Live somewhere else, now!

We are volunteering to help cover the porch of a parsonage at Lake Panosofkee. So far it has been great, we have been paid in Fresth fruit. I took a couple pictures.

The above is the outside hanging basdkets the below is a close up of some of the fruit. The rusty orange is a juice orange the 'Hamlin' it is so juicy a dozen makes a quart of juice. Delicious!

Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die (words of some song) Thousands of folks wants to live in San Antonio, but few folks wants to actually pack up and move.

This is the famous Alamo, Remember the Alamo!/ Remember 9/11

This is a scene from the famous river walk, a very relaxing walk by the river, lived with shops, we know it is a tourist trap, but we got some good food there and enjoyed the barge ride. It is a great place to visit, but not where Sherry wants to live.

Now for today's exciting entry.........

Well I am among half of the USA citizens who desires to live someplace else. The only thing is I (we) do it. That is the latest pole. Fifty percent of our citizens want to live someplace else. Want to know something else? Over 25% of them want to live close to Shelly Marie and Big Bull. Us Americans love the Alamo!
My girl thinks San Anton is the most beautiful place we have visited. We love the river walk of course, all us tourists do. I have always wondered, do the locals ever just go and sit at one of the tables to watch us tourists?
Traveling is in our blood, but we know we cannot always do that. WE are noticing limits now as we get older. It would be nice to travel until you are ready to pass on, then head back to the home pastures to be laid to rest. That is a fantasy.
I should have my latest book in hand within two weeks. It should be on sale now through Amazon. It is called Rags. I will put it on sale here at $11 including shipping.
I started a book of short stories called, “Tobie’s Tales”.

I have set it aside to write one for the seniors who are approaching retirement home status. I have learned a lot. The main thing I have learned is that it is EXPENSIVE with a capitol E +. I am toying with the idea of trying to contact 15 seniors who want to form some type of consortium and build a nursing home. I have the land (3 acres) left (I think). I will explain the I think.

About 2 years ago a Tower company approached me about building a tower on our remaining land. They would pay us $500 a month or 10% of the profits. It sounded good to me. I signed a 99, that is 99 year lease. They gave me $10 to seal the deal. The $500 would start as soon as the tower was finished. I haven’t heard from them since. I have written, nearly said bad words etc. I read the contract, they have until this March to start the tower, it is not started yet. So If I have the land, I think I will see what we can do about that. It should be fun. If we can do it. The tower folks had a slick salesman, sounded like my signature was all that was holding up the tower. Hahahahaha on me and gullibility!
Nite Shipslog
PS:

MISSISSIPPI . . . The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy: "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!"

Bubba replied: "Did you see who it was?"

The young man answered: "I couldn't tell, but I got his license number."
(That is how I feel about the cell tower contract, very dumb!)

Global warming or Politics and mirrors???

I just love Gorilla's. Once at the Dallas Zoo, in TExas. Kat saw a couple gorilla's about to mate, Her husband said come on let's go. Not yet, Kat says, I haven't seen anyone but us do it.
We had a good laugh out of that for years.

This Cat did not care who was mating, but it wasn't him, but he is thinking of a word along that line.

Go ahead, read it, it is not long. suffer.....

I’ll bet the folks up in New York and the frozen North East and the mid west are wondering about this Global Warming. You know I think we all could agree to clean up the planet, and used renewable energy if our brilliant minds could agree on what we really need to do.
I read that a brilliant mind, some scientist from Yale, Harvard, Canterbury or Cambridge, says the earth is warming. It is called Global Warming. Now Al Gore is a good guy but he is not brilliant, he is totally convinced the Global Warming is a threat. I believe that.
Then I read brilliant minds with the same university backgrounds say this a normal cycle we are going through. ALL these men have impeccable credentials. Who do you believe? Danged if I know!
ALL of these scientist’s can prove their theories, if you will just listen. But it is like politics I can’t decide who is right. A good politician can convince you vanilla is chocolate. Well none are that good for real chocolate lovers. Sherry would never fall for that. Maybe I would, but not you blind chocolate lovers.
Mirrors are more honest than politicians or scientists:

Mirror, mirror on the wall You're not playing fair at all I'm really now upset with you For giving your distorted view
You show my hair is turning gray It's just the way the shadows play I know that you're not hanging straight To make me look so over weight.
The way you show a double chin Is just the way the light comes in I think I'm fine, but you're so wise To put such accent on my thighs.
I wish you'd try to be my friend And tell me I'm a little thin Just tell me I look good in jeans And frilly shirts and pretty things.
Please don't let the wrinkles show I'd like to have a pretty glow I see you won't respond at all So I'll just tear you off the wall.
THAT SOLVES ALL THE PROBLEMS.
(Nah, I did not write it, I ain’t a Paula or Debbie)

I hear the first group to get the ‘Bail out Money’ was whatever insurance company backs the congressional retirement plan.
Sounds fair doesn’t it?
Nite Shipslog,
PS: *****A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'

*****The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

*****In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

*****When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

85.5 yrs old vs 46.5, I need help!

