Friday, April 27, 2007
Car Inspection MS Style
Mike was chuckling recently when he returned home from having the car inspected. For starters, it only cost $5. (Packing your bags yet?) Next, there's no smog check. There's no smog. Here's what they check: headlights, tail lights, windshield wipers (there's lots of rain), turn signals and horn. Not the brakes. Mike's conclusion is that if your horn works, you just don't need brakes. Makes sense to me.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Links Added
I added some links which may interest you at the bottom of the page. You'll see sites for Stacy Michelle Plunk (she seems to be building a new site) and Carol Plunk. Yes, it's true. Most Plunks are musical. In addition to her solo career, Stacy has sung backup for Bruce Willis' band, Willie Nelson and on Jerry Lee Lewis' new CD, Last Man Standing. Carol has seven CDs and performs all over. In 2000 she was named Newcomer of the Year by the National Academy of Recording Artists Premier Player. In 2002 she was nominated for Female Artist of the Year. You'll also see a link for my beautiful niece Marcy Avery who sings in the San Francisco Bay area. The Thomas family has some talent, too.
I also added Mike's longtime friend, Robby Turner. He was born into music. His parents played with Hank Williams, and he went on the road when he was about 14. That's when Mike met him when they were both with Ace Cannon. Robby played for many, many years with Waylon Jennings, more recently the Dixie Chicks and, as Mike says, "everybody in the world."
Any links you'd like to add?
I also added Mike's longtime friend, Robby Turner. He was born into music. His parents played with Hank Williams, and he went on the road when he was about 14. That's when Mike met him when they were both with Ace Cannon. Robby played for many, many years with Waylon Jennings, more recently the Dixie Chicks and, as Mike says, "everybody in the world."
Any links you'd like to add?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tax Season's Over!
As many of you know, Mike has a diverse client base. In addition to "regular" folks and some small businesses, we have a lot of folks in entertainment and related fields. We got your casino dealers and cocktail waitresses. We have singers, song writers and musicians in blues, gospel, R&B, rock and rockabilly. And now we're complete. As of this week, we have a rapper. He said that when he saw all the musician pictures on the walls, he knew he was in the right place. His professional name is Lil Wyte, and he works with Three 6 Mafia, also from Memphis. Lil Wyte was on this week's MTV reality show, Adventures in Hollyhood. He impressed us as a very nice, polite young man. Here's his web site. Check it out. http://www.lil-wyte.net/
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Mississippi Musing 2
I've always associated John Grisham with Oxford, Ms. You know -- Ole Miss, etc. Well it turns out that one of his first law offices was here in Southaven -- in the building which now houses our insurance agent. Mike says that they have some Grisham movie posters on the walls. So, with no offense to Mr. Grisham and with names eliminated to protect absolutely everyone -- I present The Clients.
One of our recent tax clients was a fellow Mike says is legendary and has played with "everyone" including Rita Coolidge and 15-20 years with Kris Kristofferson. He appeared in several Kristofferson movies including Honeysuckle Rose.
Speaking of movies, the guitar player with Mike's current band used to play in a jazz trio. They were hired to play in the rooftop party scene in The Firm filmed here in Memphis. They were supposed to play three tunes so, being smart musician fellows, they sat down and wrote three songs which they used in the movie. Result -- they're still making a little money off that gig.
And speaking of movies again, there's our friend the seven-foot tall painter. Even with my vision, I always recognize him when he walks in the office door. He's the only client who has to duck. When Mike first hired him to do some painting years ago, Mike looked around at the equipment and asked about the absence of ladders. Our friend explained that on indoor jobs, he just doesn't need one.
Anyway, when Grisham's Painted House was being filmed in Arkansas, our client's name came up and he was hired to paint sets (skill, not height). As a result, he's frequently hired by movie companies that are filming in the South.
Not a movie -- yet. A nice couple saw our ad in the paper and came in -- Hurricane Katrina survivors. They made it a point that they're not from the City, but from the bayou country. . . which was obvious from their familiar, strong accents. They'd been on their own after the storm for several days when they got to the airport. She told me that "they" kept putting the couple in different lines, and they never knew what the line was for.
After enough lines, they finally were able to board a plane. They'd gotten out with only the clothes they were wearing and didn't know where the plane was taking them. As it turned out, the plane was headed to East Tennessee and Al Gore was on board. They finally got themselves to the Memphis area where she had a relative, but they want desperately to go home. She said that it's too cold here and she can't find what she wants in the grocery store. He was a commercial fisherman and now works as a forklift driver in a warehouse. She said that 12 hours a day cooped up inside is driving him crazy. They're saving their money and hoping to get back down to the coast.
And finally. I promise this is true. There was a visit from clients Mary and Joseph. Mike figured their taxes and the refund came out to $666. He said to himself, "No way." Refigured, changed some numbers and came up with a much more appropriate refund for the two.
And that's how it goes today in Mississippi.
One of our recent tax clients was a fellow Mike says is legendary and has played with "everyone" including Rita Coolidge and 15-20 years with Kris Kristofferson. He appeared in several Kristofferson movies including Honeysuckle Rose.
Speaking of movies, the guitar player with Mike's current band used to play in a jazz trio. They were hired to play in the rooftop party scene in The Firm filmed here in Memphis. They were supposed to play three tunes so, being smart musician fellows, they sat down and wrote three songs which they used in the movie. Result -- they're still making a little money off that gig.
And speaking of movies again, there's our friend the seven-foot tall painter. Even with my vision, I always recognize him when he walks in the office door. He's the only client who has to duck. When Mike first hired him to do some painting years ago, Mike looked around at the equipment and asked about the absence of ladders. Our friend explained that on indoor jobs, he just doesn't need one.
Anyway, when Grisham's Painted House was being filmed in Arkansas, our client's name came up and he was hired to paint sets (skill, not height). As a result, he's frequently hired by movie companies that are filming in the South.
Not a movie -- yet. A nice couple saw our ad in the paper and came in -- Hurricane Katrina survivors. They made it a point that they're not from the City, but from the bayou country. . . which was obvious from their familiar, strong accents. They'd been on their own after the storm for several days when they got to the airport. She told me that "they" kept putting the couple in different lines, and they never knew what the line was for.
After enough lines, they finally were able to board a plane. They'd gotten out with only the clothes they were wearing and didn't know where the plane was taking them. As it turned out, the plane was headed to East Tennessee and Al Gore was on board. They finally got themselves to the Memphis area where she had a relative, but they want desperately to go home. She said that it's too cold here and she can't find what she wants in the grocery store. He was a commercial fisherman and now works as a forklift driver in a warehouse. She said that 12 hours a day cooped up inside is driving him crazy. They're saving their money and hoping to get back down to the coast.
And finally. I promise this is true. There was a visit from clients Mary and Joseph. Mike figured their taxes and the refund came out to $666. He said to himself, "No way." Refigured, changed some numbers and came up with a much more appropriate refund for the two.
And that's how it goes today in Mississippi.
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