Whining Politics and 'Me 'n Sonny'

Me 'n Sonny on Pikes Peak.

Going down into Grand Canyon Southern wall.

Sonny and Colette At Elvis's grave Sonny is in the center, see how interested he is, Colette is just in front in pink. (Me 'n Sonny never was too crazy about Elvis, 'specially Sonny, cause Colette LOVED Elvis, some men are SO jealous, LOL)

Colette and Sherry in Elvis's pink Jeep, at Graceland.

Todays interesting stuff!!!!!

Do you play free cell? I have a streak of 404 wins since I started on this computer. (Problem is sometimes I spend an hour on a game. This system is so slow that I call up a game while I am waiting for something to load or down load.)
Politics:
I am listening to my party whine about the president’s date with his wife. Spending all that money flying to New York. This sounds like the Democrats whining about Bush flying to Texas. I agree with some guy in the Bush Administration who said we have become a nation of whiners. Boy did he get shot at and hit for that. He didn’t deserve it, because over all it seems that is what we do. OUR government included!
I am sure the Republicans will gain a hundred votes overall with this whining episode, and lose a thousand. Come on guys, get it together.
Me ‘n Sonny.
When I married Sherry, Sonny was already in her family, he had married Colette, Sherry’s sister. Sonny was a lot like me a jack of all trades, he worked in a Mill at Paw Creek. Over the years he and I became close. Sherry and I took over payments on a house a block away from Sonny & Collette, in the community of Paw Creek, NC. We worked together building each other a double garage. By that time Sonny was a cabinet maker by trade. Now it is hard for a carpenter and a cabinet maker to work together. We fussed the whole time (good naturedly). We built his garage first. I informed him I had put up with his picky crap on HIS garage, when we built mine he was to keep his mouth shut and do as he was told. Well he just about did. Hahahaha!
Anyway in Sonny’s condition at 80+yrs, he still would expect something built to last a hundred years. So I built that ramp with the capacity to carry 4000lbs. with a side strength of 600lbs. the largest uneven spot from entrance to exit is one eighth of an inch.

Yeah Sonny was proud of the ramp. Said it would almost outlive him. Sonny is mean at times. Hahahahaha!
I don’t know the future. None of us does. I hope he is around Long enough to build me a ramp.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Wisdon does not always come with age but this is good, written By Regina Brett, 90 years old,

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

Sonny and the Ramp!

I threatened to let him fly a couple times. We had a good trip, and he thanked me for the ramp and bragged on it's construction. He was glad it did not fall when we got on it. LOL

Today we went to visit Sonny at Rehab. He was up in a wheel chair and Vickie was combing his hair. Sorta makes you mad when you don’t even carry a comb and someone older than you has hair!!!
Some one mentioned last night, ‘Do you know the likeness to heaven and a balc man?’
“No.” says I , “but I am sure you will tell me!”
“Yep, there will be no parting there!”
I laughed but I didn’t think it was so funny. LOL amazing how folks make fun of us handicaps! Hahahahahahahahaha!
Anyway we went in and they said they were just about to take a trip for Sonny to see his new ramp. So, we got him in a car and headed out. He was able to get in and out of the wheel chair into the car himself. That is a tremendous improvement.
We forgot the camera, but Sherry thought of the phone camera. We have never used it to send an e-mail to the computer, but we got it done. So I have included the picture of Sonny on his new ramp. Now he already wants a power scooter! Some folks cannot be satisfied. Hahahaha! He is in good spirits and I am honestly surprised that he has progressed to this point. Four months ago I would have given 100 to 1 odds he would never leave the hospital. But did I mention that my buddy is very stubborn. LOL
Hope you are having a good weekend.
Thanks for coming by the log
Nite shipslog

Niagra Falls, from the Canadian side. It looks like it would run our of water sometime!

Sonny and Colette at Nartural Bridge Virginia as we were passing through.

Well we have done our good deed. We completed the handicap ramp for Sonny. It is at his daughter Vickie’s house. No one knows for sure if or when it will be but they want to be ready. (Have I said that already?) Since we are not much on photos, when we need to be we do not have a picture of it. Maybe next time.
We are getting anxious for our trip North to start. The other activity, writing, is in a proof mode. I received the proof, I think I made too many mistakes for it to go to print. It is a pretty book though.

We will have to find a way to get our deliveries on the road again, it has been a long time. As you know we are full-timers in our Motor Home. We use a mail forwarding service and call for the mail every two or three weeks. We usually try to anticipate where we will be and have the mail forwarded to ‘General Delivery’ to a small town.

Once in New York while hiking, we called for it to be delivered. I went in to check, no mail. Next day no mail. Then my sweet wife looks at me and says, “This is the wrong town, the correct town is ten miles north.”

Sure enough! When we got there, it was waiting. I love the very small towns. The Postmaster says, ‘So you are the Darnell’s, I knew the name was not familiar in our area. Nice to meet you!”
Getting mail like that at a small town is refreshing, everyone is friendly and wants to know the story behind why you picked ‘this town’ to send your mail to’.
Being here for FOUR MONTHS PLUS!!!! Has spoiled us. We use Shirl’s address and she walks out on the deck and calls, “Air mail”, So I go out and she drops it down to me. Very simple very easy! Things are about to change!!!
Have a good weekend, this is our last one here in Belmont for awhile, unless things change.
Thanks for coming this way to look in on the LOG.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following question:
What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair.. I'd diet, maybe blue.

