A cup of coffee

 Unless I forget, I get the coffee ready for each morning the evening before. I make what they call 8 cups.  I never thought of it as 8 measured cups, I just knew by making what Mr. Coffee calls 8 cups, actually gives us two mugs. My mind reads 8 cups as 8 mugs, but of course it is not!

I shot a couple more pictures of the apartment. This is the entrance door. I cut thru the 12" blocks to get it.  I laid some brick and it is ready for the small deck to be put in.

That door is a steel entry door.  It was being thrown away in a remodel in front of us. Offered $50 for it and they said no, it is trash and free. This door new is right at $200.

Just inside the door is the foyer, straight ahead is the living room those bi-fold doors to the right enters a large storage area.  Those doors were free also, friend Bobby Franklin gave them to us. 

Below is the kitchen sink & cabinet, Now finished also.

WE have a very depressing story next door. I have mentioned Jim Arp, locally very famous, at one time was lead singer and spokesman for some of the largest rock and roll bands.  After his time of fame as an actor and disk Jockey Jim passed away over a year ago and his home has fell apart. Jim had become a hoarder.

The front door is open, this is looking in the front door.

Buzzards actually live inside the house.  It was surveyed a week or so ago, so maybe someone is gonna tear it down and build.  It sure will improve our neighborhood.

Jim was a great guy, his mind slipped away. 

You all take care, I will try to do better. I do enjoy reading your stuff also.

Nite Shipslog

Yep I am cheap,  much of the materials I used in the apartment came from gifts and off FB Market place and Ebay

The Apartment, coming to a close in a couple weeks

 I am hoping I have some pictures.  I feel so dumb at times just trying to use a phone, PC or my simple camera.  I ordered a simple camera (I THOUGHT).  I am only a point and shoot kind of guy. But I do not know when I am taking  a movie or snap shots.  OUCH!

Some pictures, methinkss...

Above  is what I started with..

This is the main open area, living room, kitchen, dining areas. That ceiling was tough. I have a rough time working over my head. A contractor came thru once as I worked on the ceiling and asked where was my help, you  certainly cannot do a suspended ceiling by yourself? I pointed out my two 'dead men' (A term used for extra supports as I work) I move them around to hold up the 12 foot stuff while I level and tie it to the floor above. LOL

Kitchen stove to be added later of course.

looking into bedroom #1

This is the china hutch with the doll I saved from the trash. That doll waS OWNED BY OUR NEIGHBOR for over 50 years. (Long story there)

above ios Bedroom 2 according door on closet.

This is a necessary room, a pump room. the basement is below sewer level so waste must be ground and pumped up and out to city sewer. This was one of the hardest jobs I had to cut thru 4 inches of concrete. That container is buried 30 inches into the ground.

Bathroom of course.

Terrible shot of the shower; I had messed with this camera too much and the battery was dying.

This is looking from the pump room back to the entry way which houses a 8x10 storage room and a foyer.

My doll has kept me company as I worked.

My working and staging area. in the joining garage. The washer and dryer will be here in this area.

I hung 68 sheets of drywall and finished and painted it. added right at 900 sq ft of suspended ceiling. I plumbed and wired this place. I had help unloading one load of drywall.

Sherry hasn't fussed (much) but she has made it clear this is the last BIG job of an 86 year old man.  I am tending to agree with her.

I am trying to settle down and realize I cannot fix all family problems.  I  pictured retirement as having NO problems. I was once teaching a SS class and mention a friend in the audience. I said, "Wouldn't it be nice to be like the Rev.  QJ Cox. RETIRED and not a worry in the world.  He smiled really big and winked at me.  After class, he came up and said, "It may take a few years son, but you will learn a lot of things when you get OLD!"

Boy, was he right!  LOL

Sending love and good thoughts your way

Nite Shipslog

Trying, but not too much success, LOL

 Photo of the day:

This is the rear of the Duplex (condos). On the far left you can see the door to the basement apt on that side. Now I have cut a door into the grey concrete on the far right.

