Friday.. Thieves always, Or just discovered.

 PIC OF THE DAY

Now for today’s Stuff:

2025: Self-checkout theft has doubled in recent years, with 27% OF Americans admitting they have stolen at least one item  while using self-service kiosks, according to new research from LendingTree.

Do you realize that is every 4^th person? WHAT??? 

It does not take a devious mind, plain common sense tells me that self-checkout makes stealing easier. Does it make the thief in someone come out, or does it CREATE a thief? My mind wonders at that.

I just read where a School Principal and an assistant Principal were arrested for thefts of thousands of dollars at self-checkout.

A Doctor also was arrested for stealing $1000’s in merchandise at self-checkout.

That is scary my friends. Those principals were teachers of someone’s children at one time.

A Doctor? Has HE or SHE fudged on your bill? Have they over charged for services and tests they say were required?

With the salaries of educators (which is not great but above the minimum) and doctors, how much more would the lower-scale unemployed or homeless person be TEMPTED to cheat, maybe just a little.

That is a little scary. Liars, cheats and thieves are NOT good citizens. Many folks have told a ‘white-lie’ to keep from hurting someone’s feelings. I hear some men cheat on their score cards when golfing (I really don’t know, I am not a golfer).

I have visited bowling alleys with the NEW (to me) scoring system where it is made very hard or impossible to cheat. LOL

I have broken the law speeding many times. As a boy I did steal, I returned to a junk yard to pay for tires I stole, after His Salvation.

BUT, BUT I draw the line at thief, stealing is a sin and it is hurting someone or a business, not just my conscience. Breaking man's law or saving someone’s feelings is not necessarily a sin. (IMHO)

And YES, I do use self check-out when I have 1 to 3 items.

I have to smile at my sweet niece Vickie. She said she used the check-out at Walmart, nobody said anything, but when she got to her car she realized she didn’t have a receipt and had not paid. She went back and paid. ;-).

Nite Shipslog

PS: The above of course is my opinion...

Thursday.. And yes it is cool here.

 

Outside is where I cooked back then.  I was stationed in Biloxi, MS at Keesler AFB.  Yeah, I had hair and was a proud dad.  That is our first, a great kid, Jack Jr.

Now for today’s Stuff:

We are walking some and I am piddling with a 4 wheeler to help son Mark get it running. This one is a real challenge, but it keeps me out from under Sherry’s feet.

Today was my time to cook. They said I did good. I took 6 small thin pork shops, tried to get them tenderized with a fork and salt (at someone’s suggestion, cannot remember who.) I cut them into ¼” strips and put the many sticks in ½ stick melted butter, thinking I could brown them.

They did cook well but browned only a little. After they cooked for a few minutes med/hi stove top, I added chopped onion and mushrooms, then covered them lowering the heat some. Put some frozen veggies in the microwave for 2 minutes, just to thaw. Then added them to the covered pan with the other stuff.

I always use the right spices (Ms Dash ;-)), a little salt and a tablespoon of honey. I baked 3 SMALL potatoes, cut them and filled with butter. & tin-foiled them. I also made rice. Why? I guess I decided to use it for a bed for the stuff I was cooking. (Sherry says it is for an egg and rice breakfast in the morning. LOL)

Using 4 frozen HB Buns. Cut them up some so I could fill them with margarine. Heated them stacked them to hide the outsides of the buns ;-). Then a dip for the bread; ¼ stick butter, 5 shakes of garlic salt, 4 tble sp of Olive oil, Ms Dash and a big dollop of honey. I heated that, mmm, good.

I guess that is a southern stir-fry. Or something like that. Anyway that was my afternoon; 2 guests, Sherry & son Mark said it was good. They really liked the dip, LOL

This is all the left overs. I am eating them now...

Nite Shipslog

PS:  Now you know I ain’t right at the stove. But I am lucky every once in awhile, like today!

Wednesday… A copy of someone’s Blog

 

Now for today’s Stolen Stuff:

Some things are just amazing. WE have some grandchildren who are super talented also, but I wanted to point this out that Susan Kane, the ‘Crazy cat”, over at the contemplated cat put on. If you don’t want to listen to all, just give them a short listen, and you will be amazed.

thecontemplativecat: Evan Le', a Veitnamese piano prodigy

I am not very good atd this stuff you might click:

If nothing happens above.

 http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/.

Thanks Susan, thinking of you, and you are in our prayers...

Nite Shipslog

PS: Temps down here in central Florida, but nothing like you tough dudes up yonder are getting..

Tuesday… We have not seen Crater Lake in Oregon

 Today's Picture:

Now for today’s stuff:

I have mentioned many beautiful sites we have seen, but today my computer chose as a screen saver, the above shot from the Pinnacles Trail @ Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. The picture made me want to go see it.

WE will probably never make another trip around the USA to see the West Coast again, BUT IF we do, this igoes on the ‘TO SEE’ list along with the 29 PALMS and Joshua Tree area, stirred up by ‘Spare Parts and Pictures’ blog.

This place must be absolutely stunning in person.

I love seeing places that grab my dream horn. LOL I am wondering if I will out-grow my desire to see new places or to Thru-Hike the AT. I get a lot of smiles when I say that, and probably lots of laughs behind my back, BUT I just might show them. LOL…

Now Mr. Eberhart, 83, thru hiked, but he had hiked thousands of miles before the AT.  He even walked 400 miles to get to the AT before even starting the trail.  BUT.....

