I got invited by this lady from the Indian Meetup Group in Atlanta to a trip to Gatlinburg for Labor Day Weekend. I went to her apartment and went with a group of four, including me, packed in the small Mazda with a hatchback. We left about 8 p.m. from Atlanta and got there about 11 p.m. but we sort of got creeped out by the mountside and the cabin we were supposed to stay at. It was mountainous and not exactly paved. One of the meetup members knew somebody who owned the cabin and rented it out to him for the weekend. 114 dollars for each individual. There ended up being about 7 or 8 people at the cabin. Remote but had showers, washer & dryers, satellite TV, and a land line phone. There were about 4 bedrooms with a kitchen, living room, beds, and other luxury necessities. Soap for body and clothes cleaning were provided as well as refrigeration. Outdoor deck looking straight at the Smokies.
The group was great. Lot of teasing and jabs as well as great friendship. I liked the board game competitiveness from that Saturday night! Though, I got scared a bit. LOL. Great cooking from the group with burgers , other meat, veggies, and the coffee/tea. Great job guys because I couldn't cook. But I did help clean, somewhat. Restaurants were good in Gatlinburg. Unfortunately, the traffic was a bit much due to the Labor Day Weekend. Cars came from so many other states than Tennessee.
I got to ride in a helicopter for the first time with these rides that service for a minute, 4 minutes, 8 minutes and so on. We paid 32 dollars each for an 8 to 12 minute ride. Did the skylift. I love the people and the strangers. Very kind folks. Did the Bumper cars. Thanks for the bump, dude? LOL. But most involved deep conversations that stays in the cabin. Finally, learned the basics of chess from a seven year old. Thank you for breaking me out that shell. AJC Chess club will be happy.
Leaving Gatlinburg was fun too. The day before, we went to the streams at this national Park. That was cool. But traveling with the original four and adding another was something else. The cars was stuffed with bags and suitcases. I barely could move. The car was going on the left side off I-40 going 90 before getting on I-85. But the drive was fun. Felt like clowns in a Volkswagen Beetle. Cracker Barrel near Asheville, North Carolina was great but the service reminded me of the movie, Bhaji on the Beach particularly where we were placed after waiting for 15 minutes. But the attendants at the gift shop were wonderful. This lady went out of her way and I bought some things. Sorry, mom, dad, and the whole family. But, hey it's a vacation.
Nothing to conclude which I like because I hope this trip never ends for me except for my wallet. Ha, ah, ha!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Competitive Morality
As a young boy, I was a bit of brat until girls didn't like it so I became nice. Then I realized something. I can be a moralist and judge people. He is a sissy because he eats vanilla ice-cream and I don't. Or he touches girls. He is a nerd or he talks back to the teacher. Man, all sorts of things. When I look at facebook, I see that from me. People putting down sayings and quotes. However, when it hits you. I get competitive. I wonder if they do the same thing.
For example. One guy put about not giving excuses to your condition. Here is my response: "Look at the WNBA, Atlanta Dream. You have a coach who is asked to be a GM and a coach for the same price. Has to keep the roster to 11. When she started coaching, she not only coached her basketball team but taught 9 classes of physical education at her college. The players are amazing, they shake hands with other teams despite losses. Sign autographs despite getting beaten at home. They don't make much and always in danger of folding. They get to the Finals but not much talk."
The point is do people appreciate others who overcome circumstances and go beyond expectations. No. Unless its me. But if you ask them, do you appreciate what that team has done. Back-hand compliments but no inspiration when there should be. Aw, I'm not interested in women's basketball. Which gets me to the next point. Parks Helms.
Parks Helms is a lawyer in Charlotte. He is known for his service as a County Commissioner chairman for Mecklenburg County. Born and bred in Charlotte, he attended UNC and their law school. He has been involved in Charlotte politics since 1972, involved with various boards and appointments. Likewise, he has been a deacon of Park Road Baptist church. Finally, he served in the North Carolina legislature for many years.
After he resigned from the County Commission, he became a board member for the N.C. Alcohol Beverage Control system in Mecklenburg. He had to resign because he attended a luncheon which cost about 9,000 dollars, paid by a liquor company in London. He ended up paying one grand back while other ABC members footed the bill. The rule is you can't accept gifts for more than 300 dollars each person. However, the one that got me was his board spending 11 million government dollars for that liquor company to sell their products. Likewise, Parks's statement that his opponents were practicing "competitive morality" with him.
I personally called his law office, giving my support to him. He responded in kind saying that he remember me and wished me well.
For example. One guy put about not giving excuses to your condition. Here is my response: "Look at the WNBA, Atlanta Dream. You have a coach who is asked to be a GM and a coach for the same price. Has to keep the roster to 11. When she started coaching, she not only coached her basketball team but taught 9 classes of physical education at her college. The players are amazing, they shake hands with other teams despite losses. Sign autographs despite getting beaten at home. They don't make much and always in danger of folding. They get to the Finals but not much talk."
The point is do people appreciate others who overcome circumstances and go beyond expectations. No. Unless its me. But if you ask them, do you appreciate what that team has done. Back-hand compliments but no inspiration when there should be. Aw, I'm not interested in women's basketball. Which gets me to the next point. Parks Helms.
Parks Helms is a lawyer in Charlotte. He is known for his service as a County Commissioner chairman for Mecklenburg County. Born and bred in Charlotte, he attended UNC and their law school. He has been involved in Charlotte politics since 1972, involved with various boards and appointments. Likewise, he has been a deacon of Park Road Baptist church. Finally, he served in the North Carolina legislature for many years.
After he resigned from the County Commission, he became a board member for the N.C. Alcohol Beverage Control system in Mecklenburg. He had to resign because he attended a luncheon which cost about 9,000 dollars, paid by a liquor company in London. He ended up paying one grand back while other ABC members footed the bill. The rule is you can't accept gifts for more than 300 dollars each person. However, the one that got me was his board spending 11 million government dollars for that liquor company to sell their products. Likewise, Parks's statement that his opponents were practicing "competitive morality" with him.
I personally called his law office, giving my support to him. He responded in kind saying that he remember me and wished me well.
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