What you think of me, is probably none of my business

Have I posted this picture of the Lippazon Stallions. We used to winter close to their winter home and could go watch for free. Of course they did pass the hat for feed for the horses. That was okay.

These pictures are of the beautiful Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Said by many to be one of the most beautiful spots on earth. And I must agree.

NOW What?

Why did I do that?
Don’t you love it when you are driving and turn at the wrong place and someone asks…
Why did you turn here?

I don’t know, I’m sorry I wasn't thinking.

(You wanted to say... I was afraid if I went on I would run over someone’s dog! Call it intuition.)

You spill your drink and someone asks ‘What happened?’

I’m sorry, I will clean it up.
(You want to say, It is obvious, it was an accident, but I really wanted to see how long it would take to go across the table and ruin your clothes!)
Did you know it is none of my business what anyone thinks of me ( if they don’t want to tell me)?
Do you know it is NONE of your business what someone thinks of you! That is their business.

I have thought of that a lot. If I have a negative thought about anyone, most of the time I don’t want them to know. So I must think that it is none of their business what I think of them. Isn’t the saying true, ‘What is good for the goose is good for the gander!’?
If you tell someone just what you think of them (nasty). You can never recall those words. And no apology can call the words back. I think it is better to think them and not say them. Usually we change our minds.
WE take ourselves too seriously. Why? No one else does, do they?
Making someone smile is important. Making two people smile is important. But if you make more people smile every day, that is very important.
Little things bug me, I do not know why? I got really beat up once as a kid. I never liked that guy or his buddies. Do you think they care? Heck no. They would say we were just kids and didn’t know any better. They would be right. I finally reached 70. I don’t even know if the guy or his friends are alive, but I am. I think I could meet him (if he is alive) and be nice enough not do more than black both eyes. At least I could kick his walker or cane out from under him. I have to be in better shape than he is. Hahahahaha. Joking aside. That was probably the longest dislike in my life. I don’t know when I actually quit planning his demise, but I did quit. I gained nothing with my petty hate.
So now I come down to the end of the race, I try to accept folks as they are, they seem to accept me, and I am lucky.
It is nice to not have a lot of baggage, especially at this age. So today and tomorrow, let’s make someone smile. We may think we are the sharpest knife in the drawer, but not everyone else does, And really they don’t care. If you are a friend, that is what counts.
Thanks for coming this way,
Nite Shipslog
PS: Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following question:

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

House by the Side of the road again.

Motor home ready for carpet.

Empty living room ready for new carpet.

The starting of the House by the side of the road, last nights's presentation.

Nearly finished presentation. House by the side of the road and 'It takes a Heap o Livin in A House to Make a Home'. We had a good time.

Yesterday was full, funny thing when you are retired, and every day is Saturday, you still end up with conflicts. The Carpet was due in first thing yesterday morning. They could not make it until about one. WE had a chalk presentation ‘The house by the Side of the Road’ at a seniors meeting at 5PM. I needed to be there by 4:45. They finished at 4:30. Ron the Carpet man helped me get the Driver and Shotgun seats back in before shoving off.
We made it. The Presentation went well. Food was great. They told us we didn’t have to bring a dish, but Shirl cooked a chicken casserole I know of, I don’t know what else. I can’t describe the food as good as Woody and Debbie (because I didn’t cook it), but it was great.
I got another call to see if I could squeeze a presentation in the Friday nite?
“Yes.”
“What do you charge?”
“I draw for food!”
“But what is your fee normally?”
I explained since I am retired, and we are blessed with good health we do not accept pay anymore. I do offer the books for sale. I have a neat little book rack I roll in and leave it at the door. I DO NOT push the books, except the senior book. I feel very strongly everyone needs it or something like it.

Anyway I have one more program to squeeze in.

IF per chance Dan/Joan or Dallas/Marion read this, I need a place to have some books dropshipped, if you are going to be at home in the next three weeks. We will take you out for supper (At Mc.Donalds) LOL. That is one problem with being on the road is a place for UPS to deliver to.
Hope you are all well and if you need any rain, we would sure like to send you some. It is hard to imagine just a couple years ago we were in drought conditions. I guess Texas is still dry.
For all of us who have been looking for an article in the paper, I guess news has not been slow enough to talk about ‘The Great Ones’ and their travels. LOL
Thanks for coming by the Log.
Nite Shipslog
PS: I love these………………………………
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following question:

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball..

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

Girls, Women, FEMALE! So what?

(Sorry Josh, you are in the company fo many women! I won't tell Britney!)

