FRIday, Odd rules and opinions of Americans

 Picture or the day:

US Marines on liberty in Athens Greece.  No high heels here!

14 yrs later back in Athens as a Sailor.  This picture jut a few feet from the above pic.  The Acropolis has not changed. LOL

Now for today’s stuff:

WE are proud of this country, and in our travels we have tried to be careful not to insult folks of other countries and cultures.

I know it is not proper to ‘burp’ at the table, but I have heard at some countries it is considered a toast to the cook.

Before landing or docking in a foreign port Military Personnel are briefed on the do’s and don’t’s at this port or country.

When our ship anchored at Spit-head just off the South end of the English Channel. Many Sailors and Marines were headed to London to see the famous city we were briefed, and besides that, some old salts told us, “Do not dare to downgrade the Queen or challenge the Brits to a game of darts. You will lose big time in both cases.” Yep I witnessed couple incidents. OUCH.’

Other places:

Do not chew gum or bring it into Singapore.

In Thailand it is criminal to step on money if it has the image of a monarch on it. That image is revered. I enjoyed the Acropolis in Athens, I learned later it is a good thing I did not wear ‘high heeled’ shoes (LOL), that is illegal to wear at that historic site.

(bove A castle in Germany

I learned later, after driving on the Autobahn in Germany it is a crime to run out of gas on the Autobahn.

I never have driven in Japan but I have been told it is a crime to splash water on a pedestrian.

DO NOT feed the pigeons in Venice. It is a crime.

Careful wearing camouflage clothing in the Caribbean, it is a crime unless you are in their military., but not always enforced.

I am not sure how they enforce it, but I read of two cities in France where it is illegal for a visitor to die there.

A guy told me something. If you want to learn what a foreigner thinks of the USA citizen try this: when asked if you are from the USA? Cross your fingers and tell a lie, “No, I am from Toronto Canada, why do you ask?” Then the countryman will unload on the actions of ignorant Americans that aggravate his countrymen.

Sorry, for wasting your time, but I thought you might be headed to Le Lavandou or Cugnaux, France and just wanted to warn you do not die there!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Note: Those 2 cities in France have NO burial plots left.

I feel like this was a ???? entry,  sorry still feel for light between my ears..... THANKS for your thoughts.

Thursday.. Travelers

 Picture or the day:

This is as close as we got to the Eiffel tower in Paris.  To be honest I was afraid to lose the rental car we got in Germany, not knowing where or how to park.  LOL  That is true..

Now for today’s stuff:

Sherry and I were talking yesterday about our lives. We know we are Blessed (fortunate) to have lived this long. We have lived longer than any of those in our families.

(I mentioned the other day that when your age starts beginning with an 8, you know things.  LOL and think too much........ maybe)

WE grew up eating a lot of fats. Over the years our diet modified. A few years ago, we were in a country store in Eastern NC and I noticed cans of Lard, on the shelves. I hadn’t seen that in many years. In our youth lard and bacon grease was used in many recipes one way or the other.

WE even made it to Pennsylvania. They grow some delicious Corn.  We were introduced to PA by the Fletchers... ;-)

I am not saying that diet alone is our secret (If there is one). WE have been frugal most or our marriage. We avoided stress of debts that many of our friends faced. WE tried to practice, "If we cannot pay for it, we won’t buy it!”

In our family Drugs and alcohol have caused the most stress. You are so blessed if those have not interrupted your family life.

WE have stayed active and listened to old folks. I remember more than once a person over 100 saying, “Just keep moving!” I interpreted that to staying active.

                LDS Temple in Salt Lake City during renovations.  We spent a lot ot time around here and I have lost many of  my pictures.

Travel? Pictures are fine, movies are good and enough for many folks. For some reason, we wanted to experience and see places. That doesn’t make us any better, nor better off than someone who is satisfied with pictures, I still enjoy pictures of places I will never see in person.

I would love to see Australia, but I never will. Imma thinking Ireland is still a VERY small possibility.

I have met some who travel and they identify as Canadian when out of the USA.

Nite Shipslog

PS: I m a little slow lately, I feel a little dizzy or light headed again.

Wednesday…. Stuff and dominoes

 Picture or the day:

These guys are competitive for sure..

