So There it is…

 A picture from the Past.

 Grandson Ben less than a year old.

For Today:

We, (actually me) are faced with a tough decision about our lives.  This new to us coach needs some work.  I cannot find a ‘reliable’ local repairman that will or even can do the work. 

The problem involves a combination of electronic, electrical and hydraulics. It will be expensive, most of the problem I knew about when we bought it. I figured finding the repairman would be simple.  BUT…IT IS NOT THAT EASY, JACK

I was rejected by 6 repairmen that were recommended; one held the coach weeks before giving a diagnosis but acted like he would rather not do the job.

Now Sherry is leaving the decision up to me. So, Do I look for a place to trade it in or sell it outright.  I AM RELUCTANT to sell it because when I told a prospective buyer the problems, I am sure they would walk off,

The Ideal thing is get it fixed.  Presently that prospect is to drive to Iowa about 914 miles / 1 471 km (one way). I think that is the route I am leaning.  It is a long way, but that is the location of the company that manufactured these jacks and hydraulics.

 

I don’t mind the time or distance, but with other irons in the fire it is sorta tough to make an appointment and handle other commitments. We have a few weeks to decide, I must wait on the results of my pappygram Appointment next month.…

We do thank the Lord that a part of our frustrations is slowing down; thanks to our prayers and the concern and prayers of others.

I know I sound like a complainer, but then I think of this old barn in the middle of a tobacco field:

I try to remember how blessed we are. Sherry's mother spent her early years (1 to 8 yrs) with her mother and several siblings here.  They lived in this one room Tobacco Barn on a tobacco farm and worked in the fields in eastern North Carolina.

NiteShipslog

PS:  Oh yes, ‘Thanks’ AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

Did you ever search for vitamins?

  A picture from the Past.

 This our youngest Grandson. Now doing well working for the big Charlotte Airport.  He owns his own home now and has a very pretty lady friend.

I first heard the term 'Tow-head' in the early 1960s when someone said that about our sons.

For Today:

I am sure I have mentioned this before about variety. The first time I faced variety was in the Panty Hose display in a lady’s section. I had no idea what I had agreed to when I told Sherry, “Yes I will pickup a pair of panty hose, what size?”

“Look for a ‘B’,“ She said.

Well lemme tell you it ain’t that simple! There are 100 colors, toes, no toes, heels no heels, then the seam and no seam.  Shoot, I left it up to her…

Now I have another problem.  I SEE many other confused shoppers in the same asile trying to find the right vitamin or supplement . Thet are doing the ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ shuffle, and it is TOUGH! This is just supplements of roots:

 Turmeric,  KavaKava, Ginger,  Maca, Valerian,  Echinace, Goldenseal,  Ashwagandha  Beet, and  Licorice -and many more of ‘em roots. --Besides, I thought Beet was a root!

We only must search for Ginger Root. What is the difference in Fish oil and Cod Liver Oil? AND who decided there were so many vitamin B’s; we only need B-12.  What do all the other B’s do?

Well today I struck up a conversation with a lady there in the aisle. You here for the Easter Egg Hunt?  She looked at me like I was crazy, then it hit her that I was.  She cracked up. “YES I am!  I just got off the phone with my mother asking where she remembers the Cranberry Extract was located?”

I hope you had a good day, took your vitamins, supplements and had your coffee!!!

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Once again ‘Thanks’ AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

Ever have "THAT REAL SURPRISE?"

 

 

 A picture from the Past.

 Sorry I keep getting this message and Blogger, Google, or the devil won't let me post pictures. I am signed in and allow 3rd party cookies

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For Today:

I have no idea what you think of people’s hair. I personally lived thru many ‘men’s fads’ of hair. The Military one, the Flat top and the duck’s tail, as the duck’s tail faded out it was combined with the flat top.  After retiring from the military I even let my hair go into the long hair style  for a short time.  The one thing I remember in the USN concerning hair was the hair of my friend Ron. He was a militant black guy. Once the USN allowed it, he grew an Afro.  We could talk race and people without anger or raising the hair on your neck, just talk. Once he looked at me and said, “Jack,  like all white guys, you think my hair feels like steel wool, don’t you?”

“Yeah, to be honest I have thought that!”

Pointing to his afro, “Here, feel my hair, it is soft as cotton, not that I am gonna pick any cotton mind you.”

 

Of course, in an office environment, I felt sorta weird and he could tell I was reluctant. “Go ahead, dude, you need an education!”,

Yep, I became educated that day,

Ron’s hair was soft as cotton and felt fragile, were my first feelings.

