The Great Smokey Mountains Railway Dinner Mystery Theater Train Ride: Another Excellent Adventure by the Marie, Dennis, Sandy and John....

Last Friday, early in the morning, as you know by now, the four of us took of for Dillsboro, N.C. Actually we did not fly, so we did not take off....we drove...actually Sandy drove... We got to Dillsboro and I immediately had to mail something I sold on EBay to someone in London, England...so I went to the post office and the guys hung out...... here they are....We could not check into the room at the Jarrett House until between 2:30 PM and 3:00PM so we parked the car and started walking the town..... of course, shopping was included for the ladies and the gents hung out on the many conveniently located park benches....we parked ourselves.........while sitting on one, we could watch this fountain....

A couple of other sights as we sat and they shopped....













Then we saw a TRAIN......... and stood by it........... very touristy....
don't you think? Well we continued on our way, ate lunch, and shopped, sat, and it became time to check into the Jarrett House, so we did..... After a little while, we went out on the deck and Dennis and I had some beverages (adult type) and the ladies went to the Christmas store....




Here we all are on the deck before the final shopping spree..................After enjoying ourselves hugely on the deck.... we changed cloths and headed to the train station....

Where we sat and had complimentary cheese, crackers, and wine......
And boarded our dining car.............................the Silver Meteor........
Where me met our waiter..........Sean,
ordered our drinks and food and......













Had dinner and a play on the Great Smokey Mountain Railway......

So, remember, take good care of yourself so you can take good care of someone else.... it is great to have friends like Dennis and Marie.... cheers, john

Not all bell towers have to be tall.... you can still get bats in them!! I think??

While in Dillsboro this past Friday Marie, Dennis, Sandy and I happened to see this church bell.... It is from a Methodist Church but currently sits outside of a Baptist Church - truly an ecumenical bell..... Coincidentally we stayed in the Jarrett House overnight....

Here is what I think....we should build our bell a little structure that looks like our bell tower and place our bell in the little structure in front of the church....since the bell is probably got a name attached to it already (and I should probably know, but don't), maybe we could talk someone into wanting to put a name on the little tower....of course, they would have to pay for the tower and the bell installation. In other words, it would be a memorial to someone..... Ok, I could morph a couple of pictures and show you what it would look like, but I don't want to, so you will have to use your own imagination..... It would not look like this........

but then again, we do not live in Dillsboro......

For sure, remember to take good care of yourself so that you can take good care of someone else.......... ding-a-ling, john

Lucky I got this shot before last night's rain..... This is a tree that we are blessed to have in our yard. Every year when fall arrives, we anticipate its bright, vibrant colors. Usually, it is red, I mean bright red..........this year, it is not so bright and not so vibrant....... so it goes.... However, by comparison to some of its neighbors in the picture, it is doing pretty good. I have so much to blog about, I didn't know where to start.......... so I started here.

and then of course there are Jill and Jack..................................

They were enjoying the day yesterday................

Dennis, Marie, Sandy and I went on a train ride Friday night......... It was a dinner, theater, train ride......... That will be the subject of my next blog, which will be coming at you later....

Take good care of yourself, so you can take good care of another....... cheers, john

Hey Bloghalloweenies - We are closing in on spook day!! Remember, it is precedes All
Saints and All Souls Day..........

I haven't blogged or been a blogger lately because I have been busy with cooking and company and e-baying.....more on e-baying later...

For now, we had a great time the girls of the north country..............always fun to be with you guys..........I lost me shirt playing greedy - because I was............

In honor of the season, Sandy had me put up the scare crow:













Sandy and I made this together last year, it is so much fun doing stuff together.................

Ok, I need to remind you to keep looking at my listings on E-Bay.... here is the URL -
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZjvq37659






there are some cool books, one by Max Lucado.... plus some actual art...........





Keep looking, it changes often...........








Today I installed a new router on our home network..........it is supposed to be more powerful, able to send radio signals through thick walls, (the king and I)

I was having so much fun, I forgot to eat lunch...........I never miss a meal unless I am having too much fun..........

But, I always have time for our doggers Jack and Jill:


Remember, take good care of yourself so you can take good care of someone else, love, john

Hi my happy blogging friends.......