I DO NOT WANT TO RIDE A BICYCLE HERE!

BUT I DO WANT THIS MAIL BOX!

Now for today's attempt at feeling better, but I am not sure it worked:

Weird. Your skin looks like leather, but is as thin as paper. There are a lot of old people around, and you realize you are honestly one of them. You look better than the rest of course, but still you are old. Then you wonder just how long does ‘old’ last?
Childhood is roughly 0 to 12,
The terrible teens. 13 to 19 (I believe these are the REAL memory years)
Young folks are from 20 to about 35 now.
Then you have Middle age. I think that is from 36 to 80, according to your health and ability to lie to your brain.
But Old? How long does it last?
Now to be honest I DO NOT like the answer, “You are as OLD as you feel.” Because a few days ago I felt like I was 46 and a half. Today I feel closer to 85 and a half. So with that answer, I fluctuate. Like my weight. I just don’t like it. Is there any way I can feel forty six and a half all the time? If the answer is YES, please go into detail for me so I can ‘save the answer to my PC’.
If it requires medicine, make sure it is over the counter ‘cheap’ meds, like aspirin.
Okay I am going to quit and take this body that feels 85.5 to bed. I will look for the earth shaking news tomorrow.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
****A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

*****Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

*****Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.'

*****I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

*****A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

Bill Grogan's goat, ' Obit'

We owned one like the above while we were living in Missouri, it was white.

For Lucy and Woody.....You can tell spring is near when the deer start wandering around.!!!!

The goat story!

My dear Sherry makes it a practice of reading the obituaries from our home town and surrounding areas. She reads not only the names but who the survivors are. She finds kin folk and good friend that way. I did not know that ‘A’ was ‘C’’s cousin. Etc.
Today she reads me a name I knew, you may possibly have known him. I have heard the name all my life. Well actually I was not familiar with the man, but I was more familiar with his goat.

Did you know ‘Bill Grogan?’
Here is the song I learned when I was small:

Bill Grogan’s goat, was feeling fine,
Ate three red shirts from off the line.
Bill took a stick, and gave him a whack
Then tied him tooooo, the Railroad traaaack.

The whistle blew, the train grew nigh,
Bill Grogan’s goat was doomed to die.
He gave three groans of awful pain,
COUGHED UP THE SHIRTS, AND FLAGGED THE TRAIN.

I loved that little song my mama taught me.
So I hope they are taking care of Bill Grogan’s goat now that he is gone. (No disrespect intended, but it brought back some good memories of mama.)
Nite Shipslog
PS:
We have moved again, but I am not telling anyone!!!!
*****She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her still.

***** A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

*****The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

***** No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

Visitors, no joke

Now ain't that purty, 1951 Buick LeSabre.

Today's great entry, no foolinjg around this time.....

