9-11 Sunset

See the USA in a ...

So, how did you celebrate "National Lipstick Day?" Janet insisted we get something to match her "Red Hot" lipstick. So, let me introduce you to the newest member of our family ... "Lucy, the Red Hot Blazer."

Happy Independence Day!

I fondly remember my folks and our neighbors sitting in flimsy lawn chairs on the driveway in front of their garages on our tree lined street.  Talking to passerby's and on the 4th of July proudly waving Old Glory.  I am becoming my dad.  America ... I love you!  Happy 4th of July!

The Ruskies are at it again!

Notre Dame Cathedral

So very sad to see.  We were fortunate enough to visit Notre Dame Cathedral twice.

Valentine's Day Surprise!

View this post on Instagram

@spiffhappens got some special visitors for Valentine’s Day, and it was a treat for the whole office! Thanks to Happy Hour of the Song of Atlanta Show Choir for the performance ❤️

A post shared by The Impact Partnership (@theimpactpartnership) on Feb 14, 2019 at 8:59am PST

Super Bowl 28 Flashback

25 years ago today in the #GeorgiaDome we helped with the Super Bowl 28 pregame festivities by holding down the large, inflatable Vince Lombardi trophy as the the Cowboys and Bills took the field. #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/bi56u2moYN

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) January 30, 2019

We're talkin' baseball

When a coach annoys the manager during a baseball game.

Hurricane Path

9/11 Sunset

Tweet from "The King"

Apparently there is no escaping #socialmedia . Not even in death. #twitter #ElvisPresley #runbutcanthide #afterlife #Tweet pic.twitter.com/bxHw8f8GEd

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) July 2, 2018

Edee learns something new!

It's taken a couple of months but we finally taught Edee to raise her hand when she has "filled" her diaper. Janet is asking me to do the same.

Never Forget.

Skip Voted!

Just did my civic duty and voted. I felt some prying eyes on me as I filled out my ballot. Then I heard someone say, "do you remember the Randy and Skip show on Fox 97? Well, that is SKIP right over there." Now I wonder how much higher our radio ratings could have been if people would have known my name.

It's my least favorite time of the year!

Run Forrest Run!

Bitcoin is Dead!

#Bitcoin, other #cryptocurrencies headed to zero says #GoldmanSachs. That's why I have cornered the market on Bit-O-Honey. #IllBeRich #BitOHoney #Candy #SmartInvestment

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) February 7, 2018

Remembering Duffy

Duffy, you embarked on your next great adventure 25 years ago today. Seems like just yesterday. Thank you for teaching me so much about love and showing me how to be so very graceful while facing death. An even bigger thank you for sending three amazing earthly angels to heal my heart and fill my life with joy. My love for them is unmeasurable. I know that would make you happy. You will always be loved and remembered.

Goodbye Old Friend

Farewell Georgia Dome. I will always remember:

--Circling high above you in the Goodyear Blimp when you were just a big hole in the ground.

--The “Good Times and Great Oldies” we shared at the, oh so many, Fox 97 Ultimate Oldies Concerts.

--That special moment at the 1993 concert when your big screen read … “This show is dedicated to the memory of Duffy Janssen.” (My late wife, who had passed away just four months earlier.)

--The incredible experience of the 1996 concert when over 40,000 friends celebrated the happiest day of my life … Janet and my “wedding reception.” (Janet still wishes we had done the dollar dance that evening.)
--Super Bowl XXVIII in January 1994 when a small group of us from Fox 97 were midfield anchoring a giant, inflatable Vince Lombardi Trophy as the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys rushed past us during the opening ceremonies. (Also standing along the sidelines during the first quarter and meeting Joe Namath, Jerry Jones, and OJ Simpson (who may have borrowed my gloves even though they were too small for him.)

--The 1996 Olympics when I took my oldest daughter to watch the gymnastics competition.

Yes, Georgia Dome, as of 7:30 Monday morning you will be gone. But for me … never forgotten.

