11/7/2018

Welcome to a short-lived world without political signs! It will not last long. In some comments last night was this: 2020 campaign starts at midnight! Don’t that just show how really sick our society is? Seldom will you ever hear me say, “There oughta be a law!” But, I’m inclined to call for a referendum vote to limit electioneering to 90 days before any election and one can only campaign for election in the next upcoming election. Any mention of a future election will bring about immediate removal of the candidate’s name on the ballot. How ‘bout that? No long campaigns! We have enough media invading our homes and personal electronic devices that any candidate can be heard by anybody who wants to listen every day for 90 days. If that won’t make up your mind, you got a mind problem. …….  Oh, well. Just a thought.

Interesting SIMH today, it was as clear as a bell when I started out of the bedroom, now it has nearly faded. If I dredge it up again, I’ll probably have it bouncing off the walls of my skull all day. “We are the Champions” —by Freddy Mercury and Queen. Talented but troubled is how I would describe Queen. This song depicted Mercury’s life. The short time he lived, he made unforgettable music, and gave charitably. Which, as far as is publicly known, did nothing to gain him eternal life. I hope he had someone come along and show him Christ died for his sins, was buried, and was raised again for his justification. Talent is not a saving grace.

The morning is beautiful here on the mountain, 44 deg. going to 64, bathed in sunlight! It’s a wonderful time of year to enjoy daylight hours. But, you gotta hurry, we gave one of those away last Saturday night, right? Another political boondoggle which makes sane people walk away mumbling under their breaths. Just leave the clock alone!

Basketball!, we’re playin’ basketball! Last night on my few channel choices, I had the choice of 8 games to watch. I’m an Indiana fan by default, a Duke fan by choice, and there’s not a small college team I would fail to watch, given the opportunity. So, I watched Indiana(re-formed), then Duke annihilate Kentucky—Wow! Might be a long but fascinating season.

Here’s another basketball related “goals” story. It was the Summer between my 8th grade and Freshman years of school. Several of us had been playing basketball on the outdoor court behind the high school. Everyone left except me and a pretty good player 2 years ahead of me. We were just shooting around and he said, “let’s go get a coke.” I said ok, but I don’t have any money. He said, “I got two dimes, I think I can pay.”

We sat and he talked, I listened. He said, “You know what my goals are for this year?” Not being sure what he meant by “goals,” I wisely said, no. He said, “by the first basketball game in November, I will have my car paid off, be going steady with … … ….. (someone might recognize the girl), and start on the varsity.” He sounded so sure. He then said to me, “do you think I can do that?” (While I was sure he thought he could, I had never heard of that sort of planning for one’s life.) I said, “Well, I don’t see why not.” (in an I-don’t-know-how-to-think-like-that voice.) He said, “I know I can do it!”

He did. The “goals” in one’s life lead to fulfillments.

He went on to become one of the most prolific scorers in our school’s history, then on to become a successful business man. Though I spent a bit of time with him and always thought of him as my friend, we were not close friends. But from afar, I have watched his life from time to time. I hope he has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. I’d like to know him in eternity.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

11/6/2018

Good election day morning! It is an enormously different day in this country compared to other countries. I’m 76 and been watching elections since 1956. This year is really something.

Yet, as we who believe the bible is God’s word know, this is just as temporal as the next election. Do I believe we should vote? Absolutely! Do I believe it will change the outcome of the world? Absolutely not! However, it will change the face of the world you and I live in (which is so very small compared to the world the Lord will one day rule over.) But, we’re not called to change the world, we’re called to be ambassadors for Christ; to speak the power of God unto salvation, and give the same hope we have in the gospel of Christ to any and all with whom we come in contact. How can we do what we need to be doing with the least encumbrances from the world’s losing system? By not losing the freedoms we have accustomed ourselves to using.

Each saved individual ambassador, living in their own  country, utilizes the flexibility of his or her political limitations as we see with our Apostle. Take a good look at Paul from prison in Acts 16. He used his Roman citizenship as a plus for the ministry, as he did again in Acts 21 through Acts 28—I hope you say “amen” to that because of Rom.8:28, and not just slough it off and say, “none of this matters anyway.” It all matters. Leading a quiet and peaceful life isn’t just for our comfort, it is for our ease in telling the truth. Very few nations in the world allow people saved and willing to name the name of Christ to do so. If we are to utilize our time for the Lord, let’s do it freely.

