Pledging my Love (A late Thanksgiving & also movng day!!)

I actually started this entry Thanksgiving Day, when I got an old song on my mind, thinking what it meant to hold Sherry and listen to it and sing along.

Pledging my Love…… by Elvis & many more. Made famous by Johnny Ace.

Forever my darling our love will be true ...Always and forever I'll love only you ... promise me darling your love in return ...May this fire in my soul dear, forever burn ...My heart's at your command dear ...Making you happy is my desire dear ...Keeping you is my goal ...I'll forever love you ...For the rest of my days ...I'll never part from you ...Or your loving ways ... promise me darling your love in return ...May this fire in my soul dear forever burn ...I'll forever love you ...For the rest of my days ...I'll never part from you ...Or your loving ways ... promise me darling your love in return ...May this fire in my soul dear forever burn

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NYdNeUHIMk

We done this with a lot of songs. I voiced over “Earth Angel” many evenings. We had a great courtship. She stayed occupied keeping my hands from roaming, but we still had a wonderful time. Sherry was a mama’s girl, her mama had raised two ‘good’ girls already, and Sherry was determined to be no different, she was not going to disappoint her mama.

That attitude  upset   young  Jackie though. hahaha.

I have said a lot about Sherry, but I could never say enough good things.

Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you

Earth angel, earth angel
The one I adore
Love you forever and ever more
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you

I fell for you and I knew
The vision of your love-loveliness
I hoped and I pray that someday
I'll be the vision of your hap-happiness
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)

Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you-ou
(You-you-you)

(I left a lot of words out for economy)

(With her nieces, Brenda and Vickie)

This is My time to express how thankful I am for my wife and my life. Without the first, there would be no second.

Today, just thankful.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

That also brings back the song, “PS I love you!”

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And this car:

A lot of smooching in this car. We were double dating with Von Dale and Martha. Within thirty minutes, of dropping our dates off, we were leaving Paw Creek, when I wrecked and rolled this car over and ruined a beautiful automobile. Chuck Berry’s, Rock Around the Clock was playing on the radio.

(What a life this has been, from the bombing of Pearl harbor to a day I can sit and RETRIEVE the lyrics to long lost songs in seconds, from inside our MOTOR HOME.)

All men should pee in the woods. (X Rated statements, you are warned)

I have always been an odd ball, just my nature.  When I tell folks I spent 8 years in the military as an E-3 and below, the military guys snicker in disbelief. Others do not know what I am saying. But this guy is not griping about his life, I have learned some things others have not.

In other words besides doing my regular jobs I was assigned sh— details.  Not punishment, it just comes with the pay grade. In the USMC & USN toilets are called ‘Heads’.  In the USAF they are called ‘Latrines’. Cleaning heads and latrines off and on for 8 yrs, teaches you something. You are hoping that your shipmates can aim straighter  a weapon than when they use the toilet.

I am saying this after a visit to the hospital and a couple fast food ‘Rest Rooms’ (Necessary rooms as Paula pointed out a blog or two back).  I cannot believe men  pee on the deck, or spray the seat of the commode without raising the seat. I have this built in thing, ‘I ain’t leaving this seat like this, the next person in will think I done that!’

I always took pride in my cleaning spaces. They were spotless when I finished. When I used it later I would be PO’d to see someone could not stay over the urinal long enough to finish.

It is a physical fact, it is hard for a man to completely empty his bladder. My sister Kat ( quoting her husband after hearing me gripe like this) SAID, “You can shake it, you can milk it, you can beat it against the wall, but put it in your pants and the last drop will fall!”  You would have to know Kat, she was a wonderful character.

My wife, as far as I know, has never had to worry about a sprayed commode seat, dripping in the wrong place, or an accidental wild shot, that was not cleaned up.

I know I am preaching to the choir, not many men read this, but the ones that do, ‘Don’t pee on the floor!’

Boys are terrible from birth.  Ever get a golden shower while changing a diaper?  You usually just get one, then you know better. Where did you stick the diaper pins while you were changing diapers , in the mattress right?  Guy worked for me did too, but he had just bought a new water bed. OUCH!

Thanks for reading my rant for today!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The Thingy

 

“Children I have two human parts left. The first is something that will allow one to pee standing up. Who would like that?”

