Author: John R. Conley

Family man, music junkie, history, photography...contact me at 678-386-4694 or john@johnrobertconley.com.

Zaxby’s – let me know if you find a better chicken joint.

Georgia, Recommendations, Restaurants

Every few months, I make the short trek to Thomson, Georgia, from Gwinnett County to meet my folks and leave one of my children for a visit to my childhood home in God’s Country, Bulloch County. We usually meet at the Zaxby’s since everybody likes the food.

When I meet my folks in Thomson, we always share a meal at the Zaxby's right next to I-20.
When I meet my folks in Thomson, we always share a meal at the Zaxby’s right next to I-20.

This past Saturday, the day was beautiful and sunny. I took my daughter to meet Mama and Dad at the appointed Zaxby’s. When we got there at noon, fifteen or twenty people were already in line…none of them were my parents.  It hadn’t been that long since I’d seen them and I think I would have recognized them.  We waited about three more minutes and they pulled up in the parking lot. By the time that we got in line, only 3 or 4 people were ahead of us. The line was really moving quickly.

Mama and my daughter wanted the House Zalads with fried chicken, Dad got the #1 Chicken Finger Plate, and I got the Grilled Sandwich Sandwich Meal.  I always get Sweet Tea and dilute it with some Unsweet just in case somebody dropped the sugar bowl in the tea pitcher (hello, Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s!)  Note to self:  buy a Zaxby’s Ice Machine…oh man, that ice is perfect!

I can’t remember anything.

Anyway, we got our order from Christian, the friendly blonde behind the counter.  Her manager was helping out.  She was very nice as well.  We didn’t talk to anybody else although I did make four trips back to the counter for the food…then ketchup that I forgot…then a Diet Coke for Dad…then a water bottle that didn’t make it on the tray.  I know one brunette that I kept walking by must have thought I was hitting on her…or either she recognized me from the “Don’t Take Checks From This Man” photo on the counter next to the cash register.

Zaxby's Tea and ICE...the ICE from Zaxby's has it's own Facebook Page!
Zaxby’s Tea and ICE…the ICE from Zaxby’s has it’s own Facebook Page!

Everybody gobbled up their food.  My sandwich was good with the perfect amount of Zax Sauce on it.  The fries were spot on…not too greasy.  Dad acted surprised that he ate all five of his chicken fingers but I don’t know who he thought he was fooling.  Mama and my lil’ girl must have enjoyed there Zalads since they didn’t leave hardly a crumb.

I checked the Men’s bathroom; it was clean and tidy.  The music was pleasant..some eighties hits.

The Final Verdict is In

This Zaxby’s I’ll give a 9.3 on a 10 scale.  The only thing that might could be improved was the room temperature.  It was too cool for some patrons who had thrown on coats…in August.

Zaxby's on Urbanspoon

John Robert Conley Atlanta restaurants

7 Beautiful Lots on Quiet Lake Lanier Deep Water

Georgia
4822316965_39744370e5_o
Own this view on Lake Lanier Deepwater

These 7 lots are beautiful and on a quiet road near the easy access that the newly expanded Georgia Highway 53 affords. At one point these were priced at $400k apiece.  Now they are $171,429 per lot and are each about an acre. One person or entity can buy more than one lot.  All lots are raw with no man-made objects.

4822316979_aaa5a2af33_o
Shade in the heat, sun in the winter – a hardwood canopy you’ll have
4822970244_7bc9192232_o
All this privacy and still get a sunset too?

Don’t let this rare opportunity pass you by.  A large, thriving lake this close to all of the benefits of the metro Atlanta area (world class hospitals, the Southeast finest shopping, pro sports, a major airport, etc.) while still being able to enjoy the small towns and charm of the North Georgia mountains a short drive away is not easy to find.

4822970250_02de3c8eef_o
A river doesn’t run through it…a brook does though.

Picture yourself enjoying a cup of coffee looking out on the lake or having friends and family over for a party in the backyard.  There is something about the lapping of the water, the breeze that is a little cooler than normal, and the attraction that fun on the water holds for all of us that makes lake living so enticing.  Most likely, your new home will be the spot where your loved ones want to congregate for the holidays.

Please let me know if I can provide you with any more information or help with this property.  If you would like for me to meet you at the parcel, please contact me at your convenience at john@johnrobertconley.com or 678-386-4694.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,

John

Click here for Loopnet information on the property.

Click here to be taken to get directions.

Maxie Price’s Service Department

Corvette, Georgia, Recommendations
graham-yellow-corvette-at-maxies
Dreaming

The last several times that I have been in my local Chevy dealer, Maxie Price, I have dealt with Steve Kelly in the Service Department. Steve always remembers my name and he is professional, friendly and he gets the work done with a good attitude. They have a comfortable lounge area too with two big televisions and some seriously bitter coffee if you get there early. Now if I can just save up for a ‘Vette ZR1. You can call him if you want at (678) 527-8058 or (770) 466-4444.

You can even walk around the lot and look at the ‘Vettes and somebody will ask to help you if you need it. The times that they asked me, there was no pressure just a little friendly banter.

Why am I writing this? Because it is unusual to find people that seem like they care if you are a satisfied customer. I think my brother-in-law Steve does. Just kidding, we aren’t related and I never saw him before I met him at Maxie’s.

