Preparations and Hazardous Duty

As I went grocery shopping today, I remembered the long holiday, Memorial Day Weekend, was coming up so made sure I got all the right selections for the occasion. Got a fresh jar of Nathan's pickles as starters and the bottle had an instant store coupon for $1 off Nathan's hot dogs. Nathan's brand was twice as much or more than the other franks, and still more, even with the dollar off. But, I figured, hey, it's a holiday so why not splurge. They had the same price for the hot dogs that are longer than the bun as for regular size. I got the larger ones, of course, but still trying to figure out how they do that. Maybe more air in the larger ones? Saw to it that I had the grey poupon mustard, hot dog rolls to go with it and even picked up some more strawberries at Aldi's Grocery as stopped there first for my breakfast cereal. Aldi just started opening on Sundays last weekend. The other grocery stores have been open Sundays all along. But now Aldi's had a sign that they would be closed Labor Day, but Bi-Lo will be open. That's one to ponder.


BiLO also had fresh corn for sale this week so it will be an old fashioned Memorial Day for me all the way. 5 ears for $1. I was thinking of buying the ones already shucked, but they were $1 more, and since I have done my share of shucking in my life, figured I could stand the cleaning up afterwards. We always spread out newspapers to do our shucking, but I had given every last paper to the recycling bin Tuesday morning. I had just saved this one newspaper clipping, but decided I couldn't soil it so soon. It was the story of my boss of bosses, William John Park, donating the organ he spent over decades building himself to his alma mater, Clemson. His son who is an associate Professor there convinced his father to donate the organ so students could study his work and refurbish the organ.

One guy probably spent 10 minutes at the bin pulling back the husk on every ear to check them out. I just loaded 5 into the bag, figuring if one was bad, I'd only be out 20 cents. As it turned out all were good, but I got one yellow ear when all were soupposed to be white. The yellow ears were on the other side of the counter, but I got the stray that got over there. If my brother and sister-in-law see this they will probably be so envious, as only met one other person who could possibly be fonder of corn-on-the-cob. That was a guy we met from Iowa, when my other brother, Herb, now deceased, and I were vacationing in Branson, Missouri. He was in the next motel room and all he could talk about was the corn they grew in Iowa and how it was the biggest and best anywhere. He hung out with us quite a bit as just had his wife and mother-in-law with him. They were going shopping for clothes, but he would much have preferred going with us. He was anice guy and they sure didn't come anymore country than him. If I remember right he drove a big rig for the highway departmet and ploed snow off the roads in winter. I don't know where my brother and I were headed as right now only rememebr we took about an hours train ride back into the monatins that was enjoyable and went to a great show one night.

A flickr friend invited me to join his new site, posting pictures of loading docks. That isn't the most scintilating subject for me, but thought I would do my best to help support his site. So before going to the grocery store, figured I'd find a few and take a couple of pictures to post. We go past the old cotton mill warehouse on our way downtown frequently as it is the backway avoiding the traffic. Most of the mill buidings have been torn down, but this warehouse surrounded by fence still stands. I have never seen any activity going on there, but have noted a sign advertising warehouse storage space for rent. Seemed like a good place to start and I pulled my car in side the gates which had all kinds of signs for employees only and all that stuff, but figured that applied to when it was a mill and I was just going to take a quick picture and out of there. Boy I was in luck because there was a Doritos truck there and figured at least it would add some color to otherwise drab picture. So I just stopped the car and jumped out with my camera. All of a sudden I noticed there was a lot of commotion and awful noise behind me, but I finished taking the picture. I felt rattled from all the noise and when I turned around there were two trucks, a small one and a big trailer rig that I was blocking with my car from getting through and two big guys standinmg there talking. I was embarrassed and figured maybe I was in trouble for trespassing so jumped in the car and did a quick u-turn to go out the gate after the smaller truck got past. Then as I was passing the second driver, I pulled up and started to apologize. He told me he had gotten out of the truck to tell the other guy it wasn't necessary for him to have blown his horn at me. I didn't know he had even done that and glad at least I had one good guy on my side as they were both big ole truck drivers. I passed on freely without passing out.

