Pilot's Log

Got here around Seven last evening. I tell you, mountains make better flyover country than driveover country.

And why is Fayetteville, West Virginia supposed to be "cool"? I can't see it.

I just got a notice from the State Capital that I have been approved for a Lottery Fund scholarship. Up to $2,000. On top of the Federal funding I have already been promised! The school will decide how much I actually qualify for and will receive. I find out tomorrow.

Meanwhile I'm trying to get to Disney's website and my itinerary for the December trip, so I can compare it to the school calendar. The Fall term should end by the time I have planned to go to Florida, but I don't know for certain and I don't have proof from Disney that they got my information. I don't want to have to sign up all over again. :/

Now that the weather is nice enough here to allow this kind of activity...

Polo.





I contemplate a crossroads of my life. Taken at downtown Jefferson City, just north of the railway tracks on Russell Avenue.

A Tennessee Sheriff And His Friendship With A Now-Sober Former Moonshine Outlaw.

Hey.

I was on another shopping trip today. At a shopping mall, the fellow next to me had the hood up on his truck, so I dutifully looked in Moonshine's trunk for my jumper cables. Once I found them, I asked the other driver if he needed a jump start.

He refused, but it was impossible to figure out his reasoning because he (and his teenage son/friend/I don't know what) spoke in a voice in which two accents--Tennessee twang and Hispanic immigrant--were fighting it out and the English language was the casualty.

Times like that remind me that I am the foreigner here.

On my way back to my house after a shopping trip, I drove behind a pickup truck with racist anti-Obama bumper stickers on it.

My feeling is that perhaps the greater America is ready for an African-American President, but too many Americans are going to judge Obama by the color of his skin before he shows us enough of his character for them to decide if he's American FIRST. And some don't want to give him a chance AT ALL.

If you were unaware, Tennessee went for McCain over Obama by fifteen percentage points. The only areas in the state that Obama did better than McCain were Nashville, Memphis and a few suburbs of Memphis. People here are shocked and dismayed that McCain lost. What's worse, they resent the national coverage of showing the celebrations in the cities and the national Republicans being so quick to give up.

Quite a few people here see Obama as an alien, a traitor and a threat. Perhaps the silent majority will give Obama a chance, but I'm afraid of how many will not and take matters into their own hands. "PUMA" may soon be replaced with "NUMA" (National Unity...).

America may not be racist as a whole, but Tennessee is still more racist than outsiders may realize.

BTW, I considered it a foregone conclusion long ago that Obama would carry the National popular vote and probably the Electoral vote, but totally fail to carry Tennessee. That's why I voted for Brian Moore, in addition to the fact that nobody talked me out of it.

FP

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In my case, it is a mere impossibility. Just to reiterate, last year, I applied for TennCare so it could fund my psychiatric examination and possible treatment. The coverage was revoked this spring just as the examination was wrapping up. So if my psychologist had recommended treatment (which he didn't) I would have had to pay for it out of pocket--or do without.

I'm unemployed and uninsured. If something happens to me, all I have is a very few stocks to cash in (my savings) and at this point, they could only pay for a couple doctor visits at best.

I'm not asking for socialized medicine. I just want a better way than what we have.

I know it's weird to get all touristy now, as I've lived here far longer than I wanted to, but I'm leaving soon. So anyway...

Dandridge is one of the oldest towns in Tennessee. It's set along the French Broad River upstream of Douglas Dam. It's the County Seat of Jefferson County and the old courthouse is an okay place to visit. The actual courts have moved to a new facility closer to the Interstate exit, so the only official business done in the building involves the tax assessor and the records and cashier offices that go with it. Those may move out as well, relegating the building to just a museum.

The county Historical Society keeps its exhibits there, which run the gamut from Cherokee Indian artifacts to pioneer tools to weapons of various wars (Civil War to Iraqi Freedom) to personal items of important people in the development of the County.

The weapon display was the reason why I came to the courthouse last week.


( And Four More )

Now, I know it doesn't seem all that interesting...but I look at the thing from a gamer's perspective. I didn't photograph the rifles and shotguns and sub-machineguns on display, but just looking at them close-up brings home the reality that I can't get from books. Yeah, I can tell you that a Civil War 12-Pound cannon ball is about the size of a cantalope melon, but seeing one, and imagining it flying at a good fraction of the speed of sound? Or thinking...how long could I march with one of those rifles in my hands before I'd get tired?

Every gamer should look at real war hardware as often as he or she can. Check out the tank in front of the American Legion/VFW hall or National Guard post. Find a local museum or battlefield. Go to a big museum on vacation. Just reading about it, or seeing movies or TV, isn't enough.

FP (who is now much more impressed with the bravery and fortitude of his military ancestors)

This is the third straight holiday of its kind when it's been too rainy for the yahoos to shoot off firecrackers. I'm enjoying the silence.