The Deck at 260 Volume 55

It's November now on the Deck! Had some cool Fall days and guess what, 80 degrees again today. Either way, the jacket and hoodie are never far. 

Halloween, GHOE, FSU/coaching Carousel, Jesus is Black/Christmas date, Karen behavior, polygamy in the pulpit, time change, voting/election

Having Halloween on a Saturday is always a flex! I was blessed to go to two parties with two people that mean a lot to me. It seemed for females the most popular costumes were either Spiderman or Woody from Toy Story.  I'm always here for the sexiness. I always love the spooky esthetic and the Trunk or Treat as well. 

The 100th GHOE at NCA&T seemed successful also. Nightcap put on by Shannon Sharpe and Ocho Cinco couldn't start this momentum. But why was Unc Shannon acting like a teenager? GHOE is a different type of Homecoming, you have to plan months in advance to be there and quite frankly they don't need the extra publicity. I do like the GHOE rap song I found on IG and it's my newest replay on my playlist. 

FSU has now fired/bough out Coach Norville after Clemson beat them in Tallahassee. Despite what others say this is a good opportunity for an up and comer like Dan Lanning or Cignetti to come in and revive this powerhouse program. I'm hearing some good names. The coach will have to be able to deal with the expectations and managing the transfer portal. 

It's that time of year (Christmas) where the debates come in about Jesus's ethnicity and the true date of Christmas.  Despite what I read up from the Catholics, there's no way according to the Bible that Jesus was born in the middle of winter. Also we know the darker, Middle Eastern population prominent in that area. Therefore Jesus didn't look like the many images we've seen for centuries. 

I experienced a Karen at the JOB, not my first nor last. I will say to all Karens/Kens out there, poor planning and last minute urgency on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part. It's a big reason why I shop early in stages on Thanksgiving.  I want to be done with my shopping by the Sunday before so I won't be suprised nor upset to go into a store and they're out of something.  

The viral story of the pastor having two wives has been followed up by a female pastor having two husbands. This is all about interpreting the Bible properly especially the New Testament. You're supposed to have one spouse at a time, period. 

The time change makes me and others groggy twice per year.  I intentionally didn't plan much this week because of it. I'm wondering as we finished another election who is STILL voting to keep Daylight Savings Time? Full transparency, I'm not happy with our executive branch and I want more diversity in our legislative branch. I also want us to be able to vote directly and influence certain issues such as marijuana  legislation, time change, ICE regulation, etc. 

Definitely vote and vote often. Please don't just vote twice/year, vote in all of the election that take place in your area and town. Also get your REALID. Trust me, you have to use a REALID now to fly, a state issued ID to vote. Give it 10 years or less, you will need a REALID to vote. 

Election Day recap next week!

The Deck at 260 Volume 54

October is almost over sadly and it's one of the best times to hang on the deck.

Homecoming battle, 24 team playoff, perfect attendance award, dark college football weekend

Gaffney's Homecoming/birthday was this past weekend and per always a fun and exciting week. I see the folks down in the Pee Dee area stating Wilson has the best high school Homecoming at least in South Carolina.  As I stated last year on the deck, one day I'll get down to Wilson to form my own thoughts. Meanwhile I like it when we can simply enjoy the Homecomings we know and not try to compare too hard. 

I like the current college football playoff system. Some were afraid it would take away from the regular season (although playoffs are the norm in every sport). In a weekend like we had with so many highly ranked teams losing, it's always interesting to see where they land and how this will affect the season long term. However 24 teams will make the playoffs too broad, the regular season more insignificant and guess what deserving teams will still get left out? Just a thought there. 

I was at one point all for the perfect attendance awards at school and even the workplace. However as diseases and illness continues to spread I don't think we should normalize it as much anymore. I'm speaking to the schools especially with e-learning being more of a concept. There needs to be less encouragement towards perfect attendance as that isn't the healthiest behavior. 

See you all next week!

The Deck at 260 Volume 53

Back after a six day layoff and transitioning to another work shift. Gaffney Homecoming is on the horizon (which we will be discussing, Halloween in 2 weeks)  

Aja v Moore, Homecoming battle, Buffie the Body, Doing Life, Clover v Lake Wylie, roller coasters

A'ja Wilson won her 3rd consecutive league MVP and fifth overall. She won't win a WNBA championship this season but now the GOAT talk intensifies with the likes of Cheryl Swoopes, Maya Moore, etc (CC and Angel Reese haven't been playing long enough yet, give them time). 

