Menus, eggs and Forks

(Disney egg)

We eat out 2-4 times a week. 2 breakfasts and 2 lunch or dinner usually. I dread to order so I will usually look for something that I am sure there can be no questions about.  Sometimes I even point to a picture.Then the Questions begin.  I have to look at Sherry and most of the time she will answer for me.

I started this because we ate at Denny’s the other morning. I love Denny’s pancakes, I remember the Original Grand Slam, I liked it, it was $2.99.  Now I order the same thing and it will invariably be about $20 for two, including the $1.75-$2.50 coffee. I forget to state how I want my eggs, so I say ‘what ever she said’, and point to my sweetheart.

How many menus does a restaurant need? We have eaten at places that had up to 5 menus. It is done to confuse old folk. I am going to take note from now on to see if they give young folk 5 menus.

Many times Sherry will order and I will say, I’ll take what she ordered. AND I STILL GET ASKED QUESTIONS!

I don’t care if I point to a picture and say I want this. Without fail I will have to answer at least one question.

One of these days I am going to say, “Surprise me!”

I know according to most physicians I should not eat eggs because I have high cholesterol. I seldom do eat them, but I love eggs. I usually eat them with a fork, I never saw the need to use a knife to cut them up, for some reason. I like them anyway they are served, from raw to boiled, I love the taste of them.  I prefer sunny side up.(My daddy was once asked how he liked his eggs, and he said, I like them!)

I like them with gravy.

I like them scrambled with cheese.

I love an omelet, presently I get a veggie omelet if I have one.

I did read the other day that I should have at least 2 eggs a week.(I wish they had said 2 doz)

I think I told you this, I came back from a cruise once and mama asked what I wanted to eat and I said 3 doz eggs. I stopped her at 2 doz, I had enough. They had powdered eggs on the ship. They aren’t bad if you use a bottle of ketchup.

Do you like eggs? Omelets?

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Mama taught me to gather eggs at 5yrs old. I don’t think Shirl liked messing with the chickens except to feed them.

I like Easter eggs too!

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Every trip was a Honey moon

I grew up with dad driving all night to get somewhere.  If he got sleepy he pulled off the road and took a nap. Those were the days before the word Motel was around these parts. There were Tourist Cabins, Tourist Courts, Motor Courts and Car Camps. The word Motel was coined in 1925 in Las Angeles.  But it was slow getting to the East coast.

The price per nite at the Tourist Cabins was $2-$5 and out of the  question just for a place to sleep. Conservative folks would not waste that money. So even though we traveled a lot until I was 16, I never saw the inside of a motel.

No fast food places or restaurants for food, mama always packed enough for what we called a picnic. Every so often counties would place a Picnic Table along the road.  There would be a small sign ‘Free Picnic Table Ahead’. If it was summer and we passed watermelons for sale, dad would buy one to go along with the picnic. I always enjoyed seeing his big fist ‘bust that melon’. The the pieces were broken up, we ate salt on our ‘melon’. Mama always had salt.

The Bride in front of the motel, Dad’s Rambler we were driving.

So it is no wonder that Sherry and I enjoyed our one night Honeymoon. WE got a motel beside Lake Lure. “NOW LEME TELL YOU , ‘AT WAS HEAVEN.”

We were married on Sat evening, honeymooned Sat nite, Loved all day Sunday, and I had to drive back to the base Sunday night and leave my new WIFE.

T(The Groom outside the motel)

So after that, EVERY TRIP WAS A HONEYMOON. That is how we viewed vacations, nights out, weekends, etc., for the first 50 years of our marriage methinks. Maybe we are becoming the old married couple! You think?

Did I fall in love with MOTELS? You bet.  So We have honey mooned in many motels since then, until we found our rolling love nest.

 

I e-mailed our Grandson Josh and his beautiful bride Megan this week asking them, to never become the old married couple, always remain newly weds. He e-mailed back and said they would remain newly weds until Grandpa and Grandma become the Old married couple. 

