Who can keep up???

Technology has effected all of us in one form or the other.  I think that most of it is for the good, but some will always say that the "old school" was always better.  Technology has made vast strides in the hunting and fishing world over the last 25 years.  Have you looked at your camouflage lately?  Yesterdays outdoor wear is today considered useless.  I hate to admit it, but I have a different hunting jacket for every different type of hunt including deer, dove, ducks and turkeys.  I have better boots, better accessories, better calls, better bags, better cases, better scents, better scopes, better stands, better ammo, and in some cases better weapons.  But as I stepped into the attic to retrieve my long lost bow and arrow case, I was reminded just how far behind technology had left me when it came to my archery supplies.

Bow hunting in South Georgia is really not my idea of fun.  It's just too dang hot.  The temperatures here can still be in the 90's in September.  But deer hunting is a passion and us deer hunters will look for every opportunity to get in a tree.  I purchased a PSE bow about 10 years ago.  It was a very good bow at the time and I had a guy rig it up with all of the latest "stuff".  I braved the heat and hunted with the bow for a couple of years.  I never felt very good at shooting a bow because I am so short armed and always had trouble being consistent with my draw placement.  In other words, I was only a decent shot.  I missed a deer one season and was so mad about it I put the bow in the case and have not seen it since.  During the years that my bow has sat idle, all of my hunting buddies have fallen in love with bow hunting and have been throwing themselves and their wallets into the sport.  It amazes me the amount of money that they have spent on their super sonic sticks and string.  But on the other hand I can appreciate them wanting the best that the sport has to offer.  I do not have the best that the sport has to offer right now.  In fact, I need a complete overhaul of my bow.  It needs new sights, new strings, new rests, new arrows, new broad-heads, etc, etc, etc.  I think I will just put it back in the case and wait for rifle season when I can go to the woods with the "best there is".  My Browning!

I am a Browning man.  My family has a long tradition of hunting with Browning firearms.  My Grand father and Father both hunted with a Browning A-5 shotgun.  They are in my opinion the best guns made.  Technology has not passed the Browning company by, but what is really amazing is that they have not really needed it all that much either.  John Browning invented almost every gun that is in use today before 1905.  Sure the guns are made different and they have all kinds of different names, but the basic concepts were figured out by John Browning by using his mind and hard working hands.  Most people do not realize that Winchester and Remington made their history by manufacturing guns designd by John Browning.  I figure that if I shoot Browning guns, I am just cutting out the middle man.

So my bow and string may not be up to todays standards, but you can sure bet that my guns are.  Whether I reach for my old A-5 or the new Browning Maxus I know that I will be ready!

I'm ready for fall!

It's hot and I'm tired of it!  It has been too long since there was a chill in the air for me.  I do enjoy what summer has to offer, but I am more of a cool weather person.   In an effort to try and cool off my impatient soul, I thought I would list the things that I look forward to come September.  Don't get me wrong I love the Braves and yard work in the summertime, but fall can not get here fast enough!  Here are the reason why....

Friday night football games

College football starting with game day at 10:00am

Farmers bringing in their crops

boiled p-nuts

working in the shop on a crisp cool day

dove hunting

Braves in the playoffs (wishful thinking)

a good fire with good friends

your favorite hunting jacket and hat

worn out boots

top out of the Jeep

bow season

food plots

deer stands

deer hunting shows

colored leaves

cool golf cart rides with the family

carving pumpkins

quail hunting

Thanksgiving

Kansas pheasant trip

Time in the outdoors with Daddy

Woody's flying into a small water hole

a good bird dog curled in front of the fire

Halloween candy

Fried back strap and wild turkey

burning leaves

time spent outside with the wife and kids

and all of my Browning's.

I feel a little cooler already.  It has been too long since turkey season and fall can not get here soon enough!  To me it is the most wonderful time of the year!

Productive Weekend!

