Howdy-ho from Music City USA!

It's me, William Graves, aka Gorilla.  The kids call me that 'count of I'm so huge.  I am over seven feet tall and weigh over five hundred pounds.  I am a very big kid.

I like high school; I've been doing pretty good in all of my classes, much to the relief of my parental units.  The only thing is this:  I am glad football season is overwith.  Not because our team sucked (which they did!), but because I couldn't play, even though I am big enough.  It's because of my darn low blood sugar plus tendency towards seizures.  Last time I had a crisis with my blood sugar, I decided to throw some seizures around, which wigged everybody out. 

So sports like football or baseball are off limits for me for the time being.  Blast!!

I have a girlfriend now:  names's Sarah Rose Almendorffer.  Her parents are German/Finnish/Norwegian:  she has the prettiest ice-blue eyes and white-blonde hair.  She looks like a Nordic goddess!  I met her last October, and we've since become an item; we love each other very much.

I met her at the Harvest Festival our church had, and we just clicked, just like that.

I still pal around with Johnny Sandusky; kid is still here, by the grace of God; it's amazing how courageous and how strong his will to survive is.  He is on a ventilator and has a trache, but he can still talk and do things; he leads the sign language during every worship at church (unless he's sick, that is).  He is absolutely incredible!  He can teach people much about acceptance in a very big way!

Another friend I hang around with is Ethan Plaisance; he's on the football team.  Dumb as a post, but sweet in nature.  And a darn good football player.  I just wish the other guys on the team would stop taking advantage of him and/or calling him "gay" because I happen to know he's NOT gay.  He's just quiet and rather shy; always has been.

My family is well:  my mom, my dad, my little sisters Ashweena (Ashleigh) and Erinn (they're 11 and 14), and baby brother, Brandon, who is going to be four next month.  Brandon, aka "The Human Tornado", is exactly that: a whirlwind of activity.  He has autism, and he can be a pain, but when he's not "autisming out", he can be really adorable.

I just wish there was something that could be done to help him when he is in autistic mode; it's embarrassing having to explain to others why he flaps his hands or stares at an object when people try to talk to him; it's like he's in his own little world.

I am glad the winter is about over here in N-ville:  we had a bad one.  Lots of snow, lots of cold.  At times I felt like I was in Alaska; it was brutal with a capital B!!

Soon spring will be here; the flowers won't be long in following.  Easter will be here as well (next month); our church is planning a big Easter celebration with a Cantata; it's going to be huge!  We expect huge, record crowds at our church on Easter Sunday!  After church, we will probably go out to eat (along with everyone else here in Nashville), and probably to Centennial Park, where they will have Easter doings going on.

And I can have the CMA Music Festival to look forward to:  this is the first time I am going, and I am really looking forward to meeting people like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Chris Cagle, in addition to many more.  Hopefully I will get TO meet them; that'd be awesome!!  My aunt Gina in Knoxville invited me; of course, I told her YES!!  So now I'm going!  :)

They have that the first or second weekend of June, on Thursday through Sunday; they have nonstop concerts, games, autograph/photo op sessions, and other things.  Over 200,000 country music-crazy fans from all over the world come to this thing, and it snarls up traffic; it's a huge deal.  They've had it for years, since I was born; but back then, they called it "Fan Fair".

My parents have gone before; they say it's something not to be missed, especially if you like country music (like we all do).  They've showed us piccys of when they went:  they're standing with people like Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, "Alabama", Dolly Parton, and Little Jimmy Dickens (never heard of the dude, but he's very short; he almost looks like a kid with an old man's face!  LOL).

Well, gang, I have to run: bus is here; I hear the driver honking, which means, "HURRY!  HURRY UP AND GET YOUR ARSE IN GEAR!!"  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is William Graves (aka "Gorilla") scootin' outta here!  Take care and God bless!  Bye!

William (aka "Gorilla").  :)