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.

Friday… Just sayin’

 Picture of the day:

The approach to Thousand Trails Orlando RV sites.

One of our previous sites.

Now for today’s stuff:

Ever notice when someone does something that seems simple and normal then watch something totally different happen than what you expected.

A beginning note. Interstate highway #4 goes thru Orlando. In the past few years It has been really modernized to help traffic problems. Many over passes have been added. Traffic is still tough but much better.

Now to my first thoughts. In a few days we will head down to Orlando for a couple weeks. I am looking forward to a particular spot on hwy 27 west of Orlando.

AS you may know hills are not plentiful in Florida. There was a huge hill on #27 that was for sale for awhile. Probably 60 acres of land. I pictured condos or a shopping center there. While we were there a couple years ago they started leveling the hill.

I learned the buyer was selling the dirt to the state to build those over passes on I-4. Hundreds of trucks a day were hauling that hill away. I am anxious what a wise man or corp will do with the money they earned from dirt on that now vast level valuable piece of property. In reality they they sold the land a truckload at a time and still had the acreage they started with.

Well sorry, being a retired builder I am still interested in what other builders do, even the mega builders. I just thought that was an amazing idea.

Okay enough rambling, we are looking forward to being in the area of the famous entertainment things there, although it is doubt full we will do anything other than walk and relax.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Orlando is of course a beautiful area. It used to smell better and look better when it was surrounded by thousands of citrus groves...  BUT then came progress.

Thursday… just rambling

 Picture of the day:

Just thinking about the Mediterranean Sea. I was there in the USMC and the USN.  Beautiful area of the world.  Beautiful people also.  I was treated well when in Port.

Now for today’s stuff:

Sitting here thinking, what to write? I am eating my snack along with my nightly red wine. I buy the cheapest wine in the store. My Dr. recommended the wine and he said the price doesn’t matter unless you are after a particular taste.

My taster is gone (along with my mind) and besides I would not know good from bad wine.

The Mediterranean coast line is not all beaches,, but many beautiful coves. 

I have had wine made by Monks in Spain and ell-cheapo from California, none of it is great so I do not have a problem.

I also chew my multi vitamins at night before my wine and eat some good trail mix as a snack. I can no longer swallow that multi vitamin easily that Sherry used to give me.

But of course, you do have the French Revera

I have no medications. I was once on a Staten. It ruined one arm muscle and I gave it up, and started eating more oatmeal. My cholesterol is still too high, but my Dr says with my health, I can handle it.

Messina Sicily where once passing in the night we got to see Mt. Vesuvius erupt, wow what a site.

In closing, did you guys know that ‘Chatty’ is old enough to have a daughter that has a son who is 26 yrs old? That boy now has a wife and a baby? Of course I am sure Chatty was about 14 years old when she gave birth to her daughter; just saying she looks too young to be a Great Grandma!

So I never did think of what I was gonna write about. ..... But here is Love from Central Florida.

Nite Shipslog

PS: I hope yo all had a great Presidents day...

Wednesday… Sight-seeing on a bicycle? Nah!

Take a break, Pictures of the day are from the net and feature some South America:

Machu Picchu, Peru, Home of the Inca Elite. 15^th Century beauty and artisan-ship!

(Llamas live there now!)

Today’s stuff:

Ans. ? 1st:  YES..I got an e-mail saying the IRS has accepted my tax form. I should hear more in 21 days. if I need to fix something. 

When I see things like the above pictures it amazes me. How in the world could that be accomplished back in the 15^th century. To me that is up there in ‘How Possibles’ with the Pyramids of Egypt because of the location and getting materials up there to build such a place.

        A national park in Columbia, South America

It is no secret I love to travel, I sit here wondering why I did not try so see something like this.

I am sorry I missed it. Travel, I enjoy riding a bike, but traveling on bikes has never interested me. However, in the past few weeks we met a man from Canada; he met and married a lady from Europe when bicycling there. They Biked over Europe and recently finished a 9 thousand mile+ trip down the west coast of the Americas, from Canada to the tip of Argentina on bicycles.

      Below is a Nat'l park in Chile, South America

That trip I can only imagine. I guess you must know how to find a lot of reasonable Bed and breakfast places.

                        Cole- Cole Beach in Chile

I have never been in a hot air balloon but imma thinking I would rather take a Balloon around the world, than ride down that coast thru those mountains………... But now I am thinking....... how do you steer a hot air balloon to get you to a good place to spend the night, and there are no rest areas up there.

Maybe I would rather take a bicycle! ;-)

 Last Picture along the coast of Chile

Nite Shipslog

PS: South America is a very interesting place. In pictures, but we have never been there. I think the furthermost South we have been is the little country of Belize.