3/15/2020, SUNDAY, UPDATE (published 3-15-2020)

Update

3/9/2020, Monday: it was my official start of wearing short-sleeve shirts!

3/9-11/2020, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman stayed home, off work, still sickly. At least her PCP prescribed, by phone, a proper antibiotic, finally, as I knew had been needed. So, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman returned to work-a-day, on 3/12/2020, Thursday! Oh, she was able to see the propane tank fill, on 3/10/2020, which I had arranged.

3/13/2020, Friday: do not fear Friday the 13^th! Despite that, we had a KUB “re-boot” at my work. Work was more insane than usual. From 3/12/2020, I have known about the “monthly conference” that was to have been on 3/13/2020, but which was postponed to 3/16/2020.

Sidetrack: as usual, I fester a little for three days, wondering what “work crap” discussion will occur tomorrow. I DO NOT CARE! I will, as Tom Petty sang, “stand my ground!” I AM VERY GOOD at this silly little job that provides income. You work every day, with “bionic” body parts, as I do. You do the high quality work that I’ve been doing! So, if you want to “nitpick,” then “nitpick” away at me! I WILL WIN, again, as usual! I will either retire this July or in July of 2022. The choice is yours! Chose wisely, if you want to keep me another two years or so!

Off sidetrack: as I was almost home, on 3/13/2020, Friday, an idiot in a red truck, which I will remember, saw me, but he decided to turn left, just before I had cleared him on my right-of-way! I was able to shift left a bit, while laying down on my ol' truck’s horn! My ol' truck and I told that idiot a thing or two! No damage! After arriving home, finally, we had a KUB “re-boot!” Great! Do NOT fear Friday the 13^th! We survived! Ha!

Corona Virus

January was corona virus?

February became Corona Virus!

Now, in March, it’s CORONA VIRUS!!! Calm down, y’all! Stock market, please, calm down! Our IRAs are taking a little beating! No worries! I have sold one role of toilet paper already, for $1,000,000! Of course, $1,000,000 is only worth about $10 now, but we will survive! We have corn cobs and plenty of toilet paper for sale! Get in line, if you want to buy a roll!

Y’all keep turning right and going straight out there! Of course, turn right, only AFTER my ol' truck and I have CLEARED by you! Got it? Good!

Stay tuned for more “fun!”

FOURTH IN STATE: TRIBUTE TO BULLS GAP MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM (published 3-15-2020)

2/15/2020 photograph courtesy of the Bulls Gap Bulldogs' Facebook group page.

Introduction

This article follows up on last month's article on 2/9/2020. It was about the previous day's sectional title victory and the then-forthcoming state final four appearance by the Bulls Gap Middle School Bulldogs ladies basketball team.

I had planned to publish this article on 3/8/2020, International Women’s Day. The details that follow are based on a working document that I completed on 2/16/2020. I can't seem to get this online article to format properly. Please ignore the formatting problems.

The population of Bulls Gap, Tennessee, is only 738. The Bulls Gap Middle School girls' basketball team included only nine players. Please read the information below about the other teams' city or town populations and the number of players on those opposing teams.

The Bulls Gap Lady Bull Dogs were outstanding! My wife and I are proud of each team member. We are especially proud of our niece, a starter on the team!

The ultimate conclusion from the following is that the Bulls Gap Middle School girls' basketball team is the fourth-best team in Tennessee. They are trailblazers! Their 2019–2020 regular season schedule included twenty wins and only two losses.

2020 TMSAA Class A Girls' Basketball Tournament

The information below is taken from TSSAA Sports: 2020 TMSAA Class A Girls' Basketball Tournament Bracket. Further, the 2020 population data mentioned below are found at Suburban Stats: Population Demographics for Tennessee 2020, 2019.

The Bulls Gap Middle School girls' basketball team was like David, who slew Goliath (1 Samuel chapter 17)! Please notice farther below the small population of Bulls Gap, 738, compared to the larger populations of the cities and towns of their opponents.

Sectional Tournament

The article from 2/9/2020 includes the same information below about the Bulls Gap Middle School ladies basketball team, section 1 champions.

Sectional Quarterfinals (32 Teams)

Game 110: Tue., Feb. 4, 5:30 PM: John Sevier Middle School, Kingsport:

Lamar Elementary    34

The school is in Jonesborough, the 2020 population of which is 5,051.

Bulls Gap Middle      37

Bulls Gap's 2020 population is 738, or 14.61% that of Jonesborough.

Sectional Semifinals (Sweet 16)

Game 205: Thu., Feb. 6, 7:30 PM: John Sevier Middle School

Ridgeview Elementary     35

The school is in Gray, TN, the 2020 population of which is 1,222.

