The Gangs All Here!

M*A*S*H maintained a relatively constant ensemble cast, with four characters—Hawkeye, Father Mulcahy, Margaret Houlihan, and Maxwell Q. Klinger—on the show for all eleven seasons. Several other main characters left or joined the show midway through its run. There were also numerous guest and recurring characters. The writers found creating so many names difficult, and used names from elsewhere; for example, characters on the seventh season were named after the 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers.

 This show was so iconic.

M*A*S*H aired weekly in its original CBS run, with most episodes being a half-hour in length. The series is usually categorized as a situation comedy, though it is sometimes also described as a "dark comedy" or a "dramedy" because of the dramatic subject material often presented. The show was an ensemble piece revolving around key personnel in a United States Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH; the asterisks in the name are not part of military nomenclature and were creatively introduced in the novel) in the Korean War (1950–1953). The "4077th MASH" was just one of several surgical units in Korea. As the show developed, the writing took on more of a moralistic tone. Richard Hooker, who wrote the book on which the television and film versions were based, noted that Hawkeye's character was far more liberal in the show than on the page (in one of the MASH books, Hawkeye makes reference to "kicking the bejesus out of lefties just to stay in shape"). While the show is traditionally viewed as a comedy, there were many episodes of a more serious tone. Airing on network primetime while the Vietnam War was still ongoing, the show was forced to walk the fine line of commenting on that war while at the same time not seeming to protest it. For this reason, the show's discourse, under the cover of comedy, often questioned, mocked and grappled with America's role in the Cold War. Episodes were both plot and character driven, with several episodes being narrated by one of the show's characters as the contents of a letter home. The show's tone could move from silly to sobering from one episode to the next, with dramatic tension often occurring between the civilian draftees of 4077th—Hawkeye, Trapper John, B.J. Hunnicutt, for example—who are forced to leave their homes to tend to the wounded and dying of the war, and the "regular Army" characters, like Margaret Houlihan and Colonel Potter, who tend to represent ideas of patriotism and duty. Other characters like Col. Blake, Maj. Winchester, and Corp. Klinger, help demonstrate various American civilian attitudes towards army life, while guest characters such as Eldon Quick, Herb Voland, Mary Wickes, and Tim O'Connor also help further the show's discussion of America's place as Cold War war-maker and peace-maker.


The series premiered in the US on September 17, 1972, and ended February 28, 1983, with the finale becoming the most watched television episode in U.S. television history at the time, with a record breaking 125 million viewers, according to the New York Times. In contrast to the high turnout for the final episode of M*A*S*H, it struggled in its first season and was at risk of being cancelled. However, season two of M*A*S*H placed it in a better time slot (airing after the popular All in the Family) and the show became one of the top ten programs of the year and stayed in the top twenty programs for the rest of its eleven-season run. The show is still broadcast in syndication on various television stations. The series, which covered a three-year military conflict, spanned 251 episodes and lasted eleven seasons.
Many of the stories in the early seasons are based on real-life tales told by real MASH surgeons who were interviewed by the production team. Like the movie, the series was as much an allegory about the Vietnam War (still in progress when the show began) as it was about the Korean War.

I didn't just decide to do a biopic on an awesome series...

I wanted to remember it and the cast was amazing I must admit, but it is a prelude to a memory I chose to share tonight. During a bout of personal turmoil I found solace in watching the reruns and I was searching for the right thing. The mission I needed to get my mind off of my situation and a way to start a new chapter in my life. So I decided to enlist in the Peace Corps and make my way to Thailand...

The first time that is, but I feel asleep after days of deliberation and planning. I awaited my green light for deployment...I can't explain the series off events that followed but will admit to this day I am dumbfounded by them. I waited (not very patiently) and oddly the official papers did not arrive. I was not happy and fell asleep angry, determined to call again and again till I got an answer.

My original departure date was looming and still no confirmation...I had a few beers and mixed drinks...fell asleep angry again. Totally dark inside and television off....

SUDDENLY! My T.V. was on! Blaring the news and I rubbed my eyes and bewildered as my eyes began to focus and OMG!!!

This Is What I Saw!!!

The footage I saw was...
Horrible! So this clip will suffice to end this tonight. If I did not already believe in MIRACLES..That Would have made a new Believer out of me Y'all! And my applications and official papers? I have no idea! They "went missing" I was not happy but that cold chill I felt? Yep I felt I was spared and got lucky...years later I almost signed on again..Then met the love of my life...

You just never know until something comes from out of nowhere and alters your perceptions of life. I learned a lesson about life once again. It is a precious gift Y'all. Never say Never..anything can happen.

What A View!

Howdy Y'all! Thanks for dropping back by. Today I just want to show you something cool from the tiny town of Cedar Bluff ,Va. I found a short clip of the Overlook off Route 460. I myself have walked the narrow and very step little trail up to the top where this was taken. As you stand there and look out over the landscape you see the epicenter of this historic old town. Give it a look and if you want...tell us what you think.

 It is a great view!

And as you take this mini tour that I and many others have you can see some of the areas that I will be following up on in future posts. It ain't no big thing but it has a lot of history and a very notable location of a battle fought during the Civil War..

The Cedar Bluff Blockade! I will take my time on that and try painting you a picture I hope is entertaining and vivid. So come back and check it out once it's up.

