What Is It Like To Be On The Other Side - Cheering For America's Team And Jameis Winston

Like we all remember where we were when Kennedy was shot - or the day Bill Clinton was impeached - we will all remember the day we got to see Jameis Winston play - or the day they  crucify him. 

Half of America stayed up last night to watch to see if Louisville's top defense in the nation could end the juggernaut of Jameis Winston and America's Team - the Florida State Seminoles. The Cardinals were the last best chance for a regular season opponent to beat this storied franchise. In attempting to talk the world into placing 4 SEC teams in the playoffs - ESPN has turned everyone against the Noles and this wonderful young man Jameis Winston. 

I am prejudiced - my lovely wife Lulu is a professor at FSU. She pilots the school library media program there - which is ranked number 1 in the nation by US News and World Report magazine. She coasts her Vespa scooter or garnet and gold BMW convertible the 2 miles to campus daily - depending on whether it is sunny or too sunny. Even my sons that went to the egghead schools of Duke and Georgetown - spend the game text messaging back and forth encouragement us to have faith in the Noles. 

Last night - even I had my doubts. The Seminoles hate traveling up north to play in the cold - wet - windy - rainy - dank Thursday nights. The 6 inch turf designed to slow them down - reminds one of the mud bowl I once witnessed in Happy Valley - right after the Nits planted "horticulturally perfect" turf. It came out like a bad toupee. 

I believed everything "Herb Street" told us about the Noles doing it all with mirrors. I chuckled when Announcer Palmer shilled that Jameis Winston is the best quarterback ever. 

Usually my lovely wife makes it to halftime before sawing a few logs on the couch - but last night we both were on the edge of the sofa. 

Fox  News - ESPN - and the SEC channel have called Jameis Winston everything but "The Anti-Christ." Maybe I missed that episode when I was driving my golf cart to the Jimbo Fisher Call-In Show on Monday night. Jameis has been connected to ISIS - the Ebola plague - and Rick Scott. In case you do not know that last guy - Rick's firm was convicted of bilking Medicare of over one BILLION DOLLARS. He took the 5th in court 55 times. He was fined over $150 million - but still had enough left over to buy the Florida governorship with $80 million of his "own" cash. That was 4 years ago. He is running for governor next week and will probably win again - blame it on Jameis. But the ultimate crime of Jameis - he has made FSU fans even forget who Bobby Bowden was. 

Well it didn't end up the way ESPN wanted or I predicted. I was sure the cold weather would KO the Noles. They simply are not as good as last year. In case you went to bed early - but the TV ratings would say you are fibbing - Jameis and the "Criminoles" scored 35 points in the second half against the top defense in the land before a record crowd in Louisville. Jameis had a nation that was a year ago sending Coach Petrino to football Siberia - praying to Pope Francis to make Bobby a saint - and allow him to deep six the garnet (whatever that is) and gold crowd and send them back to another consolation ACC Playoff crown. 

In America all we know is what we see on TV and read on the Internet. The Tallahassee police just started an investigation into a football player here because someone sent them an email saying they read on "facebook" that a player assaulted his girlfriend - ok - they are unmarried and she is pregnant the second time - so it must be true. 

The Seminoles have just won their 24th straight game. It is one of the longest winning streaks of the modern era - certainly of the Facebook era. America loves to have heroes and then tear them down. Heck - even President Obama our first black president the last hero de jour - made up every excuse in the book - so that he would not have to pose with Jameis in the White House after he won the Heisman and the national championship trophies. 

Tallahassee is a wonderful town. It has received awards for having the best park system in the country - the best public utility system - and yes - one can still buy a ticket legally outside the stadium for $10 to see the number one team in the land play on GameDay. Yes - that GameDay - the ESPN one that loves to paint the FSU program black - they have chosen the Seminoles 3 times this year to be the subject of their ratings hype show. They understand that excitement and  controversy means ratings and money. They are riding Osceola and Renegade all the way to the bank - and depositing garnet and GOLD in their accounts.

Lulu and I Drove a REAL Electric Car Today - the 2015 Nissan Leaf

Jamie Nichols of Kraft Nissan showed us where you insert the extension cord to charge it at night. In Tallahassee - you can choose time of day charging for even cheaper fuel. 

If you read my stuff - you know I am enamored by electric cars. You also know we just bought a BMW convertible and the last thing we need is a second car. With that in the back of your mind - we went to Kraft Nissan today to drive a Leaf - the all electric car.

