Images

As our Pooh is submitting pics to express that inner self I thought I might join the fun. This one is "Self Portrait on an Unclear Day". Clarity is not always important to me. I sometimes see things better if there's a little fuzz (room) around the big picture that allows me to add my own understanding and therefore see the issue more clearly. Since we each live in our own 'reality' this gives me the opportunity to assimilate the information and then to act on it or not.

Christmas Eve Gift!

That has always started my Christmas Eve. Don't know if it was a Tucker or a Wilkins tradition but it became a West tradition.
So --- Christmas Eve Gift! Atcha!
Woke this morning eager to get out of bed. Not for any other reason than it hurt to stay in it. That, more than any other 'Age' issue troubles me. I used to be able to sleep for 12 or 14 hours uninterrupted no sweat. Now 7 with at least one pit stop in the middle.
Anywho -- When I got downstairs there remained 6 sleeping teenagers in the living room. The remains of Leland's Christmas gathering (Party is not a usable word). Brendan returned from his Christmas visit home last night & had to get to work by 9 AM. he usually goes in around 3 PM but today being Christmas Eve he gets off at 6PM and can be at church and here with us. To cool.
There's a bug in most apples or so it seems & the one in Brendans' this morning was the Ice storm that had been going on since the wee hours of the morning. Our road is a lane and a quarter wide dirt so after the first snow fall is usually difficult to travel to say the least. Add ice and Yippie! He made it out OK and there has been a coating of cinders applied since so gettin in n out will be easier.
Jacci has the day off & I'm taking one too. I'm going to put on a pot of Chili to slow cook. We'll go to the church for the Christmas pageant at 5 come home eat the Chili and go back to the church at 8 for the Candle Light/Communion service return and await the arrival of Santa.
Zippidee

Twas the Day before The Day before The Day before

Sunday & Sunday night I was working on some stained glass for Brendan & Caitlin. It was a rendition of her parents house that they asked me to do for them to give as a gift to her parents. Due to weather & schedule constraints it needed to be done by Monday morning. I finished it at 4:30 Monday morning. When I left my shop to go upstairs for some sleep there were geese honking and carrying on out on the lake. It was pitch black & -5 degrees, so crisp and cold. I got up about 8 and cleaned up the glass & framed it. Brendan was on the road by 9 or 10. I used up probably half of his time off that he could spend with Caitlin for Christmas & felt real bad about it but couldn't help it. I left at 1 PM to go to Kutztown to help Evan move the last of his stuff home. I got to bring "The Bay City Roller" back! An uneventful trip until I was about 10 miles from home. Up on I-84 there was a sudden lake effect snow squall and the road iced over. In a line of cars I was third. The cars in front of me successfully slowed without losing control but with my pickups light rear end I wasn't as lucky. I did manage through luck, skill, and the hand of Jesus, to regain control without leaving the road or bouncing off of one of the other cars. I wound up side ways in the left lane passing the cars before me. The fellow behind me wasn't as lucky. I saw in my rear view mirror that he lost it and after slamming the car I just missed left the road.
After getting home and having a 'Double Shot' Hot Toddy I cooked diner a relaxed on the sofa planning on hittin the sack early. Not according to Murphy's plans. The dishwasher quit discharging water after each cycle. After an hour & a half of every thing I could think of doing short of dismantling it (Yes I tried kicking it first)I gave up and went to bed. This morning I dismantled it. It now works. It had nothing to do with the machine. Turned out to be a clogged drain line under the house.
So when asked "What are you doin to get ready for Christmas?" People better be ready to spend some time with me 'cause I got stuff to say :~)
Hope all your preparations for his coming bring you closer to him. I almost mentioned him while working on the dishwasher this morning but it wouldn't have been in a good way so I let it go until I was done then I gave thanks.
Zipidee

Christmas Snow

Well this should get things 'White for Christmas'. It started snowing about 9:30. The snow is predicted to be 8 to 10 inches by 9 tonight. Course they predicted it would start around 2 or 3 this afternoon so maybe they'll get the amount wrong too. Lookin out the window the other side of the lake has disappeared but I can still see our beach. It'll have to come down at about an inch an hour to reach their predictions.
Heard from a friend in the Mobile area this morning. He was on his way to the water to fish from his Kayak. Isn't this a great country? I'll be shoveling fresh snow this evening & he'll be cleaning fresh caught fish.
Went down to the church this morning to get the pageant props & other seasonal props out of the shed. Won't be able to get to the shed tomorrow. Our food pantry opened early hoping the families could come early to get their groceries. We also set up a small toy store where they can pick out presents for their families. Price is the same on all items -- one smile.
Knowing things are tight for all this year I'm more than grateful for all that I have. There was a young couple standing outside as I left, he was obviously debating whether he was going in or not. There were pleading tears in her eyes. I started to pass by without interfering but something made me put my arm around his shoulder and say "Jesus put the food & toys in our basement for you & your family. Please come with me and accept his gift". I led them in, introduced them to to Pantry crew and left.
God is good. Always!
Zipidee!

