I'm coming out, I'm a left leaning Liberaltarian

Picture from "The World's Smallest Political Quiz" (facebook edition) I scored 100% on the social and 50% on the economic.

I had lunch with my dad yesterday, he commented to the Mayor of Cheraw that he doesn't know where he went wrong, that throughout my formative years that I was a conservative and was a Republican (which is true) but that I have become a raging liberal. And while I tentatively hold that title in my mind - it's not really true.

I'm reminded of a conversation with Waldo over at Waldo Lydecker's Journal, who recounted his own political journey from being a young Republican in South Carolina in the 70's when no one was a Republican and being a part of the Reagan Revolution. But he's no longer a Republican. The Republican Party, and to the point Conservatism he said, left him - he didn't leave the party. It's why today he laughs about recently being rated so highly on both the 'conservative' and 'liberal' indexes over at Blog Net News, before the Aggregators realized they had him categorized at both. But that's just it - he is. And so am I, it's why we're bloggy pals.

But what to call ourselves? We're neither 'Democrats' nor Republicans though perhaps we've trended Democratic as the 'right' has pushed those who aren't ideologically pure out (whatever ideological purity means today).

I only realized today that there even was a name for such folks outside of the old South Park Republicans (but we're not Republicans anymore!), and apparently it's been around since at least 2006: Liberaltarians.

And why not? I read tihs which Sullivan quoted:

... conservatives are vile, that conventional liberals are too deep in the pocket of the Democratic Party to actually promote prosperity and opportunity, and that Libertarians are dogmatic, weird, and irrelevant.

It's from Will Wilkinson's post, The Hope and Horror of Liberaltarianism, which I then read and made the connection. And while I am certainly a little further left, I think I more identify with this appellation and school of thought than the vile 'conservatives', conventional liberals and cooky libertarians.

It's like a second coming out of sorts.

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QOTD: Sanford is completely out of touch

It’s just another example of how Gov. Sanford is out of touch with the people of South Carolina. As many others have, Mark Sanford has lived a privileged life, one that nearly all of South Carolina could only dream about. He does not know and has never known what it is like to be in the situation many South Carolinians find themselves in today. However, the difference between the governor and many other wealthy citizens is that he does not care about the predicament facing the average, hardworking South Carolinian. There is no doubt that the governor, from his ivory tower of comfort, can pontificate about political philosophy until the cows come home, but what he cannot do is look into the eyes of the average South Carolinian and understand the meaning of the word “struggle.”

- Representatives Ted Vick (D-Chesterfield) and

Boyd Brown (D-Chester), The State.

I'm proud to be a Cheravian.

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Mental Health Break

This is how we sang it in 5th grade Chorus under the instruction of our Vice Principal Mr. Hicks, we didn't sing it like these folks -- but we still had fun. Oh, and don't forget the Cinnamon.

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Blogging Break

Taking a blogging break as I head to Cheraw this weekend for the SC Jazz Festival. See you all next week!

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Cooking with Mattie Mae: Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken

Well people seemed to like my chicken salad recipe, so I thought I'd share what I'm cooking for my little debate get together on Tuesday night -- crock pot barbecue chicken. It's a simple family recipe of sorts. All it is, is an onion or two sliced thinly - some chicken thighs (or leg quarters) and the most important ingredient of all, Carolina Treet barbecue sauce. 

Now as an aside, I went to Publix down in the Vista and was rather disappointed by the fact that they don't carry Carolina Treet - but they used to... But I did find it at Food Lion, a store that has always carried the sauce and I hope always will.

So you put your sliced onions and the chicken in the pot and drench it, just drench it in the sauce. The secret, as they say, is in the sauce. Cook it on low all day and by the supper time arrives it's ready.

But you don't have to take my word for it - in fact, check out this review of the sauce. It's vinegar based and made in the region I grew up, Eastern Carolina in the Pee Dee and Cape Fear basins. The author of the review says,

This is a thinner sauce than what you usually buy at the grocery. It is a little thicker than the traditional pork vinegar sauce. I can't really think of a good comparison. It really is unique.

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The hiatus continues....

....but I did want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers as we dealt with my mom's resurgence of melanoma. The doctors report came back and they got it all, the pathology reports came back and her lymph nodes were clean - no cancer. An oncologist is still going to look at the nodes and the results to see what therapy, if any, she'll need post op. So thank you all again, God Bless and know that my family deeply appreciates each and everyone of you!

