Another list from the olden' days.
J V Graham and I were at one point in our careers rather sensitive to the oft-asked question that you get when you are introduced to somebody for the first time. We didn't have any impressive grown-up job titles to drop on 'em yet, so we decided we would have a little fun and offer some of the following occupational monikers in lieu of the truth, which was that we were temp agency slaves who often worked under the alias "Manuel Labor". Anyhoo, here are some of the things we came up with just to mess with the people who asked "So, what do you do?"

1. Wealthy industrialist

2. 'rassler

3. Dictator of a little country that "idn't very famous yet".

4. Food taste tester for kings and other big-shots to make sure that there "ain't no poison in their viddles".

5. Bronc buster

6. Soda jerk

7. answer by silently mouthing the word "mime".

8. activist/method actor

9. professional curling radio play-by-play man

10. a simple cobbler

Of course, several of these would have probably been much more exciting and lucrative than what we were normally reduced to having to do. But that's how it is in our society these days with such a lack of respect for its poets and visionaries. Kudos to you my friend (and I'm not talking about candy bars here). I salute you, JVG, warrior/survivor, mi compadre, my brother in arms.

be good.

Word has it 'round here that they have just about outgrown their britches and are heading north. It seems the rocky, no account hills of McDonald County, MO may well be the site of the next population explosion. Got us a new Sooper Center in the works, and they're fixin' to provide runnin' water for massive quantities of our species. Next thing you know, it'll be a metropolis. 'Course, we won't be alone. For some time now, these parts have been home to a vast population of very foul inhabitants: Chickens. Millions upon millions of them. Providing nourishment for a hungry world and an aroma that just can't be escaped. They say it is the smell of money. Guess I'd rather be broke. I won't be a bit surprised to see Chicken Litter Blvd leading right into the heart of the new Turkey Estates development. Who knows, with a little cleanin' up and some nice smelly stuff, those old coops might be turned into some cozy apartments. Or not.

Being a freshman of sorts here, I'll offer an invite: If you happen to be passin' through the Greater Bentonville area, weekdays, I'd consider it an honor and priveledge to make your acquaintance, and offer you a cup o' Joe, such as it is here at the office. Might even try to scare up a slice of pie. I'm just a hop and a skip off the super slab at the Hwy 72 exit.

Be happy and careful.

Hey Neighbors. Reckoned I go ahead and put a few notions to print. It has been some time since I last gave a howdy here. Things in our neck of the woods has been suspended due to personal frequencies. Those of you close to the big 4 knows what I is referrin' to. Let's just say...we need to keep all fellow neighbors in our daily prayers and let our leader do his thing.

I personally have been venturin' down to the land that "Sam" built...Bentonville, Arkansas. Been tryin' to get in on the last of the GOLD RUSH....Land purchase that is. Thinkin' about throwin' together some shanty style housin' for all those in need...Might even name some of the areas after the Fine names provided by our Boston Chapter....Really close to Double Wide Acres / Cinder Block Estates....Don't get no better than that.

Well. 27 days and counting till' I start the NEW JOB....It's is so painful waiting, but it will be worth it. :)

Take care all neighbors and keep any eye out for each other....and...in the words of the infamous Leroy McGirk..."Watch out for flyin' chairs."

An update from Bud Lane. Thanks for writing to RGNC!

To whom it may concern:

I have just returned from a business trip to the land K's (Kennedys and Kerrys), aka Massachusettes. My initial reaction is a heartfelt condolence for those who find themselves on extended leave in those realms. I suspect that natives (decendents of Europeans) of that area feel quite at home, which I guess it is. However, it is quite different from our little corner of the world. Although I wasn't behind the wheel on this trip, I was amazed almost non-existent existence of an honest to goodness intersection. I guess we tend to take that for granted in this neck of the woods, but from my perspective, a typical intersection should consist of the perpendicular crossing of two roads, streets, avenues or what have you. This apparently wasn't sufficient for the architects of the infrastructure of the greater Boston area, or Providence, RI for that matter. "What say lets just toss in another'n at, oh, maybe a forty-five degree angle." Of course, that means that every other intersection lying along line will also have to bear the burden of an additional spoke in the wheel. Of course, they didn't always stop at 5. And after you booger up an intersection with enough streets, you can't really make a left turn, because there are just too darn many lefts to choose from. They have, however, provided a solution for this dilema in the form of a little ditty they refer to as a jug handle. This may describe the shape of the roadway, or what the engineer was holding on to during the design phase. You some how move forward, loop around come back and then ultimately end up taking one the rights that had previously been a left. An unwritten rule of negotiating the spider web of intersections is that you must routinely make your presence known to all other drivers in the vicinity by honking your horn. This is not the same honk as in "the 4", which is either meant as a greeting or a warning. This is a pound-on-your-chest, this-is-my-section-of-pavement declaration. It's fun, however, to wave back as if you know 'em. It is good to learn about other cultures in our world, and so I can't say that I regret my visit. Indeed, I will probably make several return trips in the future, unless my employer decides to look for a home with less crowded intersections. It was a long dry spell for good solid entertainment, though. With that in mind, I'm off to the Johnson Family Bluegrass event in scenic Tipton Ford, MO. Hope all is well with all.

Bud