State of Health

Jacci & I didn’t have medical insurance for the first 27 years of our marriage. We were lucky to have coverage for the boys. Then along came the ‘Tobacco Settlement’. Pennsylvania used it to subsidize insurance for households with qualifying incomes. Our incomes qualified.
Jacci immediately took advantage of our new insurance policy by having several test run. One was a colonoscopy that turned up an issue requiring a bowel resection. With out the insurance there would have been no test. We credit this state program with saving Jacci’s life.
I, being male, new that all was well with me insurance or no. Until a Dr. customer looked at the pimple on my nose and recommended I have it looked at. Though small the cancer was removed with little noticeable disfigurement. I credit this state program with saving my nose. Something that might not be important to my rugged features but does hold up my glasses.
Last month we received a letter from the state claiming our income no longer fell in their qualifying category. DEVASTION. Though I did make considerably more this year and last due to the house I built I don’t get that kind of job often and my income will drop to normal or below this coming year. Once you’re bounced you go to the back of a very long line and have to wait for an opening (others being bounced) before you’re reinstated.
We took advantage of a review that was offered and after submitting a letter we were contacted by phone. Seems when Rudy passed his business partner screwed up the inheritance thing with a late submission of taxable income that wound up being reported on our taxes instead of the estate taxes. Therefore the bump. Once explained the state lady said ‘Oh! Never mind then. You’re reinstated”. HALLELUIA!!
Well maybe. In my attempt to calm Jacci at the termination I pointed out that all of those years without insurance we were well and didn’t need it but when we did need it it was there and that the termination was confirmation that once again we were well. Now we got insurance again …I’m snifflin…I may just go lay down.

To Share

   Not a lot to blog about this morning but wanted to share one of those moments that God blessed us with this morning. It's my habit to get my coffee and sit at the computer overlooking the lake and read the online NY Times. Here's a picture of what I saw.






Jacci went down to the lake and took a better picture.








   We've had Eagles, Hawks, Loons, Herons,Geese, but this is our first swan

Lights of Christmas

There was a time in my life when the lights of the Dan River Mill were magic to me. Behind me were the Christmas lights of the Mill Village that my grandparents lived in. My Paw Paw’s lights were the most & brightest lights in the neighborhood.
At Christmas when we visited we were allowed to stay up ‘til Paw Paw’s shift was over at 10pm. At 9:55 we’d race from the house across the street to the main gate. Faces pressed against the chain link fence bettin who’d be first to make out his silhouette when he came through the door and shout “Paw Paw!” Maybe he’d bring out a 6 oz Coke with him and share with us maybe not, didn’t matter we’d all grab our share of him and hang on ‘til home.
While sittin out the first semester of 70/71 I worked at that Mill. Paw Paw & Maw Maw had retired by then but there were still some there that remembered me & my siblings at Christmas hanging on the fence.
Paw Paw used to put more lights on his house & yard than anyone in Clanton. One December a Tornado raced down his street rippin his roof off along with every light & decoration he owned. It also ripped the end off of the Mill. Paw Paw’s collection of lights never did recover.

Zipidee!

The weekend past.

Well the long weekend has past. Spent it with Jacci's family in Conn. Also attending the festivities was her brother Gene's significant other Wendy's family. Only fair since it was held at her house & prepared by her. Altogether there were 19 of us. We ate more than we should and enjoyed a day of feasting, family and new friends.
Jacci, Evan and Lee decided to head back home Thursday night about 9. The trip should have taken just under 3 hrs. With a missed intersection they managed to stretch it to 4 and a half. They laugh now but it's been reported to me that it wasn't pretty in that car at a few choice moments ;~)
I stayed Friday & Saturday to help Gene put laminate flooring in his daughters bedrooms. By the time we finished Sat evening I was to tired to do a long drive & after looking at the weather predictions (Wintry Mix late Sunday) decided to leave on Sunday morn. Woke to the Wintry Mix already upon us so had to delay the departure to 2 pm to make sure the roads were open. This also gave us time to install a fireplace insert.
It was again a 'White Knuckle Ride' back home but that's true of any trip East of here.
When I walked in the house the Christmas tree was up and decorated. I detest Christmas decorations, music, or advertisements before Thanksgiving so Jacci waste no time once the bird is off the table.
Here's to the coming season and to the reason for the season. Let's do for him that has done for us and spread his message as a light to those living in the dark.
Zipidee!!!!!

Memries & Testament

Above are the Swabies! If,as I guess,this is in '52 then we're months away from Rob & Sheri and Leland is only 4 years away from Khaki.

Wow! What was that like? A nation ending a 'Police Action' in Korea and prosperity at every corner. There was a picture from this set, lost to a previous wife, of me with a cracker that was used to quiet me that looked just like a cigarette.

We're headed into the 'Season'. I've many memories of our travels to Clanton that flood my evenings. I'm there now and love you all! Those still here and those that have gone before.

More Billionaire Bitchin

The previous blog was not a statement against capitalism as a model but as an observation of what unregulated greed does to capitalism. My concern isn’t about what a person makes as much as it is about what that person takes. My reason for bringing it up was as a warning to us 95%ers. Many of us are comfortable with things as they are. How not? I sit at my computer in my warm home overlooking a beautiful lake blogging about whatever I wish. I’m not in the upper 95% (guess they would be mere millionaires) but if the greedy top, and that includes some of the 95%ers, let that precarious balance tip it will definitely disturb my lifestyle.
I’m glad, no glad’s to sedate, I’m jumpin for joy that Unc has been able to move forward and is again self employed. I never doubted he’d make it. I’m sure he’d agree about how precarious our station is in this 95%.
Let’s look real quick at that $8 laborer. If he works 10 hrs a day and can get 50 weeks of work a year he’ll make $20,000. Having been in the trades for 32 years it’s my experience that he’ll be among the lucky if he gets 35 weeks. He’d be better off working at WallyWorld were he’d get at least 35 hrs a week all year long but he’s got a problem. He reads at a 1st grade level and his math is no better. He’s been told by so many for so long that he’s stupid he believes it. Filling out an application for a job is a nightmare he’ll just skip. So there’s one more in the trench of the lowest 95%ers.
I’ll use a name we’re all familiar with that belongs to the 1%ers. Bill Gates. Worth $58 BILLION. Folks a BILLION is 1,000 Million! Can your mind grasp that kind of greed? I’ll argue forever against those that say he’s a wonderful philanthropist because he gave 50 million to such and such a cause. I’ll also argue with those that say capitalism won’t work with regulations that protect our economy and society from that much greed.
If you want to see a list of the Billionaires, how much they have and where they’re from this is Forbes list. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html . This is an international list. The number two guy on it is from Mexico. You know that 'poor' country south of us.

