Shipslog

They were called ‘Bottling Companies!’

2012-02-02T09:02:00.001-08:00

One of the thrills of my boyhood, was walking down past the NEHI plant in Albemarle, NC. NEHI bottled RC, orange and grape sodas. (or dopes as we called them). I have no idea why, other than they say Coca Cola had coke in it at one time. Boys would say, ‘get your bike and let’s go get a dope’. Popular drinks were Coke, Pepsi, RC, Dr. Pepper and Double Cola.

Anyway the folks who worked at NEHI were nice. In the front window was a conveyor that took every drink by a man sitting, with a bright light opposite him, looking thru the drinks. Any drink having too much or not enough, was pulled and placed in a rack beside him. we were allowed to take any of the drinks, pop the top and drink it there. We could not carry them off. There was usually a choice, RC, orange, grape, root beer or Dr. Pepper. They were all warm, but boys don’t care, they were free.

I guess we can never go back to that, but it sure saved the land fills. You could earn money walking the roads and picking up bottles, you got a penny for every bottle (later it was 2 cents). Looking back on that, it is amazing, they sold the RC for a nickel. They could wash and sterilize the bottle, fill, cap and deliver it for 3 cents. The grocer had to make a penny.

Around where I lived, the first thing you did was look at the bottom of the bottle. Every bottle was molded with the city of origin. You were lucky if you got one from out of town, that was a thrill. Someone would always call out, “Out a town ya!” Everyone would say where their drink was from. Man you were something if you got one from Atlanta or Richmond. WOW! Amazing what simple things were fun.

If a boy didn’t have the nickel, he would call out ‘dibs’ or ‘tobies’. That meant you were supposed to leave a little in the bottle for him. Strange, if you could buy only one drink between you, we just passed it around. Sometimes a guy would wipe the top with his hands, but mostly just turn it up and take a drink. Germs were afraid of us. LOL

Ahhhh overalls, bikes, a cold dope and summer.

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Observations on Growing Older

** You forget names, but it's okay because other people forgot they even knew you.
**The last two outfits you wore had spots on them.
** You ask your husband or friend how your outfit looks, and they tell you the truth.

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Daddy’s car in Albemarle, 1951 Buick Special.

Shirl was the pet, but I am the baby of the family

2012-02-01T07:25:00.001-08:00

I was never spoiled, I must make that clear. LOL

Our family was 4 boys and 3 girls. One boy and one girl died as babies. Shirl and I were the second family. I always thought my older bros and Sister could have been my parents. I was under 5 when everyone had left home except Shirl. There in lies the rub. Having an older sister at home. I think she was always good to me. She let me play with her and she taught me to ride the bicycle. My real memory starts at 3-4 yrs, when dad pastored the country church in High Shoals, NC.

Schools back then did not have an activity bus. The teacher wanted to take the class on a field trip and Shirl volunteered Dad and the church bus. Of course since she was the ‘PET’, dad went along with it.

One terrible thing I remember was her falling on the front porch with a glass pitcher and cutting her hand terribly. Dad held here tight and poured Alcohol on the cuts as she screamed. I felt sorry for her.

She took piano lessons, and the piano fit like a glove. She learned well and also took up French horn. She was/is very musically inclined. The music continued to High school.

One of the biggest things for talent, in NC was Arthur Smith’s Talent Contest, really a biggie. He had the most popular TV show in NC. Shirl, Mickey and Margreta, entered as a trio. They were a hit. As they sang, Shirl switched from the Piano to the Accordion without missing a beat, and they moved across the stage singing. THEY WON and went on to appear on TV.

Shirl married Jim, a graduate of NC State who went on to work in the Aerospace industry and helped design the shuttle walls.

The childhood volunteering seemed to be a trend. Shirl, assumed the primary role in caring for Jim’s Brother, his Aunt Joe(who won the Miss Exxon beauty contest two yrs running) Our Mom (along with Sherry’s help), Jim’s Mom and cared for Jim until the end, when he passed, due to Esophageal Cancer.

Always a survivor she cleared out their holdings in Charlotte, including a hundred different collections of Jims. She now lives in the Fair town of Belmont, where she volunteers at the Belmont Historical Society. She is called on to decorate different places, including church. She volunteered with Vernon’s Band (Sherry’s brother), singing and also playing the drums, entertaining seniors.

She now hangs with Smoky Coe. A well known musician and singer in his own right. Together they sing with a band now, these were paying gigs (more inheritance for me). About time. haha. She is backing out of that a little now I think.

She is my Big sister. Out of all the family we are the ones left. So its me and you girl, and I am proud of you as my Big (older) sister. Love you Girl.

(Smoke had a surprise Birthday party for her, she was the Queen!)

Shirl, just so you will know, Today I finally get my crown, but the dentist wants me to pay HIM!

(SEE Shirl at http://ncbelmontbelle.blogspot.com/)

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Observations on Growing Older

** When people say you look "Great" they add, "for your age!"
** When you needed the discounts, you paid full price. Now you get discounts on everything -- movies, hotels, flights.

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Three several Studebakers Shirl had to get rid of.

Some of us Old Folk have crooked toes!

2012-01-31T08:48:00.001-08:00

I guess my shoes did not always fit right, because my Big toe curves toward the other little piggies. I think the intention was to look after them and protect them. LOL

Once while hiking, we attended a ‘Boot Camp’. That is where the boot makers modify boots to match your feet. I felt a little embarrassed, the kid looking at my feet calls to the BIG BOSS and says, “Here we have Bunions, severe curvature, and hammer toes. A lot of work needed here!”

(Gonna get me some ants or spiders so they will have something else to look at. LOL)

Now I had asked about burning soles of my feet, not my toes. After listening to what all was needed, I repeated my problem and question.

“After about an hour of hiking the soles of my feet begin to burn, can you prevent that?”

Answer, “WE can sure try, but we cannot eliminate it.”

“Then I appreciate your time, but bunions, curvatures and hammer toes do not hurt, the the burning is what is bad.”

My Sherry has pretty feet and they fixed her up with some ‘custom made ‘Super Feet’ insoles. for her boots.

The strange thing is, after spending too much money on BOOTS, I found that Reebok tennis shoes with a few cuts here and there are my best solution. My feet needed air and I gave it to them. Also, fording creeks in leather boots ain’t very smart. they don’t dry out like tennis shoes.

Once after fording a creek about 8 times, Sherry’s boots were soaked. I made a BIG MISTAKE of drying them over the campfire, and they became stiff and caused her feet more damage. You learn the hard way sometimes.

Remember the Shoe-fitting Fluoroscopes, (Pedoscopes, in the UK/Europe.)? You could put on a new pair so shoes and look thru the face piece and see your toes and feet bones. This was supposed to give you a better fit but the biggest reason was to get kids to come in to buy more shoes so they could see their bones wiggle. The machines were outlawed in the 1950-1960’s. The x-rays were damaging tissues and could have caused cancer because it was used like a toy with no time controls.

Anyway most of us have worn used shoes and also cheap shoes. We have had many hand me downs, however I did refuse to wear Shirl’s shoes. LOL

Thanks for coming this way.

NIte Shipslog

PS: (ain’t it the truth!)

Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for – in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.

—Ellen Goodman

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1953 Packard Carribean (I would like to put my foot on this gas pedal (accelerator for you younger folk<)).

Technological Advancements

2012-01-30T09:20:00.001-08:00

I was brought up during the time of, “Number Please” when you picked up the phone. I never knew the operator like Andy Griffin did on his TV program, but they always sounded so sweet.

During that period, if you were on a ‘party line’, there were advantages and disadvantages. Let’s see, I know there was a way to tell if it was your call or not. I think it was the rings. Like two short rings might be you, while a long and a short might be Mrs. Harris’s house. (I just checked with Paula, and the #/type of the ring is right)

So If Mrs. Harris got a call and mama or daddy wasn’t around you could lift the phone as quietly as possible, put your hand tightly over the mouth piece and listen in on someone’s private conversation. Many times (not me of course) folks would hear,”Is anyone listening on this line?” Then the offender (not me of course) would have to decide to bluff this out or hang up. Big decisions.

Disadvantages were, if someone in your family wanted to make a call, you could not if you had ‘phone hogs on your party line’.

That all said, I think the first real technological advancement was the dial phone. No waiting on your end, and if the party you were calling was on the line you got the busy signal. You called back later. Amazing, no more ‘Number Please’. To make a long distance call you dialed ‘0’ and got a real operator again.

With the dial, Kids invented new pranks. Kids had a way of finding fun on the phone. Pick a number, dial it:

“Hello.”

“Maintenance here, is your Frigidaire running?”

“Yes it is, why?”

“Well you had better go catch it!”

Kids called a store: “Do you have Sir Walter Raleigh In a can?”

“Why certainly, several.”

“Better let ‘im out, he cannot breathe”. Kids, dying laughing and hanging the phone.

There were hundreds of these, and many a kid had gotten in trouble with mom and dad for that.

(And then the push button, wow!)

The first Mechanical advancement I remember was relocating the Brake Master Cylinder of a car, from under the horsehair backed rubber floor mats to the firewall. Many times, while adding brake fluid, I have held that stinking dirty mat with my head. LOL

Thanks for coming by the log.

NIte Shipslog

PS:

Observations on Growing Older

** Your kids are becoming you, and you don't like them -- but your grandchildren are perfect!
** Yellow becomes the big color -- walls, hair, teeth.
** Going out is good; coming home is better!

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1932 Ford (and the ‘34) were the most popular base for hotrods in the 1950’s.

Hunting and trapping

2012-01-29T09:39:00.001-08:00

I trapped my first rabbit when I was 5.
Daddy helped me make a rabbit box, I put a half apple back in it and placed it on what I figured was a little animal path in the broom straw. I checked the trap everyday, because daddy said I should check it at least every two days.

I caught one. It wasn’t a hundred yards from the house. We lived in High Shoals at the time. Daddy put a glove on reached in got Mr. Rabbit and quickly broke his neck. He showed me how to skin it, and mama cooked it right then. She fried it and make some gravy. I thought I was Daniel Boone (I did not know DB at the time, but I thought I was a pioneer) providing food for the family. Of course I was just augmenting it. I do not remember catching another one. Mama had chickens and daddy always raised a hog. Although daddy was a preacher, that country in him and mama ran deep.
Later that year we were visiting Great Grandpa Hilly’s farm near Toccoa, GA. Daddy was telling Grandpa about me catching my first Rabbit. GP asked me if I had ever killed a bear? I know my eyes got big as he reached behind the stove and pulled out an old single shot .22 rifle. “Jackie, go git us some supper.” He gave me a couple minutes of instructions on rifle safety, told me never to point it back toward the farm house, winked and said, “They ain’t no bears left out there, but plenty of squirrels, that will be just as good.”

Grandpa was a Judge, you would have thought he was smarter than that, I was about 6 years old. But I marched into those woods like I was a giant slayer, of course I never fired a shot. I did not see a bear nor a squirrel.
I have been hunting a few times in my life, but none of the other times meant as much. I didn’t say anything up in Wisconsin, when Slim, Sam,Bill, Dar and Mel were showing me their trophies from trapping and hunting. I am modest and didn’t want them to feel bad. (LOL real BIG).
Yep, I guess I am old, these memories feel good. Thanks for coming by the log.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.
—Thomas Szasz
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A gas station, GGrandpa Hilly would have used.

‘31 Buick Uncle Inman would have driven to take GGpa Hilly to town. GGpa Hilly, the Judge, preferred the mule and wagon.

JC Penney, I hope so.

2012-01-28T12:34:00.001-08:00

New CEO of JCP says no more sales, coupons,etc. Declare they are going to lower the prices at least 40%. We plan to change the way people shop.

He says, consumers are not dumb, they know the sales are a come on and not real. Who can sell something at 80% off and make a profit, if the article was priced correctly in the beginning.

I have said that for years. I do not blame coupon shoppers. I do not blame anyone for going thru sales paper after sales paper. Clipping coupons is wise, no doubt, but my question has always been WHY? Shopping is not a sport, it is a necessity to get necessities.

It is silly to by 2 boxes of some cereal you do not even eat, because it is two for one. I built houses, I could have NEVER sold them two for one!

The CEO said consumers are not ignorant, but he is wrong, we have been for years. We have been brainwashed with SALES. When I was a kid, there was a jewelry store in Gastonia, NC that went out of business every Christmas season. I bet they folded the “GOING OUT OF BUSINESS” sign every New Years day to hold for next Christmas.

I cannot remember which store it was that tried this a few years ago. I want to think it was Sears. I am sure that it was a major store though. Many other stores are hoping he is wrong, because they will get the JCP customers by their BIG Sales (4th OF JULY, CHRISTMAS, INVENTORY REDUCTION, SPRING SALES, BACK TO SCHOOL SALES, SALES sales, and a million variations.)

I remember Car dealers selling cars $50 over inventory. Did you believe that? (It costs more than that to unload, clean, add a little gas then park the car on his lot.)

Yeah, we consumers want to believe that stuff, but down inside we know better. There is no free lunch, and ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Now I really do hope the man is right, that JCP can re-learn us how to shop. Now just to be sure you understnd there was a little wiggle room, for you that MUST have a sale, WE are not going COLD TURKEY here is the disclaimer:

In addition to the "everyday low price," the only sales will be "monthly value" discounts on select items, and "best price" sales held regularly twice a month.

(Especially for John & Paula)

I want it to work, but………..

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

OUCH!

PS:

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.

