Mr. Garner Goes To Washington

When ya think about how you came to know your best friend, often you don't recall. But you're glad he or she is. Preston Everett has held that title for me since 7 th grade. We've been through a heck of lot together. He's helped me in so many ways...helped make me the man I am today. Saturday (1/28) he got hitched! That's Preston on the right, along with our dear friend Stephanie Tracy, and little ole me. This was truly one of the best weddings I've had a role in. My best friend got married. Another good friend of ours married him. Several ole buddies had a chance to get together, reminisce , and even shoot off a fireworks show for the wedding party, family, and friends! It was the first time we all had been together in the same spot for probably 10 years. Too much time to not be around good friends. As always, I love going back to Mississippi. This trip was mostly to be there for Preston and help get things ready and to "send him off," but I did ge...

Who would'a thunk it? My kitchen now has an automatic trash can. No longer must one open a lid or step on the pedal. Now, a mere motion near the lip of the can raises the eager lid. Seconds later the lid closes to conceal its bounty. I'm sure an infrared trash can isn't something new...but it's something one doesn't ponder. Then, to have your wife determine that this unit is the size needed for the kitchen AND is cheaper than manual receptacles , plus being stainless steel?! End of story. To add to the comedy, my darling daughter - smart as a tack - can easily hear the subtle noise that lid motor makes while raising and lowering. She can hear this noise across the room - assuming she's not involved in other activities - and share rather matter-of-fact with me, "that's the trash can."

For those who know me well, you're aware of my inhuman (or inhumane) interest in spicy foods and sauces. Kim has always claimed my stomach is cast iron as I can eat spicy fun and rarely have indigestion , heartburn, or need medical attention. The South is known for having hot & spicy dishes. After all , an area know for good food, folks who like to eat, and rednecks daring each other to invent something...well, you get the picture. However, Maryland seems to be the origin of the hottest sauce I've ever met. Pictured at the left, Dave's Insanity is evil in a bottle. Literally, a drop of this stuff will set your mouth a blaze. Unlike some hot stuff that your mouth adjusts to and you continue to consume, Dave's Insanity begins to eat away your sinuses and mouth's lining. I continue to come back to it...like some sadist seeking proof that I can handle more...when visiting California Tortilla - another nice find in the DC Metro. Even scarier, there's a Total In...

Georgia loves her vegetables...errr, should I say Veggies. She's been able to sing the VeggieTales theme song for quite some time now. "Wanna watch Bob," is her simple request. Although she knows Larry, Junior, and many of the other characters...Bob the tomato is the namesake for her of this creative computer-animated series fused with fun and a Biblical-lesson. What once was a skit during a "Silly Songs With Larry" several episodes ago, " The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything " is now a movie. The family including Papa & Grammie went to see it Saturday morn. Often, there aren't many good movies available to actually take a kid to a theatre. This one is perfect, fun, teaches about how a kid can be a hero, and is about pirates - ye can't beat that, me hearties! Arrrrrggggghhhh!

How often have men voiced either silently or aloud that logic? Quite often, I'd imagine. Because at the time, it DID seem like a good idea. Go back as far as you want, men. We've stared challenges down and either plowed through them or been tilled like the dirt. Take for example, the picture of the Model A. Abandoned and stuck in the mud of an Iowa road. Perhaps the owner was journeying to a caucus but he was on a mission and thought his skinny-wheeled iron horse could navigate that mud. Instead, the mud owned him. Or take this poor guy. Driving a limo, minding his own business and WHAM! Can't even trek down a hill without wedging the stretch on the road! In my case, a mere walking the Beagle led to a fascinating ordeal. In human years, Maddy's in her 80's, so the ole gal needs that last walk before going to bed. She looks forward to it...anticipates it. However, I tend to take a cat nap most evenings we're home. Sometimes Maddy waits for me, sometim...