I had other aspirations for this post.  Like that Van Zant song lyric, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”

So I have to go down other roads today.  Not the map that was in my mind will I follow.  I have to follow my heart this time.

“Not exactly the way I wanted to say goodbye, Radar.” That is what came to mind when I sat down to write these words.  Colonel Potter then said to Radar, “God speed, son.”  They hugged and the rest is sweet TV history.

We can all hope for a sweet history, even though it does not work out that way.  There are scrapes and burns and duct tape around the frame of every life.  How we get through some of what we get through, I will never know.  God’s hand is there to hold.  We can get into an argument of why bad things happen til the cows come home, go to pasture, and come back again.  Now is not the time.

I wanted to sit down and get wistful and take a trip down memory lane about some of the people and places I have written about on these pages since I began writing speaktherights.com.  This is post number 656.  I have written more than a half a million words here since I started in the summer of 2014.  This has been fun.

It is time to take a break.  There are a few of you out there.  I know you read these pages regularly.  I thank you for that.

For some time I have been wanting to work on a more ambitious piece of writing that I need to get out of my system.  No, it is not a bad thing I am dealing with.  It just feels that way sometimes when I feel bad for not putting something on here when I am wanting to get the other finished.  In the process, I make less progress here and there.

Time.  There just isn’t enough of it.  So, when I finish the writing project, I will be able to come back here and get on with this once again.  I’ll be back in the Spring.

Music from February 1977

1   NEW KID IN TOWN –•– Eagles
2   LOVE THEME FROM “A STAR IS BORN” (Evergreen) –•– Barbra Streisand
3   BLINDED BY THE LIGHT –•– Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
4   FLY LIKE AN EAGLE –•– The Steve Miller Band 
5  I LIKE DREAMIN’ –•– Kenny Nolan
6  ENJOY YOURSELF –•– The Jacksons
7  TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS –•– Mary MacGregor
8  NIGHT MOVES –•– Bob Seger
9  DANCING QUEEN –•– Abba
10  WEEKEND IN NEW ENGLAND –•– Barry Manilow

This was the American Top 40 top ten songs of the week ending February 26, 1977.  That would also be my Mother’s birthday!  It was a good time to be listening to the radio.  In 1977 my station of choice, the one I was probably listening to in between running upstairs to see how many points Dave Cowens or John Havlicek or Jo Jo White had for the Boston Celtics on the NBA on CBS Sunday afternoon telecast, was 1010 WCSI in Columbus, Indiana.

When Robert Becker sold 96.3 WJAA in Seymour in 2020, my daily radio listening life came to an end.  Oh there are a few shows I make a point to listen to.  Not many.  Not everyday.  Not like it was.  Thankful I had what I did for as long as I did.  I tuned in to listen to Becker every morning for nearly thirty years.

Nowadays I spend more time listening to Amazon Unlimited Music and Classic American Top 40 on the IHeart Radio App.

Well, here we go again (I can hear Ronald Reagan’s voice).

This was my classroom last week.  It was miserable.  The only thing I can think of that could be more miserable is having a classroom full of kids without masks on after a week that looked like the one is this picture.

When word came down from on high that will we be returning to the classroom tomorrow, I was delighted.  I was not impressed when that word included masks in the classroom were optional.  Oh, I know, it said Parental Choice in leading CAPITAL letters.  Having been away from the class for a week, I wish the message had said for the safety of our students and our staff WE ALL NEED TO WEAR A MASK WHILE OUR COUNTY IS IN THE RED.  That message would have been much more respectful of all involved in the classroom setting.

We asked parents to wear a mask when they were picking up food outdoors during lunch distribution last week.  But go ahead and send your kid to a classroom full of 30 or more students (mask or no mask).  Some of those classrooms have no outside windows.  I know this all too well.

I suppose it would not sting like it does, had more professionals been recognized as stakeholders in protecting all stakeholders.  I don’t blame all of this on the administration.  I blame it on the teachers too.  As an educator I was not asked what I thought was important for the next steps by either the administration or the classroom teachers association.  Seems like my membership (and my remuneration) in the association is respected more than I am.

You better know when it comes time to formulate a school improvement plan, the surveys and the questionaires will be flying around like leaves in a November windstorm.

In full disclosure, I am not one who has worn a mask in my classroom all year long.  I am wearing one now for sure cos I want to help us get through this level red mess.  This very school year I went from the football sideline to the stage as the drama club sponsor.  This ole boy ain’t been hiding.