I like women, (sometimes!) Smart men never argue with one! WE Just don’t want then to feel inferior.
(Fill in any name, Mary, Rain,Anna Mae, Debbie, Sherry, Shirl,Paula, Evelyn, Reece,Vickie,Lindie, Joan,Terri,Jun, Lucille,Ora,Rose, Michelle, Sybil,Shiela,Helen,Mary Ann, Lula, Martha,Betty, Peggy etc I could go on. )
One morning, the MAN OF THE HOUSE returns the boat to their lakeside cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the lady of the house decides to take the boat out.
She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book.
The peace and solitude are magnificent.
Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat.
He pulls up alongside the woman and says, “Good morning, Ma’am. What are you doing?”
“Reading a book,” she replies. (Thinking, isn't that obvious?)
“You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,” he informs her.
“I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.”
“Yes, but I see you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.”
“If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,” says the woman.
”But I haven't even touched you,” says the Game Warden.
“That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.”
“Have a nice day ma'am,” and he left.
MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

There is definitely a move afoot to make us intelligent macho types look light lightweights. I tell you it won’t work.

“What is that Sherry?”
“Oh, okay. Yes ma’am.”
Well it won’t work all the time, anyway. (I hope).

Have a nice day GIRLS! You definitely make life interesting. (Okay you make life better, satisfied?)
OKAY, A LOT BETTER!
Thanks for coming This way,

Nite Shipslog

PS:
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following question:

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
4. So They would have the same last name.

Nothing inspires more than the tomb of the unknown and the Iwo Jima Memorials

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day.
A day set aside to honor the men and women who have given their all for our country. This is a worthy honor. All of our citizens have never agreed on a war. Even WWI and WWII had folks against them. But whether you agree with the wars or not, the combat or not, you are very ignorant if you do not respect the men and women who GO where their government sends them, and do the job they have been trained to do. The Soldier, Sailor, Coastie and Marine does what he is ordered to do, and is not political. He/she goes into harm’s way at the orders of both Democrats and Republicans.
If you have read my journals you will know that I am probably more Libertarian/Republican in my political beliefs. I have voted for Democrats and Republicans, and I have supported them all. BUT when it comes to honoring the Vets both standing and fallen every United States Citizen should rally and do just that. HONOR OUR FALLEN. Some do not believe it, but if it was not for the fallen we would not be free today. Europe would not be free and Asia would be dominated by one power. For all the people who cry how bad the USA is, I wish they could see what condition the world would be without us, our military and our fallen. (WE also feed a good part of the world).
So today, Memorial Day 2009, try to join hands. Try to forget your hatred for political leaders, try to forget your hatred for those whom you do not agree with. For today, HONOR OUR FALLEN. We have left many a brave man/woman on foreign soil, who went because they were asked to go, and gave the supreme sacrifice.
If you read this and have lost a family member, I am sorry and I want to honor that person’s memory. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR THEIR SACRIFICE. If you wore the uniform, GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
PLEASE GOD, BLESS AMERICA. Bless the VET. BUT MOST OF ALL BLESS THE FAMILYS WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE! The families who gave: SON, Daughter, Husband, Wife, Mother or Father. Bless and Comfort them.
Thanks for looking in on the Log.
Nite Shipslog

Cowboys

The cemetary just outside Tombstone.

Geronimo & FAmily, theis picture by Fly the photographer from Tombstone.

This is the close up of Geronimo captured by Fly's camera.

The Earps and Doc Holiday (actors) Just outside the Tombstone Epitaph.

Today's entry (Part of an article submitted to the local newspaper, never printed.)

Every boy from the 40’s and 50’s wanted to be a cowboy. I was able to satisfiy some of my yearnings by visiting Sedalia, MO, Dodge City, KS, San Antonio,TX, Deadwood, SD, Yuma, Cochise Stronghold, and Tombstone of Arizona. I walked in the actual alley, just behind the OK Corral, where the famous gunfight took place. Sherry and I loved these places. So much History, so many lives bigger than Life.

Western History refers to the incident as ‘The gunfight at the OK Corral’. It was about half-past two on the afternoon of October 26,1881. The gunfight actually took place on an empty lot, 15 feet wide and 30 feet deep, located behind the famed OK Corral. The Lot was bordered by the Studio-Boarding house of the famous photographer C.S. Fly and the Harwood house. The argument was between the law, being Chief of Police Virgil Earp, his sworn policemen and the cow-boys. The bone of contention being the town ordinance of not carrying fire arms inside the city limits of Tombstone, but that was not the only point of contention. When Wyatt arrived in Tombstone it was well known that he had cleaned up the town of Dodge City. Rough riding cow-boys were bad for business.