The Detour

Wednesday, July 1,1970. The day that changed the direction of my life. I had graduated from high school the previous year, I was working my dream job at a radio station in Peru, Illinois (WGSY) and I was feeling pretty darn good about my future. And then … the Vietnam draft lottery happened. I was on the air at the radio station when the lottery numbers were being drawn. Our AP (Associated Press) teletype machine was spitting out the lottery numbers between the “more important” events of the day. (Kids … this is how radio stations received the news back in the day. Sort of like receiving a one-way text, on paper, from a big, old clunky typewriter.) Clank-clank-clank with the teletype. Thump-thump-thump went my heart as I anxiously waited to see what my draft lottery number would be. In the radio studio, I introed a song (CCR – “Fortunate Son”), quickly popped out of the room, rushed down the hall to the teletype and began to scan several yellow pages of the latest news to see if I could find my birthday and the corresponding draft number. As luck would have it, my birthday was being typed as I stood next to the AP machine. April 16 … clank-clank-clank … 3 … clank-clank-clank … 1 … clank-clank-clank-clank-clank … carriage return … April 17 … clank-clank-clank … 2 … clank-clank-clank … 6 … clank-clank-clank … 4 … clank-clank-clank-clank-clank … carriage return. WAIT A MINUTE!!!! Why did my birthday only have TWO numbers! This can’t be right!!! Seriously, 31 is my draft number???? My head was spinning … and “Fortunate Son” was ending. I rushed back to the studio just as CCR was fading to start my next song … Country Joe & the Fish “I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag.” (OK, the part about playing Country Joe is not true. But that’s what I should have played.) The fact is … I can’t remember much of anything that happened that Wednesday after my draft number of 31 appeared on the teletype. However, I do remember the next day. (To be continued …)

Finally, an internet math problem that makes sense ...

NCAA March Sadness

#RickPitino #ncaascandal #NCAABribery #ncaabasketball #adidasscandal #MarchSadness pic.twitter.com/dCP6vPt99K

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2017

Pumpkin Patch Scarecrow

#Retirees often look for a #PartTimeJob to help supplement their #income. May I suggest a seasonal position as a #Pumpkin Patch #scarecrow. pic.twitter.com/Z2nPk7bLhv

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 6, 2017

RIP Jay Thomas

So sad to hear of the passing of Jay Thomas. Jay inducted us (Randy & Spiff) into the Georgia #Radio Hall of Fame in 2011. #RIPJAYTHOMAS pic.twitter.com/OrUqdQos5x

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) August 24, 2017

World Wide Web?

Took this photo today. Reminded me of a quote from a book I read many years ago that sadly rings very true today. #EBWhite #sad #web pic.twitter.com/RNZEjm9oiP

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) August 24, 2017

Eclipse 2017

Is going blind watching the eclipse true? Because I was told I would go blind doing something else and I still have my vision.

Fire and Fury

What if fire hydrants were small robots from an alien planet? What if they have been dormant for years just waiting for the code words "FIRE and FURY" to activate them?

RIP Glenn Campbell

Dunkirk?

I accidentally went to see Dunkin' instead of #Dunkirk. A #documentary about #donuts. Concession stand was amazing! #dunkindonuts

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) July 25, 2017

Russia, Russia, Russia

All I see or hear on the news is "Russia, Russia, Russia." I just wish they would change it up every now and then.

Dunkirk

Just got back from a sneak-peek of “Dunkirk.” Amazing movie. Incredibly well done. Riveting. For those of you who like super hero movies, I suggest you watch “Dunkirk” to see what real super heroes are made of. After all, it’s easy to have courage if you have a super power … but it’s something unbelievably special to see the courage displayed by ordinary men and women in a battle of life and death. If you get a chance, go see “Dunkirk.”

Stand back!

And so ... they finally meet. I just hope it doesn't turn into a pissing match.

Radio Legends

This is my old Ross radio that was my faithful companion while in high school. During the day, I would listen to WLS in Chicago with Larry Lujack (Unlce Lar), Tommy Edwards (Lil’ Snot-nose Tommy), Chuck Buell, Ron Riley and Art Roberts. At night, I would turn the dial to KMOX in St. Louis to listen to Jack Buck and Harry Caray as they so colorfully brought the Cardinals to life for me. These men taught me more about how to have fun and be successful in radio than any course I took or book I studied. Thanks guys!