Look Out!

Do you get up everyday like most in the world and do your best to provide? Some of us provide for ourselves, some for others. Some provide more than others. Fault or no fault that happens.
We, 'the kids', were taught that hard work, honesty and sharing led to success. That there was an American dream that was attainable by all. Well I still believe in the hard work, honesty and sharing but the American Dream is just that a Dream. It's fostered by the 'Gots'.
Since the development of the yeoman farmer to the stratified economic society of today the rich have allowed other rich to administer funds in needed proportions to the lower stations to maintain a certain amount of stable tranquility. These include the Welfare State that they so loudly bemoan. But they know that without it, and less obvious methods of distribution to less needy, those below would take more than they were being allowed to have.

“The top 1 percent of American families, for example, now own as much as the bottom 95 percent combined, the highest such gap among developed nations.” Money.CNN.com

Folks that just ain’t right. Are you OK with being a part of the 95% combined? Somehow the rules to the game have been corrupted.
There are people, people not nations, that count their worth by Billions of Dollars! Warren Buffet is worth over 62 billion and Bill Gates 58. Why is there a financial crisis? Because too few own too much!
This is the stuff that really riles my leftist instincts. I consider a good month as one where my bills are paid and nothing major is broken that will call for large funds to repair.
It's a crime! not a right to own that much money with hungry children on this planet. I'm very fearful that in my lifetime I'll see the 'Ain't Gots' rise up and take from the 'Gots'. It won't be pretty!
Right now there are still plenty of us 'Gots Just Enough's' to buffer the situation. I keep watchin the news though and 'just enough' can disappear in a heartbeat.
No Zipidee this time ;~(

Cow Licks

The one front right was the promenent one. I had granddad buzz cuts most of my youth and try as he might could never create a 'Flattop' like Ray's. They are the reason for parting my hair in the middle these last 38 years ;~)

A Return

Brendan Returns!
We moved his belongings into a local storage facility and reinstated him in his room here. Not sure just how much we'll be seeing him 'cause he gets off work around 2 AM & goes in sometime in the afternoon. But he's here! He's employed & eager to get a place in town to move his sweetie to.
33 days from now Evan moves back also. He graduates on December 13th! It'll be interesting to see if their time here overlaps. Mixed emotions on that one :~) Grocery bills are big enough now, feeding those two giants isn't cheap. But we're glad to do it. The day'll come when the nest will truly be empty and their lives will take all of their time. So we'll steal what little we can now and be thankful.
Winter approaches in spurts and bumps. The Tuesday before the election we had 8 to 12 inches of snow by Halloween it was in the low 60's but is only in the mid 30's today. YeHa! it's a roller coaster.

Zippidee!

A musical twist.

I've always enjoyed many different musical styles from Do Wop to Classical to Hard Rock. Mostly I'll go to the mid 60's to the late 70's for my every day music. A freind introduced me to a group called "Pearlene". They're from Cincinatti and the album's only a couple of years old. I keep going back to this album, again & again. I'm sure that I've missed out in the realm of musical style progression but these guys have taken all I used to listen to, rewritten it & served it back to me as something new. And I hope they do more.

Yo Unce!!

As opposed to commenting on the Wise One's very well stated blog on his blog and missing the chance of 'Bloggin' on my own I'll comment using the F.O.
Agreed that the real bugger needin oversight is Congress. Both houses. What needs doin is riddin the halls of money totin lobbyist! As long as we allow them to buy our congressman's vote my vote, your vote, isn't worth a 'Yankee Dime' on a donkey's butt.
Like Cliff Claven at Cheer's I'm not allowed in Scranton when any of the 'Politicos' are there ;~) I 'E'mail my opinions (and boy I got 'em!) to every public employee that's answerable to me as a voting citizen.
Folks I've never been comfortable with political labels. They're even self imposed without a thorough definition. No one thinks alike. There's always that personal shading to any issue. So there are parts of my understanding that are shared with me and every division of the spectrum that are politics.
I'm a Christian & most of the folks I know that vote are Christians. So what's not gettin from our prayers & actions to our elected officials. I totally don't believe in any conspiracy or 'Evil Cabal'. Get your Senators & Representatives 'E'dress and bombard them.
On the point of Blog that was 'Wisdom's' opening statement I must come in at the otherside of the event.
This is not meant as, and hopefully won't sound like, a "Your Guy Beat My Guy......" but Wow! When we moved from Calif. to Montevallo in '67 I started the 11th grade in a segregated Highschool. It was the second semester of that year that the first 4 blacks started going to school there. There were no blacks in my graduating class.
I'm so proud of America right now! If we could just get over the gender thing, uh.. & the homophobe thing, uh.. & the .....

Zippidee DoDah!!

Reflection

Looking at the lakes
reflections 12 feet below and 100 away
lights from the far shores flickering
across the water
no sounds from the highway or the sky above
seems too perfect
what disrupts it?
me!
Only I describe it
define it
try to own it.
But now I try
To share with you
and make it easier to keep
'cause shared with you
I'm complete.

