The Candymen

2011-05-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

WARNING!!!!DO NOT READ THIS POST IF YOU ARE ON A DIET & TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT! I am hooked on TGIF Friday's Frozen Spinach Artichoke Dip but it ain't rich enough for me. After I heat it up a little, I put in some sliced mushrooms & some quartered, marinated artichoke hearts & cover the whole mess with some more Parmesan & then reheat it. IT GOOOOD!!!!

2011-05-14T02:16:00.001-07:00

Hey y'all~
Dis beezzzzzzzzzzzzzz dah 33 Hunnerd & FRIST post on the CUBA, AL.~ ZERO, NW FL blog so it's important
plus it has PORTENT!

Here's a SUPER video the Oxford American film team out of Arkansas did about our recovery from THE TUSCALOOSA HAPPY HOUR TORNADO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aQnfGNXEbM&feature=player_embedded

BECAUSE THE WIND izzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz HIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgDfog27xIk

ARS is releasing their latest album, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, sometime soon. I heard that the CDs are late because they are being made@ JVC here & THE TUSKEELOOSSEE HAPPY HOUR TURNAYDER (sent by "you know who" a.k.a. the goose that laid the golden egg) slowed down the factory.

MUCHAS to Dean Daughtry, Buddy Buie & Robert Nix for affording me the hospitality of an ALL ACCESS pass to the ARS show in Duluth, GA last Sattiddee nite!

On this post I'm gonna take a new approach. I'm gonna slap a ton of images directly on to blogger.com & hope that going by the numbers will give me a chance to tell some kind of story about what's happened to me since my last post on

glad you're okay Roberto (and a year older!). I did try to call you on your big day, but couldn't get through. I know you've got your hands full out there in all the destruction. But you're a good man to have around in times like this!
take care,
S~

2011-05-14T01:30:00.000-07:00

The WEDNESDAY, May 4 headline should have read: HOLT DUMP SHUT DOWN OVER HUMAN BODY PARTS SCARE
That NOT a news story.
They included my scoop in their stupid ass urban myth blog but it was all made for love & good comes from everything so we did get this disclaimer:
May 5th, 2011 05:17pm
Rumor: Bodies have been found in the Holt landfill.

by rumor.blog

True or false: False

Variations of the rumor claim that bodies, or body parts, have shown up in the Holt landfill, and that trucks that arrive there are being searched.

According to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton, the area has been searched repeatedly to ensure that bodies aren’t missed.

“That’s why we have been so systematic in our grid searches,” Sexton said. He noted that officials conducted a preliminary, or cursory, search of the rubble in the area. Then a search was conducted by an outside agency and now a third search is underway with cadaver dogs and debris-search specialists.

2011-05-05T01:07:00.000-07:00

LINDA,
Ya wanna go to an Atlanta Rhythm Section show in Duluth, GA Saturday night?
I've got backstage passes for two.
It's on my tab.
It'll help us get out of this shit for a while.
ARS is releasing a new album called WITH ALL DUE RESPECT on Tuesday, May 17.
I'm tied into their marketing.
Think about it, SERIOUSLY.
You can take your car.
No problem & I'll get you your own room in Duluth Saturday night.

best,
Robert Register http://robertoreg.blogspot.com

2011-05-05T00:45:00.000-07:00

Heading to Duluth, GA sometime this weekend for that ARS show Sattiddee nite @ Wild Bill's.
Message me & I'll shoot you my cell phone number & MAYBE we can all hook up!

2011-05-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

After THE TUSKEELOOSSEE HAPPY HOUR TORNADO passed, I loaded up two chain saws and thought I was going out to help somebody but when I saw what a ridiculous situation we were in, I packed it up & headed back to the crib. Thursday morning I got the key to Queen City because I knew I could get to it. I walked into to that house & saw those limbs in the bedroom & I just busted out crying like a baby. IT HIT ME! 1810 Queen City Avenue was ready for a Section 8 scheduled the next day, my birfday, April 29. Seeing all those lathing boards sticking out of the ceiling made me call on THAT HIGHER POWER!
Thank the Lord, WE HAVE A GENEROUS GOD!

2011-05-04T21:02:00.001-07:00

One week IN & my 22 yr. old son Christopher seems to be in good spirits. I told him today that all was well with the family he was concerned about on Juanita Dr. (Christopher lived on Juanita Drive when he went to the Lutheran kindergarten which got hit but not wiped out like Juanita Dr.) Today, DAY SIX, he spent his late afternoon helping his buddies clean up Eagle Cove Marina. He said the place is really getting tuned back up. Here's some images of my son's carpentry. He's earned certifications in welding, electronics, diesel & plans to take on the machine shop @ Shelton State this fall. He's really a blessing for me when I'm in a crunch @ work. He knows how to get a house ready for a Section 8 inspection and he can fix just about anything. He's worked in houses in EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD in all the miles of neighborhoods hit by THE TUSCALOOSA TORNADO since he was TEN YEARS OLD.