Internet freedom…who knows how long that will last, is an amazing thing. This morning, I started a dialogue through emails with someone half way around the world. Isn’t that simply amazing? Snail mail would mean days or weeks for mail to get exchanged. He and I exchanged thoughts this morning as if we were sitting in the same room! Any influence we have in any capacity used toward not losing this access should be employed.

The SIMH today is another old one I heard sang first by an old man, of maybe 60, when I was about 8 or 9 in Shiloh Seperate Baptist Church (that’s the way their sign spelled separate.) He had become a preacher of sorts and my father’s opinion of him was that he started too late. But he sang this song pretty well! “When God Dips His Love in My Heart” —written by Cleavant Derricks (again.) He said, “Well I said I wouldn’t tell it to a living soul, how He brought salvation and it made me whole, but I found I couldn’t hide such love that Jesus did impart….” Great truth in those words. the line about the title says …when God dips his pen of love in my heart (opening verse says God “wrote my soul a blessing”.) Dipping of a pen is not known today without a history lesson. Until after WW2, (1946) writing pens were repeatedly dipped into an ink well in order to write. Mr. Derricks wrote this song in the ‘30s.

I hope your day goes well and that you will exercise your right to vote, even if you think it is futile. Remember, it is your personal space, in which you are supposed to live peacefully. Your time there is precious. Your effort for the Lord which could be hindered or helped, whatever you believe about politics, go vote anyway.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

11/5/2018

To all my friends who might find themselves reading this: have you decided how November is going to be for you and your family? What? You say how could I know that? I want to give you a couple of examples about how you can know. The Great Example is the Lord Jesus Christ, look how matter-of-factly He taught this:

Lk.14:28, For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Notice, the Lord didn’t say, “here’s an idea….” No, the strong implication is that only a fool would start something without knowing ahead of time what the expected outcome will be. How many of us trudge through our days not knowing if what we need or believe we should have is within our reach?

This thought pattern in my mind this morning is partly prompted by the SIMH today: “If I Were A Rich Man,” from Fiddler on the Roof. The singer mused, “Lord who made the lion and the lamb, You decreed I should be what I am. Would it spoil some vast, eternal plan, If I were a wealthy man?” Ensuing verses, he begins to say what he would do if…. As though he truly had nothing to do with it at all! We do not live in such a time. We live in the dispensation of the Grace of God. And one “grace” that is delivered to us at birth is the grace to do and be whatever we decide to pursue with all our heart (and if the heart ain’t in it, you ain’t gonna get it!)

Here’s another explicit line from the same song: “…it’s no shame to be poor, but it’s no great honor, either!”

Find your way to your King James Bible and read Prov.16:1-3, and see if the Lord agrees with your plan. Then, flip back a few page to Prove.3:5-10. All these verses call for trust. Do you know the Lord? Then who do you think you can trust?

So, lay your foundation, count the cost, and get after it. Oh, and expect to make constant in course corrections. Thinking correctly doesn’t make one’s performance perfect. Everyone has to greet the obstacles head on and do the bear hunt thing..Remember, can’t go under it, can’t go over it, gotta go around it!

Getting personal wealth is not the point of these principles. The point is to eliminate negativity and make progress toward a goal before you that satisfies your need whether it be a need to help some one or many who are not as well off as you, or whether it is a noble pattern you wish to set for others, or reaching the lost with the gospel of Christ, any pursuit you find yourself wanting to engage in is available for you.

Please don’t think otherwise. If you are 22, it should be thought to be long term; if 52, you can see some time limitations to gaining it; if 82, shorten your project by an expected time, or prepare someone to whom you can hand it off. The days may be long, but the years rapidly gather us in (often spoken by a good friend.) And if, on your journey, the Lord himself should descend from heaven and shout your name, forget the goal, the journey’s over: the prize is right there before you

Happy Pathway!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

11/4/2018

Every blogger in the country is probably talking about the time change this morning, I suppose. Here’s one thing and one thing only from me: it makes my early morning longer and provides an extra hour of study time. I know that’s not true tomorrow, and it’ll cost me next Spring. But, today is mine!

