my email address via this site?????
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5:41 am??? Berigan, you stayed up all night?? Ooooh, my! Our blog’s email address is: bravesandstuff@hotmail.com
Gil, terrific!! You’re up next!
Isn’t it more fun for us to take turns writing the lead? Doesn’t have to be in competition with Tolstoy, but something from each of us. It’s our blog so we ought to write it. Agree or disagree? 🙂
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yes, there are many good-enough-to-be journalists blogging here. jimmy smith is looking forward to the blogs authored by berigan and gil and journalist is also excited for chop seal, the new beat writer. much is happening on bravesandstuff. as for that other beat writer, the cheese slid off his cracker awhile back.
and now, baseball . . . curt schilling speaks out against roger clemens. hmmm… courage from a mlb player? not in the union? not afraid to be ostracized? doesn’t call it hearsay?
and al gore has turned down the falcons today.
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‘Morning, jimmy! I really am looking forward to reading the blog leads from everyone! And we couldn’t possibly have a better beat writer than Baby – uh – Chop Seal!
I was glad to see Shilling speak up. That makes 1 spine; any others?
“cheese slid off” 🙂
Did you read the article on CJames? At least he isn’t installing windows this winter!
I need a Xerox copy of myself. Got to get those Christmas cards in the mail…..
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Top of the morning, everybody. Looks like the Braves and Stuff keeps hummin’ right along. Gotta love the way the core group has grabbed hold of this thing.
CL, you are correct (as always) about people taking turns writing the blog. A great post above by Savannah Guy and I look forward to the upcoming posts. Whenever you want to throw me back up there, just let me know and I’ll try to come up with something decent.
Now, cheese (noted transition): Cheese is good. Melted cheese and scrambled egg on toast is the breakfast of choice for this journalist. Cheese on fries is also a tasty treat, but tends to catch up with this Scribe at the beltline. Cheese on a burger? Yum! Cheese on pizza? Double yum!!
But cheese sliding off a cracker? Oh, the humanity! Somebody get Frank on the phone, and quick!
Now, the Falcons (more transition): The Esteemed Grinch texted me last night in angst over the Tuna’s decision to swim to South Beach. I say let it be. Find somebody who wants to be here, wants to rebuild the wreckage of a professional sports franchise, wants to invest the time like Cox did as GM of the Braves in the late 1980s to build it back and build it right.
Finding that person? Eh, won’t be easy. But doing things right never is.
The Scribe abides.
–30–
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The Mahay-to-the-Royals deal kind of had me scratching my head at first, but the more I think about it, the more I think ol’ Dayton Moore might be a pretty smart feller. Honestly, how much more successful are the Royals going to be with a lefty specialist rather than spending their money a real impact player. However, come July 31st, SOMEBODY, will be be desperately seeking a lefty reliever, and KC might just get them to overpay for Mahay. Remember this when the deadline gets close.
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‘Morning, Scribe! I agree; I think we’re making a terrific home here! And I sincerely am excited to read all the various blog leads that will be posted! Greatly appreciate your offer and WILL be taking you up on it!! Love your writing!
Several of our group are MIA: Savannah Guy & Gal had to make a return trip to Emory – not sure how long the stay will be, but am hoping and praying for the best! Bob, Grinch, Salty and John are AWOL.
Can’t WAIT for Spring Training!!! 🙂
Hey, Hillbilly! I kinda wondered about that, too. The Royals?? That’s a lot to be paying but maybe they have plans we don’t know about. Well, surely not. They wouldn’t withhold info from us, would they?? 🙂
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scribe, there are many cheese samplers available at this time of year. a cheese sampler makes a great gift – especially for a journalist. and arthur blank did end up with tuna all over arthur blank’s face, didn’t arthur blank? like having stanley say stanley doesn’t want home depot selling stanley’s hammers. and will stanley blog with us now? oh, the humiliation the falcons have experienced! no one wants to work here. this is not unprecedented. maybe arthur should bring in some coaches from another country. famous norm van uboto from uganda, perhaps. and bobby cox is looking better all the time. sticky, but better.
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Morning, all! CL, Grinch has out-of-town guests & won’t have much computer access the next few days. So I doubt we’ll see him ’til Christmas. Then we can badger him into leading off a blog.
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Good Morning. Another four inches of snow last night. Didn’t even have to plow the driveway this time, which is good-it’s already cost $150.
Just saw a great TShirt–“What Happens In Vermont Stays In Vermont-But of course, Nothing Ever Happens in Vermont” Ain’t it the truth.
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Guess we chased everyone away, Lew. I’m going to have to figure the avatar thing & put a really alluring picture up to keep y’all’s attention….
Now how do I get a picture of a Red Velvet cake in the little box? 😉
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And of course that should be “figure out the avatar”.
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I’m not even going to put in an avatar. A picture of me wouldn’t fit, anyway-but I’m trying!!!
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LeTwan started to go with a pie avatar but decided instead on Dale Murphy’s jersey number. Red velvet cake would be alluring alright – but pie is where LeTwan’s heart is. Does FBG do pies as well as cakes? We have never heard much pie talk from FBG.
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Sugar free pie with whole wheat flour crust works for me. Even I can eat it. 40 pounds lost this year. And my Doctor said I needed stomach surgery because I couldn’t do it on my own. Yeah. Right.
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Of course, I could always cheat if the chocolate cherry cake were to make an appearance.
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Squirrel Pot Pie….That’s right. Squirrel Pot pie. Also crawfish pie. Not the kind of pie you’re thinking of, but it sure hits the spot in South Arkansas. Whaddya think, LeTwan?
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flbravesgirl, lew lost 40 pounds by sending jimmy smith all lew’s favorite recipes! the one for the cherry devil’s food cake is so good that baby seal was found in the kitchen, late at night, trying to reach the cake on the top shelf. fortunately, baby seal is about as tall as a beat writer and could not reach jimmy smith’s cake. baby seal leaves no crumbs.
and what kind of cake does frank like? cupcakes, perhaps? not going there at this time. waiting ’til later.
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LeTwan gave up squirrel-pot-pie when LeTwan left that other blog. Mama mostly does fruit pies with a homemade crust. Still, a good, hearty, chicken-pot-pie is a welcome addition on a cold day. LeTwan is not familiar with crawfish pie but LeTwan’s Mama can make a tasty pie from any ingredient. One season, Mama planned to make pies for the ballplayers but that went awry when all the very big Braves arrived and could not fit in their pants. Mama knew pies would not be helpful. Still, Mama likes Chino Cadahia and may make Chino some pies for a post-game snack if Chino is retained by the Braves this year and does not become coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Mama is worried that Arthur Blank is gonna try to hire Chino because he is sometimes called “Tuna” by the players after Chino throws batting practice. Phew!
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Letwan-I actually had the foresight to send Florida Braves Girl the chocolate cherry cake recipe. Should I send it to Mama, as well?
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arkansashillbilly ,
That is a good point about KC signing Mahay! They payed him more for less years as well, which makes sense. And you know some team will be like the braves of ’07 and not have an effective lefty in the bullpen come next season. Plus, the Royals have a half decent team. If they were in the West, instead of the Central, they might dream of contending. Pitching isn’t bad, it’s the lack of offense that is a problem. Did you know the team leader in RBI’s for them, Emil Brown, drove in…………….only 62????? Yowza!!! No wonder they signed Jose Guillen!
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The Tigers have signed Dontrelle Willis to a three-year, $29MM extension! Wow. Imagine how much he’d get if he was good! 😉
Ever wonder if a teams pitching coach is hopping up and down and telling anyone that will listen, hey, I know what is wrong with Willis, or whomever is having issues? I just don’t see the point to signing him up for 3 more years before seeing what he can do in the AL.
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LeTwan-Perhaps Mama could try a chocolate silk pie with a cherry topping? Seems to me that would work, too. It’s snowing again.
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Berigan-The really perplexing thing in the whole Dontrelle saga is that the Marlins just hired the guy who was Dontrelle’s pitching coach when he was a 20 game winner. Go figure. Not sure ANYTHING that the Marlins do makes sense.
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Lew, I am very upset on missing out on the opportunity to win another Wurlitzer yesterday. I think I shall have to get you to wear one of those electronic tracking devices around you ankle so I can keep up. Ah well, still proud of the one I have hanging above my desk here. T’is funny when folks talk about team leaders on the Braves and they don’t always mention Smoltz but to me he is the ultimate team guy.
I truly look forward to trying to make it to spring training this year to meet some of you fine folks. A lot depends on my mother’s health as she has become pretty much dependent on my wife and I to take care of her now. I will not force my kids to go through this with me.
As for pie.. 🙂 I always was partial to French apple. Can we say French here?? 🙂 LeTwan sounds French. Then again, so does the mustard… 8)
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Lew,
Right you are on the Marlins. Only thing that would make sense for that team is to move…somewhere, anyway. Florida is never going to be a baseball town I guess. CL, would a city in the Carolina’s support MLB????
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Did every see the update that CL added? We can bold text
by putting in front of text to bold, and after the text? Lot easier than the stuff! Plus, I kept spelling strong, stong.
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Oh, that’s funny! 🙂 Even if you put spaces around the symbols, it still is bold! And I put around the word strong, and the words disappeared!!! I guess since there were no words to bold, I created a mini black hole, that swallowed those 2 words! Just go to the text effects page. Man, try to do the world a favor!
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Just try and use the less than, and greater than symbols here!!! They go poof!!! when you post! Mondo Bizarro!!!!
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Berigan,
Atlanta would have a hissy fit if another team tried to move to the southeast. Best bet would be Charlotte but I would think they are way down on the list as far as possible relocation sites. Major League Baseball has become so expensive, you have to have a very large corporate base to support the endeavor.
Norfolk made a play for the Expos but wasn’t even hardly given a cursory glance. My bet is going to be Las Vegas as the next expansion home for the Marlins. Not that large a fan base but well connected financially. It does not have to make sense for it to happen, it is all about the Benjamins and Vegas has lots and lots of those.
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Gil-You didn’t really miss out. I will send hand colored prints to anyone who wants one. You’d best email me your address again-same with anyone else who wants one. I think I lost a lot of snail mail addresses. Choose from Smoltz, Glavine, Chipper, Javy, Bobby Dews or the Sid Slid play.