I feel like when we are not wearing masks and being as responsible as we can be we are throwing healthcare workers under the bus in the process.

Remember when we used to watch National TV news, be it John Chancellor or Walter Cronkite, and we saw a story that looked awful about folks suffering somewhere?  What did we tell ourselves?  We said, “I sure am glad that ain’t happening here!”

It is happening here.  We don’t have to look at it for 30 seconds at a time before Walter says, “That’s the way it is.” or before John Chancellor says, “That’s Nightly News for this evening.”  This is 2022 and we have to look at this health disaster 24/7.  Why do we have to make decisions that remind us of 1978?

I recently told a friend as long as there is sand, you will always be able to find some Hoosier heads.  Sorry kids.  Geography can be studied and it can hurt at the same time.

Speaking the rights.

Danny Johnson

It has been too long away from these pages, hasn’t it?

Maybe.

Or, as my Granny used to say, “Might…Might Not!”

It was a miracle. I called the College Footbal Game correctly.  Georgia won over Alabama and at the beginning of bowl season I made that call.  It all sure went quickly.

At some point I will add up my win-loss picks for the entire bowl season.  I doubt I report that.  It will be uglier than a bowling shoe.  If Lewis Grizzard was somewhere watching last Monday, I hope he enjoyed it.

Don’t be greedy, BAMA.

The Bengals won one.

No, the Bengals helmets don’t look like that anymore.  They did when I saw them in person for the first time.  They were playing the Packers in 1975 in what we used to call an “exhibition” game.  Now it is called the preseason.

The last time I saw the Bengals in person they defeated my Eli-led New York Giants in 2012.

It will be the last time I attend a Bengals game, as the flyover that day left me adversely phased to a point no return.  I will never step foot into Paul Brown Stadium again.

But good for the 2021 Bengals.  The beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday to earn their first playoff victory since the 1990 season on January 6, 1991.  Who beat them the next week in 1991?  That would be the Los Angeles Raiders.

Two Hall of Fame coaches went at it on Decemebr 28, 1975.  This time it was the OAKLAND Raiders (as the Lord intended) defeating the Cincinnati Bengals.

RAIDERS 31         BENGALS 28

John Madden’s Okland team beat Paul Brown’s team.  Talk about some history on those sidelines.

I was watching the game in my grandparents’ den at 1439 Alma Street in Shreveport.  I still remember being sore at my Granny cos she was rooting for the Raiders.  It was George Blanda’s last season in 1975.  His first on was in 1949.  A quarterback turned kicker.  There was only one like Blanda and that was Blanda.  Granny was for Blanda.

That was the last quote of the day my students saw in the room.  I had no idea that on Friday, we would not be together and that the rest of this week, starting tomorrow, will be what we call ELearning.  The kids are at home.  I am at my desk looking at a computer screen hoping they will all show up for our “virtual class time”.  We do the best we can do.  That covid shadow just kept creeping in closer and closer.  We could feel it.  That would be a rather hopeless feeling.

I pulled a large Moodies poster out of mothballs, as I needed a larger coloful backdrop.

Carrie and I  picked this up for my Dad this weekend at a large, majestic store in Jasper.

A 5 lb bag of goobers!

Dad got after them watching his Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Marshall some years ago.

We’ll give Granny the last word.  Though she disappointed me when she rooted against my Bengals forty-seven years ago, I thought of her when I ran across this just yesterday.

She enjoyed watching her Cowboys.  Captain America led the way.  And when the Cowboys were on defense, Granny yelled out a hearty, “Get Him!!!!”

I will be for the Rams over the Cardinals tonight.  If I had it my way, the Rams will play the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.  I think that is the correct Roman Numeration.  If not, I contend to just speak the rights…

Danny Johnson

Let’s be careful out there.

Those were the final words from Sgt. Phil Esterhaus during morning Roll Call, as was the time and place the television show Hill Street Blues would open each week.

January 15, 1981 at 10 PM EST was the night Hill Street Blues premiered on NBC.  Walter Cronkite was still telling us “That’s the way it is…” just before 7 PM on CBS.  Walter wrapped that up on March 6, 1981.

To this day, when I am asked what my favorite television show of all time was I answer Hill Street Blues.  It was different.  The use of handheld cameras taking a more cinematographic approach made it look different immediately to the eye.  And the cast?  This ensemble made the number of memorable characters on MASH seem paltry.

