Ignorance is not a SIN, but it can sure hurt!

  Car of the day…

Ahhhh that Pontiac Safari, (sorry my heart is in the 50s with cars and girls)

On my mind early today:

After retiring from the military I tried several jobs but settled for carpentry. I learned more and knew I could build a house by myself. I did. For practice and experience, I built a small house. 800sqft. I stumbled thru it, and because I did not know Air Conditioning, I wired for window units, popular at the time.

I sold the house and did well, I averaged $10 and hour for all my labor, not bad when I had been working for $4 and hr. So we had a nest egg.

After finding a nice acre lot with a small branch Sherry and I cleared the lot. We had a good time, she worked so hard once that she walked over and laid down in that little branch.

We owed 18k on our home in Charlotte and put it up for sale.

I started our new home. My ignorance had already hurt me and I did not know it. I told Sherry we did not have the money to complete our home, but when we ran out of money we would then go to the bank and borrow what was needed if the Charlotte house had not sold. We would have plenty of equity to cover what was needed by then. WRONG!

I took our clear deed for the land to the Bank with our plans. All was going well until he asked, “When do you plan to start?”

“Oh I have already started, it is dried in and ready for drywall.”

“WHAT? Sir if the lot is already cleared and work started NO BANK will loan you money!  We have to know you do not have material costs that will come in, or other claims of equipment used to clear, etc!  I am very sorry.”

(This one we built, Sherry helped me roof it. We did it all but this time did have central air installed by a friend)

Usually I could borrow from friends, but no one had the $40,000 I needed to complete. So I decided to sell what we had. From the outside it actually looked finished.

I was offering it at COST, $18,000, not labor. NO buyers.

I was telling my family at a get together our problem. MY BIL said, “Jack I have that much in my retirement fund, you cannot lose that beautiful home.”

I used his money and in about 60 days had it completed.  By that time the house in Charlotte sold; we repaid the loan, Dick would take NO interest.

I thought of that as I read MA’s blog about how important family is.  My Sister and BIL saved our bacon.  LOL Yep it is good to have family.

 

Nite Shipslog

PS: Sooo, family help me get started to be rich. ;-) (NOT)

Concerning Comments and food for thought

Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

 From times past, THAT MUSTANG!

(note: posting early today taking a little day trip to check the mail, etc

For today:

I really do appreciate the comments on this Blog, whether you agree or not. Friend Betty made a comment here and also added an e-address. I try to be open to ideas.  The article by Erick Erickson is long but very informative. The first few paragraphs express my very thoughts, though mine are much less thought out. ;-).

https://ewerickson.substack.com/p/the-truth-about-january-6?utm_source=url

 Most folk will not read the entire article but he goes into a lot of back ground. Some made me think, much I agree  with and other is speculations, but are delivered well, and caused me to think.

Not all who read here will agree with the entire article BUT it is still food for thought. If you are a more liberal you will shout AMEN to his first facts, and start shaking you head at some of the rest, since the writer is obviously a Conservative.

BUT no matter our deep convictions, most who love and respect this country will say that the Jan 6^th ‘Riot protest’ was NOT  A WINNER! I still say it is a black-eye to a wonderful country.

One of my HUGE mental roadblocks is “I do not appreciate ‘in your face’ people, strong handed bosses nor humans with a huge EGO. Especially those who are combative at the drop of a hat and will not discuss a problem.  So I KNOW at times my opinion is ‘slanted’. (but still right! LOL)

Some humans, many I guess, have the feeling when done wrong, I will ‘get even.’  But we actually should not be that way IF the ‘thing thrown’ toward us is JUSTIFIED.

Here I will admit, I have had accusations against me that are NOT true nor fair.  But to push the situation on my part would only cause more heart aches and problems. Mama said, “’tis better to let sleeping dogs lie!” Tru dat!

I always wanted to add, “I hope someone else wakes them and THEY get bit!)

NiteShipslog

PS:

I still have posts, more frustrated ones, BUT today....

 Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

 From a sweeter gentler time, yes I can remember when this was a brand new beauty on the showroom floor:

For today:

Our youngest son came over for a visit today, yeah the youngest is 60. Does that make me feel old? YOU BET!

Sorry about the political rants lately, but my sons have NEVER (that I know of) been political, but lately.... never mind.... 

Sherry just had a cut on her monitor from Gilligan’s Island. It made me think of the very good, just plain nice programs on TV that I enjoyed.