It will likely be after New Year’s though-With Kathy’s ankle surgery the other day and my irksome little cold, I’m moving slowly. Merry Christmas.
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Gil, I guess you are right. What about Portland? Weren’t they at one time in the hunt for a team? Vegas doesn’t even have one pro team, do they? That would be interesting. What would they name the team? Vegas Hookers? LV gangsters? The Nevada Wayne Newtons???
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How about the Vegas Poker Chips? Call them the Chippers and when Chipper Jones retires, he can become part owner. Probably the Crap Shoots wouldn’t go over, though.
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Well, knock my socks off! CC has posted yet another blog and is actually reacting a tiny bit. Has 24 posts in 24 hrs. 7 by rich brave. They’re talking about reviving that blog. 8)
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Y’all are going to enjoy Berigan’s blog lead. Will post it when this blog slows.
Gil, you’re next up!
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vegas strippers. obvious choice. now, carolina lady, that is not what carolina lady thinks! famous strip in vegas. vegas strippers. should be american league, though. chipper would only get in trouble there and end up on the d.l. and next kid could be named bellagio, or ceasar, or even palace. and now, jimmy smith will type in $green green green$. see, journalist is getting handy on this blog. and now, grinch has company? stealing christmas? together? it is bill parcells! that’s right! and from nice arthur blank. arthur blank is the kind of guy who gets no respect even though arthur blank is rich. firing blanks, perhaps, in this coaching hunt? shooting to wound and not to kill? and how about a dead coach? vince zombardi? dead coach might be the only one interested in the job. and now, baseball . . . how about bringing back david justice? famous for peanut throwing incident while still a brave and now famous for being named in the mitchell report. hearsay, just hearsay. pretty swing, though. real nice swing.
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Well, Carlos Silva signed with Mariners, one less option for the Mets! Honestly, gotta wonder what is going on with them. Not complaining, but still. If they can get Santana, they will be a real force to deal with. If they don’t, losing Glavine is really going to hurt them. Then it’s just the Phillies we will have to worry about. Mets may be battling the Nationals for 3rd. Again, not complaining! 🙂
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Berigan-I wouldn’t worry too much about the Mets-even with Santana. First, even Anders swears that they won’t do the deal without the Mets including Reyes, which they (rightfully) won’t do.
However, they haven’t replaced Glavine’s innings or 13 wins yet. They may think Pedro is mannah from heaven, but he’s not the same guy he used to be-He’s also pitched all of 5 games in the bigs in well over a year and a half. So-even if they got Santana who would likely win what? 17-18 games? That’s only five better than Glavine and the rest of their staff is still not as tight as ours is. The guys they got for Milledge are no great shakes and losing LoDuca, as much as Braves fans like to give hi grief, won’t help them. Moises missed hallf of last year and will do it again-his leg muscles are like string. Castillo at second has leg problems. El Duque will be injured. There is major clubhouse dissension already. Billy Wagner is not happy. They have lots of problems and will be lucky to finish third.
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Portland is still an option, the community has already expressed a willingness to build a stadium but the Northwest already had the Mariners. I find it laughable how professional sports franchises are able to shake down local governments to get sweetheart deals. Of course the most classic was the Raiders fleecing San Jose….
Jimmy, I think the Tuna took one look at the Atlanta Aquarium, read about the high mortality rates and decided to swim with the Dolphins in South Florida. Must warn him about the water quality around Fort Lauderdale….
I read what Rich Brave had to say on the Chop Chick blog about Boyer, can’t say he had an attitude problem, I do think he had a physical problem. He had been used as a started to build arm strength and stamina and after three innings he was done.
It is getting to the point that baseball is like football where by full time conditioning is necessary because those who wait until spring training to get into shape are going to get their doors blown off by some upstart rookie.
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well, chop chick is back but now is second banana to chop seal. chop seal is not only a fan blogger but also a beat writer now. should be in the running for a wurlitzer or something. and if it should appear that chop chick and frankster have turned it up a notch since carolina lady became the anne cox lady of the blog publishing business, then that is because it is so! not saying frankster dates ugly women but that last one was throw momma from the train ugly. journalist has a million of ’em, a million of ’em. and now, music . . . since it appears carolina lady will not post zamfir lyrics here, journalist jimmy smith will post some lyrics for all to enjoy (especially lew): hint: oh, mandy!
Oh javy well,
You came and you gave without taking,
But I sent you away.
Oh, javy well,
came back and stopped me from shaking,
And I need you today.
Oh, javy!
journalist is becoming ill. still, music is needed on the blog.
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oh, the humandyty…..
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My wife has confessed the she would not be at all disappointed if Javy were to make the team. I expect the sale of Braves jerseys with the number eight to see a marked increase this year. Seems Jersey Gil over on the other blog call the shot on Javy back in November when his informant in Puerto Rico told him Javy had be working out with a personal trainer. How many caught that?
Okay, for all those who feel we need lyrics on the Braves and Stuff blog… I will work on my personal top 25 CDs for the year, Warning, if you don’t like Vince Gill or Alan Jackson, you are likely going to want to scroll right on by this list.
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Me? AWOL? Nope…just reading, without comment. Unlike trolls, I have no need to be ‘heard’! 🙂
Banter away…I enjoy it!
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Music is music….there’s something for everyone…list away. My top 25 would probably start 25 years ago! And…is rap, music? I really struggle with that…rather like my folks coming to grips with Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin…and the beat goes on!
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and where is sja? come back, sja. new leaf seems to have changed sja too much. need a little starch in the blog now and then. of course, if sja is chop chick as some have speculated . . .
nah, journalist does not think so. and several bloggers important to this blog are missing and some even are posting with chop chick today! amazing! back from the inactive list. and such riveting material! oh, well, we have our own blog to work with here and more bloggers are needed. even journalist bob seems to have invested in another blog and hetinks of us not very often. well, soon this blog will have a guest blogger bigger even than scribe and savannah. yes, that’s right . . . the great seal of the united states! baseball fan, but american league. anyway, chop seal has arranged for a guest blog appearance for the gsotus. coming soon.
and what brave is bogging here? rumor helped frankster, may do bravesandstuff some good, too. uh, who could it be? change that to uh, who cud it be?
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if omeone had cold ringfinger thi i ho they ould type. since no one types that way here, we can deduce that tom glavine is not the brave blogging here. more later.
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jimmysmith poses an baffling question…. Should Braves fan show their support and lend Lefty a finger? And which finger should it be? Oh my…. And could LaTwan’s mother please send this blogger a French apple pie? No, she does not have to go to France to get the apples, would be okay to get them from the Piggly Wiggly. I don’t know if they import their apples from France or not…… Humm, would that mean it would not be an authentic French apple pie? And if SJA were here, would I have to call it a Freedom apple pie? So many questions, so little blog time…
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CL, no need to rush a new blog, I am sure ol’ Savannah Guy is glad to still see his words at the top of the blog!!! 🙂
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Gil, France has evolved of late, I think it’s safe to call French Fries french again! 😉
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Ou la la..
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Si
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LeTwan, I don’t make pies that often. My family seems to be cake eaters. I did make a pumpkin pie & a pecan choc. chip pie at Thanksgiving and they turned out very well.
Gil, I’m not familiar with French apple pie. Is it Tarte Tatin, the traditional upside-down apple pie?
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Someone mentioned this a few months back on the old blog(I truly forget who) and I have checked it out off and on ever since. Well, that is til I lost the site! Googling got me nowhere, but I finally found it again, so CL you might want to add this one to the list of other blogs! Similar to http://www.mlbtraderumors.com right down to a black background….
http://elismlbrumors.com/
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flbravesgirl… Is a sweet apple pie with icing on top.
Here is a link…. I will send you my address 🙂 PS do not send via jimmysmith….
http://www.grouprecipes.com/21608/french-apple-pie.html
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Okay, time to hit the rack, dream of Sugar Plums…. Pies and Red Velvet cake. One night I dreamed I was at an all you can eat buffet and when I awoke my pillow was gone… 😦 Later Ya’ll
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Top of the evening, denizens, as much-needed rains fall throughout the capital city. I ran out tonight and was amazed at the way folks were driving around here; it’s been so long and so infrequently since we’ve seen this amount of steady rain.
Now, weight loss (transition): Like the esteemed Vermont artist, the Scribe is 40 pounds lighter in his sneakers than he was this time last year. Weight loss indeed is a good thing, so congrats to Lew for such good work this year.
Now, CC blog (more transition): The Scribe enjoys talk about the Braves, so he has chimed in on the ol’ CC blog since there was relevant conversation on that blog for — with the exception of the one blog you guys jumped on — the first time in months. And the Scribe has extra incentive and feeling for jumping on there, but for now, that will remain a private matter.
Now, Christmas shopping (transition): For the first time, the Scribe finds Dec. 21 dawning with Christmas shopping finished. What a blessing. It’s a blessing because of the job I have now, the promotion my wife just received and a variety of other things that have broken our way this year.
God has so blessed our lives this year; one of the most direct results of that is more time together at home, and for that, I consider myself truly fortunate. There is but one present under the tree for me this Christmas, and that’s cool. I’ve told all who will listen I’ve been blessed beyond count this year.
For Christmas this year, it is my wish all of those who I interact with each day will come to know the reason Dec. 25 is such a special day. I know I do, now more than ever.
Good night, gentle denizens. May God bless you in this special time of the year.
The Scribe abides.
–30–
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Good morning everyone, Just a quick visit while I await for the miracle of modern medicine to allow for me to return to bed. Sscribe, you have no need to explain yourself, you may blog with whomever you like. It is not necessary for you to restrict your talents to one corner of the blogosphere.
I am happy your area is receiving rain. our drought is not over but recent storms have begun to replenish the lakes and rivers locally. Not enough hurricanes this year. Yes, those storms that wrought so much destruction elsewhere tend not to be an ill wind by the time they reach us here in Virginia.
Atlanta is experiencing the same type of water emergency Phoenix faced a couple of years ago. The lessons for all is life giving water is precious and we all take that resource too lightly. Of course I am sure Lew has to laugh at our water problems sitting amid all that snow up in Vermont. Just a shift in the weather pattern but I am certain they have always had snow in Vermont.