We won’t get in to all the characters.  But as MASH was winding down, it would end in 1983, Hill Street gave so many of us something to discuss on Friday mornings at school.

MASH was the same, probably to a larger degree.  That was ‘THE SHOW” in the 70s. We all watched.

I get wistful at times thinking about all the great travel my dear wife, Carrie, and I done over the dozen years or so.  We have been fortunate to see a great deal.

A few years ago I tracked down a complete seried set of Hill Street Blues on DVD.  I watched it through.  I started it again a couple days ago.  I watch it as I excercise in the basement.  It is every bit as good as I remember.  The characters.  The lines I still remember.  And there is the Hill Street station.

A photo taken of my TV screen.

Hill Street Station is in Chicago.  Carrie is in front of it in this picture.  Yes, that is snow and ice around her feet.  It  was a chilly day.

This building, at least while we were there, was serving as a police station for the University of Chicago.  It took some looking to find.  But it was worth it.  I could see Captain Furrillo ducking out of the building in the dark of night to get into his car.  And let us not forget that great Mike Post Hill Street Blues Theme Song.

I think this classy piano driven theme song was part of Hill Street Blues’ great appeal.  There was violence on this show like we had not seen on network TV before.  The realism was a priority.  This was not CHIPs where every car that flipped turned over three times.  It was serious stuff.  The juxtaposition between sweet theme and ugly streets came out of the televison on those Thursday nights in buckets.  As a fan of the show, this was our show.  The critics were not kind when it started.  If a critic agrees with you, how much of a critic are they?  Exactly.

I will keep watching and keep rememberg this great show I grew up with from age 12 to 19.  Doing so keeps me young, until I have to climb the stairs after a workout.

Speaking the rights.

Danny Johnson

January 2022.  That sounds very very nice right now.

If we ever needed a good turning of the calendar, it is now.  I am delighted to see 2022 here with us.

As I type these words, I am listening to Barry Manilow singing a song from his 1977 Barry Manilow Live album. The song he wrote with Marty Panzer is called Another New Year’s Eve.  I don’t know that it appears on a regular Manilow solo album.  The finale of the album, playing now, is the Bruce Johnston penned iconic tune called I Write The Songs.  If you have paid attention to The Beach Boys you will recognize Bruce as a memebr of that band for a number of years post Bian Wilson touring that always has a smile on his face.  I’d smile too had I wrote that tune.

This album made a great impression on me.  Long before I ever saw a music concert in person, I had already imagined what that meant.  I was an odd ten year old kid.  Barry Manilow songs were tunes I analyzed and put myself in.  When I was ready to make my own music, nothing ever really intimidated me.  I appreciated it all.  I did.  I respected the folks around me to the point of deference.  But I was not intimidated.  Had I been, I would have taken my songs and ran in fear.  Yes, I know I never deserved to be in the room with guys who’d played with or led off for some of music’s notable including The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Buffett, The Charlie Daniels Band, Vince Gill, Billy Swann, Velvet Elvis, Bodeco, The Wulfe Brothers, and so on.  But I found myself there.  And guess what?  I Write the Songs too.  That is what got them and me in the room.  I should just be thankful for what it is.  And I thank Jeff Carpenter, my partner in music, for leading me there.

This was yesterday at my parents’ house.  We watched some good old January 1st football.  This may be my favorite day of the year.  This tradition has held long and steadfast.  I am so thankful.

Of all the pictures I look at before this Covid mess hit, I often look at this one.

All is right in the picture.

Speaking the rights!

Danny JHohnson

How’s it going, group?

So I took a few walks across campus recently.  Felt and found myself concentrating on lines before me.  I tried to capture them.  In some way shape or form, I saw them.  I don’t know if anyone will want to agree with me.  That is why I find art and photography so very interesting.  My curiosity and mental placement inside the works of Edward Hopper is something I can’t explain.  I don’t want to.  But I can point to his work in my classroom and pass along a few anecdotes.  That is what have here today with some of these photos I suppose.  Enjoy or don’t.  That is in the eye of the beholder.

If you know North like I do, you are familiar with the old gym, locker room, and weight room.

