Kilroy was here, more siblings

“Kilroy was here”

The line: 'Kilroy was here' was popular when my brothers were building their homes.  Odis was an artist, He would do Betty Grable on lumber to entertain the other's working. He did a lot of the Eyes and nose of Kilroy on scrap lumber.

Big brother Junior & wife Mozelle in front of their business on HIghway 74 in

Shelby, NC

Jr. was destined to make his mark in business and became wealthy. He did this by working year round 7 days a week, with a week off  on the 4^th.  Jr. was in the retail business, he began making concrete yard decorations such as bird baths, ducks and chickens.  He and his wife worked full time in the cotton mill, and he poured the concrete in the evenings and weekends. The business morphed into flowers, pottery and china.  They quit their jobs and built a store for their products.

 Odis and his wife Ruth. She was one sweet lady!

Odis was a craftsman and could do anything with wood.  He left the mill and our Uncle Hisure taught him the ropes of driving a truck.  He drove big rigs and in his spare time would create things of wood. He built a fleet of wooden ships. The smallest ships had 4 feet hulls and were replicas of the Pinta, Nina and Santa Marie.  The largest were nine feet hulls, air craft carriers and battle ships.  His first Battle ship, the USS North Carolina won Mechanics Illustrated Gold Hammer award and was viewed internationally in Mechanics Illustrated.

(Odis and some of his ships. He invited me to be there for a photo shoot for a Bank in Charlotte that displayed his ships at their grand opening.)

Odis lived and died within 300 yards of Jr's business but they were never close. I never understood that.  They were both great guys.  Both my heroes. 

I have known other brothers who did not get along, that always confuses me. I had no sibling that I did not love dearly and would have done anything for. I know a couple families with wonderful parents and kids that loved and played together but are pulled apart.  

For one of my books I asked friends for quote's to use. One I have never forgotten:

"When there is a disagreement, the one who loves the most will apologize first."

I will NEVER understand my brothers. There was NEVER anything open, no arguments when the family met, they talked, joked and laughed, but I knew they did not 'like' each other, and it hurt.  Little brothers can sense some things.  LOL

I am glad to read in the comments that some of you also never used the term siblings, I know folks who use it and it does sound ‘okay’, but when I try to use the word, it seems cold. I do not know why.

Nite Shipslog
<<<<<>>>>>>

One of our Metropolitans this one was a Nash.

Siblings

I cannot remember the first time I heard that word sibling used in a normal conversation, but I am sure I was full 'growed'. . Mama always referred  to her children as brothers and sisters.  I doubt if my mama ever used the word.

 Mama and dad lost a daughter and son. Oveline, older than I and the son died before being named, after me. So I was the baby of the family and Shirl was next up the line. Kat, Jr. and Odis were older.  Shirl and I were more like the 'second family'.  We all got along well except the older brothers.  I loved them both, but they were completely different. After WWII Odis bought some lots at $25 each to build on. They were on a dirt road (two ruts). The rest of the family and some of their in-laws bought also. As a child I was privileged to see my brothers, brother in law and their wives, work together to build their homes, no electricity mind you.  They all worked together cutting trees and hauling the logs to the sawmill and used that lumber, most uncured, to build their homes.

Until he died, Dick (Kat's husband), would remind me of those times, " We would meet every evening coming from work,  standing around the fire of tree scraps and would talk and plan.  In a few minutes you could count on Jr saying, Okay boys lets do something, even if it is wrong."

As a kid I was having a ball. There were several kids and we roamed the woods and played. Many nights we slept at the building sites and ate food cooked over the coals of the days fire. I can't remember where I stayed. It must have been with Kat and Dick, they liked me. (LOL) the rest tolerated me I think.

That part of my childhood in the mid 1940's I can never forget. These men who had never built a house, had decided to have a home in the country and quit renting. I smiled when Dick said he and Kat had to finance their land, they had bought 4 lots, total cost, $100.00

Nite Shipslog

<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

These cars were new when my older SIBLINGS were building their homes.