The leaders of Tombstone, mostly Republicans, wanted the same done in Tombstone. They were going to back Wyatt in the next sheriff’s election. In their opinion Sheriff Behan was not tough enough on the cow-boy element, and remained chummy for political reasons. There was also romantic jealousy involved in the affair.
Some little know facts:
Virgil Earp was in charge, a Deputy U.S. Marshall acting as Chief of police.
Wyatt, Morgan, and Doc were sworn ‘Special Policemen’.
Virgil and Morgan did not like Doc, and tolerated him because of his friendship with Wyatt. The friendship began when Doc saved Wyatt’s life in Dodge City.
The Earp’s were Republicans, the cow-boys along with their friend Sheriff Behan were Democrats.
The cow-boys were on the empty lot (just behind the OK) looking for Doc, to ‘do him in’. Doc and ‘Big Nose Kate’ lived in Mr. Fly’s boarding house. The window of their room faced that empty lot; Doc was not there at the time.
Mr. Fly was a very famous photographer. Without him we would have no pictures of Geronamo before his surrender. Fly went into the badlands and photographed Geronamo, his family and warriors during hostilities.
Wyatt had just recently taken Sheriff Behan’s girl friend, Sadie Marcus, and planned to marry her. Sadie worked at the famous ‘Bird Cage Theatre’. Sadie did become Wyatt’s third wife.
Western Tourist attractions are nothing like the attractions of the Coast’s. The numbers of tourists are small, allowing much more attention and time to look around. Tombstone is one of my top travel memories.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following question:

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

Expecting another baby soon!

This is the picture on the cover of 'Toby's Tales.'

This would have been on the cover, but I lost it. I just found it in 'My Pictures'. So that is how it goes. I think the desert scene will do okay. The book's cover is basically Red, I like it.

About the Baby!

From the time I started telling stories I have wanted to do a book of short stories for children. I have told stories to children and adults for so long I have a problem separating them. Tonight I finished my first short story book. I think there may be one new story. The rest are stories I have told the grand children and some audiences over the years. I don’t know whether they are for kids or grownups.
I owe a lot to the internet family; I get ideas from everywhere, and many situations. There are two of my favorite Bible stories included. One is a very obscure story, well, obscure when you consider David and Goliath and Noah etc.
For years I have looked for a vehicle to tell stories. I toyed with many ideas. ‘Tales from the Skiff’(a talking boat), ‘Wanna Swing?’ (a talking swing), “What the Preacher’s Kid said!”, I even used the title once ‘The Kid in YOU’ for some stories. etc. TRUE STORY... I was toying with the ‘Kid in YOU’ as I was sitting on a street in Atlanta writing a story, waiting on Sherry who was attending a seminar. As I wrote, unaware there was a crowd gathering, looking up at the building across the street. A man was ten stories up threatening to jump. No one yelled ‘JUMP’ as I have heard. Most folks I heard said, I hope he doesn’t jump. I sat, stopped writing and started drawing; I drew his picture as he sat on the ledge. The police talked him in, thank goodness. (Later I did come up with a logo for the 'Kid in You’, but it did not work).
But we all have met a very nice unassuming, gentle lady on the net that talks to cows. She has a favorite cow she calls ‘Shellie Marie’. She calls herself a wanna be Cowgirl. She also writes poetry; serious to silly! Paula of paulinescountrytales at http://pl78064.blogspot.com/ .
She once mentioned a turtle she called Toby, she fed and talked to him. The idea began to form, ‘Toby’s Tales’. So I started researching turtles. They are very interesting and live over a hundred years, some above 125.
I asked Pauline what she thought of the title, she liked it. I then leaned on her good nature for a poem to use, she graciously sent me several to pick from. Since I liked them all, I then pushed it and asked if I could us them all. She graciously said yes.
So tonight (with Paula’s help) I have finished ‘Toby’s Tales’. Seven stories and seven good poems. It is 114 pages in large print. It will be available soon, but I will advertise it in the Fall in time for Christmas presents. Amazon and Target will list it for $8.95. It is worth it for Paula’s poems alone. I am thrilled with this one. I cried when I read about little ‘Mephibbie’ again tonight. That is Mephibosheth’s nick name. You do know him? Right?
Thanks for letting me brag on our latest baby.
Nite ShipsLog
PS:
I have a wonderful friend in Maine, Judy. Her mother is 90+ years old and still an avid reader. She read Sticky and Rags and said they are great! Now I must finish ‘S’gar’, I dropped it to finish 'Toby's Tales'.

I am starting to understand myself. When I built houses, I build the ones I would enjoy living in. Now I write a book, that I enjoy reading, and that moves me.

I am Not a Fan of the Yellow Pages!

The house on South Main under construction. Note that NC RED mud!

This is the front garage after the house ws completed. There is a Fire station on the left where the tricicle is parked.On back is a two story play house for the grandkids. This one had a all the amenities. for the kids. Here is Reece, Josh and Steve.

Now this is Josh as he has his two seconds crossing the stage.