When I first read the substance of my entry entitled ‘The Stranger’ I thought honestly of our home. Over the years people were invited to live in our house. There was a drifter called Dugan, he would show up a couple times a year and stay for a week or so until dad had to urge him to leave.
Dugan was what my dad called a ‘wayfaring man’, not a bum. I couldn’t tell the difference. But Dugan did sell pins and needles and small items he could carry in a case. He traveled thru the country going from house to house and farm to farm. Looking back I guess he has sort of a regular route. But somehow, no matter where our dad was pastoring, he had a way of finding us. Mom was great cook. All I remember was he drank ‘Postum’ not hot chocolate or coffee. Dugan was a little man.
There was another wayfaring man, about Dugan’s size, maybe Shirl can remember his name. I think he was called Uncle (somebody). He was not a regular as Dugan. Sometimes these folks lived in our house and other times Dad would allow them to sleep in a church Sunday School room.
There was a Nurse, Hattie, who stayed with us. There was a young girl, Grace, who I understand was violently mistreated at her home, Grace was with us for a few months. She married a friend of the family in later years and I saw her off and on.
Oh and there was Uncle Ralph. He was one of Dad’s younger brothers. Due to some accident he never matured past his teens. I loved Ralph. We played together, I was like 10-13 and Ralph was 23. Ralph was a genius in some areas. He developed another language, I tried to learn it, but never mastered over a few expressions. He was always inventing things. He was interested in making a bank that was robbery proof, he had some great ideas. I remember one he had that could sink into the ground allowing no one to leave until the police to arrive. Then hydraulics would raise it back to ground level.
There were several moochers, Evangelists, that when they did not have meetings somewhere, would conveniently drop by our house for a few days of free rent and board. Especially mama’s cooking.
Mom and Dad took it all in stride. They came from a different time. They came from a time of depression; there were no motels in the back country. When traveling you had to knock on doors of farms to ask for a meal and possible to sleep in the barn. Dad said you always paid something for the meal and maybe split firewood to pay for the stay in the barn.
So taking in folks was natural for them.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
In defense of the TV, it is a wonderful tool. It is great entertainment for those who are bedfast, or incapacitated. It is also a good baby sitter , except when that is the only baby sitter. The computer is good too, it keeps Shirl from spending all her money!

Now for the silly stuff:
*****A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
*****A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
*****Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
*****Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

The Stranger

Can you believe, this is a 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt. I love exotic American cars.

A few years after we were married, we met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, I was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As the family grew I only once questioned his place in my family.

I asked him to leave once.

Later we seemed to miss him and I invited him back. My parents had been complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger..Well, he was THE storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to our first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but we didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Sherry would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

I ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made me squirm and my Sherry blush. We didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, and mine. Yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER was asked to leave again. More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into our motor home today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?.... .. . We just call him 'TV.'
He has a wife now....We call her 'Computer.

I received a version of this from my good friend Jim Page, 'I modified this to fit our family, because it fits ours and most of the US families today.
Nite Shipslog

Bill Muse

This is a picture of a mistake, we drove into Wyoming once on I-80 before 'SPRING' got snowed in because the interstate closed.

I could not find a good picture of Bill........


In 1955, Bill had a fifty one Studebaker. He found a great place to run our cars. They were building a new rail road track down to Plant Allen Power plant on the Catawba River. New packed earth and no tracks or ties yet. I followed him down in my Forty eight Chevy. What fun, racing, stirring up red dirt and dust. Neither car was all that fast but we were 16/17 it was just fun.
Bill was always around when I would come back to the Belmont area. I saw Bill a year or so ago and I knew I would never see Bill again, he looked like death warmed over. I told Tuck and a couple friends, “Bill is not long for this world.”
Low and behold I saw him a few months later and he was the picture of health. I joked about him cheating me out of a funeral. We had a lot of fun with it.
I was out by the camp fire yesterday, Sherry came to the door and said come inside, I could tell she was serious. “Look at the screen,” she said. On the monitor was an obituary, Bill’s picture staring at me.
“Well Bill Muse is now on the other side. He was one of the workingest guys I ever knew, his family is the same. Bill married the beautiful Brenda Sanders, they were married forty eight years.”
Amazing what you do not know about a friend. I never knew he was a Mason. I did not know he was the president of the first responder’s assoc. I did know he was retired from the NCDOT. I cannot remember when he did not work at least two jobs.

I DO remember one thing that my Sherry will never let me forget. I left Belmont early one Sunday evening instead of going to church, I was going back to the base, but I stopped by Bill’s to watch a black and white TV when Elvis appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. LOL. Bill’s family was one of the few families I knew that had a TV.
Rest in Peace Bill,
Nite Shipslog

PS:
If you read: 'Rags', You will find an FBI Agent by the name of Bill Muse. One of the good guys. It was to be a surprise for Bill.

Friends from the Frozen North!

The happy young couples at C amp Geiger Trailer Park, J'ville, NC

Bad picture, but Dal and me mid life.

Dallas and Marion, friends for life.

Today's exciting entry..........................

