The Ghostly Reunion of the Class of 1975

Back when Dinosaurs roamed, my brother Satan, aka Paul graduated from Water Valley High School in the Class of 1975. Since he just bought the completely restored WV hospital as his home and it is the most haunted house in Mississippi, it was natural to make that the location of his 40th High School Reunion.
The reunion was set outside with a great band, festive lights and decorated tables plus all the food and drink you could ever want. The night was mild and everyone was in a great mood. The music started at 7PM and all his old pals were there.
Jim Hedges, Mark Larson, Al Reed, Spud Boydston, Steve Hill, Keith Marchbanks, Duck Holloway, Ronnie Snider and many more. It was great to see what good men they all had turned out to be.
The ladies were there too, and as beautiful as they were in High School. Nita Thompson, Beth McMillan, Malinda Hill, Dreeva Dickey, Rhonda Moore, Paula Hill, Vivian Snider and lots of others.
The old saying is that the whiskey flowed like water and it did. Did I mention that the band was great? Everyone danced and either made friendships or renewed them.
Upstairs in the attic weird lights moved with the music and we knew the ghosts were having a great time too! They hadn't had so much fun since the end of Prohibition!
Denise and I danced the night away and her daughter Sadie was the hit of the party dancing with everyone. God help us, but I saw Paul dancing with Wanda too. My brother Beelzebub, James, was there too. He circled the field and was a great guest talking and dancing and greeting the 1975 classmates like old friends.
The truth is this, it was one of the best parties I have been to in Water Valley, MS and if you missed it, then the fault is on you.
Paul is now thinking about a yearly reunion party at his house. I'm in.
I have pics, not great, but if you have better, send them and I will post.

Yikes!

Denise and James?

Sadie looking great!

even Brock had to Rock!

A Rowdy And Rousing Carnival 2015- Saturday

Friday night ended with a great fireworks display over the town. Unfortunately I had to get up early to be at the Carnival the next morning to give out our free samples to the crowds. I swept the beer cans and drunks off the porch and got ready to enjoy the spectacle.
The Carnival morning started in Grand style as "Barn Storming Billy Wenchell" circled the park in his WWI biplane and attempted to dive into a pickle barrel from 1500 ft. He din't make it and they hauled his drunk self to the curb for the ambulance to get him. Then Phil and his Prancing Pachyderms showed up to prance and preen for the public. 12 large elephants covered with oriental blankets and gold headdresses that stood on their back feet and did great tricks until my brother, James, offered one a little slice of watermelon. He ate it, gave a loud trumpet and headed for the largest trailer of watermelons belonging to the Pullen boys, with 11 other elephants right behind! They threw melons, they bashed them on trees, the sidewalks, on people. They threw them at each other's head and licked the juice off. It was pandemonium as the elephants demolished the melons and the Pullen boys scattered. In 15 minutes the Watermelon Carnival Committee purchased 143 watermelons and 1 used 1983 Chevy pickup. That was plenty of action for the morning.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!
Denise and Sadie showed up later and we strolled the park and did a few things, like rock climb, bought a few things, checked out the 138 lb melon that won the Grand Prize but I was worn out and wanted to rest before the BIG PARTY that night.

A Rowdy and Rousing Carnival 2015 -Friday Night

Friday was setup day and the park was busy as vendors set up their wares. Tourists and gawkers wandered the park looking for early deals and kids headed for the center of the park to congregate and hang out. We set chairs on the porch, stocked up on refreshments, and put the Tiki-lamps out to await the coming night and for the band and street dance to start.
As dark fell and the Blue Moon rose, the band started and the music drifted over the crowd that had been gathering in the streets. Great band, Great music and the foot-stomping began as people rushed to join in the dancing. Our torches lit up our little yard and people started drifting over to cool off and have a drink. The best part of the Carnival to me is people visiting us, enjoying the music and renewing old ties. Of course we did a little dancing ourselves.

Here are Denise and Rebecca dancing and laughing at my great dancing ability for some reason.

Watermelon Carnival 2015

The annual Watermelon Carnival is upon us and the weather couldn't be better. A balmy 105 degrees in the shade should cause most of the people visiting to melt right into the sidewalks.
Looks like a good carnival to be had by all as they are setting up booths right outside our office now and light music is beginning to play.
Please come enjoy the Carnival and don't forget to come by Howell Realty to cool off.

