Monday, yep, the first of the week, still a cheap skate

 Picture of the day!

 

BUT for now:

I have said it, and it is true I am a cheap skate. I seldom pay to get things done that I can do myself. I very seldom use a car wash or a lawn service. I do not ‘manicure’ the lawn and as a rule SELDOM ‘detail’ our car. (I did today, ouch)

Today, yes today, I had a great idea for a blog entry, SORRY, but I forgot it.  LOL

I was once working on a house and a kid said he would cut the grass for $10, he said he needed money for baby diapers. Normal cost for that lawn would have been $5. I gave him a short lecture about cloth diapers and washing diapers, but then I let him cut the grass.

An hour of so later the police drove up to the house. And asked did the kid cut my grass and asked if I noticed the mower. Simply by accident, I did remember the mower. The cop told me the kid had just stolen the mower They finally arrested the kid and he didn’t even have a baby in diapers, so my money and lecture on diapers was wasted. Turns out the same kid had been the one breaking into that house and stealing my tools.  OUCH

I do remember hearing “No good deed goes unpunished!”   NOW: About my recent stump  gift.  I hope Joe and Jimmy have the best of luck, and YES I do appreciate the good deed of stump grinding.

Y’all have a good week and ‘don’t take any wooden nickels,’ another old saying I remember from my past life.

 

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  No matter what else happens, I will enjoy tomato sandwiches until the vines are empty.

Sunday An old Man and his wife (NOT ME)

 Picture of the day!

 

BUT for now:

WE decided to treat ourselves to that treat we seldom get around to anymore, a waffle at Waffle House.  I order only the Pecan Waffle and Sherry orders always the Blueberry Waffle.  As we drove into the parking lot it did not look as crowded as usual, that was good. I saw an old man and his wife getting out of their car and said well at least there is an OLD MAN AND WOMAN going in.

 We followed them in but had to wait on a table. Sherry sat down beside the Old man. After a minute, she hit him on the shoulder, he turned and grabbed her into a hug. He had once played Sherry’s husband in a school play and they had graduated in the same class. Doug was one of the most popular guys in their class.

He said, to her, “I know you but do not remember your name.”  They hugged again. Sherry told him of the death of another of their class mates. Their table came open they left.

Shery said, ‘that is Doug, I heard he is getting dementia.’  He had told her, “I don’t remember your name, I am losing my memory.”  RINGING A BIG BELL.

The last couple years of our traveling my sister Shirl continued to rent/lease our home.  During that last couple years Shirl would call and say, “I am losing my memory, you need to come home and take care of me.”

Shiley (SHIRL) towards the end.

                Mama towards the end.

She had many friends and none had contacted us that Shirl was exhibiting loss of memory.  WE learned the truth, truly she was getting out of touch.

Dementia is not common in Sherry’s family, but it is in mine.  I am very aware that I too am ‘losing it’ a little at a time, and it is not funny at all.  I hope it is VERY SLOW. ;-)

I am a firm believer each of us knows more of our bodies than any doctor (except in cases of terminal diseases, heart attacks and strokes, those TEACH quickly!)

This is not for sympathy, I am the same guy that was here yesterday, strictly information.  Who knows? I might even be wrong, I was ONCE!   LOL  I thought you and Victor were  real……!

 

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  I think I need a LONG walk in the woods to find my old memory….  Yeah I can still think about it…

Saturday Has anyone you did not know ever given you $1000?

 Picture of the day!

 

Above is the excavator Jimmy drives clearing the lot next door, big dude!  When I was a kid I called that a 'steam shovel!.

BUT for now:

An investor is having the land cleared beside us He will build 2 houses.  I met Joe, the contractor and Jimmy, the guy driving the Excavator clearing the land.  I immediately liked both men.

Sherry and I have two driveways for our home. Being truthful Jimmy blocked one drive many days.  I never fussed about it, some days it blocked the mail man. We do not get important mail anymore, so that isn’t a big deal. We push our trash can another 100 ft up the road and the trash truck was not blocked.