SIMH this morning was “Coat of Many Colors” —Dolly Parton wrote and recorded it. She wrote this hit song on the back of a dry cleaning receipt. She wrote it in 1969 and recorded it first in 1971. (Porter Waggoner had the receipt framed and hanging.) Since it was an actual event in her life, eventually a book was written about it and a movie followed. …Is it any wonder she had Dollywood built?

There was a football game last night in Baton Rouge, LA. Roll Tide. It was hard fought, and LSU “held” the high scoring Alabama team to only 29 points. LSU didn’t score. No gloating, just facts. I have many friends on both sides of this aisle and I appreciate their loyalty factor.

Heading to Chattanooga this morning to take Bro. Steve Atwood’s place for both bible classes. He’s in North Carolina eating Mexican food (ain’t Facebook grand?) He’s doing a weekend at Charity Bible Church with Bro. Brian Sipes and the gang. Me, I’m trying to figure out how to make a message be short enough for one session or long enough for both sessions. You see, it isn’t quite the same people in both, but there are some for both, but also some for the first and some for the second. It might be confusing. Wait, maybe I’m the one confused.

From the time I was saved in 1964, I was never one to think we should only go for one of the Sunday morning hours. That could be a hold-over from the way I was raised, but it simply seemed to me there was a certain personal importance to hearing both messages. Back in the denominational setting, sometimes the Sunday School hour was hindered by a not-so-good class teacher. (I know because I was a very poor teacher in the early years—didn’t know any bible and didn’t know how to study it.) Yet, the one teaching was usually a very dedicated person who didn’t need to be insulted by us not showing up. So, we always went for both.

Baptist preachers often caused people to come & bring their kids to SS, but then not stay for “preaching” by the style and manner of their preaching — always trying to get “conviction” on the lost and “re-dedication” from the back-slidden. Neither of which was his job, but he was schooled to believe it was how he ought to end his sermons. Bad schooling. There was no such thing as an “altar call” or an “invitation service” ever found in the bible. Not even in evangelical churches until about the 1880s. A man, jealous over another evangelist’s conversion numbers which, at the time, were being reported in the morning newspaper (ain’t that a hoot!) began an invitational deal at the close of his messages so they could count their converts. ..Apostasy takes on strange forms.

Anyway, pray for all the preachers who teach the truth this morning; and pray that all those who don’t know the truth will learn it and preach it soon.

All that being said, let’s look for the Lord to come or for having a great and thankful November!

Thanks for reading, the Elder

11/3/2018

This morning’s coffee is really special. Sarah began to carry coffee in the Blue Jug store while I was away and this is my first pot of Toomer’s Coffee, roasted by infrared heat which has the ability to raise the pH of the coffee somewhat. Making it with high alkaline water then gets the pH up high enough to get the full affect of the natural anti-oxidants in coffee. It tastes really terrific! I chose the Southern Pecan blend. (Toomer’s is an Opelika, AL company) This is a great addition to our inventory.

Writing on Saturday is easier because I’m seldom rushed. I doubt I could call it better writing, but it seems to help me keep the thoughts a little straighter, sentences a little longer, points a little better explained. After saying that, if today’s writing seems a bit messed up you’ll just have to conclude I am not a blogger and should be filling my time with something more productive or practical. But Saturdays are quieter, less going on in the neighborhood or road noise. No hustle. Am I showing my age?

One of the first movies I saw in a theater was West Side Story, a 1961 musical from a 1957 broadway play. I didn’t know what to expect on such a wiiide screen! It was truly an “in your face” experience, though I hadn’t heard of that expression, as yet. My reason for bringing it up is the SIMH this morning was “(Somewhere) There’s a Place For Us.” by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. It speaks of the theme to the movie, but on a bigger, more worthwhile vein of thinking, to where in this world is the place for us to fulfill what the Lord has in mind for us.

I can’t tell you one thing about what and where you should be, nor who to be with or not to be with. You are free to go and do and use time or waste it. However, if you belong to the Lord, if having had the precious moment in time when you, knowing you could not be good enough or try hard enough to bring yourself into a right relationship with our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, if then you placed your trust in His finished work (He died for your sins, was buried, and God raised Him from the dead to justify you), you now belong to Him. He is the Lord.