Hopefully I'll be back soon with more for everyone, but these next few weeks are going to be Über fast paced.

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Melanoma Redux

It's been 2 years since my bout with melanoma, and last week held some promising news for future instances of the cancer, but in the meantime, I'm off to Cheraw to be with my family as my mom does battle with this formidable skin cancer for the second time in 17 years. She recently had a melanoma develop on her right arm (eerily close to the original tumor site 17 years ago) as well as two melanomas appear on her back, each shoulder blade respectively.

She's already had one set of surgery to remove the lesions from location but pathology reports that they didn't get clean enough margins from any of the cuts, which means they have to excise more from the regions of the incisions to make sure they get all of the cancerous cells. More problematic was the nature of the lesion on her arm, it was considerably more advanced than the lesions on her back - though admittedly the family hasn't revealed to what extent the cancer has been staged though mom insists that it's only stage two. Because of the severity of the cancer on her arm she'll have a Lymphadenectomy for the nodes under her right arm pit. It also appears that she'll have to go through a round or so of interferon. The second round of surgery happens tomorrow morning.

So say some prayers for the Mei family in the coming days as mom recovers and say a prayer for the promising new treatment in this cancer that it proves as successful as it promises and that we'll be able to implement it soon enough.

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Long weekend away

I'm out folks, off to the home front for a long Mother's Day weekend.

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SC shaken by latest School Violence

As is always the case, when the national news media turns it's probing eyes on the people of South Carolina, it's rarely with rose tinted lenses. Today isn't any different as the people in Mei Country are all rattled at the prospects of what could have been the worst case of school violence in recent South Carolina memory.



The residents of Chesterfield County are on edge today as police have Chesterfield High School bunkered down. This past weekend a young man was arrested after his parents received a delivery to their home of substantial amounts of bomb making materials.



So our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Chesterfield and the surrounding areas (including Cheraw) as they try and grapple with such a sad situation whose tragic outcomes have been averted. More at The State.

::Updated:: It appears that the list of charges against the young man are lenghtening as the Federal Government is stepping in on the case. Of concern is the fact that the materials to be used in the bomb were shipped via the US Postal Service.

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Bethune, SC - Town goes Green

Well the plans and ideas that I had envisioned for my own home town when Papa Mei took office after his November victory have been co-opted by a neighboring town in the Sandhills.

Bethune, SC long home to the Chicken Strut and one-light stop on the Hwy 1 route to Columbia has become one of South Carolina's first "Green Towns." According to WLTX out of Columbia the city installed 48 Solar Panels on its town hall and look forward to setting an example to other midlands and sand hills communities in the effort to Go Green.

SCBiz has a lengthy article from their March 19 edition about the process for the small town, which involved being awareded a $125,000.00 Grant for their plan dubbed "Peacefully Green."

"The roof of the Town Hall building is wide open and faces south" where it catches the most light. The photovoltaic solar panels will generate 8kW of electricity, which, according to Lensch is enough to power one to two homes for a year. It will generate about half of the town hall's total electricity and will offset approximately 11,400 pounds of CO2 emissions annually."

Read More Here.

WLTX reports that any excess power produced by the panels is hoped to be sold back to the local Power Company.

The panels are being installed by a company with locations in Columbia and Charlotte, Agrand Energy Solutions.

Congratulations to the town of Bethune in this great Green effort!

Now back to the drawing boards for the Prettiest Town in Dixie...

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The Gospel of Meme

I stand before you today a grandson grieving. I come to share my grief with you and share in your grief for the loss of a life, the life of a woman who was so many things to each of us, but in our shared experience one who was so dear. One who has left an indelible mark on our lives not only for who she was but also for the lessons she taught us on how to live a life full and rich in the blessings of God and of Love, as a Christian woman and child of God.

I’ve wracked my brains over the past couple of days on just what to share, to recall those “Great moments” I was blessed to experience with Meme. The more I thought about it, the harder it was to think of singular great moments. I’ve soon come to realize in my short life I’ve not experienced so-called “Great Moments” with my Meme. What I have come to remember and recall are those shared moments of intimate simplicity and those lessons she taught by word and example of life and love. In the wake of the sense of Loss, details have become muddled, but it doesn’t matter. These Moments and lessons compared to any of the great historical figures probably pale and seem rather banal n the eyes of the rest of the world. But they were moments and lessons none the less that got to the heart of who and what she was and affected me and obviously all of you and the many that couldn’t be here.