2011-05-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

An except from my novel, SNAKE DOCTOR http://snakedoctor.blogspot.com
As he headed down the Water Street sidewalk toward his old van, Grover
contemplated the calm that comes after the storm. Only the distant
wailing of the sirens and the victims three blocks down Water
Street disturbed the quiet of noon that Friday.

Grover couldn’t stand the sounds produced by disaster.
Besides, he’d heard enough bad sounds for one day. Old Grover’s
mind had about given out on him today, so he said a little prayer
for Tustennuggee’s dead, injured and dying and climbed up into his
‘74 Ford Econoline. Grover knew there’d be no shortage of heroes
in his hometown today. He’d grown up with these boys. He knew none
of them would fall off the firetruck. (Except maybe if there was a
meltdown at the George C. Wallace Nuclear Power Plant over at
Black Gum Head.)Grover resolved to return to the riverfront
tomorrow and help with the cleanup.

“Won’t be as much ruckus on Saturday,” thought Grover.

2011-05-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

Muchas to all the fine folks who checked on my status after the storm & wished me a Happy Birthday. Appropriately I started my birthday off early Friday morning getting knee walking drunk with an undertaker who is a fellow Druid Dragon so I spent my birthday in the best place you can be in a disaster area ~ curled up under a blanket on a couch in an air conditioned living room ASLEEP! Fellow Dothan High Tiger Jim Hodges saw Tuscaloosa on the best English channel in Nigeria ~ AL JAZEERA!

2011-05-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

We'll evahthang back to normal in Old Tuskeeloossee! The whole town's driving around like they just got set loose from Partlow & the students ain't even here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHXFOUQBRHE

2011-04-26T22:54:00.000-07:00

Man, it like it alwayzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz LOOK WHAT THE CAT'ZZZZZZZZZZ DRAGGED IN around HAPPY HOUR here @ Pake Realty. Lee gotta 1928 Allen Jemison catalog yestiddee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP3wT5lpa4

2011-04-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

GEORGE providing CONSTANT ADULT SUPERVISION over a CRIMSON TIDE practice before the defeat to Texas in the '65 Orange Bowl. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udI8OQTGF7w

2011-04-26T21:39:00.001-07:00

Didja know that when the U.S. Senator from Mississippi, Jesse Speight, died in 1847, the Governor of Mississippi appointed Jefferson Davis to take his place?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Speight

2011-04-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

image of Coach Bryant courtesy of the 1965 Corolla
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bearbryant

2011-04-26T01:25:00.000-07:00

The text on the front of this post card reads,"Most Historical Building In The South, offices of Jefferson Davis & his Cabinet during the time this city was Capitol of the Confederacy, Montgomery, Ala." This is the old Exchange Hotel which was demolished in 1906. Some authors have claimed that Zelda met Scott on the dance floor of this hotel but that was in the "new" Exchange which was built on the same site. It was demolished about 1974.
This building housed the offices in which the decision to fire on Ft. Sumter was made.

2011-04-26T00:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agWpGKg0u3g&feature=related

2011-04-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Any time you see this image, please remember Kevin Pake of Pake Realty popped the ARS Catfish Logo in there. It could damn sho' be tuned up a lot mo'! http://pakerealty.com

2011-04-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

Our tenants are alwayzzzzz telling me about how scared they are of the spiders and mice. I always tellz 'em," MAN, LOOK OUT THE DOOR & WATCH WHAT'S WALKIN' DOWN THE STREET! You gotta lot more to afraid of IN THIS DAMN NEIGHBORHOOD than a bunch of harmless critters!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWpz2OYf1QU

2011-04-19T01:07:00.000-07:00

IMAGE COURTESY OF http://nautarch.tamu.edu/projects/denbigh/HISTORY2.HTM.
150 years ago TODAY~
SUNDAY, April 19, 1861: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES orders A BLOCKADE of all ports of THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

2011-04-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

To bring an informed,reasoned analysis to this ARGUMENT we have with these rude, arrogant, mean ass Yankees & THEIR ASSOCIATES (i.e. our own little crowd of homegrown self hating nasty ass scalawag hypocrites) that THE ONE REASON our ancestors went to war TO KILL THE YANKEES was TO PRESERVE SLAVERY is like bringing guns to a knife fight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjUzuYPmFj4

2011-04-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

THEY WORE THE GRAY.
Thy Mighty Deeds In This Brief Period Wrought,
Years of OBLIVION Shall Corrode In Vain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_Memorial_Day

2011-04-15T01:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUJZTSHAtMg

Lookin forward to heading to B'ham to see Widespread Panic with my son, Christopher, on Sattiddee. This is my second show since I took him to a soundcheck in Memorial Coliseum back when they played with Leftover Salmon in the mid 90s. The soundcheck was so loud we went to the absolute back of the Coliseum & Christopher put his hands over his ears & said,"TOO LOUD! I wanna go home!" Now he's been to a f&*(in' gazillion of their shows. Figure that!?