First.... Speaking of graveyards. Our house on Main Street backed up to the city grave yard. Our grave plots are practically behind the house. I told Sherry I would be looking when she brought a man in the house and went skinny dipping, 'I would be the resident ‘haint’.' That is one reason she did not object to selling the house and moving into the woods. LOL
The Charlotte Airport was going to buy the home my sister Kat. She and her husband were in Florida for the winter when we decided to put our house up for sale. We drove to Florida with some plans and prices. WE all were excited and agreed to build the Condos. Sherry and I came back from Florida, put the house up for sale and called Sticky to start clearing this acre of land. I applied for the permits and started in earnest.
The house sold much faster than we expected, so we had to move. I didn’t learn too much from my first experience in the yellow pages, THE POOL MAN. So I looked there for a mover. None of the well known names could do it that soon, so I ran up on another full page add with six or seven phone numbers in all the surrounding towns. He must be safe. He could do it, but it would have to be on Sunday, the only day he had open. Mover arrived and started packing. WE had agreed that he would store the furniture and ‘stuff’ until I called. But I had to pay $750 for storage in advance. Okay. While they were packing my Bro in law comes over, looks at the tags on the truck, “Are they stealing your furniture Jack?”
Mr. Mover sticks his head out of the Van, laughing and said, “Yeah right here in broad daylight.” WE all laughed….. WRONG!
Truck left, I never thought a thing about it until time to get the furniture. First # disconnected., 2nd # disconnected (I was getting a sick feeling) on through the list, Nada. I checked the phone company all #’s had been shut off a couple months back for lack of payment. They are still trying to locate him to collect for the phones and yellow page ad of $4,500. They would appreciate anything I could find out. (HA!)
It took weeks to locate any storage stuff. Somehow we found ‘em about forty miles away in a ware house that was locked for lack of payment of rent. Contents to be sold to pay the bills. ( much took place) later I was accompanied to see if our stuff was there. Some of the larger items were there, but all the pilfer able items GONE! All electronics, micro etc.
The man was arrested. He had done this before. The Courts allowed him to declare bankruptcy, we got $3.75 I think. Plus the courts allowed us to take what was left. We had to pay another mover.
You just cannot trust the Yellow Pages, I don’t think. LOL
Thanks for coming this way.
Nite Shipslog

Indoor pool and upkeep. POOL story

This is outside looking in at the pool (This is one of the many birthday parties)

Another inside shot The dining room entrance is just beyond the standing person.

This was my home office. The pool is just outside that window behind me.

/To answer some questions.......

About our indoor pool. It was unique and the only one in town. Some folks have mentioned the cost and upkeep. We had never had a pool, but Sherry’s sister did. It was an outdoor above the ground pool. I helped open and close it every year. That is a pain and expensive. I declared if we ever had one, it would stay open year round. So when we got a chance to build another house, we planned it in. All I did was take an ‘L’ shape plan and make a square, placing the pool in the ‘L’.
Since I had never built an indoor pool I had a lot to learn. First of all that Pool builders have the worst reputation and the least reliable, of all construction groups. I went to the Yellow Pages and picked a nice looking ad. Called the guy, got references, looked at his work. Great guy! Huh uh! He was an out and out crook. Didn’t even pay for the $5,000 ad in the Yellow pages. But he built a solid pool (when I could find him). At the rough-in, I discovered the pool was out of square with the room and pointed it out. No problem he says, I will make the walls thicker on that corner. He did, once the concrete was in, one corner was Two feet thick. But I am ahead of myself.
The Concrete truck comes, and sits at the site. No moving. I asked what the problem was, pool man had told the dispatcher he would have cash, his checks always bounce. I had an account with the company and I told them to put it on my account, and I would deduct it from the price of the pool. We had the strongest pool in the world. He put so much concrete on the walls and in the bottom he lost all the drains, outlets and lights. Fortunately I had filmed the job and we could show the movies and locate all but one wall outlet. It is still there somewhere. Pool was finished, house was finished and no pool heater or pump. After much consternation He got the heater, I eventually installed it and the pump. It all turned out great in the end.
Upkeep, would you believe about $5 a year in chemicals? Yep. The only chemical was Muratic acid. I added about a quart a month. It started turning green once when we were gone, but it did not take long to bring it around. I had always wanted a pool to jump in after a hard day’s work, it was great.
Cleaning? Sherry would throw all the pool furniture in the pool, hose the tile deck down, remove the ‘washed’ furniture and vacuum the pool. About an hour.
But we wanted to travel and we could not think of leaving a pool with no one to watch it. Sooooo we sold it and built another. One of the local Textile mill owners bought it and paid cash.
We moved out of the house and into our motor home while we completed the two Condos. Life was good, BUT my son and building partner was not happy. He was upset that we would sell a house on Main Street and move out in the woods.
Long story about the move. Maybe I will tell it next. Our furniture was stolen, and I watched it, and then paid the guy before he left with it, another Yellow page story.. Easy? YEAH I am.
Nite Shipslog

PS: The pool was not that big an expense. It was going to be a nice home and adding the pool only cost us approx. $15K (since I was doing all the carpenter work electrical etc) but it added $75K to the value.

Dreams lost, Dreams possible...

At the helm of the Mayflower in Plymouth, Mass., Yeah, dreaming!

Witches museum in Salem, not really dreaming, but we were very wierd, and supersticious, during some of our countries young years.

Ahhhhhhhh, Nunans Lobster Hut at Kennebunk, Me. looking forward to this. Last time we were up there it was $13.50 for one Lobsta, or $15.50 for two, pretty much of a no brainer decision for me.

From the Dreamer..................