I have been shopping Low Speed Vehicles - small golf cartlike carts that can legally be driven on the highway. Lulu knows I want an electric car - but I cannot justify having two new cars costing over $20k. Also - I have a feeling Lulu does not want to cruise around town in a GEM car or golf cart. Me -  I just want something to plug in my garage. Presently - I have been driving around the neighborhood in a Club Car golf cart for the past 4 years. I love it but Lulu thinks it is silly for a 66 year old former teacher to be dodging the cops - like apre-teen riding on a dirt bikes. 

At first I looked at the Nissan Leaf as a toy. But it is a real honest to goodness family sedan. It has ONLY an electric motor - no gasoline backup engine to charge the batteries. You plug it in at night to charge - and drive it the next day. Your mileage may vary - but the government rates it from 70 to 110 miles of range. 

We Saw Jimmy Buffett At The Moon Down The Street For Free

About one hour ago I was enjoying Jimmy Buffett at The Moon down Seminole Drive

About 1/2 mile down Seminole Drive is The Moon. It is an old A and P Store turned into a nightclub. We have seen many cool acts there.

Tonight we rode our scooter to the club to see Jimmy Buffett. Bob Graham's daughter Gwen is running for US Congress and Jimmy Buffett did a free concert to support her campaign. The place holds maybe 500 people - but we were able to walk up to within 15 feet of the stage.  We left our house at 6:15 - we thought the concert was to start at 7:00. At 6:30 - down went the lights and up went the show.

Gwen Graham and Bob her father - introduced Jimmy Buffett and his 3 piece band. It was just two guitars and a light set of drums - no sticks. Most of the folks there knew all the words to the songs - and did not seem too concerned about the election. Heck - Lulu and I already voted yesterday. But the music was nice - the atmosphere fantastic.

At 7:15 - the lights went up and we got on our scooter and were home before 7:30.

My pictures and video got pretty good.

Yes - we both voted for Gwen Graham - I think.

Gwen Graham is running for Congress. Funny - I was processing the pictures using iPhoto - it did not know the two Grahams - and it thought that was me in the middle. Now - who is more famous?

Free tickets were available at the Gwen Graham for Congress office 

GwenGraham and Bob Graham

You may remember Bob Graham - he was governor of Florida - US Senator for Florida - he even ran for US President. He looks like Jim Thorpe - both Jim and Bob are Cherokee Indian. Some Cherokees ran away from North Carolina to Florida and became Seminoles.

Jimmy Buffett did a great 45 minute set of his hits.

Lulu the Parrot Head

You can see Jimmy photobombing between our heads.

The three piece band was enjoyed by a crowd of maybe 500 - a very old crowd. Most of them knew all the words.

Jimmy also supports amendment 2 - medical marijuana. It must get 60% of the vote to pass. Democrats are for it - Republicans against it. 

After the last song - we hopped on our scooter and were home in a couple minutes.

We are at The Moon for a Jimmy Buffet Concert for Gwen Graham running for Congress

www.harry.everhart.com

Look Who Is At The Palma Maria

Looks like the party is over. The 3 Coal Cracker cousins fly north at 5 AM - Lulu drops them off at the airport in Sanford - and drives home alone. 

They said the Palma Maria was super busy. 

Pann Staters Show Up at GameDay in Tallahassee To Appeal To God For Joe Paterno

Last weekend we had family for house guests. They flew down all the way from Pennsylvania claiming to want to see the Notre Dame and Florida State game - but deep in their hearts - they came to town to appeal to the football gods. 

Cathy and RuthAnn are hearty Penn State and Joe Paterno fans. They believe that PSU and Joe got a raw deal in the rush to judgment of Jerry Sandusky. You may re-call that the NCAA fined Penn State $60 million and also took away several of Joe Paterno's coaching wins. The sad part is the Governor Tom Corbett led board of trustees agreed to the penalties. 

Now fans are having second thoughts. 

Ruth Ann and Cathy hand lettered a sign and held it up at GameDay here in town. It made national television - and got several comments on the blogosphere. Many were surprised to see such a sign appearing at a game between Florida State and Notre Dame. The girls want Joe's wins to be re-instated. Ironically - the coach that is now considered the winningest coach Bobby Bowden is the former FSU coach. Bobby and Joe were very good friends - but I do not hear Bowden pushing to have Joe's wins added back on. Both coaches claimed they were not interested in being the top winning coach ever - but both coaches stayed on way too long - both hurting their teams and schools with their old age. 

Now that they lifted the bowl ban they should reinstate wins too say the girls. And they want Joe's statue  up too.  

Ruth Ann and Cathy - sisters from the Lehigh Valley could complete each other's sentences when it comes to the Nits and Joe. 