 Buick

 Ford

 Dodge

Studebaker

Finished.....................I thought! LOL

Today I took some pictures of our finished house. When I mentioned 'Well it is finally finished,' My girl looked at me and said, "It will be, once we get the wall accouterments .... (things) hung and some rugs." Girls know too much stuff!  LOL

We have a very small bedroom with three windows.  We both figured we had better go with a 'full sized' rather than the Queen we prefer. So we bought this for $125.

Refinished, it looks like this: I had to move the mirror to the side to miss the window.

Below is BR #1, now Blue (MIssing a dresser and chest, on the way from NC next week)

The kitchen now has some color and the microwave above the stove

 Looking from the little kitchen to the dining/ Living room combo.  Below is closer in the living room and Sherry is modeling the couch. (sorry about the light but was the best I could do.

Another angle catching our little dining room suite.

Above is Sherry in our little wash room. She has designated Monday Wash day, when in the motor home she washes about every 3 days.

Okay now for the important stuff.

No, it is not my dog house. Although she did come out and ask if I would be here all night. LOL But she was joking (I think) She B too sweet to be mean. (most of the time)

 Inside my play house. I have two saws and a compressor awaiting my attention. LOL

Finally, I did install large gates to give privacy to the motor home.

 The fence doesn't hide the motor home of course, but adds some security, if it is needed.   So far , all is well.

We are VERY pleased with the little house and parking area. 

The little house is only  about twice the size of the motor home.

Now about them danged rugs and wall hanging thangs! LOL  Just joking sweetheart, bring 'em on!

Nite Shipslog

PS: I have worked 3 hours to get the photos uploaded. I have tried  3 servers.. but it is done.

Imma thinking this is a Valiant.

Stuff

I cut my scrap paper into quarters and use them for notes.  I make notes when I have a great idea for a blog entry.  At one time my cursive was good, not calligraphy quality but neat.  NOW?  Shucks, like my daddy said when he got older, "When my writing get's cold, I cannot read it."  That is where I have been for a few years.  Even my girl will ask, "What is this word?" Pointing to a word I have written.  I have to say, "I can't remember, I must have been practicing Korean (or something)."

When I first saw this photo I thought it was a caterpillar.

On the table beside me, is a pile of wadded notes, great ideas. None of which I can make heads nor tails of. So tonight I will wing it.

On hand writing, how is yours?  Mary Ann, a dear friend has  handwriting that would match Thomas Jefferson and the forefathers who wrote the Constitution. I always marvel at her writing, she sure hasn't lost it.

I read somewhere that pretty soon we adults can write in cursive and it will be like code, the grand kids can't read it.

What about signatures, since they are talking about not teaching cursive?  However we signed a contract once online and the computer gave us pretty handwriting. So cursive wasn't needed even as a signature. 

I vow to myself I am going to endeavor to write better, so far all I have done is lie.

Speaking of lies. One short GGranddaughter story:

 This past summer while home the crowd was in the motor home for supper as often happened. I was telling Luke something and Stella wanted my attention. Thinking it was cute I said, "Wait honey, I will be with you just as soon as I finish telling Luke this lie,"

The motor home got quiet, her hand went over her mouth. Then she said, "You're going to be shoveling coal."

I didn't get it. 

Her mama explained. She knows not to tell a lie or you might go to the place with the devil, and he will have you shoveling coal for the fire.

OUCH, from the mouth of babes.

Nite Shipslog

Love those road side stands

What is going to take you out?

I have been taking two medications prescribed by “Doctors”…

a.    Pravastatin (20mg) prescribed by my VA doctor.

b.    A multi vitamin… prescribed by Dr. Sherry.

I decided a few days ago to drop the Pravastatin. It was first prescribed at 80mg.  I had a rash I attributed to the statin so I cut it in half.  Blood work looked good.  So I started having terrible leg cramps, So again Dr. Jack prescribed a cut to 20 mg.  After a year the blood work according to my Dr., “Blood work is beautiful”.  However he said I would continue to have the cramps and muscle deterioration.  So I am tired of muscle problems, I won’t list them but along with muscle weakness, the cramps have been getting worse. So this week after lots of consideration, I have dropped that.