2011-04-15T00:18:00.000-07:00

K ~
It were sooooooooooooooo kewl to check my phone when I woke up @ midnight tonight & see your number.

I'm back in my old routine: Happy Hour's over by 6:15, then check my email until about 7, crash 'till about 11:30 or twelve, lay around for about an hour, bathe & walk over & have a peppermint schnapps & a Bud @ THE PUB, come home after closing time @ 1:45 & sit out on my deck & ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ONE!.

Same routine since October of '05.

Going to Oak Mountain Amphitheater Sattiddee with Christopher to see Widespread Panic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUJZTSHAtMg
Should be a hoot!

Glad to hear you found accommodations!

CALL ME!

BEST,
r

2011-04-13T01:34:00.000-07:00

Mama ALWAYZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ sed,
"Bob, I think I've RAISED A WIERDO!"
I replied," Oh, HELL YEAH MAMA but I can control it! Everybody in the neighborhood always said,'Lungzzzzzzzzzzzz, if you don't cut that out, YOU GONNA END UP IN TUSKALOOSA!' "
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqZmtq5LhFo

2011-04-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

Susan Kelley pressing specimens along the north side of Palongzang Bu on Highway 318 west of Bomi [Zhamo].
Photograph by R. Ree

To view more images from the expeditions, go to the search expedition collections page.

2011-04-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

This cigar box label commemorates all of the battles U. S. Grant participated in during the Mexican War & the Civil War. The irony is that Grant's first Civil War battles, Paducah @ the mouth of the Tennessee on the Ohio River & Ft. Donelson on the Cumberland River, were precursors to the April 1862 capture of so many Wiregrass area troops @ Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River including my Great-great uncle, Geneva's William Duncan Register. http://www.mcwm.org/history_stlouis_ships.html

2011-04-11T00:12:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, April 12, 2011, will mark the 150th anniversary the firing of the first shots of the Civil War. This image of General Grant comes from our collection of late 19th century cigar box labels. http://napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_36d214c8-6316-11e0-9ceb-001cc4c03286.html

2011-04-08T00:29:00.000-07:00

Gotta say MUCHAS GRACIAS to Scott for letting my son, Christopher, have his MASSIVE JAGUAR SKULL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM7LR46zrQU&feature=related

Hey Robert
I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your FB profile and all the pictures, I remember you well as having a great and unique personality way back when. It seems it has gotten even better and you still really enjoy life. Love it! Thanks for sharing . You have brightened my day several times. I don't know if you remember or not but my mother was killed in an auto accident when I was six years old. I think that our parents were good friends. I have quite a few pictures of my birthday parties etc when we were very young and I believe you are in some of them. I lived on Dusy Street next to David and Jeanne Word. Does any of that sound familiar? There are some old childhood pictures on my fB profile. You have some awesome photos posted. and always ROLL TIDE!!! Julia (Ann)

2011-04-07T01:29:00.000-07:00

Seeking information about WATTS & WASHINGTON BLACKSMITH SHOP formerly located @ 811 23rd Avenue. According to the '57 Tuscaloosa City Directory, that address was occupied by Mitchell's Awning & Shade Co. along with Albert P. Lee (A.P. Lee) Real Estate. Now that block is a law office on the north corner & the Regions Bank parking lot on the south.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S7Mk8g97t4&feature=fvwrel

2011-04-06T02:13:00.000-07:00

DHS Sr. '67 DON SAWYER gotzzzzzzzzzzzzz a pretty strong business going in South Walton & Okaloosa Counties. He's got galleries in Destin & Grayton Beach featuring his art along with his wife's & others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_57s1C1_vJY

2011-04-06T00:22:00.000-07:00

Played TUESDAY'S GONE for KB tonight on the box @ The Downtown Pub down on the corner of Lurleen N. & University here in OLD TUSKEELOOSSEE. It's got our old Blakely BUDDY, ROBERT NIX,WHO WAS CONCEIVED IN THE BACK OF A MODEL A FORD ON TOP OF BIG KOLOMOKI MOUND, PLAYING DRUMS! Makes NIXO an ALIVE FORMER MEMBER OF THE LITTLE BAND FROM JACKSONVILLE. Nix is just now emerging from a TWO YEAR FIGHT with multiple chronic illnesses & his recovery has been REMARKABLE! NIX IS BACK!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvWADo6KPzA&feature=related

2011-04-05T17:52:00.000-07:00

Classic Quote from LITTLE BLUE BOOK NO. 1523 published in Girard, Kansas, in 1930.
"But today students of morals agree that the only sound basis for a rational code of morals is 'THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER.' Stated in different words this means that the rights of the individual are limited ONLY by the rights of others. One may do what one pleases, as long as it does not harm anyone else or the community as a whole. The common sense of this ethic ought to be apparent to everybody, but unfortunately the old religious superstitions are still held in theory, if not in fact."

