We took a lil' trip through the Carolinas this past weekend to see our families. My family met us at my sister's house in Columbia, Sandy's met us at her sister's house near Fayetteville.

First conclusion: sisters definitely have the best houses for such meetings.

We enjoyed an early Thanksgiving, complete with the usual roasted bird and other trimmings.

Second conclusion: such cooking is definitely left up to the sisters, because I would turn the turkey into a small, shriveled black lump.

(Did I spell "shrivel" correctly? These things are important.)

Third conclusion: peanuts are completely antithetical to patriotism. A good friend in Fayetteville gave us a bag of Houston Roasted Peanuts (the best), which we proceeded to enjoy, with great relish, as we traveled back to H'alabama on the H'interstate.

Maybe it's the fact that there's work involved; you don't just pop these rascals into your mouth, you must crack the shell to get at the prize. So ... crack, munch, crack, munch, drive, drive and drive.

We rolled the Windows down to toss a few stray shells out (I figured, hey, they're biodegradable, right?) ... and .. . drum roll, please!

We launched yet still ANOTHER American flag into low orbit!

Yup. We forgot all about it.

AGAIN.

Down went the window, and the flag (which, same as the last one, was clipped to the window glass) said "fffffffffTTTTT!" and disappeared totally. Gone.

Sigh. I'm just going to paint the truck red, white and blue and be done with it.

By the way: some of you hoity-toits here probably think you're too good to have a CB radio in your car. We always mount one of the things for a long trip. Not only are the truckers entertaining, but you're made aware of road hazards long before you even approach them.

Perfect 'zample: we decided to make the trip back through Charlotte, taking I-85 to Atlanta, then '20 back to B'ham. The radio began crackling as soon as we crossed the Georgia state line: there was a bad accident ahead at mile 131 which had traffic backed all the way up to exit 137 (and it was getting worse).

Had we not had the radio, we would have blithely continued into the quagmire, meaning that we wouldn't have gotten home until several hours later. But with the radio, we not only knew about the problem, the truckers had already decided on alternate routes. We tagged along with a few through rural Georgia, chatting all the while. A bad experience was actually made enjoyable because of the thing.

If you're ever in 'Bama, give me a shout. My handle is "Professor." :)

(You must promise to be good if you want to know Sandy's handle.[g])

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Answers

Oh, that's right, coffee.

It's surprising the number of places that offer decent coffee nowdays. Many of the truck stops (or "Travel Plazas," if you're into that Now Thing) on the way offered cappucino, Columbian, and other nice javas. Certainly not world class, but compared to the crap that most such places used to serve, it was a pleasant surprise.

(The Flying J -- or "Flying Hook," to the truckers -- has become our standard stopping spot on any long trip.)

Then I got to my parent's house and they informed me that the breakfast brew would be Folger's mixed with Luzianne -- you know, the french roasted stuff with chicory added.

Can't have it all, I s'pose.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Poole:

That reminds me of an experience from this last summer. I was in Fargo. Some folks there took me to see a research plot. It was somewhere in eastern ND; I am not sure where since there aren't that many landmarks in eastern ND. If you have been there you will know what I mean. We were driving down a two lane state road and hadn't seen a house in miles. Then, carved out of a sunflower field, was a pulloff and what looked like 4, fused, outhouses.

The sign on the front said coffee house. There were about 10 pickups in the lot. Strangest thing that I have seen. Didn't see another building for 20 miles. What have we become? ;o)

Best Wishes,,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Z,

It's obvious. We've lost the warrior spirit.

I mean, can you imagine Gengis Khan saying, "I'll have a latte?"

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Stephen, your remark reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon some years ago. A fleet of Viking boats has landed somewhere, and the Viking chief is having his fortune told, by a gypsy woman with a crystal ball. He is staring in outrage when she tells him that his descendents will be best known for sleek furniture and leggy blondes.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Poole:

Yeah, I am waiting for my favorite bait shop to change their sign from guns and liquor to coffee and brioche. Then I will know. ;o)

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

you forgot your double standard of deleting those that point out your censorship.