—Oscar Wilde

1936 Chevy, I believe I lean more toward the 30’s cars . I would dearly love to have one of these.

Do you have anything you really want to do before you …. GO!

2012-01-27T08:57:00.001-08:00

(Other than drive route 66 in this?)

Now that I have been living officially 73 years. I can remember when I though that was ancient. I guess it is. But there are still things I want to do.

Since I cannot do them this winter. I will see what I can do this winter.

There is a lot to do around Orlando. But I am not interested in Theme parks. I think they are over priced and pitched too high anyway.

Jack (son #1) did come down last year and took us to the “Holy Land Experience”. That was interesting. One Year Mark and his family came down to take us to Disney World, but thankfully it was full, so the boys got to go to the Skate Park. It was fun watching them ride the skate boards.

Corinne, a wonderful DIL, bought us our dog (statue) while the boys enjoyed the skate park. I put it out between my flags and guarding our ships wheel when we anchor for awhile.

It is terrible that the things I can think of to do, IS MOSTLY EATING, and I don’t need to do more of that. haha.

I wish I did not associate entertainment with eating or consider eating entertainment. I don’t know how to play Dominos. We have a deck of card, but any card game we play is on the computer. We DO NOT Golf, sometimes I wish I did, but I guess I am really too cheap to golf. I think I want to fish but we are not set up for that anymore.(don’t tell Sherry but there is a Jon boat for sale on the bulletin bd) I want to go sky diving but don’t have the guts.(Just found out Darla wants to too) I wanted to go up in a Balloon, even had a date with Joan out in Utah, but it costs too much (I’m a cheap date). Never been skiing, don’t do the winter sports. Come to think of it maybe I don’t do anything.

Got any suggestions? (that I cannot squirm out of?)

Tucker just called Sherry (since I wrote this), Wants us to come up and ride the intracoastal from NC to Miami. I look at my girl, she smiles and says, lets go! So now we have something to do this summer! (Along with walking the trail!).

Thanks for reading the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS: (Think about this one!)

An inventor is simply a fellow who doesn’t take his education too seriously.

—Charles F. Kettering

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1909 Buick Runabout

I guess I have learned that things do not last forever.

2012-01-26T08:44:00.001-08:00

(My teen age years did not!)

I have never put the security word requirement to my blog to keep out spam, but now in the last two days I have had four spammers. If the trend keeps up I will install the security words. My problem with the words is I forget some folk have them, and make an entry, hit enter and since my system is slow, my comment is not posted. There are couple blogs where my system is real slow responding.

‘56 Olds concept car.

I guess it is like a man’s hair, because as a rule, you cannot expect it to stay forever. The same with sleepless nights. Just the time I state I don’t have trouble with it, now I cannot sleep. Of course I know exactly why I cannot, but that still does not help. Children are forever, if a 50 yr old son or daughter has problems, why should it keep the parents awake. Didn’t we handle our own problems? Or did mom and dad just suck it up and not complain like I am? I don’t know.

A ‘56 T-Bird

Logically, an adult should be their own person, or that is the way we were raised. But that feeling has not been passed on to the younger generation.

Sherry & I like to joke and say: if we do not like how things are going, we crank up our home and move. But if it is a family problem that ain’t so easy.

‘59 Dodge Royal Lancer

So nothing lasts forever, except a mother’s love, and sometimes a dad’s. Anyway I had to smile, although I know Darla had a rough time, as stated on her blog, I understood exactly what she was saying.

None of us are immune to problems. Right now my e-mail and system is NUTS. I get an ICON of an envelope, but not sender, date, or subject. Now I am one of those that delete if I do not recognize the sender, so I am NOT opening anything without knowing what it is.

(We really do not have problems if we put them in prospective)

Then on top of that I get this note from AOL, here are the recovered e-mails that were lost, all 600 of them, WHAT? 600? So as I wade thru them, and by the way they have all info, it is the ‘new mail’ that have no info. HA??

Anyway if I seem lost on comments and e-mails, I am trying to climb out of a hole. hahaha!

Thanks for coming this way!!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.

—Lily Tomlin

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Ahhhh what a thrill, a 1957 Chevy 2dr hard top.

I could drive around in this and forget my troubles, until I parked. hahaha

Return with me now, to those thrilling days of yesteryear..

2012-01-25T09:46:00.001-08:00

(Note: Aol sent me a list of e-mails I have missed, I am going thru what they say is recovered mail)

Those were the words I heard just as soon as the radio warmed up at 5 o'clock MWF. I loved Cowboys and the Lone Ranger was one on the radio.

(That is me behind Wyatt.)

When we started looking for places to see, one of the top places was… Tombstone, AZ, the location of the famous OK Corral Shootout. I did not know we would find so many very interesting places in the same area.

The sign and the statue of the Buffalo on duty out side the Fort.

Interstate 10 to Benson and turn South. We chose Fort Huachuca (waa-CHEW-ka), at Sierra Vista. This happened to be a very famous place, especially for my Black friends, because it was the home of the Buffalo Soldier. They have a good museum on base, where I bought my friend Majors, a Buffalo Soldier Statue. I always called him the Buffalo Soldier. It was just a cross some small mts to Tombstone. What a town. Stooped in history of the Earps, Doc Holiday, the cowboys and the Epitaph. The Bird Cage Saloon still stands. (Most well known cat house and gambling parlor).

Sherry in the Bird Cage, the openings outlined by the red curtains were the ‘ladies’ bird cages.

Me ‘n the Earps and Doc Holloday.

They have a reenactment of the Shootout and it is very interesting. The Old courthouse is still there and the pertinent records are on display. The Earps were registered Republicans and the Cowboys were Democrats. I never realized that politics played a big part in the early West.

There are many Ghost Towns around Tombstone. I am believing that Tombstone would have also died if not for the history of the Earps.

Poker table and cards the way it was left at the close of the longest Poker game in history, (8 yrs 10 million dollars changing hands)Lillian Russell, Eddie Foy, Sr., Lotta Crabtree and Lillie Langtry. In 1882, Fatima allegedly performed her belly-dancing routine at the Bird Cage Theatre.

The shoot out took place behind the OK Corral, in a very small alley. When the smoke cleared Wyatt was the only one standing. Everyone was wounded, and three outlaw cowboys were dead.

Doc Holloday & Big Nose Kate had a room on the alley at the Photographers office.

Boot Hill is still there with the original markers. Copies of the Epitaph for those faithful days are available in reprint.

Strange happenings, Doc Holliday was there with his lady friend, Big nose Kate. The Earps were there with their wives or mistresses. Wyatt’s first wife died early in his life. At Tombstone he left his common law wife Celia for Josephine, one of the active ladies of the Birdcage. They stayed together until his death in 1929. What a colorful career, outlaw, lawman and every thing in between.

There is so much History in this area, a cowboy buff can just ‘have a cow’, he be so happy.

Later we will give more detail and visit more places.

Thanks for coming by the Log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Never be afraid to laugh at yourself, after all, you could be missing out on the joke of the century.

—Dame Edna Everage

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1929 Studebaker, the year Wyatt Earp Died.

Remember when our Playmate Paula, always found a mystery!

2012-01-24T10:36:00.001-08:00

1956 Rambler, yeah the seats laid back!

Sister Shirl volunteers at the Belmont Historical Society. She was sent a picture that has caused a small stir because some say it is mislabeled. At first glance, I am sure the label is right, but I did not come to Belmont until 1954. Most of Sherry’s growing years were on the Imperial Mill Village. The Imperial mill sat atop a big hill. You could look across the railroad tracks and see the Chronicle Mill, and part of its village.

Sherry and her mother walked by both mills on their way to church. I learned the path once when I lost my driver’s license and had to walk over to see her(Actually I ran over and floated home). It wasn’t far, but leaving her house, and being in love, I floated on air down the hill and up by the Imperial, then across the rail road tracks and by the Chronicle. By the time I got to the Chronicle I was back down to earth and walked the other half mile normally. LOL.

This is the blow up of the steeple on the right center, just before the lady staking her cow to graze.

(Funny how mysteries bring up the past. I walked just to the left of the above picture leaving Sherry’s house, just a month or so before I joined the USMC.)

If that is the Park St. Methodist steeple in the back ground the mystery is solved, it is the Chronicle. I have written the Church and sent the photos to see if they can ID their ‘old’ steeple. That church no longer stands there.

If this is the Chronicle Sherry’s Aunt Goldie lived in one of these mill houses. I also sent the pictures to Candy, Johnny’s Daughter, so John can look at them.

(Sherry in front of the Imperial being razed. I figure that picture in question was taken from about that telephone pole on top of the hill looking about the same angle as this picture. over the hill to the Chronicle)

(While we were there I was showing Sherry how I ran (floated) up this hill after kissing her good night, I was 16)

This brings back a lot of memories of a wonderful time in our lives. Once I was driving daddy’s car and was showing off in front of her house and dropped the clutch and tore out daddy’s drive shaft. (Not Funny).

In front of the same house at another time, in the Rambler of dads, Sherry found out the seats would lay back, She was smooching and kissing, when there was a knock on the window. I looked up and it was Sherry’s mama in her night gown. She said ‘SIT UP IN THAT CAR!’ Embarrassed me, I never let Sherry do that again. LOL

Thanks for reading this stuff.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.

—Ellen Parr

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This is the girl, and that is the Rambler.

Mondays? Never a problem

2012-01-23T09:55:00.001-08:00

I don’t know if I just picked the right jobs, or I am just happy wherever Do you know anything about churches/businesses and their problems with temperature controls. That is one of the largest headaches, having a building the right temp for the public.

I had a pastor tell me once that I must be a lizard, I didn’t care what the temp was, I never complained. Many folk, like my Girl Sherry, carry a sweater or jacket in the hot summer, if they plan to enter a building, because most places are too cold for her.

I have heard folks complain about Mondays all my adult life, I don’t remember complaining about Mondays, if I did it had to be in school, school was not my favorite place growing up.

(Had one of these)

I have mentioned IQ before. Learning I had an extremely high IQ made me lazy. I thought that meant that I was very smart. The secret of a high IQ is that YOU HAVE POTENTIAL, you CAN make logical analytical decisions. IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU WILL! There in lies the joke on us with a high IQ, you end up being mediocre.

Don’t get me wrong, I never feel sorry for myself for not reaching my potential, you probably didn’t either. Most folks don’t.

Most nights I tuck my love in, and I tell her she is the most important thing in my life. I always tell her, ‘we would have had nothing, if it was not for you’.

Every once in awhile we laugh at life. Comparing our first place, a rented 8x26 foot 1 BR trailer; to this 38 ft. Motor home. Sherry says, ‘I thought our little trailer was a mansion’. What we lived in has never made any difference. I moved her into a remodeled chicken house once.It was each other that mattered.

My ‘55 with Marty Kerns

But come Monday morning? I was ready to go to work, earn that paycheck, no matter how small, it provided for my girl and me. I honestly feel sorry for folks who hate to go to work. I wish everyone could love their work,their mate and be happy with their life. Life is so much better.

Our old ‘68 I fixed up for Mark.

We love Lucy here on the net. Lucy refers to us as ‘rich’ sometimes. We live like millionaires so I don’t mind. At one time we were pretty well off. In the last 20-25 years we have really wanted for little. But we have never required much. We have never needed a new car. I never minded driving a car 10 years old. My pickup trucks were old, I never felt the need to impress any of the other builders.

(Our ‘55 Ford)

I could have had an office down town, but why? Sherry never minded talking to potential buyers and furnishing coffee. It upset my son a couple times, because he felt running with the Big dogs was impressive; but I could underbid most of the competition, because I could settle with less profit.

Enough, Be happy with your portion in life, if you are really unhappy ask yourself why? If it is that important then change. If not, Love life and smile.

Life is good. Just go ask MA, or the Boomer!

http://onyama.blogspot.com/

http://brboomer.blogspot.com/

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Don’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.

—Cale Yarborough

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One of my work trucks ‘65 Ford

I like to read, I have even read a classic.

2012-01-22T12:52:00.001-08:00

A classic car, the 1953 Nash-Healey

Some classic’s were recommended for me to read. ‘Bleak House’ by Dickens and ‘The Mayor Of Casterbridge’ by Thomas hardy. I picked ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stevenson myself.

I succeeded in reading ‘The Mayor’ very quickly, probably 4 nights. I enjoyed it, but did not like the irony of the ending. I am so disappointed in ‘Bleak House’ by Dickens. It definitely isn’t ‘A Christmas Carol’ or ‘A Tale of Two Cities’. I am having a rough time getting thru it. I have been trying for months.

Since I have the Kindle, many of the classic's are free. I am now ‘enjoying’ Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’. I still cannot get used to reading the e-books, I need to refer back too many times, and it is hard on the Kindle to know how far back I want to go. It is not like going back say, 10 pages, is easy, you must go back one page at a time.

If you have read Bleak House, tell me what makes it a classic. I am wrestling with it and I usually do not do that, I usually just drop what I do not like.

Reading is a great past time. I regret that I did not start reading earlier for enjoyment. Starting late has some advantages, you have many books to read to catch up to the latest of living authors.

Writing is a different story. You must get into a certain frame of mind. If I try to make myself write, I seldom use what I wrote and just destroy it. I have been in that position since I published “S’Gar”. I have started a senior romance book, but only have 14 pages of stuff I wish to use. I am hoping to get a boost after Tax time. hahaha.

Read and enjoy. Read and Escape. Read to forget your troubles. TV used to put my Sherry to sleep, Now it is reading. So read to go to sleep.