2011-04-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

UNCLE ERNIE sez: "Yeah, he's the owner & he knows I've had two tours in Iraq & I've killed more people in a year than cancer & I can whip ANY of his bouncers."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvP0uwl3Q6A

2011-04-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

OUTPOST BIKER BAR on Black Creek, Freeport, Florida, Saturday, April 2, 2011
Returned to T-town from the Beach on Sunday & started Monday out RIGHT with a morning eviction in the West End. The best way to describe the tenants is the male was like a dark-skinned Charlie Sheen and the female was like a dark skinned Charleena Sheen. In other words, I got AFRO-SHEENED!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QS0q3mGPGg

2011-03-30T01:27:00.000-07:00

THE CHUKKER ARCHIVES, MARCH 30, 2011
EAT CORNBREAD RAISE HELL was FIRST put on the wall of the Mens Room of The Chukker BY ME & on the wall of the Chukker Ladies Room BY MY LATE WIFE, SHARON, in about '88 or '89, back when Bruce Hopper owned it. I'd missed my 20th DOTHAN HIGH CLASS OF '68 Reunion but I'd immersed myself in '68 nostalgia. ECRH was a take off on our DHS Sr. '68 motto "RAISE HELL, GO NAKED". Well,"Eat Cornbread, Raise Hell" caught on and got "reprinted" all over the bar & then it caught on with the "bohemian crowd" in T-town. When you google "EAT CORNBREAD RAISE HELL" you get over 280 results & now they even got a EAT CORNBREAD RAISE HELL DOT COM !

2011-03-30T00:33:00.000-07:00

"EAT CORNBREAD, RAISE HELL" was a piece of graffiti I put up in the Chukker Mens Room & I'm pretty sure my late wife, Sharon, put on the wall of the Ladies Room in about '88 or '89 back when Bruce Hopper owned it. I'd missed my 20th DOTHAN HIGH CLASS OF '68 Reunion but I'd immersed myself in '68 nostalgia. ECRH was a take off on our Sr. '68 motto "RAISE HELL, GO NAKED". Well,"Eat Cornbread, Raise Hell" caught on and got "reprinted" all over the bar & then it caught on with the "bohemian crowd" in T-town. When you google "EAT CORNBREAD RAISE HELL" you get over 280 results & now they even got a EAT CORNBREAD RAISE HELL DOT COM !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathycha/sets/72157594535571131/

2011-03-29T02:21:00.001-07:00

#10. You can trade an old 44 for a new 22.

#9. You can keep one gun at home and have another for when you're on the road.

#8. If you admire a friend's gun and tell him so, he will probably let you try it out a few times.

#7. Your primary gun doesn't mind if you keep another gun for a backup.

#6. Your gun will stay with you even if you run out of ammo.

#5. A gun doesn't take up a lot of closet space.

#4. Guns function normally every day of the month.

#3. A gun doesn't ask , "Do these new grips make me look fat?"

#2. A gun doesn't mind if you go to sleep after you use it.

And the number one reason a gun is favored over a woman....

#1. YOU CAN BUY A SILENCER FOR A GUN

2011-03-29T01:17:00.001-07:00

Sent this Facebook message to Kerry Farrell this morning:

HOW 'BOUT THE STRANGERS on Sattidee? They've been together since like '62 or '63. Danny Kennedy is STILL one the best singers that ever came out of Dothan. They can gig with the Bopcats on Friday & The Bopcats can gig with them on Saturday along with SPECIAL GUESTS WILBUR WALTON, JR. http://thestrangersrock.com/

2011-03-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

Dr. Rose told a group of us male students the story about Capp after he announced he was going to resign as President of the University. He told us his main reason for resigning was Gov. Wallace but he told us some stories about how bad his job could be. Dr. Rose despised Al Capp.
The incident @ Bama is mentioned in Al Capp's FBI files obtained under the Freedom Of Information Act:
"wherein Capp reportedly indecently exposed himself. Another similar charge against Capp was mentioned in a Jack Anderson column on 4-22-71, which alleged he made indecent advances towards four coeds at the University of Alabama approximately three years ago."
http://www.american-buddha.com/NAZIS.foiparequestalcapp.htm

2011-03-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm gettin' THAT OLD TIMERZZZZZ DISEASE 'cause it's been so long I just can't remember who these people are. OLD AGE AIN'T FO' SISSIES! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcwYEGdKto8