I met this guy called Dallas, in 1956. He was down for a visit from Red Lion, PA. We were both on vacation; fully government paid, at Pleasure, Island S.C. The time was filled with so many fun things to do we did not have much chance to really get acquainted. WE chatted some, but mostly we just stayed busy doing those many fun things. There was a Rifle range for all the practice you wanted. The many fun obstacle courses to run were unbelievable. There was free hand eye coordination training available. All in all the time was spent productively, relaxing in the sun.
I had never known anyone by that name, I didn’t know you could name a person after a town. I had never met anyone named San Antonio or Belmont. Why not San Diego or Kansas City? Anyway once the vacation was over we went back to our homes for a short spell. Both of us decided, at the urging of the government, to spend some time in and around Jacksonville, NC.
We renewed our acquaintance and were able to get to know each other much better. He thought his girl friend was better looking than mine, she was cute, but no way was she better looking than my Sherry. So we both decided to marry the girls and bring them to J’ville, NC. To prove it. We did that. The girls liked each other and we all got along wonderfully. It was a great friendship and it has lasted over fifty years.

Dal and Marion just left today. They came up to buy our lunch. They are just returning from a cruise out of Tampa. They will be in Florida for a day or so more then back to Pennsylvania . It is great to see them and talk of old times. Funny how that short friendship, about two years all totaled, forged something that has lasted. Both of our marriages have lasted over fifty years now, so there is a safe bet that the girls are not going to ditch us. It was good to see Dal, but don’t mention it to him, he is looking older. On the other hand Marion still looks nearly the same, I am not kidding. LOL! MARION WOULD NOT TELL ME HER SECRET!!!!
Night Shipslog
PS: (Correction, that was Parris Island vs Pleasure Island, my mistake.)

Thomas Jefferson :

****The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

*****It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. Thomas Jefferson

***** I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

**** My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

*****No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.

Just read and relax

Plans for today:
Go to a little local café for breakfast, I am ordering real EGGS!
Go to Wal Mart to pick up the usual suspects, (stuff)
Come back to the camp, start a fire sit down read some more in Baldacci’s Camel Club and relax drinking coffee all day. I drink coffee, don’t know why. Dr. Carter says he had a brother that would say, when asked if coffee bothered him, “Only coffee that bothers me is that which is still in the pot.”

Oh, I got to use the line about the pocket knife I learned on the blog from Debbie. She said when Gary was asked if he had his knife, he would answer, “I’ve got my pants on don’t I.” Meaning absolutely! Thanks Debbie.

Pocket knives play an important part in Rags.
Hope you are having a great day, It is beautiful here in downtown Florida. The fruit did freeze though.
Take care and come back, we might say something here one day.
Night Shipslog
PS:
ITALIAN PASTA DIET -- IT REALLY WORKS !!

1.. You walka pasta da bakery.

2.. You walka pasta da candy store.

3.. You walka pasta da Ice Cream shop.

4... You walka pasta da table and da fridge.

You will lose weight!

Politica and Gators!

Volunteer working party at a Orphanage in Athen's Greece. I am front/center those parallel lines along the rock wall, are actually water hoses used for water supply to the Orphanage and surrounded houses.

Mark and his dog in Key West, we were trying to remember whatg happened to that dog.

This is a 'Hudson' Metropolitain. My fovorite car. We also owned a 'Nash' Metropolitain.

Today's very exciting entry!!!!!!!........................

Don’t you just love politics. No one, I mean no one can be themselves. Everyword must be guarded.Not that a flub is a big deal, but let the media get a hold of it and WOW! There will be fall out for awhile now about the statement Mrs. Biden made the He had been offered State or Vice he chose Vice. Now it has been played that it was a slap at Hillary. Immediately there was a statement from the Presidents spokesman, “Joe Biden was offered the Vice Presidency, one offer, that is all.” Politics for years has been weird.
Tis cold in Florida. Our friend Glenda from Okee says it is supposed to be in the 20’s there. They are picking their oranges. I hope the STATE’S fruit is not ruined.
I just went out and disconnected the water from the Motor home just in case the weather man is telling the truth, 22? Here? Unheard of (by me).
We are at the State Park in Fruitland Park, Florida. They rent canoes here and we were hoping to get one and do a little fishing and alligator hunting.
Back when I carried a boat with us all the time, we were fishing in Okeechobee. Fishing was slow and I saw a small opening just wide enough for the boat, into a cove. I pulled in. In doing so I disturbed a giant Alligator (13-14 ft.) he jumped into the water and went under the boat. Well, since Sherry did not yell, I could not act afraid, but I wet the hook for a minute, then said, “It doesn’t look like they are biting here.” I got out of there.
Later I said to my love, I am so proud of you, you did not scream, jump yell or anything when that big guy jumped in. She said she was too scared to do anything. (She just said that to make me feel good, ‘cause I was scared. LOL).
We have never had a confrontation with gators. They have been around the pier, near our boats, close enough to reach with a paddle at times but they have never bothered us. They know my wife carries a knife! Once when we were finishing clearing the water near the pier, we looked back in and a medium size guy about 8’ was right where we had stood a few minutes before. That will make you think.
Thanks for coming by.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Why some Sports Figures Don’t need to get a Job:

*****Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes.

*****"Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is."
*****Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt." (I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January?)
******Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, "Coach, I don't know and I don't care."

