Snow Christmas Football

football-1993-12.gifThe roughly annual touch football game had two firsts this year: Danny joined the usual four horsemen, and it snowed during the game. In fact, the wind and snow got so strong, that we didn’t complete the “First to Five.”

Grant and Dad stood myself, Ted, and Danny. The last time Dad and Grant were on the same team, Danny had ridden his big wheel around the school parking lot while Ted and I got trounced.

No trouncing this year. Dad said that the slippery Livsey Park field helped even things up, but it may have been that Danny was enough of a secret weapon.

The real highlight of the game came when I lateraled a ball to Danny, who then threw it sideways to Ted who then passed it to me for a touchdown. This was not planned. In fact, I’m not sure that all rules were obeyed in this improvised plan, but Dad and Grant were so amazed by the whole thing, that they never considered it was anything but a perfectly executed razzle-dazzle play. We have yet to confess.

The game was called because of snow, Dad and Grant up 3 to 2. We hurried off the field to escape the biting wind and snow and all squeezed in Ted’s Honda Civic.

As we pulled into the driveway, Dad came up with the idea that the boys carry him in pretending to be wounded. We carried him in moaning, and laid him at Mom’s feet in the kitchen. Neither she nor Kathy fell for it, but of course Nicole was very concerned. Kelly thought Grandad was funny laying on the floor.

Tricky Thanksgiving Marshmallows

Over my week of Thanksgiving vacation I accomplished the following:

  • Raked leaves.
  • Got my oil leak fixed on the Fox.
  • Fixed the downstairs toilet (new wax ring.)
  • Built a shelf in the basement.
  • Read “Sphere” by Michael Crichton
  • Stayed overnight with Ted and Josh Williams at the Nicholas House.

For Thanksgiving dinner, we went over to Tom and Jeannette’s. On the car ride over, Danny said that he hoped we would have sweet potatoes with toasted marshmallows.

When we got there, Danny reviewed the fixings. The sweet potato casserole had not been cooked. Danny went over to Kathy and whispered that the sweet potatoes had eggs on top. The yet toasted large marshmallows tricked him.

Charlie spent most of her time out on the deck watching us, very nervous about Chris, Tom Jr., and Tom Sr. Jeannette managed to feed her.

Tooth Update

Danny finally lost his first tooth last Saturday. Actually, he had me pull it out. The tooth fairy visited him and left a dollar. He took his magnifying glass and found a wing print on his window as well a scuff mark near the baseboard. Danny has deduced that the tooth fairy is much taller than I thought.

Kelly has had only two bottom teeth for the longest time. She now has two upper teeth coming in, but not the two middle teeth! We’re afraid she will end up looking like a little vampire.

I have brushed Charlie’s teeth twice now. She tolerates me doing this. In fact she enjoys biting down on the brush when I do her molars, or whatever a dog’s back teeth are called.

(Note: We have decided to call Foxseas Starkist Tuna “Charlie” instead of “Kisser”. Charlie Fishback, named after some friend of Grandma Petrides. I just could not see myself standing on the front porch yelling “Kisser!”)

Spelling Bee Compitition

[Nicole writes:]

Jackson [a Vizsla] came over today. I like him. He is nice. We got a dog named Kisser but we changed the name to Charlie Fishback. Charlie didn’t feel very comfortable when Jackson and Bill came over. She kept growling and doing half-barks. Danny and I would throw a ball to Jackson which was fun. After Jackson left Charlie would grab a ball in her mouth and start playing Throw-The-Toy. I’m glad I met him.

I got into the school spelling bee. I have a l-o-o-o-ong list to study. Last year I was runner-up and this year I accomplished Going to the school spelling bee. My goal is to get into the county compitition.

Brady Bill

I took the week off and the kids were home, so we were all gathered around the kitchen table in the morning.

Nicole pointed to the headlines and asked, “Why do they call President Clinton ‘Brady Bill’?”

I looked at the headline that read “Brady Bill Passed By Senate.”

I told her that it was because President Clinton was the #1 Brady Bunch fan in America. Nicole was impressed.

Then, of course, I explained the less exciting truth about legislative process.

Kisser

November 15, 1993

1234 Rae Place

Lawrenceville, GA 30244

Dear Karol,

We enjoyed meeting your group. We talked about each one on the way back. We also wanted to let you know that Kisser is doing well. She is adjusting much quicker than we thought she would.

She did good on the trip down. She got a good walk around a Wendy’s we stopped at. She walks very well on the leash. At one point we turned around to look in back and found Kelly, Danny, and Kisser were all fast asleep. We didn’t have to use the paper towels.