Thanks for Reading this ‘stuff’.

Nite Shipslog

PS: However Einstein said this about that:

The person who reads too much and uses his brain too little will fall into lazy habits of thinking……………………(?)!

—Albert Einstein

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I believe this is an old Studebaker

next….Citrus

2012-01-21T11:30:00.001-08:00

One big advantage of being in Florida is the availability of citrus. I have learned a couple new names. Valencia and Hamlin these are juice oranges. They keep pretty well and are good to eat or juice. I had never paid any attention, but I must have heard of the Honey-Belle. It is a sweet orange, but does not keep well. Every one knows the Navel, It peels good and is good for juice or eating.

There is a road side, honor system spot on Estes Road East of Eustis that sells the fresh fruit. Juice oranges are $5 half bushel honey belles, Navels and Tangelo’s $6 for half bushel.

96% of all citrus is picked by hand using wooden ladders and canvas sacks. The average Picker earns about $10 an hour. Since it is becoming hard to find pickers, they are experimenting with mechanical harvesters, they account for the 4%.

Citrus is a great fruit but it does not ripen once picked. Any orange that hits the ground stays there because it is damaged by rot or disease. Unlike apples that you can eat from off the ground.

An Orange reaches a certain sweetness when it is still green, and can be picked for juice. The Orange blossom is a sweet smell, the orange tree will bloom with fruit still on the tree. The smell carries for miles!

When I first came down I thought there were two harvests, but not so, only one a year.

I think the best juice is a combination of all the oranges. You can imagine the amount of waste bi-product of the orange, some is incinerated and some processed for cattle food. In towns where they process the juice you can smell the peel,pulp and seeds, not as bad as the paper plants were at one time, but you can smell it.

I am always amazed at the amount of oranges hauled to the plants.

I love tangerines, but they are not a BIG thing here in Florida. Saturday we walked to the local farmers market and one lady was selling her tangerines for a $1 a dozen. Grapefruits were 5 for a dollar.

I believe the Texas Red Grapefruit is redder than the Florida reds, but I am not sure. Texas also has some great citrus.

We have a half bushel to juice now, probably tomorrow.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS: (Not bad logic)

I’d rather live with a good question than a bad answer.

—Aryeh Frimer

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1955 VW, the first car I ever did see that was not built in America.

Does anyone make soupy rice?

2012-01-20T07:49:00.001-08:00

Growing up in the Grace Darnell home we had ‘soupy Rice’ when we had rice. There was no steaming rice. I still do not know how she made it, but I think she added milk. I know I loved it. It could be a meal by itself. And for a snack in the evening I would eat the left overs with milk, like corn bread and milk.

Another think I liked was the green beans that she put the little ‘new’ potatoes in. I don’t know what else she put in it, either bacon drippings or a little ham I think.

My mama was one of the best cooks, if not the best, in the world. Many folk have said that. Her fried chicken was the talk of every evangelist that ever sat her table. Sherry learned from my mama and our boys have always said Sherry should have started a Chicken chain.

After coming into our family Sherry would always say your mama can turn around in the kitchen a few times and have a meal fit for a king, really she could. Every morning was two pans of biscuits made from scratch. I can still see her tamp her signature touch to EVERY biscuit in the big pan. Her first two knuckles touched every one.

I have never tasted Chicken and dumplings as good as hers. Once when she was bed fast at our house I decided to make dumplings. Back and forth to her room following instructions (I thought). Finally I went back into her room and said, “Mama, I have some real thick chicken soup!”

She laughed, “You are supposed to move them around, You stirred them didn’t you?”

“Yep”. Mama knew it all. Once in Missouri the Mz Downing, who ran ‘Downing’s Trailer Park’, gave everyone who wanted it, space to have a garden. I was so proud, I think I planted 50 tomato plants. and a row of turnips. The turnips grew long like carrots, and they were bitter. So I called mama.

“What?” she said, “This is spring son, you plant turnips in the fall, and thin them out so they will have room to grow.” She knew I weren’t no farmer.

Well here I am 73 years old and still want some of that soupy rice.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

47. Don’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.

—Cale Yarborough

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Do not know what year, but it is an Edsel.

guessing 1959. (they were produced 1958-1960, I think)

Who do you REALLY know and care about.

2012-01-19T09:46:00.001-08:00

If you have been reading my ‘stuff’ for awhile you know, I am older than most folks I associate with ‘cept Lucy. In the past few years I have reconnected with friends, some from over 50 yrs ago. I just received this from one of those guys, Richard. Well, no one called him Richard, HE IS BUDDY. In my Books, one of the good guys is Buddy. The Character is REAL. Some escapades are also real. Bud, Tuck, Sam, Sticky, Fred, Sonny, and many more have made my life GOOD! This is no secret, but today it is special…So here goes….

The Charlie Schulz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.
You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.
Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish..
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money...or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most!

'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia !'
''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is

Taken!"

I just wanted to pass this along. Thanks for coming by the Log.

Nite Shipslog

PS: (The group I ran with could have said this!)

I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it.

—Edith Sitwell

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My first car, ‘48 Chev Convertible.

next….Fun things in life…

2012-01-18T06:21:00.001-08:00

(1951 Packard popular when the Hit Parade was on TV)

I remember listening to the radio at night and had a ball. I remember going to friends houses and watching TV, fun. I loved Wrestling so we watched Hit Parade with Snooky Lanson & Gizzell McKenzie, that came on before Wrestling. That was all fun.

I remember a few songs from growing up and many from the teen years. I wonder if the teens to day will remember the words to songs, I cannot understand the words (or could not before going deaf).

(People drove the 1939 Studebaker and listened to Jeepers Creepers on the radio)

Do you know the song that was top on the charts the day you were born? Well the day I was born (Jan 17, ‘39) it was “Jeepers Creepers”. (Probably what daddy said)

If you want to know what was top of the charts click on this:

http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/Old%20Files/SelectMonth.htm

Something else I thought was funny, posted by Bonnie on a Forum I frequent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5_DuZ8WuMM

She entitled it, maybe ‘Bird Brain’ isn’t such a slur after all (paraphrased).

I am amazed at what I find on the net by accident even. Our system is via cell signal so we are very slow and most times will not play a video, so I do not watch many.

As I get older, it takes less to tickle my funny bone. Maybe I am understanding the rules better, or life changes the rules to fit my situation, not sure which.

This is my Birthday month, I can laugh about that (much better than crying).

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

—Aristotle

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1912 Delauney

Where is my Belt Buckle?

2012-01-17T09:26:00.001-08:00

(Pictures , I have no idea what they are I just thought they were pretty)

I am getting old and losing things. I just noticed I cannot see my belt buckle. Military men will tell you there is a Gig-Line. And if it is not straight some loud mouth Sergeant or Chief is gonna tell you.
Before going on liberty or standing inspection you always glance down to make sure your shirt, belt buckle and fly are in perfect alignment! I looked down and could not see my buckle, Wow, I am in trouble if I have to stand inspection?

Everyone’s life makes changes, no matter the occupation or life style. Retirement is a good thing for some folk, but it does not fit everyone.

I am sure my life would have been different if someone could have gotten thru to me that education was a good thing. But when I reached 16 and could ‘quit’ school that is what I wanted to do. I respected my parents enough that I would not quit unless I had a job.
Something early in my life instilled in me a respect for the Military Uniform, so I tried to enlist underage, but got kicked back when the SBI confronted me with charges of falsifying official documents, forgery and a list of charges. Of course there was nothing to the charges, but to a 16 year old facing the SBI Agent, he made a believer out of me.

So on my 17th birthday I was back. I adapted to taking orders and the corresponding life. I actually liked it.
When I got out I bounced around a little until I found another nitch I loved, building. I could not wait to get to work and hated for the day to end.
I built (mostly self taught) until Sherry was ready to retire. I was on the road to becoming the second millionaire in our family, I was a High School dropout, so I took pride in my accomplishment. My brother, the rich guy, also was a dropout, but very smart.

As Sherry reached retirement age, we talked about the future. I was putting 60-70 hrs a week on the books. I had a subdivision in my sights. But we talked, life was too sweet, to push and have a stroke or heart attack. So, when Sherry retired, I just QUIT. As a builder there is no retirement income but of course we had put some back.
We started in the motor home traveling and have never looked back. She says I go to Lowes just to smell the lumber, and I guess I do. But basically, except for family problems, our life is great. I guess you worry about your children for life. my dad worried about me. I wish he could have lived to see me successful, but we don’t always get what we want.

But now, here we are, able to go where we want to, and have all we need, but I still want my belt buckle back!

Nite Shipslog
PS:
All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I, myself, deny it.
—H. L. Mencken
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1959 Fury (Plymouth)

Time & Birthdays

2012-01-16T07:11:00.001-08:00

As I grow older I realize that kids do not understand age. I am still in my early 70’s, but I am realizing that your mind/brain does not age. You get forgetful because of the filing system of the brain, but what you learned is still there.

Your body does indeed age, it cannot accomplish what it once did. I smile out of respect when I see a WWII veteran. I try to picture this OLD DUDE with a 70 lb. pack on his back handling a 9 1/2 lb rifle like it was a broom stick and charging up a hill or toward a beach landing. It is hard to imagine that, because his body is bent, bald or grey, and wrinkled. But he once was young tough and virile.

But unless dementia had ravished his brain or mind, he still can vividly remember that young man, although I cannot. I took time to write a couple of my grand children to tell then what I once read on a tombstone out west:

"Remember me as you pass by/As you are now so once was I/As I am now so you must be/Prepare for death and follow me.”

I only used: As you are, once were we, As we are now, you will be.

One a Junior in HS, One in college and One expecting her first baby, our 2nd Great granddaughter.

To the HS Jr. I told how it seems only yesterday I was in the same school he is in, chasing his grandmother who was the prettiest girl in school. I remember it as yesterday.

To the college kid, I could only relate in age. But I remember 18-19 very well.

To the Grandaughter, I remember her Grandmother pregnant with our first child. I smile now, thinking of what she said she thought. “I thought I was ugly and fat.” When I thought she was the cutest ‘WOMAN’ in the world.

(Remember maternity clothes? Look at that pony tail.That is our Biloxi Apartment behind Sherry & her mama)

I did not tell Reece of our apartment in Biloxi, Miss.with no a/c and the mosquitos that plagued us. A young Airman and his pregnant wife, standing up on the bed bouncing as high as we could toward the 10’ ceilings and killing mosquitos. What crazy fun.

Sherry’s mama came down to be with her baby girl during the delivery. We lived a couple blocks off the Gulf Coast. They went down and walked on the beach collecting shells. The shells were washed and placed on the tubs edge in the bathroom.

That evening I heard a scream, I ran toward the bath room and met Sherry with her pants down trying to run. They did not know that some of the shells were ‘alive’ and one (a hermit crab)was crawling toward Sherry as she sat on that porcelain throne

Yep, I remember as if it was yesterday. Funny how the brain does not age.

Thanks for visiting the log.

Nite Shipslog

PSain’t it the truth)

We learn something every day, and lots of times it’s that what we learned the day before was wrong.

—Bill Vaughan

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Compare 60 yrs difference….

2011 Buick Lesabre

1951 Buick Lesabre

Money and Politics

2012-01-15T11:39:00.001-08:00

It seems strange to me with the economy in such disarray that I can read ‘Senator McCrap just raised $3 million dollars in 8 weeks. But he is way short of his challenger, ‘Mr. WishtobeMcCrap’ who has a war chest of $16 million raised in only 3 months.

The President is reported to have a Billion. His challenger will have hundreds of millions.

I was good at math in school, and I know these figures are not from donations of $5 & $10.

We have long past the time that Honest, poor Johnny Truelove can run for office and get elected. To be honest, it takes money to run for City Council in a small town like Belmont, NC. Do you see that sign on the side of the road about election time? It is about 18” x 24”. That sign cost someone about $8-$10 dollars. Need a thousand of them? about $9,000. That does not count the $2,000 for stands. It is a shame that we have pushed this system to this point. BUT we have.

With the money spent this year on Politics we could shore up Social Security. But then no one will volunteer money for that.

At the Occupy Wall St, I saw two women, holding signs, I am the 1%, tax me more. I wonder if anyone actually checked to see if they were multi-millionaires. If so, why not pool the money, bail out a manufacturing company and make jobs? Tax on the super wealthy is a one time thing, mostly, but JOBS? last and keep on producing.

I think we get burned out on politics. Watching the news, I have to laugh, even in politics the news cannot give a positive Headline.

Headline lately: ROMNEY WINS BIG in New Hampshire, BUT EXPECT A BLOOD BATH IN SC!

Weird.

I wish we had another Harry Truman. Did you know when he left the White House that he drove Beth to Independence in their car? The they lived in a house that Beth had inherited. He paid for his own stamps and licked his own envelopes. His retirement was from the Army about $13K a year.

Congress did change some of that, but not because he complained. I liked what he said about politics. “I had a choice, play a piano in a Whore house or go into politics. It amounted to about the same thing (that is paraphrased).”

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

I don’t mind what Congress does, as long as they don’t do it in the streets and frighten the horses.

—Victor Hugo

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1935 Duesenberg

Friends and other animals

2012-01-14T09:08:00.001-08:00

I honestly wish I could remember the name of every friend I have had. But I cannot. We have had several pets in our family over the years, and I cannot remember them all. Paula mentioned parakeets, the other day I had a couple of those they were entertaining, I do not remember their names.

(The pug says, now I don’t dare scratch!)

