Never trade Luck for Skill

 

In my life there have been times that I thought I was good at something. One night I bowled a 290 with a ball that I had paid fifty cents for at a yard sale. If you do not know, that is a near perfect game. Man I thought I was good! The next night on a league night, I bowled a 70 with the same ball. I gave it to the kids to play in the yard with.. That is called LUCK.

Once in a game of pool, I made some super extraordinary fantastic shots, won every game and thought I was good. I Never beat those guys again. That was LUCK.

I decided once to make some soup. I searched ‘Tomato soup’ on this computer and I got back a recipe for ‘the world’s best tomato soup’. I didn’t have all the ingredients, so I substituted something’s logical (to me). The soup was a tremendous success. Sherry said it was the best soup she ever tasted. Shirl even sampled it and said it was great. I did not print out the recipe, I did not remember what I substituted, I tried again, and the soup was ‘good’ but not excellent. LUCK.

Sometimes in life we start to base our lives on LUCK instead of skill and we may lose a little. So I try to learn from my mistakes as humans should.

I KNOW I am a fair bowler, not good enough to consider skilled.

I KNOW I cannot shot pool with a pool player, I am not even considered good.

I now KNOW why a person should have a recipe, if they are not SKILLED as a Chef.

The long used statement is very true, you can fool some of the people all of the time, you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. (did I get that right?) I have found this to be a shameful fact: SOME PEOPLE FOOL THEM SELVES ALL THE TIME!

Now, I don’t even know what this post is about except I made soup last night and it was pretty good, but not GREAT! (but the whole pot was less than 200 calories.)

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

The Old Roads

 

Driving down 301 yesterday, I thought of this entry…

This past summer we had a chance to see more of Route 66, known as America’s Highway for many years. Yesterday we came down US 301 in central Florida the road most folks took if they were going to do some fresh water Bass fishing in the lakes around Leesburg. Time has past these highways by. In my younger years I watched Route 66. From Wikipedia:

Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America. The show ran weekly on CBS from 1960 to 1964. It starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and, for two and a half seasons, George Maharis as Buz Murdock. Maharis was ill for much of the third season, during which time Tod was shown traveling on his own. Tod met Lincoln Case, played by Glenn Corbett, late in the third season, and traveled with him until the end of the fourth and final season.

The series is best remembered for its Corvette convertible and its instrumental theme song (composed and performed by Nelson Riddle), which became a major pop hit.

Sixty-six is now mostly memory lane for older folk and a dried-up rough road for the younger generation who take the parallel interstates to avoid it.

(I believe this is South of the Border, but it gives the idea)

Route 301 here in Florida has all the old tourist traps and motels along it, most are closed and boarded up. Life passes us by. We either adapt or die.

For older folk it is hard to adapt. Memories are too real, too strong, so for us on 66, it was a thrill. One the kids would not understand. On old US301, they laugh at the gaudy yellow and orange tourist traps, as a kid I could not wait to stop at one. Remember Stuckeys? I thought it was great to stop at a Stuckeys. I always got a Pecan log if I could talk Mom into it.

There is something about a first time (Like A first Kiss with my girl, I was 16, it was so good I married her the next year!!!).

Dad & Mom brought us to Florida to see the Orange trees. There is something magic about seeing Oranges on trees.

If you ever see the ocean, you will never forget the first time. And the next thrill about the ocean, is seeing Daytona Beach where cars can drive on the beach.

The next thrill of an ocean is to be on a ship with 60-70 ft. waves, I loved it. I did it once on the Indy below!

No picture ever can describe the Grand Canyon, your first time I will guarantee you will stand in awe.

What do you remember for the first time (be nice! LOL)?

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

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A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

FLORIDA WHERE it is warm!!!

 

We have lived in Florida (if Key West counts as Florida, LOL) as residents for about ten or 12 years. Renting in Key West and owning in Tavares. We have visited Florida when it was Fla. We have always encountered some cold snaps, but what we have been hearing is not funny, it has been cold here. Remember citrus and veggies don’t care for cold. I am sure the farmers and workers are sweating(?) wondering what they are gonna do when the cold gets the blossoms on the plants. But upon arrival we are greeted with 70’s weather, BEAUTIFUL!

