GAS PRICES SOAR

WARNING: Get to a gas pump early and fill up! There is a chance gas prices will exceed $5.00 a gallon before the day is out. This knowledge comes from someone I know in the oil and gas business who is a reliable source. Hope this helps!

"A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need."
~Sidney Carroll

Local News, Really Bad and Really Good

Local news is popping today. Two people have been arrested in connection to the death of a 2 year old child. They also are being charged with cruelty to animals. You can read more if you open Tuesday's comments and click on Beagle's link. This is such a tragedy. As said in the comments no crime is more grave than the abuse of a child. IMHO, the lower realms of hell await those that commit such crimes. Prayers have been said.

Let's lighten up. A huge Congrats out to Tupelo High School. Their athletic program was rated 3rd in the NATION by Sports Illustrated. The high school is located next to the Natchez Trace and looks more like a college campus than a high school. A big hats off and kudos to Danny Porter, athletics director, ALL the athletes, and the many support groups that boost this program. Read more at DailyJournal.com.

"It was while making newspaper deliveries, trying to miss the bushes and hit the porch, that I first learned the importance of accuracy in journalism."
~Charles Osgood (sadly, it's noted, that not all journalists have this attitude)

EDIT: Buffett was awesome on Dave Letterman's show last night. Check it out at CBS.com. The huge red headed fellow standing beside him pickin' and singing is Mac McAnally. Mac is from Belmont, Mississippi. That's in Tishomingo County which is my old stomping grounds! My heart remains there to this very day.

Dogs n Cats? Casual. Possums? Not So Much...

No ill is harbored towards cats at the beach house. They can be funny and comical. They can be a best friend. They can also be downright cantankerous at times. Around here, there are several feral cats that sneak out of the woods to enjoy late night snacks sometimes left for them. There was a water bowl and food bowl by the north steps. They both disappeared. Guess some catzilla was really hungry or Arnold, Opossumus Austriabodicus Germanicus, may have taken them away. He is territorial, you know.

Seems he dislikes dogs much more than cats. Either that or the cats have a better line of communication in this area. Big Hateful Black Spotted Tomcat (he hisses at me from way across the road even though I feed him) was delivered a large can of whupass several years ago by Arnold. Word must have spread in the feline community not to mess with any possum in the area the size of a small pony. Cats are smart that way, you know.

Time to get back on track here. Since my life sometimes finds me gone for extended periods of time I have even decided to give up the aquarium. LisaPooh and Laundry Witch have laughed heartily because there have been no fish in it for 3 years. I maintained it until this past winter. Without a fenced yard it's impossible to maintain a dog. I won't keep a cat boxed up in a house and living on a street corner presents a traffic problem that is deadly. Cats have absolutely no fear of cars, you know.

Let me bring some focus to my ramblings: Take a look at this guy:



If you find him irresistible then please contact the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society and make arrangements to adopt Luke. That's his name.

This is a good group of folks and their much deserved praise goes unsung. They do this work because of dedication and are rarely thanked. If you are like me and just can't maintain a pet properly, but want to help, DONATE! It won't kill ya' to give up a few dollars to feed a discarded and often mistreated animal brother or sister. We are all God's creatures. So get up off that ass and take that wallet out!

On my way out to discover today's adventures I am going to stop and purchase a bag of Purina Puppy Chow for the shelter. You might do the same, you know.

"A cat can be trusted to purr when she is pleased, which is more than can be said for human beings."
~William Ralph Inge
(Today's pictures are by Beagle)

Aftermath of a Storm

Yesterday was a really bad day, but also a great day. Damage was widespread in Tupelo and surrounding communities due to area storms. It was really bad later in the morning. As time rolled on things became great. Through all of this calamity only one minor injury was reported! My scurry through the area exposed scenes of horrific damage and we are blessed that the injury level was minimal. Kudos out to the local law enforcement, city workers, and county employees for the great job of emergency response. The road crews had all roads open by yesterday afternoon. As with Katrina, Mississippians responded yesterday with a 'can-do' attitude and went to work correcting problems created by this disaster. I heard no Ray Nagin type whining and cursing. Hats off to all and thank God no one was seriously injured.

Below are listed the county emergency managers for Northeast Mississippi. If you experienced damage during the series of tornado touchdowns yesterday please contact the appropriate manager.

Alcorn: Ricky Gibens 286-7737

Benton: Bobby Thompson 224-6300

Calhoun: Mike Dunagin 628-5114

Chickasaw: James "Brad" Smith 448-1012

Clay: Johnny Littlefield 494-2088

Itawamba: Shae Collum 862-2735

Lafayette: James A. Allgood 236-1310

Lee: Claudia Howard 841-9020

Marshall: Hugh Hollowell 252-0592

Monroe: Bobby Camp, Jr. 369-3683

Oktibbeha: Jim Britt 338-1076

Pontotoc: Rickey Jaggers 489-1637

Prentiss: Ralph Lauderdale 728-4610

Tippah: Tom Lindsey 837-4432

Tishomingo: Bill Strickland 423-7028

Union: Hal Sanders 534-1992

Insurance tip
- Here are some tips from the Mississippi Insurance Department about what you need to do following a storm:

- Notify creditors if bills have been lost or you're unable to pay.
- Ask your utility company to stop billing if your home is unlivable or has been destroyed.
- Report your claim promptly. Be aware, if a widespread disaster has occurred, the company may set up special procedures.
- Prepare to file an insurance claim by gathering all relevant policy numbers.
- Inventory your home for damaged or lost items before your adjuster arrives. This will speed up your claim process.
- Work with a qualified tax expert to find out about tax breaks you may be eligible for because of your losses.

Questions? Contact the Mississippi Insurance Department Consumer Services Division at (601) 359-2453 or (800) 562-2957. (info provided by DailyJournal.com)

"Saints are sinners who kept on going."
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Whad'ya Know Show

Beautiful weather, nice easy drive to Oxford, saw some old friends, and then 2 hours of hilarity. Michael Feldman and crew did not disappoint us. His ability to keep a smooth pace and never drop the ball is amazing. The music from the trio was also good. They are very polished and the banter was non stop. There were several props on stage with a very nice Ole MIss display in the background. When he opened the show with an "is everyone doing okay?' the response was Hotty Toddy from the entire audience. He seemed amused and this set the tone for the show.

Mr. Feldman is a learned man. It was fun to watch the few that tried to be clever (heck, they were being smartasses) with blank looks on their faces as he responded. Michael asked a member of the Taylor Grocery Band his name, etc. and the fellow responded,"Brian, you want my social security number?" Feldman immediately quipped ,"Yes, and I'll have that Visa card too."

Before the show people passed out cards so questions for Michael could be read during the program. One lady asked if he wanted to meet a 70 year old local ex-hooker. Not being able to pass this up he put the spotlight on her in the audience and promptly inquired. She was very articulate with a heavy southern accent and announced that it was her birthday. Then she proceeded to explain that Hooker was her maiden name. Before this was over there was a room filled with LOLs and maybe even some ROFLs.

The show was broadcast live and nationwide. There is a list of affiliate stations on his site. After trying to listen and download from the Wisconsin PBR site I gave up when they wanted my life history and firstborn. If I find a good link it'll be posted. It was a good day. David and I laughed all the way back to the beach house. Thanks for the invitation Brother Dave. This was a hoot!

"Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch it to be sure."
~Murphy's Law