They said, "They judged too harshly and quickly.  We must show Penn State pride. 

We want to demonstrate freedom of speech.  And no one speared us. We enjoying atmosphere of good sportsmanship. We wanted those watching to agree and say "yes!!" We hope to start a movement to vocalize and get others excited.After living in Pennsylvania for 55 years - I love the Penn State fans and admired Joe Paterno. But I think if they re-instate the PSU wins - they would have to re-instate Bobby Bowden's wins too. He lost wins when his player simply cheated on an online exam for a music course. 

It will be interesting to see if the NCAA changes anything else for the people from Happy Valley. The Pennsylvania fans do not deserve the punishment - they did nothing wrong. 

Jim Thorpe's Body will remain in Jim Thorpe PA

From The Morning Call

Jim Thorpe's remains will stay in the Pennsylvania town named for the legendary Native American athlete and Olympics champion, after a federal appeals court on Thursday rejected an effort by two sons to move them to tribal lands in his native Oklahoma.

Addressing an unusual dispute between two generations of descendants, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said a lower court judge was wrong to order that Thorpe's remains be turned over to the Sac and Fox Nation.

Chief Judge Theodore McKee said it would be "patently absurd" to disinter Thorpe and ignore the wishes of his third wife Patricia, by blindly enforcing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The 1990 federal law was meant to stop the plundering of burial grounds.

Cousins in Cocoa Beach

Enjoying dinner at the Sunset Waterfront Cafe after a long day on the beach.

40 years ago

Look Who Drove To Cocoa Beach Today

She will be spending 6 days with her cousins at a condo on Cocoa Beach FL. She drove 6 hours across the state and still barely got halfway. 

We Met Many Really Nice Notre Dame Fans At The Game

Harry, Thank you so much for sending this along. We try to travel to at least one away game a year, with schedules, business, heck life itself it’s sometimes hard to pull off. Let me tell you this The Florida State community was by far the most gracious bunch of folks we have ever had the pleasure of spending time with. People like yourself, each one nicer than the next.

We strive to be as accommodating when Visitors visit South Bend. The only thing we can’t duplicate is your beautiful weather.

Oh by the way Coolest statue ever!

Thank you again,

Brian

Honda Helix

Two years ago I bought this 1986 Honda Helix. It has a 250cc engine. It is quiet and smooth so Lulu does not mind too much going to games on it. You can park it anywhere.  It is a long story but it only has 2700 miles on it. It looks like new. It has an automatic transmission - it has just a gas and brake control - twist and go. In Florida - they do not require you to wear a helmet.

Noles Beat Virginia Tech in Volleyball - Remain Undefeated

We just got home from Sunday afternoon volleyball. The Seminole beat Virginia Tech - 3 games to 1.  We arrived late and only saw the last 2 games - and the Hokies played very well - almost pushing it to a 5th set.

The Seminoles are 18-0 on the season and 4th ranked nationally. 

Noles Beat Irish In Front Of Cousins - Never Buy Early Tickets Again - Noles Get Some Irish Luck Of Their Own

The Cousin now will spend 6 days at Michelle's condo in Cocoa Beach.

One time we saw Larry King at a Seminoles game in Jacksonville with his pretty young blonde wife. Boy - I felt like him last night. My biggest accomplishment was sitting thru a 4 hour game and not having to go to the bathroom :-) No - I was not wearing a diaper. 

Lulu's 4 cousins came to town hoping for an Irish Victory - for about 10 seconds they had one. After a week of "All Jameis - All the Time" ESPN Network - the game finally arrived. In all the excitement - we decided to buy tickets 3 days ahead of time - a big mistake. Even though the stadium was full - there were plenty of tickets being held in the air outside - even some by me. 

We got a deal for 4 secure tickets for a little over face value. The tickets were not close - they were in the last row. 

We drove Brother George Dawson's van to the game of the 6 of us. We parked in the faculty lot in front of the FSU main gate for free. We enjoyed supper there - but there was not much excitement a half mile from GameDay and Doak Campbell Stadium. After we ate - we walked down Jefferson Street to the game. 

We decided to sell either 4 or 2 tickets. If we would have sold 4 - we would have found 2 better ones. A young couple came up to us - they had 2 tickets in hand. They said when they tried to enter the scanner said the tickets were no good. We were asking for $150 a ticket for our extras - but Lulu asked how much money they had - they said $197 - and she said that is what we were asking for 2 tickets. She also said we would walk them into the game and sit with them - to make sure they were not ripped again. Like I said above - I never plan to buy advance tickets again. We will try our luck outside. 

