We didn't start the fire

I love Canton , GA. I like it because it's a small town. And it helps that it's near a big town, but definately far enough away to forget about Atlanta if I choose to. Canton brings me delights that only a small town can bring. I drive about a mile to work. That's really nice. A short while ago i was looking at this 65 Honda 65 motorcycle. Yes, both the year and model is 65. And it was determined that if i got this motorcycle i would only have to put about $4 of gas into it. . . per year. But let's face it, I need a motorcycle like Sonny Bono needs skis. (what? too soon)

Only in a small town will i have to break and wait for the chicken to cross the road. Yeah, too many jokes, I'll eave that one to you guys. But i really do have to stop and wait for this chicken to cross the road. It's not everyday but it's often enough for me to know that if it were a dog it would be in the pound many times and the owners would have been slapped with a fine. But not in this small town. We just wait. I sometimes like to give it a name and a back story.

Colonel Cluckers is a decendant of General William Tecumseh Sherman's chicken, General Cluckers. During his march across Georgia, Sherman stopped in Canton for some tea and biscuits. Well, He didn't realize it until he was getting closer to Atlanta (probably the Smyrna area) that General Cluckers was no where to be found. He had lost his beloved chicken. Sherman was saddened by his missing pet so he sent a message to Atlanta.

"You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace. . .unless you return to me my beloved poultry."

Well, the people of atlanta frantically searched for Cluckers but could not find him. Unknown to the fine people of atlanta, General Cluckers was basking in the cool waters of the Etowah river near downtown Canton, no more than a block or so from tea and biscuits.

Well, needless to say, the people of atlanta couldn't produce the chicken and thus atlanta was burned to the ground.

The Clucker line has stayed in Canton ever since. So there he is, in all his glory, Colonel Cluckers, keeping watch over the people of Canton. Standing in the road as if to say, "Don't you know who I am? You will stop and wait for me! You give me any lip in your black Ford ranger and i will see to it that your place gets burnt down next.

I love this small town

-greg-

I think i can, i think i can, i think i can. . . get a snack

If you haven't read my blog entitled " We didn't start the fire" i would suggest that you stop now and go do that. Don't worry, This will be here when you get back.

So not far from where Colonel Cluckers stands prodly everyday there is a Train track and a little further down is a train station. No doubt this is the only reason the city of Canton exists.

The tracks cross over Waleska street between my office and my apartment so every once in a while i get stuck havinbg to wait for the train. This makes a 2 minute trip into a 4 minute trip. Sad, I know. It's actually nice. Reminds me to slow down.

One day i was on my way to the office when i got to the train tracks. I probably could have made it before the gates got down but i decided to take it easy and stop for the train. Well, i see the train coming. And it begins to slow down toalmost stopping and i think, "well, I'm not the only one who's not in a hurry." then the train stops. It hasn;t even made it to the crossing yet. And then the train reverses. This is actually common for trains to have to stop and reverse and then go ahead again. I've seen it many times in many places. so i am assuming that he will proced forward. well, the train just stops, no motion for at least 5 full minutes. 5 minutes seems like a long time when your not doing anything. So here i am, waiting for a train thats still 20 yards away from the road and not moving at all, but the gates are down so theres nothing i can do. Then i see the conductor hop out of the train, walk around it, and proceed to go to the quickie mart that he is now parked next to. The gates are still down. 15 minutes go by and finally the conductor returns to the train and proceeds to cross over the street and and finally leave. it took me more than 20 minutes to got to the office that day. the office that is only about 1.1 miles from my apartment.

I say we make all trains automated so that we don't have to wait for some dude to get his RC Cola and a Moonpie on.

-greg-