Sunday... What to say? The right words!

 Picture or the day:

Now for today’s stuff:

Last night after getting my next day's blog entry ready, Chatty made a comment and then said, ‘Good night’. I was just getting ready to close out and head for bed. Funny thing also, Sherry just woke up on the couch and walked by, ‘Saying good night!’ It sorta felt nice to read, ‘Good night; then just a minute later hear it again.’

You never know how special your words are. My sister Katherine, Kat, and her husband Dick traveled in their motor home with us for a few years. WE had a great time, even traveling to Alaska together. WE camped many times in the wilds of Alaska, sitting and talking around a campfire.

After Dick passed, Kat still wanted to travel. Sherry drove her 36’ motor home following behind me in ours, between parks. We had a good time.

Once when camped at a county park on the East coast of Florida we decided to go out to eat at a buffet for dinner. That day for some reason, Kat was down. You know, there are times when your life seems low; low enough that others can tell it.

We had filled our plates and sat down, about to bow and ask His Blessings when an odd thing happened. A very nicely dressed lady with a sweet voice stepped up beside Kat. She leaned over and asked, “What’s wrong honey?”

"My husband just passed away a few days ago!” Kat replied sadly.

"Oh but Sweetheart, YOU WILL SEE HIM IN THE MORNING!”

From that instant Kat’s attitude changed, she smiled saying something like, “I will, won’t I?”

If you grew up singing this old gospel song you will know what lifted Kat’s spirits: first verse..

I will meet you in the morning by the bright riverside
When all sorrows have drifted away
I'll be standin' at the portals when the gates open wide
At the close of life's long weary day ……...

After the lady walked off we never saw her again. Kat asked, said, ‘Was she an Angel?’

Dick and Kat at the Sign Forest in Watson Lake, Yukon. Most of the folks who travel the Alcan leave a sign here. 77,000 signs now. 

My answer to that question is YES! Whether a spiritual one or just a very insightful person, either way she was an angel to my sister.

Words at the right time can make all the difference!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Note: There are times you will never know how your words have affected others, so use them well.   Love you all, say warm.

Saturday.. Throw away society,

 Picture if the day.

                    Even in India, there are scrappers

Now for today’s Stuff:

When we go back to our home-base in NC we need to buy a Range, washer and dryer. Son Mark who was once a licensed builder, now on Social security, is a Scrapper. (Yes, Sherry’s sons, who kept saying: ‘Dad there will be no SS when we get to our 60s) Yep, both our sons are now on Social Security. Really we are not that old, we were married at 14 yrs old, or was it 17?

But to let you know I do know stuff, I told them SS would be around when they reached 60.

See, I am a prophet.

Mark bought our place here in Leesburg. We pay his utilities to let us stay here when we cannot get reservations. So our coach is now parked in Mark’s side yard.

That is our long-haired Mark in Key West with our Beagle.

He is hooked on Scrapping. While we have been here he has brought in washers, dryers, and Refrigerators. He tests new looking ones out before selling them for scrap. If they test good he sells them with a money back guarantee.

He has given us a dryer that looks new, it works, I will figure a way to take it home when we head North.

Scrapping to Mark, is sort of an Easter Egg Hunt. Who knows what he will bring back next. Florida is a great place for scrapping, this is a throw away society especially around here.

This is our Scrapper now, or a couple yrs ago.

I am just about run down. LOL Thanks for coming by.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Now you know; I Just might be a prophet. At the least, I am old enough to be one. ;-)

Friday.. Thieves always, Or just discovered.

 PIC OF THE DAY

Now for today’s Stuff:

2025: Self-checkout theft has doubled in recent years, with 27% OF Americans admitting they have stolen at least one item  while using self-service kiosks, according to new research from LendingTree.

Do you realize that is every 4^th person? WHAT??? 

It does not take a devious mind, plain common sense tells me that self-checkout makes stealing easier. Does it make the thief in someone come out, or does it CREATE a thief? My mind wonders at that.