I was a builder and understand somethings come with the job.  One day Joe was here as Jimmy worked. “I noticed you have a few stumps on your side near the property line. Would you like me to have Jimmy get rid of them for you?”

I KNOW the cost of stump removal, that is why they are still there, LOL I always worked around them and they are NOT in the yard. I had to ask, “What will it cost me?”  Nothing, was his answer.  caught off guard I replied, “of course that would be great”. 

A couple days later, Jimmy came over. “Jack, Joe asked me to dig up your stumps, to be honest it would make a mess, and a stump grinder would work better.”  Again the idea of cost came up. “No worries, I will explain it to Joe”

The one used here was newer than this one.  But this will give you the idea of the remote control grinders and the size of them.

Stump grinding can be expensive. I had one removed years ago and it was $500.  Now I have 5 and someone is talking of doing it for nothing.  True to his word. A beautiful, gigantic machine showed up today. The latest in technology. No one rides this machine it is done by remote control. It unloaded itself from the trailer and I watched, amazed.  As the chips from the grinding covered the machine it backed up and Jimmy using his giant Excavator and raked the chips back. This had to be done about 8 times. This is a tremendous amount of work.

WE cannot accept this  at zero, this would have cost me a min. of $1200-$1500.  So we will at least buy those guys a steak dinner at Ruth Cris’s restaurant.  ;-)

There are still great folks in this world…..

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  I think I need a LONG walk in the woods to give me a better frame of mind….  Yeah ................I still think about it…

 

FRiday… What is retirement?

Picture of the day!

 

Taken in the Petrified Forest. I had always wanted to see this stuff. Wood turned to stone...

BUT for now:

I have retired a couple times so I know a little about the subject.  Retirement is WONDERFUL, if you are ready for it. Humans require ‘something to do!’ even when retired.   Becoming a couch potato is something to do, if that is what you ENJOY!

Some folks extend a hobby to full time and have a great time.  Remember though, some things COST so unless you have unlimited funds, you must pick ‘that something to do’ that you can afford. My BIL LOVED 2 things, Golf and Fishing.  He learned quick, he was going to pursue fishing.  He never gave up golf, but it was too expensive to follow 2 or 3 times a week. LOL

My dad should have never retired, as a minister he should have taken a month’s sabbatical; then returned to pastoring.  He was never satisfied living without a congregation to shepherd.

I went to a seminar before retiring concerning retirement. The speaker said, “Remember before you take this step, if you are in charge of people now. If you ‘run’ an office, just remember today you tell people what to do. You may direct their lives, you are SOMEBODY, tomorrow you will be a ‘nobody’; just one of the crowd. If you try to tell some one to ‘jump’ they are not going to ask ‘how high?’ they are going to look at you like you are crazy!

Truthfully, most folks are happy upon retirement.  They get to do things they never had time for. My BIL Johnny who retired from GM, said it this way, “I have 6 Saturdays and one Sunday now!

And I had heard of trees so big cars could drive thru them, we did find one of those and Sherry got to drive thru it.

WE had a plan, we wanted to travel full time.  WE were fortunate, we had lived debt free for years and owned our home. So we rented it out and hit the road. It has been a good life.

I also learned that it is real, you can throw snowballs in the summer in the USA! (Notice it wasn't even cold see the short sleeves!)

Now here at the END of life, we face another problem, where will it end.  We are still looking into that…..  WE are blessed, because at present we do have options……..Many do not!

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  I HOPE you are a happy person and can just laugh at me…  I don’t mind solitude,  I think I need a LONG walk in the woods to give me a better frame of mind….

 

Thursday… Cars.

 Photo of the day:

 

The 1956 Ford T-Bird

So for today:

Most folks Know I am sort of a car nut, most boys my age were.  WE couldn’t wait until we were 16 and get a driver’s license.

My cousin Bobby lived in South Carolina, and he could get license at 14. Shucks!!

In my teen days we could hardly wait for the showing of NEXT year's new cars.  What a thrill to go to a dealership to see that new 53/54/55 Chevy, Ford, or Plymouth. There were major changes every 3 years it seemed.

The Studebaker got a lot of laughs “Which end is the front?” etc.