Okay so I am, ( and always have been) a dreamer (sometimes a doer). I dreamed of doing things and many times were able to make the dreams become a reality. I have said it many times, we are very fortunate. We have been able to do things. We have NEVER paid a plumber, electrician or carpenter to do anything at our house, I have been able most of the time to figure how to do it.
And up until they got toooo complicated for a shade tree guy, we never paid for auto repair (body or mechanical).
But back to dreaming. Now I wake up and realize I will NEVER do some of the things I dreamed of:
1. Sail around the world in a sail boat. (To old and too complicated now, dangerous too I guess.)
2. Live in Mexico, France or Spain for a year. (Don’t have a year to spare anymore)
3. Swim the English Channel (Too old and not enough money for support, AND when I saw it, it was wider than I thought, LOL)
4. Sky dive (This one is iffy, I might can squeeze this one in.)
5. Drive as far north in Canada, then walk to the Arctic Circle. (WE may get to the Arctic circle via the Yukon, but by driving)
6. Learn to fly a plane (No need anymore, a friend let me handle the controls on his small plane, I would never be able to understand the tower operators or the radio anymore, it sounded like the old ‘Drive thru’ fast food windows.) Besides the friend decided he had better take the controls back since I was headed toward the ground pretty fast.

Dreams Still possible.
1. Finish the Appalachian Trail. ( One more try, later this summer.)
2. Ride in a Hot air Balloon.
3. Visit Ireland on a budget.
4. Take Sherry to the little Mediterranean Greek Island of Corfu.
5. I want to live Jo Staffords song, remember it?

See the pyramids along the Nile

Watch the sunrise on a tropic isle (done that)

Just remember, darling, all the while

You belong to me.

See the marketplace in old Algiers

Send me photographs and souvenirs

But remember when a dream appears

You belong to me.

Ill be so alone without you

Maybe youll be lonesome too---and blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane (Nother been ther done that)

Watch the jungle when its wet with rain

Just remember till you're home again,

YOU belong to me.

Nite Shipslog

We are still here awaiting Sherry's physical

This was our extravagance on South Main St. Of course the kids had a ball. It couold be opened to the outside on two sides. We actually got to swim in it once with snow on the ground outside. We kept it a constant 92 degrees(Sherry and I did toooo) (I have the pictures backwards.)

This is the same angle as below when I was building the house. A night shot with the lighted pool. It was beautiful when it wasw lit. I had my home office where it over looked the pool.

Here I am working on the scaffolding down in the cement pool. I am installing Canadian cedar. My lumber man gave me a great price on the cedar and it was perfect for the moisture, it handles it well. Sorry the pictures are backwards.

(Note: this is the only house we ever had that Shirl said she was jealous over.)

Something for our own comfort and enjoyment. The carpet has been in this Motor Home for8-9 years. We are going to have it re-carpeted. Just talked to our old carpet man and he brought some samples over. I am not a ‘blue’ person but blue carpet is installed. It matches the couch and window dressings. So we picked out a color blue and he will call later to let us know the price and when he can do it. We will only change the front living area. It has caught ALL the traffic and has had it. I changed the steps to vinyl, but that was a mistake, we will have him re-carpet them.
Hey did it turn cold at your house? It has got down right chilly here. I thought summer was here, but it left.
Martha’s ‘grandson’ Nicky came down to see the motor home. He is a smart little kid of nine. We had a good time; he helped me move the stuff from the basement back to the back of the car. (I had unloaded it to haul a bed for ‘Joshua’s flat’, as he calls it. The flat we spent last summer fixing for our college senior to live in.) Anyway Nicky helped me and then we came in and I showed him a couple ‘magic tricks’. He learned the secret of the misdirection trick of making a quarter disappear and how to change a dime into four nickels. He is going to practice and fool his mom and Martha. Good luck Nicky.
I sorta miss the grandkids when they were kids. Josh was talking about the trips we used to take when he was small. He flattered me by saying the only thing he really remembered was me telling stories at night before going to bed. We did have a lot of fun at night at the campgrounds.
Well Josh and Britney have set a date for the wedding, next June or July. They are already getting a wedding list. I am one who is against kids spending a lot of money on a wedding, which someone will be in debt for years, to pay the bills.
Our wedding cost a total of $8 (for the license) and $2.00 for gas to go to South Carolina to the Justice of the Peace. My mama got us a wedding cake and we returned to the parsonage for a cake cutting. This marriage has lasted 52+ yrs with no regrets.
I have nothing against the cost of any wedding, as long as the folks throwing it can afford the tariff. The Love is what counts, who attends is incidental. As for me, I was only looking at HER!
Thanks for coming this way,
Nite Shipslog
PS: Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following question:

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think

Gettin' Ready

St. Johnsboro, VT. Sonny and Collette in the sled.

Sonny and Collette at Kennebunkport. Bush Seniors place in the distance.