Gaffney Homecoming (Gaffney's birthday) is this week/weekend. It's always a huge event that spans 2-3 days. It has even prompted the city of Gaffney to require those having adjoining cookouts within town limits to obtain a permit from the city (another topic). It's always a debate whether who in SC has the better high school Homecoming: Gaffney or Wilson? It seems it depends whether you're from the Upstate or the Pee Dee. I debated with two Gaffney guys I knew (and a woman I had never met). I brought in a source: someone that had worked in both areas. Now what started as a good natured debate nearly turned ugly. I will just say this, you can like what you want to like (especially since it's your school). However my brain has a difficult time processing the words "no high school Homecoming is better than ours." Don't worry Gaffney faithful, I tell Wilson folks this also. I hope to make it to a Wilson Homecoming next year or soon after because I truly enjoy Gaffney's Homecoming.  I am just not going to say it's the best Homecoming. Best in football or peaches, you have numbers to back that claim up. 

2000s video vixen Buffie the Body has come out basically saying she concealed her age during her modeling era and actually is in her 60s perhaps 50s at youngest. I want to know why everyone is pressed about that interview? Buffie is still a social media and YouTube sensation with her workouts and landscaping (fully clothed these days and happily married). This isn't whether or not Buffie said that to get her former audience's attention.  It's whether or not you were tuning in and why does her age matter? 

Netflix/Tyler Perry seem to be on a streak that may last the remainder of the year. Doing Life was one of those movies I might pay to see in the theater and I watched it twice. It makes a person believe in love again despite loose storyline holes. I would definitely like to see a sequel since Carousel and Anika became such a great couple. It's awesome when two folks can let their "hands off the brakes", and follow their hearts. 

The most exciting part about the weekend in my area had to be the inaugural Clover/Lake Wylie football game. I had a competing priority or I would have been there. To see the community come together through the pictures and videos was beautiful. The town of Clover is so near and dear to my heart and Lake Wylie has grown so much the past 20 years.  I cannot wait until both teams are more evenly matched and we have games like we see in Rock Hill and Spartanburg.  

I have been dropping a lot of weight the past year but I am still not below 300 yet. That means I haven't ridden a roller coaster since 2019. Given how often the rides at Carowinds stay broken down (a friend of #imjustdrew Josh Erwin actually got stuck on a roller coaster back in the summer) and the recent death of the man at Six Flags Over Georgia I can wait on the roller coasters. I am excited to get back into the 200s but I'll hold off on riding these rides. 

Ok although I will be working I will give a recap of Gaffney Homecoming.  Hopefully I can do it in a civil manner because I know folks will be cutting up on and off social media. 

The Deck at 260: Volume 51 (October is here)

There's no debating what my favorite month of the year is. Here we go with an exciting 4 weeks! 

-Shane Beamer

- High School Football

- Christina Pike

- Lindsay Clancy (again)

- Fair season

- MLB playoffs

- Blacksburg small town support

Ok this one is fresh off the press. I was just thinking also when Steve Spurrier's run was over and how he stepped down to avoid the inevitable. While I'm watching Clemson v Miami and Dabo is far from being out of the woods, Shane Beamer is underachieving higher. 3 straight SEC losses now, the latest allowing Kentucky to rally at home. I think it's time for Dabo, Beamer and Sellars to all hang it up.  

High school football is also heating up as every team is now in region play. Gaffney is in probably their most favorite region slate in decades. Blacksburg's is favorable for the size but not the travel. Gaffney will need to avoid letdowns so they can play at home in the playoffs as much as possible.  Blacksburg will need to keep up the momentum going into the finale against Fairfield Central. Clover v Lake Wylie is this week. It's one of the games I want to see real bad. It's also my 30th year high school reunion (can't miss that). 

Christina Pike is a WTHeck story.  She beats lethal injection twice and is now on a ventilator.  If she does get off the vent, does the death penalty debate go on further? In Pike's case she dehydrated herself, turned down her last meal. Medical professionals are saying that thickened her veins allowing the poison to not infect her. 

Lindsay Clancy is turning out to be a trial of the century. I'm here for this as it appears the husband definitely did it, is already remarried with a child on the way. Notice when I talk about about how crooked the justice system is I do go beyond race. I place extra emphasis when it's a racial matter. In this case, Clancy's husband has a much superior lawyer. 