Forrest ... the Corgi Comic

Memorial Day 2017

I'm just the guy with the girl everybody wants to know

“Being a high school class clown with nerd-like tendencies, it was far beyond my comprehension that I would someday be married to the most beautiful and wonderful woman in the world. But, I get ahead of myself. Back to high school where I was a girl-shy, Clearasil-using, bespectacled young lad who believed that the girls I liked would only be attracted to the team sports heroes and “cool” guys. So, I avoided eye contact with the girls … awkwardly stared at them from a distance … and attempted to make them laugh when I could muster up enough courage to actually open my mouth to utter a few words. Needless to say, I didn’t ask anyone to the prom (in fear of rejection) … and, during the two school dances I did attend, stood motionless against the gym wall along with the other SSFC members. (Scared Silly of Females Club)

Fast forward to May 18, 1996. As I stood at the alter holding hands with Janet while gazing into her sparkling brown eyes, I silently counted my blessings and resisted with all of my willpower the urge to run through the church giving high-fives to all of my friends while shouting “Can you believe that this incredibly beautiful, talented and loving woman is marrying me?!” My mind swirled and the sound of angelic singing brought me back to the alter. It was Janet singing to me and ME only … “Grow Old with Me.”

Here it is 21 years later and I still feel like racing down the street giving out high-fives and telling anyone who will listen … “I am married to the most marvelous, gifted, loving, caring, stunning woman in the world!”

Happy 21st Anniversary Janet! I love you more and more each passing day. 

(TBT photo that Janet gave me the Christmas before we were married. One of my favorites of my most amazing wife.)

Butt Dial

To hold my Butt Dialing to a minimum, I keep my phone in my front pocket. However, when I accidentally dial my wife, she tells me when I get home ... "your little buddy called me today." I think I'll start putting my phone in my back pocket again.

Lawn Chair Humanity

I remember, as a youth, my dad and mom sitting on those cheap, folding lawn chairs out in front of our opened garage. They were not alone. Neighbors all along the street were doing the same thing. Riding my bike down the street, I would get the friendly wave … a cheerful greeting … or the occasional “how about those Bulldogs?” (Our high school mascot was a Bulldog.) I could also keep tab on the Cubs as day baseball was in style and living in Illinois, Cub fans had their transistor radios tuned to WGN while sitting out on their driveways.

Today, it appears to me, that many people have disconnected from humanity by connecting to the internet. You can often find them, not sitting in the front of the house making face-to-face human contact, but “out back” on their deck or patio keeping tabs on their kids via text messages … annoying their Facebook friends with political rants … or anonymously using social media to “stir up the pot” on political, sports and social issues. I can’t remember ever overhearing my folks talk about not being friends with someone just because they were a democrat or republican. Dan, that rabid republican next door sure was nice for bringing over some of his delicious garden-grown tomatoes for no reason at all. And widow Brown, that die-hard democrat, sure was generous with those mouthwatering apple pies she so often shared. My dad was just as generous. He often sent me to Mrs. Brown’s house to mow her tiny lawn for her … just because it was the right thing to do.

I’m sure that I’m looking at the past through rose-colored glasses … but it does seem to me like people were less confrontational back in the day.

For my part, I’m off to “the Walmart” to get a cheap, yet colorful aluminum lawn chair. I’ll park myself out in front of the garage, leaving my smart phone inside the house. I’ll wave at the passersby’s … talk to the kids on their bikes … and on occasion shout out, “how about those Dawgs!” If I have not received a cease and desist email from my HOA in a week or so, I will pat myself on my back for reintroducing a teeny bit of humanity to the neighborhood.

Book of Spiff 7:55

When I find something I lost, I continue the search so that I can say, "I found it the second to last place I looked." 

Spiff 7:55

Book of Spiff 3:41

Been using voice recognition texting. 

It's nothing to write home about.

Spiff 3:41

Book of Spiff 8:55

I-85 collapses! To be renamed 

"Falcons Freeway"

"Spiff 8:55"

Book of Spiff 8:18

You're retired and in a public restroom

where a sign reads, 

"Wash hands before returning to work!"

 What do you do?

"Spiff 8:18"

Book of Spiff 5:57

Have you noticed that companies have made it easier for you to pay your bill and harder to for you to contact customer service?

