Can you believe this??
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Riddle me this.........
I don't recall my father talking about his grandfather at all.
I don't have much recollection of my grandfather, other than a picture of him I can describe.
My son, I'm sure, hasn't a clue about his grandfather.
And I know, that his son would not have any idea about me.
A total of 6 generations of men, carrying the same blood, that don't have any idea about each other.
Happy Birthday!
Bet you didn't know Eddie Van Halen was born........same day as you, same year as me.
Hope yours was great, where ever you may be.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Bad Adz Biker Dudes
Let me say this up front, I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be a biker.
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A friend, co-worker of mine has been working me recently about going to a meeting of what is known as the "Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs". I guess it took a bit for me to realize that what he wants is somewhat of a mouthpiece. He tells me that he is representing his church group and isn't much of a speaker. Then he crossed the line. He tells me that the guy who is at the top of the heap is a 1%er who told him that he will get some respect from the guys when he shows them something. But, he must respect that 1%er patch. Well to start with, 1%ers are like christians, it's not something you need to tell me. Someone else will or I'll just know by the way you act. And as far as showing him something, I turned around and started to drop my pants and show my friend something. He also told me if I wore my 81 support t-shirt, I couldn't ride with him. I have always liked Sonny Barger and the idea of the Angels. When I was a kid, maybe I secretly wanted to be like them, to someday be a part of them. Well, like christianity, I've had a taste and it really wasn't me.
Years ago, another friend, had me associating with a fine group of young men who were more than motorcycle enthuiasts. For the most part, hanging out with these guys was fun. Whenever one of these guys asked me about running over to the clubhouse with him, my friend would become very adamant about me NOT going. Well, she was a dear friend and I listened to her, as much as I wanted to go. Well after a couple of years of associating with these gentlemen, I started to notice that their numbers seemed to be dwindling. They had these parties on the weekends that were outrageous and they would tell all these stories about their exploits. It was exciting and maybe a little spooky at the same time. And I was noticing that as I got to know them better, I was seeing that there was a problem and that some of the guys I liked best, were no longer showing up. Then came the night, when in a crazy haste, my friend asked me to stay at her house and she gave me a pistol and said "stay here, if anyone comes here that you don't know, shoot them!" I had never seen her act that way. A few hours later, they came in. She was helping him walk. It seems that he was stabbed by someone who didn't respect his patch, right in front of a police officer who also didn't respect his patch. They go to the emergency room, hear people in there that they don't want to see, she grabs stuff from the cabinets and they headed for her house. If you have ever taken a Q-tip with a long wooden handle and put it in a bottle of something and almost hid that thing within a slash across a friends back, you will understand why I and others, ride alone.
I made and lost several acquaintances during that period of a couple of years, as for my really good friend, well, we also lost her a few years ago.
My newest friend called me a lone wolf. I don't see myself as being a wolf at all. Maybe coyote, concerned with living for today, having fun, playful, serious only when necessary.
By the way, I do respect the patch on the back, because I have a tiny idea of what it takes to get one and what it means to the wearer. Funny, most of the hard core christians and bikers that I've known in my life............are gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A friend, co-worker of mine has been working me recently about going to a meeting of what is known as the "Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs". I guess it took a bit for me to realize that what he wants is somewhat of a mouthpiece. He tells me that he is representing his church group and isn't much of a speaker. Then he crossed the line. He tells me that the guy who is at the top of the heap is a 1%er who told him that he will get some respect from the guys when he shows them something. But, he must respect that 1%er patch. Well to start with, 1%ers are like christians, it's not something you need to tell me. Someone else will or I'll just know by the way you act. And as far as showing him something, I turned around and started to drop my pants and show my friend something. He also told me if I wore my 81 support t-shirt, I couldn't ride with him. I have always liked Sonny Barger and the idea of the Angels. When I was a kid, maybe I secretly wanted to be like them, to someday be a part of them. Well, like christianity, I've had a taste and it really wasn't me.
