the subject is BBQ

Yesterday my mother and sister Cindy asked if I'd join them for a Barbecue at Uncle Sam's.  While sitting in the restaurant I couldn't help but think of dad.  I almost always eat my BBQ sandwiches with slaw on them.  I am not a big fan of cole slaw, but I will eat it atop smoked dead pig.  It's the way dad got me eating it.

I thought it grotesque looking when I was a kid.  After decades of seeing my dad eat it that way, somewhere along the way I tried it.  It's been a favorite ever since.  I believe dad's favorite BBQ was prepared in Chattanooga at a place called Sportsman BBQ.  Mother tells of a time when they ate Sportman's barbecue three times in a single day.  That's right - for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A great thing about eating at the Sportsman on Brainard was that it was adjacent to a Baskin-Robbin's Ice Cream.  My mother loves ice cream and we'd ALWAYS follow a BBQ with one of the 31 flavors.  That Sportsman location is no longer there, but there is one at the foot of Signal Mountain.  I'll make sure I eat there next time I'm out that way.

This is what dad always ordered at a barbecue joint: 

One barbecue sandwich, meat sliced, with slaw

One 6 oz., bottled coke

One pint of milk  (Mother once told me that the milk was medicinal)

a man among men

WHY? - man

"Do you trust me?" - GOD

What about high blood pressure?

Massage is good for those with hypertension (also known as high blood pressure).  A contraindication for massage would be if you don't have your blood pressure under control, by not taking your medication.  Since massage naturally lowers blood pressure, it could drop too much and cause you to faint

Massage is indicated for those whose blood pressure is slightly to moderately high.  Massage can help to drop those numbers.  Massage increases blood flow.  If you have high blood pressure and have any doubts, it's a good idea to ask your doctor first.

Hypertension is often caused by chronic dehydration. Drinking a lot of water can hydrate your body and will help lower your blood pressure.  When the body lacks water, your system attempts to hold available water supplies by resorting to vascular constriction throughout the body.  

Most of the fluids that people drink during the course of the day dehydrate the body.  Colas, coffee, sports drinks, all drinks with processed sugars dehydrate the body and raise your blood pressure.  If you hydrate your body with plenty of water, watch your sodium intake, it will help you to drop your blood pressure naturally and without side effects.

Another good thing to do is check your blood pressure before massage.  We can measure it here at our clinic if perchance you don't have a blood pressure gauge at home.  I always have each client fill out a questionnaire that informs me of health history and medicines they are taking.  It's important that you let your therapist (moi) know that you have high blood pressure before the massage.

suicidal princess

My youngest daughter Kelsey has officially finished first grade at Southside Elementary.  Yesterday I accompanied her on a field trip to Noccalula Falls Park.  Kelsey's teacher, Mrs. Jill Stewart, said that I could sign Kelsey out and go where we wanted to go.  Kelsey and I walked down to see the falls before we went into the park entrance (the pay side).  As we walked down the sidewalk behind the Kiwanas Pavilion, I told her about the Princess Noccalula statue.  She told me that she had never seen it before.  The walk there was just long enough to tell her about Princess Noccalula's successful suicide attempt.

Every time I see the statue, I think of the first time I ever saw it.  The plaque at the base of the depressed Indian princess said the statue was erected in September of 1969.

I remember where I was that day.  I remember that day.  I was looking out my classroom window at R.A. Mitchell Elementary.  Beyond the playground and beyond Noccalula Nic-Nak, I saw a huge crane and workmen lifting and positioning the leaping lady statue into place.  All my fellow classmates were all lined up at the windows looking out at the spectacular event going on in the distance.


Wow, that was a long time ago.

00:00:00

We don't get television at our house.  We usually watch movies and stuff that we can find on DVD.  Gina and I made time today to watch the final installment of 24 on Hulu.  Believe it or not, I am only a very recent fan of the show.

Last February I saw the first two shows of the final season while visiting my brother in-law and sister in Rock Hill, SC.  Both Jennie and Don watch it religiously.  It's my understanding that they get onto each other if one of them watches it without the other.

After coming back to Gadsden, I made sure that I didn't miss an episode.  The reason I didn't start watching the show earlier is because I don't care that much for cliff hangers.  24 has cliffhanging down to an art form.  I anticipated each show throughout each following week.  How's Jack going to get out of this one? 

I only recently got Gina hooked on the show.  We've got A LOT of catching up to do.  Over the past few weeks we both watched Season 4 courtesy of my sister Irene.  I am now an avid fan and sorry that I hadn't been watching it all along.  The characters and the writing are really incredible.  I'm usually pretty good at guessing what's going to happen next when it comes to plots.  24 is a wild ride of a television show and I gave up trying to figure out what was going to happen next a long time ago.  Just sit back and enjoy the show.  I am sorry that it's over - but I've got a lot of Jack's exploits to experience for the first time.

Summer Special

 Summer Introductory Rate

$39.00 for first time massage clients.
Offer Expires August 31, 2010

David Finlayson LMT, NCTM
Occupational Therapy of Gadsden, LLC
215 Walnut Street, Suite 2
Gadsden, AL 35901
Call 256.546.1431

Therapeutic Massage relieves stress,
soreness, muscular pain,
and tired aching muscles.
Call and ask for an AHHHH Massage!

