Sherri Talley: “Sheriff, should I call you back after lunch?”  DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle: “No.  Fat boys can talk and eat at the same time.” 9/29/09

Sherri Talley:  “This is National Friendship Day, isn’t it?”  Ed Walsh:  “I hate you.”  10/1/09

“You know, not having Clay here is like going to New York with no Statue of Liberty.” -Randy Bain 10/5/09

“I fell in the Robinson Film Center.” –Marcy Novak 10/22/09

Am I the only person in the cyber world who just can’t bring myself to take part in Facebook applications? 

Maybe it’s because I haven’t really given them a shot. 

Am I a bad person because I don’t care about helping neighbors in FarmVille? 

And, since I don’t know what it means to be “poked” in the world of Facebook, I won’t be poking anyone back.  Somehow it feels as if consequences would ensue if I did.

Okay, if I WERE to explore the world of apps on FB and say, wanted to gain even more weight being sedentary at the computer, the most intriguing ones to me appear to be the hearts and Mafia Wars.  Just because they look cool.

So, help me here.  What’s the app appeal?

Suzanna Kay Talley was born in Pueblo, Colorado on this day in 1961.

Suzie is first, my best friend.  I value her as a wonderful mother, fiance, leader, friend, sister, family peacemaker, diffuser-of-tension, social trendsetter (somehow she makes inappropriate comments acceptable), scary-smart engineer, freak of an Ironman athlete and basically hilarious person to be around!

Suzie values the truth.  She’s all about expressing love, being herself and living her values.  Oh, and those spiritual analogies!

“Sher, I know you’re going through a hard time.  Just picture God right beside you with a silver platter.  Just put all of your worries on it.  Don’t take them back!  Just hand them over.”

“Wow, Sher!  It sounds like you’re really happy.  You know, when you are and you trust God that His white robe is just flappin’ in the breeze!”

I really didn’t know that, Su, until you made me see it with your words and conviction.

It’s funny that I was the first person in Suzie’s life to make her laugh, because no one can make me laugh now like she can.

Happy Birthday, Suzie!

If you feel even a fraction of the joy you throw on everyone around you, you will have the best day!

This is where I lived for 3 years of my life.

Probably because I was a teenager, I didn’t appreciate the beauty in this area.  Now, I’m blown away by it.

Chautauqua County, New York.

I went to high school for my first 3 years in this county in Mayville, NY.  I was happy at the time I moved there that the oil and gas industry took us away from Oklahoma into this area.

I was never as sad as the day I left.

This past week, I sat across from my best friend in high school in Mayville and we remembered that day.

I didn’t get to have a senior year with our class of 47 kids.  Instead, the oil and gas industry took us back down south to a school with a senior class of 514.  It’s an area of the country I’ve grown to love mostly for the people I’ve come to know.  And that’s the primary reason I miss Mayville.

The people I’ve come to know again there have touched my heart in a way I can’t explain.

This week, it was like I was 16 and was leaving there all over again.  It broke my heart.

Something about this place grabs you.  It’s not so much the beauty of the area or the slow way of a genuine life as it is the honest heart you see and feel in people right away.  It’s something you can’t forget.

It’s something I haven’t been able to shake off in more than 30 years.

And, that’s a good thing.

I try not to use cliches because I usually don’t use them correctly.  Plus, they’re so cliche.

Here are some examples of botched cliches.  Add your own!

“Tomorow should be a smooth playing field.”  –Joe Haynes

“Throw another blanket on the fire.” –Sherri Talley

“He’s running around like a chicken with his nose cut off.”  –Tony Casson

Coke Zero is building a database of pictures from around the world to help you find your digital double.  Coke Zero just wants you to have fun. 

Right. 

Actually, the company has come up with a brilliant promotion that’s engaging and fun.   It uses Facebook to match your picture with a possible double. 

Coke Zero says once the database has enough faces to ensure accuracy, the matching will begin.  When I joined, the database was 22% full.

Here’s the Coke Zero Facial Profiler   if you want to try it!

Here’s what Gilbert Hill/Thrill Hill in Shreveport looks like today.  Seems it’s been decorated with yellow and purple balloons, not quite visible with my cell phone pic. I could have gotten closer, but to be honest, I was afraid I would be run over if I crossed over on foot.

I talked with a nearby homeowner, who might not have realized she was talking to a reporter, so she’ll remain anonymous.  (Damn, I’m not as famous as I thought I was!)  She told me she was surprised by the city effort and wishes she were informed about it before crews went to work and offered the chance to provide input.   She talked of two crashes there since construction began (SPD confirms at least one when I spoke to them a week ago).  The neighbor wishes the city had put more thought into planning the roundabout - maybe widening the street around it for safer maneuvering.

Today, I witnessed some cars slowing down and others actually speeding up as if the roundabout were a challenge to be met.

For the city’s side on this issue, please scroll down and read about my interview with Director of Operational Services, Mike Strong.

Stay tuned.  This issue seems to be going around in circles.