Being Sisudave, I persisted in my quest and drove around the corner to Paine Oil Company's loading dock since I noticed some colorful barrels and containers there. Since their place had big gates to pass through also and no parking on the street, I wasn't going to take any more chances. I went up a few buildings to the Nationwide Insurance Agency office parking lot as I got my coverage with them and after a career of 10 years service with that company, figured I would be alright. Walked down to Paine's yard. There was no one around, but a pickup truck was parked there. I kept going closer and closer and getting my shot framed just so, when could see activity out the corner of my eye. And, Oh My God, there was another massive guy approaching me who was not smiling. He asked me what I was doing, but think once he realized I was just this old crazy fool, he must have realized I was no problem to him. Turned out he was a nice guy and was just concerned figuring I was some kind of inspector. Probably concerned about his place as looks ike it could stand some extensive structura work.

I went next to Sneads Building Supply Company and got their loading docks in my sites. No problem there as the back of their property comes up to our West Cambridge Trail and you walk right past it. I wanted to go that way anyway as a couple of the bridges spanning the trail have graffito painted all over the supports. 5 gallons of the thickest and exterior paint Lowes has been purchased and one of the parolees will be given the task of painting over it as part of their community service sentence.

My next stop, and I should have skipped that one was the post office. Thought that might be interesting, especially if happened to catch a mail truck in the bay. I should have at least gone to the main p.o. downtown as that one is visible right from the road. Anyway I parked in the front and walked once again through the big open gates. Had to walk all the way to the end of the building as there was no loading dock in site along the side. All I saw at the beginning was a table where apparently some workers were taking their break. As I'm walking back one of the girls approached me. Not real menacing, but firm in letting me know that I was trespassing and they did not allow pictures to be taken when I told her what I was doing, but suppose she saw me anyway. When I acted surprised she told me they were concerned that somebody might take pictures of classified or secret stuff. What's going on at our Post Office anyway? I was a little shaken so put on my sadest old man's face and gave her my best 'I'm sorry' and started walking away heading out of there. She didn't come after me but I was a little worried for awhile that maybe I would be arrested or, at least, have my camera repossessed.

After I got home and got the groceries packed away, I was sitting at the table enjoying the apple I have after lunch everyday. I don't have a view, except for the road in front of the house about 20 feet away. So all to see is the occasional car passing by. By habit I look up at the reflection in a picture on the wall and can see the vehicle as it goes on down the street. All of a sudden I see a police car coming down the hill and turn into our street. It is not all that uncommon as they do seem to patrol once in awhile and I think a couple cops may also live in the neighborhod. The car passed the window and I automatically looked up into the reflection, but the car didn't show up in the view. Right away I knew something was wrong, but finally summoned up enough courage, got out of my chair and up to the window to see The POLICE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY! In all the years I have been here, maybe twice I have had a police car in my driveway and one of those times is because I called them. My heart about bounced out of my chest and all I could think is that 'they're coming to take me away, ha ,ha, they're coming to take me away.' I bolted out of the door. It was a lady police officer, big, but appeared kind enough that I thought she would be easy on me so I gave it my best old man look. Turns out she was looking for someone else whose address was listed as mine. It is a name of someone I don't know and has never lived here, I don't think even before me, although this was a rental house for some years with probably a number of tenants. The name was familiar because I remember gettin some addressed to him here on a couple of occasions and just returned it to the post office. She was satisfied and left. I know I should have taken a picture of her car next to mine in the driveway, but at the time that was the last thing on my mind.

I think after today, maybe I should have learned my lesson and stick to taking pictures of my flowers. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

Have a Happy, Dave

Here's a Memorial Day Poppy Picture For You. Took it at a retired Lander Professor's house over on E. Laurel earlier this month.

A Long Day For An Old Man

Yes siree, I'm one tired out old man tonight. It has been a long day. Klaus and I had discussed going out to work on the trails today, but I didn't think we had really firmed it up. Well, I had just gotten out of bed, made one fast trek around my yard to check for bunny damage to my plants and back in the house for my cereal and banana. There was Klaus ringing the doorbell. He went on to the park and I had a hasty breakfast and probably over there in about a half hour, not that I like to rush around first thing in the morning. Usually if were going to do something, I get up at least an hour early so I can move at my seniorly pace.
First thing on the agenda today was replace a slide.
A week ago we had to dismantle this slide at the park as the slide would not glide smoothly- in fact you had to strain to move it. We found that one of the top wheels had come off as the bolt had sheared the threads right off. Had to take it to the Welding shop where they refilled the hole and reset the bolt and wheel, Unfortunately they set the wheel a tad higher than it was before so when we tried to reinstall it, it still hardly moved and turned out it was rubbing on the top inside of the rail. So back to the welding shop it has to go. Shame we didn't get it finished this time as had a lot of hands available there today. The inmates from the Greenwood's Correctional Institution were working at the park digging holes and trimming grass. We are lucky the city has taken on the job of cutting the grass and they seem to keep increasing the scope of what they do. Greenwood really needed that Playground/Park so I'm hoping they will take it over eventually so it will be sure to live on as a permanent city facility
Our next project there was more successful. We set in three more engraved bricks in an area where all the bricks that people have purchased for $35 a commemorative brick to help support the park. Of course all of these jobs that you expect to take fifteen minutes to complete usually take a lot longer. This would be an easy chore except that the plain bricks filling the area that have to be removed to place the engraved ones in, don't budge very easily. The bricks have ridges in the sides so when laid tighly together really lock in well.