*****Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D: "Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject." (Probably one of the best one-liners ever, but completely wasted on the player in question.)

History is made, But be real, you might LIVE and not die.

This is Sonny, He is presently battling with the Gout, I know Mum (Mort's Mum) and Jun can sympathize.

Sonny and I talking on the patio a couple days ago, now he is back in NC freezing!

I just wanted you so see Shirl's refrigerator. Don't it just make you sick for someone to have a neat refrigerator. I open her refer and I think I am shopping at a Gormet shop or something. You can see everything, no left overs hid to go to waste etc. Freezer is the same.

Now for today in History!

Okay, it is fact now, our New President is Barack Obama. I read his speech, I thought it was good. But then I doubt if any inaugural speech would be bad. I knew he would get out of the Limo, I know the Secret Service Folk hated to see that. They did not publish the number of threats on his life, but I’ll bet there were a few. Anyway, they will celebrate on into the night like every president before them.

Now from History being made, to my today’s important entry.

One reason I plan to do a book on ‘THE FINAL DECISION’, is that I am reaching that age myself. I think we all want to die in our sleep at age 120 with a smile on our face, after a wonderful night of love and sex, but most of Y'ALL won’t have that luxury (LOL). Seniors are being kept alive today through medical wonders, That is not a bad thing. BUT when the mind out lives the body, SOMEONE HAS A PROBLEM. I have friends who swears, keeping us alive is just to have human guinea pigs to work with. Enough knees and hips have been replaced in seniors that the operation should be perfected by now. That is not to say they are not needed. But if we weren’t around, who would they practice on? LOL.
Sonny, My buddy, keeps his Electricians License. He knows he will NOT WORK AGAIN, yet (like me) he pays the renewal fee every year. I keep my General Contractors License up to date, WHY? Probably because when I do not renew them, I will feel like I am through. I am through already, but I find it hard to admit. BUT I will hold the license until I am 76 then quit. Maybe the book is for me as much as other seniors.

Any ideas? Content and Book name. Book name ideas: Last Rites, Final Decision, OLD, Now what?, CRAP, I Forgot to do it, You cannot Redo it, Face it; I am OLD, I have more listed, I want something that snaps attention.

It is a fact of averages, you and your wife/husband are not going to die at the same time, sopmeone is going to be left to handle things.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

While we are waiting let’s diet!
Here's the first rule of thumb:
If it tastes good....spit it out.

And remember...If you must have a cheeseburger and fries, always order a diet coke!
Inside me there's a thin person strugglingto get out, but I can usually sedate him with A Tropical Blizzard (from the DAiry Queen)!

You can eat as much as you want on a diet....of anything you don't like!

WE are OLD, now what? a new book.

Sonny lining up a shot in the last game, before heading back to the cold country.

Sonny and Me outside the Motor home, yes those are short sleeves. rubbing it in!

Mark lining up a shot in the last game.

Now today's informative entry....

At the suggestion of people I admire, I have started another book. This one is relevant for today; it is not fiction but the bare facts.
I will be writing to the seniors. By seniors I mean anyone over fifty. I want to touch all ages from there up. Have you made your desires KNOWN in no uncertain terms to your mate and off spring, what to do when YOU get too old to take care of yourself or are dangerous to yourself or others? This is not a Living Will, even though that is important, very important. This is concerning your wishes concerning you personally. The object is to take the onus off the kids, so they will know:
Mama/Daddy wants to live alone, even with the threat of possibly falling, breaking something and being without help for hours. That way when it happens to you can lay there and say, I asked for this, boy was I stupid. Your children will still feel bad for the rest of their lives, but they will know that was your desires.
I have been in that position, as a son, I do not want my boys to be faced with that tough decision. They have been told, while we are in our right(?) minds, if we get to the position where we are a danger to ourselves or others put us in a home. WE hope to go peacefully, if not drag us kicking and screaming, and always remember it was OUR decision. Don’t feel bad about it, Come to see us when you can but don't let us put a guilt trip on you.
This stupid thing (computer) is doing something I do not understand. It is typing Red Print and underlining. I quit.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
For the book, I will be asking for any input you have on the subject, personal knowledge and experiences. This is very important as we are actually out living our bodies now. Assisted living facilities are filling up with folks with Alzheimer’s, over weight to the point of not being able to get in and out of bed, bodies that cannot stand pressure on the bones without breaking them, and amputees. Folks that cannot remember to take the meds or even know which they take anymore.
I do not plan to cover costs, but I do want some input on costs for general knowledge.