That was in GITMO Bay, I never saw Ron again, I hope he had a great life. We all can tell mixed race individuals at times.  Then I met Wayne Hodge.  He worked for me and did an outstanding job. It took a month or two but I finally got Wayne his own desk, until then he had been sharing with another sailor.

Once he got his desk set up, I passed and noticed he had pictures of a couple on his desk.  Later I asked him, “Hey Ron who’s in the pictures on your desk?”

He looked at me laughing, “You didn’t know I was Black, did you?”  He knew he was right!  We had a good laugh. Over the next two years he became a part of our family. Our sons still think the world of Wayne Hodge.

We have not been able to locate him, I would sure like to.

 

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thanks AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

 

Friends

 A picture from the Past.

A short time friend and Shipmate, Frank Malanowski  1967-1969

I took this picture at the Acropolis in Athens

What a change, I received a call 55 years later, "this is Ski. Can I come over?  I just live a mile away here in Deltona!

 He was then a ProtoDeacon in the Orthodox Church.  You never know what a drinking buddy and friend will become......  Ski has since passed away, but man was it fun reminiscing about our time in Naval Intel.

 

For Today:

Since Dad was a pastor, I was never in one school more than 3 years. So I really had no early childhood friends. At 9-10 yrs old I met my friend Vondale.  At 15 I met Buddy (Richard)  we have sorta stayed in contact. All three of us took different paths.  Vondale was born to be a businessman and was successful in a couple of businesses.

Above is Buddy with the beautiful Di.  Not sure who the guy on the right is, but I think he has been waiting a long time for a dance with Di!

Buddy, joined the USAF. Later spent a stint with the Texas Highway Patrol, but like me, he heard the call of the military, so he went back in and retired.

There is Dallas. I have mentioned him several times, on the Blog. We met in the Corps.  We were 17/18 yrs old and have stayed in contact.  I do regret that I have not lived near these GREAT guys in our adult lives.

That closeness I still feel and know if I needed anything all I would have to do is ask; I hope they know I feel the same for them.

My adult friend was a BIL.  Sonny and I were so much alike but different, he lived and died within a mile of his raising.  He Democrat, me GOP.  He was pro Union, I was not. BUT we could sure work together.

With our wives we took a trip across the USA together, then back to the Bad Lands area later.  We drove to Nova Scotia. We were close. He died and left me.

(Sonny and I having a Saspirilla(?)  in the Long Branch in Dodge City, did not see Miss Kitty)

He was married to Colette  (Sherry’s sister).  After Colette passed Sonny and I were in a car together. I tell everyone this: I know how it feels to lose loving Parents, Brothers and sisters. But I cannot imagine the feelings in losing a mate. (I still remember the exact spot on the street and traffic light where he said this.)  “You probably think I am the worst Christian in the world. I know ministers and many tell me Colette is better off. No pain, no tears and all that; BUT I DON’T CARE, I WANT HER BACK WITH ME!”

Collette and Sonny,  she had to protect her eyes, she suffered from dry eyes.

We were grown men crying. I assured him ‘I may not understand how you feel, but I am sure I would feel the same.’

I think I have written this before, but RECENTLY STEVE, Sonny’s SON, lost HANK, his best friend. They had known each other since childhood.  He called me to say, “Now I understand how you felt every time you told me that you thought of Daddy EVERY DAY and missed him.  Yes, NOW I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND!!”

I have not had a lot of friends, but I have some good ones, how about you, are you fortunate?

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thanks AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

On the road THIS is a post from long ago.. NOT TODAY time

  A picture from the Past.

 This old grandpa dancing in the rain with GGrandaughter Stella,

She is now a star athlete in Middle school.

StellA is now a teenager and still lives at this spot.  However we now have an agreement for us to park again in this driveway. this this thing is doing tricks again.  Anyway I love this picture.

 (I just ran across this, and more of our grands and Greats.  More coming.)k again in this driveway

For Today:

Here we sit, Just a mile away from Florida.  Country Oaks RV park.  We decided not to unhook the tow vehicle, but go for a walk up the road to find a sweet roll for breakfast in the morning.

We did and met a sweet young girl working in a quick stop.  No other customers at the time so we just enjoyed chatting back and forth. Sherry choose a Blueberry muffin and I got a HoneyBun.

The lady at the counter at the RV park was also a breath of fresh air.  It is nice to meet good working folks.  We worked all out lives, and in many ways, you really do miss the camaraderie of fellow workers and peers.

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just for fun,,,,
 Grandson  Matthew Dillon,  Now a very successful  administrator in one of those tall buildings.  Also has a pretty wife and the father of two boys.

(Matt riding rear guard with Josh (His cousin) driving the carnival ride.)