2011-03-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

Just lettin' you know you ain't got nuttin' on the "OLE PRO".
The gal who gave me this '67 WBAM antennae ball was so gorgeous she didn't even need to go to college. TELEVISION CALLED! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3vzkNUVa0

2011-03-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

Just talked to Nix about Hammond. Started talking about "the meaning of life" & stuff & I told Nix I wanted to live to be 81 so I could become a spokesperson for Match.com or some competing site. Nix told me this incredible story about getting drunk with Ronnie Van Zant & talking about Duane in somewhere like an airport bar in Indianapolis. Van Zant summed it all up,
"I wanna live to be 90 yrs. old & get knocked in the back of the head by a jealous husband!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0SSeACInqw

2011-03-16T01:14:00.000-07:00

Kerry,
Invited Buie to the gig http://www.wtvy.com/home/headlines/Tri-State_BBQ_Festival__117611638.html
& all he could say WUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ,
"YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET ME OUT TO SOME %#&*@ng ROCK SHOW?!!!!"

O.K. Traveling Salesmen like ourselves are here TO OVERCOME OBJECTIONS.
We're here to find THE YES behind the THE NO!!!!!!!!
Here's how we get Buie to show up.
We turn THE HOUSTON COUNTY FARM CENTER into A HISTORICAL MONUMENT TO TRI-STATE MUSIC!!!!

We get Gil Anthony on board. http://gilanthonyblues.com/
We get FULL ACCESS to THE PEANUT FESTIVAL ARCHIVES.
You get some of your media types with cameras & we'll get Buie & Wilbur & Jimmy Dean ,maybe Robert Dean PLUS OTHERZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
to give us the insider's tour of The Farm Center Gig from back in the day.

GREAT TV!

FLASHBACKS FROM THE FARM CENTER!

best,
r

2011-03-12T18:48:00.001-08:00

Dooley
http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/2009/summer/dooley.html

2011-03-02T20:35:00.000-08:00

Don't have to worry about this preacher spewing any namby pamby wishy washy half ass "anything goes" stuff to his congregation. Hope we don't hurt his feelings Sunday afternoon when we GIT DRUNK IN PUBLIC IN OLD TUSKEELOOSEE! Sorry, N'port. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt1g-7uCOIk

2011-02-27T18:34:00.000-08:00

Lee acquired Tarrant singer/pianist Alleen Goodwin's artist's scrapbook from '48 to '61. It is one of the clearest windows you have ever seen into pre-rock'n'roll B'ham. I'm goin' crazy tryin' to find a BROTHER DAVE GARDNER ad in all this stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1kZ7SQ2MV4

2011-02-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

Whatever happened to Pat Seymour? She taught me Freshman English in Morgan and then I got her for Composition in Woods. GREAT TEACHER! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKlJzvjg-uM

2011-02-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

THE SNAKE in a June '78 TUSCALOOSA NEWS photo. Kenny had a 28-3-2 record from '65-'67.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpDMug1YMA

2011-02-26T21:18:00.000-08:00

I know she'll never believe it but I've learned more from this woman than ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE CARTEL! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQa7SvVCdZk

2011-02-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

Reggie Young, Troup County Sheriff Turner, Bobby Emmons, Ima Whithers ~ Chips Moman's secretary at American Studios in Memphis, Tenn., and now executive assistant to the president of BMI, Reggie Young's wife- Jenny Hollowell, Lee Morris

So kewl to see my friend, Reggie Young, pickin' on ALABAMA's new video.
http://www.cmt.com/videos/alabama/607164/are-you-sure-hank-done-it-this-way.jhtml?artist=504205

2011-02-26T04:18:00.000-08:00

The Boss loves this circa 1943 image. Not many books printed on good paper that year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR3K5uB-wMA

2011-02-25T01:37:00.000-08:00

Leigh,

Called Finebaum this afternoon & asked him if he ever thinks that Harvey Updyke will produce his alleged newspaper clipping about Auburn students rolling Toomer's Corner when Coach Bryant passed away. Paul said he didn't think Harvey would ever produce this phantom clipping. In Courtney's column he wrote,"Anyone fool enough to have applauded aloud Paul Bryant's demise in 1983 would have been killed outright. Maybe even with herbicide."

best,
r http://daybeardied.com

2011-02-23T03:08:00.000-08:00

In '51, ETTYWAUW COUNTY were just like ever other "progressive county" in Alabama: SEPARATE BUT EQUAL!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHsDa9_HSlA

2011-02-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

This song by THE TUBES reminds me of the hoochie coochie show @ the '67 Peanut Festival. I had two dates, best friends, who were juniors. They were so excited to be going to a girlie show. I'll never forget how hard those girls laughed at those acts. Both of those gals are still around but IMHO, life has passed them by.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ_k_VG6Syc

2011-02-12T02:52:00.000-08:00

Buddy,

Hope you arrived safely in Bangkok.