(This is Mark and Sherry in Key West. I bought that ‘55 Chevy for $50 the radiator was ruined, but it was copper, I sold the busted Radiator for $75, so I made $25 on the deal!)

Florida is still beautiful and it is nice to be in our own home even though it does roll, it is our home. We still smile when folks invite us to visit and stay in a ‘real’ house and bed. This is a real house, it just has an engine and it you would ever really get disgusted with your neighbors all one has to do is start the engine and move. I can’t remember a time that has happened though. I think my friend Don wanted to once when his neighbor heated up his keyboard and amp and serenaded the neighborhood. HA!

We think of a ‘real’ home every once in awhile for a few minutes, then say , nah! Not yet! Yeah we could move in next door to Shirl, no, that would cramp her style!! Ha! This is too much fun now. An old man and a sweet chick just driving around seeing some of our great country and meeting some of the most wonderful folk. I hear Woody and Anna Mae are heading for Okee if things go well medically, that would be good to get down to see them.

Oh yeah, and that sexy lady called Rose, we just might get to see her also. No, we can’t park just yet. Seems like there is still too much to do and see.. Oh I want to show you something. How do you like this house?

Folks, at one time that was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen (Next to Sherry, of course). It was the first House I ever built. I drove every nail, cut every board, laid every block, dug every inch of the footer and laid every block.  Wired every outlet and plumbed every fixture. I did not install the furnace, I hired it done. To most folks it don’t look like much.

When the lady bought that little house it had a full garden in the back. Corn, okra, tomatoes and green beans. She asked me why I sold it so cheap.  I told her I did not think it was cheap. I had kept my hours and charged $10 an hour + land and material.

I know it doesn’t look like much, but to me it was the beginning of a dream. I did become a builder. This is four of the last houses I built.

I actually did build a couple big houses, but this is the size I prefer. (these just happened to be close by)

 

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS: The good parent, gives good advice! This was Jimmy’s dad’s first driving advice!

Good trip down the road.

The feeling of relaxing and even though it is still cold here in South Carolina, it is nice on the road. I was just telling Ora, the weather is topsy turvy. Tonight's low here is to be 28 the low where we are going in mid Florida is to be 24. is that weird?

We are at Point South, which is a few miles above Savannah, Georgia. Just here for a few hours (12) and on the road further south. It looks like the weather is warming up that directions so we B happy!

This Coach has a large 315HP Diesel engine. It doesn’t like cold weather. Built in to the engine is an engine heater, but this one has shorted out. Will have to fix that.

I hope you all got what you wanted for Christmas. Sherry and I are enjoying our electric blanket we bought for US! It is the sports model, two tones with dual exhausts (I mean dual controls). Has a V8 with over drive. It is more fun than the back seat of Tuckers 47 Chevrolet Fleetline (Except when his Martha-matic slipped into reverse instead of second gear). It is much more comfortable. At our age we look for comfort rather than thrills (well except on special occasions).

Check this out A customized ’40 Ford Coupe:

This is a gem in the rough to a car lover, a’41 Chevy:

I always wanted to do this to a ’41 Chevy:

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Jimmy (of Miami) used to work on cars, few folks liked his advice!

Tomorrow, On the Road again!!!!

(except the trees won’t be green)

Wrapping things up, getting ready to do what we love most, and hitting the road. I have mentioned Sonny, my buddy, over the years. I used to tell Sonny, Steve and Vickie will make it without you, just like Mark and Jackie will make it without me. Of course Sonny was a ‘real’ family man. He liked to hold his family close. He wanted to know when they made it home safe. He wanted them to have enough money to pay the bills. He wanted them to own their own home. He kept an extra car so if the kids broke down they would always have one to drive.

 

So now, his kids are making it without him. And now I have to practice what I have preached, Mark and Jack will make it without me. I have said many times, I like to ‘FIX’ things. That goes with personal problems also; therefore I have to be careful that I don’t stick my nose in where it is not supposed to be. So, Tuesday morning this coach heads south (If it will start in the 23 degree weather). If you are familiar with diesels, you know they don’t like to start in cold weather. We don’t plan to go too far the first day, just down around Savannah, so we don’t have to leave out ‘real early’.

