Correction and reporting in

 WE are now in  Florida.  I drove this time straight thru the 500+ miles to make a reserved spot on time.  I was beat for the first time I remember from driving.

I made a mistake in writing my last entry, my problems are NOT health related, I do thank God we are both in good health. I am dealing with a new key board here. 

Hope all is well with Y'all.  Florida is warm, but a little drizzle. 

Nite Shipslog

PS:  I truly appreciate your concern, comments and prayers.  Comments are off.  (sorry)

Checking in

 Things are going ok; not topping trees but keeping busy. We Enjoy reading blogs but just feel sorta 'unnecessary!'  One of my mama's made up feelings. LOL

The bright spots in our lives are still thankful grand daughter Sherece is recuperating well.  And then  Grandson Ben got a job within 4-5 days after his arrival from Utah to here in NC.  He seems to be happy about the move but misses his daughter something terrible. 

 I understand that, considering all the separations  from my family in my military career.  There was going to be a separation anyway, the mother and his daughter are moving to Louisiana in the next month or so.  This will be closer to his daughter and he plans to fly her out for prolonged visits.

All that will work out.

We do have a couple major problems hanging like a cloud, thank God they are health related.  At his age that is something to be thankful for.

WE are thankful for life and all the good things in our lives.

BUT HE will assist.

Thanks for listening, we  will head back to Florida some Sunday.  I hope to start some recovery.  LOL

I know we all have problems, life does that....

Nite Shipslog

Some things are just GOOD!

 Animals and cars:

 

For today:

I wanted to let those who asked and prayed, know some results about some of the things I have written about lately. I am still not ‘whole’ myself BUT our granddaughter Sherece came thru her surgery and is doing well. The Doctor said, it was a huge mass, but she got it all and everything looks great now. Niece Vickie with the same operation did well.  Nephew Steve got his hip replacement, and is fairing well.

And then Benjamin Aaron made the trip from Utah safely. He is settled in his new place here and already has a job.

The family is pitching in to get son Mark’s house here in NC shipshape after it being rented by the same folks for over 20 years. It is terrible to say, but it looks like they forgot to clean it for those years. ;-(.

His son Matthew is moving into it once it is ready.

A day after Sherece’s surgery, Sherry fixed her ‘famous’ Chicken ala King for Sherece and we delivered it. Many of the family were there to cheer her on. It was a special reunion for Sherece and Ben. They were CLOSE friends AS WELL AS cousins, when they were kids.

I am trying to stay busy. I have laid a few concrete blocks for Mark. We have one rental left. I replaced the gas burner and pilot system on the water heater and retracked a garage door there.  The furnace had quit and I have no idea how, but I fixed that by what I call, ‘Easter egging’. (I guess it is the right time of the year for that) ;-O

(I am trying)

I am trying to retrain my brain to accept the number 84. Dementia does run in my family.  I am the oldest a person has lived in my family. Sister Shirl and mother’s minds left them in their 70s and they passed before they were 80 methinks. So I am now holding the best batting record.

      ;-)

Nite Shipslog

PS:

I’m Smarter?

 

Animals and cars:

Yep, across the USA we have Elephants and Donkeys in cars.

 

For today:

I am at the age where many people start showing signs of dementia.  I am doing that myself. I forget incidents, things, and plans.  Of course nearly everyone explains that away as ‘normal’ saying ‘we all forget and misplace things. I actually KNOW THAT, but at times I ‘feel’ the difference, NO, of course I cannot explain it.

I will say this, there was a time in my life I was much smarter than world leaders, presidents, congressmen and big business folks.

“HE should have done this or that,” I would say.  or

“What a stupid decision he made, an idiot would have known better.”

I can remember somethings. I LEARNED that my decisions seldom went past, me or my family. Where someone high profile makes decisions every day that effect/affect millions, even world safety, war and peace.

I do remember that I had differences with most of our countries leaders. NONE matched my ideas and thoughts exactly. For that matter, do you know anyone that thinks exactly as you do?  Probably not.

With our sons here in the house with us for a couple weeks the TV has been on 24/7 (nearly). I catch things (a few) on there that ‘curl my toes’, editorials that question many major decision.  It seems to me the facts are hearsay, BENT understanding and partial truths.

That is said with this caveat, “It is impossible for me to ‘hear and understand’ most speakers on TV because they seem to see who can say the most words in a minute. I get the idea of ‘brain-washing!’ Anyone listening to the same people 24 hours a day will bend their mindset and they will not think for themselves.”

I love this country and believe it is the best in the world, with all its warts and imperfections. HOWEVER I dread the upcoming 4^th year voting season.  WE HAVE BECOME MEAN to each other. Families have disowned members who do not see politics as “They Should!”

I remember a time that family and friends could vote totally opposite and still fellowship and enjoy each other.