.... In Music, The twin sons of JJ. and they are good.  If you would like, try these sites, if they work?  I am a little lost with these leads:

https://www.facebook.com/StephenAndJoshDarnell   

cdbaby.com/cd/stephenandjoshdarnell

WE are proud of the talents of Josh and Stephen

Now for today’s stuff:

We humans are so easily set into a pattern by repetition. Sherry and I received our new Dominoes and decided to play.

Being creatures of habit, we both became confused because the colors of the dominoes are not what we are familiar with. Shucks, I thought there was maybe a rule of what color a number was, but not so.

We will keep on trying to get it right, maybe we will catch up. But it is nice to settle down to a game between us. Sherry is a gamer (not with the newer games, but using the older games.) Her family enjoyed sports and kept up with scores and data, I was not in that line of thinking.

I am sort of a middle of the road guy, but I do enjoy playing some games, I think down inside I do not care who wins.

Now in business, I did like to win. LOL I have had small bidding wars, mostly on the price of our houses. Looking back, I don’t think I ever sold a home for what I was asking. :-O    It took me awhile to learn to put in a little wiggle room so I could drop the price.

I’m watching the housing market now of course, and I am wondering WHEN the rug will be pulled out from under those exorbitant prices. WE would like to buy another place here in Florida, I have noticed lately the sales have slowed down.

I think this was the last house we built.  I started it and headed for Alaska, Mark finished it for me.

Maybe next fall will be the time to look for a place in northern Florida. I am thinking closer to the Georgia border. That way we would be only a day’s drive from the area of NC where most of our Grands live.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Thanks for sticking around. I still am not comfortable with a change in my typing apps(?).

Tuesday emtry with Libre-Office APP

 Picture or the day:

Paul Anderson, once listed as the strongest man in the world, he                                     was from Toccoa Georgia.

Now for today’s stuff:

Florida is a special place for us, weather of course.

 Sherry and I were both born and raised in North Carolina. I moved around with the family, until I was 17 and left home, I lived in 7 towns and attended 4 different schools.

                       Some of Sherry's family  & kin,  taken on the Imperial Village. 1940s

Sherry’s parents lived in 3 different areas of Belmont, NC. Once in the county for a short period, but most of her time was in two Mill Villages. She was born on the Climax Village moved to the country for a few months then back to Belmont town and the Imperial mill village until we married.

My parents were Sharecroppers, mainly P-nuts, in North Georgia (Toccoa area) later moved to Lowell, NC to work in the cotton mills.

Weather, we both enjoy warm weather. Our tour of duty in GITMO spoiled us. The weather there was perfect 99.5% of the time. When we had rain, it was like our childhoods when we would have a shower in the summer and an hour later it was clear again, with that sweet smell.

However about Florida. From GITMO to Albany GA for a short time then the entire base population moved to Key West. Key West was something like Cuba and ('weather-wise) we were spoiled.

I prefer warm weather, but I can tolerate cold, Sherry has a tough time with cold weather, I think mama called that ‘Cold Nature-d’.

I know this is a lot of repetition, but I am trying to get familiar with this Libre-office APP. I hope I can get it presentable. ;-)  The last one was a mess.  Having a tough-time getting a good size for my print, this seems to fair to me.

Nite Shipslog

PS: The terms Mill Hill and Mill Village are interchangeable in cotton mill country.  About the blog entries, maybe I have a handle on it. LOL

Monday and a new WORD for my blog

 Today’s Picture

The only car I ever had car-fever for.  We bought it and then gave it to my dad when we got orders to GITMO. Mama gave the car back after dad died.

Below is what I did to the car to give it to Mark for his first car.

Now for today:

I knew this time was coming so here it is, I am using LibreOffice Writer to work in a replacement.

 Just hoping this works. I do not like learning new stuff online.

I knew this time was coming so here it is, I am using 

LibreOffice Writer to work in a replacement. Just hoping this 

works. I do not like learning new stuff online.

orders to the Washington DC area. We had a 1953 Plymouth 

loaded with our earthy goods. I had NEVER thought of what 

a ,

big city was like, never needed to. WE always just drove into 

town, bought a paper, went to the want ads and found a 

place 

to live, SIMPLE (for a small town).

I bought a Washington Post. In my life I had never held a 

paper this thick. The paper was at least an inch thick. There 

were

pages,pages and pages of furnished apartments listed for 

rent or lease.