We got home late Saturday night, but gave her a tour of the yard so that she would have some idea of what was outside before going in. Getting home late was probably a good thing because we could put the kids to bed. Less chaos.

She spent the first night at the foot of our bed without a complaint.

Sunday was a big day for her. We had several family members come by to meet her. It was warm so we all conversed in the back yard while the kids played. Kisser, nervous about all the people, found a good spot to observe. She seemed torn between a desire to play and her caution.

She soon warmed up enough to let one or two people come up to her.

By the end of the day, she seemed to trust the two adults, tolerate Danny (6) and Nicole (11), and to be curious about Kelly (1). While we ate dinner, Kelly took one of her books over to Kisser and read it to her.

Kisser is very good about going into the back woods to do her business, and then coming back when called.

The kids were home from school on Monday. The two oldest gave Kisser several walks. She does such a good job walking at your side. But by the end of the day, Kelly was her favorite. Kelly played with her much of the day, sharing her toys, stacking up throw pillows which Kisser enjoyed sleeping on. And when Kelly found Kisser’s bag of food and brought her a few pieces, they became best buddies.

Though she is a wimp (for now), she did manage a couple of growls. One was when Nicole tried sneaking down the steps and sneak up on Kisser. Kisser couldn’t see who was coming, but she sensed something unusual. We pet her and let her know it was o.k., and then we cautioned Nicole and Danny that you do not sneak up on animals.

Another time Danny came scooting into the room, pulling a jersey over his head. He must have looked like a headless monster coming into the room.

Otherwise, she is very tolerant of the kids and even fascinated with Kelly. She has even let Kelly take food from her dog bowl and feed her. We let Kelly do this once because we wanted to make sure Kisser was not over protective of her food.

Right now she and the kids are fast asleep. They seemed to have worn her out.

Included is a map to our house from I-85. You and any of your gang are welcome to visit any time.

We’ll keep you posted. Thanks again for all of your help, and especially for the time and care you put into making Foxseas Starkist Tuna such a promising Vizsla.

Sincerely,

Jeb & Kathy

The Ninja, the Clown, and the Thief

Nicole and Danny put on their second fireplace play tonight. It was a five act play that took place at a karate place, in an ambulance, and at a hospital. Kelly alternated between audience member and actor.

The origin of the play was Halloween, since Danny wore much of his Ninja costume. The plot was weak, not unlike other marshal arts films. Often the actors planned the next scene as they fought out the current one. At one point the play stopped as the leading man took a bathroom break.

Kelly took it all in stride. Since so many things are new to her, the unusual play that took place on her fireplace stage was nothing to be concerned about.

Last night, she quickly accepted the bizarre ritual of monsters and fairies ringing our doorbell, shouting, and receiving candy. She was perplexed at first, looking from door, to candy, to parent, to sibling, back to door, then back to candy. After the first trick ‘o treaters left, she seemed to review the bizarre event again in her mind. After a few calls, Halloween became standard operating procedure.

It was the coldest Halloween night I remember. That didn’t stop Ninja Danny and Clown Nicole from scoring over 100 pieces of candy each. Nicole counted 103. Danny gave up on the count. The mid-thirties temperature kept Kelly from her first trick o’ treat.

The two oldest spread out all of their candy to be grouped in piles on the floor. Kelly found this to much to resist, and made repeated raids on the nearest pile, which happened to belong to her tolerant brother. She would rush into the stack, squat while Danny was not looking, and pick up something. If it looked promising, she would hasten back to my lap to share it with me. Most of the things I threw back to Danny, but I couldn’t turn down one of her favorites, a purple Charms pop. She sat on my lap for a long time, enjoying the sucker, and occasionally giving me a lick.

The jack o lanterns that Kathy and I spent hours carving, were a big hit. Both Danny and Nicole had pumpkins from Harry’s that weighed more than 20 pounds but only cost $2.99. Kelly’s pumpkin weighed in at only half that.

A Clampett Birthday Party

Did you know that the Beverly Hill Billies Movie premieres on October 15? And almost of equal importance, did you know that October 15th is Kathy Cashin’s birthday?

Well now you know. And why are these two events important?

Because YOU are invited to…

A Clampett

Birthday Party!

That’s right, you and your co-invitees will have the time of your lives celebrating Kathy’s 30th* birthday . Come see an actual ceeement pond, drink moonshine, and eat home-cooked vittles like that famous Tennessee surf & turf combo of crawdads and hog jowls.

