Wednesday, Taxes, everyone’s favorite subject (not)

 Picture of the day:

Today’s stuff:

Tax time, I can relax, ours?... done! We even got a refund, the first time in many years. Every year I

 remember an eye opening time. We were stationed in GITMO, my ‘Commander in Chief & President', was Mr. Richard Nixon.

It wasn’t a law, but sort of an expected rule, as president of the USA it was a practice to make his Tax return public. Our present president is an exception, he promised todo that, but later refused. Anyway, Sherry and I, lower-income enlisted folk, under Nixon’s command paid twice more in taxes than the President of the USA! He had paid a whopping $750.00 in federal Income tax. His salary was $100,000 a year, ours, less than $6,000. That blew my mind.

I am very sure he paid the right amount with deductions and loopholes, therefore the Commander-in-Chief of the Army still paid less tax than a Private in that Army.

In my opinion our tax system is NOT fair, but we still live in a GREAT country. I would like to see a straight 10% income tax on EVERYONE who ears over $50K. Maybe a Federal Sales tax of 15% on everything purchased, no exceptions or loopholes. Get rid of most of the IRS and all income tax. It would sure make it simpler for businesses that pay employees and forget withholding taxes.

With the 15% fed sales tax, when buying a car for $5000 we pay $750 tax. When the Billionaire buys a Yacht for $500,000, he pays $75,000 sales tax.

Yeah I dream a lot. I jump thru the hoops every year and fill out our tax forms. I am one cheap dude. One of my son’s pays $250 to have his done, the other  might do his own.

OF COURSE I do not KNOW, but I hear there are some Billionaires who pay zero in income taxes, because their income is in stocks/bonds etc and taxed different than me. Our tax system is employee driven, not investment.

My mind will no longer hold things together, so I get very lost in IRS language. I have read about 100 of the nearly 7,000 pages of the tax code. It actually goes to 75,000 pages when the explanations and directions are included.

I won’t even try to guess the # of presidents and congressmen who have read even 10% of that code. HOWEVER, I guarantee there are lawyers who have read enough to find the loopholes, as they say. They get paid good money to do that. LOL

Ok ,I have said too much, but get your taxes filed, pay what Uncle Sam says pay, so my SS check will arrive next month. Oh yes, and THANK YOU very much!

Nite Shipslog

PS: I didn’t bitch too much did I?

Thanks for stopping by the Shipslog

Tuesday, Insight of Military life

 Picture of the day:

That picture was taken a short 70 years ago, She was cute wasn't she. She married a Marine. I was a smart fellow as a kid.

Today’s stuff:

WE all think of the military personnel and dangers when they are deployed. Seldom do we think of trouble at home when the military person MUST get back home i.e. the death of a loved one back home.

Military troops know that the Red Cross will help with notification of home problems, but we seldom expected it. My BIL Sgt Vernon Gomez Harris, deployed to Nam with the Green Berets, His & Sherry’s mother died. The Red Cross gave him assistance; he made it across the Pacific and the USA in time for the funeral.

While deployed to Cuba I was notified my dad was dying. If he had been declared dead the USN would have flown our family back, but since it was ONLY a notification of serious sickness, I was flown back immediately. Sherry and the boys came to the USA at the death.

I mentioned in a comment to Victor about this, as my plane approached Charlotte, NC the weather was so bad the plane was diverted to Tennessee or Virginia, I forget which; I rented a car and drove to Charlotte. But Dad had died during the diversion.

We all understand that is bad, but not like your loved one returning from deployment in a box.

So I am asking for your prayers for those families who will be seeing loved ones next, some in coffins. War is terrible, but when you sign on and wear the uniform you swear on your life to do what is required. I was fortunate I never saw combat, but my cousins, brothers, in-laws and other kin did, we were thankful they all returned, walking. Sherry's brother Lefty, was wounded on Iwo Jima but came back alive.

A lot is entailed in life, I hear hints of the draft being reinstated. IMHO 6 months to 2 years in the military is very good for most of our youth. Many people have not known discipline, and it would do them good.

I do not personally foresee the need for a draft in the present situation, but my friends, if it were to come to a World War, it WILL be necessary, and we all will cry and pray. I Remember WWII. And make no mistake, if this one comes, we here in the USA will see what Europe has seen twice.