The weather in Florida hasn’t been great so far this year, I hope all the ‘cold snaps’ are through, and we can enjoy the warm sunshine and catch some fresh fish. When moving day comes close, I get anxious, I am ready. I used to be like that about Christmas, weren’t you?

WE went to say good bye to the ‘old folk’ at Hardees this morning. Sherry always wants to go see her older brother Vernon. She had a bonus this morning she got to see her little brother Johnny there also. It has been 5 or 6 years since he was down from Detroit.

Sherry’s little town has grown, at one time she knew a lot of folks here, now the ones she knows is dwindling. I met a lot of folks in the few years I was in business here. To be honest I remember more (in city government) that I was not thrilled with, than I liked. BUT then I am for ‘property owners rights’, most folks are not for that anymore. Oh, they are, as long as the property owner wants to do what ‘THEY’ think is right. Hahaha

That means time to quit, thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away, carry a gun! (or a fast knife)

After Christmas memories

 

WE had a great time, with two big get together’s.  One at Niece Vickie’s on Christmas Eve. Where more of Sherry’s side of the family comes. We had a great time seeing some of the folks we do not get to see often.

(Our host Vickie!)

Lucky me and two beautiful women, Megan and her mother Donna (They look more like sisters.) Meg is Steve (Vick’s brother) and Donna’s daughter and has became a beautiful young lady. she also has a pretty sister, Jessica, who did not make the party, we missed her.

Vickie & my Girl, SHERRY!

Steve, Mark and the lucky guy.

This is the last remaining family on Sherry’s side, Johnny (from Detroit), Sherry and Vernon Gomez, the eldest.

Then Sherry put a big meal together here at Mark’s house and we had a wonderful family time.

Sherry’s big meal!

(Sherry & Son Jack)

The favorite Grand Daughter and Luke Vegas, the youngest.

Matt Dillon and dad Mark, Our latest family addition Derrick.

 

MJ & cousins Layla & Hendricks. Luke and MJ the flying dog.

 

All in all, it is a beautiful time of seeing the family.  Today of course is beautiful, Snow covers the area, a couple of inches, enough to make it a winter wonderland before we leave for Florida. From our picture window now!

Thanks for  coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Just in case you don’t know, New Year’s Day is on it’s way!

Merry Christmas to ALL!

 

 

And the REAL REASON!

From Our Motor HOME to Your dwelling!

Love to all

Sherry and Jack from the Shipslog

Did you know that Fred Foy died?

 

Funny thing I used to hear him Monday, Wednesday and Friday at five o'clock. Rushing into the house from playing late, from going with Tuck on his paper route, or from selling Grit newspapers, I would dive onto the floor and turn on my radio. It seemed to take forever for the tubes to heat up, then the William Tell Overture would blast out, a solid strong voice that just fit the occasion would come in, “In the early days of the western United States, a masked man and an Indian rode the plains, searching for truth and justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when from out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again!"

My only daytime radio program, but it was the best. I loved it when the Lone Ranger disguised himself in the episodes. I knew the actor, Brace Beamer, played the part of the Lone Ranger on the Radio, but I never knew the name of the man behind the opening line that I knew by heart and said them along with the announcer every time I listened.

It is amazing the things that have brought joy to our lives and in a case like this, I never knew who he was, just that his voice thrilled me.

Yeah Merita Bread sponsored the program in NC, I always thought it was nationwide but I don’t know that. I know I wanted my sandwiches made with Merita. Ha! When TV became the thing I was 12yrs old and didn’t get to watch it much. To me it was never as good as the Radio, but of course it was.

Learning things like this is just a reminder that things can still surprise you. There was a sad note, on the way home from Sherry’s Mom’s funeral, we heard on the radio that Brace Beamer had died also, that was March 1, 1965.

We wish to Fred Foy, fair winds and following seas after bringing so much joy to so many youngsters like myself.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.

Trying to get the Christmas Spirit! Bah Humbug!

