My comments on comments and Grisham.

I must add a quick entry. On Grisham, I liked the book but I didn't like the ending. He is one of the top writers of the day. He had me all the way to the end. Sorry John!

I must say some of the comments are much better than the blog itself. Thanks I loved 'em.
Jack

Fashion/style Gestapo

These two were supposed to appear just before today's entry, under style. This is two Army Sargeants. Sgt. G & Sgt Brooks. Didn't make Sgt's like this when I was in. HA!

This is the Bra on our last Motor Home. I painted it whle in San Antonio not long after 9/11

HOme of the Buffalo Soldiers, Fort Huachuca, AZ

Art (Hattie's husband) at one of Sherry's wild parties. He is a Buffalo Soldier from Pennsylvania.

Hattie and Monroe at Sherry's wild party.

Trudy, Married to Rick below. Sherry's friends (mine also, but she knows them better)

Rick, at the Charlotte MEPS.


Now today's exciting entry!!!

I had to laugh a day or so ago, AOL had a headline, ‘Finally some style in the White House’. There was a picture of the next First Lady. I didn't laugh at how she looked nor the dress. I just remembered back during the primary campaigns AOL had listed her as the ‘worst dressed’ or something like that. The comment was also made that she wears clothes ‘off the rack’. To me that was a compliment but it was used like ‘how horrible’. Very seldom do I hear something negative on what a man wears. But a woman politician (or connected to), it is what she wears rather than what she says. (isn’t that sad?)

I learned long ago you cannot ‘fight city hall’, to use an overused term. Whatever the ‘authorities’ say is Gospel. It has always bothered me for someone to decide what is best for me (or society) to wear. It amazes me how the ‘Style Gestapo’ rules the world, especially in Women’s clothes. What amazes me more, is the sweet women in this world that buy into it. And keep the high end garment industries in business. So that I hear there are women with gowns/dresses costing thousands of dollars bought for one occasion. I can’t imagine that making sense to ANYONE, but then that is my opinion. I only wish a person could wear just what they want to wear, not what someone else dictates, without wondering: will someone else wear an outfit like this at the party or at church.

Back when my occupation ‘required’ wearing suits, I was told by a very dear friend that you could tell the quality of a suit by one simple guide, the number of buttons on the sleeve of the suit coat. Three buttons, off the rack, less expensive. The more expensive, off the rack, has/had four buttons. Since that time I have found myself looking at buttons, then chiding myself, ‘WHY IN HECK DO I CARE?’.

My dad taught me how to buy shoes. This is back when they were all leather. Inside EVERY LEATHER shoe there is a code. The code is in the form of notches. ONE/NO NOTCH is high quality leather. Four or more is low quality leather. I just went to my closet to check my ‘expensive’ Florshiem shoes. They have three notches. They are my Sunday shoes. I bought them 25+ years ago for Sherry’s 25th class reunion. Yeah, I believe in wearing something out, and they still have 20 years left.

One of my pet peeves is buying clothes with someone else’s name on them. If I pay for it, and a name is on it, it will be MINE certainly not Abercrombie or the like!
Rainy and warm here in central Florida today. Hope you are all well.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Will Rogers died in a plane crash, with his friend Wylie Post, in 1935; he was widely known and a beloved figure of his time -- as a political sage and as "just a good ol' country boy." These are some of his"philosophies."

*****Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.

****** Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

****** There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works.

******Never miss a good chance to shut up.

*******Always drink upstream from the herd.

******If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. (So I quit)

John Grisham, shame on you!

Josh Jack, Ben & Stephen at the airport. Ben is heading back to Utah!

Matt, Josh and Stephen at the Cleveland County fair.

Jordan (Reece's close friend, she just had her first child) Sherry and OUR Sherece, this was probably at the Cleveland Country FAir.

Steve, Marks dead -eye buddy and cousin, with his daughter Megan.

Most folks know I read a lot. I very seldom pay full price for a book. So I do not feel bad at anyone who does not pay full price for my books. BUT heading out on the cruise awhile back Sherry passed a JOHN GRISHAM book, his latest, “The Appeal’. She bought it. When she finished it she was not happy with John.