Nite Shipslog

PS:I am stuck on the sad side, Imma try to polish the other side… HONEST!

Monday, Shipboard life

 Picture of the day:

Above is an LST it is flat bottomed, it can pull up to a beach and the bow opens for troops and trucks to make a landing.  That was my 2nd ship.

My last ship for 2 years the USS Independence

For today:

This entry is in response to questions about the big USN buildup in the Mediterranean Sea and Iran. WE have thousands of sailors/marines aboard those fleets living around the clock. They are launchig rockets/missles over 400 in the first 72 hours, each missile costs 1.5 to 3.5 million dollars. Remember someone must move those around to get them ready to fire. So their work day aboard is not normal right now.

I have been on cargo ships, transport ships and aircraft carriers. Life is a little different on all ships because of the size. Smaller ships have one mess deck for enlisted personnel. Air craft carriers have over 5000 men when fully activated and have 2 mess decks, at least one of them is open 24 hours a day. At Meal times both are open.

That would be a rocket coming over

Above would be fuel coming over And below would be the trip to the atsea grocery store.

All ships must be resupplied. At sea a supply ship will pull alongside to high-line supplies over. Ship crews form work-details to move all supplies hand to hand across decks and down to supply rooms. Supply ships can be for groceries, medical and office supplies etc. The munitions come from Ammo- supply ships, using the same procedures. That includes shells, rockets, bombs and anything having to do with fire power.

Working hours for the most part are same as ashore. There are ‘firewatches’ over the complete ship after normal working hours, with fire details ready at a moments notice 24/7. Fire is the most dangerous thing for a ship other than the ‘enemy.’

At times troops are transferred via high line. One of the top transfers is the Chaplain. Carriers have their own Chaplains both Catholic and protestant. Some do not like it, but the chaplains are trained in several religions and do what they can to satisfy the needs of the troops. When a smaller ship needs a chaplain he is sent over via high line. I have seen them Baptised as they went into the ocean when the ships leaned toward each other during the tranfer. He went down into the water then back up. This was no surprise, but he does get wet. His Sacred materials are prepared for such an incidence and are protected.

All USN ships have retail sales stores. Very small on smaller ships and much larger on Carriers.

All ships have a medical section. The carriers have a small hospital LOL.

Naturally all sailors look forward to pulling into port and having some liberty off the ship. (Not now of course.)

You can imagine how much ‘resupply’ is going on now. ALL those rockets and missiles must be replaced on the ships. This is the most any fleet has fired EVER before. Cost of this one so far has been about $28,000 per second. Now that is more than you will make next week.

Say a prayer for the troops, there is always danger, that is why it is called war.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

I have sailed the Med a couple times, it is absolutely beautiful blue water much like our Caribbean.. 

Ship stores?  You can buy tobacco, snacks, mail supplies etc. (very small 7-11  lol)

We all are praying this 'war' will end soon.

Sunday income, cost of living

 Picture of the day:

Note: clarification, In my opinion methinks USA & Israel bit off more than they WANT to chew.  In other words, in my opinion and some reports say, they did not expect the straits to be closed and oil to sky rocket, IMHO WE have he greatest Military in the World, and we can chew much more, but the results can HURT!...

For today:

WE do not watch TV. Most of the last 10 years it was on about an hour a year, now in the last year it has never been on. We have 2 TVs in the RV they are never used. Telling the truth we don’t know how to turn them on. LOL

I have nothing against TV. My hearing is probably the most cause. I used closed caption for years but now I cannot hear (read) as fast as TV personalities talk. They, especially news people, try to squeeze all the words possible into each minute, they lose me.

My news comes from the internet. I just read today we have 31 million workers in the USA living from pay check to paycheck. The increased gas prices are hurting them. In many cases that is because not everyone knows how to conserve. BUT in most cases it is because of debt and lower wages.

The cost of gasoline is hurting workers. Can you imagine, diesel (headed for $7) is over $5 a gal now. Can you imagine a trucker paying $500 for a fill up of only 100 gallons. That is his lively hood. Growing up at least 8 of my kin (inc a brother) made their living driving a truck.

 Everything you use in life came part of its way to you

 via truck.

 

Notice all the Walmart and Amazon trucks on the road?

So you can bet the prices WILL & MUST go up.