Did you ever see the customers in a health-food store? They are pale, skinny people who look half dead. In a steak house you see robust,ruddy people. They're dying of course but they look terrific.

SHHHHH, We are moving again!

Matt and Luke chowing down at the 'Oakhouse' BBQ place at the Villages.

My girl and me at the table. I had a chocolate explosion or eruption cake for a birthday cake no picture, everyone ate it, before anyone thought of a picture.

My ribs and chicken after I had been working on them for awhile.

Luke looking up at Uncle Jack as he talks about Armadillo eggs.

Mark lecturing, Matt looking across the table .

Jack and his Dad (me), we all had a good visit. They went home to the cold weather.


Today's exciting entry...............................

I am sitting here, enjoying the evening, reading Blogs, forums etc. I read the most obnoxious, ignorant, gross, mean misdirected comments concerning articles in the news. I lean back and say, these are real people. They are going to breed and put more like them on this earth, that is sad.
I went to copy some, but just gave up, TOO SICK for this blog.. Look under about any news article and read some if you have not.
Today when we walked we saw the little cowboy, on the ranch next door. He was sitting on the ground in the shade of his saddled and ready horse. It looked like he was posted beside a gate ready to open or close it. I loved the picture, he had the clothes and hat all saying, ‘I am a cowboy’. Now down here they were actually called cow hunters vs cowboy, I like cowboy better, they do to, cow hunter is only a historical term now.
Anyway we got a kick out of the big cowboy on a tractor hauling one of the giant round bales, it was loose and he was shaking it as he drove in reverse, scattering it to the running herd that was following.
Tomorrow is moving day. Yeah someone told the bill collectors where we are. But we will be gone before they can serve any papers.
I am reading Baldacci’s ‘Camel Club’ and Sherry is reading Ann Rule’s, ‘Possession’. Plus Sherry is reading ‘Rags’ by Jack Darnell for the last time. Ha!
They are actually predicting 27 degrees down here tomorrow night. I have seen it predicted before, but it seldom makes it. I hope again it does not make it down. Ah, I know that sounds like crying to you guys in New York, Nebraska, Northern ALA, NC & PA but hey, it ain’t ‘posed to do that in Florida! Ha! Oh, we still do have fruit on the trees but thank goodness the trees are not blooming.
Big doings in DC tomorrow. Good luck to our new President.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BUT MAY NOT CARE ANYWAY:

******There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with: orange, purple, and silver!

*****Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips. (I don’t believe that one….Guess I should check)

*****A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death. (Most folks will drink it first, then stomp the bug.)

****The mask used by Michael Myers in the original 'Halloween' was a Captain Kirk's mask painted white.

****If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar (good to know.)

A surprise for my Birthdayt!

Our oldest Son Jack & My girl.

Our other son SAm and my girl, actually he is not our son, I thought Jack had brought our New President for a visit befor the inauguration, Sam departed to Plant City and his family there.

Jack was the first to arrive with his pillow and blanket.

Here is Sonny a very close friend and Brother In Law.

Here I am with Matt Dillon, note the short sleeves, we did have nice weather.

Luke VEgas, Our youngest son Mark and Me.

This is the last of the crew departing, headed back to NC after driving down for a day to wish me a happy Birthday.

Luke lining up a shot, we shot a couple games before they hit the road.l

Here is Mark out on the patio this afternoon.

Well, I had a whirl wind birthday. Yes I made it to and through 70 years old. Jack came down and we were have a good visit. He brought Sam down with him. Sam was on his way to his folks in Plant City Florida. We had a great visit and learned Sam enjoyed Ludlum and Grisham, so he got the latest we had plus a copy of Sticky.
On my Birthday we went to Denny’s for Breakfast. Just lazed around and had a great visit with Jack. He wanted 20 copies of Sticky autographed for his co workers and drivers.
Toward the end of the day I got a shock. I was sitting with my back to the RV door, felt someone behind me and it was Luke Vegas, the youngest Grandson. He was
followed by his brother, Matthew Dillon, then our youngest son Mark and Sonny my close friend. All a complete surprise. WE had a great time. Last night they took me out for Last night they took me to the Oakwood for ribs and chicken. We had ‘Armadillo eggs’ That is Jalapeno peppers stuffed with cheese and deep fried, actually they were good. Anyway thanks for all the Birthday wishes, all of them were very nice.
Nite Shipslog
PS
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BUT MIGHT NOT:

***Upper and lower case letters are named 'upper' and 'lower' because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the upper case' letters were stored in the case on top of the case that stored the smaller, 'lower case' letters.