I remember the Valdese church dad pastored. They were divided about 50/50 Dems/GOP. They actually sat on different sides of the church and wore ‘Ike’ and ‘Stevenson’  buttons. They all argued, talked and had fun. I never heard a hard word, people were accepted it seemed, realizing “we all have an opinion, but it is OURS.”

If you live in this country we should all pull together, we are all different, but we are USA Citizens. Every country needs unity to continue to exist.

YES THAT IS MY OPINION. I will say this, I did not vote for President Biden, but he is MY PRESIDENT. I even agree with some of his ideas.  I pray that the decisions he makes will be best for OUR country.

 Nite Shipslog

PS: Note: My dad always said a minister should not show their politics, pastors should shepherd all the sheep.

ps2: I hope to be back in the groove soon..... 

Tell me Why

Animals and cars:

 I always wanted to change places with my dog, Why NOT?

For today:

 I tried to sing to my sweetheart once or twice when we dated. I did this one, I remember only these words, I have no idea who sang it: "Tell Me Why!"

Tell me why the stars do shine.
Tell me why the ivy twines.
Tell me why the sky’s so blue.
And I will tell you just why I love you.

Why this?  I thought of it when I received the following questions from Cousin Howard Dewey D out in Nevada:

Why do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters?

 Why do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in our driveways and put our useless junk in the garage?

 EVER WONDER... Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

 Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?

 Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

 Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavoring, and dish washing liquid made with real lemons?

 Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

 Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

 

Why isn't there mouse-flavoured cat food?

 Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

 Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

 You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?

 Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

 If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

 I Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread the stupidity and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to (maybe even a chuckle).

 I received this from a cousin in LOST Vegas.  He has lived there a few years now and hasn't won enough money to leave town yet!  He said you all should read this, so I sent it to Bloggersville.

 We all need to smile every once in a while......

 

Nite Shipslog

PS: Yep I know they are old, and I am not asking you to forward anything. I normally don’t, but thought it would work for an entry.

Homecoming

 Animals and cars:

 I have had cat paw prints on my car, but this is ridiculous. LOL

For today:

To a kid growing up in the church world the word ‘Homecoming’ had ONE meaning, Food! Banana Pudding! That Sunday afternoon was a fun time. Just after church families would put the dinners they had brought on long tables. The men would set up the small barrels with spigots for the sweet tea and lemonade.

While that was going on us kids played chase, tag, hide and seek, etc, then someone would ring a bell or yell that it was time to eat. The Pastor would offer the blessing and everyone would start looking over the food and picking their favorites, it was a fun time for me.

Never once did I hear anyone explain what the word homecoming actually meant.  Now I know it was a time for folks that had moved away, or drifted from the church to return for a time of reuniting, food and fellowship.

Family picture on one Utah trip.

 

That is Ben and his daughter Elsie on the left end. Elsie lives with her mom. Ben says he will fly her out in the summers like he came as a kid.  All the way on the right is Stephen and Jennifer who are moving back in from Tennessee.  We have had six or more great grands added since this pic.

This week and the next few will have the real meaning of homecoming to our family. For 30+ years we have had a grandson, Benjamin Aaron, living in the Clearfield area of Utah. Since his childhood he has spent time in NC in the Summer. For the past 4 years we have had a Grandson Stephen and family living in Oak Ridge, TN. WELL the Lord has smiled on us they are moving back to NC to live.

Ben is already back, what a reunion. He is our oldest Grand.  Son Jack Jr is his dad. Sadly Jack and his wife Carol divorced when Ben was a child so he has been in Utah most of his life. We have had a good relationship with Carol and her family and enjoyed many visits out that way.

Anyway, we are enjoying Ben being in the area. We try to get him here every evening for dinner. In addition sons Jack jr and Mark are here at our place in NC, we have a house full and it has been enjoyable. Mark is remodeling his NC house and has his sons, Luke and Matthew, working with him. They all seem to be having a great time working together.

I guess this is a real ‘Homecoming,’ at least it is to us.

      ;-)

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Cowboys, boys and sin

 Animals and cars:

This is really a car with one horse power!

I never thought a cowboy would take his horse for a ride!

For today:

I was raised in a church that had strict rules about smoking, stealing, lying, chewing, dipping, drinking and cussing. Girls were not allowed to cut their hair. Most boys and girls could live with that.  BUT we also were not allowed to ‘go to the SHOW’ (Movie theatre).

It brings back a smile. As early as the first grade I learned how to sneak off and pay 9 cents to see a movie. 99% were cowboy movies. Gene, Rex, Roy, Lash Larue or the Durango Kid, to name some. Then TV came along.  That threw a monkey wrench into the game. Our general church never did make a ‘ruling’ on it, but many listed TV as a SIN along with going to the show. 

