Plans

I read once that Minnie Pearl said, "If you want to make God laugh, just tell him you plans." Well we are making plans...... Plans to follow the white blaze you see on the tree above. That indicates the AT (Appalachian Trail). IF there are no trees, it is painted on rocks...

This is Sherry coming down Mt.Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine, note the white blaze in the forground.

When there are no rocks or trees to paint the blaze on, a pole is erected, as in this mountain top 'Bald' as it is called. You can see the blaze to Sherry's left, and follow the path you will see where it enters the woods again. There is another post with the blaze. This was a good shot of a Bald with yellow wild flowers.

Now for todays Plans, showing change..................

You know they say about the best laid plans of mice and men. Yeah, they started to move Sonny yesterday and checked his temp. He had a fever so they would not discharge him. So he is still in the hospital. We haven’t had a call to let us know if they are going to move him today or if we are needed to sit with him and keep him company. He says without someone he is lonesome. I don’t think I would do well in a hospital. I am too restless, but I guess most folks feel that way, but what is necessary is necessary and we adapt to what we have to in this life.

In the book, ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Albom, a true story following a tragic case of Lou Gehrig’s disease. In it, Morrie says early in the disease, that he hates the idea of getting down to the point where he will have to be cleaned and have his ‘ass’ wiped. He felt that it was going to be demeaning. Later when that point had been reached and past he said I have accepted it and know there is only one other choice.

I have taken care of the problem with Sonny a couple times. WE laughed and joked as I did it, but I knew it hurt his manhood. IT was the same with my mom. I know she felt terrible for her son to care for her in that manner. Her statement still haunts my memory, “I never thought it would come to this!”

We just do not know what life has for us down the road, if we did we might take a short cut or detour out of life, you never know. It is best we not see the future, don’t you think?

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:
In light of the present financial crisis, it's interesting to read what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

Today is the day old Sonny-boy is being transferred to Rehab. As far as I know the issue of the dialysis is not resolved. This is a painful time as I have discussed, most of us over fifty have (or will soon) face some hard decisions.

I visited a local retailer about carrying my books. He is pondering what to ask for the books in his business, and our mutual profit interests. I made an offer of 50/50 on the profits. It is a small amount, but most retail is a small margin anymore. Gone are the days when a retailer could make 30-40% profit on an item. So I am waiting. It is one of those things that there is no stress with, if you do okay if not okay. I like it like that. Plenty of other retailers.

We have some work to do on a Trailer we have in Catawba heights, that is a small section of Belmont, NC or Mt. Holly. It is one of those strange address areas. Address is Belmont, mail service is Mt. Holly. WE are all just small worn out mill towns that have become a bedroom for Charlotte, and the banking industry. Banking is a bad word nowadays. I am amazed that Charlotte is a center of banking in the South. Anyway, in the mid fifties the tallest building in Charlotte was probably 15-20 stories. Now that are many that are fifty stories or more tall and mostly banking buildings.

Can’t get away from the ‘Stimulus’ can I? I keep wondering how do you pay for a building like that? My wanderings, Oh, if you haven’t read ‘Monica’s mindless mumblings’, she has a good entry about a scam. And Paula scared me with rattle snakes. I quit for the day.

Nite Shipslog
PS:
IDIOT SIGHTING:
From the net.....
We had to have the garage door repaired. The Sears repairman told us that one of our problems was that we did not have a 'large' enough motor on the opener. I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one Sears made at that time, a 1/2 horsepower. He shook his head and said, 'Lady, you need a 1/4 horsepower.' I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4. He said, 'NO, it's not.' Four is larger than two..' We haven't used Sears repair since.

We all love AIG give them a bonus!

Now you know how politicians promises are transported!

This is an actual load of s.. I mean political promises. At least they all go to the same place.

Now today's frustration........

