The use of color to organize, or, How I arrived at....

Color to organize - you can click to enlarge if you want to

  How I arrived at that title gives some insight to the way I think.  Here we go:
  I had been laying awake in bed for maybe 10 minutes, I was thinking about the names men call their wives in Maine.  The Old Girl, Mother or even by her given name.  That thought brought to mind the
couple that used to do my audit at The Salvation Army.  With them, she never used his first name, she called him "dad", I suppose that came about by raising a family of 4 children and all of them calling him "Dad".
  Now you're asking "what the hell does that have to do with color?"!!  I tie it in this way.  The first time that couple came to audit me, the books hadn't been looked at by other than my self, or the former two people who held the title Business Administrator, it had been maybe 3 years.
  As you'll notice in that photo up there I still use color, I still use Microsoft Excel to organize too.  Those work sheets track my eating habits and my walking distance.  The sheet is color coded because the Nurse who works with me gets a copy by email each week and I wanted to make it easy for her.
  Now back to the story.   The title contains the word "ramble" does it not?  So, I'm rambling.  The Salvation Army bookkeepers don't use green ink. Period.  Well...not knowing that I was happily using color to organize my work, that included using green on some  Petty Cash records.  Bad and naughty are the words that were used, with good humor too.
  After that I had an audit every year, by the same couple - retired Salvation Army officers.  I continued to use color but always saved the green pens or markers for them.
  So.  That's it.  I only had to think of what men in Maine call their wives and there's a whole 'nother story.  Interesting, the human brain.

Veterans Day 2012

Naval Air Station Alameda, CA on approach
gone but not forgotten.

  I can't help but think back to my Navy days when these holidays arrive.  Wilbur up in North Dakota probably does too.  We spent several years together in buildings pictured in this photo (top) but you can't make them out very well.
  I left Alameda in 1963 and in 1966 I was back, this time in a squadron based in good ole Alameda.  I was fortunate to be able to join the ranks of Enlisted Flight Crews and saw this sight many times from the air.  My total time spent at Alameda is about nine years, half of my Navy life, it's almost like a hometown now.  Of course the base was closed some time ago, all that's left are the ghosts.  You can, as always, click on any photo to view it separately

Here's a view of San Francisco from the
end of the runway in the top photo.

A C131F like the ones I flew on as a crew member,
gone into the sunset, both of us.

What was that?

1948 Ford Tudor

  When I have started the car the last couple of days it made an odd clunk sort of sound.  It wasn't like when the battery is that, not that clunk.  I would clunk or clank and start and off I'd go hither thither and yon.
  Yesterday I started the clunk, clank sounding car about 3:45AM it started and ran, I de-frosted the windows with Prestone spray (it's cheap) instead of scraping.  I drove into Bangor and stopped at the On-the-run Store at Union and Griffin.  I bought my coffee to walk with (it was cold 19 degrees) it's a hand warmer.
  I got back in the clunk clank car and it SUPER clanked, it was no go!  I called AAA and in 15 minutes or so the tow truck came.  He tried to jump start clunk, clank no go.  I had him tow the car to the garage that does all my non-body work in Brewer.  I walked down to the Airport Mall and walked kind of around the front edge and to McDonald's.  My fiend Paul was already there so I sat in his truck (it runs and starts).  After coffee he gave me a ride to Brewer Walmart so I'd be warm while I waited for the garage to open.  I wandered the aisles until about 6:45 and walked down Wilson Street to my car, open it up and waited a few minutes.  I went in and explained to Peter what was going on and took a seat.
  In a couple of hours the mechanic came in with the starter, the whole casting that holds the works was split into two pieces - thus the clunk, clank.  They had already ordered the new one and had it, but to change the starter on the 2007 Chrysler (below) you have to remove the intake manifold! (WHAT???)  They also inspected the gear inside the bell housing for broken teeth, it was okay.
  Now I was back in business, right?  Well, not so fast old timer.  Now the car wouldn't shift out of first gear into drive.  What the heck is going on?  After he ran diagnostics the computer had un-set itself and needed to be reset so it could tell the car how to shift, light up and whatever else a car does.
  $595.36 later I was "free" to leave.  I showed you the '48 Ford because my first car was just like that, except green.  Even I, one who has the mechanical ability of a poodle puppy, could work on.  I could have change the starter on that car in twenty minutes, I wouldn't have had to remove any other parts except disconnect the battery cable.  So as I have entered my 70's things have changed so much that even I don't know what I'm doing.

