Bought a new pair of shoes today at the Bass Outlet in Belz Mall at Pigeon Forge. List price: $110; marked down to: $20. They're sturdy, comfortable and a little classier than my usual sneakerage.

( An Awesome Job Deserves An Awesome Breaktime )

Rex is enjoying the last embers of his first day off after gaining employment at the Dollywood theme park's "Adventure Mountain" attraction.

[Error: unknown template qotd]

I doubt anybody I've ever given a gift to has ever been over-impressed with my gifting skills. I neither enjoy it nor fuss over it as much as I could. Today, I only bought what I could afford, a practical gift for the whole house, not just my parents. We may actually use it before or on Christmas Day. I know that sounds horribly cold and logical, but I can't afford to be sentimentalist or grandiose like a lot of people get this time of year.

*) Just got paid $20 in the course of helping my father bring a neighboring elder lady's TV arrangement closer to 21st Century standards. We're not quite there yet but still have two months to go. $20 used to be the too-much kind of money, but these days it's the nowhere-near-enough kind.

*) My sister bought a Nissan Versa to replace the Beetle.

*) Realized on a shopping trip that going to a Christian bookstore was like driving through a neighborhood where an ex lives. By extension, visiting Dollywood is like going to an ex's family reunion.

*) My "NPR Name" is Streve Grimsby. Make a pledge of support today.

(Pardon the pun.)

As my brother had paid me a little for my services Saturday, I had money for a shopping trip to Gatlinburg and points north today.

As shopping went, it was rather unproductive. As walking around and geeking out went, it was okay. The weather was too lousy for photography, but it was still pretty busy in G-burg on the Parkway. Traffic was busy just about the whole length of the Parkway from I-40 down through. The hot rod cars were going home from the weekend gathering.

The Star Cars museum now has a Mach 5 from the Speed Racer live-action movie. I didn't go in to see it, but I may take nephew Egan there on his next visit with us.

Being the bibliophile I am, I spent most of my time in the Books Warehouses in G-burg and Pigeon Forge--the latter being a test of my character...they had that horrible Christian pop music on the P.A. system. It took all the will I had to ignore that garbage and look for what I wanted. More on what I ended up buying later.

The public works people are already getting the utility poles ready for the Christmas lights. Yes, they try to make Christmas last six months in Sevier County. Bah.

One of the main shopping centers, the Belz Mall in Pigeon Forge, is beginning a large-scale renovation. So it's rather strange to see shops being forced to move from one location in the mall to another and to see a whole side of the building completely torn out.

I know I'm griping a bit, but I have to go and do this every so often. Remind myself where I am in the world and what it was like working at G-burg and Pigeon Forge.

FP

Since it's Leap Day, I should relate that if I were hosting a party for it, I'd include a Liliputian Leaping & Creeping Contest (a.k.a. a Limbo Dance).

Overday I went to Pigeon Forge to meet with my previous boss to make sure I had the proper name for the business (it changed after I left) and for her (it was in the process of changing as I was leaving--she divorced). I need references for my application. (domain69?--I'd ask you but I don't think we've seen each other once in three years. Still, it would be nice for you to send me your snail addy and phone # via my e-mail {you still have it on file, ne?} just in case?)

The mountains in Sevier County were covered in snow. I was tempted to go up to English Mountain but held off--I may go later next week. I've never been there but it was something I've wanted to do for a long time.

The helicopter museum in the Forge is gone. One, it was in a rotten location, with a dangerously placed parking lot. Two, they were charging as much for admission as the much better Museum of Aviation (Warbird collection!) at Sevierville Airport. Three, aside from the Comanche gunship mock-up and the Airwolf replica, they didn't have much in the way of exhibits to get the general public excited. I don't know if the exhibits were auctioned off or will just be displayed someplace else--or will get inducted into the Museum of Aviation.

FP

Pigeon Forge as seen by someone old enough to know and young enough to care.

I gave up working there partly because I was having suicidal thoughts. I only go there now for the shopping...and even then, only rarely.

FP

Well, three networks were broadcasting live from New York City...and the local affiliates of the networks who didn't carry that stuff didn't bother to have live broadcasts from the public events here. Knoxville has a First Night in downtown. Gatlinburg has a huge fireworks display. Louise Mandrell's final show was tonight. These will be seen well after the fact.

Don't get me wrong, I like Dick Clark. But he should retire. If you heard him tonight, you know why.

There is a part of me that wanted to party tonight. But I doubt I could have done it successfully. I don't have friends here, and partying requires not just friends but GOOD friends.

Instead, I sit here with a cup of instant half-caff coffee and contemplate my lot in life.

There are times I wish something DID change on New Year's Day.

FP