Hey Guys,
Wow. I want to thank you all. As we are are cleaning up the house and going through boxes I found a box with letters and notes from when I was in the hospital. Last night I was going through them and had to stop several times as I started choking up. The love and support you all showed and continue to show us constantly reminds me how lucky I am. We tried to send thank you notes to all of you for all the things that were sent. I hope we did but if for some reason you didn't get a note thank you from the bottom of my heart.
On a totally different note. As most of you have seen since I got out of the hospital my weight as gone one way, UP. The day I had my wreck I weighed 220 when I left in late June 2008 I was at 164 pounds. The Monday we got back from LA I got on the scale I weighed a whopping 234 pounds. That is just simply unacceptable. I have since joined weight watchers and been going to the gym 3-4 times a week. In the recent past when my lardness as been brought up people say "yeah but look what you have been through". Well that is one of the many excuses and I am tired of telling myself that. I currently weigh 226 and my goal is 185. I hope to be at 210 by my first beach trip. I really just wanted to put this out there so it would be in writing and I can look at it when I need motivation.
So after all this big weight talk and cold weather, I need to here "One Particular Harbour" and be on the beach some where.
Fins Up,
Jr.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
What a weekend
Good Monday morning,
I hope everybody had a good weekend. We sure did. Friday evening we went to the oyster bar in Elba and ate. After that we went back to the house and listened to music with Jerry and stayed lazy. The next morning I got up early and was on a mission to get Reese's old room cleaned up. We have been using it as storage pretty much. First, I got Dad to help me put up a new light fixture. After that D was rolling out of bed and we were moving and shaking. I called Jerry to see if I could get some cheap labor. He came over and it was done in no time. We went to eat at the Mexican restaurant and I made him eat off the kids menu. I told you it was cheap labor. When we got back to the house we hooked up the Wii. As it got later in the night it became obvious to J and DeAnn that they could not handle my expertise.
Sunday was football day in America. I was pulling for the colts in the first game. As a kid I liked the Jets. I guess because of Joe Willie, but now their new coach is so arrogant and if the Colts would have played hard all year the Jets wouldn't have made the playoffs, but anyway. The Colts won easily after playing around in the first half. The second game was the Saints versus Brett Favre. The Saints won and the first person I called was Uncle Daniel. He was still up and laughing about how far they had come since "The Aints" and the old days. It was pretty neat for the city and the fans of probably the coolest franchise n the league. After that it was bed time to start the new week.
Fins up,
Jr.
I hope everybody had a good weekend. We sure did. Friday evening we went to the oyster bar in Elba and ate. After that we went back to the house and listened to music with Jerry and stayed lazy. The next morning I got up early and was on a mission to get Reese's old room cleaned up. We have been using it as storage pretty much. First, I got Dad to help me put up a new light fixture. After that D was rolling out of bed and we were moving and shaking. I called Jerry to see if I could get some cheap labor. He came over and it was done in no time. We went to eat at the Mexican restaurant and I made him eat off the kids menu. I told you it was cheap labor. When we got back to the house we hooked up the Wii. As it got later in the night it became obvious to J and DeAnn that they could not handle my expertise.
Sunday was football day in America. I was pulling for the colts in the first game. As a kid I liked the Jets. I guess because of Joe Willie, but now their new coach is so arrogant and if the Colts would have played hard all year the Jets wouldn't have made the playoffs, but anyway. The Colts won easily after playing around in the first half. The second game was the Saints versus Brett Favre. The Saints won and the first person I called was Uncle Daniel. He was still up and laughing about how far they had come since "The Aints" and the old days. It was pretty neat for the city and the fans of probably the coolest franchise n the league. After that it was bed time to start the new week.
Fins up,
Jr.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday
Good Morning,
Before I say anything else I must send my thoughts, prayers, and love to big Roland, little Roland and the whole Jones family on the loss of Mrs. June. She was diagnosed while I was in South in the summer of 2008. It was a long fight, but I have to think she is resting so much easier in a better place. Please keep them in your prayers.
I hope you all enjoyed looking at the pictures. I now know why there weren't more pictures on the blog while I was in the hospital.
We are trying to gear up for the big Mardi Gras ball in Daphne. I don't know if I can go back down there and just be part of the common folk. We will see.
Have a great rest of the week.
Fins Up,
Jr.
Before I say anything else I must send my thoughts, prayers, and love to big Roland, little Roland and the whole Jones family on the loss of Mrs. June. She was diagnosed while I was in South in the summer of 2008. It was a long fight, but I have to think she is resting so much easier in a better place. Please keep them in your prayers.