***Leonardo Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time, ( Hence, multi-tasking was invented.)

***Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.

***There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.

***The name Wendy was made up for the book Peter Pan; there was never a recorded Wendy before!

the seventeenth of January.

Well it is that day, the BIG 70! Now I know to folks like Lucy that AIN’T NO BIGGIE, but to you kids that is OOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDD! Well If my skin wasn’t so loose, my hair was not gone and I could hear, I wouldn’t notice. Hahahaah!.
But then again, it beats the alternatives. I am glad to be here.
When I was a kid soda crackers came the size of a slice of bread scored into four crackers. Grandma could make me p-nut butter crackers the size of a sandwich. Mama always broke them into four and made two peanut butter crackers out of one. Pepsi’s were a nickel and movies ( when I could sneek off) were nine cents in Albemarle and ten cents in Valdese. Pop corn was a dime but Cracker Jacks were a nickel. I just got this, some smart a—sent:

No one expects you to run-------anywhere

There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

Things you buy now won't wear out.

You can eat supper at 4 PM

You can no longer think of speed limits as a challenge

You sing along with elevator music

Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

Your supply of brain cells is finally down the manageable size.

You can't remember who sent you this list and you notice these are all in big
print for your convenience.

Forward this to every one you can remember right now.

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the
same night,

This is Shirl your sister remember..............Signed with Love

I got the above from someone claiming to be my sister. LOL
Nite Ships Log

WE have Company Coming

Here is Sherry atop Mt. Washington in the presidential range. We drove up on this occasion. These two pictures are the last mountain climbed in New Hampshire. Mt. Moosilauki. The rocks you see are the actual Appalachian Trail. The white blaze on the rock tells you it is the trail.

The peak was socked in and the wind was horrendous.

Now to today's Super duper entry.......

We have a son coming down to see us for a day or so. Jack is coming down to watch me turn 70. He is on the road as I type. I just hate it that he is coming to Florida and it is COLD for Florida. At least it is not in the teens or single digits.
Jack is the one who always laughed at the Florida Automobile tags when they all screamed Florida, THE SUNSHINE STATE. His take was always, yeah the liquid sunshine state. He spent a couple years as a High School Student, in Key West, when we lived there.
Jack has tried many jobs, a lot like his dad. He has finally found a nitch (I think) in the courier business. He is with DASH Couriers.
We are looking forward to the time together.
We spent a few hours last night looking at New Hampshire. Trying to get an attack plan for the coming summer. It would be good to complete a hike through the state of New Hampshire. We will need to hike the Mountain range called the Whites, and the presidential range. We get excited thinking about it.
I assume the other son, Mark, is at the beach. He goes every year with his buddy and cousin Steve to some golf tournament. Man I can’t imagine playing golf in the cold weather. Of course it is hard for me to imagine playing golf.
WE are a close yet distant family. Our theory has always been, and has been taken up by the boys, ‘NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS’. Ah, Sherry talks to them ever couple weeks. I guess I might to, if I could hear. WE have a wonderful family, and when one is in trouble and needs someone, we are all there.
Stay Warm, thanks for coming by the log,

Nite Shipslog
PS:
Why Some sports figures don’t need to get a job:

Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann in 1996: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.

"Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh : "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes." (Now that is beautiful!)

Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: "You guys line up alphabetically by height."And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle.

"Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson hooking up again with promoter Don King: "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton."

Tough Decisions, some wrong

Lennie, Sherry and Collette the Three Sisters I married. (Marry one you get them all was the saying) I think that is Sonny in the back ground, Married to Collette.
Sherry and Her mother, Susie, who came to Biloxi, Miss when Jack was born. Great time dome funny stories.

Lennie, Susie the mom, Sherry and Collette the girls fo the Harris family.

Now today's exciting adventure!!!!

