Saturday Girls, Things that tickle your fancy 3 Picture of the day:

 Today's picture:

Sherece tired, waving, glad to finally be born

Of course we knew she would be beautiful!  her mother and grandmothers are. ;-) 

The mother that suffered many hours to give us this beautiful Granddaughter!

Now for today’s stuff:

This one tickled my Sherry’s fancy, a GRANDDAUGHTER. She never had a daughter of her own. When I read of you ladies who have a ‘special’ tie to your mama I think of Sherry. Sherry and her mother were very close. She looked for the day she and her daughter would have that relationship, but that was not to be.

So having a Granddaughter was the thrill of her life. Because then came Sherece. Corinne her mother had a tough time bringing her into the world, about two days of labor, 41 years ago, and finally delivered Cesarean.

Ahhh, what a beautiful tired mama and a beautiful daughter that survived that ordeal. Corrine and Mark brought the first girl into our Darnell family.

Sherece was a natural beautician, it was obvious:

Above is Sherece studying to be a beautician

Below is her daughter Stella, see, she learned well!

When I saw her daughter’s hairdo, I said, yep our beautician came thru, and is great. Just ask her Grandma…

Daddy Brandon McGee holding his Stella.

Sherece is the best beautician. BUT her mama Corinne, was deep into processing import/export data. Sherece followed in her mother’s footsteps. Mama has retired and Sherece has climbed the ladder in import/exports.

Her daughter Stella is now a teenager. She is a star in the sports in which she participates and that is a few. She loves fast pitch soft ball. She excels in several positions and is a great hitter.

                    Soft ball 

Basketball? WOW

She is looking into golf, it has her interest for sure.

Stella’s Dad, Brandon, Worked for me many times in Air conditioning and was a very good worker. Brandon left us by accidental over dose of ‘Freon’. What a shock for one so young.

Sherece and Stella have been inseparable since.

Nite Shipslog

PS: These GRANDS are THE BEST things that tickle my heart! Below is Stella dancing in the rain with her great GRandpa

                      

Friday… Things that tickle your fancy 2

 Picture of the day:

Now for today’s stuff:

Sherry doesn't have a ‘Home Place’ to remember. The ‘Mill Hills’ where Sherry was raised, are gone. One is now the home of several medical services, Sherry’s Doctor practices in one of the complexes.

The other is now an up scale community where the value of one home would have bought most, if not all the mill houses that existed there.

Of course my Great Grandpa Hilly kept his place near Toccoa GA until he passed, but that faded over the years.

But, there is a home place. Son Mark & Corrine bought a large track of land in Belmont. They raised their daughter and sons there. Eventually building a very nice home. Sadly they divorced and Mark sold the newer home. But held the rest of the property.

SOOO, the old home is still there. Mark’s oldest son and wife, Matthew and Kiersten are raising their family there.

            Maverick and Jack Wiley Now these boys and soon the daughter, Dillon, are                                 running the same trails their dad did in his youth.

Matthew and Kiersten, oh yes, Kiersten gave birth to Dillon in a tub of water at home. I had never heard of such! Unique to our family!

The kids are in the city and it is like being in the country.

                            Baby Dillon at one day old.

The latest Great grand is a sweet girl. She is a doll and her BIG BROTHERS love that little girl to pieces.

Nite Shipslog

PS: These are things that tickle my heart!

PS2   To family stuff:  WE sent Jack W a birthday card and gift he never got it. While doing this blog, I thought about that and sent Mr. Jack Wiley a letter. I think he will enjoy it...

Thursday… Things that tickle your fancy

 Picture of the day:

                Corey the first

Corey the man

Now for today’s stuff:

WE have circled and crossed this great country several times. Flew to Hawaii and drove thru the great country of Canada to Alaska. My heart still smiles when I see a classic car I remember from my youth or dad’s tales. I also smile when I pass or see a horse and buggy, we see that only in Amish country, but it is a joy to see.

This morning early in bed my girl's hand snuck over and took mine. Even in our 80s my heart smiled as we held each other, she is still beautiful at 88, and I tell her so, and mean every word of it. She tickled my fancy when I was 16, I proposed and married her at 17. AIN’T REGRETTED THAT TICKLE.

This is not about regrets, yes, we have had a few, but as a whole, life has been good to us. Divorce in our son’s lives hurt, BUT the grand children that came out of the unions are no less than wonderful. They are all productive, hardworking citizens. All of them have their own offspring (Our sweet great grands) who are also a thrill to our fancy.

Our first grand Corey Workman, was not ours, but became ours. He along with his brother Benjamin visited us every summer from Utah where they had settled. Corey was a cute dude with red hair and a great personality.

Above is Maddison, Chase and Bridger, Corey's kids followed by Allura Lyn below

Family was sweet but distant. We did not get to know them due to distance and divorce. WE did get to see some of them on our visits to Utah.

Below is Corey and Jack Jr. the last time we ever saw him, This was taken out in Oregon on our last trip around the  USA Corey was definitely a part of our family.

Yes some things just tickle your soul. All Grands do that for Old folk.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Corey drew this for me when he was a kid:

Wednesday Time to rejuvenate or something.

