Mug Shot of the Week

Welcome to a new feature here on the blog. It's called the mug shot of the week, although it may not appear weekly depending on how many mugshots we get.
So, look at this guy and tell me what you see? Greg Brady, right? Yeah, remember when he had that big 'fro going on? Well, this guy is no Greg Brady, arrested for robbing a liquor store in Guntersville. But I thought he looks like Greg Brady, so he is my Mug Shot of the Week.

Late Breaking News

It's every parent's nightmare. Your kid slips away from you and runs out into the road. It happened Thursday night in Boaz. A 4 year old boy got away from his family and ran out into the road and was hit by a pickup truck. Luckily, it appears the boy will be OK with just a broken leg. An Air Evac helicopter was sent to pick the boy up and fly him to Huntsville Hospital.
Kids will be kids, and Lord knows they dont like to hold hands while walking through a parking lot, but I know I will hold my kids just a little tighter from now on.

Morning Fire

Went to cover this fire in Horton this morning. A mobile home somehow caught fire and then it spread to the trailer behind the first one. When firefighters arrived, both trailers were fully involved(that's fireman talk for being really on fire). Luckily, no one was home when the fire started. Well, its Christmas time and its cold out. Let the fire season begin.

Wacky Weather

We were supposed to get some severe weather today across North Alabama, and this is what we got here on Sand Mountain. No, we didn't get tornados, but this has to be one of the weirdest color skies I have ever seen. This photo is unretouched, this is how red it was. I've seen green, yellow, orange and blue, but never red like this. Carson asks what causes this, any answers? Weird, wacky weather.

Sorry its been awhile since I've posted, but I was gone last weekend. To Auburn for the Iron Bowl, and that is about all I want to say about that. Anyway, here is a picture of the Shoals Bureau sign in Florence. I have this picture because Carson and I went there last Thursday to work covering the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in the Guntersville mayor case. I case you are wondering, its about 3 hours from here in Albertville to Florence. If you ever get over that way, I recommend eating at Riccatoni's. It's an Italian place and it's wonderful. I hope to catch back up on posts this week, I promise.

Did You Hear The One.....?

Did you hear about the 2 Auburn students who died in an accident at the campus cafeteria this week? They went to get some milk and the cow fell on them.
Funny? Well, that's up to you. But this is Iron Bowl week, and that means it's time for Auburn jokes. Have any good ones, let me know.
Did you hear about the 2 Auburn students who decided to go to Disneyworld? Seems they got to Orlando and saw a sign that said, "Disneyworld, Left". So, they turned around and went home.
Corny? Yes, but the dumber and the cornyer the better. Just remember, you may post Alabama jokes here, but I reserve the right to change them to Auburn jokes.
Roll Tide!! And lets hear those jokes.

Look At Me, I'm Famous!!

Thanks to eagle-eyed Jerry Hayes for spotting this picture of me in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette. This picture was taken at the Bama-Tennessee game. If you look just in the background you can see me, in the red shirt, with the Sand Mtn. camera on my shoulder. By the way, blurry and in the background is my best side, dont you think?

Oh, How Sweet!

Captured this picture last night and just had to share it. Forrest and Jemma being sweet to each other. This had been one of those weeks when they had been at each other's throats all week, just couldn't get along. Then last night I caught them like this, sitting in the same chair with Forrest reading to his little sister. And she has her little head on his shoulder. It is just too sweet, and doesn't happen very much lately. Sorry about the picture quality, but our camera phones suck. Anyway, I now have photographic proof that my kids like each other.

Would You Call This Art???

We set up for our live shot in Starkville on the campus of Mississippi State on Friday beside this thing. It was next to the art department, so we assumed it was some sort of work of art. What is was is school chairs and desks, tied together with wire and wrapped in plastic. Is it supposed to be a tornado? Some statement about the state of our schools today? A visual analogy about the information you learn in schools being blown away like a storm? Personally, it looked like a pile of crap. But maybe I'm missing something. What do you think?

Hunka, Hunka Burning Love

On our trip to Starkville this weekend, we stayed in Tupelo on Friday night. Our hotel was only about three miles from Elvis' birthplace, so we got up early, had breakfast, and went to see where The King was born before heading off to the game. As you can see, it ain't much to look at. Just a little two room shack. But they have managed to turn it into a park and quite the attraction. There's a museum, a gift shop, even a chapel on the grounds where you can go and meditate. Oh, it costs $2.50 to tour the house, and $7 to go through the house and the museum. We skipped the tour and instead just took Brian and Tom's picture in front of the house. Didn't cost a dime, and now we can say we've been there and done that. Next stop, Graceland.

9-0!! Thank God for Mississippi!

Sorry I've been away for a couple of days, but we left on Friday to go to Starkville to cover the Alabama-Mississippi State ballgame. If you watched the game, you'll know that it wasn't that exciting a ballgame. Alabama's offense was once again anemic, and once again the defense saved their butts. But, hey, they are still unbeaten and ranked in the top 5 in the country. After the last couple of years for this team, it shouldn't matter how this team wins as long as it wins. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures from warmups before the game. Huntsville's own Kenneth Darby playing catch, and Brodie playing toss.
We stayed in Tupelo on Friday night, and tomorrow's post will have pictures from our visit to Elvis' birthplace right there in Tupelo.

Last Titans Post, I Promise

Well, I've managed to get three days worth of posts out of my visit to the Titans game on Sunday. I'm sure everyone has seen enough pictures by now, so this will be my last post on the Titans. First picture is of game action with Steve McNair about to air it out. Now, you will recall just how high our seats where. This is why I bought my Fugi digital camera a couple of years ago because it had a 10x optical lens. And notice how it even caught the ball in mid-air with no shake to the picture.
The other is the feel good picture of me with some of the Titans cheerleaders and Heather from the station. Heather is the one without the Go-Go boots in case you were wondering.