Well many times she does not like it when an author gets into too much technical stuff (even me), I figured that was the problem. Huh uh. I just finished the book. I am not a happy camper. John, fiction is supposed to END RIGHT, the bad guy is supposed to lose and the underdog is supposed to win. I know, I know reality is the name of the game. Not for me. I see reality all day every day; I want some fiction when I read. John let the bad guy win! Shame on you John. No, I won’t quit reading Grisham, I love his writing. We have read EVERY book he has written. I was not happy with ‘Skipping Christmas’, and I thought ‘The painted House’ fell a little short for John. But they were not court room dramas as most of his are. ‘The painted house sorta grew on me after reading it, I even liked it better as time, months, even years went on’. But this one John! Made me MAD! I don’t know whether I will like it tomorrow or not.
I feel better. LOL. I know John is going to read this ha!

I must confess to some of you who were wondering about RAGS, the blog. Yes that is his blog. It will not be around long, I just had an idea, fueled by another author. My mistake was the obvious name, huh? I thought of Toby.

Toby’s Tales, a book of short stories, is scheduled out in about eight months. At present Toby is an ancient turtle who relates stories learned in his lifetime. Toby comes from a Blogger from Texas who had a friend named Toby. I have always wanted to do a book of short stories. I am going to do ‘Sticky’s Stories’ and ‘Toby’s Tales’. Toby will be first.
Thanks for coming this way!
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Some things to ponder:

******Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos? (And rap music will be the Golden Oldies)
*****Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo.
***After 60, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead!
**Always be yourself because the people that matter, don't mind. And the one's that do mind don't matter

A kinship to Arizona

Thanks Texas, the bill collectors caught up with us, here we are in the Yuma Territorial prison.

This is what they brought us in. (pretty corner scroll trim, huh?)

But today.......

WE are very warm in Florida, not heat stroke weather yet, but really warm for this time of year here. I know, I know that is mean, except for the folks that love the snow and cold. I just read a Blog (Backroad Chronicles) of some full-timers (sent me by a dog, a Corgi in Southern California.) Check yesterday's comments for a thread to the blog.They are in Yuma, AZ. What is it about me that wants to be where I ain’t. haha! Reminds me of a SS teacher I had once, a great guy, who came in saying, ‘ when I am on the road it seems like everyone wants to be where I am.’
If it has to do with travel, I want it. OH, I have good memories of Yuma, I think I won $75 in the lottery there. IF you wash your car it leaves spots (if you do not wipe it down) I know! You thought everyone wiped their car down after washing. Huh uh, only if necessary. I think everyone there buys their drinking water. I think Arizona holds some of the most interesting historical areas in the USA.
There are plenty of us out here enjoying the road. Some folks are actually not running from Bill collectors, we are in a minority. But someone has to keep the lenders on their toes. LOL.
WE WON! Paula in Texas is not the only one who won a free meal. We did too! Yes a lecture comes with it I am sure. But they said it was FREE. So you know us old folks, if it is free. LOL
Question for you. Do you know why you have a lawn? (or want one)
Answer: So Jeff can get paid to cut and trim it.
No, that is not it. Originally grass was planted for the animals close to the house to have food. (Cow, Goat & Horse). They were the first lawn mowers. Also the first automatic fertilizer spreaders.
Then the Castle owners wanted it so they could look out in the morning to see if someone had tracked close to their holdings.

Then someone (a nut, LOL) thought it was pretty, so there you have it.

The first lawn mowers were introduced in the mid 1800’s. My guess is they were not gas or electric powered. Just a guess.
Big day today, huh? You could tell?
Nite Shipslog
PS: Some things to think ponder:

Scratch a cat and you will have a permanent job.

No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a car.

There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.

There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. - ......It could be a right number

Sunday in Florida, Is it Sunday where U R?

Oklahoma Bombing site, after the ruins had been cleared and before the monument was started. Note all the memorials (to the lost loved ones in the building when it was hit) hanging one the fence.

