WEDNESDAY’S LIST . . . of beans ’n greens ’n other things:
IT CAN BE a bit painful on the ego, but one truth is if you’ll keep your mouth shut and your ears open, you’ll learn something most every day.

For the latest in my case, go back to the June 24 column in which I took off on the paving of turn lanes out on U. S. 431 that apparently lead to nowhere. A new turn lane (north bound) just past the Ohatchee intersection on U. S. 431 seemed a case in point.

Basically, I assumed it was some of President Obama’s “stimulus” money at work.

WRONG.

There is a state law that, for safety purposes, turn lanes are required in case of private development. At that site, a new facility for the Stepping Stone United Methodist Church Faith Community is under way.

The pastor, Rev. Paula Calhoun, is the one who let me know Mr. Obama is NOT paying the bill, that her church is the treasury in this case.

The state issues permits for the turn lanes, but it is up the private party involved to select a contractor and pay the bills.

So there . . . and while I’m still wiping off egg, that those who benefit are paying seems like a fair deal to me.

Thanks, Rev. Calhoun . . .

*** THE PEACH season is winding down.

Ken Easterling, who first came here back in 1952 with his late father Leon, says about two more weeks will be it. There may be a third, but he’s not sure.

Ken says this is the worst crop since 1973, a lack of cold weather being the reason. As most of you know, instead of Tuesday and Friday, its been Friday only this year.

His first stop is Regions Bank in Oxford and then, if any left, he moves to the Anniston post office. He’s made it there just once.

I’ll keep you posted.

*** BIRTHDAYS: July 8 – Carter Picton and Devon Russell; July 10 – Yvonne Houston; July 13 – James McCarty and Faye Hunter; July 14 – Douglas Spoon, Betty Brown, Julia Burton and Katy Cox.

*** SINCE THIS is my column, a special birthday Thursday to “The Blonde.” I call her “Neyna” and Darling (unless I’m sulking about something), her grandkids call her “Neyna,” son and sometime heir calls her “Mom,” and more than a few nieces and nephews call her “Magic.”

Whatever the name, she’s our family’s “light.”

So . . . Happy Birthday, Neyna.

*** QUOTABLE: “All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.” --Harry Truman *** THIS DOESN’T mean diddly-squat about anything, but over the last month I’ve watched – make that re-watched – three movies I had forgotten just how good they were.

In order of my favoritism, they are 1. Legends of The Fall, 2. pen Range, 3. Gone With The Wind. Legends of The Fall starred Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt among others. Open Range headlined Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner. And everybody this side of China knows Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh were the main players in Gone With The Wind.

Anything with Duvall and Hopkins is a movie I want to watch. Those are two superb craftsmen.

A funny deal on Gone With The Wind is I told the blonde I didn’t want to watch it, she said the same. I left for “my barn,” she remained in the house.

Guess what, both of us turned to Gone With The Wind and got hooked again. Over the years, I had forgotten quite a bit of it.

Like I said, all of that means zilch, but thanks for visiting anyway.

Finally, they really don’t make movies like they used to and I really don’t care what Son-And-Heir and three grandsons say about that.

George Smith can be reached at 256-239-5286 or email: gsmith731@gmail.com