I was an Andy Griffin fan and tried never to miss his programs. I mentioned the Cosby shows, I loved them. I laughed at Archie Bunker and of course I did like the Westerns.  My favorite was Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke.  I had been prepositioned for westerns by Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. I mentioned once in the 3^rd grade I did meet Roy and rode Trigger.  Then near the time of JFK’s assignation I remember getting to meet Poncho, the side kick of the Cisco Kid.  It was in Forest City, NC.

Not that either would have remembered me, but I remember them.

Maybe there are programs on TV today that have moral lessons, I do not know it has been years since I watched TV.  If not I feel sorry for my great Grand kids who will not have ‘moral’ building programs to look back on.

It would be hard for many to understand that TV as an open media did not exist until I was about 3^rd grade.  Yeah I am old, I remember Beulah on the radio. Growing up my most favorite radio program was ‘The Lone Ranger’.  When it would come on the radio I said every word with the announcer: From out of the past comes the thundering  hoof beats of the great horse SILVER,…The Lone Ranger Rides Again………. Then a thrilling 30 minute exciting program from the old west with his faithful companion Tonto, riding Scout..  LOL

Then there was….. more and more.  That all came from a cut from Gilligan…..

Y’all have a good day I will bore you with my frustrations tomorrow…  I have written a book of them…

NiteShipslog

PS:

Legitimate Political Discourse, WHAT?

Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

 

Yep, You can have it both ways......

For today:

Last January 6^th I became physically sick watching ignorant, misguided,  stupid people DESTROYING Government Property at the SEAT of MY GOVERNMENT. WE looked like a 3^rd world country.

I listened later as the ‘riot’ was SPUN to be led by anti-government groups like Antifa(?), NOT patriots nor were they true representatives of the President.  

Now for a year the theory has been pushed that “It was only a legit protest that went wrong because some of bad guys.”

Then I read that if re-elected Mr. Trump will PARDON those ‘bad guys’ convicted by the courts. Can you have it both ways?

I will be the first to say MANY good honest people got carried away and have RUINED their lives in that few hours of venting (confused) frustrations. BUT THEY WERE WRONG!

Do I agree with the verdicts I have heard so far? YES I do. Many who were just inside walking around have received only a hand slap. I know many want to paint this the same as a BLM or similar riot, BUT this was OUR CONGRESSIONAL BUILDING, the SEAT of our Government, founded on a great constitution. If this was legitimate protest, WHY did the Republican Members of Congress also take cover? WHY didn’t they get out there and lead this group? Why wasn't our president himself there?

SO now my party has decided (In fear of their political lives) and agreed to say this was not a RIOT, but a legitimate Political avenue.

I am a conservative, presently a registered Republican. I do not doubt there were some illegal votes cast in this past election, THERE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, BUT, BUT not any more than in previous elections. President Biden won the last election. Judges across the country, some appointed by Trump, even his own ATTY General have said they see no evidence of MAJOR fraud, PLEASE does anyone actually think that ALL these judges are crooks? I am a believer that Mr Trump listened to misguided advisors and his EGO took over. I think that history will show this as a shame on this country.

 

NiteShipslog

PS: I cut this from 1200 words, written the day the Republican Party said this was NOT a Riot. I am still disgusted with them. I agree it was not an armed insurrection, BUT DANG-IT, IT WAS A CRAZY RIOT!

A riot to try and force a change in how USA citizens voted. There is an old true adage, ‘Tell a lie often enough and it will be believed.’ AND yes I think Then president Trump is due blame for the riot and especially for NOT trying to stop it.

The above is my frustrated opinion.  You too have an opinion. I DO NOT delete nor disparage opposing comments.

Automobiles, Old and New

 Today’s automobile:

Proof there is a  'Lemon Law', this is the poster child.

 And now some thoughts for today:

I have always been interested in automobiles, I think most young folk are. I could hardly wait to reach 16 to get my driver’s license. I mentioned before that I flunked my first driver’s test. I was embarrassed, especially since I ‘was so stinking good!’  ;-)

I have always changed the oil in my cars and back when they had to be greased I did that. The changes in autos in many cases are outstanding. I have not greased an auto in years. It was hard to get familiar with the headlight dimmer switch not being on the floor. As a matter of fact 90% of autos had the starter on the floorboard also.

Also the super changes are the engines wear time. Up thru the 1960s you were lucky to get 60,000 miles on an engine before it started using oil and needed an over haul. Shucks we had to remove and replace or clean spark plugs every 4,000 miles. Now plugs last over 100,000 miles. Engines go 300k at times and not need an over haul.