I finally figured out why had this sudden urge to sell my stuff on E-Bay. It took Nettie's passing to make me realize that is is more than just the fun of the auction. I did not know Nettie, but I am connected to the Cody's and therefore connected to Nettie. I have begun to realize that two things are happening at this time of my life, I am reaching the end of my very rewarding career and I am closer than ever before to the end of life on this earth. Oh, don't worry, I may be here for another 30 years, but then again, I may not. I will be here as long as God grants me life on this earth, not one minute shorter, not one minute longer....

So, I have accumulated all this stuff, the stuff of life, not anything grand or wonderful, in reality it is just stuff. Some of it, the signs, for instance, have lived there entire life with me in my offices at ETSU.... I have other things that I will day-by-day bring home and sell. If the stuff doesn't sell, I will give it to the Shepherd's Storehouse of toss it in the trash. Another favorite trick of mine is to put stuff out by the road with a sign that says FREE. It always disappears... There is music stuff for sale, I have given my bass to the church, but the other music stuff I will sell. I was a late comer to music and it has always been more of a chore than a pleasure... To those who are musically talented, I admire you, but I cannot live up to your many talents and will no longer try.....

So, whether it is retirement or death, I want to rid myself of these things that I once thought were treasures, but in reality are just the stuff of life........

So, anyway, if you want some of my stuff, keep watching E-Bay http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZjvq37659 and get yourself some good deals........or not.

But for sure, remember, take good care of yourself, love, john

Auction Lovers -

Check out my items for auction at:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZjvq37659

All the signs are up and ready for you....... Great opportunity to start your Christmas shopping...

Remember, take good care of your yourself,

Cheers, john

My newest heros!

Head's up everyone, it is almost DCs birthday............ and its a big one!!!

FAQs:
Q. Is it is first?
A. No

Q. Is it his 13th?
A. No, but my oldest grandson will be 13 tomorrow....

Q. Is it his 21st?
A. No

Q. Is it his 30th?
A. No

Q. Is it his 40th?
A. No

Q. Is it his 50th?
A. No

Q. Is it his 60th?
A. No

Q. Is it his 70th?
A. No

Q. Have we missed the milestone?
A. Yes

Q. Well which is it and when is it?
A. I know, but I am not telling. You will have to ask him yourself...... It is soon!!!!

Take good care of yourself, john

HIHO Bloggers....

Signs for sale on E-Bay - Shop till you drop!!!
Just click on the sign and place your bid.....easy-as-pie!!!!!!










































Remember, take good care of yourself..........cheers, john

YESTERDAY WAS HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DAY FOR

MARIE AND DENNIS

WAY TO GO GUYS!

Howdee Blogos and Blogettes....

I hope you are having a really nice Friday afternoon in October....The leaves are changing around our home as they are all over East Tennessee.....I am certainly thankful to have seen the beginning of autumn for another year.

As you can see, some of the trees are turning and some are not there yet - this is the view from our deck facing northwest.....the general direction Minnesota. Sadly, the tree in the center of the picture on the right is dead........ been dead all spring and summer and I guess it is just going to stay dead!!!

Well, I wanted to show you all of my Ande Rooney sign collection -

I will be selling them one-at-a-time on E-Bay soon....... stay tuned......

Today I had a meeting in the morning and a meeting in the afternoon... in between I went to Beasley's Home Cooking restaurants and ate a cajun chicken sandwich with fries and de-caf coffee.... it was yummy. I also bought a cocoanut cream pie and a peanut butter pie for us to eat this weekend......... Sandy's sister is here and her brother and family will be over for dinner tonight and tomorrow night.......... for them, it is a family reunion of sorts although Ann's family is not here.... no pig roast - we are having Gregg's pizza tonight and who knows what tomorrow night.......... pie for sure!!!!

Well, I guess I should sign off, and finish baking my bread and clean-up my area... company is coming....

Remember, take good care of yourself.......... cheers, john

Good morning Bloggers....

Just a quickie to show you my new E-Bay auction..........

