I Was Thinking

Yes, I know that is dangerous.  Before I get to my one thought, I just wanted to let everyone know that I made it back from New Orleans Friday night. I did not get to see much of the devastation as we arrived after dark.  We did eat some awesome seafood at a local place in Kenner, La (A suburb of New Orleans).  Our regional manager took us there, a local favorite and it was awesome. I had a pound of boiled shrimp and a pound of potato poppers.  The boiled shrimp were JUMBO, and I do mean JUMBO. I have never seen shrimp that big before.  It took awhile to eat them all as the heads were still on and I had to work the meat out of the shell. Mmmmm, I loved it.  The potato poppers were new potatoes boiled in the hot-spiced shrimp water they cook the shrimp in.  You have to try those sometime if you ever get the chance.

Ok, here is my thought.  I hope I don’t get into trouble for this. I heard on the news today of a discovery of Jesus’ tomb and that of his family. Not sure I believe it but one thing that this discovery puts into jeopardy is the belief that Jesus arose from the dead.  Ok, here is my thought.  If someone were to print something like this against the prophet Muhammad or the Islam religion a bounty would be put on their head, they would be in danger of being killed, not to mention the violent protests, the flag burnings, etc.  Here is my question; Why is it fair game to go after Jesus but not Muhammad?   Just wondering.

Hope your week is off to a flying start.  Not sure of my plans yet for the week but I am sure I will end up somewhere out of town.  I will end with a couple of funnies.

Enjoy,

Ed

 ps  The song that is playing: "House of the Rising Sun", I used to sing that song in the rock band I was in during high school and college. Oh my, I would hate to try and sing that one again. lol

Today's Humour

This little grandmother was surprised by her 7 year old 

grandson one morning. He had made her coffee. She drank what 

was the worst cup of coffee in her life. When she got to the 

bottom, there were three of those little green army men. She 

asked him why.

He said they say on TV 'The best part of waking up is 

soldiers in your cup

Today's Stupid Quote

"All of the Mets' road wins against Los Angeles this year 

have been at Dodger Stadium."

-         Ralph Kiner, NY Sportscaster

-          

Too Dumb To Be A Criminal" Bonehead Award

How about those bungling thieves in Bogota, Colombia, who 

broke into a shoe store and stole 756 shoes, all for the 

On The Road Again

After my scary   experience of early last week the rest of my travels went well.  On Thursday I did another 15-hour movie run with clear skies and even more important, clear roads.  Then on Friday I was supposed to leave for New Jersey.  When I arrived at the office my plans were changed and instead I was sent to Los Angeles.  That was good luck for me, the folks that were sent to New Jersey had a snowy drive going out and a hard time getting a flight out once there. My drive on the other hand was sunny, with temps in the 60’s and up.  The flight home from LA was beautiful and on time. I guess my luck must have changed. 

I am off this morning for New Orleans.  What is up with this??  My college son went there last week for Mardi gras, and I get to go for Ash Wednesday. Go figure.  I guess he can party a lot harder than I can anyway. Lol

Have a great rest of the week.

Enjoy,Ed

A Night to Forget

It was a cold steady rain, not unlike the persistent flow of a mountain stream in late summer.  Ahead was a 600-mile journey, which included stops in southern, central and northern Missouri.  His little Honda was loaded with a new release movie to be shown on Valentines Day in theaters around the nation.   Thoughts however were not on the movie, the drive ahead of him or even the cities he was going to visit.  Instead his only thought was the rain.  The temperature as he drove out of the city was near freezing.  For sure the rain would soon become frozen.  His concern was not if, but rather, when and what form it would take. 

The first stop was Osage Beach, in the heart of Lake of the Ozarks business district.  For the first time he afforded a glance at the title of the movie he was dropping off.  It was called “Music and Lyrics”.   To him it meant nothing, for his mind was still on the cold steady rain.  Next was an 80-mile drive over hilly and treacherous two lane roads in the heart of Ozark country.  If the temperature dropped now…well… he didn’t even want to imagine what this section of pavement would be like.  Driving in rain is not that difficult. But when the lightness of the day gives way to darkness the rain creates halo effects on the windshield.  Seeing where to turn, what the signs are saying, oncoming traffic, all   become more of a challenge but something he was very used to.