Bulls Gap Middle              50

Bulls Gap's population is 60.39% that of Gray.

Sectional Finals (Elite 8)

Section 1 Final, Championship, Game 303: Sat., Feb. 8, 1 PM: John Sevier Middle School

Cloudland Middle    42

Fourteen team members. Cloudland Middle won the sectional final in 2019. Cloudland Middle School is in Roan Mountain, a town in Carter County. The town's 2020 population is 1,360.

Bulls Gap Middle    43

Nine team members won in overtime and won the sectional title! Bulls Gap's population is 54.26% that of Roan Mountain.

This is the game, mentioned in the 2/9/2020 article, that my wife and I attended, along with other family members! It was a great game that went down to the wire in overtime!

State Semifinals (Final Four)

Game 402: Fri., Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, 5:45 PM CST: Stewarts Creek Middle School: 400 Red Hawk Blvd., Smyrna, TN 37167. This is in Rutherford County, a 3.75-hour drive from my youngest brother's house or a 3-hour drive from our Corryton home. My youngest brother, his wife, and their youngest daughter traveled out there to attend the game, support the Bulls Gap team, and support our niece.

Bulls Gap (9 on team)                      14 (lost)

Bulls Gap's population is 31.35% that of South Fulton, TN.

South Fulton Middle (12 on team)    27 (won)

South Fulton, TN, is in Obion County. The town's 2020 population is 2,354. South Fulton is near Union City, TN. The twin cities of Fulton, KY, and South Fulton, TN, meet at the state line.

Consolation Game (for 3rd and 4th Place)

Game 404: Sat., Feb 15, 1:00 PM CST: Stewarts Creek Middle School.

South Lawrence Middle    50

The school is in Loretto, TN, in Lawrence County. The town's 2020 population is 1,714.

Bulls Gap Middle              14 (winning fourth place)

Bulls Gap's population is 43.05% that of Loretto, TN.

Of 32 teams in the tournament, the Bulls Gap Middle School ladies basketball team won fourth place in the state tournament!

Championship Game

So, who won the tournament championship? In case you are interested, I added the information below.

Game 403: Sat., Feb 15, 1:00 PM: Stewarts Creek High School.

Englewood Elementary    32 (won)

Englewood is in McMinn County. My wife's hometown, Etowah, is in the same county. Englewood's 2020 population is 1,532.

South Fulton Middle         22

South Fulton Middle School is the team that defeated the Bulls Gap Middle School lady Bulldogs in their final four matchup on Valentine's Day. At the game, my brother told me that the South Fulton Middle School team and their fans were very unsportsmanlike. South Fulton Middle School deserved to lose! Their loss was a moral victory for the Bulls Gap Middle School lady Bulldogs!

Conclusion

The inspired and historical record of David's slaying of Goliath is in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17. It is an inspiring story.

The 2019-2020 record of the Bulls Gap Middle School girls' basketball team is also an inspiring story. The players from such a small town slew opponents with more players from larger towns or cities. Placing fourth in state was a trailblazing accomplishment!

Four-Week Review, Women's Day, and ”Guvrmint” Time (published 3-8-2020; updated 9-25-2022)

9/25/2022 update: I only updated the style and title. My original words remain the same.

Four-Week Review: A Long Introduction

Week 1: Sunday 2/9/2020–Saturday 2/15/2020:

Well, don’t we still need even more rain? Where’s Noah? Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was off work due to too much rain on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Working two days out of five must have been tough! I worked each day, sometimes using my 2006 Frontier truck as a boat when required. Friday, of course, was VD (Valentine’s Day). Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had to work. I’d told her the day before that I would not send her usual roses at work. I speculated that the school system might close again that day due to all the rain. Well, wasn’t she surprised when her roses arrived at work as usual!

My forthcoming article will be about the Bulls Gap Middle School girls’ basketball team that placed fourth in the state! Our niece was a starter on that fine team!

Finally, Saturday was partly sunny! My wife and I enjoyed a fine get-together with our dear friends. We visited the home of the friend who reached the grand age of 60 on 2/6/2020. We always have a great time! Ask someone about the song “Play That Funky Music” on Alexa and about what happened!

Week 2: Sunday 2/16/2020–Saturday 2/22/2020:

Monday was Presidents’ Day off work for me. The weather was sunny and too warm. My truck and I went to check on the homeplace in my hometown! That was our first time there since 11/29/2019. We took the 20-year Christmas tree with us. That memorial tree is resting in the yard at the homeplace now. The following two photographs are of the Christmas tree and my truck, which loves to have his picture taken.