Take two & call me

Yessiree!

Moonrise

The last two nights have been cloudless. My attempts at capturing the moonrise failed because I began to late to take advantage of the reflection on the lake.

Well by golly that wern't gunna happin tonight. No siree! Got shots of a mere reflection of the rising moon on the horizon to the pic on the left. Then the battery quit! I'm lookin out my window as I type this and the cove that I look out on is silver and because there's a wind it seems to be moving. All my effort was to capture this to share. I've seen it many times but thought this time I might be able to show it to others.

But ain't that the way of it sometimes? God chooses you to share with & the best you can do is to tell others of the blessin!

God is Good! Always!

Zipidee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgered?

To Blog or not to Blog? That is the question.

whether 'tis nobler to Blog on with pointless tripe,

or to refrain from drivel as silence might,

I ask you.

There's some really intense colors in our foliage this year.

I'll try to get some better shots on site soon. This pic looks down on the lake from the local ski run.

Home again

We returned Wednesday at midnight. Would have been 11:20 but 2 miles from the house we had a flat tire. Just a little exclamation point to the trip.
To tour the Southwest & West in early August is not the smartest thing due to the heat but our trip to Dallas and to Salt Lake were time sensitive due to events and circumstances.
We had an uneventful 2 day trip to Randy's (gotta get used to 'Randy & Pam's) where it was 100 degrees +. Friday eve, Saturday & Sunday morn were spent with some of my favorite folks. Randy & Pam were married at a botanical garden. It was a beautiful setting. Their matching outfits blended with the surroundings.
We left Grapevine Sunday after breakfast with the family and drove strait to Gallup NM. Jacci's cousin had called 30 minutes before we got to Randy & Pam's saying she didn't know if she'd be alive when we arrived. This, of course, Set Jacci on a new agenda and we were in Salt Lake by Monday night. We skipped Carlsbad.
Now Uncle Westy States that Grapevine challenged his navigation abilities due to inexperience. I'll admit that that's is some of it but some was also due to the unfamiliar road configurations. Those folks that built the hyways & byways of Grapevine took miles of on & off ramp just to change roads. You couldn't see where you were going to wind up in relation to were you'd been and weren't sure of what direction you were going after that 2 mile curve.
Well I got ole Unc beat in the navigational nightmare of Salt Lake. After driving for 13 hrs and following Map Quest directions to an address provided by Jacci's cousin we came to an intersection with no motel. Here's a city that the Mormons set up as a perfect grid and numbered every road, no names. Then the Lutherans or some such came to town and threw in the van Winkle express that cuts a meandering swath through a part of town. Then the Baptist & Methodist came and started using names instead of numbers. Then Ike threw a couple of interstates around and through town and folks I wandered that town for 3 hours before finding a roost. Now part of the problem was American Idol was holding auditions and the Inns were full. The first room we found that was 'non smoking' smelled like an ashtray so we moved on finally winding up out at the airport on the west side of the city (Jacci's cousin lived on the east side).
Jacci's cousin is dying but not that day nor the next and not so far. Jacci wound up staying at her cousins and I stayed at the motel. Jacci was trying to help Marylin (guess I should give her a name) settle into Hospice Care. Marylin was more interested in having someone around to manipulate and boss around. On Thursday morning I got a call. "Come get me we're leaving. I've had all I can Take". I thought I'd seen a vision of ole Brigham Young in a chariot of fire pass before me and I was willing to follow him where ever he led as long as it was out of that town. So I threw everything in the car and raced over only to find that I was to sit there till 6 pm waiting on a friend of Marylins to relieve Jacci.
To back up real quick somewhere in Arkansas on Friday it hit 98. It didn't get cooler than that until we were in Colorado the following Friday.
By Friday around 3pm we were visiting my friend from collage that I hadn't seen in 36 years. It was like no time had come between. We only stayed an hour & a half because we were trying to get home by Sunday night. By that night were were 30 some miles into Kansas. Ever been to Kansas? No? Well just skip it!
We got up early planning on driving to Cincinnati Saturday. 23 miles latter that plan was trashed. The Passat puked. Fuel Pump. Thank goodness for cell phones. It was 107 degrees with a 22 mile an hour steady wind. Like walking around in a convection oven. "Dry heat's not as bad as humid heat" my ass! You could have taken a frozen pizza outside and walked around (if you could stand it) for an hour and then eaten it. Brutal! After the two geniuses finally agreed with my diagnosis as to the Passat's problem (it only took them 6 hours) everything in Kansas was closed and wouldn't open til Monday. Towing us to Wichita where there was a VW dealership had been an option the mechanic had mentioned when he picked us up so I asked how much that would cost. " $782" without blinking. So I asked where he proposed to put us up. He really was a nice guy. He loaned us a car (and never charged us for the use) and sent us east on the interstate to the nearest exit with motels. 60 miles away! They talked like it was 'Just over yonder'. Quick word about the town we were in. Grainfield Kansas. One road, 10 buildings. Only 4 of them open for business. The Napa/ mechanic, a small 'Pizza Place', the Bank and a grocery store. The Bank was only open on weekdays and the grocery store closed at noon on Saturday.
So we spent the weekend in Hays Kansas. On Monday morning Jack, our mechanic, called to say there was no pump available in Hays and I'd have to go to Wichita to get one. I'd offered to do that rather than spend another day in Kansas waiting for the pump to be delivered on Tuesday morning. It was an 8 hour round trip. But by 6 pm Monday we were on the road again heading for Hays. By the way our bill for towing and repair was $782. Coincidence? Sometimes we're the answer to anothers prayers. I can hear our mechanic, Jack, praying "Dear lord I need $782 dollars by Tuesday" so he sent Jack us.
We left Hays and were an hour and a half out of Cincinnati by 11 pm. We drove into Cincinnati on Wednesday morning and spent another hour & a half with another friend then headed to Tafton.
Jacci has been saying for years that when we retire she'd like to rent an RV and tour the country. She just got over that.

