Garrett Duke

Dish

Television (LOL Roger. That'd be too easy )

Character (Gee thanks Roger for leaving me with that one. . . )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWN_X8Ww3Uo Well I lack the knowledge of how to put the link into the song title, but that takes you to the video for my one word song of: "Tonight" by New Kids On the Block (To not give Garrett a bad name here...Garrett is only my screen name and my character...his author is a female and am a big New Kids fan. This has to be one of my favorite song of their's. )

OK shame on me for not continuing to write on this thread even after apologizing after the last post I made! Perhaps it would be easier if I did watch these races as well and I often times think that I should, but I never think of it when the time comes. Anyway, Carl Edwards won today's Nationwide Series race at Phoenix. Here is the unofficial point standings as of now: 1. Brad Keselowski (Think it is fair to say that he will win this year's championship. . .) 2. Carl Edwards (-430...no way he can make that up in one race. . .) 3. Kyle Busch 4. Justin Allgaier 5. Paul Menard 6. Kevin Harvick 7. Joey Lagano 8. Trevor Bayne 9. Steve Wallace 10. Jason Leffler the top ten in points as of 11/13/10 in the Nationwide Series race. Do find it interesting that there is such a big gap between first and second place in points. There is even a big gap between second and third place. .Whereas in the Sprint cup only 59 points seperate the top three drivers. They have one race remaining at Homestead next week. Am I the only one sad seeing the season come to an end?

Thanks for all that has shared pictures of John...they were all fun to look at it. Think about the only or best picture I have of John is my avator, so I appreciate everyone sharing what they have. Very sad about his nephew.

Good Bye Says it All - Black Hawk

Paper

"Stranger in my house" Ronnie Milsap

*Bo Duke slowly follows Luke up the drive way, his thoughts focused upon the lack of a Christmas it seems like they'll have this year. And it wasn't about the gifts, though he had seen a couple of things in town that he knew Jesse would love as well as Luke. Receiving gifts was always nice for Bo, but Bo found giving the gifts to his family and friends much more rewarding and fun. His thought of the lacking Christmas was the food that Daisy always made that brought everyone to the farm. Even Rosco and Boss. They may hunt and get the turkey and a few other meal items, but what about the rest? Then again, they didn't need food to just be together and to be thankful for what they did have. Only to send his thoughts back to the orphanage. Not that he really minded helping out. Luke was right. They needed all the help that they could get to reach each child on Christmas. To make each child's Christmas as special as it can be. He couldn't imagine what those children are going through, how they must feel as they live each day in the orhanage without a parent or a guardian looking over them. If Jesse hadn't taken them in when their parents died. . . The thought sends chills up and down his back. Only to send guilt rippling through him that he wasn't as eager as Luke was to lend a helping hand to the innocent children whose lives had been torn apart and shattered. Those children that weren't as lucky as he was to have someone step forward and take them in, to love them and raise them as Jesse had done for him. What bothered him about going to the orphanage was seeing the children and knowing that most of those children will grow up not knowing the love of a parent or a guardian. That, that orphanage would be the only home they would know. Then again, most of the children had been there since birth and didn't know anything different than the orphanage and the loving care that the staff works hard to lend to each child. Last year when he had helped out, all the children were running around yelling and screaming while a few had been quiet and withdrawn. The yelling and screaming kids running around him annoyed him and had him counting down the minutes before he could leave to find some peace and quiet. While the quiet and withdrawn kids had only made him feel guilty that he couldn't do more to help out. "Looks like Daisy and Jesse are home," Luke states as they climb the porch steps and he opens the front door, allowing Bo to walk in before following him into the kitchen. When they walk in, Jesse has what looks to be a fake stern look on his face and Daisy's face is posed in a pounting position. "Looks like we've missed something Bo," Luke states and places a hand upon Bo's tense shoulder, "but as seeing as the two of you are here, thought I'd make an announcement. Bo and I are going into town and see what we can do at the orphanage to help out. Any of you want to come along and join us?" Bo remains silent as he takes in his uncle and cousin's reaction as he waits for their answer, noticing how Luke had pretty much ordered him to come along and help while he had only asked Daisy if she wanted to help out. Bo quickly shrugs it off once again, acknowledging that Luke is right. It was the least that they could do to help out at the orphanage to make sure the children had a special Christmas. One that they could cherish and look back upon with fond memories.*