Merry Christmas Sscribe. It is indeed a special time when you have little ones about.
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ssiscribe:
The rain was heavier on the ‘bottom’ end of the ATL…although steady, not the volume hoped for up here in Woodstock. Alas, Allatoona looks pretty pathetic, but no doubt some fruitcake will walk across the puddle that remains and…get stuck in the mud!
CL…looks like you’re getting all wet today…enjoy! Feels good, I’m sure.
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Gil, is right- Scribe should not apologize for blogging elsewhere. There are plenty of blog opportunities for all. The character of each of the blogs comes apparent after a time and it is easy to pick a favorite. For LeTwan that favorite is Braves and Stuff. Mama likes it , too. Not everybody will be the same, though, and most can blog other places if desired.
In baseball, there is no news. Steroids rule the game and all discussions of the game. Will anyone ask among the Braves organization if current players used steroids? Will anyone ask tough questions of Frank and of John and of Bobby and of Hoss? Where is Chop Seal?
“Soon, it will be Christmas Day . . . ” So many pies, so little time.
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Berigan, thanks! I had the mlb site, but have now added the Elis site.
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Bah Humbug-I hate winter. I have a bronchial infection and I do not feel in the least bit festive. More snow last night . There will be a one day heat wave on Sunday. It is supposed to rain and be in the mid 40’s. It will melt the firs two inches of snow on the top. Then on Monday it drops twenty degrees and will freeze everything upo again. On Tuesday, another “significant ” snow event. God, I can’t wait for Spring Training. I have not been warm for two years. Not even sure a Red Velvet cake would help right now.
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Mama’s tarte tatin makes use of 7 to 9 Gala apples (3 to 4 lb), peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cored. LeTwan cannot reveal the other ingredients but FBG is right-on with the tarte tatin. And what are the preferences of a cake family as opposed to a pie family? Icing rather than crust? Both cakes and pies are baked. Both are tasty. And while cake is wonderful, still, pie is the favorite at the Anthony’s house. There are no baseball players named ‘Cake’ while there is a famous ballplayer in Chicago named Felix Pie- and don’t forget famous Pie Traynor and Cobbler Cadahia. Though pies are preferred, cakes are also welcome at the Anthony abode – and on this blog cake seems to be a favorite, too. Does that make this a cakes and pies and stuff blog?
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Lew, poor baby! I’m so sorry you aren’t feeling well! It’s chilly here – 48 – and rainy. Am thankful for every drop that’s falling!!
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breaking news – a baseball-eating dog has eaten the baseball used for the last out of the 2007 world series. the dog’s name is boss papelbon. more from pitcher johnathan papelbon: “My dog ate it,” Papelbon told the Hattiesburg American. “He plays with baseballs like they are his toys. His name is Boss. He jumped up one day on the counter and snatched it. He likes rawhide. He tore that thing to pieces. Nobody knows that. I’ll keep what’s left of it.” oh, the humanity! and where is lemke’s wooden indian? eaten by a dog? let’s hope not.
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that was the worst pandering for a red velvet cake this journalist has ever experienced. oh, the humiliation! (lew, let jimmy smith know if it works).
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Back before I was even a teenager my next door neighbor married Ruben Amaro (a wonderful person, BTW, who is the father of the current Phillies’ asst. GM-also a great guy), who was the Phillies Gold Glove shortstop at the time. He gave me a baseball autographed by what was to turn out to be the infamous 1964 Phillies team. You can imagine what the worth of such a piece of memorabilia would be now, money wise and in it’s emotional value. While away at school in Philadelphia, my younger brother played catch with my sister’s cocker spaniel-using that ball (and yes, my brother still lives). I can attest that it does happen. However, given the brouhaha that occurred with the WS ball from their 04 Championship, one does wonder, though.
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Oh Yeah-Artist will do artwork for desserts. Not that I need them or anything.
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some bloggers still missing. where are they? not enough e-mail addresses to alert everyone. must get the word out. jimmysmiththinks something is being lost in the translation. and the chop chick blog is being reformatted to include daily posts by bloggers (same blogger) but is it too little, too late? sja is having computer problems. chrisklob and hillbilly and matthew are missing. need them here. salty is back. good. berigan and gil, too. where is grinch? out of town company, in town. very confusing. don’t want to miss anyone. even stinky is here. merry christmas, stinky. choppinmama? others? can’t remember everybody who came over but all are welcome. carolina lady runs a nice blog and calls no one and idiot.
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Poor Lew! I would send a cake if I could but it would never survive shipping. (Grinch has been trying to get me to send him one for a year now.) It would be a melted squished mess by the time it got to you. Now I will certainly bring goodies to spring training if I can get them into the ballpark. Perhaps someone should distract the staff while I carry the cake box in?
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baby seal can be dressed as a small fan and cause a distraction while flbravesgirl enters with cakes and cookies. can bite an umpire or something. and who has been at the ballpark when the tee shirts are shot into the stands? same principle as the cookie gun? perhaps flbravesgirl could shoot some cookies our way between innings. spring training is looking more and more appealing to this journalist. and if letwan’s mama makes some pies to go with the cakes and cookies, lew and scribe will add back those 80 pounds (cumulative, journalist knows, cumulative). and what if carolina lady has some bravesandstuff tee shirts for distribution at spring training? what would they say on front?
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FLBravesGirl-Actually, I need sugar like I need an additional hole in my head. However, that being said- We would like to meet you at the Phillies’ Complex in Clearwater. It is not a stadium. It is a complex and no one would say anything about you bringing food except to say thank you-probably including my Doctor, who I hope to meet there, as well. Also present should be my son and my daughter in law, my second son and daughter in law (my son’s best friend and HIS wife who I have known since they were in first grade and who also call me Dad) and the Grinch. I think you would be hard pressed to find any of us who would give you grief. Alternatively, I will likely take everyone (yourself included) to lunch and it could easily be dessert. Never met a problem I couldn’t come up with a solution for.
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“Never met a problem I couldn’t come up with a solution for.”
and where is lew’s avatar?
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Thanks, Lew. Now I’ll have to start planning the mobile dessert buffet. 🙂
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I’m here journalist. Only problem is with everybody off on vacation, and me using all of my v. days during early hunting season, I’m stuck here trying to cover 3 people’s jobs at once. Do you know how hard it is doing this job and that job, and trying to blog with you folks all at the same time? I mean, I have a game story to write before the morning deadline, and interview with Boras, and a story to file on Fra…..Wait a minute? Got off track. I’m a Hillbilly, not a Beat writer.
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Testing, testing. One, two, three……..
“Hey, is this thing on?”
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Nice work, jimmy. Hillbilly & Chris show up right on cue.
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Hey, Chris!!! I am SO glad you came!! Welcome!! 🙂
‘Morning, FBG! Taking a well-deserved break, I hope!
Hillbilly, we’ve missed you!
Now, where is John???
Bob must be asleep in the hot tub…..
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Welcome chrisklob, another esteemed journalist has found us….. Would love to stay but I am headed across town to pay Mom’s nurse. Feel free to visit the rest of the gang…
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The Pale Ghost in the snowstorm is all the avatar that the Bionic Artist is going to have. All of y’all with MY avatar better find something else or I”l claim copyright infringement.
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Now be nice, Lew, or you might not get the cake after all.:-p I’m going to have to get some assistance with the avatar, maybe this weekend.
CL, does laundry count as a break? It seems like it; at least I can pop in here in between loads.
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Greetings, long lost denizens! Well, actually I guess I am the long lost denizen. Hope all is well with everyone. Seems that there’s been quite a bit of activity here since I last looked. Kudos to CL for putting this place together and giving us a place to hang out.
Don’t have much time now as I am at work. I’ll check in later and try to get caught up with everyone!
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FBG, I’ve just this moment gotten my Christmas cards in the mail! I don’t think I’ll ever catch up! And now the bottom string of lights on the tree has gone out and I don’t know how to fix it. (They are not series lights so if unplugging and replugging doesn’t work, I’m at a loss!) 🙂
FBG, the avatar is really easy: pick out an uncluttered picture, go to MY ACCOUNT – EDIT PROFILE. There you’ll see how to upload your picture, resize it (very, very easy), and post it.
And, no, a laundry break does not count! Got mine done yesterday. Finish the wrapping today, cook supper, and I’m done for today. I think. 🙂
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You better come back, Chris! We need you here!! Have a great day and see you later! (Thanks for your nice words!) 🙂
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Back to work – will check in as I can!
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oh, the humanity! hillbilly and chrisklob back to back. good timing is right! hillbilly had jimmy smith going there for a minute with the game story and talk with frank. chrisklob will need to open some dialogue with flbravesgirl if cookies are to be had. flbravesgirl can now shoot cookies from a gun. journalist is not sure how it works but sounds tasty. suggested avatars for lew: maple syrup bottle, booger, artist’s pencil, or wild turkey. journalist thinks red velvet cake may be taken :-). more later.
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what’s up here? $$green$$ show journalist the money!! $$green$$ oh, the humanity! and this from another blog: “The Blog has finally came back to life in the off season at that.”
plant life.
whoa! see you next spring.
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This day’s getting better by the minute. Lunch was paid for. Now I get to leave an hour early. Tis the season. To the deer stand I go. Everybody have a mighty fine holiday. Just say NO to eggnog.
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jimmy’s 2:43: Day late, dollar short.
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5,144 hits as of 3:21
WHO would a thunk it???
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Hillbilly, you leave those deer alone!!
Glad you had a great day!! 🙂
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Here I am a Great Seal and I can get an avatar up quicker than an artist! Many of you know already that I live in D.C. – and let me thank you for sending us Pete Orr! Oh, hey! The Nationals should be an improved baseball team next season with all the ex-Braves coming to town. I especially like Langerhans, though he arrived earlier than Pete Orr. Langerhans once had a nice toe-tap but it has long since been abandoned in favor of the strikeout. Yes, those ex-Braves are a big part of our team now. Some of you might ask, what is it like being Great Seal of the United States? Well, it pretty much rules. Unlike Canadian seals that are hunted down and clubbed to death, seals in this country are protected like little salamanders. And the Great Seal is housed in a climate controlled government office with all the amenities. Life is good. I understand that a young seal friend of mine has been named beat writer for this blog. That prompted my presence here today. It is always good to see seals succeed. Let me offer my approval. (who will take this one?)