Besides the city workers there was a group, one of the Bible Schools, that had reserved the pavilion at the playground this morning for a couple of hours. before they got down to business they had some fun time on the playground.

Most of the kids at the West Cambridge Park/Playground take their shoes off when playing in the area. I guess they'd rather be barefoot in the sand. Can't blame them as I'd be the same way if it wasn't such an effort for me to take my shoes off and put back on again. I suppose the Mom's don't like all the sand the kids must drag home, but I like that base compared to the others they use. The kids sure have all kinds of fun in it - it's just like a day at the beach and you can't beat that.

Then we went down to the Entrance to the Heritage Trail on South Main to paint the two wooden signs there. Over the years the elements have really taken their toll on the signs. They are still legible but if something wasn't done you can tell it will just be a matter of time before they deteriorate beyond the point of saving. Someone told us to try Thompson's water seal on them so that's what we brushed on. That liguid just soaked into the wood as quickly as it hit the surface and no matter how much was applied it just kept soaking it up. Looks like maybe that will be a yearly chore.

Then for or last tasks of the day we headed over to Magnolia Park to repair some more playground equipment. I should have taken a picture of the first thing we attempted to repair. It is sort of like a submarine periscope, but is mounted at the top level of a multi-tiered piece of playground equipment. We got it all cleaned up, including removal of a wasp nest inside, but it still doesn't rotate too smoothly and the little munchkins must have bent some of the parts that you cant really see anything looking through the periscope. We did much better with a little steamless shovel with a seat. One of the handles had fallen off because the bolt and a couple metal rings had come apart. We found the rings in the sand and fortunately had a bolt to serve as a replacement and got that working properly again. So by then it was a late lunch at the sandwich shop. Got home about 2, leaving me enough time to get ready and go over to the court house for a two hour class for us poll watchers for the upcoming June 13 primary elections. That is one of my few paydays a year so don't mind that at all. Get $50 for attending the training class today and then another $50 for working election days. That's a long 12 hours+. They are expecting a runoff election as some positions have multiple candidates so have scheduled a run-off election for June 27 - another $50.

After the class that ended at 5, I still had to do my Wednesday grocery shopping as get that senior 5% discount today. Every little bit helps. Then it was home , rushed to unpack the groceries and fix a quick supper of a warmed up chicken breast and a salad I had to make after getting all the fixins at the store. By the time the news was over at 7 I had finished and then went out to water the yard until it was getting dark, about 8:30. Washed the dishes and then it has been computer and TV baseball watching time. The Braves pulled out another win tonight - that is the third in a row come-from-behind win, the last two in extra innings after they tied game in bottom of 9th. Tonight's hero was Chipper Jones - looks like he is about back in his old groove. He smashed the game winning homer in the bottom of the 11th with two men on base.

Now I better get myself off to bed as want to be in fairly decent shape tomorrow for my regular Dr appointment at the VA tomorrow morning.

Hope there won't be too many days as busy as this one although it did feel like a productive one and hope I'll be able to carry on like that for quite awhile when the need arises.

Take Care and Have a Happy. Dave

Here's todays flower. A lovely lily growing and blooming in front of an old house, cared for ny a grandmother, on Edgefield St. Greenwood.