It reminded me of someone else who like my Meme and many of us was of humble origins and who throughout life touched and taught many people simple values about Life and of Love, and of God. The very people who were touched by that life were set with the same daunted task that falls before us. How to celebrate, understand and remember not only that Person, but also how to apply those experiences shared and those lessons learned in their lives and share it with others.

Biblical Scholarship has told us that the sayings and sermons of Jesus in the Gospels were not singular events of note that some one happened to be carrying around quill and parchment dutifully copying, but were heard on many occasions by not only those faithful followers but many more. The Sermon on the Mount probably was heard on many hill tops around Galilee and Judea, the parables were probably taught in the various towns and villages the region over, time and time again. And still there were those intimate moments of breaking Bread with Him that were shared in many homes. But everyone who shared in his life who experienced his teachings remembered those lessons and messages and experiences – that Gospel none the less.

Galatians2: 20 says - "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. This is the call of the Christian and it is in the Spirit of this truth that I ask:

So what then is Our Gospel of Meme? What is the Good News that she brought to us and we were privileged to share in with her?

The Meme I remember was the Matriarch of the Family. Meme was a church going woman who for years I recall singing in the choir and who would sit in the pews with us grandchildren and would give us a mint if we got to comfortable or if the Pastor’s message wasn’t as interesting to us as her. She marked her Bible and took notes. She gave us quarters or dollar bills to put in the offering plate. As much as she was a Pillar in our formation as kids as we all got older we always gave her due deference in regard to matters that affected us individually and as a family. Her opinion on any matter had a way of settling things, her blessings quieted concerns.

The Meme I remember enjoyed being with people. She might not have been able to get out much on her own these past few years, but there wasn’t a single person that I recall her talking to on the phone not telling them before hanging up that she loved them. Every Christmas she sent out a mountain of cards to persons far and near, many family, all friends and looked forward to hearing from them or receiving cards as well. There wasn’t a single person that came in the door that she didn’t try and give them something or tell them that she loved them.

The Meme I remember was a source of constant comfort even when comfort didn’t seem necessary. She was the woman sitting in her chair on Chatham Drive, looking out the picture window at the people passing by, who when I came to visit would let me sit in her chair with her, snuggle up on her shoulder and she would sing and hum various old gospel tunes. It didn’t matter how big I got, from the time I was a small child, to even the grown man I am today, I had a place of comfort, of warmth and love sitting in her chair or more recently in the hospital bed or nursing home bed with her talking of news or nothing at all as she would gently rub my arm or scratch my back and she would hum or sing. And when she did the sorrows of the world, even the joys seemed to melt away and not matter.

The Meme I remember was a devoted Wife. I remember she would sit in her chair with Pas opposite her and aggravate the hound out of him. I’ve come to realize and know something that I’ve always known was true but became ever more so in the past year and a half - since his passing - and in his absence just how much she loved that him. I’ve come to appreciate that she didn’t cajole him out of malice, usually, but just because she loved him and he needed to be cajoled so he could share in her excitement for life and love.

The Meme I remember showed strength and dignity and patience during times of adversity. In the Hospital during Pas’ last days I pushed her wheelchair up to the bed and watched as she rose. She leaned over his bed and whispered his name; she called to him telling him that she loved him. She just kept calling to him, telling him that she loved him, and assuring him that things would be ok, that she put everything in God’s hands, that she couldn’t hold on to him anymore, to let go and go home to God. She leaned over him, and rubbed his hair away from his forehead, calling out to him. She sat back down so I could wheel her over to the other side of the bed and she could sit and hold his hand keeping silent watch.

See her Gospel isn’t that much different than Jesus’. Hers was a Gospel of Loving the Lord her God with all her heart, with all her Soul and Loving her family, her neighbors even strangers as herself.

Hers was one of feeding the hungry, whether physically or spiritually with the fruits of the Spirit poured out on her, or with her Chicken and dumplings or collards or baked ham or whatever she touched in a kitchen.

Hers was a Gospel of welcoming the stranger by speaking to all and with words of hope and gentleness and care and telling everyone she loved them.

Hers was a Gospel of caring for the Ill, either by taking care of her children or grandchildren when they couldn’t go to school or praying constantly for those faced with the many ills that life presents and the sins that imprison us.