Pretty sure my buddy from Dothan, Hurley Alvin Smith, was killed instantly in Hue on 2/2/68. http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/external/1stmardiv/history/history.jsp

Morgan Weed, who was my Boy Scout counselor for Nature Merit Badge, was hit May 10, 1970 & died May 11, in "PROVINCE NOT REPORTED" CAMBODIA, a.k.a. Tnoat [ed. note: not on the Internet] http://www.vietnam6bn31inf.com/KIA/WeedMorganWilliam.htm

My third victim of Vietnam was Gary Tomlinson who worked @ the Information Desk @ the Union Building @ Bama before I gotta job there. He & I had known each other since high school because he was our Area Chief in ORDER OF THE ARROW, a Boy Scout organization. Gary died while missing after a helicopter crash on July 3, 1971.

Have a safe trip & please drink a toast or have a toke for my buddies.

best,
rr

Many thanks to Ray Hutto for shooting us this link to the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm
Three of my closest childhood friends are on that Wall.

Hurley Alvin Smith's Daddy was my Dad's "main man" @ Jack Wise Tire Co. From 1959 until Alvin graduated from high school in '66, I spent almost every weekend doing something with Hurley Alvin. We kept chickens, pigeons, crows, quail and pheasants. We had horses and ponies. We had a trap line set up around the Turkey Pond located south of Porter's Fairy Land. We usually fished Enon Pond or the VFW. I learned a lot about the woods and water from Hurley Alvin.

Hurley Alvin Smith

Lance Corporal
C CO, 1ST ENG BN, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Dothan, Alabama
November 27, 1946 to February 02, 1968
HURLEY A SMITH is on the Wall at Panel 36E Line 086
See the
>>>>>>>full profile for Hurley SmithSee the full profile for Hurley Smith

Last update 02/20/2010

The next cat I looked up on The Wall was Morgan Weed.
Click on the following link if you want to read about a true hero. http://www.vietnam6bn31inf.com/KIA/WeedMorganWilliam.htm
Morgan was from Andalusia & he was Assistant Activities Director at the Boy Scout Reservation near New Brockton. He taught me Nature, Archery & Marksmanship Merit Badge in '62 & '63. In '67, I would become Assistant Activities Director and teach Nature Merit Badge. This experience lead directly to my teaching career in Bilology.Over the years after Morgan moved to Decatur, I ran into him at Order of the Arrow functions and saw him a couple of times during my freshman year at Alabama. I had no idea the Army had pulled Morgan out of Law School at Bama and that he was in Vietnam until a fellow Scout walked into Dr. Strong's Political Science class and told me Morgan had been killed in Cambodia. This was May of 1970 and the University of Alabama was under martial law because of the Kent State protests.

Morgan William Weed

First Lieutenant
RECON PLT, D CO, 6TH BN, 31ST INFANTRY, 9TH INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Decatur, Alabama
January 02, 1945 to May 11, 1970
MORGAN W WEED is on the Wall at Panel 10W Line 020
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>>>>full profile for Morgan WeedSee the full profile for Morgan Weed

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Last update 02/21/2010

The last of my friends on the Wall is Gary Tomlinson http://www.virtualwall.org/dt/TomlinsonGP01a.htm
Who was the very first person I saw on the first day I ever walked into the Student Union Building @ The University of Alabama in September of 1968? GARY TOMLINSON! What a sight for sore eyes!
Gary was in charge of the information desk @ The Union Building and the next year I got hired on Work-Study as the maintenance man for the Union. I had met Gary during high school because he was Area Chief for our division of The Order of The Arrow. Gary had been Chief of Cherokee 50 and because I was Secretary of Cowikee Lodge, I was involved in some of the politics that got Gary elected Area Chief. I really wish I had gotten to know Gary better.

Thanks Ray. This was sad but I have some precious memories of these three cats. I looked up to each one of them like a big brother.

Gary Preston Tomlinson

First Lieutenant
A BTRY, 4TH BN, 77TH ARTILLERY, 101ST ABN DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Birmingham, Alabama
September 03, 1947 to July 03, 1971
GARY P TOMLINSON is on the Wall at Panel 03W Line 099
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>>>>full profile for Gary TomlinsonSee the full profile for Gary Tomlinson

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Last update 02/21/2010

2011-02-12T02:15:00.000-08:00

Mittuh Richard, I showl 'preciate you taking this picture even though it looks like I pissed in my pants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GP3GiFLV30M&vq=medium