Fair season is here, I've been to the Cleveland County Fair and it's still the best fair around. Only debate is do you go at day or night? For me the fair is always best at night although during the day on a weekday you don't see many people. I'm just glad I'm keeping this tradition going for myself. 

The MLB playoffs roll on as the Atlanta Braves are still in it. I want them to beat the Dodgers so bad. We owned them in the regular season but Shotani wasn't at his best. Now our bullpen is thin. 

Ok Parkin Latte in Blacksburg had a promotion in partnership with El Vacquerito across the street between 9am-11am to give away free coffee.  Mind you, Parkin Latte's slowest time have been after 9am and there have been talks from ownership on pulling the plug on the Blacksburg location and focusing on Clover. National Coffee Day is another indicator. Parkin had 215 customers between 9-11am. I think one of the staff said they do good to get 40 in that normal time frame.  It's definitely not the hours in Blacksburg, it's a failure to show support. I promise you if/when businesses like Parkin Latte go due to this, the locals will not hear the end of it from me. 

Until next week! 

The Deck at 260 Volume 50: 25 Years post 9/11

It's hard to believe we've been on the deck 50 times talking about various topics. 25 years since 9/11 is a lot. I'm starting to realize that many young adults weren't even born yet. 

DaBaby restaurant (No Knife),  new shows, RareUSA growth, Why Did I Get Married Again, Another 7Brew

Charlotte folks and surrounding are not only crowding DaBaby's new restaurant No Knife, they are criticizing the prices. First of all, it's Charlotte and a celebrity. It's not going to be hole in the wall, grease stain prices. 2nd, it's clear many of you don't go out to breakfast/brunch near as much as unk and I do. I've seen cheaper but in this market this is average. Everything is expensive especially when you're getting $10 coffees daily. Some of you don't know how to save, cook, etc and it's showing. 

The new Fall shows are here and coming. It's a far cry from when the new Fall lineups were the thing post Labor Day. I personally prefer seeing the new shows premiere in the Fall and the favorites/popular shows in the Spring when there's less interruption due to sweeps. I am definitely interested in The Drop-Off since I'm a Snowfall fan. Football is back of course and I always coordinate my TV show watches around Thursday-Sundays. 

The growth in Blacksburg continues with RareUSA coming soon and at least 500 jobs expected. This is big especially if you're a commuter like myself. I don't plan on leaving Amazon at the moment but for those that have 30 minute and greater commutes this is huge. It's also big for the small businesses. They can get greater support with more residents working locally. It seems the older generation is pushing back as always. They need to realize that if the town doesn't grow soon it will quickly turn into Hickory Grove or Sharon. Granted we don't want to be Lake Wylie, Rock Hill or Fort Mill but we want to be in between also. Gaffney and Clover are facing similar.  The mills are long gone, we need something locally.  

One thing we don't need is another 7Brew. Dang these are coming everywhere and as a coffee fiend I don't see the hype.  They apparently have a special every 7th of the month. They are definitely coming for Starbucks bit by bit. I won't lie I thought it would be Scooters or Dutch Bros. 7Brew appears to have more versatility.  Some complain of the prices at No Knife but aren't going to miss out on 7Brew. 

I actually enjoyed Why Did I Get Married Again. Tarajii's presence in Janet's absence was huge, Mike is that friend you love from a distance, keeping in secrets and toxicity for so long is rarely healthy, mid life crisis is real and there were clear storyline holes.  I'm glad they pulled it off although I wouldn't have minded had it waited until Thanksgiving to release. 

It may be officially Fall for episode 51!

The Deck at 260 Volume 49 (Ber Months are here)

Flock cameras, Death of a Pastors Wife, college players returning, Lindsay Clancy, Clover demographics changing, Dabo, Michigan last night

I honestly didn't realize these were a thing until my uncle was mentioning them. I don't see them as bad unless taxes go up to fund them. We have so many methods of tracking a person's location and honestly there is a lot of damage someone can do with a license plate number. Therefore if you're one of the ones freaking out over them trust there are bigger fish to be fried.  

This miniseries continues to have people thinking and talking. Pastor JP Scott is very much that dark manipulator that uses the pulpit to justify his lust, sex addiction and sinful nature. He is a joke and I pray for anyone that still listens and believes him.  I would definitely watch out if I am Suzie his current wife. God has not visibly changed this man and he will only damage her and others. 