He is trustworthy to you now. You can rely on what He has said. And you can read it or portions of it daily. To us who believe, He has not gone away, nor is He any further away than our King James Bible and our thoughts or spoken words to Him. Let Christ speak to you, to answer your questions, to guide your feet on your path of life and your own words in your relationships with others. Stop right now and read: Phi.2:3 thru 11, followed by ch.3:4 thru 15; and ch.4:5 thru 9. What a speech the Lord has made! And no word in the KJB is hard to understand.

Also, this morning I feel rested up from the trip. The work of the trip was in the driving—I need a driver. Hmm, which would be more expensive, a car and driver, or to fly all over the place? A car and driver can get me to the door, but a plane is faster. Know someone who wants a driver job? Low pay, gone from home a lot, did I mention low pay? Must want time to read a lot while I’m at where I’m going and, I’m sorry, low pay. I’ll be sitting here all day interviewing candidates for the job.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

11/2/18

I’m enjoying my coffee with the peace and quiet of home. It’s very relaxing to know I don’t have to get dressed and go anywhere immediately. The week away was tiring but fruitful, I believe. I arrived back home at about 4pm, we had an early dinner, and went to bed at 8pm—dog tired. However, as is my usual, 5 1/2 hours later I awakened and knew it would only be short little naps thereafter. That’s ok, I feel fine.

Our friend in Christ, Ivette Ramos Levy, a Dallas artist, has just finished and published an Adult Coloring Book, called Feed on the Word. It is very beautifully done, about 30 pages of exquisitely drawn pictures, each page having an accompanying bible verse from the King James Bible. She is quite an accomplished artist and professional illustrator. (I didn’t know there were such things as adult coloring books, but it seems I’m the one out of step—immediate google number was 394,000,000 pages found!). It is a form of stress relief and quiet entertainment and obviously very popular. Ivette has made her stress relief to also reflect the power and presence of the word of God in her work. You can find Feed on the Word at facebook.com/illustratedbyivetteramoslevy or  google books. Enjoy!

When my “first sleep” came to a close about 1:30am, my “middle night” crept into consciousness with an oldie but goodie going on, the SIMH was “So Rare” by Jerry Hearst and words by Jack Sharpe. Never heard of them? They wrote and composed this in 1937, but Jimmy Dorsey’s Orchestra was the first to make it a hit in 1957—20 years before anyone knew about it. Let that be a lesson to you if you write songs or music, hang on to it—money’s coming someday!

Well, the day is going to unfold slowly, it seems. I’m waiting on a repairman (plumbing), then I go get a screening of my blood-flow (I can tell it’s still moving), then in the afternoon, it’s pay bills before actually getting down to business. I suppose there will be some followup for some if not all these things. I shall not reveal much about my personal health, however.

Great story: my father had a pacemaker put in when he was about 80, on a Thursday. That Sunday he and my mom came to Mobile, AL with my brother Pete to visit us. On Tuesday, he said are we gonna play golf? Pete and I said, “sure, if you feel like it,” he said, “Oh, I feel fine.” So we played with my mom’s stern admonition, “you watch him, he’s not doing real well.” He did fine as I asked him on a couple of turns if he was ok. He said, “ah, yeah, I’m fine.” the next day he said let’s go play golf again. We did, and my mom said (wringing her hands) please watch him. So, a couple of times I asked him how he felt. He said, “real good, it doesn’t hurt like it did yesterday!”  So was my father’s attitude about how-are-you questions. He was fine. No matter if it did hurt. Great mental state.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

11/1/18

Another new month!

This may be the perfect way to start the month of November: may SIMH this morning was “I Can Feel His Hand in Mine, that’s all I need to know”—fella named Roy Brown gets credit for writing this on the sight promoting Elvis singing it and many others. But, I couldn’t nail down which Roy Brown it was. Hovie Lester also wrote a song with this title, but it sounded different  A long time ago, Bill Gaither’s brother recorded it while he was dying of cancer. I loved listening to his rendition. What a great comfort song it is!