I have never been accused of letting the grass grow under my feet.  This past weekend will serve as a good example.  The wife was feeling a little under the weather, so I knew I would need to stay around the house to help watch and entertain the kids.  I got up Saturday morning and decided that it would be an outside kind of day.  This would allow for a quite house for Mama and hopefully a fun day for the kids.  First activity for the kids was bike riding and my first job was edging the drive way and all of the flower beds.  We then took a trip to Papa and Cheri's on the golf cart to retrieve the gas powered trimmer.  They watched me as I trimmed most of the shrubbery in the yard.  Reid then went inside while Mia watched me mow the grass.  After I was done mowing our yard, I proceeded to mow my neighbor's yard.  She was out of town and her yard was looking a little ruff.  After that both kids were back outside and they rode the golf cart with me around the yard as I trimmed up some dogwood limbs to allow some more light to get to some shady spots in the yard.  With that completed, we took a small break to visit with Mr. Bill who stopped by.  I then got the pool out for the kids to play in and I mixed up some round up to spray the flower beds for weeds.  Shortly after completing that task it began to rain.  The kids went inside and I stayed out in the shop to watch mother nature do her thing, but I was not done yet.  While watching it rain I decided that it was time to trim back the cherry tree in the back yard.  Some of the limbs were getting on the roof of the house.  In between showers I got out my pole saw and went to whacking.  Task completed!  What a day!  Did I mention that I also washed three loads of clothes?  Time for the Braves!

Sunday came and my hard work ethics spilled over from Saturday.  After church I decided to wash my Jeep.  The I got the bright idea of giving it a wax job.  I have not waxed a vehicle since I was in college and now I remember why.  The Jeep looks great, but it hurts my arms to type this.  Since I was already soaked with sweat I decided to look for something else to accomplish.  I fired the trimmers back up and went after all of the azalea bushes.  Every shrub in my yard is now perfectly shaped.  I cleaned up the clippings and added them to the rather large pile in the alley that was a bare spot just yesterday.  I then cleaned out the wife's vehicle for her.  I was going to wash it but I finally gave out of gas.  The kids and I took a golf cart ride around the neighborhood and I reflected back on all that I got done.  I don't mind hard work and actually consider it therapy.  I had a great weekend!

The Shrine!

It started very slowly some many years ago. A man's house was once his castle, but somewhere down the line a very sneaky woman hung a monogrammed towel in the bathroom with specific instructions to never use said towel. It was for guest only! It was on that date that men slowly started turning into what we have become today. We are whipped! The woman has taken over the house and instead of a nice 10 point buck hanging over the mantle, there is now a family portrait of you and your bride and the kids all dressed alike sitting on a beach (not that there is anything wrong with that). The women have taken over every room in the house including your own bathroom. How many of you now take a bath with a little spongy thing and scented soap and dry off with cream colored towels that are to never be hung back up over the shower curtain? Makes you think doesn't it!

Thankfully man has historically proven that he is able to adapt to his environment. We may not be king of our own castle anymore but we have somehow managed to secure one room in the house or one garage in the back yard that is today known as "The Man Cave". Man Caves have become one of the best selling features in new home sales. The man has become willing to give up the rest of the house to the woman as long as he has a basement or finished room above the garage to call his own. Her-"Look honey this house has 16 walk in closets, can we buy it?" Him-"Is that basement finished out and wired for sound?"

Men just want peace and quite every now and then and a place to clear their heads. I don't think we are trying to shuck our husbandly or fatherly duties, it's just sometimes we need to be a man in our own space. Kind of like the need for a woman to go shopping even though she has no money. I had a friend who let his wife talk him into building on to their house. Included in the build was a Man Cave. I liked my friends instructions for his wife when she started talking about how much fun the new room would be for them. He said "Baby I love you, but the only way you will be welcomed into my room is if your are naked or bringing fried chicken." His words, not mine, but I think you get the point on how important the Man Cave has become!

In my experience I have found that there are two different types of Man Caves. The first cave is a high tech entertainment room with flat screen TV's, stereo, video games, plush couches, poker table, full bar etc. These Man Caves are usually found in a finished basement or room above the garage and most of the time require the user to enter the main house to gain access. They are decorated with golf pictures or photos of their favorite college teams. In this part of the country a University of Georgia theme seems to dominate these types of caves. The second type of cave is a shop or garage that is separate from the main living quarters. This cave usually serves a dual purpose as both working shop and entertaining venue. This cave will house tools of all kinds, hunting gear, grills, fryers, fishing equipment, as well as flat screen TV's and a mini fridge stocked with the neighbors favorite brew. It will be decorated with all of the "Man" stuff that your wife will not allow in the main house.

My Man Cave is of the second variety. I built a 24 x 24 shop that serves as my work shop as well as my hang out spot. It is decorated with a lot of Georgia Southern stuff as well as some other pictures and things from my high school sports days. I also have some old bank signs and movie posters. The boys have named my shop "The Shrine".  It seems to fit!  I have really enjoyed having my own place that I can get away from the everyday routine as I work on this project or that, but I also enjoy when the neighborhood boys stop by to watch the Braves or just hang out for a while. I do allow Dana and the kids to come into the shop, but Dana doesn't stay very long. She seems to understand my need for my space and lets me work on my projects without interference. Besides it's hot out there this time of year.