Today's great entry!!!!!! LOL

I left Sonny off the list for the Sitrrep on the last entry.
Presently Sonny is doing good. We have thought he was leaving us a couple times since being home, but he had bounced back. He is on dialysis three days a week. He is handling that pretty well. His biggest problem is he cannot walk. The rehab folks have him walking using a walker for a few steps. He tells me that his left leg just will not listen to him. He can raise and move it but cannot make it make a step. Anyway He is eating on his own and joking with the nurses. He even asked for a book the other day, that was a great improvement. The Rehab where he is, is actually about a mile from his son and three miles from his daughter. They have been put through the mill during the last four months. IF he remains constant we will hit the road as planned.
Now for here. We think the packs are about ready. WE ran across Sherry’s hiking pants that she slid down Mt. Katadin, the seat was worn so we put them in the garbage. “I’ll pick up a new pair at Sports Authority,” she said. LOL
At the store she about had a hemorrhage, the pants were $55 and did not fit the way she wanted. She ain’t crazy about, nor will she wear ‘low riders’. They don’t make old folks clothes anymore. Lol. You know what? Yep, to the trash can, out comes the worn ones, to be patched. LOL. Now they are patched, washed and packed. LOL FAST RECYCLE.
We have had books, maps, campground books, hiking books, New Hampshire Info, Maine info stretched thru the motor home. We have a basic attack plan, now we can’t wait to get in the woods. Hopefully I can make an entry every week or so either from the motor home or a library.
Today is Hardees day. Oh, we got tragic news today. Sherry’s Nephew (44) died yesterday. When his wife found him she had a massive heart attack. She survived, WOW. More later.
Thanks for coming this way,
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following question:

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

UPDATE, OR SITREP

Is this a grill, or what????? I WOULD LOVE TO tow this behind our motor home, can you imagine the attention. My nephew Ted, builds award winning cookers, he could build one for me. Hint, hint! Just joking. That is a little big for two hamburgers.

Todays great entry......

I realize I have written my entries too long. So let me say we are in North Carolina, just chomping at the bits to hit the road. Sherry had a physical on Jun 2nd. If all is well we will head North. First to see friends in Pennsylvania (they do not know we are coming yet), maybe see a play in Lancaster, then to Rondout Valley in New York over the fourth. After that we hope to eat some lobster and visit friends in Maine. I was offered a chance to take a day ‘work’ trip on a lobster boat, I don’t know whether I can handle it or not. I might try.
Then to make our final attempt to finish our dream of completing the Appalachian trail. I would be off the net for a month or so, but I know you guys would somehow survive without all my superior entries. Hahahahahahahaha!
WE are both in our early 70’s now, so if the trip is too strenuous it would be prudent to give the dream up. We have set this year as the last try. While we can still travel there are places to go and see across the country. We must go to Texas, Arizona, Utah and spend some time in Idaho. I would love to see the Yukon once again. And say hello and good bye to Alaska for the last time in our lives.
So Any suggestions as to how we can do it all? Oh, I forgot we want to see Hawaii one more time also. We never did see the BIG island.
Enough, Thanks for coming by the log.
Nite Shipslog,

PS:
Why did God make Mothers? (answers from 2nd graders)

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

We were Poor but now WOW!

Me, Mom, Jack and dad visiting us in the 33' trailer.Cooking out, at the giant 42x8 trailer.

WE lived in this one for a month or so with two boys. Later we lived in one like this as I built our first house.

We have more pics of the trailers we have lived in and houses, but for now I cannot find them.

When we were young and just married, I was stationed at Camp Geiger near J-ville, NC. We got our gas money for weekend trips by carrying passengers stationed in J-ville, home, who lived near Belmont. The 500 mile round trip cost them $5. One couple in particular was Roy and Nancy. We still quote the statement she made right after they were married. (Remember that time when you could eat ‘em up, things were so great and you were in love?)
She was so much in love she said, “I don’t care where we live or what it is, I WOULD LIVE IN A BARN WITH ROY!”

Sadly that feeling did not last with them, but we have used that quote a million times. WE (My love and I), have lived in an OLD 26’ trailer, a used 33’ trailer and a giant 42x8 trailer (only three years old). We have lived in a tent, a chicken house (remodeled for habitation but still leaning by 8” to one side. LOL) We had 8 layers of linoleums (remember them?) on the floor. We got our first washer when our youngest was about 3 or 4. We have lived with no indoor plumbing. We have lived in a van for months at a time. And were always in love! In the Chicken house Sherry would say, “I’d live in a chicken house with Jack! And we would laugh,” and she did.

WE have cut our monthly budget so close we had $1 to spend per month ‘anyway we wanted to’. Due to car trouble we once borrowed $60 from the bank, and financed it for six months. WE were in love.

I said all that, not for sympathy, some of you have done the same or lived in worse circumstances. We have always lived within our means; we had loving parents but no big inheritance. Now I must say something here, Life is and has been good. We now can live the ‘life of Reilly’, because we were EXTREMELY frugal, were fortunate, loved and worked together.

This is not bragging…. After the above situations we lived well, but still within our means. Since those times, we have lived in four brand new houses that we have built. From my perspective, they were beautiful homes. One on South Main St, with a heated indoor pool and three car garages. The last place we lived was here, on an acre of land inside the city. Shirl lives where we once lived, in a CONDO with a total of 2800sqft. And two garages. When we are in town we live behind it in a Motor home, using HER electricity & water.

We are some of the folks on the road who ‘Coulda been rich!’ (Don’t you just hate that, I coulda done that!) Well we are, I doubt there is a day that goes by on the road that I don’t look over at Sherry and say "I am the luckiest guy in the world," and she will correct me by saying, “NO WE are the luckiest and most blessed folks in the world!”