Stop number two was in Rolla, Missouri, home of the University of Missouri at Rolla School of engineering, a small city in southern Missouri.  As he pulled into town it was still rain.  Thank goodness for that.  The giggles of the high school girls working at the theater did not delay him as they took the movie and he was soon on his way again, now heading north..’North’..where temperatures were sure to plummet and turn his drive into a nightmare. At this point he was thinking, why did I agree to do this?  But agree he had so a job he felt obligated to finish. 

Almost two hours later he was in the home of the Tigers. The University of Missouri in Columbia commonly referred to as “Mizzu”.  The rain now felt different. The steady drops on his windshield had turned to “splats”, an explosion of water with white crystals spreading over the glass as it impacted his car.  What did this mean?   SNOW!  The rain was starting to turn over to snow and he was only half done with is nighttime run. Without hast he made his two stops in Columbia and headed out of the city.

Driving north out of Columbia soon turned the black wet pavement to a white covered skating rink.  The only good news he could think of was that the rest of his drive would be on 4 lane roads.  Within 5 minutes of leaving the lights of Columbia behind him his worst fears were realized.  In his rear view mirror was a semi truck.  The truck was attempting to pass.  His speed in the Honda had slowed, as he knew the road was very slick.  Why was this semi attempting to pass, speed was the enemy of driving on slick highways?  The semi pulled into the passing lane about 500 yards behind him. Looking forward again both hands gripped the wheel to prepare him for steady driving, as the truck would pass.  Again he glanced in his mirror.  The truck’s lights were no longer facing him.  The lights, cab and trailer were heading perpendicular to the highway.  The truck was sliding sideways, following his little Honda down the road.  As he tried to drive and watch in his rear view mirror his concern was not so much for himself, for he was ahead of the ensuing wreck.  His thoughts were of the truck driver’s battle to regain control.  The truck slid sideways into the median, then turned 180 degrees and started back across the highway again.  Crossing the white pavement, still perpendicular to the flow of traffic the truck went into the ditch on the other side.  His last sight of the semi was of its turning 180 degrees once again and coming back up out of the ditch.  The trailer was starting to pass the cab when all the steel and wheels backed down the embankment to the ditch. The truck had now disappeared.  No lights, no roaring motor, nothing.  He considered stopping to help. But a last glance in his mirror showed that several cars had stopped behind him to offer assistance.  He continued driving, shaking from what he had seen.  His mind kept seeing the truck driver fighting a useless battle to regain control. Moments later a police car met him heading towards the accident.  He prayed that the driver was ok.

The last destination was finally reached.  Kirksville, Mo, home of Truman State University, his alma mater.  He knew the town very well having toiled there many years ago to gain his math education diploma, a degree that led to a successful 30 years in public education.  Dropping his final movie canister he headed back to Kansas City, a drive that would normally take about 3 hours.  But not this night, his mind tried to guess what time he would make it home. 

Driving south was not comforting, for now it was snowing heavily, the wind was howling and visibility had become difficult.  He knew where the ditches were but not sure if he was in a lane on the road. His decision to just stay in the middle of where he thought the sides of the road seemed to be working.  The rest of the 40-50 mile per hour drive saw many wrecks and semis in the ditches. At two instances police stopped him so they could clear the road ahead of mangled vehicles that had not heeded to the weather conditions and slowed down. A mistake he knew many people make. 

Finally at 4:30 in the morning he was home, a full 13 hours after he had left on this eventful night. As his head hit the pillow his mind was still thinking of that truck driver. He said another prayer hoping he was all right.  Sleep came and the long night of tense driving was over.

The above narrative was of my recent journey this past Monday.  I vow to NEVER EVER drive in weather like this again.  But alas, I know that I probably will. Lol  The entire nation seems to have been hit to some degree with this most recent storm. As always I hope it is safe and warm where you are.

Enjoy,

Ed