1956 Power Hawk Stud. The studebaker did have some great innovations.

And then in the late 40’s there was going to be the newest and best, called the Tucker. It fizzled. Then came the big fizzle, the Edsel, big ads, big push, but even the big Ford plan/designers can make mistakes.

My pick was the 55 Chevy, I will admit the ’57 made a bigger splash but I still preferred the ’55.  I borrowed a Brand new one to go ask Sherry for the first date.  LOL She couldn’t turn me down, right?

I am starting to like the Mini Cooper from the UK.  Seeing a lot more of them over on this side. I am trying to remember what books I read and loved in which the main investigator had a hopped up Mini.

Nite Shipslog

PS: 

AGAIN THANKS for reading the  Shipslog.  LOL  I have most likely said all this before... Sorry  I am old. LOL

 

This is Wednesday, Do butterflies know where they are going?

 Picture

 

So, for today:

 

Now for today:

On this subject, I just read an article about a bull dog being friends with a butterfly...  I also think there is a book by that title...

(Sorry I missed bull dog somehow...)  But I will continue what I started....

I know you have watched a butterfly, we all have. As I watched today I had to ask myself, does it have a plan, a destination or just ‘flitting around?’

 

I looked it up, this is what I got from the net:

 

Yes, there is a rhyme or reason to a butterfly's flight.

 

• Butterflies exhibit a complex and efficient movement pattern, often described as a "figure-eight" path, which generates continuous lift and propulsion. 

 The fluttering of butterflies is not random; it serves as a defense mechanism against predators and aids in their ability to navigate through various environments. 

• 
  
  
• 
  
• Their unique wing movement, known as the "clap-and-fling" technique, allows them to take off rapidly and maneuver swiftly, showcasing their mastery of aerodynamic principles. 





• 
  

• Additionally, butterflies' flight is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and wind, which can affect their overall flight dynamics.

 

 

Well, I learned something.  Hope you enjoyed that short explanation without me making a Rabbit trail. ;-)

Nite Shipslog

PS God is Good.  The butterfly is one of the creator’s beauties! They are easy to enjoy!

 

Tuesday, an Excuse is better than nothing, right?

 Picture of the day!

 

BUT for now:

There are standard excuses/reasons for many humans for shortcomings. Example late on the rent.

1.       I have been very sick and missed work.

2.       Children have been sick and I missed work and the Dr. cost an arm and leg. Etc

3.       Insurance was due this week. I will be ready next week

4.       Etc

I once thought I was a landlord, and tried handling two rentals.  I learned I wasn’t good at it and decided to sell and get out of the rental business. I notified the renters that they had  3 months notice.  One told me that the other renter had told her they could live in my places free for 6 months legally before they could be evicted..

All went well and They moved before the time was up.

Today I was talking to the builder who will be building next door.  WE had a great time just shooting the breeze, it has been a long time since I just ‘talked’ to another general contractor.

In the course of the conversation he mentioned a lady who owed him a lot of money for a home he had built. She told him she did not have to pay him.

He said he told her, “That will be ok, but I do want my nails back!”

“Are you crazy?” she asked. “How in the he— do you expect me to give you the nails back?”

“Oh it will only take a big magnet!”

“Bull sh--!”

“You know mam, after a house burns I simply come over and go thru the ashes with my magnet and a big bucket.”

He said I had the check the next week.

I had never heard that one…

In every life, job, occupation there are a lot of good tales, some embellished, but they make for a fun visit.

And those excuses, blames or reason’s lists, Yes they exist because many humans (like our politicians) MUST BLAME someone or thing for our failures.  I am proud when I see some ‘man or woman-up’ and admit their failure is mostly their own fault.

I am sure I have done my share, but mostly I do know it was MY fault (sometimes my wife LOL) when I have made a big mistake.

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  I HOPE you are a happy person and can just laugh at me… 

Of course we all know the USA needs spiritual help. A couple years ago we met some missionaries from Indonesia . They flew to the USA to evangelize. That was a first for me.