Don’t forget the dress code. Over hauls are appropriate, but you can wear your best jeans like Ellie May or Jethro. Use a rope for a belt.

kmc-clampett-birthday-1993.gifIf you want to dress up, that’s just fine. Come as Jane Hathaway or Mr. Drysdale. (This is sort of a pre-Halloween thing, see.)

Date: October 15 (like we said before)

Time: 8pm until the cows come home

Dress: Worn, but clean

Location: 1234 Rae Place, Lawrenceville

(see map)

R.S.V.P.† Jeb @ 593-1234 day

985-1234 night

* So she’ll be Granny.

† réspondez s’il vous plaît (That’s French.)

Please complete and bring invitation:

Three funny things I remember on the Beverly Hill Billies are:

1. ____________________________

____________________________

2. ____________________________

____________________________

3. ____________________________

____________________________

ex. Jethro’s car phone (had 3 miles of phone wire on a spool)

Bring your invitation for the sing along….

The Ballad of Jed Clampett*

Flatt & Scruggs

Come and listen to a story ’bout a man name Clarence,

Poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed.

And then one day he was shootin’ for some food,

When up from the ground came a bublin” crude.

(Oil that is. Black gold. Texas tea.)

Well, the next thing you know old Jed’s a millionaire,

The kin folk said, “Jed, move away from there!”

They said, “Californee is the place you ought to be.”

So they loaded up the mini van and moved to Beverly.

(Hills that is. Swimmin’ pools. Movie stars.)

(banjo rift) Ding ding a ling ling ding a ling

Now it’s time to say goodbye to Jed and all his kin,

We’d like to thank you all for kindly droppin’ in.

Join us all back here next week at this locality,

and have aheapin’ helpin of their hospitality.

(Sit a spell. Take your clothes off. Y’all come back now, ya’ hear?)

* Win bonus points by circling the three glaring errors.


Clampet Trivia

001

How much money did the Clampets have in the bank?

A) $125 Million B) $50 Million C) $15 Million

002

What did Granny use to make soap?

X) Lye and opossum fat. Y) White glue and ash. Z) Fat back and corn oil.

003

Jethro was born with _____________.

E) A full head of hair. F) A tooth in his heel. G) A full set of teeth.

004

Jane Hathaway had a crush on __________________.

1) Jethro 2) Jed Clampet 3) Elvis

005

What was tied around Jethro’s neck when he was a baby?

4) A cow bell, so he wouldn’t get lost.

5) A necklace of garlic to keep fleas off.

6) His ears, to keep them from scraping on the ground.

006

Who discovered Jed Clampet and his oil field?

X) John Brewster. Y) Jane Hathaway. Z) Mr. Drysedale.

007

Uncle Jed was proud of Jethro’s education. How many years of schooling did Jethro complete?

1) Through high school. 2) Through sixth grade. 3) Through one semester of trade school.

008

What is a “gazenta” and how?

7) One of Ellie May’s animals. A cross between a gazelle and a cheetah.

8) A Tennessee expression that menas “God Bless You.”

9) A mathematical expression used by Jethro when ciphering.

009

How many rooms are in the Clampet mansion?

E) 32 F) 15 G) 50

010

How old is Granny?

X) 72 Y) 81 Z) The family is not sure.

011

Where is the Clampet money?

4) Commerce Bank of Beverley Hills.

5) Beverley Hills Savings and Loan

6) In a vault in Mr. Dryesdale’s basement.

012

What was Uncle Jed’s bloodhound’s name?

A) Duke B) Dog C) Buck

013

What is the Dryesdale’s butler’s name?

A) Winston B) Perkins C) Milfred

014

Which job did Granny not have?

X) The Dryesdale’s maid

Y) Vice President of the Bank Building

Z) Mr. Dryesdale’s secretary

015

Jane Hathaway once quit her job at the bank to pursue a career as a…

A) Folk Singer B) Actress C) Magician

016

Who was the best shot in the Clampet household?

1) Jed 2) Jethro 3) Ellie May 4) Granny

017

What was Jane Hathaway’s nickname for Mr. Dryesdale?

A) Chief B) Captain C) General

018

What was a Bodinaphone?

A) A musical instrument invented by Jethro.

B) A portable truck phone invented by Jethro.

C) An intercom in Jethro’s bachelor pad that was connected to the kitchen.

019

Why did Ellie May’s goat get sick at the bank?

A) Because it ran all the way from the mansion to find Ellie May.

B) It ate too much money in the bank vault.

C) It ate Mr. Dryesdale’s chair.

020

What was Grannie’s relation to Jed.

7) Mother. 8) Grand mother. 9) Mother-in-law.