You old Uncle Dan can remember when all the surface in this photo was gravel.  The closest door was the home football locker room.  The next one up was for the visitng team and was the NH girls locker room as well.  Two opposing teams this close together was not a great idea.  Not surprising.  North did not start playing varsity football until 1978.  We made a serious run of good time from 1979 to 1982.  NH Football’s support then moved to Seymour with my friend Bob Mahan.  It would take 30 years for football to find its way again to North in earnest.  In 2012 it was realized, finally, that football can be successful and you can play good basketball too.  Brownstown has done it for years.  Some things take time.  Some things never change.

A new tennis court was installed this year and it is very nice.  Coach Bart Bigham deserves this too.  He is a great coach and example for student-athletes of any sport.

Benches on both sides of the court.  Nice.

The gravel road above “THE HILL” at North Harrison’s Football Stadium.  I like the BLUE paint it received this year.

Lines of bleachers.

Okay, riddle me this, Batman.

The following pictures show an East side goalpost that is “leaning” a little to the right. Taken along the line of the West side goalpost.

Then, and I will grant you that it is tilted a bit…but look at the recovery the far post makes below.

My art teaching friends David Shiner or Jerry Brown could probably add some insight where I cannot.  Still, it is an interesting photo.

The Band got a great new sign with nice lines.  They did a fantastic job this year during football season.  I told them so heading to the locker room at halftime during one of our football games.  Their dedication to their craft is an inspiration to anyone looking to see what hard work can do.

An empty guidance office getting a new makeover.  Thirty years on, it is time.  Good for Mrs. Eckart.  I spent some time in that room.

Talk about lines!  Wow.  Many stories are here.  The play, A Christmas Scarol, was a great time earlier this month.  I was delighted to be a part of it.  The cast and crew did a great job pulling this off and I sincerely thank them.

These evergreens act as a sanctuary of sorts.  They may be the most beautiful things on the North Harrison campus.  Simply a breath of fresh air every time I look at them.  Away from a coast, is there a more compelling sound than a stiff wind rushing through pine trees?  I don’t think so.

From the Meijer parking lot a couple days ago.  Cargo planes were coming in like crazy to Louisville’s Standiford Field.  This one doesn’t even have a paint job yet.  At first glance, this photo looked to me like a plane that was flying toward Ultraman…the ancient TV show.  This thing doe not look real to me.

Then this one came along with its paint job.

Those are some mighty big planes.

Smile, Justin!  This ain’t 1969!  In those days, The Moodies’ admit now, they looked a bit too serious for their own good.  It worked out, didn’t it?

During the worst days of the current pandemic, Justin Hayward, God Bless him, put a video/music series called Tuesday Afternoons with Justin Hayward.  Released on Tuesdays, as the name suggests along with the reference to one of The Moody Blues’ classic tunes that Hayward wrote called…Tuesday Afternoon.

This week Justin released 9 songs, rather deep-cuttish, from Moodies, Blue Jays, and solo material that he featured on this series.  As the photo above suggests, it was offered as an audio file only.  10 bucks.  The man is still working!

With that, I transferred them over to a few CDs I “burned” as the term goes.  Today I will be going over to see my parents and deliver one to them.  They enjoy The Moody Blues too.  They saw The Moody Blues four times and went to Justin’s solo show in Lexington in 2017.

Look out for those parallel lines.  Ironically, as I types these last words, I am listening to John Lodge’s Live from Birmingham (England) CD.  John, The Moodies’ bass player and singer, is singing the soung Nervous. The song mentions straight lines, parallel lines.

I am so waiting for his new live album to make its way my doorstep on CD and vinyl.

I gave my Dad John’s Live at Birmingham double LP for Christmas.  He opened it and was so proud of it.  Dad loves vinyl.  If you remember it like I do, you know why.

I can still remember my Dad looking at me after The Moody Blues’ concert at The Louisville Palace in late March 2016.  The man who had Bo Diddley play his prom in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1959, looked at me and said, “That is best show I have ever seen.”  I can still hear his voice.

My dear wife, Carrie, and I had tickets to see John with Yes and Asia and Carl Palmer when they played near Buffalo in 2019 in Lewiston.  We were head back to Indiana from New Hampshire and found one delay after another one the drive to Niagra Falls.  I was so disappointed.

The first time I met John was in 1994 in Birmingham, Alabama.  And in 2012 he was next me before the show at The Murat n Indianapolis…below.

From The Moodies last show at Red Rocks in 2011.  So glad we were there.

I hope to catch a John Lodge show one day.