Zipidee

The beggining

of summer actually is the 4th of July weekend here. So we've a week under our belts and it's not been too bad. On the 4th everyone's up. For the rest of the season it's scattered. Weather wise we're not doing to bad, some heat, some rain, some cool evenings. Sitting in our 'Grotto' is more comfortable this year. We splurged and bought 2 wicker rockers, a two seater settee and a small table. After a hard day coming home and sitting in my rocker with a glass of wine while I grill diner makes my day.

The house is moving forward fast. The kitchen is installed. The beams are up. The three major things left are the wainscoting, the laminate floor in the great room and the drop ceiling in the downstairs.

Jacci & I are planning a Major Roadtrip. We'll leave on Thursday the 24th to be in Grapevine for Randy & Pams wedding. Then on to one of the West families favorite attractions Carlsbad Caverns. Then on to Salt Lake City to visit a cousin of Jacci's. Then East to home with a couple of possible stops that aren't firmed up yet. Jacci's never been West of Mobile so it'll be a real eye opener for her.

I'm so thankful to God that not only my wife, myself and my sons are well but my whole family seems to be blessed.

Zipidee

Once again

I'm made great by the efforts of others. My niece, Leslie, and her husband, Drew, brought Tucker Elise Bowers into this world on June 6th weighing 8 lbs 15 oz. That's 1/2 ounce less than my second son Evan. He's 6'3" now so look out Drew.
So 3 of us 'Kids' are Grandparents. That's hard to get used.
Zipidee

This must be the 'Start of the rainbow' Cause that boat it's on is no 'Pot o Gold' :~)

Prayers answered

aren't always answered the way you thought they'd be.
Our church, Paupack United Methodist, has been going through very tough times for the last 2 years. Being a Methodist church we accept any and all so long as they accept Jesus as their savior. Being the only Protestant Church around we found our our congregation rather heavy with Presbyterians. Nice people but they have a different method of church polity. As Methodist we welcome all but we will not change our methods of administration or mission to suite your denomination no matter how much money you put in the plate. Well as that finally became apparent to them they left. Took their money too. So we're now in a major revival of Methodism but in major financial need.
We, the Administrative Council, have been looking into combining our two services into one. I've been proposing taking parts of the first service, more traditional, parts of the second service, more contemporary, and new forms of worship and creating a new service that might bring more disciples of Christ into our church.
At last nights AdCouncil meeting, which I chair, I found that the vision is mostly mine. The rest are vacillating about committing to a course of action that puts the remainder of 'The Members of Long Standing' at risk of defecting with the Presbyterians. I've pointed out that the children and grandchildren of these fading 'Blue Hairs' don't attend church. Why? 'Cause the present services don't see to their spiritual needs.
Anyway I'd prayed for guidance and I got it. I'll back off. Don't know what the plan is. I never thought it was mine. I've been following the plan that Jesus set before me in the Fall of '75. I've learned not to push the plan but to follow it with a smile on my face and love in my heart. Knowing that all goes as He wishes.
Zipidee

Random blather

Well tomorrow, Saturday, I hope to make my last ever trip to John F. Kennedy International airport. It's only about 2 1/2 hrs away but the intensity and density of the traffic is taxing. From now on ‘Dad’ will pick up travelers at Newark, Philly, Avoca or any of the other area airports but he’s not gonna cross the Hudson again.
The trip is to pick up Evan. Wondering how 4 months in Rome and 2 weeks wandering around Europe has affected his outlook. I can only imagine how much smaller Tafton PA will look now.
The inside of the house is being painted --- by me and a helper. Evans return will increase the crew to 3. I was hoping to have the painting done by the 9th but after 2 days of rolling primer on I can see it taking a few more days :~)
Spring is here. The trees that should have bloomed have, the flowers that mark the occasion are up and the weather has turned wet and chilly. We had a week and a half of our summer preview (mid to high 70’s and sunny) but reality had to raise it’s ugly head. Oh well. Zipidee!

Jus mo stuf

Successfully navigated to JFK Sunday to pick up Brendan & Caitlin. It's only 2 1/2 hours away. The first hour is just normal driving but after that hour it quickly builds to 'Death Race 2000' status. Their flight was on time and 35 min after landing they were dragging their luggage and selves out the 'International Gate' to greet us.

While I drove they recounted their day to day stay in Italy to Jacci. Not hearing well and concentrating on the return 'Death Race 2000' I missed most of it. Including the part where Brendan tells where he proposed and what Caitlin replied. It was 11:30 PM by the time we got home and they'd been up for 24 hrs. So the only conversation we had time for was 'Good Night'!
I learned Monday that he proposed at the Roman Forum and she accepted the proposal.

The sheet rock is being hung in the house and should be ready for taping by Friday. Yahoo!!



Zipidee

Livin

     Sposed to be Spring and looking out at the sunshine with no snow on the ground is nice but with the temp at 28 there's no foolin ya when steppin outside. Brendan and Caitlin are due in tomorrow (Sun.) morning. We're giving them a ride to Paterson N.J. were a friend of ours will pick them up and take them to JFK. Their flight to Rome leaves at 10 PM. We were going to take them all the way to JFK but the offer from Melanie was too good to turn down. specially after our last failed attempt with Evan.