I may go to the Dr. next year and give it a check.  Most folk would say the muscle problems are age associated, I am getting older, and that is for sure.  I cannot raise a simple tool above my head without using two hands, now that is baloney. That is not normal.  Of course that is my humble (or hard headed) educated guess.

NOW….

I know you see the same headlines that I do.

Headlines this week:

BREAKING NEWS: INGREDIENT FOUND IN MAYONNAISEAND ICE CREAM LINKED TO CANCER. (Ingredient? Emulsifiers)

20 FOODS THAT ARE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH, AVOID THEM

EVERYDAY FOODS THAT ARE SLOWLY KILLING YOU

‘HEALTH FOODS’ THAT ARE JUNK FOOD IN DISGUISE

FOODS THAT WILL KILL YOU

HOW ‘HEALTHY FOODS’ ARE KILLING YOU

FOOD KILLS (the slow poisoning of you and your children)

ORGANIC FOOD IS BAD FOR YOU

ORGANIC FOOD. Pricey, not particularly healthy..

This has all been discussed to the extreme and folk I respect say, eat what you want in moderation.  Life is too short to cause yourself pain, and that is why I am trying to avoid the muscle cramps and strains. 

Do I read the articles I listed above, not on a bet.  I clicked on one and it lead to a book some doctor is selling. There was a lead in, but to find out the killer foods, you can go further into the hard sell and buy the book.

Life is good, I am happy.  Will I continue to listen to Dr. Sherry and take the multi-vitamin? YOU BET YOUR LIFE. ;-)

Get ready you guys:

Nite  Shipslog

Amazing Media, and we citizens of the USA

I have been reading a lot of input about the election.  I have been registered as a Democrat, Independent and Republican. Lastly a Republican, but I am not for sure how long this time.  My best friends and brothers in law were/are died in the wool Democrats.  In Sherry's family,   from the Cotton Mills, her daddy was a staunch Republican.  That WAS about unheard of in NC Cotton Mill Towns, Cotton Mill workers were Democrats, but Wiley was different.  Since I was at the time a Democrat, but leaning Republican, Wiley liked me. LOL

There was never any animosity among me, my kin and  friends. We kidded each other every election cycle, but no one got mad or fussed. We just accepted the winner and said, "Wait until next time!"

I once razed an old house, to make room for a parking lot. I found some interesting things. There was an upright Philco Radio, I still have it. The most interesting was Newspapers. I found them in the walls 'intact'. Three complete news papers from the 1940s'. One reads "JAPS SURRENDER".  Can you  Imagine a news paper or TV news referring to the Japanese people as 'Japs?'  Of course not, today we are 'politically correct'. But that was s different time.  (I still have the papers)

(FDR's car was prepared so he could drive with his hands, his legs were destroyed by Polio)
The most interesting thing in those papers were  'Letters to the Editor'. I was an adult male who had lived through WWII. I thought everyone loved FDR.  Even Wiley, my Republican father in law, thought the sun rose and set in FDR. BUT, but I read the letters to the editor, some folk despised FDR, it burst my bubble. LOL

All that said, as a registered Republican, Jeb was my man. I liked him as my Governor, I liked his mama.  When Jeb dropped out, I had no preference, but when it came down to Trump I wasn't a Trump person, but I did hope he would win. I never believed the 'blow hard stuff', I never thought he would build a wall, still don't, but our borders should be secure.  Anyway, I listened to the media on the net as they talked about the wild fighting folks who followed Trump. Crazy folk.  If Trump loses there will be wild protests and riots in the streets.

Now I am smiling, 'FRUSTRATED' that the nice folk on the other side are the ones protesting.

I assume that too will pass. I have said it all along, if Trump is as crazy, wild, stupid.... as he was/is painted he can and will be impeached. 

 Growing up I lived by the rule, "Time-about is fair play."

