Things I am thankful for in Oconee County, Georgia 2009
I am thankful for the many friends, and having my family here in Oconee County. I am thankful for the freedom to write what I want in this blog. I am thankful for a chance to raise my son in such a wonderful and safe place.
I am thankful for the freedom to pedal bicycles on our streets. I am thankful for the police patrolling our neighborhoods. I am thankful for the waves and nods hello from the people in my subdivision and on the soccer fields and basketball courts.
I am thankful for Krimson Kafe, Jittery Joe's and Publix. I am thankful for the excellent public schools like North Oconee and Oconee County High Schools, as well as private schools such as Athens Academy and Prince Avenue Christian schools. I am thankful for parents involved with their children's lives in a positive way.
I am thankful for the people who read this blog. I am thankful for the folks who respond to my writing in an honest manner. I am thankful for the opportunity to present news, opinion, commentary, criticism and photography in one big crazy burrito called Oconee County, GA Politics.
I am thankful for people running for office like Ashley Hood and folks like Peggy Holcomb and Jerry Studdard who support and campaign for or against them behind the scenes. I am thankful for our chairs of the Board of Commissioners in Wendell Dawson and Melvin Davis, and people who run against them like Sarah Bell. I am thankful for newspaper people like the Oconee News-Leader's Rob Peecher, the Athens Banner-Herald's Wayne Ford and the Oconee Enterprise publisher Vinnie Williams. I am thankful for staunch Republicans like Jay Hanley and Kate McDaniel, avowed centrists such as Chuck Toney, Mary Mellein and Brian Brodrick, and liberal Democrats like Jonathan Veit, Vicky Moody and Lisa Mende. I am thankful for people who were largely apolitical before working to elect our President. I am thankful for the opportunity to wear clothes espousing my Democratic believes to most anywhere.
I am thankful for the ability to rest at night knowing I am safe living in a neighborhood where Oconee County Sheriff Deputies live and Watkinsville Police patrol with regularity. I am thankful I live in a subdivision that welcomes people from Utah with their family and will all look out for their youngest members. I am thankful I live in a neighborhood where I can turn my back on my son playing in the yard and know he is not going to be threatened or bullied in any manner.
I am thankful for having leaders who care about our county, even if I do not necessarily concur with the manner in which they profess to be doing it. I am thankful I have friends and neighbors with whom I can leave my son and know he will be well taken care of in my brief absence. I am thankful I can leave my son in the car when I go to the store and know he will be safe.
I am thankful for a kid named Zantavious showing his sister how to do a left handed lay up with the style and grace of an artist. I am thankful for award winning competition cheerleaders named Madison who look entirely too much like Gwen Stefani. I am thankful for athletics establishing self esteem with which to build character and possible scholarships for any number of youths in our public and private schools. I am thankful people have the right to home school their kids and also let them play on recreation department teams with kids from the other traditional schools.
I am thankful for the School of Rock, OCAF and Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast. I am thankful for the odd flocks of turkey buzzards who eat the carcasses on the sides of the road. I am thankful for the 4H and agricultural people of every stripe. I am thankful for Saturday Strolls and Farmers Markets.
I am thankful for friendly dogs, chiropractors and massage therapists. I am thankful we have Waffle Houses, Barberitoes and Girasoles (Open on Thanksgiving!), Aunt Gail's, and the Big Easy. I am thankful for all businesses staying open during the challenging economic times.
I am thankful that Jeannette Rankin came to Bogart, that Rich Rusk helped shed light on Moore's Ford massacre, and that Scott Berry can help locate stolen pick up trucks ditched in the woods with rifled ATMs even if they are barely back in Clarke County. I am thankful for families from countries (not limited to) Bulgaria and India successfully immigrating to Oconee County and raising families here, even going to schools of all kinds.
I am thankful for Gainesville State College continuing to expand Higher Education in Oconee County, although the City of Watkinsville ought to annex the campus. Gainsville State here should then be renamed Watkinsville State College and offer four year degrees in Art Therapy, Health Management, and all those other things the big school does not offer. I am thankful for the University of Georgia relocating their equestrian team's facility to Bishop. I am thankful for University of Georgia's Athletic Director Damon Evans living in Oconee County, although his kids attending North Oconee means the Titans are going to dominate for (at least) the next five years.
I am thankful for the tolerance, acceptance and faith of my neighbors, strangers and friends. I am thankful for the many churches and service clubs. I am thankful that people will ask you if you need help here changing a tire or use of a cell phone if you are in need. We are living in a great place to stay, and may our good fortunes continue.
I am thankful for the municipal governments of Watkinsville, North High Shoals, Bishop and Bogart and especially the clerks who put up with my constant badgering for facts and figures. Any one who takes on the no-thanks position of actual political office deserves thanks as well. I am thankful we can come together to honor Veterans and past leaders. I am thankful for everyone living here and not littering here too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours on this last single digit year of the century.