     Hard to imagine that it's 42 degrees warmer only 1000 miles south of here. Heck I saw Cherry Bloosoms in D.C. on the news this AM.

    The house progresses. It's insulated and after I've had a week to add my deadwood and prep work for trim and such I'll turn it over to the Sheetrock crew a week from Monday. Two weeks later I should have it back and be able to paint & trim it.

     Zipidee

Next installment

This picture is of all the students and the teacher at Lisbon Center School. The year is 1957. On the top row 4th from the left is Harold Aldrich 6th fromthe left, same row, is Ray. I'm in the Middle row 4th from the left. Ernie Aldrich is 1st on the Bottom row and Rob is 4th from the left.

Dad worked part time at a gas station just off of the base owned by Dave. It was a Shell Station. Dave lived in the neighboring town of Lisbon Falls. Somehow he or someone there introduced Dad to Mr. Zaymore. Mr. Zaymore was starting a housing sub division in Lisbon Center and needed a surveyor. Dad had never surveyed before but it was only a matter of math and Dad was a wiz at Math. Said he could do your taxes with a carpenters framing square. I believed him. Anyhow Dad decided to buy the first house in the new development. This was the beginning of our adoption by Mr. and Mrs. Zaymore. We spent the summer between my kindergarten and first grade living in the Zaymore House at the mouth of Booth Bay Harbor.
My favorite memory of Booth Bay besides the Blue Berry bushes that ran all the way down to the ocean was a visit by Uncle Cliff, Aunt Evelyn, Dads sister, and their kids Betty & Larry. Dad decided that we should have Lobster for dinner & to show off a little took his brother-in-law and all us kids down to the docks in the harbor to buy some. There was an old Maine lobsterman sitting in his boat with a ‘Lobster For Sale’ sign propped up. Dad asks the price of Lobsters and the old dude states a price for a certain weight cooked & then the price uncooked. Uncooked cost less so he ask for a couple of a certain weight. Ole dude reaches in a tank and pulls out the ugliest green & brown monsters you’d ever seen. Dad say “ No No No! I want two of those nice Red ones”! Ole dude says “Ayup! You wan em cooked”!

There was a short stay in an apartment in Lisbon Falls before we moved into the house. It was on the second floor in a curve on the road to Lisbon Center. Memories here are of taking hands full of maple tree seeds up on our porch and throwing them off. A cloud of helicopters was fun to be under. Another is of Mom taking us shopping on Main Street in Lisbon Falls. Outside of one of the businesses some men were standing, one of them was a midget smoking a cigar. As we passed Sheri asked Mom “Why’s that little boy smoking a cigar?” loud enough to be heard by all.
By the time school was to start the house was finished and we’d moved in and made friends with every kid within shouting distance. Our best friends were Ernie and Harold Aldrich. They lived on the farm that bordered our back yard and the rest of the development. Not really much of a farm. They had a cow and some chickens, a couple of apple trees and a good slice of land that ran all the way down to the river. Mr. Aldrich was a painter/carpenter/ whatever during the six months a year that there wasn’t snow. The rest of the time he was home. This was where I went to the first grade. A six grade, one teacher, one room school. It had once been a two room school but the room upstairs wasn’t used. We walked to school rain, snow or sun. Really wasn’t that far.

There was a fall festival in Lisbon Falls that they called ‘Pioneer Days’. It was strange to be in Northern New England and watch people dress up as Cowboys & Indians with covered wagons and all the extras. They would rope off an area on Main Street and dump sawdust there, then dump nickels, dimes, quarters and a few (I seem to remember the number 5) Silver Dollars in and mix it up. On the big day they let the kids in and you got to keep what you found.

By the time winter hit in Lisbon Center it was our second Maine winter and we were snow survival specialist. We wore LL Bean one piece fleece lined Mukluks back when they were only known in Maine. We spent hours putting on our layers of snow clothing so we could stay outside all day. Sledding, tunneling, snowball fights holding a pee for hours ‘cause if you went in you never got back out, turning blue. Spending the night at Ernie and Harold’s there was no heat upstairs, come to think of it there wasn’t much downstairs. Their mattresses were feather and they had goose down blankets and once you got in bed and screamed through the first few freezing minutes you were warmer than in any bed you’d ever been in. In the morning when you poked your head out you felt like your face would freeze off. Harold would jump out of bed in his underwear and race to the fire downstairs to get dressed but there was no way I was going to do that, his Mom might see me. Anyway Ernie couldn’t do that cause he wore braces. He was one of the unfortunate kids of that time that got Polio. So I put on as much of my clothes as I could under covers and just suffered through the rest then went down with Ernie.
Another family favorite both times in Maine was to go to Bradbury Mountain State Park. There was everything there you could expect in a state park. Swings, teeter-totters, slides, picnic tables, grills, bathrooms and a mountain to climb. The adults would go up the path and we would go up the face of the mountain. A very tame hill in retrospect but in those days it was Everest or something near it. All day was never enough and every time there was another opportunity to discover.
But back to our adoption by the Zaymore’s, they lived in the house next door, the second house finished in the neighborhood. Mrs. Z was always making cookies and having the neighborhood kids in to eat them. She also used to read to as many as would come by. She read Winnie the Pooh to us. I believe there’s still a copy in the family that was given to us by her. This was before Disney got hold of Winnie, there were no Tiger dolls or movies. Her reading to me hooked me on reading. I used to read under my sheet at night with a flashlight after lights out.