Steve and Josh eating Christmas cookies. Years ago!!!!!

It is Sunday. We attended church here at the RV park. There was over a hundred in attendance. Dr. Wellner from Charlotte, NC is the pastor here over the winter. He is a very sincere and dedicated minister. He is from the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He has taught in their college or university. We did not have a piano player, she is due in tomorrow.
It is Beautiful day down here. Windows open to cool the Motor home. Sherry and I have discussed a cruise a little more. It all is just too much for the spring. WE have two Josh and Steve graduating from college at different colleges. Space is so limited at graduations now, we probably will not get to attend, but we want to throw a party for our FIRST FAMILY college graduates. WE are so proud of them. I haphazardly attended college two or three times, never graduated. Sherry took some college courses in programming and business machines etc. Neither of our sons wanted to attend. Corey started a family too soon so he did not, Ben chose to go into construction so he did not, Reece graduated from beauty school but Stephen and Joshua have stuck it out for four years. Josh has said this is enough school, he is ready to get a job and get married. Stephen once said he was going for his masters then his doctorate. He is wavering now, cannot make up his mind. It is a very BIG decision.
Anyway we are thinking of throwing the party then heading for parts wild and unknown to us. Maybe a cruise in December is in the works. Next year we have a high School graduate, Matthew Dillon. We will leave travels open for the moment and just think some more. Thinking is much easier than making a decision. Hahaha!
Hope you all are having a great day.
NiteShipslog
PS:

Some things to think ponder:
* A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.

**How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

***Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.

****Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks? LOL LOL LOL (Evelyn? Shirl? Don? Sherry?)

Thinking of the spring and summer

Sherry, Josh, Stephen and Me. (I know 'em apart!)

Mark waiting to purchase something from Reece at her store, Christopher her cousin in check out line.

Outdoor pool at Elmer/Lennie's. Corey on my shoulders and Ben on Grandma's. We could not do that now hahaha!

Benjamin, George and Corey on a trip to the mountains of North CArolina.

Sonny and I in Hollywood at our favorite actors square and prints, Trigger and Roy Rogers.

Hey I finished 'Cracker's Mule' by Billy Moore last night. A great spoof about a boy during the 1950's. Funny, Rags is also set in the fifties. Cracker being his nick name since he was in Opp, Ala with his grandparents, but was from Florida. Florida cowboys are called Crackers. It is published by JuneBug books. You can find it on Amazon.

Well it is a new year, and we are facing the questions of which adventures do we want to pursue. We both want to go to the North East and hike some. Sherry is not sure if she wants to carry a back pack. I am not sure if I want to carry a tent. I want to sleep on the ground under the stars and eat only p-nut butter crackers. That way the pack is much lighter. That is up in the air. The one thing I know is we want to go to New England and try out the recommended Lobster houses (do you have one to suggest?). And go back to Nunans in Kennebunkport. We also must visit Judy and see her new apartment at her Son’s house. They built her a nice place over the garage after her Al died.
We also want a family thing again. Since taking the cruise, we would love to take the family on a four day cruise. But the logistics are pretty confusing. We want to bring the folks in Utah out here to the East coast IF WE DO IT. If we don’t do it, we would like to make another trip out to see the folks out there . Here in lies the rub. We cannot settle in our minds on a good bunking arrangement .
This is too much for an old folk to straighten out in his mind. I will have to get back with the family on that one. Who ever of the family members read this weigh in.
We also want to take another swing around the USA. I could arrange stops to promote the books. And stop to see the Utah part of our family at the same time. It is a thought.
In the back of my mind I really want to drive the ALCAN one more time. I loved the trip through Canada, especially the Yukon. So much to do and so little active time to do it in. Boy these decisions are rough. What would you do?
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Some things to think ponder:

*** The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.

** Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.

* If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.

** Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.

I am toooo OLD

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Sherry and Colette in Elvis's famous Pink Jeep!

Todays confused entry!