Well, it’s “homeward bound” for me today, maybe that should have been my song. It’s been a long but enlightening week. Started with many great messages from God’s word, followed by a safe trip to Texas, met and got to know some interesting folks there, visit a couple of old friends, talk with a couple more, then on return visited some new friends in Lake Charles (enjoyed looking that city over after having gone through there close to a kazillion times.) Now about 6 hour drive away from home, Lord willing.

Chuck and I have learned many things about what needs to be tweaked in what we’re doing. We see where the “holes” are revenue-wise, we catch that the scope of work to open stores is a little different for each place and that makes us see the need for a “model” store, I think. We’re sort of past a “concept” stage, into the “let’s get this settled for real” stage.

In The Woodlands, the unique store item is a big Ice machine for selling Alkaline Ice right from the start. (That’s with our 1500 model) In Lake Charles, the unique store item is beautiful cabinetry, focusing on our 3000 model being elevated to show behind a large “window.” this will be a great showroom/feng shui example. In Gadsden, the unique store item is compactness, yet building an ample space to flow through the store openly (our 300 model.)

Along with the rest of our board, we’ll seek the best of the best and attempt to put together as close to exact a model store as possible. (I see an ever increasing photo gallery in our future.)

I’ve been studying about what to preach this coming Sunday, doing both the first and second hours, and not yet coming up with a clear picture of how it should go. It always amazes me how the bible exudes an innumerable list of subjects and purposes with which to surround the gospel of Christ. The gospel is the only reason for having a bible class or a sermon because either the people need to hear the gospel for their salvation, or if they are saved, they need to hear the gospel preached in the context of how to learn their way to speak of it with other people.

Most bible study times make me walk away with too much on my mind (I feel so full!—like I’ve just eaten a big meal, which I have, of course.) Between now and Sunday, I’m sure His word will lift the fog, making it clear to me, where to start, what to preach and how to finish. You pray for me, I will appreciate it greatly.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

10/31/2018

Another strange calendar marking today, some are calling this a holiday? holi-day? holy day? I don’t think so. It is amazing how much emphasis is put on this or any other “day.” But, it is really strange how people who know the truth want to say, “it’s just for fun!” There’s never a reason for that which has a devilish nature in an open fashion to be called “fun.” Yeah, I know I’ll be excoriated for this. But, consider what we’re called unto, then consider this day’s connotations, and then think it is ok. No, it isn’t. Nuff said.

“A Reason To Believe” by Rod Stewart was the SIMH today. “Sir Rod” has lasted a long time in the music industry and most songs are listenable, a lot of blues rock, a lot of celebration songs. I don’t know why this one popped into my head at 4:47 this morning, but it did.

I have travelled I-10 from Jacksonville, FL, to the near end of it in California and I have never seen it without construction and re-construction. I have never been through Louisiana without rain till this past Sunday afternoon, nor ever through Texas without at least one total stop (well, maybe a couple of times.) It is the 8th busiest of all Interstate highways. I don’t need to go to the other 7.

The other highway I found this trip was a great relief from the Interstate. Because I was going to The Woodlands (North of Houston) the GPS routed me to turn in Beaumont, jog over to the North a couple of miles, then take TX 105 into Conroe. Good country highway, a lot to see, and a 75 mph limit. I, of course was much more safety conscious and kept it to 73-74. Beautiful countryside, though. Some more parts of Texas I had not seen. Big Thicket is on that road and I didn’t even notice.

The Blue Jug Alkaline Water & Health Market in The Woodlands (it’s actually across FM1488 from TW) is going to be a really beautiful store and should be a great purveyor of our water and all the other goodies. KayLynn and Rick Gibson, along with Ginae are going to do a great job, it is easy to see!

In a couple of hours, we’ll go over to the new store here in Lake Charles, confident we’ll see more of the same high quality workmanship. Both these stores should be open before Thanksgiving (thankfully.) Then, I head back to Alabama (Sweet Home Alabama) and drop off a couple of things at our 3rd new store to open this month in Gadsden!

We see and are working toward more new stores. Interest is very high for these stores because, let’s face it folks, there’s something wrong with our water supply in most every city. Don’t go blaming the water companies, they must follow FDA criteria on getting water through pipes and under pressure so it arrives at your home without bacteria or other toxic matter showing up. That should not be translated as “you have to drink those chemicals,” however. That’s where we come in: we take out the harshness of chemicals and VOCs, replace the good minerals and negative ions in the water, producing “Water the Way It’s Meant to be.”

