Lost Keys!!

>            Well, the new year is here and I am almost at my half way mark of my 4 year plan. I have done my photography for almost 2 years and if I get a retirement deal in less then 2 years, my photo business should take over. I have gotten enough encouragement to keep going. I want to start selling more matted prints this year and also set up booths at art shows in the area. Let me know what you are looking for by posting on my blog! I have just signed up to Smug Mug to sell my pictures. I should have a link for you in the next week or so. I need time to upload pictures and set pricing.

Now for my story!!

     Over the years I have misplaced, lost  or locked my keys in my mail truck. Most of the time I ended up lying them down in the back and shutting the door. So, I had to call the office and have them bring out another set to unlock the truck.

     One day I was getting ready to start the truck and drive off , the keys still in hand, I was reaching for my seat belt, the keys flew out of my hand and into the snow. Luckily I saw where they landed and dug for them.

      I also have lost them in storm drains several times and was able to fish them out with a coat hanger. But, some were a lost cause due to water being in the drain.

      The funniest time I had lost them was when I had just finished taking a comfort stop. I went to look for my keys and could not find them. I went back up to the bathroom and searched, with no luck!. I finally called the supervisor and he brought out another set. Well, after about an hour or so I was getting an uncomfortable pain in my hip and I thought it was my scanner clip pushing in. I went to reach and adjust my scanner when, I felt my keys in my waist behind my scanner clip. I realized I always put my keys on my finger to carry so, I know where they are! When I was leaving the bathroom I had finished tucking in my shirt and the key slid off my finger and into my waist. I couldn't stop laughing at myself. If all else fails and you can't find your keys! LOOK IN YOUR PANTS!!











Breakdown

     I know it's been a while since my last post! Work days have been long and tiring and busy getting ready for Christmas. So, I decided to show some of the window displays on Market Street for this post.

     As for a story I will have to tell another road trip one.

     Ann and I were getting ready to head back to North Carolina, she had been sick, so I had her lie in the back seat on the way down. Our first piece of bad luck was when I went to shut the door and Ann's fingers were in the door. She at the same time is already queasy. We headed out and got as far as the top of Williamsport, when all of a sudden a large turkey buzzard flew in front of me. I hit the thing head on and it rolls over the top of the car, at that moment Ann wakes up and asked what it was. I told her and she says " the way our luck is going the car is going to break down!" WELL!! We got to the bottom of the hill and the car went quiet and it wouldn't start. We walked about two miles to a store and called a tow truck. Then we had to call Ann's parents to come get us. We get back to New York and I have to call the base to tell them I am going to be delayed getting back. Ann's parents let us borrow thier extra car to get back until ours got fixed.  When it did get fixed it ended up being the timing belt and all 12 valves were bent. A $900 repair! After having the car for another year, we decided to trade it in when we got out of the service. I was heading back to town to trade it in for our newer car I decided to pass a car, I ended up burning out a cylinder and had to take a lower trade in for it. A saying Ann and I always use is "ONLY US!"

I want to wish everyone A Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!!

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.