Happy Fourth to All!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and our great country is celebrating it's birthday. I am very concerned about the presidential upcoming election. I am frankly a little scared. It bothers me when I hear people blame all the problems in our country on George W Bush. Although he is the president, he is only the president. He has no power to enact laws or declare war. As president, he doesn't event have the authority to introduce legislation. Our congress, sets policy, enacts legislation and through a system of checks and balances prevents the president overstepping his authority. So any blame should be directed at our congress. Please, exercise your constitutional right to vote. Now more than ever!!!

Billy, Brandi and the girls are coming over tomorrow for the Fourth. Millie and Tim are also coming as well as Tim and Flora Hayes. We are grilling burgers and going to watch the fireworks in Pell City weather permitting. Linda has to work tomorrow night so we are have lunch. We are going to the fireworks without her. I would much prefer if she could be with us.

Meanwhile, last Saturday, Linda and I had the opportunity to meet Rick Bragg and hear him read excerpts from his new book, THE PRINCE OF FROGTOWN. After the reading, he talked for about 30 minutes. We really enjoyed it. I would highly recommend his books. Although one should really read ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' prior to reading PRINCE. SHOUTIN' lays a lot of the foundations on which PRINCE is built. These books will especially be enjoyable for those folks who grew up in the Calhoun County area. Although they have a broad appeal to most anyone who are blue collar or one or two generations removed from those people who performed hard manual such as farming, factory work or day labor.