Glenda, who comments here (Ah, she was a little beauty too), talks about when she was 12  that she remembers Sherry & I kissing a hugging a lot.  I guess we did.

We seldom stay at a motel anymore, but we consider the cruise ship, a good substitute.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

I am sitting here as I type and look over at my bride as she is playing a game on her computer, I am one lucky dog!!!!

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Yeah Santa must update also…/

This Second Childhood

Once you  get as old as I (and some other bloggers I know), we find in this Childhood parents are not around to say, don’t do that!

I thought about that when I was commenting on Lucy’s blog where she mentioned that Joe had taken a fall.  And not long before Lucy took a nasty fall.

(Borrowed from MA’s blog)

Even if some well intended son or daughter (or worse, a spouse) says, ‘you shouldn’t do that,’  just as in the first childhood, then you gotta do it just to show you can.

(No problem, solid as the rock of Gibraltar)

Problem is, in this second childhood, it is not a bump or scratch, it just might be a broken bone. The human is the strangest animal, at this age we should KNOW better than to take an obvious chance, BUT DANG IT, WE DO IT ANYWAY.

(This will just take a minute)

We really aren’t ignorant, we know Billy down the street just broke a hip and Mary over the hill just broke her arm.  We are the ones that said when we heard it, ‘they should have been more careful.’

(Notice the baby bottle. (problem how does he get down.))

But when it comes to us what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. We are sure we can do most everything we used to do, we sorta LIE to ourselves, we even BELIEVE OUR OWN LIES. Now is that silly or what?

After hearing of one of my friends being injured in a fall, I am very careful for a few days, then back to being a little careless. I KNOW YOU ARE NOT THAT WAY, but I am.

I am really enjoying this second childhood, I wish I could hear everything that is said about and to me, but maybe I don’t need to know that stuff. I might get my feelings hurt. I guess I am enough like my Daddy.  One of the first things he would say to the new congregation. Don’t ask me what my politics are, I am what you are.  And if you don’t like me, please don’t tell anyone, I think everybody loves me.

Funny in this second childhood, no one gets upset if I make a mistake or forget something. No one yells at me, they all know I am childish again.

I heard the other day WHY diapers are named Huggies, Pampers, and Depends. You know folks Hug and pamper in the first childhood, but in the second childhood, who changes the diapers DEPENDS ON WHO IS IN THE WILL.  Good nite kids.

Nite to you too, Shipslog.

PS:

The problem with this second childhood, you do not get a chance to grow up again.

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Florida Orange Juice

(I normally juice outside, but we were only doing enough for tonight and in the morning)

I think I say it every year, being raised in a parsonage had its advantages. I have always loved fruit. We had grape vines in Valdese, I love grapes. In Albemarle we had a pecan tree in the corner of the lot and persimmons behind the church. I ate ‘em but not my favorite. There were always friends with apple trees or some growing wild in the woods that I knew Johnny Apple seed planted for me. Also out in the woods I felt like I had found gold when I ran across Muscatine's.

BUT we very seldom had citrus, (tangerines being my favorite), EXCEPT AT CHRISTMAS. Growing up most churches gave what was simply called ‘treats’. A big brown bag filled with fruit and a couple pieces of candy. The weekend before Christmas the church smelled of ORANGES.

(The Hamlin is a juice orange, 12 made 22 oz. note the seeds, the Hamlin is full of seeds)

Especially one room where the treats were put together. Preachers kids were always recruited to assist volunteers that put things in the bags as they were slid past you on a bench. The last person would twist the bag to make a neck handle, and place it in one of the empty fruit boxes. I guess that is why oranges remind me of Christmas.

(The first juice given the test, results, very good)

I am not sure if churches do that anymore.  If not the kids are missing out on a great feeling, a great gift at Christmas. Everyone got a treat, down to the babies. A family of 4-6 took a lot of fruit home to have to munch on over the Christmas week.