This is the front of the duplex. I am working under the left side.  We live in the far right (at present)

For now

In trying to keep my mind off ‘ current events’ (both family and national) I have lost myself in creating a 2 BR apartment in the basement of our ‘other’ condo.  Also in the planning stages is a move for us.

Above is the basement I am working on now.... This shot is just inside the open garage door on the right in the top picture.

Background: years ago we bought what we planned as our retirement home. An old house with several add on’s (LOL). We added a big carport for the motor home.  We actually never actually moved into the place but lived in our motor home in the back yard.  We finally sold it to our Granddaughter, and moved back here to our original condo. WE own the two condos (actually this is a glorified ‘duplex’ I built over 30 years ago), we traveled for years on the income from the two condos.

We approached Sherece our Granddaughter  about a trade.  We suggested  she move here into the Condo and we take her home back as our retirement home.  It is a little complicated, but she is agreeable to the trade. She lived here once as a teenager with her family for about a year while her dad (our son Mark) built their home.  She really likes the place and I think her daughter Stella is very happy with the possibility. Stella starts HS next year and this place is pretty close to the High School.  Stella is looking forward to claiming her mama’s old bedroom as her own.

The condo is valued a little more than the home.  The condo is in the city limits, the home is not. There are pros and cons about being in the city limits.

I have been trying to put this entry together for a few days. I will try to take some pictures of the bathroom, it is finished. The electrical is done, the drywall is hung finished and mostly painted. It needs flooring and a ceiling. Since I said that the ceiling is 90% in place.

I cut thru 12” concrete block to put an entry door in place.

More in the next day or two.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet, in person. and here on the net, thank you for being here…  I have been trying to keep up and have enjoyed your blogs and comments….  Until later……. jack

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

               My mother,  Grace Missouri Loyd Darnell (Born 1905)

            Sherry's mother...Susie Geneva Hawes Harris (Born 1904)

The Best Mother's in the World... One of the Blessings of Life

(A few things in the world, we can all have the BEST)

 Today is special, so for all you MOTHERS out there we hope it is the Best.  In my opinion none of us men can EVER know the feelings of a Mother.  I have seen firsthand the closeness of girls with their mother's.  Only a girl can truly understand the position of a LIFE giver.  WE (everyone) can see the apparent problems in motherhood as she carries US.  We men can only imagine the conversations between a mother and that child she carried.

But no words could EVER explain the fullness of motherhood, no matter how hard we try.

LOVE YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS YOU ON YOUR DAY!

Night Shipslog

Feeling Unneccessary

 

Photo of the day:

I sure do miss being 16 yrs old and dating Sherry in this '48 chevy convertible.

For now

My mama was the best.  There are several things in life all of us can have ‘the best’;  Mamas and grand kids are two of those. LOL  When my mama wasn’t at her best physically, she would say, “I just feel unnecessary!”

I use that statement when I do not know how else to say how I feel.

I wanted to take the time to bring family and you that are interested up to date, as I feel UNNECCESSARY!

At present I am in the process of making an apartment in the basement of our rental condo next door. 99% of the drywall boards are hung and finished. Most painted,  That is 60 sheetrock boards 4x8 feet. The electric is about 85% complete.  I did have help unloading one trailer of sheetrock.  I have done all the labor. I work 4 to 7 hours a day over there. I try to work only when our renter is at work to keep from disturbing her.

But my biggest problem, life at present is a little depressing. I have a minor physical problem. I have had 3 or 4 small sore areas that will not heal, some over a year. I finally talked to my dr, and like most dr’s he referred me to another. She said I have too many possible areas to treat, so I need to narrow it down. Have you ever heard of Fluorouracil?  It is some kind of chemo=therapy. I am applying it to my arms morn and nite for two weeks. I have finished the arms. Now a week into my face, ears and head. Dr, said you won’t  want to go out in public, some one may think Mr. Frankenstein has been working on you.  SHE IS RIGHT. I LOOK TERRIBLE and don’t feel much better. I have red spots all over, some scabs, several sores. LOL it is funny but NOT!  LOL  I have to laugh. Skin is tight and itchy…..

