More Water

 Today’s one of a kind:

 The GT40 by Ford '64-'69

Said to be the best Ford ever built

Some thoughts for today:

This subject of water came up because I learned something about my sweetheart I never knew, but should have realized.

After The USMC I joined the USAF and was sent to Biloxi, Mississippi for duty. I was assigned to the Crash-boat Section and stationed at Point Cadet. We rented an apartment for a few months, we met friends who had Mobile homes and moved them from base to base when they were transferred. After seeing the logic of that we bought a 32’x8’ trailer.

There was a cheap trailer park across a long bridge spanning Biloxi Bay to Ocean Springs, MS. It had a section bridge that turned to let the Shrimp Boats (larger crafts) pass thru. So at times we sat on the bridge as boats passed thru. I thought nothing about it, just a delay.   But it put me less than a mile to my posted duty. Nice for me.

Sherry told me later she had suffer panic attacks in Biloxi. She was also expecting our first child, so I thought maybe it was normal.

We did move to another trailer park on the Biloxi side long before we left Biloxi, and that relieved her some.

But the other day the subject of that Biloxi Bridge came up and she said she was terrified crossing that bridge afraid of the times she had to wait out on the bridge. She said the fear was a throwback to that near drowning incident at Carolina Beach. She suffered from Aquaphobia. It is sad what some of us husbands cannot see!

BUT she did overcome much of that fear. Her close friend Joan Doughton taught her to swim in Key West giving her the self-confidence she needed. She has been able to take cruises, go out on our boat in Key West, even spending the night out once.

My girl is one tough cookie, she suffered a lot. Trying not to worry me.  She still has a fear of flying: Aerophobia. She will fly, but is NOT comfortable.

I honestly think I have developed ‘Enochlophobia’ a fear of crowds.

Do you have any phobias?

NiteShipslog

PS:

Water

Two, One Of a Kind Firetrucks:

 

The above is a 5 wheel Fire truck, Below is one converted to an RV

For today:

Water, the elixir of life.  Without it NOTHING LIVES!

I have loved water since the first creek I played in when I was 4 and 5. The next 2-3 years there wasn’t much water magic except my first sight of the Atlantic Ocean in the second grade. WOW I was hooked. So much water and beautiful waves, and their power. 

Then came 3^rd-6^th grades, Albemarle, NC with several creeks plus a public swimming pool which I was not allowed to enjoy (church rules) but I knew God would forgive, so three summers I sneaked off and enjoyed.

I met my friend (VonDale) there. He knew all the swimming holes on his side of town, plus a rock quarry. Most the swimming in creeks was skinny dipping, no girls allowed. Some time we wore our skivvies as bathing suits. One ‘neat’ thing about the public pool, if a kid did not have trunks, they had many you could have free that had been left behind.

Most creek swimming holes had rope swings hung from overhanging trees we could swing out and drop in the water.

In our first year of marriage we lived at Camp Lejeune, NC. Close to the Atlantic beaches. We loved to walk the sandy beaches and find shells. I have told this before, once we experienced a ‘RIP TIDE’, it happened before we knew it. I started trying to walk back to the beach but it was one step back and 3 steps out. When I realized I could not get us back I told Sherry (A devout Christian, me? Not so much) “You had better pray, I can’t get us back!” She could not swim. I tried going to the bottom and holding her up, then pushing her toward the beach and coming up for air. NADA

She finally said, “I give up,” and relaxed. She had very long hair, face down it spread around her head. Scared the fright right out of me… I was trying to tread water and hold her up. Seeing that sight I grabbed her and lifted her head out of the water and yelled, “You WILL NOT DROWN, your mama will think I brought you out here and drowned you!”

I had some knowledge of water rescue it finally kicked in and using the things I KNEW. With her relaxed I held her with one arm and swam with the other, eventually we got back to shore.

WE have never forgotten those moments. God was good to us.

Next more water….

 

NiteShipslog

Walking for my health & blogging

 Today’s one of a kind:

 Yes it is real,  a stretch VW  Fifth Wheel! (STREEETCH)

Some thoughts for today:

Yes, I am sorta out of place here; an old man wearing my back pack. I was asked by a gentleman out walking his dog, “Are you walking for your health?”

“Yes Sir, I certainly am.” I replied.

“Is it lowering your blood pressure or does it just strengthen your legs?

“I hope so, but mainly it is so I won’t die early!”

“Meaning?” he asked puzzled.

“Well sir, she said ‘if you don’t get out of the house for a while ........  you might not live much longer!’ I sorta believe her!”

“YEAH THANKS, I do understand that!” He said laughing!

(Honey, sweetheart, that was a sorta joke, relax and put the knife down!)

I do get some funny looks, I’m sure some think I am homeless.

Do you ever wonder about yourself?  What you are about?

I was in line at the Chief’s club once for a drink. I thought I recognized the guy in front of me. I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned, I did not know him.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I thought you were someone else!”

With no facial expression at all he said, “I might be!”

These two pictures from our hike thru the Smoky Mountain's, the 100 miles took us 10 days.