 

Monday, The Rabbit trail

 Photo of the day:

 

(clarifier  donating to an honest charity is NOT being fooled) 

Note to Asep over in Indonesia:  Yes that was Marilyn Monroe in the header.  Also my friend, I visited your site and am not smart enough to navigate it.  Thanks for the comments.

So for today:

Lately I read (perused) a good article. Title was ‘I have Been to 90 Countries, only one I continue to return to. I said to myself, ‘I will look at this, I know she will not tell the country until I read for 5 minutes.’ I was shocked, in the first line she said Iceland.  I just perused the article, but I enjoyed  it VERY MUCH.

Do you get lost on some articles? A ‘rabbit trail’ that goes all over the world before giving what the title promised.  I have been so disappointed in stories and articles that it takes too long to get to the point. There are times when I do not mind reading details; mostly I enjoy reading a direct story.

Even some authors enjoy taking two pages to describe what someone is wearing.  I guess I listened to too many radio programs growing up and had to use my imagination as to what someone is wearing.  There are times it may be important, but mostly it is throwing more words than are needed. IMO

Just lately, I came to the end of a free book, and it ended before the actual climax.  The writer then wrote: If you wish to know what happens, go to Amazon and purchase this book (and get another free!)

Kiss my foot, I am not that interested.

Have you ever heard of a Sucker List? Sucker bait?

I had a friend once who ran a phone bank.  We were talking about his job; he explained he bought ‘sucker lists’.  Then he explained: that is lists of people who made donations to non-profits. The list indicating a large percentage of people who can be convinced to ‘buy-in’ to a good salesman.

(most non profits NOW state they will NEVER sell you Phone #)

We have donated $$$$ to one Veteran Non Profit.  Now I get letters from them.  Some have ‘sucker bait’ one US stamp given to you.  I smile, take the stamp and throw the letter away. I do the same with stick on addresses and note pads.  I donate, and I do it when I want to and can afford it.  I do not feel obligated because any outfit sends me a gift!

 

Nite Shipslog

PS: 

AGAIN THANKS for reading the  Shipslog.  LOL 

And Myra, you mentioned Texas Blue laws, I thought they were limited to NC,  but now I am learning they definitely spread, maybe someone else will mention them.

 

Sunday = Sunday

Picture of the day!

 

                                            I have shopped at a few Country stores.....

BUT for now:

Growing up and for a few years after that, Sunday was SPECIAL. Actually, considered sacred,  a REST day.

In our area no stores were open until after 12 noon if they opened at all.  Most remained closed so employees could spend time with family and friends.

No one would dare cut their grass on Sunday, even before power mowers......  Gas stations?  Only one (if any) was open on Sundays.

But today?  Even little league ball teams have games or practice at Sunday School time, that would never have been accepted before the 1970s era.

Speaking of the past, remember Sears Roebuck? Mail order? One of the biggest retail things going. They gave up the idea and saw at the time folks were wanting to ‘shop’ in stores. They held onto the catalog as a secondary. What a shame the upper management did not see the ordering returning!

Sherry and I remember BIG STORES! When we moved to Norfolk we were shocked to see a big grocery store, it was called ‘The Giant’.  WE were in awe as we walked thru. Now your average Wal-mart is bigger.

I never knew my mama’s daddy, Grandpa Lloyd. They had a store in the country outside Toccoa, Georgia. Mama said they sold and swapped stuff to and with the farmer neighbors. Example: they traded canned goods for the local farmer’s molasses to sell in the store. One little boy mama remembered bringing in molasses in his wagon, all he said, "Wanna swap some brown syrup for some white syrup for mama!". Grandpa  traded 1 qt for two .

Uncle Irvin and Aunt Bert, they ran a country store in Laurens, SC

My cousin Bobby on top of Uncle Irvin (Red)'s store. Country store in left half and cafe in the right. We Loved visiting here!!!!

Strange how the country stores just went away….  Did you ever shop at a country store? Do you shop Amazon?

 

.Nite Shipslog

 

PS.  I HOPE you are a happy person and can just laugh at (or with) me…  WE all need to smile, God is Good… Love from North Carolina…