Years ago, another friend, had me associating with a fine group of young men who were more than motorcycle enthuiasts. For the most part, hanging out with these guys was fun. Whenever one of these guys asked me about running over to the clubhouse with him, my friend would become very adamant about me NOT going. Well, she was a dear friend and I listened to her, as much as I wanted to go. Well after a couple of years of associating with these gentlemen, I started to notice that their numbers seemed to be dwindling. They had these parties on the weekends that were outrageous and they would tell all these stories about their exploits. It was exciting and maybe a little spooky at the same time. And I was noticing that as I got to know them better, I was seeing that there was a problem and that some of the guys I liked best, were no longer showing up. Then came the night, when in a crazy haste, my friend asked me to stay at her house and she gave me a pistol and said "stay here, if anyone comes here that you don't know, shoot them!" I had never seen her act that way. A few hours later, they came in. She was helping him walk. It seems that he was stabbed by someone who didn't respect his patch, right in front of a police officer who also didn't respect his patch. They go to the emergency room, hear people in there that they don't want to see, she grabs stuff from the cabinets and they headed for her house. If you have ever taken a Q-tip with a long wooden handle and put it in a bottle of something and almost hid that thing within a slash across a friends back, you will understand why I and others, ride alone.
I made and lost several acquaintances during that period of a couple of years, as for my really good friend, well, we also lost her a few years ago.
My newest friend called me a lone wolf. I don't see myself as being a wolf at all. Maybe coyote, concerned with living for today, having fun, playful, serious only when necessary.
By the way, I do respect the patch on the back, because I have a tiny idea of what it takes to get one and what it means to the wearer. Funny, most of the hard core christians and bikers that I've known in my life............are gone.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
My friend said.............
My friend at work told me I should post this, so I am.
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A couple of years ago, I, during one of my safety meetings at work, stated that:
If you don't want to change an empty propane tank on the forklift, don't worry, somebody else will.
If you don't want to refill the copier with paper, don't worry, somebody else will.
If you don't want to take out the trash, don't worry, somebody else will.
At that point I stated, if I ever have to replace my badge, in the spot where they put the name you go by, be it your name or a nickname, I would put...............
Somebody Else, so you could put a face with a name. So.........I did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of years ago, I, during one of my safety meetings at work, stated that:
If you don't want to change an empty propane tank on the forklift, don't worry, somebody else will.
If you don't want to refill the copier with paper, don't worry, somebody else will.
If you don't want to take out the trash, don't worry, somebody else will.
At that point I stated, if I ever have to replace my badge, in the spot where they put the name you go by, be it your name or a nickname, I would put...............
Somebody Else, so you could put a face with a name. So.........I did.
Monday, January 11, 2010
DARK SIDE??
Maybe a touch toward the Dark Side.
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I had intended to start a new type of story simply called the dark side, to show that well, I'm not always good and I'm not always bad. But, I decided to start with a good story, about where I'm from, my Dad.
I got a new tattoo and it seemed to stress some folks out, they didn't understand it, so I decided to explain it. But first, I thought I'd relate a story about my dad.
Years ago, I worked at a full service gas station, not many remember what they were, but anyway, I worked there and it happened that my dad worked there at the time as well.
One evening after work, about 8PM, we decided we'd go and have a late dinner together, rare.
We went to a place, if memory serves, called the Smokehouse Restaurant in north Marietta, GA. It was just south of Allgood Rd., on HWY 41 S. Just on the west side of 41. It was a little family style restaurant with good home cooking. Anyway, while the ol man and myself were eating a truck driver came in. Back in the day, some of you may recall, a truck driver did just that........he drove. Can't pay the rent unless those big wheels are turning. Well, here we are, after 8PM and I'm sure the guy had been driving since before sun up and was really worn out. We assumed he had been living off of truck stop food, which was much different than what you get at today's travel plaza. Well anyway, my ol man, whom maybe some folks over the years thought less and less of did something that may surprise you, but didn't surprise me at all. When we finished eating and got ready to go, at the checkout, he paid for that driver's meal. They also had some cigars that were enclosed in a little glass case and he bought the three of us one of those and had the driver's sent to his table. He never said a word to that driver and we were gone before the cigar arrived at the guys table. He never said anything to me about all that, just did it and we left. It was never mentioned at any conversation we ever had. That's what I think about when I think of my dad. Far from perfect, some folks had no use for him at the end, he died alone and far from us. I even heard someone close to me say once, "If there is a hell, Jack Manning is there". If that is true, may I also head for hell when I leave here. Far from perfect, but a hell of a nice guy. Yet another who cared for everyone but himself.
