Happy Thanksgiving To All! ::

Don't have much to say today other than "Happy Thanksgiving". Here is a photograph I shot in downtown, such as it is, New Hope last year.

A Salute To Veterans ::

From the sixth graders in New Hope, Alabama! Click the photograph to see it full size.

Parker Griffith's Statement ::

on his no vote on the health care bill:

“I voted against the proposed health care legislation today because a public option has remained the foundation of the bill’s aim. This bill is bad for our patients, bad for our North Alabama hospitals, and bad for our nation's bottom line.

“Improving the best health care system in the world to include the millions of Americans without access to affordable care is a worthy goal, but we cannot do it by reforming a system around a scarcity. As the House and Senate come together, I am hopeful that we see a reform package that aggressively addresses the growing problem of physician shortages in America and increases access to those without insurance without adding trillions to our growing debt."

Laid Off ::

I found out a couple of days ago that my next door neighbor has been laid off. She worked at SCI for 27 years and would have been eligible for full retirement benefits in 3 more years. I can't say that I'm at all surprised given what I've heard over the years about how crappy SCI is to their employees.

Justice Served? ::

From al.com (via Yahoo News):

ALBERTVILLE, AL. - A Marshall County woman who made national news after she was arrested for having her 13-year-old daughter ride in a cardboard box atop her van began today serving five days in the City Jail here after she pleaded guilty to endangering her child.

City Judge James D. Walker sentenced Jackie Denise Knott, 37, of Albertville to 90 days, but suspended 85 days and placed her on two years probation. He also fined her $500 and ordered her to attend parenting class and drivers education school and serve 40 hours of community service.

The actual time to be served seems awfully light to me given the scope of the child endangerment involved!

BBQ! ::

My neighbor, Mike, competes in competition BBQ events kinda as a hobby unrelated to his full time commercial plumbing business. His business has been a little slow lately and he has been setting up his smoker at Keller's Grocery just inside Marshall County and selling pulled pork, chicken, ribs, and fixins on the weekends. A couple of weeks ago I got his chicken kabobs for lunch and they were fabulous. Today I got a slab of ribs which were extremely good and which I would highly recommend.

Mike has no web site and does not advertise his BBQ business. He has a phone number, but I'm hesitant to pass it on without his OK so if you happen to be between Huntsville and Guntersville on Hwy 431 and pass by Keller Grocery, just inside the Marshall County line, stop by and try out his food. I'll guarantee that you will not be disappointed and I would further posit that a trip down just pick up some of Mike's cooking would be well worth the trip. He also has cole slaw and tater salad, but I haven't tried those yet. Maybe next weekend!