SOON BACK TO FOOTBALL & POLITICS

OK, it's time to begin getting excited about next season! Training camp begins this Friday for the Titans. Because Jeff Fisher is less than impressed with the camaraderie of the team this past year, he has removed the them to Clarksville, TN where they will be working out at a local college, Austin Peay, and staying at the college's dormitories. Can you imagine the shock to these millionaire prima donna's to bunk with another guy or two who probably smells as bad as they do? AND, they're going to have to stay there at least 10 days! I wonder how Pacman Jones will figure out how to get himself arrested?

Let's hope that Jeff's theory makes a positive impact!

All the "boys" who write or speak about the team have them picked to win 6 - 7 games. We'll see and we WILL remember that prognostication in January. What really irks me is that these people...each one of them...remarks one time or another than Billy Volek is the starting quarterback, but they don't expect him to finish the season. They apparently believe that "Superman" Vince Young will replace him. I cannot conceive of a reason that they have to have this caveat. Let's let Billy do his best to stay healthy and perform as well as I believe he can. He's had six (6) years to learn NFL football and I think many will be surprised about how professional and experienced he has become. I hope all the writers and newscasters will give him a positive spin until HE actually screws up and not the offensive line!

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We have a Primary coming up in the next few weeks. The contest of interest to me is the Republican one for the US Senate. Right now, I will vote for Bob Corker since he's the only one who has articulated a real solution for illegal migration. Harold Ford, Jr., who is running for Senate on the Democrat side is still running an ad complaining about high gas prices while he is filling up an SUV! However, I doubt if "yellow dog" Democrats will find any fault with it. As far as Governor, I will probably vote for Bredesen. He's a Democrat, but he's a business man and he has done a fair job for the state.

Road Trip et al

Well, I go on a week long road trip to Indianapolis, Chicago, Clinton, IL, back to Indy and then home and I find out everyone's in an uproar because the President said "shit!" Come on...why didn't the media get their pants in a wad when Monica gave Bill a hummer? Sure they reported it, but I didn't see something about on every single newscast for 48 hours. Me thinks they could find something more interesting to report, but then, they're "media" so what else can you expect?

The trip with my 17 year old niece was just great. We were on the trail of our ancestors going back to the Revolutionary War and to have Aurelios' Pizza. All goals were reached. In a cornfield outside of Clinton, near Waynesville, Illinois, we found the grave site of John Wilson Scott who was born in PA, served in VA during the Revolutionary War and migrated to Illinois thereafter. Mr. Scott left a rather large number of decedents therefore, I could be your cousin too! The people at the Clinton Library were so gracious and helpful, both Kerry and I were delighted to spend time with them.

During our Chicago phase, we had Aurelios' Pizza in Homewood with my niece, Mimi, her husband, Gary and son, Brenton. The family and pizza were both wonderful just as anticipated. Our visit to the Windy City was confined to the Museum of Science & Industry and a brief time at the Field Museum (Museum of Natural Science) as well as a tour of the Loop with me driving. God, Chicago drivers are equal to Californians any day!

All in all, our trip and visit with cousins in Indianapolis absolutely exceeded our expectations. We had a super time and it was so good to see my 93 year old Aunt whose mind appears much more focused than mine...course that doesn't take much!

I'm so happy Kerry has been here with me for two weeks. She is such a lovely young lady and surprisingly very interested in our family history. Also, she turned me on to a fairly new book "Devil in the White City." If you haven't had a chance to read it - do it! Non-fiction of the building of the 1893 Chicago Exposition intertwined with a serial killer that out-killed Jack the Ripper!

A LITTLE VACATION

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I went to so many firework displays, I got a crick in the neck. These displays become more beautiful and longer every year. Maybe that's another indication of an affluent society, i.e., to spend so much money that goes up in smoke. Fine with me.

My grandniece, Kerry, is coming from Walnut Creek tomorrow. She just turned 17 and has become very interested in her ancestry. Her grandmother, my sister, died before Kerry was born so she wants to visit the area where we were all born. In becoming a member of DAR, I had to substantiate the relationship of my family to a Patriot. It seems a John Wilson Scott who was born in PA, served in the War in VA and pioneered to Illinois where he married, had children and was buried. We are going to try and locate his and other family members while we scout the area of DeWitt County. Kerry tells me she's bringing some special paper and pencils where she will rub across the gravestones so she'll have some tangible connection after she goes home to the state of milk and honey. I think it's great that she's that interested!

However, before we go grubbing around cemeteries, I going to take her to Chicago so she can get the taste of a really important city, museums and, most importantly, the very best PIZZA in the world! No ka oi! (Just like Maui!)

In any event, I'll let you know how it goes on our little sortie. Wonder how a 70 year old will cope with an energetic 17 year old! If all goes well, we might even work out a trip to London before I become completely feeble. I think she'll love London as much as I do.