Membrin

I've been doin some 'membrin and writin it down. I'm goin to chop out pieces of it as I see fit and post them on this blog. If you are in the narative or there 'bouts and would like to add or correct a point this is your chance. Not that I'll nesessarily use you input but I might who knows.

I started school in Bath Maine. We were close enough that Ray and I walked up the hill every morning together and then at noon I would walk home alone. During Christmas break we moved into Base Housing in Bunswick. It was a three bedroom one story duplex.
I learned a lot in the six months we lived in this house. I learned how wise my father was and not to fight with my brother Ray, at least not where Mom or Dad could see or hear. Mom had had enough of our daily death combat and had turned the problem over to Dad. He brought us together and after a marvelous but forgotten speech about not fighting Yada Yada said “Ok now boys Kiss and make up”. KISS? My brother? A Guy? Now? With everyone watching?? Oh please beat me! Rip out fingernails, anything but that! After we kissed my father informed us that that was how all of our fights would end from then on. We’d go blocks away just to punch each other. I also learned how funny my father was. One day while in a knock down drag out with Ray a few blocks away our younger brother Rob came up and told us that Dad wanted us home NOW! And that he was real mad. We couldn’t think how he would know we were fighting. None of the people in that part of housing knew us. Dads’ habit upon getting home for the day was to kick back on the sofa with a cigarette that he took from a music box dispenser and relax with the paper. My eight year old older brother had put a ‘Load’ in a couple of those cigarettes. I don’t know where an eight year old would get such a thing but I had stood by him as he inserted them into dads’ smokes. A ‘Load’ was a small splinter looking thing that when pushed into the end of the cigarette would explode when the match or hot box reached it blowing the end of the cigarette up and scaring the smoker and anyone else around not in on the gag. When we got home and opened the door Dad was sitting on the couch looking madder than hell. Dad could get that look – easy. His face was black and his hair was standing straight up. After falling on the floor blubbering “I didn’t do it! He did”! “He made me do it”! “I swear I’ll never let him make me do it again” Dad breaks out laughing. The load did surprise him but he took burnt cork and rubbed it on his face to turn the tables. Dad was a funny guy. I also learned how my Dad could overcome almost any obstacle by giving the problem some thought. I needed a bigger bike. The one I had was too small to learn how to ride with, my knees kept hitting the handle bars. So Dad found a big ole bike with the old fashioned curved handle bars and balloon tires for me. But it was a Girls bike! No way Dad! I’m not riding a Girls bike! So he took it to the hanger and had some guy weld a bar across the top. Problem solved. While learning to ride there were several ‘crushing’ moments that made me wish I’d not insisted on that bar.

Zipidee

A Trip to Sequoia

In the summer of ’62 we learned we’d be moving to California. That was the way of it usually. You’d learn of a new posting in the summer and be gone without being able to say farewell to all of your friends. Some that lived on base with you or in the off base neighborhood you lived in with a few other ‘military families’ would let the others know the obvious when school started the next fall, you’d moved. Those that had different posting cycles than you disappeared this way and we all accepted it as normal.
We were in Millington Tennessee, just north of Memphis, where Dad was teaching at the “A” School on base. I’ve no idea what an “A’ School was but I do know there was a “B” School there also because Dad had attended that school at an earlier posting to NAS Millington. We’d lived in Millington three different times. This trip was to be our first West Coast posting. After Maine, Florida, Kansas and Tennessee California sounded promising. Ocean, sunshine, no snow, no tornado's, no hurricanes just one threat --- Earth Quakes! Not a bad trade really.
As we came over the mountains expecting to see sunshine, orange groves and an ocean vista our eyes began burning, tears were flowing, the other trade off came home – Smog. It was something that we became used to and truthfully there were many sunny days but our first few weeks were spent in a brown overcast haze. The base we were moving to was NAS Point Mugu. Yes there was a sign at the base entrance that read “Oh Magoo You’ve Done it Again! With a picture of the cartoon character on it.
We were going to have to wait for six weeks before base housing was available so we were put in a two bedroom hotel room in Oxnard. Then they immediately shipped dad to Long Island N.Y. The new plane, E2A Hawkeye, that he’d be helping to shake down for the last three years of his twenty year career, was at the Grumman factory there. They were supposed to fly it back to California a month later after a shake down cruise but the shake down took three months. The Hawkeye is the little plane with the pancake on top that you see on aircraft carriers in the news.
By the time Dad returned we were settled in Base Housing. Our house backed up to the fence that separated Base Housing from Base Runway. We were at the very east end of the runway. If the Fantom 4F’s, never just one, took off from our end their departure was proceeded by 30 minutes of oscillating blasts of their engines leading up to a final 5 minutes of earth rattling, ear splitting noise before screaming down the runway and into the sky over the ocean. If, on the other hand, the wind direction required they take off from the other end you were spared the 30 minute assault, but were still aware of their activity (it wasn’t that far off) only to have to live at the bottom of there departure. Heading east, into mountains and over residential areas, required they reach certain altitudes quickly. They always chose immediately, strait up, with after burners roaring. It was loud and violent enough to shake you as hard as any tremor did. But it was “in defense of the country” and therefore acceptable.
The house had three bedrooms and two baths. What luxury! These Californians’ knew how to live. Mom & Dad got a room of course and that left a room for my two sisters and a room for me and three brothers. The me and three brothers thing wasn’t working. Dad came up with a solution that like most of his solutions was joined to another solution. Another part of the equation to these solutions was money. Of course it was. He had six children and was in the Navy, even with part time jobs off base it was tight money wise.
His solution. He bought a small camping trailer and parked it in the back yard. My older brother Ray and I used it for a bedroom. We ran an extension cord to the trailer for lights but just threw extra blankets on in the winter. Wait you say this is solution at expense and your right but ---- We could now vacation, why in the Sequoia’s if we wished, and since the trailer sleeps six and two can sleep in the back of the station wagon why there’ll be no tent fee and if need be we can just pull off the road and get a nights sleep without paying for a motel and……Well as you can see it was a very sound economic decision.
At the first chance Dad has for some time off Ray and I have to clear out of the trailer so Mom can stock the trailer for a trip --- to Sequoia National Forrest. Dad has decided that traveling in California really requires air conditioning and has the Ford wagon equipped. Pulling a trailer through the mountains will definitely over tax the cooling system of the car so there’s a bonus to the original solution. The trailer being towed has a large water tank in it for drinking and washing. He taps the tank with a copper line that goes all the way to the front of the car and has small holes in it that spray water onto the radiator. He then taps the tank and brings the line into the rear of the wagon and attaches a bicycle pump. By pumping air into the tank it forces water through the line and onto the overheating cooling system. A beautiful system and a testament to how I think. Certain things were overlooked in the plan, also a part of my genetically formed problem solving process. There was no pressure gauge to let us know when we’d reached a safe amount of pressure in the tank. Actually over pressurizing the tank never entered his mind. Wouldn’t have mine. How much pressure could some kids develop with a bicycle pump anyway? Another overlooked sum in the equation was the weight of that much water but that weight would diminish, it being pumped onto the radiator to offset the weight of the water to…., as we climbed the mountains – all would balance out. Bout half way up with Dad hollering “Pump Harder it’s still overheating” we blew the tank. After the initial roadside investigation, the tank would no longer hold water and the Air Conditioner was just unused weight for the rest of the vacation, we proceeded, with only a few more stops to let the radiator cool, to our vacation amongst some of the oldest living organisms on the planet. Trees that you could, and some did, carve a whole house and stable out of! Looking at the stars at night makes my insignificance apparent, but looking up one of these trees and knowing its age brought home a different humbleness. Saw the Redwood with the road through it, closed to traffic in an a inspired act of conservation, saw a Park Ranger hold a blow torch to a piece of Redwood Bark to exhibit its fire retardant abilities. Always wondered why those attributes aren’t utilized by firemen.
Returning home with one day for Mom to clean out the trailer and it became our bedroom again.

