Authorized Dealer

Evan and Amie

2012-01-11T17:13:00.002-06:00

It goes back too many years and over the sands of time. I was just wondering if you two guys might still be monitoring old Jeff's blogs from time to time. I really appreciate all the work you did on my site plus all the cards sent to mom back 5 years ago that were works of art.

I could never pay you enough for what you did and what it did for her in her last years. Thinking of you tonight and can only hope you still looks at the authorizeddealter.blogspot.com from time to time.

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Football Quotes Worth Keeping!

2011-09-20T14:29:00.001-05:00

“Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football"
John Heisman

"Show me a good and gracious loser, and I'll show you a failure."
Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game."
Bear Bryant / Alabama

"It isn't necessary to see a good tackle. You can hear it."
Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"There is no way you can be Harvard Monday through Friday and be Alabama on Saturday."
Art Guepe / 39-54-7 at Vanderbilt from 1953-1962

"At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any."
Erk Russell / Georgia Southern.

"Football is only a game. Spiritual things are eternal. Nevertheless, Beat Texas ."
Seen on a church sign in Arkansas prior to the 1969 game.

"After you retire, there's only one big event left . . . and I ain't ready for that one yet."
Bobby Bowden / Florida State

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."
Lou Holtz / Arkansas

"When you win, nothing hurts."
Joe Namath / Alabama

"Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated."
Lou Holtz / Arkansas

"If you want to walk the heavenly streets of gold, you gotta know the password, "Roll, tide, roll!"
Bear Bryant / Alabama

"A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall."
Frank Leahy / Notre Dame

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
Woody Hayes / Ohio State

"I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation."
Bob Devaney / Nebraska

"In Alabama , an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant."
Wally Butts / Georgia

“Vanderbilt took about 10 years off his life. It absolutely sucked the life right out of him."
Jack Green’s widow commenting about what being football coach at Vanderbilt will do to someone.
Green (7-29-4) died at age 57, 15 years after he left Vanderbilt. His successor, Bill Pace (22-38-3), died at age 58, 18 years after he left Vanderbilt.
Green was a two-time All-American guard at Army, was team captain and played on the 1944 and 1945 teams that won consecutive national championships.

"You can learn more character on the two-yard line than anywhere else in life."
Paul Dietzel / LSU

"It's kind of hard to rally around a math class."
Bear Bryant / Alabama

When asked if Fayetteville was the end of the world. "No, but you can see it from here."
Lou Holtz / Arkansas

"There's one sure way to stop us from scoring . . . give us the ball near the goal line."
Matty Bell / SMU

"Lads, you're not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died."
Frank Leahy / Notre Dame

"I never graduated from Iowa , but I was only there for two terms - Truman's and Eisenhower's."
Alex Karras / Iowa

"My advice to defensive players: Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor."
Bowden Wyatt / Tennessee

"I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades."
Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State

"Always remember ..... Goliath was a 40 point favorite over David."
Shug Jordan / Auburn

"They cut us up like boarding house pie. And that's real small pieces."
Darrell Royal / Texas

"They whipped us like a tied up goat."
Spike Dykes / Texas Tech

"I asked Darrell Royal, the coach of the Texas Longhorns, why he didn't recruit me and he said: "Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good."
Walt Garrison / Oklahoma State / Dallas Cowboys

"Son, you've got a good engine, but your hands aren't on the steering wheel."
Bobby Bowden / Florida State

"Football is not a contact sport - it is a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport."
Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State

After USC lost 51-0 to Notre Dame, his postgame message to his team: "All those who need showers, take one."
John McKay / USC

"If lessons are learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education."
MurrayWarmath / Minnesota

"The only qualifications for a lineman are to be big and dumb. To be a back, you only have to be dumb."
Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"Oh, we played about like three tons of buzzard puke this afternoon."
Spike Dykes / Texas Tech

"We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches."
Darrell Royal / Texas

"We didn't tackle well today but we made up for it by not blocking."
John McKay / USC

"Three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad."
Woody Hayes /Ohio State

"I've found that prayers work best when you have big players."
Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

Children lost...helping others

2011-04-04T07:33:00.002-05:00

4/4/2011

I lost a step son back in June of 2004 to suicide. Now I find myself giving council to those that have lost a child or young adult.

I have some experience getting through losing parents, a step son, nieces and nephews give me an insight into what all these men and women are going through.

I will post some results if I have some positive one's to report. I guess even the negative ones need to be here too.

Stay tuned...News at 11:00.

Jeff

My Prison Ministry

2011-01-29T11:27:00.002-06:00

I have a friend and his first name is John. He made a mistake 8 years ago and is in Elmore CF in Elmore near Montgomery, Al. I worked with John many years with my company and he is a dear friend.

He can call me maybe once a month and I get letters regularly. He has accepted Christ into his life and has put 'all' in God's hands. I send him letters, stamps and maybe a calendar each year but keep his mail box filled with a letter or card regularly.

He has been a good inmate and will soon have a change for a parole hearing. I will find out when it is and there are several of us that have said we would like to speak for him and hopefully his release.

Keep John in your prayers and know he has Jesus by his side and that all is truly in God's hands. I am writing a letter to him today and to let him know I sent some money through the prison so he can buy things he needs in the commissary. I have kept all his letters and hopefully one day soon we can sit down and talk about his future when he gets released...Pray for John in Elmore...please..Jeff

Groundhog Day

2011-01-20T17:46:00.000-06:00

Calendar oddity

Mark your calendar for 2 Feb 20 11 ....

This year, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address occur on the same day. It is an ironic juxtaposition of events; one involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to a creature of little intelligence for prognostication while the other involves a groundhog. PS: (Folks it's a JOKE!)

Men vs Women...My Thoughts

2011-01-10T11:10:00.000-06:00

EATING OUT
· When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
·
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY
· A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
· A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS
· A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel.
· The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS
· A woman has the last word in any argument.
· Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE
· A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
· A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS
· A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
· A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE
· A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
· A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP
· A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
· A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL
· Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
· Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING
· Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
· A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-06T09:45:00.002-06:00

12/6/2010;am

It is Christmas 2010 and we are less than 3 weeks until the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Please remember this is a time of giving and enjoying family and friends and remembering too those in need and open our pocketbooks to help those suffering.

We as true Christians must make our lives a true reflection of who we are and we
act as Jesus would at this celebration of his birth.

We are now challenged at this time that even if we find times tough, it we look around we truly find those in a real need, who will not have a Christmas unless we reach out for them.

Your Church, your service group, your personal contacts, some do truly need you to step into the breech and be that helpful friend or relative that helped them through a real tough time.

Someone said this morning, a year from now you will not remember what gift you got for Christmas, but you will remember the acts of faith, the acts of being with family, the celebration of the season.

There are children in true need that will not have a Christmas unless you act. There are families who will not have food or even heat in their homes unless you act. Let your actions now make a difference in someone's life. You will truly remember that act.

Look at your check book near you and write that check you have meant to write and have not. Reach for that envelope and put that check in the mail today or tomorrow so someone is touched by your generosity. Do this in HIS name and let your church or charity take care of the one's most in need.

Karen and I will. A minister told me once, give a part of HIS blessings you have received truly from HIM and touch someone. That you will remember as giving is so much better than receiving!

Get that feel good feeling of giving. You will never miss it I promise you. Keep Christ in your life now and every day of your life and as I have said earlier..."Let who you are be reflected by what you do for others!"

Happy birthday Jesus! J and K in Birmingham, Al USA

Holiday we call Thanksgiving

2010-11-18T14:59:00.004-06:00

11/18/2010

I am in a business and holiday's are special to us. It is planning and hectic to say the least. There are always accounts in any business that do not plan ahead and it is now last minute business that causes us much pain.

They are good customers and we bend over backwards to accommodate these last minute needs. It is pain passed around from dept to dept getting these needs met. And we do it every year.

Our salesmen are stretched as to time and trying to be all things to everybody and all at the same time. The customer (see rule #1) is always right and first and we do what is necessary to do a patchwork job of meeting all their last minute needs.

I cannot begin to tell you how the next 5 or 6 days will be right before Thanksgiving. There are only 24 hours in a day and that is not enough. But we
will survive and just hope, just hope the numbers are there so we can survive another year.

We love our customers and having to tell them NO now is hard to do. Sometimes it gets to where we can't fill their order or we are now OUT and somebody gets their feelings hurt. We are just the messengers and we will live to see the sun come up tomorrow.
Are not customers just great?

Shepard of the Valley Presbyterian Church

2010-09-04T08:57:00.003-05:00

This is the beginning of a new Presbyterian Church in McCalla, Alabama. It is not really a new church but a new beginning for the old(er) First Presbyterian Church of Bessemer, Alabama. It is my home church and the one I grew up in but times change and a new location has been chosen.

McCalla is right off the I-459 and near the McCalla exit. We are hoping that over time this will truly become the home base for the new beginning of our good Presbyterians over the western area of Jefferson and Shelby county. It will sooner or later have a new building and a new sanctury that will issue in the new and growing community of Christians looking for a new church home.

We invite all to come and visit and see God in his infinite wisdom, helping these good people as they all begin a new journey. We all hope you will visit, see Him at work and joining the journey that is now beginning.

The name of the new church is Shepard of the Valley Presbyterian Church. Try logging on to shepardofthevalley.blogspot.com and go there and see the new beginning....Jeff N.

Read at own risk: CHILI

2010-08-11T16:20:00.000-05:00

Subject: CHILI

A friend went grocery shopping recently while not being altogether sure that
course of action was a wise one. You see, the previous evening he had
prepared and consumed a massive quantity of my patented 'You're
definitely going to shit yourself' chili. Tasty stuff, albeit hot to the
point of being painful, which comes with a written guarantee
that if you eat the next day both of your cheeks WILL fall off.

Here's the thing. He had awakened that morning, and even after two cups
of coffee (and all of you know what I mean) nothing happened. No
'Watson's Movement 2'. Despite habanera peppers swimming their way
through his intestinal tract, he appeared to be unable to create the usual
morning symphony referred to by his next door neighbors as thunder and
lightning.
Knowing that a time of reckoning had to come, yet not sure of just when,
he bravely set off for the market; a local Wal-Mart grocery store that he
often haunt in search of tasty tidbits.

Upon entering the store at first all seemed normal. He selected a cart
and began pushing it about dropping items in for purchase. It wasn't
until he was at the opposite end of the store from the restrooms that the Pain hit him.

Oh, don't look at me like you don't know what I'm talking about. I'm
referring to that 'Uh oh, gotta go' pain that always seems to hit us at
the wrong time. The thing is, this pain was different.

The habaneras in the chili from the night before were staging a revolt.
In a mad rush for freedom they bullied their way through the small
intestines, forcing their way into the large intestines, and before he
could take one step in the direction of the restrooms which would bring
sweet relief, it happened. The peppers fired a warning shot.

There he stood, alone in the spice and baking aisle, suddenly enveloped
in a noxious cloud the likes of which has never before been recorded. He
was afraid to move for fear that more of this vile odor might escape.
Slowly, oh so slowly, the pressure seemed to leave the lower part of his
body, and he began to move up the aisle and out of it, “just as an elderly
woman turned into it!”

He did not know what made him do it, but he stopped to see what her reaction
would be to the malodorous effluvium that refused to dissipate, as she
walked into it unsuspecting. Have you ever been torn in two different
directions emotionally? Here's what I mean, and I'm sure some of you at
least will be able to relate.

He could've warned that poor woman but didn't. He simply watched as she
walked into an invisible, and apparently indestructible, wall of odor so
terrible that all she could do before gathering her senses and running,
was to stand there blinking and waving her arms about her head as though
trying to ward off angry bees. This, of course, made him feel terrible,
but then made him laugh. Big mistake!

Here's the thing. When you laugh, it's hard to keep things 'clamped
down', if you know what I mean. With each new guffaw an explosive issue
burst forth from his nether region. Some were so loud and echoing that he
was later told a few folks in other aisles had ducked, fearing that
someone was robbing the store and firing off a shotgun.

Suddenly things were no longer funny. IT was coming! Now he raced off
through the store towards the restrooms, laying down a cloud the whole
way, praying that he’d make it before the grand mal assplosion took
place.

Lady luck was on his side. Just in the nick of time as he got to the john , began
the inevitable 'Oh my God', floating above the toilet seat because his
*** is burning SO BAD, purging. One poor fellow walked in while he was in
the middle of what is the true meaning of 'Shock and Awe'. He made a
gagging sound, and disgustedly said, 'Sonofabitch!', then quickly left.