Nah, I know that is a stretch for a man over 85 to do a thru hike of over 2000 miles, but day-dreams keep you alive, methinks.

Nite Shipslog

PS: The wind has picked up here in Central Florida, that does bother my hearing implants a BUNCH!

Monday.. Do you have the BEST?

 

Picture or the day:

Our family at a lake in the mts east of Salt Lake City.  This picture was DIL Carol's idea. I will always appreciate it.

Now for today’s stuff:

Families are very important to me. After growing up and being an adult, you know, like 17 years old, and pretty danged smart. I heard someone say, “I have the best mother in the world!” Ha, I thought, ‘no you don’t, I have the best mother in the world.’

Over the years I have learned many of us can have the BEST! I hear some of you old Grand parents that THINK you have the BEST Grand kids there is. “HUH uh! You have not met Corey, Ben, Reece, Josh, Stephen, Matthew or Luke; they are the best!”

So, now that I have really grown up, I have learned MANY OF US can have the BEST! I even had the BEST Mother-in-law in the world.

Our friend Myra probably thinks her Gracie and Macie are the best, but that is only because she did not know ACE, the best dog in the world.

It took me a few years to see something, Hey, there are really “MANY” who fit the description: “THE BEST IN THE WORLD.” You see I am GLAD others feel the same about, parents, kids, grands, pets etc. as I do.

Mention names like Chloe, Mackenzie, even Penelope and someone will smile from ear to ear beause they are the BEST!

It is hard to face reality, those sweet Grands have grown up and have some some great kids, our great great grands!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Snow? Some folks love it, some don’t, but it is still beautiful.

Sunday.. Hoping you handle the weather WELL

 

Picture or the day:

Grand daughter Sherece with the dogs at Mark and Corrine's house many years ago.

Now for today’s stuff:

Weather is definitely the subject. Our son JJ is looking after our new to us home in NC. That is one problem with having two homes. Even though now, one is an RV.

It is an uncertain thing to leave a house unattended for months at a time. Thankfully we have family there that looks in on things for us.

Our friend NanaDiana said it was CCCCold at their town. A lot below zero if I remember right. The coldest weather we have ever enjoyed was in North Central Missouri, WE moved there from Biloxi, MI at 80 degrees and landed in Kirksville, MO with 13 below zero. Now that was cold for Southerners. LOL

WE met a guy in Tok, Alaska who said they once had 60 below. When you have housing and clothes for cold weather we humans adjust.

WE of the USA, depend on our Electric and Gas service. We do get in a tether when we have outages.

Also we citizens here are sort of crazy. When a storm is predicted, we empty the shelves of stores, as if it will last for weeks.

Our sons keep us up to date on weather, I do check the weather at times, but normally I just take it as it comes. HOWEVER back when I was building, it was a different ball game. I remember standing next to an old Grey headed man who just happened to be black. His son or brother was Sticky, my dirt moving man. Sticky was an inspiration to me. As a matter of fact, STICKY was the title of my first book.

Sticky is sitting, he is not only the best heavy equipment operator he has a great singing voice.

Anyway, Sticky was finishing the building site. I was fretting about ordering concrete, and they were calling for rain. He smiled as he looked at me, “Son, it might rain, it might not, God is control of that end. Talk to Him about that, then handle the concrete.”

I am a believer of course, I took the old man’s wisdom to heart. I poured many foundations, slabs and drives after that, but EACH time I remembered what the old man said.

I wandered off from the subject, but I do hope and pray that the big storm they are predicting and is filling the weather reports, doesn’t effect you in a bad way.

Love you all… Until I remember what I was going to write, I remain lost.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Hoping you are safe and warm

Saturday…. Thinking

 Picture or the day:

ABove taken in London during the Depression

Below is pictures from the USA during that time.

Now for today’s stuff:

Sherry’s family did not do any camping. I introduced that to her. 

Time in the woods over night was part of my childhood. For a few days every year our family met Uncle Irvin’s family in the Pisgah Forest of North Carolina. Mama and Aunt Bert did the cooking over an open fire.

I remember so many stories told around the campfire. Strangely the area where we ‘camped’ was an area where mama and daddy lived during part of the depression time. No rent nor utilities. They said several families lived here including Mama’s sister Julia and hubby Doyle. Daddy and Doyle worked at a saw mill for what money they were able to get.

They talked about huddling in the old tent, all night, with my brothers and sisters for warmth on many wet, cold nights. They laughed at mistakes in cooking. Frying fish sometimes as small as sardines.

(Sherry & I have been in tents and nice motor homes. I miss camping in the woods)

There were Apple trees and walnut trees in the area, and they used those for food. They got their water from the mountain stream near by.

My brothers were allowed to play in the creek but could not pee in it. The adults made that a strict rule, explaining that folks down the creek used that water too.

I am always amazed at how people all over the world, made it thru The Great Depression! Ingenuity, hard work, and scraping to get by AND RAISE a family.

I was always proud to hear how my parents' made things work.

Are you old enough to have heard stories of that time?

Nite Shipslog

PS: Thanks for sticking around. Myra had a graphic on her blog lately that lets one know just how small we are in respect to the solar system. ;-) I need to KNOW that when I think I have troubles.

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.