I took dad to Memphis Gastroenterology Group for an upper and a lower GI

Dad needed someone to drive him to and from the Memphis Gastroenterology Group for tests. Now before someone gets worried, the tests were fine. A lower GI is often a routine test to check on things as we get older.

The offices of Memphis Gastroenterology Group are located on Wolf River Blvd, just east of Germantown Road. We had to leave Milan TN at 6:00 and arrived at the offices at 7:45. We were back in Jackson TN at 12:30.

It was a task of sitting and waiting for a couple of hours and having a meeting with the doctor. Dad's doctor was Dr. Myron Lewis. He was a great doctor, and he was very thorough and professional.

The only negative of the day was driving in the hard rainstorm frm Milan TN to Memphis TN.

Big Decision Sacred Heart Fish Fry or St Mary's Fish Fry

Well there is another big decision for friday. As many of you know, my dad moved to Milan TN. The parish there rotates Friday Fish Fry meals with the Parish in Humboldt, Sacred Heart.

My wife and I are members of St Mary's in Jackson TN which has a huge Friday Fish Fry in the school's cafeteria. It is a big local event in Jackson TN.

Since dad is trying to establish himself in the area, he really wants to go to the Sacred Heart Fish Fry. I am leaning toward going to the one at Sacred Heart. That way Annette and I can eat with the parents.

Keep in mind there is a wrold of difference between parishes. St. Mary's has over 900 families and Sacred Heart probably has 100 families.

Go to Nashville Friday the 17th, the Irish are loved there!!!

I read in the Tennessean, that newly installed Bishop Choby waived the lenten requirement by offerin a special dispensation from fish on Friday for March 17th!!!!!

Bishop Choby: "For those of you who wish, you are dispensed from this requirement to abstain from meat in consideration of the feast," Choby wrote in yesterday's "Tennessee Register," the newsletter of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville.

"I would suggest another way to manifest your love for the Lord and your sorrow for personal sins; perhaps by attending Mass or praying the Stations of the Cross with your parish community," he wrote.

He, Bishop Choby, is Irish and he was quoated as saying that it is important for people to celebrate. He encouraged all to eat their share of Corned Beef and Cabbage on the 17th.

Bishop Choby reportedly said he plans to take advantage of his own dispensation.

Lets raise our glass to a man who knows the importance of March 17th. Lets all meet at Jimmy Kelly's in Nashville Friday!!!!! Jimmy Kelly always has Corned Beef and Cabbage on march 17th.

The Irish know what March 17 is, it is the GREAT Irish holiday!

Flying in and out of Jackson TN is different

Small town airports resemble a bus station more than an airport. The ticket counter is next to the screening area and the gate. The door to the terminal is 20 steps to the ticket counter. We park just a few steps further in a free parking lot next to the terminal.

They are working and adding on to the Jackson airport. So to get on the plane after being screened, we had to walk out the front door and we were escorted around the building to the plane. We were instructed that we could not speak to anyone or touch anything while walking through the lobby.

The bad thing of traveling from small town airports is that to go anywhere one has to have multiple connectiosn and sit in an airport. We flew from Jackson (unbelievably small airport) to St Louis (a dreary airport), to Orlando (with a mall like airport), and ending in Miami. The total trip took 12 hours.

The return trip consisted of Miami (with the major terrorist screeing operation) to Dallas-Fort Worth (a huge and big airport), to St Louis (a dreary airport with departure screens that need replacing), and finally to Jackson TN. The return trip took about 9 hours.

The bad part of the trip to Miami

For some reason, I am always being wanded and asked to remove my shoes at airports. I guess I look like someone who of Arabic backsground. Nothing is further from the truth. I have a lot of Irish (great grandfather was Irish), a lot of French (my grandmother was a french immigrant), and a heintz 57 mix of everything else. I guess it could be the large goatee beard growth on my chin that makes me look sinister.

Anyway Miami was no exception. Annette (my wife) and I were standing in line to go through the metal detectors. We were pulled out of line. Annette was placed back in line. They took all items (coat watch medallion, wallet, shoes, coins and keys)and ran them though the machine. I then had to go into an enclosed booth. Once in the booth, a strong blast of air was blown thoughout the booth. The machine made noise like it was doing something. I stood there for a few minutes and then the plexiglass soors open. I then had to go through a more advanced metal detector. While this was happening, my things having gone through the screening machine (watch, Blessed Mother Theresa metal and chain, keys, coins, and Wallet) were all carefully inspected by hand.

After leaving the metal detector, I had to sit in a red chair next to a table watching the authorities go through finishing inspecting my stuff. I then had to collegt my stuff and put on my shoes. Then they put a sticker on my airline ticket with the statement "TSA MIA CLEARED". To be honest while sitting in the red seat, I was terrified that I was going to get in trouble or already up to my neck in trouble.

