We went to the Renaissance Center in Dickson TN, It is a great place to visit!

We went to the Renaissance Center in Dickson TN. It is described as a "...an arts, technology education and performing arts center..." It is a wonderful place to stop and tour.

One of the most impressive items at the center is the Planetarium Laser Light and sound show. The Planetarium is located in a sphere shaped portion of the building. The program in the Sphere is really good. The light show and the sound system are the best anywhere.

There is a bookstore, a Museum store, a restaruant, art gallery, TV studio, dinner Theater, and Technology/educational rooms.

Now Dickson is 40-50 miles west of Nashville and is a fairly rural area that I guess is becoming more of a bedroom community of Nashville.

Easter Sunday

One of my beefs is that nowdays the mass schedule is changed all around, even on holydays that fall on sunday. We had planned to go to the 4:00 saturday mass in Humboldt, TN (possibly with my parents), But they did not have the regular schedule. Small town life is much different than the big city. There is usually just one (maybetwo) catholic churches with just a few masses (possibly one weekend mass). In the big city, there are numerous churches within a short-moderate drive with multiple masses.

So we ended up goimg to Jackson's Sunday morning 8:00am mass. It was very crowded (as it is every year). Annette and I got there 30 minutes early to get a good parking space and a good seat. You know, the "Deaton" seats in the back of the church.

Fr Anthony Onyekwelu officiated the mass and I must say he did a great job. He used gregorian like singing for the responsorial parts of the mass. I have to say that this was one of the better mass services I had attended in years. It was nice to hear a chanting-singing responses.

The church was so full (wall to wall and out to the Narthex). It is easy to see that Jackson has one of the largest parishes in the diocese of Memphis. I can only imagine how full the 10:30 mass would be. I did go to 10:30 in 2003, and it was then twice as crowded a mass. Then (in 2003) I helped Joe Toy Sr. pull out chairs from the meeting room to line the back of the church.

Fr Anthony made me feel glad I was there in church and that I needed to be there to believe. For that I am thankful to him. Fr Anthony comes from an African country that has a dominant islamic faith. He lives his faith as one who had not only to believe, but also as one who had to fight and defend his christian-cathlic beliefs. We in Jackson TN are better people of God by having Fr Anthony with us!

Saturday April 15th Tax Ides of April......

Well, I too the time to finish and mail off our taxes. I may be the last person on earth to still do their personal taxes. I consider it a rite of being a universally skilled person to do one's taxes.

I used H & R Block's TaxCut software instead of TurboTax (or CompleteTax or TaxACT). There is a lot of variation of delivery of software, and I chose TaxCut based on it was the cheaper of the preparation softwares I had reviewed. I didn't like TurboTax's setup last year because it buried some of the deduction areas and made them hard to find in their review process. I had to go to the form and call the item up.

I was pleased with H&R Block's TaxCut package.

I checked all the numbers, copied and addressed the envelope to send the taxes. I spun all the numbers around to be sure they worked, put the forms in the envelope and took the envelope to Oakfield TN post office. I made sure the postal worker weighed, stamped, and hand cancelled the return. Oakfield is actually the closest post office to my house. It is just 1.5 miles due north of my house.

I put the forms in the mail. WOW, another taxing year over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Friday

Having the day off of work meant that I could do some of the things I have been putting off, such as getting the oil changed in both cars. Both our Hoopty and our 2005 Civic needed oil changes.

Hoopty went to Wal-Mart for the oil change at 8:00am. Now this is a 1989 Buick SkyHawk Stationwagon with a crappy GM wearing off paint job. This is the car that most of you out there would not let me park near your house. BUT it runs GREAT, its paid for, easy to repair, and its economical! I love driving this car, and I doubt anyone would EVER want to steal it. I also bought a new wiper blade to replace the old one.

Then I did little errands, shop, go to the post office, stop for a Green Mountain Coffee at Old Medina Market, buy dog food (for the 2 indoor and 3 outdoor dogs), and get some items from a list given to me by Annette.

Next I take the 2005 Civic to the Honda Dealer for the scheduled service. You know the story, it a new car and has a warranty. To make the warranty work one has to service it at the dealer.

After the long wait and the service completed, I stopped by St marys for a prayer break. The prayer break allows me the time to gather my thoughts on one of the more somber days, Good Friday. There was a spanish rosary abd orayer service. I remained and prayed during the service. The altar was pretty well stripped bare of the ornate frillings of a catholic church. Surprisingly it appeared that there was well over 100 people attending the mid-day Spanish service.

I then stopped to visit my secretary from Jackson State. On her days off of Jackson State, she works at St Mary's Manor as a evening/weekend relief manager.

After this, remebering that it was friday, a fish day, and Brooksie's Barn has a 4.99 4 piece catfish takeout...I stopped by Brooksie's to pick up two dinners and take them home.

All in all, a good day!

Shades if youth, I've got poison Ivy

Its been almost 40 years since I had my last bad case of Poison Ivy. Well gang, I've got it now as a 50 something year old.

I've had it from smoke (burning the vines). I've has Poison Sumac and Oak, but in the Boy Scouts...I had the worst case of poison ivy...ever!!!

I had a shot today and I am taking something to fight it, but Its sadly going to be a long haul.

I guess its no suit on easter, because I will be wearing loose clothes and calamine lotion.