"Spiff 5:57"

Book of Spiff 10:17

Television Network Newscast: 

50% Bad News 

5% Good News

45% Opinionated News

100% Worthless

"Spiff 10:17"

National Vietnam War Veterans Day

#NationalVietnamWarVeteransDay Thank you! #vietnamveteransday pic.twitter.com/Zv3GT8l32D

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) March 29, 2017

The Politician's Heart

Once upon a time a doctor tells his patient, “I’ve got bad news and good news for you.”
“Give me the bad news first,” the patient says.
“You need a heart transplant immediately,” replies the doc.
“What’s the good news?” the patient asks.
The doctor says, “I’ve got two potential donors. One was a 23-year-old vegetarian who won a gold medal in the Olympic marathon. He was run over by a truck while training. The other was a 53-year-old lifelong politician who weighed 230 pounds, smoked four packs of cigarettes and ate a two-pound steak with buttered potatoes every day for 30 years. He was shot by an irate constituent."
“I’ll take the politician's heart,” the patient says.
“Why would you want to do such a thing?” asked the doctor.
The patient replies …

“I want a heart that hasn’t been used.”

CumuLOST Media

Sometimes you play little mind games to kill some time. For example, I follow the stock market and noticed that Cumulus Media (the company that changed 106.7 from Atlanta's Greatest Hits to All News, and fired Randy and me) had a closing stock price of 41 cents a share today. I did a little research and some top notch ciphering (after removing my shoes so that I use both my fingers and toes when counting) and came up with this: If you would had invested $10,000 in Cumulus Media on the day they fired us back in late 2011 ... today that stock would be worth ... wait for it ...

$183.04. (That includes a 8-1 reverse stock split)

During that time the DJIA has gone up over 81%. In other words, you would have over $18,000 if you had invested that ten grand in a stock index fund back in late 2011.

Now, I'm not saying the Cumulus Media stock crashed because they fired Randy & Spiff. I imagine the stock price today would be worth even less if they kept us because I would have demanded an incredible salary to stay with such a mismanaged company. Anyway ... I've killed some time and feel happy that I did not invest in Cumulus Media.

Chuckie ... Chuckie ... Chuckie!

#RIP #ChuckBarris #TheGongShow #UnknownFans pic.twitter.com/ke2TopjK3h

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) March 22, 2017

RIP Chuck Berry

RIP Chuck Berry. I will always remember that night in the Georgia Dome (Fox 97 Ultimate Oldies Concert) when you handed me your Guitar cable, looked at me, smiled and said ... "Plug it in!" I popped it into the amp, and then Randy and I introduced you to the crowd and you "duck walked" across the stage like a twenty year old kid! Great music ... great memories. Thanks.

Just let me hear some of that Rock And Roll Music,
Any old way you choose it;
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it,
Any old time you use it.
It's gotta be Rock And Roll Music,
If you want to dance with me,
If you want to dance with me.

If you closely at tonight's sunset ... you may be able to see Chuck streaking towards Heaven in the lower portion of the photo. (Or ... it's a plane.)

Insert Twilight Zone music here

I am not a huge believer in the paranormal … but, this morning something interesting happened. Today would have been my late wife Duffy’s birthday. As I was getting something from the bottom cabinet of my office bookshelf, I heard something move and out of the corner of my eye saw an item falling off the top shelf. Luckily, I was able to grab the falling object before it hit the floor. That object just happened to be a small chalkboard in which Duffy (well over 24 years ago) had chalked a hand written message. It once hung by the back door to our home. That little chalkboard had been on that shelf for years and years. Why, today on what would have been Duffy’s birthday, it decided to fall … I have no idea. Moments before I was telling Janet how much I loved her, so perhaps Duffy was just showing me that she was happy with how my life after her turned out.

Or, I just closed the cabinet door too hard and it jarred the chalkboard off the shelf. I think I’ll go with the paranormal explanation. (Insert Twilight Zone theme music in your head now.)

Ash Wednesday

When I was a kid I thought #AshWednesday was when dad burnt the steaks on the #grill. #LongDayAgo #memories

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) March 1, 2017

Mystery of #AcademyAwards blunder solved! Backstage photo shows Spiff Carner and actor/comedian #JayThomas preparing to Punk the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/sFoeTCYmJW

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) February 28, 2017

Apparently the #Russians #hacked the official accountant of the #Oscars #PricewaterhouseCoopers. Well played, #Putin, #wellplayed.

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) February 27, 2017

Help! I can't get up.