She Will Always Be 39

Happy Birthday Denise!

Newest Fashion "The Trump Look"

see, you can get anything online.

I'm Being Punished

No, I am very proud that my daughter Erin has enrolled at Southern Miss and I wish her all the happiness in the world.

Erin's New Ride

The Howell Open 2015

July 4th is the time for family get-togethers, barbeques,  watermelon, fireworks and cold beer, but in Water Valley it is also time for the Howell Open.
The Howell Open is set up as a scramble among the family and a few close friends. Now most of our cousins either don't play golf or play once a year whether they need to or not.
This is not a quiet game. Catcalls and Intimidation are the fanfare of the day.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, using my superlative golf skills and mental focus, I led my team to ULTIMATE VICTORY over those losers we played against.
Here is a group photo for the Howell Open

 

 Here is a pic of the winning team of Rex Howell, Paul Howell, James Howell and Matt Bullion who captured the famous Howell Towel Trophy for 2015.

Tractor Races Cancelled

The annual tractor race at the famous Christmas Place has been cancelled by Trent (Lucifer) Howell. This race usually starts at the Rally Camp lodge, winds across the property into the Great Swamp above the lake, cuts up along Thorny Ridge then drops back off into the Misty Forest, up Heart Attack Hill and a steep descent into Quick Sand Flats and back to the Camp. This fun event usually ends with screaming, cursing, fisticuffs and burning tractors. A great time is had by all.
This year Lucifer has claimed Old Blue as his own and will not let anyone take it. He took the key and skedaddled for the Coast before we could beat him back to his senses and the race has been cancelled. Sorry (no refunds).

The Neantherdal Club

In an unsurprising twist of fate, Paul Howell was named Male Chauvinist Viking of the Year by the Biloxi-Gulfport Neantherdal Club. This group of Men is well known throughout the Gulfcoast area and Paul Howell is especially known (he just has a way with women)
Voting was established by the Gulfport, Biloxi, and Harrison County Women's Garden Clubs, the Ladies Auxillary, Daughters of the Confederacy, the Biloxi Lady Seabees Assn.
and the Harrison County Humane Society. Paul said "It's a great honor to be acknowledged for my consistent attention to the gals" This is his 7th time winning.

GRADUATION 2015- Erin Howell

Yes, Graduation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is this weekend. Erin Howell, who once penned the Jr. Bodock Times is now graduating from Gulfport High School and on the verge of stepping off into another life in college. Everyone is abuzz and Denise, Thunderhoof and I are heading that way to see the event. Congratulations to my wonderful, smart and warm daughter.

Correct Hog Dental Care

Dr. Barry "Pliers" Weeks was at the famous Christmas Place last weekend and effectively showed the correct dental care that wild hogs need, by blasting a big boar into smithereens at 175 yards on the Gamewarden Stand. This is the good dentists first hog and we hope that he will come down and do some more extractions soon.

Three Blind Hogs Find A Hog

This past weekend Trent Howell took two of his old classmates to the famous Christmas Place on a hog hunting expedition and miracle of miracles they actually scored. Robby Parsons aka Mossy Eyes and Van Hedges aka Hog Jumper. Yes, Water Valley boys, and they had a great hunt. They say even a stopped clock is right twice a day, and a bunch of old blind hogs can find a hog every now and then.

A Week Of Parties

Party,Party, Party! that's all I do. First there was the gigantic Boonswaggle at Snookys which is the social event of the year with all the elite making an appearance. I know, but somehow my name keeps appearing on the invite list. Thank you, Denise.
Another great party by Snooky and Mary Lou- thank you.
Next up was the JA Spring Fling at the Country Club. Denise and I made several bids at the silent auction, were told we won the Dance contest (since no one else was dancing), had a great dinner, visited with friends and walked off with a beautiful white glass bowl from the auction. I am worn out.
I hear the famous Christmas Place is lovely this time of year.

Appraising Rural Mississippi

I have been appraising land and homes in north Mississippi for right at 30 years and think that I know which end of a measuring tape to hold by now. The appraisal business is rapidly changing but the basics are still what you have to learn. I am looking into doing seminars or talking to student classes about what it takes to appraise real estate, what the future holds, and real life application to get the job done. If you think your school or class would be interested in me speaking to them, please email me at rexhowell@wvms.us

Easter With My 3 Favorite Ladies

Easter we all went to church here in Water Valley at the First Methodist Church. My lovely Denise and my daughters Sarah and Erin. They were beautiful, the service was great and the whole thing was really pleasant. Much to my surprise, the roof did not fall in and I think the message that I received helped my troubled soul. Here we are.