Once finished he left the restroom, reacquired his partially filled cart
intending to carry on with his shopping when a store employee approached
him and said, 'Sir, you might want to step outside for a few minutes. It
appears some prankster set off a stink bomb in the store. The manager is
going to run the vent fans on high for a minute or two which ought to
take care of the problem.'

That of course set him off again, causing residual gases to escape him.
The employee took one sniff, jumped back pulling his shirt up to cover
his nose and, pointing at him in an accusing manner shouted, 'IT'S YOU!',
then ran off returning moments later with the manager. He was
unceremoniously escorted from the premises and asked none too kindly not
to return.

Home again without having shopped, he realized that there was nothing to
eat but leftover chili, so he consumed two more bowls. The next day he
went to shop at Kroger's. I can't say anymore about that because we are
in court over the whole matter. Bastards claim they're going to have to
repaint the store

BHS 1955 "Three Musketeers"

2010-04-26T12:21:00.002-05:00

The fat boy in the middle is me! A doctor put me on Lyrica for neuralgia pain and everything I eat goes right to my waist and butt. I had been slender all my life and at 72 I have got to diet and lose about 15 pounds. Does anyone have any suggestions? I eat fat free foods, snacks are pretzels, and I drink diet Coke and water. All turns to fat...Jeff the Knutt in the Bham

Bessemer High School 55th Reunion

2010-04-26T11:30:00.002-05:00

This last weekend was our Bessemer High School Class of 1955 celebrated our
55th reunion. I attached a pix of our group fortunate with God's will to
be here 55 years after leaving high school as 17 and 18 year olds. Now we
are all in our early 70's, and have lost about 40 or more of our class of
about 190.

There are some no able to attend and some we don't know where they are, but
we, the one's in the picture stay in touch and get together once a month and
collectively now once every 3 years. Hope you enjoy the pix as much as we
enjoyed our time together....Jeff the Knutt, the class e-secretary

Handgun

2010-04-16T16:41:00.003-05:00

I am not up on a soapbox.

Let me preface this with some vital information. I grew up in the 40's, and hunted and my father taught me how to use a rifle and handgun safely. I lived in the country (not the city) where everyone had a rifle, a shotgun, and possibly a handgun. I was in the Coast Guard Reserve and trained to use military weapons and qualified shooting the "Navy Qualifying Shooter's Course", scoring 199 with 200 being perfect. I trained other young men in the military how to shoot and carry a gun/rifle safely.
That said...

I would bet no one here has had to have a handgun in their hand out of necessity. I have.

I would bet few here were in the military and trained to safely but effective use a gun. I have.

I would bet none have had a felon try to break-in your home or automobile. I have.

I would bet no one here has been caught in a situation where their life depended on a gun. I have.

I built a home in Bessemer, married, and had two small children. 1:30am my wife wakes me, someone breaking in our home. I put my family in a locked bathroom and just as a drug addict breaks in my front door, he faces me with a 45 automatic. No I did not shoot him but let him flee letting the sheriff and Bessemer policy try to catch him. A gun saved my family.

I was driving home about 11:00pm in the rain and stopped at a traffic light in Midfield. A man with a bat or piece of pipe hit the passenger door of my car, attempting to break the glass. A gun only pointed at him saved my life.

Driving to a customer on Graymont Avenue, I park my car, and just as getting out I hear gun fire. Two drug addicts are firing at each other and I am in the crossfire. My customer is possibly in danger and I am now in his door again with a gun. Having a gun may have saved my life.

I am eating in a restaurant one evening and at the register paying. 4 men come in together wearing long coats (and it is summer). I stepped behind the counter and told the owner at the register to get his gun. Two men, with hands inside their jackets (holding guns)created enough "unknown" to the four now scattered all over the restaurant to now withdraw, passing by right in front of us. Guns (and my training), I know saved our lives.

Every now and then I am accused of preaching against handgun prohibition but you see I have reason to object! A gun too many times has saved my life. Jeff

from my DROID phone

2010-03-15T22:56:00.001-05:00

Getting ready to turn in but wanted to try ti post from my phone.
We'll see!

Goodnight

Karens Disc-Neck Surgery

2010-03-05T13:13:00.003-06:00

3/5/2010

Dear Northcutt-Nutter families and my dear friends:

Update on Karen and disc surgery...

Karen as most know, had her surgery Wednesday morning. She did well according to Dr. Sean O'Malley her neurosurgeon. He worked on C5,6, & 7 and removed some bone spurs. This (he said) should relieve the pressure on thepinched nerves she had that were giving her so much pain. Removing/replacing bulging or herniated discs is super major surgery.

Karen's room was in the women's section of Brookwood Medical Center and man, did Jeff feel out of place. She had a private room and just off the nurse station and next to the pantry where I helped myself. Finally the code is 8061 to get in the door as they got tired of someone always having to get up to open the door for me...

I kept her (and me) in cokes, hot coffee, milk or any soft snacks she could handle. The care was great, the doctor was too and to have major surgery and come home in <18 hours is something else.

This is my 3rd or 4th time going through disc surgery with family. My mother twice, once through the back of the neck, then years later going through the front of the neck. Back then, it was huge, huge incisions going up the back of the neck. Then again a necklace of an incision going through the front and with a multiple of stitches. But now...

With contrasting MRI's, they have minimal incision, going in on Karen's right side, working through this tiny incision, they do all the work, then back out, closing with glue. Yes, I said glue, she had no, zip, nada stitches. There is almost no bruising and only one on her shoulder and we don't know what that is from.

Now she has some swelling but very little redness, but some puffiness that will be down, I believe in no time. She came in the living room a few minutes ago and she has already removed the bandage. She will be able to take a shower in the morning but only patting the affected area.

I know it sounds like I am minimizing this but believe me I am not. It was serious surgery, major surgery, but one done by a neurosurgeon that really knows what he is doing. With a name like Dr. Sean O'Malley, how could we go wrong. It will take some time for the bones to heal, the soreness in her neck to get where she can rotate her neck without it hurting. But the trauma (it appears) is so far less than in the past.

I remember mother was in the hospital a week and then in bed a week after both her neck surgeries. Karen is up picking up the kitchen, putting away things, helping herself to what she needs and has only call me a time or two. That in itself tells you pretty much what I said earlier in my letter.

God and prayer played such a big role in taking care of her. My church, our family and friends have all sent notes, or calls or emails, telling us, they had Karen in their prayers. It brings tears to my eyes, when so, so many of you and others showed your love in so many ways. We are so fortunate!

Today is only day two and lets give her a few days to see if all I see comes to pass. Keep her in your prayers. Love you all and as Red Skelton always said in closing "And may God Bless...."

Jeff and Karen

Contrary to the news....

2010-03-02T07:13:00.002-06:00

March 2, 2010

I apologize to my casual reader for not posing anything before NOW! Contrary to the news that I had died, the news was greatly exaggerated....I promise to start putting up some stories soon.

Karen has some schedule neck surgery tomorrow and I will have some time when she gets back home late Thursday or early Friday....Keep her in your prayers..

Jeff

$5,000

2009-12-28T17:06:00.002-06:00

12/28/2009

What do you do when a total stranger ask you for $5,000.00. Well, in a round about way he did. His brother said this "person of interest" had run up some big time debt, and needed $5,000.00 urgently!

I think now, I have help a lot of people in my life. I helped someone recently save his house and helped pay for an attorney, and he really needed help. Someone wronged him and took almost all he had and even forged documents, signed loans in his name and he was inches from bankruptcy and losing everything.

The difference, I guess, is he told me all that happen to him and I started sending monthly payments to keep them from foreclosing on his home. It took two years of mine and others helping him and just last month, he got a new mortgage on his home and settled with the bank.

The person who ask for money most recently is kin as was the person I just wrote about. But the second told me everything, up front, honest with me as to what happen and what it would take to save him. The recent request was only a 6 or 8 word email forwarded from his brother asking for "5,000, HE needs urgently!"

I can only write at this time, I will wait. I am interested in possibly(?) helping this person but until I know what happen, what is owed to whom, and how much, how can just throw $5,000.00 into the wind.

I truly hope he or someone who knows someone kin to me that needs my help. Even though I have not heard from this person for over 20 years, I am still here. I don't have much, but this dad, brother and son knows people need help sometimes and I saw other do as I "may" do.

Keep in touch and read occassionally and i'll let you know if I hear again from one of my kind in trouble. If you have read this far, please feel free to comment and let me know what you would do and how much to and for an almost total stranger...

Later,,,,Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

North Carolina Christmas Trip....

2009-12-19T20:02:00.002-06:00

12/19/2009

My dear friends and casual reader,,,Merry Christmas to one and all.

Karen and I planned a trip to North Carolina today but sometimes plans do go awry? We knew there was a storm hitting the east coast this weekend, but thought we would be spared this in our plans and make it to Hickory without any problems.

Thursday I got Karen's Escape serviced and ready for the planned trip. I got a haircut, wound up all my company business and by Friday night I was ready to pack for the trip beginning this morning.

I got home before Karen and got the last of the laundry dried and got all our winter gear out to pack for the trip. I called Karen earlier in the day and hoped she could get off early but she said it would be 5:30pm before she could leave.

But I am still working toward the trip last night when the phone rang and it was Karen. Please meet me in the garage and ferry some of her things into the house. I met her downstairs and ask her if she was alright? No was her response!

She unlocked all the doors on her Escape and she motioned me into the hatch in the rear. She was slow getting out and I noticed she was limping. I stopped everything and ask what was wrong. After she talked to me Friday afternoon, she made a trip out to her car to get something and fell on the parking lot, and hyper-extended her left ankle.

I questioned her a little coming in and got all her package into the house then helped her in. She said it has been raining all day and she feel backwards coming back from her car and fell on her left ankle. Enough said.

I helped her undress, got out the heating pad, and got her comfortable. She had brought a large chef salad home and we split it sitting on the bed and making sure her ankle was as comfortable as possible. She called her mom and told her about the fall and both suggested we start the drive Sunday and give her a day's rest on the possible sprain.

She slept fitfully last night and was some better in the early am Saturday. But as the evening drew near, it began hurting again and she has piled back in bed. We ate lunch together and enjoyed some homemade cookies a neighbor shared today, and they were still hot out of the oven.

Now I am not sure if tomorrow is possible to begin the trip. It may be Monday and everything is on hold right now just waiting to see how she does. Several months ago, I too took a fall into a filling station the day before a trip, and Jeff had to stay home. Now it was Karen's turn to have the run of bad luck.

Wish us the best, and let's hope she does Ok tonight and feels like making the 8 hour drive tomorrow. Time will tell? Jeff

Bob and Juanita CloseUP!

2009-12-06T08:08:00.001-06:00

I edited the pix in Photoshop Elements to give you an nice close up of the duo at their 60th!

Mom and Dad Clark

2009-12-06T08:06:00.001-06:00

Mom and dad Clark at the 60th at Northminster Presbyterian in Hickory, NC! Enjoy!

Clark's 60th Anniversary

2009-12-05T20:10:00.001-06:00

Bob and Juanita Clark's celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in Hickory, NC. Quite a good showing and 4 generations of Clarks present!

Hard Work Friday

2009-10-10T04:50:00.003-05:00

My company shorted me on my warehouse delivery Friday. They sent the attached 168 boxes on a direct truck to my warehouse Friday am. I met the driver just as he arrived, helped him get on the door, checked the order in, and got my driver away in <30 minutes.

The attached is my work, counting, stacking off to even pallets of 56, and completing this keying into computer inventory for immediate sale.

I think this is pretty good for an almost 72 year old guy! But I hope you don't see this as bragging. In my minds eye, I am only about 50+ and still have a high gear! Enjoy my Hard work. Now where did I put the Ben-gay? :)

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Jeff's Mailbox

2009-09-12T07:07:00.001-05:00

It is great decorating the flower bed surrounding the mailbox at 3281. The gardenia bush was from a clipping I got from a friends yard, and it is the hybrid version that blooms more than once a year! It is a joy just watching this bad boy progress each time I go to the mailbox. Enjoy our hard work! Jeff the knutt in the Ham!

Early am riser

2009-08-31T04:27:00.003-05:00

8/31/2009

Why is it when you get older you sleep less? It's annoying sometime especially when you have something to do the next day. When your day starts at 4:00am or earlier, it gets a little draggy in the pm when your day starts so early.