Hers was a Gospel of Faith, Hope and Love shared with all, the greatest of which was her Love for each of us.

But her Gospel is not complete with just my words. These are but a few memories. This is only a portion which is made full by the memories in the hearts and minds of all of you gathered memories that we all share and carry forward.

Thank you for taking the time to join with our family today in sharing our pain of Loss, but more importantly for sharing in the joy that we have experienced in knowing this formidable Woman of God that has been Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and most importantly friend.

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Missing My Meme

What a precious and gift and high honor to have a grandparent.

Juanita 'Tillie' Kelly Butler December 7, 1930 - February 9, 2008

The Eulogy: The Gospel of Meme

Today my Meme went to join my Pas in Heaven. I'm missing her, but I'm glad I got to see her and speak with her this morning. To tell her I love her, and to hear her say that she loves me. I'm going to miss her and as suprising as the days events were, to loose her so quickly without the long drawn out struggle that was witnessed with my Pas' passing, I know forever she'll be in my heart - holding me close just like she did when I was a little kid, just like she did even this last Christmas, and even today in her most fragile of states telling me that she loves me.

I love you Meme.

From the Office of the Dead, from a letter by Saint Braulio, bishop:

Lazarus our friend is sleeping. In saying this, Christ who is the hope of all believers refers to the departed as those who are asleep. By no means does he regard them as dead.

Paul the apostle does not want us to greive about those who have fallen asleep. Our faith tells us that all who believe in Christ will never die; indeed faith assures us that Christ is not dead, nor shall we die.

The Lord himself will come down from heaven and there will be the command of the archangel's voice and the sound of the trumpet; then those who were united with Christ in death will rise.

Let the hope of resurrection encourage us, then, because we shall seee again those whom we lose here below. Of course, we must continue to believe firmly in Christ; we must continue to obey his commandments. His power is so great that it is easier for him to raise the dead to life than it is for us to arouse those who are sleeping. As we are saying all these things some unknown feeling causes us to burst into tears; some hidden feeling discourages the mind which tries to trust and to hope. Such is the sad human condition; without Christ all of life is utter emptiness.

O death! You separate those who are joined to each other in marriage. You harshly and cruelly divide those whom friendship unites. But your power is broken. Your heinous yoke has been destroyed by the One who sternly threatened you when Hosea cride out: O Death! I shall be your death. And with the words of the Apostle we, too, deride you: O death! Where is your victory? O death! Where is your sting!

Your conqueror redeemed us. He handed himself over to wicked men so that he could transform the wicked into persons who were truly dear to him. It would take too long to narrate all the consolations intended for our benefit in the Scriptures. But by focusing our attention upon the glory of our Redeemer there is sufficient hope for our resurrection. Through faith we know that we are already risen from the dead. The Apostle writes: If we have died with Christ, we believe that we are at the same time living with him.

We do not really belong to ourselves; we belong to the One who redeemed us. Our will should always depend on his. For this reason we say in the Lord's Prayer: Your will be done. Confronted with death, the sentiments of Job should be our won: The Lord gave and the Lord took away. May his name be blessed! Let us repeat here and now what Job said, lest we turn out to be unlike him, when our time comes.

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Nothing says 'Romance!' like.... Cheraw, SC

I get a semi-monthly newsletter from the great city of Cheraw, well - not from the government but from a marketing surrogate called Discover Cheraw. (I've previously noted them here). This month's newsletter includes a description of a Valentine's getaway package for those lovers who'd like to spend the Saintly day of Sweet Sentiments in a surely southern city.

Here's the deal:

"For these three evenings, two romantic packages will be offered. The "Sweetheart" package includes dinner for two at El-Sherif's, located at 217 Second Street, or at The Mayflower, 309 Chesterfield Highway."

You also get your photo taken, a single long stemmed rose, and the kicker - a romantic carriage ride through the historic downtown.

They have an additional package that also throws in a free night in the Jameson Inn (the nicer hotel in town).

If you're interested check out the full details here. Gotta give props to the hometown y'all.

And yes the fountain* is new to centennial park since the Jazz Festival. I think it's a nice touch.

_____________________
*Photo from the DiscoverCheraw.com

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The First Wave.....

Gotta love a PSA! The State has a couple of responses to my letter about 17 year olds and the vote. I'll mine through the other
periodicals given some time after their publication.