“Me, Meeeee ,”said Adam, jumping up and down, “That sounds like fun and something a man should have!”

Eve being understanding of her mate, nodded her agreement, and it was so.

“Adam splashed on a rock and laughed. He wrote his name in the sand, he made a high golden fountain, they laughed,” Adam said this is great! Too bad you didn’t get one.”

Then back to see God and HE turned to Eve and said, “Then you dear get the final part of human kind, it is now yours.”

Excitedly Eve asked, “Oh, dear Lord thank you so very much. I will treasure the gift. Adam calls his “a thingy”, but what shall my gift be called?”

SCroll

**

ON down

“Let’s call it BRAINS my child, BRAINS!”

So now you know why things are like they are! You could have been having all that fun, instead of sitting down to think.

 

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The truck:

Change for a dollar

 

Instead of a Blog entry, if you have time watch this. I received this from my friend Smoky Coe.  Smoke has been a lot of things, including a country singer and producer. He Randy Travis recorded some of his songs in Smoke’s studios. He is also a friend of Shirl’s:

 

This could bring back silent movies--some films just don't need a sound track.
Change for a Dollar:

http://www.flickspire.com/m/Share_This/changeforadollar?lsid=161f9da9b7692b6854ca64548e80ab61

 

I hope your system will show this, Smoke says it will clear your mind and tear ducts. It did mine.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

the pickup:

1969 Jeep

Tax and the Politicians

Tax his work, Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow, Tax his goat,
Tax his pants, Tax his coat.

 
> Tax his ties, Tax his shirt,
> Tax his work,Tax his dirt.
> Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink,
> Tax him if he Tries to think.

Tax his cigars, Tax his beers,
If he cries Tax his tears.
Tax his car, Tax his gas,
Find other ways To tax his ass.
 
> Tax all he has Then let him know
> That you won't be done Till he has no dough.
> When he screams and hollers; Then tax him some more,
> Tax him till He's good and sore.

 
Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in Which he's laid...
Put these words Upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...'

When he's gone,Do not relax,

Its time to apply the inheritance TAX.

(Author unknown for fear of the IRS)LOL
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Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
 Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
 Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory  Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor  Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
 Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
 Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
 
STRANGE:
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years
ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had
the largest middle class in the world, and Mom had a choice work at a job or stay home to raise the kids.

What in the heck happened? Can you
spell 'politicians?'

Nite Shipslog

PS:

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED IN 2,064 YEARS?
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled,  public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
        - CICERO - 55 BC
EVIDENTLY NOTHING...

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Today’s truck:

1972 Ford Truck

 

Business is Business, to stay in business use common sense.

My Brother who had a thriving business that started with lawn decorations, you know, the bird baths, chickens, ducks, little bears and concrete planters; Heavy, hard work. That was my brother, we called him Jun. From the time he returned from WWII, he was going to be in business for himself, some how.

My brother Junior and his wife Mozelle

 While starting that business he saw an opportunity to go into the printing business. Cousin Kenneth, in Georgia, had bought the Gutenberg Press (well it looked that old) and had it up for sale. Jun bought it. His plans were to print business cards, wedding announcements, etc. He done that for awhile, but it didn’t suit his fancy.

Thru a lot of different paths, while still working full time in a cotton mill, he ended up with a shop on the busiest highways in Shelby. He expanded into pottery, then to china. In a few years he and his wife quit the mills and went full time into the business. They were open 6 days a week, taking Wednesdays off. That day he traveled to pick up supplies. So they worked 7 days a week. I think he took one week off  on the 4^th.

Lots of times, Shirl would travel to Shelby from Charlotte to work with Jun, just to be with him while her Husband Jim traveled on his job. Jun loved his work, he branched out into flowers, mostly plastic then silk. He loved to work with live plants. Cross breeding and grafting, it was a hobby, and when business was slow, that was his pastime.

Before he died he shared with me his philosophy, “Jackie, if you like to do something start a business, be ready to starve for ten years, but if the idea is worth anything, you will succeed. But the trick is, stick with it.”

Jun was a wealthy man when he died, but he worked for every penny he had. Schedule was 8-7 every day except Wed. then 6am to 6pm. He sold his business; I built him a beautiful home, working by the hour.