My Life In My Gems

This isn't where I planned to start, but have been working too hard already just to get these pictures posted so here goes. These are my jasper gems, or the ones I still have in my position. The jasper rocks came from a fittingly named place, Jasper Beach. It is located at Bucks Harbor Maine, the next peninsula over from where we rented a vacation cabin for ten years from Mrs Alley in Jonesport, Maine. Sometimes would spend nearly a week looking out the window with fog so dense you couldn't see the car to get to it, let alone drive in it. But most of the time we lucked out with great weather. I think I miss those vacations in Maine more than I miss my hometown because nithing satisfied me so much as the serenity and beauty of the area. The insurance job I had in those years was so stressful, probably brought on by myself as I didn't like the role I had to play, but stayed with it because everytime I thought of leaving I either got another pay raise or a promotion. So I stuck with it for ten years putting aside as much money as possible to buy my dream business, a greenhouse operation, but that's a story I not prepared to write about, and perhaps never will. Anyway Jasper Beach was this wonderful place were as far as you looked right or left it was a wide beach made up of primarily egg shaped rocks, like the ones they must have used to make those Pet Rocks . The Beach was so different and so unusual from other beaches I knew and usually deserted. Stayed there for hours, mostly just relaxing and contemplating. The spaces between the larger rocks were filled with smaller ones, much of it jasper, that even in its unpolished state glistened when wet and had a slick, greasy- smooth feel. The rest of my time was consumed collecting the best specimens of jasper I could find plus I'd cart off bags of the larger rocks. By time I had to drive back home, I would have to put the suitcases in the back seat as the trunk would be filled with rocks and also some bags of peat moss I would dig in the area myself and seaweed collected on the beaches. These items I used for my rose bushes back home. Must have worked because I grew some beauties, especially compared to the frugal results I get here. At the end of Bucks Harbor there was a Air Force installation but I don't recall ever seeing any troops around. Never did any swimming there as that water was soooo cold. I would remember wading in and in that crystal clear water seeing my feet and the part of my legs under water starting to turn blue. Over in Jonesport, there were a couple of places were the water pooled up and sitting in the sun must have warmed it some as that would be tolerable for swimming.

In that time period, one Christmas my brother had bought a rock tumbling machine for one of their sons as a Christmas gift, but then decided he was a little too young for such a gift so, instead, I wound up getting it. That started a new hobby for me for maybe a couple of years. The machine was just a little motor with a couple of belts you could put two pint size cans. You filled the cans with rocks and water and a gritty material and let that motor rotate the cans continuously. Even though the cans had a rubber liner it still made a racket, so in the daytime I set the machine in my bedroom while I was away at work and then in the kitchen at night as couldn't sleep with it. All of the apartment was wall to wall carpeting, except the kitchen. As the rocks tumbled in that gritty mixture, gases would build up so periodically you would have to open the cans to let the gas escape. Of course, it was just a matter of time when once I forgot to open and vent the cans. It would be while I had the machine in my bedroom that they 'blew' up. It couldn't have happened in the kitchen where it would have been messy, but cleanable. No, it erupted over that carpeting and that grit penetrated those fibers that no amount of cleaning and vacuuming would remove the large stained area. I still managed to produce quite a bit of jewelry and glad to still have a few pieces left that I can occassionally take out of the draw and fondle. The lagest one on the bottom is my favorite and has the least flaws so I have it on a chain. Occassionally I'll wear it for awhile, but eventually, like with all jewelry, I find it 'bothersome' and have to remove it.

All the items of 'jewelry' - what consists of my 'gems' is in the above picture and probably pretty well represents the history of my life. The top row are pins I got for service in my business career. The one on left was for 10 years at Nationwide Insurance and next three are for anniversaries at Park Seed. I never got a pin for the intervening five years between Nationwide and Park Seed when my brother and I owned a greenhouse/nursery operation ,which although unsuccessful was by far my favorite career.

The second row are the gems from my educational career. The first pin on the left was for NASC Student Council. I only served in that capacity in the 8th grade. Our 8th grade was in the high school so probably got to go there a year earlier than kids generally did in other school systems. Now they have Junior and Senior High schools so the distribution of the classes must be completely different. The next item is my Class of 1954 high school ring. I don't think I wore it much. My hand must have been miniscule then as I consider them even small today, but that ring doesn't even fit over my pinky now. It always bothered me having small hands, primarily because I could never palm a basketball. The last two pins were for scholarship at Ossining High School. I was a pretty smart kid, or so I thought. Then as I advanced in years I realized that I didn't learn a heck of a lot - it was just that I was very good at memorizing. And that ability steadily eroded over the years, leaving me with the knowledge that I haven't learned much for all my years . But being smart never went to my head as , for some reason, all the smart kids that Ossining produced seemed to wind up in the Class of 1954., thus I was only rated 21 I think on the honor roll and that was with a 90+ average. I didn't get any pins or awards in college, but I managed to get a diploma. I remember when I got it being astonished by the size - like a big poster. I thought that was going to be tough to manage carrying it around on job interviews. The only pin I got was one my folks payed for as I joined Theta Chi fraternity lambda chapter in my freshman year. That's the pin pictured between the first and second rows from the top with the crossed swords. That may be the most precious gem as it is encrusted with small jewels, although the Park Seed pins are supposed to be embellished with small real rubys. I didn't bother with a College school ring, but did buy a Beer mug with detail painted on it which some girl, much to my dismay, quickly took into her possession.