Anyway the work downstairs next door keeps me occupied. I need it. I am not supposed to be next to a window without sunscreen.  I cannot handle that. So I stay covered if I have to be outside; the basement work next door is perfect for my condition. I yell at times when I am alone, LOL the skin is tight, tingly, itchy and burns. PERFECT for sleeping (not) LOL

In a few days I can stop the cream and let it work for a month or so, then go back to the Dr.  She said the cream should erase all but the worst skin cancer and she can burn or freeze that.  I think that is what she said.  I will say this, at 86 after going thru this I should be looking 21 again.  LOL

I know this sounds like a lot of bitching, and it is.  Most of you who read this mess have been thru worse and more life threatening situations.  But right NOW I just wanted to gripe.

 

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet, in person. and here on the net, thank you for being here…  I have been trying to keep up and have enjoyed your blogs and comments….  Until later……. jack

Following Orders, My military background

I have been off the grid or what ever you call it for awhile,  our Grandson and Jenna just gave us our 9th  great grand. 

This GG is a sweet girl. She is Palmer June, She is also a beauty. Mama Jenna had real tough time, however when I mentioned it she said: BUT SHE WAS WORTH IT!!!

I was ORDERED TO MAKE A BLOG ENTRY by my commanding officer, Chief Sherry!

So Here is Our June Bug:

Here is my commanding Officer holding Her, I must say they are both beautiful!

This should be more clear, but my camera battery was dying, but it did take!

This has been a very busy time here in NC.  But we have a lot of family who reads the Blog and doesn't comment, Sherry just wanted the word to get out.

Nite Shipslog

PS   On a sad but sweet note, our friend Dan passed away 30 days ago. His sweet wife Joan, just passed away. Tracy, their daughter just called and said, "Mom and Dad are together again, and dancing in Heaven."  We smiled because Sherry and I never learned to dance, but we attended parties where Joan and Dan were the show of the night, they were great on the dance floor. Joan suffered from Alzheimer's and it is a blessing she has now recovered and KNOWS  Dan again.. 

Just a note

 I hope this is a new post

 

Photo of the day

the ab ove photos are from GITMO when our boys raced Moto cross. Gitmo was one of my best duty stations it was like a small town USA

I got a note from friend Chatty who was wondering about me. I am having a fit with my computer along with other fun things.

For now

Righ when you think you have things set; something messes up my computer and I miss the screen Iusually see with my favoirte sites where all I have todo to click on them. Like righ now I cannot go back and correct those miss spelled words that are nderlined. I do not have a cursor.

I had to delete word for word my last etry here.

Anyway Sherry took a call today from Kentucky. She usually doesn’t do that.  But it was Mixon, the hubby of Ora.  Ora some of yo may remember used to blog here. She had a Cochlea Implant and we drove to see her and Mixon before I had my implants. She was a beautiful lady in every way. Mixon callted to tell us that Ora had passed.

I will miss knowing shew is gone.

I will cut this short and hate to let it go swith all the mistakes. But it is what it is.

I start my gtreatemets for skin cancer I am sure. Tomorrow. The meds have been distracted in the mail since we have two saddresses and confusses lots of things.

This treatment is wupposed to relieve all the precancer stuff down to where they can see the real things What ever that all means. I am sure it is all skin cancer and no need to worry.

I hope to be back soon and out of this funk an old man had fell into.

I hope I can figure all this computer CRAP out soon.

Love and miss you guys.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet. In person and here on the net, thank you for being here…  Meeting Ora was sweet. I know Mixon will miss her. Mixon is a retired chaplain.  He too was a joy to get to know..

What’s happening?

 Photo of the day:

This is our duplex,  it is designed and listed as Condos. The side you see here is the rental unit. We live in the far side when in NC, I am working on the basement presently..

For today:

Things around here have become unglued.