The Hog Man to Leave Texas

WHAT?!!! The internet is abuzz with the news that the mythical gun-toting, hog-killing, debonair, romantic swash-buckler, Phillip is leaving Texas. In fact, he is leaving Texas as fast as he can. Why? you say, WHY? A little research from the Bodock Times has investigated and thoroughly researched his escapades and there is only one reason....

Thoughts For Spring

People have been emailing me and calling wanting to know why I have not been writing in my blog very much. "What's wrong?, Have you quit?, What's the problem?, Are you OK?, Hey, want to move to Texas? Thank you all for your concern.
It has been a long, hard, cold, bleak, never-ending winter that has left me totally drained and lost until now. Today finally feels like Spring is actually going to show up and left me with these thoughts on the beginning of Spring.
Am I actually going to get to play golf this year?
What the hell is Thunderhoof doing right now?
Does my dog have rabies?
Does my wife have rabies?
Is there a vacation in my future?
Why the heck am I paying taxes when I'm broke?
Is this the beginning of the Age of Aquarius?
How long can I avoid my evil brothers, Satan and Lucifer?
My God! Didn't I just mow my grass in October?
What are those purple trees?
WHERE THE HELL IS THE TREASURE?
I will be trying to get back up to speed with this change in the weather. Hope to see you at the Christmas Place.

Who Knew I Was Lady Madonna?

My Dad Is Going To Kill Me!

Dad has been gone less than a year and I have already wrecked his truck. I am expecting him to show up at any time madder than hell. PS. Yes, Ice is smarter than me.

My Birthday....

My Birthday!

Hog Camp 2015

You have seen most of these peoples picture at the Post Office.

Silence Of The Hams

The 6th Annual Hog Hunt at the famous Christmas Place was this past weekend and even though no one was killed, gored, or eaten we had a great time. My cousin Davin finally got a hog!

Well if he could kill a hog, anybody could and lo and behold one of our Yankee guests (Jay) got a hog too!

It was a great weekend with 2 hogs taken by our hunters and then someone showed up with a night vision scope and 3 were taken that way. I think they have quit squealing.

Hog Hunt Update

The Christmas Place Annual Hog Hunt is set for Feb27-March1. Please check with your local doctor or psychiatrist on what to do if you are gored by a wild hog. There Will Be Blood! Last man alive wins!

Me and Thunderhoof Up On A Tightwire

The Cold Days of February

It has been a long, hard winter and February is time to circle around the fire and let the winds howl outside and snuggle up with a friend. Luckily for Denise she has her new dog Gracie to keep her warm. (Not so lucky for me).

Send In The Demons

This is it, the last possible day of deer season. Saturday is the last day and everyone is sick and tired and ready to do something else. Everyone that is, except for my brothers , Satan and Lucifer. They are Good To Go! Nevermind that most of the bucks have dropped their antlers, their wives are sitting in divorce court waiting on a ruling and their children call the milkman Dad. Paul and Trent are heading to camp come hell or high water. Good Luck to them but I've had all I want, it is time to take care of a few things around the old homestead.

Russell Causes Havoc

This past weekend was slow at the famous Christmas Place but Russell Hearns came up with Paul and managed to kill a deer and a hog.
In fact, he about ran out of bullets blasting at critters all weekend. Here he is with a really nice hog he whacked at the Taj stand.

Trent (FINALLY) Gets His buck

I know you all say that my poor brother Lucifer just doesn't have enough time to hunt and it's a real shame. I stay awake worrying about it. This year he has hunted very hard and here at the tail end of the season he finally got  a nice big buck. I'm very proud that he kept fighting through to get him even after what a hard and long year it's been. Plus it is a great buck. Maybe he can help me get mine the last weekend. Congratulations Trent!

Marian Gets Her Hog

All Marian has really wanted to do for the last 4 or 5 years is get a hog, but never got the chance. This past weekend she visited us at the famous Christmas Place and finally connected on a big 180 lb. hog at 100 yards and dropped the big sow in her tracks. It was a really good shot and she was the happiest huntress in the woods. Here is a pic of her and the big hog and a big, big congratulations to her!