I do remember that the band above the beak is blue on the male and pink on the female(I think) . That always amazed me as a kid, because I knew people dressed boys in blue and girls in pink, and thought it was neat that God had labeled the parakeets that way. Paula never mentioned if she got the parakeet of hers to talk, I never did, and it upset me.

(This looks like my grandson Luke and MJ)

Once I saw a parakeet in the wild, and wondered how long it had survived. I figured it had escaped its cage, I remember smiling and thinking how good he must feel. But now I think, he might have felt lost.

I had a Crow once also, I tried to teach it to talk, had the same results, nada. I liked to catch small snakes. I never played with them out of their jars, but mama made me get rid of them. The poisonous ones she told me to kill, but I just turned them loose and told them not to bite anyone.

Only had one cat. Tom was just a cat (What ever that means.) I once watched Tom play with a mouse he had caught. Tom had no idea I was watching from the window just above him. I found myself pulling for the mouse but the little fellow did not have a chance. The family dog was Bingo at that time. The dog and cat got along fine and until I was about 3, these were my best friends. At age 4 we moved. Tom went with us, but he returned across country (many miles) to our previous home. I got mad at Tom, liking the old house better than me. So it was me and Bingo.

Of course by this time I noticed I had an OLDER sister, who became my friend and played with me. She taught me to ride a bicycle. We lived in the country then, it was mostly Shirl & me to play. It was okay, having an older sister (wink, more on Shirl later!)

(Me, Bingo and Shirl)

Thanks for stopping by the log.

Night Shipslog

PS:

I love this quote:

I’ve gone into hundreds of [fortune-teller's parlors], and have been told thousands of things, but nobody ever told me I was a policewoman getting ready to arrest her.

—New York City detective

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Sorry the car could not make it this evening, it was dinner time!

Lennie, what a woman

2012-01-13T06:32:00.001-08:00

I have a couple entries about family members, got one on Shirl to be sprung soon. But today it is Lennie. The most outspoken of any of the Children of Wiley and Susie Harris. Protector of the young brood of siblings with fists or rocks.

(Lennie with her dad, Johnny’s favorite picture.)

Sherry says that when they were young, Lennie and Collette (the quiet one) would turn on the Victrola and dance, they could really cut a rug in their socks.

(Lennie and her dad later years)

(Susie Harris the Mama rabbit of the clan)

One memorable statement by Lennie to Elmer, after one of their friends had left his wife. “Buddy, you listen to me, if you ever plan on leaving me, you had better tell me, because I am going with you!”

(I courted Sherry on that same porch, that must be Moochie the dog at the steps)

(Wiley (daddy) Vernon,Lennie, Colette, Sherry, Lefty,Johnny (missing Mama Susie and Tommy)

I remember once she was upset at a member of the in-law family. I told her, “just to be patient and when you get older you can just slip your cane out in her path and trip the old hag!” She remembered that for years.

(Colette, Lennie, Johnny, Elmer and Sherry at one of Lennie’s Bean days)

After their mama died, Lennie made it a practice to have beans and corn bread at her house every Wednesday. That day Colette would clean their daddy’s house and take him to get groceries, then come to Lennie's. Sherry loved it when she could be there, the Harris’s were a close family.

Johnny, the youngest, is up in Ypsilanti, MI. But every time he came home Lennie had a bed for him. Lennie’s house became the mama’s house of the clan.

(Elmer, Lennie and Janet, when Lennie was ill.)

By this time Lennie (who had worked in the winder room of a cotton mill) was a stay at home woman, helping Elmer who ran a ‘Roach Coach’. Lennie made 14-18 gallons of tea a day, 5 days a week. On ‘Wednesdays when Elmer came in around 1:30, he brought in the out of date sandwiches and cakes. Adding to the pinto bean feast. Lennie’s house was the home of most of the family get togethers.

The one thing Lennie always regretted was she had left her home in Belmont and moved to Mt. Holly, just about 5 miles, but she always wanted to be back in Belmont.

When Lennie got sick, Elmer came to me and wanted me to build them a house in Belmont. Which I did, but Lennie never got to really enjoy it. She moved there but that was about all.

(Lennie’s new home in Belmont, I am a Belmont Girl again)

(Colette, Tommy, Johnhy, Lennie, Vernon and Sherry. Lennie was very sick here, this was in her new house.)

(Lennie, Brenda, Mark and Elmer, the family)

(Sherry, Lennie and Colette, the Three musketeers. Sisters forever)

(another get together at Lennie’s house. Colette, Johnny and Lennie)

As a practice in the later years the three sisters: Lennie, Colette & Sherry, with their husbands would take a trip after Christmas. Those have been some of the highlights of our lives. Besides, Lennie thought I was a great driver.(Even when I got lost)

(Lennie, Elmer and Sherry at Ben & Jerry’s)

(Even being a Democrat, She loved seeing Kennebunkport, home of the Bushes. She kept a rock from here until her death)

(We took Elmer and Lennie to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on their 50 wedding anniversary I think)

You cannot wrap someone’s life up in 600 words, but this was thoughts of Lennie.

RIP Lennie. Feb 7, 1928-Oct 17,2000

You know, there are people you will never forget.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.

—Erica Jong

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Elmer and Lennie had the Rambler, then he switched to Lincolns and the Lincoln remained their car)

Do you ever wonder…..

2012-01-12T05:06:00.001-08:00

(We are off to see Judy this morning, our favorite MAINE –i-ac)

Where dust comes from? Easy to understand living on a dirt road, you get dust, it cannot be avoided. But on a ship that has been at sea for a month? Aboard ship, like a base ashore, there are constant inspections. Every junior man has a cleaning space assigned, and likewise all senior folk have an area for which they are responsible.

No matter how much you clean, wipe, wash and dust; THERE IT IS! Where does it come from. I have read that most dust is dead skin from the human body, could be true. All I know is, when you have been surrounded by water for a month, in my mind, there should be NO STINKING DUST! But there it is, always. (note to me:ask Don if that is true on submarines)

Where do those little aggravating fruit flies come from when we leave a banana out too long? If we eat it soon enough, do we eat those sleeping bugs as eggs?

Do you wonder what happens to all that dye in colas you drink? They go in brown and come out sorta yellow. Then you eat a yellow cake and that comes out sorta brown?

What will I think about all day in a Nursing Home when Sherry puts me there? (I tell them all to do that) When it comes time, will I be mad at them, or accept it?

(Maybe if I think of sex I can smile?)

These things don’t bother some folk, but I wonder sometimes what folks think about all day that do not have a job. So just now I THINK, “SELF, that might WELL be the answer, if you had a job, you wouldn’t be concerned about this silly stuff.”

Amazing, this self analyzing, much better than paying a psychologist. I am not sure about the results though. At my age I can consider I am saving Medicare some money.

Maybe tomorrow I won’t be thinking and can make a good entry. Thanks for putting up with my ramblings.(I do much better when I don’t think!)

Nite Shipslog

PS:

There are many who dare not kill themselves for fear of what the neighbors will say.

—Cyril Connolly

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1911 Walker

Sometimes things do not go right!

2012-01-11T09:00:00.001-08:00

“Now Sir, You are holding onto 6000 volts, it must be well insulated, cause you sure aren’t. I know this is going to be embarrassing, but hold on until they get the pillow inflated!”

I was in the Marines. Seventeen and headed home on the weekend. I had three other guys with me. The paid $5 for the round trip, about 250 miles. I was driving a 1950 Chev. Business coupe. Topping a small hill, there was a farmer in a p/u. Arm straight out for the left turn. Most vehicles did not have turn signals then.

The only thing was the ditch on the right and I yelled, ‘hold on’ as I tried to stay out of the ditch and miss the truck, when I was about at his tail gate, he turned right. I took both fenders off the truck and ruined the side of my car. We made up $75 to give him and headed on our way.

Sometimes things go wrong.

Deployed on a ship a lot of trash accumulates. The ‘Old Man’ will announce when you can dump trash, on a Carrier two places are used off the fan tail or the very end of the side elevators. The ship had encountered a fire and everyone was ordered to the hanger bay. So there were 2 or 3,000 men talking and lounging around talking.

A young seaman was following orders and going to empty trash off the elevator. He had a 55 Gal drum full of trash on a fork lift and drove it to the edge of the elevator, as he had many times. However this time he got off and the fork lift started again, going right off the elevator into the sea. It got deathly quiet, the kid was starring back at the spot. Every one heard the Chief say, “Son, quit looking it ain’t gonna float!”

Yep, sometimes things just go wrong. Once Sherry and I along with her sister Lennie and her husband Elmer were on our way to Canada. We entered Virginia, Elmer is a good singer and sings most of the time. We were all singing along and about an hour and a half into Virginia, Elmer quit singing and asked me, “How long will we be in Tennessee, Jack?”

“Elmer you won’t see Tennessee this trip.”

“Really? That sign you just passed said, WELCOME to Tennessee!”

Folks, there are no short cuts in that part of Virginia and Tennessee. haha!

Yep Sometimes things go wrong, 100 miles West when we should have been 100miles North.

Hopefully in your life when things have not gone right, they weren’t too bad. I just saw on the news where a girl was bungee jumping and the rubber band broke. Thank goodness she survived with minor injuries, because she was over a deep river.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

If the lessons of history teach us anything it is that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us.

—Anon

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1930 V16 Caddy, a work of beauty!

No one in our family ever rode a school bus

2012-01-10T07:51:00.001-08:00

But as a kid I always wanted to. We lived in High Shoals, NC at the time, that was in the country, but the school was still within walking distance. Shirl was in school then, but still walked to school. You know the old story 10 miles up hill in the snow!!!

I am guessing, it was probably about 3/4 of a mile. The only kids to ride busses were the ones Way out in the country. I have often wondered what the limits were, when it came to walking. When I started to school, the school was about 4 blocks from the house in Burlington, NC. The longest distance I walked was in Albemarle, NC. Probably about 2 miles. IF we were late we could make it in about 20 minutes, but usually walking, playing and talking it was about 45 minutes.

I don’t remember how Shirl go to High school, that was a longer distance, probably 4 miles. I don’t remember her riding the bus. Maybe dad drove her.

I rode my bike most of the time after Shirl was in another school. Funny no one locked their bikes and they were parked, laid down, leaned up against the school or a tree. Most did not have kick stands. I do not remember of one being stolen, although I am sure there was the rare case.

Whoa, Valdese, NC we were so close to school I could leave after the first bell and be in class on time. There was two bells. the first was a call to class, the second meant if you were not in class you were late, or tardy as they called it.

Belmont, NC we were about two miles away from the school. That was always a fun walk. I started to school met up with Scottie, joined the others, Neil, Harold and Kenneth from the Climax mill village, behind the mill. If it was winter the workers had a barrel of scrap wood burning and we could warm up.

(I do believe this one has Ohio tags!)

(School buses were some of the first RV’s by handy folks)

That was my last school before I quit. Two churches dad pastored had had SS Busses. The one in High Shoals, (Shirl got in a big way talking and volunteered the Church bus for a class outing), which dad honored since Shirl was his pet in the family. I loved to ride in the church busses to pick up folks for church. It probably wasn’t that much fun to those who had to ride, but I always thought it would be fun.

Thanks for dropping by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. Now I’m beginning to believe it. (remember he died in 1938, he was referring to FDR)

—Clarence Darrow he also said:

I don't like spinach, and I'm glad I don't, because if I liked it I'd eat it, and I just hate it.

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I guess if I wanted a School bus so bad, I should have done this!

I like Wyatt Earp but I also liked Matt Dillon.

2012-01-09T09:15:00.001-08:00

I am a child of the cowboy movies. When heroes were the good guys. I grew up sneaking into movies on Saturday mornings to see a Cowboy Movie, a comedy, a cartoon and a Serial. Drinking a nickel coke and a ten cent bag of pop corn.

The cowboys were Tom Mix, Roy, Gene, & Rex Allen. (There were many more of course) I liked the Comedy (like the Three Stooges), Cartoon Daffy Duck, the serial I remember one was Rocket Man, BUT THE MAINEST THING WAS THE COWBOY MOVIE!

Being in Deadwood and seeing where Wild Bill had been just whetted my appetite. So on our trip to N. Platte, we noticed we had a few days so I suggested we go on down to ‘DODGE CITY’, Kansas. On the out skirts was some stock yards, they still ship a lot of cattle evidently. Now if you were a cattle man you would have said “That smell like money!” But to Easterners it smell like sh—, well….. manure!

After Sherry found us a RV spot for the night we drove around. Shucks, this looks like any city, where is Matt Dillon, Doc, Kitty and Chester? Back to the RV Park and talk with the Manager. Oh, you want to go to ’Old Dodge City?’

“Yeah why you think we drove 1800 miles? To see a regular 20th century city?”

So we got directions to the Old Mock up of the old western town.

First place was Boot Hill. I loved reading the Tombstones. such as:

Of course we went to the Long Branch and had a Sarsaparilla.

But Honestly it was fun. Even driving around New Dodge city, they have some beautiful Murals depicting the glory days of the town.

One high light was an old Steam train ride. Entertained by “Darrel, Darrel and the other Brother Darrel.”

What most disappoints me, is honestly Matt Dillon is never mentioned. No one appreciates the fact that truly ‘Gunsmoke’ brought attention to the town.

It is true that Wyatt Earp & Bat Masterson did exist and cleaned up the town (according to history), but to most folks, James Arness was bigger than life.

I even like Willie Nelson’s song, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”. There has been an image in my mind of good, honest hard working men who said what they meant and meant what they said.

