( culture / writing / travel / blog ) The drive from Spring Hill, Tennessee to Valley, Alabama was uneventful... until we were almost there. So close. That's a fairly generic name for a town, though, isn't it? Valley. It's like finding a good spot for a town, planting your flag, and naming it River or Forest or Hill. I know, that i... read more
( culture / humor / writing / blog ) No Service. That's what my phone said when I arrived at the restaurant to pick up my teenage daughter. I couldn't text her to say I'd arrived. I would have to do the unthinkable: Get out of the car, physically walk in, and risk human interaction. Worst of all, one of her co-workers might see me... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) My internet presence: My main blog is this one, FriendsNews.com. My author platform is WilliamArthurHolmes.com. My new social media profiles (after dropping Facebook and Twitter) are gab.com (when I can login, it's so slow), minds.com, and MeWe.com. I'm still on Instagram, too, for now... at in... read more
( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews ) Aren't you glad we don't have any of those annoying pop-up ads asking you to join our newsletter? Ironic, isn't it, given that we are an online newsletter?Please support this website... should you be so inclined:Buy one of my books at Amazon or SmashWords, orBuy me a (virtual) cup of coffee, orCli... read more
( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews ) ...should you be so inclined:Buy one of my books at Amazon or SmashWords, orBuy me a (virtual) cup of coffee, orClick on one of the ads sprinkled throughout the site.Thanks! ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews ) ...should you be so inclined:Buy one of my books at Amazon or SmashWords, orBuy me a (virtual) cup of coffee, orClick on one of the ads sprinkled throughout the site.Thanks!... read more
( culture / humor / blog / bill ) MiscellaneousHad alarm set for 4:15a.m., but the trash collectors in the alley behind my hotel thought 3:30 would be better.At the airport, I was busted for trying to sneak contraband mouthwash and sweet tea through securityOK how are you supposed to cut a mango? No idea.How's this for a great quote... read more
( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews ) FYI for those researching insignificant corners of the web: Wayback MachinePlease support this website... should you be so inclined:Buy one of my books at Amazon or SmashWords, orBuy me a (virtual) cup of coffee, orClick on one of the ads sprinkled throughout the site.Thanks!This, below, is so sad :... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) Today is 1-2-3 day! January 23. Exciting, right? Just think, twenty-six years from today it'll be 1-2-3-4-5 day! I'll probably be dead by then, but somebody will enjoy it!... read more
( culture / humor / blog / bill ) Walking from the parking lot into work this morning, on the sidewalk I saw what looked like a trail of blood. There was a big spot of it at the top of the sidewalk, and it dwindled as it continued downhill toward the front door. What the...? This building is out in the middle of formerly beautiful c... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) I just went down the road to the quickie-mart and got coffee. It's something I do most every weekend morning since throwing away my home coffee maker to keep me from drinking too much of it. On the way there, I saw what I thought was a dead turtle in the road. I hate that. Poor things just can't mov ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) I've been a couch potato all day. Well, most of the day. I did finally pull up the dead crops in the vegetable garden at one point. And I did do some recycling, taking the paper, bottles, cans and plastic bags out of the trash cans and putting it into the appropriate recycle bins in the garage.I t... read more
( culture / writing / blog / home-garden ) I thought I'd watch some sports while folding clothes (making up for my complete lack of doing chores yesterday). My choices were NBA basketball (where travelling is only called after 6 or 7 steps), bull riding (where I just feel sorry for the bulls), or a dog show (where I just couldn't care less).... read more
( culture / writing / blog / airlines ) United Airlines says "Thank you, American Airlines, now everyone finally knows we're not the ONLY aholes!" Yes, the woman was apparently belligerent (just like United's victim), but these so-called professionals need to be a LOT more professional.... read more
( life / health / environment / blog ) Had to park under an overpass this morning to avoid tornadoes. No problems for me but one did touch down right near work. Someone said it hit Macy's (just across the Interstate).DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals but can comprehend the various articles linked on this site. Think for yourse ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / shopping ) Just ordered a $10 item on eBay. They offered "Local Pick Up in Las Vegas, Nevada" versus delivering it. I live in Nashville. I need to decide if it's worth driving out there. Suggestions?... read more