Does your family have a traditional meal on New Year’s day?(I noted Shiela does, see her blog) Sherry’s family did, I don’t think our family did, I just e-mailed Shirl to ask. If it was at our home, I missed it or the significance of it. Anyway today we had some green leafy veggies and black-eyed peas. I don’t care for hog jawls which was traditional in Sherry’s family, we did not have them.
Got Shirl’s answer. Negative, we just ate well, and we did. Mama was the best cook in the world bar none. Could make a meal out of practically nothing, and it would be delicious.

Ever been torn, family wise? I always thought, watching our sons as they grew up, that their lives would be like ours, And like that of our parents. Joined to a spouse forever. As we grow up we are taught by actions or verbally, some things you do and some things you do not do. When you see society changing, your mind does not compute. WE were always taught, you get married and then engage in sex, and then have children. Now I see the world (OUR FAMILY) going against my ‘biblical’ principals I want to cry.
Mostly because of confusion within my own mind. I hate the word divorce. IT has invaded our peaceful lives 4 times. That is still hard for me to understand.

Our very good friend Juanita said something the other evening that has stuck with me. She gave advice to people from her own experience. I love this man, and I will do anything to keep him. What ever it takes.
I realized that is what has made our life together stay together. During a time of crisis, one of us said that exact thing. Not always the same one of us, but one of us kept a straight head.
Now don’t get me wrong, I do not think two people should stay together when one is abusive and will not stop, or when the marriage is just naturally destined for failure. I am talking about when you love each other, but natural mistakes happen, or there is a misunderstanding. Someone has to give to make a marriage work.
Don’t misunderstand, ours has not been a storybook marriage, but it has been danged close. I had hoped the same for the whole family. I have settled in my mind, we all have different mental make-ups. A lot is society, giving the idea, try marriage, if it doesn’t work then back out. That has graduated to the idea of living together to see if you are compatible. There are times when I think I wish Sherry would have been agreeable to that, but then I don’t know. It is all too confusing for an old man.
460 words and I ain’t said what I started out to say.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
(Something I wish my grand kids could say)

GRANDPA IS THE SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH! HE TEACHES ME GOOD THINGS BUT I DON'T GET TO SEE HIM ENOUGH TO GET AS SMART AS HIM!
******************************

Why some sports figures do not need a job involving their mouth!

Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: "I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate me.

"New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skins say: "I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," -- Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."

Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."

Quiet on New Year's day.

This was the highlight of last year. Our family trip to Utah, to see the long range family there.
Mark and Shirl awaiting the flight call.

Shirl with a sleepy Elsie Mae.

Son Mark, Me, Luke in front, Sherry and Son Jack. In the Utah country side.

I have hundreds of pictures of Me'n Ben'n Corey asnReece used to say but This is what I could find.

This is Jack and his sons. A few years back.

This is Me'n Ben 'n Corey Now. (Sherece is Me these three ran to gether, Reecde was the youngest and that was famous for her saying: Me 'n, Ben 'n Corey.)

The most exciting thing for me last year was our trip to Utah and seeing these folk, especially little Elsie Mae. Carol's mom Joan, Benjamin Aaron and Carol, the hostess with the mostess.

Seeing Jack and his sons together.

Having my son, and his son, and his son's daughter together! One of life's prizes. I have won!



There are happy times in this life. Think about them!

I don’t think I have anything to say today. EXCEPT Happy New Year to everyone. I wasn’t in Times Square for the celebration. I do the same every year. Stay away. I am still working on my new book. This is a lot of fun for an old man. I am learning you can do about anything in fiction. You can make a character big, little, rich, poor , mean or friendly.
Well I have to get back to writing about a guy who is discouraged with life.
See you next time around. Again Happy New Year.
Nite Shipslog

PS:
I realized I was shaking my gallon of milk last night before I poured a glass full. Do you still shake your milk? I know it is habit from when the cream rose to the top, not homogenized, I think it is referred to. But then, it is very hard for me to catch up, we still eat ‘supper’ at our house too.


To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member :
LOSE ONE.


Peace, love and prosperity to all!
Remember...
hold on tight to the ones you Love!