31 October 2008

Just a short note to say

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Halloween 1970 Schweinfurt Germany

30 October 2008

In my last post I asked if anyone had any ideas for my blog going forward, I received a reply from Diane, one of my loyal readers and wife of Cousin Jim. She thought it might be fun for me to tell about my time in Germany and I think it will be fun.

To talk about Germany we need to go back and start at the beginning, and the beginning of this story would be the fall of 1965. In the fall of '65 I went off to college at Johnson State College, in Johnson Vermont. Home of the Johnson Woolen Mill and store. I can't say that the fall was much to write about with the exception of two events, First, the great blackout on Nov 9th. 30 million people were without electric for up to 13 hours. I remember sitting in the dark dorm room huddled around a battery powered radio, trying to find out what was going on.We all thought the Russians had invaded the country or some other major international event, in the end it was a small part at a power plant, but all of New England, New York and most of the east coast was down. A scary time for young college kids. The other big thing that happened was that I won an ice cream eating contest. Don't remember just how many dishes I ate but I think it was about 35.Needless to say I didn't eat ice cream for awhile after that. As the first semester came to a close, I found that I had done so well that the school thought it best I take some time off and think about my future, somewhere else.

Going back home I needed a job and started looking. Knowing that I would be drafted within a few months, I wasn't looking for anything long term and ended up working for Jerseyland Milk in Chelsea. Yes I was the milkman, delivering milk door to door, ok stop laughing, I know all the Milkman jokes. This wasn't a bad job, went to work about 4 in the morning and was done by noon. I had two routes, one took me to SR, Bethel, Gaysville, Rochester, and all points back to Chelsea. The other route was Vershire, Corinth, Goose Green, Bradford, and down to White River and back to Chelsea. This wasn't a bad job, had fun, the creamery was run by Ray Ballou, which is how I got the job, for some of you younger folks Ray was the Father of Jim,Judy, Bill Ballou. Ray in his day was a very good baseball player, as was Jim, and his son. Well the Milk route lasted about six months and I knew I was about to be drafted. Being smarter than the average bear, I was not going to let the Army draft me, no sir, I went and enlisted (real smart). If you were drafted it was for two years. but it you enlisted it was for three. See, makes a lot of sense to enlist. For the record I stayed in the Army 7 years and 23 days. More on that later.I enlisted to be guaranteed a school of my choice, which was Fire Control Computer repair specialist. Also I went in on the "Buddy Plan" which meant that you could enlist with a friend and you would stay together NOT. Alton Bullard from SR and I went in together and after we got off the train in Fayetteville North Carolina we never saw each other again in the Army, and know that I think of it I'm not sure I've ever seen him since that day.

My next installment will be about early army life. I plan to write at least every other day, so I can keep the folks reading.

More ramblings on a rainy day

Friday morning and its raining and will all day, but we need the rain and this time of the year we don't get much rain.

This week has been a good week, I went a played 18 holes on Wednesday, my first round since mid July. Didn't break any records but finished and had a good time. Playing again in the morning. I guess this means that I am back to close to 100%, it has taken a while but its good to know that modern medicine does work.

We have been doing a little remodeling, getting a new bathroom, had to take out the tub and get a walkin shower, so we took everything out and started over. Hopefully next week it will be finished. I hope that I have gone to Lowe's for the last time.Cost overruns are driving me crazy, I didn't realize how much "supplies" cost. Oh well I should have waited until after the election, then Mr "O" would have given me the money to do the project. Some of my rich friends could have supplemented my project costs. I am looking forward to not having to pay taxes and getting refunds and don't forget my free medical care.... Sorry, guess I got off track a bit, I am not an Obama fan, and most of you know me I am kind of a Conservative..I would never tell anyone how to vote, however be aware to those who appear to have a silver tongue. I have already voted so I don't have to listen to all the commericals on TV. Please, I don't care who you vote for, just VOTE.

Have and good weekend and I will back here soon.

A TRIP TO THE VILLAGES

Today Nancy and I went to the Villages, not a long trip, but one that was fun. Today, If any of you watch Fox & Friends in the morning, you know Steve Doocy. And if you watch you know that he was in the Villages this morning doing his part of the show from here. At 1:00 this afternoon he was at Barnes and Noble bookstore, signing copies of his book. Well we thought it would be fun to go and get a book signed, as I watch the show every morning. We got there about 12:30 and found that we were about #400 & 401 in line. We had nothing better to do so we waited. About 1:05 Steve spoke to the crowd and then took a few questions. This was very good, then he started signing books. Two hours later we got our book, Nancy was all set to take a picture of me and Steve, but she was using her phone and there is a delay and as I shook his hand she took the picture but only got Steve, but if you look careful you can see my hat and arm. She's bummed but I said it was okay, I got to shake his hand and visit for a couple minutes. This was my first book signing but will not be my last. Enjoy the picture and think of me, I'm there.