You know you are doing a pretty good job at grand-parenting when:
A---After an overnight stay, your granddaughter cries and doesn't want to leave.
B---The moment she does leave, you both collapse from exhaustion on the floor and regret not having a "First Alert" necklace because you know it will be two to three days before you have the strength to move.

 

Monday Morning Mugshots

Time to take our minds off of politics, facebook rants, fake news, etc. Introducing Monday Morning Mugshots! Put up a mugshot from your past, make one, or post a photo of yourself that would make a good mugshot. Have fun ... and see you in lockup!

Spring Training

To make 43-year-old Bartolo Colón feel a lot younger, the Braves invited 60-something Spiff Carner to Spring Training. Unfortunately I tested positive for Metamucil and will miss the rest of the season.

Babbling Brook

Although I am not certain, I believe that today I stumbled upon that “Babbling Brook” we’ve all heard about so often. As I sat in this quiet serene place, with the soothing sounds of water flowing over the rocks, I listened closely to the brook hoping it would encompass me with its’ age-old wisdom. However, after about five minutes I realized that the brook was just repeating itself over and over again. I walked away … but for some time continued to hear the brook babble on and on as if I really cared about anything it was saying.

Pats 34 Falcons 28

Plan to protest because the #Falcons outplayed the #Pats 3 of 4 quarters. Never mind the rule of "most points win." #NotMySuperBowlChamps

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) February 6, 2017

The TIME is near ...

This is a Cirrus post.

Forrest ... the inside Corgi!

Everybody Panic! Snowing in Atlanta!

South Africa fun!

Visited Pilanesberg National Park while in South Africa.  Big animals and big fun! CLICK HERE for some of the photos I snapped.

My Air Force Vacation (1971-1974)

The United States Air Force Security Service (often abbreviated USAFSS) was essentially the United States Air Force's cryptographic intelligence/Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) branch; its motto was Freedom through Vigilance. It was created in October 1948 and operated until 1979, when the branch was re-designated the Electronic Security Command.

Composed primarily of airmen selected from the cream of the Air Force's enlisted recruits (the top 1/2 of 1 percent), the USAFSS was a secretive and tight-knit branch of Air Force cold warriors tasked with monitoring, collecting and interpreting military voice and electronic signals of countries of interest (which often were Soviet and their satellite Eastern bloc countries). USAFSS intelligence was often analyzed in the field, and the results transmitted to the National Security Agency for further analysis and distribution to other intelligence recipients.

Individual airmen, stationed at locations scattered across the globe, did a variety of jobs, almost all of them related to listening to and interpreting Eastern Bloc, Communist Chinese, and North Vietnamese military communications. Some airmen were linguists who listened to voice communications. Others - known as Morse intercept operators, or "ditty-boppers" - monitored Soviet and other nations' military Morse code broadcasts. Others (that would be me), such as non-Morse intercept operators, were engaged in monitoring other types of radio signals such as single and multi-channel radio printer signals and facsimile transmissions. All communications were reviewed and interpreted by analysts. 

These jobs, which required top secret code word clearance, were extremely high pressure and were considered essential to U.S. Cold War efforts. Members of the USAFSS were not allowed to discuss their jobs with outsiders—in fact, USAFSS members could not talk amongst themselves about their jobs unless they were in a secure location. Because of their value as targets (in Cold War Berlin, the capture of a USAFSS member was worth several thousand dollars), their off-base travel was severely restricted.

The activities of the USAFSS were declassified in 1997.

(Excerpts taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Security_Service)

I miss you mom

One year ago today we gathered around my mom in the hospital to celebrate her birthday. A few days later we gathered at the church to celebrate her life. I love you mom and miss you so much.

Debate Update

I’m turning off the #debate. Mom told me not to watch anything scary on #TV before bedtime because I would have #nightmares. #debatenight

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2016

Debate Update

I’ve decided to record the #debates and #BingeWatch them … when I’m 97 years old and senile. #debatenight

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2016

Debate Update

Official Review on #MondayNightFootball. If they had that during the #debate, #LesterHolt would have time for just 2 questions. #debatenight

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2016

Debate Update

#DonaldTrump is sniffing a LOT. I think #HillaryClinton may have given him a case of #pneumonia. #debatenight

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2016

Debate Update

Is it just me, or is this #debate absolutely #deplorable? #debatenight

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2016

Debate update

34% of voters think the #debates will impact their vote. The rest think the debates will impact their #TV viewing habits. #debatenight

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 27, 2016

Lucifer and the Debate

Just great! They preempted #Lucifer tonight. Oh wait, there’ll be #HillaryClinton and #DonaldTrump . That’ll be scarier. #debatenight

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 26, 2016

Blitz!