I am sure we looked strange, car loaded sitting trying to 

read 

a paper. There was a tap on he window, there stood a soldier 

in 

uniform. He introduced himself, he was on the way to work. 

He was stationed at the Pentagon. He asked us to follow him 

back home for coffee. WE followed him. At home he called his 

duty station and explained he would be late.

His wife fixed coffee and we relaxed some. He told us we 

needed to wait until a real estate agency opened and chek for 

them. I was there for a 6-8 week IBM school and he was not 

sure if we could find a place without a year’s lease.

BUT at least we had a start. WE did find a place with a 

short 

term lease and were able to settle down. It was in a large 

apartment building, and even on the first floor. We had never 

lived like this. LOL All new to us and all because of a 

stranger 

recognizing our plight. Over the years I have wished I had 

his 

name, he was surely one of those ‘angel’s in disguise.’ Because 

we were in an area of over 6 million people and the largest 

city we knew was about a 100 thousand. TRUE DAT!

So now I will see if I can post this.

This is terrible...  Will post again when I figure this out...

Sunday... And memories from a great day

 Today’s picture:

This is our family, Two fine sons and a beautiful wife.  This picture was taken last year (I think), maybe longer since I had hair.LOL

 

Now for today:

I want to write about so much now.  I had a great Birthday. I joked to my Granddaughter Sherece, I did two big jobs. I washed and cleaned our car and took a bath. That wore me out. I came home from my birthday dinner (steak & Shrimp) and took a nap. I am not a nap person. That is probably the 8^th or 9^th in my lifetime (that I can think of).

It was a great day, calls from family and friends and for good reason kicked in the best of memories.  More than ever before. Truthfully my list of friends is short because we moved so much.

Billy ad Peggy a long time ago!!!!

Billy Moody. He called laughing. He said he was sitting drinking coffee from his favorite cup (same as mine). The Darnell Construction cup. He said he dialed the #s on the cup and they were out of service. Then he looked up my # and called. Other than being a lifelong friend, he was also my ‘carpet man’ when I was building. His wife Peggy is a doll. I once called Bill’s house, Peggy answered, I asked “Is Bill Home?”  Without skipping a beat, she said, “NO, come on over!”  WE both cracked up.  YES, life is good.

Note the phone #'s long before area codes. LOL

Then from Pennsylvania....

Marian F. called from Pennsylvania, WOW the memories, she kicked in. She and Dallas are our longest and best friends associated with the military. WE were married about the same time, and lived very close in Camp Geiger Trailer Park (USMC).

I have a niece, Vickie, who calls every year and becomes Marilin Monroe and sings ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ in a sexy voice.  WE always get a kick out of that.

AND THANK YOU ALL for the sweet happy birthday wishes.  This net does create a lot of problems, but better than that, it does allow us to meet and greet some solid people of this world.  So thanks…

I also got cards (and gifts) from my sons and dear wife. After my nap we took a short walk. She said, “Do you remember your 17^th BD party?”  I smiled, Yes she had planned it and gave it for me before I took off to the USMC in the next couple days.

She laughed and said, “A certain girl came to the party trying to steal you from me, I couldn’t let that happen.”

I Know that she KNEW there was never a chance of that. Sherry Harris was my girl forever.  Still is.

Anyway, I had a great day, Sorry I missed mentioning some folks. My memory for names has never been good, but most of all, I cannot believe I have lived this long…..

Nite Shipslog

PS:  Again thanks for making January 17^th special for me..  Hope to see you next year, I will be like an Oldsmobile.. an 88!  You do remember the 88 Oldsmobile I am sure. ;-)

 

Saturday, A good day to be alive!

 Picture of the day!

                 My 1st Grade Picture, 1945

 FS: (Fore-script!) Just wanted to say thank you for letting me know I am not alone in pronunciations and accents. Love y'all.

 NOW.. For today:

My daddy was born on January 14, 1903. Thirty-six years and three days later, little Jackie was born.  That was 87 years ago.  My daddy liked to say he was three days older than I. ;-)

Dad passed away when he was 69, it doesn’t seem fair that I have lived nearly 20 years longer.

