One of which was the time I was graciously loaned the use of my mother's '55 Olds for a Friday night "cruise". I had just graduated from high school, had the world by the tail, and was pleased to chauffeur several of my friends to the far corners of Tuscaloosa County.

It was later than I wanted it to be and was further from town than I should have been when I felt the car riding a "little rough". No worry, I had to get home. By the time we reached the first drop-off spot, the strong odor of burned rubber had filled the car. The left back tire was in shreds.

We had to wait several minutes for it to cool down before we could change it.

Dad bought the flat tire story -- as far as my being late -- but "expressed his feelings" when he saw just how flat that tire was piled up there in the trunk.

Thanks to my summer job I was able to buy a new tire, in two payments. For that period of time, plus two more weeks, I was afoot.

The other tire story is about my good friend's father, Webb Kyzer.

Webb was a Marine in WWII and served most of his duty fighting in the Philippines. At the end of the war he was released to come back home, Tuscaloosa, at Mobile Bay.

With a pocket full of back pay, and combat pay, at that, this young man headed straight to the Ford dealership and paid cash for the newest car that they had -- but with the rationing on tires, this shiney black ride was resting on its rims.

Webb told the salesman to fill it up with gasoline and get out of the way.

The noise that car made coming through Mobile Tunnel had four Mobile policemen waiting for him at the other end.

Sparks were still flying, they say, when Webb stopped between two patrol cars.

Before they said a word, Webb, leaning half-way out of the window, yelled, "I've just got off the ship from the Philippines, and I'm going home to Tuscaloosa!"

The offices gave him an escort to the Mobile County line.

When he pulled into the driveway some 250 plus miles later, the rims were beaten flat, but not his spirits.

Now, is this a true story? Well, most of it, I think. Being only four-years-old at the time, I can't remember... for sure...

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I think that the new boating law that became effective Jan. 1 is a good one. There have been too many accidents on the water that were caused by youngsters who simply didn't know the rules of operating a boat. Requiring the safe-boating test should be a help.

Along the lines of boating is transporting the boat behind a vehicle.How about a test here? Personally, I think that there is a large number of boat owners who are too careless with the way they drive while pulling their boat -- they seem to forget that its behind them. This ought to be included with the boating test, too.

The taxing of illegal drugs is a little unclear to me.

I don't see Mickey Meth mailing in his annual tax every October.

OK, so Mickey is busted. What percentage of his fine is the tax? Does it make any difference to him?

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Monday I heard a radio commentary from Jim Rome (sp) on Martha Stewart losing the Christmas arrangement contest held at her "prison".

Each entering team was given $25 worth of materials to compose an arrangement on the theme"Peace on Earth". Stewart's team made swans out of paper, glue and glitter. The winning team made a nativity scene (Can you believe that it takes a prison to permit a nativity scene?)

The commentator's points were (1) Is this the toughest work this prison can offer? (What happened to busting rocks?) and (2) Does this 'test' show that the once top-notch home interior guru has lost her touch?

Martha is due to be released in March.

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One of 2003's best (actual) headlines -- "If the Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile" (you think?)