I just read where a School Principal and an assistant Principal were arrested for thefts of thousands of dollars at self-checkout.

A Doctor also was arrested for stealing $1000’s in merchandise at self-checkout.

That is scary my friends. Those principals were teachers of someone’s children at one time.

A Doctor? Has HE or SHE fudged on your bill? Have they over charged for services and tests they say were required?

With the salaries of educators (which is not great but above the minimum) and doctors, how much more would the lower-scale unemployed or homeless person be TEMPTED to cheat, maybe just a little.

That is a little scary. Liars, cheats and thieves are NOT good citizens. Many folks have told a ‘white-lie’ to keep from hurting someone’s feelings. I hear some men cheat on their score cards when golfing (I really don’t know, I am not a golfer).

I have visited bowling alleys with the NEW (to me) scoring system where it is made very hard or impossible to cheat. LOL

I have broken the law speeding many times. As a boy I did steal, I returned to a junk yard to pay for tires I stole, after His Salvation.

BUT, BUT I draw the line at thief, stealing is a sin and it is hurting someone or a business, not just my conscience. Breaking man's law or saving someone’s feelings is not necessarily a sin. (IMHO)

And YES, I do use self check-out when I have 1 to 3 items.

I have to smile at my sweet niece Vickie. She said she used the check-out at Walmart, nobody said anything, but when she got to her car she realized she didn’t have a receipt and had not paid. She went back and paid. ;-).

Nite Shipslog

PS: The above of course is my opinion...

Thursday.. And yes it is cool here.

 

Outside is where I cooked back then.  I was stationed in Biloxi, MS at Keesler AFB.  Yeah, I had hair and was a proud dad.  That is our first, a great kid, Jack Jr.

Now for today’s Stuff:

We are walking some and I am piddling with a 4 wheeler to help son Mark get it running. This one is a real challenge, but it keeps me out from under Sherry’s feet.

Today was my time to cook. They said I did good. I took 6 small thin pork shops, tried to get them tenderized with a fork and salt (at someone’s suggestion, cannot remember who.) I cut them into ¼” strips and put the many sticks in ½ stick melted butter, thinking I could brown them.

They did cook well but browned only a little. After they cooked for a few minutes med/hi stove top, I added chopped onion and mushrooms, then covered them lowering the heat some. Put some frozen veggies in the microwave for 2 minutes, just to thaw. Then added them to the covered pan with the other stuff.

I always use the right spices (Ms Dash ;-)), a little salt and a tablespoon of honey. I baked 3 SMALL potatoes, cut them and filled with butter. & tin-foiled them. I also made rice. Why? I guess I decided to use it for a bed for the stuff I was cooking. (Sherry says it is for an egg and rice breakfast in the morning. LOL)

Using 4 frozen HB Buns. Cut them up some so I could fill them with margarine. Heated them stacked them to hide the outsides of the buns ;-). Then a dip for the bread; ¼ stick butter, 5 shakes of garlic salt, 4 tble sp of Olive oil, Ms Dash and a big dollop of honey. I heated that, mmm, good.

I guess that is a southern stir-fry. Or something like that. Anyway that was my afternoon; 2 guests, Sherry & son Mark said it was good. They really liked the dip, LOL

This is all the left overs. I am eating them now...

Nite Shipslog

PS:  Now you know I ain’t right at the stove. But I am lucky every once in awhile, like today!

Wednesday… A copy of someone’s Blog

 

Now for today’s Stolen Stuff:

Some things are just amazing. WE have some grandchildren who are super talented also, but I wanted to point this out that Susan Kane, the ‘Crazy cat”, over at the contemplated cat put on. If you don’t want to listen to all, just give them a short listen, and you will be amazed.

thecontemplativecat: Evan Le', a Veitnamese piano prodigy

I am not very good atd this stuff you might click:

If nothing happens above.

 http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/.

Thanks Susan, thinking of you, and you are in our prayers...

Nite Shipslog

PS: Temps down here in central Florida, but nothing like you tough dudes up yonder are getting..