The victim and the culprit, which is which?
Photo by Linda Grant - 2008

Election Day 2012

Voted on our anniversary #30
Photo by State Rep. Stacy Guerin (R)

  Well a visit to the Town Office, a short ride and some shopping at the commissary.  How much more could one ask for?  The answer for me is, not much.
  I will say that yesterday was a cold morning for walking, 22 degrees with a 7mph breeze from the north-west is downright chilly.  What the heck are you out here for?  That's the question I asked myself.  The answer for me is, that's where the sidewalks are.  Seriously I finished walking at the Bangor Walmart, 1/2 mile around the inside edge and in from my parking space; warmer too.
  So, the results are in, some will be pleased, others not so much.  Now we all accept the verdict, the people have spoken and move on.  That's what democracy is all about.  Life is about acceptance.
  And last, but not least, if you didn't vote - - don't complain.

My beautiful bride Linda.
Looks like some Veterans Day deco too
Photo by the geezer hisself, yessuh.

The big day

Nov 6 1982, my lucky day

  Today is Election Day, it's also our 30th Anniversary so we'll celebrate by going to vote.  I looked a lot different in 1982 and she hasn't changed, go figure.
  We were married in a family ceremony at her brother Thom's house in Portland, Maine, there weren't a lot of people there a couple of close friends and family members.  It was a second wedding for me and you can believe me when I say this one's turned out a whole lot better than the first, nuf said.
  It is Election Day, in the United States, so fulfill your obligation and vote please, yes every vote counts.  People like Wilbur out in North Dakota and I were lucky.  We spent twenty years in the United States Navy, a lot of it in peacetime but we were in the entire time the Vietnam War was "in session".  We did that because we wanted to, but we did it so maybe your grandchildren won't have to.  And that's why it's important for you to have a voice today. Vote.

A lovely bride.

Now. That's better.

Wesley, growing up Tigger

  That's our new grandson up there, growing fast, he'll be in school next week or so it will seem.  He probably won't remember being dressed as Tigger the tiger, nor will the wee little girl in the skunk costume I save on the local TV station last night - that was cute.
  The doctors appointment went well, she says I need to walk more - that was encouraging.  I felt much better yesterday than the day before, and right nice this morning, but I haven't moved around too much either.
  The lower photo is Hollie, or Tom Brady - you decide.  She still like to get in costume as long as there is no mask and it's regular clothes.  She does try, notice the fingernails are in Patriot colors.
  So today I'll walk a little further and more often and maybe I'll be in better shape tomorrow.

Tom Brady or Hollie - one or the other
Photo by Cindy Smith

A housewarming for Hollie

Hollie with Mom and Dad
It was "Crazy hat day"

  Hollie moved to Brewer in July but the housewarming was on August 28.  The difference is schedules for staff and other agency employees.
  The "new" house is very nice, actually extremely nice for a residential placement for our daughter.  She was able to pick the color her room would be painted, lime green, and helped plan some of the rest too.  She has one house-mate who has a room upstairs, hers is downstairs.
  There were a lot of people attending, maybe 25, and we were most fortunate that a lot of them were excellent cooks.  The food I ate was great and I didn't get to try it all.
  For the folks who work at the Charlotte White Agency a big "thank you" from a grateful pair of parents.

Linda with (l to r) Cindy the Program Director, Doreen a Direct Care Provider
and Shanna who works with Cindy.  All with their finest hats.

A visit to Saint Nick

  If someone has a child with autism a visit to Saint Nick can be something to avoid.  Although Hollie always wanted to see Santa, she wouldn't get too close, or sit on his lap.  Kids, or adults, with autism very often don't want to be touched, held or in any way too close to someone else.
  I found an article the other day about a special program for kids with autism:

You may have seen photos of some child kind of pushing away from Santa, maybe that was autism, but in my estimation Santa scares small children, they don't want to sit with him.

That's it! I outta here!

That's as close as it gets, that boy has no intention of sitting with Santa.

How does this Santa thing work?