So men, get yourself a Man Cave if you do not already have one. If you have a Man Cave, invite me over and let's watch the Braves or some college football! Just think of the possibilities as you watch this video!

Hard to believe!

I have a very good friend of mine that I am deeply concerned about.  This fellow grew up in Fitzgerald, GA and was educated at the University of Georgia and further more at Ole Miss.  He enjoys college football, the Atlanta Braves and a good steak.  He is definitely one of the guys!  The reason that I am concerned about him is that just recently it was brought to the attention of the "Hump Day" crowd that our good friend has been deprived of some of life's simplest pleasures that every young man from South Georgia should have the opportunity to enjoy. 

What tragic events are these in which I am speaking??

My friend has never seen the movies Smokey and the Bandit, Lonesome Dove, The Outlaw Josey Whales, or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!

How can that be you might ask!  We are really not sure, but it has now become a Hump Day mission to educate this young man on the life lessons to be learned from these fine productions, not to mention all of the cool movie quotes that can be found from these classics.  In fact, last night we quoted enough Lonesome Dove lines that he may just feel like he has already seen it.

So for all of my blog readers I offer the following challenge:  Post in the comments section your favorite line from one or more of these movies like so-

"To hell with them guys!  Buzzards got to eat same as the worms!"- Josey Whales

"Tabes is in for a buck solid"- One Flew Over.....

"I might want to kick a pig once in a while."- Lonesome Dove

My friend really needs this education from each and every one of you!  I will offer him the following.  Below is a great video of Sheriff Buford T Justice from Smokey and the Bandit.  For those of you who know the movie you know that this video is not safe for sensitive ears (turn down the volume at work or if there are kids present).  To my friend, try to enjoy what you have been missing all of these years!! :)

Fitzgerald, Georgia- Where we are not scared to be bassackwards!

I'm not much of a liquor drinker.  Never have been.  But I understand those who like to have a cocktail at the end of the day or enjoy a drink before their meal at a nice restaurant.  I also understand the people who are against all kinds of alcohol and do not want it in their community.  It can come with its share of problems for people who can't have their drink in moderation.  But I also understand and know for a fact that if a man wants to have a drink, he will have a drink whether the community in which he lives likes it or not.  So you may be asking yourself right about now, "Where is he going with this?" 

The local paper here in Fitzgerald reported yesterday that we the citizens of Ben Hill County will have the opportunity to vote on a liquor by the drink referendum in November.  This will be the third or fourth time that we have tried to get this law passed.  It has been defeated every time.  You may say, "well a lot of small communities in the heart of the bible belt still do not allow alcohol in their county".  This is where the "backasswards" part comes in.  Ben Hill County is not a dry county.  We have a liquor store on every corner.  It is considered just fine if you wish to bring your own bottle of liquor into a bar and serve yourself drinks all night.  You just CANNOT purchase liquor by the drink.  In other words, you can get a licence to sell hundreds of gallons of liquor at you liquor store, but you can't get a licence to sell a man one drink at your restaurant.   Backasswards!

Being a banker, I am trying to see the economic side of things.  If we pass this law, it will increase tax revenues and hopefully provide Fitzgerald with a decent restaurant.  Our country club might still be open today if we were able to make revenue on the sell of liquor.  Businesses looking to locate to south Georgia may just find us to be more attractive because of our willingness to accept changes for the good in our economic culture.  To me it is a no brainer that we need to vote for this law.

Being a baptist, I'm going to be asked by people to see the moral side of this argument.  I have to admit that I just don't see the problem with it.  We already have liquor in Ben Hill County!  People already drink liquor in Ben Hill County!  People already purchase liquor in Ben Hill County!  What's the difference and what does it matter?  Currently a bottle of liquor in Ben Hill County is purchased and the taxes are collected one time.  That same bottle purchased by a restaurant in Ben Hill County can be taxed every time a drink is poured from that bottle.  That could be 20 times!

The people who are against liquor by the drink argue that it will put more drunk drivers on the road or more drunk citizens on our streets.  Let me remind you that beer and wine is currently served everyday by local establishments.  Doesn't seem to be a problem.  Also, under current laws a citizen of Ben Hill County can bring his own bottle of liquor to a bar and serve himself.  Now wouldn't you want to have a bar tender telling a customer that he can no longer serve him because he has had too much to drink rather than that same customer serving himself past his limit.   A friend of mine put it this way. "If I bring a bottle into the bar, I am going to finish that bottle before I go home.  It's an ego thing.  If I had to pay for my drinks one at a time, I would definitely not drink as much for the simple fact that it would cost more and I would not be tempted to finish my bottle to prove my manhood to myself."  Fairly well put.