I hope you all enjoyed looking at the pictures. I now know why there weren't more pictures on the blog while I was in the hospital.
We are trying to gear up for the big Mardi Gras ball in Daphne. I don't know if I can go back down there and just be part of the common folk. We will see.
Have a great rest of the week.
Fins Up,
Jr.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Monday
Hey Guys,
I hope you all had a good weekend. We sure did i was kind of lazy but nice. I am going to post a few pictures of our Vegas trip. The pictures in this post are from "The Game" trip. I will try to post the pix from our October trip later in the week.
I hope you all had a good weekend. We sure did i was kind of lazy but nice. I am going to post a few pictures of our Vegas trip. The pictures in this post are from "The Game" trip. I will try to post the pix from our October trip later in the week.
The first picture is one from the airport when Jerry and John got to town.
This picture is "the ONE". It is the picture that we flew 2000 miles for. The one I did 14 months of physical therapy for.
Our first view of the Rose Bowl. I told Dad while we were waiting for the game all we needed was Keith Jackson. Little did I know he was flipping the coin. How cool.
A sight that still blows my mind and to think we were there. Wow.
The picture to end a perfect trip. We actually got the picture on the way to the airport. Roll Tide everybody.
I have a little footage from the camera of the crowd and the Million Dollar band doing "Rammer Jammer". I am going to try to get that uploaded for you guys. Thanks for reading and checking out the memories.
Fins Up,
Jr.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hump Day
Hey Guys,
I know, I know, what did you do to deserve a post 2 days in a row? I just had some more to say and yesterday that was so long. Anyway, Aunt Gin I do have some pictures, but you know I don't have a clue how to get them on here. Reese is coming home this weekend so I will ask here to help. I also have some pictures from our last Vegas trip to show. I will do what I can to get those up.
There is one more large thank you I must send out for the trip. My Sweet wife DeAnn gave her blessing on this trip before it ever got started. I have no idea what it took for that Auburn girl to let me go. I hope one day I can return the favor. Also, she won't admit it but early Monday morning as she was leaving for work and we were hugging goodbye, I said Roll Tide and she returned the same. I was so shocked. Later in the day I ask her about it and she told me I was still asleep and dreaming. I know what I heard no matter what she says. Thanks D I believe you know what it meant to me for the opportunity.
One more quick thing. People in Elba have seen me in the chair for the last 3 weeks or so. Well I was having a ton of pain in my abdomen. I have been to see Dr. Vermillion twice and after a CT we found no damage and a shot has calmed everything down. As much as me hurting for a month bothered me, when I think what my average pain level is it makes me appreciate my normal life more.
Until we meet again.
Fins Up,
Jr.
I know, I know, what did you do to deserve a post 2 days in a row? I just had some more to say and yesterday that was so long. Anyway, Aunt Gin I do have some pictures, but you know I don't have a clue how to get them on here. Reese is coming home this weekend so I will ask here to help. I also have some pictures from our last Vegas trip to show. I will do what I can to get those up.
There is one more large thank you I must send out for the trip. My Sweet wife DeAnn gave her blessing on this trip before it ever got started. I have no idea what it took for that Auburn girl to let me go. I hope one day I can return the favor. Also, she won't admit it but early Monday morning as she was leaving for work and we were hugging goodbye, I said Roll Tide and she returned the same. I was so shocked. Later in the day I ask her about it and she told me I was still asleep and dreaming. I know what I heard no matter what she says. Thanks D I believe you know what it meant to me for the opportunity.
One more quick thing. People in Elba have seen me in the chair for the last 3 weeks or so. Well I was having a ton of pain in my abdomen. I have been to see Dr. Vermillion twice and after a CT we found no damage and a shot has calmed everything down. As much as me hurting for a month bothered me, when I think what my average pain level is it makes me appreciate my normal life more.
Until we meet again.
Fins Up,
Jr.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wow, Wow, Wow
Hey Guys,
I know it has been a while,but I have finally made it back to the blog. I want to thank Reese for doing some sub duty while we were gone.
This will be a long one. I plan on starting with the trip and then I will digress.
