Another road trip. (painful on my part)

     We still had the Mazda when we transferred to Cherry Point,NC. I still didn't find the overheating problem and I was changing plug wires every few weeks. On our trip home to NY the wires were arching and shorting to the engine. We pulled over so I could fix the wires to get home. I grabbed my pliers, opened the hood and started moving the wires. Since I couldn't see if it worked while it was running and I didn't want to keep getting in and out of the car, I asked Ann to start the car when I said "OK". As I was moving the wires around I was talking to myself. I was swearing and cussing due to the cold. I wasn't talking loud enough for anyone to here me. ( at least I thought) I then proceeded to grab one of the wires I knew was shorting out, with my un-coated metal pliers  and said "OK" to myself very quietly. (so I thought). At that moment the engine turned on,a surge of electricity and current shot through my hand, down my arm to where my most valuable parts were leaning into the metal bumper! I screamed with a stuttering voice"TTTUURRN OOFFF THE CCCCAAR!!" several times. After the car turned off I dropped to my knees in pain.  Ann yelled from the car to see if I was OK and she knew she was in trouble. I came to the car door and it was locked, I asked her to open the door and she said "NO" beacause, I was going to hit her. (the pliers in my hand did look threatening) I asked her why she turned on the car. She said I said "OK". As I'm holding my precious parts in hand she starts to laugh. Now, It's cold out and I wanted to get going, she would not let me in the car till I calmed down. So, after about five minutes or so, I was let back in the car, but all the way home Ann couldn't stop laughing and also couldn't wait to tell everyone at home.

     I do enjoy telling these stories, it brings back a lot of memories and makes me laugh. If you think back through your past, you too have the same type of story to tell and probably just as funny.

Our second car and thankful for kind people.

     I finally traded in the green Fiesta. we ended up with a Mazda GLC,a nice little car. This car made it from TN to NY twice. The second trip was the funniest. We had made it to Knoxville,TN, when the car started overheating. We pulled into a motel and I got out to see the problem. When I lifted the hood I was was expecting just the radiator to be low on water. What I saw was the radiator hose on fire. I ran into the motel to get the extinguisher to put it out. OOPS!! I forget to let Ann know the car was on fire. So, I calmly ran back out to the car, opened her door and said "you might want to get out". Ann asks"why?". I then proceeded to tell her "because the car is on fire!"  I ended up getting the fire out and removed the hose. ( the whole time Ann is yelling at me because,I didn't tell her the car was on fire first!) WHAT??
     The nicest thing that did turn out was when we got a hold of a parts store. At first the man said he didn't have that hose in stock and it would have to be ordered. I told him we didn't have time or the money to wait. It was almost closing time and he went ahead and called to his other store across town(30 miles). They said they had one and they would stay open until we got there. The owner drove me across the city to get that hose and help me get it back on. ( which he didn't have to do.) I thanked him and he says "anything for a fellow serviceman." We stayed the night at the motel and finished our trip.
     I am very thankfull for people like that. Ann and I are the same way. I have given people money without asking it back.( I know where you live) I would give the coat or shirt off my back if you needed it. I just expect the same generosity if I need it. Even one of my landlords didn't want us to pay him for three months until I got back to work and I made sure I paid him right away.

 

Sunday walk about.

     I went out this morning and shot some pictures. It was pretty cold at first but, warmed up. It keeps me in practice and it's what I enjoy doing. The pictures are from the bottom of denmark Hill and from the dike behind World Kitchen.

Our first car.