Pain plays somewhat of a role, and if you are reading this and under say 60, you don't understand. Pain maintenance with Tylenol or Advil sometimes does not last all night. Slept until 5:30 yesterday but 4:00 on the dot this am, and this body hurting no matter what part touches the bed.

We invested about $3,000.00 in a Thermapedic extended queen size mattress and interspring including having new bed rails made for our Cherry highposter bed. So changing over to a new mattress is or was the thing at the time. Granted it is more comfortable than the old interspring mattress we had but no mattress is perfect at 71, I guess.

Anyway, it is two tylenol this am and trying out the recliner to try to get comfortable. A pillow under my aching back, a large glass of orange powerade and turn on a movie. Now writing this with my laptop in my lap and thinking who might read this. At least it's my way of letting my casual reader about my life. Enjoy and have a wonderful and blessed day. Jeff the knutt in the Ham.

Heil 4 Ton AC/Heat Pump

2009-08-22T08:53:00.002-05:00

Dear friends, family and my casual reader,

A small delayed renewal of our home heating and air conditioning. You are looking at a not too small investment but one, that may mean big savings. This is a 4 ton, Heil, called a "Piggyback" Heat Pump system. The furnace is gas and the compressor is electric. But the furnace has also a heat pump which will heat our home when the outside median temperature is above 32F.

The gas furnace changes over to gas only, when gas is the most efficient way to heat. Now you know why it is called a piggyback heat pump, as it encompasses the best of two worlds. But I have only now gotten one month on my electric bill and for the last 30 days, it was about $40.00 less. Lets just hope this is a trend.

If you have a similar system, let me know how yours is performing. Feel free to comment as all are welcome. Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Enoch L. Northcutt extended family

2009-07-25T07:32:00.003-05:00

July 17th, and after the funeral for Enoch, we all got together to get some pictures made. We don't have all, just a few missing, but this is over 90% of the Lillie Belle and Enoch L. Northcutt, Sr. extended family. We have lost 4 brothers and sisters over the last 2 plus years, and now only Uncle Jim Northcutt remains of their 7 kids...We miss them all...Jeff

Northcutt-Cunningham family

2009-07-25T07:29:00.003-05:00

It is a time of some sadness, losing my Uncle Enoch L. Northcutt this July 17. He was a double purple heart, ex-POW of WWII and a special guy. This is his Cunningham family, enjoy my extended Northcutt family...Jeff

Clark Reunion-Sugar Mtn., NC

2009-07-18T06:11:00.003-05:00

This is just a small sample of some of the family pictures taken at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games this July 21, 22, 2009. It was a great gathering of the Clark's and extended families. We also celebrated the 60th wedding anniversary of Bob and Juanita Clark, Karen's mom and dad.

We rented two homes on Sugar mountain in North Carolina and each home was filled to the brim. It was a fun filled 4 nights and 5 days enjoying families together and getting back in touch with our Scottish friends at the Highland games. Much fun and food was had and enjoyed by all.

We all talked after this one and hope we can do this again next year. If you are of Scot-Irish descent, you would have had a ball with these collective clan and family members. You can see more pictures on Facebook that Jeff and Katie posted. There will probably be more to follow. Enjoy....Jeff

4th July and Family

2009-07-04T07:57:00.002-05:00

7/4/2009

Dear F and F,

Looking next door to my Reed's family home, there are cars in the driveway and out on the street. Teddy and his sister and their children are all at the mother and dad's home and all I can do is hope!

My boys Jason is in Boulder and Chris is in NYC. I can only have memories of family, my Nutter family and July 4th's in years past. I do not hear from my boys and cannot count the years since I've seen them...

But I wish them and Happy and Safe 4th of July...

Love and Hugs,

Dad Jeff a/k/a grandpaJeff and Gram Karen...

6/6/2010 will be 50 years

2009-06-28T08:47:00.002-05:00

June 28, 2009

Dear friends and family,

I think about my company, the R. L. Zeigler Co.,Inc. and how long I have worked for the same company. The company was founded in 1927 in Bessemer, Alabama USA and this guy began working part-time for them the summer of 1955. But the next few years until 1960, I only worked part-time most summers until I finished at Alabama.

I was looking for work and called my old company and sure, they needed someone now. The summer of 1960 I worked all in the plant, boxing or slicing bacon, stuffed bologna or was the muscle that put it on the bologna tree to be cooked in our smoke house. I helped on the sausage mill, lifting 90lb bags of trimming into the grinder, building more and more muscle.

I worked in our bacon forming room, helping Mr. Higgenbotham take the bellies in and then out of the forming machine, squaring the bacon, then stacking on a pallet and moved to a bacon cooler ready for slicing. Then somewhere, someone found out I could write legible so I ended up helping taking weekly and monthly inventory. Now where would this land me?

I was moved to shipping and receiving working under Mr. Burl Bradford during the day and then if working at night, under Mr. Jimmy Snow, both hired by Mr. R. L. Zeigler himself. Two of the nicest guys in the world, but both task masters requiring high output by all concerned. City sales then needed someone to work in filling orders for stores and restaurants picking up their orders. This I seemed to have a knack for and filled them fast and the customers began asking for me when they called in their orders. I especially got the tough ones that most of the other guys seemed to avoid...

Somewhere in time I found myself working in our beef cooler under Mr. Harvey Davis again another hired by the man. I boned beef trimming for manufacture then Harvey and Mr. Smith taught me how to cut wholesale cuts for stores like rounds, loins, chucks both cross cut and square, flanks, ribs and the like. After several months of working with them, I found myself filling in for vacations in the beef cooler! This is a job I will always remember. And you ask why?

Working day or night in a beef cooler and filling orders called in or invoiced by salesmen or called into the cooler, this was hard, hard work. You are talking about lifting beef sometimes more than your own weight. How do you do that. It is an acquired skill, leverage, and always lifting with your legs and not your back! When filling in the two weeks at night for the night shift person, that was it! Mr. Cliff Lambert was built like a tank, maybe 75 lbs of muscle heavier than Jeff. I was dumbfounded as to how much work you did in the 8 to 10 hours at night moving beef to the sales rail and out the door to be put on our trucks...For two weeks, I did 3 things and three things only. WORK, EAT, AND SLEEP. Nothing else.

Then back into shipping and learning how to drive a truck. This I must have done well as I did this for almost 3 years, even learning to back a trailer into and out of the loading docks. I delivered to stores, driving a bobtail, a stick shift, with a Columbia rear end, and with 6 forwards and the Columbia shift, you had a choice of 12 forwards, giving you the speed or power when needed. And these were transmissions that had to be double-clutched, meaning shifting into the neutral coming out of one speed, shifting again, then into the next gear. No A/C, No Power Steering, Not even a radio. Cold in winter, hot in summer, delivering local or central and north Alabama...Great experience. *finish later, more to come...Jeff

Farrah Fawcett

2009-06-26T06:55:00.002-05:00

I am about 10 years older than Farrah, and grew up just loving this young lady, a classic beauty of all time. We all will miss her! She fought a valiant fight against cancer and unashamed about sharing that fight with us. She will be truly missed.

Work done on 3281

2009-06-18T07:41:00.006-05:00

I hope all these uploaded OK, one of my new very red front door and two pictures of my newly cleaned and stained deck....Enjoy...Jeff

Memorial Day

2009-05-24T10:25:00.002-05:00

5/24/2009

Dear friends and family,

It has been 3 weeks since I have written anything. Why? You really need something foremost in your mind to write anything worth reading. Memorial Day brings back so many memories as I grew up in the 40's during WWII as a child.

But my memories are something I cherish, even if sometimes they are painful. My mother had 3 brothers in WWII, one in Europe and two in the Pacific. We were constantly putting packages together and off to the post office in Bessemer to mail these precious packages.

I remember dad buying candy, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, lighter fluid, yes back then you could mail lighter fluid. I have letters my uncles wrote my mom and blacked out parts where they went through a military censorship. They could not tell us anything about where they were, just general thoughts about maybe what they might need but we never knew where they were, nor where they were going.

The thought that stands out most in my mind was the phone call my father took when the family was notified my uncle Enoch was missing in action. The sadness was overwhelming knowing "Junior" might have been killed in action. It was dad and mom then getting us into dad's 1940 Dodge and driving to my grandparents home at 1908 Clarendon Avenue in Bessemer, Alabama.

Thinking back, my parents must have been in Enoch's record to call his sister first. My dad was the most senior of the inlaws, a few years older than all the kids. And my mom was the 2nd oldest sister but I believe the most stable and able to handle bad news better than any other. We got to our my grandmothers house and I remember what my dad and mom said to them after we all gathered in the living room. He was so great in saying Enoch was missing but he truly believed he was MIA as they did not find his body. I remember us all praying together and then calling the other sisters and brother in and telling them the news.

We all kept our hopes up and soon the Red Cross called again and told us Enoch was on a list provided by the Germans that he was a POW. That was all we knew, but just knowing he was alive was such a relief. The Red Cross then gave us a mailing address for POW and again we gathered things to mail Enoch and disguising things in sealed candy boxes than dad had put cigarettes in the bottom layers then had the candy company reseal the boxes. I even remember the name of the candy company in downtown Birmingham. It was Bell Camp Candy company!

We sent so many boxes, I guess a thesaris for the pain of having a brother held by the Germans. Luckily he escaped some months later when the allies pushed through Belgium approaching Germany. He survived some terrible train rides that had Jews in the same cars. He remembered the Germans painted large "P" on the tops of the train cars so the English and American figher planes would not machine gun the cars.

He said the planes would buzz the cars, and the train would stop and all the prisoners got out so the pilots knew these were not trains with German troops or equipment. Enoch said they had to do this as the Germans painted a "P" on the top of just about all their cars and this was the Allies used to identify the real "POW" cars.

It was on a march that Enoch and 4 other GI's escaped. They stopped one night and used a village to house the Jews and POWs overnight. These guys felt they would survive if they got into Germany, so they hide in crawl spaces and in between walls in some homes and barns. The Germans went though these building using bayonette and poking between the slots in the wall luckily missing all of these 5 guys. They waited hours before venturing out and then trying to find the allies pushing toward Germany.

They soon ran into a Russian army and they were held and questioned by the Russians refusing to get them a liason officer to repatriate these guys. Enoch said that luckily they escaped the Russians again one night and soon found a British force and was soon sent to a ship off the coast of Italy. Due to injuries, he was sent to Wales and a hospital there. There he met Mary, a volunteer nurse that was taking care of our GI's and others these.

He ended up after leaving the hospital, going home to Wales with Mary and marrying a young nurse. We loved the news knowing he was OK and he was bringing home a Welsh wife. So a great good comes out of a terrible experience. They were married over 50years with my aunt Mary passing away this last year. I share this story as Enoch now has lost so many memories and these are some he shared with me and my family too many years ago. Happy Memorial Day...

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

May 2, 2009,,,Great Yard

2009-05-02T16:56:00.002-05:00

Let me bore you with my flowers and grass and all the upkeep and care they need. Karen and I started yesteday afternoon about 4:30pm and we came in at 7:00. Karen is on the DC wireless mower I bought that is a hummer of a machine.

She started on the lawn while I got the electrical cords out and the string weed trimmer and we got at it. I trimmed all the edges of the driveway from one end to the other, around the flower beds, and edged the sidewalk leading to the front steps.

We both finished about 6:30pm but I could not leave a mess for Saturday or today. So I got the high powered leaf blower out and with 200 ft of cord, started in the middle our circle and started pushing all the trimmings and dirt and the last few leaves of winter and up the driveway toward the recyle pile.

I the blew off the driveway, all the walks and then the 12x36 deck clearing our deck chairs and table of all the debris of winter. Today we looked out the front window and all we can do is be amazed our winter has gone and spring has truly sprung.

