HAPPY NEW YEAR! Have you seen the guy on TV that goes around and hands out money to everyone? Bo Smith was handing out $2 bills to friends on the first and second day of the 2009 new year. Thanks Bo, that's very thoughtful.

At the David Cattle Company ranch south of Chester near Caney Creek, Josh and Nancy David hosted a lunch on New Year's Day. This has been an annual event for several years. Nancy cooked black eye peas and hog jowl. Dennis Johnson grew, picked, cleaned and cooked a ton of turnip greens for the 40+ guests. The menu also included cabbage, ham, smoked turkey and cornbread. Josh's specialty was chitterlings or more commonly, "chitlins." For you youngsters, they are the intestines of hogs. He shared with us how to prepare them for cooking.

Although this is factual, if you have a weak stomach you may not want to read the following: first comes the cleaning. There are two methods: one way is "stump whooping", the intestines are cut into 3-4- foot long sections and "whooped" against a stump to remove the solids. Next, take a forked stick, run up inside the intestine and turn it wrong side out; give it a good washing, remove any unwanted layers of lining, drop in salted water and boil for 2 to 3 hours. Remove, cut into smaller pieces, dip in flour or cornmeal, fry and eat up (if you can). Oh, by the way, the other method of cleaning is the "squeeze" method. Josh said he cooked about 15 pounds of chitlins and not a piece was left. I don't think he's pulling my leg although he is the greatest storyteller in Tyler and surrounding counties.

Both of Josh and Nancy's children are regular customers here. Laura is a nurse at one of the prisons here in town and Jake is a traveling veterinarian. Josh stops by regularly and tells me stories about my relatives in the Chester area.

Happy Birthday on New Years Day to our good friend, Margie Harrell. Turning 21 on New Year's Day was Rachel Bowman. Pete Weeks and Doug Blake celebrated birthdays on Jan. 2. Another long time friend, Jimmy McCall, celebrated his birthday on Jan. 4 with friends and family at Catfish King. Jeff Capps' birthday was Jan. 6 and Jonathan Coleman's the 7th.

Bernice Weisinger celebrated a Christmas birthday with a big party Dec. 27 at the Beulah Community Center, hosted by her children, Larry and Marvana Cook, Lynda and Danny Bowman, Lanny and Liz Carnley and Butch and Carol Carnley, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. There were more than a hundred friends and family attending including special childhood school chums; Dwain and Billie Myrl Walker and Emory K. and Eunice Quarles. Music was provided by the Buffalo Nickel band.

If you should see them, wish the following a happy birthday on Jan. 12: Zane Rush, Hunter Linton and Emily Thompson.

Enjoyed visiting with the Placker sisters who grew up in Diboll: Margie Baker and Johnnie Simpson. Margie says she reads this column every week and promised me they would come visit at the RT soon.

Loretta and Phil Garrett are enjoying their first grandchild. Thomas Jarrod Whipple spent his first Christmas in Diboll with his PawPaw and GrandGrand Garrett. His parents are Amanda and Mason Whipple who live in the Katy area. Mason is a mechanical engineer and Amanda

works for Embridge Oil. Phillip said baby Thomas whispered in his ear at Christmas he wanted a Mustang for his first birthday.

Aunt Alecia lives in Spring where she works for the Greenspoint Crown Plaza Hotel but as you read this she is preparing to move closer to her new nephew in Katy. Uncle Shane is no longer the baby of the Garrett family and is having to adjust to being #2.

On the front page of the Houston Business Journal in December was a large color picture of Troy Maxwell with the president of BPI Realty. Troy grew up in Diboll although the article says differently and has been very successful as a principal in the Woodcreek Development Co. which is preparing to break ground in January on an 86-acre project called Katy Main Street. Troy's wife is Keri and they have two children: Tyler, age 9, and Lauren Louise, age 3. They live in Katy. Troy's older brother David continues to work for Exxon in Houston which explains why Harold and Louise spend most of their time in the Houston area.

It was good to visit with former Dibollian, Bill Smith, when he stopped in Diboll to visit his parents, Joe Donald and Emma Lee Smith. Bill spent Christmas in Mississippi and was on his way home to Grandbury where he continues to teach fifth graders in the Colin Powell Elementary school.

DHS student Heather Weeks was sporting a sparkling buckle and belt with crosses and also a jeweled watch, Christmas presents from her dad. Zane Anthony came in with his parents, Teresa and Ray Anthony. He had Christmas money to spend and was shopping for a new gun. His sister, Abby, recently graduated from Angelina College as an LVN, awaiting her state test in January and a baby daughter in May. Her husband, Brad Lawrence, works as a police officer and had to work both holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I forgot to mention that Santa Claus paid a visit to The Everything Store and was handing out candy to those who had been good. It's a good thing his candy bag was empty because he couldn't find anyone he thought hadn't been naughty. Santa was a perfect size for his jolly character but had plans to lose more weight in 2009 and he sounded just like Eugene Capps. I also want to thank Barbara Windsor for the delicious divinity she made and brought to us. She discards the myth that the weather has to be just right to make divinity.

Fran McClain and Mary Ingram hosted a Holiday Brunch for their neighbors in South Meadows. The affair was held in Fran's home before Christmas. Residents attending were: Linda Cordell, Debbie Mitchell, Lisa Walker, Delores Martinez, Dollie Whitaker, Annysue Emmons, April Lopez, Savanna Bunn, Kasie Lopez, Debbie Tipton and Louise Maxwell. Former residents attending were Cathy Martz, Gayle Beene and Hester Mary Eddins.

Hunting season has come to the end for most hunters. Eight-year-old Noah Goins was using a .222 rifle when he killed a 10-inch spike and a 175-pound hog while hunting with his pawpaw Kevin Jeffery. They were hunting in the Cottonwood Club and let a large 8 point get away.

Make a New Year's Resolution to come see us…'round the table.