Maybe a bit of the dark side next time and you can make your own decision.
Nuff said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had intended to start a new type of story simply called the dark side, to show that well, I'm not always good and I'm not always bad. But, I decided to start with a good story, about where I'm from, my Dad.
I got a new tattoo and it seemed to stress some folks out, they didn't understand it, so I decided to explain it. But first, I thought I'd relate a story about my dad.
Years ago, I worked at a full service gas station, not many remember what they were, but anyway, I worked there and it happened that my dad worked there at the time as well.
One evening after work, about 8PM, we decided we'd go and have a late dinner together, rare.
We went to a place, if memory serves, called the Smokehouse Restaurant in north Marietta, GA. It was just south of Allgood Rd., on HWY 41 S. Just on the west side of 41. It was a little family style restaurant with good home cooking. Anyway, while the ol man and myself were eating a truck driver came in. Back in the day, some of you may recall, a truck driver did just that........he drove. Can't pay the rent unless those big wheels are turning. Well, here we are, after 8PM and I'm sure the guy had been driving since before sun up and was really worn out. We assumed he had been living off of truck stop food, which was much different than what you get at today's travel plaza. Well anyway, my ol man, whom maybe some folks over the years thought less and less of did something that may surprise you, but didn't surprise me at all. When we finished eating and got ready to go, at the checkout, he paid for that driver's meal. They also had some cigars that were enclosed in a little glass case and he bought the three of us one of those and had the driver's sent to his table. He never said a word to that driver and we were gone before the cigar arrived at the guys table. He never said anything to me about all that, just did it and we left. It was never mentioned at any conversation we ever had. That's what I think about when I think of my dad. Far from perfect, some folks had no use for him at the end, he died alone and far from us. I even heard someone close to me say once, "If there is a hell, Jack Manning is there". If that is true, may I also head for hell when I leave here. Far from perfect, but a hell of a nice guy. Yet another who cared for everyone but himself.
Maybe a bit of the dark side next time and you can make your own decision.
Nuff said.
Friday, January 8, 2010
The King @ 75
I guess it would be impossible not to acknowledge the 75th birthday of the king of rock and roll.
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If Elvis Aaron Presley had survived his celebrity, he would've turned 75 today. About the same age as my (sorry man) beloved uncle. I guess it is difficult for the very popular to live to an old age. I've been known to compare them to shooting stars. Someone who shines so bright and seems to live so high above the rest of us. Someone who gives their all and brightens the lives of so many. How can they not burn out early? My dearly departed Ma was one of those in the early years who adored him. I often wondered how my Pa felt about all that "love" going to someone else. Personally, I thought well of him and even though I've never owned any of his music or movies, I seem to know many of his songs and have pretty well seen all his movies. Correction, I DO have a Christmas CD of his, that replaced the music cassette, which hmm, replaced the (OMG) 8-track, which replaced the (man!) album that Ma actually owned. Guess he was more to me than I thought. I have to relate that there is one song that is a particular favorite, maybe, for my siblings as well. It's called "MaMa Loved The Roses". It is on that affore mentioned Christmas recording. That's all I will say about that, listen to it, I'm thinking you'll understand, especially if your Ma is gone on to be with mine.
At times, I've felt somewhat possessive of him. Oddly enough, I can talk to someone who speaks highly of Elvis from some part of the country that I wouldn't expect to identify with him and it makes me feel, maybe some jealousy or ...........not sure. I think you have to be from the southeastern part of this country to really hear him. Yea, I know...............BS! Really, I'm glad that I was part of something that big, maybe people feel that way about what's his name, that died in 2009. I know, Michael. But maybe the people who knew and cared the most, were the ones who were a part of the beginning. I enjoyed plenty about him, and Michael, but maybe he wasn't really a part of me, because I wasn't there at the start. Either way, Happy Birthday King, you are missed, even after all these years. Say hi to my Ma.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If Elvis Aaron Presley had survived his celebrity, he would've turned 75 today. About the same age as my (sorry man) beloved uncle. I guess it is difficult for the very popular to live to an old age. I've been known to compare them to shooting stars. Someone who shines so bright and seems to live so high above the rest of us. Someone who gives their all and brightens the lives of so many. How can they not burn out early? My dearly departed Ma was one of those in the early years who adored him. I often wondered how my Pa felt about all that "love" going to someone else. Personally, I thought well of him and even though I've never owned any of his music or movies, I seem to know many of his songs and have pretty well seen all his movies. Correction, I DO have a Christmas CD of his, that replaced the music cassette, which hmm, replaced the (OMG) 8-track, which replaced the (man!) album that Ma actually owned. Guess he was more to me than I thought. I have to relate that there is one song that is a particular favorite, maybe, for my siblings as well. It's called "MaMa Loved The Roses". It is on that affore mentioned Christmas recording. That's all I will say about that, listen to it, I'm thinking you'll understand, especially if your Ma is gone on to be with mine.