Today as I was walking on the school campus, I was listening to John’s Birmingham concert.  I was taken aback by the tightness of the sound.  His song “Isn’t Life Strange” got better treatment than I ever heard in concert with the Moodies.  My apologies, but as my website suggests…I speak the rights.

Danny Johnson

Had a brief chat with my Aunt Barbara last night.  She reminded me that I have not posted my bowl game picks.  I told her that it was probably a by-product of how the season turned out.  If you are an Indiana Hoosiers football fan, you want to forget it.  Wish I could.

But I am optimistic.  Y’all know me that well. Indiana will bounce back.  I still BELIEVE!

Y’all also know there are so many bowls it is laughable.

One concept ESPN has not grasped yet I bring to you now.

The Toilet Bowl

Yes.  The Toilet Bowl.

Take the two most disappointing teams of the college football season, based on a fan and media vote the Sunday after the rivalry games are played out, and let these two farts of the season stink it up one more time.

But the game in Atlantic City.  That would be even more punishment.

The Waste Management-Rid-X Toilet Bowl sponored by Help for a Cleaner Jersey Shore

The 2021 opponents as the most disappointing teams in college football?

Indiana ( of course) taking on the Florida Gators.  Sounds painful to me.  But I am sure a few dollars could be made for ESPN if a mouth other than mine were to open up the suggestion.

A man can still dream.

On to this year’s College Football Bowl Picks:

My College Football season started with embarrasment and an oh no, here comes the Natural Order of Things to Bloomington again this year.

The Hoosiers’ season opener at IOWA. Awful.

The Seems Like Old Times Crowd at the Rugers game. Awful.

Yes, the game in September against the Cincinnati Bearcats was a little better.

So I am left to root for the Ole Miss Rebels in the Sugar Bowl against Baylor.

I hope the Herd wins tonight in New Orleans vs. Louisiana.

And I will pull for Western Kentucky today.  God Bless those folks in Bowling Green.

Here it goes:

Western Kentucky beat App State in the Boca Raton Bowl…Go Hilltoppers.

Jackson State beats SC State in the Celebration Bowl…Coach Prime getting recruits!

Fresno State beats UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl…Trembling a bit as I type this.  Miners?

BYU beats UAB in the Indepence Bowl…Hope they can keep this game going.  Ugh.

Liberty beats Eastern Michigan in the Lending Tree Bowl…Coach Freeze can coach.  Terrible name for any bowl.  Toilet Bowl almost sounds better and certainly if you need it!

Oregon State beats Utah State in the LA Bowl…Bless Jimmy Kimmel for putting this on.

Marshall beats Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl…Can’t pick against the Herd.  Hope they can keep it close.

Old Dominion beats Tulsa in the Myrtle Beach Bowl…Is it me or does Myrtle Beach sound like the name of an old lady you cut grass for?

Wyoming beats Kent State in the Idaho Potato Bowl…Geography and Dan Quayle never get old.

UTSA beats San Diego State in the Frisco Bowl…This has the potential to be the gem before semi-final games get going.  Don’t miss this one.  If you can get past the ugly uniforms, you got some good football to look at here.

Mizzou beats Army in the Armed Forces Bowl…Rootin for Army!

North Texas beats Miami, Ohio in the Frisco Classic Bowl…Geography again.  Though I am glad to see Miami, OH in a bowl game.  They have been patient in Oxford, OH with Coach Chuck Martin.  He left as Notre Dame’s OC to take this job in 2014.  Improvement has been steady.  Good to see coach and school hang in there. I have no doubt he could leave the “Cradle” and find a bigger pan of fish.

UCF beats Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl…Sarsparilla sounds better.

Hawaii beats Memphis in the Hawaii Bowl…Geography again.

Ball State beats Georgia State in Cameillia Bowl…Can’t let old Dave Letterman down.

Nevada beats Western Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl…Nothing like a good wrench on a trophy.

Boston College beats East Carolina in the Military Bowl…Eagles or Pirates?  Well, I am for ECU!

Auburn beats Houston in the Birmingham Bowl…But only of the Tigers show up ready to play.

Louisville beats Air Force in the First Responder Bowl…Louisville fans get the bowl they need.

Mississippi State beats Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl…Memphis gets a compelling matchup again.  In the stadium where Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant got his last victory…

We have Coach Mike Leach at State taking on the school that fired him, Texas Tech, in the days of “Adam James in the Shed and made Daddy Madgate.”  The pressers should be entertaining even when they are not trying to be.