I know you are not mad about the AIG executives getting 179 million dollars in bonuses after sinking the large company. After all they did come to work most of the days they weren’t golfing. And they made the best decisions they could. They were just wrong. I do admire the president for publicly condemning them. They claim they had no choice they had to pay the bonuses because of the contracts. I must be daft, but I thought bonuses were paid for outstanding performance, can any of them claim that? I don’t think so.
I think the average American, who could live their entire lives off one bonus received by these guys, is just a little sick of trying to bail out stupid people.
Well I guess you couldn’t call them stupid, they got the meat, the tax payers got the bone.
I guess I am to simple, I always figured bonuses were like tips to a waitress, paid for good service etc. AIG AIN’T SUPPLIED GOOD SERVICE!
Sort of like giving a starving person $3 and they buy a cup of Starbucks with it. Oh well.
We are in the room with Sonny. Yes, I got a kiss on the way up on the elevator, since you asked. I have always made it a practice to get a kiss as often as possible, Sherry keeps my heart active. LOL
Hospitals amaze me with noise. The Food card and trash carts are VERY noisy. Even I can hear them. Sonny has been here for three weeks now. They are saying he cannot live without dialysis, and he is wanting to stop it because it ‘nearly kills me’, he says. Terrible decisions face us OLD folk, the Doctors have us living way past our bodies capabilities to house our minds.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
I think folks go home from the hospital to get well.
I forgot Green on St. Patty’s day, but then I am only part Irish.

This is Sonny and I washing dishes in some creek, Might have been in Vermont.

This is Sonny just after he entered the hospital. His hair needs combing. He is not crazy about the checkered dress.

Life is so complicated now. At one time we lived awhile then got sick and died. The family mourned and another person was buried. Now with all the advancements in medical science we live awhile then get sick, there will be a procedure or pill that will extend your life. Then we get sick again, there is another procedure and two more pills to extend our lives.

We are not complaining because other than remembering to take the pills and figuring how to pay for them, life goes on. We get sick again now it takes an operation, maybe a kidney or heart transplant. More pills, many more pills to fight rejection. Now we continue to live but the quality is not too great, but we are alive. Then comes the BIG decisions.

“We can try this procedure, it is not guaranteed to extend your life, and it is very painful and requires many follow ups. Take a few days talk to the family the decision is up to you.” Now you and the family must discuss is it worth it? What is a day of life worth? Also What is a day of suffering worth? Now the decisions are very different, not like the ones early that were not life threatening but life enhancing.

NOW this one is LIFE OR DEATH. How will you handle it? If you have been around fifty or more years you have heard the following statements:

“I know one thing, I will never take Chemo or Radiation all it does is kill you slower, uncle John did it and he was sick until he died.”

“You won’t see me with my hair out! I would rather die first!”

That type of statement goes on and on. NONE of us know exactly what we will do until forced to make the decision. My Florida pastor’s wife told me, “Brother Jack, when I was forced to make that decision, it was possible life or sure death, I chose life.” She is still with us many years later.

Now my buddy Sonny faces that same type of decision. His Doctors say he is not a good candidate for long range dialysis, but without dialysis he has little hope. He will require the procedure three times a week for the rest of his life. When he returns from dialysis he is worn and washed out, HE IS BEAT!

As I sat by the bed Sonny said, “Jack I don’t know whether I will go back or not, this is a big decision.”

I said, “Yeah, buddy the biggest decision you have ever made.” He went to dialysis today, but he says that is the last time, but he will have a day to get over it. Then the mind thinks different.

Are you, or have you ever been a smoker? I found the best time to quit smoking was right after a good meal and right after the cup of coffee and a Marlboro. Just after you have crushed the filter tip cigarette out. That is the best time to quit, you are perfectly satisfied. Throw the rest of the pack away.

Shucks I had quit smoking at least a thousand times. (before I finally did) LOL But then two hours later is the real decision time, you are no longer satisfied. You go back to the trash for those you threw away. Or you look in the ash tray for the longest butt. There are some hard decisions in life, just some are much harder than others.

Nite Shipslog

PS:
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe. - Jimmy Durante

I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. - Zsa Zsa Gabor

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. - Alex Levine

The above picture shows a good reason for no tip. Sort of like AIG, they certainly do not deserve a TIP.

Just for the record, The system changed the warning to my grand kids, of course I put it up front of the entry. Didn’t I?
I wonder if they have cameras in the elevators here at the hospital? My favorite place to kiss grandma and …. between floors.
Warning.. Don’t read the above statement unless you are 35 years old.