I later found out that Annete was placed in the front of the line ahead of everybody else and the security person said that she had to be placed in line. SO there were some agitated people that had been in line for 45 minutes that Annette stepped in front of. They were bringing people and their big bags to have their bags examined while I was going through all of my checks. They also had to sit in red seats.

It was truly a very stressful adventure.

Going to Miami was nice, but seeing a friend was the best

I learned a lot at the NA-ADA-C meeting. It was simply lectures by OCR, EEOC< and Department of Education lawyers discussing legal issues in colleges.

I also for the most part (more later) enjoyed the adventure of traveling to, being in, and traveling from Miami. BUT the best part of the trip was seeing an old friend.

Joe and I went from K-4 to 12th grade together. We basically grew up as friends and have been friends for (since age 4) now 48 years. There were 5 of us that started in kindergarten and finished 12 grades. But only I and Joe went straight through without leaving, coming/going or changing schools. To put this more clearly, we went 2 years to kindergarten, 8 years at St Paul School, and 4 years at Bishop Byrne High School. Other close friends came and went Paul W., David B., Sherrie W., Connie W., Sydney W. to name a few. David B is an interesting story. I saw David in 2001 at Joe's father's house for the first time since 8th grade. He went from 8th grade to a Jesuit Military Boarding School, and we thought we had it tough with the Dominican Nuns in High school!!!!!!! Poor David had to deal with Jesuit strictness, military discipline, and being away from home.

Anyway, Joe and I have been able to keep in touch over those years since high school. We were talking and remembering while in Miami. He said he was amazed (now even more) that his father was able to send 6 kids though catholic schools. I admit that I too am amazed that my dad was able to be a single parent and send one kid though school, while working on the Railroad as a switchman. I can remember my dad working nights and having layoff times from work without pay.

Joe and I have both commented on the quality of our education and how it provided the foundation of our later college education.

South Beach area of Miami Beach is a fun loving place where the young and hip and fun seekers go. I personally was amazed at Joe skill in Spanish. He majored in English and Spanish in college and there Spanish seed a requisite to exist and function. My degree was in History and Political Science. Joe later worked on a Master’s degree in Spanish and I worked on a Master’s in counseling to be a therapist. Joe continued his work at UPS after finishing college, and on a whim submitted a resume for management. With his foreign language skills and skill as a driver and training/supervising drivers…he was then on a fast track to UPS team to plan and develop services to Puerto Rico, Mexico, and then every other Central and South American country. That is what led him to be an executive for UPS operations for the West Indies, Central, and South America.

One thing, visiting Joe made me reacquire was a return to my favorite drink (well maybe second to Jack-Black and coke), Rum and coke. As a 20 something guy 30 years ago, I thrived on rum and coke. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Rum. Rum/Coke is Joe’s signature drink.

Meeting in Miami

I had a training meeting in Miami last week. We flew out of Jackson TN (yes there is an airport to St Louis (what a dark dreary) airport to orlando (where my wife used wireless to e-mail), and finally to Miami.

The meeting was 8-4:30 straight with luncheon meetings not to break the chain of all-day four wall meetings. In the evening I got to hook up with my bestest friend growing up, Joe. Joe and I have been best friends since age 4. We went from Kindergarden to 12th grade though school together. Aculayy there were three others that did the same, but Joe and I were best friends from the first day of 4 year old kindergarden. Let me put this another way, we have been friends for 48 years! We talked about Grade school, high school how we have made it to the point of the mid 50's in age.

He lives on South Beach in a high rise apartment. This area of Miami Beach is where the beautiful people play. He showed us the South bheach playland and took us (my wife and I) to dinner.

It was nice to see Joe, it had been 5 years since I had seen him prior to this visit. Well, I learned a lot at the meeting. I was fortunate to mix business and pleasure.

I had a tough choice

It was either the St Mary's Lenten Fish Fry or the St Matthew Lenten Fish Fry. I went to the St Matthew's one so I could take my parents.

It was your classic fish fry Catfish, White Beans, Slaw, Hush Puppies, & Fries...... The food was GREAT!! My parents loved it!! and I loved spending time with them.

I will go to the St Mary's Fish Fry next weekend. The parens have to come to Jackson this time!!!!! The local daily paper promotes The St Marys Fish Fry heavily.

Anybody remember those weekly all you can eat fish at Howard Johnson's in Memphis in the 60's?? There was the HoJo's on Poplar and the one on US 51 South in Whitehaven.
Those were the days of the meatless fridays year-round. The line would be out the door.

Lent and Starting a Diet

Annette and I have started a diet as a part of the Lenten sacrifice. The first day of the diet was Ash Wednesday.


Boy, the first day was a bear! I gave up southern super sweet ice tea!!!!! In doing so, I have also cut my caffeine. I think I am having more caffeine withdrawals than hunger


To keep this up, I'm going to need some big prayers. So if anybody reads this blog in blogworld, please say a prayer. Its going to be a long tough road.