Tuesday… We have not seen Crater Lake in Oregon

 Today's Picture:

Now for today’s stuff:

I have mentioned many beautiful sites we have seen, but today my computer chose as a screen saver, the above shot from the Pinnacles Trail @ Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. The picture made me want to go see it.

WE will probably never make another trip around the USA to see the West Coast again, BUT IF we do, this igoes on the ‘TO SEE’ list along with the 29 PALMS and Joshua Tree area, stirred up by ‘Spare Parts and Pictures’ blog.

This place must be absolutely stunning in person.

I love seeing places that grab my dream horn. LOL I am wondering if I will out-grow my desire to see new places or to Thru-Hike the AT. I get a lot of smiles when I say that, and probably lots of laughs behind my back, BUT I just might show them. LOL…

Now Mr. Eberhart, 83, thru hiked, but he had hiked thousands of miles before the AT.  He even walked 400 miles to get to the AT before even starting the trail.  BUT.....

Nah, I know that is a stretch for a man over 85 to do a thru hike of over 2000 miles, but day-dreams keep you alive, methinks.

Nite Shipslog

PS: The wind has picked up here in Central Florida, that does bother my hearing implants a BUNCH!

Monday.. Do you have the BEST?

 

Picture or the day:

Our family at a lake in the mts east of Salt Lake City.  This picture was DIL Carol's idea. I will always appreciate it.

Now for today’s stuff:

Families are very important to me. After growing up and being an adult, you know, like 17 years old, and pretty danged smart. I heard someone say, “I have the best mother in the world!” Ha, I thought, ‘no you don’t, I have the best mother in the world.’

Over the years I have learned many of us can have the BEST! I hear some of you old Grand parents that THINK you have the BEST Grand kids there is. “HUH uh! You have not met Corey, Ben, Reece, Josh, Stephen, Matthew or Luke; they are the best!”

So, now that I have really grown up, I have learned MANY OF US can have the BEST! I even had the BEST Mother-in-law in the world.

Our friend Myra probably thinks her Gracie and Macie are the best, but that is only because she did not know ACE, the best dog in the world.

It took me a few years to see something, Hey, there are really “MANY” who fit the description: “THE BEST IN THE WORLD.” You see I am GLAD others feel the same about, parents, kids, grands, pets etc. as I do.

Mention names like Chloe, Mackenzie, even Penelope and someone will smile from ear to ear beause they are the BEST!

It is hard to face reality, those sweet Grands have grown up and have some some great kids, our great great grands!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Snow? Some folks love it, some don’t, but it is still beautiful.

Sunday.. Hoping you handle the weather WELL

 

Picture or the day:

Grand daughter Sherece with the dogs at Mark and Corrine's house many years ago.

Now for today’s stuff:

Weather is definitely the subject. Our son JJ is looking after our new to us home in NC. That is one problem with having two homes. Even though now, one is an RV.

It is an uncertain thing to leave a house unattended for months at a time. Thankfully we have family there that looks in on things for us.

Our friend NanaDiana said it was CCCCold at their town. A lot below zero if I remember right. The coldest weather we have ever enjoyed was in North Central Missouri, WE moved there from Biloxi, MI at 80 degrees and landed in Kirksville, MO with 13 below zero. Now that was cold for Southerners. LOL

WE met a guy in Tok, Alaska who said they once had 60 below. When you have housing and clothes for cold weather we humans adjust.

WE of the USA, depend on our Electric and Gas service. We do get in a tether when we have outages.

Also we citizens here are sort of crazy. When a storm is predicted, we empty the shelves of stores, as if it will last for weeks.

Our sons keep us up to date on weather, I do check the weather at times, but normally I just take it as it comes. HOWEVER back when I was building, it was a different ball game. I remember standing next to an old Grey headed man who just happened to be black. His son or brother was Sticky, my dirt moving man. Sticky was an inspiration to me. As a matter of fact, STICKY was the title of my first book.

Sticky is sitting, he is not only the best heavy equipment operator he has a great singing voice.