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This’n that ‘n stuff
Got home late last evening after a long night-drive back from Atlanta. Rained almost all the way. As usual, we broke up our little trip with a stop at the Macon Steak and Shake, which is always a treat. It’s the only fast food I’ll gladly eat. Good stuff. Well, I like Chik-Filet on occasion. Good chicken sammiches. Wonder if Julia likes those?
Thanks for those well wishes and prayers for my wife. She’s doing fine and recovering at home. We know not the purpose of all things nor do we know the timing but we do know that we are blessed. We’re looking forward to Christmas at home with friends and family.
Thanks also denizens for the kind words regarding my post. Berigan, thanks too, although as you opined, I’m actually not all that glad to see my words still posted up top for two reasons: one, it means we haven’t yet had the number of posts to slow this place down enough for a new blog. Two, I wish I could rewrite it…if I had an eraser I’d surely erase it. I do know better than to write while juggling chainsaws and packing suitcases yet against better judgment did it as promised.
The best part of my post was how CL edited it for me as a favor, since I had to scoot before self edit or reflection. Thanks CL. You are a kind and gracious Lady. I owe ya one.
Now I see many fine posts here. We have baseball and so much other good stuff too…a veritable cornucopia of tidbits to chew on.
Now, pies are good. That has been well established and seems to be unanimous around these parts. Crawfish pie…abso-cajun-lutely! Crawfish are good in anything and by themselves all spiced up and hot out of the pot. Love’em any way you cook’em.. Never had rabbit pie. Tried Rabbit stew once and liked it.
(Now, a continental transition) The French seem to be back in good graces and heading in the right direction with new leadership. But what about Australia…what are they doing? Could it be the Vegemite? Oh, the horrors.
Arkansas Hillbilly: Be warned…CL loves those deer. That Carolina Lady don’t like no huntin’ of the critters. Nope. She scolded me terribly once about deer hunting (I’m completely exaggerating). As a result, now when I go out in the woods and see a big trophy buck…I feed them corn, warn them about the perils of chasing doe out into the open and then I leave the area and run by Kroger for non-organic beef to take home. ; )
Scribe, after seeing comments here I just went over to the CC and read your posts…very good stuff as usual. You certainly have the talent to spread it around and I’ll read it and enjoy it wherever it is. My only concern is that we become so spread out between several blogs and with two or three other good denizens starting their own and CC, we are not as strong nor as diversified. United we stand…united there’s more content, united there’s always action…that sorta’ thing.
Speaking of good stuff, whither Bob, Journalist?
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Great Seal, this is the first time I ever knew that seals have wings!! Never knew that. And beaks! Learn something new every day! We’re very pleased to have you join us – and now that we have the approval of the Great Seal of the United States, surely great things are in store for us! 🙂
(I imagine Baby Seal was a bit overwhelmed!)
Savannah, good news from the coast of GA! Hope Savannah Gal is resting easy. Thank you sir for your kind words; it’s easy to work with excellent material! 🙂 Your effort under trying circumstances is tremendously appreciated!
Somebody better go check on Bob! Bet he tried blogging while in the hot tub again. How many keyboards does that make now??
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Yeah? Listen here Seal Boy. The Artist has no avatar because the Artist CHOOSES to have no avatar. If The Artist so desired He would make an avatar that would put your purloined and pilfered pictures (note alliteration) to shame. I choose not to shame you. That’s all. Do you realize how lucky you are to have a friend that refuses to shame you?
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Lew, I just thought of a great picture for your avatar: the one you sent of you and Kathy in the stands. A great picture!! Would be perfect! I’ll crop and send to you to upload!
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Being the Great Seal of the United States I could have you taken to Canada and left there, Lew. I will not do that, however, because you are a good supplier of maple syrup in your present situation. I just wanted to point out that a pinniped (though a Great pinniped for sure) can find and place an avatar and you cannot. Perhaps you have been blogging in a slow environment and need new mental stimulation that can be found here. Now, here are a few more suggestions for your avatar: Chino Cadahia, Musk Ox, and Hartebeest. Please work on a suitable avatar and get back with me for Approval of Seal. Some call this Seal of Approval. One more idea: devil’s food cake.
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That just about seals it does it not?
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I choose to not have an avatar. Y’all need to get over it. I am a stubborn human and have made my decision. Seals, whether great, lesser, or from the United States or anywhere else will just have to live with that fact. I am whop I am and have never needed an avatar to be me.
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Savannah Guy, glad you guys are back home safe and sound! Ah….Steak and Shake. As a connoisseur of that chain, I of course have eaten at that very one off of 75. Right next to a Barnes and Noble, more or less!
My Mom craved them back when I was still in the womb in St. Louis, so I am powerless to their pull! When we moved to Jacksonville in 1983, no Steak N’ Shakes! 😦 a bad ten years for Mom and me! But, we moved to Atlanta in 1993, and yippee, Steak N’ Shakes! 🙂
Funny, your blog seems pretty darn good to me! You might mess it up if you could re-write it! 😉 With the holidays just about upon us, it seems natural that the pace of posts will slow down a bit. At least is does on the Jazz board, and the Lincoln board(Car, not prez) I frequent. So…your blog could be up like a Christmas tree, til New Years! 🙂 😉 😦
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Hillbilly I just got my 2007 Arkansas vacation kit … ordered back in May,methinks!
I guess Berigan’s still thinking … I can relate but my biggest problem is that, while I can still think great thoughts, I can’t remember what I’ve thunk!
Good to see Chris, FBG, NaCly, and Stinky!!
Well, for the first time in 10 years, we completed our Christmas Shopping before Christmas Eve … we drew names … Carol got mine, I got hers … and we decided to just save the money which we don’t have!
I’m not blogging much because my computer’s SATA drive is corrupt and when I do, it freezes.
Can anyone answer either of the following …?
Question #1 … if I buy a new Intel Dual Core processor Computer with 64 bit Vista preinstalled, can I add 32 bit Windows 2000 or 2003 Server and dual boot?
The answer seems to be a qualified yes … but, at least at the local level, nobody is willing to so assert without reservation that my server software drivers, including those for SQLServer will work properly. I considered it to be a sales question so I called Microsoft … got someone named Ashutosh who said it was a technical question and he transferred me to someone who wanted my credit card information and payment in advance before he would listen to my question. I told him that was nice work if you could get it and wished him a Merry Christmas.
Question #2 … if I buy the new computer described above, and can’t resolve the possible Dual Boot problems, should I have any significant problems unloading the 64 bit software and doing a clean install of the 32 bit software?
My thoughts are that if the computer accommodates two SATA drives then I should be able to make it work properly, though some interface may be required, … the truth is that I’m no longer knowledgeable enough to be qualified to answer my questions.
Answer those for me so that I know what to do … and I’ll have a new computer tomorrow … back blogging away … and our shopping will truly be complete … except for some brown-n-serve rolls to take to Lynda’s on Christmas Day!
Sir Guy, it’s nice/good/great to know you’re both home and that Leslie is doing well!
Supper, Hot tub … sans keyboard
God Bless!
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Just read on that Elismlbrumors site that the Rangers traded Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for a hard throwing minor league pitcher, Edinson Volquez. It almost seemed like the Reds were dying to trade him once Dusty Baker came aboard. I hate to see him change teams and leagues after just one year. Hopefully, things will work out for him there. Everyone seems to hit just putting on a Rangers uniform. Rangers shouldn’t give up arms if you ask me though…..
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Gosh, I don’t know, Bob. Mine says HP on the front.
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Ma’am-I’m with you. Mine says Dell.
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And roll call continues…mine says Harmon Kardon. Oops! Them’s the speakers…Toshiba…Hai!
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Thanks to you both! If I get the answer(s), it’ll probably be an HP or Acer … or Gateway, unless I go barebones and build one.
I thought someone might be able to help … the reason I’m back is that while answering My Lady’s email before shutting down, I got an email reply from ZipZoomFly, to whom I had posed the same question … saying that they didn’t answer technical questions and referred me to Microsoft … and I wanted to include one of the paragraphs I had just posted in my reply back to them.
Later …
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Hey, Salty!
Lew, you got mail.
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Evening, CL! Happy to see more denizens sliding over…congrats!
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Salty, I’m so tickled to see all of you! There are others I would so like to have with us but have no way to contact them. Maybe they’ll stumble across our new home some day!
Chris should be here shortly!
Gifts are patiently waiting for their wrapping, but I’ll stop in now and then. I did finally get the cards into the mail today! whew! Just under the wire!!
🙂
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great seal and carolina lady, it is for the best. lew is a friend of jimmy smith and jimmy smith has seen lew’s picture. best to go with the one lew has now. still, jimmy smith has e-mailed lew a nice avatar should lew decide to use it.
and this for journalist bob . . . baby seal says a minor tuneup may be all bob’s computer needs. clean the carburetor and buy a new spark plug. and who is zipzoomfly? zip? fly? bob must be more careful.
and more bloggers are appearing here. and the blog is quite civil. and no frank sightings. wren will frank come over to us? soon, frank will be sharing text messages with all bravesandstuff bloggers. frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank . . . frank. and chop seal is working on an inside source within the braves clubhouse. if chop seal is successful this blog will have inside scoop from the clubhouse. rumors of a certain pitcher wearing fish net stockings can finally be confirmed or refuted.
and what could bobby cox do to a piece of red velvet cake? finger-lickin’ good?
zipzoomfly. oh, journalist bob, where have you been?
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Bob, I will e-mail you a site that can likely answer your question. However, having a separate hard drive may allow for you to have duel operating systems. I would however contact dell and tell them you want a 32 bit system. That way all your old soft ware will work.
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Great line on Clemens:
“One day you’re the toast of Texas and the next day you’re Texas toast.”
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7590074?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49
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I’m glad for Bob’s sake that Gil is here. Sounds like Gil knows his way around computers. I know my way around them too…(enter your own punch line here).
Since I have a Mac and am also a techno-challenged individual I wouldn’t be much help. Fly has a little zip but he’s already zoomed out’a here.