UCLA beats NC State in the Holiday Bowl…Oh yes. San Diego and the Holiday Bowl.  It was 1979 and a 7-4 Indiana team beat and undefeated top ten ranked BYU….no…no…really…I am not dreaming!  That happen.  Look it up.  For UCLA, this will be the best competition they will face outside of practice until they meet Washington in the Rose Bowl next October 1st.  Their first four games of next season are at home:  Bowling Green, Alabama State, and South Alabama and then a trip to Boulder the last weekend in September.

Minnesota beats West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl…Did I really just typ that bowl name?  Go Goldy!

SMU beats Virginia in the Fenway Bowl…Left field is a doozy!

Maryland beats Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl…Coach Locksley is like Robin of Locksley.  Straight shooter and better at hitting targets all the time.

Iowa State beats Clemson in the Cheez-It Bowl…Iowa State has a better “we still care” ratio than Clemson does, studies show.

Oregon beats Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl…Another VERY GOOD matchup.  San Antonio will sell something well.

North Carolina beats South Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl...Oh my.  At least someone is paying attention to what fans might want to look at, in addition to running an adding machine behind money’s closed doors.

Purdue will beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl…PU stunk it up here against Auburn a few years ago and they will be ready for the Vols this time around.  I have been to a sold out Music City Bowl and it is a good time.  This one should be close to that.

Pitt beats Michigan State in the Peach Bowl…Michigan State has proven it can play well against tough opponents and just as fast get blown out as a top ten team the next week. Pitt’s loses were 3 and 4 points and they have only lost two games.  They were (THAT) close to putting the UC Bearcats where they belong…the Peach Bowl.  Bama will up on UC by 30 points at halftime.

Arizona State beats Swissconsin in the Las Vegas Bowl…I refuse to pick Bucky for anything.

Wake Forest beats Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl…I know, I know, but Wake’s not bad.  Turnover here or there, missed field goal, I just think it is going to work out for Wake this time.

Miami, FL beats Washington State in the Sun Bowl…El Paso still has the Sun Bowl on CBS.  There are still a few traditions that have stood the test of whine.

Central Michigan beats Bosie State in the Arizona Bowl…The Chips are a good team.  They will tag you.  The Broncos are on the need of a win.  Not so fast myfriend!

Alabama beats Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl…Won’t be close.  Have you seen the way the offensive schemes for Bama have swiss-cheesed linebackers and beyond?  UC can answer that?   Yeah, I know.  What do I know?  I made reservations for Pasadena in June to see the Hoosiers play in The Rose Bowl.  The difference?  I love Indiana.  I enjoy watching Alabama and don’t always root for them!  This is a College Football Playoff Semifinal game.

Georgia beats Michigan in the Orange Bowl…It’s an SEC World and the Big Ten is not living in it.  I hope Michigan wins.  I would be delighted to see BAMA play Michigan in the final game.

Arkansas beats Penn State in the Outback Bowl…Coach Pittman is impressive at Arkansas.  Give him this much time to prep for Penn State and I think we will see an entertaining game and a few trick up the sleeve that come out.

Kentucky beats Iowa in the Citrus Bowl…Don’t tell my sister-in-law, or my father-in-law.  If Iowa wins I can still smile.  I still will probably root of UK.  It is nice that we talk about football into November around these parts (Kentuckiana new area).  Once upon a time it was basketball talk in mid-Ocotber that dominated  sports talk.  not so these days.

Notre Dame beats Oklahome State in the Fiesta Bowl…Seen Brian Kelly lately?  This will be a postscript to an Irish exit celebration they did not expect to enjoy!

Utah beats Ohio State in the The Rose Bowl…Can’t root for Brutus.  How his nuts get busted!  This is my game.  The is the one bowl game I look forward to like no other.

This is probably the least compelling matchup I could possibly dream up and it hurts me.

Ole Miss beats Baylor in the Sugar Bowl…The Rebs are back in the Sugar Bowl, as it should be.  Hotty Toddy all the way home!

Kansas State beats LSU in the Texas Bowl… The great LSU experiment begins with more research dollars than most other microscope views on campus.

Georgia beats Alabama in the College Football Final…It’s all about field position and turnovers, Gus.  That is what I told my old radio partner Gus Stephenson when we called high school games.  This will apply here.  Georgia was in a hole a great deal of the time during the SEC Championship, as memory serves.  Uga bites Al this time around.