In regard to Mattheus Mei's letter Friday (“Some 17-year-olds are eligible to vote”), I don’t know what the schools are currently doing, but
when I was a 17-year-old high school senior at Andrew Jackson High School in the fall of 1979, I was given the opportunity at school to become a registered voter so that I could vote in the primary in January 1980.

Most of us took advantage of that opportunity 28 years ago, so I assumed that this was a common practice by now. It really is a shame if it’s not, because that event made such an impact on me that I’ve not missed a single presidential or gubernatorial election since.

I did learn in school what an honor it is to live in a democratic nation and the importance of voting, especially as a woman. I’m thankful for my teachers and my alma mater for giving me that opportunity and instilling in me the importance of voting.

ANITA
WOOD
Lexington

and....

In response to Mattheus Mei's letter, at Lexington High School, this past week, we registered more than 100 new young, first-time voters so that they could indeed participate in the primaries next month.

This was a bipartisan effort led by the Lexington High School Young Democrats and Young Republicans clubs.

I am confident that this has taken place in many other high schools around the Midlands and the state. At Lexington, we have taken a proactive approach in educating our students about their civic responsibilities and provided them with the knowledge that they can use to become informed, lifelong voters.
KELLY EVANS
Lexington

As Queen Greene stated to me in an e-mail, it's good to know that some people read the paper.


But even more importantly, it's good to know that by taking part in the process schools have produced more conscientious citizens. In the case of Lexington High I'd say I'm surprised they have an organization of Young Democrats and Young Republicans, but then I'm reminded that Lexington High is the size of a small Liberal Arts College, and that despite being a county school, it's a sight more Urban (I would add Urbane, but that's a stretch) than say Lee County, or even the schools in Cheraw that I attended.


And unfortunately I must disagree with Ms. Evans, South Carolina is still a rural state, and though it's wonderful that in Urban Centers that this is normative, I don't believe it's normative in other areas of the state. Yes Ms. Wood did attend AJH which is in Kershaw county but I believe this was the end of an era as it were, because it's with in the 80's that you see the paralysis and apathy of Youth begin.

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The Dream Ticket?

There's been much discussion as of late on the iconic dream ticket and who would be required to be on that ticket for it to work. CNN is reporting (from the Republican side) that GOP Dark Horse Mike Huckabee might not be the strongest candidate to face off against any of the top Dems in '08, and reminds the GOP that it behooves the Republicans to remember McCain, interestingly enough that's the reminder from this week's issue of The Economist. But Republicans aren't the only one being chided. The CNN post reminds Dems not to forget Mr. Edwards.


In an interview this morning with WCRE, despite being in attendance at the Obama-Winfrey Rally and finding myself enchanted and mesmerized by the golden tongued Senator from Illinois I found myself unable to commit 100% to his camp. Actually in a conversation with Queen Greene the other night, I found myself identifying more with the rhetoric and philosophy of Obama than who he supports, Mr. Edwards, but again failed to fully commit. There is the nagging question of is he ready for the full mantle? He's a freshman Senator who hasn't even completed his first term. He's got roots in the community. Conversely Mr. Edwards was a trial lawyer for years, became a one term Senator, then a Vice-Presidential nominee before becoming a power house figure on the grass roots community scene. Perhaps Mr. Obama would better serve as a VP candidate for Mr. Edwards?

Ms. Winfrey told those in attendance that the experience of office doesn't make a good President. This is true for both Mr. Edwards and Mr. Obama and contrary to what Mrs. Clinton is touting. But it's in the back of my mind is he ready? I understand the quote from Dr. King about the fierce urgency of now. But I can't help but wonder.



I know what my good friend and political-junkie would say, you can't put some one on the ticket who is going to outshine the Primary Candidate, or something to that affect. And he's right... I guess where I am now is this Thought. Of the Democratic Candidates for me.. the most viable and electable are Obama and Edwards. Edwards would surely not be VP nominee again, but it would be almost as much an ideological defeat if Obama were to be named VP. I wish we could mold them into one person. There's so much that each have to offer that make them such a dynamic duo. For some reason, as a person removed generationally, when I think of them together, the philosophies, it's akin to imagining what it was like to see JFK and RFK hashing it out on policies. Perhaps that's a bit of my own idealism.


I'm sure people on the right are wondering too. Wondering, what about a McCain/Huckabee ticket. I don't know though, I believe and hope that the year of the elephant has passed. It is my fervent belief and hope that we're entering into the age of the Donkey.