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and chop chick has two posts today. guess chop chick won’t be shutting us down again. and whither orr not journalist bob goes 32 or 64 bit journalist bob should not take the computer into the tub. this may be part of bob’s problem. and it is good to finally hear from the great seal of the united states – revered by baby seal. the great seal is a charming blogger with impeccable manners and should consider posting here more often. and now, brown gravy or milk gravy?
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I know how important these things are to you, so I have located detailed instructions for creating an origami pig:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Origami-Pig
You’re welcome!
🙂
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And for any of you that have computer questions, I highly recommend this site. A good friend passed it along to me a year ago. Usually when I finish mucking around with a computer it is only suitable to be used as a boat anchor.
http://www.kimkomando.com
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Maybe I will have better luck with the pig……. 🙂
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Bet it is hard to get that sucker to fly…..
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an origami pig. Who woulda thunk it?? 🙂
(That computer site is excellent, Gil. Thanks for the link!)
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Yeah, I think they better put that one back on the drawing board!
Have you seen the drawings of Boeing’s proposed blended-wing commercial airliner? Carries something like a thousand people? Probably got 6 bathrooms.
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Speakers are B&W’s. New HD TV is Toshiba. I can now see TV again!!!!
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Here are some drawings, including the cabin:
http://www.twitt.org/bldwing.htm
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have heard of bended knees but never bended wings on an airplane. carolina lady must stay off such a plane! orville, wilbur, carolina lady (uh oh, here we go again) would know better than to fly on bended wings. and remember, carolina lady, nothing to be ashamed of – very important invention.
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Well, jimmy, when Orville, Wilbur and I were at Kitty Hawk, we discussed the possibility of bended wings, but decided that wouldn’t be in our best interests and should be avoided if at all possible.
I’ve seen some bended wings – and landing gear – but, thankfully, never had personal experience with either.
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During the actual bending, I should say.
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Greetings denizens!
I have to admit, I’m more than a little irritated. For the past hour or so I’ve writing a comment rebutting the Jason Whitlock column that CL posted earlier. Normally I agree with him, but not this time.
Anyway, it was a rather lengthy post, full of facts and figures that I’d pulled from around the net. As I was nearing its completion, I erroneously pointed my browser to another site and lost everything! And, of course, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Don’t get me wrong, this thing wasn’t Wurlitzer-worthy. I’m not capable of that, but it was pretty damn (can say?) good, in my humble opinion. So if I seem a little more irritable than usual you’ll understand why. Anyway, it is good to see all the good people here together. No name-calling, no arguing, no snarkiness (well, maybe a little). Nope, whatcha got here is baseball, pies, toes, seals, cakes and origami. What do you call this place, Utopia?
I guess I’ll go back to folding my origami pig. Does anyone have any pink construction paper?
Anyone know where I can find some html instruction? I’m guessing it’s needed to do fun stuff like bolds and italics.
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Hi, Chris! I have to laugh with you! I’ve done the same thing! Write a masterpiece, then do something that destroys it! 🙂
Check out the TEXT EFFECTS page. Link at the close of the lead post on every page. We’ve found some shortcuts, though – can use b instead of strong, i instead of em. There are probably more but that’s all I’ve had time to work out. WordPress isn’t the easiest system in the world to work with as far as editing, html, etc go. But at least we aren’t homeless! 🙂
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Stinky-Keep searching Dude. It’s out there somewhere.
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chrisklob, I feel for you guy, been there and done that. At one point I started using Word and then would cut and paste to the comment area.
A lot of great work has vanished in an instant.
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CL, it’s nice to see you. I knew I should have done it in WORD and copy/pasted it but once I got rolling I didn’t want to stop. I’ll try to find this text effects page. I’d just be happy with italics and bold and the ability to post links. Kind of like the, ahem, other place. Might be some new tricks to add to the repertoire though and I’d be happy to learn them if they aren’t too hard.
CL, you have turned out to be a formidable blog mistress. Quite a few hits in a short period of time. As I indicated in the previous blog, not much arguing amongst the denizens. Refreshing! Of course, there’s been no sign of the calabash-style seafood enthusiast from MB for SJA to harass. Speaking of SJA, is he still around? I read through some of the posts the last day or so and haven’t seen him around. Did he sprain his ankle inserting his 17EEE boots up some punks backside?
Savannah Guy, I gather that your bride has taken ill. I do hope that everything is okay with her. You know that the thoughts and prayers of the denizens are with you both.
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It’s why Lew stopped working with an Etch-a-sketch.
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Chris, the links for HOME PLATE and TEXT EFFECTS are at the end of each blog lead. Real easy.
And thank you, kind sir! It takes ALL of us to make a successful blog. That’s one reason we all take a turn writing the lead: it’s ours, so we write it! 🙂 (Gil, you do know that you’re up after Berigan, don’t you??)
Sadly, SJA had to be put down. John tried everything, including sending him to Charm School, but – sigh – it just couldn’t be helped. But his owner, John, is with us when he’s up to it and we miss him when he’s not!
Grinch is currently MIA with house guests but he’ll be back.
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CL I have my blurb in the que…
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Greetings Gil, I knew at the time that I should have used Word. Got in the zone and didn’t want to lose it. I’m and idiot. Not that it’s the first time I’ve ever done it. Just frustrating when you’ve got a better than average post working and you lose the whole thing.
I don’t know how to post a link yet so I’ll just copy/paste the url to a Ken Rosenthal article that I like a whole lot better than Jason Whitlock’s (no offense CL).
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7580906
In a nutshell, Rosenthal says that Clemens needs to prove his innocence. Of course, we’re talking about the court of public opinion, not a court of law, so benefit of doubt and greater preponderance of doubt and a lot of other legal concepts do not apply here.
One of my points in my lost post dealt with defending oneself in this situation. There were , I believe, 86 players named in the Mitchell Report. A few have denied everything. A few have been forthcoming and admitted to the charges. The vast majority have been silent. That silence is damning, in my opinion. I know that if I had been accused of something as awful as using illegal PED’s and I knew that I was 100% not guilty of said charges, I would not have waited five MINUTES to make myself heard. Roger Clemens waited five DAYS before he made his lame denial heard. When Canseco wrote that book naming all those guys did ANYONE try to sue him? I can’t remember a single one.
If I were Clemens and knew that I was innocent I would have filed a law suit claiming slander, libel, defamation of character, etc. ASAP against Bud Selig, George Mitchell, MLB, McNamee et al. Even if I didn’t think I could win the suit I would do it anyway just to clear my name. His potential entrance to the Hall of Fame hangs in the balance. But Clemens has done none of this, and the deafening silence speaks volumes.
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Okay, I see that this thing automatically identifies websites and links them. That’s great. Bear with me while I try some of these other things out.
I’m sorry to hear that SJA had to be put down. Did they sell him to a dog food company?
I’m and idiot
I like pie, I cannot lie
I really didn’t mean to write thisHopefully it works although it’s a bit cumbersome. But I think I can learn to live with it.
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Just ducking in for a last read before bed and see old friend Klobber. Thanks Chris. Missed seeing your posts lately. Speaking of posts, might I be so bold as to offer your services to write a lead in on this Brave’s and Stuff blog sometime? The denizens here are all pitching in on them, per CL. You’d write a great one.
Sorry you lost your post…we’ve all done it more than once. I’d like to see your thoughts on that article. Wurlitzer worthy? Now I have to disagree with your premise there. I’ve seen quite a few Wurlitzer worthy posts from you.
G’nite good folks. Hopefully see you on the morrow…
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Super, Gil!! When you’re ready, email it to me and I’ll post it when Berigan’s blog fills up.
Chris, absolutely no offense. I just liked that one line in that article. I agree, the innocent would be screaming from the rooftops! And, some names weren’t really ‘users.’ I recall seeing a copy of one check (dated several years ago) from one player in the amount of $240, and it was the only check from him. Obviously he isn’t a user. All the other checks from others were in the thousands.
After 11. Gotta get myself to bed!
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Now music. Tragic news emerged today as Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli have made their divorce final. Check out a pic of the previously happy couple here:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/21/vanhalen.divorce.ap/index.html
HOLY HELL! Is it any wonder? He’s clearly going the Mick Jagger route into old age. She still looks pretty damn good!
“One Day at a Time” was always one of my favorites as a kid and I can promise you that it wasn’t because of the acting (Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. Say no more!)
I wonder if I can google her phone number………….
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Chris, you have the perfect avatar! 🙂
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CL, what else could it be? LOL!
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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ‘Night, y’all!! See ya tomorrow!
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You’re right, Chris! No other choice! 🙂
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SG, greetings my old friend. I hope that things are looking up for your bride. I don’t want to pry but are these current issues related to previous ones that y’all have experienced?
As far as writing a lead for the blog, frankly I don’t know what I could write about that would be worthy of putting at the top of a page. While I am capable of creating actual sentences with nouns and verbs I am not very good at being colorful. My imagination is clearly not as developed as some of the others here. Give me a little time and perhaps I will be inspired by something. Every now and again the light bulb does go off and I am capable of posting something that I am actually proud to sign my name too. Unfortunately, those times are few and far between.
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And just as quickly as CL mentioned it, my avatar has disappeared.
HELP! HELP! I’VE BEEN ROBBED!
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http://www.quizyourprofile.com/guessyournumber.swf
A fun little quiz for kids and adults….
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berigan, that is creepy! I’m going to have to figure out how this works!
BTW, did you get married? Is “2electricboogaloo” your new married name? And what was your maiden name? 🙂
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chrisklob,
It is scary, and it’s not the best time of year to talk ball, but from your writing style, it wouldn’t be as hard to do as you think. Perhaps the kind lady will let us write fairly short blogs til spring training rolls around at least….
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Chris,
Isn’t that weird? Some trick clearly, but still….
No, didn’t get married, just had to change my name once I joined the witness protection agency. I tried beriganthe13thpart3in3d, but it didn’t roll off the tongue.
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test….
;/ ;| 😐
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wait, which was that??? 😐
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4 smilies then. 😉 🙂 😦 😐
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And now I see that the thief has returned my avator. No questions shall be asked.