1.       I lost a very good friend from my tour in the USN. DAN Doughton, my immediate boss and leading Chief in Naval Intelligence.  Dan was also my best friend in the USN in Key West. We worked closely together. He picked me to travel to Philadelphia with him on temporary duty to assist a contractor in writing a manual for a new processing system.  We were away from our families for a few weeks and during that time his wife, Joan, taught Sherry to swim, she had always wanted to learn.

    Dan was Catholic. I learned he was very involved in his church. I understand a person must be beyond reproach to be selected by his priest to administer the sacrament. Dan was chosen to visit the bedfast Catholics and serve the communion. I will miss knowing Dan is no longer living up there in Lancaster, PA  He was such a great guy.

 

2    My Sweetheart has been sick, and I have been doing my best to handle the household things and meals. One test came back said she was suffering from e-Coli. I have learned that doesn’t bother informed medical folk, but E-COLI scares the crap  out of me. I associate it with DEATH.  We had a friend who died, we were informed it was due to E-Coli!!!!

AT my insistence, she called for an appointment with her physician, a PA. We learned it is a common problem; it may heal itself with antibiotics. She is now on her second round of them. I am not doing a great job, but I am trying to be her caregiver. ;-(

 

I am not the best about this, but she smiles, although she doesn’t feel like it.

Will be around again soon, I hope

I have started a big project of making a 2 BR apartment in the basement of our rental unit.  Hoping to make it livable in a few months, and pay as we gol

 Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet. In person and here on the net, thank you for being here…

I am still above the worms

 Just a quick note to say I am still alive and kicking, just not too high. LOL   A few bumps in the road.  Finding more of them since I am closer to 90 than 80 now.  My brother used to fake a big smile and say I can smile when it hurts.  I have learned there are pains that have nothing to do with physical hurting.

Thanks for being there for me to cry on your shoulders.  LOL

LOVE sent out from North CArolina.  I will be back in a few days....

Nite Shipslog

Comments off.

The folding Piano

 

Photo of the day:

These pictures were on my phone, Jack Jr. had to show me how to get them to this blog. ;-O

 

The top photo is our piano.  It is a heavy decoration. Only visitors play it. I took one fifty cent lesson in 1946. Sherry once learned a few songs, but never continued so it sits until Grandson Josh drops by or someone else plays us a few songs. The book is one written by our friend Victor who lives:  ‘OVER THERE’.

So for today:

We had a great family get together last Saturday.

I know all you Grandparents think your grands are the best, but Imma tell you that ours are the best.  I am smiling because it is SWEET that we all can have the BEST MOM and BEST Grands.

We do have some of the BEST. All have a good work ethic and have been successful. BUT today I am thinking of a special guy. Joshua is very brainy in the software area. 

 

He and I sorta joke back and forth about the electronic antique days. Since I was fortunate to be in on the first break thru in commercial ‘computers’. I repaired them and programmed some using antic words like Fortran and Cobol.  Now he talks the machine’s language. And does fantastic things that fit inside the computer’s brain.

He never ceases to amaze me at what he can do physically (He ran a 15 mile ½ marathon just before coming to the party last Saturday). BUT on the brainy and talent end he brought with him his piano. It was just about small enough to be in his pocket!

Here it is on the table in our picnic area.

 

Then he unfolded it!!

 

And then he played it. He is an excellent musician also.

 

We all stood around in Awe as it actually could be played. LOL

Isn’t life amazing?

Oh and the party planned and payed for by son Mark, Son Jack Jr. joined in and it was one of the best family get-togethers we have had. WE love to see the cousins playing together...

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet. In person and here on the net, thank you for being here… reading and when you can leaving a comment. WE appreciate it.

drifting

 

This is a shot from the Bad Lands.  When the pioneers got here, of courst they had to go around... ;-)

Today:

I am  free handing this. I will be off for a few days. Things are  busy here in NC.  We have one renter.  She was attacked by another neighbor's dog. She wasn't bitten but the dog jumped on her back and became entangled in her sweater   trying  to get to her little poodle which she was holding.  She is pretty shook up.