Anyway, Sticky was finishing the building site. I was fretting about ordering concrete, and they were calling for rain. He smiled as he looked at me, “Son, it might rain, it might not, God is control of that end. Talk to Him about that, then handle the concrete.”

I am a believer of course, I took the old man’s wisdom to heart. I poured many foundations, slabs and drives after that, but EACH time I remembered what the old man said.

I wandered off from the subject, but I do hope and pray that the big storm they are predicting and is filling the weather reports, doesn’t effect you in a bad way.

Love you all… Until I remember what I was going to write, I remain lost.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Hoping you are safe and warm

Saturday…. Thinking

 Picture or the day:

ABove taken in London during the Depression

Below is pictures from the USA during that time.

Now for today’s stuff:

Sherry’s family did not do any camping. I introduced that to her. 

Time in the woods over night was part of my childhood. For a few days every year our family met Uncle Irvin’s family in the Pisgah Forest of North Carolina. Mama and Aunt Bert did the cooking over an open fire.

I remember so many stories told around the campfire. Strangely the area where we ‘camped’ was an area where mama and daddy lived during part of the depression time. No rent nor utilities. They said several families lived here including Mama’s sister Julia and hubby Doyle. Daddy and Doyle worked at a saw mill for what money they were able to get.

They talked about huddling in the old tent, all night, with my brothers and sisters for warmth on many wet, cold nights. They laughed at mistakes in cooking. Frying fish sometimes as small as sardines.

(Sherry & I have been in tents and nice motor homes. I miss camping in the woods)

There were Apple trees and walnut trees in the area, and they used those for food. They got their water from the mountain stream near by.

My brothers were allowed to play in the creek but could not pee in it. The adults made that a strict rule, explaining that folks down the creek used that water too.

I am always amazed at how people all over the world, made it thru The Great Depression! Ingenuity, hard work, and scraping to get by AND RAISE a family.

I was always proud to hear how my parents' made things work.

Are you old enough to have heard stories of that time?

Nite Shipslog

PS: Thanks for sticking around. Myra had a graphic on her blog lately that lets one know just how small we are in respect to the solar system. ;-) I need to KNOW that when I think I have troubles.

FRIday, Odd rules and opinions of Americans

 Picture or the day:

US Marines on liberty in Athens Greece.  No high heels here!

14 yrs later back in Athens as a Sailor.  This picture jut a few feet from the above pic.  The Acropolis has not changed. LOL

Now for today’s stuff:

WE are proud of this country, and in our travels we have tried to be careful not to insult folks of other countries and cultures.

I know it is not proper to ‘burp’ at the table, but I have heard at some countries it is considered a toast to the cook.

Before landing or docking in a foreign port Military Personnel are briefed on the do’s and don’t’s at this port or country.

When our ship anchored at Spit-head just off the South end of the English Channel. Many Sailors and Marines were headed to London to see the famous city we were briefed, and besides that, some old salts told us, “Do not dare to downgrade the Queen or challenge the Brits to a game of darts. You will lose big time in both cases.” Yep I witnessed couple incidents. OUCH.’

Other places:

Do not chew gum or bring it into Singapore.

In Thailand it is criminal to step on money if it has the image of a monarch on it. That image is revered. I enjoyed the Acropolis in Athens, I learned later it is a good thing I did not wear ‘high heeled’ shoes (LOL), that is illegal to wear at that historic site.

(bove A castle in Germany

I learned later, after driving on the Autobahn in Germany it is a crime to run out of gas on the Autobahn.

I never have driven in Japan but I have been told it is a crime to splash water on a pedestrian.

DO NOT feed the pigeons in Venice. It is a crime.

Careful wearing camouflage clothing in the Caribbean, it is a crime unless you are in their military., but not always enforced.

I am not sure how they enforce it, but I read of two cities in France where it is illegal for a visitor to die there.

A guy told me something. If you want to learn what a foreigner thinks of the USA citizen try this: when asked if you are from the USA? Cross your fingers and tell a lie, “No, I am from Toronto Canada, why do you ask?” Then the countryman will unload on the actions of ignorant Americans that aggravate his countrymen.