Berigan, forgive me for asking, but what exactly is your avator? They’re so small they’re hard to make out sometimes.
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Chris, a sorta creepy photo of myself…took a picture while standing in front of bathroom mirror. Less creepy and more funny full size…
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OMG, Berigan, that is freaky! How can that work?
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Some of them blended drawins look like something I did back in first grade … knew I was on to something good, just didn’t know what. No, twern’t last year but back in ’43, … then a while later, maybe in late ’44 or early ’45, we saw a bunch of ’em out at the airport for a while … copied my design, they did!
Actually, my drawings represented my interpretation of some prototypes Daddy had taken us to see … perhaps enhanced by the fact that I couldn’t draw a straight line … I’m not sure about the ones we later saw at the airport … they may have been Navy, they weren’t like the prototypes we had seen … more of a half fold … Daddy explained that they were VTOs … wasn’t until years later, recounting the story, that I found out that he made that up!
Still, real good BBQ pork sandwiches, with chips and a coke cost 15 cents … box seats at Cracker games were 75 cents for adults and 50 cents for kids and I think on Wednesdays, Ladies got in free … life was good!
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Okay, my work is done for the night, slapped around an idiot on the “other web Site” and caught up on my reading plus submitted my homework to the Boss for her final approval. Have a good night all.
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Gil, next time slap him harder. He’s and idiot and deserves it! 🙂
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Klobber, yes it’s related to the earlier situation with her. We think they’ve found the solution, which means a little surgical this and that. She’ll be fine, but thanks.
Last night I was just about to suggest an avatar for you…and then the Knob label showed up. You beat me to it. Hope you don’t mind, but when it disappeared for a few minutes it was me…poured myself a little toddy to go. Good stuff. How is life in Isle of Palms these days?
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What a night. Low blood sugar attack at four in the morning. Just what I need to be chugging orange juice and eating ice cream in the middle of the night, Saved yet again by Ben and Jerry-those Vermont institutions.
Gil-Sometimes and idiot must learn. I took out Anders the other night on David’s blog. Really got tired of him and his…well, shall we say point of view? Got tired of him constantly giving the Braves (and me) grief. Totally amazing what the offer of a Wurlitzer will do to control a situation. I offered one for the best post describing what and idiot he was. The response was something else. Anders has been severely chastised and now knows the place of a Mets fan on a Braves’ blog. Sometimes statements need to be made.
Anyway, I promised a hand colored print to everyone who responded-or didn’t, as the case may be. I’ll make the same offer here. Let me know whose print you want and I’ll send one after January 1 when I feel a bit better. Please, when y’all email me, include your snail mail addresses. When I switched from WEB TV to Comcast, I lost addresses all over the place. Merry Christmas from the Bionic Artist.
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Savannah Guy-Sounds like the gift that keeps on giving. Is she feeling better? Bob, how about Carol? Is she comfortable for the Holidays?
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Good morning SG. Glad to hear things are looking up for your best girl.
Hey man, whenever you need a little Knob, you’re always welcome to some of mine. Anytime you need it. Guess I probably need to get a couple of back up bottles for “just in case”!
I actually live in Mt Pleasant, not I of P. I wish I could afford it but Mt P is expensive enough. But I of P is just over the bridge a couple of miles away. Things are okay here. Work has finally slowed down a bit, which is good. I am pretty sure they were trying to see how far they could push us before we all either quit or had a mental breakdown. Got a little more shopping to do and then I’ll be ready for Christmas.
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‘Morning, y’all!
Lew, hope you’ve recovered! I have hypoglycemia so I know what that is.
Gil, read your lead and it’s excellent! MANY thanks!! This blog should start slowing soon since we’re over 200 posts; when it does, I’ll post Berigan’s – and when that one slows, yours will be up!
Y’all are doing so well with these! Congratulations!!
OK – I need a volunteer to follow Gil’s lead post. Somebody get in the on-deck circle!
OK – my To-Do list awaits. 😐
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Ma’am-I’m fine. I woke up at 4 am with blood sugar of 69. Now that may not seem excessively low, but when you’re on medication to bring it down, it usually means if you don’t do something soon, you’ll be at 45 and passed out. No fun, as you well know.
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Bob, Journalist, some of your stories of memories around the Crackers and other topics bring back one of my favorite writers, Ray Bradbury. Seems I read most all of his books in my late teens and early twenties (when I was supposed to be reading other books for class). Illustrated Man was my favorite, Fahrenheit 451 was probably the most popular, but near the top of my list, and the one that your writing brings to mind is Dandelion Wine. No doubt you know his work but perhaps someone here would enjoy checking it out.
In the book, Mr. Bradbury referred to certain elders as being like “time machines”, and pointed out that we should glean from them whatever we can. That thought, more than any other from the book changed my young paradigm and has always made such good sense to me. Unlike most ancient cultures, it seems our disposable society today has no appreciation for the memories and the wisdom of our elders.
The metaphor of Dandelion Wine is a sweet one, where we can pack all of the joys of summer into a single bottle. Simple small-town joys of yesteryear are explored with the help of those that were there before us.
As I write this I decided pause and Google the book to refresh my own “time machine”. Seems I remembered it pretty well. I think I’ll have to read it again soon.
Bob, as time (and new computer) allows, please keep writing more on Baseball’s Magic Moments…share your memories of the Atlanta Crackers and your other observations, not just about the players and team but about the stadium, the soda fountains, the city life and the world before some of us were born…or old enough to witness or understand those times.
Please also continue to share your “third ear” opines on current events and such here. I always look forward to seeing your posts but they’ve been sparse lately. You balance us all out.
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Good morning all, Lew, take care of yourself. Would be tough to lose a talent like you. Diabetes can be a devastating disease. Yes, I use to amaze the rookies when responding to a diabetic emergencies when I would tell them to grab a bottle of OJ instead of pulling out the D50 from the drug box. Not as fast but always safer. I had a motto during my EMS days. “The most nothing you could do was always the best course of treatment for every patient”.
Saw too many time when people got over aggressive in their treatments doing things because they could, not because they should. If you don’t already, it might be a good idea for you to have a self administered Glucagon kit handy. Works pretty quick but you have to eat as soon as you can afterwards because it will pull all the sugar from your liver in about 20 minutes.
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Chris…smack!!! That was the sound of my palm on my forehead. I knew Mt. Pleasant. I just talked with a friend in IOP, so it just stuck I suppose. Better keep that Knob Creek stocked up. Looks like chilly weather is setting in. Lew would disagree with that. It’s all relative.
Lew, she’s feeling better today, thanks.
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Lew…man, get that sugar under control. Maybe it’s the cold you’ve had. That’ll bring it down. Or perhaps it’s just a reaction to all the pie talk around here.
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To My Liberal Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
To My Conservative Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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SG, LOL! That was good!
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SG
You just provided the finest definition of Liberal (what’s the point?) versus Conservative (on point)!
Chris:
Excellent, excellent points on the ‘other’ blog this morning about Selig and accountability (10:10AM today, folks). All should read (I know it’s tough to venture there). Of course, it only reinforces CL’s belief in you writing a lead on this blog!
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Nacly..my sentiments exactly, although I don’t lay claim to authoring those liberal words. That was from an email a friend sent this morning. Thought others here might have a chuckle too.
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Hello, and good morning, everyone! I was thinking this morning about the Braves and about Bobby Cox and about this highly successful new blog. It caused me to realize there is a very fine line between booger and blogger. Think about it.
And Lew having no avatar is like Barney Fife having no bullet. Lew must have at least one avatar and I am going to help! Soon, an incredible avatar will appear for Lew (being Great Seal of the United States I can accomplish many things others cannot accomplish). It is hoped that Lew will approve.
And it is pleasant in Mt. Pleasant. I have enjoyed some good meals alongside Shem Creek – but everyone always makes such a fuss when I am around. It is hard to blend into the crowd being Great Seal and especially since I must travel with an entourage (like Mike Vick used to and much like T.P. of the Braves today).
In baseball news, I understand Chipper has hung his stockings by the chimney with care. Chipper has pinniped feet. What? What aides? Can’t reveal that? Uh, nevermind.
Being a seal has its advantages. Can you say Heidi Klum?
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savannahguy, Great post…… Will go on my “save for posterity list” immediately.
Oh Great One, Seal that is…. Always remember that it is not the official motorcades that have the right of way in D.C. but the buses and taxi cabs. If you don’t believe that, try pulling out in front of one. PS Do not accept Dick Chaney’s invitation to go on a little hunting trip…….
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By the way, Mike still has an entourage… Making many new contacts for the future.
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Savannah Guy and Gil-I’m usually the poster child for diabetes control and have been for a number of years. However, sometimes you just go sky high or cellar low for no apparent reason. I was 145 right before bedtime-usually that will bring me to a fasting 120 in the morning, which is perfect, but maybe with all the cold remedies I’m taking , it dropped. Just happens sometimes. I always have glucose tablets and orange juice in reserve-I prefer the juice. All it is is a balancing act, sometimes, with the fulcrum being a knife edge.
Savannah Guy-Are you familiar with the Sci Fi writings of Roger Zelazny? He wrote Lord of Light, A Rose For Ecclesiastes, The Amber Series and Creatures of Light and Darkness-a very mytholgically based New Wave SciFi author. A multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner, he was a friend of mine. We corresponded for over 15 years and he allowed me to illustrate his Amer series. Quite a guy. He unfortunately, died on my 44th birthday. What a loss to the literary world and to everyone who knew him and appreciated his wonderful way with words.
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Is anyone else a Lou Dobbs Independant populist that thinks Lou Dobbs is excessively full of himself?
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Lew. they are all full of themselves…….
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Much obliged Sir Guy, you sir are indeed a gentleman and a man of letters … saying all those nice things without me having no pictures or money with which to pay!
My memories are dim and my magic moments from the past are few … Buster Brown didn’t leave me Froggy’s magic twanger, or if he did, I’ve lost it … but, I hope others will share theirs … for shared memories and stories will never die while those that are not will soon be lost forever!
As the gifted John once eloquently penned, “when your mind begins to travel … I like to strap myself in the backseat of that vehicle, then hang on and see just where it might take me!” … I truly appreciate the thought behind those words and redirecting them toward this audience … while we know not the destination, it’s truly exciting to think that we’re sharing our thoughts and stories and taking the ride together!