I Just finished Robert Parker’s ‘Perish Twice’. It is one of his ‘Sunny Randall spoofs. Sunny is a lady detective. If you do not know, Robert is the originator/author of the ‘Spenser’ series. Remember the TV program from Boston, ‘Spenser for Hire’. I liked the series but always wondered what happened to the Bahston accents in the series.

I also Perused Robert McNamara’s book, did not read it all. Gave a lot of insight (IN hind sight) about Viet Nam. I got a little sick, really, reading the book. After the war was lost, he looked back and said you know we were wrong, we should have pulled years before at the time of President Diem’s assassination. (I can appreciate someone being honest about his mistakes, but it doesn't FIX anything.) He was right of course, but we pay men in that position to make better decisions where lives are at stake. To make the better decisions when they are needed not in hind sight.

(I mentioned long time ago I thought about anyone could make a great president it he picked the right advisors, 'cause HE cannot know it all!)

WE have historical records of Presidents making TOUGH decisions, and facing criticism. Two come to mind, Truman firing MacArthur for one. He was right, but took a lot of licks. Mac wanted to continue the war on into China through North Korea and President Truman was suing for peace. You cannot have a General tell a President what to do.
More recent history; When we went in against Saddam in Kuwait. Then President Bush, once Iraqi troops were out of Kuwait, said pull out. ME AND HUNDREDS of other folks said, GO ON TO BAGDAD! He did not listen to us. HE WAS CORRECT! He listened to the right advisors, in my opinion. He took a lot of hits at the time, but he stuck to his guns. There are enough folks to tell you that President G.W. Bush was wrong in his policies, so I won’t venture there. I thought he was right to topple Saddam.

I do know one thing, Thank God, we have not had anything close to the terrible acts of 9/11 repeated.
I believe Egypt is the most progressive of the Arab nations, but I do not see any other Arab Nation even close to a possibility of a Democracy.
Thanks for coming by the log.
Nite Shipslog.
PS:
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BUT MIGHT NOT!
11. Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small sized dog

12. Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark'sstomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.

13. Most lipstick c/05/03ontains fish scales (eeww).

14. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland

because he doesn't wear pants.

15. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine.

I musta lied again! Becoming a habit!

The above picture of Sherry and the boys + a friend, near the spot On GITMO BAY where Columbus once landed.

The boys on the ferry in GITMO on their way to a moto cross race.

Sherry, Mark & Jack outside our house in GITMO. These years are rated by our family as the best years of our lives as a family.

The family at Ferry landing GITMO

Today is not my birthday. I never explain things right. I am not sending the gifts back!!!! Dad was born Jan. 14, 1903, M.L. King Jr. was born Jan 15, 1929, I was born Jan 17, 1939. So I will be 70. (If Sherry lets me live three more days. I am on her last nerve.) Now one more….


This is just to correct another misconception I see going around. Guantanamo Bay is not closing. GITMO BAY as it is affectionately called by Sailors and Marines over the world, is a forty square mile Naval Base. Housed on the base is the FTG (Fleet training Group), NSD (Naval Supply Depot), NAS (Naval Air Station) and Camp Buckley (USMC CAMP). There was a prison on or near Camp Buckley to house Cuban & Haitians awaiting transport to their countries or the USA. It was closed years ago by a judge who deemed it unconstitutional.

That prison was reopened and expanded and upgraded to hold Terrorists. I think this was an unwise move and it has become a thorn in our sides. Our new President plans to close the prison facility at GITMO, that is my understanding, I concur. There are some great prisons in Iraq, put 'em there.
I visited GITMO on a ship a few times, and Sherry & I lived there for 3 ½ years. I am sure the residents of Gitmo will be thrilled for the prison to be closed so that their lives can get back to normal. They have been over ridden by politicians, the press and do-gooders for years now.
GITMO is primarily a training facility which allows near perfect weather to train and shake down a ship and crew. It is no picnic for the ships crew, and a dreaded six weeks. The only break is liberty in Jamaica and Haiti for the crew. They get liberty on GITMO but most don’t consider that great liberty.
Anyway I just wanted to clear the air for those that do not know, the Base is not closing, just the prison.
I have said it here on this blog, I did not vote for our new President, but I certainly wish him well and hope he is the best president we have ever had. I was proud to hear him say he supports normalizing relations with Cuba, I certainly agree with that also.
Thanks for coming this way,
Nite Shipslog
PS:
GROWING OLD..

Sixth ~ I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to thetop.

Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.

Eighth ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.

Ninth ~ Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

Tenth ~ Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, itwas called witchcraft. Today it's called golf

And finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.