WE went to Hardee’s on Monday morning. Sherry had labeled Monday as Louise day because that was the only time she got to sit and talk with Louise. The crowd was there. It was the first time I had had time to speak with my friend Ed since being home, it was good to see him.
Seniors gather at places like McDonalds and Hardees in their home towns, drink coffee and generally waste a morning just gabbing and remembering the past. A couple times in all our traveling we have been invited to join the small unit in one of the gathering places when we stopped for breakfast. Once we were asked to sign a get well card for one of their group that was in the hospital.
I have learned since retiring I can waste a morning and not feel guilty because I am not out working. Just visiting with friends has it’s rewards. I have noticed that not many personal problems are discussed, and that is good. It is just a time for old friends to cut up and share old stories.

This past Monday a lot of old music was discussed. I put my two cents worth in that I thought there was two kinds of music, Country and Rock & Roll. I also found out that a guitar and mandolin are tuned different and just because you play a guitar, doesn’t mean that you can play a mandolin. I was corrected that there is many types and styles of music. But I am not convinced. So there!
Oh, I got an e-mail from the Belmont Chief of Police. I had dropped by the police station to give him a copy of Rags. He was out to lunch. So I just left the book with the receptionist. He said he read sixteen chapters that night before putting it down. He is sending m a Belmont Police Department patch in the mail.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Why do we live our lives regretting things in the past, when they cannot be changed?
Why do I wait for a funeral to make all these great promises to my self, I am going to eat better, I am going to love family more, I am going to visit some of my extended family, I am going live for now and not in the past, etc.
I have decided that Funerals make me lie to myself!!!!!!!

Singing and Repair

Sunday was a busy day. We got up EARLY (I, at 8AM) Sherry earlier. Girls have to take more time to look beautiful. Boys look the same when they get up as they did when they went to bed. Anyway I said if I get up on time we will drive to Winston Salem, (the home of Winstons and Salems). Stephen was singing in the Mars Hill Quartet at the Griffith Baptist Church. Jack, his dad, drove up to surprise him, he was working and drove up(3hr round trip) just for the 30 mins. Of singing, then slipped out and came back to Charlotte.
The Quartet sings beautifully, as you would expect of music majors. They sang acappella. Of course Stephen was the best. There were some others (parents and Grandparents and such) that thought someone else was best. HA! They all did real well we were so very proud of them. This is graduation year, I can hardly believe it. The twins have stuck it out, I hope they are rewarded for their efforts, even in a bad economy.
On a more SERIOUS NOTE…….
Living here in the motor home is not much different than living in a house as far as maintenance goes. We have leaks, breaks, power failures, burned out bulbs, squeaky doors, fuses blown and circuit breakers tripped. The refrigerator is not self defrosting so it has to be defrosted. I usually gripe a little and then fix whatever is broken or wrong.
There are some perks that go along with being the handy man. Just last night from the shower I heard some loud grumbling, and then my name was called. Now when you know SHE is in the shower, all soapy and slick, you don’t care what the problem is I want to check it out. One of the perks your average plumber doesn’t have.
(back ground..We only have a ten gallon water heater in the motor home, so when a lady washes her hair she must turn the water off while she shampoos. The hand held shower has a little knob to pause the flow of water. It was stuck)
The shower is frosted glass and she tries to hand the shower head over the top so I can turn it. HA! She ain’t getting off that light. “Stand back lady, I must come in and fix it in the shower. SOOOOOOOOOOO! I did.” (Of course I had to move some soap suds in the process!!!!) Ahhhh, the perks of the motorhome repairman. (Of course I treated the whole incident like I was a doctor, I paid no attention to the beautiful female body! Just like doctors!))
AT my age, I am set for weeks now. Hahahahahaah! My grandkids can skip this entry, forget you read it. Grandpa does not do that stuff!
Nite Shipslog
PS:
'Those who hammer their guns into plows will
plow for those who do not.' ~ Thomas Jefferson

The advantage of exercising everydayis that you die healthier.