Speaking of luck - the game was tight all the way. I am sure the home TV crowd loved the game - in the few moments that ESPN was not blaming the world's problems on Jameis Winston. I understand he is now recruiting for ISIS and also flying charter flights from Liberia to Tallahassee full of Ebola patients. 

Notre Dame played as good as they can - but after Jameis opening the second half with 13 straight completed passes - the Noles pulled ahead by 4. Notre Dame had the ball at the 50 yard line with 3 minutes to go - surely they would score a touchdown - and th happiness would be over. ESPN would need to find another shill. With the clock running down to 10 seconds - the Irish had the ball on the 1 yard line - just 1 yard from victory. It was 4th down - Notre Dame threw a pass and scored a touchdown. The happiness for the Nole crowd was gone as they arms collectively fell off in a pile like cord wood. Notre Dame did it again. But wait - they were called for a penalty! The prayers to Jesus must have bounced off all the cell phone waves flying overhead. The Knutes had to try again and they failed. 

Now the Pope is threatened to make Jameis - gay and pregnant - and in charge of handing condoms out in the Tallahassee Ebola Clinic. Undefeated Notre Dame now has a loss - the Noles are 7-0. Now FSU has 12 days to get ready to go up and lose in Louisville on Thursday night in the cold and rain. 

Brian and his friends flew down from Chicago for the game. We met them in the crowd at Gameday. No we did not know them before. 

Bill and RuthAnn pose in front of the Wescott Building at the main gate.

Lulu And Her Cousins On GAMEDAY In Tallahassee - Go Noles - Go Irish

Lulu has 4 cousins - RuthAnn - Kathy - Bill - Joe - visiting here for the Seminole/Irish football game.  This morning they went to the stadium to see ESPN Game Day.

Last night they went to the FSU/FAMU volleyball game where FSU extended their undefeated string to 18 games. They also went to the Downtown Block Party.

Band Downtown

ESPN - bite me shirt

Osceola covered by sign

FSU Marching Chiefs Band

Bill and Doak

Bill at Doak with the Blimp

Joe - Kathy - RuthAnn- Bill - OSCEOLA and RENEGADE

photos by Lulu

Lulu Hosted the Women In The Hood (WITH) Party a At Our House Last Night

photos by Lulu

Every room/closet/attic were open for the grand tour. 

Every few months - the Women in the Hood gather at someone's home - and last night from 6 to 8 - I went to a ball game as the ladies gathered at our house. Even though we have been in the neighborhood for 10 years - we felt like newbies because everyone wanted to see the inside of our new home. While it was being constructed from August 2013 to January 2014 - we had tons of "sidewalk superintendents" slowly cruising by on Seminole Drive as Gary Shiver built our home. 

I do not know the names of these lovely ladies - but if anyone wants to identify them for me - I will add the captions. 

The kitchen/dining/living room easily held 35 people. 

Food was served on a 1300 pound slab of granite

Fall Ball At Howser Stadium

While Lulu was hosting the Women In The Hood - I went to the annual Seminoles fall baseball game between the Garnet and Gold teams. It was free. It felt like a fresh autumn night with a beautiful sunset and cool calm air. I could have used something besides the shorts and short sleeved shirt I had on. It was pretty nippy on the scooter as I took a slow ride home.

Before the game I had supper at Brooklyn Water Bagels. They make great fresh bagels but also make New York Style pizza. For $6 you can get 2 slices and a drink. I love their fountain drinks - you can make all sorts of combinations as you jerk your own syrups. My favorite is a seltzer egg cream custard. You can also have free refills of anything you want - go blame Jameis. 

citEcar - Some Neat Electric Cars made in Gainesville

This little bus could squeeze in 12 people but it was too heavy to qualify for the NEV Act in Florida.

On Sunday on the way home from Disneyworld - Lulu and I stopped in Gainesville to see some electric cars. You all know how gaga I am over electric vehicles - and I am in search of the perfect electric one for me. Yes - I went to see the Tesla in Casselberry and Miami - but at $75,000 and up - it is more than I want to spend for a toy. These cars are in a much more favorable price range. The ones I saw ranged from $8000 to $13,000. 

Electric cars have not made the big stride yet in battery life. In 1974 - I drove an electric car that went 25 miles at 25 miles per hour. You plugged it in at home every night - and were able to drive to work safely - if you only worked about 10 miles from home. 

Florida passed a new law allowing golf cart style cars on the street - but only if they had safety stuff on them and a license plate. I already have a golf cart - but my street driving days await a cop stopping me and fining me for no tag. I would like to be able to legally and safely take my cart to FSUand the stadium. 