Rain!

Today's rain is the second big rain of the week. Funny how a slight shift in the path of a low pressure system makes such a difference. Had these last two tracked a hundred miles east we'd be buried in snow. So let it RAIN:~) but you'd think it would have washed all of the snow and ice away. It has most of it but not all. 6 inches in Nashville and rain here --- naw there's nothing wrong with the atmosphere.
House project is moving on. The heating contractor should be roughed in by next week then it gets insulated after that Sheetrock. Yahoo! then I can get in & make some money painting & trimming & putting in the kitchen & -------.
Well my big brother got older and you know what that means -- yep I'm gonna have to also. Guess it beats the alternative.
Better go watch more rain fall!
Zipidee

Winter? Hell

We've had cold we've had warm. We've had rain, we've had snow and everything in between. The ice pellets were 5 inches deep once. It was like walking in sand only colder. Right now there's frozen (rock hard) white crap on the gound and our dirt road. The road is so packed and polished it could serve as a bobsled course and sunday night it's suposed to rain again. that'll make the ice slicker, Ye Ha!!!
There are shingles on the house. Did something that rubs my socialist butt the wrong way. Had a company that uses Latinos to put the shingles on. Got nothing against Latinos but they're not locals and I try to hire local. Plus the Latinos don't get enough of the money I paid the company I'm sure. 6 of 'em started at 9:30 on Friday morning and by 5 PM they were done! 51 square of shingles.
Gotta house full of Lees friends tonight and that's good, he rarely brings people over, so Jacci & I are hangin in the upstairs staying out of the way. Brendan might be home next weekend. That'll thrill Lee for his birthday.
Hey I'm Outta here!
Zipidee!

Let the New Year begin!

Been home for two weeks and guess I otta Blog. On my return I found that little or no progress had been made on the house I'm GC ing and 'til day before yesterday nothing at all was being done. That's kept me kinda occupied -- well at least too upset to blog.
But now there's a roof on the house and I can soon look for a very hungry roofer that'll do the job in sub freezing temps.
Our trip Home was terrific. Got to see and spend time with all of my siblings and their offspring. Mom is healthy and still a step ahead of all of us.
Jacci and I spent 2 days in Fort Walton with friends of mine from my college days. Reconnecting after 37 years was easier than I thought it would be. Dec 31st was sunny and, in our book, warm (mid 60's). Jacci got to lay in the sun, walk on the beach and swim in an out door heated pool so it was truly a Florida Vacation for her.
Two days after getting home we had to get Evan to JFK airport in NY. A lose hose on the Passat and $500 later he was on his way to Rome and we were home safe. When he gets to Rome he finds that they (Who They is we don't know) have taken the name Evan to be feminine and assigned him two girls as roommates.
Let see --yer 21-- Limo ride to JFK -- arrive in Rome to find you have 2 girls for roommates --- sounds like a movie script!
We didn't hear from him 'til last Sat and probably won't again 'til tomorrow but it seems they're bouncing him around different apartments trying to figure out what to do.
It's bright and sunny hear today, temps are supposed to get up to freezing but Sunday's high isn't going to get up to 15.
Yessireee! bring it on!
Zipidee DoDah