            

That brings up the reason Car salesmen have such a bad name. Used cars were notorious for being sold with so many problems covered up. If a transmission slipped or leaked, MANY crooks added ‘sawdust’ to the unit. Rusted parts were ‘bondo’d’ or leaded to hide rust. All those old speedometers could be rolled back, and many were.

So many shysters sold cars, of course no warranty, it was truly a time of “Buyer Beware!”  Today few salesmen ‘use high pressure lines to sell’ cars. You are pretty safe buying a car today, especially with low mileage. I am sure odometers can be reset, but it is NOT simple and probably is seldom, if ever, done.

            

Over the years we have bought two new cars, the rest have been used. I was ‘burned’ once but not bad.  Have you had a bad experience in used autos?

 A truly USED (up) car.... ;-)

 

NiteShipslog

Just confused and the weather

  Memorable car of the day:

          Tornado results.........

Cars cannot compete with  the weather.....

For today:

I know that Preachers and priests are to say to us what GOD gives them.  Methinks many times things are said in frustration. Just the other day a well-known minister spoke at the top of his voice, “NOTHING you hear or see in NATIONAL NEWS is real, It is ALL fake. It is only things the government puts out to control ITS citizens!”

Well among other things there is the weather it is fake too, I have seen deep snow. I was on a ship once when the Skipper asked permission to go thru a hurricane to test the ship, he was given permission. Of course some of us had to peek out! 60-70 foot waves, of course we made it...... You might have had rain so hard you had to pull off the road, we have. 

WE even saw a waterspout once in Key West. Weather is REAL (I think??)

But the following is a collection of terrible weather shots, I don’t believe a one of them (NOT):

Am I a fool? Is my government itself part of a giant conspiracy? Baloney, this is still a great country. Going thru a tough time. Going thru a pandemic, and fighting conspiracy theories new by the day. There is a feeling alive (But I hope is dying) that if your best friend disagrees with your Politics ‘The hell with them, they are no longer a friend of mine!” Folks THAT is sick……….. 

Nite Shipslog

 PS:  Quote from a minister on FB (snide): "All NEWS is fake, Even AP fact checking is fake. I will never believe ABC, NBC, etc. I get the real TRUTH from Social Media such as Face Book and You-Tube.."

Sadly referring to many citizens (IMHO)

My Valentine

  Memorable car of the day:

          

For today:

 It probably wasn’t what a boy should think when entering church, but in 1954 I was just behind a girl I learned was Sherry Harris. She wore a Long skirt but I did see her ankles.  I just knew that girl had beautiful ‘Betty Grable’ legs. ;-)  (and she did!)  But I couldn’t see them until we got a license. LOL

Yes She has been my Valentine for about 67 years =/- a few months. She is still as beautiful as ever.

Love that girl…

When you read this Sweet Heart, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Nite Shipslog

 

RVs, Showers and tubs

 Today’s automobile:

The AMC Pacer  75-80  love it or hate it was how it was taken.

 And now some thoughts for today:

RV parks are sorta like small towns. There maybe two main roads with other less traveled roads in between. Truthfully I like National, State, Provencal and county parks. The sites are larger and you feel more ‘out there’ or some sense of solitude.

This week we are on the main ‘drag’ (a 50s terms). 98% of all traffic will pass about 15-20 feet from where I am typing.  I am not complaining mind you, we were lucky to get in during February. I know most MC riders really like the ‘Harley’ sound, but for camping I prefer the quiet Honda MCs that come by our ‘home’, ;) .

WE do have excitement here. We just got a call from Evelyn to go to the P.O. and Grocery store with them. WE had to decline. I felt obligated to watch Sherry, I meant give Sherry time to shower. I will even try it, it is that time of the month.  This coach has the largest HW heater we have had in an RV, 8 full gallons!  You don’t do long leisure showers.

At times I still take a Navy Shower. Wet down. Turn the water off and soap down, then rinse. You are always conserving water on a USN ship.

Mention bathrooms around old people and it often starts a conversation. I was 7 yrs old before we had inside plumbing. I was about ten when we had a bath tub.  Well we had a ‘bath tub’ before, but it was the tin tub used when mama washed clothes.  (Pic from the web, I don't remember toys!)

Sherry smiles saying she never had a bathtub until we married and moved into a 26’ trailer. She was one beautiful, happy young bride. Yeah, you can bet I REMEMBER!

NiteShipslog

PS: I still enjoy sneaking a peek when she is in the shower.  :O   ;-)