I started all this because I received a ‘return to sender’ from the postal service. I sent out some press releases and I had an old address for the Observer at home. I received the letter back giving me the correct address. The new address is less than a mile from the PO, yet they sent the letter back over 400 miles along with the new address. That is when I thought of Jun. Be efficient!

Yeah I know there are millions of letters, I just wanted to pick on the post Office for not delivering my letter and costing me 44 cents more. LOL

 I have always had very good service from the USPS. I definitely cannot complain. They have to work to get us our mail. Hahahaha

Nite Shipslog

PS:

I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

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Today’s car:

Remember the Lark by Studebaker?

Finally, an internet ad that counts

Lately I asked Sherry is it better for me to wear jockeys or shorts, her answer, “Depends”.

Finally I got the ad over the internet that makes sense for us old folks, “Diapers, for when they are needed!”

Okay I am not quite at that stage yet, but it may not be long. So I put that on my favorites. LOL

I once copied an ad for ‘Doritos’. It was a coupon that said ‘Free Doritos, any size.’  We used two or three of them before I read that they were fake coupons and would no longer be honored.  So I have never copied a coupon from the internet again.  Do you print them out and use them? Are they legitimate?

To be honest I despise coupons. I say why don’t they just sell the item at a reasonable price?  I do understand why, it is the rules addressing advertising. They get to deduct it as advertising.( I do realize it is smart to use them for something you actually use and were going to buy anyway)

While I am at it I will fuss about laws. I have not followed the lady who is running for the Repub. nomination, but I read a negative statement made by someone. “Since she has been in congress She has not submitted any bill that has been made into law.” ( or something like that)  In my opinion that was a plus. Why in heck does anyone think we should have more laws? What they should do is see if they can get some off the books.  They are known as ‘Law Makers’, that doesn’t mean everyone up there must submit a new law, surely!!!  DOES IT?

Don’t get me wrong, we need laws, I am not fussing about that. But somehow I think over 200 years we should have about enough. So why not review the old laws and throw some out.

I am about to agree with Jimmy, everyone up there is stupid. Here it is about time to shut the gov’t down again, and they cannot agree. The Super committee failed, now we need a Super Duper Committee. Idiots (BOTH SIDES) used the last day or two to cast insults at the other side instead of finding an answer. You mean to tell me that a week ago they did not know this was coming up?

(“Why can’t we just get along?” Rodney King)

“Thanks for reading this mess. I’m outta here.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to The Looker, "I was artificially inseminated this morning."
"I don't believe you," says The Looker.
"It's true; no bull!" exclaims Daisy.

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Take a look at this:

1957 DeSoto Fire Flite (This was the year of the fin)

Everyone has something for which to be thankful …

Things most of us have to be thankful for:

If you live in a free country

If you are not hungry.

If you have clothes to wear.

If you can read this.

If you can respond to this.

If you have a friend.

If you have faith in something or someone.

If you are not in the hospital.

If you have someone who loves you.

If you truly love someone.

If you are warm.

If you have most of your five senses.

If you have an income.

If you have a memory.

If you can read and write.

If you have clean water.

If you have a place to sleep.

If you have electricity.

If you have most of the above you are richer and more fortunate than most of the people in the world. You can probably add at least one more thing to the list..

I am thankful that I have all of the above. I feel like I am more blessed than anyone else in the world. I also have my health and a wonderful family. Many true friends and possessions I never dreamed I would have. Shucks, I was happy when we had everything we owned in the trunk and back seat of a 1953 Plymouth and looking for a place to live.

Thankful? YOU BET!

Also thankful that you came by the log,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

.Wanna know the truth? Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

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1965 Ford p/u

The Behinder I get!

In 1956 I was a radio operator in the USMC. We were amazed by a new development called Facsimile. We could strap an 8x11 map or message on a little drum. It rotated and a small beam of light moved across it sending the white and black areas it sensed. It took 15 minutes to transmit one page, man was it great!

(This is similar but ours was larger and over radio waves)

I joined the USAF, as a radio operator. They decided to send me to school on a revolutionary new computer concept, the Analog computer. the school was 9 months long. Before the school was finished, we are told there is a great NEW theory out. We are switching to the Digital computer. It operates on the 1 & 0 principal, or bi stage flip flops. This is a tube type computer, hundreds of thousands of tubes. The computer took up 1200 sq ft, the A/C the same amount of space. More school. Binary, Bi-quinary languages. Six months on the job, Something new, solid state computers, same principal, but different hardware,transistors and diodes. Another school.