Sorry, for wasting your time, but I thought you might be headed to Le Lavandou or Cugnaux, France and just wanted to warn you do not die there!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Note: Those 2 cities in France have NO burial plots left.

I feel like this was a ???? entry,  sorry still feel for light between my ears..... THANKS for your thoughts.

Thursday.. Travelers

 Picture or the day:

This is as close as we got to the Eiffel tower in Paris.  To be honest I was afraid to lose the rental car we got in Germany, not knowing where or how to park.  LOL  That is true..

Now for today’s stuff:

Sherry and I were talking yesterday about our lives. We know we are Blessed (fortunate) to have lived this long. We have lived longer than any of those in our families.

(I mentioned the other day that when your age starts beginning with an 8, you know things.  LOL and think too much........ maybe)

WE grew up eating a lot of fats. Over the years our diet modified. A few years ago, we were in a country store in Eastern NC and I noticed cans of Lard, on the shelves. I hadn’t seen that in many years. In our youth lard and bacon grease was used in many recipes one way or the other.

WE even made it to Pennsylvania. They grow some delicious Corn.  We were introduced to PA by the Fletchers... ;-)

I am not saying that diet alone is our secret (If there is one). WE have been frugal most or our marriage. We avoided stress of debts that many of our friends faced. WE tried to practice, "If we cannot pay for it, we won’t buy it!”

In our family Drugs and alcohol have caused the most stress. You are so blessed if those have not interrupted your family life.

WE have stayed active and listened to old folks. I remember more than once a person over 100 saying, “Just keep moving!” I interpreted that to staying active.

                LDS Temple in Salt Lake City during renovations.  We spent a lot ot time around here and I have lost many of  my pictures.

Travel? Pictures are fine, movies are good and enough for many folks. For some reason, we wanted to experience and see places. That doesn’t make us any better, nor better off than someone who is satisfied with pictures, I still enjoy pictures of places I will never see in person.

I would love to see Australia, but I never will. Imma thinking Ireland is still a VERY small possibility.

I have met some who travel and they identify as Canadian when out of the USA.

Nite Shipslog

PS: I m a little slow lately, I feel a little dizzy or light headed again.

Wednesday…. Stuff and dominoes

 Picture or the day:

These guys are competitive for sure..

.... In Music, The twin sons of JJ. and they are good.  If you would like, try these sites, if they work?  I am a little lost with these leads:

https://www.facebook.com/StephenAndJoshDarnell   

cdbaby.com/cd/stephenandjoshdarnell

WE are proud of the talents of Josh and Stephen

Now for today’s stuff:

We humans are so easily set into a pattern by repetition. Sherry and I received our new Dominoes and decided to play.

Being creatures of habit, we both became confused because the colors of the dominoes are not what we are familiar with. Shucks, I thought there was maybe a rule of what color a number was, but not so.

We will keep on trying to get it right, maybe we will catch up. But it is nice to settle down to a game between us. Sherry is a gamer (not with the newer games, but using the older games.) Her family enjoyed sports and kept up with scores and data, I was not in that line of thinking.

I am sort of a middle of the road guy, but I do enjoy playing some games, I think down inside I do not care who wins.

Now in business, I did like to win. LOL I have had small bidding wars, mostly on the price of our houses. Looking back, I don’t think I ever sold a home for what I was asking. :-O    It took me awhile to learn to put in a little wiggle room so I could drop the price.

I’m watching the housing market now of course, and I am wondering WHEN the rug will be pulled out from under those exorbitant prices. WE would like to buy another place here in Florida, I have noticed lately the sales have slowed down.

I think this was the last house we built.  I started it and headed for Alaska, Mark finished it for me.

Maybe next fall will be the time to look for a place in northern Florida. I am thinking closer to the Georgia border. That way we would be only a day’s drive from the area of NC where most of our Grands live.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Thanks for sticking around. I still am not comfortable with a change in my typing apps(?).