I have always enjoyed and got along with my neighbors.  This one, with the PIT mix, I am not sure of.

I have had an overload of repairs that have come my way.  One being a sewer pump,  not a fun one I must say. 

I hope to return in a few days.

The best to all of you that I consider my friends.

Nite Shipslogs,

 another problem is this computer, I cannot see the next line ai am typing.

At times a good idea, just does not work.

   Photo of the day:

 

The Corn Palace, Mitchel, South DAkota an amazing place, this place is covered with corn... A haven for birds. LOL

So for today:

We are now at our home base, Belmont, NC. It is no secret Sherry and I travel a lot. We left Florida early on Tuesday. I drove for over 8 hours covering 529 miles. I am sure that is not a record for an 86 year old man, but I did not hit anyone nor get a ticket for speeding.

However traveling that far that fast, has started taking a toll on us me thinks.  Now after the trip Sherry says she still feel like she is moving.  This time I think I feel it a little.

I am beat, will continue in the AM.

I DID NOT get back as planned. Like the following truth in our lives.

Before we were on the road full time. We often just took long drives. A crazy idea. ….   Once we decided to leave our drive and flip a coin at every turn. Heads right, tails left. In 30 minutes we were back where we started, True Dat!

So that idea went out the window.

I will sign off for today and hope to do better next time.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet. In person and here on the net, thank you for being here…

 

There are good surprises in life.

 Photo of the day:

 

                                        Yes we walked through a tree once!

So for today:

Sherry and I do not require a lot of space to live. Our first home was a 27’ trailer. If you were ever in LOVE you might remember the first weeks, months, and for some into years, when you cannot get enough of each other. The space you shared did not matter, mansion or cabin..

We have had a great union, I will always say the reason is my girl, she is very tolerant.  Well, except for one thing, she makes no bones about it, if I have an affair, and she finds out, it is all over. I’M SORRY! won’t do any good!!!  I believe her.  :-O!  So I do like Johnny Cash, “I walk the Line!!” LOL  Really that has never been a problem, thank goodness!  When you have the BEST,,,, well that should ‘splain it.

Anyway, like always, I wander on this blog.

Old Faithful,  the Geyser erupts every 90 minutes in Yellowstone.

Since we do not require a lot of room, we do great in an RV. I cannot say the most interesting place we have been to. We both enjoy nature so Yellowstone National Park is great. And the Highway to the Sun in Montana was a super drive. That was the first time I saw a lot of Mountain Goats. They looked like they could be standing still and leap 6’ into the air.

We have been to and enjoyed several ‘Hot Springs’. They amaze me. Steaming water coming straight out of the earth. We enjoyed one in the Canadian Yukon, the Big Bend area of Texas and in North Carolina. When you sat in the one in Texas I put my arm over into the Rio Grande River.

Oh yes and we loved the giant Red Woods in California. We walked thru one….

  Sherry wanted to drive thru one. We found one they charged $5 just to drive thru and she got her wish.

The USA is so interesting. Custer State Park in South Dakota is a sweet visit. There are several tunnels; one is special, halfway thru you see Mt. Rushmore at the other end, it looks like it is framed and grabs you!  The tunnel was dug during the depression, giving people jobs (WPA) . I bet someone planned that one.

Ceratinly Mt Rushmore is IMPRESSIVE! So is The Crazy Horse Memorial just south of Custer Nat’l Park.  Then not many miles away is The Devil’s tower it is something to see.

Above was the CrazyHorse  in South Dakota, progress in 2004  Below is what it will be like if it is ever finished.

the Devil's tower in Wyoming.  Looks like the trunk of a giant tree.

 I can  understand going to see the Devil's Tower BUT

 ....... How can we Christians eat Deviled Eggs?   (LOL)

When Sherry and I started traveling seriously, we drove around 300 miles and stop for a week and look around.

 

Nite Shipslog

PS.

 

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet. In person and here on the net. It is good to interact with you guys.