OMG, where has the year gone?

Here we are in December and only a few days away from Christmas. Christmas can be a glorious time or a depressing time. To me, it is a great time because I rejoice celebrating the birth of Jesus. I love being around the grandkids and watching them rip open their gifts and breaking bread with the family. Only part of my family, but still all is good. the other thing I love about this time of year is IT IS COOL. Arizona is NOT cool in the summer but 110 degrees. On the other hand, it is good I don't have to shovel snow. The year did not start well for me. Before going to Egypt last fall, I was diagnosised with prostate cancer. Then in January I fell and fractured T-12 in my back. On top of slicing my left leg pretty bad before we went to Egypt. It was a bummer of a year. But all is well now. Cancer is gone, the back and leg are healed and it's Christmas. Other than all of that, we had a great year. Nancy flew to North Carolina with our daughter and some friends and hiked a section of the Appalachian Trail. They loved it even-tho most of them got sick. I stayed home to build a car. In June we left with our youngest g-son for a 3 week RV trip. What a hoot. Grady was so great. We saw SO MANY cool things thru his eyes. Underground, above ground, it was awesome. Back to the heat, Nancy still hiking, but EARLY in the day, I am in the shop working on a 1970 Buick Gran Sport for a client. Which I finally finished this month after more than a year. I love it, but sometimes you just want to GET IT DONE! OK, now it's December and Christmas is only a few days away. I wrote this to tell you all MERRY Christmas and have a Happy New Year, because we quit sending cards out. It does not mean we don't love or like you. It's that we got so few in return and postage is high. We hope you all remember the reason for Christmas, and celebrate it for that, and not for the shopping and gifts. Share your wealth with others. In other words, give to the less fortunate, adopt a family, volunteer at a charitable organization like Salvation Army to feed the homeless and sick, give to the ones who have nothing. It helps them and good for the soul. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!! And Happy New Year. God bless you all from my family to yours.

What have we done?

In nine days, I will turn 73 years old. I never thought I'd make it to that old, and so did a couple other people. of course, I did die before. Yes, when doctors stopped my heart, and put me on a heart-lung machine while performing a bypass surgery. Fortunately, that was 22 years ago, and glad to say, I am doing well. Becoming older each year I reflect back to remember, not only the last year but, what I've seen in my life. The advancements the human race has done in the name of progress and betterment of man? I have to admit, I too have benefited from many of the advancements, but at what cost? I also admit I love cars and I love to drive them. Afterall, that is how most of us get around, to work, school, church, grocery shopping and vacations. When I was a kid, most families had only one car. Today everyone above the driver's age has a car...and sometime more than one. With more cars, the highways are becoming unbearable. People are such a hurry and tempers flare to the point their emotions take over and rage becomes common. Someone cuts you off so you lay on the horn and speed up to salute them with a single finger. They reply with an attempt to scare you by getting closer and cursing you. To what point? To get to the store quicker? What's my point, you say? Yes, we have advanced tremendously in my 73 years. I believe we could advance even more if we got rid of gas cars. I know, I know. Cars, and other things are killing this world we live on. Our grandkids are going to inherit this earth, and what do we leave them? Populution, global warming, devastating weather catastrophes such as flooding, and dying off of thousands of animals and inserts they will only be able to see in a Zoo. Yes, we did all that. And if you do not believe this, you are as blind as our president, other world leaders, and many of our legislators. I want my grandchildren to have a good healthy life, better than mine. I want them to live long and see their grandkids grow even better. I realize to correct what we have done, or even to start correcting things, it will take a long, long time. Do we have that much time? I don't know, but we MUST try. Coastal cities are already building sea walls, the EPA puts strong restrictions on cars each year (until our president said they should not), people have invented self-driving car trains where it follows a wire embedded in the road so there is no risk of anger and you can sit, read the paper and smile at the passing car trains. All operated on electricity made by the sun. Solar power, wind power and electric cars. That has to be our future. Let's pass a brighter future on to our children and our children's children...and to their children for generations. I will get off my 'soap box' for now, but think about all of this and ask what can I do as a single person? A lot. Think about an electric car, put solar panels on your house, recycle your garage, walk instead of driving, plant new trees in your yard, and call your legislators and tell them to make a change for the good of our earth. There is a reason they call this 'Mother Earth'. Take care of MOTHER!