(The card used the Hollerith Code)

Now we are into IBM, remember the IBM Card and what was called the Electronic Accounting Machines (EAM). We could feed info into computers with cards. More School this time IBM. This school was in D.C. I was learning to repair the IBM systems.

(Taken outside our Arlington apartment after our incident).

One night in our apartment I was having a dream. The machine would read a card, then BANG, it would blow up. Finally Sherry got me awake and said someone is shooting outside! I said no, it is just the IBM machine blowing up!  She yelled, no honey, shooting, as in guns. That got me awake. A man two stories up was running from window to window shooting at anything that moved.

The swat team finally filled his apartment and ours with tear gas and got the guy. I had a good story to tell the next day at school.

All I am trying to say is I am over schooled in electronics. Later I programmed, Fortran, Cobol and machine languages. I AM SMART!

Years later and the PC arrives. I bought one. As I said, I am smart. I set the system up, and it took me 8 solid hours just to input the date. Now, I AM FEELING DUMB. I have to learn DOS.

Then some guy named Gates, screws up every thing again. I have to learn Windows. I am fine, a company called Apple I think, bites the dust, will do nothing. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN APPLE IS BACK, THERE IS SOMETHING NEW. AN iPHONE FOR HEAVENS SAKE. What the ------ is an iPhone. Why is Sonya running ON AND ON about? What is Lucy talking about Google Chrome? What the heck is Live Writer? (that one I found out).

I am the smartest  dumb guy you will ever know. Sometimes I feel so unnecessary.lol

Old equipment is not like old cars. 50 years from now you won’t hear: I have a completely restored HP PhotosmartC4640 printer, a 2010 model! NO ONE will say WOW! Man I wish I had that.

What I need is a fast walking stick, as my uncle Ralph would say. Anyway, thanks for listening to this RANT!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The moon moves about two inches away from the Earth each year.

Now aren’t you glad you know that!

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The 1956 Plymouth, and not a computer part in it!!!!!

Beach and Local Pictures

A copy of one of my favorite sculptures, ‘The man of the Sea’.  Sherry knows I love this so she snapped it.

This area of Florida is beautiful. Just South of here is where many ultra-rich folk live. I joke about living the life of a millionaire on a shoe string budget. Our budget is shoe-string as compared to many in the USA, but I for one do not begrudge them a penny. Most of these folk earned their money, or their family did.

You are not going to see many of these houses, gates and large fences and hedge rows, ensure their privacy.

I do not know what the name of this palm is, but it is the first I have seen this color. It is a frosty green.

Some of these places are not homes, the same with a lot of condos. It is a place to get away for awhile.  In many cases the ‘full time’ help living on a small salary, live the good life 3/4 of the year while the owners are away earning the money to pay taxes.

Of course a toy or two that I want! LOL

(But no where to put it!)

Don’t you just love the rows of ‘Royal’ palms.

The weather is very windy, you can see by the surf.

This is the first ‘Wind surfing I have seen.’

As you can see this guy went south then turned and went north. I once saw him come out of the water about 10 ft. He was going back & Forth, it amazed me.

How would you like that tree in your front yard. I am not sure if it is Cyprus or Kin to the Banyan.

This is St. Jude's Catholic Church and the area just a few miles south from where we are staying.

I hope you enjoyed our day trip. This country is absolutely beautiful.

We will be heading back north in a day or so, Okay not really north north. Just further up in Florida. We have friends coming down, snow birds from the Belmont area, Don & Evelyn.

Nite Shislog

PS:

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.

-- Voltaire (1764)

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Check this car out:

1956 DeSoto

DEBT, Christmas

Giving is one of the most rewarding actions I have ever known. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the birthday and Christmas presents Mama and Daddy got me. But in our family it stopped at the door. It was a family thing. Oh, I enjoyed drawing names in our Class at school and in Sunday School. I loved the atmosphere at our church when kids were chosen to deliver packages thru out the church  as names were called.