Stimulus

I am not sure if I understand this Stimulus package. In my life I have found it is impossible to borrow yourself out of debt. I have also wondered who we owe all this money to, the trillions in our national debt. IF we are in this bad a shape, why don’t we default, and start all over. Someone said we borrowed from China, but I could not confirm that. So what, tell ‘em to come and collect! If we are going to nationalize the banks (which I do not like) it seems like we are headed toward socialism which really scares me.

I will take one state and the stimulus package. No I won’t. It would not load. So I will tell you NC has submitted approx 2 trillion dollars in projects. Every state except WV has done the same. They know every project will not be accepted so they shotgun it by sending in everything to confuse the folks who are trying to decide where the money goes. The state can tell their citizens they submitted each project that is asked about, and in true (political) conscience can say, “We tried.”

I remember a statement made by a wise man. He said, “If you plan to rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on Paul’s support.”

We had a lot of greedy people in America who caused this financial crisis. We had banks who loaned more than they should have. We had companies allowed to borrow more than they could pay back. We have had money grabbing CEO’s who took millions for doing basically nothing, and allowed their employees to suffer because they did not protect the retirement eggs.

We had greedy Union leaders that pushed some companies into default by their demands. They weren’t ready to tighten their belts when times required it. I remember once when son #1 was having trouble paying his rent. I mentioned he could buy five pounds of beans for the price of one lunch at McDonalds. He ate beans for two months. Cowboys used to do that. When times call for it, you tighten your belt, suck it in and ride the storm. That is what the little guy does, or used to. If the leaders would do that we could easily make it through the bad times. They could go back to their six and seven digit salaries and we could eat hamburger and a steak occasionally.

BUT EVERYONE MUST DO IT, to make it work.I did not mean to get this long. Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:
Before you spend, look in the wallet.
Before you use the credit card, know what you have already put on it.
Don’t spend the tax refund until it is in your hand.

People cause more trouble than anybody

Me 'n Sonny is buddies. He is actually doing some better now. I am glad to report.

Sonny washing dishes at the Grand Canyon camp site. Sherry and sister Colette in the foreground.

Sonny and me at Pike's Peak.

Sonny and me at the Cowboy hall of fame.

Sonny and me in front of Grumans Chinese Theatre with our prints in Triggers. (?) somewhere in Hollywood any, we weren't discovered..

Me & Sonny in Hannibal, Missouri home of Mark Twain!

Sonny and me in Willimsburg, Va. Locked up in stocks.

Today ramblings:

We said goodbye for the last time to Louise. Shirl and Jack (jr) sang well. Grandson Joshua played the piano and does remarkably well, I wish my hearing was so I could enjoy the finer points. But it is a thrill to know that he does so well. (It is spring break for him, now it is downhill for Graduation. The the Real up hill climb starts.)

Louise has been pretty nuch a life long friend of Sherry’s, I did not know her until the last few years. I knew Sam, he is the one I joined the USMC with. Sam was there and his brother Ray. (I met Ray in the last few years also.) It was a rainy, dreary day. Joe Lawing, Louise’s pastor and a great guy, done a great job. He was great at the grave site. Joe is the most laid back minister I know. He talked to the family just like they were meeting an office or luncheon. Joe sets everyone at ease. So other than the weather (which Louise did not mind at all) everything went well..

Concerning yesterday’s entry. If you have raised children and they did not give you a minute’s trouble, you should be thankful. You probably have done a lot of things right. On the other hand, there have been kids raised ‘right’ who became the worst offenders. And others who had no chance, a terrible home life, and turned out good. I don’t know how we learned about NARANON but we started attending the meetings. We did need support, and it helped. It is a strange thing how educators can put a profile together that fits 98% of drug/alcohol users. We could go down the list and see our boys clear, except for the one point that said: the child would steal from the parents. That was one thing our boys never did.

The reason I brought it up was we met folks from every station of life who had major problems. There was a Police Chief, A car Dealer’s wife, an attorney and everyday folks like us. We all were the same and in agreement, ‘My kid was so well behaved and good in school (or business), I never dreamed he would be like this.’ Looking back over our country’s history, drugs and alcohol have had a lasting effect on our nation. We are housing more criminals because of those two things than anything else. Thanks for reading these rantings…

Nite Shipslog

PS:
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.
- George Burns

Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.
- Victor Borge

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
- Mark Twain

By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.
- Socrates