The end is coming ... they say

It was 20 years ago, the world was up in a roar about everything coming to an end on "Y2K". Since then, several people have predicted the end of the world, from clerics to billionaires to statesmen. But I believe if anything that brings an end to this world and the human race will be US. YES ... US! WE have and still are killing our planet slowly but surely. First with our reckless way of lifestyle which is increasing global warming and our hate-mongering by individuals, all the way to our top elected officials. Yes, our president. Donald Trump has a pronounced naive and idiotic approach to gun control, global warming, sexist and bias remarks on Tweeter and in interviews shows me, the man has not got a brain of a flea, and possibly less than a flea. His rants about his own elected officials that speak against his decisions and his lack of knowledge about the earth's workings is so below the level what people expect in a president, that it makes me sick. Since his election (and I use 'elected' the word, loosely), we have had 22 mass shootings which I believe his hate-mongering attitude and constant belittling people has sent a message to the majority that it is OK to do that since the president can. Two of these mass shootings happened within 13 hours on Saturday and early Sunday morning in El Paso Texas and Dayton Ohio respectively. I also blame the news media for advertising these shooting so heavily, the gun purchase pre-checks and the NRA for pushing fear into people. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT a gun hater, nor do I believe the government should stop sales of guns or ammunition. I own guns, like many of my friends and relatives, and it IS a constitutional right to bear arms, BUT NOT ASSAULT WEAPONS. Who needs that? Or who needs guns that are altered to be an assault weapon. Or what civilian needs body armor. REALLY? Now that I have stated the obvious, what is the solution? First, impeach Trump and get a president who will do the right things for us and the world, Next is to rapidly start doing things to save this earth. Less gas cars and more electric or natural fuel vehicles, get rid of plastic containers or price them so high people won't buy them. Start massive advertising about recycling, driving less and conservation. Last but definitely not the least, start being kind to others, curve your anger motions and just be nice. Smile at others, say 'Hello' and wave with a smile. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WISH THEY WOULD DO TO YOU.

June to July RV trip

On June 16th, Nancy and our youngest AZ grandson and I set-off on a almost 4,000 miles RV trip. The idea was to stop and see some old friends, but to show our grandson (Grady) some really cool places we had seen before and some we have not. The first couple days, like most of our RV trip are long (over 400 miles), but then we slow down to a manageable day ... less hours driving. North to I-40 through New Mexico and then headed Northeast through the Oklahoma panhandle, and the to Kansas for our first big stop. A Salt Mine, 650 feet below we went. Not the kind of salt we eat, but the type they put on roads. But first we had to stop and look at some BIG RIGS.

Now the Salt Mine was not only for salt, but for storage too. The had the tapes of the whole series of "Friends", Superman's costume and Iceman's costume from the Batman movie, plus thousands of other stuff.

Next stop was north of Kansas City Missouri to see our former across the street neighbors.After a few days, and a near scare of a tornado, we headed North along the border of Iowa and Nebraska. When we hit South Dakota, we turned West along I-80. If you have never been to WALL DRUG, you really should go. Yep, it's a tourist trap, but fun.

Still westward to Rapid City and several attractions. Mount Rushmore, Reptile Gardens, Custer State Park, Wind Cave and much, much more.

Believe me, I have A LOT MORE photos.Then it was on to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. We have meant to stop here for SO MANY times and thought...why not now? So we did. OMG, it is outstanding!

Ok, now we turned South into Colorado hoping to climb Peak's Pike but the Cog Train was not running and the road was closed for a race. Bummer! So we went to the Cave of the Wind and Garden of the Gods. Grady loved it.

next stop was Santa Fe New Mexico to see some really good traveling friends who we have gone all over the world with. They moved from south of Portland Oregon to Santa Fe recently and still getting use to the Southwest ways. While we were there, we went to an VERY old settlement (1760s) for a tour. Amazing! The Sparrow's Nest is how it translates from Spanish.

The very last stop, as we came back to Arizona, was Meteor Crater. Not an overnight thing, just a stop and see. Very interesting, if you like the evolution of the earth history.

Finally on July 5th, we arrived home to 100+ temperatures, but that's OK...it's a dry heat, RIGHT?

Words to live by

These are NOT my words. I mean I did not write them originally, but they are the way I feel. Whoever thought them up was thinking the right way. The way everyone should think and act. Just read them and see if you pass the test.

The girls go hiking

On April 20th, Nancy, Tina and four friends flew to Greenville North Carolina to start an adventure of hiking the "AT" (Appalachian Trail) Not all of it of course, that would take months and months. They wanted to do 35 miles in 5 days. Who said the desert is a hard hike. From what Nancy said, it was most uphill the whole time. Girl time was great with a lot of giggles, tall tales, stories and down right gut busting laughing. The only problem, besides the hills, 4 out of the 6 got sick from a virus a lot of people on the AT get. It's called a "Nova Virus". Sort of like a couple days of the flu symptoms, without the fever. And then there was the 24 hours of rain the last day on the trail. So everything got packed in the suitcase WET. All in all, they had a ball and now talking about another girl hiking trip. I must say, I am VERY proud of my wife for completing this trip at the age of 69 (the oldest of the group). Two of the ladies are VERY experienced backpackers, and the other four are, I would say, intermediates. Even so, they all did wonderful, and should be proud of their accomplishment.