Today Karen and I took on one side of the garage and worked about 4 hours on each with now 4 large bins down at the street for trash pickup. The garage looks like now someone lives here....Hope you enjoy my ramblings this afternoon. Feel free to comment as all criticism is taken in stride....;0)

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Bama Azealas 3

2009-04-17T11:30:00.002-05:00

This is one of the two azelas next to the windows up next to the house. Unfortunately these two plants only get the late afternoon sun. You can see the blooms and flower reaching out to gather in the sun's rays. Hope you enjoy my postings today...Friday 4/17/2009. Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Colorado Columbines in Bama

2009-04-17T11:26:00.002-05:00

Enjoy my efforts in the smaller bed at the base of my mailbox. Karen found me some columbine plants and this is the sole survivor from last year. Luckily I added fertilizer and covered it with chips and manure keeping it warm enough through winter. Enjoy my efforts...Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Alabama Azelas 2

2009-04-17T11:22:00.001-05:00

This one is on the edge of my driveway, and gets morning and evening sun. It is glorious even now almost a week after Easter Sunday. The rain and wind has taken it's toll on some of the current bloomings but I got these shots at their peak...Hope you enjoy these and more pictures to come. Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Alabama Azelas

2009-04-16T13:27:00.002-05:00

You must enjoy my efforts last fall, getting my flower beds turned and fertilizer and wood chips, all adding to this beautiful work of nature. Alabama yards are abounding with azelas of all colors and varieties. Enjoy mine. Jeff

Jack, Jimmy and Billy

2009-04-12T20:38:00.002-05:00

I thought I would share a pix of 3 of my Northcutt family uncles. This was from Sept. 1992 and I have lost the two on each end. My uncle Jim in the middle is in his mid-seventies and hope I hold on to him quite a while longer. jeff the knutt in the ham

$399.97 Car Tags

2009-04-08T02:20:00.003-05:00

4/8/2009

Good morning my family and friends and casual reader.

Karen and I own 3 vehicles, including a 1991 Honda Civic 4 door I would love to sell to someone. But she and I drive Fords, a 2004 Taurus and a 2008 Escape I bought Karen last year. First there is sticker shock when you buy a new car or truck or SUV and then that shock when you buy the first full year car tag.

I knew about what the Civic and Taurus would be but the 2008 would be the 'biggey' this year. The Civic was $36.00, the Taurus was $145.00 and the shocker was the Escape was the balance. The clerk at the Homewood office did not blink when she said "$399.97" for all. Then it was "will that be by check or credit card?" Quit laughing, my choice was a no brainer.

Let's let Visa bill me for this in 30 days and giving me 4 weeks to save up to pay it. I hated to have to pay for the tag for the Civic as it is for sale, but they explained I "must" have a tag on it showing the current taxes are paid. Humm?

The only good thing about this event is I got all new tags. Alabama has changed their tags from "Heart of Dixie" to "Sweet Home Alabama" and a very nice looking tag. Plus the tags are now sequentially making it easier for Karen and me to remember them. Karen really did not like her old tag as it ended in 666 but who is superstitious(sp). Only she had an accident in her new Escape 7 days after I put the new tag on her car. It only scuffed up the passenger side tires, but she just hated it. I would too, but I was glad she was just OK.

Love you guys and feel free to comment and leave some of your stories. I am up early this am, body aching after working 10 hours yesterday. My bad!

jeff the knutt in the ham

Two Weeks Later

2009-04-05T15:34:00.002-05:00

4/5/2009 pm

Dear friends and family, etc

"I guess getting old is not for a sissy!" You are going to have stuff go wrong if you live long enough. I was so fortunate too have almost no painful problems for over 65 years then stuff began to hurt.

It is now 2 weeks after 4 plus days in the hospital and checking out everything. I guess some more doctor visits and tests are in the works to find out what is causing pain in around my chest, heart, stomach, arm, even my legs. Now where do I start checking.

I had my physical a week ago and everything checked out OK. Even my cholestrol was 168 well below the target <200. My bad stuff was down and good stuff was up and the ratio was 3.6 well below the <5.0 target. Fibromialgia or something like that is cropping up in my conversation with my docs as it is pain they cannot find a source for.

I'll try and post an update next week after a further checkup with my heart and gastro doctor. I expect they will punch and push and decide I need to get my Blue Cross card out for somemore test. News at 11:)!

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Brookwood Hospital 5 day stay! Here's Johnny!

2009-03-25T14:55:00.003-05:00

3/25/2009

Dear friends, family and my gentle and causal reader,

Last friday began like most days, but something apparently was wrong. I had an uneasy feeling, could not get comfortable working from my home office. This was a feeling I had not experienced before and somewhat unsettling.

I finished up my work by mid-morning, showered, shaved and headed toward my favorite doc in the box as my GP takes friday's off. It was an hour wait, but soon I had my blood pressure checked, blood taken, an exam and soon a electrocardiogram, and all checked out OK. I leave but still uneasy even though told everything OK.

I got my car washed and headed toward home. The time I arrived home, my anxiety had reached a cressindo that made my thinking, I needed to go to the hospital ER. I called Karen and that is what we did.

It was a looney toons at Brookwood ER, Friday 5:30pm and every emergency in the world streaming now through the front door. Bloody faces, fist fights, faces hit with 2x4's and flu and cold symptoms galore. Jeff with chest pain and I am told I am about 3rd in line with all the ER exam room FULL.

Karen and I sit and watch folks bleed on the floor or almost fall from fighting, as someone finally catches them. Soon they call us back and I go thru the beauracy of getting to see a heart doctor. He soon see's me and wants to do stress tests, nuclear medicine and possibly a catherization of the heart to get a more definitive picture. I get door 3.

The first two test Saturday am, were good, I passed but not definitive enough to find out the source of my pain. That means staying Sat and Sunday as they don't do this cath of the heart on weekends. But they would early am Monday and too, monitor my heart for a day and a half to see too, if something unusual going on.

The weekend checked out OK, but bland food, no salt, no fat, no taste, the real heart diet. Sunday night is waking me about midnight and an CPA (something this side of an LPN) and drop your drawers. She shaves everything, both side of my abdomen, down both legs, and in-between, AND IE "NO HAIR LEFT BEHIND".

It got somewhat comical as I think she enjoyed shaving this guy who she said "used to be a red-head". I wonder how she know that! Quit laughing! Now just call me baldy (f.t.w.d)(from the waist down). Now wait until 5:00am and they have me up and ready to go.

10:00am, they come and get me. I can't have water, nothing by mouth, and soon rolled down the hall into the O/R. The paint all my privates with brown stuff and soon the doctor is inserting a probe in my abdomen. He watches this enter my heart, the pumps out dye I can taste in my mouth. The camera's are clicking and soon it's over. It takes about 45 minutes all together but I think the Rx they give you disguised the passing of time.

I am told everything OK, but now have to lay flat for 4 hours, then head up on pillow in 2 more hours, and then I can sit up in another 2 hours. I really wanted to go home (as did Karen) after this, but my plumbing would not work and I sent Karen home. Good thing I did, as it was 8:30pm before the plumbing works, and 9:30pm before I could walk with my nurse across the room.

I left out the fact I had gone 15 or more hours without eating or fluid and Karen had to hand feed me after returning to my room. She was beat after being there all day and I know she was exhausted.

It is now Wednesday pm 3/25 and I finally feel like writing. I have some real funny stories to tell now if you don't mind being embarressed. I have not been able to drive a nail for a few years, but let a nurse, a total stranger do things while shaving you, you are amazed what Johnny can remember. We laughed and I hope you do too.

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Miracle of Nature (cont'd on)

2009-03-12T08:25:00.002-05:00

Now he is sitting on my wrist and watch band, soon eating the little black seed we have for our little finches. He eats his fill then hops off my wrist and continues to walk around on our deck rail, perfectly happy, and now pruning his feathers and cleaning up for the evening. This was one of the most unusual events in my 71 years. Has anyone ever had something like this happen to them where a wild bird or animal, discards their fear of man and loves us like we are ONE of THEM? My miracle will last with me forever....Jeff in Vestavia Hills, Alabama USA

Miracle of Nature (cont'd)

2009-03-12T08:20:00.002-05:00

Here my little wild friend has flown up and landed on my wrist, seemed to be attracted to the shiny bracelet and wrist watch, landing on it, holding on fiercely. He let me chuck him under his chin, stroke his back, and even let me hold him in my hand if only for a second or two. What made this wild dove chose me and act like he is my lost friend? No one knows! Read on, and I'll continue!

Miracle of Nature

2009-03-12T08:13:00.003-05:00

I came home from work yesterday and soon heard a swooshing sound that immediately caught my attention. A wild dove had flown up on our deck and was soon walking toward me 'cooing' wildly. Here is one of the wildest birds in the world and he is now wanting to get close and befriend me? He continues the cooing and wants to walk up to my now extended hand. Read on and I'll post another picture or two as things progressed. Jeff in Vestavia Hills, Al

Jared, Ashleigh, and Brock

2009-02-22T17:12:00.002-06:00

Here is a picture of brother Jack's 3 children. He had a big sister Ashleigh that unfortunately died in a terrible automobile accident in August, 1987, when she had just turned 17. Now Jared has joined her in their heavenly bodies looking down and smiling. She was waiting at the the pearly gates to welcome her little brother, where is now talking his head off and finally being understood by all the angels. I can see his smile now, can't you! Uncle Jeff loves you!

Jared N. Nutter Pictures

2009-02-22T17:02:00.003-06:00

This is one of Jared's pictures when he was about 18. As you have read, he was a 'special child' with many challenges but overcame so many. His pathway in life made him friends without number, too many to even begin. He was only on loan to us for a short time. Enjoy my telling his story as he could not. His uncle Jeff, the Knutt from the Ham.

Jared Northcutt Nutter

2009-02-21T22:22:00.002-06:00

2/20/09

Dear friends and family and my 1st family,

Jason Nutter and family, Chris Nutter, and Betty Nutter

I hope you all know Jared passed away Monday night. He just went to sleep and woke up in Heaven. He was home over the weekend and the only thing different, he had some cold symptoms but nothing to be alarmed about.

Jared had developed some balance problems and recently something like a brief fainting-spell. He was in UAB clinic for 3 days a month ago and all the neurological tests showed nothing. They changed his medication and Jack took him back home. Jared stayed at a home right behind our house on Rocky Ridge road. He had some very loving care givers Deandray, James and Debra. They came to the funeral and found out from them what happen Monday night.

Jared was at the home on rocky ridge and about 8:00pm, he had just had his bath and suddenly got sick on his stomach, lost consciousness immediately and stopped breathing. They did CPR and called 911 and the ambulance was there is 5 minutes but Jared never responded. They took him to St. Vincent’s emergency where he was DOA.

The only thing I can tell you is what the doctors told us. He had some kind of “catastrophic event”. The doctor said “someone like Jared had too many things wrong, and this kind of thing can happen”.

Jack and Vicki’s friends and Church and SS class took care of everything over the last 3 days. Companionship, loving care, food, fixing and cleaning up, just anything the family needed, they were there. Thursday after the funeral they had set up the kitchen and dining room with dinner for all the extended Nutter/Northcutt family. The silent behind the scenes angels were there all 3 days in and out. They were fantastic.

You all grew up with Jared and he still remembers “Chris”. Every time Jared saw his uncle Jeff, it was “Jey” for Jeff, the “Chri…” for Chris. He had not seen Chris in 20 years but somewhere in his mind, there was Chris every time he saw me.

The family asked my boys and I told them all you guys were all away and had very busy lives in CO and NY. Some of Vicki and Jacks friends remember you two growing up and your friendships with Ashleigh, Jared and Brock. We shared some great memories.

The food was something else. They bought or fixed homemade, Honey baked ham, chicken fingers, fresh green beans, a corn casserole, potato casserole, tomato aspic, broccoli-rice casserole, fresh fruit salad, several kinds of breads and hot rolls. The desserts were tiramisu (an Italian restaurant in Homewood), homemade caramel and chocolate cakes, white pudding cake, and homemade banana pudding. I had bought two gallons of Milo’s sweet tea and they made several pots of hot coffee.

We stayed until everyone left and Jack and Vicki and Brock and Jamie were going back out to the cemetery. They insisted Karen and I go home as we had been there all 3 days and yes, they were right, we were worn out. We brought some of the food home as they could never finish up all they had left. We were in bed before 8:00pm and asleep by 9.

It is 6:00am Friday and dad was up early, got my nap out by 4:30 or 5:00. I wanted to write my boys and tell them I loved them this morning. Jack wanted Karen and I to write the obituary and I put a tag line here for you. We mentioned Magic 96 in Jared’s obituary and Rob and Shannon from the morning show came to the funeral to meet the family of this “special child” that loved their station, basketball, tennis, and loved his family “fiercely”.