The NEV Act states you can put an electric vehicle on the streets with speed limit of 35 or less. I could shop - go to restaurants - go to football games - basketball games -etc - with one. 

This one was prices right at $8500. It went 50 miles at 25 MPH. It sat 6 people and has a roof over all 6 seats. It has lights - belts - mirrors - windshield - etc.

The Bubble Buddy is more like a car. It cost about $11,000.

WITH - Women In The Hood Will Meet At Our House This Time

Join us for the next Women in the 'Hood (WITH) event THIS Thursday, October 16, at the home of Nancy Everhart at 1816 Seminole Dr., from 6-8 p.m. We've all been curious to see what Nancy and Harry created with their new home--here's the chance! Bring the beverage of your choice and the co-hosts will provide munchies to enjoy. Co-hosts include Donna Joyner, Ruth Godfrey, Sue Newman and Anne Peery. We need a few more co-hosts to help with food; please contact Anne at annepeery@aol.com.

Sold desk On Craigslist Today

I sold this desk on craigslist this morning - $190. The buyer came from Moultrie GA. I bought it 6 years ago on Craigslist. We decided we liked smaller open desks with our laptops. I love selling stuff on Craigslist - it is like spending your money twice. First caller bought it.

Craigslist is a web page that allows you to list items for sale for free. Items are divided into categories - cars - furniture - computers - etc. You are able to put 24 pictures of the item on the page for free.

You can see craigslist at craigslist.org.

Everhart 8 Getting Ready For November Disney Adventure

Lulu with Buzz Lightyear

Harry with Woody

In November - the whole Everhart Family is traveling south to Orlando for a 4 day Disney Adventure.

Thursday - we were exploring around the Disney All-Star Hotel where we will be staying. Disney offers Florida resident discounts so we booked 3 rooms together there. We selected the wing with the Toy Story motif. The kids will love it. 

We also bought some 4 day park hopper passes at a Florida resident price. We could not get Florida resident tickets for the other adults - but the grandkids could. 

The trip will start with Lulu and I driving a van from Tallahassee the day before everyone flies in. We will be fresh at the airport waiting to jockey everyone to our hotel. Then the action begins. 

Driving From Tallahassee to Disneyworld

Fireworks over the Magic Kingdom - seen from the roof of the Contemporary Hotel last night.

FAME - Florida Association of Media Educators - meets in Orlando every October. Lulu is usually there to make a presentation. I come along for the ride. 

Yesterday - we packed up our new car at 10:00 AM and head east and south. The new car has a nice trunk - but if you plan to put the hardtop roof down - you must make sure the trunk is only half full.If it is overpacked - the servo will not even open the top. So each of us packed one small suitcase  - and everything was set for the ride. The new car has 230 horsepower and very long legs. I do not go fast - but the test reports say it will cruise at 150 MPH - I think they do that in Germany. On the Interstate highways - we kept the top up. 

When you are an old couple - the big choices for lunch are between Cracker Barrel and Steak and Shake. For me - I prefer to eat at places on the right side of the road - less crossing over traffic. When Lulu picked Steak and Shake - I guess old age love is making 5 left turns to get there.

After our fantastic $4.00 lunches - it was Lulu's turn at the wheel. We arrived safely at the Bonnet Creek Hilton in Disneyworld - the place where all the Florida Librarians convene. Lulu likes this hotel because of the gigantic pool which includes a lazy river - when you get in the current it takes you on a 1/4 mile circle. It is even better when you remember to bring your inner tubes.

The pool - the hot tub not so much. It was great until this overblown male librarian proceeded to spill his guts about being transferred to a bad school because he tattled on the teachers for cheating on the FCAT Test. Finally - I had to tell him back off - I said I was a former school board president and union president. After 10 years away from the classroom - it all seemed so comical. 

My favorite thing so far was Celebration. We drove about 4 miles to this contrived town where people really buy houses and live. We have been there several times before - but this time was the best. It was 80 degrees - sunset - the full moon was rising. Riding around with the top down on the bricks streets of this fantasy village was great. It was downtown Tamaqua in the 1940s - but super clean. All the store fronts were filled with cutsy stuff. There were so many sidewalk cafes to eat.

Around the corner - suddenly - Lulu spied the Columbia. She had heard of this Cuba/Miami eatery before - and it looked so nice. The prices were not Cracker Barrel style - but who know the next time we will see one. The big choice was sitting inside our outside. This picture shows the view from our table.

I thought it was called Columbia House Restaurant in Celebration FL is very nice. When th waiter brought the check - I was afraid he had a bill for some old mail order record albums.