It is getting close to Christmas, I sometimes get the spirit, and others I’m blah. This is such a nice place Mark has here, and I feel bad that he has part of it up for sale. Mark followed in my foot steps and got his general contractor’s license. He built more and bigger than I did and always done a good job. He was conservative with his money and stayed ahead of the game. He has worked 60-80 hours a week and had a very good reputation.

He is selling the center piece of his holdings, and I guess that is a little discouraging. The boys have mostly known this place as home. Mark built the house especially for the family, at the time Corinne was the center of the family and did a great job on interior decorating (I sure miss her). The pool always stayed clean and clear and the grass was always cut, the fields bush-hogged. They had a driving range, baseball field, go-cart track, Motocross track and trails to ride the golf cart on. They added a tree house and horseshoe pits.

AT least he has something to sell to get back in the groove. He will buy a much smaller house somewhere near I guess. He will sell two acres with the house and it will take part of the baseball field and of course the pool and pool house. Business is in the pits for contractors so he is scraping any job he can find. This is what gets me down I guess. At least he now has a contract on the house, and is getting near what he asked, but not near the value of the property. It is like living in the country and having town three minutes away.

Of course we will lose this nesting place that we just fixed earlier this year or last year, I forget! (It goes too) So Shirl, we will be coming back to your RV Park when we are in NC, if there are any vacancies.

But really Christmas has always been the best time of the year. So I have got to get my head straight and start to appreciate the things I do have and that are working. Life has always had ups and downs. Ours has been more ups. Life has been good, so I am gonna snap out of it.

So I look across the table at my Sherry to see what mischief I can get into!!!

 

Thanks for listing to this drivel. Come again soon and I will be flying high.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Don and Evelyn just came in for Christmas, from Florida. It was nice to see them.

Lord, please keep Your arm around my shoulders
and Your hand over my mouth! Amen

Do you make notes to yourself? Do you read them?

 

I make notes to me and then I ignore them many times. I have the habit now, when I misprint something or the printer gives out of ink in the middle of a page, I cut the page in quarters and put them here in front of my keyboard. I had to clean up the mess before I shot the picture (HA). The first picture Sherry thought I was taking a picture of the mess!

Okay, this is what it looked like!

(The note paper is here above my keyboard, I have neatened up a little, you see my round-to-it, my OOORAH pin from Woody, and my Titanic pen from Shirl’s last trip)

I make lists too, sometimes I follow them. Thing is I need reminders and guides to follow, even though I use them just as a jumping off point. Just like my Blog.

I read a comment by Fred the other day on a blog from Wisconsin either Mel or Dar’s. Where he said as a preachers son he enjoyed going to the member’s houses on Sunday afternoon to visit. That brought back so many memories. It seems we boys invited ourselves to each other’s houses without the parents being consulted and they all took it in stride. I know I have had boys stay and eat with us that mom did not know were coming, but she always handled it.

In High Shoals, NC (Dad’s only country church) I had a ball going home with the farmers kids. In Valdese it was a pleasure to go to the Page’s house. They had a pony and a small farmette, probably 3 acres, that is a guess.

In Missouri when Sherry and I were in Kirksville we went home many times with the Conrad’s. I know I have mentioned them many times. What a thrill to visit with them, the most delightful family. Kenneth was the daddy rabbit and I learned a lot from him. Eilene was a strong beautiful lady, and could sing as well as any professional. The kids were great, there was Harry, Kenny, David & Robert then there was Glenda (now of Okeechobee, FL), Juanelle, Irma, Mary, Vickie & Lil. They were all a delight to be around. That was a funny thing when we went on a picnic together the kids got to eat our sandwiches and hot dogs and we got to eat roast, homegrown corn, beans etc.

Churches have always been part of our upbringing and lives. Although many of my beliefs have changed and I have become more liberal in my thinking, the basics are still there. I was raised with: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ I still think it is a good philosophy to live by.

(Some of you know Sherry sits across from me on her computer her area is(was) a little neater, now mine is the neatest!)

Thanks for coming by the log. (Make a note to come back please!)

Nite shipslog

PS:

'You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes full power to taxi to the terminal.' - Lead-in Fighter Training Manual –

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Don't pick a fight with an old man.  If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.(better watch the old women too!)