Thanks for coming by the log,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Just the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.

—Carl Sagan

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(We are looking at our next motor home!)

But here is what I want to tow:

1956 Ford Sunliner

The thing I feared

2012-01-08T11:55:00.001-08:00

(Todays cars, The great variable Metropolitans for no particular reason, I just liked them)

A statement, “the thing I feared has come upon me.”

There were small things growing up, I learned to cross my eyes and mama said, be careful or they will freeze like that.

(Snow mobile metro)

Daddy got me a BB gun, I loved it. Folks said, “be careful, those things put eyes out.”

When I was trying to learn to wield, “Be careful of the flash, it can burn your eyes and blind you.”

Most power tools give the warning to wear eye protection, and for good reason. Sight is a very important sense.

I had a wonderful aunt, Aunt Georgia, who went blind. To a curious boy she explained to me how she knew when a glass or cup was about full. She did that by placing her finger near the top, that way she could sense the heat or cool. She never spilled or over filled. It was fascinating to see her operate and move around furniture. She did not let the blindness stop her.

Metro concept car.

I have had cataract surgery on both eyes. I can see fairly well. With all the warnings about eyes, we tend to think about them and try to protect them.

Growing up, no one ever warned: you could lose your hearing. Firing rifles, guns, fireworks, etc, I never used ear protection. Back ‘then’ even the military did not require ear protection most of the time.

So now, without hearing aids, I am deaf. With hearing aids I can converse fairly well one on one. This could be me not taking care of my hearing, or it could be normal for me (genetics).

Two men (Ken & Bill) connected with bloggers here, are in danger of losing their sight due to disease or illness. They are appreciative for every day they have sight. If I had shot my eye out (or any of the hundreds of accidents), I would know what caused the blindness. But my ears? That is not sure, no one knows.

(Car 54 where are you?)

There are plenty of possibles, Flight deck, guns and genetics. We must adjust in this world in order to exist. I am becoming more reclusive, but Sherry refuses to ‘allow me to stay home’, so I go with her. When someone speaks to me, Sherry will answer.She feels embarrassed to speak for me, thinking someone will think she has me ‘hen-pecked’. Well she does, but I like that part of it. hahaha.

I am not crying about it, I don’t enjoy it, but I am learning to accept FACTS! (I continually look for any new advancements in hearing enhancements!)

Thanks for coming by the Log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.

—John Wilmot

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This was our 2nd Metro, a 1955. I loved this little car. It was powered by an MG engine. I don’t have a clean picture of it. You can see the tail end of Son-Mark’s TR6.

Devil’s Tower, Buffalo Bill and North Platte

2012-01-07T06:28:00.001-08:00

I love the West and stories of the Pony Express and cowboys. I love history and also care a lot for the make believe cowboy. I am not naïve enough to believe that all the move west was romantic, but I love to think of it as so. Because I love a good story.

Inside the Pony Express Museum

While we were in South Dakota near Deadwood, we also drove over to Sturgis, if you are a biker you know about Sturgis. Well it isn’t far on over into Wyoming and the ‘Devil’s tower’. This is a very unique outcropping that will impress you.

(My buddy and best friend Sonny at the Devils tower)

There is nothing near the Devil’s tower, just the tower. It is a giant, majestic column of rock. It has huge unique grooves on the sides.

(I keep this picture because Sonny took it, we were fascinated by Prairie Dogs)

We drove back thru Sturgis to Rapid City and headed South. Leaving the Black Hills. Just out of South Dakota, we drove thru Valentine, Nebraska. The Heart City. street signs and directions in red and white. Pretty little town.

(Sonny meets Buffalo Bill)

(Sherry & Colette Below at a house at the museum ordered from Sears and Roebuck late 1800 or early 1900’s)

(The house would not be complete without an outhouse complete with corn cobs)

Our destination was North Platt, NE. We wanted to see the museum and Scouts Rest, home of Buffalo Bill. WE got to see both. For you that do not know, N.Platte was a great rest stop for all troop trains East and West during WWII. N.Platte was famous for serving every troop who stopped, refreshments free of charge. I was thrilled to be where my brother and uncles had stopped on the way to serve in the Pacific.

(Moose and Elk antler chair)

Us on Buffalo Bill’s front Porch, in horseshoe seats.

I asked my Brother about it. He smiled and said,”Funny story about that place. The Gov’t had paid the troops before us in silver dollars, and naturally many were spent there. I wanted to buy a beer and only had a $20. The beer was $.50.” He was 17 at the time. “The girl tending bar said she would have to give me silver dollars in change, I told her 19 silver dollars would pull my pants down. She smiled at me and said, mine too! that scared me, I never got that beer.” Gotta love my brother, God rest his soul, I miss him and his dry wit.

(Above:This is an irrigation ditch plow, pulled by 20 oxen)

(Below is Buffalo Bill’s Barn, much of his traveling show was stored here when not on the road)

The Museum had movies of the trains stopping, but with the millions of troops pictured I never saw anyone I knew.

Scouts Rest was nice. Buffalo’s house was neat. Of course there were a few guns, he also had a chair made out of antlers. We rested on his front porch. It was a restful place and many Old Pony Express riders rested here.

Later we may go on down to Dodge City.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left.

—Oscar Levant

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1959 Cadillac Cyclone, never made production.

Skinny dipping (Yeah I know it is winter!)

2012-01-06T08:15:00.001-08:00

I was eleven before I owned a bathing suit. I cannot even remember learning to swim. I think I was sorta like a puppy, it just came about naturally.

I do remember my first encounter with a creek. The Davis’s, a black family, lived below us in High Shoals. Dad Pastored a country church. There was a creek on their property, more like a brook. the deepest place was probably 12 inches. Shirl and I would go down and play with the kids. Sometimes in the barn in the hay and sometimes wading the creek and jumping rocks. I don’t remember, but I am sure I got wet on hot days.

The next church dad pastored was in town and no creeks close by. But when they had a baptizing, I always felt the need to be baptized, so dad would baptize me. A couple times I felt he held me under a little long to try to make sure it would take. LOL. If baptizing will do the trick, and the Lord is keeping track, I have racked up at least 20 baptizing's. LOL

Then we moved to Albemarle, NC. I was introduced to Long Creek. All the boys swam in the creek. I don’t remember anyone having a bathing suit. You either went nekkid, or wore your underwear. I wore my underwear a couple times, but found out that mama did not appreciate muddy drawers. Girls were not allowed, just boys. In my entire life, I cannot remember having more fun than swimming (until I met Sherry).

Even my dog Ace (an English Spaniel) loved the creek. Swimming nekkid also got a 4th grader, who sometimes swam with 8th graders, a lesson, you learned boys grew hair….. under their arms. LOL. Physical education in the creek.

My first trunks were given to me. Von Dale, my best friend in Albemarle, knew about Rock Creek Park and a public swimming pool. Being from very strict religious folks it was considered a sin to go in swimming with girls, we couldn’t let our parents know. Hey, since I had been baptized enough times I didn’t worry too much. And who cared about girls anyway?LOL

SWIM all day for 25 cents. We went there planning to swimming in our cut-off pants. The manager would not allow that, but gave us bathing suits that had been abandoned. He had a barrel of them.

Man I was in high cotton! Shucks, I’ve been lucky all my life!!!!

Thanks for coming by the log,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Work like you don’t need money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no one’s watching

—Unknown Author

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Safety in an early T-Model.

Sightseeing

2012-01-05T14:30:00.001-08:00

If you don’t have too much time and want to see a lot, the Black hills area is fantastic. So much to see and so much history involved. A few years ago we shared a trip with Ted & Peggy (nephew & wife) and Dick & Kat in their motor home. It was a very pleasant trip. Ted & Peg rode with and drove Dick’s Bounder. They spent the night with us. We also made the trip with Sonny and Collette. Then once just Sherry & I.

From NC, we drove thru TN, KY, IL, MO TO GET TO South Dakota. You laugh as you travel seeing signs for ‘Wall Drug’ I was reminded of my child hood when you saw signs all the time ‘SEE ROCK CITY’. So we had to see Wall Drug.

(Every year the theme is different, those pictures are created by colored corn on the cob)

But first was the Corn Palace, then the well known ‘Bad Lands’.

Just thru the Badlands is Wall Drug. The largest Drugstore in the world. A very unique experience, good coffee for 5 cents a cup. HUGE place.

Welcome to Wall, South Dakota. Sherry on one of the many tough horses she rode!!! There is also a huge Jackalope and a fire breathing Dinosaur.

Leaving Wall Drug you head toward Rapid City, SD. Close by is Deadwood, SD. Where in Saloon #10 Will Bill Hickok was shot dead. He is buried in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

This is my BUDDY SONNY the time we went with Colette and Sonny. I am having a problem finding the right pictures, but Sonny and I had a ball, both of us Cowboy fans.

Me at the grave, Calamity Jane is buried beside him.

Next on the swing is Lead, SD and the largest Gold mine in the world. Now closed down.

Bad picture, but those are roads going down into the giant hole, looks like it was a mile deep. ha.

Next you can see Mt. Rushmore. The work headed by Gutzon Borglum.

Ok, I have to switch to the trip with Colette and Sonny, I cannot find the pictures of the other trip.

Notice all the broken stone carved and let fall. Did you know the original plans was to carve them full bodied? They just decided to quit. (Money I think)

Drive on down the road, you must see Crazy Horse. This monument is being financed strictly by private donations. No Federal money, the Indian nations for some reason (?) don’t trust the gov’t. (wonder why?)

The model in front the carving in the back ground. on the right is a night blasting.

There are many more sights here, but time is running out (word wise).

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.

—Abraham Maslow

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1948 Chev. Fleetline.

This car was brand new when Korczak Ziółkowski, started Crazy Horse. As of today only the face and arm are near completion but so far it is a beautiful work.

Some wild stories

2012-01-04T09:35:00.001-08:00

Every one has read of the discoveries by remodelers who tear down a wall to find it full of cash. I have never had that luck and I have torn down a lot of walls. hahaha. However most of the walls I have torn down have never been in the ‘mansion’ category.

I was most impressed by the guy out in a NW state that found Hundreds of thousands in a house and told the owner. What was additionally strange, the money was in OLD bills, the bills themselves were worth more than the face value. It had been hidden in the wall by someone in 1930.

The workers honesty was rewarded (or attempted to reward) with something like $500. The worker balked, “I deserve more!” (in my opinion he did, he could have loaded the money in his tool box, done a bang up remodel job and left RICH no one knowing the difference!)

Arguments ensued, lawyers brought in, then the IRS got into the picture, neither party ended up with much. Amazing what can happen when you do not think. In that case, it was money neither had worked for.

Once, son-Jack, ran into a cloud of money on the highway. Ended up finding loose bills amounting to a couple hundred dollars. There was no way to find the owner, and no ads were seen.

Once we took the grand kids to the beach. I had closed on a house and the banks were not open so we carried the cash to the beach. We drove off and accidentally left a huge amount of money on the curb in a tourist area (during a time we were distracted by our wonderful grandkids on a great trip).It was in a beach bag. It sat there for an hour before we frantically made it back. We found it still sitting there, untouched.

A night or so ago son-Mark called. He had sold his pool table and delivered it 100 miles up the road. On the way back, he stopped on the side of the road to check the trailer, and lost part of his money. Mark is always too distracted to secure his money, usually bills are stuffed in his pockets to straighten later, but he never gets around to it.

This time he drove back the 60-70 miles and found his $120 on the side of the road. Amazing. He told his mom I have a brand new wallet; I hope he uses it. LOL

Thanks for reading this mess.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

—Aristotle

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Ahhh, a blogger mentioned the Crosley, the car way ahead of its time. Production started in 1939.

This is a great World, some good folks

2012-01-03T08:52:00.001-08:00

Looking back at the time around Christmas. The stranger that walked in and paid off all layaways at a K-mart, $9,800 then directed the $200 be given to the Salvation Army, he started a good thing, many folks with less, have done the same type thing.

Another report of a 10 yr old boy putting $20 toward someone’s layaway and specifically asked that it go for one with boys toys.

We have wealthy folk who stand on the street and give out $100 bills in poor neighborhoods. We have folks that give hot coffee to cold homeless folks.

There are folk who pick up the check at a restaurant for troops eating in uniform. Some of us do not think of something like that until an example is made. We have sweet folk that read this blog that work in food banks, have their favorite homeless folk, and raise money for charities.

(Volunteers work in food banks all over this country)

Like I said, there are really some great folk in this world today. God bless you all whether you believe as I do or not. Beliefs? Right, Wrong or Indifferent, I love good people. I understand the reasoning of an agnostic(because I have been there) and pity a mean person(never been there). I despise a cruel human(never been there either) but wish they could understand the meaning of love(been there).

This picture represents the tough folk who withstand the winters, and share with neighbors!

In all my travels and living in 9 states, 26 different houses/locations, 20+ countries, being enlisted in 3 branches of service and serving as the pastor or 3 churches. I don’t think I have met over 10 people, who would qualify as ‘mean’. (I am trying to think of them now, maybe not even ten.) So, out of the thousands of folks I have met, worked and served with, that tells me that there are a lot of good folk in this world.

(Bad guys, Crabby Appleton and Jack Elam)

But ‘good’ doesn’t sell papers or get recognition in this world, NEWS POINTS OUT THE BAD. Like the old statement, the News is where the person opens with “Good Evening, this is the News at Six”, then they proceed to tell you why it isn’t a Good Evening.