Ole' Crazy Eyes

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Crazy Eyes. He is the guy in the blue shirt pointing. And being watched by the deputy to his left. Crazy Eyes was, as we like to say here on Sand Mountain, about three sheets into the wind. And this is still in the first quarter. Crazy Eyes, we think he was a Raiders fan but we're not sure, was hollering at this one Titans fan, staring at him and pointing. Well, finally the deputy had seen enough and Crazy Eyes was escorted out of the game. He did return late in the fourth quarter but he was much calmer. So here's to you, Crazy Eyes, our Sand Mtn. Photog Blog fan of the game!

Remember the Titans

Hello from Nashville! Well, not really, I'm back now but you know what I mean. Yes, our seats were kinda high but you sure could see a lot of stuff from up there. Stuff like this guy. Now, if you saw this guy walking down the street you would probably run for cover and call the police. But somehow seeing him at a football game is OK. Yes, he is a Raiders fan and they do like to dress up for the games. I was surprised by how many Raiders fans there were at the game. This guy was actually from West Virginia and it was first time to see the Raiders play. But my absolute favorite guy was "Crazy Eyes", and him you will meet in my next post. Let's just say, unlike college games, beer is served at Pro games.

Family Weekend, Or Go Gamecocks!!

Couple of pictures to put up of the kids. First is my little Jemma, dressed up as a witch for her preschool Halloween party. Isn't she just the cutest thing? Next picture was taken this Saturday when the family loaded up and headed out to the Homecoming festivities at Jacksonville State University. Both Wende and myself went to school there and we haven't been back in quite a while. Weather was great and the Gamecocks won, so a great time was had by all. On Sunday, your favorite Sand Mtn. Bureau blogger(Since Carson pulled the plug on his) took in a Tennessee Titans game. Pictures and commentary from that game will be on the next post. So stated tuned Loyal Readers, I promise it will be worth the wait.

It's A Tradition

Last night was one of my favorite nights of the year. Why, you might ask? Well, I will tell you. "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" came on last night, and in my mind it's not Halloween until you see that show. Most of you may not know this but I am a HUGE Snoopy fan. HUGE. And I must see this show every year. Of course, I tell my kids that it's for them but it's really for me. Snoopy as the World War 1 flying ace is my favorite Snoopy character. In fact, I'll tell you a little Sand Mtn. Photog Blog secret. I have a Snoopy tattoo on my shoulder. There in all his glory is the WW1 Flying Ace flying in his Sopwith Camel, bravely taking on the Red Baron in air to air combat. Yes, I love Snoopy. And this show is a classic, as is the Peanuts Christmas special. So don't bother calling me if Snoopy is on TV cause I won't answer the phone. Who knows, this may be the year that Snoopy shoots down the Red Baron. Or maybe, just maybe, the Great Pumpkin will rise out of the pumpkin patch and Linus won't ruin Sally's tricks or treats after all. When you are a kid, or a kid at heart, anything can happen.

Boring, But....

A win over Tennessee is still a win. Yes, the first half may have been a little boring, but that fourth quarter sure made up for it. Thanks to being busy I didn't get to snap any pictures of the game but I snagged this picture of Roman Harper's hit causing the fumble that gave Bama the ball back and saved a touchdown. What more can you say about that game than it was good ole smashmouth football. A note about the sidelines before the game is that thanks to Sec of State Conde Rice being there, there were about 100 more media passes handed out than normal. All those lookie-lou's were crowding out those of us there who were actually interested in the ballgame. By the way, many of those "media" with passes were busy taking pictures with camera phones. And wearing Bama hats and clothes. If you aren't there to work, please get out of my way. Sorry, but had to get that off my chest. It was good to see Brock again. Brock, I'm beginning to think you are bringing us some good luck, so hope to see you back for the LSU game and down on the plains. Alright, enough for now.

Man, I Hate Orange!!

Sorry, no pictures just yet. I'm off to Tuscaloosa today for the Alabama-Tennessee game so look back here tomorrow for some pictures from that. Hopefully, there will be a lot of fans wearing Crimson celebrating, while there are a lot of pictures of sad, beaten-down Orange wearing folks. As the header says, I do hate Orange. It's just an ugly color. Even pumpkins cant wear that shade of orange and get away with it. So, Roll Tide!! Beat the Vols!! And Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer!!!

Real, Live Mascots

This is Ramsy. Ramsy is the mascot for the Sylvania Rams football team. Most schools have a person dressed up in a costume for their mascot, but Sylvania has both. And you know what? I like it. Wouldn't it be great if high schools had real mascots to cheer their teams on? How about Crossville, wouldn't it be great to see a real lion prowling the sidelines? Or for Pisgah to have an eagle peering down from the press box? Now, I will allow that it would not be that inspiring for Ider to have a little caged hornet on the sideline, or for Gordo down in Tuscaloosa County to have a bowl of water as their mascot (they are the Green Wave). And Lord knows we would never want to show up to a Fyffe Red Devils game and see that guy leading cheers. But cheers to you Sylvania, and here's to soon seeing a buffalo leading the North Sand Mountain Thundering Herd onto the field.

Amy George Looking Cool!

Amy, Amy, Amy? Guess what Brad found? Looking through some old tapes and found this that Carson had found while doing some Christmas history stories. Glad you like to read my blog and for that, and for looking so cool in the Santa hat, you are the Sand Mountain Photog Blog's Person of the Day!! Congratulations, Amy.