First and foremost I need to thank my Dad. We first started talking about doing this late in the 3rd quarter of the Florida game. It was really just talk. I never dreamed it would actually happen. I think you all know by now that everyday life is not as easy for me as it once was and traveling is certainly more difficult, but Dad never wavered and everything was perfect. When I was in the hospital, on the floor, Dad told everybody in the family that when WE got out we were going to do the things we wanted to do. We weren't going to let things stop us except money. I really think that's why he was so understanding about this trip. If anyone would have told me in June of 2008 that in January of 2010 I would be in Pasadena watching Bama play for it all I would have said I had a better chance of growing another leg. On to the trip. Thanks Dad I love you more than you will ever know.
On Monday Jan.4 we left Elba a little before 12 to go to Montgomery. Our flight wasn't til 4 but we had some things to do and we were getting pretty excited. I must say this. As tough as it is to travel these days the airports and Delta have been nothing short of amazing in helping me. We got to the airport got checked and waited for the first leg to begin. The flight to Atlanta wasn't bad at all and we had an hour or so there before we left for sin city. We didn't check any bags so our carry ons were a hassle, but when I thought about why we were doing all this it calmed me down. Our flight to Vegas was ok except the kid crying and kicking the back of my seat the whole way. The larger planes have individual TV and around 20 stations to keep you occupied. I was trying to keep tabs on the Boise/TCU game and could easily do so watching ESPN at 35,000 feet. We landed at McCarron around 9 left coast time. We jumped in a cab grinning because neither one of us thought we would be in town again so quickly. We got checked in and when we opened the door to our room the smell of BBQ was thick in the air. We later figured out that an exhaust fan to a restaurant was outside our window. After dropping of our stuff went down stairs to check out the Rio.
The next morning I slept in and got up around 9. I guess I was exhausted from the day before. On Tuesday we really just hung around the Hotel until the afternoon. Later we went to the Strip to check on Bert Crowe, Dale's brother, he took care of us on the last trip and we wanted to thank him one more time. He wasn't at the Flamingo, they said he would be there Wednesday. After that we caught the Bellagio water show because we heard the opening to "Viva Las Vegas". Later we went downtown to Fremont "old Vegas" to show Dad the Golden Nugget and Binions. We looked around and had our picture taken with a million dollars. Dad was very impressed because I told him it was a dump, but they have done alot since I was there in 2006. We were nearly exhausted and hit the sack.
Wednesday morning I woke to Dad laughing and having a good ole time. The running joke with Jerry and John DuBose was when they got off the plane Wednesday if they saw a sign with their name on it at the airport then the trip was on us. Well Dad and I didn't strike gold on Tuesday but he hatched a plan to meet them at the airport with a homemade sign. They came down the escalator saw us and started laughing. We got them to the hotel dropped off their luggage and tried to show John as much off Vegas as we could in half a day.
Thursday morning we all woke up fairly early and got ready. After all it was "Game Day". I don't think this trip would have been as important to me if it hadn't been at the Rose Bowl and our opponent wasn't Texas. Bama/Texas/Rose Bowl =History. All we needed was Keith Jackson and he even was there flipping the coin. We left Vegas crossing the desert around 7:45. The scenery was beautiful but didn't change for hours. We made it to Pasadena around 12:30 after a long breakfast stop and traffic jam on I15. We pulled up to the front door of the famous Rose Bowl with help from a handicap pass. The must pictures of us in front of the sign were taken and now we could settle in a while before going in the stadium. Before we went in we saw Ms. Mary Sue Cain and saw Mr. Steve Holley and his family. Around 3 we started to make our move for a 5:38 kick. Dad and I had the option of swapping two tickets for accessible seats. I wanted to sit with Jerry and John so Dad and I made the trek up 30 rows to our normal seats. This turned out to be a MAJOR mistake because once the game started you had to stand to see. John and Dad were worn out after the game because it was up and down for 4 hours and when I was standing I was holding on to them. I'm not going in to the game because you all know how it turned out. I will say it was a roller coaster. Nausea, elation, nausea again and the finally shocked that I had just seen Bama win the 2009 National Championship game. After the game we waited and hour or so to head down the steps. We made it, found my wheelchair, and after thousands of Roll Tide's headed back across the desert.
Friday morning we all slept in and then packed our stuff to leave. We were in no hurry since our flight didn't leave until 1:40. We hit the famous Vegas sign for one last photo op before the airport. When we checked in the lady at the counter moved all 4 of us up to the first row behind first class which gave us all more leg room. The flight was uneventful and we got to Atlanta around 8. Instead of flying on to Montgomery Dad I decided to ride with Jerry and avoid the layover. This probably took longer but we didn't have to fly anymore and we could relax as Jerry drove to Montgomery. We picked up Dad's truck in Montgomery and made it to Elba around 2. It capped a very memorable trip. One for the ages. I really want to thank Gator one more time for letting me hang on him the entire game. Thanks man, sitting with you and Jerry made it that much better. I hope I wasn't to much of a hassle. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Fins Up,
Jr.