Sometimes I just toot the air horn and wave at the mountains or passing scenery. WE are happy and blessed; I like a story where 'you live happily ever after'. No one knows the future but right now we are going to take it as it is. We have wonderful family members and friends who,like some of you, have lost their mates, they say go and ENJOY each other. Sadly we know it won’t always be so. SO WE TAKE THE ADVICE OF EXPERIENCE, AND ENJOY EVERYDAY TOGETHER.!

Thanks for coming this way,
Nite Shipslog
PS:
It's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular, believe it!

This is a TOUR of OUR Home on Wheels.

This entry is not going to be political. This is our home. Most folks we know, know we live in a motor home. We have lived in every state in the USA and slept in the same bed ( except for Hawaii) at night. We have slept on the side of the road, in parking lots and shopping centers, but very, very seldom. Most of the time we are in a National, state or private RV park. Most of the time we have full hook ups, which means electric, water and sewer.
In the West USA, Yukon and in Alaska we have lived in the wilderness. We are fortunate to have batteries, an inverter (changes 12v batt. To 120 AC), we have a generator that completely replaces shore power. We have 50 gals of fresh water and 50 gal grey water storage and 50 gal black water storage. We can, and do live the life of Reilly anywhere we are.
We have a compressor for air if we need it and have a satellite dish that has never been used. We now have two new TV’s that get watched very seldom.


The kitchen is small but very adequate. With an LP stove top cooker, above it is a combination microwave/convection oven. Sherry has added a toaster oven where she likes to cook corn bread.
This pic is out of order as the first (I can't place them well) The Bedroom has a six foot slide out. This is Sherry’s closet. With the mirror doors. WE keep our vacuum here also. It seconds as a hanger for Sherry’s dusters.
(Note you can see our queen size bed in the mirror)

This should be the first picture. This is our living room, very comfortable with a 16ft slide out. The couch makes an uncomfortable bed, but sit very well. A lounge chair and the driver & shotgun seats swivel to make living room furniture.

Out kitchen table doubles as our computer stations. I am on the right and Sherry as you can see is on the left. There is a router in the center that takes the Verizon card and routes to both systems so we can be on the net at the same time. As some of you know, I comment sometimes, Sherry does not. So she is usually ahead of me reading your journals and says, “Did you see what Woody’s done, Did you read about Paula? You know where Terri went? Lucy has an upside down tomato plant. Shirl put on an entry did you read it.? Debbie put one on! Etc.”
That is not all true, but we can enjoy the journals without looking over each others shoulders. If she needs my attention she e-mails me and vice versa. LOL.

There is a four door refrigerator with ice maker. The pantry I installed is just beside the refer. Sherry says she doesn’t mind putting away groceries since this is installed. If you will note on the insidde of the door is a cross stitch map of the Appalachian trail given to us by 'Chilly Willie' (trail name).

Next down the little hall on your left is our pride and joy a washer/dryer combination. It is made in Italy. I don’t think an American company makes these. (dirty clothes hamper detergent etc above, also the ironing board and vacuum assessories). I am just learning to work it, Sherry is proficient with it. It takes small loads but gets the job done. You do have to remove and shake the garments out before replacing them to dry. (Oh they will dry without it, I tried it. But they dry in a wad! Talking about needing ironing!) LOL

Next down the hall on the left is my closet. Notice the floor of the closet has rolled dungarees. An old Navy trick roll ‘em instead of folding or hanging them.(In the motor home: YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO ROLL THEM , KNOW WHEN TO FOLD THEM) LOL!

(I am missing some pictures here) The bedroom has a queen size bed, it sits atop the rear diesel engine. There is some storage beneath ours and Sherry’s stuff. Christmas decorations and a ceramic tree. Extra blankets etc. There are two small shirt closets either side the bed. My closet extension on the left Sherry’s on the right. And of course this is where Sherry's closet is supposed to appear instead of the top.

NOW! Coming back up the port side we have a full size Shower and vanity. I sorta like the see thru door. LOL

This is the vanity. Of course the things you see sitting around are stored when we hit the road. Most jut get pud down in the sink.

NEXT: THE THRONE.....Small water closet (toilet) not as big as an out house, but all we need.

Well that is the tour of our Motor home inside and out. IT is 38.5 feet long. It has a 315 HP Cummings Diesel, an exhaust brake, power brake and a six speed Allison Transmission. Air horn, air ride, remote mirrors, rear view camera and monitor and leveling jacks for when we are parked. We have 12v and 120v lights. We also have a ten gallon hot water heater. Since we do not have a dishwasher, we do share the task. We also share the cooking tasks also.
Finally we tow a 1995 Honda Odyssey to run around in when we settle down. Most folks do not know that you cannot tow ever car. Some would be completely ruined if towed without doing something to the transmission or installing a driveshaft disconnect. The Saturn and the Honda will tow four wheels down by simply putting them in neutral.
We hook up the Honda and head down the road. We love RV’ing, many folk would not.
Thanks for coming this way,
Nite Shipslog.
PS:
Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.