Love to all,

Dad and of course, a/k/a Grandpa Jeff

http://obits.al.com/birmingham/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=124295024

Hitting Brick Wall

2009-02-11T09:26:00.003-06:00

2/11/2009

Dear friends and family and my casual reader,

Good morning. This post is about a stumble that let this writer hit the corner of a brick wall. I had finished work one day last week and left the office and heading toward my favorite gas station to fill my car.

Everything ran Ok, filled the car, then headed into the station to pay. I was looking ahead and not 'down' and missed one of those short steps, (maybe 6"), and stumbled, losing my balance. It was so fast, the only thing I could do, was put my hands foward to brace for the fall.

Good news, I never hit the ground. My left hand and shoulder hit the door frame and edge of the brick wall, taking a chunk out of the left palm. Then on I went and hit the counter where John (owner) was talking on the phone. After the rattling of everything subsided, they got a towel to ebb the flow out the hole in my palm.

John was great, ask how I was and helped me pay for my purchase, offered to check my car's oil, transmission fluid, and even checked the air pressure. He again ask how I was, and I told him I lived nearby and luckily did not break anything and would dress this at home.

I drove home right handed. I got in the house, rinsed the wound, and put on antibiotic cream and a double bandage. This seemed to be the only damage until that night and the next morning. The left arm and shoulder and chest muscles now ache like a tooth ache. I called my neuro doctor and got an appointment early the next week.

Good news, I did not break anything. Bad news, 6 weeks for the hurting to go away. Dr. Swillie (my neuro/pain doc) said I pulled and/or strained all the muscles in my shoulder and chest and at 71, "Jeff, it takes time". The example he used and my I quote "If drive 70 or 80 miles an hour in your car, would a 71 Chevy make it to Atlanta. Something would start falling off in Pell City, about 20 miles." Ouch!

I am now on pain patches, pain Rx, plus Tylenol. It has been just a week since this happen and typing is about the most strenous thing I can do, except "right handed"!
Be careful my friends, bad stuff happens.

But I like what he said about his grandmother. He was a kid and worked a day picking strawberries with his 80 year old grandmother. He was so sore, then he ask her, "Granny does your back not hurt after working bent over all day?". She smiled, looked at him, "Yes, but nobody wants to hear about it". Fantastic!

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

My Review of Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student

2009-02-11T07:24:00.001-06:00

NothingButSoftware

Essential tools to create documents, spreadsheets,and presentations

Use on Up to 3 Computers per Household!

Microsoft Off...

MS Office 2007 Home and Student (3 user)

Knutt38 Birmingham, AL 2/11/2009

Pros: Makes Collaboration Easy, Great Savings, Great Features, Fast and Powerful, Easy To Navigate

Best Uses: Improving Efficiency, Organizing Data

Describe Yourself: Quality Oriented

Primary use: Personal

This replaced my MS Office 2003 I lost when my P4 computer crashed. MS 2007 is easy to navigate, opens my older versions on MS 2003, and saved me over $25.00-$30.00 over buying at a computer store here. Delivered fast, installed easily and runs now on my new Dell 1525 seamlessly. Great investment!

()

14.8 lb. Aluminum Pull Tabs

2009-01-23T06:33:00.000-06:00

1/22/2009 pm

Dear friends and family,

Long time ago, years and years, somebody told me to save the aluminum pull tabs off of canned Cokes, Pepsi, etc for charities and school. I was working back then and got customers and warehouses to save these for me. I never knew what this habit and collection might turn into.

It started out small then other folks got into the swing of doing this and I found myself with ziplock bags, small bottles, larger bottles, tin cans, all filled with these aluminum pull tabs. I collected these religiously and put them into larger ziplocks and stored these in our garage.

In my kitchen, I have had several 64oz Gatorade bottles and over the years these too have been filled by my use and contributions, and them too migrating to a shelf in my garage. Now remember this started YEARS ago and I am thinking how much do I have and will it be worth anything to a school or charity. Then yesterday, Bingo!

Karen came home from work with new two fellow employees had kids in Leeds Elementary School and Pleasant Grove Middle School, both schools with contest with the kids as to how many they could get their friends to collect for them for school supplies.
Leeds we knew about first, so they got the bulk of these.

Karen took these to work yesterday in a box that copy paper comes in and they weighed these ziplocks and Gatorade bottles on the banks postage scales. FOURTEEN POUNDS PLUS 8/10TH OF NUMBER FIFTEEN. Karen told me about this last night and I pointed out one full 64oz. Gatorade bottle she missed, probably another 2 lbs or more. These last ones plus all the "helping schools" coupons I cut off of cereal and tissue boxes and these went to Pleasant Grove Middle School.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when the child from Leeds Elementary Schools turns in his 14.8 lbs. plus what he collects himself. I would be he or she is in the lead from the get go! It took years to collect over 15 pounds of aluminum pull tabs and finally they are going toward a good cause....

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

AT&T U-verse Cable/DSL/PHone/LD/

2009-01-13T11:48:00.002-06:00

1/13/2008: am

Dear F & F and my casual reader,

I have had several cable companies and ISP but nothing really new. When I moved here in 76 we had one cable company then Bellsouth bought them. Then Bellsouth got out of the cable business and Charter stepped in, now for years.

I looked around, looking for something NEW! I read about a new fiber optics cable system that ATT now offers and typed in my zip code to see if it was available. It was, and just in the last few days.

I got a sales visit and read all what they offered plus the big kicker, all new cable system all through your house as well as outside. My experience with Bellsouth/ATT has been good with my DSL, so I decided to try SOMETHING NEW.

Plus you keep your old email address and everything is either ethernet or wireless and everything including my printer is now all wireless. Then the TV is all digital and HI-Def on the 40" Sony and the 19" Westinghouse in the bedroom. Plus, I now have hours of recording capabilities and can program shows to record automatically.

Plus, you can watch the recorded program on the other sets, just using the controller in and with each set. All this is interactive and Karen just loved it from the get go.

They now offer too, movies that are currently in the theater, but for a small charge and you can watch them over and over for the 24 hours after you select them.

Plus, the DSL is now ATT/Yahoo and seems to be faster than the Bellsouth I had powered by Google. Plus, the mail address migrated all my email history, plus addresses, everything migrated to the new but same ISP now powered by Yahoo.

Plus, the guys and gals from ATT were just great. In the 6 or 7 hours they worked on and in the house, I had Brian, Eddie, John, Windy (heard her, never saw her), plus Brad. I have never had that many people on ladders, in windows, working on my computers, all at virtually the same time trying to get me up and going as soon as possible.

Plus, they did as they said. They called at 7:30am, got here at 8:00am and left completed at 3:30pm with 4 TVs and 2 computers all running smoothly. Now that is a great jobs, so just call it a PLUS!

Jeff the knutt in the ham

Gracie's Door

2009-01-09T09:27:00.001-06:00

Gracie was our inside cat her entire life. But she loved visiting her kitty friends next door and across the street. This was one of her favorite haunts.

Gracie's Ghost

2009-01-07T08:07:00.002-06:00

1/7/2008

Good morning my friend and casual reader.

You read my letter about losing my little Gracie just 2 weeks ago. If not, drop back one letter and read that post. Now let me tell you her sounds, her scent, her presence, her steps, are still echoing through our home.

Karen and I have shared stories over the last few days of how Gracie may be refusing to leave. I am watching television up stairs, and I hear her running on the stairs, just as real as life. Last night, I hear something to my right, and there is a shadow, a dark shade at the top of the stairs, and I see her in my peripheral vision, her favorite place to rest just out of reach.

I got up yesterday morning, and in rolling out of bed, there was Gracie moving across my feet, shifting under my moving, finding a more comfortable place at the foot of our bed.

Karen said she looked up from getting out of the shower snd looked into the hall and said a glimpse of Gracie ran past the door, and the running noise she makes running in the hall. She knows we fuss at her when running in the house and it was her way of getting our attention.

I sat at the top of the stairs and there is noise downstairs, and it sounds as if Gracie's running and playing, just like she used to do. Then I find her favorite ball at the very bottom step at the bottom of the stairs and I had missed it for days. Maybe I moved it and did not know it or did Gracie put it there to let me know she was here?

I have picked up most of her toys and put them away. But now I am finding nesting places she had that I did not know about. I look across the room and there is motion in my vision, looking like her tail sweeping from under the furniture as she used to do.

Last night I was watching television in bed, and dozed off, then awakened with her running across the foot of the bed, hitting Karen's cherry highboy, sliding to a noisey stop. It was so real I lifted myself to look to see if she was truly there?

14 years plus leaving lots of memories and habits and these will fall away in time. But she left her mark on us, changing us and made our love more for her everyday. What a Kitty! Love ya Gracie, we truly miss you!

j and k

Losing Gracie my Kitty

2008-12-29T13:04:00.002-06:00

12/29/2008

Dear friend and casual reader,

How do you chose a sad story to write here at Christmas, a joyous time? It is not easy! My sweet kitty of almost 14 years choses to pass away while Karen and I are away Christmas week. I guess that was her way of not letting us see her in her last days.

Our neighbors were checking on her and she was fine for several days. And she was fine when we left Saturday 12/20, fisty, playful and loving as usual. Nothing to indicate to us she might be sick or having any problems we might address early on.

After several days she ate and drank fine with Matt and Lynda replacing her water and food every other day. Then Christmas afternoon, they went to check on her and only then did they notice she had not eaten or drank any water since their last visit. This caused concern and they went looking for her.

Lynda opened the doorway into the hallway, and Gracie looked like she was sleeping at the top of the stairs. But something was obviously wrong. Gracie usually rouses at the earliest sound and makes herself invisible giving her the nickname "shadow"! But Gracie had gone! Lynda tried to rouse her but she had died.

Lynda called me in Hickory telling me the bad news. She said it looked like she curled up next to the heat vent to stay warm and passed away in her sleep. I can only hope and pray that was the peaceful way to go.

Now my house is lonely and quiet without my constant companion of the last 14 years. In cat years, she would be just over 70 but I really expected to have her a few more. But only He knows how long we all may be here and He chose to take her while we were away.

We will miss her and her little nesting places and favorites are constant reminders of someone who was an intergral part of someone's life. She was my conpanion, my therapist, my sweetie pie when she was good and my "snake" when she was bad and nipping at my hands when I tried to pet her.

There will never be another Gracie as she was as unique as she could be. She was an individual and picky as to who she let love her. She switched between Karen and Jeff, treating each of us with samples of her sweet love each day. We learned her habits and likes and dislikes and she trained us rather than the other way around.

Gracie, I know there is a kitty heaven and she is watching me right now, meowing now as I write this. She never really gave me approval, only an OK from time to time just to let me know who was in charge. She says now "Jeff, I miss you too, but it was time was us and I wanted to leave while you and Karen were in NC, sparing you this pain". She is saying "remember me and find a little kitty soon and give it your love, and I'll just look down and help from time to time". Bye for now, see you later...signed "Gracie Friar Nutter".

Cold Sore PAIN!!!

2008-12-18T19:40:00.002-06:00

12/18/2008: pm

Dear friends and family and my casual but gentle reader,

Merry Christmas. What a subject for a post, cold sore pain! If I have had a cold sore before, I don't remember it. But I will remember this one. It began with a sore tongue, or sensitivity to whatever I was eating.

It did not really bother me at first as the pain would come and go but seemed now to be more aggressive with fruit juices or maybe a dash of pepper sauce on a helping of homemade turnip greens. Then I think I bite my tongue. Ouch! Double ouch!

I got home several days ago and my mouth was so sore I was rinsing and brushing my teeth three or four times a day to help whatever was going on. Then I looked "UNDER MY TOUGUE!" There was this elongated white pouch that so sore I could now hardly stand it.

I did the usual thing, bland foods, soup, milk and cottage cheese and yogurt to balance the PH in my mouth to help the healing. But even this did little to eleviate the pain everytime my tongue touched anything. I went to my skin specialist Monday and talked to her a little about it, and she was of little help, especially after freezing three places on my left temple, upping my pain just a little More!

Luckily I had a dental checkup Wednesday and by Tuesday night I was climbing the walls with little sleep Tuesday night. I showered and dressed early Wednesday morning and saw Dr. Isaac as early as possible. He was sympthetic, and told me he had just gotten over a symilar one. He recommended ambesol and again mild rinses like Cam-Gel which is a dental rinse I had at home.

I wanted to go back home especially after the dental appointment as they did some stuff I'll not talk about that was quite painful and that too managed to add to my current pain level about through the roof. But Karen's SUV needed service and I trucked my way out to the bank, exchanged cars with her, and drove about 22 miles to Bessemer to get her 'baby' ready for our NC trip.