I think it's despicable that college football players can try out for NFL teams, get cut and still return to college football. Where is the clause/agreement that ends your college career? Lane Kifflin already gets enough of the wrong attention at times. He can begin his career at LSU on the right foot after not fostering these two former players and not even playing them at all. The education part is an admissions deal which is a different pickle altogether. 

Ok the Lindsay Clancy deal has really grown legs. Why is no one closely examining the husband here? I've been said the legal system as a whole is flawed and often useless. Unless there is evidence that Lindsay did unalive her children I am glad she walks free (no racial debate today although we already know how the other shoe deal works). Someone needs to be held accountable though. The lack of accountability with this case and with Mica Miller's and countless others is what gets me. 

Clover and Lake Wylie are now not only two separate towns and communities they are now two separate high schools. That was never more evident Friday night at Clover's home opener. Clover has more diversity in nearly every way: fans, student body, cheerleaders, football team, etc. Basically you don't have the more affluent white players and fans anymore since they're all at Lake Wylie High now. I'm not saying this is good or bad, it's just noticeable. Clover is a small town similar to a Blacksburg, York, Chesnee, Kings Mountain, etc. There just seems to be a more involved community that doesn't include just white people.  I do know the Black community has been strong and proud for decades (many of those being my relatives). It will be very interesting long term as athletes will have the option to transfer to Lake Wylie High and vice versa for their athletes. 

Dabo Swinney has reached the end, period. He has failed to adapt to the current landscape of college football. Yes we all know LSU is a great program especially at home on a Saturday night.  However this has been coming for about 4 years now. I don't think he makes it to October let alone the South Carolina game with another beat down like that. Looking at the schedule, there are at least two other teams that on paper could administer the same type of blowout and in Clemson. 

Finally I'm unsure what voodoo Michigan has at the Big House.  Was it paid off? Did someone legitimately make a mistake? Were they trying to prevent another App State upset? Either way I want someone with good sense to convince me how they were able to put 1 more second on the game clock, run another play and win? Michigan can't win them all doing that. 

Bring on Fall! 

The Deck at 260 Volume 48

Whew doggies what a day/week/month on the deck! Is it really almost September/end of summer?

TX Roadhouse, Hayden, Labor Day weekend, Clover v Lake Wylie, college football , Dalton and Saco, Dolly Parton, other deaths, Penn State

Ok this Texas Roadhouse deal has been getting overblown. I haven't seen a single report of it's a collective deal or exactly which restaurants are doing this to Black people's fold. You all know by know I stand strongly for the cause. However those that haven't worked in a restaurant nor been in a restaurant kitchen don't realize how nasty that food truly is. I detached from Roadhouse a while ago (those rolls are still some of the best though!) and have went to Longhorn. More locations, less crowded, better steaks (that Tomahawk) and a more versatile menu.

We're in another run of celebrity deaths. It started with Hayden Panteriee and it's gone to Eddie Kane, Dolly Parton, the voice of Optimus Prime, the drummer from ZZ Top and even Tim Curry. Dolly is definitely the most notable. Dolly really stood for the cause and supported ALL human beings! You better believe when I get back to my race relations activism Aunt Dolly will be referenced. No negative comments will be tolerated! 

It always feels weird when the first Monday in September is on the 2nd week of the month. Labor Day weekend is still a month out. I'm preparing the best I can as I will have a more odd weekend than usual. 

The Clover School District has two high schools for the first time in history: Clover and Lake Wylie. They are sharing a stadium in the interim and are now arguing about how the colors on the field should be. It should be equal on the field and even highlighted with Lake Wylie flags during their home games. There's no mistaking that this is Clover's stadium, has been for years. You can represent the new school without taking the traditions from the current one! I wish I could attend the inaugural game but I have my 30 year high school reunion that weekend!

College football is slowly kicking off and now you have players that tried to walk on to an NFL team or went undrafted, were released and reenrolling in college due to a transfer portal loophole. This definitely needs to be addressed as there are obvious violations. I knew there would be mass issues if the transfer portal wasn't clear enough.

Who else is sick of Dalton and Sako? I'm good with influencers. Many have become like reality TV stars and it's getting sickening.  

Speaking of race relations, the Penn State scandal is wild. We all know that if this was at an HBCU the sanctions and scrutiny would be worse. People really need to learn and practice confirmation bias and realize the playing field is not level. 

Finally Dolly Parton was a national treasure. Her death hits the hardest for many. I do also appreciate the jokes with "boobs at half mast". We all need to strive to be more like Dolly. 

See you in September!