I become agitated inside when I hear someone complaining about having ‘nothing’ and they have hundreds of dollars of tattoos. I guess that is like I have heard: many people who shop for things they do not NEED, when they are depressed about income.

WE lived paycheck to paycheck for a while. But we were both raised by parents from the depression era. All our lives we heard, “Always put something back for that rainy day, IT WILL come.” WE tried to save something even if it was fifty cents a month.

WE made an assumption that our lifestyle would rub off on our sons, but we were mistaken. I should have been more forceful in handling finances.

Many people are head over heels I debt for things

 they want, not that they need.

Ending with: For the life of me, I cannot fathom buying a house today while making car and Credit card payments even on a builder’s income much less on a carpenter’s salary.

Nite Shipslog

PS: I know, I sound depressing. Right now I need to do as MA says, polish the dull side. (or something like that) ;-)

SOOOO… Tomorrow a brighter subject TAXES! ;-)

Saturday Gasoline WWIII?

 Picture of the day:

    Above show that some people are talking gas prices lately ;-)

. ..... ....... .............. .............

Before hand: I loved the comments on the past few posts you guys are good at that stuff. THANKS!

For today:

When I was born 1939, gas was 20 cents a gallon.

Gasoline has been a necessary product my entire lifetime. My parents saw a time when it was not in their area. But they watched as it became VERY necessary.

During WWII Gas, tires, Coffee, shoes, kerosene and sugar were rationed. One could only get a few gallons of gas per month. People walked a lot

 more. ON THAT THOUGHT….. Y’ALL say a

 prayer, we could face a World War again, I do

 not want to see our Grand children go off to war. Mama watched 2 sons go, both returned thank God.

Remember 1973-74 gas shortage. We were stationed at Albany Georgia, and the base was moving to Key West, FL. So I was traveling back and forth to Key West from Albany GA. Getting a fill up was near impossible, so I waited in many lines to get a few gallons on each trip.

Across the country it was decided you  could by gas on days you car tag was an even or odd #.

Some people got mean in the lines. One place in Florida someone cut all the gas hoses at the tanks. I saw a couple fights between men about the NEXT open tank.

Some THINGS you DO NOT want to see again. The things that bring bad memories. I have had to get both our sons out of jail. That is no fun; I hope and pray THEY never have to do that for their sons and I DO NOT think they will. I blame the lifestyle I chose while raising our 2, I think it birthed some wild hair.

BUT, but there are times in our family I wish we could have back again. Times of complete bliss. The birth of our boys, the birth and youth of our grand kids.

Do you remember times in your life when all was well with you and the world? Those times make the bumps and mountains worth the trip.

I hope this is not too much ref to reality. In the news of our world today, people are killed at the drop of a hat. I can imagine the disputes over gasoline this time, would not be fist fights it most likely would-be guns.

(This is Iran today)

You do not want to see this in your town, and this is NOT nuclear signs....

 WITH THAT TERRIBLE THOUGHT IN MIND, in this

 world the temptation to use that nuclear bomb button

to solve An international problem is TOO great.

PRAYER, better thoughts and level heads are

 needed by we CITIZENS and our LEADERS.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Only my opinion, but I think the USA & Israel bit

 off more than they want to chew right now. I hope

 they find an  OFF RAMP before it passes the point of

 no return.

Friday… Thinking, Grandma’s Shoe box

 Picture of the day:

The mystery picture, Dad on the right Uncle Clyde on the left, the center looks like dad coulda been his twin, methinks. But dad was the oldest of 13 kids.  (growing up lots of folks first name was Uncle or Aunt!)

A 'before' note: Sherry & the Hornets. She was a young mama going to help her baby boy! You girls know how that is, Hell itself wouldn't stop you!  LOL

Today’s stuff:

I was born late (family wise) and there were few OLD people left in our family. I didn’t get to know either of my grandpas. I remember Granny Lloyd very well, but not granny Darnell. Funny thing about that one I remember Granny Darnell’s daddy very well. He was Grandpa Hilly. He was actually my Great Grandpa but growing up I didn’t realize that. Yes, he outlived his family. He was a County Judge and farmer near Toccoa, GA.

Granny DArnell and her cow. Taken on the Art Cloth Mill village.

I said all that only to say when we visited Granny Lloyd she would always reach into her ‘bosom’ pullout that little clippy change purse and find me a nickel.

Below is Granny Lloyd.  I knew her better than any of my Grands.