I guess we'd all like to believe that Santa and his Elves just keep making toys.  Out of what?  Thin air?  All of those toys contain real stuff don't they?  So where, and how, does that happen?
  I'll show you.  Santa, I don't know much about Elves, has several ways of making all of those things, and more, happen.  He works!  And he even searches and finds some of the pieces.  So there!

He looks in all the right places.  One mans junk is another............

He is in one of those "work from home" deals.

And last, but certainly not least, he works as a model; you know he poses for all of the photos and paintings.  He even poses for Cosmo, I think.

See? (or seen enough?)

Christmas in Japan

The Colonel is Santa in this display

  I was stationed in Japan for Christmas in 1963 and 1964, and in 1965 I was back again aboard USS Hornet, so I've seen three there.  I can't remember how to say "Merry Christmas" in Japanese, maybe Wilbur remembers.
  I can tell you it was different, more then than now I think.  We had put a tree up, of course, in our office at the command I was attached too, the Naval Supply Depot, Yokosuka.  The last one aboard ship we didn't have a tree, but had fashioned one for everybodies Christmas cards - there used to be a photo of me there, but it's been lost I think.
  The decoration of buildings and public places was different, and it probably was with good reason, there aren't a great number of Christians in Japan so it's more of a civil holiday.

Godzilla in Tokyo

Ornaments made of split bamboo.

Nuts

The screen says it all.

  A local area man was stopped for shoplifting the other day.  He had 7 knives of various types, 3 ratchet sets and some other small items.  Not guilty, he said "I always these this time of year.".  He was arrested anyway.
  On the same day a man cut the chain on a hydraulic wood splitter at Home Depot, he was stopped as he pushed the machine across the parking lot.  He told the police he couldn't be arrested for theft because he hadn't left the property.  Wrong, he was arrested for theft and for criminal mischief for cutting the chain.

My diploma!

The Copper Beech

A "young" Copper Beech

I wanted to show a photo of the copper beech tree in Portland, Maine; it stands beside the older building at the Portland Museum of Art.  Each year they do or did light it up, small lights on every branch.  But, no photo to be found, so we'll just talk about it.  Back in my drinking days, when I first returned to Maine I spent the first night sleeping in the gated yard under that tree; there's an emotional tie there, even if that hadn't happened I'd still like the tree.
  Known for the leaf color that gives its name the copper beech, like other beech trees, live long lives, I'll show a photo near the end of a 150 year old tree that had been cut down (for a traffic project).  That tree is being made in to bowls by Mark Goodwin you can see them here: www.woodenbowlshop.com/copper-beech  take a peek.

The leaf color

Mark Goodwin and the 150 year old copper beech.

Boy! Was that a long time ago.

When I was about ten, and my brother was older,

old Santa Claus got bolder and bolder,
he was trying to hide and I wondered why;
we already knew Santa was just pie in the sky.

But my father, was tricky and so he persisted,
with some help from mom, I'm sure she assisted;
signing the tag on the present we got,
with Santa Paws or Santa Claws, whether we liked it or not.

But, most of all, it was the thought that counted,
and there was no reason to have temper mounted;
it was part of the deal, it was just that way,
and it always made Christmas...a special day.

Santa Paws

Santa Claws

It's hard to....

...tell who is or isn't a U S Navy sailor anymore.  I was confused recently when a guy walking toward me had on a Marine Corps shirt and black pants.  I wondered if the Marines had switched from blue to black trousers.
  Now, I'm a retired sailor, I knew, no longer know, what a Navy uniform looks like, we had blue ones (crackerjack style) when it was cold and white ones when it was warm.  We worked in dungarees with chambray shirts, or we worked in blue or white uniforms that resembled the dress uniform.  I can remember, sometime back in the '60's, when we replaced the white jumper (pull over your head) with short sleeve white, button-up, shirts.
  Over the years the Navy toyed with different fabric for the working uniform, cotton twill instead of denim, and restyled the "ball caps" a couple of times, but now..........it's watch out Marines!

Dress Blue Uniform (0ld) or maybe Old and New

...and white in the summer.

Dungarees and chambray shirt - old work uniform

The new work uniform, worn by Admirals all the way down to Seaman Recruit.

The new "Marine" style uniform.

Which one?

I have owned cars most of the time since I was 16, when a nine year old car costs $50.00 right up to the present.  There was a period of time from boot camp until about 1962 when I didn't, and from 1976 to 1981 when I didn't own a car - most of that time I was too drunk to drive anyway.