 Picture of the day:

I am just learning or trying to learn to down load a video from the phone.. This was my Happy Birthday from Maverick, Dillon. and Jack Wiley. Dillon sneezed to me.  LOL

Now for today’s stuff:

Ouch, it got down to freezing here in Orlando. I feel a little sorry for folks who came down and are spending hard earned money to enjoy warm weather and fun at the THINGS TO DO IN ORLANDO, mostly known for Disney, but much more to see and do as time goes on.

It doesn’t take long for an RV to require A/C in the Florida sun.

I remember once someone asked it someone wanted to make a movie or story of your life what genre would it be? My first thought was, ‘Comedy’. But now that I am older I am sure it would have been a ‘Mystery’. LOL It still is to me.

I was a little before my time. Today change in lives seems normal. Many people I have known continued most of their lives in the same direction they started at 17-19 years old.

Chatty was putting into words what we all think or know as we age. The closer the end is, the more our thoughts, desires and hopes change.

We want to see our grands happy and successful. WE pray they stay healthy and live long fruitful lives.

Still things shock us. Week before last the pastor was talking about Paul and prison. You know if you want a back seat in church you must get there early, right. So we were late so we sat on the second row. The pastor asked a boy about 10yrs old ‘What is prison?’ The kid answered quick, it is a place where the bad guys are locked up!’

This is GGrand Jude the Dude,  He is in school now 

He was sitting with his family, the dad was holding the little sister and smiled proudly, and the boy smiled big also when the pastor said, “You are correct Danny!”

I do not know these people, we are just visitors. But this Sunday the pastor mentioned his shock that week was deep, They buried the father of that family. What a shock.

Yes life is unpredictable and the older you get the more you know that. We just heard from back at our home church our friend Sonny died. I had no idea he was sick, he was always just full of himself.

Sorry, but hearing of two deaths of healthy looking people 20-30 years your junior, that were not expected, makes one think,

Just enjoy life, it is not forever…..

Nite Shipslog

PS: I think Florida is waking up and remembering it is supposed to be warm!

Tuesday… Settled in (again, we do that a lot. LOL)

Picture of the day:

(....THANKS for the info and advice on the kitchen stove!)

Now for today’s stuff:

Apartments and condos. That is what is built here where the dirt was sold and made this level ground. That said, It appears that since we were in this area (abt, 2 yrs methinks), There are literally thousands of new homes, apartments and condos. WE are beyond shocked. Even this RV park that had about 500 sites, now has over a thousand.

As a former builder, I cannot imagine the speed these buildings go up. I do not know where these builders get the crews. Some developments go up in 3 months, and have more homes than I built in a 20 year career. I smile when I see a home started and finished in about 30-35 days. WE always guaranteed A house in 90 days. We seldom had more than 2 under construction.

I cannot say they are ‘thrown up’ because the work I have seen has been good, to very good. There are some very hard workers out there but I sure cannot see this building to continue much longer. I keep reading that we have a housing shortage, but that is very hard for me to believe.

If you are familiar with Florida when Tourists came to see Silver Springs, Cypress Gardens and the Citrus Tower. The tower was famous and hosted millions of tourists to overlook thousands and thousands of acres of beautiful citrus crops.  Now it over looks 1000's of house roofs.  TRUE DAT! few citrus trees.

WE pass the tower every time we come down here.  WE are about 15-20 South of it where we have the RV parked.

I will finish with this. I cannot remember the year, but a few years ago homes on the East Coast started began falling into foreclosure. People borrowed more than they could sustain. Sherry and I bought a nice small home forclosure for $42,000.

The person who had paid $80,000 for it could not keep it up, and lost it.

On that statement, I have ALWAYS thought everyone should own their home. But I have learned over the years that not everyone can or will keep the house up, or live able. As most know, homes are a constant expense, and renters normally call the land lord to fix the problems. NOT TO MENTION PROPERTY TAXES!!!

Nite Shipslog

PS: At least it is not icy here in Orlando, but I sure feel sorry for those folks riding Roller Coasters ad Ferris Wheels in this cool wind..

Monday… On the road

 

Picture of the day:

Above washer and dryer Used on FB market place...

Now for today’s stuff:

We are looking forward to the stay in Orlando. Amazing that the weather has tuned cooler on the day we are heading a little south. WE have had sweet balmy days here in Leesburg. WE have been able to walk most days.

The only problem is we have had a little wind and it really eats into my implants. It makes it hard to hear Sherry as well as it is a frustration. BUT much better than colder windy days. LOL

Yeah I know it is terrible to fuss about 80-85 degree weather in February.

Our sweet Elsie Mae, up in NC, is now 18 yrs old as of yesterday. She prefers to be called ‘L’ or Ellie. Yep at 18 she is the oldest Great Granddaughter.

Great grandma Sherry is getting into some high numbers for age. . ;-)

other stuff:

When we get back up to NC we will be shopping for washer/ dryer and a kitchen stove in our, new to us again, house. We are trying to decide which way to go, used, new or scratch and dent. I have looked on FB Market place and there are some great buys listed ‘used’. Our good friend Mary bought her stuff at a scratch and dent sale, new including warranty and very small scratches at ½ price.