This past Friday, Steve handled the emissions on my Chevy. Something was wrong with a fuse so they had to fix it but they didn’t charge anything for that. When I was leaving, I dropped my credit card, and drove off without it. I got down the road and realized I’d lost it. Before I could get home, Phil (one of the other service writers) had called to say he found the card and would hold it for me. We had a laugh about how they had just bought pizza for the whole dealership with it. But the laugh was on them since the credit limit is only $100.

 

Memories of Frank Hook at “The Rec. Department” in Statesboro

Georgia, Recommendations
How many Mamas and Daddys have been through here on the way to the Rec Department? Photo courtesy of Hunter-Desportes.

Georgia Southern’s online magazine has a cool article about retiring Alumni Relations Director and Mr. GSU, Frank Hook.  It’s not often that I’m quoted for anything but when I was contacted last year seeking permission for using my comments regarding Frank helping out an old mutual friend, I was quick to say yes, of course.

I first met Frank when I began playing baseball and football at the Statesboro Recreation Department when I was about ten years of age.  I tried basketball for one year and, yes, I couldn’t jump…or shoot…or pass.  “Lucky Sevens” has not had a reunion since I graduated from that group in 1973.  Of course, the highlight of most of my buddies that year was to see who could put out a fire with his pee.  I lost.

Frank just had a way of relating to everybody.  He talked to us kids like we were somebody worthwhile and he was positive in his rapport…oh yeah, and he had killer legs.  Frank and his brother, Bob (a Rec Department Coach), were both muscular and had plenty of hair…not just on their heads but all over their legs and arms.  For a little kid, it was kinda intimidating.  What did these guys eat to grow hair like that?  Snooky’s buffett, Vandy’s barbeque or Brunswick stew? Maybe it was “Stacy’s Special” at Webb’s Nic Nac Grill.  I’ll have to ask.

Statesboro and Georgia Southern have been fortunate to have a man like Frank taking on the responsibilities that he has.  Mr. GSU has a lot more powerful, influential, and wealthier friends than me.

However, he took the time to respond to a request from someone who he hadn’t heard from in probably twenty years.  An old friend was in a bad spot and Frank’s one of the first people that I thought “he’ll help.”  And he did and he will continue to do so because that’s the kind of person he is.

American and Georgia Flags on the Historic Gwinnett County Courthouse Square

Georgia, Veterans

Greeting Card

Keep in touch with Zazzle custom greeting cards. Customize all parts of this folded card – inside and out, front and back – for free!

  • 5″ x 7″ (portrait) or 7″ x 5″ (landscape).
  • Printed on ultra-heavyweight (120 lb.) card stock with a gloss finish.
  • Each card comes with a white envelope.
  • No minimum order.
  • May be available on Note Card size

The Ironic Circle of the Mortgage Mess

Home Ownership Issues, Recommendations
Julian Assange of WikiLeaks - photo by Abode of Chaos

This is an excerpt from an article by Mike Larson at www.MoneyandMarkets.com:

“You have to appreciate the irony here. The Fed is trying to extract money from Bank of America … a bank that received tens of billions of bailout dollars from the federal government and that has been artificially propped up by the Fed’s easy money policy! And the money management firm that’s going after Bank of America, BlackRock? It’s 34 percent owned by Merrill Lynch, which is … you guessed it … a Bank of America subsidiary! You can’t make this stuff up.”

You can subscribe to the free newsletter about money and markets from Weiss Research, the only rating agency in the United States that does not take money from the companies that it rates.

Dr. Martin Weiss has even written The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide.

Here’s a link to their forecast record.They’re worth a look if you’ve never used them before.

Welcome to Gotham (BOA in Atlanta, actually) by basheertome

Share

Avalon Limo Service of Monroe – ask for Chris, the owner…he cares about his customers

Gwinnett County Fun, Recommendations

We had the pleasure of using Avalon Limousine Service of Monroe on Saturday of this past weekend.  The driver was a lady with a big smile and pleasant disposition.  The extended Ford Excursion was spotless on the inside and outside and looked new.

Okay, maybe the same thing could be said for others in the limo business.  What set Avalon apart was the owner, Chris Calhoun.  My oldest son left his Epipen injector for severe allergic reactions in the limo once he was dropped off for his formal in Duluth.  We were able to get Chris on the phone and set up a time to pick up the Epipen which Chris had secured from the limo.  Chris was able to meet me in Monroe a few minutes after midnight for the dropoff.  He was still working for other clients and had a run to make to Hartsfield-Jackson.  Chris was gracious and friendly in helping us get the medicine back in case we  needed it that night.  He was patient, never seemed perturbed, and was willing to accomodate my schedule.

I would recommend his service to anyone that needs limousine transportation.  I’d never met him before Saturday night and am glad that I did.

Here’s a link to their SuperPages.com page for reviews. Reach them by phone at 770-207-0677 or e-mail at chris@avalonlimoservice.com.

Share

Maxie Price’s Service Department dudes are cool.

Corvette, Recommendations

If you need your vehicle serviced, give Phil Ferrara or Steve Kelly a call at Maxie Price Chevrolet in Loganville, Georgia. Phil stayed late on a Saturday to take care of my old Toyota with 186k miles on it.  He even had a good attitude.  He didn’t stay around just for me;  there were other nicer vehicles than mine that needed service too.  However, I didn’t get a rush job because my Avalon was an old beat up ride with interior parts falling off and a strange-smelling trunk. (Although, I did notice him using anti-bacterial rinse after shaking my hand.)

We have a Suburban that was purchased there new so I’ve got to know him and Steve.  They’ve been there several years and are professionals in the best sense of the word.

Share