His death happened while I was stationed in GITMO. I received an overseas call from my BIL saying, if I wanted to see dad before he passed, I needed to get home. My skipper allowed me to grab an emergency seat on a plane and fly to Norfolk. Where I took a flight to Charlotte, NC.

     The USN would not allow the family to fly home until after the actual death, so they came a few days later. There was bad weather in Charlotte, and my plane could not land; it was diverted. Dad passed during this diversion.

So Of course, this time of the year is a happy time for me having lived another year, but always a ‘spot’ of sadness that I did not get to see dad in his last hours.

An oddity about life. Children of a pastor or Military man do not have roots.. As pastors move they leave family scattered, as military personnel do. i.e. Son Jack Jr was born in Biloxi, Ms. And Mark D was born in Kirksville, MO. AT this time we had visited my brothers and sister that lived in Shelby, NC.

(Jack Jr. in the clothes basket on one of our many trips to a launderette.) Kirksville, Mo.)

Jack Jr. Left home while we were in Key West and Mark left home when we were in Washington DC.

                    Mark at 6 months in Kirksville also.

Anyway, I was 6 years old when we drove within 4 miles of Grandma Darnell's house. I remember that day hearing dad say as we were in the area but headed to our home 100 miles away.  “I should drive over and see mama since we are this close, but I must get back to the church for service.”  He had no way of knowing at that very time the family was trying to contact him, his mother was dying.  Three hours later we drove into Burlington, NC. AT the parsonage the phone was ringing, one of his brothers called saying he needed to be at Grandmas house, she was dying.

WE drove back the same route, we were back before she took her last breath, but dad NEVER forgave himself for not taking the few minutes to stop and see his mama.

As a 6 year old I will never forget the sight of all grandmas 12 children around her bed, when she took her flight.

So, on my birthday I am a happy guy, but I will never forget that great guy who left this world TOO soon, and was three days older than I.

Thank you guys for helping me celebrate 87 years here on earth. About 70 of them with the prettiest girl in the world!

Nite Shipslog

 

PS:  AGAIN.... Sometimes I worry about my sanity.  LOL  Most humans are a little crazy at times, maybe I am just a little more crazy!

 

Friday… We are now set up in Mark’s side yard in Leesburg FL

  

Today’s picture: The Pen and Pencil problem.

 

NOTE: No, Jack Jr. nor Mark played the piano we bought. :-(

Now for today:

I am the world’s worst at pronouncing, well that is along with many of my southern brethren. When I got orders to Albany, Georgia, I pronounced it like Albany, NY..  Not so locally, locally it is pronounced ALL-benny, Georgia.

Once in the USAF I was sent to Biloxi, Mississippi. I pronounced the name Bi LOX’se  then learning it was

B LUX’ee

Well anyway, it is hard for me to write and place emphasis on syllables, I am just saying it is hard for me to say words correctly the first time.

When we started studying the Appalachian Trail I really messed up the name of the upper terminus in Maine, which is Katahdin, I had it as ‘CAT-a-den!’ It is really

Ka-tah’ dn. I was off by miles. LOL

 My life has been sorta twisted with so much time in the military. I spent 2 years as a Marine, 4 years and 100 days in the USAF.  The 100 days was JFK, USSR, & Fidel’s fault. Then President Kennedy extended all military personnel enlistments 100 days due to him calling the USSR’s bluff during that 'Cuban Missile Crisis.'

That was the period of time the RUSSIA was planning to establish missile sites in Cuba and JFK said, “NO YOU ARE NOT!”  Turn the ships around or we will sink them. Russia took their ships back home, and I took my discharge.

My final tour was 16 years in the USN.  All my various times in service counted toward my retirement, so I was able to retire with 20 years active duty.

About Albany, Georgia.  That is only about 20 miles south of Jimmy Carter's home, Plains, GA. Remember the president’s brother Billy Carter? He had a service station in Plains.  Even had a beer named after him, Billy Beer! I stopped by his station and went into the bathroom, while there I signed my name on the wall along with hundreds of other names.  Then leaving, my BIL Sonny and I both bought a 6 pack of Billy Beer. Over time, I drank mine, Sonny never did, his is still around somewhere, I guess. 

Thanks for stopping by,,,

Nite Shipslog

 PS: We are heading down into the 30 degrees and some high winds here in Sunny Florida.