I stopped at Brunos, no ambesol, then Walgreens and only their brand, and finally CVS in Bessemer and a $7.00 bottle of pain killer. Hummm,,double hummm! But that first touch is ouch, big ouch but finally a numb tougue. I was about ready to gargle with this stuff I was so desperate.

Today is home, home, but business calls. I so wished I could take the day off, but no body knows my job. It is failed reports, reports needed, new orders, orders to office and filling in my boss so I can take the next week off. Finally about 1:00pm, I shut everything down and take more pain Rx and sleep a bit. It is still hurting but seems some improved. We plan a 10 hour trip Saturday am and I have 'got to get to be 100% right away!' A must! J the K in the H

Planned Trip to North Carolina

2008-12-15T18:14:00.002-06:00

12/15/2008: 6:30pm CST

Dear reader,

I have written some stories about my sons and some negatives in my life. So now, let me share some great and wonderful things He has bestowed on me. The Clark familiy in North Carolina are my in-laws. But for some unknown reason, the see me more as a son than a son-in-law?

I have known the Clarks for almost 20 years and our bonds grow stronger each year. We plan a trip in the next few days for 8 days in NC with all the extended Clark family. It is a 453 mile, almost 10 hour trip by car, but Karen and I do this in a breeze.

We have been given almost the entire downstairs at her mom and dads and great times together. This Christmas we bought them a new 37" Samsung HDTV and hopefully the cable company will have it up and going by the time we get there Saturday night. They are so excited about this gift, and they hustled out to pick out the one they wanted.

Good food, a Zeigler ham graciously given to me by my company and nesting in the refrigerator. Karen will bake the ham Sunday and the Clarks have provided all the trimmings to go with it. The smell of it baking soon is infiltrating all the house and mouths begin to water. How funny it is how many gather in the kitchen before this is ready, offering to test the ham to make sure it meets their standards.

I will bake it about 3 and 1/2 hours then let it sit for a time. Never try to slice a ham hot as it will be fall into pieces and the slices will look terrible. But let it set, and cool a bit, and it will slice like hot butter. I usually slice the entire ham, making several trays for dinners, lunches and sandwiches and snacks all for this next Christmas week. We buy several kinds of breads and mustards, with pickles and olives galore, so you can make you a wonderful meal anytime. Plus snack crackers of several varieties and they took make wonderful snacks and even a meal...

There a are a few vegatarians in our midst, and Karen and I are wondering how they will hold out with these great smells and of course, TaStE! I will fill you in!

We do Christmas Eve services at Northminster Presbyterian Church, Karen's home church as well as her mom and dads. It is candle light service and a love fiest where sweets and hot chocolate is served by the members to all attending making all of us a particating part of their Christian family(ies). It is a moving service when they darken the Church and one candle lights another and they pass from person to person until the Church with the glow of Christ in the world.

I will write some more stories as the progresses and it is my way of letting you, my reader, share and learn of some great and wonderful days of Christmas in Hickory, North Carolina. News at 11:00.

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Missing my sons at Christmas

2008-12-10T09:44:00.002-06:00

December 10,2008: am

Dear friends and family,

This is suppose to be one of the most enjoyable and rejoiceful times of the year. It is in many ways with my brother and his family and Karen and my Clark family. But I was married to a lady who chose to leave almost 20 years ago and my sons have not been in touch with their dad in some years.

Jay is my oldest and has a family and I have not heard from him in almost a year. There are many reasons, and some I understand but many I do not. I have a wonderful grandson that the newest card and gift from him is almost 2 years old. His last card decorates the front of my refrigerator and I enjoy that card everyday. What a seemingly small thing that means so much to his grandfather.

I am having coffee this morning and it is decorated with my grandson's handprints and artwork and is my regular cup each morning. But it too is almost 2 years old. I would love to know what he wants for Christmas but my requests go unanswered. If J reads my writings, I know he feels this is the 'right' thing to do. He has his reasons and I respect his privacy but wish he would let me stay in touch if not with him but with his son.

It would be great to get stories and pictures which he shared willingly in the past. He has lost his grandmother now and I (and my ex, his mom) are the only attachments now to the Nutter and Gardner family. Maybe the contact with me and others here is painful to him. Maybe he feels I have done him wrong, not doing as he wishes in some things, but how can he let me do without contact with my grandson
at this special time of year.

I will grant one thing, my life now revolves around my brother's family and Karen's family in North Carolina. I don't know really how he feels about his dad's new life. His dad is happy now, and I have a full life rotating around others now and not my children, but that is their choice. Karen and I generally spend the Christmas holidays in North Carolina as her parents are now in their 80's and traveling to Birmingham is a little far for them.

My son Chris is another story, truly a different person living life in NYC. He moved north after finishing school and came out as a 'gay man' some 12 to 15 years ago. He is a writer, editor, and has published books and has another coming out in the spring of 2009. He is successful, has a NY life and the south and his father are fogotten pasts. Again, he feels I hurt him as a young man, and maybe I did. But somehow fathers can't or won't see the 'gay' son as they should. I expected more from him as a supposed straight son and he had to deal with this pain and conflict daily. I am truly sorry he did not confide in his father and let both of us deal with and understand his life and "he" knew it to be. But that is the past....

I love my boys. I love their family. I love my grandson. I love the fact they are independent and successful and maybe his mom and I were too successful in bringing them up to be independent. I only hope they know their father loves them without conditions and truly, truly hope they do well and most of all are happy. I would never want to cause them pain and if this separation makes them happy, then so be it.

I would answer any question they have for me, about anything! Their grandmother's home was sold recently and maybe they feel like I owe them something from that? Our mom's will left the house solely to the two sons, to take care of her, to pay her bills and the rest would be split between us two. No other's, brother's, sister's, no one else was mentioned! I have told them that but maybe they don't believe me and my brother? There was a cocktail ring mother lost that she ask to go to her grandchildren but we have no idea where she might have lost it in the last months before she died.

I have tried to make some settlement of some type with them but it was not accepted by either one? What else can I do? This may be the 'bone of contention' they have with me (and my brother) but until they tell me, I don't really know. When you don't write me or talk to me, how can I make amends. I wonder if I gave each of them $500.00 or $1,000.00 or more, would that be enough? What would be "ENOUGH"?

This is a dad's ramblings this morning about lost sons that I miss so much. I require nothing from them, only to let me know they are OK. If they would let me know what I did wrong, tell me in so many words, then maybe, only maybe, then can I even try to get this missed family back together again. A card or an occassional email or phone call would do miracles with their dad. Try! Only Try!

Love,
Dad, Jeff, a/k/a grandpa Jeff

The Bright Star Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T08:16:00.002-06:00

11/28/2008: 8:30am CST

Dear friends and family,

How do I describe a great eating experience that is just one click this side of wonderful. I will try. The Bright Star is a Greek restaurant in Bessemer, Alabama, in business for about 110 years.

Thanksgiving and Mother's Day dinners are there biggest days in the year. They serve from 10:30am to 5:00pm on these two days serving the greatest food in the world. Karen and I have enjoyed their offerings for years and yesterday was just another example of 'excellence'.

Karen and I were up at 8:00am Thanksgiving morning, and after a leisure time of reading all the 'black friday' ads in the 6lb. Birmingham News, we dressed for our trip to the Bright Star. It is about 20 miles from Vestavia and when we got there at 1:30pm, there were people standing in the hallways and even out on the street in front of the Bright Star.

Number 82 was the number I got and she and I found a seat next to the window just outside the bar area. I ask Karen if she wanted a Tangeray and tonic, and 2 were $15.00 even. The bartender took the measure cup off the bottle and we got a little more gin making this a pretty durable drink! We sat, talked to friends, made new friends, and amazed how fast this restaurant moved people smoothly through the system.

Jimmy and Nicki Koikos are the owners and Jim soon saw me and came over and greeted Karen and myself. Our number soon came up and we were seated and menus specially printed for this special day.

Now what did we have. I had the $15.95 Thanksgiving special with appetizer, choice of turkey and dressing or ham with raisen sause. We soon got our drinks, order placed and Karen got her salad with the Bright Star's special dressing and I had a wonderful cup of gumbo, a real treat. I ordered the turkey with cornbread dressing, turnip greens, and squash and cornbread and a pie of lemon icebox pie.

Karen ordered the Greek Style Salmon, with greek style potatoes and squash and a roll and she too had the lemon icebox pie. Her only complaint she had was they had run out of chocolate pie and she had to settle for lemon icebox. Humm!

Did we finish all of it! Not a chance! The serving are abundant and we both had to ask for a to-go box. We now have lunch or dinner for Friday and looking forward to this treat a second time.

We remembered from years back of ordering our dessert 'first'. They had soon ran out of pecan and chocolate pie and ran out of lemon icebox while we were there. The taste are unique, enjoyable in every way. We each smiled after eating and I took her on a short tour of Bessemer showing her where we lived in Bessemer years ago. I also showed her my grandparents home on Clarendon, Uncle Jack and Barbara's home and aunt Leona and Roy's home also on Fairfax. I then showed her Jack and Barbara's first home up on top of Muscoda hill on Holbrook Avenue. I showed her the Methodist Church I grew up in and the Southside Baptist church were I was a scout member.

We really enjoyed our food, friends and my showing her places I grew up 50 years ago. It was a precious and relaxed day we have put in our memory of Thanksgiving at the Bright Star. I do hope you enjoyed my ramblings this morning and hope your Thanksgiving was a blessed day. Our's was!

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham (BirmingHAM),Alabama, US of A!

"I'm 3rd"!

2008-11-26T20:55:00.003-06:00

A late night in November in 2008, year of "our Lord".

Somewhere in my archives of time, I read this the title somewhere! But I do now how far back to start looking. I know it was back when I was in college as I had it on a an index card in calligrapy over my desk lamp.

I don't know why this comes to mind at this time but it does. I remember talking to my minister about this and he said "Do you really know what this means, "I'm Third"?
I told him yes, I did but he expounded on the impact this has if you truly believe you are third.

He told me it was a commission I was taking upon myself and it was an important one and one Christ followed. He went on to say "Christ put his Father first, the world second, and He was Third". This caused me to think, would not you?

I knew I was not qualified to even begin to do this in my life. But my minister said that this was man's challenge in life. Sure it sounds good and looks good over your desk, but do you know if you can do this in all things?

It means putting God and Christ foremost in your life. To live each day the best you can to be more like Him. Then you must be selfLESS in all things, putting family, friends, strangers, school friends and then all in your professional life second. Yes, those in need, you have to find that place in your heart to help those people in their role as 2nd in your life.

After everyone else is thought about, cared for, nurtured, then and only then comes ME! It has been since 1960 when I was at the University and I began this journey. Have there been times I failed and felt selfish? Yes! Has there been times I failed in doing my best in all things. Yes! Has there been times I felt so stressed out that I may have said something I shouldn't have! Oh course, yes!

But I have never gotten up in the morning thinking how I can prosper Jeff at someone else's expense! I have never taken advantage of a weaker person, at least not knowingly? I put a question mark there because you don't know that for sure. But may I quote my sweet wife after waking one morning. "I know you have a clear conscious as you drop off to sleep so easily and sleep all night without hardly moving!" I smiled and told her "yes, and a poor man sleeps soundly too as he does not have to worry about losing anything!" We laughted and had coffee together!

Jeff tries today to put his God first, you Second, and then "I am Third". I guess the approaching Christmas caused me to think about what this season is all about. I challenge you to attempt as I have done to put yourself "third". When I stand at the judgement seat, maybe then will I really know that "I did".
jbnii

Phones in Churches

2008-11-23T15:32:00.000-06:00

PHONES IN CHURCH

A man in Topeka , Kansas decided to write a book about churches
around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.

Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes.

He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was
Intrigued with a sign, which read 'Calls: $10,000 a minute.'

Seeking out the pastor, he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to GOD.

The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle , Denver , St. Louis , Chicago , Milwaukee , and all around the United States , he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Alabama , upon entering a church in
the little town of Bessemer. behold - he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign
read 'Calls: 35 cents.'

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, 'Reverend Kesler, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden Telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to GOD, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute.

Your sign reads only 35 cents a call. Why?'

Randy smiling benignly, replied, 'Son, you're in the South now .

You're in God's Country, It's a local call.'

American by Birth - A Southerner by the Grace of God.

