Potpourri and Updates #2

Hmmm, what do you write about when life is ordinarily ordinary and you haven't written for two months?? Well, let's see....

I started a new (second) job as a courier and did it for four weeks. I really enjoyed it, but have quit because of the miles piling up on the car and things picking up with more hours at the hotel.

Two grandsons - Jacob and Connor - are now playing football, on both offense and defense. I know they're having a great time. Emily started middle school this week, Jenna will soon be 14, and Joshua had a great 2nd birthday party.

Jane and I are starting to make bead jewelry.

I am doing pre-stuff for Union College alumni board meeting and homecoming in October.

I saw a man with no nose.

I had a colonoscopy and EGD that came out fine. Still don't know why I have so many stomach or chest pains.

Eyes are improving, but still problematic. Wish I had kept my cataracts.

We are going to have a new great-nephew soon in Florida (Sam and Tori).

Brian is going to Boston for five week's training for a new chef's job in Florida.

We found a new home for Wendy, who seems to be doing fine, and we're concentrating on working with our beautiful Rocksy.

The scam investigation is on again, as the scammers are back working in the area. We had to do a police photo lineup and might have to testify in court.

We had to get a new (used) washer. The old one became biblical....it toiled not, neither did it spin.

We're planning our third annual Blessing of the Animals at church on October 4.

My beloved Jane works very hard.

---Joe

Potpourri and Updates, Volume 2

Early May found us back in Barbourville for the Union College commencement. Ashley Judd was the main speaker and received an honorary degree. My speech as Alumni Association president was well received, with applause in the middle of the speech as well as at the end.

Dr. Ashley and Dr. Joe

Naomi Judd and her husband, Larry Strickland (former backup singer with Elvis)

The day we went to Barbourville, I started having major eye problems and ended up going to 6 eye doctors in three cities in 14 days as we traveled on vacation. While they are better than they were, I am still having problems. I go back to the eye sturgeon in 2 days.

After leaving Barbourville we headed south to Columbia and Hilton Head, SC, and then to Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island, GA. We fell in love with Brunswick and St. Simons, and hope to relocate there one day. It was great to meet up there with Jane's brother and sister-in-law (Sam and Diane).

A bored Hilton Head resident

Jekyll Island Boardwalk

John Wesley's stomping grounds on St. Simons Island


Our Brunswick Bed and Breakfast, WatersHill

Sam and Diane at Brunswick's Lovers Oak

The Lady Jane is anchored at Brunswick

Downtown Brunswick
(Brunswick has several squares, similar to the ones in Savannah.)

Jane continues to work full time, and mostly from home. My hours at the hotel have been cut, but thankfully I still have a job, as many other positions have been eliminated. I am, however, looking for other employment to supplement my Opryland hours.

This past weekend it was back to Barbourville again for a special Alumni College weekend, which is a new project endorsed by the alumni association. We look forward to growing it significantly in the years ahead.

We continue to take care of the household critters and the horses, and are very slowly trying to get some painting and decorating done in the house.

Today I learned that I need a colonoscopy and EGD on the 24th for a year's worth of stomach and intestinal pain. My colonoscopy doc is pictured below, preparing for his next patient.

Tomorrow night we are going to a celebrity softball game at Greer Stadium (home of the Nashville Sounds) for Country Music Association week. Quite a few Titans players and country music stars are playing, including Dean Brody (managed by my oldest son).

---Joe

Exciting Conference at Opryland

The International Garage Door Association is meeting this week at the hotel. They stayed pretty much on track, but they had some ups and downs.

---Joe

Big Night For Dean Brody

Last night was a big night for Dean Brody, as he made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. He did an awesome job, and received a rousing ovation from hundreds of Opry fans in attendance. He did backstage interviews afterward and was surrounded by a group of adoring female fans.

We went backstage and joined in the fun. Even Clark, his manager, was excited (and he usually doesn't always show much excitement)!

We also met Darius Rucker (formerly Hootie of Hootie and the Blowfish) and Opry legend Little Jimmy Dickens. Other acts included Jeannie Seely, Ricky Skaggs, the Sons of the Pioneers, Riders in the Sky and Mike Snider, among others.

Dean Brody debuts at the Grand Ole Opry

Jane, Dean, Clark and Joe

Darius Rucker with Jane

Joe with Little Jimmy Dickens

Ricky Skaggs and friends warm up in a dressing room

Dean's single, "Brothers," continues to do well on the charts, and his first album will be in stores on April 28. It's a good one!!!

---Joe

Potpourri and Updates

Well, several folks have said it's time for a new blog, so here are a few odds and ends.

Wendy, the horse with the tumor, seems to be doing better. She's getting fat and sassy, and the swelling in her head seems to be down. Her future is still uncertain, however.

Wendy

In the meantime, we have a new quarter horse (someday we'll buy the whole horse!). She's 6 years old and her name is Rocksy. She's beautiful. The photo below after she was in the mud doesn't do her justice. When we put her out, she kicks and bucks and runs like the wind, but she is also gentle as a lamb and easy to ride. Jane is going to be working with her, and plans to both ride her and show her.

Rocksy

We also have four new parakeets, making our 5 dog-9cat-4 bird-2 horse family complete.

Sophie Blossom. Denny Crane, Mrs. Maggie Murphy, Maximilian Blue

Dean Brody, the artist that my oldest son (Clark) is managing, is making his first Grand Ole Opry appearance on April 17th, and his first album will be released on April 28. Check it out!

Dean Brody

As President of the Union College Alumni Association, I will be one of the speakers at the Union College commencement on May 9. I will be sharing the stage with the main speaker, actress Ashley Judd. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

Ashley Judd

Finally, these old eyes will be having cataract surgery on April 7 and 14. They tell me I will no longer have to wear glasses for perfect distance vision. Having worn them for more than 50 years, this will be quite a change that I can't yet imagine. We'll see. (No pun intended.)

---Joe

Camouflage, Dogs and Hairy Boogers

The National Wild Turkey Federation is meeting at the hotel this week (murderers!). 3,000 people walking around in camouflage with turkey calls.....Today a lady at the hotel was wearing a t-shirt that said "Hug a dog." So I hugged her, and she slapped me.....One lady on my boat today had a huge hairy booger hanging out of her nose. A couple people who saw it said it was a nose ring that had gotten twisted around. I'm sure it was a hairy booger.

---Joe

Scam Update

He's in jail!! Thanks to great followup by the original investigating officer!