The rest of the gems pictured were from my military career. I was a draftee. I had hurt my knee in senior year of college so when I finished up in June it was still pretty weak so I didn't feel I could try to move up my time for serving. I worked for a local florist about a year until the Army go to the point where they needed me. I tried to tell them about my bad leg, but they ignored that. The lapel pins are from basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas, 2nd Armored Division. It was mentioned enough that I couldn't forget that it was War hero and movie star, Audie Murphy's Division. In the middle was the Marksmanship badge. You had to get that to get out of basic. I'm sure whoever was scoring must have helped me some as I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. I did enjoy sitting in the pit working the targets and raising maggie's drawers when someone missed the target completely. The red badge with the three bars on each side is the Good Conduct Medal. I don't rememebr getting it, but it says so on my papers. I was inducted in Jan, 1960 and served most of my active tour in Verona, Italy. At first we were the 110th Aviation Co. and then we merged with the 202nd Transportation Co. to become the 1st Combat Aviation Co.(Provisional). We were stationed at an airfield, shared with the Italians, in Boscomantico, nowhere but the boondocks 9 miles on the outskirts of Verona. The bus took an hour to get to the main post each way, so spent most nights at a little bar on the other side of the runways run by an Italian girl. I was a clerk in the orderly room and grateful for the chance to get overseas and see a little bit of Europe. Some of my touring plans got waylayed when after saving up nearly 30 days leave time, I suddenly got called home on 30 days energency leave when my Pop had his first heart attack. At the bottom are my dog tags which I drag out every now and then as it is the one place I know that my blood type is recorded - Type A. In those days the term of service was really 6 years - two years active duty, 2 years active reserves, 2 years inactive reserves so my official discharge date was Dec. 1965. In reality my last duty was in March, 1962. I would have been home for Christmas because of the holiday schedule, but in October my tour was extended 4 months because of a crisis. Now I can't even remember what it was but think it was over the Berlin Wall. Probably because of that extension of active duty, I never got called up for the two week active reserve duty. One of my friends who was in about the same time, got called for 2 weeks active reserve duty almost immediately after he completed his active tour. I sweated it out as knew I would never be able to fit in my uniforms if I got called up and the prospect of buying a complete set of uniforms was most unappealing.

There was a section in our local Sunday newspaper, Readers Choice Awards, where they announced the winners in a recent poll to pick the top local businesses in different categories. My eye was quickly drawn to an ad by a businessman who thanked the readers for picking him no. 2 and that he wouldn't rest until he was no. 1. It made me sad, not that he didn't come in first, but that he was still going to try for no. 1. You see his business is right in the main part of town and everytime I pass his store I'm reminded of a sad episode in my life.

Several years ago I brought My high school graduation watch along with another watch to be repaired. In due time I got the other watch, but my prize watch, a Hamilton , was never returned. I would have understood, I think, even if I had gotten an apology or somebody saying they were sorry that they lost my watch, but it was never forthcoming. I made several trips to the store in pursuit of my watch. Everytime it was like they didn't know who I was and then would go through an extensive unsuccessful search of the store. Most of the times it was one of the clerks conducting the search and then they would decide it just had not yet been returned as they had to send away for repairs. Perhaps it was the last time I inquired and that time the owner even put my name and telephone number and information down on his pad, but I never heard anymore from him. It just kind of surprised me because he had done other repairs for me, like a cuckoo clock for $50, and at one time his daughter had worked briefly with me at Park Seed, plus at one point I had told him I was his guardian angel, and , I understand, he is also a man of the cloth. I suppose I should have complained to the Chamber of Commerce, took him to small claims court or some action, but I guess I just kept hoping he would do the right thing and come forward. It brought back the memory everytime I passed the place all these years. The last few months the windows of the store were plastered with signs going out of business and announcing sales. I thought and was elated, well at least when he is gone, I won't be reminded so frequently, and now to see in the ad that apparently isn't going to transpire is very disheartening.