I would thank her and run about a ¼ block to a little 6’x8’ snack shack, in a neighbor's front yard. I always bought a nickel container of salted peanuts. They advertised ‘a coin in every box,1-25 cents. Of course, it was always a penny but I kept hoping. (I did enjoy the p-nuts) I guess I have always been a ‘gambler’. ;-)

(This was taken in 1943, South Gastonia where she lived in a 'shot gun house'. Meaning a straight thru home, you could stand in the front door and see out the back door.)

But what I remember next was the ‘old worn-down Shoe Box’. She would let me get her ‘shoe box full of pictures’ down and look thru them. I would give a thousand dollars for that shoe box now with the names on the back.

Are you puzzled about any old pictures you have? I have one picture, I put it on our Kodak Frame. It is my dad and two men. One I know, is Uncle Clyde, the other remains a mystery. As far as I know there is no one alive today who would know that man. I am pretty sure he is an uncle but I had so many (14-16), I cannot place him.

Some small mysteries will never be solved in this life. I tell myself, “Live with it Jack!”

YEP, it is dangerous for me to think.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Some of the pictures I use came from cousin Dewey.  On one copy of the mystery pic I labeled the mystery man Uncle Doyle, he was daddy's BIL.

Thursday… big yard decorations

 

Picture of the day:

Today’s stuff:

WE have owned only one place that a big yard decoration would have fit. I would have loved this in my front yard:

I know not every one cares for big stuff in the yard, but what about these?

Have you seen big decoration? I think the biggest I ever did see was called Cadillac Ranch, they over did it me thinks.

Original cars, 1974.

Below are the cars now, not sure it the painting was ordered or not.

What would you use if you had a BIG home and room for an eye catcher?

Nite Shipslog

PS:

This one I do not want!

Wednesday… Stuff before it hit the fan!

 Picture of the day:

How was this material made and lifted in 432 BC?

DS2 Malanowski at the Parthenon (1970) Ski became a priest in the Orthodox Church after leaving the USN 

                            The above picture of the Parthenon in 1957

Today’s stuff:

The other day 'MA' commented on a ‘home place’, remembering a ‘swinging Bridge’. There is a swinging bridge in our past also. Kat and Dick (Sis & BIL) had a place in the NC mountains. An Old cabin that the extended family used and enjoyed. There was a swinging bridge across the mountain stream. It was actually installed & maintained by NC State DOT for years. It was a walking bridge.

All the kids loved it. One day Jack Jr. was on the bridge and screamed loudly after being stung by a hornet. Sherry (a young lady then) went bounding across the bridge, unknowingly stirring a huge hornet’s nest underneath. That was long before she wore pants. Hornets swarmed under her dress mixed in the slips and dress (modesty went to the wind, imma tell you). At least 14 made it to her legs and she suffered some terrible stings.

However, we still used the bridge and enjoyed it for many more years (with the nest gone, of course) The State finally took the bridge down.

more..

Do you ever want more? I love Butter-pecan Ice Cream. MOST of the time, when it is finished no matter how BIG the bowl was, I want just a little more.

I misplaced a lot of things in my childhood. My daddy used to tell me, “You would lose your head it it wasn’t screwed on to your neck!”

Filled the car Monday, gas cost: $3.57 per gallon.

I was over at ‘Spare Parts and Pics’. Peter went out to the Carlyle mine. Even crazy enough to walk down into one of the shafts. ‘BUT’ he mentioned all the **concrete used to make the mine workable in such a rough area. That was in the early 1900s, The mine peaked in my birth year 1939.

So I started down a rabbit trail. In my mind going back to the Pyramids. How did they do that in 2600 BC. I walked the Parthenon in Athens in 1957 & 1970, How did they do that in 432 BC?

So now I am looking in on the Aztecs on this side of the world. How did they do that in 1050 AD?

(The Pueblos actually did this but it is called Aztec)

Sorry, when I get on a rabbit trail, I get lost..

 And click-bait did not sent me this time. LOL

Take care...

Nite Shipslog

** Concrete: I learned that the Carlyle concrete was probably some of the first ‘Gunite’ or ‘Shotcrete’ used. Gunite is still used today but not the same methods. It was probably hauled out in bags as powder and forced into water by pressure.

Where there is a will there is a way, THEY SAY!