Soon to be 241st USA Birthday!

Little known facts:

1.   Penguins can jump as high as six feet in the air.

2.   All polar bears are left-handed.

3.     An eagle can kill a young deer and fly carrying it.

Son Mark just came in from Florida.  He stops by our house in Deltona to check on it as he passes.  This time he had BAD news. When he turned on the water, one of the water lines popped off at Sherry’s dressing table. And flooded the master bedroom. He dried out the room and left the water off before coming on in last night.

What hurts the most is that I AM THE PLUMBER, and IT  is my fault, that should not have happened.  I am controlling the impulse to run back down and repair the problem.  But I know it is okay for now, the water is off and no one is planning to use it over the fourth.  (I have a neat idea, about a quick trip back down to Florida and back I will drop on the folks here after the 4^th cookout we have planned.)

Speaking of the Fourth. Isn’t this a great country? We of the USA have had our problems since 1776 but we have held onto our freedoms.  Some may say we are no longer free, but I don’t think that is said by anyone who has traveled in areas where travel is restricted. We still have freedom of speech, Religion, press and travel. 

Not all counties have clothing, grocery and general merchandise stores stocked with anything they need. Relatively speaking our fuel for vehicles is reasonable.

And to the delight of most of the USA we have all kinds of fast food you can imagine.  We have some of the most exclusive eateries to those who can and want to spend the money for those delicacies. We can travel at all hours of the day and night without restrictions.

This is a wonderful country. I am proud of the constitution, the government and our flag. I love the USA.
Happy Birthday coming up, to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
            Nite Shipslog

Visitors from UTAH, Ben and Elsie Mae

They are here!

Little KNOWN FACTS:

1.    According to tests made at the Institute for the Study of Animal Problems in Washington, D.C., dogs and cats, like people, are either right-handed or left-handed—that is, they favor either their right or left paws.

2.    Crocodiles and alligators are surprisingly fast on land. Although they are rapid, they are not agile, so if you ever find yourself chased by one, run in a zigzag line. You'll lose him or her every time.

3.    Horses can't throw up! (But they can throw you off!)

They are here!

It has been about 18 months since we saw our grandson Ben and his daughter Elsie Mae. They just flew in from the airport at Salt Lake City

 (Elsie Mae 18 months ago when she flew out for the family cruise)

Ben was the first grandson born into our family. His older brother Corey, a super kid also, was brought into our family by marriage. He lives in Oregon now, it has been a few years since seeing him.  It is hard to accept that those grand boys (now good men) are 35 & 40.

Both are in construction and build bigger houses with steeper and more varied roof lines than their grandpa ever did. I am proud of them.

 When I ran a roach coach (lunch wagon) Corey would ride with me. Once at ‘Holman and Moody’ the home of NASCAR ENGINES for many years, the foreman ordered everyone out to the truck to see Corey. “I want you men to see a REAL BOY!” he called out. The foreman had red hair and Corey also had fire-red hair. They all got a big laugh. You could see Corey’s chest swell!

  (I am so proud of this picture. It was taken at the insistence of Carol, our former daughter in Law. This is the whole clan except Corey on our trip out to see Ben and Elsie in Utah. Ben holding Elsie on the left.)

Ben builds in Utah and has Elsie Mae more often, with a chance to spoil her. He is a real dad  and that makes me proud.

 I never knew Corey as a baby, but I did Ben.  Once I started the building business it was a joy beyond measure to take him with me on the job.

Our other grands: Josh, Stephen, Sherece, Matthew and Luke are on the East Coast, and we see them fairly often. So Ben is special. Every time I get to see Ben I think, ‘this may be the last time I ever see him.’  I know life is dicey as you approach the 80’s.  I do expect to see the 90’s, but logic takes over and reality sets in I realize, I am now fighting the odds.

I plan to enjoy this visit, I already do.

Nite Shipslog

 1967 Corvair, This car drove like a sports car. I enjoyed the Corvair.