2011-02-10T17:14:00.001-08:00

One of the coolest things about the 2011 1ST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL MUSIC CELEBRATION @ COWBOYS (formally THE FLAMINGO) in Dothan Sunday afternoon will be running into cats from THE OLD REC CENTER CROWD & having to reintroduce yourself because no one recognizes one other because we haven't seen each other in almost 50 years. Wilbur should be there with HIS WANDERING EYE! SEE YA SUNDAY @ THE DIRTY BIRD!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=125385900859788

2011-02-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

Greenwood Cemetery became a winter wonderland this morning & the McLester monument captured my attention. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln7m_1Om8Js

2011-02-10T01:42:00.000-08:00

Tuscaloosa went WET in '56. DONNA WAS BORN! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e1_K-JDfOk&feature=related

2011-02-09T22:50:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite things together in the same place: Crepe myrtle bark in the dead of winter & a misspelled convenience store clerk sign. Crepe myrtle is without a doubt my favorite plant, tree or flower, blooming six months of the year in a variety of colors and then standing curved, slick & bare for another six like some piece of modern art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1tstiCxybQ

2011-02-09T22:40:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a drive down 10th Street for an old Tuscaloosa Road Dog. From the stoplight @ Dr. Edward Hillard Dr., down through Daly Bottom, slowing down by Tutwiler and west to Queen City, 10th stands alone as one of T-town's CHEAPEST THRILLS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3mAX5xdxo&feature=related

2011-02-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

Please help us spread the word about the 2011 1ST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL MUSIC CELEBRATION @ COWBOYS (formally THE FLAMINGO) in Dothan Sunday afternoon. Doors open @ Noon, music starts @ 2 & should run until 11. Come out to a terrific venue that has over 40 yrs. of memories for the Wiregrass crowd & help us to commemorate the lives of so many departed Tri-State musicians.WE GONNA CUT UP THE JUICE & TURN THE DAMN THANG LOOSE! http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=125385900859788

2011-02-09T02:38:00.000-08:00

I pulled the image of Bteghrine off of their Wikipedia site. The picture was taken from the huge circular rock (Sheer Al-mabroum) above St. George Church.

2011-02-09T01:26:00.000-08:00

We gonna have a genuine FACEBOOK DRIVEN EVENT Sunday with the 2011 FIRST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGION CELEBRATION OF MUSIC @ COWBOYS IN DOTHAN.

Well, if ya pay any attention to the news, there's another FACEBOOK DRIVEN EVENT going on over in the Middle East. If you from South Alabama, VIRTUALLY EVERY PERSON you have ever met of Lebanese (a.k.a. "Syrian") descent comes from people who came here from a little town called Bteghrine (pronounced "Bet Green"). If you like GITTIN SKEERED, click on the BTEGHRINE webpage, go over to the left column labeled BTEGHRINE GUIDE, scroll down to NEWSPAPERS & click on all 5 of their newspapers' websites. http://www.bteghrine.com/

BTEGHRINE

2011-02-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones Sunday afternoon @ THE DIRTY BIRD (A.K.A. The Flamingo, Cowboys) @ the 2011 1ST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGION CELEBRATION OF MUSIC http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=125385900859788
A lot of former members of Flamingo house bands will be performing & we'll ROCK OUT (maybe some of the former strippers will show up. They don't need to perform but if some of their gorgeous daughters wanted to take the stage, I don't think anyone would have an objection) but everyone will also shed some tears as we memorialize almost 60 deceased Wiregrass musicians from our generation. SEE Y'ALL SUNDAY AFTERNOON DOWN ON U.S. 231 SOUTH IN DOTHAN!

2011-02-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

M~
Always great to hear from you!
Yeah, I'm doing fine & so is CHRISTOPHER!

This gal I went out with for MARDI GRAS on Dauphin Island this weekend is best friends with Linda Zoghby & I asked her to mention Jetta & Bteghrine to her & Linda amened all the connections.

Well, when I started talking to this gal in front of Archie & Paula @ the beach house about the Lebanese in Alabama, (you know Ray Saliba from Memphis has Archie's restaurant in the Demopolis Hotel), Paula, Archie's wife, who you never met, mentioned that the way her parents paid their mortgage on Caplewood here in Tuscaloosa was taking in students & that two OF THE BEST were Soteros brothers from Dothan.
Well they grew up directly across the street from my Grandmother's house on 203 Jeff Street where I basically lived from '59 until '68. Had a brain concussion in their backyard in '59. Maybe dat my promblim.

Anywayzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Wanted you to know it's still a small world & you're always welcome to call 205-657-7724

best,
rr
The Salibas of Bteghrine, Lebanon http://www.bteghrine.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bteghrine
http://bteghrine.blogspot.com/

The biggest business in town: SALIBA NAILS & SCREWS
http://www.bteghrine.com/SNS.htm

image courtesy of http://www.southern-style.com/Southeast%20Alabama%20Heritage%20Association/Saliba.htm.
Michael Thomas Saliba, Satute Hareek Saliba, Jameely Saliba, Jimmie Saliba, Josephine Saliba, Jeanette Saliba (1934)

From the Dothan City Cemetery:

SALIBA Abe Thomas 12 Jul 1886 07-Aug-1951 s/o SALIBA Mrs. Thomas

SALIBA Charlie 11-Oct-1904 05-Jan-1907 s/o SALIBA E. T. & W. 1 small & 2 large unm graves also

SALIBA D. A. 1867 1938 h/o SALIBA Mrs. D. A. May be s/o Mrs. Thomas Aliba - in same lot (Born in Betgreen Syria)

SALIBA D. A., Mrs. 1871 1950 w/o SALIBA D. A. Born in Betgreen, Syria

SALIBA George 12 Mar 1875 13-Feb-1949

SALIBA T. S. 1865 1938 ?s/o SALIBA Mrs. Thomas In same lot, born in Betgreen, Syria

SALIBA Thomas, Mrs. 1850 1945 w/o SALIBA Thomas On stone is marked "Our Mother" "Mose" "Abe" "Mike"

http://www.tutorsaliba.com/

http://www.answers.com/topic/george-hawi

Johnny Soteres in 1970
image courtesy of http://www.dothanhigh1970.com/3/guestbook.htm

Dr. Pete Soteres' son's blog: http://mortalethics.blogspot.com/2007_04_15_archive.html

Dr. Peter Soteres
Peter Spiros Soteres, M.D., of Signal Mountain, passed on to Heaven on Friday, April 13, 2007.
He was born in Dothan, Ala., on July 22, 1939, and was the son of the late Fahimy Sapp and Spiros Peter Soteres.
After attending high school in Dothan, Dr.
Soteres attended the University of Alabama, where he was initiated into Kappa Sigma Fraternity as well as ODK and Phi Eta Sigma. He graduated from the University of Alabama College of Medicine and trained at Southwestern Medical School, Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He served in the USAF as a medical officer at Offutt AFB in Nebraska.
He completed his training in pulmonary medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical College and at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Soteres became the first board certified pulmonologist in Chattanooga when he came here to practice in 1972. He was a member of many professional organizations and was a past president of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society. He was Volunteer of the Year for the Tennessee Lung Association and an active member of Tennessee Medical Association. When his sons were young, he was active in Dixie Youth League Baseball as a coach and as an officer. He was a member of First-Centenary United Methodist Church and the Morgan Sunday School Class.
Following a brief retirement from his medical practice, Dr. Soteres joined Hospice of Chattanooga, where he was a constant support and strong influence for patients, their families and for the staff. Dr. Soteres was a respected and beloved doctor in Chattanooga for more than 30 years. In that time he treated thousands of patients and was known for his medical expertise, his warm bedside manner and his attentiveness to those under his care. Beyond his professional excellence, he treated everyone around him — patients, their families, nurses, doctors and other hospital staff — with respect and compassion, and in doing so touched countless lives and made this world a better place for us all.
He is survived by loving wife, Nancy, of Signal Mountain; three sons, Peter Kipling (Desiree Earl) Soteres, of Signal Mountain, Dr. Daniel Fletcher (Dr. Allison Sabel) Soteres, of Castle Rock, Colo., and W. Ryan (Jeanine Pistocco) Soteres, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two grandchildren, Zoe Ariadne Soteres and Daniel Fletcher Soteres II; two brothers, Dr. James S. (Nancy Crawford) Soteres, of Atlanta, and Dr. John K. (Anita Zinna) Soteres, of St. Louis, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
A celebration of life service will be held at 5:30 p.m. today, April 16, 2007, at First-Centenary United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charles Neal, Dr. David Harr and the Rev. Frank Jump officiating.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Active pallbearers will be Sid Reynolds, Norman S. Faris, Dan Predmore, Fred Adcock, Charlie Fox, Tom Harris, William D. Andress, Tommy Stevens and Roger Stebbing.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Morgan Class members, Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society and Hospice of Chattanooga.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 3335 Ringgold Road, East Ridge, TN 37412; American Heart Association, 519 E. Fourth St., Chattanooga, TN 37403; American Cancer Society, 850 Fort Wood St., Chattanooga, TN 37403; or to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4355 Highway 58, Suite 101, 58 Commons Building, Chattanooga, TN, 37416.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.mem.com.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.

2011-01-18T18:52:00.001-08:00

THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KEWL!
Oxford American's website features ME on their BEST OF BAMA'S RECORDED HISTORY
page. I'm the last one & they heated up TANTON's name in my interview so you can click on it & go to his SOUND CLICK page & listen to 40 of his songs FOR FREE! http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2011/jan/12/record/

2004-06-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.heybabydays.com/photos_01.htm