That is that!  How many of these I will get wrong is a good guess.  But know that my post season prediction record pretty much stinks compared to my history of regular season over the years.

I hope you have enjoyed these.  They have been fun for me.  

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

I can’t stop thinking about Mrs. Patti Miller.  Mrs. Miller was my teacher in the 10th grade.  During the 1983-1984 school year at North Harrison, she must have done something to honk the administration at the high school.  Mr. Pitman, I doubt he would say it.  Mr. Davis, I doubt he would remember.  Doubt he was in on it.  But something had to happen for a school teaching assignment roster to include a new class at North Harrison High School.  The class was Sports Literature.  The teacher assigned to said class was Mrs. Patti Miller. Mrs. Miller didn’t know if a football was filled with air or stuffed with feathers. Still,  Mrs. Miller made a difference in my life.  She was the first teacher I had to mark on my writing assignments with positive remarks.  I mean really positive remarks.

She wrote this in my yearbook.  I was honored.

What I respected the most about Mrs. Miller was her honesty.  She made no bones about her lack of sports acumen.  She was a great English teacher and a WONDERFUL drama person.  She put on plays at Jeff High that were legendary.  While at North that year (not surprisingly it was her last), she leaned on her students.  There were maybe eleven of us.  My old friend Paul Haub was in there.  So was Rob “Cube Root” Ray.  In earnest, I kind of took the lead in that class.  Never one to shy away from a chance to guide for the good, Mrs. Miller gave me a great deal of rope that sounded like this, “What is going on in sports right now, Danny?”

It was a second semester class.  The biggest professional sports story was happening early that semester.  The Colts were moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis.  We watched sports movies.  “Bang the Drum Slowly’ and “Brian’s Song” were a couple I remember.  Nothing like the movie projector days before the VCR!

I wish Mrs. Miller could have been in the crowd this weekend as her old sports pupil was in the role of Drama Club Sponsor.  Oh no, I did not direct the play.  An excellent student was in charge of that.  I was the guy who turned the key and was the sounding board when I needed to be.  I also was in the tech booth high above the play taking care of the sound effects and music that added to the performance.

These kids were awesome.  This poster is affixed outside my classroom in the main hallway.

I think Mrs. Miller would approve.

Earlier today I went for a walk. Enjoyed taking pictures.

The Blue River

The empty fields behind the house.

My attempt at photography.

Take care of each other.  When you need to, speak the rights!

Danny Johnson

Good times tonight at North Harrison High School.

I have been fortunate enough to be the Drama Club Sponsor this semester at NH.  I have been blessed to be surrounded by a great deal of talent and the drive to do something with it.  Those two don’t always work out the way we want them to.  Tonight, they did just that.

When it was over, I was able to let things marinate a little bit.  Most folks know I enjoy taking pictures.  God Bless Alan Fessel and his crew for getting the lunch tables up and the seats out.  It looked marvelous from the stage.

It didn’t look bad looking at the stage either.

No, I didn’t take photos as the play was in action.  I was peering through a window above a rendition of Starry Night.  My job was to throw in sound effects and music when the script demanded.  It was a nervous fun I can tell you.  I enjoyed being a part of the process.

Don’t anyone mistaken me as being the director of this play.  I handed that over to a very capable student.  I know when to yield for the good of the cause.  I was just glad to be a part of it.

Just another great experience and putting one foot in front of the other to do so.  A new challenge is usually a good thing.  This certainly was.

Thanks to all the cast and crew.  I don’t want to single any one person out.  This was a total collaboration and that is one of glorious things about the theatre.  It takes ’em all to make it work.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

This is it, college football fans.  After this weekend we will find out which four teams will play for the NCAA College Football Championship that I beleive is just as mythical as when in 1990 the AP had Colorado and the UPI had Georgia Tech finishing number 1.  We have accomplished very little, outside paying “college” coaches more than what pro coaches make.

Conference USA….Western Ky beats UTSA…I know I know, but I have a feeling.

PAC 12…Oregon beats Utah…ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Big 12…Oklahoma State beats Baylor…as if we in the Midwest care.

MAC…Northern Illinois beats Kent State…Huskies should always beat Flashes.

Mountain West?  I didn’t know they still had teams?  I am told they have uniforms and everything!  San Diego State beats Utah State.  Brady Hoke is loving the weather.

AAC…Cincinnati beats Houston…Shame though, if Houston wins, it will save Cincinnati some SERIOUS embarrassment should they make the playoff.