1948 Ford was first

That photo represents the Ford I owned in 1957-1958, it was dark green and stock - no money for hot rodding.  Art down at the gas station saved me his "good" used tires - about one a week.  Gas was cheap too, I worked for a Chevy dealer and the car I bought belonged to the used car managers wife.

1959 Studebaker Lark wagon

I'm only showing favorites.  This car is the one I bought when I got back to the good ol' USA after two years in Japan, and one year on the USS Hornet in Westpac.  I was in civilian clothes so I could sneak back into my own country in 1966.  The finance guy I used was a retired sailor that I had worked with.  This was a great running car, and good to drive.

1988 Subaru wagon

The first car I bought new.  Ours was maroon unlike the one in the photo.  I bought it when I was hired by the City of Brewer and used it for the 75 mile round trip commute every day.  It had 243,000 miles on it when I gave it to a neighbor.  During the time I owned it I replaced a water pump, two windshields, two lighters in addition to all of the required maintenance in the owners manual.  Good car and reliable, you bet!  This may be number one of my favorites.  Still time left at age 71 to buy another one too.

1993 Mazda Protege

I bought a new Dodge that my wife drove, I used this one.  We had moved to within 12 miles of my job by then.  This, engine wise, may have been the best; you could check the oil any time during the 6000 miles between changes and it was still the same color it was when it was put in!  A five speed transmission (like the Subaru) was super.  We gave this car to a couple who were dirt poor and really needed some help - he totaled it about two weeks later!

2004 Dodge Neon

This one replaced the Mazda, it was small, cheap and mechanically good.  It ran great and was easy to drive.  I bought this one used too.  The little "black bomber" was totaled by my wife, while she was taking our daughter home.  She skidded on some slush to avoid another car, bounced off a utility pole and crashed in to a new steel guard rail.  Thankfully no injuries; seat belts save lives!

So that sums it up, some great cars, some good cars and some I would never buy again, that's life.

Inversion?

Yesterday morning when I got up at 1:30AM the temperature here in the Bangor, Maine area was 55 degrees!  On the last day of November!  Meanwhile the temperature in Miami, Florida at the same time was 53 degrees - it was warmer in Bangor, Maine than in Miami, Florida.

And I was going to write about ice fishing, I still am.

The season in Maine starts with the month of January. Ice permitting.  Every year at least one person drives a pickup truck on the ice that sinks.  People still haven't learned to wait until the ice is safe, thick enough, however you'd like to word it.

When I was a boy we would ice fish on a local pond, just an axe, a couple of traps and warm clothes.  No gasoline powered auger, no fancy ice shacks, no snowmobiles, and no pickup trucks.  That's not how it's done anymore.

TV? and warm too.

Inventive.

Little more convenient.

And, the winner is...........Snow Bear

Not for me!

That's it!

  Well I was going to take Hollie for her visit, then I leaned over to open a cupboard....that's when "it" happened.
  Now, this has nothing to do with a bare cupboard, or a poor dog, or gettin' none.  This has to do with a backache.
  I started out anyway, I got Hollie and took her to Tim Hortons for her coffee (iced, gingerbread flavor, and sweet and low, yuk) a breakfast sandwich and then came home and Mama got the rest of the day, which turned out to be quite long.
  I got my chair, and a heating pad.  The heating pad is my new friend, and it sits in the chair with me.  It does have the ability to turn itself off, when it gets tired of helping me, but even I have some character defects - so I accept it for what it is!
  I'm going for a one or two mile walk, it's warm, about 37 degrees so I won't die in the cold.  And then, and then, I'm coming home to my new friend, the heating pad!

My new friend!

In my mind...

...there used to be a break between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  My mother, or my wife, ever rushed out the door before dinner was served to shop at some big sale at J J Newbury or McClellan's.  At some point we've reached a time when the "thrill" of the sale has become top dog in many households.  We lose a little bit of our history every year.  No wonder they call it Black Friday!
  Do people honestly believe that rushing around at midnight or 4:00AM is worth the effort.  My goodness, people pepper sprayed, or crushed when other people rushed in a door, or even shot; all to save a dollar!  Something is missing; is it peoples common sense, or my mind?

This is fun?

It's just about winter now.

Christmas is flying right at us!

But, look around, there's still some time left.