But to all you good nice folks out there, Thanks for being yourselves. I still believe the Good will overcome in our every day lives.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

—Will Rogers

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1929 Packard

1929 Studebaker (Looks like Brandon, Our Grand daughter Reece’s guy)

I am amazed at the car similarities.

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And Yeah, I know there are bad guys out there, but I ain’t talking about politicians or bad guys tonight!

I don’t understand, maybe you do.

2012-01-02T08:49:00.001-08:00

(Pictures compliments of Shirl, they may not go with the entry but I like them)

All this money being spent to be the president of the USA is amazing. The GOP candidates are spending millions of dollars telling how they will do better than Obama and especially better than the snakes running against him for the nomination. Then when one is nominated, all of a sudden instead of being a snake, he is a nice guy. Now I said that about the Republicans, to be honest and give equal time, Hillary C and BH Obama all but called each other nasty names, then when the nomination was made, all of a sudden the one chosen was the man of the hour. Then Hillary wasn’t that bad a lady and even qualified to be SecState.

(Could I get some privacy please?)

Always amazes me an apposing candidate is an SOB one day, then qualified to hold the most powerful office in the world the next.

(Some jobs are always illusive)

As they say Politics makes strange bed fellows. I read that the President has a treasure chest of about a Billion dollars to run for re-election. The Republican will also spend a bunch, he would spend a billion too, if he had it. Strange ain’t it? The economy is in bad shape, but the folks running for election or re-election are still sure you can spare another gift of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or any amount above that.

(Strange bedfellows)

We checked our mail this week and had a letter asking for donations.

The confusing thing is: WHY when the nation needs REAL leadership that folks will not pull together. I am not just talking NOW, it has been going on since the 1940’s I know. The problem is not the parties, it is CAREER POLITICIANS. If they were just folks going to Washington for 4-8-12 years and then coming home to a JOB, you would not have that problem as much. To be re-elected the Politician must do things Politically correct, because he must get reelected for the good of the country.LOL

(Well, he didn’t have a coloring book! You do what you have to do!)

WE believe them and send them back. We want our neighbor state to vote their crooked men out, but ours are ok. NO THEY AIN’T! They should all be voted out and start over with TERM LIMITS. Three terms for the Congressman and Two for the Senator. We have had men up there who are senile and still voted back in.

(All politicians look alike)

Okay, I am thru (for now)

Nite Shipslog

PS:

When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

(I’m still thinking about that quote?)

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Young folk dreamed of this ‘55 T-Bird with the ‘porthole’

PHENYLKETONURICS: Contains Phenylalanine…?????(Happy New Year)

2012-01-01T12:45:00.001-08:00

Yeah and I am also eating L. Acidophilus. Are these words proper in mixed company?

(The only big word I can think of when I see this picture is, Beautiful)

We decided to eat yogurt for Breakfast. So while Sherry & Evelyn were getting their hair done, I went shopping. I picked up some store brand and Dannon Yogurt, Strawberry Banana.

It’s pretty good, well it was until I read what is in it! You doctors, nurses, consultants, Transcribers, CNAs, PAs and other smart folks that can say those words without tripping over your tongue, have my respect.

I cannot believe words like that exist. I am stuck with an 8th grade vocabulary, and sometimes I think it is a third grade one. You got smart folks like the Wisconsin folk on here that know words like Pinus strobus and herbaceous forbs.

It is amazing the things us ignorant folk see and eat having no idea what it is. Of course I will find the meaning of those words when I am finished, just now I want to remain in ignorant bliss.

I was proud of my self for being able to read labels for calories, etc. Now I need to know this crap? (showing my ignorance) hahahahaha!

I am not belittling one’s ability to read, know and understand words 13-19 letters long. I truly wish I could, it is just too late in life for me to learn that. So like trusting Doctors (?) I will have to trust someone not to put an ingredient in something I eat that will eventually in itself kill me.

What a stupid entry this is! But what the hey? As my pastor once said, “Jack, it is your blog!”

Did you know ‘smiles’ is the longest word in the world? There is a mile between the first and last letter!

I have read a little about Germany. You must appreciate and understand why folks of German extract are so smart, for an Englishman to try to pronounce even the military organizations (Ordnungspolizei, Reichsarbeitsdienst &Reichsluftschutzbund) he has a rough time, much less spelling them correctly. You must respect Robert, several languages, and still keeps them straight? WOW

The longest name of a town in the UK is the Welsh town (How would you like to address you Christmas cards from this town: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll Llantysiliogogogoch

It means "whose name means St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio of the red cave"

We folks in North America (& UK)remember: Supercalifragilisticexpialidosis ( And yeah, I know I spelled it wrong.)

Thanks for coming this way!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time, to figure out whether you like it or not.

—Virgil Garnett Thomson

(I plan to do that about sex, one day (ok maybe over three weeks)!)

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What wasn’t under the tree this year:

1951 Chrysler, prototype! (They should have built it, looks like the later Jag!)

The year 2011, WOW!

2011-12-31T09:09:00.001-08:00

Amazing that the year started off great, sunny Florida. We moved around a little and were at Rainbow Springs State Park, relaxing and walking.

As in life, things can change over night. We received a call from Ypsilanti that Sherry’s brother Johnny was in intensive care, not expected to live. Johnny is younger than Sherry and I by a couple years. We drove straight thru to Michigan. With no parks open in the winter the Hospital allowed us to stay in the parking lot.

(Looking out our windshield, This was our Van with the boat on top, two days before it was in 80 degree weather)

(Elijah, Candy & Tyler) (Jerry, William and Me)

(Candy is a treasure, those are her grandkids)

We were hit by 12” of snow the first night or day. With the help of the Lord and a good hospital staff, Johnny pulled thru; also with a lot of encouragement from Candy, (his lovely daughter), Sherry, Brenda and William(Niece & Husband from Belmont).

(Sherry, Brenda & Debbie at one of our dinner breaks)

(Wild Bill (Great friend of Johnny’s) and the beautiful Candy, John of course in the back ground)

(Danny, Dave (?), Sherry and Johnny(I had a big problem here, As I snapped this one (that is the head nurse in the back ground), she came in and chewed me out good, she would have made a good DI!).) John had so many friends stop by, Wild Bill was the most consistent, with Jerry next. Wild Bill did not miss more than 1 or 2 days, that is a good friend)

I kept out of the way in the waiting rooms and played on the computers. Sherry says an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. While surfing the net I found a house in Belmont. I knew the realtor, she had sold at least one house for me. I made them an offer and they took it.

I do not know one stock from another. So I do not look at the stock market. BUT I know houses, so when I can invest in a house I do.

Of course the house did not look like the pictures when we got there, but it was still a good buy. We spent a long time making it ours, added a great place for the motor home. We were happy with it.

We both visited doctors this summer. Bad news both ways. They put Sherry on blood pressure meds and Boniva and put me on some cholesterol med. After a month or so I quit because of cramps and a rash. Dr. Lucy prescribed Fish oil, so I am taking a multi vitamin, aspirin, and fish oil.

Sherry still takes the a handful of vitamins & stuff, to keep her young and so she will live forever.

We rented the house to our son Mark and hit the road, we weren’t quite ready to settle down yet. ‘SURPRISE!’ said Sherry. Of course we agreed before anything was done.

This was our 55th wedding anniversary year and we took a cruise. Had a wonderful time. Since we had departed from Florida on the cruise, we just stayed when we got back. We have had a wonderful time here. We stay a week or two weeks here and there. The life we like.

We walk and talk about 2012. We are not exempt from problems, one hangs over us like lead. At present, things are good. I try to live the serenity prayer. As I have said, the prayer is good philosophy if you don’t believe in prayer.

Thanks for looking back with me. This may never see the light of day, but I have written it.

NIte Shipslog

PS:

When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

(That is something I like to believe!)

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My good friend the preacher, was telling us he had one of these that was eat up with termites. But he still dated in it. (Ford, guessing 1940/41)

Innovation, doing something different.

2011-12-30T08:34:00.001-08:00

This is actually a Smith car. I have seen only one and touched it. Dan Doughton, a friend knew a man who owned one, I went to see it. A Smith car, an innovator..

Out of the many folk I have met, ‘few’ are real innovators. Most are like me, give me an idea and I might improve on it. Once or twice I have come up with something I would call original when I was building. Jim Walters was considered a joke when I was growing up. BUT as I looked back at his innovations in building, he was super smart. For you that do not know about walls, when I first got into building, we put up one stud at a time. Jim taught the industry to build the whole wall on the floor then raise it up. Saved many mans hours. That was only one of his ideas.

Now in cooking. I think we have folks that comment on this blog who actually come up with some NEW recipes (Since my epiphany). I have become a pretty good cook, but I copy recipes and add or take away. I have heard DAR, MEL & Cher say, I cooked something but added some extra touches to make it my meal. I have a problem of making something good, but never able to recreate it. LOL.

I saw these neat things:

Brownies baked in ice cream cones then adding the topping.

Then these little cups for fruit or pudding..

See, I wish I had thunk of that! Upside down baking!

Sometimes when I am cooking a soup, I will add an apple. I don’t think anyone knows, but it adds nutrients. I will also add a squirt of mustard (mustard must be good for something). I always add some tomato ketchup to my tomato soup because I read it has more (??? something) than regular tomatoes. I add garlic & a little olive oil to everything, since I heard those things helped you live forever. Shucks, I even drink a swig of the olive oil ( Sherry says, YUK!).OH, I always cook with onions, they must be good for something too.

I am a pressure cooking nut, we buy the el-cheapo 10lb bags of leg/thigh quarters. I skin,em and place 4 in the pot with a tbsp of Garlic and a big dash of Mrs. Dash, then stick two carrots and/or two potatoes.(If I don’t do the potatoes I fix rice using Chic Broth instead of water),

After it is done I thicken the broth for gravy. I strip 2 of the quarters from the bone and save for the next days open face sandwiches. There is enough gravy for both meals. I like green peas and jellied cranberry sauce with the chicken.

Glad you came this way, I hope to write about something tomorrow.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought.

—Basho

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This is the oldest Car in the world. It recently sold for over 4 million I think. 1884 de deon.

Now that is neat, but I wouldn’t want one except to sell it and buy me a MG hill climber.

Obituaries

2011-12-29T08:30:00.001-08:00

One of the places I have subscribed to e-mails from is our local Funeral Home. Each day we get a list of those in our area that have died. It is getting scary, I am seeing as many my age and younger as older now. I am a person who believes in the law of averages, and by that law, my name could be in there any time.

Now basically, all I look at is the name and age. 99% of the time I do not know the person. My girl on the other hand does a lot of reading in the actual obituary. And since Belmont is actually her home town, she finds someone in the family she knows. “Oh, that was Lennie’s friends sister.” Of course most of the time I have no idea who they are. If you aren’t FROM there it is hard to relate.

So, as everyone has pointed out to me, the obit is not for me, it is for the folks who might know me or know who I married. Folks that would be interested in knowing the arrangements.

Hey, how about this subject. I think I done this not long ago. Did I do this subject not long ago? At least I am not getting forgetful.

I might not even write this entry. Who knows. I met a man this week that said at one time he was somebody, now he is somebody else. LOL

Traveling you meet such interesting people. We have a man in this park now (whatshisname), who is, in my opinion, WEIRD. He looks strange and since I tried not to hold that against him last year we talked. Now he might be truthful (but I doubt it), he worked for several branches of the gov’t. State Dept, CIA, and a couple more of the alphabet departments.

He said they all tried to get him fired because he told the truth about them, but he faced them and stayed where he was. He got several hi-upty ups fired though for messing with him. The stories got deeper and deeper. This year I am avoiding the guy on our walks. Sometimes being deaf has its advantages. LOL

Anyway back to the obits. I haven’t appeared there yet.(not sure about whatshisname, though)

Life is wonderful, full of friends, interesting folks, weirdo's, kin and just plain good folk. We all make up a world that we have to share, but we don’t have to share coffee and donuts with nuts, do we?

Thanks for coming by the log,

Nite Shipslog

PS: Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes years to write, but only a few seconds to burn.

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My friend Buddy’s mustang. It’s got everything under the hood. He is one of the heroes in my books. He is every bit as good as I write him. Okay, he WAS, he is as old as I.(LOL)

A coon’s age

2011-12-28T14:18:00.001-08:00

A southern expression is “I ain’t seen you in a coon’s age!” Meaning a long time. When that expression was coined no one knew how long a raccoon lived.

So I decided to look into sayings like that, our British friends say “In Donkey’s years”. Donkey’s typically live 45 years. We also like to say, “Ain’t seen ya in a month of Sundays!” meaning a long time.

Donk, from Devon village

That brings me around the long way to my illusive subject today. Dogs age. I have asked folks how old is your dog, they have answered, ‘in human years he is 45’. That formula is multiplying the present age of the dog by 7. There are more complicated formulas, but I am a ‘ball park’ kind of guy with figures.

I have never had anyone say, ‘my cat is 35 in human years’. That would mean the cat is about 7 yrs old. formula is about 5 x actual age.

A cat typically lives longer than a dog, especially a big dog. Small dogs run a cat a good race in years, 17 to the cat’s 21.

There are more complicated formulae but these work for me.

So, with all that I got to thinking. How old am I in girl’s age? Ah ha. According to Gov’t statistics Women live an avg of 79.8 years, while men get 74.4. So my actual age in woman's years is 1.07258 times my age 73. “WOW, in women’s years I am 78.29838 yrs old. Now that I am Sherry’s ELDER, 78 yrs old I expect my senior discount, taken out in trade!!!”