My questions have been answered to my satisfaction … now, whither the money to for the computer?! Life is good!
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Lou Dobbs has become “excessively full of himself” Yep! He’s not alone…there are others I enjoyed listening to, then the morphing began and I changed the channel. Comparable to scrolling a diseased blog! CL has clearly insured this one has had all of its shots!
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Froggy’s magic twanger??? Can say that here? 🙂
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Salty, permission for so doing is given only to those of us old enough to remember such things, as compensation for not being able to do much of anything else.
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Are you familiar with the Sci Fi writings of Roger Zelazny?
Lew, I’m not familiar with Zelazny’s writing. Sorry to hear of your loss of a friend. I’ll check him out when time allows. Although I do love some science fiction and fantasy works, most of my attraction has been around authors like JRR Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, HG Wells, Orwell, Asimov, Sagan and such. Well, I guess that’s a lot but I know there are many more I’m forgetting from the top of mind. Then if I included fantasy and Sci-Fi genre films there would be way too many to mention. Must not forget Rod Serling.
Maybe a few of my film classics would be, off the top in no particular order: The Day the Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds (both), Invasion of The Body Snatchers (original), The Time Machine (original)…then Aliens, Blade Runner, Mad Max, Matrix. Oh, must not forget The Fly (originals and modern version). I can see this is going to get long. This is a fun Memory Lane to stroll, so maybe I’ll find a listing and create my own fave top ten.
Are such lists allowed on blog?
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Savannah Guy-Your sci fi likes are not appreciably different from mine. You need to find a copy of Nine Princes In Amber (though more than likely what you’ll be able to find, maybe at Borders or Barnes and Noble is The Great Chronicles of Amber, which includes all ten books). If you can’t find anything, let me know, as I may have duplicate copies. They did make a movie out of one of Zelazny’s books, Damnation Alley. Unfortunately, they got geprge Peppard and Jan Michael Vincent to play the leads (lousy casting) and as Roger said, they managed to keep the special effects and little else.
The problem with Lou Dobbs is not his philosophy, which I generally agree with, but his pomposity and constant daily harping on the same points, ad nauseum-that and the fact he won’t let anyone else get in a word. He might have been better off if not so many of his listeners asked him to make a Presidential run.
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Hard to believe Lou Dobbs was once a business only show!
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Seems we’re all in violent agreement…as Gil says, “they are all full of themselves”. Lou Dobbs, Rush, Hannity, O’Reilly…all of em. Guess it comes with the territory. Even so, I’ll take their “full of it” any day over the Moyers, Katie crowd and networks “full of shhh…it”. Oops…politics…so sorry.
The other day coming back from Atlanta I listened to an old radio friend I haven’t heard in a while, Barry Farber. What a nice guy. Very smart man and not full of himself. I think his downslide was a result of the old Teddy Bear ads from Lew’s current adopted state.
Didn’t see Damnation Alley, Lew. George Peppard was once a pretty good actor but he made some real stinkers later on. Vincent, no…not an acting talent. A sure B movie guy. ZNo, make that F. He should’a stuck to surfing. Healthier.
Now, I’ll venture out to do the grocery shopping. Turkey for Christmas and all the accompaniments. Mr. Mom…that’s me this week.
Later…
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hello to all bloggers. it has been an eventful day for jimmy smith. u.p.s. arrived this morning with a huge canned ham. this may be the biggest canned ham journalist jimmy smith has ever seen. the canned ham key will strain to open this canned ham – that’s how big this canned ham is. now, this is way too much canned ham for jimmy smith and baby seal and diane lane, so, jimmy smith is mailing a little bit of canned ham to all the denizens. should have it just after christmas. good for new year’s day (will send your ham with canned ham gel (horse cartilage but don’t let that bother you) in a specially sealed envelope. all bloggers are included – even stinky. jimmy smith is in the christmas spirit.
now, where did this extremely large canned ham come from? from the atlanta braves! that’s right, from frank. did journalist mention frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank? also some doughnuts and cheese. frank is very thoughtful. frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, journalist knows frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank. much better relationship with frank than with frank’s predecessor who did not like journalists and could not abide beat writers.
and there are many bowl games on t.v. this weekend. some bowls are not well known. jimmy smith is thinking of a bravesandstuff bowl for next year but that is the wrong sport, right? perhaps it can be called the cheese bowl. yes. that’s it, cheese bowl. better than some of the names now in place. can sculpt a trophy from cheese.
and will a cheese bowl attract too many journalists? and will that create too much gas in the pressbox? combustible cheese bowl? and does too much cheese make a journalist grumpy? and can flbravesgirl make cheese cookies fired from a gun? and why has jimmy smith never seen a cookie gun before? no cowboys carried cookie guns, right? cisco kid? crisco kid? cookie gun? much to consider.
and now, journalist is writing an advertisement for a new product coming to market and jimmy smith is stumped. do we have any rhymers blogging here? can rhyme with bulbous? cadahia? nah.
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Berigan-Most of us are pretty fed up with the same old crap from our elected representatives (on both sides) and Lou Dobb’s is not afraid to tell them “your and Idiot”. That appeals to many people. He is also very pro US as opposed to giving the country away to China (I, for one, buy local whenever possible and try to avoid imported goods when I can-though I love that new Japanese TV!!!!). This appeals to a lot of people, especially with his stand on illegal immigration. His problem is he’s starting to think it’s all about the messenger as opposed to the message. That is usually a fatal error.
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“His problem is he’s starting to think it’s all about the messenger as opposed to the message. That is usually a fatal error.”
lew is wise. could this be applied to a baseball blog as well?
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Savannah GUy-Don’t bother trying to find that movie-it was terrible-a fact even Roger freely acknowledged-he had nothing to do with it’s making. The story is better, though, In typical Hollywood fashion, they took his most comercially bombastic story and forgot s=those with considerably more substance. Like I said-Typical.
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Merry Christmas!
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Politics is a very complicated issue. All about the right of the rich to abuse the poor and the poor to abuse the poor….. And the middle class (whoever that is) to pay for everything….. You will notice that everyone wants to be rich because they receive no abuse….. Why, because nobody wants to make the guy who signs the check angry.
So many revisionist trying to rewrite or interpret the constitution to suit themselves. Truth is, some folks have done some terrible things over the years but if you keep telling everyone black is white, there is always about 10% of the population who will believe them.
In a country of 290 million people, it represents a fairly sizable number of folks. Just because there are a large number of common folk it does not necessarily mean there is lot of common sense.
I won’t get into the whole globalization issue but Ross Perot was not so wrong in his description of NAFTA. When the business of making money depends on having a large segment of your population to be high school drop outs and uneducated or you face economic collapse, you have to know you are in trouble.
And that is all I’m going to say about that…….
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Gil, I’ll always remember Ross on Larry King, in that nasally Texas voice, saying, “That giiiiiiiant sucking sound you’ll hear is American jobs going overseas!” People laughed at him.
Y’all let me know when this thing gets too slow.
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Carroll Rogers did a nice piece on Tom Glavin that is available on the AJC web site.
LINK
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Bob, What a great link! 🙂
And thanks, Gil! Good article!
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Bob, where did you find the answer to your question?
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At Glavine’s new home: “Glavine had a baseball infield installed in the backyard and groomed by Braves groundskeeper Ed Mangan. There’s a “sport court” for roller hockey and basketball. Inside is a batting cage, complete with pitching mound.”
Oooookay!
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Joe,says Hellooooooooooooooooooo,Everyone!!!
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Thanks My Lady! With this crowd, there should be no need to advertise that the Merry Christmas is a link.
Gil, let me be one of the revisionist and rewrite part of your post … Truth is, there is always about 85% of the population who will believe them. Ross Perot would have been more correct had he said “When the business of making money depends on having a large segment of your population to be uneducated, you either know you are in trouble or your and idiot!
And that is all I’m going to say about that…….
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It is good to see jimmysmith is the recipient of (dare I say it) a pork barrel allocation. Perhaps his connections to the Great Seal of the United States has something to do with it. To be frank, we should all feel happy he is so willing to share. “(horse cartilage but don’t let that bother you)” Alas, do we now know the fate of our beloved SJA?
Of course he was not so willing to share Diane Lane, a bit selfish if you ask me but so be it. I will have to settle for the ham slices, now, if someone will kindly cut the cheese we can have a party. 🙂
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Ma’am-I wouldn’t mind having a batting cage in my basement (if there were room and I could actually afford it), but I’m not so sure my almost 57 year old obliques would agree.
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Lew, I am with you when it comes to trying to buy American! Very, very hard to do these days. Not only with electronics(Bet that Japanese TV has a made in China sticker somewhere) but….the Christmas cards we buy, calendars, books, Chickens(Think I heard we ship them there to be processed, how in the world can that be cheaper???)Even 1/24 scale cars like my Dad’s 1936 Chrysler Airflow, made in China. If only the Jesse Jackson’s of the world would try to get big businesses to train the youth of inner cities to work in factories here to keep jobs here… instead of just getting millions from them to help fund his pet projects…sigh….sorry someone else started this political talk, about time to stop, eh what? 😉
I did vote for Perot once though, didn’t realize he was the crazy aunt in the basement at first! double 😉
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Cutting cheese will never win the approval of The Good Housekeeping Seal. Any relation, JJS?
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That’s okay Bob, I use your “drug dealer vs unlicensed pharmacist ” quote all the time.
Most of my work can stand for someone else to edit it.
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Bergain, Crazy Perot may of been, stupid he was not. Well, then again there was the on again off again back on again run for the White House….. Oh well, I have a head ache, I think I shall worry about it tomorrow….
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Gil, I don’t think Repubs really came to him and told him to pull out, or they’d mess up his daughters wedding, but perhaps they with the Dems did put something in the water he drank! 😉 He was too big a threat to both of them, if he had won, man would the wide wide, world of politics be different today!
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Hey Joe!
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Hello Joe!!
Well mister Gil, it wasn’t Microsoft and it sure wasn’t Zip-Zoom-Fly … and it wasn’t a local reseller, I can tell you that!