The Fair is over

The fair is over, and so is my reporting thereof. But I am going to place a slideshow of the rest of my vacation. This will be a mishmash of pictures Nancy and I took while in Vermont. Hope you enjoy them.

A quick update on me. I am about 80% and gaining, I have gone to the club and hit balls last week, and yesterday went up and played a couple holes. Hope to be back to normal and playing golf by the end of the month, that is my goal. Also trying to come up with a new direction for the blog, let me know if any of you have ideas.

Fall Vaction final post.

I am going to combine Saturday and Sunday, as Sunday wasn't a good day and we didn't go to the fair that day. Saturday was a light day, Nancy and I went early to watch the Ox pulling, which is ok but not as good as the pony or horses. After the morning pull, we went to meet Mother at the bingo hall, but she wasn't there. After waiting a few minutes, Collen, Susan, Sandra and Aunt Arlene showed up. For those who don't know, Arlene is my mother's sister and Susan and Sandra are her daughters, and most know Collen. Here's the story, Nancy went to the grandstand to watch the parade, the three girls said they needed to get some food, and would I stay with Arlene(she was in a wheelchair) I said sure, I knew mother would be there any minute and well could all go play some bingo. Well I waited and waited but the girls didn't come back. Finally after almost an hour here they come. Where had they been, they went into the oval for food and when they started to come back the track we closed because of the parade. Mother finally showed up and I was free to continue my 2008 fair experience.

Afternoon brought more Ox pulling, a final walk around the grounds, in case we missed anything.

After the fair we were honored to have dinner with Clark and Cynitha, a very nice evening with some friends from many years ago. Actually Cynitha and I started the first grade together and have been friends ever since.



Sunday we did not go to the fair, as such, but did attend the "Fair Church Service" I had never been before and hope it will not be my last. The Fair Service in an informal service of mostly music. I have heard a CD of prior services but this had to be one of the best musical productions I have seen in a long time. The local talent was wonderful. I did video a small part of it but for some reason I can't download it, it would have really helped my blog. After Church, Nancy and I and her mother went to Tosiers for lunch, to get our last bit of seafood, before leaving the north.



One more vacation blog to follow...

A DETOUR FROM THE FAIR

This morning I am going down a different road , just for a bit of a change of pace. In a comment by Diane the other day, she said something about a Honeymoon Camp. I chuckled about that and realized I have made a special trip to take a couple pictures of the hideaway. Of course this retreat belongs to my cousin Collen, so I thought the pictures should be put on my blog so that all of Collen's family could see what mom and dad have been up to. I have only one regret, and that is the appliances are stacked up beside the house and not in the front where it would add more character to the place. Hope you all like the pictures and you make your comments to your mother. Collen, have a great weekend.

FALL VACATION PART IV

Day two at the fair, finds Fudd and I at the horse pull, one day is more than Stew normally goes to the fair and it looked like it was going to rain. When we got to the fair, we found Mom and PJ, who were there to present a trophy to one of the horse show classes in memory of Dad, She has done this every years since he died. Even though Dad really liked the pulling, he spent most of the fair by the horse barns and enjoyed watching the young folks show their horses. Fudd stayed with Mom and actually presented the award, I went on ahead to save us a seat at the horse pull.

It did rain and was cold(at least to a southern boy) but we stuck it out through the morning class. Late morning it rained hard and of course we were on our way to get something to eat, got stuck waiting to get across the racetrack, so watched a horse race in the rain. The fair has two days of harness racing, both trotters and pacers. This appears, I really don't know, like gentlemen who really enjoy racing. The is no betting and the purses don't pay for gas to get to Tunbridge, but really good racing, one of the few places to see this type of racing. Ups, where was I, on the way to get food, again we got distracted at the bingo hall, where we found Mom, so we stopped and played a few games of bingo, didn't win but made Mom happy, I hope.

Nancy showed up for the afternoon horse pulling, which was very good and very entertaining. Again, like the horse racing, the puller do it for sport and bragging rights because winning will not pay for the feed for the horses for the day. Horse pulling has a large following of very knowledgeable fans. For two days there were two couples who sat behind us. Older folks, one couple from Boston and the other from southern Vermont who follow pulling all over New England. It was fun talking with them and listening to their insight about the horses and their owners. Seemed like sitting a pull with Dad. Great fun.

After the afternoon, Nancy and I went over a caught the end of the Ox show. Its always fun to see these great creatures and the people who spend great amounts of time training them. Did I ever tell you about my team of Oxen, I doubt it but that's something for a later time.

After supper Nancy and I went back for the evening pull. A long day but a real great experience watching man and beast performing in the arena.We have pulling here in Florida each winter and I have never been to a pull here, but this winter I thing I will, if nothing more than to compare north and south pulling. I know it is different but need to check it out. (its only a mile from my house).

This completes day two at the fair.