P.S. I just read over this and it is not grammatically sound. I hope no harm comes to Mrs. Amison, Mrs. Padgett,or Mrs. Tucker from reading this post. ng
I know it has been a while,but I have finally made it back to the blog. I want to thank Reese for doing some sub duty while we were gone.
This will be a long one. I plan on starting with the trip and then I will digress.
First and foremost I need to thank my Dad. We first started talking about doing this late in the 3rd quarter of the Florida game. It was really just talk. I never dreamed it would actually happen. I think you all know by now that everyday life is not as easy for me as it once was and traveling is certainly more difficult, but Dad never wavered and everything was perfect. When I was in the hospital, on the floor, Dad told everybody in the family that when WE got out we were going to do the things we wanted to do. We weren't going to let things stop us except money. I really think that's why he was so understanding about this trip. If anyone would have told me in June of 2008 that in January of 2010 I would be in Pasadena watching Bama play for it all I would have said I had a better chance of growing another leg. On to the trip. Thanks Dad I love you more than you will ever know.
On Monday Jan.4 we left Elba a little before 12 to go to Montgomery. Our flight wasn't til 4 but we had some things to do and we were getting pretty excited. I must say this. As tough as it is to travel these days the airports and Delta have been nothing short of amazing in helping me. We got to the airport got checked and waited for the first leg to begin. The flight to Atlanta wasn't bad at all and we had an hour or so there before we left for sin city. We didn't check any bags so our carry ons were a hassle, but when I thought about why we were doing all this it calmed me down. Our flight to Vegas was ok except the kid crying and kicking the back of my seat the whole way. The larger planes have individual TV and around 20 stations to keep you occupied. I was trying to keep tabs on the Boise/TCU game and could easily do so watching ESPN at 35,000 feet. We landed at McCarron around 9 left coast time. We jumped in a cab grinning because neither one of us thought we would be in town again so quickly. We got checked in and when we opened the door to our room the smell of BBQ was thick in the air. We later figured out that an exhaust fan to a restaurant was outside our window. After dropping of our stuff went down stairs to check out the Rio.
The next morning I slept in and got up around 9. I guess I was exhausted from the day before. On Tuesday we really just hung around the Hotel until the afternoon. Later we went to the Strip to check on Bert Crowe, Dale's brother, he took care of us on the last trip and we wanted to thank him one more time. He wasn't at the Flamingo, they said he would be there Wednesday. After that we caught the Bellagio water show because we heard the opening to "Viva Las Vegas". Later we went downtown to Fremont "old Vegas" to show Dad the Golden Nugget and Binions. We looked around and had our picture taken with a million dollars. Dad was very impressed because I told him it was a dump, but they have done alot since I was there in 2006. We were nearly exhausted and hit the sack.
Wednesday morning I woke to Dad laughing and having a good ole time. The running joke with Jerry and John DuBose was when they got off the plane Wednesday if they saw a sign with their name on it at the airport then the trip was on us. Well Dad and I didn't strike gold on Tuesday but he hatched a plan to meet them at the airport with a homemade sign. They came down the escalator saw us and started laughing. We got them to the hotel dropped off their luggage and tried to show John as much off Vegas as we could in half a day.
Thursday morning we all woke up fairly early and got ready. After all it was "Game Day". I don't think this trip would have been as important to me if it hadn't been at the Rose Bowl and our opponent wasn't Texas. Bama/Texas/Rose Bowl =History. All we needed was Keith Jackson and he even was there flipping the coin. We left Vegas crossing the desert around 7:45. The scenery was beautiful but didn't change for hours. We made it to Pasadena around 12:30 after a long breakfast stop and traffic jam on I15. We pulled up to the front door of the famous Rose Bowl with help from a handicap pass. The must pictures of us in front of the sign were taken and now we could settle in a while before going in the stadium. Before we went in we saw Ms. Mary Sue Cain and saw Mr. Steve Holley and his family. Around 3 we started to make our move for a 5:38 kick. Dad and I had the option of swapping two tickets for accessible seats. I wanted to sit with Jerry and John so Dad and I made the trek up 30 rows to our normal seats. This turned out to be a MAJOR mistake because once the game started you had to stand to see. John and Dad were worn out after the game because it was up and down for 4 hours and when I was standing I was holding on to them. I'm not going in to the game because you all know how it turned out. I will say it was a roller coaster. Nausea, elation, nausea again and the finally shocked that I had just seen Bama win the 2009 National Championship game. After the game we waited and hour or so to head down the steps. We made it, found my wheelchair, and after thousands of Roll Tide's headed back across the desert.