Our 1st G-child turns 16

Yesterday, the 3rd of April, Nicole our oldest grandchild turned 16 year old. We reflected on old photos and events while we embarrassed her with them... especially in from of her boyfriend who flew down from Washington state. Nicole is really excited to get her driver's license and not sitting in the back seat anymore. Happy Birthday Nicole.

My Sunday morning rant

I am sorry, but I have to complain about TV. Yes, it is entertaining, and, yes I watch too much when I should be doing more important things like taking out the garbage, or touching up the paint on the house, or maybe just reading a book. But, TV shows today really suck. What happened to the wholesome shows like Andy Griffith, or MASH, or shows that had life lessons hidden in them. Today it is Police shows, people walking around naked in the wilderness, or a bunch of people trying to break into show business by competing their singing or dance moves. Then there are the commercials. Have you ever counted to number of commercials during the breaks? 8, 9, or 10 at a time. My gosh! I am SO SICK of "Flo", "Jamie" and the Gecko. Pharmaceutical companies flood the commercial breaks with, "This drug has shown better than the one your doctor prescribed". Did you know that doctors are pressured by their patients to prescribe the advertised drugs they see on TV, and that actually increases your health insurance costs? It is a proven fact. If that advertised drug is better, don't you think the doctor would know that and prescribe it? Oh yeah. Let's not forget the INJURY LAWYERS. OMG! Are there any lawyers left that just do wills or property attorneys? No, it's "Call us if you fell at work or while shopping. We'll get you money." And take 1/3 of it too. My daughter is a doctor, a OB-GYN doctor. Her malpractice insurance increases higher each year. She is actually responsible for any medical problems of any child she births until the child is 18 year old. Really? Because if a 12 year old kid falls and hits their head on the jungle gym bar. Lawyers will claim it was the birthing doctor's fault, according to the injury lawyers, and they will convince the parents to sue the doctor for malpractice. COME ON, IS THIS SERIOUSLY RIGHT? Maybe the kid had an ear infection, or was distracted for a moment, slipped and fell. That is the doctor's fault? I guess the bottom line to my rant is that companies, people are greedy. If they see an opportunity to make big bucks off of someone else's back, they will do anything to get it. Even lower themselves to a level just above dirt. My last rant is about insurance companies. It is a necessity to be insured, but when they raise your rates due to a claim after being claim free for decades, or a hurricane hits your house or car, or you get medically ill and they cut you off? Have you ever heard of an insurance companies going bankrupt? They split their company into smaller companies, with another name/brand and procedure like nothing happened. Look at their net worth sometime. Not millions, but BILLIONS and BILLIONS. No wonder why Benjamin Franklin went into the home fire insurance business in the 1700s, and was one of the first insurance companies in the USA. OK, I guess I am done getting my anger out and off my chest. You know, it's not just TV, but the way our culture has gone. Someone said, "Money is the root to all evil." And I believe that. Being truthful, love and believing in each other to do the right thing should be our goals. Returning a lost purse to the owner, helping an owner find their dog, opening the door at the store for someone who may in good health, but just being nice. Doing these things for each other without expecting a reward but maybe a thank you and smile. that is what Andy Griffith taught me. Take care and be nice.

Not a great end of a year or a beginning

On October 25, while cleaning my shop, I moved a metal creeper and leaned it against something. As I turned around, the creeper fell hit my left leg and cause a good size evasion (flap of skin) about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. Well it still is not healed after almost 4 months later, so my family doctor sent me to a wound care doctor. My last two P.S.A. (Prostate blood level) were high, so I had a biopsy done. It came back as a low to moderate amount of cancer. OH, it gets better. On January 26 I loaded my pick up truck with a bunch of scrap steel to take to the dump. As I jumped off the tailgate, my left foot got stuck and I fell on my back onto the shop concrete floor. With extreme pain, I got a X-ray which I was told I have a fracture of T-12 (12th vertebra of my spine). Each week I go to a wound care doctor, the urologist has not schedule the prostate surgery because I have to have a pre-op exam, and, get the OK from my cardiologist, and still waiting on what can be done with the vertebra fracture. I can't sleep in our bed so my nights and days are spent in my recliner with a heating pad watching re-runs Andy Griffith , MASH and the car channel. This is NOT fun. Hey, I am not telling all of this for sympathy. It is just to let you know if you come over and I don't get up to greet you, or if the phone rings a long time, it's because I am have a hell of a time getting up to answer it. Or if you ask us, or me, out to lunch or dinner, I may have to say NO. It is not that I am mad at you, it is because it hurts to walk, sit, ride or drive. Yes, I have meds for pain and muscle spasms, but unless I want to get hooked on an opioid drug, I only take one if the pain gets unbearable. Getting old and getting hurt is not fun. Many people tell me I don't act like I am 72 year old and that I am more active than most my age, but believe me... I feel like 90 right now. I am sure I'll heal up fine, but now, I don't see the proverbial 'light at the end of the tunnel', just more doctor appointments. Stay safe, don't do dumb stuff and stay healthy.