Daddy was always my pastor growing up. He and mama would ‘ALWAYS’ buy and wrap several extra packages. Mama was very sharp. she watched to see who did not get something and a name was quickly added to a package. NO ONE left the church without a gift. Funny back then a gift was a gift, the value was ‘not’ important. It was hearing YOUR name called.

I have had two men come up to me since I grew up and returned to our home town. Each thanked me for gifts that I do not remember giving.  Both were from very poor homes at the times. One was a single shot .22 hunting rifle, I remember having it, but not giving it away, when I joined the USMC.

Sherry and I have always practiced the same trend. We stayed within our home for ‘gifts’. These gifts were always paid for. We never borrowed for Christmas, that seemed to ruin the thought of Christmas for us. We had friends who started complaining toward the end of January, about the bills they had to pay. It has ALWAYS been our practice, if you cannot buy it you must live without it.

We have been very fortunate, our health has always been good. Giving is part of our life. I love giving coins to kids. (I think Sherry is beginning to like writing checks, uh huh!)

It is not really giving something you own, if you must borrow to do it. Just my opinion.

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

GRANDMA'S AGE
LITTLE Luke ASKED HIS GRANDMA HOW OLD SHE WAS.
GRANDMA ANSWERED, "39 AND HOLDING." Luke THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN SAID, "AND HOW OLD WOULD YOU BE IF YOU LET GO?"

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Look at this one:

The Fascination never got off the ground!

Families

While in the USAF stationed in Biloxi,Miss. I had possible orders to Sault St. Marie or Kirksville, MO. I drew Kirksville. We lived in an 8x42 trailer, so we hooked it on the back of our 1955 Ford and headed North. Believe it or not back then (1958-9) you had to get permits to tow something that BIG(?) thru most states.

 With permits in hand we had a good trip, until somewhere in Kentucky we got snowed in. A nice guy in a general store allowed us to stay in his lot for two days. Then we got stuck on a hill in the snow in South East Missouri.  With the help of passers by, road side cinders  and a good-ol-Missouri-boy in a p/u truck , they got us over the hill. An exciting trip for a young couple with a baby boy. My Dad and BIL (Dick) were along to help also.

Being from the South,  leaving the Gulf Coast, we had no idea what 13 below zero in March felt like, but we learned.

(55 Ford with our trailer in the back ground)

Kirksville turned out to be some of the best duty in the world. A small 100 man radar site. We loved it there. The summers were wonderful and beautiful in the rolling hills of NE Missouri.  WE learned that Missouri folk are great.

(Kenneth & Eileen on one of our trips across country)

That is where we met the Conrad Family.  Ahhh what a treat. Kenneth was a real German Missourian. Eileen was from Palm Beach County, FL. Kenneth was a farmer and a worker in the HB Chance Corp. In a two story farm house they raised 10 kids.

The family grew up with the standards of Mom & Dad. Truth and hard work. Nurses, financial advisor, administrators, a (lady) jet mechanic, Builders, craftsmen, and a war hero.

(Kenneth, me and the boys, Kenneth is in his 80’s and in this picture (2010) was as strong as an ox.)

On the way down to enjoy a visit with some of the family who drove in from Missouri, I got to thinking, we have known this family over 50 years. Eileen could have been a professional singer. Oh yeah, Vickie too,  but she prefers to turn a nut and adjust what ever jet mechanics do. HA! To top it off, they are all good looking too, even Kenny, Sherry says he looks like George Clooney (is that good or bad?).

They can all cook too, even the guys.

(Sherry & I left Kirksville and eventually moved back to Moberly Mo. This is the church we all attended, it did have a steeple back then)

They were down to visit Irma Lee, affectionately known as Aunt Nee, 91+ who is also one of the sweetest women you want to meet. Also two of the Siblings(Glenda & David Luke) are residents of Okeechobee. So it is a reunion. I believe David and Glenda went back to Missouri with the crowd to have more time with the family & Mom & Dad.

I could go on and on about this family, but suffice to say, they are a pleasure to know and be around.

(This was taken at David Luke’s place in Florida, A real craftsman but  still country at heart)

Thanks for sharing a joy with me.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

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1956 Dodge Royal Lancer. This is the Car Kenneth had,  He had the 4dr. That was a load when the family was aboard.

 

Random pictures of their pastors, but featuring Glenda, she is the one who is sort of the glue between us and the family. She keeps us abreast of what is happening.