Okay, my attempt at levity. BUT for sure I am hoping to get my back in shape for my back pack. I have built up the weight to about 25 pounds. I hope in the next few days to have it at 30 pounds.  Younger I carried 40-45 lbs She carried 35Lbs.

(A lake in Maine!)

It looks like we will be here in Florida until January.  So I won’t start the trail until Jan 20^th or so.  I am really looking forward to it.

Question: How many of you who blog,  do your blogging on the cell phone?

Any suggestion?  I hope to keep on blogging some as I hike, anything special I need to know?

NiteShipslog

PS:

Spending/Debt, Me and the USA

 One of a kind:

 The Doughnut truck by Tim Horton!

 For today:

The generation of working people before me, knew you could not spend more than you earned. The Great Depression came about because someone above the working class, did not know how to manage money.

My LADY and I were taught that, by example as we grew up.

Over the past 70 years people began to WANT things NOW, so they borrowed to get them.  At first it was what they considered essential. It has climbed now to a point Big girl and boy toys up to $50,000 are bought on the credit. After buying our first big RV, the salesman said, “You are in the top 2% of folks that drive these RVs. 98% never own them.

We know a couple who for the past 20 years have ran up debt so high, they declared Bankruptcy. They learned after the first time, they could do that about every 7 years, so they have did that. (Bankruptcy hurts those you owe! Some bankruptcies may be necessary, but PLANNED ones are the same as robbery!)

Now look around you and think. All USA Administrations over the past 60 years have NOT stopped spending more than they could pay.

The Clinton administration worked together with congress and was the LAST to have a balanced budget. Since then EVERY Administration, Democrat and Republican have continued to come up with ‘GOOD programs’’ but could not pay for them, so they borrowed.

A balanced budget is very good, but remember, under today’s terms that means you’re paying the interest on our National debt, not paying it off.

 

“If you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jim Rohn

NOTE: I do not expect a default for many years yet, but if something isn’t done, it will happen, eventually.

Lines or food....

(The above are from USA depression era, they are not actors but real people, just like us!)

What happens if the Gov’t defaults? My guess... It will take a couple years DEPRESSION to get back on track. What happens in that period? SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Govt Salaries, Police, FBI etc would either STOP or be cut in half.  EXISTING GANGS would become brazen and try to control cities and towns for food and money, etc.

I cannot find the information as to what processes would be required. Or how it would be handled. I remember daddy saying a friend who lived in Germany (1940s) said it got so bad that it would take a wheelbarrow full of money to buy your groceries, the money became worth-less.

NiteShipslog

PS:  I think wheelbarrow was used to mean ridiculous amounts.

 

HIS Creation

 One of a kind…

Donald Duck's car a real creation and of course: One of a kind!

Now for Today:

There are many opinions on creation or the beginning of time and the human race. Personally I lean to the scriptures point of view, God did it and I hold one caveat ;-) …. Later in the scriptures it is stated that God has no time limits, a day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day…..

So I am not discussing how long the creation took, I personally don’t care, I do believe HE did it and did a fantastic job…

You have seen amazing things in your life. You actually don’t have to go far to see wonderful, fantastic, marvelous and beautiful things in our world.

Just give it a thought, Steering clear of the fantastic human body’s ability to exist, is there something that just baffles your mind in nature?

For me?  I was raised on the East Coast. We made many trips to the Appalachian Range. I thought those sights were tops, until I traveled West and saw the Snowcapped Rocky Mountains, I was blown away.

Canyon walls cut by a river

Below is a view from one of our flights over the  Western mountains.

There are the amazing beautiful clear springs throughout our country that START rivers, producing millions of gallons a day.

Then the Caribbean and Mediterranean so clear you can see 150 feet down.

Giant Glaciers of the North/South.

There is no end! YOUR interests decide opinions. But still The Rocky Mts blew me away….

What part of this wonderful World Yanks you Chain?

 

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Complaints in Life

 Today’s one of a kind:

 Custom log motor home.....

Some thoughts for today:

I remember a religious joke from my youth that comes to mind today:

A lady who did not need to buy a dress, just had to try a pretty one on at the Clothing Store. Looking in the mirror she liked it, and she heard the ‘devil’ say, “It is beautiful, you should…”

She interrupted the devil and said, “Get thee behind me satan!”  So he did!

Then satan whispered, “It looks great from the back also!”

Headlines on my news feed today featured a ‘bad’ report of nurses who made a video about things they did not like about patients. I read the comments of many folks about sending these nurses to hell for being nasty.  I thought and I commented, ”These may be very good nurses who just needed to vent.  They chose the wrong media to do it. In my opinion EVERYONE at times has been irritated by some over bearing person, but stayed professional and treated them well, but later unloaded to a friend."

"Cops, salesmen, preachers, priests, doctors, secretaries, workers, bosses, contractors etc, most do it. To hold it in hurts. I have two DILs who are nurses. They have been brought to tears by demanding patients but still treated them well." 

People, like those nurses, if they have good records, should be warned about their choice of outlet and let them continue a profession they love.