Dwight Cotton Mill

 http://issuu.com/dbf16/docs/brochure_from_dwight_cotton_mill__1933

Here's a great brochure from Alabama Archives that Donna Brown Hedgspeth just emailed me.  I'm going to link this document this to my Welcome to Gadsden facebook group. Dwight Cotton Mill was located in Alabama City.  You'll need to have Adobe Acrobat in order to read this file.  Thanks Donna!

under the clear May sky

Gina called me before she left the office yesterday.  She said that the new Shrek and Iron Man movies were playing as a double feature at the drive-in.  So we packed up the van, iced down the cooler, and headed up to Sand Mountain.

As always, we got there about an hour early so the girls could play in the field, and Gina and I could talk.  Though we had rain earlier in the day, we had a very clear and pleasant drive-in evening.

The fourth and final installment of the Shrek movies far surpasses the previous release.  The last Shrek movie was a disappointment.  Yes, I'm a Shrek fan, and happy to announce the new movie is so worth going to see.   We all enjoyed it.  Iron Man 2 was also enjoyable.  There was some unnecessary bad language in the movie. I don't know why Hollywood does that.  It was just a hand full of cuss words short of being a family flick.   I had taken my 7 year old, and my 13 year old with one of her friends. 

One thing about Iron Man.  I do like Samuel L. Jackson as Commander Nick Fury.  It was great casting.  I'd like to see more Fury's on the big screen.  Perhaps Marvel is working up to an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D movie...

By the way, the same line-up is playing at the 411 Twin Drive-In toward Centre, AL.  I come to like their establishment better.  The sound quality wasn't as good as it could have been on Sand Mountain.  I had a hard time keeping tuned into it.  The projection of the movie wasn't as strong as it should have been.  Perhaps the audio and visual quality of the movies are better down 411.   Another nice thing about the 411 Drive-In...they keep their grass cut.  We always like tailgating on the front row. It wasn't as fun watching the movie in a jungle of knee-high weeds.  Maybe I'd feel different about it if I were watching The Deer Hunter or a Rambo movie instead - for that  'you are there' experience.

Aside from my gripe - SHREK, The Final Chapter and IRON MAN II make for a great drive-in line up.  - Nuff Said.

Gott Mit Uns?

There have been many times that I've heard liberals say that. "If Jesus were walking among us today - that He'd be a Democrat."  These folk seem to get it all ass-backwards.  If Jesus were walking among us today - He'd be neither Democrat or Republican.  Jesus would have nothing to do with man's corrupt politics.  God isn't even WITH America.  It's a nation that needs to be WITH GOD.  Those who really want God to bless America need to keep in mind that we need to be pursuing His way - His righteousness - His forgiveness - His kingdom.  God doesn't follow man.  It is man who must follow God.  

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord"  - Psalm 33:12

the bells are ringing

I snapped this using my cell phone.  Don, Foster, and Charity making their way to the Playhouse prior to the wedding.  The weekend at Capps Cove (Oneonta, Alabama) was a wonderful moment in all of our lives.  It was a perfect wedding. The marriage ceremony was so very sweet.  The celebration will be talked about for years to come.  God bless Phillip & Foster.

a good man

Liberals get really vile whenever this man's name is mentioned.  I urge you all to do a little honest research on the man before you accept what is said in the media as factual.  It would be a great thing for Judge Moore or a man with a servant heart like him to become governor for the state of Alabama. 

P.S. Dig the logo going on in the background...

gift idea for mom?

Now that I'm in the massage therapy business, I am busier marketing my wares as much as I am massaging.  That's the way it goes.  Gina and I've been doing everything we can to get the word out that we're also in the therapeutic massage business.

The deal for the last few weeks and to the end of May is a really good one.  The $35.00 for first time clients are available throughout May and the certificates can be applied to your mother's first time visit with us.  Anyone whose had a massage in this area can tell you it's a great deal.  The going rate for therapeutic massage is $60.00 (sometimes more).

A few weeks ago I received gift certificates from the printers, just in time for Mother's Day (hint-hint).

Say Ahhhhhh

A little about Swedish Massage:

Swedish Massage is the most popular type of massage in the United States. It involves the use of hands, forearms or elbows to manipulate the superficial layers of the muscles to improve mental and physical health. Active or passive movement of the joints may also be part of the massage. The benefits of Swedish massage include increased blood circulation, mental and physical relaxation, decreased stress and muscle tension, and improved range of motion.

A little about Deep Tissue Massage:

Deep Tissue is systematic, scientific manipulation of body tissues with the hands to relieve pain and reduce swelling, relax muscles, and speed healing after strains and sprains. It has been used for more than 3,000 years by the Chinese.

Give us a call at 546-1431 if you'd like to make an appointment.  Drop by the office if you'd like to buy a Therapeutic Massage Gift Certificate for your mom.  It's such a great price, you might even want to give one to your mom in-law.

interrogation

A recently captured German soldier is interrogated by an American officer.  An old authentic G.I. Joe has his Thompson sub-machine gun to the back of his newly acquired prisoner.

You know, I think I could create a graphic novel using sixthscale figures and PhotoShop.