College Football and Coach Saban,....

First, we have just witnessed the end of an era. We got to enjoy (Bama Fans) the greatest college football dynasty ever. EVER!! We all knew the end was coming but I know myself, I didn't want it to end. Wednesday was a gut punch for many Bama alum, fans and of course those players. 

College football has always been my go to. I love it. Bama football especially. For the last two seasons I've thought about just not watching it anymore. I used to watch MLB until the last strike they had back in 1994. After they did that I was done.  I don't like whiners. Pro football was more like WWE,... a lot of money and seemed fake at times. Like it was rigged. So after probably jr. high I just didn't get into it. NASCAR was my Sunday and Saturday night thing to do for a long time. I planned weekends around it. Then Brian France took over and ruined it. Making rule changes nearly weekly. It got old. So now college football for me is right there too. The NIL and transfer portal is ruining the game. I agree paying the kids some. Give them walking around money but pay everyone the same. The kids don't need 4 million dollars in school. That can come later. Let them mature some first. Plus paying them all the same will keep resentment down. If I'm a guard or tackle making nothing or maybe 30,000 and my cocky quarterback is making 4 million,... will I be resentful? It could happen. The lineman might not block as well at times to allow the high dollar QB to be sacked,.. Now with Saban retiring it is a good time to quit college ball. But I'm going to give it a couple more years to see if they "fix" it.

Cypress Row,....

 

Cypress Row,... 116 S. Pine St Florence, AL., located in the former Comcast Cable office (the one with the rounded corner, has opened up and ready to serve the Shoals. Be sure to visit their Facebook page and click "like" Click here------> Facebook

We ventured over there tonight to give it a try. We were not disappointed. The pimento cheese dip with toasted bread was very good.

It was a generous amount and we had to get a to go box for it. We didn't want to get too full before our orders came.

Sandra had a salad and burger. You build your own. I almost got that but I'm a sucker for a good Philly Cheese. Both the burger and Philly were spot on. Oh and the fries were perfect.

Service was very good. Very attentive and pleasant. The atmosphere is upbeat also. The whole place was very clean. Restrooms included. Just a very good overall experience. 9.5 out of 10.

Struts On Pine,....

 

I have always liked the architecture of this building,... I guess it's the rounded corner but it's just always caught my eye. The insides have sure changed from the old Comcast days and man howdy,... it is for the better. 

Struts On Pine has taken up residents there now. An eating establishment with very good food, service and a nice atmosphere. There is an array of items on the menu that will surely fit most anyone's palate. 

We started off with a home made pimento cheese dip with home made potato chips. We both agreed it was the best we've eaten. Sandra had a BLT that comes with a fried green tomato but had it swapped out for a regular tomato. Two thumbs up from her. I had the Philly Cheese Steak with fries. First one I've had since the old Montague days and it didn't disappoint. Very, very good as were the fries. They looked to be hand cut but not sure. Everything was served hot and fast. Service was very good also. 

I know they are a new place and it takes a bit for everything to gel but the whole experience couldn't have been better. We will be back,.... 

Toilet Seats Ain't What They Used To Be,...

 

This is a simple toilet seat. A commode seat if you will,... no padding, no frills, just a simple toilet seat. 

In the past maybe 30 years I have bought 1 (one) seat for the indoor throne. One, uno, un, eins,.... one. In thirty years. Maybe 2 but I can't remember more than one. It just isn't or should I say, wasn't something that I have shopped for. Until now. 

In the past 6 months I have purchased 3, yes 3 of them. For the same commode. Why 3 you ask? Because the first 2 were total crap. Plastic hinges and poor construction.  Avoid them. The first purchase was from Lowes,... I bought a simple, cheap (hush) commode seat. The screws that attached the lid to the seat were too small for the hole,... they literally fell out. After trying to glue them back, it failed again. This was about 2 weeks after installation. 2 weeks!! When the glue also failed I went to Amazon to purchase a replacement. 

This one arrived and we were so excited,... (hush). After a couple of months the hinges started separating. In other words, the hinges were having a come apart. With that said,... we started looking at what it would take to build an outhouse. The kind with the hole cut in the wood to sit on. No seat required. This was a good option I thought since I wouldn't accidently leave the seat up again. Or so it seemed to me,.... 

Anyway we went with option number 2,... no pun intended. Introducing option number two, dos, deux, zwei,... two. 

Metal hinges,... after much researched and consulting NASA and the Army Corp of Engineers,... metal hinges are now the way to go to avoid what we went through. 

From The University of North Alabama,...

 

I hope this happens in my lifetime. UNA has long been needing its own home. The Lions have needed their den since the beginning of Lion football. Now, it is time,... time to help the university achieve its goal. The whole Shoals area and beyond can help make this happen as fans, as friends, as alumni. Show your support for UNA football by giving to the stadium fund. 

This from the university,... Bank Independent Stadium is the culmination of a vision – a vision that began almost 50 years ago when the University of North Alabama leadership believed in the institution, its students, its faculty, its staff, and, perhaps, most importantly, its community. Today, the stage is set for that vision to come to life with the transformative nature of the on-campus Bank Independent Stadium. By its very nature, a stadium brings people together to champion a common cause, and there is no question that, whether a football or baseball game, a soccer match, or a concert, Bank Independent Stadium will do just that – now and for generations to come. We welcome this historic and transformational next step as North Alabama steps into its place in history.

 Click the "Give here" link below to help UNA build it's Lion Den. 

Give here

Happy Mothers Day To These Ladies,...

 

I have always believed that the mother is the backbone of the family. She is the organizer, sympathizer, confidant, spiritual leader, disciplinarian, teacher, lover of all things children, doctor and nurse and so much more. These women pictured here are all of that and then some. Looking at what they have done and are doing is just proof that the mother truly is the backbone. Love you ladies. 

Moms,....

 

Moms,.... some good, some bad, some supportive, some not. Some try to teach you, some need to be taught themselves. Some put the children first, some take more photos of themselves and make duck lips. 

My younger sister and I had a mom that sacrificed her life for us. Not in the dying sense but in the sense she had no social life. She didn't party and leave us with whoever, she took care of us.  We were the victims of a drunken father who was abusive to her. He tried to be to me but like the mother she was, she protected us. I say father very loosely,... he was just a sperm donor.  

She was dedicated to us. She tried to teach us about being good people, about treating others right and to be a Christian. Momma tried. My younger sister learned these lessons probably a little better than I. Mom had already taught our older sister these things and she passed those teachings on to her children. Like I said, momma tried. 

We were certainly blessed to have such a loving mother. One that watched out for her baby birds. Its been 31 years since she has passed. So much has happened in that time that I wish we could share with her. She would be happy about some things, sad about others. But all in all I think she'd be pleased. Miss you mom,...