I am thankful for the freedom to pedal bicycles on our streets. I am thankful for the police patrolling our neighborhoods. I am thankful for the waves and nods hello from the people in my subdivision and on the soccer fields and basketball courts.
I am thankful for Krimson Kafe, Jittery Joe's and Publix. I am thankful for the excellent public schools like North Oconee and Oconee County High Schools, as well as private schools such as Athens Academy and Prince Avenue Christian schools. I am thankful for parents involved with their children's lives in a positive way.
I am thankful for the people who read this blog. I am thankful for the folks who respond to my writing in an honest manner. I am thankful for the opportunity to present news, opinion, commentary, criticism and photography in one big crazy burrito called Oconee County, GA Politics.
I am thankful for people running for office like Ashley Hood and folks like Peggy Holcomb and Jerry Studdard who support and campaign for or against them behind the scenes. I am thankful for our chairs of the Board of Commissioners in Wendell Dawson and Melvin Davis, and people who run against them like Sarah Bell. I am thankful for newspaper people like the Oconee News-Leader's Rob Peecher, the Athens Banner-Herald's Wayne Ford and the Oconee Enterprise publisher Vinnie Williams. I am thankful for staunch Republicans like Jay Hanley and Kate McDaniel, avowed centrists such as Chuck Toney, Mary Mellein and Brian Brodrick, and liberal Democrats like Jonathan Veit, Vicky Moody and Lisa Mende. I am thankful for people who were largely apolitical before working to elect our President. I am thankful for the opportunity to wear clothes espousing my Democratic believes to most anywhere.
I am thankful for the ability to rest at night knowing I am safe living in a neighborhood where Oconee County Sheriff Deputies live and Watkinsville Police patrol with regularity. I am thankful I live in a subdivision that welcomes people from Utah with their family and will all look out for their youngest members. I am thankful I live in a neighborhood where I can turn my back on my son playing in the yard and know he is not going to be threatened or bullied in any manner.
I am thankful for having leaders who care about our county, even if I do not necessarily concur with the manner in which they profess to be doing it. I am thankful I have friends and neighbors with whom I can leave my son and know he will be well taken care of in my brief absence. I am thankful I can leave my son in the car when I go to the store and know he will be safe.
I am thankful for a kid named Zantavious showing his sister how to do a left handed lay up with the style and grace of an artist. I am thankful for award winning competition cheerleaders named Madison who look entirely too much like Gwen Stefani. I am thankful for athletics establishing self esteem with which to build character and possible scholarships for any number of youths in our public and private schools. I am thankful people have the right to home school their kids and also let them play on recreation department teams with kids from the other traditional schools.
I am thankful for the School of Rock, OCAF and Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast. I am thankful for the odd flocks of turkey buzzards who eat the carcasses on the sides of the road. I am thankful for the 4H and agricultural people of every stripe. I am thankful for Saturday Strolls and Farmers Markets.
I am thankful for friendly dogs, chiropractors and massage therapists. I am thankful we have Waffle Houses, Barberitoes and Girasoles (Open on Thanksgiving!), Aunt Gail's, and the Big Easy. I am thankful for all businesses staying open during the challenging economic times.
I am thankful that Jeannette Rankin came to Bogart, that Rich Rusk helped shed light on Moore's Ford massacre, and that Scott Berry can help locate stolen pick up trucks ditched in the woods with rifled ATMs even if they are barely back in Clarke County. I am thankful for families from countries (not limited to) Bulgaria and India successfully immigrating to Oconee County and raising families here, even going to schools of all kinds.
I am thankful for Gainesville State College continuing to expand Higher Education in Oconee County, although the City of Watkinsville ought to annex the campus. Gainsville State here should then be renamed Watkinsville State College and offer four year degrees in Art Therapy, Health Management, and all those other things the big school does not offer. I am thankful for the University of Georgia relocating their equestrian team's facility to Bishop. I am thankful for University of Georgia's Athletic Director Damon Evans living in Oconee County, although his kids attending North Oconee means the Titans are going to dominate for (at least) the next five years.
I am thankful for the tolerance, acceptance and faith of my neighbors, strangers and friends. I am thankful for the many churches and service clubs. I am thankful that people will ask you if you need help here changing a tire or use of a cell phone if you are in need. We are living in a great place to stay, and may our good fortunes continue.
I am thankful for the municipal governments of Watkinsville, North High Shoals, Bishop and Bogart and especially the clerks who put up with my constant badgering for facts and figures. Any one who takes on the no-thanks position of actual political office deserves thanks as well. I am thankful we can come together to honor Veterans and past leaders. I am thankful for everyone living here and not littering here too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours on this last single digit year of the century.
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