Today with ALL the social media, it is too easy to be caught being yourself, AT THE WRONG TIME!!!…

You probably know of the person who feels good, until someone tells them they look sick, and they start feeling bad.

NOW, I do not know for sure, but methinks most folk (USA) accepted the football team ‘Red Skins’ for what it was, the name of a team. UNTIL someone said it was demeaning. NOW PLEASE, this is an opinion, MINE ALONE! To be honest most of my life they were called the ‘SKINS’ and it was NEVER mean, but meant to be a thing of pride related to the Native American.

I am smiling now, because this DOES affect my family and friends. Our local HS football team is the “RED RAIDERS.” My wife, her friends, our Grands' are UPSET! A group now  claim they cannot abide the name and attend a school that demeans the Native American.

Some are % Cherokee. The athletes were proud to be compared to the agility, speed, and abilities of the Native Americans. Whites are proud of their skin, Blacks are proud of their skin.

I remember singing: Red and Yellow, Black and white we are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the children of the world…..

NiteShipslog

Broken bones?

 Today’s one of a kind:

Ingenious use of an old 2 ton Chevy truck... Nice RV!

Note: Susan K: I have been clicking the FB thingee when I left a comment on the 'contemplativecat'  thinking I was sending it to your FB, I was sending it to my FB.  ;-O

I do enjoy the blog.... I will keep trying to at least comment as an anonymous.....

NOW Some thoughts for today:

Growing up some of my school mates and friends experienced broken bones. Most were not extreme breaks but did require a cast.  I remember sorta admiring them as most would decorate them, many got signatures on them, etc.

I have experienced only a broken bone. An ignorant male thing. Once fishing with the family in Key West on our boat, I hung the anchor. Jack Jr, at the time was in HS. He was pulling the anchor. He wrapped the line around his hand and I yelled, “NO! You could break your hand, I’ll do it, you come back inside and take the helm!”

I pulled and pulled and did no good. I wrapped the line around my hand and told JJ to give it all full throttle. He said, “Dad you said that could break your hand!”

“Hit it,” I said.  He did, I thought I had broken my hand but it was only one finger.  YEAH, Stupid I know, I still ain’t lived it down…

BUT the doctor said, “If you promise not to use it and keep it stationary, I won’t cast it.” At the time I was teaching so not too much physical activity was necessary. I did take care and don’t even remember which finger it was.  I never had a cast. ;-(

Up until a few years ago Sherry had survived breaking anything. But at the last house we were working on, a short set of steps were left unattached, awaiting final bolting. They should have been flagged, but they weren’t. They actually looked safe.  Sherry stepped on them and they went down, she did break an arm.

Jack Jr. suffered a cracked shoulder blade and broken collar bone when Mark's bike came down on Jack's bike, on a Moto Cross track. They don't cast his breaks.

 Mark broke an ankle in football.  He was proud of his cast.

How about you?  Any broken bones?

NiteShipslog

PS:

What is a Dream worth (Part 2)

  ONE of A KIND…

A Chinese Diesel Truck!!

So for today:

Dreams?  We all have them. What are they worth? Some are FREE others cost $2.

To me, if they are outlandish, they are fun, but I never forget this is just for fun, enjoy the entertainment, but hold on to reality.

Sherry & I started back-packing the Appalachian Trail; we hiked thru states that had a lottery. At that time I bought a lottery ticket. My girl would NEVER do that, she refuses to gamble!!! (Even though she took a chance on me a 17 yr old HS dropout.)  ;-0 

Contrary wise, a lady that knew Sherry, once said to me, “Jack when you got Sherry, you won the lottery!”  I couldn’t have agreed MORE!

So as we hiked at times we were in our own worlds: Seeing God’s beauty, thinking and dreaming. I thought about what my dad once said about Clothing stores that gave out tickets for a drawing, for items. “It may not be us, but someone will win!”

So although my chances of winning were 20,000,000 to one, I knew someone would win, and THEY did. But before the drawing, although we NEEDED nothing, I hiked thinking what we could do with a million dollars. LOL.

So in today’s world with all the lotteries, at times on a whim I buy a ticket. I like to hypothesize and dream, ‘if I win!’ I think of all the things I could do. If our church would accept it, I would pay off their debts. I would give 25% or more to charities, then divide the remaining among the family.  Of course I tell myself I would have an attorney present to warn them of the mental attitude that DOES HAPPEN, it can easily become ‘easy come easy go.’ That is a proven fact.

So YES for me, $2 for a ticket, even $4 is a good price of a dream. Actually it is cheap.

Some people’s dream is a $20,000 boat to use once a month.  Some would buy a $500,000 home, on which they could not pay the taxes.  Some contractors I knew spent their earnings on offices, cars, trucks and big tool trailers.

The most successful contractor I knew drove a 20 year old truck and told me, “It does the same job as my friend’s $70,000 truck.”

I think dreams are great,  I would hope I am realistic, but enjoy the dream.

MONEYWISE, you must remember the dream alone, 

 ..... is worth its WEIGHT in GOLD!  ;-)

(Think of that last statement, It might be original! I have never read or heard it before!)

Nite Shipslog

PS: Remember a dream weighs NOTHING!