"The Long Way Home" John Schneider

"I'll be Your Everything" Keith Urban

*Luke takes a step back to take a final glance at the repaired fence as his mind floats from Bo's and Cooter's race yesterday that had taken out the fence to Christmas. Bo may not have the patience for all the yelling and screaming kids, but Luke couldn't wait to be able to help share some Christmas cheer with them. If it wasn't for Uncle Jesse, they'd all have grown up in that orphanage never knowing how it felt to be truly loved. Never knowing how it felt to be so blessed as Luke feels they all have been through life. True the orphanage had some great people working there to take care of and love each child, but Luke knows there is nothing compared to the love of a parent or an wise uncle. The staff at the orphanage was loving and caring and did all that they could do to reach each child's deepest needs, but they can't provide what each child needs. What each child deserves. Loving and caring parents. A loving and caring home. Luke knows that each one of them children growing up in the orphanage must feel alone despite all the kids and people around them. Each child must feel a big piece of them is missing as if not being whole. And perhaps they feel forgotten about. Luke knows and accepts that there is little that he or his family could do to erase the pain and suffering the children suffer due to their situation, but they could always do something to help. Offer some hope. Some happiness. Every little thing counts for something. And since Uncle Jesse had stepped up to rescue Daisy, Bo, and Luke from being orphans themselves, Luke felt that they owed it to the children that weren't as lucky as they were. Which was why he wasn't about to let Bo back out from helping out at the orphanage or Daisy for that matter. Every day they had with Jesse, Luke considered a daily reminder of his blessings. Breathing in deeply, he looks over at Bo who is packing up the tools. "Looks like we're done here. Let's head back to the house and see if Daisy is ready or able to take a trip into town with us to the orphanage. I'm sure the more to volunteer, will be for the better." "Yeah sure," Bo states and Luke is quick to read up on his lack of enthusiasm and he pats Bo on the shoulder before grabbing the tools and they begin to walk back towards the house.

Well Hoss, you had to go and beat me, didn't you? It was Michael Peterson that sang that song. It was a great song...had that album and enjoyed the whole album if I remember right. "The Boys of Fall" Kenny Chesney (Believe I used this already...sorry...but it is the only one that came to mind. Too tired to think too hard for any more, plus can never get enough of Kenny Chesney's music )

Well this is far from NASCAR news and has little to do with NASCAR, but didn't know where else to put this. . . Did anyone watch the CMA's Wednesday night? I missed it due to the time it was on at...probably could have seen the first half hour of it or so that I was online for that night, but didn't think of it. Y'all are probably wondering how this has anything to do with NASCAR to be put on the NASCAR thread, right? Well believe it or not, it does have a little NASCAR in it. Jeff Gordon was one of the presenters at the awards (my NASCAR link). I knew he was going to be on there and hated to miss him on there...Jeff Gordon and Country music is a great mix for me. Almost as good as it was when he sang "Take me to The Ballgame" for a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. The best of two sports...LOL. Anyway, being a big Jeff Gordon fan that I am and from all I heard from a person at work, I had to see Jeff Gordon so I googled it and thought it was great! Here is the link of his red carpet interview with his wife Ingrid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8AUKi7gLAs Here is the link for when Jeff Gordon came up with Carrie Underwood and later with Brad Paisely. Find the whole video hilarious...never thought I'd ever see Jeff Gordon wearing a cowboy hat. Then again, never thought I'd see him at a Country Music Award show either. Here is the link: Know not all of you are Jeff Gordon fans, but hope y'all enjoyed it as much as I did!

*Back at the farm, Bo cusses under his breath and takes a step back to look down at his hand to see a large splinter sticking half way in and half way out of the inside of his hand from the rough wooden beams they were using to rebuild the fence. "What is it?" Luke irritatedly asks before he joins Bo to look over his shoulder and rolls his eyes at his cousin, "It's just a splinter. Pull it out and let's get back to work. I want to be done before lunch. But the way you're going, we'll be here at midnight still working on it. With all your excuses." "Mr. insensitive," Bo throws back at Luke before he looks at the large splinter, biting his lower lip, he quickly yanks the splinter out of his hand to look at it momentarily before throwing it on the ground. Looking back at his hand he sees small drops of blood form where the splinter had been at and he quickly pulls out his handkerchief to wipe the blood on it before stepping back to the fence. "What are you in such a hurry about, anyway? A hot date?" "I wish," Luke states as he returns to the fence himself and bends down to pick up a large nail, "but seriously, I want to get this done so we can go into town and get signed up at the orphanage to help out with Christmas. Like we did last year." "You are doing that again?" Bo asks. Luke looks up at his cousin, surprised at his tone and his reluctance to help out at the orphanage. "Dang right we're doing it again. Those kids need Christmas to be special...they need to feel special. Those kids need people like us to bring cheer and excitement to them. Maybe you and Kyla are no longer an item," Luke spits out at Bo, speaking of his ex-girlfriend that he had been seeing last year when they had volunteered at the orphanage. Bo had been the one with the idea to help out in his attempt to patch up their relationship and to have an excuse to be with her. "But those kids still need you. Needs us. They need Christmas. So yeah, I am doing it again. As are you. Do I have to remind you what Christmas is about?" "No," Bo slowly states, "I just wasn't sure we were doing it again. That's all." Luke nods knowingly at his cousin before patting him on the back. "Sure you were," he winks at Bo, "Jesse and Daisy is signing up as well. Cooter even talked about signing up this year. See what you started last year?" Luke pauses as he bends down and begins hammering the nail into the wood, "So let's get this done and over with as so we can get into town and sign up. See what they need help with this year." "Yes sir, Lukas," Bo tiredly states as the wind picks up to send chills running down his back.*