Hunting On The Back Side Of Mordor

It has been a bad year, and an even worse deer season for me. I feel like I have been hunting on some lonely god-forsaken spot on the backside of Mordor while my evil brother Sauron (Paul) laughs at me. Thank God it is almost over.
I have just a few weekends left if I can hold out. There are still a few big ones roaming around if I don't panic. Hope to give better
news if I can get this damn Orc army off my back.

Bumblehoof and Lightfoot

A classic setting at the Yalobusha Country Club on New Years Eve as Joe "Lightfoot" Black danced his way into every woman's heart with his light Fred Astair dance movements. Trent "Bumblehoof"
Howell tried to keep up with him but Who Could? Joe knows dancing.
Denise and I had a great time with everyone and really enjoyed the party. Hope 2015 is better for all of us.

Quick Buck

Mark Stewart hasn't hunted very much this year, but this weekend he came down with the Tennessee contingent of Clint and Brandon to get after the deer. 
I had been hunting in the rain for two days and as usual seen nothing, but he comes rambling into camp, wanders down to the Levee stand, a big buck walks out in a pure suicide attempt and he obliges by blasting a hole in him. Here he is with the wide 7-point and Clint has a doe he took at the same time.

Ring, Ring, Ring

Yes, the phone did ring and Satan himself was on the other end when I answered. "Hello," I  managed and the voice said "Mule On The Pole!, muleonthepole  muleonthepole,  muleonthepole,  muleonthepole, blah, blah, blah. He proceeded to tell of his unbelievable and legendary deer hunting skills and how he shot the 190 lb. 11-point on the Box Field stand, and mentioned that Michael got a coyote.
I've got to get worse service on my cell phone.

Tick, Tick, Tick

Paul and Michael have the whole Christmas Place to themselves for the next couple of days while Trent and I are here in Water Valley working and trying to earn a damn living. Tick, tick, tick, we are waiting on the phone to ring with some god-awful story of a giant mule that Paul has blasted. Worked all morning, tick, tick, tick. Now it is mid-afternoon, tick, tick, tick. Time keeps easing on by with no phone calls yet. I swear I am going up that lake one more time and blast the hell out of that big buck up there. The Peach Bowl is tomorrow at 11:30 AM. tick, tick, tick but I am heading South on New Years Day to start my year off right with a big buck. tick, tick, tick Don't think I could stand it if the phone rings. tick, tick, tick

Rebels To ThunderhoofDome Bowl

After many late night meetings in smoke filled rooms between the members of the Bowl Committee and The famous Christmas Place hunting Club, The Ole Miss Rebels are headed to the ThunderhoofDome Bowl. The Bowl has been renamed after many vague promises of buried treasure more vast than any Dwarf horde ever seen. Besides that the Committee was terrified every time Thunderhoof appeared in their offices. So no matter what the signs say, the Rebels are headed to TunderhoofDome.
Two teams enter, One team leaves.

Burney is Number 1

While I was up here working like a dog, the rest of the members of the famous Christmas Place were at the camp hunting, drinking, and texting me all kind of crap. Burney slipped out and hunted the stand I had wanted to hunt. DAMN! He hunted the #1 field and late in the afternoon this big buck came bursting out chasing 4 does. Right Under Him. DAMN! He wasted no time and this super nice 185lb. 8-point with an 18 inch spread was his. DAMN!

Chivalry is Dead, and So is Wanda's Buck

My evil brother, no Paul, shot this fine deer last weekend as he snatched the rifle out of his wife's hand when it walked out into an open field at the famous Christmas Place. He had taken her hunting to maybe shoot a doe when this buck walked out. Paul said "Wanda there's a big buck, hand me the rifle." She started to aim and said "I see it." Paul said "You'll miss, give me the rifle! She said "I'm going to shoot him" He grabbed for the rifle and all hell broke loose in the stand. A terrible fight started as he tried to wrestle the gun away from her, the stand was shaking, screams and curses filled the air as he finally got her to the floor and snatched the gun away. The poor deer was only 50 yards away minding it's own business and wondering what the hell all the commotion was as Paul came up with the rifle and started blasting away. Ah, Paul has this nice 190 lb. 8-point on the pole to start the 2014 season but is sleeping with one eye open as Wanda plots her revenge.