Who would you like to see get #sacked the most Monday night: #DrewBrees #MattRyan @realDonaldTrump or @HillaryClinton ? #Debates2016 #NFL

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 23, 2016

Are you ready for some football?

Janet asked me if I was going to sit on my butt all day long in front of the TV and watch professional football. I said, "Absolutely not! I'm going to watch the Falcons."

Never Forget

9-11 Field of Flags, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

You haven't aged one bit!

When you run into an old friend who you have not seen in ten years and they say to you, "You haven't aged a bit" ... it can mean only one of two things:
1--Your friend's eyesight is not what it once was ... or ...
2--You looked old ten years ago.

Star Trek 50th Anniversary

On this #StarTrek50 anniversary, may we remember all of the red-uniformed security officers who only lasted one episode. #RIP #lousyjob

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) September 8, 2016

Time Capsule

Time Capsule? I first hopped into this 2002 Trailblazer in the fall of 2001 at Tom Jumper Chevrolet. 15 years, 208,000 miles, family vacations, college visits, weddings, funerals, five radio stations, ballgames, concerts, recitals and oh, so much more. Thanks "Lucy" for keeping our family safe as we traveled through time together. What do you say we keep it up a while longer?

RIP Gene Wilder

#RIP #GeneWilder (Now, if only #Hilllary and #Donald would follow Gene's advice, we could have some peace and quiet) pic.twitter.com/uG2ZGsjRxQ

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) August 29, 2016

An Angel Named Andrew

            “You know how much I love animals.  Especially dogs. But how about waiting ‘til we get out of this apartment into a home with a big back yard?”  It was my last ditch attempt to convince my wife Duffy that this was not a good time for a pet. 

            She smiled, handed me the car keys and said, “They’re expecting us to pick him up in 30 minutes.”  Two hours later an angel moved into our apartment.

            Let me back up just a bit.  The year was 1987.  My partner Randy and I were morning DJ’s at a radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Charlotte, a growing metropolis, had just been awarded a NBA franchise.  Professional basketball was coming to the Carolinas!  The team didn’t even have a nickname yet.  So naturally one morning we decided to name them.  We came up with “The Fighting Corgis.”

            A corgi is a dog that originated in Wales and it has a long body, short legs, and a fox-like head with huge ears.  There are two breeds of Welsh Corgis.  The Cardigan, which has a long tail, … and the Pembroke that has no tail at all.  Randy & I decided on the Pembroke because, well, it looked funnier. 

            After just a few days of campaigning for the nickname “The Fighting Corgis” we were inundated with irate phone calls from Corgi breeders.  They were very upset that we had the gall to call their sweet pets “Fighting” dogs.  We were invited to a local dog show to meet with the breeders and their beloved dogs.  That’s the first day I met “Andrew.” 

            Andrew was a tri-color Pembroke Corgi.  Six months old and ready to take on the world.  Duffy fell in love with him immediately and after two days of useless arguing we had a new roommate. 

            The first night home I put Andrew on a leash and took him outside for a short walk where he quickly decided that my foot looked like a fireplug.  I grabbed him by his collar, lifted him to my face and snarled, “That’s strike one!”

            Two days later I walked into the apartment and there, standing over what was left of my large photo album, was Andrew with what appeared to be a picture of me tightly between his jaws.  I lurched forward, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and whispered through my clenched teeth, “That’s strike two!” 

            I would never make it to strike three.  Andrew quickly won over my heart.  He had Duffy’s heart from day one.  The three of us became inseparable.  We took long walks.  We played with tennis balls until they no longer looked like balls at all. And we would fall asleep together exhausted from our daily adventures.

            We moved from the apartment to that home with a big fenced-in back yard.  Andrew loved it.  Duffy would plant flowers, Andrew would rearrange them, and I would laugh.  Little did I realize it at the time, but a new challenge and a life-changing event was just around the corner. 