WE both are too old to care about design, just so they will do the job. To be truthful, I cannot decide if I like the slick top kitchen stoves or the open burners. We had the slick top stove a short while here in Florida, never got burned, but didn’t like the idea of not having he coiled eyes. Just old fashioned I guess. LOL

$150 each on FB

Do you have any pros or cons about the types of kitchen stoves?

I will try to do better, cannot concentrate too well now...

Nite Shipslog

PS: At least it is not icy!

Sunday… Again, what are you doing?

 Picture of the day:

        Flight deck was relaxed when not launching... WE could wander around looking at the sea. The flight deck is larger than a football field. Over 5000 sailors/officers aboard.

                                    Launching aircraft 

Now for today’s stuff:

I have always had a knack for fixing things. It is satisfying to see something that has become completely useless, working again.

Problem is my mind is NOT sure the broken, can be fixed. Most of the time the fix works, but the very next time, there the doubt is again.

Twice in my life I have had too much repair responsibility. Aboard the Aircraft Carrier Independence and the Naval Base GITMO. I was the only repairman aboard ship for all the IBM gear in supply, Intelligence and in the Spook area. Calls, more times than I can count. My main job was not repair, but intelligence processing. But repair took precedence.

More times than not when called to fix a machine, I looked at the problem and my mind said, you won’t get this one. On GITMO, my main job was processing Supply data and printing over 10,000 pay checks twice a month. Repair, maintenance, and preventative maintenance took a lot of time.

But there again, every stinking breakdown, my mind said, ‘Dude, this one you cannot fix, call IBM they will send a technician down here.’

I don’t think I have ever mentioned this to anyone. Is that doubt normal? I mean after the hundreds of repairs, fixing them all, I would still think. This one has got me What am I doing here?.

I was not the only one. All Ships with IBM processing gear had only one repairman; he was also an operator. I never once asked any of the other repairmen I knew, did they have those doubts?

That pressure was only about 5-6 years. Most jobs it was common to have a shipmate or fellow worker to assist in problems. There is no job, civilian or military that doesn’t bring up problems, BUT most times there is assistance and advice of folks with like skills.

To be sure, on the outside, I always said and acted like, 'NO PROBLEM!', this machine will be back on line in a short time. AND as a fact it always was.

That doubt has SELDOM raised its head in other jobs and tasks.  My main job on the ship had to do with processing data brought in by our aircraft, some were classed as 'spy planes'  Ever hear of Gary Powers?

I worked closely with Pilots.

This picture was taken by a pilot flying just under the wing of  his pardner who is just under a Russian Bomber.   When our radar would show a Russian plane near our Task Force the skipper would scramble our fighters to escort the 'intruder' away.  It was a game to the pilots, They said they always waved and smiled. WE had photographers and processors in our intell center, they would process the pilot's personal film; the pilots would give us some of them.

Was those situations with doubt normal? Have you ever asked yourself, WHAT AM I DOING?

Nite Shipslog

PS: I just told Sherry about the doubt, she said this was the first time I ever told her. all the time she thought I was smart and knew exactly whta I was doing. LOL If you are still here, you get an A+ !

Saturday…. What are you doing?

 

Picture of the day:

(Our new house to us again)

Now for today’s stuff:

I have been thinking, very dangerous or course. However, as I sit here, I still do it. As I write I am at our kitchen table. WE have our Kodak screen on the table also. Sherry is across from me. Looking at her tablet. She did have a PC, but has graduated to a tablet. 

Sherry will see one of the grands or great grands, or even someone she starts thinking of, pop up on the Kodak and will freeze it there. Right now she has frozen it on this picture:

pic chief

Chief Darnell. Yeah, you thought I was an old man didn’t you? That picture was only 37 years ago. So naturally I haven’t changed much, except I no longer wear the hat.

BUT back to thinking. I have had offices with plenty of room for computers, books, etc on my desk. Now, here in the RV, we make do, and we work it out pretty well.

Back in Belmont, NC, at our ‘new house to us again’, we have plenty of room. I will try to explain that statement:

Years ago we were in Yipsi, Michigan. Called up there to assist Sherry’s bro, Johnny. He was very sick. He was a bachelor. The waiting room had a computer with net access. WE owned 2 condos in Belmont, they were leased out. WE decided to find us a home in Belmont, and settle down, after Johnny was better.

I found a nice fixer upper, and we agreed to buy it. Johnny got better and we drove back to NC, bought the house, parked our RV coach behind the house and started remodeling the house. When it was finished, son Mark needed a place to live so he rented it. I had an RV Port installed, so We stayed in the back yard in the coach. AND THEN the road beckoned.

                            (Coach in the RV Port in the back yard)

Mark moved out to Florida and Granddaughter Sherece bought the house from us. WE had never moved into it.

NOW the LAST action on that house is, WE have traded Sherece (Our grand daughter) one of the condos for this house. So we moved our stuff a couple months ago. So we again own the house and as of today have never lived in it. That is why I say, “Our new house to us again!”

This is not what I planned to say….. So maybe I will do tomorrow.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Yeah, you know I ain’t right anyway.