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Cheraw High, Dear Cheraw High

From The State

We sing thy praise as days go by....

That's part of the ole Alma Mater. Cheraw High Braves came to Columbia today looking for their 2nd straight State Championship, this year against Upper State Champs Chapman. We nailed them 58-14. Chapman touchdowns were scored late in the 1st quarter and late in the 4th quarter, while Cheraw seemed to score every time they had possession. It was beautiful. I remarked to my cousin it would have been nice to see Chapman stuck with 7 and Cheraw climb over 70 (sound un-sportsman like eh? Well we're a small school and people really don't give us enough credit). But in the end Coach Johnny White showed mercy.

Congratulations to the Braves! You've made Cheraw proud!!!

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Thanksgiving Break

I'm taking a break from Blogging to celebrate Thanksgiving, I'm sure I'll have a few posts "cooked up" when I return to civilisation after the sumptuous holiday. In the mean time, please Enjoy your Turkey Day and eat and drive carefully!



And GO GAMECOCKS! Beat those Tigers!!!!

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More from Cheraw

More pictures related to this post can be found here.
I've been riding by this sign for years when traveling to and from Cheraw. Every time I see it I get a big kick out of it, because though it is a spelling mistake for the Palm Reader who uses it to advertise her business, I doubt most persons would understand that to be a real word - an old word, but a real one none the less. A physic is a medicine that usually purges, it can refer to - in Elizabethan English, to the doctor some one who heals/cures. In the metaphysical, I suppose knowing one's fortune in a way can act as a Physic, because knowing what is to happen would be cathartic and purgative in some way. Any who...

After the Christmas Parade in Cheraw yesterday I went to the Dizzy Gillespie Birthplace town park for an even sponsored by Obama '08. It was a quaint little BBQ on a chilly day in Cheraw, a handful of people were scattered around the park. Quaint is an appropriate word for the event. It wasn't a sumptuous packed affair that would be held in Cheraw in honor of say - John Edwards. Granted Obama hasn't been to Cheraw, and something tells me he probably wouldn't, but I certainly commend the organizers for holding various forums and events in support of him.

Later in the evening I headed out to Rawtown Coffee (I'm still pleasantly surprised that the people of Cheraw have it within them to support a coffee shop, big hand to Cheravians!) for the musical styling of Jason Beckham. He was pretty good, his music especially one song he played I'd love to watch a train) is very soulful. Here's a video from the 40 Watt in Athens GA of another song. He said Nashville rejected him because his music was to vague. I believe they may mean too deep.

After that I went home went to bed and hit the road and that's when I pulled over in East Camden to take the above picture. I'm sure that was a sight to see as I pulled off the main highway practically straddling the sidewalk to take that picture. Oh well, it was worth it, I've been telling myself that I was going to take a picture of that and finally did.

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Post 100!!!

That above is a picture of Sissy Mae, and my Nephew W.T. Mae, representing the Mae Family with royal style

And to celebrate this milestone, this post is dedicated to my nephew, the King of the Christmas Parade. (Today was Cheraw's Christmas Parade) Despite all the travel (November = Travel), I managed to get up at the crack of early this morning and hit the road and made it in time to see one of the largest parades in Cheraw. Three bands, several floats, several Beauty Queens, and top it off with my Dad and my Nephew(and Sister). Dad was on a float representing the Radio Station.

Look at Papa Mei represent!

This is just a really old and really cool building, I think it would be fabulous to renovate and turn into a printing store, a place for stationary copy services etc, and why? Well why else but the name of the place...

But I digress... any who for the rest of the pictures of the Cheraw Christmas Parade (and I know, I know, we're not in Advent yet, and Thanksgiving hasn't passed, but this is the only time to do the Parade without it being frigid, so I suppose "Anticipation of the Upcoming Holiday Season would be more appropriate, but oh well). Any who, to see the rest of the pictures, click here. It's a public Facebook Photo-Album.

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Great Security...

Well, it's wonderful news to hear on a Thursday Morning when I fly out tomorrow to back home to South Carolina. CNN Reports that GAO officials (Government Accountability Office) were able to sneak bomb materials through airport security at 19 airports across the nation. What Airports are these???? It wouldn't matter if it were the Cheraw Municipal Airport or JFK, security is paramount and the speaks (1) to the quality of people hired, and (2) to the quality of, or lack of, training that they receive. Absolutely ridiculous!!!!

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