ANDE ROONEY'S PORCELAIN ENAMELED
ADVERTISING SIGN

These signs bring to life images of America from the turn of the century onward. These made in the U. S. A. reproductions are crafted by layering liquefied enamels of ground glass crystals onto steel plates and kiln-firing at 1350°F. Durable and rust-resistant with a lustrous color and finish, the signs bring a touch of quality nostalgia to your home or places of work and play, evoking memories of old barns, country stores, gas stations, train stops and even the contents of grand's cupboard. From the label on the back of the sign.

The inscription at the bottom of the sign under the word GUITARS is Ande Rooney, Inc., Made in U.S.A., 1988 ©.

Just click on the sign to go to the auction!!!!!!!!!

Have a great day, and take good care of yourself, cheers, john

Hello BliggitieBloggers:

It is the season of:

and our home becomes suddenly transformed into a new and different atmosphere

There are many more images that I could share with you - and will as in due time.

So, I will wish you a happy Halloween season and remind you not to forget the pumpkin patch at Cherokee United Methodist Church, October 13 to Halloween.............

And to cap it off:

Remember - Take good care of yourself................................boooooooooooooooooo

Howdee Blogaroonies -

Yesterday while Sandy and Ann were shopping, I had my truck painted:

I now have a BARN....................................

That blue truck that was spotted a church yesterday while I was cutting the grass must have belonged to someone else! It has been said, "Don't believe everything you read in a blog on the Internet."

Oh, by the way, the auction ended, I sold my Kurt Vonnegut collection to a man in Ohio and will ship it to him this morning.......... More auctions to come..............

God bless you all. And remember, take good care of yourself, I need you, john

Hi Blogsters -

Good day to you!!! I have some funny things to share with you that a friend of my at work shared with me:

Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words. Some of the winning definitions are:

Coffee(n.), the person upon whom one coughs.

Flabbergasted(adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained

Abdicate(v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Negligent(adj.), describes a condition in which you absent-mindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

Flatulence(n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

Balderdash(n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

Testicle(n.), a humorous question on an exam.

Rectitude(n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

Frisbeetarianism*( n.), the belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there. * Since I have been told I need religion, I have adopted this as my religious belief.

hee haw! hee haw!

Sandy's sister Ann came to town today - she lives in Florida and arrived just in time of a hail storm...............so, I am singing Hail to the Ann!!! to the tune of Hail to the Chief.....

If Dennis has a truck alternative named BART or BARF and I have a truck that is a Nissan, could I name it BARN......... No, first, it is not as big as BART or BARF and secondly, it is blue - so, I will think of an acronym for middle sized blue Nissan.........or not..........

I have a new cell phone with a company named Virgin Mobile........... that's why I got it, the name. No, actually I got it because I could pay as I go and pay by the minute....for me, that is great, I only use the cell phone 10 to 15 minutes a month....that means my monthly charge will be something less than $3.00 - currently, it is about $55.00............that is a nice savings, we might be able to afford one for Sandy too, she uses the cell phone less than I do..... imagine that!! That leaves me with about $50 of discretionary income - I used it today for some single malt..................

Well, I actually feel better today, that is two days of improvement in a row......... I am on the mend.......... thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

Hey, next week I am cooking for WNL at church......... We are having pot roast, potatoes, peas, salad, and desert..................... yummy, I love gravy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, gotta go, but remember, take good care of yourself and tell someone you love them, I love you all, john

Hello Blogareenies.....
I am back sortof.......

It has been a week since blogged because I have had an awful cold and have been able to do only what I have had to do and that did not include blogging.....

A week ago, I started an auction for my Kurt Vonnegut books and I thought I would report how things are progressing - I do not have anything else interesting going on right now....
I currently have no bids, with
Four people watching, and three questions....
First, someone wanted to know if a particular couple of books were first editions - answer no.
Second, a person from Buenos Aries, Argentina wanted to know how much shipping would be - answer - UPS - $550 hummmm, USPS - $55 or $60 taking 6 to 8 weeks.
Third questions, would I ship parcel post to Alaska and would I sell the books right now for $100 (starting bid $99) - answer yes parcel post cost plus $15 my packing and handling, and NO, the fun of it for me is the auction......so, I will wait.