I read something in an editorial or blog that said, " I wasn't happy 8 years ago with the results, I wasn't happy 4 years ago, but I did not protest, cry or yell.  Now folks, if you were a Hillary supporter, hang in there. I endured 8 years of what I did not like and did not cry about it. Surely you can endure 4 years and then vote him out.  Time about is fair play."

I wanted to say Amen to that.  It is the American way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:
One last thing, how can you protest and riot for days, if you have a job to report to?  Do employers allow days for protests?  Just wondering. 

PS2: No I do not like the system of electoral college, but if we did not have that in place, the cities would elect every president and the rural areas would not have a voice. (that is all on political JUNK)

The beautiful 1930 Caddy.

Our guest house.....

The house is looking good. The work schedule is slowing down and we have time to walk and talk.  This evening we walked in our area. This area had sidewalks on both sides of the street.  Most of the homes here are less than 1000 sqft.  The are mostly block 1-2 bed  room homes with one bath, built in the mid 60's. We have missed our walks.  Sherry's knee is doing great and it is nice to walk and talk. 

Bobby, who did the driveway, was telling me that he worked for the builders of these homes as a draftsman in the 1960's. These homes were built to sell to folks from the northern states for winter and vacation homes. The sales pitch offered a free

 week Florida vacation, in their new hotel the first one in DELTONA. He said  the sellers bused folk to Daytona and let them on the beach for a couple hours. Then the next day to Silver Springs to ride on the glass bottom boats. Then the rest of the time was high pressure sales.

$300 down and $40 a month for 20 years.  The town of Deltona is laid out well. good wide roads and large lots for the smaller homes. Of course larger and more costly homes are here also. We just picked the low end of the spectrum.

WE came back from our walk and sat down in the living room of the house to talk.  We have decided (for now) that we will stay in the coach thru Christmas and into the new year.  We are taking a 'vacation' LOL in January for a couple weeks, maybe four. Then when we come back, move some stuff into the house until mid spring. 

Then another vacation to NC and Pennsylvania (maybe Maryland) before coming home. We like to vacation. ;-) 

We really want to take another trip with our sons.  They are more fun since they (and we) are older. LOL

House update: We bought a Full size BR suit for $125.  It was from the guest room at an Estate Sale at Ormond Beach.  The mattress set looked new, it had been antiqued.  I refinished it. I hope to put pictures on tomorrow.

Nite Shipslog

<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 Mid 60's vehicles.

It is over, now back to regular spam e-mails

I am a very popular guy. Daily for the last xx months I have received 'personal' e-mails from Hillary, Donald and Mr Johnson (?).  If I could just spare $3 or any larger amount, it would send them over the top. THE OTHER SIDE IS GAINING GROUND BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING RESPONSE FROM THEIR BASE. They all said they missed my response last week, but ...................

Now I can get back to my friends from Saudi Arabia & Kenya. The Sheikh, a prince and a widow in an African country who will gladly deposit millions in my account if I will help them get the money out of their country. My bank account number would help greatly, then they could transfer the money to my account.

I am giving it a lot of thought. I could do a lot of good (for me and Sherry) with a couple million.  I really want to do this, but the taxes  worry me.  One of  my 'soon to be benefactors' will show me how to 'avoid' taxes, that might help me decide. 

I wonder does anyone respond to wild e-mails?  I guess a'phishing license' is not required,  phishing is free.

I am glad this is over (the election that is). It was nasty and how in the world both parties were represented by a person who was not 'popular'.  How does that happen?  That is wild.

Anyway, this is a great country, I love the USA and do not plan to move.  I smile when I think of all those folk who said they would move out of the USA if Donald Trump won.  Are they going to wait for the inauguration, or have they started packing already?   I am not going to miss them. Some of them never visit us here in the RV.

Yeah, I know that is all talk.  They have learned well from our professional politicians, you can say it, but you don't have to MEAN it.

I didn't have anything to say tonight, so I have finished saying nothing.

If your candidates did not win, that is too bad (LOL) time about is fair play because I have been disappointed for a few times now.  This time I am half happy, is that legal?

Nite Shipslog

<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

1928 Dodge Business Coupe