At times, I've felt somewhat possessive of him. Oddly enough, I can talk to someone who speaks highly of Elvis from some part of the country that I wouldn't expect to identify with him and it makes me feel, maybe some jealousy or ...........not sure. I think you have to be from the southeastern part of this country to really hear him. Yea, I know...............BS! Really, I'm glad that I was part of something that big, maybe people feel that way about what's his name, that died in 2009. I know, Michael. But maybe the people who knew and cared the most, were the ones who were a part of the beginning. I enjoyed plenty about him, and Michael, but maybe he wasn't really a part of me, because I wasn't there at the start. Either way, Happy Birthday King, you are missed, even after all these years. Say hi to my Ma.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Ghost Stories
Wanna hear a ghost story???
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I often (99%) of the time on the weekends, turn off the phone. We listen to the answering machine, if we are actually home, and call the party back soon after. Sunday, you know who called, and we let the machine catch it. After the message, we were curious as to why the caller didn't hang up immediately after leaving the message. Upon questioning, the caller stated that someone picked up the phone and said "Wait, I'm here". She waited and no one said anything else so she hung up. So after the returned call, we checked to see if we could hear who it was answered the call, maybe we caught it on the machine. NOPE. There was NO message on the machine, even though we heard the caller leaving the message. What do you think? If you have spent the night in our house, you know what to think.
haha believe it..........or not.........
got plenty of stories to add..........later
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I often (99%) of the time on the weekends, turn off the phone. We listen to the answering machine, if we are actually home, and call the party back soon after. Sunday, you know who called, and we let the machine catch it. After the message, we were curious as to why the caller didn't hang up immediately after leaving the message. Upon questioning, the caller stated that someone picked up the phone and said "Wait, I'm here". She waited and no one said anything else so she hung up. So after the returned call, we checked to see if we could hear who it was answered the call, maybe we caught it on the machine. NOPE. There was NO message on the machine, even though we heard the caller leaving the message. What do you think? If you have spent the night in our house, you know what to think.
haha believe it..........or not.........
got plenty of stories to add..........later
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year !!!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Here's hope for everyone to have the best year ever.
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If memory serves, it was new years day in 1980. I was living in a small, north Georgia town called Morganton. My wife and I were alone, the kids were with their grandparents. We went over to Blue Ridge Lake for a walk. At some point during our very cool walk, it occured to me that I wanted to be able to say that I was the first one to go for a swim that year, so........
down the boat ramp I went. Throwing off my clothes as I ran. The lake was low so it was a bit of a run down the long ramp, but, by the time I had my clothes off, I was ready to jump into the water. I win, I win! Satisfied that I would be the winner that year. Yea, we did separate that very year and divorced. Hmmm. "Some people say that there's a woman to blame, but I think, hell it could be my fault."
Have a good one folks.
Here's hope for everyone to have the best year ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If memory serves, it was new years day in 1980. I was living in a small, north Georgia town called Morganton. My wife and I were alone, the kids were with their grandparents. We went over to Blue Ridge Lake for a walk. At some point during our very cool walk, it occured to me that I wanted to be able to say that I was the first one to go for a swim that year, so........
down the boat ramp I went. Throwing off my clothes as I ran. The lake was low so it was a bit of a run down the long ramp, but, by the time I had my clothes off, I was ready to jump into the water. I win, I win! Satisfied that I would be the winner that year. Yea, we did separate that very year and divorced. Hmmm. "Some people say that there's a woman to blame, but I think, hell it could be my fault."
Have a good one folks.
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