Okay, our girl dog, Jill just demanded to be petted by walking up to me and continuing on up almost completely into my lap......... we have Starbucks dogs - they are half labs with a dash of white, high voices, and curly tails.....hold the sugar, they are sweet enough. I was putting something in the car for Sandy Sunday and invited the dogs out with me....as I opened the back lid door and put the stuff in the back of her pathfinder, the dogs took off heading toward the creek........I whistled and they came back - I was reminded that it is important to watch your children at all times...........

Today I had class. Yesterday I had to read 60 applications for a teaching position we have open, I am the chairman of the search committee.... at this stage, we have to evaluate the applications to determine if they are qualified or not. I started at 8:30 am and finished a little after 2:00 pm. I then took them back to work so that my team members would be able to do the same thing. Then I came home and sat in my chair.............at about 4:30 my boss called and asked if I was okay...I said yes and he said he was worried because I was not at our meeting with our Strategic Experience teams.......I had missed our 4pm class...sorta a class, it is a scheduled weekly meeting........... I felt terrible for missing that class - in fact, in the 28 years I have been teaching that is only the second class I forgot to go to - and I have only missed a few because of illness........... the last class I forgot to go to was in 1981 at the University of Louisville (they used to have really great basketball teams - national champs in 1980 and 86 and really crappy football teams - now they have a good football team - ETSU does not have football - Even Emery & Henry and Duke have football teams)...... I am very upset with myself for doing that..........for missing class...........

I just got 50 yellow and red long stem tulip bulbs for fall planting - that is very exciting for me.

That's it - and remember, and I mean it, Take good care of yourself - peace, john

PS: How's Hank - and why are they observing him???

HIHO Bloggers -
As promised - my Kurt Vonnegut collection is now for auction on e-bay - since none of you wanted it for $1000 I decided to start the auction at $99 - if you or anyone you know is interested, click on E-BAY and take a look (you can also click on Kurt's name above and the picture below...............................................

Okay......here are some peppers from the garden - want some?










and here are the puppies, Jack and Jill.......

Remember, take good care of yourself. Cheers, john

Hey Blogoos and Blogettes -

Today our pride and joy came back home......... Some months ago, early June to be exact, Sandy and I bought a china cabinet at an auction - we knew it was oak, but you couldn't tell it.. Here it is right after we bought it....

We know all about maintaining the patina and all that crap, but we wanted it to look like what it is, OAK.............. So we hired Frank to refinish and restore it and here it is as of today:

A couple more pictures then I will let you alone..........

On the left is Frank holding one of the shelves... On the right is the moving crew without me there is Jason, Frank, and Dennis... My thanks to Dennis and Jason for helping with the moving and to Frank for doing such a skilled job or refinishing and repairing our precious piece of furniture.....

If you ever need an antique refinished or repaired or both, let me know and I will get you in touch with Frank...........

Hope you had a great day, and remember to take good care of yourself... peace, john

2 and 0 in the NFC South..................

Remember, take good care of yourself.....cheers, john

Hello Blogaroonies.....



I have decided that I have no interest in writing fiction - I had an idea once - it was "The Tale of the Upper Grass, Middle Grass, Lower Grass and In Grass, tale of the travels of Senor Tick"............


Well, tonight Sandy and I tried a new dish - Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) in my new in my new Cazuela (terra cotta cookware). It was yummy and we will try it on our friends!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, upon taking my first bite, I broke a tooth.........ouch.......!!!

In a week or two I will be selling my Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. collection on E-Bay........... I think I have all of his books except two........ here is a list....


Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Welcome to the Monkey House,' 1950/p, Dell 1973
Player Piano, 1952/p, Dell 1977
Utopia 14, 1952/p, Bantam Printing 1954, First published as Player Piano
The Sirens of Titan, 1959/h, Delacorte
The Sirens of Titan, 1959/p, Dell 1976
Mother Night, 1961/p, Dell 1976
Cat's Cradle, 1963/p, Dell 1978
Cat's Cradle, 1963/p, Dell 1974
Wampeters Foma & Granfalloons (Opinions), 1965/h, Delacorte 1974
Wampeters Foma & Granfalloons (Opinions), 1965/p, Dell1976
God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, 1965/p, Dell 1976
Slaughterhouse Five, 1969/h, Delecorte
Slaughterhouse Five, 1969/p, Dell 1972
Happy Birthday, Wanda June, 1970/p, Dell 1980
Breakfast of Champions, 1973/h, Delacorte
Breakfast of Champions, 1973/p, Dell 1973
Slapstick or Lonesome No More!, 1976/h, Delacorte
Jail Bird, 1979/p, Dell 1980
Palm Sunday, 1981/h, Delacorte
Dead Eye Dick, 1982/h, Delacorte
Galapagos, 1985/h, Delacorte
Bluebeard, 1987/h, Delacorte
Hocus Pocus, 1990/h, Putnam
Fates Worse Than Death, 1991/h, Putnam
Time Quake, 1997/h, Putnam
Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, 1999/h, Putnam
Like Shaking Hands With God with Lee Stringer, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.with Lee Stringer, 2000/p, Washington Square Press
God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian, 2001/p, Washington Square Press
A Man Without a Country, 2005/h, Seven Stories Press

Venus on the Half-Shell, Kilgore Trout, 1974/p, Dell 1980

The Vonnegut Statement, Klinkowitz and Somer, 1973/p
Original essays on the life and work of KVJ, Delta
The Eden Express, Mark Vonnegut, 1975/p, Dell 1988

Missing: Canary in a Cathouse
Missing: Between Time and Timbuktu


Of course there are many short stories that I do not have, but neither do a lot of other people....

Here is a picture:
If anyone living in the continental United States would like to buy these book for $1,000 (one thousand dollars) I will sell it to you and pay the shipping... (contintental US only)........

Take good care of yourself.........peace, john

Hello High Flying Blogsters......
Here I am from half a mile up.............
Up, up, and away in my beautiful, my beautiful......................
And here is another view.................. That is Cherokee Road at the top of the picture....

Hope you are having a high flying day..........

And remember, take good care of yourself, peace, john

Hello Blogaroos and Blogaretts -

I wanted to reflect on something with you. As you know, if you have been reading, I was accosted in the workplace a week ago.......to be honest, I have been holding a grudge... Well, last evening at the WNL session that I am facilitating "Treasures of the Transformed Life" we were talking about "Love Your Neighbor" which included "acceptance and forgiveness." Well - later that evening, after I was home, I realized that I needed to forget the grudge and move on with my life.............. So, today, I did just that. I acted as if nothing had happened, did my job, and all-in-all, had a great day................ Thank you WNL class, thank you God, for today was better than yesterday, and who knows about tomorrow, but I hope and I pray that I will not stand in my own way for a better day.

Take good care of yourself, john

Upon further reflection on 9/12

Gray I say is the color of the day

Black and White say you is the only way

Prayer is there for us to choose

All you hope for is to win or lose

Let's reach out and touch our hands

Strike-up a chores for the heavenly band

Peace is the answer we've been looking for

Not blood and guts and a god damned war.

John Quigley 9/12/2006

9/11 - I was in the dentist office, I went to work and watched the first tower crumble, I went home and watched the second tower crumble.............I cried. I have tears now for the loss of our virginity........... we, the USA is now having to live like England after WWII, in fear of tomorrow..........in my small life I have wanted to have unlocked doors and unlocked boarders... now I have a lock on all the openings of my little world and we have locks on our boarders.

Pray hard for peace. The answer is not in counter measures and war. The answer is in prayer and finding a world where there is no hunger and no person without excellent health care....

If we could find those things, we would pay tribute to all who have gone before us to protect us and rescue us................................

Pray with me now in your own way........................................................................................amen.

HI HO Blogoweenees.........Here it is, it is out now and I have it!!!!

This is the brand new release from one of my favorite singing groups - Trout Fishing in America.....How can you beat songs like "my hair had a party last night," "Alberta Postcard." "Bob and Bob," "Simon Says," and "Beans and Weenies?"

Some of you know that I have been depressed and melancholy since I was accosted at work and robbed all in the same day - this CD made me smile when nothing else was working....

So, if you want to feel better, you better start listening to Trout Fishing in America.

Good night and remember, take good care of yourself, I love you all, john