I’m sorry, I know some of you don’t like FIGURES, (AS IN NUMBERS JIMMY, NUMBERS!). So when you say, ‘my dog is 25 human years old’. I am saying “I am 78 years old in girl’s years. Now I am going to need help getting to bed.”

Thanks for putting up with my nonsense,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

What we think, or what we know in the end is of little consequence. The only real consequence is what we do.

—John Ruskin

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fully customized 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline. Notice hood ornament off and door handles shaved.

I recycle, Always have

2011-12-27T08:06:00.001-08:00

Recycling is a big thing today. Using the things we have for some other purpose once they have served their original purpose.

(OK now Listen-up!)

For years utility/farm trailers were made from old car and truck rear ends, axles and wheels. Old inner tubes were kept for tire boots or sling-shot rubbers. I have mentioned, no shoes goes to the trash with shoe strings or leather tongues, I save ‘em. Now, no scrap of wood goes to waste, it is saved for a camp-fire.

(After this story this book goes to the outhouse, ok?)

Truthfully, I no longer save and straighten nails . I do save all used screws though. With mama, all cloth scraps were saved for patches and quilting.

(Shirl’s first kiss,the pig had just brushed its teeth!)

I save ALL magnets. You can recycle paper in many ways. Reuse it until all writing/note space is used. Throw it in the recycle bin or send it to the dump. It is good for the soil and helps to neutralize some hazardous waste that is miss handled. DO NOT USE typing paper or Catalogs in a flush toilet. It is good to use in out houses however. (A little slick but you get used to it!!!)

(Nap time or black and white sandwich)

Some businesses are returning to paper cups because the Styrofoam doesn’t deteriorate fast enough. Really is a good idea, but I hate those card board sleeves at Star Bucks and similar Coffee shops.

(He is having a rough time getting this pug to sleep!)

I wish someone could come up with an efficient incinerator for ALL our garbage. One that would use the heat to generate steam that could generate electricity. My friend VonDale installed these things for awhile, he said one big problem came from the steel belted tires with the steel creating jams and stopping production.

(So I told mommy……)

I understand Mexico City has an incinerator with a very long conveyor belt. Using intensive human labor to pick and sort things for recycling before the furnace. Sounds like a good idea to me. Of course the smell is offensive to some folk who would be too finicky to work there.

(Whew, that finally worked!)

Recycling is a fact of life now. We all need to do it, trash has become a major problem. I would like to see the trash dumped and become part of our interstate road beds. I think the Interstates should widen the center and use that area for trash dumps, or land fills as they are called today.

(Safe!)

Getting close to New Years, think good thoughts and tip a little extra if you go out.

(Was I going to say anything else, Yeah, the pictures are just because I like ‘em)

Nite Shipslog

PS: (I think me and Live Writer are on speaking terms again, I am saying less bad words!)

You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. (Think about that one a little bit!)

—Wayne Gretzky

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1929 Studebaker Commander! What a car!!!

About Nothing much & The Villages

2011-12-26T13:04:00.001-08:00

Florida is a great place to relax and walk most of the winter. It gets a little cool here in central Florida part of the winter. This area here is known for very good Bass fishing. Many lakes around here, the largest and most popular is Lake Griffin, Lake Harris, Lake Eustis and Lake Dora.

(Sunrise from our pier on Mt. Dora, yeah Lucy I was up that early, ONCE! lol)

I love fresh fish, but Bass is not one of my favorite. When we ever caught Bass, it was usually put in stew. The BEST fish here and most places is Crappie. They are called Speckled Perch down here, or just ‘Specks’.

I was surprised to learn that the Tilapia is also big here. It is not indigenous to this area, someone released some in Florida and they have spread like wild fire. When we lived on Lake Dora our neighbor would give us all he caught. You cannot hook the Tilapia, he must be netted. Many guys use the cast net to get their bait fish, and in doing so bring in some Tilapia. It is a great tasting fish, but still not as good as the ‘Speck’.

(There was Gold at the end of the rainbow on Lake Dora!)

(We also had our own alligators, small one only about 6 ‘)

A person familiar with this area 40-50 years ago would not recognize it now. 99% of the land was in Citrus groves, now it seems to be 50% houses.

(Nature walk in the Villages)

Have you ever heard of ‘The Villages’? In our RV we stay near the Villages. It was a dream of one man to have small villages nested together. It has been a big Boon for building. They are expanding now big time. Stare Road 44 was miles from the Villages two years ago, now the Villages are down to 44.

In 2000 the population was 8,333 now it is close to 80,000. All but three of the villages are for ages 55 and up. A person 19 and down, can only live in with someone for 30 days. If you are a Golfer it is a real deal to live in the Villages. There are 38+ golf courses and two or three more being built now. If you live in the Villages you can golf all year at no cost.

(one of many churches)

One of the big advantages of the Villages is you can exist with only a golf cart if you wish. Every convenience and amenity you can think of, is available by roads especially built for the cart. (Walmart’s, banks, jewelry stores and the high end stores also!)

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. …The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. …The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.

—A. A. Milne

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Henry J

Walking, Talking and Florida Citrus

2011-12-25T12:43:00.001-08:00

Tonight Sherry and I went for a little walk. A couple circles around this small park. It is the dustiest I have ever seen it. Down by the dock we watched a turtle swim for a little until it realized someone was there, and headed for parts unknown.

Just about 50 yards something small and black ran thru the leaves under a big Magnolia tree and we could not make out what it was. I figured it was a Mountain Lion, Panther or a killer Black Bear. That gets a good snuggle from my girl. HA! (I wasn’t about to say squirrel) I did get some smooching back in the woods.

We are facing some personal decisions and walking is our time to talk. Nothing earth shaking, no personal physical problems, just a couple family things that may need some attention. Walking helps us to make some good decisions.

(The year I took these pictures I counted a truck like this every 15 seconds for a long period of time, going to Tropi-cana.)

Oh, my son is putting his ‘92 Z-28 up for sale. It is a convertible. I think Sherry and I would look snazzy in it. hahahahaha.

But 92 is a little new for my taste. But then it may trade for an MG who knows?

We haven’t had a campfire in a while, I think tomorrow may be the time. Of course it is eally warm, Orlando just broke a record, 85 down there.

Ahhhhh, Florida citrus is in. Tangelo’s, Navels, Hamlin's and Honey bells. If you squeeze an equal number, you get a GREAT juice. MMMMM good. Where we get them they are $6 and $6.50 for a half bushel. We have picked our own cheap before, once for $1 a bushel.

Before Dick and Kat died, and we traveled together, Dick could find the best fields for veggies. 5 gals of tomatoes for $4, 5 gal of bell peppers for $3, and strawberries $.25 a quart. (Plus all you can eat as you pick). We don’t do that now, we aren’t close to the veggies anymore.

But that is beautiful Florida at Christmas time. I was telling Sherry I remember when we drove down on a vacation a long time ago and I said, “I would love to live here one day.”

Thanks for coming by the log,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else’s can shorten it.

—Cullen Hightower

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RED 1961 Corvair for Christmas….. We had a white one like this in Cuba.

Christmas trees

2011-12-24T08:53:00.001-08:00

There is something about a live Christmas tree that does a little more to light the Christmas fire. I am speaking again from memories because it has been probably 40 years since we had a live tree. Well maybe not that long, but the one I remember last was that long ago.

Moscow

I read Dars Stuffings and her going with her mom to get the perfect Christmas tree. That brings back the times of going with my dad to cut two trees. One for the church and one for the house. Then he just looked for a nice cedar. Once it was snowing, that was in Albemarle about 1949. It was beautiful. Then home with them tied on top of the car. Dad always took a sharp axe to cut the tree. He hadn’t always been a Preacher, he could swing an axe.

St. Peters, ROME

Then back home to make a stand; sawing and nailing braces to the tree. He always had a rough time getting it as straight as he wanted it. But he finally succeeded. Once it was straight, the cotton was rolled out under the tree. (Now we use sheets) Back then decorations weren’t much. But no one expected what you see today. No matter what it looked like, it was accepted, it was THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

Portugal Spain

I think we lived in Rutherfordton, NC. I waited until most of the trees were gone and what was left were the ‘bad looking give-away ones’. I thanked God for Charlie Brown, because what we bought (for a dollar) was a scraggly tree, Jackie was about 5. We got excited about the Charlie Brown tree, it was probably our best decorating time, helping the tree look happy.

(Arlington)

I hope you are happy with your tree. Artificial or real, sheets or cotton beneath, Many or a few presents, it doesn’t matter; It is Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, And thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

When hungry, eat your rice; when tired, close your eyes. Fools may laugh at me, but wise men will know what I mean.

—Lin-Chi

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At least one person reading this would like to have this for Christmas:

The Christmas Gift Snowball

2011-12-23T08:19:00.001-08:00

I am accused of living in the past, and that is a fair assessment, BUT where else is an old man gonna live?

Christmas has always been a time for gifts and sharing. I was told it was better to give than to receive. Now as a kid I really didn’t believe that, but I still didn’t mind giving.

Up until my first grade, I received a small toy and clothes. We were not poor, but in the 30’s, 40’s, & 50’s Christmas was a festive time. Time of visits, good food and of course gifts. Shirl and I were fortunate, we were the second litter, you might say. We probably got more in two or three Christmases than our older Brothers and sisters got the whole time they were home.

The whole thing was not the biggest gift, but a gift. Christmas day it didn’t matter if you got skates, fruit, candy, ball glove, bat or bicycle, it was Christmas and if the weather was good everyone was out celebrating NO SCHOOL. That was the biggest gift.

When I see friends buy a very expensive gift for a child for Christmas, my deepest thought is what are you gonna do next year these things snowball you know? It seems to generate higher hopes until it seems to be outrageous. Now here I go, it really is none of my business what is spent, so why would I get my nose out of joint. Of a truth IT AIN’T NONE OF MY BUSINESS. But I would advise to buy and choose wisely.

Old story around Sherry’s house is about a Christmas when she was close to ten and brother Johnny a couple years younger. The family drew names. John drew Sherry’s name. He was supposed to spend fifty cents on a gift. But he spent most of the money then bought her a nickel Milky Way and wrapped it . According to Johnny, SHERRY was not happy!

Merry Christmas, and thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

—Ambrose Redmoon

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This year I don’t want much for Christmas.. Either will be fine. (LOL)

1953 MG or the 1955 Chevy…

(If my rich Uncle hadn't died, and if he had liked me…….. oh well!)

What do you prefer to read?

2011-12-22T10:06:00.001-08:00

A lot of older folk read for enjoyment and entertainment. I have written and published 6 books now, and being honest, I was near 60 before I sat down and read a book through. That is, one that did not relate to work. I cheated in school and wrote book reports on books I checked out and scanned, then wrote a report. I was caught only once.

I checked out a small book titled, ‘Rockefeller’, it had a picture of a steam shovel on the cover. I did not look at the book. (That was in the third grade.) I wrote a report of a steam shovel named Rockefeller. Okay, it was stupid, it was a biography . How in the world could Mrs. Fleming know that? There were thousands of book in the Library. Well she knew, to her credit she did not embarrass me, but on the report she wrote, a good story Jackie, but the book was about one of the most famous men in early America’s industrial revolution, John D. Rockefeller. I am giving you a ‘C’, only because you did write a good yarn.

At Sam’s Club one day I bought a BIG THICK book, by Clancy, ‘Executive Orders’. It was a big book and I figured it would take me a year to read it. To my surprise I read it in less than a week. That started me. As of today I have read over 900 books.

I love to read. My favorite authors are: Jack Higgins, Archer, Baldacci, Brady, Brand, Clancy, Compton, Cook,Creighton, Cussler, Deighton, Fast, Flynn, Follett, Forsyth, ahh… Grisham, Hoag, Isles, Johansson, Kellerman, Then there is the BEST for me, LOUIS L’AMOUR, Ludlum, O’Shaughnessy, Robert Parker (may he RIP), James Patterson!!!, Sanders, John Sanford!, Sidney Shelton, Scott Turow and Woods. Of course that is not all. I met Jack Darnell who lives a life style still in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. A prince of a man. His publisher, ‘Y’ comments on this Blog.

Jack Higgins, (Harry Paterson)

I learned late, reading is one of the most rewarding practices. I took great pride in seeing some of my books listed as used, on Amazon. I buy used books myself, Something about a book, it makes no difference if the pages are loose, as long as they are there, the book does not know it is old or used, just that it contains someone’s heart and soul poured into the writing of it.

I will not finish a book that does not hold my interest. Sherry is a little different, when she starts one, she is there ‘til the finish. NOT ME! I’m gone to another book.

Now I like mystery. I like spy type or police investigators. I love westerns. I am a fiction type guy. I know enough about true life. I like L’amour because the bad guy ALWAYS LOSES! The good guy is gonna win. I like that, because that is how I like to see life. I feel I have won.I have striven to live a life of honesty, I am not afraid to face any customer I ever had. I have had houses where I replaced stuff 8 yrs after the warranty ran out. I never wanted anyone to bad mouth me.

This is too long I just looked at the word count. OUCH. anyway I hope you like to read, it is a great past time.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

(That on takes some thinking!)

—Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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This is a1954 Hudson Italian (You are fortunate if you have seen one of these.)

Dreaming? Sometimes it becomes reality!

2011-12-21T18:19:00.001-08:00

Sonya started off her blog a couple days ago dreaming of a great place to write, a cozy cabin was her thoughts. I thought of the wonderful cabin Dar & Bill built back in the quiet of the timbers. What a get away!