( culture / humor / blog / bill ) Me: I'm out of toothpaste! What are you gonna do about it? Wife (without missing a beat): Find a husband with toothpaste, I guess. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I married her. :) And that's why I'm at the store right now, buying toothpaste.... read more
( culture / writing / blog / home-garden ) So, the wife texts me saying, "Fence guy quoted $35500 to do the fence. He's coming out Wednesday." This is a fence repair for a small backyard, not a new thousand acre fence. Me: "How much?!" Wife (paraphrasing): "Oops, I left out the decimal point!... read more
( culture / writing / blog / shopping ) Wife and kid are off at this thing called church. Maybe you've heard of it. I'm not familiar. Not sure what to make of it. :)I'm basically just hanging out waiting for the new mattress to be delivered. We told the delivery guy, Anytime! He sounded foreign. I hope he shows up before 10pm! Never k... read more
( culture / writing / blog / appliances ) The new washer was delivered today. I let them take the old one away even though we'd just bought it (used) a week ago. That's right, it lasted just one week. Oh well, we didn't really need that $200 (after tax and delivery), anyway. </sarcasm>I say let them take it because I could have had... read more
( culture / writing / blog / friendsnews ) I've been following and listening to Jeff Goins's TribeWriters program, and he says an important aspect to successful blogging (at least as far as getting noticed) is to guest post on other people's blogs. Jeff is a great resource, by the way.So, if you want to post something on my blog, please le... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) I'm as guilty as anyone about trying to add content to my blog just for the sake of content (because search engines look for and rate highly based on how fresh your blog's content is). But someone whose blog/newsletter I subscribe to has stooped to simply stating the obvious, maybe phrasing it dif... read more
( culture / writing / blog / home-garden ) In preparation for the much-anticipated Comcast installation (Internet, not TV), I do as they suggest and clear out a space where I want them to put the cable wall jack. Once I have that space cleared, I decide to vacuum the area. It's almost an instinctive reaction: You clear out a space that hasn'... read more
( culture / humor / blog / bill ) So, my wife tells me most people do the dishes every day. I don't believe her. Every day? I ask.Yes, every day.Every single day?She nods. You don't mean it's something that is an 'every day' thing, but in reality is not done literally every single day, do you?No, she insists. What I'm say... read more
( culture / writing / blog / home-garden ) Well, I tried to mow the lawn, but the lawnmower wouldn't start. I swear. :) It's probably all clogged up from sitting there unused all winter. It was a hand-me-down mower, anyway, probably in need of replacing, but that's just not in the budget right now. Actually, the yard looks better au natural ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / politics ) The "elites" are adept at fooling themselves into thinking they know best.This superiority that they bestow upon themselves is a convenient justification for keeping us commoners in the dark, and keeping themselves in power.... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) It almost rained today. I know, exciting. Apparently, it did rain pretty hard in some places, but not here on the south side. Hopefully, by this time next week it will have rained several times. The possibility is in the forecast, anyway. Just trying to keep my crops healthy.As Mark Twain s... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) It's supposed to be record heat again today. Yesterday was 109F degrees, which is unheard of in Nashville. Today is supposed to be 107F. I've already watered my fruit trees and vegetable garden in the backyard this morning. Yesterday when I came home from work, the garden was literally wilted from t ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) As it turned out, today was a good day for kite flying. Elizabeth, 6, had been bugging me about flying her new kite since returning from the vet this morning. We had brought all three pugs in to see Dr. Paula: Daisy due to recurrent painful skin irritations, which magically disappeared by the time D... read more