2014 DEER EVE

It is once again Deer Eve in Mississippi and outside my office I can hear the distant sounds of people sighting-in their rifles at the last minute. I am at work but my mind is far away thinking about the big buck that I know is slipping through the woods waiting on me. We are headed to camp at Noon and hope to have the camp open and everything ready to go before dark. Tonight there will be a nice fire to talk old stories around, a few drinks after a long wait, fresh crappie for dinner, and a whole lot of anticipation for daylight to come.
I wish you all well and please look for my picture in the New York Times after I slay that damn Thunderhoof. Good Luck!

It Starts- Deer Season 2014

Deer season is upon us and the first muzzle-loading season is now open. We are heading to camp tomorrow for the first weekend of the season in hopes of thinning the doe herd. It will be strange without Dad but we hope to have a good time and get a bunch of deer removed and hopefully some hogs too. Will try to keep Paul the Terrible and Trent the Grouchy under control. I'll give a report as soon as possible after the weekend.

15 Minutes A Year

I have to give credit, where credit is due. My evil brother, Paul, works 15 minutes a year at the famous Christmas Place whether he needs to or not.

Paul's Typical Work Weekend

This past weekend was the Big Work Weekend to get all the stands and fields finished before gun season rolls around. My brother, Satan, had his typical work weekend and got a big hog while the rest of us worked. To make matters worse, he left us short-handed and took his evil twin out bow hunting and Terry got this nice doe with his bow.

Squirrel Camp 2014

It was a good sized crowd that came down for Squirrel Camp and to honor my Dad. The only problem was that squirrels were few and far between. Another was that almost everyone stayed in camp Saturday afternoon to watch both Ole Miss and Miss State play football. That part ended great for everyone. I also thought it strange that everyone that went hunting said they needed to carry a shovel, I wonder why?
The squirrel and dumplings was wonderful, thank you Joe Newman.
The fish were biting for some of our guests and old Sure-Shot, Tim Crosby, got a hog!
The weather was perfect and great to sit around a fire at night.
Here are a few pics, will be adding more.

The PARTY In the Grove

(Oxford,MS) Intercepted in the Endzone!!!!!! We watched the big screen on the review and the crowd went crazy when Senquez Golson got his foot down on the interception that sealed the win for the Ole Miss Rebels. Two plays later the game was over and the victory was ours. The sold out crowd went absolutely ape-shit crazy. People screamed and shouted, they clapped and sang, they threw their shoes in the air, I saw grown women and men crying, there was drinking and partying in the stands and hugs and Hotty-Toddy's to everyone around us. On the field a human sea of people rushed back and forth hugging and screaming, back-slapping and thanking the players and coaches. The goalpost came down and I don't know how many babies were conceived right there on the turf. It was the wildest thing I have ever seen or been part of, and the party hadn't even started.
We staggered back to the Grove and the party was rocking! Whiskey flowed like a river, Music pounded everywhere, continuous toasts were given and the cry "I Was There" was screamed by thousands.
Music played, People danced, I must have heard the Hotty-Toddy cheer 10,000 times, people got drunk, I got drunk, we all got drunk, we all lost our voices, women ripped off their brassieres and threw them into the crowds, 10,000,000 pictures were taken, the phone system crashed, and people hugged and cried and kissed and shook hands and laughed and sang and smiled and drank into the wee hours. I swear in my drunken stupor I saw Thunderhoof trot past with two naked women on his back that vaguely looked like Denise and Wanda, and I swear I saw a naked guy wearing a red sombrero chasing cheerleaders through the grove. Jose Valdez ????
It was the Greatest Game and the Greatest Party in Ole Miss History.

Dad, The Grove, and Beating Alabama

By the time Denise and I got to the Grove Saturday, Paul and 50,000 of my closest friends were already raising hell. It was standing room only and you could tell something special was in the air. I received a toddy for breakfast found my brother James and just watched the sea of humanity boil in front of me. Paul was in winning form and proceeded to tell anyone that would listen that we were about the kick the crap out of BAMA. My cousin Kent made his was through the crowd and shook hands and we talked about how wild it was and then Paul said "You know, today is Dad's birthday, and I talked to him last night and he and I are gonna take care of Alabama today." Kent said "Really, today's Uncle Hershey's Birthday? Paul  said "yea" He said "Let's drink a toast to him, and we 4 each had a shot of straight Ezra Brooks when Kent said "to Hershel!" Needless to say Dad took care of the rest with a little help from us, and the Ole Miss Rebels. 23-17 Rebs Win.