Arkansas Matters... or, Bury My Heart At Wounded Lee

Figure AR-1 - Searcy, AR... Either this Arby's is really, really good... or really, really bad...

Leebo's returns. Been a while.

I am back in Florida after whirlwind tours of North Carolina and Arkansas. My new employer gave me time off to recharge, which is nice, considering I have worked about 3 months in a row.

Its been a strange 3 months. I'm working again and glad to be so. There is still a newness and completely different culture and way or doing things than I am still struggling to comprehend. I report to Miami again soon and will only be on the blog sparingly as I have to get set up. My life is really strange.

In 2009 I have lost my job, lost my f-ing ladyfriend, struggled to survive, gotten another job, and spent two unbelievably great tours with great people. I've learned through the struggle, a little about faith and a lot about people. I daresay I could be on my way to being a lot more pessimistic, but I'm choosing not to be. That's kinda where that faith part comes in.

Figure AR-2 - Leebo in Little Rock, AR. They have a pagoda. And not much else.

So to my newfound friends in NC and Arkansas. I salute and thank you. Due to your kindness, insight and ability to laugh and make me laugh, I am close to becoming my irreverent self again.

I am blessed with the opportunity to make these trips and hang with these folk. Big Sky Farms and Gillam Farms are the best.

I begged Lem to let me build a website for his NC blueberry farm. You can check out awesome Arkansas blackberry growers Gillam Farms at http://www.gillamfarms.com/. These people are awesome.

Figure NC-1 - I'm back for my third go-around with the USS North Carolina.

I share what what was written on a small piece of paper and given to me by Lem..... friend, farmer, good American, and march-to-the-beat-of-a-different-drummer.

"CHARACTER IS...the perfectly disciplined will, and you (LEE) are a man of character. (Your) greatest glory was not in never falling, but in rising when (you) fell. --- Vince Lombardi"

Not sure what it means but it made me feel like a million bucks.

Figure AR-3 - This is what passes for cheap labor in Arkansas

So, I'm going to let some fun fly before I report back to work. Why not?

It could be worse. I could be advertising in Arkansas.

Figure AR-4 - This is how they advertise in Arkansas....