Well, enough dwelling on that. The watch in the picture is not the treasured Hamilton, my 1954 high school graduation gift from my parents. I can't remember the price but it was expensive for them. It was my first watch. Probably for a lot of my peers it was their first watch, too, as that was pretty much the standard graduation gift in my time. By time the next generation of my nephews and nieces came along, the standard was more like a new car. I'm not sure what it is now - I guess maybe a cruise and vacation to a place like Aruba, but maybe now parents will start rethinking watches.

The identification bracelet I'm modeling on my wrist was purchased at the same jewelry store as The Hamilton. If my memory serves me right the name of that jewelry store on Main St. was Griffen Jewelers. Sometime in my high school years, identification bracelets became the in thing. I was delighted to get this as a Christmas present one year. In those days I was "Murph." probably nobody knew me as or called me David. It was a nick name given me by my oldest brother when I was probably about 4 years old. My father used to cut our hair, correction: shaved the hair off our heads with a pair of clippers. He did it down in the cellar in one of the spooky rooms. You sat in what we referred to as "The Electric Chair." It was the one of only a couple of pieces of furniture my Pop built and it was so ugly she wouldn't have it upstairs. Apparently there was a comic strip character named baldy Murph and he was rubbing my head and calling me "Murph." It was either that or the story one of his best friend's dog's name was "Murph" and he thought that was approproate for me. Either way I don't know why I let myself live with that name. It was probably through College before I dropped it. I don't see my friends and aquantances much from those days, but there are some who still know me as Murph. When I got the ID bracelet I rushed right down to the Jewelers to have my name inscribed on it. To my great dismay and chagrin they inscribed it 'Murphy.' I wasn't Murphy, I was Murph. They should have given me a new Id bracelet with the correction, but they wouldn't do anything. I should have been warned then to never trust a jeweler. The bracelet lost appeal almost instantly and I hardly ever wore it. The fad must have died pretty quickly also as I don't remember anyone sporting them on their wrists.

The ring on my finger in the photo is of much more recent origin. I purchased it for $19, I think, from Home Shopping Network when I first retired. I had nothing to do at that time except watch shows like that and get hooked as I waited to get my fortune, my profit sharing, released by Park Seed. I bought all kinds of things I didn't need, but when the announcer would say they only had a few left of an item, then I would just have to call and and order it.

I have always had lots of rings in my life. Anytime I went to a carnival, fair, cheap consignment shop or places like that I would always pick up one of those rings. I always figured if I could get used to wearing a ring then I would buy a good piece of jewelry. So far that hasn't happened. I bought this ring about 6 years ago now and just started trying it out. So far it feels good and my finger hasn't turned green. Now I have finally conquered that materialistic attitude I carried around for so many years that I don't want a costly piece of jewelry and too cheap to spend the money on something like that. Have to admit though I try to avoid going to the consignment shops and stores just so I don't fall back into any bad patterns.

The watch in the photo above is my current watch, a $6 WalMart special - you know, the place where the prices are always going down. Someone on the internet was asking if the prices are always going down, then why aren't they free by now. I had really gone to WalMart just to get a new battery for my previous watch, which was a $10 special and hadn't lasted a year, but when I saw the price, I figured a new watch probably would cost about the same as battery for the one I had. I still like the other watch and keep it thinking maybe I'll get the battery anyway as it matches my computer. They both have blue lights. I think why I bought the computer is I was taken in by the blue light bars on each side of the processor. Otherwise I'm sure I would never have bought the computer the store used as their display model and knowing they were about to be going out of business. Think it turned out I was probably their last customer. I like the computer and just hope it keeps going. Pretty sure it is older than my original computer. It's a AMD Athilon (TM) Processor 604 mhz. I never heard of it before, but somebody told me that was a good one. Here's a picture of that watch and the processor. Aren't they pretty.

The bars on the processor actually glow much brighter than the picture shows - all the way from the top to the bottom, brighter than the light on the watch above.
Have a Happy, Dave

First Strawberry Shortcake of The Season

I finished up my lab work at the VA Clinic Thursday Morning and have been pigging out ever since. Not only did I have to fast 12 hours before going to the lab, but I have been trying to be careful what I have been eating the last couple of weeks - no steak, french fries or ice cream. I just want my tests to look good so they don't give me any more medications. It has been a woeful time, but I have made up for it in good fashion. This was the only time I didn't have to wait at the lab so was out of there in probably less than ten minutes. The technician told me I picked the right day because the same time the day before they were already an hour behind. I headed straight to the Waffle House where I savored a waffle with syrup and a side of sausage. I would have then headed into Main Street, Greenville for a couple of pieces of my favorite Pizza, but wanted to find my way to the ballpark ticket office and find the free parking area. You can see pictures of the West End Field and details of the baseball game on my flickr photo site(http://www.flickr.com/photos/sisudave/). Had to settle for a piece of Pizza at the park. Think it was Papa John's - not my favorite kind - I guess I am just not used to"better ingredients, better pizza." In the car on the way home I ate a Trail Mix Fruit and Nut Bar. Saw them at Aldi's grocery the other day. First time I tried them - 6 bars to a package. Boy! was that good. Crunchy and chewy - just what I like. And besides, I think that should be real healthy stuff.