Well with all that went on with Gordon and Burton as well with the penalty going to Kyle Busch, I had forgot some more serious news that had happened at the race in Texas. Guess Sam Hornish Jr. got in an accident or spun out (I didn't see it) and when he did it, his burning brake pad flew up and went went into the eightth floor of the sky box to injure two people. It went in through the window, scarred the carpetting and hit one man in the chest. Another man had glass lodged into his throat. One man was sent to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. Texas speedway must have bad luck for the fans or something. Two years ago a woman had been injured when a bullet went through her RV that was parked at the track. I am very glad to hear that the injuries weren't any worse than what they already were for either person. Who'd thought that something like that could fly that far up, but I guess they are going at top speed and all that.

Ketchup

*Meanwhile across town an eight year old boy sits on the front porch of the large white building that stands proudly behind him. He stares ahead, yet sees nothing that lies ahead. Instead, the only thing that he's seeing is what is in his head. His thoughts lie fixated upon Christmas. Of the past few Christmases he remembers and of the Christmas that looms largely ahead of him. Christmas was always his favorite time of the year. Not only had Santa always came to his house and gave him everything he could possibly want and dream for, but his entire family got together and celebrated. Went to church. And everyone was in a great mood. Even his older brother who had often grouched at him and deemed him too young to be considered a friend or trust worthy. But this year was going to be different. This year there wasn't going to be any family get togethers or celebration, there wouldn't be any going to church with grandma and grandpa, there wouldn't even be any sharing cake with his older brother. This year, Christmas and everything else would be different and the thought sends a tear to his eye. Despite the Christmas tree that had been put up this morning with all the other decorations and everyone singing Christmas songs, Connor Harthens is dreading Christmas. Ever since his parents and his brother had been killed in their car accident eight months ago, nothing has been the same to Connor. Life to him was no longer worth living. Everything was void and seemed to have little meaning. To him, life was no longer fair. First his parents and brother had been taken from him and then the rest of his family had quickly denied him due to their own personal reasons, leaving him an orphan in the Hazzard Orphanage. Where he seems out of place amongst all the other children that are running around in excitement for Santa to come. Connor didn't care if Santa came or not. Through his early teachings at the church and at home, he knew that Santa wouldn't be giving him his parents and brother back no matter how good he had been the past year. There was nothing Santa could do to give him the life he once knew and loved. Connor sighs heavily and hugs his thin knees against his chest, wishing he could just disappear or that everything around him would just disappear. Staring ahead, his heart aches heavily with the thought of the upcoming Christmas and of all that has been robbed of him yet he holds onto the thin hope of happiness tightly of remembering his past Christmases he had shared with his family. Knowing that he may have been robbed of his family and of a special Christmas this year, but he would always have the past Christmases to hold onto. To remember. It may not be much, but to Connor, the past is all that he feels he has to hold onto, to be happy about, the only place he finds hope and happiness at.*

Homestead, Miami Florida. N.C. is a big NASCAR state with most of their garages and what not located there. So yeah I guess it would be logical to think that they would end their season there. Never really thought of it, but it would make sense. LOL. As long as I remember, the last race has been at Homestead, but can't say I know why. Well, don't know how many are interested, but sounds like Gordon and Burton have talked and settled things between them. And as of yet, haven't read of any penalties going their way. . . Though Kyle Busch has gotten fined twenty-five thousand dollars and put on probation through Dec. 31 (his wedding date) for his actions he took on Sunday's race after being held a lap for speeding on pit road. (He gave the official that was standing in front of his car his middle finger that. He had been parked for two laps before being allowed to go back out on the track.)

Figured as much, but had to give you a hard time. I guess now we move onto Phoenix...then Homestead. Two more races to go. :( Am already looking forward to Daytona!