Osama Bin Reuben is allowed to call names, others are not allowed to respond in kind.

Guess it's time to put the "deleted threads" forum to good use....

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Hypo:

If you be talking to me, I will meet you outside the Green Heron Bar in Key West on 2 Dec 01 and we can have this out.

If you can't make it, wimp away. :o)))

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

By-the-by Hypo:

Don't consider that a threat. While being an ex-line backer, I gave up the physical destruction of people a long time ago. My invitation was for discussion.

Outside: I assume you are a high school student and couldn't go into a bar.

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Funny.....I had you pegged as a "La-Dee-Dah" patron. My mistake.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Yeah UNK:

Don't under estimate the captain of the state championship team who turned down football scholarships to 3 big ten schools to go to a really good academic institution. I am blessed by the fact that my parents could afford it. Everyone should be so lucky.

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Z,

Maybe. But my daddy could certainly whip YOUR daddy. :)

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001

Good one. But it is probably true. My father was, gasp, an electrical engineer. He wasn't that big [5' 11'' and 180]. I must have picked up the size from my mothers family. I was 6 ' 2'' and 225 as a senior in high school. In my mothers family, I was a runt. My great grandfar was 6' 7" and about 270. He would have made a great tackle in his time. ;o)))

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

thought you were smarter than that Z (BTW you do NOT want to throw down with me)

Are you the one that runs this board? that allows osama bin reuben to tell people to fuck off, while deleting anyone that gives him shit in return?

I didn't think so.

shut the hell up.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

HIPPO, go play with your role model, Milne. A sample fresh off his foaming lips.

Drumhead Courts Martial part 2 halifaxcapital (46/M/Virginia) 11/13/01 8:01 pm Use your COMMON sense. If there was NO difference between a civilian court and a military tribunal, they would not institute them. They are not instituted because they are merely more efficient, faster or provide a greater protection for your rights. This is one of the darkest days I have ever seen in my life. Perhaps you are historically unaware, but in a civilian court, the presumption of innocence applies. This is NOT true of a military tribunal. in a military tribunal you are PRESUMED guilty. You must PROVE your innocence. In 'military' situations they di not have the time and the luxury to stop what they were doing an conduct a full scale trial of the accused with all the amenities. They were in a serious situation. For the good of the service, discipline and morale, they had to get on with it and over with it in a hurry. It was considered 'better' that a innocent man be punished in THAT environment than to allow the effects on the military of a guilty man going free. In fact, the more punishment meted out, the better, as far as they were concerned because of teh chord it struck with the troops and the message it sent. Don't even THINK about being accused of anything much less do something to be accused of. Liberty was NOT as important as security, discipline or morale. There is no liberty in the military. You do what you are told when you are told or you are EXECUTED. And now our liberty is removed from us. For the chief magistrate of the US to say that any citizen accused of terrorism is now to be handled in a forum that PREUMES guilt is the most basic violation of all our rights. This is tyranny. NAKED, unvarnished, in-your-face tyranny. But it was OK for our forefathers to rebel against it but not us. If we rebel over something FAR more serious we are seditious. They were HEROES we would be traitors. Liberty can NOT be preserved by its suspension. When your liberty is 'suspeneded' how do you get it back unless they give it back? Is our liberty contingent upon when THEY decide we should have it or is it the GIFT OF GOD? May God damn the current unconstitutional government of the US. They are inimical traitors to the constitution of the United States.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

Hypo:

BTW you do NOT want to throw down with me

How do you know that? Use a real name. ;o)

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

If I have learned one thing in my life, it's that it is easy to talk tough on the internet.

Point well made about CPR, but he is more likely to tell folks to ESAD than to fuck off.

Oh and Z, enjoy your visit to KW. I would perhaps have made a trip to buy you a drink if not for a prior commitment to the "Nutcracker" that evening at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. I've seen it before, but the Mrs insisted, and it certainly is better than "Cats".

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

Unk:

It is work and not fun; still it is nice to have meetings planned in nice places. It is better than a hotel at the Chicago airport. I have, required meetings, in Tahiti next year. Tough life. ;o))

Best Wishes,,,,,

Z

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2001