My Castle in Vestavia in Fall Array!

2008-11-19T14:59:00.000-06:00

Mia Casa in Vestavia Hills, Alabama USA

2008-11-19T14:58:00.000-06:00

Fall Colors entering Vestavia Hills, Alabama

2008-11-19T14:56:00.000-06:00

More Fall Colors in Vestavia Hills, Alabama

2008-11-19T14:54:00.000-06:00

Fall Colors in Vestavia Hills, Alabama

2008-11-19T14:48:00.002-06:00

Alabama is NUMBER ONE!!

2008-11-16T08:49:00.002-06:00

Sunday 11/16/2008: am

Dear friends and family,

11-0 Alabama is number one! No other team now in Division 1 Football is 11-0! We listen to the commentaries examining as to how good or how bad Alabama may be in their mind. Many are trying to place the 10-1 ahead of Bama. Why?

Most of the votes are in the west and east and have little interest in keeping anyone in the SEC at number one. What disappointment I hear in their voice(s) how good that lost one team may be!! But I ask you, "but they have been beaten!"

How can you possibly place a team with a loss above a team that has found a way to win everyone they have played. Bama has been ranked teams over and over again, but now you want to discount those wins? Why?

Who does Bama have to beat, Clemson ranked, LSU ranked, Georgia ranked, others that were just out of the top 25, and Bama had found a way to win. Sure, some are not pretty! But Bama finds a way to win! Come from behind, Bama does and wins! Bama does their thing, no thoughts of the score, just continues to pound out the yards and first downs it takes to win.

Talk you may! Wish away another teams loss! Keep wishing, but watch the Nick Saban lead Bama through no matter who may be next! They will find a way to win! Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Bourhills and Wedding Cake

2008-11-09T20:58:00.001-06:00

Shana and David Bourhill, the newly weds. The cutting of the cake and the couples sharing it and a little clowning was so funny and cute. Don't know how many I have of this, but enjoy!! Uncle Jeff

11K plus miles on this Cherry 350CB Honda

2008-11-05T09:47:00.002-06:00

November 5, 2008: am: UPDATE

I will try to get some real good close up photos but wanted the mileage to go record. We have plans to replace all the rubber on this cherry, but luckily it was put up with NO GAS in the tank or system and new plugs and recent oil changes, oil clean as new. Good start if put up right! Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

350CB another view....

2008-11-05T09:42:00.002-06:00

11/05/2008: Enjoy another.
This is another shot of the bike with some rust spots, dust, corrosion here and there and before we put the new battery in. It did not start but the starter, lights, brake lights, turn indicators, ignition all worked great, coming to life! The left carbureter has a small leak, and we've got to attack that small problem first. News at 11:00am. Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

1971 Honda 350CB Motorcycle

2008-11-05T09:36:00.002-06:00

11/05/2008: Observe...
Observe the 1971 Honda motorcycle Jeff bought new back in the summer of 1971. I was 33 and now 70 years old, and this has been in storage in my garage for 37 years. I thought I would take some before pictures before the hours we have planned on restoring this wonderful bike. Enjoy! Jeff the Knutt in the Ham...

Grandparents; Juanita and Bob Clark

2008-10-29T13:46:00.001-05:00

Juanita and Bob Clark: I Left the computer to work with plumber and forgot what the pix are?...enjoy/Jeff

Kathi and mom Juanita

2008-10-29T12:29:00.000-05:00

Shana's mom Kathi Baucom and Shana's grandmother Juanita Clark, Bob's wife////Jeff

Wedding group

2008-10-29T12:27:00.000-05:00

Karen, Steve Baucom's sister, and his mom is next. Enjoy this group! That is me in the yellow tie and head down doing something...?/Jeff

Bob and Katie

2008-10-29T12:19:00.000-05:00

Grandfather Bob Clark and his granddaughter Katie, dancing and having much fun!/Jeff

Beautiful Girls

2008-10-29T12:17:00.000-05:00

Beautiful additions to the Shana Baucom and David Bourhill wedding...enjoy/Jeff

Dancing

2008-10-29T12:14:00.000-05:00

Shana dancing with her hubby David and mom's Kathi and Debbie..../Jeff

Kathi, Shana, and Debbie

2008-10-29T12:11:00.000-05:00

Mom Kathi, the bride Shana, and David mom, Debbie. Enjoy!/Jeff

Bob, Brian and Paul

2008-10-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Dad Robert Clark and sons Brian and Paul at Shana's wedding.../Jeff

Brian and Paul Clark

2008-10-29T11:59:00.001-05:00

Casey's brother Paul and Brian in deep converstion at Shana's wedding!/Jeff

Katie and Uncle Jeff

2008-10-29T11:57:00.000-05:00

Katie Clark and her Uncle Jeff Nutter from Birmingham, Al. Katie is studying physics, math, the brainer one in the Clark family.../Uncle Jeff

Kris and Jennifer

2008-10-29T11:53:00.000-05:00

Pictures from Shana Baucom and David Bourhill Wedding. More to follow! Jeff

Conservative View on Obama's Gun Control Record

2008-10-20T09:17:00.000-05:00

Sunday 10/19/2008

Dear Friends and family,

Subject: Second Amendment Rights

Do you have any firearm in your home either for protection, hunting, or target practice?
Would you like to keep these and not be subject to prosecution or taxes or controls that reduce or eliminate your having the right to own these?

Looking at some past voting records of our two candidates for President and Commander in Chief of our Military, here below are some of the proposals forwarded and supported by Mr. Barack Hussein Obama. If you agree with some of his and Mr. Kennedy's proposals, well, here are some you may agree with.

Based on past voting record in the Senate, here are 3 of his proposals if we vote him in as Commander in Chief.

1. Prosecute people who use guns (any gun) for self-defense in the home. Obama's vote was "YES"

2. Ban the sale of almost all hunting ammunition. Obama's vote was "YES".

3. Increase taxes on firearms and ammunition by 500%. Obama's vote was "YES".

These are some Illinois and U.S. Senate bills and public record facts that you may want to research as I have and others.

Fact: Obama has supported banning of hundreds of rifles and shotguns used in hunting and sport shooting: ILLINOIS SENATE DEBATE #3: BARACK OBAMA VS ALAN KEYES, 10/21/2004

Fact: Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to put the firearms industry out of business. S.(Senate)397, vote 219, 7/29/2005.

Fact: Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used in hunting and sport shooting. S.397, vote 217, 7/29/2005.

Fact: Obama voted to allow the prosecution of citizens who use a firearm in defense of the home. Illinois Senate, S.B. 2165. 3/25/2004

Fact: Obama supported increasing taxes on firearms and ammunition by 500%. Chicago Defender, 12/13/1999.

The conservative wing of our Congress (and NRA) graded Mr. Obama and his defense of the Second Amendment and his grade was an "F".

I don't know what other opinions and leanings are of Mr. Obama as these have not been revealed in the 3 debates we have seen. Based on past opinions, I leave you to make your choice for Commander in Chief our Country and Armed Forces.

Thanks for reading my research and of course, my opinion of Mr. Barack Hussein Obama.

Jeff Nutter, Jr.
Conservative
Registered Republican
Supporter of our Second Amendment
Owner of several (registered) side arms, 1 rifle, and 1 shotgun
Member of NRA

My Children Now Grown

2008-10-18T08:30:00.002-05:00

This is Christopher, a gay writer and publisher in NYC. Jason and family, Diane and Rhett live in Boulder, Colorado. These yes, are the apple of their dad's eye and still enjoy a father's love even though it is now only "one way". But each day hopefully brings change and they may soon realize how important family is in Life! Love to both you boys from Dad Jeff, a/k/a Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

My Children

2008-10-18T08:19:00.002-05:00

A man gets an opportunity in his life to create something special. Here are childhood pictures of my two boy, Jason and Christopher. They are in the flip show I have in my mind of my children and my life and their childhood. A dear friend, Harriet King, told me once that exemplifies who I really am. "Jeff, you live your live vocariously through the eyes of your children".

Harriet said it best, as yes, they were and are my life. Did Jeff do something right just once in his life. I think the answer is yes! I dearly love my children now grown, as Jason is 41 and Christopher is 38. I don't have a relationhip with them but that does not affect the fact that I love them so very much. Enjoy these pictures and I'll try to post a current picture of these boys and let you enjoy them as I do, of how they are now. News at 11:00! Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Nutter Firewood

2008-10-13T10:12:00.002-05:00

The above is the fruit of 3 days work at the Nutter home. I had one oak tree to die at the top of my drive plus I removed another that was in my front yard. This tree we determined was about 75 years old and unfortunately was beginning to threaten our home. It took almost 2 days to take down the two trees safely, using a bucket truck and an experienced climber to remove these two trees safely.

We began Friday at 7:00am, worked all day Friday and Saturday and Sunday afternoon after Church. We began splitting these enormous logs Saturday am, having a 26 ton hydralic splitter and me and two other guys got this done by Sunday about 5:00pm. This is less an F150 pickup truck load I gave to a good neigbour's son who is a good friend of mine and my sons. Another Jeff left with a big smile, almost 2/3 of a cord of wood and a "freebee!"...enjoy/Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

New USA "Bail-Out" Emblem

2008-10-08T15:29:00.002-05:00

Notice to all: The above has replaced the EAGLE as America's Emblem! This makes you feel confident, protected, free from catching something, protecting our future, and gives you a feeling of confidence when you are getting F%*&#D. Nice warm feeling, isn't it!

Zune, Town & Country Ford, & Honesty

2008-09-27T18:30:00.003-05:00

Friday 9/27/2008:

Dear friends and family,

You have read my story about my 80 Gig Zune being found in a Ford Taurus, a rental I had back in the middle of August. What are the chances you might get something left in rental car some 6 weeks later.

I called Town and Country in Bessemer to see if the service advisor Bonnie Kelley was in house. I talked to Larry, and he said she was busy with a customer but would be there until 6:00pm. It was 4:00pm and I told Larry I would be there in an hour and he too, like Bonnie was anxious for me to get my lost Zune.

I went by the bank and got some $cash$ with plans to give someone, that someone that found my Zune a $25.00 reward. Bonnie met me in the drive through with my Zune and headphones in hand, and with the biggest smile! I greet her with the money in a Regions bank envelope trying in vain to give "someone" this much deserved reward!

I understand what Bonnie said but now understand fully. "Jeff, I have a policy of not accepting tips (or rewards) when we return lost items to their owners". I tried hard to get her to accept his small gratuity of sorts, but she would not budge. I too understand how this feels for someone to reward us for something we do about the way we were brought up.

Bonnie and I talked a little and I ask her about where the car had been. It had been put back in rotation on their rentals and she could not say how many times this car had been out on rental. She knows it has been available for over 4 weeks and had been serviced and in the shop at least once. What are the chances a car goes through a garage, several different retail drivers, and none finding or being tempted to keep this nice mp3 player?

I want to compliment Ford and especially Town and Country Ford in Bessemer,Alabama and the character of their employees. Please make special note of Ms Bonnie Kelley and how nice she was to me and so very conscious in doing her job and taking total care of "this customer". Thanks Bonnie! Thanks FORD! Thanks Town and Country Ford in Bessemer, Alabama USA. Great team!!!
Jeff Nutter, Jr.
Vestavia Hills, Al USA

JUST CALL ME "LUCKY!"

2008-09-22T08:27:00.002-05:00

9/22/2008 AM

Dear friends and family,

A month or more ago, my car broke down and I drove a new 2008 Taurus rental from Town and Country Ford in Bessemer, Alabama. I thought I transferred all my stuff out of my car while in the shop into the trunk of the rental but I missed something.

The rental had a hookup for my Zune MPE 80Gig player. I put it in the console of the rental and listened to my music the 2 days I had the 2008 Taurus. When they called me the next day and I picked up my car, I forgot about the Zune in the console of the rental.

A day or two later I was getting all my stuff out of the trunk of my car and soon missed the Zune but thought I had just missplaced it. I have torn up my car, my storage in the garage, and even in the house looking for this $250.00 plus tax player.

This morning, over a month since it has been missing, I get a call from Town and Country Ford. Bonnie asked 'Jeff, have you lost an MP3 player?"...Yes, "we found one in a rental car some time back but no one could figure out how to use it!" "Or until now".

I gave it to one of our younger managers and he opened it and found your "picture" and I immediately knew who it belonged to. How lucky am I now looking at the date on the last service call and it was August 16th, almost 1-1/2 months ago. How long did it ride around in the rental without someone keeping it? Who found it and was honest enought to return it to Town and Country?

