Almost Always

I am a guy who likes everything to be steady with few surprises. I don't mind a little spontaneity every now and again but usually on my terms. The more things are the same, the more I like them. I get used to the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, because that's how it should be.

Living in Loudon had a lot to do with that, but so did school, with things like...

You rarely saw Wayne Poole without Dickie Blankenship, Kenny Parks and Jake Lane somewhere close by.

You rarely saw Donna Morgan without Pat Milsaps and Sharon Crawley close by.

Brenda Nicholson, Donna Kyker, Gail Cunningham, Doug Adkins, Mike Delaney and even Mrs. Morgan was almost always smiling.

We got yelled at for running in the halls, but Mrs. McCall constantly walked faster than most of us could run.

You rarely saw Doug Christian without Wayne and Allen McNabb somewhere close.

The same people always bummed cigarettes.

Debbie Everett and Janie Greene almost always wore a hair band.

Doug Christian always had a wad of bills in his pocket.

You rarely saw Pat Lowe without Steve Knox and Jabbo Lynn somewhere close by.

Brenda McKee, Brenda Henry, Bonnie Bivens, Kathey Guider, Cynthia Blair, Glenda Summey, Kaye Collis, Janie Barrier and Patsy Farmer rarely said anything.

Likewise, neither did Carl Schrimpsher, Doyle Goodsen, Gary Poe, George Wilkerson, Joe Russell, Jerry Jones, Joe Watson and Larry Faulkner.

Allen McNabb would get in some sort of trouble almost weekly.

Mrs. Goode would walk out of her office and stare around the room almost daily because she thought someone was making too much noise.

Also in the library, the Knoxville newspaper was always checked out until late in the day.

Given more time I could probably think of some more.

The Morning After

Like the song says, there's got to be a morning after. I hope we've all had more of the good ones than the bad ones. You know what I mean right? Like the morning after you were married and you woke up next to that person. Hopefully there more thoughts of "I can't believe we're finally married", than there were of "What in the hell did I get myself into!?!" How about the morning after your baby was born and you smiled almost ear to ear even though you had to get up during the night to feed it? Or the day after you moved into your brand new house and you woke up with a million things running through your mind that you wanted to get done? Those kind of morning afters.

What was going through your mind when you woke up on June 6, 1970? Were you happy? Scared? Bewildered? Worried? Relieved?

How about a few months later when the new school year started, did you think about what was going on at school? Did it feel odd not to be going? Did you miss it?

It's Closer Than You Think

Is anyone giving any serious consideration to a reunion? We are just shy of a year away and you know as well as I do that a year seems to go by in the blink of an eye anymore.

I for one would be interested and would do what I could to help. From this distance I can't do much but I can do what I can over the internet or through email.

How does the planning get started? Who started all the others?

A Pledge Drive of Sorts

This blog will soon be 3 years old so it's time for another request for input, sort of like one of those annual PBS pledge drives. I am afraid I'm almost to the point of repeating things over and over or making this place too Doug-centric. I also don't want to start posting my opinions on current events. Like everyone else I most definitely have an opinion on most things, but I also realize mine don't amount to a fart in a windstorm. In fact, with the current emphasis on global warming that fart would get a lot more attention than my opinion would.

So anything you have to share...stories, pictures... anything, would be greatly appreciated. I would love it if some of you posted your own stuff, but heck, I'll take them any way I can get them. The only thing I ask is that they not be derogatory toward anyone.

So come on folks. I know you got 'em so let's give 'em up.

Creating My Own Loudon Cuisine

In 1971 I went to a fast food place in California called Der Wienerschnitzel and ordered a hot dog, and that's what I got -- a hot dog on a bun. I said, "Where's the chili and cole slaw?" She said, "You didn't order it." The small town boy in me didn't realize he had to. I was used to getting chili and cole slaw when I ordered hot dogs.

Over the years I have adjusted somewhat and learned to get by on what's available. For example, a Chicago hot dog is terrific and Nathan Red Hots are great and brats are good as well, but none of them beat a good ol' Loudon hot dog. So I make my own.

For the hot dog I prefer either a Zweigle's or Hoffman's natural casing dog from upstate New York. My daughter in law and some of Sue's people are from up that way and I love these dogs. They have a casing so they pop open when they're cooked and for my money are much better when grilled than any other way you can cook them. If I can't get those I like Ball Park or John Morrell brands.

For the cole slaw I like it simple:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 medium carrots, finely shredded
1 medium head cabbage, cored and finely shredded
In a large bowl, I stir together the sugar and mayonnaise, add the carrots and cabbage, and mix it all together until well coated. Then I cover it and put in fridge to chill before using.

For the chili sauce:
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 lb. very lean ground beef
3 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Teaspoon cumin
1 Teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons garlic powder
1 8oz can tomato Sauce
1 cup water
Flour, preferably masa flour


1. Heat olive oil and sauté onions and then remove them for later.
2. Add ground beef and cook until well browned. Drain.
3. Turn heat to low and add tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic, onions and water to the meat. If you want a little cayenne pepper you can throw it in here too, but be careful. A little goes a long way.
4. Stir it all together well.
5. Bring it to a low simmer and cover. Cook slowly for 15 minutes, stirring several times.
6. The idea here is to keep it as thick as possible, so in a small bowl mix one tablespoon flour with enough olive oil or water to make a smooth paste and add it to the chili. Regular flour will make it thick, but masa flour works a lot better because it enhances the flavor and aroma. Masa flour is made from corn and you can buy it at a mexican grocery store if one is close by.
7. Cook for an additional 10 minutes after adding the flour.

I'm not too particular about the bun as long as it's fresh, however the only mustard that I will use is plain yellow mustard. Anything else steps on the flavor.

Not a true Loudon hot dog, but not bad. :)

Maybe Our Radio Was Trying to Tell Us Something

I was scanning through a website the other day looking at what was being played on the radio while we were in school and something dawned on me. If you forget for a second what some of these songs were really about and take their titles literally or maybe twist them just a bit, some of them seem to apply to that time and place in the darnedest ways.

1966
96 Tears
Strangers In The Night
We Can Work It Out
See You In September
Daydream
Bus Stop
Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?
19th Nervous Breakdown
Psychotic Reaction
Working in a Coal Mine

1967
Happy Together
Somethin' Stupid
Groovin'
Kind Of A Drag
Respect
Silence Is Golden
There's A Kind Of Hush
Mercy
Friday On My Mind
Cold Sweat
Here We Go Again
The Beat Goes On
Daydream Believer
Thank The Lord For The Night Time

1968
People Got To Be Free
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Those Were The Days
Born To Be Wild
Reach Out Of The Darkness
Summertime Blues
The Fool On The Hill
Revolution
I Say A Little Prayer

1969
Dizzy
Hot Fun In The Summertime
Hair
Going In Circles
Hurt So Bad
Easy To Be Hard
Only The Strong Survive
Time Of The Season
It's Getting Better
Can I Change My Mind
Things I'd Like To Say
Everybody's Talkin'
Worst That Could Happen
Games People Play
Laughing

1970
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Get Ready
Let It Be
Everything Is Beautiful
All Right Now
Signed Sealed Delivered
Instant Karma (We All Shine On)
Give Me Just A Little More Time
Turn Back The Hands Of Time
Easy Come Easy Go
Express Yourself
United We Stand
We've Only Just Begun
No Time
I Just Can't Help Believing
Come Saturday Morning
The Thrill Is Gone

See what I mean?