I checked with your gal Friday’s web site, and indeed found it helpful … made me realize that were Intel’s 64 bit processors not backward compatible, the emperor wasn’t wearing no clothes … then I went to Walgreens, bought something that cost 16.01 … gave the cashier 21.01 and she asked me why I had given her the dollar. that triggered my mind to the fact that most people use the transitive verb when asking about your college education … “When did you graduate?” instead of “When were you graduated? … but unless you majored in chemistry, physics or engineering, you probably didn’t do much graduating while you were in school … but, folks dutifully ansewer the question as if they did.
That’s pretty much it, except that my brother remembered that we have two young IT professionals in the family and so I called them!
Sounds like Berigan might have turned in his term paper and received passing marks!
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Apologies Gil, me mind and me fingers weren’t communicating … I meant to say “If the business of making money depends on having a large segment of your population to be uneducated, then you’re either highly successful or your and idiot!
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Bob-You should have mail shortly.
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I am and idiot….. And consider myself to be successful, not by measures of most men but as far as my life goes, I have few regrets. Well, maybe I have just been darn lucky….
Anyway, I think you get the idea of what I was trying to say. Although I am not sure I do.. 🙂
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Bob, Journalist Very nice Merry Christmas clip! Santa is quite the crooner.
Now, would you please let me know how to attach a custom link like that to this site? Or CL, maybe you could put it in there with the “Text Effects” info box?
Hey, JoeBrave Good to see you here. Must now go feed the raccoons, the cats and see if there’s anything left over for us parents.
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Stuff from email: Mythbuster’s Christmas
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Savannah, I’ll work on it but may not get it posted until after Christmas. Besides all the Christmas obligations/duties/chores/cooking, tomorrow is daughter Kelly’s birthday.
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this discussion reminds jimmy smith of admiral stockdale – “who am i? why am i here?” this is also a favorite refrain of bloggers on another blog.
now, baseball . . . let jimmy smith be perfectly clear, must advance the runner next season. too many runners left stranded last year. too many. bad coaching? bad batting and bad coaching? bad players? toe-tap gone bad? 4 inches too wide with the stance? oh, the humanity! could have been fixed!
and leave it to gil to turn a cheese post into a cutting-cheese post. cutting cheese is an after effect of eating cheese. and this blog is getting away from carolina lady right about now. journalist will change the subject.
wrens. that’s right, wrens. passerine birds. some readers of that other blog will remember that this journalist is a friend of the wren and a few months back jimmy smith posted of doing considerable bird-calling of little songbirds in jimmy smith’s backyard. many little wrens appeared and became friends of jimmy smith. little did jimmy smith know at the time that calling the wrens would prove to be very useful, professionally, to journalist jimmy smith.
when homeboy upstairs was kicked further upstairs, some others in jimmy smith’s profession began to covet the ability of jimmy smith to call the little songbirds and have them come everytime. those bird-calling impostors can now be heard calling the little birds incessantly, “frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank, frank . . . ” but without real success.
jimmy smith is ready to say without equivocation that bravesandstuff is the bird-friendly baseball blog in atlanta. there are bird callers here and bird house builders and bird artists.
yes, we do have a bird eater (wish savannah hadn’t mentioned the turkey) and a bird shooter (hillbilly too far out in the woods to be a problem right now) but every blog will have some issues.
in summary, this blog appears to have the inside track on baseball news coming from frank wren. you read it here.
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Bob, J
Super ‘White Christmas’ rendition! Bing does Elvis…who’d a thunk it! 🙂
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Happy Birthday Kelly!!! … methinks anyone born within one week of Christmas Day should get double gifts and be allowed to choose another day for celebration!
Well said, Gil … sounds like we may share more than our politic … I’m a Braves’ fan … how ’bout you?!
I see I should have email … I’ll look at it before taking a rest … feel fine but having a sleepy reaction to some medicine.
Later!
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Whoopee!!!! A whine and cheese party… Oops, wrong blog 🙂
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Carolina Lady Loved that Mythbusters Christmas clip. Rube Goldberg would be proud.
Happy birthday wishes to Kelly! Bob is right…she deserves double.
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Wonder if Ol’ Marcus will end up hitting .300 there??? I wish him the best…
http://mlb-rumors.blogspot.com/2007/12/rockies-expected-to-land-giles.html
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happy birthday, kelly! this journalist wishes good things for kelly on kelly’s birthday. and now, january 23 will be here and that is a special day, too! january 23 is a favorite of this journalist. and carolina lady, does carolina lady subscribe to southern living magazine? there is a banana pudding story in there that diane lane is looking for (journalist sure hopes diane lane finds some banana pudding help). gil, diane lane may be lovely but her pudding is not up to par. and joebrave is here! many bloggers are finding their way here to the bravesandstuff blog.
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Well, in case folks here go over the river and through the woods to Grandmothers house tomorrow or Christmas eve, Hope you all have a Merry Christmas, and a happy new year!!!
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OK, the presents aren’t wrapped but we have a fully re-worked Text Effects page – complete with a bunch of emoticons! Never let it be said I’m not devoted! 😆
I’ll relay your greetings and salutations to Kelly! She’ll be tickled pink! And her mother thanks you very much!
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Yay, Smilies! Err, I mean emoticons! Emoticons. Sounds like robots that were sent to fight Steve Austin (6 Million Dollar man to you youngsters) “Look out Steve, there’s an emoticon right behind you!”
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What happens if someone wants to talk about someone’s 80 th birthday??? We will see in a sec….
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hmmmmm
80
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8O??
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oh, the humanity!
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😡
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😯
😯
8o
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should have saved this for grinch to use!
carolina lady is asking for trouble.
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Aren’t they fun?? Thought y’all would enjoy them! 😆
Now. I’ve really got to get these things wrapped!
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Top of the evening, good denizens of the Braves and Stuff. Just wanted to say hello and Merry Christmas to all of you.
I’m on vacation next week — a couple of small freelance assignments notwithstanding — and I tend to really shut things down, meaning these fingers won’t be dancing on the laptop too much.
So, as the presents are wrapped, the kiddies are asleep and the house is spotless from one end to the other — been a busy day here, as you can tell — I wanted to say Merry Christmas and thanks to all of you. I’ve enjoyed blogging with you on one, two, THREE different blogs, and I’m glad we have a home here now.
I hope God blesses each and every one of you with the joys of the season, of family and friends, of good health and good times. And, maybe this time next year, hopefully Santa will be flying from the North Pole with a sleigh full of Braves’ World Series champs goodies for all of us.
Again, best wishes this Christmas season. Safe travels for those who hit the road. Grinch, I’ll touch base with you before Thursday, but looking forward to seeing you at the Thrashers game.
The rest of you, take care and enjoy!
The Scribe abides.
–30–
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Yep, this is—————> 8)
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I am afraid that I have some terrible news to share about one of our beloved denizens. It seems that the real reason that our dear Grinch hasn’t been around here is that he’s being detained.
Oh the humanity!/s
I’m sure I screwed that up so I’ll just post the URL here:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/22/garbage.grinch.ap/index.html
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And we thought he was reformed…… 😥
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Chris, you can’t believe nothing that’s written by no yankee … that report about the Grinch is … well, garbage.
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Hey, Bob! Hope you’re well!
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Clearly a case of identity theft.
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Y’all just gotta hear this guy! Buddy Greene in Carnegie Hall
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No,No no no no no,Not Grinch!!! say it ain’t so!!!
no Really,Everyone Here,MERRY CHRISTMAS,and Have a joyous Holiday Season!!
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Merry Christmas, JoeBrave! May it be a blessed one for you and your family!
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Thanks My Lady! While well is a state that I can but vaguely recall, it is one which I routinely pray to revisit … and, as the remarkable and most charming Sarah Cannon, nee Colley was known for on occasion having said, “I’m just so proud to be here!” … guess I’m about 80%!
Tomorrow or Monday will be spent making chocolate fudge, if I can remember how … is it 1-2-6 or 1-3-6? The quantity in question being cups of sugar … ah, I remember having given you my recipe last Christmas … for “Cheesy Fudge” i think it was … bet folks think I’m kidding!
I found it!!
Cup of milk, 2 cups of sugar, 6 tablespoons of chocolate, sharp cheddar as
desired for added flavor … constant stirring over medium heat until
little balls can be formed when “syrup” samples are dropped into a cup of
cold water … remove from heat add teaspoon of pure vanilla extract,
tablespoon of butter … cup of chopped pecans or one half cup of black
walnuts. Beat like Hell until your arm falls off or it starts to harden
… quickly pour into greased platter before you have to throw away the pot!
You’d be surprised how many times I spoiled the candy because my arm just got tired and didn’t start to harden! It’s a small world … the email Christmas Greeting to which I was responding last year contained an unforgetful greeting seen on this very Blog, earlier today!
Hot tub time!!
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😆 Bob, I do remember that recipe! First time I ever heard of adding cheese to fudge! And that’s one funny recipe!
Got some stuff wrapped. I think without the help of my assistant Littlejohn I could have gotten a lot more done! (Little gray tabby with bright sparkling eyes who loves to get into stuff and “help”: “Oh! Look at this!! What is it? Oh, look! It tears! What’s that? Does it tear, too? Oh, boy!! RIBBON!!! Wheeeee!!!) 🙄
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Friends, we’re currently at 296 posts! New blog goes up in the morning!
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Wow! That Buddy Greene has got a mouth on him. No, wait…that came out wrong. Oh, the Harmonity!
Emoticons! Oh, the Emotionacity!
Grinch detained? Oh, the Horror!
You’d be surprised how many times I spoiled the candy because my arm just got tired and didn’t start to harden! Oh, the humanity!
I’d better quit while I’m ahead and all of you are in bed.
G’nite all. Tomorrow is the eve. Gonna find out who’s been naughty or nice…
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CL, when are you going to start selling advertising?
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It’s not loading for some, so I’ll go ahead and post Berigan’s lead!
NEW BLOG IS UP!!
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Klobber…dammit man! Every time I’m going away you show up. One of these days you’re gonna have to open a saloon over here at happy hour!
CL could sell ads with this talkative bunch.
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Last?
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Nope, not last! 🙂
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Ewe too got that write!
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