I had the privilege to live in Statesboro, Georgia for a spell.  Bulloch County was and still is a dry county.  You can not purchase a bottle of liquor in Bulloch County.  All of the college kids have to head for the county line on game day to get their bourbon.  Due to the efforts of some smart economic minded people, Bulloch County passed a liquor by the drink law in 1996.  Statesboro took off!  I can't describe how fast restaurants went up in Statesboro.  It was already a growing community due to the success of the college, but it really started growing in 1996 and Statesboro has never looked back.

Tift County did the same thing a few years back.  They now have some very nice restaurants.  Guess where people from Fitzgerald go to eat on a Saturday night.  I have never been to Tifton Georgia to eat when I have not run into someone from Fitzgerald.

It's time to move forward and embrace the economic opportunity that is before us.  You are never going to stop people from drinking cocktails.  We might as well make some extra money off of the ones who do.

Always be AEKDB!

I'm a Frat boy!  I have been one since the day that I took my first breath.  I was born in Statesboro, Georgia only minutes from the campus of Georgia Southern University, where both my Mom and Dad had attended and graduated.  Daddy was a Kappa Sigma.  In fact, his first cousin David was a Kappa Sigma founding father at Georgia Southern and Daddy was in the first pledge class.  In a great deal of my childhood pictures, Daddy still wore a Kappa Sigma jersey.  I followed in his footsteps and became the first father/son Kappa Sigma legacy at Georgia Southern.  To say that the brotherhood that you experience with your fellow brothers is strong is really an understatement!  It is something that last a lifetime and if you are fortunate enough to experience it, consider yourself privileged.

I am often reminded of the great bond that I have with my fraternity brothers.  Two of them live right here in my hometown and I see them often.  Others call frequently or we keep up on facebook.  We even have reunions every five years to celebrate our past and catch up on what is new in each others lives.  What is amazing to me is the way that we all seem to pick right up where we left off when we stepped off of campus in the years that we graduated.  It is almost like no time has passed between us and our friendships are as strong as they were almost 20 years ago.  Now some people will argue that fraternities are just a way to "purchase" your friends while away at college.  I will argue that "purchased" friends can not be called your brother, or still care about you years after you last saw one another.

I have been privileged enough to not only share a bond with my brothers, but I have also been able to watch the bond that Daddy shares with his.  It is really no different.  Sure the time frames are different and the school might have changed over the years, but the stories are very much the same.  The respect for each other is the same.  The love for each other is the same.

Kappa Sigma has a saying that goes something like this....  Not for a day, an hour, or a college term only, but for life!  I happen to be one of those people that believe that.  Now I have some brothers that have put their fraternity days behind them and do not participate in our reunions or do not speak of their time in Statesboro.  I find that disappointing.  How can anyone not want to continue friendships with the very people that helped to shape part of who you are?  I am one of those people that believe that you get out of something only what you are willing to put in.  I gave my heart and soul to my fraternity brothers in my time at Georgia Southern, and I am still reaping benefits to this day!  I am proud to be a Kappa Sigma Frat boy and will always be AEKDB!

I am writing all of this because our fraternity house is currently receiving a makeover and I have been taking some trips down memory lane as we are receiving updated construction pictures.  I helped in the fundraising efforts and it has been nice to watch as some of my hard work is finally coming to light.  The new construction on the house will help ensure that Kappa Sigma will remain the number one fraternity on the campus of Georgia Southern for years to come. The best part of the entire project was getting in touch with some of my brothers that I have not talked to since 1995.  Again, we just picked up where we left off and the next thing you know I would get their pledge to help Kappa Sigma in its rebuilding efforts.  I am hoping that when we have the ribbon cutting on the newly refurbished house that my brothers will join me in Statesboro to celebrate our future as well as relive some of our past!  My time as a Kappa Sigma in Statesboro, Georgia was some of the best years of my life and I enjoy sharing those memories with my brothers as well as making new memories with them as we continue to be part of each other's lives.  You see, on the day that I became a Kappa Sigma I took an oath and I plan to follow that oath and be a Kappa Sigma for life because...

ALWAYS BE AEKDB!!!

LUCKIE