SEC…Alabama beats Georgia…I know what is on paper.  Yes, I believe Georgia has a defense of the ages.  Yes, I know how good Georgia is. But, did you see the IRON BOWL last week?  Bama had no business winning that.  Hint hint.  Georgia will get another chance to beat these guys in January and they will (sorry Brother Tim).

ACC…Pitt beats Wake Forest.  Pickett v. Hartman.  Best QB match-up of the year save Corrall v. Young.

Big Ten…Iowa beats Michigan…Yes, I know what is at stake.  But, at the end of the day, I will take a Kirk Ferentz coached team over a Jim Harbaugh coached Michigan team.  It took how long for him to beat Ohio State?

USC beats Cal…Covid game make-up.

Hey…

This evening I went for a walk.  I got home much earlier than I usually do and it was 67 degrees around 5 PM here in Southern Indiana.  That is a WOW!

I posted the following on facebook this evening, as I truly believe it.

Enjoying God’s Light Show. 67 degrees in Southern Indiana after 5 PM on December 3rd. There is always HOPE, LOVE, and LIGHT! Written listening to #9 Dream

…and I included these photos…

Have a great weekend!

And, of course, speak the rights!

Danny Johnson

When the pandemic hit and we were all under house arrest, I took to the patch of St. Louis road in front of the house and headed west, as Horace Greeley once suggested a long time ago.

My walks have been published here, along with some solitude musings.  It was all we had for a great while.

In that time, I found an appreciation for taking pictures.  I am not still often.  I may appear to be…but my mind is usually looking for the next song to write or the next story to write.  The pandemic slowed a great deal of that for me.  It was the fear of the Great Unkown that had me unhinged.  I saw, in photographs, things I had not paid much attention to before.  For that, I am thankful.  Inspiration doesn’t always have to find you working.  Wondering is a source that we can’t discount.  For me, being still and listening can be an inspiring time.  All of us are wired differently.  We used to know that.

So today it was not a walk.  It was a RIDE!  Was it ever.

True story.  Gather around, kids.

MANY MANY years ago I was on the back porch in winter time.  The crops in the field behind the house were cut and gone.  The trees between the house and the field were bare.  In the field, Jarrett was taking Cody for a ride on our 4-wheeler.  I was taken aback.  You are running your younger brother WAY TOO FAST on that ATV, I thought.

When the boys got back to the house, I took Jarrett aside and told him he needs to slow it down when Cody is riding behind him on the 4-wheeler.  Jarrett took it well.  With a couple of exceptions over the years, he usually did.  Then, he looked at me.  “Do you want to take me for a ride ?” he asked.  I told him sure.

As I was driving and he was holding onto me, we are talking twenty years ago, we took off for the field behind the house.

When we reached the entry to the field, I didn’t waste time with the throttle.  ZOOOOOOM!

A few seconds later I could feel Jarrett’s grip on me tighten considerably.  And then, I heard his voice like I had never heard it before as he leaned into one side of my helmet (yes we were smart enough to wear helmets), “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!”

I was going too fast.  That is what I was doing.  I have yet to ride a 4-wheeler since.  Much like the last time I rode a motorcycle was when I was in high school.  I had a wreck testing my limits with speed. Haven’t been on two wheels since.

The irony?  Cody and I rode roller coasters at Opryland and Kings Island that Jarrett would never think about getting near when they were kids.  But, later down the road, Jarrett had his legs hanging out of the back of a Chinook taking off in Afghanistan.  Jarrett spent more than his share of time hanging out of Blackhawk with a 50 caliber maching gun between his legs over Afghanistan and Iraq.  Those were not pleasure trips.

Though some things change, some do not.  I pushed the envelope in that Polaris RZR today.  I caught myself in a curve going just a little too fast and I was in doubt for just a second and I liked it way too much.

I have a love affair with the gas pedal.  I don’t need to ride that thing alone again.

But it sure was fun today.

I have taken a phot of this patch on my walking journey’s before.

This is just before my usual .85 miles form the house before I turn around.  That would be just on the other side of the house in the badckground.

Another piece of my regular walking route.

This is a stretch I did GET ON IT.  This thing will gain speed in a HURRY.

Can’t leave this out.  On the Milltown-Frenchtown Road.

It was a great ride.  Most of my life has been.

Speaking the Rights…

Danny Johnson