Since then I have been pretty good about what I have been eating. Been making mostly big salads of lettuce, carrots, celery, onions and tomatoes with Light Italian dressing. Last night I grilled 6 chicken breasts outside. I like to make my own sauce to baste. I eat pretty mild tasting food. My taste buds just can't manage those hot, spicy, macho foods. I love chicken wings, but never order out, because, even when they say mild, they just burn too much. Usually mix ketchup, whatever salad dressing I have on hand (never eat those creamy dressings), some olive oil and vinegar - once in awhile add a little Worcestershire Sauce. Creamy sauces, creamy vegetables, creamy soups, Alfredo this and that, are sissy foods and I don't go for them.

I had bought fresh strawberrie Wednesday, just before going to the lab - the first of the season. Bi-Lo grocery store had the strawberries as one of their two for the price of one specials this week. I am a sucker for those two for one deals. The nice thing about Bi-Lo is that you don't have to buy two of the items - they give you the discount even if you only buy one. Try to do all my shoppinjg on Wednesdays as get 5% senior discount that day. Taking advantage of all the sales and discounts, my savings are really adding up fast this year. That way I'll have more money to spend at the gas pump.

I cut up the strawberries into bits and add sugar. I use Splenda for all my sweetening now, except for this one thing. I found that the Splenda does not release the juices from the strawberries. So use sugar. Remembered at the last minute when shopping that needed something to put the strawberries on so just grabbed a package of those

dessert shells as they were right near the check-out counter. Dessert shells - somebody came up with a great idea there. You can see in the picture that the Whip Creme is a little soupy. Previously my niece made a big issue about having to go with the real whipping creme on desserts and the aerosol can stuff just didn't measure up. I told her that made too much for me and couldn't really save the left over. She said to freeze it as that is what she did. So I froze a couple of containers full after whipping it up. Last time I used it I couldn't wait long enough for it to defrost so ate frozen whipped cream. I didn't care for that too much, but she said it tastes great that way. To each his own. So then I put the frozen whipped creme in the refrigerator over night before using on my first strawberry short cake of the season. The result is what you see in the picture. Tasted just fine, but visually I like to see my whipped cream formed in peaks - it is just more appetizing looking that way. So next trip to Bi-Lo's next week I'll get the Real Whipped Cream Aerosol can so have it at the ready in my refrigerator.

As Julia Childs used to say, "Bon Apetit." Everything I know about food I learned from my Mom and Julia.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there, and, guys, just remember your day is coming soon. Maybe I should start campaigning for Single Guy's Day. I just don't get any respect.

Have a Happy, Sisudave

Flower Picture For Today - a 'Strawberry' Roses from my yard.

Sewing Chore

Sewing Chore

As a retiree I don't have a lot of chores, but being single, I do have to take care of myself. I probably don't do it too well, but, hey, I get along. Sewing is one of those things I don't like to do. Usually it just involves sewing back buttons that seem to be forever popping off. I don't know why that happens to little old me. It reminds me of one of my favorite Sunday cartoons I read faithfully as a kid. We bought 4 newspapers on Sundays( New York Daily News, Daily Mirror,Herald Tribune and Journal American) and my dad worked as an auto mechanic. I don't think he ever made more than $3,000 a year and did it for 30 years at the same Ford dealership. In those days all I read was the comics, my brothers read all the sports pages I'm sure, don't know about my sister and Pop, but my Mom read all the papers during the weekdays when she was down on her hands and knees scrubbing the floors.

Anyway, the comic strip in this instance, was Smiling Jack. I remember it was about two guys - one with black hair and one blonde - they were pilots and now I don't know what else the story line was about. But there was another character in the strip and probably looked like I do now only younger appearance - must have been part of the ground crew and he had somewhat, okay he had a pot-belly. In the illustrations it would show him walking around, the buttons popping off his shirt, and several chickens walking around him catching the prizes as the buttons popped off.