When Bonnie called, and told me about this find, Karen said I need to find that person that turned it in and give him or her at least $25.00 reward which would be 10% of what Karen paid for it. WoW!

Thnnks for reading my post, and now finding out truly over 90% of our population are truly honest and return lost items to their rightful owners. Bet this won't happen AGAIN.

jEFF THE KNUTT IN THE HAM (BirmingHAM), Alabama US of A

You know you are a nurse when :-)

2008-09-14T21:23:00.000-05:00

You KNOW you are a nurse when :-

You believe that all bleeding stops ... eventually.

You find humor in other people's stupidity.

You believe that 90% of people are a poor excuse for protoplasm.

Discussing dismemberment over a gourmet meal seems perfectly normal to you.

Your idea of fine dining is anywhere you can sit down to eat.

You get an almost irresistible urge to stand and wolf your food even in the nicest restaurants.

You plan your dinner break whilst lavaging an overdose patient.

Your diet consists of food that has gone through more processing than most computers.

You believe chocolate is a food group.

You refer to vegetables and are not talking about a food group.

You have the bladder capacity of five people.

Your idea of a good time is a cardiac arrest at shift change.

You believe in aerial spraying of Prozac.

You disbelieve 90% of what you are told and 75% of what you see.

You have your weekends off planned for a year in advance.

You encourage an obnoxious patient to sign a self discharge form so you don't have to deal with them any longer.

You believe that "shallow gene pool" should be a recognized diagnosis.

You believe that the government should require a permit to reproduce.

You believe that unspeakable evils will befall anyone who utters the phrase "Wow, it's really quiet isn't it".

You threaten to strangle anyone who even starts to say the "q" word when it is even remotely calm.

You say to yourself "great veins" when looking at complete strangers at the grocery store.

You have ever referred to someone's death as a transfer to the "Eternal Care Unit".

You have ever wanted to hold a seminar entitled "Suicide ... Doing It Right".

You feel that most suicide attempts should be given a free subscription to "Guns and Ammo" magazine.

You have ever had a patient look you straight in the eye and say "I have no idea how that got stuck in there".

You have ever had to leave a patient's room before you begin to laugh uncontrollably.

Your favorite hallucinogen is exhaustion.

You think that caffeine should be available in I/V form.

You have ever restrained someone and it was not a sexual experience.

You believe the waiting room should be equipped with a Valium fountain.

You play poker by betting ectopics on ECG strips.

You want the lab to perform a "dumb shit profile".

You have been exposed to so many X-rays that you consider radiation a form of birth control.

You believe that waiting room time should be proportional to length of time from symptom onset.

Your most common assessment question is "what changed tonight to make it an emergency after 6 hours / days / weeks / months / years)?".

You have ever had a patient control his seizures when offered some food.

Your idea of gambling is an blood alcohol level pool instead of a football pool.

You shock someone with an unrecognizable rhythm ... until you get one you DO recognize.

You believe a book entitled 'Suicide: Getting it Right the First Time' will be your next project.

You have ever referred to someone's death as a 'transfer to part 3 accomodation'.

You can identify what kind of diarrhea it is just by the smell.

You will never name a daughter "Melena" or anything along those lines.. and laugh to yourself every time you hear someone by that name

You call subcutaneous emphysema "Rice Krispies".

Your immune system is so well developed that it has been known to attack squirrels in the backyard.

Roll Tide Roll!!!

2008-08-30T07:02:00.002-05:00

Today 8/30/2008, Saturday at 7:00 in Georgia, kicks off Bama's season against Clemson! The Tide is a 6 or 7 point underdog, but will prevail. Why you ask? Desire and new coaching.

He has a history of winning national championships at LSU! He has instilled in the Bama team the difference between losing and an also run. Winning, winning is first and there is NO SECOND choice. That is the DIFFERENCE.

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Obamo is SCARY!

2008-08-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

Subject: Scary!!

Obama's 143 Days of Senate Experience
Posted by Cheri Jacobus
May 5, 2008 at 5:35 PM

Just how much Senate experience does Barack Obama have in terms of actual work days? Not much.
From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan.
143 days -- I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that.
In contrast, John McCain's 26 years in Congress, 22 years of military service including 1,966 days in captivity as a POW in Hanoi now seem more impressive than ever. At 71, John McCain may just be hitting his stride.

Think you know who this man is?
This possible President of the United States !! Read Below and
Ask yourselves, is this REALLY someone we can see as the
President of our great nation!!!!

Below are a few lines from Obama's books; In his words!

From Dreams of My Father: 'I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.'
From Dreams of My Father : 'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself , the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.'

And FINALLY the Most Damming one of ALL of them!!!

From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

Sony 40" Bravia HDTV

2008-08-18T11:39:00.001-05:00

Wow!

Dear friends and family,

Karen and I have looked at ads on the High Definition TV's for months but watching the prices in each Sunday paper. I told Karen that when I could buy one for $1,000.00, we would go shopping.

Yesterday's Sunday paper had an Olivia 42" 1080p from Target at $879.00 or close and we thought we would look at this one. Karen researched the different brands and had a great insight into what we needed and/or wanted. First, the picture on the Olivia was great as was the Sony sitting a few sets away. Looking at the specs, the Olivia had only 2 HDMI ports for your DVD recorder, home theater and the like acessories you may have to hook up.

The Sony was almost $1,200.00 but they had a 10% weekend off on this model plus if you put it on a new Target credit card, this got the set down to $1,079.00 just $79.00 over my target price. Again reading the specs, the Sony has 3 HDMI ports plus a PC input port that made it available to play movies or anything off my laptop.

If you have a laptop with Windows Media Windows version, it is designed to do this seamlessly. Another saving buying in Selby county rather than Jefferson or the townships of Hoover, Birmingham or even Vestavia. Two have 10% sales tax and one 9% so there again was another savings. We bought the one needed HDMI cable to add to the one we already had, plus $79.00 for a 3 year inhouse or pickup service policy. All this was available now with the 10% they had off for this two day weekend.

We set it up in a heartbeat and it is cruising along with me watching the Olypics basket ball and swimming as we speak. If you have not bought a large screen HD TV yet, the Sony comes with one of the highest if not the highest ratings of customer satisfaction and customer service records. Wish us luck! Now what to do with my 26" Sony sitting in the corner of the dining room, a great TV for someone who needs one that in almost 5 years it too has performed like a champ. Call me or email me! It is nice, but the bugger is HEAVY, so bring two burly men to move it.

News at 11:00

Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Sold Home In Bessemer, Alabama

2008-08-17T07:17:00.002-05:00

Sunday 8/17/2008

How to sell a home in the depressed real estate market

First, it takes some hard work and lots of imagination. You have to be patient but use all your inheriant skills in selling anything. I tried doing the FSBO thing, but admittedly I don't know the ins and outs and details in reaching the sale.

I listed the house with about 4 agencies before I found the one that really worked on this and had some real imagination in selling the home. Curb appeal is first, so we took it off the market while we installed 5 new double pane windows in the living room and dining room to help the appearance from the street.

We than cleaned it through out, removed any paint spots off the floors, polished the hardwoods and had drains replaced in the kitchen and both bathrooms plumbing renewed removing any chance of this going wrong.

When we then listed the home, we went up 4,900 dollars to cover these added improvements. The home does not have Central heat and air so we had an estimate of $7,000 on this and put this in as 'negioable'. This we felt would be something to intice a new owner and a discount we could play with.

The clincher was for my brother and I to agree to put up $500 each if a multiple lising agent sells the house, not our listing agent! This $1,000 cash created a lot of interest and the agent really trying to make that extra $1,000 bucks.

The seller found a 'first time home owner' and used the $7,000 for the central heat and air as part of their down payment to qualify for a bank loan. We then got a possible buyer with an 'APPROVED BANK LOAN' AND EARNEST MONEY ON THE HOUSE.

We now have had the home inspection and the house passed with only two repairs needed and they are about done. We now have a closing date of August 27, 10 days from now and brother and I should get about $65,000 out of this with expenses taken out. A good but hard job.

jeff the knutt in the ham

New and small accident

2008-08-10T08:29:00.002-05:00

Well, let's call it luck. Good or bad, let's call it luck. I got her new tag on Friday and the next day, a truck forced her off the road, luckily she was not hurt.
But, she had to dodge the truck and unluckily, scrubbed the edge of a drainage or sewer ditch.

The car was not damaged or not much. She scrubbed the tires and yes, the expensive rims making her new car not so new anymore. She was so upset, and Jeff did not treat her right. It was not her fault, but she felt I blamed her! Not so. So Jeff is taking her car Monday to Town and Country Ford in Bessemer and fixing or replacing the rims and alignment to get it back to NEW condition and apppearance.
That is what I DO! Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Barney caught me at the AG Food Show

2008-08-09T21:24:00.002-05:00

You see the picture and information about the AG Food show in the picture and commentary below. Now they had the police car from Mayberry, 60's Ford, radio, whip antenna, siren and red flashing light. I got a friend to take the picture just before Barney pulled out his one bullet and hauled me off to jail....Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

Associated Grocers of Alabama Food Show

2008-08-09T21:12:00.002-05:00

Above is a picture of my booth at the Associated Grocers of Alabama Semi-annual Food Show at the BJCC (Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center) in Birmingham, Alabama USA. I am the key account manager and represent my company in AG. This is a booking show where we demonstate, show, and sample our product(s) to customers and take booking orders over the next 3 months.

Bertalyn (Birdie) is my demo lady that samples and feeds our customers and unfortunately, lots of the other vendors at the show. We sampled our Smoked Bratwurst, Cheesy Brats, and all Beef and Pork skinless hot dogs. They literally eat us out of house and home. It is hard work but really fun but don't tell my company that as they pay me to do this twice a year.

We just concluded the summer show and I'll have another in January 2009. This was one of the hotest days of this summer, high of 97 and heat index of 105-107 due to high humidity. This keeps customers away and in air conditioning plus $4.00 or almost per gallon for gas kept some distant customers away.

Hope you enjoy my pictures and I'll try to post some others....Jeff the Knutt in the Ham ;)

New 2008 Ford Escape "TAG"

2008-08-08T06:03:00.002-05:00

You can see the new Ford Escape has the Town and Country Ford tag on the rear. I failed to inform you that this is a CPO (Certified Pre-Owned" almost new 2008. That said, it is a what is called a "program car", one that comes off lease early or traded in on a newer vehicle.

I had assumed the new 2008 tag for this car would be like on a new car, usually less than $20.00. What a shock I got yesterday getting the required Alabama tag!
Two hundred fourteen dollars and seventy seven cents. $214.77! Luckily I keep several $1,000 in my checking account to take care of everyday expenses, but this surely knocked a hole in my budget for August. And....I have to pay a whole year that expires April 2009, and that is not 12 months. Welcome to the tax happy state of ALABAMA!
Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

New 2008 Ford Escape

2008-08-07T12:05:00.002-05:00

August 7, 2008
Good evening my invited and casual reader,
I think the smile on my wife Karen's face speaks volumes. I bought her a new 2008 Ford Escape from Town and Country Ford in Bessemer, Al last Saturday. She even got to drive it home and it is now almost a week later and I have yet driven it. I drove a demonstrator about 2 weeks ago and loved it. Karen had seen one just like this on our last trip to Mobile, Al and loved the little smaller SUV than a Ford Explorer.
She has not had a new car since she bought her 1991 Honda Civic and I could never talk her out of it. We still have it and it is a great car, a 4 door, 4 cyclinder with 103,000 miles and gets 35 mpg, and we have not decided what to do yet. It may make a high school or college student a great economical car to drive to school and we figured we could get more selling it than trading or just about giving to the dealer.
I'll take a pix of the Civic and post it later with it's story. Enjoy Karen's new adventure as she is extactic about her new car. Rejoice dear heart....
Jeff the Knutt in the Ham

ZEIGLER SALESMEN (RETIRED) BREAKFAST

2008-08-03T21:45:00.002-05:00

Hope you enjoy looking at some great friends and people I worked with and for over some of my 40 plus years with R. L. Zeigler Co., Inc. We had about 14 at breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Bessemer, Al USA. The lady standing waiting on me is my sweet wife, Karen. We had somewhere to be with family at 10:00am and we had to leave early. Enjoy and comment if you wish.....
JEFF THE KNUTT IN THE HAM