(I love peanuts and orange juice)

I just juiced 12 oranges mostly Hamlins with a couple Navels.

This is my favorite Christmas thing, the tractor and carolers.  We got this at Frankenmuth, MI at a Christmas store. I love the little thing.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Christmas is a joyous time, celebrate and be happy. Enjoy the reason for the season….

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Missed Lucy, gotta rush!

It gets harder as Santa ages….

More Winter Ignorance

(Picture from the web of SNOW!)

We arrived in North Central Missouri in temps way below ZERO, and a bad generator on the car. We had traveled the last 50 miles on the battery alone, our generator died. (that is the car part replaced by the alternator) . The battery was working over time it was night and it was supplying power for the engine and all the lights on the car and trailer, we actually drove some distances with no lights on long empty stretches to save the battery.

(I’m having trouble finding snow pictures, this is from the Washington DC area when we were stationed there, I got a ticket for parking on the road with a thousand other cars.lol)

We parked it on the side of the road outside Kirksville, said good bye to Dad and Dick and headed to find a motel.

We found a parking spot at Downing Trailer Park, I removed the generator and had it fixed. Remember this is all in weather we knew nothing about, we did not have clothes for it, and we were cold, and keeping little jack Jr. WARM was our prime aim.  It was impossible for the Ford to navigate the park in the ice and snow so after the trailer pinned me to a tree,  we had to get a wrecker truck to pull the Ford and trailer into our new home spot.

Finally home. Mr. Wilson (our new neighbor) came over to offer any help I needed, of course being self-sufficient (and stubborn, and dumb) I said I have it under control, thanks. I jacked up the trailer, leveled it, then set up my 50 gallon kerosene tank which still had a few gallons in it. Grabbed hold of the brass handle and my had froze to it. I knew enough to pour water on it.

Then  NOT KNOWING about brass and cold I gave the handle a turn no movement.  I twisted harder and IT BROKE OFF. I done the finger in the dike thing to keep from losing the oil and turned the barrel up at an angle to stop the flow. Then to the hardware for a replacement. Replaced and ordered Kerosene. Stove now warming the trailer, some relief for Sherry and JJ.

Oh ho, I attached the hose and was wrapping the pipes with news paper (WELL THAT IS WHAT WE USED DOWN SOUTH). Good old Mr. Wilson passed by and said, ‘jack you will need a heat tape for that.’

I mumbled something like ‘I know it,’ and continued. A few minutes he came back out of his trailer, “Jack, you don’t know what a heat tape is, do you?”

Now embarrassed (as I should be) I said, “No sir, I really don’t.” This was the beginning of a great friendship.

He started my education on cold weather, but not complete. I bought the heat tape and fiberglass insulation, we had water.

I started my assignment at the Radar site and three weeks later, I get a call from a nervous Sherry, “The trailer is moving!”

Final lesson, FROSTLINE, thawing earth. The ground was thawing getting ready for the Missouri farmers to plant.

(Our second trip to Missouri was in another life when I thought I was a preacher, our family at our first church)

Okay, I learn slow, but I learn, you live differently in the northern winters than in the southern winters. LOL

Nite Shipslog

 

PS:

Some of the hardest words for me in my life have been, “I don’t know!” or “I can’t do that!” Most folks say it is just plain stubborn, might be, no it probably is!

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Some things you just do not forget.

Winter coming on, I had HEARD it gets Cold up north, but I never knew CCCCCCOLD until 1959-60. We were stationed in Biloxi Mississippi, it was March, 80 degrees. I received orders to Kirksville, MO. We had a 1955 Ford and rigged it to tow our home, a 42x8 foot house trailer.

Inside our trailer

Jack Jr. in the ‘55 in Missouri

My dad and my BIL Dick came down to make sure I could get the trailer to Missouri. We were having a great trip. Dick and I driving the Ford; Dad, Sherry and Jack. Jr. following.