Well, on with the day.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

“What a Day That Will Be” is, thankfully, on my mind this morning. After the “rant” yesterday, I’m sure all of you are glad to get some normalcy back to this column. This wonderful SIMH has a line that says, “there’ll be no parting over there,” a reference to not having to say goodby to the life of someone we love. While that is hard for the moment in time, and harder still if more than one “parting” occurs close together, what we go through should prepare us for our own departure should we go before the “Lord descends from  heaven with a shout,” and takes us off “this present evil world.”

Being prepared to go from here to “ever be with the Lord” is based on only one thing: placing our trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again from the dead to show us our justification. If He had not died, there would be no sacrifice for sin (sins), and if He had not been buried, my sin and yours could not have been put away from God, the Father. Then, if Christ had not been raised from the dead, there would have been no proof God would raise us, and our sins would still be on us.

HOW WONDERFUL IS THAT GOSPEL AND THAT DAY WHEN ALL WILL BE COMPLETE?!

I’m very happy to be in association with many who know and love the Lord. It seems to always make the conversations complete to share words which contribute to our mutual faith in the Lord. For the sake of sanity and congenial goodwill if for no other reason.

While there is no reason to “kick down doors” to make known the gospel, there are many Scriptural admonitions to walk though the doors which the Lord opens before us. It has been my experience that these doors for opportunity open in least expected places, bringing to mind the verse “…be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is within (me)” and to “be instant in season and out of season.” Sometimes we have an opportunity when our mind might be a million miles away, yet, if we study the word (hiding it in our hearts, as it were) we can and will respond the way the Lord intended. Our daily prayer should be for those opportunities to not skip right past us, but that we will have the spiritual eyes to see what is before us to do.

If you belong to the Lord because of trusting Him and His work only for your personal salvation, then be ready always.

The Trip continues to day with a visit for just such as I’ve mentioned above, one who is about to pass away, and those who are near her.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

10/29/2018

It’s just incredible. The anger, the madness, the unmitigated gall of those who report on the horrible crimes that have gone on in the last few days, saying our president doesn’t “share in the responsibility” for these things. How can he share in the responsibility for these things when he isn’t the perp? These massive shootings and killings didn’t start when we changed presidents. Add them up. Look at the history, start in the 60s and come to today. IF anyone would dare to blame the then  president for the magnitude of mass killings, who do you think the arithmetic would  show was responsible? It isn’t the president’s fault there are crazy people with firearms. It, also isn’t the constitution’s fault crazy people have firearms. Many of these crazy’s have fooled the tester’s, some have firearms gathered illegally, and some just snap!

We live in a world gone after the things of the flesh and it has always been thus. However, I apologize to the next and future generations because I was here while it got worse and my generation hasn’t stopped the madness. (You might say no other generation did anything, either. Does that excuse my generation? No, it doesn’t.)

From the early 60s (vietnam) through the riots in California, the burning and looting of whole communities, clear up to and including what has happened this weekend, we have collectively been weak fish when it came to being able to correct anything. Instead, we have legislatively weakened every law enforcement tactic, and became worried over the perpetrator’s “rights” and his sensitivities, his comforts in his surroundings when we did bother to incarcerate; all this while “throwing the book” at lesser crimes or things which are not worthy of “jail time” in the name of politically practicing justice.

It’s time now to put even more people into law making and enforcement positions who will not mollycoddle the guilty and not make doing time look easy. It’s time to thank guys like “Sheriff Joe” and others who treat criminals the way they should be treated. He never beat them, he never abused their psyche, he had a very low % of return-to-prison inmates. It’s time to examine his tactics and principles and engage them.

But it is also time we stop dragging out the “call to justice” on the basis of a wily lawyer’s ability to delay, delay, delay.

Where and when will justice actually come back? Or will it?

SIMH. No, it isn’t on my mind at all. There was a fleeting song there earlier, but the news and all that is going on drowned it out rapidly!

On to The Woodlands! (the trip continues.)

Thanks for reading, the Elder