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When we started this roving life many years ago, a night cost $6 to $8. WE paid $50.01 for tonight (with a discount!). BUT those first sites did not have water, electricity and sewer. LOL

We started traveling full time and spent most of our time driving 300 to 400 miles then stopping at a  small town for a week and traveling around the area and talking to folks.  You find more GOOD solid honest folk than the bad guys on the news nightly.

Take care and like the ‘Happy One’ who comments here, be thankful for the honest person who finds your purse that you left at the self checkout and preserved it for you.

As always thanks for reading this mixture or stuff.

 

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thanks AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

Getting ready ain't no fun.....

Picture from the past: 

Our Granddaughter Sherece, I knew she would be a great Beautician, She is now Sherry's Hair go TO!!!!  

Sherry & I have been getting ready to hit the road on Tuesday.  Really we are always anxious to get moving but when we lived in the coach there was nothing to do but secure everything loose, disconnect the electrical, water and sewer and drive off.

Now we must transfer some clothes, empty a refrigerator, unload some shelves of food and take it all to the coach.  Try to remember all the electronics stuff required today along with my hearing equipment and what meds we want to take along this time. 

Then I must clean up my playhouse and cut the grass.

Anyway, it is a hassle, but worth every minute of it.

Thanks for stopping by, Life goes on, I am trying to remember...

Nite Shipslog

PS:Thanks for all the comments and good thoughts......

We will over night somewhere near the coast in Georgia Probly.

Doing better

  A picture from the Past:

This is the twins, Josh and Stephen wearing my boots and shoes. LOL Both now are, grown, successful and have families.

 For Today:

I am feeling much better today.  Just to try to keep folks up to date, we will leave NC after Sherry’s Monday Dr. Appt.  The appointment is in Charlotte and I am not a fan of driving in the city.

So, we hope to be on the road Tues, headed back to Florida for a few weeks.  I now have a schedule for my mammogram (Pappy gram) in April, so we will drive back up for that.  Depending on the results, I would hope we can make it to Moscow Iowa for work on the coach.  Unless we sell it while in Florida, LOL.

I did not include a picture of Pluto and another painting on my stairway museum. LOL.  This is the opposite wall of the concrete blocks.  So here they are.

 

The scenes are unfinished landscape types I have started.  I have two more spots to fill in and hope to do some desert stuff and those great formations.

Thanks for all the nice comments, prayers, and thoughts. We hope to be back to a new normal soon.

BTW I had a tough time with this entry also.  Gotta learn more...

 By the way this is a better picture of my stairwell finish job.

 

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thank you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

I have been……..

  A picture from the WALL.

For Today:

Yes, I have been gone in more ways than one. LOL I started a blog entry entitled ‘I just don’t fit in’, after reading it I sounded like a pitiful complainer.

HOWEVER: I am over whelmed, but Blessed at the concern about our health and conditions.  So far nothing serious has shown up from tests and appointments.  We both have one more Dr. visit.......

BUT honestly I do feel much better. I have been sickly, sorta ‘washed out.’ I am getting my sense of balance back. This place we have in NC (where we are for another few days) is just too much for me to take care of.  But I am pretty weird also, I will work to keep my mind busy.  If I sit around I think too much. LOL.

What I have been doing at the young age of 85:

….I moved 100 lbs of decorative rocks from a cute drainage ditch I set up many years ago. 

… cleared about 100 feet of ditch so eventually I can mow crass there instead of weed eat.I hauled 20+ wheelbarrow loads of dirt.

….Built a 12’ auto gate for the fence separating our duplex.

….Moved a bird bath into the edge of the woods and buried the base 6” in the ground. I have worried about some of the great grands pulling it over.

….I finished the walls in our basement stair well. ...... That one I am the most proud of....... I have put it off for 25 years. Sherry has always said that is the only thing negative about this house we built. The ceiling is 18’ high, I was careful and finished the dry wall and painted it. It looks great but this is a terrible picture:

The lower wall of course is concrete block. It would have been hard to paint. SOOOOO I painted some individual blocks different colors to  brighten it up’. I used white, blue and green.

Then I got the idea of painting a dog face or two. I got carried away and painted some cartoon characters:

 I had a tough time getting  this blog on.  Since I haven't posted in awhile. I couldn't get pictures on here for a long time, jumping thru hoops.  something about 3rd party cookies (not oatmeal ones either!!)

Best to all who stuck around to read..

NiteShipslog

PS:  

  PS:  Thank all of you that have been inquiring about us.  I think we are climbing out of the funk. Life isn’t what I thought it would be if I lived to approach 90.  I am reminded of a quote from Minnie Pearl: If you want to make God smile, TELL HIM YOUR PLANS!....