Crazy Horse carving near Rushmore and below, Sonny & I having a Saspirillo in the Long Branch at Dodge City.

I never could see what was wrong with cowboy movies back then. MOST had a moral. Very few of the heroes would drink a beer, but in a saloon they chose milk or saspirilla. If any of the bad guys made fun & picked a fight, they ended up losing because the good guys always won.

I still read cowboy books and have enjoyed going to Ghost Towns out west. Walking around Dodge City and Tombstone was fun. When traveling to see the Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona we passed thru the town of Wilcox. There I saw the ‘Rex Allen’ museum.

 We had to stop.  Small town museums are the BEST! I loved it. I learned that REX was the only cowboy that actually was raised on a ranch.

But back to early religious standards.  I see no problem in questioning some of the man-made rules that decides our Christian lives. It should not be done lightly, however. It is better to NOT partake in some things and activities, but that does not make it a SIN for the Christian. (IMO)

They tell me over and over that salt is NOT good for me, but I cannot for the life of me see it as a SIN. I read somewhere that we should ‘work out our salvation and to respect our God.’

Not a sermon, just me thinking and expressing my feelings.

Nite Shipslog

PS: As you read this we hope to be on the road in our rolling home.

We back in NC. This did not post when I wrote it, so ow it is EASTER time and a wonderful time for Christians. YES I remember Easter as a child but mainly the easter eggs. Mama told me eery time I cracked an egg to think of Jesus's tomb breaking open like eggs when chicks were hatched, LIFE comes from eggs.

BUT what I remembered most was the deviled egg sandwiches the week after easter, I loved them.  LOL

Just me…..

Animals and cars:

 

(WHAT did you say? I still cannot hear you!)

For today:

I’m smiling at myself. I sat here and wrote over 400 words, after re-reading them I just stared at them, they were mostly fussing and negative, whoa, that is not me I said, and deleted the post.

Earlier today I heard a sermon and said, “Some-people are just negative and cannot help it.  The sermon was 96% negative but the minister ended with about 5 minutes of fairly positive things from scripture.”

HArdworking Christians need positive, they work hard and face adversity during the week, My Lord was positive, I am sure he said, come unto me ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, not another whipping.

I thank the Lord I was raised in a positive family. My dad said people need to be lifted up, NOT beaten down. I have been too negative lately. I hope to do better.

I heard a man say once, “I am a positive person, I am POSITIVE everything is going to go wrong!”  It was a joke but I knew FOR HIM, there was some truth in the remark.. LOL

I am expecting the sun to break through the dark clouds.  Sooner would be good, but I am going to strive to BELIEVE and KNOW GOOD things are on the horizon. Of course I am not blind, bad things happen to the good and bad alike.  BUT REALLY MORE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE TOO!

Life is good and I must strive to be better and more positive.

My sweet departed sister would say, “I’m not worried, just concerned.”  My problem lately has been, that concern of mine turned into WORRY!

Nite Shipslog

My first Paying job

 Cars and animals:

I'm cool!

 

Some thoughts for today:

It is amazing to look back over your life and see the things that are ‘no more.’  Schools in the south many places closed for two weeks a cotton picking time.  Kids would go into the fields to harvest the family cotton crop. Some would hire out to pick cotton to earn some side money.

Automobile tires are no longer re-capped and sold cheaper than new tires. Car tires are no longer ‘recapped’, those jobs are gone.

Shoe shining was a big thing up until the 70-80s methinks. Every barbershop had a shoe shine stand. My friend Jim Page was the shoe shine boy at a barber shop in Valdese, NC. Jim could pop that rag.

Before I met Jim, I made my own shoe shine ‘box’ and was a roaming shoeshine boy. Shoe shine 5 cents.

Popping (snapping for noise) was a learned skill. You probably never heard ‘The Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy!’ But that was an inspiration to boys after my time 1946-48. Shoe Shining was so popular in 1948 Red Foley cut the first million selling country song, “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy”

 

Song by Red Foley

Have you ever passed the corner of Forth and Grand?
Where a little ball o' rhythm has a shoe-shine stand
People gather 'round and they clap their hands
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He makes the oldest kind o' leather look like new
You feel as though you wanna dance when he gets through
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
You ought to see him fan the air
With his hoppity-hippity-hippity-hoppity-hoppity-hippity-hop

He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
Just listen to him fan the air
Here he goes!

He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

 

Now we should be feeling better, don’t we?

Did you have a paying job as a kid, or just the chores around the house?

 

Nite Shipslog

PS: Steve, a nephew just had a hip replacement. Prayers for his recovery.  His Sister, Vickie goes in for a hysterectomy soon prayers for her also. Our sweet Grand Dughter will also soon have her surgery, please remember her. A grandson Benjamin is driving  HOME across country as I type.  He could also use a prayer.