            In December of 1988 Randy and I were fired in Charlotte but quickly found a new morning radio job in Atlanta, Georgia.  Things could not have been better.  Then in late 1991 Duffy caught what we thought was bad case of the flu.  Her cough just wouldn’t let up.  Early in 1992 Duffy was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Andrew never left her side.  Duffy died in my arms on January 22, 1993.  

I was lost.  So was Andrew.  He would put his head on the windowsill and gaze down the driveway waiting for Duffy to come home.  I would often lie next to him hoping for the same thing.   When I started to cry Andrew would immediately cuddle up next to me and put his chin directly on my cheek to dry the tears.  He would then gently press down with his chin as if to say, “It’s going to be ok.”  We repeated this ritual time and time again.  Andrew became my shadow and together we began our recovery. 

            I gradually re-entered the real world and began to date again.  Andrew was always friendly with my dates but took no particular interest until he met Janet.  Janet was a single mom with two fantastic and wonderful daughters, Lauren and Meredith.  Beautiful, talented, intelligent and caring … Janet healed my heartache and I fell in love.  Andrew too was in love with Janet and the kids.  We were married on May 18, 1996. 

            The years flew by … the girls were growing up … Andrew was an old man.  He had back surgery in June of 1999.  Then one year later he began to have problems eating.  He couldn’t keep food down.  His back legs were almost useless.  And finally he would not eat at all.  I had a tough decision to make. 

            Janet and I talked … I prayed … and on Friday night July 21, 2000 I decided it was time to let Andrew go. 

            I snuggled up next to him that last night and began to cry.  He looked up and slowly put his chin and my cheek and gently pressed down … “It’s going to be ok.”

            Saturday afternoon at the Veterinarian Clinic I held Andrew tightly.  I thought of everything that he had done for Duffy, Janet, Lauren, Meredith and me.  I don’t know if I would have made it without him.  He was indeed an angel.  The needle pierced Andrews’s front leg.  I held his face close to mine.  Our eyes met.  I put my chin on his nose and gently pressed down.  He closed his eyes.  “It’s going to be ok.”

Reconnect

I had excuses. OK, I was lazy. For whatever reasons I had not hiked Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park in several weeks. But today … we reconnected. The beauty, the sounds of nature, the solitude … it was all waiting for me. Like old friends, we picked up right where we left off. I walked, my mind wandered, a smile encompassed my face, I counted my blessings. The beautiful park once again embraced me.

 “It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” -- Henry David Thoreau

Tall Tales

I am really looking forward to the #BrianWilliams #RyanLochte interview. #talltales

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) August 18, 2016

Forrest is hungry!

Thrifty

I now have In-DirectTV. I use binoculars to watch my neighbor's television. I only lose the signal when they close the shades. #directtv #TV

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) August 16, 2016

Battery free calculator!

It's the back to school sales tax holiday in Georgia! I scored this handheld calculator that doesn't need a battery!


NOTE: I like to go to Starbucks, sit down between two people using their laptops, start playing with my slide rule while furiously scribbling down numbers and math formulas on a yellow legal pad using my mechanical pencil. Then I will suddenly stop, grab my cell phone, call home and shout ... "It's 7.69915! The asteroid will strike earth exactly 32 and a half miles northwest of Chattanooga, TN!

SlugBug

I’ve been experimenting with this for months and finally have a working model. I “MacGyvered” my Fitbit into a SlugBug. I now accumulate points while sitting at the computer, laying on the couch or just being a sloth. At the end of the day the readout on my SlugBug shows me what movies I could have watched while being a couch potato. For example, yesterday I was inactive long enough to have seen “Pearl Harbor” (3 hours 3 minutes), “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2 hours 59 minutes) and 3 episodes of “Modern Family.” At the end of the week (if I accumulate enough laziness points) I get a free Netflix movie. I will let you know when I get out of the Beta-Testing stage. SlugBugs will only be sold online and delivered to your front door, because who would ever want to get their fat butt off the couch to drive somewhere to pick one up? Look for me soon on “Shark Tank.”

Game of Thrones

If you want to see a real #GameofThrones ... put 3 people prepping for a #colonoscopy in an apartment with only 2 toilets. #LetTheFunBegin

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) June 27, 2016

Brexit?

I had a bad case of #Brexit in college. Itched like heck and took almost a month for the rash to completely disappear. #EU #GreatBritain

— Spiff Carner (@spiffhappens) June 24, 2016