( life / health / environment / blog ) It was actually cold all day today, but that didn't stop me and Elizabeth, then the pugs, from spending half of our day outside! First, we went exploring the new neighborhood being built nearby. I don't know why they're building. There's plenty of existing houses that no one wants to buy. Whatever. ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) We all went to the Nashville Zoo today. My God it was hot ... and sticky. Luckily, Blue Bell Ice Cream was handing out free cups of vanilla ice cream, which we grabbed upon arrival and at departure. I think today was literally the hottest day yet this year.When we got home I felt sorry for the veget... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) I'm lying here on the couch - with the pugs asleep next to me - getting my new laptop just the way I like it. A customer was supposed to show up and drop off their laptop today at 3, but that never happened. Shoulda guessed that, but I had to be here in guess they did show up. Anyway, this new l ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / animals ) I almost stepped on a snake as Elizabeth and I came out of the creek. Yes, we were in the creek. Anyway, I yelled, Aaaah when he slithered past me toward Elizabeth and into the water.Elizabeth wanted to get a better look at him as he lay there half in the water, half out. It was only three feet lo... read more
( culture / writing / blog / weather ) Hopefully. It snowed a good 5-6 inches Friday in and around Nashville. It wasn't good snowman/snowball snow, though. Not in our neighborhood, anyway. It was too crusty because of the freezing rain that came after the snow. It made for great sledding, though, which Elizabeth and I spent several hours... read more
( culture / writing / blog / transportation ) I'm just testing this Windows Live Writer software. UPDATE: There's now a newer, open-source version here.It was a dark and stormy night ... No, it was an unusually cold day ... yeah, that's it ... for the first week of December when I was forced to go without my beloved - well, maybe not beloved,... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) And one t-shirt, too. That's not me in the picture. :) Here's my store: zazzle.com/holmes3804Make custom gifts at Zazzle... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) Been trying to learn Cisco (network routing equipment) online through skillsoft.com, which I was given access to in my severance package. Maybe I need to just move out in order to get everything done that needs getting done. My 4 year old daughter thinks just because I'm working from home right now,... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) Two weeks shy of my birthday and I'm still looking for a job. I don't know why. I never really fit in at these corporate soul-sucking places. Oh that's right, I need to pay the mortgage, daycare, grocery bill, utilities, car payment and its insurance. And don't forget the exorbitant health care prem ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / home-garden ) I forgot to mention that I built a fence last weekend. It only spans about 12 feet from the side of the house to the retaining wall dividing us from our slightly-uphill neighbor. I've still got to cut a gate into it. Hopefully, I can pull that off. I pulled it off. See below. Then, maybe next week... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) Today is Dad's birthday. 90 years old! Amazing. I'm 48, in case you're wondering. Amazing ... ly disgusting! Oh well.Anyway, back to Dad. Longevity runs in his side of the family. His mother lived to be 101. His father made it to 81 or so, as did his oldest brother and only sister ... I thin... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) Parents all worry about how well they're raising their kids; how they will behave; what kind of people they will grow up to be. Well, tonight I discovered a sad truth about our youngest daughter, Sunny. She likes to hang out in gutters. You heard me. Gutters! Oh, the shame of it all!Sunny is a cat, ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) Well, I had a hell of a day. It started off normally enough, though it was raining, which is increasingly rare around here. I dropped Elizabeth off at school on my way to work, and from there my day took a wrong turn.I took side streets the rest of the way to work instead of the main Old Hickory Blv ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) We had a Fall Festival party at Elizabeth's daycare/preschool tonight (called that because some parents don't like Halloween). Elizabeth went dressed up in her Minnie Mouse costume. She was very cute. But then, she's cute no matter how she's dressed. :) They had a magic show that was cute, but I ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / bill ) I took Joey to the vet this morning for a routine follow-up. I volunteered because I thought his appointment would conflict with Tara's plans to take Elizabeth to meet up with her Auntie, Tara's sister Sandy, at the Franklin Street Fair. Tara conveniently allowed me to think that.When Joey and I got ... read more
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