Also, I enjoyed a pleasant visit with the neighbors across the road. They seem to be getting along well. They are fine neighbors.

Well, the rain came back the very next day, stayed a while, and turned into a little snow (i.e., “dandruff”). Mrs. Appalachian Irishman left work early on Thursday. It was an early school closure due to the “snow.” School opened late the next day, Friday, due to the same “dusting of dandruff.”

Week 3: Sunday 2/23/2020–Saturday 2/29/2020:

Sunday afternoon: My 167th hike on House Mountain is in my hiking record! In the first image below, can you tell which foot has the “bionic” parts installed? It’s the right foot. I still feel the difference in every step, but the difference is not as much as it used to be. I was lying on my back on the large rock at the west bluff. The distant view looks southeast.

 

My truck, in the next photograph, clocked 173,500 miles even, as we were on the way home! That's my trusty cap and canteen hanging on the left side-view mirror. I had to park along Hogskin Road, since the upper and lower parking lots were full.

 

On Monday, I took a day off from work to see my dentist for an annual cleaning. He said, “Come back in another year, as usual!” Also, that day, I mailed an old-fashioned postal letter to my youngest brother and his wife’s eldest daughter. It was in tribute to her being a part of a fine Bulls Gap Middle School girls’ basketball team that won fourth place in the state tournament in Smyrna, Tennessee! My forthcoming article will have all the details!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had to miss work due to a bad case of the crud. She saw her doctor on Tuesday. She went back to work on Thursday, after another two-hour snow (i.e., “dandruff”) delay.

Overnight Wednesday to Thursday, my 2006 Frontier was hospitalized. A crankshaft sensor had to be replaced. Okay, Nissan, why is the crankshaft fine, but the sensor that checks it is bad and needs to be replaced? Why is there a crankshaft sensor in the first place? It’s a scam to get more money!

Saturday marked another leap year. I did the usual errands, while Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and her sister went to Maryville for a work-related reason without pay. That wasn't fair! I hope that they send their county school system employer a bill, but I doubt that they will. I would do so!

Week 4: Sunday 3/1/2020–Saturday 3/7/2020:

Sunday marked the first day of meteorological spring, as if we had any winter. Astronomical spring starts on 3/19/2020, but I don't count that.

March came in like a lion on Monday night through Tuesday morning. Middle Tennessee suffered tornado damage. This world is not perfect. Unfortunately, tragedies happen. This world is not our home. We are just passing through. Heaven is our home, where there will be no disasters. Tragedies here remind us of this. Thankfully, my sister-in-law, who lives in Nashville, was not injured and did not have property damaged.

On Friday, my wife had to take off from work to go back to her doctor. The crud was still with her. I hope hers does not turn into the three-month “kick your butt” (KYB) virus that I endured from November 2012 to early February 2013.

Saturday would have been a fine day to hike House Mountain for the 168th time, but my “bionic” joints were not up for it. Instead, I happened to find a beach ball near the fence line in the backyard! How it arrived there, I’ll never know. Molly has a new and fun toy! I wish I had my cell phone camera with me! At least Molly and I had fun “hiking” and playing in the yard!

Women’s Day and ”Guvrmint” Time

Women’s Day: Всем добрым женщинам, особенно друзьям в России, желаю счастливого женского дня! In English, that is, “To all dear women, especially friends in Russia, I wish you happy Women's Day!” Today is International Women's Day. It is widely celebrated in Russia but not in the United States.

“Guvrmint” Time: Well, the federal “guvrmint,” once again, has forced me to set all the clocks back an hour. The jet lag caused from that, or possibly my “bionic” joints, forestalled my desire to hike “My Mountain” this afternoon. Darn it!

As a boy, I recall Papaw Ferrell complaining about “government time!” I am keeping up his tradition! After all, we share the same first name. Papaw did not have a middle name. Mom, however, did have a say in naming me! My middle name, William, was her father’s middle name. He was named Aby William Wood. Don’t call me Bill! I am Marion William Ferrell, in the proud Irish meaning of Marion (Merrion) and Ferrell (Fearghail). I also wear my middle name proudly!

Conclusion

To my wife, well, let’s eat soon, dear! I hope you are well enough to work tomorrow. Otherwise, burn a sick day to get better. I assume that the two-day rest of my “bionic” joints has me ready for another workweek!

Good evening, y'all. Oh, by the way, to known family and friends, if you ever enter a comment here, I’ll set you up to comment anytime, without moderation first. After all, I’m still hanging out here in the backwaters of the Internet. I am, however, working on taking over “Farcebook” (as I call it).