Glimpses Of The Past And Computer Glitches..Enjoy

Well I was sitting here thinking about what to talk about tonight and nothing came to me. So instead I will post a few YouTube videos and a few comments about the way it used to be or how we think it must have been...

Now that's what I call a parade y'all!

Well I guess everyone gets to "bust a move" once in their life right?

Now that's pretty awesome!

That was awesome work they did with adding Alice on that 60's footage stroll I think.

50's Baseball!

And that will end tonight's due to technical difficulties so take care and come back and see us y'all

King Maker Rather Than A King

I had a memory of something made me laugh. An elementary school thing; I had entrepreneureal ideas back then too. I added a video from YouTube that gives a walk through on how to do it. But imagine if you will a 3rd grader from the mountains where even in the 80's time passed by like a colorized version of early Andy Griffith Show's Mayberry then learning that his best friend did this?

I capitalized on it and made a profit. Remember between classes making a bee line for the old water fountain wishing you had a cup to get more without stooping over as water dribbled all over you then got teased?

Yes and it works for several uses until it seeps through. Well that "smarty kid" showed me and I was fascinated. But he was all smug and was like see i know lots..and a not rich kid but acted like one. I go hmm why not sell them?
Then suggested we double wrap and sell and for more money. If we triple wrap see it'd last almost all day with refills evertime you pass water fountain between classes.
Of course we wasted profits on extra ice cream cups but it was good times Y'all

For the record the singles started it but complaints of seepage inspired my double and triple wrap upgrades. But we only sold the upgraded ones to the ones that could easily afford it and yes I gave lots away to kids that never could have afforded one. I  had a special notebook for them....the blue one. It wasn't an original product idea of mine so I helped my friend elevate his popularity his allowance..and mine to be honest. But I had fun...

The moral of this small reminisce can be summed up by it's title. See Y'all next time...

Bubble Gum And Baseball Cards

I wonder how many people remember how it used to be when you would get a pack of baseball cards maybe from Topps, Fleer or another brand and how it felt to rip a pack open to get at your favorite player's card or your favorite team and how it made a kid grin. To be fair I must mention that was not specific to Base Ball cards but many of the trading cards. For example The Garbage Pail Kids...

So it wasn't just the cards inside that you were expecting. Kind of like Cracker Jacks you can't wait to get at them. But there's the extra expectation we all grew accustomed to; that little "prize" hidden inside! And there was that "edible" surprise in our cards.

Yes that single stick of chewing gum! What a thrill right? And it didn't matter that it was a taste akin to maybe Pepto-Bismol. Oh no that was far from important sports fans. That stick of gum we would chew with pride! It was ours!

A tradition for us die hards of Kiddom ours and ours alone and it became a tradition that once in a while I find myself reminiscing about and have to grin; like say in a dollar store or mall and you spy a pack of cards. Every so often your mouth may begin to water and then you realize..too bad they stopped doing that.

So I will close this thing out now with a little video from YouTube
     Take Me Out To The Ball Game Y'all...(always makes me grin)

Rebel Without A Clause...

 Howdy Y'all trust me that was no typo. Tonight I am going to forgo the long winded narrative that I have been prone to and instead we will remember the iconic James Dean. His brief career cut short by tragedy and he was missed by many. To this day folk still mourn his loss...

So Mr. James Dean we salute you

That's a few clips and scenes from some of his best movies and if you keep searching that list you will find his first performance...a Pepsi Cola commercial! Yes he was a star and his fire was extinguished way too soon...
You are still missed Mr. King Of Cool

I end this with the sad video on the ending of the legend...

Drive safe Y'all

About My Heaven On Earth Growing Up

 This is me remembering my favorite place to be alone as a kid and up until I was out of community college. I'm sure everyone has had a favorite spot to sit or wander around while growing up. It is a special place maybe to others it wouldn't seem like much but the memory of it is priceless. We treasure that place and no matter where life takes us we will always pause for a second and smile as we think back and fondly remember...

Mine was high up on a mountain in a small rural area where my grandparents lived for many years. I still see how it was when I close my eyes and think back. God that was a great time in my life. So many memories of being there and times with family and all the stories I was told by my elders. I love them very much and miss them like crazy sometimes. I am writing about that place though. It was "mine"..many times me my little brother and sometimes cousins would run through those woods playing Cowboys & Indians or hunt and lots of times just go exploring. It would amaze us the things we found and would talk about the history of that old mountain. It was really something Y'all.

But the times that I would wander through there alone to think or calm myself... to lay on a blanket of moss by the trickle of a tiny creek and close my eyes as I listened to the sounds of Nature...a squirrel chattering, a turkey calling, the chirping of birds or the cry of a hawk as it circled lazily above me. If I spent enough time there it seemed like everything would be right with the world. So peaceful and so pure so still yet busy with the sounds of some species of furry woodland creature..I fell asleep so many times in that spot and felt so safe and secure..so at peace feeling like those people way back in a time where everything was simpler.

I felt like the most fortunate and privileged boy in all the world. I didn't have all that much in the way of material possessions or tons of money I admit, but I didn't need or want anything more than I had. To me? I had something that most of the world was searching for..a little piece of Heaven on Earth...

Hang on to your memories Y'all and that place that made you so happy growing up. I will never forget mine.
Thanks for stopping by and do come again