My sewing chore this weekend was repairing this pair of pants. I didn't want to consign them to the backyard only set yet, so thought I would try and get a little more use out of them. Knew a patch wouldn't work here so got out the old needle and thread. Probably about the only thing I have left that was Mom's was her sewing cabinet and some of it's contents. I guess the spools of thread in there are probably 50 or more years old anyway. I always thought just about all spools of thread wre cotton - seems to me the word they used was mercerized- and the brand name was Coates&Clarke. I was surprised to see when I got this spool out into the light of my patio (it was too nice a day to sew inside) that the spool was a Cortecelli. I don't know if that's good, but sounds sophisticated, just like the names they always give to fancy chocolates which somehow is supposed to make the chocolate taste better. Funny, but all chocolate seems pretty good to me, especially if it is milk chocolate. And then the bonus of bonuses - it says warranted 50 yards spool {a} SILK. That's nice, real nice! I always like to have everything next to me silky soft. The other bonus is that I'm so pleased with this macro shoot of that pretty small spool came out so clear. I'm getting good.

The job I did is pretty good,also. I know it doesn't look like much, but when you turn the pants, right side out, you can't tell it had ever been ripped. Now all I'll have to remember is not to squat and ruin my hard work. Shouldn't be to difficult to avoid doing at my age.
Have a Happy, Dave

Chores - Ironing

Chores - Ironing
Originally uploaded by sisudave.

People hardly ever comment on what I wear. However the other day when I was wearing this T-shirt, two people asked me if I had been to Antigua. I haven't been there, but then couldn't remember who gave me this t-shirt in the first place. It had kept preying on my mind, but I didn't have a clue and couldn't even think of anyone I ever knew that went there. Finally after it went through the washer and dryer and I was about through ironing it, I noticed that it was a promotional shirt from the Goldsmith Seed Company advertising their Antiqua African Marigold seeds. It was one of many t-shirts I got over the years working at Park Seed Company. As was most often the case, I usually ended up with the large size. For years they were tucked away in an obscure place because I always considered myself a little guy and surely didn't need to be wearing anything larger than medium. It's funny with t-shirts. The amount of material that goes into making the two sizes is so disparate. They are so much larger in every respect. I figured I would never know what to do with all that extra material.

As my clothing supply has diminished over the years of my retirement and I have done little to replenish it, I have come to start using the large size t-shirts I had stashed away. Now that I have gotten used to them, everytime I go in my dresser draw I look for these plus size t-shirts as I have come to find out how comfortable they are and who cares about looks anymore at my age.

When I was on vacation some years ago and we were in a souveneir shop in Hollywood, my sister-in-law, could not believe that I was picking out medium size t-shirts. Was she trying to tell me something? Most of the time at work, I didn't wear t-shirts, but we did dress casually. When I started working on Saturdays, what we wore was real casual as only our Dept. would be working so usually just wore t-shirt then. I remember one gal commenting that I just wore tight t-shirts because I liked to show off my nipples. I thought that was a pretty funny comment at the time, but still I had no clue that anyone seriously would think I was wearing t-shirts a size too small.

The big drawback is that they take so much longer to iron. I know a lot of people don't bother doing that anymore, and it is one of the least favorite of my chores. I am so used to having ironed clothing that it just doesn't 'feel' right not doing it.

All this ironing got me to remembering when I was a kid growing up in a three story, six family apartment building. We had something that I bet few places have nowadays and probably even few at that time. In our large kitchen was a narrow door that when opened revealed an ironing board folded up and came out of the wall like a murphy bed. It wasn't just one ironing board, but a little miniaturized one that folded out on top of the standard ironing board. It was used to iron the sleeves.
I'm not sure now whether my Mom used it, but i must have thought it was something else. I can even remember getting joy in folding everthing back up and closing the little closet door at the end of the chore.

I sometimes think I could not manage without a steam iron. When the water starts to run out, it doesn't seem to matter how hot I set the iron, it won't get the wrinkles out. Mom didn't have a steam iron at first. She always used a moistened kitchen towel, layed that on what she was ironing and then ironed on top of that and you could see the steam being released from the towel. Even after she got a steam iron, I don't remember her ever using that feature, if it was something that needed the steaming , out would come the damp towel.

I must have really been impressed by the whole process. I don't remember it, but the lady who lived across the hall asked me 'what I wanted for Christmas' and I replied, 'an iron.' I guess she was a little surprised by the response and she told my Mom and then she bought me that as a present. I don't remember it or remember using it.