(Bill, Me & what's her name, Darla!, bet there ain’t any green grass there now!!)

We visited the home of Carl Sandburg in the Mountains of North Carolina. To get back to his house, you had to walk. There was no road in. He had a great room at the very top with an inspirational view. Side note, his wife raised award winning goats there, what ever that means.

Then there was not so peaceful site of Hemmingway‘s home in Key West. He didn’t even have a great view of the water later, but he had his cubby hole that he loved to relax in, when not at a bar. I think they still reserve his seat at Sloppy Joe’s on Duval St.

Visiting Falmouth, Nova Scotia and many towns in New England, you encounter many widow walks. Some writers have converted them to rooms for writing. I have always thought that would be the IDEAL!

(the widow’s walks, something at the highest point of the house, so the wife could look out to sea, while the husband was at sea.)

When I first saw my girl, She had a dress down to her bobby socks and many Crinolines. We got to know each other and feel in love. Well I fell in heat, then fell in love, LOL.

The guys that got us together were Doug Carver, Dale Hartness along with Billy Ogden former boy friend(ha!) they were much older than us (2-4 yrs) haha. Doug was already married. After Sherry & I started going together, Dale married Hazel.

We visited them in at their cozy lover’s nest and outside I had to tell Dale that Sherry & I were French Kissing.(Well folks that was a BIG deal!) I was one proud Guy, knowing that Dale had now experienced Sex and I really wanted to know more about it.

I, A wise 16 year old, said, “French Kissing is sorta like sex,…. isn’t it?”

(Doug & Grace(w/Joey) on left and Dale and Hazel (R))

Dale already had a smile on his face and he laughed (not a mean one, just a knowing one), “Not even close Jack, not even close! You will find out!”(yeah, I was dumber than dirt!)

Anyway as I said if you dream enough, sometimes it comes true. (Well to be honest all my efforts were fruitless, there had to be a wedding first!) BUT WOW!

I still dream, next month I will be 73, and yes, I still dream(with no limits). I will come up with a great idea for another business and say, “Hey, wouldn’t it be great to build a retirement home for seniors, it would be a great business!” Yeah, open my mouth, then I get that look, ‘honey, you are retired!’ (Yeah… I know!)

I have always admired dreamers. If not for dreamers we would not have electricity, light bulbs, RV’s and millions of other advancements.Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS: (note to me)

WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, BUT IT DOES take away today's PEACE.

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This is a 1950 Ford Woodie, pretty rare.

I Like a Good Christmas Story

2011-12-20T11:59:00.001-08:00

I guess Charles Dickens with his Christmas Carol, has been the most impressive Christmas Story. Written in the 1800’s is definitely a classic. He defined a ‘Scrooge’ that has lived thru the centuries.

I receive many good stories, I love the ones that touch the heart. Today there are folks who make more and more stories because of the Christmas spirit. I have known Jewish folk and one agnostic who celebrated the season because of the good done in this period.

People get more generous at Christmas. I have mentioned that I have finally reached the place that I could pass a Salvation Army kettle without feeling guilty, even though I had given before or at another store.

This year I have noticed they are not kettles anymore but Plastic containers with an enclosed top to keep the quick hand from retrieving from, instead of dropping a donation (a sad testimony of the times). But my Sherry must drop a dollar in EVERY ONE, I don’t mind at all, it is Christmas, for heaven’s sake.

(Never saw these guys before)

I saw a report of a Santa who gave away $20,000 dollars on the street in a less fortunate neighborhood. Those folks will remember that.

We may never make someone’s day by giving a lot of money, but a smile, a helping hand, a small gift or a meal. Many things make wonderful Christmas stories.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together.

—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

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Yeah, I know it isn’t a car, but it looks like my Sister Shirl, she loves pigs.

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This is close to a 1960’s caddy, not sure what exact year.

Can I call this a Crunchy Salad?

2011-12-19T07:59:00.001-08:00

I snack a lot in the evenings, I eat pretzels and apples usually. Some evenings I eat lo-fat tortilla chips and a corn and black bean pasta. I love that. (Citrus is also in, YEAH!)

Last night Sherry was preparing Lasagna for so I thought I would get in her way and make me a snack. While the sauce was simmering, I washed and cut into 1/2” to 3/4” chunks three carrots and three stalks of celery. Added to the bowl was about three tablespoons of Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing. I sprinkled Mrs Dash (original) liberally and a little salt. I found a 1/4 sweet onion in the refer, cut it up and added it.

(The bowl was full 20 minutes ago)

Sherry needed a block of Mozzarella cut into slices, so what I had left was chunked and added to my snack. I liked it. I had some dried Raspberries, I should have added those, but I didn’t. My problem is I make this for the evening and eat it in 20 minutes. Shucks, now what else can I make?

(Lasagna being put together, I just noticed the box behind the Pyrex, yeah you guessed it, Chocolate Hazelnut Rolls, Sherry’s goodies.)

I like Mrs. Dash, since I don’t know a thing about spices (except ketchup, salt and pepper). I use that so I can say I added some spices. I am laughing to myself. We came home last year and a baggie of green leaves was on our step. I looked around, not gonna touch the stuff. I knew it was marijuana someone had delivered to the wrong place. In awhile Sherry got a call from Mary, Corinne’s mama, “Did you find the parsley I left you?”

“Sure did, and thanks,” whew mystery cleared and we ain’t headed to jail. hahaha.

(That is Parmesan Cheese on top and a pound of mozzarella inside with a lot of goodies.)

The lasagna is finished and ready for the refer, we found a spot for it, barely. This recipe is the best lasagna I have ever tasted. Sherry got it from Joan Doughton while we were in the Navy. She serves it with a salad and Garlic bread. MMM good.

Now I am trying to slow the chunky salad down, I have added green tea and mixed nuts on the side.

Glad you came along to read the log. I appreciate it.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

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Speaking of Bend…. USA Studebakers were built in South Bend, IN. SB is Also the home of some University, Oh yeah, Notre Dame. LOL

Looks like a load of ‘48-‘49 Studebakers loaded on a Studebaker hauler followed by two Studebaker pickups.

Out with the Old

2011-12-18T09:41:00.001-08:00

Our Motor home came with a Microwave/Convection Oven combination. About a year ago the front panel showed signs of coming loose. A few days ago the Door was hard to open. It usually jumped out when the release was pressed. All of a sudden ‘no-jumpee’. But you could pull it open, so we could still use it. A couple days ago Sherry was thawing something and the turn table would not turn (No biggie). We could still use it.

My usual routine is, find one on the internet and see what the problem is and as a last resort, HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO REPLACE? I need the model #. It is just inside the door. NOW THE DOOR WON’T OPEN, but I am resourceful, two large screw drivers pry the sucker open.

To replace it, $595.00. OUCH! …… My sweet heart to the rescue, ‘we don’t need the convection, just the microwave’. Better, now the over the stove Micro is ONLY $185.00.

Removing and installing in a Motor home is not like a home. A little tricky. But it is now installed, OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT, it was on sale for $173 tax and all.

The old one weighed 70 lbs, the new Micro Wave was about 30 lbs less, NICE.

Living on the road has some of the same drawbacks as your house, things still go wrong. I was thinking, that has lasted well, it was a SHARP Oven. It died at 12 yrs old. I thought about trying to get it fixed, but replacing it was better. I never buy the extra service or extended warrantees, maybe I have been fortunate, but most stuff lasts long enough, if I bought and renewed the ins, I would usually pay for a new ‘whatever’.

I am pretty good at accepting things, if it goes bad after the normal warranty, I will accept the loss without saying, ‘I shoulda got the maintenance agreement.’ NOW THAT IS MY PHILOSOPHY, NOT MY RECCOMMENDATION TO ANYONE. Everyone must decide for themselves about that stuff.

Thanks for stopping by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, it will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, it can't last long either. (We all say that in many different ways, but it is true world wide!)

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1961 VW truck. One durable piece of plunder (a quote from my dad)

Role Models

2011-12-17T07:26:00.001-08:00

(Before I start I received a comment from a special lady, Lindie. Hope all is well with you. Love you lady! (She was the first person ever to comment on my journal))

I can remember growing up I had many role models. I liked Gene Autry better than Roy Rogers, but they both were good role models. Gene didn’t waste a lot of time with girls. he just got the bad guys. I did fall out with him once when he sang something about ‘Hair of gold lips like Cherry wine, prettiest girl I ever seen and I gonna make her mine.” Of course he redeemed himself with ‘Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer’( LOL).

When I got older I switched to the Duke. You just didn’t mess with John Wayne! I had family heroes too, I looked up to both my brothers, they were MEN!

I never had sports heroes much, I remember thinking Babe Ruth must have been a great guy. I liked Joe Louis and Floyd Patterson, they seemed to be gentle men, who could knock your head off if they needed to prove they were men.

I don’t follow sports much. But now a guy named Tebow is making the news. From what I read, he is doing nothing different than he has done all his life, ‘live his convictions’. He is a clean cut guy and I would think a good role model. Yet someone has created a new work I understand, called Tebowing. Not sure how it is pronounced, but it is a real word now.

A school just expelled some boys for a day for ‘Tebowing’. (Saying they caused a fire hazard, really!) I read a lot of folks making fun of the guy. Since I have a little experience in this area, I tend to sympathize with this guy Tebow.

Most of my experience comes from being a preacher’s son of a small but growing religious group in the 1950’s known as The Church of God, So as a Preacher’s son I did feel some resentment.

Now here comes old Tebow (preacher’s son). He is doing what he has always done. Far from being a ‘sissy’, but he quietly bows and says a silent prayer as he has been taught to do. To me he appears to be a great role model, don’t cuss, never done drugs or smoked, he is not ashamed to be a virgin, etc. He is doing what his family taught him (like I should have done, but couldn’t stand up to the snide remarks)! What is not to like and want your kids to look up to? Sometimes humans amaze me.

It seems we prefer the guys who can cuss, drink, play around, then come out Sunday and bust some heads. Something wrong with a picture where folks want their kids to admire that!

Thanks for coming this way,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?"

He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

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1955 Ford T-Bird, most kids dream car.

Any Strange Eating Habits

2011-12-16T07:29:00.001-08:00

My girl has only one strange eating habit, anything chocolate. She has been thrilled by some doctor study that dark chocolate is good for you!

I forgot, she does have one characteristic that I think is strange, she can eat just a bite of something. Not me, I want the whole thing. I remember a friend in Cuba telling her how amazed she was that Sherry could just eat a bite. Her remark was ‘If I take a quart of Ice Cream out of the freezer, it never goes back in. The container goes in the trash’. Many times Sherry will say, I just want a taste. I cannot do that and be happy.

(Street lights in Hershey, PA are kisses)

(The light is vanilla or butter pecan though, LOL)

As I type this, she is fixing supper. Beans, cabbage, and salmon patties. I had to have a bite of canned salmon before she mixed it up, but I really did want the whole can!!!

What do I get? I get the cabbage core, when I was younger if daddy wasn’t around I got the whole core. If he was there I had to share it. I love the core with salt. I like most veggies raw, but about the only ones I eat raw are carrots and Celery. Every once in a while I like some ‘sweet onion’ with some salt. I also eat what peelings there are if an apple is peeled.

I have a friend who eats all of an apple except the stem. I do that sometimes. Roughage it is called. hahaha!

Meat? I Love chicken and fish. Of course I love a good steak (any cut) but we have cut waaaay back on red meat. I will eat soy (fake meat), I think I like all wild meat, never tried bear though. I ate pheasant once and duck once didn’t care for either. Never ate a ‘possom nor ‘coon. Love rabbit and squirrel. Mama made some of the best squirrel gravy. Love quail but only had it a couple times when I was trying to raise them.

I enjoy food too much, I think. I have wondered if other folks had tastes for things like cabbage cores? These holidays are the time for food, it seems like.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

So why is a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on.

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Ever hear of a Delauney, this is an 1912 model, pretty thing isn’t it.

Things Strategically Placed

2011-12-14T07:34:00.001-08:00

Have you ever bought something and started to read the ingredients, or the directions and the price sticker was right where you wanted to read something? I got a funny e-mail that represents my thinking, what about ‘Cooking for your Dog?’ The only thing missing here is Spunky sitting there while Lucy cooks!

Then there is the nasty word that got Imus kicked off the air:

Now it isn’t so bad when they peel off easily but some of these are meant not to be removed, I hear there are unscrupulous people who will change price tags or bar codes.

I also wanted to show you probably the last picture that was ever made of this guy! This is serious, I hope it was a trick photo, otherwise there is new meaning when mama ain’t happy:

I thought some of these sticker mistakes were better than the e-mails of the WalMart dress codes.

They do get worse, but first a 1957 Buick Roadmaster, they didn’t get much better:

Not being nasty, but there was a time that mama’s did put urine in ears for ear ache, maybe this was an OLD PERSON fixing the package.

And there was the Article about:

DIDN’T I FOLLOW YOU YESTERDAY?

Most of us have read MOBY DICK:

We all know of the photo’s taken of Adam & Eve for publication had strategically placed leaves or bushes:

So shall we all Sin or Sing together? ‘Y’’s Granddaughter has been singing to her. Funny how dropping a letter or covering one changes a lot of meaning.

Thanks for stopping by the Log, I hope you can read perfectly all the ingredients and instructions required this Christmas season!!!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The richest man is not he who has the most, but he who needs the least.

—Unknown Author

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This is a 1960 Desoto Fireflite 4dr hardtop