All went well until we reached Kentucky and it started to snow. Whoa, this is March, it cannot last long. Finally Dick’s common sense ruled, we had better stop. We pulled into a country store/gas station.  Imma tell you  I have never met a Kentuckian who was not congenial. He ran electric to the trailer, sold us supper and Sherry cooked it. We sat there two nights and a day. Until the roads were safe enough to travel.

Shucks,  Missouri and more snow. North of Cape Gerardo(?), one hill too many for the Ford, seeing the crest of the hill it began to spin, sliding toward the ditch. I jumped out and grabbed a concrete block and put it under a trailer wheel, and it slowly stopped. We blocked traffic. Country folk showed up with shovels, knowing a pile of sand was there for that purpose started shoveling.  THEN the ANGEL arrived in 3/4ton pickup with two big motorcycles on the back.

He pulled down facing the Ford, jumped out got a chain, (still hasn’t said a word) hit the ground with a slide he reached under the Ford and hooked the chain he then  got up hooked to his bumper, yelled, “When I hit my horn, giver her the juice.”

I did and that pickup towed us up over the crest. Driver jumped out unhooked the chain  threw it in the back of the truck, “Hey man you saved my life, how much do I owe you?”

“You don’t owe me nothing man, glad I could help.” Of course I never saw him again, but I have thought of him and his generosity hundreds of times.

We started up the road, “Jack, it is 13 degrees below zero, did you know that?”

Our trailer in the background in Missouri

Probably the coldest I had ever experienced was 18-20above, for a brief period in NC. below zero was for Alaska and the North Pole I thought.

We met many Missourians, city folk and farmers who were all, very nice, gracious folk.

Missouri! Some of our fondest memories and dearest friends were met  there.  We still stay in contact and still admire their tenacity.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

All angels do not have wings.

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Santa comes in all shapes and sizes… sleighs are ok, but they still like cars…

Theme Parks

When the kids were little we once took them to Six Flags over Georgia. Then upon our return from Cuba, we took them to Disney World. Then later as teens we took them to Carowinds near Charlotte. For the life of me I cannot remember much about the parks, BUT it musta been fun. To be honest here (as much as I can) I had to ask Sherry, I only remembered 6 Flags over Georgia.

Then I turned to Sherry and said, “I think you and I went to Six Flags of Texas once.”

“You know, you are right, we did do that one summer.” She said, a little embarrassed that she had not remembered. (Usually she remembers it all, no joke, she has a fantastic memory.)

Every time we head south to Florida, we take I-77 and pass Carowinds. This time I noticed a HIGH and long Roller Coaster, That must be a thrill for the young folk, but NOT for this guy. that sucker looks scary!

So here we are, near Orlando, close enough to hear the fireworks they have every night and of course we are absolutely TOO OLD to go. Universal Studios is big also. There is a neat walk thru place called, “Holy Land Experience” for the folk who are religiously inclined. Jack Jr. once came down to Florida and took us to see it.  The place was interesting and a change of pace from the Theme Park experiences.

So if we don’t plan to enjoy the tourist stuff available in this over priced area, Why are we here? Short Story: We joined an “RV Park Association”, once we pay our yearly dues, we stay at any of the 80 RV parks at no additional cost. For us, it is a real deal because we will use the membership a lot since we live  full-time in this coach. We don’t mind being mistaken for ‘Tourists’.

I have said many times, we enjoy the natural beauties of the world the most, bit do not mind seeing the things humans have added. However most every thing pales to ‘The Grand Canyon’, the Arches,the Rocky Mountains, a desert, a cave, a whole ocean, snorkeling over a coral reef and Niagara Falls.

Desert and ocean sunsets can never be matched with paint and canvas or even a camera.

This trip Sherry and I are on will not last forever, we know that, but we are going to keep on until……………………….!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Nothing captures and holds beauty better than a memory.

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The Santa of the Future