Friday morning we all slept in and then packed our stuff to leave. We were in no hurry since our flight didn't leave until 1:40. We hit the famous Vegas sign for one last photo op before the airport. When we checked in the lady at the counter moved all 4 of us up to the first row behind first class which gave us all more leg room. The flight was uneventful and we got to Atlanta around 8. Instead of flying on to Montgomery Dad I decided to ride with Jerry and avoid the layover. This probably took longer but we didn't have to fly anymore and we could relax as Jerry drove to Montgomery. We picked up Dad's truck in Montgomery and made it to Elba around 2. It capped a very memorable trip. One for the ages. I really want to thank Gator one more time for letting me hang on him the entire game. Thanks man, sitting with you and Jerry made it that much better. I hope I wasn't to much of a hassle. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Fins Up,
Jr.
P.S. I just read over this and it is not grammatically sound. I hope no harm comes to Mrs. Amison, Mrs. Padgett,or Mrs. Tucker from reading this post. ng
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Game Day!
Well, it's Reese-again!
Those Troy Trojans sure put up an amazing fight last night! Mom, Uncle Daniel, and Mobile and Fairhope friends and family were there in the thick and cold of it trying to help them pull it out. But in the end Central Michigan took home the trophy. Good game Trojans, you made us alumni proud!
Neil called about 30 min ago and they were 5 minutes outside of Pasadena. He's "excited but nervous excited!" I sure do hope Neil's "Mojo" helps the Tide pull this one out!
We had some snow this morning in Tuscaloosa and now I think everything is going to turn to ice. Mom and I are game ready: ribs, Diet Coke, and Bama t-shirts and pom poms!
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
RG
Those Troy Trojans sure put up an amazing fight last night! Mom, Uncle Daniel, and Mobile and Fairhope friends and family were there in the thick and cold of it trying to help them pull it out. But in the end Central Michigan took home the trophy. Good game Trojans, you made us alumni proud!
Neil called about 30 min ago and they were 5 minutes outside of Pasadena. He's "excited but nervous excited!" I sure do hope Neil's "Mojo" helps the Tide pull this one out!
We had some snow this morning in Tuscaloosa and now I think everything is going to turn to ice. Mom and I are game ready: ribs, Diet Coke, and Bama t-shirts and pom poms!
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
RG
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Pasadena
So...I like your style people---call Reese when Neil hasn't posted?! Listen I know I started this thing but it has been turned over to him! HA just joking just joking!
Anyway on to the news...we all had a WONDERFUL Christmas and New Year's. Time with all the families, communion with everyone, food and presents. Contrary to popular belief Neil got more than coal in his stocking-he also got a few tickets to the National Championship game!
Dad and Neil flew out to Vegas yesterday and from what I heard this morning they seemed to "be up." Dad called about an hour ago and they had just seen the water show at the Bellagio and the song playing was of course "Viva Las Vegas"...they were then headed down to Fremont. Tomorrow they meet up with Jerry D and John and then Thursday they are all driving out to Pasadena together. I know they are going to have a great time and Neil said he will be sure to get some pictures up!
I am snuggled in to my new house in Tuscaloosa getting ready for some Dreamland ribs on Thursday and of course some great football! They are even sending us some snow from what I hear...we shall see!
ROLL TIDE ROLL and Fins Up,
RG
Anyway on to the news...we all had a WONDERFUL Christmas and New Year's. Time with all the families, communion with everyone, food and presents. Contrary to popular belief Neil got more than coal in his stocking-he also got a few tickets to the National Championship game!
Dad and Neil flew out to Vegas yesterday and from what I heard this morning they seemed to "be up." Dad called about an hour ago and they had just seen the water show at the Bellagio and the song playing was of course "Viva Las Vegas"...they were then headed down to Fremont. Tomorrow they meet up with Jerry D and John and then Thursday they are all driving out to Pasadena together. I know they are going to have a great time and Neil said he will be sure to get some pictures up!
I am snuggled in to my new house in Tuscaloosa getting ready for some Dreamland ribs on Thursday and of course some great football! They are even sending us some snow from what I hear...we shall see!
ROLL TIDE ROLL and Fins Up,
RG
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