        I am going to tell funny stories randomly from now on. They will range from my early days to now. It all depends on what I can remember. LOL 
When Ann and I got married we went back to Memphis two days later, we had no car for at least a month. We walked everywhere or borrowed a car when we needed groceries. One of my friends came to me and and asked if we wanted to buy his car. He was leaving and needed the money. It was a mint green 1979 Ford Fiesta. It was rough looking and ran rough and he was only asking $300.  I gave him the the money. There was a ten speed bike in the back and asked him about it. He says "you can have it, just in case the car breaks down" Now I was worried!  The car got us from point A to point B and back for at least two months, ran only on three cylinders and it was ugly. We always kept the bike in the back "just in case". About a month after owning the car, someone broke into that wonderful car and stole the bicycle. The funny thing was,the keys were in the car. The bandit broke into the passenger side not knowing the driver side was unlocked. Unless, he saw the keys and figured the bike was a better deal!!

Fallen Soilder

     I was going about my morning yesterday when I was turning toward my next delivery, I noticed cones blocking my entrance. I went ahead and went to my next delivery, when it dawned on me that they were setting up for Spc. Ryan Jayne's return home. This kind of return wasn't a happy one. He was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. A large flag was draped over Pulteney Street between two fire trucks. As I drove across the bridge, I saw people lining up near the fire dept.. There were businesses on Tioga Ave coming out to bring him home all with flags big and small. When I reached the library I was sorting out the mail in the back, I looked up and at that moment the Hearst went by. I stopped what I was doing and  had a moment of silence for him.( he deserves the respect) I then realized how close to home it was. He was my daughters age and she went to school with him.( a little to close for me) My deepest respects and sympathy to his family.

I'm a veteran!

     I served in the marine Corp from Nov 85 to Nov 89 for 3 years 11 months and 27 days. Sounds like a strange number  doesn't it. It's because it was the Thanksgiving  weekend and I was allowed to leave early due to that. I enjoyed the time I was in. traveling the states to different schools for training. I got married six months into the service, that was a challenge all in its own. I flew home home on a Friday, got married Saturday and flew back to Memphis on Monday with my new wife. The money was scarce but, we enjoyed each others company. After 6 more months in Memphis I was stationed in Washington state for more training. Ann had to stay in NY for that period, she came to visit while I was there. We got stationed in Cherry Point,NC. when I got there to check in I was told I would be shipping out in November on the USS Kennedy for 6 months. It wasn't an easy departure for Ann and I. She told me I wasn't allowed to leave. I told her to talk to the man with the gold leafs on his collar and he might let me stay. She declined. I toured the Mediterranean visiting many ports and seeing the sites. It was tough at times, I missed my family and my wife. I think I sent a letter or card every day and tried to phone when possible. By the time we left the service and I say we because, Ann was my support and she stayed by my side. If she didn't support me she would have left a long time ago.

     We had great time while I served, making the best of it. The day we left was pretty funny and scary. There was a major snow storm from Virgina north. We left late afternoon with moving van and car in tow. By the time we hit Virginia and DC it was snowing hard. Ann being 7 months pregnant meant we had to stop a lot. We got to noreth of Harrisburg and Ann says "Don't you remember the last time in this area we had to stop for an accident for almost 2 hours??" Within a few minutes I noticed brake lights in the distance. Again, an accident, this one was 4 hours long. During our wait Ann had to go to the bathroom. I told her since she opened her mouth about the accident and it came true she can go outside.(  She declined.)   I then took out my last soda from the cooler and pointed to it and said "there you go!" Mind you we made it home safe. (24hrs later)

     We had some funny trips like that throughout our days in the service and I wouldn't take any back. I will put more road trip stories up on another day.

    

Good News!! WOW!!

     I had just gave away my oldest daughter to a great guy over the summer. Our other daughter told us a few weeks after that she was expecting. She will be leaving for Texas next week to get married to her boyfriend. But, as of last night we were informed that my oldest is also expecting. I have gained 2 sons and will be getting 2 grandchildren to boot. Not a bad deal! I am very proud of both my girls.

     So, on a funny note, I have been telling people that after two weddings the only gifts I will be able to afford will be A HUG, A HANDSHAKE or just some ATTITUDE! There will be a lot to go around!

     I got some candid shots in today, a few known faces and a few unknowns. The ones I do know like to smile or "HAM IT UP"